HIV-Related Virus Has Existed in Primates for Millions of Years
Posted on November 22, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 777 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
Viruses related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have infected Old World monkeys as far back as 16 million years ago, according to a new study. The research provides insight into how monkeys evolved and adapted to the simian version of HIV, and why some viruses can jump from one species to another, researchers say.
In the new study, researchers reconstructed the evolutionary history of a gene that produces a protein that protects mammals' cells from retroviruses — a group of viruses that includes HIV and its counterpart that affects monkeys, called simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV).
[Read More]How Many Chemical Elements Can You Name? 1 in 5 Americans Can't Name One.
Posted on November 22, 2022
| 3 minutes
| 566 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
Time for a science refresher course? One in 5 Americans can't name a single element on the Periodic Table.
Most Americans surveyed (59 percent) couldn't name more than 10 elements of the 118 that grace the Periodic Table. This may have been a result of the way the question was asked: Americans probably do know many elements' names (gold is one; so are other household names like silver, tin, lead, oxygen, helium and calcium), but may not realize that they are, in fact, elements.
[Read More]Huge Dinosaur Thighbone Found on Washington Beach
Posted on November 22, 2022
| 5 minutes
| 868 words
| Patria Henriques
A fragmented femur bone hidden underwater for millions of years has become the first evidence that a dinosaur once roamed Washington, a new study finds.
And not just any dinosaur: This beast was a theropod — a two-legged, mostly meat-eating group of beasts, such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor, that are related to modern-day birds, the researchers said.
Scientists found the 80-million-year-old fossil of the dinosaur when they were searching for ammonites — extinct marine invertebrates with spiral shells — and other fossilized animals.
[Read More]Hurricane Simulator to Blow Real Houses Down
Posted on November 22, 2022
| 2 minutes
| 309 words
| Patria Henriques
Wind engineers have created the world’s largest portable hurricane simulator, which they will use to blow over vacant buildings with Katrina-strength winds to test how they withstand the fierce forces of a hurricane.
“We want to conduct experiments to evaluate real homes in communities that are impacted by hurricanes,” said project leader Forrest Masters of the University of Florida. “This simulator also gives us the ability to test home retrofits and new building products aimed at preventing hurricane damage.
[Read More]Q&A: 'Shark Men' Get Up Close with Great Whites
Posted on November 22, 2022
| 6 minutes
| 1195 words
| Patria Henriques
Great white sharks are giants of the ocean. It is estimated that the largest females can grow to roughly 20 feet (6 meters) long. Yet despite their size, these feared and beloved monsters are elusive, and little is known about their habits.
However, a handful of people have spent a whole lot of face time with great white sharks literally, hanging out within inches of the sharks' fearsome teeth for the sake of research and good TV.
[Read More]Terrifying 'Pinhole' Eye: Why Hurricane Maria Strengthened So Quickly
Posted on November 22, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 737 words
| Trudie Dory
Hurricane Maria, a powerful Category 3 storm that is currently blasting Puerto Rico with rain and winds not seen there in modern history, seemed to come out of nowhere.
The storm underwent a dramatic transformation in less than a day, strengthening from a Category 1 to a monster Category 5 hurricane over 18 hours Monday (Sept. 18). Yesterday (Sept. 19), Maria briefly dipped to Category 4 status before devastating the island nation of Dominica.
[Read More]The Cleavage Countdown: 8 Facts About Breasts
Posted on November 22, 2022
| 5 minutes
| 1005 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
Boob BasicsThe quintessential embodiment of female sexuality, breasts have fascinated and mystified since the beginning of time. From the biology that makes breasts, and breast-feeding, possible, and the odd boob changes that occur with motherhood to historical perceptions of the hourglass shape, LiveScience the art and science of breasts.
The First BraWomen have strapped down their breasts with fabric bands or boosted their cleavage with body-shaping corsets for centuries, depending on current fashions.
[Read More]What Does Space Smell Like?
Posted on November 22, 2022
| 2 minutes
| 352 words
| Patria Henriques
Astronauts who have gone on spacewalks consistently speak of space's extraordinarily peculiar odor.
They can't smell it while they're actually bobbing in it, because the interiors of their space suits just smell plastic-y. But upon stepping back into the space station and removing their helmets, they get a strong, distinctive whiff of the final frontier. The odor clings to their suit, helmet, gloves and tools.
Fugitives from the near-vacuum — probably atomic oxygen, among other things — the clinging particles have the acrid aroma of seared steak, hot metal and welding fumes.
[Read More]What Makes a Psychopath? Answers Remain Elusive
Posted on November 22, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 752 words
| Patria Henriques
As exaggerated as many popular depictions of psychopaths often are, many nevertheless do pose a genuine danger to others. So what makes psychopaths the way they are?
Scientists are now working toward uncovering the roots of this disorder in the brain. Their research could lead to ways to intervene against the disorder and hopefully prevent it from manifesting.
But answers remain elusive, in part because it's no easy (or safe) task to study the brain of the typical psychopath.
[Read More]Why Adults Struggle to Pick up New Languages
Posted on November 22, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 808 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
Many adults struggle to learn a second language, but not for lack of effort — the problem may actually be that they're trying too hard, a new study suggests.
Scientists have long suspected that adults' superior cognitive function might actually be a drawback in picking up a new language, giving kids the upper hand. In the new study, when adults were told to try to learn the proper sentence structure and grammar of a new language, the participants actually learned less than those who were not told they would have to take a quiz.
[Read More]