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Scientists Discover How We Play Memories in Fast Forward

AUSTIN, Texas — Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered a mechanism that may explain how the brain can recall nearly all of what happened on a recent afternoon — or make a thorough plan for how to spend an upcoming afternoon — in a fraction of the time it takes to live out the experience. The breakthrough in understanding a previously unknown function in the brain has implications for research into schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders where real experiences and ones that exist only in the mind can become distorted. (more…)

„Ich glaube an einen Ausweg!“

Culture, Politics

Gewalt im Namen Gottes ist auf das Schärfste zu verurteilen, Konflikte gehören allerdings zur Wahrheitsfindung. Diese Ansicht vertrat der bekannte Innsbrucker Theologe Raymund Schwager bereits in den 90er Jahren. Sein Schüler und wissenschaftlicher Begleiter Józef Niewiadomski im Gespräch über Schwagers Theorien zum Thema Religion und Gewalt und mögliche Auswege. (more…)

Supernova Twins: Making Standard Candles More Standard than Ever

Science

The Nearby Supernova Factory, based at Berkeley Lab, finds a new way to measure cosmological distances with far greater accuracy

Less than 20 years ago the world learned that the universe is expanding ever faster, propelled by dark energy. The discovery was made possible by Type Ia supernovae; extraordinarily bright and remarkably similar in brightness, they serve as “standard candles” essential for probing the universe’s history. (more…)

Super Mario erhält soziale Intelligenz

Technology

Informatiker der Universität Tübingen erschaffen interaktives Sozialgefüge, das auf dem beliebten Jump-‘n’-Run-Spiel basiert

Wissenschaftler des Projekts „Mario Al“ der Universität Tübingen haben die Videospielfiguren Mario, Luigi, Yoshi und Toad in einer eigens entwickelten Software mit sozialen Fähigkeiten ausgestattet. Dabei haben sich die Forscher des Lehrstuhls für Kognitive Modelle unter der Leitung von Professor Martin V. Butz an Erkenntnissen aus den Kognitionswissenschaften über die Grundlagen des menschlichen Denkens und Handelns orientiert. Mit der Software gehen die Wissenschaftler bei dem diesjährigen Videowettbewerb der Konferenz der Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) am 12. bis 17. Februar an den Start.
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First Study of Arthropods in U.S. Homes Finds Huge Biodiversity

Nature

The first study to evaluate the biodiversity of arthropods in U.S. homes finds that humans share their houses with any of more than 500 different kinds of arthropods – at least on a short-term basis. Arthropods are invertebrate animals with exoskeletons, segmented bodies and jointed limbs, such as insects, spiders, mites and centipedes. (more…)

Evidence lacking about breast implant safety

Health

A review of more than 30 studies seeking answers about silicone gel breast implant safety finds that the studies don’t provide definitive evidence. The new paper may help inspire improved analyses of existing data as well as a new registry to provide better data.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Uncertainty about safety has swirled around silicone gel breast implants for years. They were suspended from the market in 1992 and then allowed again in 2006. Throughout, despite many studies, definitive evidence about whether they are linked to health problems ranging from cancer to connective tissue disorders to depression has remained elusive. (more…)

Klimagase in Deutschland 2014 deutlich gesunken

Environment

Hendricks: Handlungsbedarf bei Verkehr und Landwirtschaft

In Deutschland sind die Treibhausgase 2014 erstmals seit Jahren deutlich gesunken. Insgesamt lagen die Emissionen im Jahr 2014 bei 901,9 Millionen Tonnen CO2-Äquivalenten – und damit 4,6 Prozent unter dem Niveau des Vorjahres. Allerdings gibt es einen Anstieg der Emissionen in den Bereichen Verkehr und Landwirtschaft. Das geht aus Berechnungen hervor, die das Umweltbundesamt (UBA) jetzt der Europäischen Kommission übermittelt hat. (more…)

Camouflage really does reduce the chances of being eaten

Nature

A ground-breaking study has confirmed the long held assumption that camouflage protects animals from the clutches of predators, and offers insights into the most important aspects of camouflage.

The research, by scientists from the Universities of Exeter and Cambridge, investigated the camouflage of ground-nesting birds in Zambia, using sophisticated digital imaging to demonstrate how they would appear from the perspective of a predator. (more…)