Clean Dwarf Galaxy Help Chart Universe

The image above is of IC 1613, a dwarf galaxy that is found in the Cetus constellation.

IC 1613 is unique in that unlike other galaxies, this dwarf galaxy contains very little cosmic dust which allows a clearer exploration of what is inside it. Cosmic dust is made of various heavier elements, such as carbon and iron, as well as larger, grainier molecules. Not only does dust block out light, making dust-shrouded objects harder to see, it also preferentially scatters bluer light. As a result, cosmic dust makes objects appear redder when seen through telescopes than they are in reality. Astronomers can factor out this reddening when studying objects. Still, the less reddening, the more precise an observation is likely to be.

IC 1613 also contains two types of stars, Cepheid variables and RR Lyrae variables. These type of stars rhythmically pulsate, growing characteristically bigger and brighter at fixed intervals and are used to measure galactic distances.

Galaxies come in different sizes. Our galaxy, The Milky Way, is a regular sized galaxy which contains 200 to 400 billion stars. There are smaller galaxies like the dwarf galaxy which only has several billion stars inside it. Dwarf galaxies like IC 1613, are small and have been observed to be pulled toward and merge with nearby spiral galaxies.

The OmegaCam was used to capture the image above. The OmegaCAM is a 32-CCD, 256-million-pixel camera mounted on the 2.6-metre VLT Survey Telescope at Paranal Observatory in Chile.

Organ transplant rejection may not be permanent

Rejection of transplanted organs in hosts that were previously tolerant may not be permanent, report scientists from the University of Chicago. Using a mouse model of cardiac transplantation, they found that immune tolerance can spontaneously recover after an infection-triggered rejection event, and that hosts can accept subsequent transplants as soon as a week after. This process depends on regulatory T-cells, a component of the immune system that acts as a "brake" for other immune cells. The findings, published online in Nature Communications on July 7, support inducing immune tolerance as a viable strategy to achieve life-long transplant survival.

"Transplantation tolerance appears to be a resilient and persistent state, even though it can be transiently overcome," said Anita Chong, PhD, professor of transplantation surgery at the University of Chicago and co-senior author of the study. "Our results change the paradigm that immune memory of a transplant rejection is invariably permanent."

To prevent transplant rejection in patients with end-stage organ failure, a lifelong regimen of immune-suppressing drugs is almost always required. While difficult to achieve, immune tolerance - in which a transplanted organ is accepted without long-term immunosuppression - can be induced in some patients. However, rejection can still be triggered by events such as bacterial infection, even after long periods of tolerance. It has been assumed that the immune system remembers rejection and prevents future transplants from being tolerated.

Moon Sized Crystal Core Discovered Inside Earth's Inner Core

Scientists have discovered an additional core inside the Earth's inner core. The team published their discovery in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Using seismic waves, researchers from the University of Illinois and Nanjing University in China have discovered that the inner core of the Earth has an inner core of its own. It is previously known that the inner core of the Earth contains iron crystals that are aligned in a north to south direction. The newly discovered core has crystals aligned in a east to west direction.

The core was discovered using seismic waves are energy waves generated from an earthquake or loud explosions that passes through the Earth . Using principles similar to ultrasound, the team used seismic sensors to collect data from a seismic wave produced during an earthquake's aftermath.

The discovered core is smaller than the moon and may give information on how the Earth was formed, its history and an understanding what is happening deep inside the planet.

Stem Cell Recreates 3D Neural Structure of Brain's Cerebellum

Scientist have successfully coaxed undifferentiated stem cells to form functioning cerebellar neurons that mimiced the dorsal/ventral patterning and multi-layer structure found in the cerebellum.

The experiment conducted at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Japan applied signaling molecules to 3D cultures of human embryonic stem cells which prompted the cells to form into cerebellar neurons. These neurons self-organized to form the proper dorsal/ventral patterning and multi-layer structure found in the natural developing cerebellum. The image above are that of mature Purkinje cells (a type of neuron) that was grown from Human Embryonic Stem Cells.

The researchers noted that the experiment may lead to technologies and other discoveries that will be useful for modeling cerebellar diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxia; a progressive, neurodegenerative,genetic disease that has no known treatment or cure.

Neurons are cells of the nervous system that transmits information and signals to and from the brain. They the main component of the nervous system which also includes the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral ganglia (relay points and intermediary connections between different neurological structures in the body). Neurons are not made or replaced after birth. Scientists are looking at stem cell technology to address medical conditions and disorders that are affected by neurons since stem cells can differentiate into neurons.

Stem cells, specifically human embryonic stem cells, are cells that can change itself into a higher form of cell, tissue, or organ.

