Top 7 Science Facts That Will Scare You - http://clapway.com/2016/01/22/top-7-science-facts-that-will-scare-you/

Science can be a very enlightening subject, but it can also be a very scary subject. There are certain aspects to Science that make our blood curdle, but they must be accepted.

FACT 1

Everyone is aware that the human body is composed of bacteria. However, are you truly aware of how much bacteria? Well, there is actually 10 times more bacteria in the human body, then there is in the human cells.

FACT 2

This next fact proves that without your brain, humans would have no teeth! Science indicates that the human jaw can destroy all of the teeth inside of them. However, the brain is the sole reason why this never happens because it prevents the occurrence from happening.

FACT 3

Nobody likes mosquitoes because all they do is suck your blood. They are probably the most annoying insect on the planet, but are you aware of how deadly they are? They have actually killed more people than all of the wars combined! You can now pick your jaw up from off the floor.

FACT 4

Who needs a head to live? Well, cockroaches sure don’t because they can actually survive for several weeks without a head. Trust me, cockroaches were already disgusting, but now you will never look at them the same.

FACT 5

For those of you who love mushrooms, this fact is for you. We, humans, are actually more genetically related to mushrooms, then they are to plants. Next time you eat a mushroom, just remember that you are actually eating one of your own!

FACT 6

Did you ever believe that you and your mother were connected forever? Well, you are not far off because bits of your genetic material will actually live in your mother forever. Curse you, Science!

FACT 7

Out of the 100 billion galaxies in the world, the naked eye can only detect four of them. That is almost hard to fathom, and it makes you wonder just how alone we really are!

Top 7 Science Facts That Will Scare You

Top 4 Reasons Why Losing Powerball or Another Lottery Ticket is Good for You - http://clapway.com/2016/01/22/top-4-reasons-why-losing-powerball-or-another-lottery-ticket-is-good-for-you/

One of everyone’s biggest dreams is to someday win the lottery, right? The thought of gaining millions of dollars by not doing anything is simply amazing. However, it is not as good as you might think, and here are a couple reasons why actually losing the Powerball, or lottery, is good.

ONE

There was a study taken back in 1978, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, that interviewed lottery winners, non-winners, and people who had been in a serious accident. The study found that the lottery winners were at first severely happy but then went back to normal. They were actually about as happy as the non-winners, and only a little happier than the people involved in serious accidents.

TWO

Another study was taken, in 2008 by the University of California, that showed that lottery winners had no effect on their happiness. This study measured the winners happiness six months after they won, and there was no increase.

THREE

There was a man, Jack Whittaker, who won the Powerball jackpot way back in 2002. He first gave $14 million of the Powerball to charity, but then it went downhill. He then had his house broken into, his car broken into, and then received multiple DUI’s. He was quoted as saying that he wished he had torn that Powerball ticket in half. Those are some strong words from a man who most would consider being the luckiest man on Earth.

FOUR

The overall main reason why losing the Powerball is actually a good thing is money can change you. Sure, millions of dollars sound nice, but money ultimately leads to greed. Also, nobody really knows what to do with this much money, unless you’re a professional athlete. Next time you lose the Powerball, make sure to not feel depressed. Instead, count yourself lucky because it could have ended up affecting your life in a negative way.

Top 4 Reasons Why Losing Powerball or Another Lottery Ticket is Good for You

Penelope"s Reflection - http://clapway.com/2015/12/25/penelopes-reflection/

Raising children is probably the hardest thing anyone can do. If you are as lucky as I am, they will turn out fine despite the horrid middle school years that girls go through, or the idiotic statements people make when they think that difference matters, or the scrapes, the lost teeth, or their parents’ ridiculous behavior. I do not take credit for my children being who they are. They survived. They survived public school, they survived the chicken pox, and crazy walks in blizzards and ice skating on days so cold that school closed. They survived the camping trips, a huge extended family, good teachers and bad, Halloween costumes and losing friends. One of them survived open-heart surgery, another survived a blow to the head from a friend pretending to be a hockey player, and another survived a divorce that came during middle school (which is never a good time for anyone to survive anything).

Having children suspends life in a limbo that wiggles about the middle branches of life. Once this limbo reaches the top branch of the tree, they are adults. I never climbed to the top of the tree to see where they were going because what was important was where they were at the moment. I had no control of their future; I just needed to support them while they figured out the world.

Now, I am happy for who them. They are successful, healthy, smart, beautiful, compassionate, and everything else that a mother wants their children to be. Life will continue to provide them with obstacles as it did when they were children. They may make some of the same mistakes that I did, and I hope they learned that if they fall into a rut they have the sense to pull themselves out of it on their own or to ask for help. Life tosses at us into the rut of work, marriage, and making ends meet. Ruts are important, but the key lies in learning how to get out of them or asking someone to give you a push when you are mired.

