Bits and pieces from the Net

[dracodraconis]

A recent study showed that boys, but not girls, diagnosed with ADHD had smaller (by volume) and differently shaped basal ganglia than those not similarly diagnosed. They hope that these results will eventually lead to better diagnosis and treatment methods.

Moving from the brains of the young to the brains of the elderly, a recent study compared "super aged", people who display sharp mental faculties into their 80s and beyond, and "regular" elderly. They discovered that the super-aged had fewer fibrous tangles caused by tau proteins but roughly the same number of plaques. Previous research had linked increased tangles and plaques with the onset of Alzheimers.

Somali pirates have attacked and seized a Saudi-owned supertanker, the largest ship ever taken by pirates, and are now escorting it to a Somali port.

USA Today posted an article about students at Rice University who are using genetically engineered yeast to create beer containing Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine that is associated with a reduction in risk of cancer and heart disease, at least in mice. So far they haven't managed to produce anything drinkable, which puts them on par with many US and Canadian commercial brewers. Meanwhile, in Canada a researcher at the NRC has discovered that beer already contains a cancer-fighting compound called xanthohumol, albeit at barely useful levels. They hope to use the research to selectively breed for hop varieties high in the compound.

Chinese researchers have developed a flexible paper-thin speaker, opening the door to speakers that can be applied to clothing or walls.

A Scottish first has developed a grenade that, instead of exploding, gives soldiers a 360-degree view of a room. The grenade contains a wireless camera and is launched into a room using a standard grenade-launcher.

Slashdot has a review of Orson Scott Card's recently-published sequel to Ender's Game, entitled "Ender in Exile.

Finally, India has succeeded in planting a flag on the moon. (Edit: thanks to wetdryvac for catching the embarassing wording error.)

Comments

[wetdryvac.livejournal.com]

*grins*

Planting a flag, perhaps?

[dracodraconis.livejournal.com]

That's what I get for multitasking... fixed.

[ancalagon-tb.livejournal.com]

The brain tangle story is interesting. Definitely looking at the brain of old but "sharp" people seems like a good idea - I'm not sure why it hasn't been done before.

The Somali pirates, in attacking an oil supertanker, have crossed the line. Apparently they have foolishly established a "pirate heaven" port, potentially giving a big fat target to irate western - hell, irate everyone at this point - military forces.

[dracodraconis.livejournal.com]

Apparently there are currently about 17 ships being held hostage by Somali pirates. It's getting to be something of an epidemic. It's only a matter of time before some nation, or group of nations, comes knocking at their door with an army at their back.

[ms-danson.livejournal.com]

They tried to attack two boats of british special forces. Guess who won.

[ancalagon-tb.livejournal.com]

They also tried attacking an Indian naval frigate. This also did not go well.

A main problem here is the ransom money they are getting - so far this year, they have cashed in about 30 millions, and they still are holding other ships as hostages. This money makes them very popular with the locals, and buys bigger guns and ships.