Abalone Armor: Toughest Stuff Theoretically Possible

 Posted on October 10, 2022  |  3 minutes  |  595 words  |  Trudie Dory

Centuries of warfare have seen body armor develop from cow hides to Kevlar. Now scientists are using lab experiments and mathematics to discover a stronger bullet-proof solution in the beautiful, helmet homes that seaweed-eating abalones make for themselves. Abalones create a highly ordered brick-like tiled structure for their shells that is the toughest arrangement of tiles theoretically possible, says Marc A. Meyers of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The tiles are comprised of calcium carbonate, or chalk, sandwiches coated top and bottom with a thin protein. [Read More]

Comfort Food Myth: Ice Cream May Not Boost Your Mood

 Posted on October 10, 2022  |  3 minutes  |  487 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

SAN FRANCISCO — The idea that eating certain foods make us feel better when we're down may be a myth, psychologists say. In fact, we may simply feel better after some time has passed, regardless of what food we eat, a new study says. In the study, people were asked to pick foods that they thought would make them feel better if they were in a bad mood, such as chocolate, cookies or ice cream. [Read More]

Dreams and Brain Disease: REM Sleep Cells Linked to Disorders

 Posted on October 10, 2022  |  5 minutes  |  891 words  |  Patria Henriques

Where do dreams come from? Researchers now say they know: A specific group of cells in the brain stem is responsible for controlling dreaming sleep, also called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, a new study says. The study also showed that damage to those cells could lead to a sleeping disorder called REM Behavior Disorder (RBD), which makes a person act out violent dreams. The findings have far broader implications than pinpointing the neurological source of dreams, though, said the study's principal investigator, John Peever, a professor of cell and systems biology at the University of Toronto. [Read More]

Early Humans Climbed Down from Trees Gradually

 Posted on October 10, 2022  |  4 minutes  |  650 words  |  Trudie Dory

The last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees may have had shoulders that were similar to those of modern African apes, researchers say. The finding supports the notion that the human lineage shifted to a life away from trees gradually. The human lineage diverged from that of chimpanzees, humanity's closest living relative, about 6 million or 7 million years ago. Knowing the characteristics of the last common ancestor of humans and chimps would shed light on how the anatomy and behavior of both lineages evolved over time, " [Read More]

Giant Rodent: 18-Inch Rat Species Discovered

 Posted on October 10, 2022  |  2 minutes  |  392 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

A rare new species of rat — up to four times the size of the rodents that populate American cities — has been identified in the Solomon Islands. The discovery marks the first time in 80 years that a new rat species has been found in the archipelago in the South Pacific. In 2010, mammalogist Tyrone Lavery heard rumors about a coconut-cracking giant rat called "vika" that lived in the trees of Vangunu Island. [Read More]

Godzilla Grew 30 Times Faster Than Any Organism on Earth. Here's Why.

 Posted on October 10, 2022  |  4 minutes  |  682 words  |  Fernande Dalal

If Godzilla were a real creature, his incredibly rapid growth spurt on the big screen would be off the charts, even setting evolutionary records, a new report finds. When the dinosaur-like monster debuted on the silver screen in 1954, he stood a towering 164 feet (50 meters) tall. Now, 35 films later — the latest, "Godzilla: King of the Monsters," came out Friday (May 31) — the behemoth has more than doubled in size, currently reaching 393 feet (120 m) tall. [Read More]

Lion's Sexy Secret: It's in the Mane

 Posted on October 10, 2022  |  4 minutes  |  682 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

Given the choice, a female lion is more likely to be attracted to a shaggy male from Chicago than a well-groomed guy from Houston. Chicago lions simply got more game. Scientists measured the size and fullness of lions' manes in northern and southern zoos and found that cats living in colder climates had heartier hairstyles, a key attractant to female lions. Nutrition, social factors, and genetics have previously been considered important factors affecting mane quality, but the new finding suggests that up to one-half of the mane's length and density is determined by temperature. [Read More]

More than 200 Dead After 7.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Central Mexico

 Posted on October 10, 2022  |  2 minutes  |  336 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

A magnitude-7.1 earthquake that struck central Mexico yesterday (Sept. 20) left more than 200 people dead, with residents working through the night searching for survivors in piles of rubble from collapsed buildings, according to news reports. The earthquake came not even two weeks after another powerful 8.1-magnitude temblor hit the country. Both earthquakes occurred amidst a major hurricane swirling in the Atlantic, though the two phenomena have nothing to do with one another. [Read More]

Oatmeal and OJ: Breakfast of Champions?

 Posted on October 10, 2022  |  4 minutes  |  797 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

Oatmeal and orange juice are ideal breakfast foods. So say the makers of oatmeal and orange juice in their marginally legitimate study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. No word yet whether the scientists at Cookie Crisp are planning a rebuttal. That oatmeal and orange juice can be healthy is no earth-shattering news. What this study claims is that choosing such foods for breakfast is associated with making better food decisions later in the day, which may help folks manage their weight. [Read More]

Prostate Cancer in Young Men: What You Should Know

 Posted on October 10, 2022  |  3 minutes  |  607 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

Dr. Troy Sukkarieh is a board-certified urologic surgeon specializing in robotic and advanced laparoscopic surgery. He is on staff at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, N.J. Sukkarieh has authored numerous manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and has delivered podium presentations on topics related to urology at several international summits. He contributed this article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. The number of younger men diagnosed with prostate cancer has increased nearly sixfold in the last 20 years. [Read More]