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Johns Hopkins University


They were what they ate

A study published in Nature reveals that Australopithecus sediba consumed between 95 and 100 percent forest-based foods, contradicting the assumption that early hominins ate a varied diet. This finding provides insight into the dietary habits of our ancestors and sheds light on why some species thrived while others became extinct.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalNature·DateJun 27, 2012

Mercury in dolphins: Study compares toxin levels in captive and wild sea mammals

A study by Johns Hopkins University and The National Aquarium found that captive dolphins have lower levels of mercury in their systems compared to wild dolphins. This difference was attributed to the diet of the captive animals, which consisted mainly of small fish from North Atlantic waters with lower mercury pollution levels.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateMay 21, 2012

Black hole caught red-handed in stellar homicide

A team of astronomers led by Suvi Gezari has identified a star rich in helium gas that was ripped apart by the gravitational forces of a supermassive black hole. The star's remains were seen falling into the black hole, while the rest was ejected at high speeds, providing insights into the harsh environment around black holes.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalNature·DateMay 2, 2012

Time for a change?

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a new calendar system that eliminates year-to-year changes, making timekeeping and financial calculations more predictable. The Hanke-Henry Permanent Calendar features a 91-day quarterly pattern, which simplifies interest calculations and reduces economic uncertainty.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalVerge Studies in Global Asias·DateDec 27, 2011

In third-degree burn treatment, hydrogel helps grow new, scar-free skin

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a hydrogel treatment that promotes new blood vessel formation and tissue regeneration, yielding scar-free skin in mouse tissue tests. The treatment has the potential to greatly improve healing for injured soldiers, home fire victims, and others with third-degree burns.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 13, 2011

You can count on this: Math ability is inborn

A study by Johns Hopkins University psychologists found that preschool children's math skills are strongly correlated with their innate 'number sense' abilities. The researchers tested 200 four-year-olds on various tasks measuring number sense, mathematical ability, and verbal ability. Their findings indicate that children's precision ...

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalDevelopmental Science·DateAug 8, 2011

Randomness rules in turbulent flows

A Johns Hopkins University study reveals that two identical beads dropped into a turbulent flow will follow different and random paths. The phenomenon, called 'spontaneous stochasticity,' suggests that even everyday particles can behave randomly in chaotic flows.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalPhysical Review E·DateJun 1, 2011

Early human habitat was savanna, not forest

A team of researchers, led by Naomi Levin of Johns Hopkins University, reexamined data from a 2009 study on the early human ancestor Ardi and found that its environment was likely a savanna, not a forest. This conclusion contradicts the 'savanna hypothesis', which proposes that the expansion of grasslands prompted humans to walk upright.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalScience·DateMay 27, 2010