Weekly Science Digest: MRI, Maps & Mars

Using a piece of software known as Eureqa, researchers from Cornell University have demonstrated that a computer can analyse data from biological systems and turn it into mathematical equations - these equations describe precisely how a system operates. The team used the software to study glycolysis, specifically, the manner in which yeast cells control fluctuations in the chemical compounds the process produces. When the team fed the data into Eureqa, the computer produced a series of equations almost identical to the known equations. It is hoped the software could now be used to solve a multitude of problems.

New research from Cornell University claims that around 96 percent of vertebrates, humans included, descend from a common ancestor. The species, most probably a predatory marine fish, is thought to have lived some 500 million years ago and would appear to have possessed a sixth sense: electroreception, the biological ability to perceive natural electrical stimuli. Researchers hope the findings will help us better understand the origin and evolution of many organ systems, including the brain.

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University developed an MRI-based technique that allowed them to non-invasively follow stem cells in vivo. Until now, scientists have only been able to study neuronal stem cells by looking at slices of the brain under a microscope. The team tagged the cells with ferritin, a metalloprotein that harvests and stores iron, which caused the cells to draw in even more iron. The cells thus became nanomagnets that an MRI scan can detect. The technique could be used to develop treatments for brain injuries caused by trauma, stroke and, amongst others, Parkinson’s disease.

NASA’s Mars Rover captured 309 images at the end of each drive during it’s Opportunity trek from Victoria Crater to Endeavor crater. Although sadly no extraterrestrial life was found, the images of this three-year journey provide a captivating glimpse of the red planet.

In partnership with NASA’s Terra spacecraft instrument ASTRA, the Japanese Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Readiometer has released a significantly improved version of the most complete digital topographic map of the Earth. Known as a global digital elevation model, the map adds 260,000 additional stereo-pair images, improved spatial resolution and heightened vertical and horizontal accuracy to the original map, which was released in 2009. The data covers 99 percent of Earth’s landmass and spans 83 degrees north latitude to 83 degrees south. The map provides civilian users with the highest-resolution topography data available and is available online at no cost.  

Dark matter, the mysterious substance holding together stars within the Milky Way, has come under scrutiny following a study conducted by Astrophysicists at Harvard and Cambridge University. The standard model assumes that dark matter should be densely packed in the centres of galaxies. Instead, new measurements of two dwarf galaxies show that they contain a smooth distribution of dark matter, suggesting that the traditional cosmological model may be wrong. The research team measured the locations, speeds and basic chemical composition of 1500-2500 stars in the Fornax and Sculptor galaxies to reach their findings.  

The 'Weekly Science Digest' is a compilation of science news from around the world. News suggestions are always welcome: mark.howardbanks (at) researchgate.net