ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

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• Of mice and melodies: Research on language gene seeks to uncover the origins of the singing mouse
• Why do organisms build tissues they seemingly never use?
• 'Selfish' DNA in animal mitochondria offers possible tool to study aging
• Autonomous robotic plane dodges obstacles when flying indoors
• Wireless power for the price of a penny?
• The power to heal at the tips of your fingers
• Berlin beats London and Washington in league table of world's best democratic space, experts say
• Cichlid fish: How does the swim bladder affect hearing?
• The spin racket: Ping-pong champs are intuitive masters of fluid dynamics
• Nice cup of tea to beat bioterrorists? Tea ingredients can kill micro-organisms and inactivate toxins, expert says

Of mice and melodies: Research on language gene seeks to uncover the origins of the singing mouse Posted: 10 Aug 2012 04:37 PM PDT Singing mice are unique rodents that use song to communicate. An important underlying gene that is thought to influence the singing behavior is a transcription factor called FOXP2, sometimes called the 'language gene' because it has been linked to speech disorders in humans. This information could help researchers find areas of the human FOXP2 gene that are associated with autism.

Why do organisms build tissues they seemingly never use? Posted: 10 Aug 2012 10:31 AM PDT Why, after millions of years of evolution, do organisms build structures that seemingly serve no purpose? A new study investigates the evolutionary reasons why organisms go through developmental stages that appear unnecessary.

'Selfish' DNA in animal mitochondria offers possible tool to study aging Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:29 AM PDT Researchers have discovered, for the first time in any animal species, a type of "selfish" mitochondrial DNA that is actually hurting the organism and lessening its chance to survive – and bears a strong similarity to some damage done to human cells as they age. It could provide an important new model to study human aging.

Autonomous robotic plane dodges obstacles when flying indoors Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:28 AM PDT New algorithms allow an autonomous robotic plane to dodge obstacles in a subterranean parking garage, without the use of GPS.

Wireless power for the price of a penny? Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:37 AM PDT The newspaper-style printing of electronic equipment has led to a cost-effective device that could change the way we interact with everyday objects.

The power to heal at the tips of your fingers Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:37 AM PDT The intricate properties of the fingertips have been mimicked and recreated using semiconductor devices in what researchers hope will lead to the development of advanced surgical gloves.

Berlin beats London and Washington in league table of world's best democratic space, experts say Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:18 AM PDT New research suggests that Berlin has the best democratic space in the world, topping a list that includes London, Washington and Tokyo.

Cichlid fish: How does the swim bladder affect hearing? Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:18 AM PDT In bony fish the swim bladder primarily serves for buoyancy. Moreover, in many species it also possesses acoustic functions: it plays a role in sound production and improves hearing in numerous ways. Biologists have investigated for the first time differences in the the morphology of the swim bladder in cichlid fishes and how it affects their hearing.

The spin racket: Ping-pong champs are intuitive masters of fluid dynamics Posted: 08 Aug 2012 07:44 AM PDT Curve balls may help a pitcher strike out batters in baseball; and some nasty spin can make an opponent sweat to return a tennis serve. But more so than in any other ball game, in table tennis – where the ball is so light and so small –dedicated players must master the physics of spin.

Nice cup of tea to beat bioterrorists? Tea ingredients can kill micro-organisms and inactivate toxins, expert says Posted: 08 Aug 2012 06:38 AM PDT New research has revealed that a nice cup of tea could hold the solution to a range of deadly weapons in the bioterrorist's arsenal.

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