Ask Nature - the Biomimicry Design Portal: biomimetics, architecture, biology, innovation inspired by nature, industrial design - Ask Nature - the Biomimicry Design Portal: biomimetics, architecture, biology, innovation inspired by nature, industrial desi Biomedical Beat: May 20, 2009 - National Institute of General Me IN THIS ISSUE . . . May 20, 2009 Check out the Biomedical Beat Cool Image Gallery. Got research news to share? To change your subscription options or unsubscribe, visit Subscribe to the RSS version of Biomedical Beat by selecting this XML link and following your news reader's instructions for adding a feed. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), one of the National Institutes of Health, supports all research featured in this digest. NOTE: Hyperlinks within the text may have been deactivated because they no longer link to active sites and/or e-mail addresses. Hover over the image to see two snapshots of the fruit fly brain. Full story Cirelli profile Cirelli lab Article abstract (from the April 3 issue of Science) A long-lasting local anesthetic could revolutionize pain treatment. Full story Kohane profile Article abstract (from the April 13 online issue of PNAS) An influenza virus particle.
Microscope Imaging Station. Neurons: A Fish-Eye View of the Brain Speed-dating neurons make connections Researchers in the Smith lab have also been able to watch the development of single neurons as they grow and connect to each other to complete the optical system. What they’ve seen helps explain how the brain's enormous complexity emerges. It now appears that brain organization happens in stages. As a developing neuron grows, it sends out tiny exploratory branches called filopodia. These projections search for partners in an effort to make connections and form synapses. Once formed, the synapse becomes a hot spot; the connected neuron sends out new filopodia, thus increasing the number of connections it has with other neurons. The wiring process happens quickly: one filopodium explores for about five minutes, retracting if it doesn’t make any connections. Scientists used to believe that once an animal’s brain was wired up, the resulting network was final and no new connections were possible.
Dynamic optical illusions. Pictures, 3D and animation OK, this one really belongs in the Skytopia 3D stereoscopic gallery, but I just couldn't resist. If you can cross your eyes, so that both pictures slide 'into' each other - to form a third, 3D image between them, the effect you will see is truly stunning! Try focusing on something in between you and the monitor to help see the illusion. If you're still stuck and you really want to see the illusion, try this site to help practise seeing 3-D stereo. If you can't manage to see this cross eyed version below, then try the parallel version here. For this parallel version you look behind the monitor and just like the cross eyed version - try to get the two tubes to match up.
Cell Size and Scale Some cells are visible to the unaided eye The smallest objects that the unaided human eye can see are about 0.1 mm long. That means that under the right conditions, you might be able to see an ameoba proteus, a human egg, and a paramecium without using magnification. A magnifying glass can help you to see them more clearly, but they will still look tiny. Smaller cells are easily visible under a light microscope. To see anything smaller than 500 nm, you will need an electron microscope. Adenine The label on the nucleotide is not quite accurate. How can an X chromosome be nearly as big as the head of the sperm cell? No, this isn't a mistake. The X chromosome is shown here in a condensed state, as it would appear in a cell that's going through mitosis. A chromosome is made up of genetic material (one long piece of DNA) wrapped around structural support proteins (histones). Carbon The size of the carbon atom is based on its van der Waals radius.
Virtual Human Embryo Explore, Play, Discover: Websites, Activities & More Search form Search Low-cost, teacher-tested activities for the classroom and the curious. Science of Cooking • Explore the science behind food and cooking with recipes, activities, and Webcasts.PreviousNext Explore, Play, Discover: Websites, Activities, and More Auroras: Paintings in the Sky Far north in the night sky, a faint glow appears on the horizon. Feeling Pressured Feel atmospheric pressure changes by stepping into a garbage bag. Camera Obscura Take the Beat Back Uncover the everyday origins of some extraordinary instruments. The Cold Water Candy Test Science of Baseball What's the science behind a home run? Arctic Seals These unique – and uniquely beautiful – seal species spend their lives amid the sea ice Plant Hybrids If you're a patient gardener, you can grow your own hybrid flowers. 2016 Total Solar Eclipse Telescope View Watch the telescope view of the entire 2016 total solar eclipse in Micronesia. Energy from Death Slinky in Hand Make waves without getting wet. Cheshire Cat Pages explore Connect
Red Gold . Blood Basics . Blood in the Body . Blood Groups and Typing Blood transfusions were not possible until Karl Landsteiner first identified the major human blood groups -- namely O, A, B, and AB -- in a series of experiments in 1901 that earned him the Nobel Prize. (At the time, Landsteiner identified only groups A, B, and O; further analysis, two years later, revealed AB.) The ABO blood groups are defined by specific inherited molecules, or antigens, that are present on the surface of red blood cells. Thus, one inherits either A or B antigens (group A or B), both A and B antigens (group AB), or neither antigen (group O). Conversely, a person develops a natural immunity, or antibody, in their plasma to the ABO antigens that are absent on their own red cells. If group A red cells are mistakenly transfused to a group O recipient, for example, the anti-A antibody in the recipient's plasma destroys the transfused group A cells and a serious transfusion reaction occurs. There are many other antigens on the red cell surface.
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