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- Cornell library releases massive collection of animal sounds
The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has released online nearly 150,000 digital recordings of 9,000 animal species. The audio collection is the world's oldest and largest library of sounds, and curators said they are working on improving search functions and collaboration tools to expand access to a larger public. "It's just plain fun to listen to these sounds," said one curator. "Have you heard the sound of a walrus underwater? It's an amazing sound." LiveScience.com
(1/15)
    
- Study: Chimps possess sense of equality
Chimpanzees may be capable of sensing and valuing fairness, much as humans do, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Earlier experiments suggested chimps were "rational maximizers," more concerned with receiving treats than with who got what. But the new study found chimps reacted negatively when they perceived a slight, such as their neighbor receiving a better reward, and were able to adjust to ensure equality for all. LiveScience.com
(1/14)
- DNA tests link aboriginal Australians to India
Scientists have long believed that aboriginal Australians did not mix their DNA with other nationalities, but new DNA evidence suggests biological links between aboriginal Australians and people from India. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that interbreeding occurred as early as 4,200 years ago, and may have coincided with the time the dingo, the Australian wild dog, appeared on the continent. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)
(1/14)
- Stones discovered in Panama are evidence of shamanic rituals
Archaeologists in Panama uncovered a set of shaman stones in a Pre-Columbian rock shelter first discovered in the 1970s, according to findings published in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. Carbon dating puts the stones at between 4,000 and 4,800 years old and may be the earliest evidence of shamanic rituals in the Central American region. LiveScience.com
(1/15)
- Research IDs 25 gene variants tied to autism
DNA samples collected from individuals with and without autism showed 25 new gene variants associated with a higher risk for developing autism spectrum disorder. Although researchers found a link between these genetic variants and increased autism risk, they failed to prove a causal relationship. The findings appear in the journal PLoS One. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News
(1/14)
- Could early musical training breed extra brain power?
Early musical training can not only significantly increase chances of expressing talent, but can also leave long-lasting effects on the brain. A study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that musicians who started training before the age of 7 developed more extensive connectivity in the corpus callosum, the region of the brain linking both hemispheres. Researchers speculate that the formation of the extra wiring occurs because training before 7 would coincide with critical brain development. New Scientist
(1/15)
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- World Bank: $10B pipeline to Dead Sea is "feasible"
A $10 billion proposal connecting the Red Sea to the Dead Sea is "feasible," according to studies by the World Bank. The project, spearheaded by Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, is aimed at preserving water levels in the Dead Sea and could generate hydroelectricity for a desalination plant. The studies found that the most economically and environmentally sound plan would be to build a pipeline for the water flow. Nature/News Blog
(1/15)
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