http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/45494/title/%25%2B%23%24!_makes_you_feel_better
A new study actually shows that swearing can help alleviate pain. And not only can it do that but in some cases can actually reduce the amount of pain that is felt. In an experiment conducted by psychologist Richard Stephens and his colleagues at Keele University in England yielded surprising results. It showed that undergraduate students who sweared could keep there arms immersed in buckets of ice water longer than those who didn't. Female swearers who participated in the study actually reported a lesser amount of pain felt. However according to Stephens "Many more studies of different kinds of pain and different measures of effects are needed before researchers fully understand the impact of swear words."
Well this is interesting! But actually not entirely surprising. I have noticed this type of effect many times throughout my life and have wondered if it was just my imagination or not. Though I highly doubt parents around the world will accept this study as a valid excuse for their children's dirty mouths. I think we can expect plenty of mouths being washed out with soap far into the near future. I am curious to see what other types of effects cussing can have on the body. Who knows we may have only scratched the surface.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Neandertal genome yields evidence of interbreeding with humans
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58936/title/Neandertal_genome_yields_evidence_of_interbreeding_with_humans
Coming as a big surprise to many, evidence has been uncovered that shows that humans and neandertals interbred. This evidence shows that "about 1 percent to 4 percent of DNA in modern people from Europe and Asia was inherited from Neandertals." However, it is unsure how long this interbreeding may have lasted. A comparison of the genomes of neandertals to those of chimpanzees and humans showed that our species are not that far apart. Researcher could only find "78 proteins in which humans carry a different amino acid than is found in Neandertals and chimpanzees." The fact that humans and Neandertals could interbreed has raised the question "whether the two groups are different hominid species."
This discovery does not surprise me very much. New species often evolve as result of inter species breeding. It is a basic evolutionary process. However, this could make some people rather uncomfortable. We as humans tend to like to think of ourselves an elite somewhat "pure" species. Any thing that provides evidence to the contrary is kind of unnerving.
Coming as a big surprise to many, evidence has been uncovered that shows that humans and neandertals interbred. This evidence shows that "about 1 percent to 4 percent of DNA in modern people from Europe and Asia was inherited from Neandertals." However, it is unsure how long this interbreeding may have lasted. A comparison of the genomes of neandertals to those of chimpanzees and humans showed that our species are not that far apart. Researcher could only find "78 proteins in which humans carry a different amino acid than is found in Neandertals and chimpanzees." The fact that humans and Neandertals could interbreed has raised the question "whether the two groups are different hominid species."
This discovery does not surprise me very much. New species often evolve as result of inter species breeding. It is a basic evolutionary process. However, this could make some people rather uncomfortable. We as humans tend to like to think of ourselves an elite somewhat "pure" species. Any thing that provides evidence to the contrary is kind of unnerving.
World's biggest beaver dam found
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100505/sc_afp/canadascienceenvironmentanimalbeaver
The worlds biggest beaver dam has been found. A dam so large, that it can be seen from space! The Park was found by researcher Jean Thie, using Google satellite imagery. Thie observed the dam to be about 850 metres (2,800 feet) long. The dam is located near the southern edge of Wood Buffalo National Park, a Canadian national park. Thie speculates that the dam's construction began in the mid-1970's and has grown over the years. The record for largest beaver dam was previously held by a dam in Montana that measured 652 feet.
Wow, this is cool yet incredibly funny. I definitely never expected to hear of a beaver dam this big. Let alone one that could be seen from space. Its truly amazing that animals can create such amazing structures. I wonder what animal will create the next giant structure? Maybe it will be a giant hornet nest.
The worlds biggest beaver dam has been found. A dam so large, that it can be seen from space! The Park was found by researcher Jean Thie, using Google satellite imagery. Thie observed the dam to be about 850 metres (2,800 feet) long. The dam is located near the southern edge of Wood Buffalo National Park, a Canadian national park. Thie speculates that the dam's construction began in the mid-1970's and has grown over the years. The record for largest beaver dam was previously held by a dam in Montana that measured 652 feet.
Wow, this is cool yet incredibly funny. I definitely never expected to hear of a beaver dam this big. Let alone one that could be seen from space. Its truly amazing that animals can create such amazing structures. I wonder what animal will create the next giant structure? Maybe it will be a giant hornet nest.
Booming bittern: UK Minsmere wetlands film exclusive
One of the rarest mating rituals of any British animal has finally been caught on camera.A BBC natural history film crew has captured what experts believe is the first footage of a male bittern "booming" in daylight in the UK. Only 82 male bitterns survive in the country and the birds make their loud "booming" call to attract females. The full story of the "booming" bittern will be broadcast at 1900 BST on The One Show on BBC One on Thursday 6 May. Seeing let alone filming a male bittern booming in daylight is incredibly difficult. "I've been here five and half years and I've not yet been fortunate enough to witness one booming," bittern expert Mr Adam Rowlands told the BBC. And we know its safe to say this is one of the best discoveries BBC has come across.
