合集下半全集

SSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-SecondScience,I'mChristieNicholson.GotaSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-SecondScience,I'mChristieNicholson.Gotamuchcarboniscausingglobalwarming.Pastglacialagesoccurredpartlybecausetheweatheringofrocks,overmillionsofyears,pullsCO2fromtheatmosphere,lockingitinoceanfloorsediment.Theriseofglobalmountainrangesduringthelast25millionyearsshouldhavesuckedalltheCO2fromatmospheresendingtheEarthtoanicydeath.Butthatneverhappened.CO2levelsstabilizedatabout250partspermillion.ThisweekinthejournalNature,researchersannounceonereasonwhythishappened:plants.LeafygreensneedCO2tolive,andwhenCO2levelsdropsignificantlytheystarve.Researcherssaythattheplantnumbersdecreasedtoalevelwherevolcanoesandothercarbon-creatingsourcesproducedCO2fasterthantheremainingplantscouldremoveit.SotheEarthremainedsomewhatwarm.Itmayseemthatourleafyfriendscouldhelpusnow,thistimefromoverheating.Butultimatelywe‘reproducingtoomuchCO2toofastfornaturalweatheringprocessestoremoveit.Ultimately,weneedawaytostopproducingCO2inthefirstThanksfortheminuteforScientificAmerican's60-SceondScience.I'mSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-SecondScience,I'mChristieNicholson.GotaIfyou‘vespokentoanyoneinNewYorkCity,whereScientificAmerican‘sofficesare,thenyou‘veheardabouttherain,everydaysincemid-June.Still,we‘renotintheintertropicalconvergencezone,anareajustnorthoftheequatorstretchingacrossthePacificthatbuildsrainclouds30,000feetthick,releasingasmuchas13feetofrainannually.ButtherainiestplaceonEarthmightreachus,eventually.ResearchersreportinthejournalNatureGeoscience,thezoneismovingnorthatarateofnearlyamileperyear.Andit‘simportantbecauseitsuppliesfreshwatertoabillionpeopleinthetropics.ResearchersstudiedWashingtonIslandinthePacificthatgets10feetofrainannually.CoresamplesinPalau,nowintheheartoftheconvergencezone.Also,thenowaridGalapagosIslandshadaverywetclimateabout400yearsago.Researcherspredictthatthezonewillbemorethan75milesnorthofitscurrentpositionasearlyasmid-century,havingprofoundandeconomicculturalimplicationsthosewhocurrentlydependonThanksfortheminuteforScientificThanksfortheminuteforScientificAmerican's60-SceondScience.I'mIntertropicalconvergencezone,azoneoftradewindconvergenceexcessiveprecipitation.【氣象學(xué)】熱帶輻合區(qū);熱帶聚集區(qū);熱帶內(nèi)收斂帶;赤道輻合n.地球科SSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mChristieNicholson.GotaWemightthinkperfectpitchisaninnatetalent.Well,astudyintheAmericanJournalofHumanGeneticsisprovidingsomeevidenceforthat.Perfectpitch,akaabsolutepitch,istherareabilitytonameorrecreatemusicalnoteslikeAorofCaliforniaSanFranciscostudiedtheresultsfromanonlinetesttakenbyovertenthousandpeople.Notsurprisingly,individualstendedtoeitherhaveperfectpitchornot.Butinacloserstudyof73familiesresearchersfoundaregionofgenesonchromosomeeightinthosewithperfectpitchandfromEuropeanancestry.Morestudyisneededtozeroinonjustwhichgeneormultiplegenesmightberesponsible.Andforcomparison,theyintendtostudyindividualswithoutperfectpitchbutwithequivalentmusicaltraining.Thereissomeevidencethatbabieshavetheabilityforabsolutepitch,soresearchersforthisstudytheorizethatmaybemostlosethisabilitywithage,butthatwhataso-calledpitchgenedoesisextendthistalentthroughacrucialperiodinThanksfortheminuteforScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mChristieSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican‘s60-SecondScience,I'mSteveMirsky.Gotaphones.InLondonlastweekattheWorldConferenceofScienceJournalists,PhilipHilts,thedirectoroftheKnightScienceJournalismProgramatM.I.T.,reviewedtheworldwidestateofinternetandcellphoneuse.tisthisdiscussionabout,well,wehaveitinNorthAmericabutAfricaisnotgotit,soweareontwodifferentplanetsandsoon.That'strue,5.6percentinAfricatimesrightnow.InAsiait'sgrowingalmost6timesrightnow.Sothegreatestgrowthiswherewe'reshortinpenetration.CellphoneusewherenewswillbealsoasthesmartphonesgetaroundtheworldandasAfricagetswiredup,thecablesarenowgoinginthatwillbeusefulinAfrica.Theyhaven'tbeenthere.1980,wehad11,200,000cellphonesubscriberswhichwaszeropenetration.Andwearelookingat60percentpenetrationnow,4.1billionsubscribers.ChinaandIndiaisthecoreofcellphoneusageonearth,andthenitgoesonfromthere,US,Brazil,Japan,SSS2009-07-takeaminute.Sexmightseemlikeoneofthoselittlegiftsfromevolution.Butit‘sprettyinefficientfromanevolutionaryperspective.It‘dbemucheasiertoreproduceifyoucoulddoawaywithfindingtherightmemberoftheoppositesextohelpyoucreatethenextgeneration.Sowhydidevolutioncomeupwithsex?Biologistshavehypothesizedthatonedrivingforcemighthavebeenparasites.Nowscientistshavehadachancetotestthattheory.Asexualreproductionleadstoclones.Beinggeneticallyidentical,clonesarealsoweakinthesameways,andthusmorelikelytoallsuccumbtoaparasite.ButsexkeepsshufflingthegeneticWell,there‘sasnailcommoninNewZealandlakesthatdoesboth—somepopulationshavesexandsomereproduceasexually.Soresearchersspent10yearsmonitoringthetwopopulations,andthenumberofparasiteslivingoffbothgroups.Asexpected,clonedsnailsthatwereplentifulatthebeginningofthestudysufferedbiglossesastheybecameinfectedwithparasites.Butthesexualsnailpopulationsremainedstable,resultspublishedinthejournalAmericanNaturalist.So,nexttimeyou‘refeelingsexy,thankaparasite.ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mCynthiaSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mSteveMirsky.GotaTheresultsarein,and,Americansprettymuchlikescience.Eighty-fourpercentnstheresultoftwophonesurveysconductedbythePewResearchCenterandtheAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofScience,releasedonJuly9th.Seventy-threepercentbelievethatfederalfundingofbasicresearchpaysoffinthelongrun.Butthepublic‘sratingoftheoverallsignificanceofscienceseemstohavedroppedinthelast10years.In1999,47percentofthosepolledsaidthatscientificadvanceswereamongthemostimportantU.S.achievements.morewhenit‘srelatedtotheirdailylivesandhealth.Forexample,91percentknowthataspirin‘sanover-the-counterdrugsometimesusedtopreventheartattacks;only46percentcantellyouwhicharebigger,electronsoratoms.Togaugeyourgeneralbasicscienceknowledge,includingontheatom/electronquestion,takethetestat/sciencequiz.ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mSteveSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-SecondScience,I'mCynthiaGraber.Thiswilljusttakeaminute.ItsoundslikethetitletoaRudyardKiplingtale:howtheturtlegotitsshell.Butit‘sactuallyaquestionthathaspuzzledscientists.Afterall,nootheranimal,livingorextinct,hasasimilarlyconstructedbonyshieldsurroundingitsbody.Scientistshadthoughtthat,overevolutionarytime,smallbonyplatesfusedwiththeanimal‘sskin.ButanewstudypublishedJuly10thinthejournalScienceoffersadifferentpathway.Inmostanimalstheshoulderbladeslieoutsidetheribs.Notsowithturtles.Andthere‘snointermediateevolutionaryforminwhichtheshoulderbladesliebeneathribs.SoresearchersinJapancomparedchicken,mouseandChinesesoft-shelledturtleembryosatdifferentstagesofdevelopment.Theyshowthatinitiallytheembryosdevelopalongthesamepathways.ButtheturtletakesaAsitdevelops,partofitsbodyfoldsinonitself.Shoulderbladesgetfoldedwithintheribs.Theribsstayconnected,butnewconnectionsalsodevelopbetweenboneandmuscles.Thentheshellstartstodevelopastheribsfusetogetherandencasetheshoulderblades.Notasdrollperhapsasa―JustSo‖story.Butmorefascinatingforbeingtrue.SSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmeican's60-SecondScience.I'mAdamHinterthuer.GotaHoly@$#%!AccordingtoneuroscientistsfromBritain'sKeeleUniversity,droppingtheSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmeican's60-SecondScience.I'mAdamHinterthuer.GotaHoly@$#%!AccordingtoneuroscientistsfromBritain'sKeeleUniversity,droppingthefbombcanactuallyrelievephysicalpain.IntheupcomingAugust5thissueofthejournalNeuroReport,theresearcherssayswearingisadifferentphenomenonthanmostlanguage.Itactivatesemotionalcentersintheright#$#ycommunicationinthelefthemisphere.Theresearchershadgroupsofundergraduatestudentssubmergetheirhandsinatubofwitch$@&#*coldicyabyssmuchlongerthanwhentheywereonlyallowedtosaymoresociallyacceptablewords.Theresearcherssaythefoul-mouthedstudentsalsohadincreasedheartrates,whichindicatesthatswearingactivatesa&#*@ingclassicfghtorht‖response.Youknow,whenyouactallbad$(#todownplaythefactthatyou'rescared@$#^ss.Thestudysuggeststhatswearingisanancientsocialphenomenonwithbothemotionalandphysicaleffects.Andalsothatsociallyacceptablewordsdon'tmean@$#%whenpainreallyhurtslikeason-of-a-Thanksfortheminute,forScientificAmeican‘s60-SecondScience.I‘mSSS2009-07-Anyonewho‘severhadacatknowshowdemandingtheycanbe.Letmeout,letmein,givemefood,givemedifferentfood.Thelistgoeson.Buthowdothesecleverkittiesconvinceustodotheirbidding?AstudyintheJuly14issueofCurrentBiologysuggestsit‘sallinhowtheyask.KarenMcComboftheownpetusedahybridbetweenapurrandacrytogetheroutofbedinthemorning.McCombgotrecordingsofothercatcalls.Andbackinthelab,shefoundthathumansthoughtpurrsmadebycatswhoweretryingtosolicitasnackweremoreurgent,andlesspleasant,thanthosemadewhenkittywas,say,relaxingonthesofa.Turnsoutthatthe"feedme"purrincludesahigh-frequencycomponent,absentfromthecontentedpurr,thatmakespeoplewanttoreachforacanopenerjusttomakeFluffystop.It‘sobviouslypartof―FlufsMasterPlan(song)forWorldDmitin‖SSS2009-07-Modernhumansaremastersofmultitasking.Weeatwhiledriving,watchTVwhilestudying,andofcoursetalkonourcellphoneswhiledoing,well,everything.HowdowedoModernhumansaremastersofmultitasking.Weeatwhiledriving,watchTVwhilestudying,andofcoursetalkonourcellphoneswhiledoing,well,everything.Howdowedoit?AstudyintheJuly16thissueofNeuronsuggeststhatthoughwecantrainourbrainstoworkfasteraswejuggle,weneveractuallymanagetodomorethanonethingatatime.Ourbrainsaren‘treallybuilttohandlethesortofparallelprocessingwethinkwe‘recapableof.Thegoodnewsis:studieshaveshownthatextensivetrainingcanmakeusbetteratdoingtwothingsatonce.Buthow?ifwedon‘tneedtoruneverylittlethingpastthepartofthebrainthat‘sspendstimethinkingaboutstuff,wecanmultitaskjustfine.Butthisnewstudyfindsthatthat‘snotthewayitworks.Turnsoutthatmultitaskersstillconsulttheprefrontalcortex,buttraininggetstheThinkgBrai‖tothinkalittlefaster.Sowe‘reswitchingtasksquicklyenoughtoappeartobedoingthemsimultaneously.WhichisstillnothingtoshakeastickandSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmeican‘s60-SecondScience.I‘mKarenHopkin.GotaHorseracingisasportthat's200yearsold.Andadayatthetrackismuchmoreexcitingnowthanitwasbackthen.That'sbecausehorsesarefasterthantheyusedtobe.Orarethey?AstudyintheJuly17thissueofScienceshowsthatit'sthewaythatjockeysridethat'smaderacingmoreheart-poundingthanbefore.Imagesfromthelate1800sshowthattheboysinsilkslookedprettyrelaxedastheywentalongfortheride.Butmodernjockeys-crouching,tightlycoiledatoptheirgallopingsteeds-activelyworktomakesuretheirweightdoesn'tslowthingsdown.UsingGPStotracktheriders'motions,scientistsfoundthathavetophysicallymovethejockeythrougheachcyclicalstride.Asaracesarefivetosevenpercentfasterthantheywere100yearsThanksfortheminute,forScientificAmeican‘s60-SecondScience.I‘mSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican60-SecondScience.I'mSteveMirsky,gotaIt‘sthe40thanniversaryofthefirsthumanssettingfootonthemoon.August,Iinterviewedoneofthem,BuzzAldrin,inthelobbyofahotelhestayingatinManhattan.NearstayingatinManhattan.NeartheendofourconversationIaskedhimtogetalittleexistential:―Whatwastheactualexperienceofbeingupthere?Didhaveanytimetojustsay,?hisisnAldrin:,thereisnowaytorecreateorreallyanticipatethevisualthatweweregiven.Youjustcouldn'tprojectaheadthatyouaregoingtoseeunusualthingslikeputtingyourfootdownandthedustgoesoutandkindoflandsindifferentway.ThingsbehavedifferentlyupthereToheartheentireinterviewwithBuzzAldrin,justgotoItincludesadiscussionofhowhisdoctoralthesisworkatM.I.T.onguidancetechniquesformannedorbitalrendezvouswoundupcomingintoplayduringactualmissionsthathetookpartinasanastronaut.ThanksfortheminuteforScientificAmerican60-SecondScience,IamSteveSSS2009-07-takeaminute.Whenyougetcaughtinadownpour,youprobablydon‘tthinkaboutthesizeoftheraindropsthatassaultyouasyourunforcover.Butphysicistsdo.Andthey‘vecometotheconclusionthatthedropsthathittheground,oryourhead,aretheshatteredremainsofbiggerdropsthatfellfromtheclouds.Raindropscomeinavarietyofsizes,evenwithinthesamestorm.Andscientistsusedtothinkthat,togetthatkindofdistribution,raindropsmustcrashintolargerones.NowateamofFrenchscientistshasproducedhigh-speedfootageoffallingwaterdroplets.Andtheyfindthatdropsofdifferentdimensionsdon‘trequirecollision—theycomefromthefragmentationofindividual,droplets.TheirresultsappearonlineinthejournalNatureThevideoevidencerevealsthatwaterdropletsfirstflattenoutastheyfall.Andformingwhatlooklikelittleplasticgrocerybagsfloatinginabreeze.Andwhenrememberyourumbrella.Thanksfortheminute,fortheScientificAmerican's60-SecondScience.I'mKarenHopkinSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican60-SecondThisisScientificAmerican60-SecondScience.I'mCindeyGraber.Thiswilljusttakeaminute.WhenTVsetsdie,theyusuallyendupincineratedorinlandfills.ButnowresearchersfromEngland‘sUniversityofYorkbelievethey‘vefoundavaluableusefortoldTVs—inmedicine.Liquidcrystaldisplays—orLCDs—arebecomingincreasinglypopular.Onekeycomponentofthedisplayisacompoundcalledpolyvinyl-alcohol,orPVA.TheresearchersrecoveredthePVAfromtelevisionscreens.Theythenheatedthematerialinwaterwithmicrowaves,cooleditbackdownandwasheditwithethanol.ThatprocesscreatesanewmaterialcalledexpandedPVA.AndourbodiesfailtomountanimmuneresponseagainstexpandedPVA,soit‘sasubstanceforbiomedicalIt‘sporouswithalargesurfacearea,sotheexpandedPVAisagoodmaterialforcellularscaffoldingthatcanbeimplantedandonwhichtissuescanregenerate.Itcanalsobeusedforpillsanddressingsthatdeliverdrugs.TheresearchpublishedinthejournalGreenTVsmaysooncomefromtheTVs.Thanksfortheminute.ForScientificAmerican60-SecondScience,I'mCindeySSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmeican‘s60-SecondScience.I‘mSteveMirsky.Gota―Wouldyoumindtellingmewhatthisisallabout,Mister?‖Noproblem,Captain.AstudyintheJournalofAppliedPhysiologyshowsthatartificialgravityshouldpreventabigproblemfacedbyastronautswhostayweightlessforextendedperiods.―Areyouadoctor?