2 December 2013 Last updated at 05:59 GMT
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Caffeine energy drinks 'intensify heart contractions'
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Pupils brea"'astin% !n ener%& drin"s $!ncern !(er child ca''eine inta"e Supermar"et ban !n ener%& drin"s Ener%& drin"s pac"ed #ith ca''eine can chan%e the #a& the heart beats) researchers #arn* The team 'r!m the +ni(ersit& !' ,!nn in German& ima%ed the hearts !' 1- pe!ple an h!ur a'ter the& had an ener%& drin"* The stud& sh!#ed c!ntracti!ns #ere m!re '!rce'ul a'ter the drin"* The team t!ld the annual meetin% !' the .adi!l!%ical S!ciet& !' /!rth 0merica that children and pe!ple #ith s!me health c!nditi!ns sh!uld a(!id the drin"s*
.esearcher Dr 1!nas D!rner said: 2+ntil n!#) #e ha(en3t "n!#n e4actl& #hat e''ect these ener%& drin"s ha(e !n the 'uncti!n !' the heart* 2The am!unt !' ca''eine is up t! three times hi%her than in !ther ca''einated be(era%es li"e c!''ee !r c!la* 2There are man& side e''ects "n!#n t! be ass!ciated #ith a hi%h inta"e !' ca''eine) includin% rapid heart rate) palpitati!ns) rise in bl!!d pressure and) in the m!st se(ere cases) sei5ures !r sudden death*2 The researchers %a(e the participants a drin" c!ntainin% 32m% per 100ml !' ca''eine and 600m% per 100ml !' an!ther chemical) taurine* Sh!rt7term impact The& sh!#ed the chamber !' the heart that pumps bl!!d ar!und the b!d&) the le't (entricle) #as c!ntractin% harder an h!ur a'ter the ener%& drin" #as ta"en than at the start !' the stud&* Dr D!rner added: 28e3(e sh!#n that ener%& drin" c!nsumpti!n has a sh!rt7term impact !n cardiac c!ntractilit&* 28e d!n3t "n!# e4actl& h!# !r i' this %reater c!ntractilit& !' the heart impacts dail& acti(ities !r athletic per'!rmance*2 The impact !n pe!ple #ith heart disease is als! un"n!#n* 9!#e(er) the research team ad(ises that children and pe!ple #ith an irre%ular heartbeat sh!uld a(!id the drin"s* The ,ritish S!'t Drin"s 0ss!ciati!n alread& sa&s the drin"s are n!t '!r children*
: /!(ember 2012 Last updated at 00:1- GMT
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The real Spider-Man: Stickiness goes to the next level
,& Paul .inc!n Science edit!r) ,,$ /e#s #ebsite
T! ma"e a real Spider7Man suit) scientists c!uld use %ec"!s 7 rather than arachnids 7 as their m!del $!ntinue readin% the main st!r&
Science of Materials
;e& test '!r re7healable c!ncrete 9u%e b!!st '!r nan!tubes !n chips Stri"in% ima%e sh!#s at!mic b!nds Scientists chan%e c!l!ur !' %!ld
Gec"!s are am!n% the superher!es !' the animal #!rld* These c!l!ur'ul li5ards can scamper rapidl& up #alls) scuttle al!n% ceilin%s and e(en han% upside d!#n !n p!lished %lass* <et the secret !' their ama5in% climbin% abilit& remained a m&ster& until relati(el& recentl&* The underside !' a %ec"!3s '!!t l!!"s li"e a t&re tread and is c!(ered in milli!ns !' micr!sc!pic hairs* Each hair splits int! hundreds !' tips =ust 200 billi!nths !' a metre #ide* The secret !' this li5ard3s adhesi!n turns !ut t! be the relati(el& #ea" interm!lecular '!rces that dra# materials t!%ether an& time the& %et cl!se* These (an der 8aals '!rces ne(ertheless e4plain h!# a %ec"! can supp!rt its !#n b!d& #ei%ht !n =ust !ne 'in%er) and a sin%le %ec"! hair can li't the #ei%ht !' an ant*
Gec"! climbin% e4pl!its #ea" ph&sical '!rces
bet#een m!lecules T! un7stic") the %ec"! pulls its '!!t a#a& at a di''erent an%le* 28hat #e3re tal"in% ab!ut is s!methin% that is ab!ut as stic"& as stic"& tape 7 it3s n!t cra5& %lue)2 sa&s Pr!' ;ellar 0utumn) #h! became intri%ued b& %ec"! adhesi!n a'ter bein% 'unded t! de(el!p climbin% r!b!ts b& the +S militar&* Pr!' 0utumn) 'r!m Le#is > $lar" $!lle%e in ?re%!n) added: 28hat is special ab!ut it is that it is c!ntr!llable* 0nd its c!ntr!llabilit& is based !n %e!metr& and ph&sics) n!t chemistr&*2 $!ntinue readin% the main st!r&