Raising children shows us that we are resilient creatures. The worries we have, the defenses we build, the ultimate fears that come along with raising them are part of the package. Only in retrospect can I see from the top branch of the tree that if you use your resources right they will survive.

Penelope"s Reflection

Science and Religion Help Russia Fight Against ISIS - http://clapway.com/2015/11/24/science-and-religion-help-russia-fight-against-isis123/

The Russian Orthodox Church has declared that it fully supports Russian efforts to track down and hunt down ISIS in Syria, claiming that it is vital that the Christians of the Middle East remain safe from the threat of terrorism. This is a very surprising statement to hear from a religious institution, albeit a very welcome one.

Science and Religion: Do We Stand Together Against Terrorism?

While the war on terror requires technology and plenty of science, it also requires faith. Be it Darwin, Einstein or Stephen Hawking, faith is a vital factor against fear, and it is necessary for enlightenment. This kind of statement from a church means that Russia stands with the people who flee the terror that ISIS has instilled upon its own people, claiming jihad as if it were an imposing power to all. Science and Religion should have to join forces to fight back, and this kind of encouragement boosts people to go forward and encourages them to fight on.

The Fight Against ISIS Cannot Be Fought Alone

As much as weapons and technology can bring, the most important factor in the fight against ISIS is people. People who believe in the potential in other people, and those who can draw the line between fanatics and true faith. This move by the Russian Orthodox Church shows humility, maturity and solidarity, and it could surely boost Russian morale against this terrible fight against ISIS.

Science and Religion Help Russia Fight Against ISIS

Science Has Proof of the Existence of God - http://clapway.com/2015/11/24/science-has-a-proof-of-existence-of-god123/

Throughout Pope Francis’ trip through to Philadelphia in September, one of the children brought to the popemobile was Gianna Masciantonio, a 1-year-old with an unusual brain tumor. Recently, her parents said that the lump has actually diminished significantly, right after being kissed by Pope Francis.

Joe Masciantonio claimed his daughter’s tumor was  basically gone after several rounds of surgical procedure as well as radiation treatment. One family members friend called the lady’s meet with the pontiff a ‘Miracle on Market Street.’ Gianna’s brain tumor was believed to be unusable, and also doctors had offered her only months to live. She contracted a tumor just two weeks after being born, and after hearing the Pope was visiting Philadelphia, Gianna’s doctor suggested them do go see him.

Science Versus God: The Debate Catches Fire

This can mean many things. It’s almost expected of popes to be able to perform miracles, and thanks to this, we may as well see Pope Francis canonized. But what do science and the scientific community have to say about something like this?

The power of faith, be it in religion or in science, knows no bounds. This much is clear from the infinite power we have seen a rise from both forces. The scientific community must have something to say of instances like this, and the world would be happy to hear it. To all science enthusiasts out there, what stance do you take? To those who are religious, and those who are both, what are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments below!

Science Has Proof of the Existence of God

Science Explains Why Toddlers Run Like Ungainly Weirdos - http://clapway.com/2015/11/15/science-explains-toddlers-run-like-ungainly-weirdos/

We all suck at things as beginners. And toddlers, being newcomers to life, are the ultimate beginners. Ever seen one try to use a spoon? It’s disastrous.

Stop it. You’re embarrassing yourself.

This being said, we all know what it looks like when a toddler tries to run: the straight legs, the awkward waddle, the stomping feet that never seem to leave the ground. It’s almost as disastrous as their spoon usage. Some of us find it endearing, others find it hilarious, and others disconcerting. A calf or foal can run relatively gracefully within hours of its birth. Your kid has had over a year to figure this out. Why is he so bad at this?

While human kind’s notoriously slow mental and motor development compared to that of other animals may seem like the obvious answer, studies show that this is not in fact the case. A recent study on adult and child gaits explains that due to the incredible physical complexity of the human walk, its most effective, economical method is dependent on the size and proportions of the walker. This being said, due to the high energy costs of terrestrial locomotion, humans will generally seek out the most economical (or some might say “laziest”) methods for getting around, as shown in the study here, in which scientists recorded how people continuously adjusted their walking to different physical constraints.

According to the study on adult and child gaits, terrestrial animals experience “disproportionally higher power demands at smaller scales,” so your little tyke technically needs to do more work in less time in order to get around. In short, (pun sort of intended), proportions are everything, and your kid’s funny run comes down to locomotive economics. A toddler walk isn’t different from an adult walk because he doesn’t know what he’s doing, it’s different because he knows exactly what he’s doing, and is using a method that is best suited for his smaller, stubbier dimensions. With proportionally shorter legs and smaller strides, toddlers have less time to lift their feet off the ground as they move, and as they pick up speed into a run, they have even less time, which perhaps helps explain their “longer stance durations,” running with “marginally no aerial phase,” manifesting as a stiff limbed, clunky running gait.

