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Friday, December 7, 2012

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News


What happens to plant growth when you remove gravity?

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 05:31 PM PST

It is well known that plant growth patterns are influenced by a variety of stimuli, gravity being one amongst many. On Earth plant roots exhibit characteristic behaviors called 'waving' and 'skewing', which were thought to be gravity-dependent events. However, Arabidopsis plants grown on the International Space Station (ISS) have demonstrated this theory wrong, according to a new study: root 'waving' and 'skewing' occur in spaceflight plants independently of gravity.

Biologist treks across Southwestern China to answer the 'killer mushroom' question

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 11:13 AM PST

The findings shattered a myth started by a 2010 article in the journal Science, claiming the Trogia venenata mushroom contained high concentrations of the metal barium, causing high blood pressure, cardiac arrests and sudden deaths in southwestern China over the past 30 years.

Moths wired two ways to take advantage of floral potluck

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 11:13 AM PST

Moths are able to enjoy a pollinator's buffet of flowers -- in spite of being among the insect world's picky eaters -- because of two distinct "channels" in their brains, scientists have discovered.

Feeling disgust may enhance our ability to detect impurities

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 09:23 AM PST

From an evolutionary standpoint, experiencing the intense, visceral sense of revulsion that comes with disgust presumably helps us to avoid contaminants that can make us sick or even kill us. But new research suggests that disgust not only helps us to avoid impurities, it may also make us better able to see them.

Were cavemen better at drawing animals than modern artists?

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 05:00 PM PST

Prehistoric artists were better at portraying the walk of four-legged animals in their art than modern man, according to new research.

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