New Theory of Extinction

A new theory of the Permian/Triassic extinction 250 million years ago suggests that halogenated gases resulting from giant salt lakes altered the atmosphere enough to affect land-based vegetation.

Cat CNS Repairs Itself

The central nervous system of cats has extensive abilities to repair neurological disorders through the restoration of myelin, the fatty insulator of nerve cells.

Termites Reproduce Asexually

Certain termite "primary" queens have been found to reproduce both sexually and asexually during their lifetimes to maintain the genetic diversity within their colony.

Asteroid Tracked to Earth

For the first time, astronomers have tracked an Earth-bound asteroid from its origin in space and as it entered the atmosphere, and recovered its remnants in the desert of Sudan.

New Species Discovered

Many new animal species that include 50 spiders, three frogs and a gecko have been discovered recently in a scientific survey of the remote mountains of Papua New Guinea.

Game Theory Predicts Behavior

For the first time, scientists have used the mathematics of modern game theory to predict the behavior of a group of juvenile ravens in North Wales.

Enzyme for Cancer Metastasis

Researchers have discovered that a specific enzyme called LOX (lysyl oxidase) is crucial in promoting cancer metastasis, and that drugs to block this enzyme may keep cancer from spreading throughout the body.

Earliest Domesticated Horses

Evidence for the earliest known domestication of the horse has been found with the Botai Culture of Kazakhstan, who both milked and used bridles on the ancestors of modern horses some 5500 years ago.

Great Red Spot Shrinking

A storm raging in Jupiter's atmosphere for at least 300 years, the Great Red Spot is slowly shrinking in response to two other nearby storm systems that have recently emerged.

Yellowstone Algae Detoxifies Arsenic

A species of algae named Cyanidioschyzon with the ability to detoxify arsenic has been discovered living in the extremely toxic environment of the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park.

Miniature Fish with Fangs of Bone

A tiny fish has been discovered in Burmese waters with prominent fangs made of bone, similar to tusks in larger animals.

New "Spin Battery" Developed

A new type of battery has been developed that holds a charge by not by chemical potential but applying a strong magnetic field to nano-magnets in what is known as a magnetic tunnel junction.

Transparent Metal at High Pressure

Researchers at have discovered that the metallic element sodium turns colorless and transparent as glass under extremely high pressures reaching about 3 million atmospheres (3 Mbar).

Crab Claws Include Durable Bromine-Rich Biomaterial

Researchers at the University of Oregon have found that the crab's claws contain a bromine-rich biomaterial that is 1.5 times harder than acrylic glass.

The translucent material containing bromine is extremely resistant to fracture and is found in the claw tips of striped shore crabs (Pachygrapsus cassipes) as well as the legs of Dungeness crabs (Cancer magister). The material is present in the parts of a crab's body that require strength or durability such as those for grasping prey or clinging to a perch, functions that would leave the animal vulnerable if dulled or fractured.

This bromine-rich material is part of a newly discovered class of biomaterials that incorporate heavy metals like zinc, iodine and iron. Why heavy metals are used is not clear, but it is believed they may dampen vibrations that lead to material failure. Typically, heavy-element biomaterials have only been found in smaller organisms such as insects. Insight into these exotic biomaterials may help in the design and manufacture of microtechnology applications.

These results were published in a recent edition of the Journal of Structural Biology.

Source: ScienceDaily