Billy! What did daddy say about utilizing your aerial phase?

To demonstrate how much a biped’s physical dimensions affects how it moves, and to console you with the notion that your child isn’t alone in looking awkward, here’s a video of a computer simulation trying to figure out how to walk and run with different body proportions (it’s actually kind of funny. In a scientific way. Obviously).

Moral of the story is that your kid’s doing the best he can with what he’s currently got. For those of you who are worried about your ungainly child’s future athletic career, in a few years he could be running like a gazelle down the track or field. Unless, of course, he finds musical theater to be more his scene.

 

 

Science Explains Why Toddlers Run Like Ungainly Weirdos

Gender Inequality in Science is Improving - http://clapway.com/2015/11/11/gender-inequality-in-science-is-improving123/

650 young scientists gathered for the 2015 Lindau Nobel meeting, and 42% of them were women, but that doesn’t mean there is no gender inequality in science. It’s no news that most Nobel prize recipients are middle-aged or elderly men, most of them white, but it looks like things are starting to change.

The Grounds Are Starting to Level

There were three female laureates present at the meeting this year, which makes for an astounding difference in figures as opposed to the younger scientists in attendance. Gender inequality has been rampant among laureates for generations, and change is still a ways away. Gender inequality is a pressing issue, especially in the scientific community where women are more likely to drop out of the field than men, and as newer and more diversified generations of young scientists emerge, they hope to bring change.

Laureate Ada Yonath specifically, was seen as an outcast, the local village nut, yet she brought in pivotal research on the structure of the ribosome. For fear of being dismissed as crazy or limited job opportunities, many women are forced to leave the scientific field. As careers progress, they may be discriminated against for a combination of gender and race, even religion, and this has to see a change.

The Battle is Not Yet Won

The team of 650 young scientists that attended the meeting this year will be taking everything they learned back to their home towns and countries, and they will carry the mission of spreading excitement for science to all, especially to females. Women in science are necessary, and gender inequality must be balanced.

Gender Inequality in Science is Improving

The Internet Was Invented for Science, Not Porn - http://clapway.com/2015/11/09/the-internet-was-invented-for-science-not-porn123/

The internet cannot be credited as invented by one person, but it was invented for one purpose: to connect people and share information, not for porn. The progress of the internet came from a large collaboration of people from all over the world, from the corners of England to France to America, and the goal was to unite communities and achieve computing tasks and forward technology. It was surely not for the sake of porn.

The top searched term in the entirety of the internet is ‘porno’. Between 2012 and 2014, the word was put into search engines over 150 million times every month, all over the world. Surely this isn’t what the internet was invented for but it’s how it has turned out.

Pornography establishes unconventional connections, but not between humans. It establishes a connection with a pseudo human, and the technology itself, but is this necessarily wrong? It’s an unprecedented result, surely, but porn can’t exactly be labeled as a bad one. Throughout time humans have always needed a sexual outlet, and the internet has given us one which is not 100% tangible, but it’s effective.

This does stray from the principle of the internet, though, because porn stops us from connecting with each other and connects us to a machine, but at this point, the power of the internet can’t be measured and it can’t be controlled, so it’s just a matter of moving forward and striving for better.

The Internet Was Invented for Science, Not Porn

Meet Homo naledi, Our New Human Ancestor - http://clapway.com/2015/10/06/homo-naledi-skulls-found-in-africa-darwin/

Meet Homo naledi

Cavers Steven Tucker and Rick Hunter were spelunking in South Africa and uncovered one of the most significant discoveries in human evolution in last 50 years – the skulls and remains of Homo naledi.

Not Quite Human, But Close

The new hominin species was announced in September by an international team of more than 60 scientists led by American paleoanthropologist Lee R. Berger, also a professor of human evolution studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. The species name, H. naledi, signifies the cave where the bones were discovered. “naledi” means “star” in the Sesotho language.

Homo Neladi, although close to being human, it is not. The species had a tiny brain, around half the size of a humans, and a large ape like body. Tucker and Hunter were exploring the Rising Star cave outside of Johannesburg, aka the Cradle of Humankind, two years ago and found a trove of human-like skeletons.

Although the cave had been traversed many times in the past, these remains were distinguished for having small wiry frames.

The Details

Hunter and Tucker knew the importance of the discovery and immediately set out to find a team to help extract the remains. They made a post on Facebook that quickly skyrocketed, and they received many supporters. From those, they strategically chose 6 women to form a team and extract the skeletons.

Altogether the team extracted 1,550 specimens. They were able to recover four partial skulls, two males and two females. They also found nearly complete skeletons. There were adult, juvenile and infant remains extracted,

Approximately 20 scientists from 15 countries studied the findings both on and off site and are sharing their discoveries as they happen.

Homo Neladi is even closer to being human than its found predecessor, Homo erectus, which is dated to having lived 1.6 million years ago.

