Interesting Stuff Thread

Bannasidhe

Behaviour can be affected by events in previous generations which have been passed on through a form of genetic memory, animal studies suggest.

Experiments showed that a traumatic event could affect the DNA in sperm and alter the brains and behaviour of subsequent generations.

A Nature Neuroscience study shows mice trained to avoid a smell passed their aversion on to their "grandchildren".

Experts said the results were important for phobia and anxiety research.

The animals were trained to fear a smell similar to cherry blossom.

The team at the Emory University School of Medicine, in the US, then looked at what was happening inside the sperm.

They showed a section of DNA responsible for sensitivity to the cherry blossom scent was made more active in the mice's sperm.

Both the mice's offspring, and their offspring, were "extremely sensitive" to cherry blossom and would avoid the scent, despite never having experiencing it in their lives.

Changes in brain structure were also found.

"The experiences of a parent, even before conceiving, markedly influence both structure and function in the nervous system of subsequent generations," the report concluded.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25156510

recedite

Sarky wrote: »

You'd have to ask someone else about the nitty-gritty of synthesising new drugs...
My guess is that it'd be easiest to modify existing genes.

I find that hitting things with a hammer often gets a good result.

Sarky

Well there is a "shotgun" method of introducing new DNA to cells where you just fire copies of a sequence at a cell and hope a few get through. Same thing?

Knex*

Not quite sure the validity behind the text, or if indeed its true, but it makes for some sad reading.

I'm too tired/lazy to perform even a simple Google right now.

Turtwig

My favourite one was in terms of Air conditioning. One month's air conditioning in Afghanistan was apparently NASA's entire budget for the year at one point.
Don't know though if NdG has said anything like that.

Penn

Knex. wrote: »

Not quite sure the validity behind the text, or if indeed its true, but it makes for some sad reading.

I'm too tired/lazy to perform even a simple Google right now.

He said similar on Real Time with Bill Maher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKdaRcptVz8

The bailout was $700b. According to Wikipedia, the Defense Budget for 2013 was $673b. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_United_States_federal_budget

Again, according to Wikipedia, "the total amounts (in nominal dollars) that NASA has been budgeted from 1958 to 2011 amounts to $526.18 billion—an average of $9.928 billion per year" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA

So yeah, he's right.

robindch

Here are two gratuitous NASA videos -- a timelapse from the ISS and the Shuttle's main engine startup:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOAEIMx39-w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urxrOI6-RlE

Sarky

Stolen Cobolt-60 found in Mexico, thieves probably already dead from exposure, whoever they were.

Sarky

Heh, Irish TDs don't know how to pronounce "amazeballs".

http://t.co/ko9LcxflNV

I think I'll say "amazey-balls" from now on though.

PopePalpatine

Sarky wrote: »

Stolen Cobolt-60 found in Mexico, thieves probably already dead from exposure, whoever they were.

I done derp'd and mixed up cobalt with the Colt gun.

[-0-]

Jernal wrote: »

Got mai first print issue today.

How long did it take for you to get your first issue?

I bought this on Nov 18th... still waiting for my first issue.

Turtwig

[-0-] wrote: »

How long did it take for you to get your first issue?

I bought this on Nov 18th... still waiting for my first issue.

They said in the terms and conditions that first delivery may take 4-6 weeks. I got mine about 2 or 3 weeks after subscribing. 18th November, subscribed on whatever day I first posted about it.

[-0-]

OK deadly. It took you 17 days to get it. I won't panic just yet.

Thanks Jernal!

Delirium

Scientists sequence DNA of 400,000 year old ancient human

A fossil site in Spain has turned up some astonishing results: mitochondrial DNA from hominins that lived 400,000 years ago. The DNA suggests they were related to the Denisovans; an extinct hominin group that was recently shown to have interbred with Neanderthals and modern humans. The results of the study were published this week in Nature from lead author Matthias Meyer from the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

Sarky

And somewhere J C is dancing because this is somehow further proof the planet is 6000 years old and made of magic pixie dust.

Pherekydes

"Those bones were placed there by God to test us. I'm not descended from those creatures! I was made in my perfect current form by God. Nothing whatsoever to do with my parents having ***. Ewwww."

All said without a hint of conceit. Or self awareness.

[-0-]

Sarky wrote: »

And somewhere J C is dancing because this is somehow further proof the planet is 6000 years old and made of magic pixie dust.

recedite

The significance of this is that the Denisovan DNA was found in Spain and not in Asia. The consensus these days seems to be that Europeans have a little bit of Neandertal in them, and Orientals have a little bit of Denisovan in them.

legspin

recedite wrote: »

The significance of this is that the Denisovan DNA was found in Spain and not in Asia. The consensus these days seems to be that Europeans have a little bit of Neandertal in them, and Orientals have a little bit of Denisovan in them.

To be quite frank, if you look at the male members of my family you would have to say it is more than just a bit of Neandertal DNA in there somewhere.

Bannasidhe

legspin wrote: »

To be quite frank, if you look at the male members of my family you would have to say it is more than just a bit of Neandertal DNA in there somewhere.

Or a look at the average French front row...

Gbear

Mathmateically literate news headlines: http://mathwithbaddrawings.com/2013/12/02/headlines-from-a-mathematically-literate-world/

Our World: One Dead in Shark Attack; See Tips for Shark Safety Inside
Mathematically Literate World: One Dead in Tragic, Highly Unlikely Event; See Tips for Something Useful Inside

Sulla Felix

[-0-] wrote: »

How long did it take for you to get your first issue?

I bought this on Nov 18th... still waiting for my first issue.

Jernal wrote: »

They said in the terms and conditions that first delivery may take 4-6 weeks. I got mine about 2 or 3 weeks after subscribing. 18th November, subscribed on whatever day I first posted about it.

I got mine in about the same time as Jernal and ordered it a couple days after it was posted. It's amazey-balls.

recedite

I've had 3 issues now. Maybe your postman has problems delivering to the death star, [-0-]

Turtwig

Maybe they sent it to the moon by mistake?

Hotblack Desiato

The DNA suggests they were related to the Denisovans;

Ah yes, there was a book about them

One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovan

Gordon

Sarky wrote: »

Stolen Cobolt-60 found in Mexico, thieves probably already dead from exposure, whoever they were.

And they've been found, alive http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25273457

Not sure why the hospital reported them when they're not showing signs of radiation sickness, odd.

[-0-]

recedite wrote: »

I've had 3 issues now. Maybe your postman has problems delivering to the death star, [-0-]

It arrived today. Yipee!

Turtwig

Yay! Good to hear.

Gordon

Deleted User wrote: »

Not sure why the hospital reported them when they're not showing signs of radiation sickness, odd.

I think they must have been scared sh*tless so went to the hospital and told them what happened so that they could be treated, and the hospital informed the police.

Security cars need to all put a radioactive warning sticker on their bumpers now, that'd be a great deterrent!