Idea: What if the federal government gave someone like Neil DeGrasse Tyson a “Science Laureate” role, like we do for poets? Sound like a good idea? Fortunately, members of Congress are already working on it.
Genetically modified animals that glow in the dark
Scientists inserted a gene into cats that helps them resist Feline immunodeficiency virus—a close relative of HIV and tracked it with a green fluorescent protein. These cats appeared normal during the day, but can glow at night if prompted.
Thanks science.
While the above glow-in-the-dark kitten is obviously the internet kingpin of the all the photos behind this link, we’re equally mesmerized by the glowing sheep.
Scientists have been working on analyzing this ancient fellow, called Australopithecus sediba, a creature dated somewhere around 2 million years old. It’s not clear yet where he or she might fit into our own evolutionary record. Discovered in South Africa in 2008, researchers determined it could both walk upright and climb through trees. Said Jeremy DeSilva, a lead author of one of the papers on A. sediba released Thursday: “I didn’t think you could have this combination, that hand with that pelvis with that foot… And yet, there it is.” (Photo from Lee R. Burger, University of the Witwatersrand) source
Stephen Hawking Says That Mankind Has 1,000 Years to Escape Earth
Boy, we sure ruined that planet fast.
Number of two-headed bull shark fetuses we’re going to post about today? Just one. OK, technically two. (via National Geographic)
In a memorandum issued on Friday, John P. Holdren, science adviser to President Obama, called for scientific papers that report the results of federally financed research to become freely accessible within a year or so after publication. The findings are typically published in scientific journals, many of which are open only to paying subscribers. The new policy would apply to federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture, that finance more than $100 million a year of research. The agencies have six months to submit plans for how they would carry out the new policy. The hope is that broad access to scientific results will encourage faster progress on research and will let anyone apply the knowledge for technological advances.
U.S. Speeds Access to Publicly Financed Scientific Research - NYTimes.com (via dendroica)
We admit we’re not exactly entrenched in the world of federally-backed scientific reports, but this certainly seems like a worthy idea, even if it doesn’t spur more research as desired, to give some of these findings more public profile — any dissenters out there? What do you think?
An interesting read from The Atlantic for anyone else tired of hearing about the State of the Union, Sen. Marco Rubio, or Christopher Jordan Dorner on what has turned out to be a rather slow news day.
All’s fair between chimps? Psychologist Darby Proctor of Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Lawrenceville, Ga., and her colleagues say chimpanzees tend to react in a way that recognizes fairness. “Humans and chimpanzees show similar preferences in dividing rewards, suggesting a long evolutionary history to the human sense of fairness,” Proctor said.
However, other researchers claim that the chimps in the study “interacted little with each other and showed no signs of understanding that some offers were unfair and could be rejected.”
Josep Call and Keith Jensen co-authored previous studies where chimps “generally shared as little as possible with partners, who accepted most offers.”
Does Proctor’s new study, which compares the actions of her chimps with those of pre-school aged kids, prove that fairness can transcend species lines? Do humans even play fair anyway?
There is no scientific debate on the age of the Earth, it’s established pretty definitively, it’s at least 4.5 billion years old.Sen. Marco Rubio - During an interview with Politico’s Mike Allen, which briefly focused on comments the Florida Republican made during a GQ interview last month. Some were confused by the Senator’s answer when asked about the planet’s age, and many readers were left unsure as to exactly what the Republican believed himself. Rubio says he was simply trying to acknowledge those who have a hard time accepting data which seems to fly in the face of their religious teachings, but wanted to be clear that he knows there is “no scientific debate.” source
Dinosaurs looking for love grew alluring feathers, scientists say
(Photo: Julius Csotonyi via AFP - Getty Images)
Dinosaurs may have wooed potential mates with flashy feathers, peacock style. Researchers have discovered lengthy wisps on a sexually mature adult, but absent in the toddler specimen of the same dinosaur species.
This illustration is just … too much. Side note: The name “Dinosaur Feathers” would automatically earn your band a Best New Music on Pitchfork.
Physics Nobel goes to Serge Haroche, David Wineland
BBC: This year’s Nobel prize in physics has been given to Serge Haroche of France and David Wineland of the US for their work with light and matter at the most fundamental level.
Haroche says he had been told he had won just 20 minutes before telling reporters, ‘I was lucky - I was in the street and passing near a bench, so I was able to sit down immediately.’
Photo: Serge Haroche (left) is based at the College de France and David Wineland is based at the US National Institute for Standards and Technology. (AFP/NIST)
New monkey species identified in Democratic Republic of Congo
Guardian:A new species of monkey has been identified in Africa in what is only the second time such a discovery has been made on the continent in 28 years. The finding is considered significant because the identification of mammals new to science is rare.
‘Lesula,’ as the monkey is known locally, has a naked face and mane of long blond hairs. Researchers say it is a shy and quiet creature that lives on the ground and in trees in a habitat of lowland rainforests.The animal’s diet consists of mostly fruit and vegetation.
Photo: A new species of monkey, known locally as the lesula. (Hart JA, Detwiler KM, Gilbert CC/PA)
Hey little buddy. Didn’t know you existed until now but wish we had.
Copyright 2009-2013 Ernie Smith • Ask us stuff! • E-mail us • Follow us on Twitter • Follow us on Facebook
