| Science/tech news |
[Feb. 6th, 2004|11:59 am] |
Men inflict greater [perceived] pain than women
Men and women report feeling more pain if the person inflicting the pain is male, shows a UK study.
Participants placed a finger in a clamp which was tightened using a pressure gauge until they reported feeling pain. Both men and women appeared to feel pain more quickly if the person turning the clamp was a man.
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Tiny corkscrew pulls blood clots from brain
A tiny corkscrew that pulls blood clots out of the arteries supplying the brain is showing promise in reversing the devastating effects of a stroke.
Starkman's team are evaluating the new device, which is made by California-based company Concentric Medical, and it has been tested on 114 patients so far. Blood flow was restored to the affected parts of the brain in 61 patients. Of these, 23 ended up with either no disability or with only relatively minor problems, such as difficulty writing.
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'Mindsight' could explain sixth sense
Some people may be aware that a scene they are looking at has changed without being able to identify what that change is. This could be a newly discovered mode of conscious visual perception, according to the psychologist who discovered it. He has dubbed the phenomenon "mindsight".
Our visual system can produce a strong gut feeling that something has changed, Rensink says, even if we cannot visualise that change in our minds and cannot say what was altered or where the alteration occurred.
"I think this effect explains a lot of the belief in a sixth sense." He has no idea what physical processes generate mindsight, but says it may be possible to confirm it exists using brain scanners.
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Cellphones safe - at least in short term
The first in a series of eagerly anticipated nationwide studies has concluded that the use of mobile phones poses no increased risk of brain cancer - at least not for the first 10 years.
Despite this caveat, the Danish study is likely to carry more weight with health authorities and scientists than many previous studies because of its large sample size and careful design. Earlier studies that claimed to find evidence of a health risk have been criticised for weaknesses in these areas.
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Nanotech spy eyes life inside the cell
A team led by Bogdan Dragnea at Indiana University in Bloomington is exploiting the ability of viruses laden with gold to break into cells, along with the viral shell's own telltale response to laser light. Together these give an unprecedented picture of the chemical and physical activity in cells.
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Smart cellphone antennas boost coverage
Smart cellphone antennas that reduce the number of masts needed to get the new 3G broadband mobile networks up and running - and minimise "dead" spots in phone coverage to boot - will be tested on a novel network during the Olympic Games in Athens this summer.
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Gene-altered mouse produces fish oils
Fish oils known to help prevent heart attacks can now be made by land animals for themselves, thanks to work by genetic engineers.
The researchers inserted a gene from a nematode worm into mice which enables the mammals to make the omega-3 fatty acids. If the same feat can be achieved in farm animals, meat, milk and eggs could all be directly enriched with the oils.
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Smog-busting paint soaks up noxious gases
A paint that soaks up some of the most noxious gases from vehicle exhausts will goes on sale in Europe in March. Its makers hope it will give architects and town planners a new weapon in the fight against pollution.
Called Ecopaint, the substance is designed to reduce levels of the nitrogen oxides, collectively known as the NOx gases, which cause respiratory problems and trigger smog production.
( Read more... ) |
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| haiku |
[Feb. 6th, 2004|11:45 pm] |
moon puddle
between pisses the dog chases
invisible birds |
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