Science

Entrepreneurial Parasite

#117
A parasite found on cats may make you more entrepreneurial. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder found that students infected with Toxoplasma Gondii were 1.4 times more likely to major in business and 1.7 times more likely to to pursue a management and entreprenurial pathway. It is thought that the parasite encourages risk taking behaviour in the host in an attempt to increase the chances of it spreading to other cats.
Business
Science

New Henge

#116
Founder of Mythical Ireland Anthony Murphy discovered a new henge close to the Newgrange henge site in Brú na Bóinne in County Meath. The discovery was made using a drone to survey the area during the prolonged hot weather which caused the cropmarks of the henge to become visible. The structure dates back to 3,000 BC.
Photo
Science

First 3D Colour X-Ray Using CERN Tech

#115
Technology developed at CERN by New Zealand father and son scientists Professors Phil and Anthony butler called the Medipix3 has been used to produce the world's first 3D colour X-Ray. The Medipix is a chip used in the Large Hadron Collider for particle imaging and detection and has been refined by the scientists over the past 20 years. Their company MARS Bioimaging Ltd is now commercialising a 3D scanner using the technology.
Innovation
Science

Cropmarks

#115
The scorched earth and drought stricken land caused by the current heat wave is revealing the footprint of ancient settlements in land across Wales. Dr. Toby Driver, the Royal Commission's aerial investigator (bet that job title makes for an awesome business card!) is cataloging these ancient aerial clues. Many iron age and roman settlements have revealed themselves already.
Science

Electric Spiders

#115
Spider ballooning is when a spider releases strands of silk and uses them to propel itself through the air, or so people thought. Researchers at the University of Bristol observed successful spider ballooning with the absence of any wind and even in rainy conditions.
Science

Amsterdam River Objects

#114
While excavating the Amstel river during the building of the North/South metro line in Amsterdam, archaeologists catalogued over 700,000 objects dating back to the 14th century ( and some shells from 124,000BC).The list of objects is searchable via a website and a quick search for Ireland yields some coins and a Daniel O'Connell signet ring from the early 19th century.
Life
Science

Empathic People Process Music Differently

#111
Researchers at Southern Methodist University and UCLA studied the brain activity of people while listening to music. Using a survey, the study participants were categorised based on their empathic qualities. The study found that empathic people process music with the involvement of social cognitive circuitry in the brain, like a pleasurable proxy for a human encounter. These areas of the brain were not activated by participants that rated low in empathy.
Life
Science

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