Some mental health conditions share genetic patterns A study of brain tissue from people with either schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, depression or alcoholism suggests there are some similar gene expression patterns among those conditions. New Scientist Musk’s Tesla Roadster plots new orbital course The new projected orbit of SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster, launched […]
Unusual behavior of Centaurus A dwarf galaxies raises dark matter questions Scientists were surprised to find 14 dwarf galaxies swarming around the galaxy Centaurus A that are aligned and share an orbital plane, instead of moving in random orbits like their counterparts. The finding challenges current thoughts on how dark matter affects dwarf galaxies’ behaviour […]
Distant dwarf planet Haumea boasts a super-fast spin A dwarf planet that exists far past Neptune spins extremely fast on its axis. Haumea’s fast spin, once every four hours, contributes to its elongated shape. Space.com Ancient jawbone suggests earlier exit from Africa for modern humans The oldest human fossil ever found outside of Africa has […]
Changing weather in Arctic may threaten musk oxen Musk oxen, used to living in the Arctic’s extreme cold, may not do well in the region’s changing climate. The warmer, rainy weather has limited their ability to find food, leading to a decline in health. The New York Times Hunter-gatherers can identify smells better People living […]
Space travel can hurt astronauts’ eye nerves Tissues that surround part of astronauts’ optic nerves become damaged due to long-term space travel. The study looked at 15 astronauts who had been in space for about six months. Live Science Evidence that world’s freshwater is acidifying The world’s freshwater appears to be acidifying. Researchers noted an […]
Genes linked to exploration in birds may help them adapt to climate change Birds whose genes favour exploration of new habitats will likely handle climate change better than those inclined to stay where they are. Researchers have identified a pair of genes, DRD4 and DEAF1, in yellow warblers that are linked to migration and exploration […]
Sponge, algae growth on rise in Caribbean reefs Sponges and algae appear to be taking over reefs from coral in the Caribbean. Fewer predators due to overfishing and coral bleaching are spurring the growth of sponges, which have developed a nutritional relationship with the algae. National Geographic Arecibo grabs images of close-flying asteroid Puerto Rico’s […]
Mussels all over world show signs of plastic ingestion Microplastics are showing up in mussels around the world, including in the Arctic, and they may be making their way into human diets. Reuters Inflammatory protein found to attract amyloid-beta buildup in brain Large lumps of the inflammation-related ASC protein attract amyloid-beta, the protein that gathers […]
Life in early colonial Mexico charted on unique aztec map A rare map dating back to 1593 offers clues about Spanish explorers and the indigenous peoples of Mexico. The map, which is available to view on the Library of Congress website, is called the Codex Quetzalecatzin and details the lineage of a family known as […]
Massive geomagnetic storm likely cause of red skies over East Asia in 1770 A powerful geomagnetic storm is the likely cause of red auroras seen in the skies for nine days over much of East Asia in 1770. Researchers scoured more than 100 historical documents and drawings to find accounts of the major event, which […]