This is most definitely a rare and very interesting catch by the people at BBC . I mean how rarely do you get to see an animal that is secluded do its mating ritual and catch it on camera. This is as big as catching the sharks ritual on camera. And i guess it is safe to say that this is one of the best discovery's for BBC as well as the world.
Works Cited
"BBC - Earth News - Booming Bittern: UK Minsmere Wetlands Film Exclusive." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. Web. 08 May 2010. .
"BBC - Earth News - Sloths' Bizarre 'toilet Habit' Recorded in Amazon, Peru." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. Web. 06 May 2010. .
"BBC News - Oil Spill: US Communities Watch, Uncertain." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. Web. 07 May 2010. .
"Ice Hockey History. Historical Facts About Hockey." College Athletic Scholarship. Sports Athletic Recruiting Scouting Information. Web. 07 May 2010. .
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Oil spill: US communities watch, uncertainly
Along the southern shore of Dauphin Island, troops from the Alabama National Guard splash in the warm shallows of the Gulf of Mexico. But this is no holiday trip. In fatigues and boots, they use large metal stakes to secure wire mesh boxes to the wet sand. Each box is lined with a tough green fabric. Looking back down the beach, it almost looked like angular tropical vegetation hugging the shore as far as the eye could see. In fact the boxes stretched for two miles. It has taken troops three days to place them, and one soldier said they had seven more miles to go. In the heat and humidity, it looked like very hard work.The troops were laying coastal defences. Once in place, the boxes will be filled with sand. A chemical that causes oil to solidify and makes it possible to scoop out will then be laid on top. These devices are used to take the oil out of the water and to hopefully help to make the ocean a better place and not any worse than it already is.
I believe what the government is doing and how they are going about doing it is truly a wonderful achievement/ way to go about it. In the recent future i believe that the oil spill will be not 100% but as close as possible to being back to normal and who knows maybe after they are finished the water may be better than it was and is.
"BBC News - Oil Spill: US Communities Watch, Uncertain." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. Web. 07 May 2010. .
Ozone hole close to closing
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/05/100505-science-environment-ozone-hole-25-years/
After being discovered 25 years ago, the hole in the ozone is close to closing. The cause, "unprecedented international action." However, some scientists say that this may not be a totally good thing. The ozone hole over Antarctica, actually created conditions that helped keep Antartical cool. Such as creating a reflective layer of sea spray that reflected some of the sun's heat. But despite this many scientists are excited over this develpment.
I don't really know what will happen with this. But I guess it really doesn't matter. Countries around the world have been working toward this goal, ever since the hole's discovery. And now they are close to seeing their dreams realized. Whether it warms antartica or not this shows a remarkable example of how humans can work together. If we all try hard enough at something, we can accomplish it.
After being discovered 25 years ago, the hole in the ozone is close to closing. The cause, "unprecedented international action." However, some scientists say that this may not be a totally good thing. The ozone hole over Antarctica, actually created conditions that helped keep Antartical cool. Such as creating a reflective layer of sea spray that reflected some of the sun's heat. But despite this many scientists are excited over this develpment.
I don't really know what will happen with this. But I guess it really doesn't matter. Countries around the world have been working toward this goal, ever since the hole's discovery. And now they are close to seeing their dreams realized. Whether it warms antartica or not this shows a remarkable example of how humans can work together. If we all try hard enough at something, we can accomplish it.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sloths' bizarre 'toilet habit' recorded in Amazon, Peru
In the near past Two-toed sloths have been recorded descending from the trees to feed out of a human toilets. This extraordinary behaviour that has been recorded on 25 different occasions has stumped scientists that study them. These sloths either crawl into the toilet to feed or scoop out the waste within. This to make this habit more bizarre than it seems the sloths are plant eaters and its not in their nature to feed off other animals fecal matter.Researchers speculate the sloths must derive some nutritional benefit from their bizarre feeding habit, though it is unclear exactly what that might be.The behaviour was recorded over a number of years by biologists working at the Estacion Biologica Quebrada Blanco field research site located in the Amazon rain forest in northeastern Peru. this unusual habit came from the new world monkeys or so scientists think. and if theirs one think to say this is a truly weird habit for a truly weird animal.
Ok i for one am really sickened at the completely nasty habits that this unusual animal is doing. It also makes it more unusual that this animal is a plant eater and is eating and non the less playing with human waste. this is truly sick and nasty in the bad way. But i guess thats just an unusual habit from an unusual animal.
Works Cited
"BBC - Earth News - Sloths' Bizarre 'toilet Habit' Recorded in Amazon, Peru." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. Web. 06 May 2010. .
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