Clark Science Center Intranet

Education, not fertility, key for economic development in developing countries
A new study shows that improvements in education levels around the world have been key drivers of economic growth in developing countries that has previously been attributed to declines in fertility rates.

Fossils clarify the origins of wasps and their kin: Alderfly ancestors, snake...
The insect order Hymenoptera -- wasps, bees, ants and relatives -- is the third most diverse animal group, but its origin remains controversial. Fossils from Permian beds of Russia demonstrate that the wasp lineage is not as ancient as held before, and is related to alderflies and snakeflies. The wa...

Important discovery related to anxiety disorders, trauma
A team of researchers discovered that the protein PC7 plays a critical role in the brain by affecting certain types of cognitive performance such as anxiety, learning and emotional memory. Their results could have a significant impact on regulating behavior related to anxiety disorders and trauma.

Silkworms spin colored silks while on a 'green' dyed-leaf diet
For some 5,000 years, cultivated silkworms have been spinning luxurious white silk fibers destined for use in the finest clothing. But current dyeing practices produce wastewater that contains potentially harmful toxins, so scientists are turning to a new, "greener" dyeing method in which they coax ...

Scientists unearth secrets of Périgord truffles, the culinary 'black diamond'
Just in time for the holidays when cooks in France and elsewhere will be slipping bits of the coveted black Périgord truffle under their turkeys' skin for a luxurious flavor, scientists are revealing the secrets that give the culinary world's "black diamond" its unique, pungent aroma. Their study co...

While the Arctic Ocean is largely a carbon sink, parts are also a source of a...
While the Arctic Ocean is largely a carbon sink, researchers find parts are also a source of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Arctic Ocean as a whole seems to be storing more carbon than in previous years but the increase in the carbon sink may not be as large as scientists had previously thought.

Turning waste into power with bacteria and loofahs
Loofahs, best known for their use in exfoliating skin to soft, radiant perfection, have emerged as a new potential tool to advance sustainability efforts on two fronts at the same time: energy and waste. A new study describes the pairing of loofahs with bacteria to create a power-generating microbia...

Virtual wall could stop spread of oil and help build invisible barrier for oi...
A new technique forms a virtual wall for oily liquids that will help confine them to a certain area, aiding researchers who are studying these complex molecules. This development will have future implications in the guided delivery of oil and effective blockage of oil spreading.

Quieting rail transit
When attached to the wheels or the tracks of rail transit systems, vibration absorbers may reduce the noise from trains, bringing more peace and quiet to passengers and those who work or live near the tracks. In tests of two major metropolitan public rail systems, researchers say that vibration abso...

Data centers can be cooled down in environmentally friendly, energy efficient...
Data centers housing thousands of computers have enabled the proliferation of new cloud-based services. One problem associated with data centers, however, is their aggregate electricity consumption. The servers in the data centers use electricity and generate heat, which can endanger the reliability...

Working odd shifts can hurt parent-child relationships
Research shows that working a job that doesn?t keep 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours can hurt the relationships between parents and adolescents, increasing the likelihood that children will engage in delinquent behaviors. However, the researchers found that in some circumstances, an unconventional work schedu...

Dads: How important are they? New research highlights value of fathers in bot...
Even with today's technology, it still takes both a male and a female to make a baby. But is it important for both parents to raise that child? Many studies have outlined the value of a mother, but few have clearly defined the importance of a father, until now. New findings show that the absence of ...

Five distinct humpback whale populations identified in North Pacific
The first comprehensive genetic study of humpback whale populations in the North Pacific Ocean has identified five distinct populations -- at the same time a proposal to designate North Pacific humpbacks as a single "distinct population segment" is being considered under the Endangered Species Act.

Integrated pest management for billbugs in orchardgrass
A new article presents an overview of the biology of orchardgrass and its associated billbug pests.

How to change cell types by flipping a single switch
With few exceptions, cells don't change type once they have become specialized -- a heart cell, for example, won't suddenly become a brain cell. However, new findings have identified a method for changing one cell type into another in a process called forced transdifferentiation.

First global snapshot of key coral reef fishes: Fishing has reduced vital se...
Biologists have reported on the impact of fishing on a group of fish known to protect the health of coral reefs. The report offers key data for setting management and conservation targets to protect and preserve fragile coral reefs.

Fruit pest targeted by genomic research
Genome sequencing of the spotted wing drosophila, a major fruit pest, is expected to accelerate basic and applied research, leading to better monitoring and control strategies for the insect.

Explosive growth of young star
A star is formed when a large cloud of gas and dust condenses and eventually becomes so dense that it collapses into a ball of gas, where the pressure heats the matter, creating a glowing gas ball -- a star is born. New research shows that a young, newly formed star in the Milky Way had such an expl...

New method for stabilizing hemoglobin could lead to stable vaccines, artifici...
A research team has found a way to stabilize hemoglobin, the oxygen carrier protein in the blood, a discovery that could lead to the development of stable vaccines and affordable artificial blood substitutes.

More extreme weather events likely: Climate projections of unparalleled accur...
Scientists have analyzed climate projections for the whole of Europe at an unprecedented resolution of 12 km, by downscaling the global simulations carried out for the 5th IPCC report. These simulations for the 21st century now provide a much more detailed representation of local phenomena and extre...