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The #a& %ec"! adhesi(es #!r" is s! bi5arre*** that @ d!n3t thin" #e #!uld ha(e in(ented itA Pr!' ;ellar 0utumn Le#is > $lar" $!lle%e The e''!rt t! unc!(er the mechanisms behind %ec"! climbin% has alread& &ielded s&nthetic material that stic"s in the same #a&* Stic") peel and re7stic" a piece !' e4istin% adhesi(e tape se(eral times and it Buic"l& l!ses its clin%& pr!perties* Pr!' 0utumn and Mar" $ut"!s"&) 'r!m Stan'!rd +ni(ersit&) c!mpared natural and p!l&mer7based s&nthetic %ec"! hairs usin% a machine that simulated %ec"! climbin%* This sh!#ed b!th (ersi!ns c!uld be re7used s!me 30)000 times #ith!ut l!sin% their stic"iness* S&nthetic adhesi(es c!uld &ield trans'!rmati(e applicati!ns in r!b!tics) industr&) medicine) sp!rts and cl!thin%* ,ut !ne p!ssible use al#a&s c!mes up in an& p!pular discussi!n: c!uld the& all!# humans t! scale #alls li"e Spider7ManC
Dr Mar" Mi!d!#ni" tries !ut Stanisla( G!rb3s beetle7inspired stic"& tape @n 200-) ph&sicist and en%ineer /ic!la Pu%n!) 'r!m Turin P!l&technic in @tal&) calculated that a pers!n #earin% %l!(es and b!!ts made !' carb!n nan!tubes and structured t! mimic %ec"! 'eet c!uld indeed clin% sa'el& t! a #all !r a ceilin%* $hallen%es #!uld include #ear and tear and the pr!pensit& '!r dirt particles t! c!llect and inhibit stic"iness* The suit #!uld ha(e t! #!r" !n e(er& "ind !' sur'ace and '!r l!n% peri!ds !' time* ,ut Pr!' Pu%n!
sa&s: 28e are n!t (er& 'ar) in m& !pini!n) 'r!m a "ind !' Spider7Man suit*2 Pr!' Metin Sitti) 'r!m $arne%ie Mell!n +ni(ersit&) sa&s the idea is 2n!t imp!ssible2* Selectin% a li%ht#ei%ht pers!n and appl&in% the adhesi(e t! man& parts !' the suit Dn!t =ust the 'eet and handsE #!uld impr!(e the chances !' success) he e4plains* ,ut) he c!mments: 28e %et Buesti!ns li"e: 3$an &!u carr& a !ne7t!nne #ei%ht3* 0nd #e sa&: 3Ma&be) but that3s n!t !ur bi%%est ad(anta%e3*2 $!ntinue readin% the main st!r&
Secrets of gecko cli !ing
0* The t!es !' %ec"!s are c!(ered in rid%e7li"e lamellae) pr!ducin% a t&re tread pattern ,* Milli!ns !' micr!sc!pic hairs) !r setae) c!(er each t!e* These are !nl& as l!n% as t#! diameters !' a human hair $* Each seta ends in up t! 1000 e(en tinier tips) called spatulae D* The spatular tips are !nl& 200 billi!nths !' a metre #ide 7bel!# the #a(elen%th !' (isible li%ht Se(eral institutes ha(e been de(el!pin% r!b!ts that can climb #alls 7 Stan'!rd +ni(ersit&3s 2Stic"&7 b!t2 can be seen in acti!n here* S!me scientists en(isa%e 2%ec"!b!ts2 bein% used t! search '!r sur(i(!rs in a burnin% buildin% !r disaster 5!ne) t! e4pl!re the r!c"& terrain !' Mars) !r e(en as t!&s*
Stan'!rd +ni(ersit&3s Stic"&b!t uses the principles !' %ec"! climbin%
,ut man& in the 'ield are m!st e4cited b& m!re r!utine applicati!ns* Medicine is !ne tar%et area '!r these adhesi(es* The& c!uld spa#n ad(anced banda%es that can be rem!(ed easil& a'ter healin% !r %rippin% sur'aces !n instruments desi%ned '!r delicate sur%er&* Since the mechanism #!r"s in the #et) it c!uld be used t! a''i4 implants #ithin the b!d&* Stanisla( G!rb) 'r!m the +ni(ersit& !' ;iel) studies bi!l!%ical adhesi!nF his #!r" als! l!!"s at the #a& beetles stic" t! sur'aces* 9e sa&s %ec"! material has se(eral ad(anta%es #hen c!mpared #ith %eneric stic"& tape* There is n! 2(isc!7elastic2 adhesi(e t! dr& !ut) s! it sta&s attached '!r l!n%er and lea(es n! residue* ,ut he sa&s that #ith current pr!ducti!n meth!ds) the& are unli"el& t! replace classical stic"& tape* 2Ma&be in 5710 &ears #e #ill ha(e a meth!d that #ill ma"e the tape (er& cheap 7 ri%ht n!# it isn3t* Sec!ndl&) ri%ht n!#) the '!rces are in the ran%e !r e(en l!#er than traditi!nal stic"& tape*2 "ip it up Metin Sitti thin"s %ec"! material c!uld pr!(ide alternati(es t! current 2cl!sure2 techn!l!%ies) such as h!!" and l!!p 'astenin%) 5ips and sealin% s&stems !n '!!d pac"a%in%* @t is !ne area he is e4pl!rin% thr!u%h his c!mpan& /an!GripTech) set up t! c!mmercialise his lab3s %ec"! #!r"*
