Shark Embryos & Nature’s Other Cannibals
Shark babies are cannibals. Just one more reason sharks are cool & terrifying. Trace tells us what drives some sharks to eat up their brothers and sisters, plus a list of other cannibals in the animal kingdom.
via DNews Channel.
Burying Beetles Turn Carcass into Baby Food
You want zombies? A scary movie? These beetles can trump most Hollywood horror films anytime!
via National Geographic.
A Week in Science with RiAus- 17 May 2013
Week in Science is the science news brought to you by RiAus.
This week:
Skin cells cloned into embryonic cells
Apes and monkeys go way back
Pollution may increase kids’ risk for diabetes
Common plants, animals threatened by climate change
Agent Orange exposure linked to deadliest form of prostate cancer in Vietnam War vets
Alligator study prompts dreams of renewable teeth
Printing electronics on to paperYou can follow A Week in Science throughout the week on Twitter, and join the discussion, by following the hashtag #weekinsci
For more information visit riaus.org.au/articles/a-week-in-science-17-May-2013/
via RiAus.
The Brain Scoop: Episode 24 - De-Extinction, Part II: Yes, no, maybe so?
via thebrainscoop:
Watch Part I where we discuss some of the science behind ‘de-extinction’.
This topic isn’t quite as black-and-white as explained in the videos - we have no way of knowing what would happen should we bring back large populations of these animals, but it’s not even certain that would be the case. The technology required to ‘de-extinct’ a species could hold the answer in ongoing conservation efforts. Bringing back a species like the gastric brooding frog could provide valuable insights into how species reproduce, and it’s impossible to say how that information could influence how we think about animal behavior and physiology, or even species conservation in the future.
Without museums like ours, we would not even be able to entertain the notion of bringing back extinct species. Museums act not only as physical repositories but genetic ones as well. When a large sample size is needed to reconstruct the DNA of the extinct passenger pigeon, scientists and researchers turn to museum collections for tissue samples. It’s another example of how impossible it is to predict the use or need for a collection as research advances and new technology emerges.
There are a lot of positive and negative implications to pursuing the science behind de-extinction: if you have any input, reblog with comments and I’ll be sure to read them!
The Most Venomous Animals in the World
via scishow:
There are a lot of ways to kill and be killed in the animal kingdom, but only a lucky few use the powers of venom. Not all are closely related, so how did they acquire the same defenses, where did venom come from, and how does it work? And what animals can kill you the most quickly? Find the answers to these questions, and more, in today’s episode of SciShow.
Like SciShow? Want to help support us, and also get things to put on your walls, cover your torso and hold your liquids? Check out our awesome products over at DFTBA Records: http://dftba.com/artist/52/SciShow
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References for this episode can be found in the Google document here: http://dft.ba/-5GmD
Thanks again to Dr. Bryan Fry at the University of Queensland.
What is Evolution?
via jtotheizzoe:
Excellent video from Stated Clearly explaining just what evolution is … using great illustrations from Rosemary Mosco’s Bird and Moon comics.
This is a great video to share with friends/enemies/confused relatives that might have trouble accepting evolution and how simple it can be to understand.
I’d like to add one thing to this video. Single amoebas, pairs of parents and a few children are used in these evolution illustrations to simplify the concept of evolution, but it’s important to remember that evolution is something that happens to populations, not individuals. The changes within a generation are random. It’s only after those changes have been passed on for several generations that a survival advantage or disadvantage (followed by either more or less individuals carrying the trait) occurs. That’s where evolution happens, it’s not in the change itself. And sometimes even harmful traits can become frequent in a population, like we see in diseases that are prevalent among isolated ethnic groups.
Bonus: I’d also recommend Understanding Evolution’s “Common Misconceptions” FAQ for those who want to dig deeper.
Butterfly Stew
via jtotheizzoe:
What happens inside a pupa stays inside a pupa. Or it used to, anyway. Until recently, when special x-ray imagers were turned on a developing butterfly to elucidate its metamorphosis.
the process of caterpillar-to-butterfly is a messy one. An overfed worm not only has to convert a lot of the stored energy it gathered stuffing its face for a few weeks into new body parts, it does so by essentially dissolving much of its body and reforming. The pupa isn’t so much a dressing room for a beautiful diva as it is a bag to keep all the goopy globs of proto-butterfly from dripping on the ground. Sounds like both butterfly and human puberty involve a mess of bodily fluids and hiding in your room.
That’s what most biology books would have you believe anyway. This new work (written up in great detail by Ed Yong) demonstrates that while there’s still plenty of goop-globbing, quite a few structures remain intact, migrating and growing into adult forms in a more traditional way (like those blue circulation vessels). For the insect nerds in the bunch, this technique doesn’t revolutionize metamorphosis or anything, but it’s a view inside that most of us have never gotten.
And quite a view it is.
Pitfalls Associated with Cell Contamination, Misidentification, and Authentication
Cultured cells are used extensively in research, manufacturing, and for therapeutic purposes. Unfortunately, a large number of cell lines are mislabeled, contaminated, and misidentified, leading to results that are non-replicable, data that is erroneous, and conclusions that are faulty. These problems have often gone unnoticed and unchecked, costing labs a significant amount of time, money, and labor. The authentication of cell lines is a crucial quality-control step, and this webinar’s experts will elaborate on some of the recent efforts underway to eradicate these problems.
Presenters:
Dr. John Masters, Professor of Experimental Pathology, University College London; Director, Prostate Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Glyn Stacey, Head, Division of Cell Biology and Imaging; Director, UK Stem Cell Bank, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Amanda Capes-Davis, Founding Manager and Honorary Scientist, CellBank Australia; Chair, International Cell Line Authentication Committee (ICLAC)
Duration: 1:31:57
via The Scientist LLC.
Why All The Bees Are Dying
Bee population around the world have collapsed. Now scientists are scrambling to find out why. Anthony has a list of the possible causes, and the threat this poses to food supplies worldwide.
via DNews Channel.
CICADAS ARE COMING!
via scishow:
Cicadas have developed an amazing strategy for growth, survival, reproduction, and overcoming predation by…doing nothing. They do nothing for years (except sip at the juice excreted from root structures) before emerging in huge, simultaneous swarms.
The swarm is so huge that predators can’t consume even a fraction of it, but so rare that predator populations can’t sustain themselves between emergence events. Clever little things!
Magical Medicinal Maggots
via scishow:
Although it may sound crazy, many doctors use maggots today to clean wounds of dead and infected tissue. This process, called debridement, is important for preventing the spread of infection in a world of increasing antibiotic resistance. Hank has more details on the marvelous maggot in today’s episode of SciShow.
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Morning After Pill IS Safe for Teens
There is lots of debate about the so called “Morning After Pill” being released to teens without a prescription. Laci Green takes a look at the debate and breaks down the issues as only Laci can.
via DNews Channel.
Bacteria Weaves A Tangled Biofilm Web
This time-lapse movie shows biofilm growth and streamer formation over a period of about 56 hours.
via Live Science Videos.
Can a Double Mastectomy Really Prevent Cancer?
Angelina Jolie has made the surprising announcement that she’s undergone a double mastectomy. Doctors discovered she carries a gene mutation that dramatically increases her chances of getting breast cancer. So what is this gene, and how do women go about testing for it? Trace takes a look.
via DNews Channel.
6 Surprising Blood-Drinking Animals
via scishow:
Hank introduces us to 6 blood-drinking (or otherwise consuming) animals that you may not be aware of. Don’t freak out…
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