‖Well,no,butIknowtheweightlessnessmuscleFifteenhealthymenspentthreeweekslyinginbed.Suchinactivityproducessimilarmusclelossesasweightlessness.ButeightofthevolunteerswerespunaroundinaNASAcentrifuge30timesaminuteforanhoureachday.Theforcesproducedareequivalenttostandingupinabouttwoandahalftimesnormalgravity.Thespunguyskeptmakinglegmuscleproteinsnormally.Butmuscleproductionintheunspungroupwascutalmostinhalf.ThestudyhasimplicationsforelderlypeoplehereonEarth.―I‘m34yearsold.‖Actually,iftoday‘s78-year-oldShatnerwerehospitalized,he‘dquicklylosemuscle.ButgettingBilltostandupandmovejustalittleeachdaycouldhimwardoffmuscledecay.―Whatarewedoinghere?‖―Maybethey‘reusaretirementpart‖usaretirementpart‖―Thatsuitsme,Ijustboughta‖Thanksfortheminute,forScientificAmeican‘s60-SecondScience.I‘mSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmeican's60-SecondScience.I'mKarenHopkin.ThiswilltakeaForgetthemeek.IftheEarthkeepsgettingwarmer,arecentstudyshowsthatit‘sthesmallthataregonnacomeoutontop—atleastintheworld‘soceans.Withglobaltemperaturesontherise,scientistsaretryingtofigureoutwhatawarmerearthwillmeanforworldwideecosystems.Inaquaticenvironmentsitseemstworesponseshavealreadycomeintoplay.First,speciesareseekinghigheraltitudesandlatitudessotheycanstayintheircomfortzones.Second,organismsareshiftingkeyeventsintheirlifecycles,likewhenalgaebloomfishNowresearcherswritingintheProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofScienceshavediscoveredathirdrule,ifyouwill,thatgovernshowfishandotherocean-dwellingcrittersareworkingtobeattheheat:they‘reshrinking.Makessensebecauseasmallerbodymeansabiggersurfaceareatobodyvolumeandmoreefficientheatdumping.Theresearchersreviewedlong-termsurveysandotherpublishedresultsandfoundthatthenumberofsmaller-sizedspeciesisontherise.Andthatwithineachspecies,fishesofeveryagearejustalittlebitlittlerthantheyusedtobe.Holyminiaturemackerel.Thanksfortheminute,forScientificAmeican‘s60-SecondScience.I‘mKarenSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mSteveMirsky.GotaThetoucan'slongbillhaslongperplexedbiologists.Darwintheorizedthatitattractedmates.Othersuggestedusesrangedfromfruitpeelingtoterritorialdefense.ButareportintheJuly24thissueofthejournalScienceoffersanotherexplanationastowhyone-thirdofthebirdisallschnoz.Theauthorsofthereportsaythetoucan'sbillissobigbecauseitactslikearadiatorstrappedtoitsface.Whenatoucanneedstocooldown,itsbeakheatsup.Theimmensesurfaceareaofthebeakallowsheattoquicklydissipate.Infact,thescientistssay,asatoucanlowersitsbodytemperatureinpreparationforsleep,itcancool10degreesCelsiusinjustminutes.Thescientistsusedinfraredthermography,thesamekindoftechnologyusedheat-sensingcameras,toobservetoucansatdifferentambienttemperatures.Whenoutsidetemperaturesrose,thebillalsoheatedup,butthebird‘scorebodytemperaturedidnot.Thescientistsspeculatethatotherbig-billedbirdsmayregulatetheirbodyheat-sensingcameras,toobservetoucansatdifferentambienttemperatures.Whenoutsidetemperaturesrose,thebillalsoheatedup,butthebird‘scorebodytemperaturedidnot.Thescientistsspeculatethatotherbig-billedbirdsmayregulatetheirbodytemperaturesthisway.Sincebirdsdon‘tsweat,havingahandyheatdissipaterundoubtedlykeepstheirfeathersfromgettingruffled.—AdamSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mSteveMirsky.GotaWhydidtheorangutancrosstheforestcanopy?Presumably,toreachsometastyfruit.Butthebetterquestionmightbe:howdidtheorangutancrosstheforestcanopy.AndaccordingtoastudypublishedintheProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences,theanswerissomethingofasurprise.Largeapesthatspendalotoftimeinthetreetopsfaceamajorchallengeingettingtotheirfood:howcantheymaneuvertheirbulkoverthosespindlylittleoutermostbranches,whichholdallthebestfruit?Scientistshadpredictedthatortocrawloverthemcarefullywithkneesandelbowsflexed.Butorangutanshaveadifferentapproach.Theyliketomixitup.Sometimestheymoveupright,sometimeshorizontallywiththeirlimbsfullyextended.Theyavoidrepetitivemotions,whichcouldmaketheirperchesswayevenmoreprecariously.Andtheytendtograbontomorethanonebranchatatime—athirdofthetimethey‘vegotholdofmorethanfouratonce.Whichisgoodbecausetheapplemightnotfallfarfromthetree,butanorangutandoesn‘twanttofallatall.—KarenSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mSteveMirsky.GotaWhenMichaelPhelpsisoutofthewater,hetowersovermerenon-Olympicmortals.Thenheslipsintothepool,andmakesrecord-breakingspeedseemeffortless.Hisheight,itturnsout,isnoaccident.AccordingtoresearchpublishedinTheJournalofExperimentalBiology,winningathletesaregettingtaller,moreslender,andyetheavierincomparisontothenormalpopulation.Since1900,theaverageperson‘sheighthasgoneupbyabouttwoinches.Butwinningswimmersarefourandahalfinchestallerthantheirold-ResearchersappliedmathematicalmodelsofanimallocomotiontoshowwhyheightgivesthemacompetitiveResearchersappliedmathematicalmodelsofanimallocomotiontoshowwhyheightgivesthemacompetitiveadvantage.Coacheshavesaidinthepastthatswimmersshouldlifttheirbodiesoutofthewaterbecauseairhaslessdrag.Butresearchersshowedthatlargerbodiesfallfasterandmoreforwardinthewaterandcreatealargerwavethathelpspushthemahead.Theauthorssuggestthatinthefuturewemightneedweightclassesforallsortsofsports,notjustboxingorwrestling.ThatmightgiveoneoftheshorterguysachancetowinanOlympicswimmingeventevenwithMichaelPhelpsinthe—CynthiaSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mSteveMirsky.GotaRememberDickandJane?AndtheirdogSpot?Maybeyoureadabouttheminfirstgrade.SeeSpotrun.Run,Spot,run!Well,anewstudyinthejournalPsychologicalSciencesuggeststhatnotonlydidyouseeSpotrun,butyouran,too.Atleastinyourmind.BecausereadingaboutsomethingturnsonthebrainregionsthatcontroldoingthatForyears,scientistshavesuspectedthatourbrainssimulatetheactivitieswereadabout.Inbehavioralstudies,peoplewhoarereadingaboutscoringasoccergoalreactmorequicklywhenaskedtomakeakickingmotionthanwhentoldto,say,pattheirheads.Now,researchershaveusedreal-timebrain-imagingtechniquestowatchwhathappenswhenpeoplereadastory.Twenty-eightsubjectstookintalesfromadayinthelifeofRaymond,aseven-year-oldboywhodoesthingslikegetoutofbedandsitthroughanEnglishlesson.Sureenough,whenRaymondscurriestohisschooldesk,cellsinthereaders‘brainsthatgovernscurryingalsospringtoFortunately,thecopycattingisconfinedtothebrain—wedon‘tactuallyactoutthethingswereadabout.Ifwedid,youwouldn‘twanttositnexttosomeoneskimmingthedailypaper.—KarenSSS2009-07-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mSteveMirsky.GotaNo,it‘snotanewOlympicsportforslackers.It‘ssomethingthatseemstohappenwhenwewatchavideo.BecausenoneofuswanttomisstheIfyoustoptoIfyoustoptoadditup,humansspendalotoftimenotlooking.Weblinkeverycoupleseconds,whichmeansweloseaboutsixsecondsoutofeveryminuteofviewingtime.So10percentofthetimewehavenovisualinformationcomingin.Yetwerarelynoticethisinterruptionofservice.That‘sbecausewetendtotimeourblinkssothatwedon‘tgetleftinthedark.OrsosaysareportintheRoyalSocietyjournalBiologicalSciences.FourteenpeoplewatchedacoupleepisodesofMr.Bean.Anditturnsouttheyalltendedtoblinkatthesamemoments:justafterBeanfinisheddoingsomethingstupidorwhenthecamerashowedalongshotwithnothingmuchgoingon.Suchfishswimmingaroundatank.Mr.Beangetsthroughhisholidayinonepiece.