Zapping the brain sparks bright ideas
Ever wished you could think more laterally to solve a problem? In future, maybe you’ll just use a bit of mind-boosting technology: zapping the brain with electricity helps people think outside the box to solve a task. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and non-invasive method of temporarily altering the activity of neurons…
Bug to spider: I will control your offspring’s sex
Female spiders are famous for their ruthless reproductive strategies — but in fact, they’re at the mercy of a parasitic bug that forces them to have only female offspring. Wolbachia bacteria infect up to two-thirds of insect species. They are transmitted through eggs, and so need their host to have as many females as possible.…
So you’ve chopped off your hand…now what?
Imagine that you’re working on a home improvement project and, being a bit of a klutz, something goes wrong: a slip of the saw and you’ve lost a finger. Is there any hope of regaining your lost digit? While there young children reportedly have the ability to regrow amputated fingertips, in adults it’s possible with…
Professor Breeds Bomb-Detecting Plants
The next hydrangea you grow could literally save your life. With the help of the Department of Defense, a biologist at the Colorado State University has taught plant proteins how to detect explosives. Never let it be said that horticulture can’t fight terrorism. Picture this at an airport, perhaps in as soon as four years:…