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- Should we clone a Neanderthal?
Resurrecting a tribe of Neanderthals using existing cloning technologies is perfectly feasible, says Harvard biologist George Church, and might bring big benefits. With their plus-sized craniums, Neanderthals might prove more intelligent than humans, Church explains, helping researchers to solve thorny problems such as pandemic control to interplanetary spaceflight. Spiegel Online (Germany)
(1/18)
    
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- Cosmic collision caused medieval radiation burst, theory says
New research suggests that Earth was hit in the year 774 by a short gamma-ray burst, the result of a collision between two black holes or neutron stars in the Milky Way. The theory, published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, builds on the discovery last year that the planet was struck by a blast of high energy during the Middle Ages. Ars Technica
(1/22)
, BBC
(1/21)
- Remains of ancient bird provide clues to its gender
Analysis of an ancient bird's remains discovered in northeastern China revealed that it was an ovulating female, according to findings published in the journal Nature Communications. Researchers were able to identify a medullary bone -- tissue unique in female birds actively reproducing -- allowing the scientists to succinctly conclude the gender of the 125-million-year-old creature. Researchers have unearthed hundreds of fossils of the extinct Confuciusornis sanctus, but until recently were unable to identify the birds' genders. LiveScience.com
(1/22)
- Study: Feathers are telling of a bird's health
The feather patterns on a red-legged partridge's chest can single-handedly reveal whether the bird is healthy or malnourished, scientists have discovered. Researchers point to a single calculation, called the fractal dimension, which is linked to the bird's health, according to findings published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Malnourished birds in the experiment featured a lower fractal dimension in the feather patterns on their chests, while healthy birds had a higher number. ScienceMag.org/Science Now blog
(1/22)
- Lab-bred mosquito may decrease spread of dengue fever
Scientists have created a genetically modified mosquito that could help decrease the spread of dengue-transmitting wild mosquitoes. The GM mosquitoes carry a gene that prevents female mosquitoes from flying or biting, so they die soon after birth. Male mosquitoes would carry the gene and pass it on to offspring, thus ensuring the gene's survival. Before researchers can release the insects, they'll need to prove that the mosquitoes would actually have an effect in natural habitats, as well as whether the reduction of dengue-carrying mosquitoes would actually stem the spread of the fever. SciDev.net
(1/22)
- Does an efficient brain also lead to more self-control?
A study published in the journal Nature Communications suggests that self-control may be tied to efficiently functioning brains. Researchers had taken a deeper look at participants in a "marshmallow test," and found that those who used the most efficient ways to accomplish a task tended to exert more self-control. However, the correlational findings do not show whether efficient brain function causes self-control nor do they explain whether nature or nurture influences self-control. LiveScience.com
(1/22)
- EVAR linked to higher aneurysm-related survival, fewer complications
Aneurysm-related survival rate increased with the use of minimally invasive endovascular aortic repair, as compared with the use of open surgical repair, according to findings reported at an endovascular therapy conference. Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms treated with EVAR showed 70% survival rate at 30 days, compared with 33% for patients treated with open surgical repair, researchers said. At five years, however, the two methods had similar mortality rates, though EVAR is linked to shorter hospital stays, fewer adverse events and reduced blood transfusions. TheHeart.org (Montreal) (free registration)
(1/22)
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- Institutes collaborate on translational research
The Scripps Research Institute, the Centre for Drug Research and Development in Canada, the Lead Discovery Center in Germany, the Centre for Drug Design and Discovery in Belgium and Cancer Research Technology and MRC Technology in the U.K. are partnering on a translational research effort dubbed the Global Alliance of Leading Drug Discovery and Development Centres. The partners intend to use their alliances with biopharmaceutical companies to boost best practices and create standards and metrics to translate research into new therapies more quickly. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News
(1/21)
, GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration)
(1/21)
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