Scientists' Unscientific Tendencies

Wired Magazine has published a report on how ego get's in the way of scientist's results.

A foundational study in the early 1990s discovered more than 50% of scientific experiments produce unexpected results in tested labs. Researchers almost always blamed mistakes for their surprising findings, even when the anomalies showed up multiple times.

Although scientists like to believe they are empiricists, in reality most experiment failures are ignored. Tests have revealed that even experts activate their anterior cingulate cortex - an area of the brain which suppresses conclusions contrary to what the individual believes. That is, trust in a pre-conceived idea trumps reality.

It seems that religious people are not the only one's who can fall victim to dogma.

Want to Learn More? Take a Nap

Current Biology has published a report stating successful study habits should include plenty of napping. People who take a nap and dream about a task they've just learned perform it better upon waking than either those who don't sleep at all or those who sleep but don't report any associated dreams.

Dreams did not lead to better memory, but they are a sign that other parts of the brain are working to remember. Dreams, according to the research, are a side effect of that memory process.

Researchers suggested that it may be better to study hard right before you go to sleep than in the afternoon, or to take a nap after a period of intense afternoon study.

1st Poisonous Bird

The Hooded Pitohui is the world's first discovered poisonous bird. It uses a neurotoxin (specifically homobatrachotoxin), found in its skin and feathers, to induce numbness and tingling to anything that comes into contact with the bird. The bird's toxin is, gram for gram, the most poisonous on earth.

The poison dart frog possesses the exact same poison as the hooded pitohui, leading many to reason the source of the poison is the Choresine beetle - part of both animals diet.

Elastic Water

Nature published a report on a cool new material comprised of 95% water and some clay and organic material. The result is "elastic water" (EW), an extremely elastic and transparent jelly-like substance.

EW was produced in light of emphasis on reducing dependency on fossil-fuel energy. EW could be used to create plastics without the use of petroleum while having the ability to mould into shape-persistent, free-standing objects. It also preserves biologically active proteins for catalysis, meaning it could help wounded tissue to remain closed.

Electronic Ink

If you haven't seen it, the Esquire 75th Anniversary Magazine (2008) utilized some amazing technology. The face of the magazine actually lights up. Parts for this issue were shipped and assembled in China, Texas, Mexico and finally Kentucky.

This blog explains the various parts that were utilized:

programming header, 5-pin ISP
Microchip PIC 12f629 which is flash programmable, 8 pin
6 lithium coin cell CR2016s, 3 volts each
2 e-ink screens with flex connections
Half thickness, 2 layer board (FR4)

Here's a video of the magazine.