The smallest protein

The smallest protein

Ever wonder what the smallest protein is? Apparently it's TRP-Cage, a protein with only 20 amino acids derived from the saliva of Gila monsters. Trp-cage - smallest protein You can find the…
Feliz Dia de los Pulpos!

Feliz Dia de los Pulpos!

Octopus Day 2010 finds me in La Paz, Mexico, eating a homemade corn tortilla with Oaxacan cheese. It is extremely delicious. After the trip to Madagascar, where I found that dairy is just not part of…
Conspiracy Theory - NASA Hiding Alien Life?

Conspiracy Theory - NASA Hiding Alien Life?

Conspiracy theorists love photo effects.   If you want to see a man on Mars, you will eventually find it.  But if NASA cleans up an image and then posts it, and then a high-contrast photo…
DIY spacecraft - a family adventure

DIY spacecraft - a family adventure

Say you have a curious kid and you want to confirm the planet is round to, you know, show off how experimental results can verify mathematical ones.    If you are with the Brooklyn Space…
What percentage of plants are toxic ?

What percentage of plants are toxic ?

Some one asked me this question and I said all . All plants have some level of secondary metabolites which are at a very low level of toxicity . Some plants have these substances at sub-optimal and…
Why do we have more urge to criticize ?

Why do we have more urge to criticize ?

It is very difficult to see some plus point in something good. It’s very easy to criticize. All animals who have frontal eyes are fighter type like lion , tiger, and man also. Man is part of animal…
What's biggest and what's smallest?

What's biggest and what's smallest?

The longest human protein is Titin with 34,350 amino acids. The smallest human protein is 44 amino acids but it could be an abortive translation from the 5' UTR of another mRNA. The smallest…
Squids for Schools!

Squids for Schools!

International Cephalopod Awareness Days start tomorrow! Squid, in case you didn't know, are cephalopods, along with their cousins the octopuses, cuttlefish, and nautilus. Cephalopods are exclusively…
Nine nights of Celebration - Navarathri

Nine nights of Celebration - Navarathri

Navarathri is celebrated starting tomorrow all across India. There are nine forms of Mother Goddess. Navarathri literally means nine nights and each night one goddess is worshipped. Mother Goddess…
Elsevier Introduces Article-Based Publishing

Elsevier Introduces Article-Based Publishing

Publishing is evolving and, of the big publishers (The Lancet, Cell, etc.), no one is more forward-thinking than Elsevier.    They recently announced Article-Based Publishing, their new way…
Fountain of Youth created for mice?

Fountain of Youth created for mice?

A new study published in Cell Metabolism says it has increased the lifespan of middle-aged mice by 12% using a combination of three amino acids as supplements. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have…
What is an Agronomist?

What is an Agronomist?

For anybody who was wondering, here's the explanation! Of course, I use my skills and background to grow lawns while the gentleman in this video uses his to grow coffee beans. While my work doesn't…
The Most Mediagenic Squid

The Most Mediagenic Squid

Humboldt squid: news when you see 'em, news when you don't. Now, the mystery deepens: It seems the Humboldt squid, the locusts of the ocean, have vanished from the Pacific north of California this…
Poo Power

Poo Power

When I was a lad (a little bit later than when Sarahsaurus was around), there was a common misunderstanding among schoolboys that methane was responsible for the foul smell of flatulence.  A…
Rarity - Koro, A Brand New Language, Discovered

Rarity - Koro, A Brand New Language, Discovered

I had no idea there were entire languages left to discover.   Then again, I had no idea there was a group called the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages either, but exist they both…
Shock Therapy Improves Name Recall

Shock Therapy Improves Name Recall

Temple psychologist Ingrid Olson, who dedicates her research to understanding human memory,  has found a way to improve the recall of proper names - electricity.Electric stimulation of the…
Some things you may not know about cancer

Some things you may not know about cancer

Disclaimer: This information is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended to replace that provided by a medical professional. For information, visit the American Cancer…