Brain lighting and Old relics

[dracodraconis]

Source: Nature Scientists have discovered a protein (NpHR) that, when exposed to light, switches off nerve firing. Specifically, the protien pumps chloride ions into the nerve cell when exposed to yellow light, effectively silencing the nerve until the ionic equilibrium has been re-established. Meanwhile, a protien ChR2 performs the opposite function when exposed to blue light, effectively activating the cell. NpHR is considered important to understanding nerve function because it allows researchers to silence individual nerve cells to determine how important they are to a particular activity. ChR2 had already earned its spurs by allowing researchers to replace large, clumsy electrodes with lasers that could activate individual nerve cells rather then activating clusters of them. It is hoped that this technique will eventually replace electrode stimulation in patients such as those being treated for sever depression. One researcher hopes that this technique may allow them to stimulate retinal cells directly, bypassing rods and cones that may have been damaged by injury or disease.

Source: National Geographic Scientists believe they have found the gene that makes small dogs, well, small. The gene is located near IGF-1 which helps animals grow from birth to adolescence. Small dogs have an increase in mutations around this gene, resulting in it being suppressed. They are now searching for other genes that may interact with it to control body size.

Source: National Geographic It appears that the charred remains of Joan of Arc may be far older than once thought... going all the way back to ancient Egypt. It appears that the relics thought to be the bones of Joan of Arc are actually the bones of an Egyptian mummy from sometime between the 3rd and 6th century BC. The relic had been officially recognized by the Vatican as authentic in the late 1800s. The bones were apparently charred by someone attempting to lend authenticity to the relic. The possibility of the relics being a fake arose when the bones were examined using an unusual technique: odour analysis by a trained panel. They detected the hints of plaster (legend had it she was burned on a plaster stake), but the hints of vanilla confused the panellists. The vanilla aroma would not arise from cremation, but would be produced by mummification. Chemical analysis bore this out. It only goes to show that the nose knows, and that some people can literally smell a forgery.

Source: CBC News Another story noticed by ancalagon_tb. As we move into the 2011 peak of the 11-year sunspot cycle, it appears that GPS satellites could be at risk interruption. These satellites are used for everything from navigation to synchronizing money transfers. As a result, many aspects of today's increasingly-connected society could be at risk of disruption should GPS services be disrupted. The problem is that solar flares can generate electromagnetic interference that effectively "drowns out" the GPS signal. Fortunately, redundancy in the system will allow us to weather all but the worst solar storms.

Source: USA Today Last but not least, the results are in on how much of an impact the early Daylight Savings Time had on energy consumption. And the answer is: none. Yes, those of you with SAD can take comfort in the fact that your suffering was, indeed, for naught. The US and Canadian governments managed to create the impression of solving a problem, but in a way that, predictably, would do nothing at all to solve the problem.