"I'm really sick Doc. Look."
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✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan ✴
New Species Found in Australia
An endangered animal, Antechinus, has two new members. Well, they have been there all along. A team from Queensland University of Technology discovered the Tasman Peninsula Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus vandycki) in south east Tasmania, and nominated the Mainland Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus mimetes). The latter was known to be in New South Wales and Victoria but it is now a species in its own right.
The Tasman Antechinus is about 13 cm long with a short tail weighing roughly 90g. It is located in Port Arther, Tasmania. Under threat from clearing of trees it resides in state forest in fragmented groups. Survival is precarious in the isolated stands.
While uncovering new species is rare in developed countries, new ones are being found in Australia all the time. This is due to the low population density of people in inland Australia. Unfortunately, new species when found are usually in small numbers and under threat.
Antechinus are not helping themselves, though. Males fight to the death every mating season. They literally go sex mad for a few weeks copulating with as many females as possible for up to 14 hours at a time. All males are dead by the time females give birth. This leaves plenty of food for females. Having a glut of insects and spiders secures a good start for the young.
✴ Biology by Ty Buchanan ✴
Antimalarial Drug Artemisinin Made in Green Process
There is a new drug for malaria called artemisinin. It will be synthesized in a chemical process and the procedure is "green". The French pharmaceutical company Sanofi produces a third of the world's demand annually. Unfortunately, the synthetic drug is expensive.
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Most of artemisinin is extracted from sweet wormwood. This is simple but the synthetic version involves the conversion of glucose into artemisinic acid: then three oxygen atoms are bonded on to produce artimsinin. It is complex.
The use of toxic dichloromethane is not used in the new process. It was discovered, ironically, that water greatly assists the synthesis. It packs molecules together. Water-soluble photocatalyst is indeed clean and green. The result is a product that is purer than artemisinin taken directly from wormwood.
✴ Chemistry by Ty Buchanan ✴
Women and Men Were Not Equal in Hunter Gatherer Societies
Men and women in hunter gatherer societies had very defined roles. Men hunted for protein, namely meat. Women sought tubers and berries for long term family sustenance. Some scientists are saying that male and females were more equal in prehistory. This not really the case.
Women, for example, could not go on the hunt with men. Males would not remain home with the women unless sickness prevented the hardships of seeking wild game. A women who did not find a mate had to remain home, unwanted, with her birth family. Indeed close breeding was frowned upon. Mates were invariably found in an unrelated group.
Scientists have mistakenly confused female independence in decision making, which supposedly pushes them to choose an outside mate, with women knowing that it is the wise thing to do, while males are dumb and stupid about this. The attraction between cousins is well known - thus the term "kissing cousins". Why would women have superior ideals than men. They wouldn't. No, it is something genetically inherent in Man that drives individuals to find unrelated mates, loose liaisons with cousins not withstanding.
If males saw nothing wrong with interbreeding they would clearly have forced their will on females. Since the beginning, males have always dominated in mammals. Women could not have forced their will on men, apart from persistent verbal onslaught. It is known that females do dominate the verbal sphere.
The scientists have it wrong. Women are persuasive over males in one-to-one negotiations, but in groups matters men would govern and set the rules. Men clearly felt that pairing with outside parties was a "natural" thing to do.
✴ Society by Ty Buchanan ✴
A Good Move to Compulsory Maths and Science
I do not often agree with Christopher Pyne on government policy, Dare I say, I have "never" been in favor of his hair-brained ideas until now. Indeed, I would take his latest plan even further.
He is attempting to make maths and science compulsory for students in years 11 and 12. These two critical subjects should be part of the core curriculum in all years of school throughout primary and secondary education. I may say "When I was a lad..." Yet on this point I believe I have a solid foundation. When I was at school maths and science were for everyone. Advanced maths and science were only for those who proved themselves capable of effectively coping with the main subject areas.
When my children were at high school there were five grades of maths in years 8 to 12. Many students, with their parents' guidance I may say, chose a level too high for them to cope with in the next year. This ruined their whole higher education. If one attempts a higher level and fails, there is no credit on the leaving certificate for that subject in that year. An individual has a blemished record for life.
The only answer to this issue is for a parent to take a possible shattering step. This I did for one of my children. I took my son out of his current school and into another local high school to repeat the two years again. Thankfully, my son achieved a strong educational record and is successful in life.
✴ Science by Ty Buchanan ✴
People Like to View Warm Pictures
Yahoo Labs has spent a lot of time setting up filters for Instagram and Flickr. It found that filtered images are 21 per cent more likely to be viewed. Comments were given 45 percent more often as well. You are probably wondering what kind of filters were used.
Situational or emotional filters were not the target of research. Color was the main selection criterion. The ladies are right - pinks and reds grew the largest audience. All these warm tones were popular. This was followed by yellow which is an intermediate color. Yellow makes you happy you see.
Many people brighten up their pictures by increasing the depth of color. Apparently, this is a mistake because users take no notice. And don't bother with sepia toning either: this turns viewers off. Blue is a no, no, because it is interpreted as cold.
If you want to create art that is unappreciated as much of it is, just continue what you have been doing. If you want to provide pictures that will be viewed by many start churning out the warm, fluffy, happy snaps.
✴ Technology by Ty Buchanan ✴
The Stress of Commuting
Yes we know! You are fed up with work and travelling to work. Just getting there and back is tedious and boring, let alone tiring. You can't wait to get home for that wholesome dinner and a chance to put your feet up.
A study has begun to examine the stress of commuting at the Australian National University. Dr David Russel is leading the CommutingLIFE project. Commuters are being interviewed as well as politicians and policymakers. Observation of those enduring the daily chore is also taking place.
It seems those who talk about commuting are healthier, even if it is to complain about the ordeal. Listeners, however, do not fare that well. You don't want someone else's problems. Passing your stress onto your spouse is not a wise thing to do.
There is a way out without bothering others. You can learn relaxation techniques and settle the harsh thoughts in your head, settling the body into a soothing state. That is if you believe in this silly obsessive compulsive behavior!
✴ Sociology by Ty Buchanan ✴
Audition Dogs
"We have just auditioned for the Men In Black movie."
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✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan ✴
Vasopressin Gene Makes Women Promiscuous
Do you think that extramarital relationships are morally wrong? Well, ninety one percent of people do. However, men are predisposed to wander due to their genes. A fifth of married men had on the side affairs over the last two decades. More than 10 per cent of women who are "programmed" to be loyal to one man also had liaisons.
The most common excuse given is that the marital relationship is not fulfilling. Of course, the proclaimed reason has little to do with the motivation. Other reasons put forward are moral flaws of one party, or this is the thing to do in today's society.
Throughout history men have been away from home sowing their wild oats to increase the number of offspring, while their partners remained tied to the kitchen to feed the couple's children. There have always been women who have not followed this path who have lived a profligate existence.
A new slant on this is that some women have the vasopressin receptor gene which makes for promiscuity. In research on twins it was found that women who had extramarital relationships had one of five variants of the gene. Indeed, forty per cent of women who had promiscuous behavior had a gene variant. This is surprising as women are believed to be driven into relationships by emotions rather than high genetic sexual drive as in men.
The presence of the gene in men is difficult on measure due to the overriding mating drive, though many faithful men had a variant of the gene. It seems that the environment may have a role in the opportunities for men and women to stray, but genes are the main cause.
✴ Genetics by Ty Buchanan ✴
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