ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

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• Anorexic individuals' disturbed body image influences unconscious movements
• Apes get emotional over games of chance
• Neuroscientists discover new phase of synaptic development
• Weightlessness of space used to design better materials for Earth
• 'Low sodium diet' key to old age for stars: New observations challenge current stellar theories
• Genetic engineering alters mosquitoes' sense of smell
• Pigeons peck for computerized treat
• 3-D microelectrodes? Charred micro-bunny sculpture shows promise of new material for 3-D shaping
• Subfossil forest discovered at building site in Zurich
• Paper could be basis for inexpensive diagnostic devices
• KISS ME DEADLY proteins may help improve crop yields
• Sea anemone venom-derived compound effective in anti-obesity studies

Anorexic individuals' disturbed body image influences unconscious movements Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa perceive their bodies as being larger than they are and this disturbed body representation affects their movements, according to new research.

Apes get emotional over games of chance Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT Like some humans, chimpanzees and bonobos exhibit emotional responses to outcomes of their decisions by pouting or throwing angry tantrums when a risk-taking strategy fails to pay off, according to new research.

Neuroscientists discover new phase of synaptic development Posted: 29 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT Students preparing for final exams might want to wait before pulling an all-night cram session -- at least as far as their neurons are concerned. Neuroscientists have discovered a new intermediate phase in neuronal development during which repeated exposure to a stimulus shrinks synapses.

Weightlessness of space used to design better materials for Earth Posted: 29 May 2013 10:35 AM PDT Scientists are using the weightlessness of space to design stronger materials here on Earth.

'Low sodium diet' key to old age for stars: New observations challenge current stellar theories Posted: 29 May 2013 10:32 AM PDT Astronomers expect that stars like the Sun will blow off much of their atmospheres into space near the ends of their lives. But new observations of a huge star cluster made using ESO's Very Large Telescope have shown -- against all expectations -- that a majority of the stars studied simply did not get to this stage in their lives at all. The international team found that the amount of sodium in the stars was a very strong predictor of how they ended their lives.

Genetic engineering alters mosquitoes' sense of smell Posted: 29 May 2013 10:31 AM PDT In one of the first successful attempts at genetically engineering mosquitoes, researchers have altered the way the insects respond to odors, including the smell of humans and the insect repellant DEET. The research not only demonstrates that mosquitoes can be genetically altered using the latest research techniques, but paves the way to understanding why the insect is so attracted to humans, and how to block that attraction.

Pigeons peck for computerized treat Posted: 29 May 2013 09:11 AM PDT New research show pigeons can make informed choices, and use a computerized touch-screen as well.

3-D microelectrodes? Charred micro-bunny sculpture shows promise of new material for 3-D shaping Posted: 29 May 2013 08:13 AM PDT Researchers have used state-of-the-art micro-sculpting techniques on a new type of resin that can be molded into complex, highly conductive 3-D structures (in this case the famous "Stanford bunny") with features just a few micrometers across. The team says one of the most promising applications is 3-D microelectrodes that could interface with the brain.

Subfossil forest discovered at building site in Zurich Posted: 29 May 2013 06:27 AM PDT The fact that many finds have happened by chance was demonstrated again recently in Zurich. A dendrochronologist was just having a look at a building site when he noticed a few tree stumps on the edge of the loamy building pit that had been discarded by the construction workers as waste timber. Analysis showed the timber he discovered was dated between 12,846 BP** and 13,782 BP. With the support of the building-site management researchers have managed to salvage some 200 ancient pine-tree stumps.

Paper could be basis for inexpensive diagnostic devices Posted: 29 May 2013 06:20 AM PDT Paper is known for its ability to absorb liquids. But by modifying the underlying network of cellulose fibers, etching off surface "fluff" and applying a thin chemical coating, researchers have created a new type of paper that repels a wide variety of liquids.

KISS ME DEADLY proteins may help improve crop yields Posted: 27 May 2013 12:36 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new regulator for plant hormone signaling -- the KISS ME DEADLY family of proteins (KMDs) -- that may help to improve production of fruits, vegetables and grains.

Sea anemone venom-derived compound effective in anti-obesity studies Posted: 27 May 2013 12:36 PM PDT A synthetic compound ShK-186, originally derived from a sea anemone toxin, has been found to enhance metabolic activity and shows potential as a treatment for obesity and insulin resistance.

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