Science and Technology
We weigh into the teen obesity problem - Fines for blacklisted hyperlinks and concern about Internet filtering - Vegan creepy crawlies - Is water a natural pain killer? - Does the Pill skew judgement? - And who wrote the play The Reign of King Edward III?
A new study has found that water, as well as chocolate, activates a part of the brain which reduces pain. The study has also found that consuming food and drink, which is pleasing to our tastebuds, affects our brainstem and makes us continue eating, even after we are satisfied.
The study, carried out by Neurology Professor Peggy Mason of the University of Chicago and Neurobiology Associate Professor Hayley Foo, was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. read article »
A new discovery has challenged the long-held view of spiders as carnivorous crawlies whose existence revolves around sucking the insides out of smaller creatures. Usually this is accurate, but researchers have discovered that a spider species has decided to give up on insects.
Unbelievable, but that’s what researchers in Mexico have reported in the journal Current Biology earlier this month - the discovery of a vegan creepy crawly.
Scientifically named Bagheera kiplingi, and well-known to scientists over the past century, the small, jumping spider is found in Latin America and was previously thought of as being a predatory specimen like the other 40,000 spider species out there. read article »
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has decided to fine people who hyperlink to sites on its blacklists. ACMA threatened Whirlpool, host of a broad discussion forum, with an $11,000 a day fine for publishing a blacklisted link on its website.
While ACMA is an industry body, acting within its mandate of self regulation, the Federal Government's internet filtering legislation is still a work in progress. It has faced a lot of opposition from the time of inception and the loudest voice has been from The Greens communications spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlum. read article »
The contraceptive pills that women use might have more consequences than doctors had anticipated.
A new study has suggested that the Pill might influence woman's choice of a mate during certain times in her menstrual cycle. read article »
The debate over authorship of a 16th century play could be over, thanks to a college anti-plagiarism program.
Until now there has been much conjecture about who wrote the play, The Reign of King Edward III, with some scholars giving William Shakespeare credit while others remained sceptical. read article »
Two studies revealed 30 per cent of West Australian teens are overweight, and trying to counsel them is very expensive.
One in three 14-year-olds are at risk of heart disease, diabetes or a stroke according to a study.
Dr Rae Chi Hung who headed the first study said: “The figures really need to speak for themselves.
“I really think that it's not being alarmist to say that we are in an obesity epidemic or a childhood metabolic problem epidemic." read article »
» More 'Science and Technology' articles.
