SUMMARY
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Science wRap is a weekly roundup of some of the top stories from the world of science, technology, and environment.
MANILA, Philippines – In this week’s Science wRap from July 28-August 3: resetting your body clock, monogamy and evolution, and the link between hot climate and hot heads.
Climate change and conflict
There appears to be a link between rising temperatures and increasing potential for conflict among humans. A study published August 1 in the journal Science showed that there is a “strong causal evidence linking climatic events to human conflict.” Researchers used a wide range of data from multiple disciplines, and found that historically, erratic climate coincided with increases in incidents of violence or conflict. The researchers projected that armed conflict could increase by 50% by 2050, as the world feels the effects of climate change. They also found out that Central Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia are likely to see higher levels of warming – thus, a higher potential for conflict.
- Quantifying the Influence of Climate on Human Conflict (Science)
- Climate Change Could Increase Armed Conflicts By 50 Percent Worldwide (Surprising Science blog, Smithsonian.com)
- A map showing where violence is most likely to break out in the future (io9)
- Climate change may make civil wars much more common (NewScientist)
Teeth from… urine
Scientists have grown teeth from gum cells – but from urine? Researchers in China’s Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health reported that they have successfully used urine to get stem cells, which was used to grow tooth-like structures. The epithelial cells in the urine were converted to become what they called induced pluripotent stem cells, which are capable of being grown into various kinds of tissue.
- Generation of tooth-like structures from integration-free human urine induced pluripotent stem cells (Cell Regeneration)
- New teeth grown from urine – study (BBC News)
- Scientists Make Teeth Using Urine (ABC News)
- Teeth Made From…Urine?? (Discovery News)
Monogamy and evolution
There are two possible reasons for monogamy, according to studies published July 29. The studies, one published in Science and another in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found out that fathers became involved parents after becoming monogamous. However, in the PNAS study they found that monogamy was related in protecting the young, while the Science paper said it was a result of competition for mates.
- Male infanticide leads to social monogamy in primates (PNAS)
- The Evolution of Social Monogamy in Mammals (Science)
- Scientists delve into the evolution of monogamy (Rappler/AFP)
- Monogamy’s Boost to Human Evolution | Despite Two New Studies on Motives for Monogamy, the Debate Continues (New York Times)
- The mystery of monogamy: scientists claim to have the answer (The Guardian)
Reset your body clock by going on a camping trip
A week of camping can “reset” a person’s body clock, and can be useful for those who have difficulty sleeping or waking up at the right time. Volunteers slept in the great outdoors for a week, away from any kind of artificial light (yes, including cellphones), and researchers found out their circadian clocks got in synch with the rise and fall of the sun. The study involved only 8 people, but the results supported previous studies on how our body clocks are affected by natural and artificial light.
- Entrainment of the Human Circadian Clock to the Natural Light-Dark Cycle (Current Biology)
- Set by the sun: An escape from electrical lights synchs our circadian clocks to the solar day (University of Colorado, Boulder)
- Carry on camping – can a week under canvas reset our body clocks? (BBC News)
- Want To Be A Morning Person? Take A Few Tips From Campers (NPR)
Other Notable Stories
Evolution does not favor the selfish A new study found out that selfish people are at a disadvantage when it comes to evolution – cooperation is a key trait for survival. (More at BBC News)
Jesus’ cross? Was a relic of the cross of Jesus found in an ancient church? Archaeologists in Turkey think so. (More at LiveScience)
Inter-species rabies Health officials and pet owners in Taiwan are in emergency mode after the first recorded case of rabies in a shrew, which initially came from ferret-badgers. Officials are worried of the higher risk of a possible jump of the rabies to humans. (More at Rappler)
Genetic Adam and Eve Two recently-published studies have found that there is a big possibility that the common ancestors of all present-day humans existed at the same time – what we call the Y-chromosomal Adam and mitochondrial Eve. (More at Ars Technica and NewScientist)
We close this week’s Science wRap with this image of a planet eclipsing its parent star, caught by the Chandra X-ray Observatory. It is the first time astronomers detected a planet outside our Solar System pass infront of its star, by way of x-rays.
– Rappler.com
(“Open mouth during oral checkup,””Happy pair embracing and having fun” and “Tent in site camp on sunrise” images courtesy of ShutterStock)
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