Homo neladi has not been carbon dated yet.

The creatures were practically half human. The teeth were close to being human; the back half match while the front half does not. The hip’s top half is human like and the bottom half ape like.

Humans are partially defined by their logical processes, so Darwin, eat your heart out.

So If You’re Headed to South Africa to Make Some Discoveries Yourself, Check This Out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhjE7kUwfv8

Meet Homo naledi, Our New Human Ancestor

#Alaska met with a mysterious 30 #DeadWhales - http://clapway.com/2015/08/23/30-whales-mysteriously-dead-in-alaska-343/

Thirty dead whales were found washed ashore along Alaska’s southern coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) started investigating the case, looking for answers.

AN “UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT”

The federal government released an announcement on Thursday calling the matter an “unusual mortality event,” which is defined by the Marine Mammal Protection Act as animals that are stranded in an unexpected manner with the significant die-off of any marine mammal population that demands immediate response and action.

Related Post: Too Many Whale Deaths

The first mysterious whale death in Alaska was observed in May this year and, in total, 11 fin whales, 14 humpback whales, 1 lone grey whale and 4 other unidentified have been discovered in the last four months. The dead bodies have been washing up in along Western Alaska’s shores, such as Agognak Island, Kodial Island, the Semidi Islands and the Chirikof Island and scientists have already launched investigations in the areas of interest to uncover the mystery.

WHAT CAUSED THE WHALES’ DEATH?

While Julie Speegle from NOAA told The Guardian that their theory is that the harmful algal bloom has led the whales to their deaths, Teri Rowles says that the only one sample that has been taken from one of the whales revealed that that it was negative for domoic acid. Domoic acid is a toxin produced by algae, but since the samples are already beyond decomposition, the results may not be as definitive.

Rowles, who is the coordinator of the Fisheries Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response program, notes that the exact cause of the deaths will be determined after we obtain helpful data about the total state of the whales’ health and the environment they belong to.

Related Post: Sumatran Rhinos Extinct from Malaysia

In addition, another factor causing delay is the location itself. Bree Witteveen, a marine mammal specialist and lead investigator, says that acquiring samples from the dead whales is quite challenging due to Alaska’s massive, uninhabited and inaccessible coastline.

WHEN WILL WE GET SOME ANSWERS?

The investigation could take months or even years and the results may not lead to a conclusion. However, researchers are collecting water samples to search for any harmful substance or possible changes in water temperature, and they have been studying at least one species of seabird.

Related Post: An Endangered Bird Threatened by ISIS

The common mure has also been reported suffering a die-off in June, “in unusual numbers” and with “many appearing weak” in Alaska, and scientists do not know yet whether the bird deaths were related to the deaths of the whales.

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If you missed it, Clapway’s News in Review presented by Brandi and Samsung:

30 Whales Mysteriously Dead in Alaska

Too many are afflicted with #Alzheimer"sDisease - does it have to be? - http://clapway.com/2015/08/23/study-alzheimers-disease-caused-by-unhealthy-lifestyle-422/

The cause of one of the widespread health issues all over the world, Alzheimer’s disease still remains unsure to this day. It is calculated that at present, 44 million people have Alzheimer’s worldwide, making the need of a cure more and more urgent.

The idea of living a life without being able to remember anything from the past and the present seems hopeless, but, actually, that’s what Alzheimer’s patients deal with everyday, often not even recognising their own children. On a brighter note, A new study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, may be the key to uncover the disease.

LIFESTYLE INFLUENCING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

The team of scientists studied, identified and analyzed the factors from 323 surveys that had been conducted in the past, from 1968 to 2014. What the study showed was that Alzheimer’s may be prevented by a healthy lifestyle.

Low education, obesity, depression, high blood pressure, frailty, high levels of certain amino acids, low education and a narrowing of the carotid artery in the neck, are some of the most common factors reported among two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients. In addition, Alzheimer’s disease was found to be associated with diabetes and smoking among Asians but the findings are insufficient, although there is a clear correlation with one another.

Related Post: Does Alzheimer’s Disease Affect Races Differently?

On the contrary, protective effects against Alzheimer’s seem to have four medical exposures — statin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antihypertensives and estrogen — along with folate, vitamins E and C, and coffee. Also, patients that suffer from heart disease, metabolic syndrome, cancer, and arthritis were associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Jin-Tai Yu, associate specialist in neurology at the University of California and senior editor of the study, notes that this research can prove important to people “if they correctly address the potentially modifiable risk factors that might help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.”

THE NUMBERS ARE POSITIVE

Another study published in The Lancet Neurology Journals unveils that dementia rates have been stabilizing in Europe with healthy lifestyle and regular exercise playing important parts. However, scientists are pointing out that mental diseases still remain an issue, especially since the costs involved in taking care of sufferers are extremely high and those afflicted have little chance of recovery.

