Science wRap: Body clocks, climate and conflict, monogamy

KD Suarez

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This week: Resetting your body clock, monogamy and evolution, and the link between hot climate and hot heads

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

Map courtesy of Science/Hsiang et. al. (Click to enlarge)

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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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)

FIRST AID. Fire Department ambulance staff help a local resident who was bitten by her own pet cat while getting the rabies vaccine in New Taipei City on July 30, 2013. Photo by AFP / Mandy Cheng

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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