—KarenSSS2009-08-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mSteveMirsky.GotaPeopleswingtheirarmswhentheywalk.Butdidyoueverwonderwhy?Doesithelpuskeepourbalance?Isitarelicfromourevolutionarypast?Isitbecausewelooklikedoofusesifwedon‘t?Now,areportintheRoyalSocietyjournalBiologicalSciencessuggeststhatweswingourarmswhilewalking,inpart,becauseittakeslessenergythanitwouldtostop.Sincepeopledon‘twalkonallfours,it‘snotclearwhywepumpourarmswhendoit—thoselimbsdon‘tjustswaypassivelylikeapendulum.Sotheremustbesomebenefit.normallyorwiththeirhandssecuredtotheirsides.Andtheyfoundthatforpeopleon-the-go,strollingwiththeirarmsstrappeddowntook12percentmoreenergythanjustlettingthemfly.Swingingthearmsalsooffsetsthescissoringofthelegs,savingevenmoreenergy.Sonexttimeyougoforawalk,don‘tforgetthosearms.?useitdon‘tmeanathingifitain‘tgotthatswing.—KarenSSS2009-08-ThisisScientificAmerican‘sSixty-secondScience.I‘mCynthiaGraber.Thiswilljusttakeaminute.Pooroldspleen,itnevergottherecognitionitdeserved.Untilnow.ScientistshadknownthatthePooroldspleen,itnevergottherecognitionitdeserved.Untilnow.Scientistshadknownthatthespleenispartofourimmunesystems.Butitwasconsideredexpendable,anorganwecouldlivefinewithout,ifwehadto,nothingcrucial.NowresearchersinBostonsaythatthespleenactuallyhelpsmenddamagedhearts.ThestudywaspublishedintheJuly31stissueofthejournalScience.Thosearecellsthatscientistshadpreviouslythoughtwereonlyfoundinbonemarrowandbloodthathelpfightinfection.Scientistsdiscoveredthesespleen-basedmonocytesbyaccident.Theywereinvestigatingheartdamageandfoundmoremonocytesatthesiteofthedamagethanshouldhavebeenintheentirecirculatorysystem.Uponinvestigation,theyfoundthereservoirinthespleen.Afteraheartattack,thosemonocytessurgeoutofthespleen.Whentheyreachtheheart,theyfightinfectionandarecriticallyimportantinhelpingmendthehearttissue.Theresearchersnowwanttofindoutifthereareotherconditionswherespleen-basedmonocytesarecritical.Finally,theRodneyDangerfieldoforgansgetssomerespect.ThanksfortheminuteforScientificAmerican‘sSixty-secondScience.I‘mCynthiaGraber.SSS2009-08-ThisisScientificAmerican's60SecondsScience.I'mSteveMirsky.GotaIn1900legendaryphysicistMaxPlanckdescribedthewayenergygetsdissipatedfromanynonreflectiveobject,calledablackbody.ButevenMaxsaidifsomethingelseisreally,reallyclosetotheobject,hislawmightnothold.NowphysicistsfromM.I.T.havefinallyshownthatifyoucangetanotherobjectnearenoughtotheblackbody,butstillnottouchingit,Planck‘sblackbodyradiationlawreallydoesbreakdown.Whichisgoodnewsforyou.Thereseachershadbeenabletoputflatplatesamillionthofameterapart.Whichwasstilltoofarawaytoseeanyeffect.Butwithglassbeads,theyachievedseparationsofonly10billionthsofameter.AndtheradiationflowwastheAugustissueofthejournalNanoIt‘sgoodnewsbecauseofpotentialapplications.Forexample,computerdatastorageandsolarenergydevicesarealllessefficientbecauseofheatbuildup.Iftinierdistancescanbeachievedinthesereal-worlddevices,suchwastecouldbemadetowalktheThanksfortheminute,forScientificAmerican's60SecondsScience.I'mSSS2009-08-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mSteveSSS2009-08-ThisisScientificAmerican's60-secondScience.I'mSteveMirsky.GotaOrchidsarebotany'sgreatmimics,allintheserviceofgettingpollinated.Somehaveevolvedtoresemblefemalewaspstoattractmales.Othersproduceodorsthatsmelllikepotentialmatesorlikemoreattractiveflowers.NowastudypublishedinthejournalCurrentBiologyaddsanotherformof