This Week's PanSci News
This week's PanSci News covers a range of fascinating scientific discoveries, from the neurological basis of political fervor to the identification of Denisovan remains in Taiwan.
The Political Brain: Wired for Zeal?
Exploring the Neurological Roots of Political Engagement
Are political junkies simply wired differently? Scientists suggest the answer may lie in the brain's "wiring." A research team from Harvard, Stanford, and Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine used lesion network mapping to study 124 Vietnam War veterans with penetrating brain injuries.
Identifying Political Brain Circuits
By comparing the veterans' brain injuries with their pre- and post-injury political behavior and a standard brain connectivity database, researchers identified a potential "political brain circuit."
- Increased Political Activity: Damage to brain regions connected to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or posterior precuneus correlated with increased political activity and intensity.
- Decreased Political Activity: Conversely, damage to regions connected to the amygdala or anterior temporal lobe was associated with reduced political engagement.
These findings suggest that while political preferences might be learned, political zeal could be encoded in brain circuitry. It is important to note this study focused on US veterans and may not be generalizable to all populations.
"Edible Gastric Bypass": A New Weight Loss Pill
Syntis Bio's Innovative Approach to Weight Loss
Syntis Bio, an American biotech company, has developed "SYNT-101," an "edible gastric bypass" pill designed to mimic the effects of gastric bypass surgery without requiring surgery.
How it Works
The pill contains dopamine and hydrogen peroxide, which form a thin polydopamine coating in the small intestine.
- This coating allows food to bypass the upper portion of the small intestine where calories are typically absorbed.
- The intestines then signal a feeling of fullness, reducing appetite.
- The coating is naturally metabolized within 24 hours.
Promising Early Results
Initial human trials on nine participants showed no adverse side effects and a decrease in hunger hormones, coupled with increased leptin levels. Rat studies showed weekly weight loss of 1% without affecting muscle mass.
However, more human trials are needed to assess nutritional absorption and long-term side effects fully.
High Schooler Discovers 1.5 Million Celestial Objects with AI
Matteo Paz's Astronomical Achievement
High school student Matteo Paz has developed a new AI algorithm that led to the discovery of 1.5 million previously unknown celestial objects.
The Power of VARnet
Under the guidance of astronomer Davy Kirkpatrick at Caltech, Paz used machine learning to analyze 200 billion infrared data points from NASA's NEOWISE space telescope. His AI, "VARnet," combines wavelet analysis, Fourier transforms, and deep learning to detect subtle brightness changes and identify previously missed objects.
Discoveries and Applications
The AI has identified variable stars, novae, and distant quasars. Paz was the sole author of a paper published in The Astronomical Journal detailing the findings, which earned him first prize at the Regeneron Science Talent Search. He believes his AI model has applications beyond astronomy, potentially aiding in studies of atmospheric effects and stock market trends.
Anxious Salmon: The Impact of Pharmaceuticals on Wildlife
Anti-Anxiety Meds Alter Salmon Behavior
A recent Swedish study found that juvenile Atlantic salmon living in contaminated water and exposed to the anti-anxiety drug clobazam became bolder and less risk-averse.
Behavioral Changes and Ecological Risks
Researchers tracking their migration behavior found that exposed salmon passed through dams faster and with greater success rates than unexposed salmon. They also became less cautious around predators.
The Source of Contamination
These pharmaceuticals enter waterways through wastewater discharge and incomplete sewage treatment. While seemingly beneficial for salmon survival, these behavioral changes pose an ecological risk. The long-term consequences of early ocean entry and drug accumulation in other organisms remain unknown.
Uranus' Day: A Matter of Seconds
Recalibrating Uranus' Rotation Period
Astronomers have refined the calculation of Uranus' rotational period using data from the Hubble Space Telescope.
New Findings
Scientists at the Paris Observatory analyzed 11 years of Hubble observations of Uranus' auroras, revealing that the planet rotates in 17 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds. This is 28 seconds longer than the previously estimated period from the Voyager 2 mission in 1986.
Significance
This seemingly small difference is significant for planetary science. Uranus, an ice giant with a peculiar tilted axis and a chaotic magnetic field, requires precise atmospheric coordinates for accurate magnetic pole localization. The aurora-tracking method used in this study is effective and potentially applicable to other giant planets, improving navigational accuracy for future missions.
Taiwanese Jawbone Belongs to a Denisovan
Unveiling Human History in Penghu
A jawbone discovered by fishermen off the coast of Penghu, Taiwan, holds clues to human evolution.
Penghu 1 and Ancient Protein Analysis
The fossil, named Penghu 1, is the oldest human fossil found in Taiwan. Although DNA analysis proved impossible, recent ancient protein analysis by a joint Japanese, Taiwanese, and Danish team revealed it to be the remains of a Denisovan man.
Rewriting History
This discovery, published in Science, is significant because it identifies a Denisovan presence thousands of kilometers from previously known sites in Siberia and the Tibetan Plateau. The discovery suggests that Denisovans were not limited to cold climates and may have interacted with ancestors of modern Southeast Asians, explaining the presence of Denisovan DNA in some East Asian and Oceanian populations.
The National Museum of Natural Science in Taiwan is holding an exhibition in May 2024 about the Denisovan discovery.
That concludes this week's PanSci News.