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Science News for January 13, 2012


Fly named in honor of Beyonce

A new species of horse fly, Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae, has been discovered in Australia and named after Beyoncé. The fly's golden abdomen makes it a unique specimen. Horse flies are important pollinators of plants, acting like hummingbirds during the day.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalAustralian Journal of Entomology·DateJan 13, 2012

Keeping an eye on the Universe

The CalTech-led Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey has released a massive dataset of 200 million celestial objects, including stars, supernovae, and asteroids. This unprecedented data set will enable scientists to study the evolution of stars, massive black holes, and the structure of the Milky Way.

Energy-saving chaperon Hsp90

Researchers from TUM proved that Hsp90 utilizes thermal fluctuations as the driving force for its conformational changes. Key findings show that the chaperone protein is highly flexible and can switch between conformations using random environmental collisions, saving valuable ATP energy.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 13, 2012

Surprising results from smoke inhalation study

A Loyola University Chicago study discovered that patients who died from smoke inhalation injuries had lower inflammatory responses in their lungs compared to those who survived. Researchers found that immune system modulators were present at lower concentrations in the lungs of deceased patients, contradicting expectations.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalJournal of Burn Care & Research·DateJan 13, 2012

Contracts in the classroom

A new study found that a contract grading system leads to higher grades and higher student satisfaction compared to traditional points-based courses. Students who signed a contract aimed for a specific grade and completed more assignments received better grades, indicating increased motivation and engagement.

SourceSAGE·JournalSAGE Open·DateJan 13, 2012