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Britain’s Alzheimer’s Society says that the study shows that the percentage of people in particular age groups developing dementia is getting smaller but the overall number of patients will increase as more people live into their 80s and 90s.

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Catch up on the week with Clapway’s Best of the Week:

Study: Alzheimer"s Disease Caused by Unhealthy Lifestyle

Ancient Amber-Preserved Salamander Species Discovered by Scientists - http://clapway.com/2015/08/18/ancient-amber-preserved-salamander-species-discovered-by-scientists-233/

Scientists found the first amber-preserved salamander ever in the mountains of the Dominican Republic.

The finding is remarkable, not only because of the amber, but because no species of salamander was previously thought to have ever existed in the Caribbean islands. The exciting discovery by University of California at Berkeley and Oregon State University were published in the journal Palaeodiversity.

“There are very few salamander fossils of any type, and no one has ever found a salamander preserved in amber,” said George Poinar Jr., one of the study’s scientists, in a press release.“And finding it in Dominican amber was especially unexpected, because today no salamanders, even living ones, have ever been found in that region.”

WHAT KILLED THE AMBER-ENTOMBED SPECIES?

Researchers do not yet know what caused the salamander species’ extinction. “They may have been killed by some climatic event, or were vulnerable to some type of predator,” Poinar speculated. As its salamander is missing a leg, researchers believe that the fossil became preserved after escaping from a predator and falling into a deposit of resin that gradually turned into amber.

ORIGINS OF AMBER SALAMANDER

This fight that resulted in the fossil’s composition is believed to have taken place more than 20 million years ago. The lineage of the species itself, however, may date back to between 40 and 60 million years ago, when what is today known as the Greater Antilles region was still attached to South and North America.

RELATED TO SALAMANDERS IN U.S.

The species of the amber-preserved salamander has been named Palaeonplethodon hispaniolae by the researchers. It is a member of the Plethodontidae family, other species of which are common to North America with a concentration in the Appalachians.

If this is true, then it is possible that because the amber-salamander’s species has only been found in the Caribbean, it remained in the area that became the Caribbean during and after it separated from South and North America. But the Palaeonplethodon hispaniolae has some notable features that distinguish it from the species that can be found in North America today, such as indistinct toes.

Ongoing Salamander stories here, here, here.

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Ancient Amber-Preserved Salamander Species Discovered by Scientists

Is #Wikipedia a new critical place for heated, interweb #debate? - http://clapway.com/2015/08/18/wikipedia-edit-wars-evidence-tampering-in-politically-controversial-topics433/

Wikipedia⎯our go-to information giant for all things under the sun and above⎯may be tainted, after all. Especially when it comes to politically charged science issues.

Wikipedia is subject to edit-wars over politically controversial issues

Wikipedia was launched more than a decade ago and has become one of the most accessed websites globally. It is the sixth most popular website with over thirty thousand active editors working on three million edits to the four million articles found on the English version of the website. The secret to the establishment and upkeep of one of the massive, accurate, most up-to-date fountains of information relies on the “bold, revert, and discuss” cycles implemented by Wikipedia. Volunteer editors are asked to make ‘bold’ edits, which could involve adding, deleting, or even rewriting article content. This could then be ‘reverted’ by another editor if they do not agree with the said edit. Following reversions, editors are encouraged to discuss the article on a dedicated “talk” page.

This method usually takes care of the due diligence required to publish accurate information, much like the peer-review process scientists undergo before they can publish. In fact, Wikipedia has built another filter into its system to prevent content of questionable content from getting out. It does not allow editors more than three reverts on a page within 24 hours. Despite these checks and controls, Wikipedia is seeing a surge in edit-wars often associated with politically controversial topics.

Politically controversial topics show higher edit rates on Wikipedia

Scientists from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, devised a method to study if the edit-wars on Wikipedia had any predilection towards political controversy. In a study published in PLOS ONE they looked at the editing behaviors associated with “politically controversial” (not scientifically controversial) and “politically uncontroversial” topics from 2003 to 2012.

The topics in the former category included acid rain, global warming, and evolution, whereas heliocentrism, general relativity, continental drift, and the standard model in physics constituted the latter category. These topics were compared on the basis of three metrics: 1) daily edit rate, 2) mean edit size (number of words added, deleted, changed etc), and 3) mean number of page views per day. They found that the edit rate for the acid rain topic was significantly lower than that for global warming and evolution, but greater than each of the uncontroversial topics. Moreover, the edit sizes for controversial topics were also categorically higher than uncontroversial ones.

Thus, topics whose scientific validity has been established unequivocally could still be subject to sabotage based solely on them being involved in the political quagmire. This study, though limited in its ability to make causative associations, brings up concerns about the reliability of Wikipedia as a source.

Is Wikipedia a reliable source of information?

