Abby Tabor
From a 3-minute science champion to the meaning behind a 117th element to the Internet expecting to welcome its 3 billionth user, many interesting developments are hiding behind the numbers in this week’s science news. Read on for more about the rejuvenating power of young blood, the resurging danger of polio, and more.
Several atoms of a superheavy element have
again been created by scientists, strengthening
its claim on slot 117 of the periodic table.
(Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
On the MyScienceWork Menu:
Last week, we introduced you to the 10 finalists battling it out to present the best 3-minute science at FameLab France. And the winner is…
[Video] Meet David Davila, the winner of the first edition of FameLab France
At a longer, but equally interesting presentation at the recent First Day of Tomorrow conference, we particularly enjoyed hearing from the inventor of the iKnife, which promises to vastly improve surgeries to remove tumors.
With the iKnife, Vaporized Tissue Helps Reveal Cancer
Some favorites from around the web:
The UN has released its predictions for internet use around the world by the end of 2014. A whole bunch of us will be online, and 2/3 of those in developing countries.
The internet will have almost 3 billion users by the end of the year, UN report says
If any of those users are interested in letting a computer do the talking, they’ll be glad to know that Watson is honing its debate skills.
IBM's Watson Can Now Argue For You
Anti-vaccination voices can debate the issue as much as they like, but the world is witnessing a very worrying return of polio, after near-eradication.
Polio Spreading at Alarming Rates, World Health Organization Declares
It’s nothing compared to the 3 billionth internet user, perhaps, but the 117th element has come closer to official status, thanks to independent confirmation from a new group. What does it mean for this realm of elements that tend to last mere fractions of a second?
Superheavy Element 117 Points to Fabled “Island of Stability” on Periodic Table
Interesting findings on the study of aging: the blood of young mice holds rejuvenating power for their elders. “As ghoulish as the research may sound,” writes Carl Zimmer, “experts said that it could lead to treatments for disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease.”
Young Blood May Hold Key to Reversing Aging
Unfortunately, though aging research may one day help us live longer and better, we may be faced with a less nutrient-rich future, due to one of the consequences of climate change:
Less Nutritious Grains May Be In Our Future
These days, satellites provide myriad measurements of the Earth and its systems that contribute to evaluating climate change, predicting its course and, most importantly, deciding how to adapt. If any of those questions interests you, join us on May 20th for the next Space Tuesday (Mardi de l’espace)/#CNEStweetup on the space industry and climate change.
Until then, enjoy your weekend science reading.
