ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

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• Gamma rays detected from galaxy halfway across the visible universe
• Can your pet boost your sex appeal?
• Chitchat, small talk could serve an evolutionary need to bond with others
• Scientists say face mites evolved alongside humans since the dawn of human origins
• Tramp ant caught globetrotting under false name
• Amoebas reveals how human airway cells rally against cigarette smoke damage
• U mad bro? Computers now know when you're angry

Gamma rays detected from galaxy halfway across the visible universe Posted: 15 Dec 2015 10:45 AM PST In April 2015, after traveling for about half the age of the universe, a flood of powerful gamma rays from a distant galaxy slammed into Earth's atmosphere. That torrent generated a cascade of light -- a shower that fell onto the waiting mirrors of the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) in Arizona. The resulting data have given astronomers a unique look into that faraway galaxy and the black hole engine at its heart.

Can your pet boost your sex appeal? Posted: 15 Dec 2015 09:25 AM PST Dogs and cats are increasingly seen as being a crucial member of a traditional family, but aside from the companionship and love you receive from your pet... can they also make you appear sexier?

Chitchat, small talk could serve an evolutionary need to bond with others Posted: 14 Dec 2015 03:55 PM PST Idle conversation could be a social-bonding tool passed down from primates, suggests new research. The investigators found that lemurs use vocalizations far more selectively than previously thought, primarily exchanging calls with individuals with which they have close relationships. The findings could have implications for how scientists understand the evolution of primate vocalizations and human speech.

Scientists say face mites evolved alongside humans since the dawn of human origins Posted: 14 Dec 2015 01:57 PM PST A landmark new study explores the fascinating, little-known natural history of the face mite species Demodex folliculorum, using genetic testing to link the microscopic animal's evolution to our own ever-evolving human story. By zooming in on mite mitochondrial DNA from around the world, scientists discovered that different human populations have different mites, that those mites follow families through generations, and that they are not casually transferred between humans.

Tramp ant caught globetrotting under false name Posted: 14 Dec 2015 07:23 AM PST An enigmatic invasive ant of unknown origin was recently revealed by an international team of scientists to actually be a commonly known species from Asia. What had formerly been considered two distantly related species is actually a single 'supertramp' species that originated in Asia and is inadvertently being spread across the globe by humans.

Amoebas reveals how human airway cells rally against cigarette smoke damage Posted: 14 Dec 2015 06:27 AM PST Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States and cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Currently there is no cure, treatments are palliative, and new treatment targets are scarce. Now, researchers reveal the discovery of two new targets for blocking cigarette smoke-induced COPD in a surprising place -- amoebas.

U mad bro? Computers now know when you're angry Posted: 14 Dec 2015 05:47 AM PST Most people can tell if you're angry based on the way you're acting. Professor Jeffrey Jenkins can tell if you're angry by the way you move a computer mouse.The information systems expert says people experiencing anger (and other negative emotions -- frustration, confusion, sadness) become less precise in their mouse movements and move the cursor at different speeds.

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