In light of the edit-wars, information on Wikipedia needs to be scrutinized and compared with other sources of primary literature. Meanwhile, improved algorithms devised to identify hot-button issues and rate editors’ credibility could make Wikipedia more reliable.

In the end, when it comes to science, it pays to ask questions, and it never hurts to hear from different sources.

What political topics interest you? Comments welcome below.

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Keep your stuff safe with Nanoform:

Wikipedia Edit Wars: Evidence Tampering in Politically Controversial Topics

#Animal inspired #space technology -- coming your way! - http://clapway.com/2015/08/17/nasa-testing-climbing-robots-inspired-by-geckos-436/

Two pairs of sticky feet, a round body and some inspiration by geckos, the amazing lizards that can climb easily on walls, were enough for NASA to create a next generation climbing robot to help the engineers carry repair work on the ISS (International Space Station).

After that and NASA’s new rocket design to get us to Mars, you’ll believe that everything is possible.

GECKOS?

Geckos, according to the Wikipedia are lizards living in warm climates and their size ranges from 0.62 to 23.6 inches. Their toes have an adaptation that allow them to adhere to most surfaces using their spatula-shaped setae on their footpads.

That was the concept that Aaron Parness and his colleagues from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California used and created a material with synthetic hairs, much thinner than a human hair. These hairs bend everytime a force is applied and that’s how the designed material sticks to a desired surface, supporting more than 150 Newtons of force.

“This is how the gecko does it,” Parness says, and you can watch a mini demonstration by the team here.

WHAT DID THE TESTS SAY?

In a zero gravity test, the robots were able to hang on and handle a 22 pounds cube and a 220 pounds person. As with geckos’ toes, the prototype feet that NASA designed did not lose their effectiveness even after 30,000 stick-and-unstick repetitions and the hope is the new material could soon be used on the International Space Station.

The amazing material that was used to develop these revolutionary robotic parts has been tested under extreme conditions and its effectiveness is not influenced by radiation or temperature. Its strength could come handy for ISS employees and NASA has already created different sizes of patches that can be used to hang objects on walls in zero-gravity.

NASA HAS BEEN BUSY LATELY

With the vision to use robot technology beyond the ISS borders (or even in the outer space) Parness and his team of researchers created hand-operated “astronaut anchors,” and they are also testing a lemur climbing robot, which is equipped with gecko super-feet.

Ah, technology.

>FOR MORE SPACE NEWS YOU CAN ALWAYS VISIT CLAPWAY SPACE

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Been to space yet? Space Scouts will take you there:

NASA Testing Climbing Robots Inspired by Geckos

%In the #aftermath of the conflicts between #Israel and #Gaza in #2012, medical teams had no access to important equipment in order to take care of the #injured.% - http://clapway.com/2015/08/16/stethoscope-3d-printed-099/

Tarek Loubani, a doctor working at the Shifa hospital in Gaza, has figured out a way to give hospitals across the blockaded strip easy access to low-cost medical instruments. Loubani has developed a stethoscope which costs only 30 cents and can be 3D printed.

THE PROJECT GLIA

Tarek Loubani has been “trying to release high quality free medical hardware to increase availability to those who need it”, as the website of Glia project states. Project Glia, according to The Register, was developed in the aftermath of the conflicts between Israel and Gaza in 2012, when Loubani and his medical team had no access to important equipment in order to take care of those injured.

In fact, as he said at the Chaos Communications Camp, he was forced to put his ear to the victims’ chests in order to hear their heartbeats due to the lack of good stethoscopes.

THE 30-CENT-STETHOSCOPE

Together with a team of medical and technology specialists, Tarek Loubani designed the stethoscope and tested it against global standard benchmarks and, as he says, it is as good as any stethoscope -“and he has the data to prove it”.

Now, he is confident that the medical instrument that he funded himself and has cost him more than 11,000 dollars so far will be approved soon since it has only been used locally for the past six months. Also, audio-frequency response curve tests revealed that it provides better sound quality than the infamous Littman Cardiology III.

The idea of the 3D-printed stethoscope was inspired by his nephew. When Loubani tested his stethoscope toy, he found it performed much better than expected.

The innovative stethoscope by project Glia has been released as an open source model on Github for anyone to use.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The stethoscope was just the beginning since the team is now working on some of the most expensive devices in medical centers including a pulse oximeter, an electrocardiogram for cardiac patients and will work on haemodialysis machines.

Loubani’s goal is to replace expensive solutions, following the footsteps of the Free Software Movement, and he hopes that in 25 years the world is going to be a better place. For everyone.

TAKE THE WORLD’S PULSE WITH CLAPWAY’S NEWS IN REVIEW

The World"s Best Stethoscope is 3D-Printed

%Recently, we reported on a new #study from scientists who managed to sequence the first #octopus #genome, trying to map out the #cephalopod"s entire #DNA.% - http://clapway.com/2015/08/16/octopus-alien-more-like-humans-101/

Recently, we reported on a new study from scientists who managed to sequence the first octopus genome, trying to map out the cephalopod’s entire DNA. Sure, what they found was extraordinary and they proved that octopuses are very different from other creatures, but you are not prepared for what is coming.

