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Science News for March 11, 2005


Domesticated pig's wild origin mapped

A new study has mapped the domesticated pig's wild origin, showing that domestication took place in several different geographical regions in Europe and Asia. The technology for domesticating wild boars is believed to have spread across the world, rather than domesticated wild boar itself.

SourceSwedish Research Council·JournalScience·DateMar 11, 2005

Company Web sites need re-design to lure job searchers

Researchers analyzed 7,000 job-related queries and found that online job searches have a higher percentage of non-relevant returns (60%) compared to general web searches (50%). The study suggests that company web sites need re-design to highlight geographical information and use user-friendly terms for better search engine indexing.

SourcePenn State·JournalInternet Research·DateMar 11, 2005

Women lag behind men in academic leadership positions worldwide

The study found marked differences among countries, with Turkey, Brazil, and Mexico showing the highest number of women faculty. Despite increasing numbers of female physicians, disparities persist in specialties like rheumatology, influenced by factors such as family vs. career emphasis and cultural norms.

SourceWiley·JournalArthritis & Rheumatism·DateMar 11, 2005

Acid rain likely stunts US forests

A recent study found that acid rain can severely degrade forest soils, leading to poor tree growth rates and potentially high mortality rates. The research, conducted near St. Petersburg, Russia, tracked tree growth for the first time with changes in soil from acid rain, highlighting the need for recovery strategies beyond surface waters.

SourceU.S. Geological Survey·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateMar 11, 2005

What are little boys made of?

Scientists have discovered that an estrogen receptor, ERβ, plays a crucial role in regulating defeminization, a process by which males lose female-like behavior. The study found that neonatal males are exposed to estrogen produced by their testes, leading to changes in gene expression and neural architecture.

SourceUniversity of Virginia Health System·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 11, 2005

Defenseless plants arm themselves with metals

Researchers at Purdue University discovered that a group of plants called metal hyperaccumulators can store high levels of metal in their tissues, making them resistant to pathogens. This trait allows these plants to thrive in soils naturally enriched in metals without succumbing to diseases like powdery mildew.

SourcePurdue University·JournalPLANT PHYSIOLOGY·DateMar 11, 2005