ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

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• Giant sea lizards in the age of dinosaurs: A new beginning for baby mosasaurs
• Cardiac tissue grown on 'spider silk' substrate
• An exoplanet with an infernal atmosphere: 1000 kph winds; 3000 degree temps
• Synthetic muscle ready for launch
• When you land, can you stand? One-Year Mission video miniseries: Functional performance
• Scientists tackle our addiction to salt and fat by altering foods' pore size, number

Giant sea lizards in the age of dinosaurs: A new beginning for baby mosasaurs Posted: 10 Apr 2015 01:53 PM PDT They weren't in the delivery room, but researchers have discovered a new birth story for a gigantic marine lizard that once roamed the oceans. Thanks to recently identified specimens, paleontologists now believe that mighty mosasaurs -- which could grow to 50 feet long -- gave birth to their young in the open ocean, not on or near shore.

Cardiac tissue grown on 'spider silk' substrate Posted: 10 Apr 2015 08:35 AM PDT Genetically engineered fibers of the protein spidroin, which is the construction material for spider webs, has proven to be a perfect substrate for cultivating heart tissue cells, a group of researchers has found. The cultivation of organs and tissues from a patient's cells is the bleeding edge of medical research – regenerative methods can solve the problem of transplant rejection. However,it's quite a challenge to find a suitable frame, or substrate, to grow cells on, researchers say.

An exoplanet with an infernal atmosphere: 1000 kph winds; 3000 degree temps Posted: 10 Apr 2015 06:55 AM PDT Astronomers have come to measure the temperature of the atmosphere of an exoplanet with unequaled precision, by crossing two approaches. The first approach is based on the HARPS spectrometer and the second consists of a new way of interpreting sodium lines. From these two additional analyses, researchers have been able to conclude that the HD189733b exoplanet is showing infernal atmospheric conditions: wind speeds of more than 1000 kilometers per hour, and the temperature being 3000 degrees. These results open up perspectives to approach the study of exoplanet atmospheres.

Synthetic muscle ready for launch Posted: 09 Apr 2015 01:22 PM PDT NASA plans to send advanced material into space on Monday, April 13. The Synthetic Muscle™ has been developed to adhere to metal, and could be used in robotics in deep space travel such as travel to Mars because of its radiation resistance, scientists say. "Based on the good results we had on planet Earth, the next step is to see how it behaves in a space environment," said an engineer who worked on the project.

When you land, can you stand? One-Year Mission video miniseries: Functional performance Posted: 09 Apr 2015 12:08 PM PDT You always want to be the last man standing, especially at NASA. Optimal functional performance, such as standing, is taken even more seriously when preparing for future missions to Mars and beyond. Learn why functional performance is important for astronauts and patients recuperating from long-term bed rest.

Scientists tackle our addiction to salt and fat by altering foods' pore size, number Posted: 09 Apr 2015 12:08 PM PDT Food scientists have learned that understanding and manipulating porosity during food manufacturing can affect a food's health benefits. They report that controlling the number and size of pores in processed foods allows manufacturers to use less salt while satisfying consumers' taste buds. Meticulously managing pore pressure in foods during frying reduces oil uptake, which results in lower-fat snacks without sacrificing our predilection for fried foods' texture and taste, they say.

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