ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

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• Electrifying success in raising antioxidant levels in sweet potatoes
• Sex and the female brain: Protein in semen acts on female brain to prompt ovulation
• Teaching a microbe to make fuel
• Cloud brightening to control global warming? Geoengineers propose an experiment
• Scientists shed light on glowing materials
• Next generation 3-D theater: Optical science makes glasses a thing of the past
• Imprisoned molecules 'quantum rattle' in their cages
• Neural interface for hand prosthesis can restore function in brain areas responsible for motor control
• New oil spill dispersant made from ingredients in peanut butter, chocolate, ice cream
• Big Bang theory challenged by big chill
• New biorefinery finds treasure in Starbucks' spent coffee grounds and stale bakery goods

Electrifying success in raising antioxidant levels in sweet potatoes Posted: 20 Aug 2012 12:21 PM PDT Already ranked by some as number one in nutrition among vegetables, the traditional sweet potato can be nutritionally supercharged with a simple, inexpensive electric current treatment that increases its content of healthful polyphenols or antioxidants by 60 percent, scientists have said. This is believed to be the first electrical enhancement of sweet potatoes, a dietary staple since prehistoric times.

Sex and the female brain: Protein in semen acts on female brain to prompt ovulation Posted: 20 Aug 2012 12:21 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that a protein in semen acts on the female brain to prompt ovulation, and is the same molecule that regulates the growth, maintenance, and survival of nerve cells.

Teaching a microbe to make fuel Posted: 20 Aug 2012 11:39 AM PDT A genetically modified organism could turn carbon dioxide or waste products into a gasoline-compatible transportation fuel.

Cloud brightening to control global warming? Geoengineers propose an experiment Posted: 20 Aug 2012 10:23 AM PDT A scientist has proposed an experiment to test cloud brightening, a geoengineering concept that alters clouds in an effort to counter global warming. His proposed experiment is part of a larger paper detailing the latest thinking on cloud brightening.

Scientists shed light on glowing materials Posted: 20 Aug 2012 09:11 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in mapping how light behaves in complex photonic materials inspired by nature, like iridescent butterfly wings. Scientists have broken the limit of light resolution at the nanoscale and delivered a fundamental insight into how light and matter interact, which could lead to the development of enhanced bio-sensors for healthcare and more efficient solar cells and displays.

Next generation 3-D theater: Optical science makes glasses a thing of the past Posted: 20 Aug 2012 09:11 AM PDT Even with current digital technology, the latest Hollywood blockbusters still rely on clunky glasses to achieve a convincing 3-D effect. New optics research offers the prospect of glasses-free, 3-D display technology for commercial theaters. Their new technique uses space more efficiently and is cheaper than current 3-D projection technology.

Imprisoned molecules 'quantum rattle' in their cages Posted: 20 Aug 2012 08:41 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that a space inside a special type of carbon molecule can be used to imprison other smaller molecules such as hydrogen or water.

Neural interface for hand prosthesis can restore function in brain areas responsible for motor control Posted: 20 Aug 2012 08:40 AM PDT Amputation disrupts not only the peripheral nervous system but also central structures of the brain. While the brain is able to adapt and compensate for injury in certain conditions, in amputees the traumatic event prevents adaptive cortical changes. A group of scientists reports adaptive plastic changes in an amputee's brain following implantation of multielectrode arrays inside peripheral nerves.

New oil spill dispersant made from ingredients in peanut butter, chocolate, ice cream Posted: 20 Aug 2012 08:40 AM PDT With concerns about the possible health and environmental effects of oil dispersants in the Deepwater Horizon disaster still fresh in mind, scientists have developed a new dispersant made from edible ingredients that both breaks up oil slicks and keeps oil from sticking to the feathers of birds.

Big Bang theory challenged by big chill Posted: 20 Aug 2012 08:09 AM PDT The start of the Universe should be modeled not as a Big Bang but more like water freezing into ice, according to a team of theoretical physicists.

New biorefinery finds treasure in Starbucks' spent coffee grounds and stale bakery goods Posted: 20 Aug 2012 06:37 AM PDT With 1.3 billion tons of food trashed, dumped in landfills and otherwise wasted around the world every year, scientists have described development and successful laboratory testing of a new "biorefinery" intended to change food waste into a key ingredient for making plastics, laundry detergents and scores of other everyday products.

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