ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

---

• South Africans used milk-based paint 49,000 years ago
• New model of cosmic stickiness favors 'Big Rip' demise of universe
• Innovative imaging study shows that the spinal cord learns on its own
• Scientists program solitary yeast cells to say 'hello' to one another
• Eye color may be linked to alcohol dependence
• July 4: Short-term spike in particulate matter in US
• Cheek muscles hold up better than leg muscles in space
• Biodegradable, flexible silicon transistors
• Smell fingerprints? Each person may have a unique sense of smell
• Seeing a supernova in a new light
• 340 undiscovered meteorite impact sites on Earth, geologists calculate
• Can pollution help trees fight infection?

South Africans used milk-based paint 49,000 years ago Posted: 30 Jun 2015 05:20 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a milk-and ochre-based paint dating to 49,000 years ago that inhabitants may have used to adorn themselves with or to decorate stone or wooden slabs.

New model of cosmic stickiness favors 'Big Rip' demise of universe Posted: 30 Jun 2015 12:52 PM PDT Mathematicians and physicists have come up with a new approach to calculate cosmic viscosity and the formulation favors the 'Big Rip' scenario for the end of the universe.

Innovative imaging study shows that the spinal cord learns on its own Posted: 30 Jun 2015 12:14 PM PDT The spinal cord engages in its own learning of motor tasks independent of the brain, according to an innovative imaging study. The results of the study may offer new opportunities for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury.

Scientists program solitary yeast cells to say 'hello' to one another Posted: 30 Jun 2015 11:17 AM PDT Researchers have produced cell-to-cell communication in baker's yeast -- a first step in learning to build multicellular organisms or artificial organs from scratch.

Eye color may be linked to alcohol dependence Posted: 30 Jun 2015 10:52 AM PDT People with blue eyes might have a greater chance of becoming alcoholics, according to a unique new study by genetic researchers.

July 4: Short-term spike in particulate matter in US Posted: 30 Jun 2015 09:17 AM PDT From the founding of America, the Fourth of July has been synonymous with fireworks. A new study quantifies the surge in fine particulate matter -- particles that are two and one half microns in diameter (PM2.5) -- on July 4, using observations from the 315 US air quality monitoring sites that operated from 1999 to 2013. While scientists have known that fireworks displays produce a surge in fine particulates, the new study is the first nationwide quantitative analysis of the effects.

Cheek muscles hold up better than leg muscles in space Posted: 30 Jun 2015 09:14 AM PDT Muscles need gravity to maintain optimal health, and when they do not have it, they deteriorate. A new report, however, suggests that this might not be true for all muscles, offering hope that there may be ways to preserve muscle mass and strength for individuals in low-resistance environments, whether it be the microgravity of space, extended periods in a hospital bed, or a 9-5 job behind a desk.

Biodegradable, flexible silicon transistors Posted: 30 Jun 2015 09:12 AM PDT Researchers have come up with a new solution to alleviate the environmental burden of discarded electronics. They have demonstrated the feasibility of making microwave biodegradable thin-film transistors from a transparent, flexible biodegradable substrate made from inexpensive wood, called cellulose nanofibrillated fiber. This work opens the door for green, low-cost, portable electronic devices in future.

Smell fingerprints? Each person may have a unique sense of smell Posted: 30 Jun 2015 07:05 AM PDT Scientists have developed an 'olfactory fingerprint' test that may do more than just identify individuals.

Seeing a supernova in a new light Posted: 30 Jun 2015 07:05 AM PDT Type Ia supernovae are the 'standard candles' astrophysicists use to chart distance in the Universe. But are these dazzling exploding stars truly all the same? To answer this, scientists must first understand what causes stars to explode and become supernovae.

340 undiscovered meteorite impact sites on Earth, geologists calculate Posted: 30 Jun 2015 05:02 AM PDT Researchers have calculated the number of undiscovered meteorite impact sites on Earth's surface. Geologists say a total of 188 have been confirmed so far, and 340 are still awaiting discovery. Meteorite impacts have shaped the development of the Earth and life repeatedly in the past. The extinction of the dinosaurs, for instance, is thought to have been brought on by a mega-collision at the end of the Cretaceous period. But how many traces of large and small impacts have survived the test of time?

Can pollution help trees fight infection? Posted: 29 Jun 2015 06:06 PM PDT Trees that can tolerate soil pollution are also better at defending themselves against pests and pathogens. 'It looks like the very act of tolerating chemical pollution may give trees an advantage from biological invasion,' says one of the researchers behind the discovery.

You are subscribed to email updates from Strange & Offbeat News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States