The team of scientists published their impressive study, for the purpose of which they used the California two-spot octopus as their subject. Then, they combined forces with a group of researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology in Japan and, together, they discovered the octopus’ strange genetics that made it the first intelligent creature on planet Earth, when it developed half a billion years ago.

DEFINE “INTELLIGENT”

Studies have found that octopuses are extremely intelligent since their behaviors can prove that they do not possess just a short-term memory, but a more complex, long-term one.

They know how to open jars in order to eat their prey, they solve puzzles, they can find their way out of a maze and they can use tools like coconuts in order to build a shelter. Their intelligence, though, seems like a necessity since parents do not learn young octopuses anything due to their little contact after their birth.

Some countries consider octopuses so intelligent that they ban them as experimental animals without anesthesia.

AND BECAUSE OCTOPUSES ARE A LOT LIKE HUMANS

Humans have 20,000 – 25,000 genes, while octopuses have 33,000 and, while uncovering the sequence, scientists discovered that some of them are similar to those found in humans and are responsible for their quick adaptation and learning.

Also, both humans and octopuses have a large brain, closed circulatory system, and their eyes are composed of an iris, retina, and lens. However, the most amazing discovery was the ability of the octopus to improve on its own genetic code, which is common in humans and other animals, but octopuses can even edit their own RNA. Trying to adjust to any condition an octopus can adapt its nerves in order to fight the extremely low temperature of the ocean. Octopuses can also taste their food due to a function of their sucker, making them selective with their dinner.

BUT WHAT IF THE OCTOPUS IS AN ALIEN?

Those who believe that octopuses come from aliens, rely on the similarities that these creatures have with humans since all the above are independently developed in another species different from our own mammal origins, and it may seem strange, but we will get an answer soon. After all, this project has given the world many possibilities and the process of breaking down the genome has only just begun, keeping us in suspense for what is about to come.

Is The Octopus An Alien, Or More Like Humans?

Spider Webs Cover Dallas Trees - http://clapway.com/2015/08/08/spider-webs-dallas-texas-101/

CATCHING UP WITH THE STORY

When you wake up in the morning to have your cup of Joe before driving to work or just out for a morning stroll, you don’t expect anything. But a suburb in Dallas Texas just got something they weren’t expecting.

In the light of day were the trees familiar to locals, only totally covered in spider webs, like a morbid curtain. The trees covered in spider webs also had thousands of the eight-legged arachnids crawling all over the place.

News broke out about this strange sight in Texas A&M AgriLife. This happened on July 31st, however, more up-to-date coverage can be found here.

SPIDER WEBS NOT SO STRANGE AFTER ALL

Seeing trees covered in spider webs, as it turns out, is no new occurrence for locals; its occurrence is regular in frequency. The last reported incident such as this was back in 2007, creepily near the nearest incident.

The culprit responsible was the Tetragnatha guatemalensis spider that builds huge nests when it deems the weather okay to do so. The range of this spider can be found in Minnesota, Kansas, New Mexico, and Southern California in the States.

AN UNDERSTANDING

So when residents saw the trees covered in spider webs that day in July, no one was seriously, frightfully alarmed. For the spiders, the conditions to build that huge curtains of webs include having lots of small bugs by lakes—so an abundance of food source is a necessary condition for this massive web.

But even though these huge nests occur every now and then, the trees covered in spider webs and just the sight of the huge nests are a rare sight to see. Moreover, you don’t need to use bug spray because this specific species of spider isn’t harmful to humans.

Which is also another reason why there wasn’t a huge concern about the sight but rather surprise, as the spider isn’t aggressive. It may look creepy, but it’s harmless. However, it is a wonder to see the Dallas suburb trees covered in spider webs and awe-inspiring.

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Spider Webs Cover Dallas Trees

Eye Shape Determines Friend from Foe - http://clapway.com/2015/08/08/eye-shape-determines-friend-from-foe-101/

THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

Suffice to say, there are a great many animals in this world that are endlessly fascinating and new to science. We learn more about them everyday, just as we continue learning about ourselves in this harried adventure called life.

Which is why there is a whole field of study that brings science closer to the animals. Today, scientific research has revealed some interesting new findings regarding the animal kingdom.

Have you ever wondered what constraints influence an animal in order to make a friend or foe? Or at least wondered how differentiate the two groups more quickly?

SOME INTERESTING RESEARCH

In a study that was published just yesterday in the Science Advances, new research brings to the public a way of determining predator from prey, by way of an animal’s eye shape.