Their findings are published in Cell Reports.

Understanding Science, Embracing Religion

A study by Timothy L. O'Brien at the University of Evansville finds that deeply religious people understand and even accept the practical applications of science and technology but rejects the scientific explanations of creation and evolution.

Professor O'Brien find that people who view both science and religion in a positive light are well educated and financially secure.

Although they accept scientific theories and explanations that covers geology, radioactivity, planetary motion, genetics, and probability, they reject the concept of evolution and the how the universe was formed; the Big Bang.

They even find that almost half of these people, known as post-seculars, believe that the Bible is the literal word of God. Post-seculars also report the greatest strength of religious affiliation as compared to traditionals and moderns.

The study does reveal that people's belief in science and religion is not a product of education or understanding since post-seculars are scientifically literate yet does not accept the concept of evolution as the origin of life or that the big bang created the universe.

The study is published in the American Sociological Review.

Entangled Photon Emitter That Fits in Computer Chip Developed

Researchers at the Università degli Studi di Pavia in Italy has developed a component that can generate a steady stream of entangled photons. This device, called a micro-ring resonator, is tiny enough to fit in a standard silicon computer chip.

Entanglement may be the foundation of a new way to connect and transmit information. Entanglement is the mysterious connection between two particles where they interact with each other physically even when separated; regardless of distance. Einstein was quoted as describing this property as 'spooky action at a distance'.

In theory, even if the two photons are galaxies apart, they still interact with each other.

Current entangled photon emitters are too big to fit in a computer chip. The development of this micro-ring resonator is a step forward to secure communications and faster computers.

The resonators are loops etched onto the silicon chip. They can corral and re-emit particles of light as illustrated in the image above of the silicon ring resonator with its access waveguide. In the image, the green wave at the input represents the laser pump, the red and blue wave-packets at the output represent the generated photon pairs, and the infinity symbol linking the two outputs indicates the entanglement between the pair of photons.

Safe Medication To Treat Binge Eating Disorder (BED) Studied

Binge-Eating Disorder (BED) is an eating disorder where a person is compelled to eat large quantities of food over a short period of time even when the person is not hungry. This is done on a regular basis through regular binges.

Doctors at the Lindner Center of HOPE is studying the effectivity of the medication lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in decreasing the days patients with BED would binge eat, compared to a placebo. The medicine is currently being used for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

This is a significant discovery since to date, there is no approved medication for BED. It has been noted that Binge-Eating Disorder is associated symptoms of mental illness and obesity. Randomized clinical trials on the use of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in treating BED have been conducted in 2011 to 2012 covering 500 patients with the eating disorder with positive results.

Ongoing clinical trials being conducted may lead to a safe and improved pharmacologic treatment for moderate to severe BED.

Determining Reaction Level of Food Allergens

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology published a study on the level of food allergens required to cause an allergic reaction to people sensitive to them.

An allergic reaction happens when the body's immune system reacts to a specific food type. Common types of food allergies include milk, eggs, some fruit and vegetables, and nuts. Reactions can be as mild as an itchy sensation or can be life threatening (Anaphylaxis).

The researchers wanted to find a level of allergen which would only produce a reaction in the most sensitive ten percent of people with food allergies.

The number of people who have food allergies has increased in recent decades with around 5-7% of infants and 1-2% of adults at risk. The study aims to develop warning guidelines and food labels that would help inform consumers about the allergen levels in a given product since different people have different allergen tolerance than others.

Annual Economic Cost of Psoriasis Estimated at over $110 Billion

A review article on the the effect of Psoriasis on the U.S economy was published online by JAMA Dermatology. The authors reviewed factors that have a direct, indirect, intangible and comorbidity (presence of one or more additional disorders) costs of adult psoriasis and estimate that the annual U.S. cost of psoriasis for 2013 to be between $112 billion and $135 billion.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. It causes the skin to be irritable and form thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales. These scales are dead skin cells that form on the surface.

The disease occurs when the immune system mistakes healthy skin cells as a threat and attacks it. It sends out a signal to speed up the growth of new skin cells. Dead skin cells builds up on the skin surface which become scales.

By releasing an estimated annual cost of the Psoriasis, researchers believe it will help develop cost effective therapies that will help alleviate this economic burden and improve patient outcome.

Two New Habitable Planets Found By NASA Kepler Mission

Eight new Earth-like planets have been found orbiting stars at a distance where water can exist on the surface. Among the eight discovered planets, two of them are believed to most resemble the Earth. These are Kepler-438b and Kepler-442b.

