Wednesday, January 04, 2012

This Month's Scientific American

Here are some of the most interesting items I found in the January 2012 issue of Scientific American:

The lead story is about new discoveries about the pathway of aging. (The studies were originally inspired by a compound found in microorganisms from Easter Island; this compound increased the maximum life span in rodents--something no other chemical has done.) What we're learning about aging suggest that it's the flip side to growth; mechanisms that support growth and development (such as cellular growth and replication) prove harmful as we get older.

Other interesting articles discuss animals' magnetic sense, computer models that predict crime (the article even mentioned The Minority Report), quantum tunneling and glories, sustainable food supplies that use less energy, and the dusty future of the American West.

If you need a little extra incentive to stick to your resolution to lose weight, there's a photo essay on the hidden dangers of obesity.

And on that note, it's time for breakfast. Have a good day, everyone!

1 comment:

Rusty Carl said...

Well, I'm trying my damnedest to lose a few pounds this year. Or several. There seems to be tons of interesting things about aging that trickles out on a regular basis. I'm really hoping someone starts putting all that together pretty soon into a program that can stave off my demise.

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