Science News - May 22, 2010

Scientific Observations

“Evolutionary biology is in large part about reconstructing the past. One of the things I am excited about is our increasing ability to do just that with true genetic precision. For example, by identifying mutations that affect phenotypes, we can start to reconstruct traits of extinct species…. Using ancient DNA, we now know some Neanderthals were red-headed, and some mammoths were blond. Now imagine reconstructing or sequencing whole genomes and being able to predict the morphology, physiology or even behavior of ancient creatures. To what extent this will be possible is still unclear, but if we have reliable data, we can properly understand the direction and nature of evolutionary change in an unprecedented way.” — HOPI HOEKSTRA, BIOLOGIST AND MAMMALS CURATOR AT HARVARD UNIVERSIT Y’S MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOG Y, IN THE APRIL 13 CURRENT BIOLOGY

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EARTH

A Caribbean lake of asphalt replete with microbes could serve as a model for studying extraterrestrial life. See “Life in the sticky lane.”

GENES & CELLS
Pea aphids (shown) are the
first animals known to make
their own carotenoids,
nutrients usually found in
plants. See “Aphids make
their own bright colors.”

Science Past | FROM THE ISSUE OF MAY 21, 1960

PAREN TS AND DELINQUENCY — A study of 400 juvenile
delinquents in a mental hospital showed with “regular
frequency” that the parents unconsciously fostered the
delinquent behavior in their own chil-
dren…. The parents show an addiction to
the child’s delinquency that is much like
drug addiction. They even suffer acute
“withdrawal symptoms” when psychiat-
ric treatment results in the child’s aban-
doning his delinquent behavior. Then
the parent is likely, unconsciously, to find excuses to
interrupt the treatment or place obstacles in the way of
its progress. This unconscious interference by parents is
one of the major difficulties in treating the child and his
parents ... psychiatrists reported.

Science Future

June 3

2010 Kavli Prize winners in neuroscience, astrophysics and nanoscience are announced. See www.kavliprize.no

June 25 – 29 Evolutionary scientists host a joint meeting in Portland, Ore. See www.evolutionsociety.org

July 12 – 15 Computer scientists and engineers meet in Las Vegas for 22 joint conferences. See www.world-academy-of-science. org/worldcomp10

For Daily Use

Contrary to widespread belief, battling excess bulge may be a good thing in older patients, a small new study shows. Doctors worry about unintentional weight loss in the elderly because it can signify conditions such as diabetes or cancer and cause disease complications. But a study of 316 obese older patients found that those assigned to a diet or diet-and-exercise program were less likely to die in the eight years after the study than patients who did not diet. On average, dieters lost 10 pounds during the 18-month-study, compared with a three-pound loss in nondieters, researchers report in the May Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.

Science Stats

MORE AND LESS FRIENDLY FISH

Mercury pollutants concentrate more in certain species of seafood, making those riskier eats than others. That’s true even for different species of tuna.