Kepler-438b is located 470 light-years from Earth while the more distant Kepler-442b is 1,100 light-years away. Both stars orbit red dwarf stars which are smaller and cooler than the Sun.

The zone where exoplanets can maintain water in its surface is known as the Goldilocks zone. These planets must receive about as much sunlight as the Earth. The discovery of Kepler-438b and Kepler-442b doubles the number of small planets that are believed to be habitable.

These findings were announced today in a press conference at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society.

AHA Infographic: Love Your Heart Help Your Brain

As part of their "Love your heart, help your brain" campaign, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) released a new infographic highlighting the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.

The infographic cites new research that drives home the fact that eating fruits and vegetables, around 4 to 5 servings a day based on a 2000 calorie diet, may prevent the risk of stroke and improve health.

The campaign aims to boost the consumption of fruits and vegetables worldwide to reduce the global impact of stroke.

Learn more about how to understand more about the risk factors that affect stroke at StrokeAssociation.org/prevent.

Probing the Spiderweb Galaxy Cluster (MRC 1138-262) Yields Surprising Data

A galaxy cluster is composed of smaller galaxies held together by gravity. It is the largest object found in the Universe.

Using the APEX telescope, astronomers probed the Spiderweb Galaxy which is a galaxy cluster 10.6 billion light years away. Formed by smaller galaxies, the Spiderweb Galaxy (also known as MRC 1138-262) has been studied for twenty years. It has been observed that the object contains a supermassive black hole and is a powerful source of radio waves.

The data from the observation has surprised scientists with their discovery of the formation of the stars in the galaxy cluster taking place. They have noted that instead of the stars being formed from the filaments of the cluster, APEX data has shown that the star formation region is concentrated in one area and not even centered on the galaxy cluster itself.

The Spiderweb Galaxy contains a supermassive black hole and is a powerful source of radio waves — which is what led astronomers to notice it in the first place. The object has thick dust clouds which the LABOCA camera on the APEX telescope can see through.

Walking Fish Polypterus Senegalus Offers Glimpse At Evolution

Scientists are studying Polypterus Senegalus, a fish that can move in land, to understand how ancient organisms managed to jump from swimming in the waters to walking into land.

Polypterus Senegalus is a fish from Africa that is able to breathe air, move in land (with their fins) and resembles prehistoric fishes that managed to evolve into tetrapods - amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The scientists studied the fish to learn how these fish move to learn the evolutionary processes that occurred 400 million years ago.

By raising the fish on land for nearly a year, they noted significant anatomical and behavioural changes. The fish walked more effectively and its biological behavior adapted to the process. The researchers hypothesized that the behavioural changes also reflect what may have occurred when fossil fish first walked with their fins on land.

Distant Galaxy Collision Imaged Through Gravitational Lensing

The European Southern observatory and with the help of other agencies, has imaged a galactic collission that happened when the Universe was half its age using gravitational lensing.

Using state of the art instruments from all around the world, on the ground and in space, ESO has imaged galaxy H-ATLAS J142935.3-002836 in collision with another galaxy.

With the help of gravitational lensing which uses Einstein's theory that light can be bent given enough mass, scientists were able to study objects which would not be visible otherwise and to directly compare local galaxies with much more remote ones, seen when the Universe was significantly younger.

The image above shows the foreground galaxy that is doing the lensing, which resembles how our home galaxy, the Milky Way, would appear if seen edge-on. But around this galaxy there is an almost complete ring — the smeared out image of a star-forming galaxy merger far beyond.

In his theory of general relativity, Einstein predicted that given enough mass, light does not travel in a straight line but will be bent in a similar way to light refracted by a normal lens.”

Gravitational lensing is done with the help of galaxies and galaxy clusters which provides the mass that deflects light from objects behind them due to their strong gravity. The magnifying properties of this effect allow astronomers to study these objects.

The collision of H-ATLAS J142935.3-002836 was gathered using three ESO telescopes, the ALMA, APEX and VISTA, and with assistance of other telescopes and surveys namely: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, the Gemini South telescope, the Keck-II telescope, the NASA Spitzer Space Telescope, the Jansky Very Large Array, CARMA, IRAM and SDSS and WISE.

Fully Feathered Four Winged Flying Dinosaur Fossil Discovered

A new dinosaur fossil with completely preserved set of feathers covering its enite body was discovered in Liaoning Province of northeastern China. The 125 million year old dinosaur is named Changyuraptor yangi and at four feet in length, is the biggest four winged dinosaur species discovered.

Dinosaurs such as the Changyuraptor and the previously discovered Microraptor are called four winged dinosaurs because of the set of feathers attached to its legs that appear to be a second set of wings. The long feathers attached to both legs and arms of these ancient predators have led researchers to conclude that the four-winged dinosaurs were capable of flying.

