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Science News for January 9, 2002


Basis of rare genetic illness leads to better understanding of bone formation, Hopkins researchers find

Scientists at Johns Hopkins have identified GNAS1 as the gene responsible for progressive osseus heteroplasia (POH), a disease causing rice-size bone fragments to form under the skin and inside organs. The discovery may lead to new treatments blocking problem-causing bone fragments and potentially treating other bone problems like oste...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 9, 2002

Crayfish robots on Mars

Researchers at the University of Melbourne are developing crayfish-inspired robots that can navigate complex terrain and perform tasks with minimal brain power. The study aims to advance biomimetics, a field that harvests nature's best design ideas for robotics.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalBiological Bulletin·DateJan 9, 2002

Discovery that common mood disorders are inherited together may reveal genetic underpinnings

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that panic disorder and manic depressive (bipolar) illness are likely related genetically and share a common cause. The study analyzed 203 families with bipolar disorder and identified symptoms of major mood disorders in relatives, showing a strong genetic link between the conditions.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateJan 9, 2002

Assessing the risk of mad cow in sheep

A new model developed by researchers suggests that the risk of contracting mad cow disease from infected sheep is likely to be higher than from cattle due to stricter control measures. However, implementing regulations such as slaughtering young sheep and banning animal products in feed can reduce this risk significantly.

Novel simulations of turbulent reacting flows provide insight into physics of internal combustion

Researchers at the University at Buffalo have performed simulations that mimic hydrocarbon combustion, demonstrating a defining feature of combustion and gaining insights into the two-way interaction between chemistry and turbulence. The work aims to develop more realistic models of fluid mechanics and chemistry involved in combustion.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalJournal of Fluid Mechanics·DateJan 9, 2002