Weekly Science Digest: Metallization, Memory & Pygmy Hippos

According to research from the Carnegie Institution for Science, the properties exhibited by iron oxide change depending on its composition and where it is located within the Earth, with experiments pointing towards a new kind of metallization occurring. By subjecting iron oxide to conditions similar to those found at the depth where our planet’s innermost two layers meet, the researchers found that the metal changed to such a degree that it conducted electricity. The most remarkable finding is perhaps that this all happened without the metal altering its structure, meaning that depending on only pressure and temperature, iron oxide can be either an insulator or a conductor. The findings may help us to further understand just how the Earth’s interior produces our planet’s magnetic field.

A new drug developed by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies may be the first capable of halting the mental decline of Alzheimer’s disease. When tested on mice, the drug, known as J147, led to improved memory and prevented the loss of synaptic connections associated with the disease. In order to synthesise the compound, the researchers focused on the biological pathways involved in the formation of amyloid plaques. Although the team do not yet know whether the compound will prove to be safe for and effective in humans, their research suggests that this could be the first drug to offer a treatment for one of the top ten causes of death.

Recent findings released by Johns Hopkins University have thrown up some intriguing insights into how babies perceive the world around them. The study suggests that whilst infants are unable to remember the details of objects that were shown to them and then hidden, they do retain a notion that what they saw remains in existence. By displaying and hiding a series of shapes, the team found that a baby’s brain possesses a set of built in ‘pointers’ that are able to pick out the objects in the world the they want to keep track of, without remembering what they are. The team believes the study sheds new light on the brain mechanisms that support memory in infancy and beyond.

A new study reveals how the genome of 138 stem cell lines of diverse ethnic backgrounds changed when the cells were grown in laboratories. The findings have led to concern from scientists that over time the cells can acquire genetic mutations which may compromise their usefulness for cell therapy. The study, which was the largest of its kind, was carried out by researchers from the University of Sheffield who analysed the pattern of genes expressed in 127 HES cell lines and 11 iPS cell lines from ethnically diverse backgrounds. After a prolonged culture about 20 percent of the cell lines acquired amplifications of a specific region in chromosomes 20.

An international group of researchers has set a new world record for data transfer, helping to usher in the next generation of high-speed network technology. Led by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the scientists succeeded in transferring data in opposite directions at a combined rate of 186 gigabytes per second (Gbps) in a wide-area network circuit. This rate is equivalent to moving two million gigabytes per day and fast enough to transfer nearly 100,000 full Blu-ray disks - each with a complete movie and extras - in a day. As well as providing the research community with an improved way to share information, a key motive behind the findings is to enable scientists everywhere in the world to work on the LHC data, allowing the best minds to work on the mysteries of the universe together.

A team of scientists from Fauna and Flora International, the Zoological Society of London and the Forestry Development Authority of Liberia has been using camera traps to study the endangered pygmy hippo in its natural habitat - they released this footage. [Video]

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