Clark Science Center Intranet

New details about H7N9 influenza infections that suddenly appeared in China

Structure from disorder: Scientists find new source of versatility so 'floppy...
Many proteins work like Swiss Army knives, fitting multiple functions into their elaborately folded structures. A bit mysteriously, some proteins manage to multitask even with structures that are unfolded and floppy -- "intrinsically disordered." Scientists have now discovered an important trick tha...

Chemical that makes naked mole rats cancer-proof discovered
Scientists have discovered the chemical that makes naked mole rats cancer-proof. Naked mole rats are small, hairless, subterranean rodents that have never been known to get cancer, despite having a 30-year lifespan. Scientists discovered that these rodents are protected from cancer because their tis...

Mars had oxygen-rich atmosphere 4,000 million years ago
Differences between Martian meteorites and rocks examined by a NASA rover can be explained if Mars had an oxygen-rich atmosphere 4,000 million years ago -- well before the rise of atmospheric oxygen on Earth 2,500 million years ago.

Milestone for quantum networks: First entanglement between light and an optic...
Using clouds of ultra-cold atoms and a pair of lasers operating at optical wavelengths, researchers have reached a quantum network milestone: entangling light with an optical atomic coherence composed of interacting atoms in two different states.

Practical new approach to holographic video could also enable 2-D displays wi...
A practical new approach to holographic video could also enable 2-D displays with higher resolution and lower power consumption.

No danger of cancer through gene therapy virus, study suggests
The first modified adeno-associated virus was recently approved for clinical gene therapy in the Western world. Scientists say it appears that no cancer risk emanates from the virus used for gene delivery.

Environmentally friendly battery made from wood
Taking inspiration from trees, scientists have developed a battery made from a sliver of wood coated with tin that shows promise for becoming a tiny, long-lasting, efficient and environmentally friendly energy source. The device is 1,000 times thinner than a sheet of paper.

The rhythm of the Arctic summer: Diverse activity patterns of birds during th...
Our internal circadian clock regulates daily life processes and is synchronized by external cues, the so-called Zeitgebers. The main cue is the light-dark cycle, whose strength is largely reduced in extreme habitats such as in the Arctic during the polar summer. Using a radiotelemetry system biologi...

Antioxidant shows promise in Parkinson's disease
Diapocynin, a synthetic molecule derived from a naturally occurring compound (apocynin), has been found to protect neurobehavioral function in mice with Parkinson's Disease symptoms by preventing deficits in motor coordination.

What do memories look like?
Scientists develop a way to see the structures that store memories in a living brain.

Unusual supernova is doubly unusual for being perfectly normal
Type Ia supernovae are indispensable milestones for measuring the expansion of the universe. With definitive measures of Supernova 2011fe, the "Backyard Supernova" that thrilled amateur and professional astronomers alike in the summer of 2011, the Nearby Supernova Factory demonstrates that this unus...

Validating Maps of the Brain's Resting State
Researchers have provided important validation of maps of the brain at rest that may offer insights into changes in the brain that occur in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Sound waves precisely position nanowires
The smaller components become, the more difficult it is to create patterns in an economical and reproducible way, according to an interdisciplinary team of researchers who, using sound waves, can place nanowires in repeatable patterns for potential use in a variety of sensors, optoelectronics and na...

New Alzheimer's research suggests possible cause: Interaction of proteins in ...
For years, Alzheimer's researchers have focused on two proteins that accumulate in the brains of people with Alzheimer's and may contribute to the disease: Plaques made up of the protein amyloid-beta, and tangles of another protein, called tau.

Outlook is grim for mammals and birds as human population grows
The ongoing global growth in the human population will inevitably crowd out mammals and birds and has the potential to threaten hundreds of species with extinction within 40 years, new research shows.

Stress hormone could trigger mechanism for the onset of Alzheimer's
A chemical hormone released in the body as a reaction to stress could be a key trigger of the mechanism for the late onset of Alzheimer?s disease.

Older males make better fathers says new research on beetles
Researchers have found that older male burying beetles make better fathers than their younger counterparts. The study found that mature males, who had little chance of reproducing again, invested more effort in both mating and in parental care than younger males.

Researchers discover immunity mechanism: Platelets patrolling the bloodstream
Scientists have discovered a mechanism that is used to protect the body from harmful bacteria. Platelets, a component of blood typically associated with clotting, were discovered to actively search for specific bacteria, and upon detection, seal it off from the rest of the body. The findings provide...

City slicker or country bumpkin: City-life changes blackbird personalities
The origins of a young animal might have a significant impact on its behavior later on in life. Researchers have been able to demonstrate in hand-reared blackbirds that urban-born individuals are less curious and more cautious about new objects than their country counterparts. This study sheds light...