The Friday Five

Highlighting some of the coolest science news we’ve seen lately.

1. We are one step closer to helping paralyzed people walk again. Neuroscientists in Switzerland are using electronics to restore movement in paralyzed rats – so far, these rats have been able to take 1,000 computer-controlled steps. 

 

2. The AIDS epidemic gained notoriety in the 1980s, but by using genetics and historical records, scientists have traced the “epidemic ignition” of the HIV virus back to the 1920s in the Congo (called Kinshasa at the time). An excellent piece describing the study is here.

3. Having trouble recognizing the smells coming from the kitchen? Or the flower garden? It could mean your number is up. A new study published in PLoS ONE has found a link between olfactory dysfunction and death.

If something stinks, at least take comfort that you can smell since loss of this sense is a predictor of death!

 

4. Does anything really ever “touch” another thing? Physics says NO! Watch this remarkable video addressing this “touchy” subject:

 

5. Ever wonder why most people instinctively tilt their head to the right when leaning in for a smooch? Find out the answer to that as you learn “The Scientifically Best Way to Kiss”:

 

Science quote of the week:

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.” –Richard P. Feynman

Contributed by:  Bill Sullivan

Follow Bill on Twitter: @wjsullivan

Wenger N, Moraud EM, Raspopovic S, Bonizzato M, DiGiovanna J, Musienko P, Morari M, Micera S, & Courtine G (2014). Closed-loop neuromodulation of spinal sensorimotor circuits controls refined locomotion after complete spinal cord injury. Science translational medicine, 6 (255) PMID: 25253676

Pinto, J., Wroblewski, K., Kern, D., Schumm, L., & McClintock, M. (2014). Olfactory Dysfunction Predicts 5-Year Mortality in Older Adults PLoS ONE, 9 (10) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107541

Faria, N., Rambaut, A., Suchard, M., Baele, G., Bedford, T., Ward, M., Tatem, A., Sousa, J., Arinaminpathy, N., Pepin, J., Posada, D., Peeters, M., Pybus, O., & Lemey, P. (2014). The early spread and epidemic ignition of HIV-1 in human populations Science, 346 (6205), 56-61 DOI: 10.1126/science.1256739

The Friday Five

Highlighting some of the coolest science news we’ve seen lately.

1. Ever wonder if a blood-sucking insect gets drunk after sucking an intoxicated person’s blood?

2. You can't hurry love...but scientists have calculated how many soul mates you have in the world. Find out how they did this and how many are waiting for you. Go get 'em, tiger, then play them this song!

3. First, scientists made the "nude" mouse, and now they made one that is see through! Scientists have also recently created the invisible mouse, but no one can seem to find it (ba dum dum).

4. Scientists have reported that the memory of starvation can be inherited through the passage of small RNAs to offspring...for at least three generations (in worms, at least). You're not only what you eat, but you're what your great great grandparents ate!

5. It's not all in your head...music can make you feel powerful – especially pumping up the bass! Rock on, tiger.

Bonus!

Last month we wrote about the sequencing of Ozzy Osbourne’s genome. Here is a great video explaining how the human genome is sequenced.

Science quote of the week:

“All of science is nothing more than the refinement of everyday thinking.” –Albert Einstein

Contributed by:  Bill Sullivan

Follow Bill on Twitter: @wjsullivan

Rechavi, O., Houri-Ze’evi, L., Anava, S., Goh, W., Kerk, S., Hannon, G., & Hobert, O. (2014). Starvation-Induced Transgenerational Inheritance of Small RNAs in C. elegans Cell, 158 (2), 277-287 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.06.020

Yang B, Treweek JB, Kulkarni RP, Deverman BE, Chen CK, Lubeck E, Shah S, Cai L, & Gradinaru V (2014). Single-Cell Phenotyping within Transparent Intact Tissue through Whole-Body Clearing. Cell PMID: 25088144

Hsu, D., Huang, L., Nordgren, L., Rucker, D., & Galinsky, A. (2014). The Music of Power: Perceptual and Behavioral Consequences of Powerful Music Social Psychological and Personality Science DOI: 10.1177/1948550614542345