Electronic implants to treat hearing loss, blindness and immobility are no longer limited to science fiction, scientists say. Researchers from the U.S. and Europe spoke February 17 at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Boston to present new developments in this field of bionic medicine.
Feb. 22, 2013NASW news
Mathematical modeling is no longer a tool reserved for scientists. Artists and architects are now using it to create sculptures, abstract graphs and digital seashells that visualize mathematical equations and concepts.
Feb. 21, 2013It may seem the sun wages a constant war against our skin. Harmful UV radiation burns us, damages our DNA, and can sow the seeds for melanoma. But the sun is essential to our healthy development and our immune systems, because sun-exposed skin produces Vitamin D. During the long-ranging human exodus from Africa, says anthropologist Nina Jablonski, Vitamin D levels in the body played a key role: driving the evolution of our species' skin color.
Feb. 21, 2013Birds soar, cheetahs sprint, and humans speak. Just as each animal’s unique behavior evolved via natural selection, our capacity for language is also hard-wired in genes and brain tissue.
Feb. 21, 2013The Martian quest for NASA’s roving laboratory Curiosity isn’t all about landings and lasers. Humbler experiments are now giving clues about the makeup and history of the red planet.
Feb. 21, 2013The Human Genome Project gave us a rough draft of our genetic underpinnings in 2000 and cost taxpayers a cool $3 billion. But just 13 years later, advances in technology are making it possible for anyone to know the A-T-G-C’s of their own genomes at a fraction of the cost, leading to the advent of personalized genetic medicine.
Feb. 21, 2013Although humans are the most prominent victims, every vertebrate species is susceptible to lead poisoning. Birds, fish, reptiles, dogs, and cats are all at risk. During a February 16 symposium at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Boston, researchers agreed that lead is pervasive and poses significant threats to living things.
Feb. 18, 2013The Minnesota Twins and the Daytona 500 both care about precipitation, and scientists are very happy to use their data.
Feb. 18, 2013Ten talented juniors and seniors from across the country gathered in Boston Feb. 14-18 to report on the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting as NASW's undergraduate travel fellows for 2013. During the next several days, we will be posting their reports here.
Feb. 18, 2013