Science discoveries from 2006
Thursday, December 28th, 2006The Tampa Tribune has an article on 50 pieces of knowledge realized in 2006 as reported by the media (http://www.tbo.com/life/MGBUFCRF5WE.html).
My favorites:
- Australian scientists discovered polyrhachis sokolova, which is believed to be the only ant species that can live under water. It nests in submerged mangroves and hides from predators in air pockets. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyrhachis_sokolova
- A substance called resveratrol, also found in red wine, protects mice from obesity and the effects of aging, and perhaps could do the same for humans. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resveratrol
- Janjucetus hunderi, a ferocious whale species related to the modern blue whale, roamed the oceans 25 million years ago preying on sharks with its huge, razor-sharp teeth. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janjucetus
- DNA analysis determined the British descended from a tribe of Spanish fishermen who crossed the Bay of Biscay almost 6,000 years ago.
- Most of us have microscopic, wormlike mites named demodex that live in our eyelashes and have claws and a mouth. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex
- Sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday can disturb your body clock, leaving you fatigued at the start of the week.
- A python was the first god worshipped by mankind, according to 70,000-year-old evidence found in a cave in Botswana’s Tosodilo hills.
- Researchers from the University of Manchester managed to induce teeth growth in normal chickens - activating genes that have lain dormant for 80 million years.