This discovery sheds light on how these large bodied creatures were able to fly. The new fossil documents that dinosaur flight was not limited to very small animals but to dinosaurs of more substantial size

Porous Material With Nanoholes Lead To Efficient Thermoelectric Devices

Scientists from the National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos in Athens, Greece have discovered that using materials filled with tiny holes can lead to the improvement of thermoelectrics as a viable alternative for harvesting wasted heat.

Porous materials (materials filled with holes) have a direct correlation to thermal conductivity. The more porous a material is, the lower the thermal conductivity. This results in a better thermoelectric material since there is lower heat dissipation/loss.

The also researchers found that the smaller the pores and the closer they're packed together, the lower the thermal conductivity. They also show that, in principle, micro-nano porous materials can be several times better at converting heat to electricity than if the material had no pores.

The image above, This is a schematic illustration of the multilayer configuration with layers of different porosity (graded porous material). Each layer contains a concentration of periodically distributed pores of the same size (only one set of such particles is shown). Image Credit: APL Materials

Atomic Force Microscope Manipulate Atoms to Form Smallest Swiss Cross

Researchers from Finland and Japan have formed the smallest Swiss cross using bromide atoms on a sodium chloride surface. The academic journal Nature Communications has published the team's results.

The team used bromine atoms, 20 of them, and positioned these on a sodium chloride surface to form the cross. Using an atomic force microscope, the structure was found to be stable at room temperature. The bromine atoms were exchanged with the chlorine atoms to make the structure; by moving and positioning the single atoms.

It is the first time that systematic atomic manipulation on an insulating surface have been achieved at room temperature. The resulting Swiss cross measures 5.6 nanometers square.

This discovery can lead to the development of next generation electromechanical systems, advanced atomic-scale data storage devices and logic circuits.

European Extremely Large Telescope Groundbreaking in Cerro Armazones

The largest optical/infrared telescope in the world, the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), held its groundbreaking ceremony at the 3000 meter peak of Cerro Armazones in Chile.

The E-ELT is planned to start operations within the next decade; around 2024. Projects for the European Extremely Large Telescope include tracking down habitable Earth-like planets, finding out more about dark matter and dark energy, and measuring the properties of the first stars and galaxies.

Civil works in the the Cerro Armazones started in March 2014 and are expected to take 16 months. These include the laying and maintenance of a paved road, the construction of the summit platform and the construction of a service trench to the summit.

Binary Star Systems May Explain Formation of Mysterious Magnetars

Scientists may have found the explanation on how a magnetar is formed. Magnetars are a a type of neutron star and have a very strong magnetic field.

During a supernova explosion, stars collapse and form either a neutron star or a black hole. Neutron stars are so dense that a teaspoon of its material may weigh over a billion tons.

One such type of neutron star is a magnetar. Magnetars are the strongest magnets known in the Universe. They are millions of times more powerful than the strongest magnets on Earth.

Scientists have long believed that magnetars are formed through the interactions of two massive stars that orbit each other in a very tight binary system; an orbit comparable to the distance of the Earth to the Sun. The theory suggests that the mass transfer between the two stars created a rapid rotation of one star which resulted in a very strong magnetic field. A second mass transfer slimmed down that star to it doesn't collapse into a black hole at the moment of its death.

Without finding a companion star, this theory was hard to prove. They further suggested that the companion star may have been thrown out of orbit during the supernova explosion; a runaway star. With the magnetar found in the star cluster Westerlund 1, the theory may have sound basis as scientists discovered a runaway star, Westerlund 1-5, that could have been the partner star of the magnetar and aided in its formation.

Dinosaurs Survived By Shrinking

A study by scientists from Oxford University and the Royal Ontario Museum suggest that dinosaurs survived by shrinking their bodies eventually evolving into birds.

The study suggests that the dinosaurs went through a huge range of shapes and sizes over these years. And those species that decreased their body mass, survived and became birds. This evolution helped the dinosaurs maintain their presence, albeit in another much smaller form, and allowed them to continue exploiting new ecological niches throughout their evolution.

It has been only more than two decades that the idea that birds evolved from dinosaurs have entered mainstream acceptance. This can be largely attributed to the movie "Jurassic Park" which broached the theory to the public and garnered massive acceptance. Although some of the facts in the movie turned out to be wrong, the dinosaur to bird evolution theory still remains.

There have also been fossils discovered that suggests that some dinosaurs have feathers just like their current cousins. And there are also some, like the Microraptor had wings.