After all there is a noticeable difference between the eye of an crocodile and a sheep’s eye. Each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Especially in the sheep’s case who can see what’s behind them but suffer from bad depth perception. To contrast, crocodiles can see very well underwater with the protective membrane.

INSIGHT INTO EYE SHAPE

According to an article in the New York Times, the study gathered its information from a pool of around 214 animals. In the study, the eye shape of the animals was shown to determine the habits and advantages of each animal.

Such findings include that the horizontal eye seen in horses, sheep, and cows may help to let more light in from the left to right side and see predators from different directions better. This allows the eye to stay parallel to the ground regardless of the head’s inclination.

Whereas the vertical slits we see in cats may help in surprising prey when pouncing. But that hypothesis loses legitimacy when considering tigers or lions (who have circular eye shapes).

But it may be due to the difference in height with regard to other predators with vertical eye shapes that may explain why some larger predators lack the vertical slit. One thing can be said about this study; as one scientist commented, it’s a wonder that no one noticed this earlier and studied the differences in eye shape vs. hunting or living habits.

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REGARDLESS OF EYE SHAPE, BLUE LIGHT THERAPY WILL PLEASE

Eye Shape Determines Friend from Foe

Researchers Study the Science Behind Screams - http://clapway.com/2015/07/16/researchers-study-the-science-behind-screams536/

Screams in Pop Culture

We all know screams really well from horror films in a variety of ways, some iconic, some not. Perhaps film lovers may think of Psycho, Scream, and similar films. It is one of the easiest ways to tell if someone is in danger to other characters in the film, more often than not it is the stereotype of the female lead being in danger that alerts others to the threat or danger.

The signaling of danger holds true in real life as well, but also showing distress or if your baby needs to be fed or is being fussy, needs a diaper change. Nevertheless, in the different contexts if informs you of the situation.

The point is, scream tell a lot about ourselves and our way of communication. The trick is to puzzle out what the scream is telling us. A question researchers have undertaken.

The Study about scream
Current Biology featured an article today that was sent in to the journal back in March. The team of five researchers then focused their studies on the acoustics of scream and the signals it raises, the behavior it induces, and how the pitch affects our behavior and how we react.

Origins of the study

The study came about when one of the authors of the study’s postdoctoral students had new additions to their families. What initially was a round of sympathetic shoulders to cry and lament on about the work load of being a new parent turned into a science inquiry about the nature of communication in screams.

They then began analyzing various clips of screams from film, real life, etc. to find that the scream live in a rugged terrain in the sound world. In turn, while monitoring brain activity while people listened to brain activity, the sounds stimulated the amygdala in which the most terror inducing scream came from the roughest one.

The uniqueness of the study was not lost on David Poeppel, professor of the postdoc students, when he was asked about the study and commented on the fact that the range in which screams occur is something that is done purposefully biological for the purpose of using it only when we need to—which is why screams are integral to survival and trigger a fight or flight response.

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Researchers Study the Science Behind Screams

Sloths have a contender in pandas, apparently. - http://clapway.com/2015/07/11/study-reveals-why-pandas-are-lazy-124/

Have you ever found yourself wondering why you were not born panda — sitting on a tree branch all day, eating bamboo and doing nothing? A recent study on the metabolism of giant pandas, however, found out that the animal requires low energy use daily — a reason why it can simply live off a vegetarian diet.

Only 1,800 pandas left

The giant Panda is a rare animal and it is classified as a conservation-reliant endangered species. It is native to south-central China and it is believed that only 1,800 are remaining in the wild. The animal’s diet is made up of 99% bamboo, and they sometimes feed off of with other grasses and wild tubers.

By tracking the daily life of five captive pandas and three wild ones, the study, which was published in the journal Science last Thursday, discovered that the energy expenditure of pandas is as sluggish as that of sloths. This study, in fact, suggests that pandas use only about 38 percent of the energy which is usually used by smaller-sized animals.

More sluggish than sloths

According to the research: “The giant pandas’ energy measurements are among the lowest (relative to body mass) ever made for mammals not in torpor, which is a sort of suspended animation. The daily energy expenditure values for giant pandas are substantially lower than those for koalas, for example, and more akin to those of three-toed sloths”.

Scientists found out that the low-energy demand of pandas is also due to the size of their brains, livers and kidneys which are substantially smaller if compared to those of other bears. Also, the levels of thyroid hormone of giant pandas are very low and are comparable to those of an hibernating black bear. The thyroid hormones play a big role in regulating body weight and energy, therefore low levels could be considered the reason why pandas are so sluggish.

Not “couch potatoes” after all

So, although the stomach of a giant panda is perfectly structured and equipped for meat, the animal’s exceptionally low energy consumption and metabolism rates lead to a bamboo-based diet only. So, while we were all thinking that pandas are just “couch potatoes” doing nothing but eating green sticks, they are actually just following their daily energy requirements.

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Study Reveals Why Pandas Are "Lazy"