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Science News Archive June 2012 - Page 7


Page 7 of 29

Romancing the firefly

Researchers at Tufts University found that female fireflies prefer males with larger nuptial gifts after mating, leading to higher reproductive success. This discovery challenges the conventional view that flash duration is the primary cue for female choice in firefly courtship.

Learn that tune while fast asleep

Researchers found that stimulating a musical tune during slow-wave sleep improved memory for complex skills. Participants made fewer errors when pressed keys to produce the melody presented while they slept compared to the other melody. The study opens doors for future studies on sleep-based memory processing.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJun 24, 2012

Faster, cheaper gas and liquid separation using custom designed and built mesoscopic structures

Researchers at Kyoto University's iCeMS have developed a process to create custom-designed porous coordination polymer architectures for high-efficiency, low-cost gas and liquid separation. The new method, called 'reverse fossilization,' transforms inorganic materials into organic structures with preserved shape and form.

Danish scientists detect new immune alert signal

Researchers at Aarhus University have discovered a new immune alarm signal that triggers the human immune system before a virus attack. This knowledge may lead to more efficient vaccines and better treatment of recurrent infections, potentially reducing the risk of diseases like AIDS, hepatitis, influenza, and cold sores.

SourceAarhus University·JournalNature Immunology·DateJun 22, 2012