S&nthetic %ec"!7inspired adhesi(es can be e(en stic"ier than the real thin% S&nthetic adhesi(es #!r" best !n %lassF r!u%h !r une(en sur'aces p!se m!re !' an !bstacle* Gettin% hi%h per'!rmance !ut !' %ec"! material !n a (ariet& !' sur'aces and in di''erent c!nditi!ns represents the 'irm3s 'irst challen%e* 28e ha(e been '!cusin% !n #hat happens #hen the sur'ace %ets #et) !il&) dirt& and #hat happens #hen temperatures chan%e 'r!m (er& c!ld t! (er& h!t)2 sa&s Pr!' Sitti* 2The sec!nd challen%e is h!# can &!u manu'acture and sell this GmaterialH at hi%h (!lume and at l!# c!stC2 Pr!' Sitti is #!r"in% !n this pr!blem and e4pects #ithin a &ear t! be%in manu'acturin% at l!# (!lumes* 0 silic!ne7based bi!7inspired adhesi(e made b& German 'irm ,inder has been !n the mar"et '!r s!me si4 m!nths* Pr!' G!rb #as in(!l(ed #ith its de(el!pment* The c!mpan& has been e4pl!rin% medical applicati!ns and the 2pic" and place2 techn!l!%& used in clean r!!ms t! precisel& p!siti!n c!mp!nents !n t! circuit b!ards* 2$lean r!!ms !'ten #!r" #ith sucti!n s&stems* That %enerates dust and reBuires a l!t !' ener%&) #hich c!ntributes t! the c!st)2 sa&s 1an Tuma) mana%in% direct!r !' ,inder* 28e are !nl& stic"& !n reall& 'lat) shin& sur'aces* @t depends !n the pins per sB cm and at the m!ment #e ha(e 29)000 pins per sB centimetre* 2Gec"!s ha(e m!re) but the& ha(e had milli!ns !' &ears t! de(el!p) and #e ha(e had !nl& a 'e#*2
Pr!' 0utumn sa&s: 28e can l!!" t! /ature as a %iant librar& !' desi%n principles* The #a& %ec"! adhesi(es #!r" is s! bi5arre and s! di''erent 'r!m the #a& that adhesi(es ha(e been en%ineered) that @ d!n3t thin" #e #!uld ha(e in(ented it*
#o elephants grieve like people do$
%& 'ove !er %()* Last updated at 03:6I GMT 8hen an elephant dies) d!es the 'amil& %rie(eC 8hen a cat l!ses its sister) d!es it m!urn as a human #!uldC ,arbara 1 ;in%) a pr!'ess!r !' 0nthr!p!l!%& at the $!lle%e !' 8illiam > Mar&) e4pl!res these Buesti!ns in her ne# b!!") 9!# 0nimals Grie(e* r!m m!n"e&s li(in% in the #ild t! pet bunn& rabbits) Ms ;in% cites studies and anecd!tes !' animals seemin% t! e4hibit si%ns !' %rie' a'ter l!ss* Th!u%h she st!ps sh!rt !' sa&in% animals m!urn as humans d!) she c!ntends that man& species ha(e (er& real 'eelin%s) and s!me e(en %rie(e* The ,,$ (isited the Jir%inia K!!l!%ical Par" #ith Ms ;in% as she made her case '!r em!ti!ns in the animal "in%d!m
25 /!(ember 2013 Last updated at 09:26
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+arn o,l nestlings recognise their si!lings' calls
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@denti'&in% +; birds !' pre& ,arn !#l #in% adapted '!r stealth ,arn !#l nestlin%s rec!%nise their siblin%s3 calls) acc!rdin% t! researchers* @nstead !' c!mpetin% a%%ressi(el& '!r '!!d) &!un% barn !#ls are "n!#n t! ne%!tiate b& callin% !ut* 0 team !' scientists in S#it5erland disc!(ered that the !#lets ha(e remar"abl& indi(idual calls* The& su%%est this is t! c!mmunicate each bird3s needs and identit& in the nest* The 'indin%s #ere ann!unced in the 1!urnal !' E(!luti!nar& ,i!l!%& b& Dr 0melie Dreiss and c!llea%ues at the +ni(ersit& !' Lausanne) S#it5erland* ,arn !#ls DTyto albaE are c!nsidered !ne !' the m!st #idespread species !' bird and are '!und !n e(er& c!ntinent e4cept 0ntarctica* 0n a(era%e clutch si5e ran%es bet#een '!ur and si4 e%%s but s!me ha(e been "n!#n t! c!ntain up t! 12* $!ntinue readin% the main st!r&
Clever co
unicators
8atch Da(id 0ttenb!r!u%h tal" t! the animals See s!me s!phisticated s!n%sters $an &!u tal" tur"e&C Pre(i!us studies ha(e hi%hli%hted h!# barn !#l nestlin%s) "n!#n as !#lets) ne%!tiate #ith their siblin%s '!r '!!d instead !' 'i%htin%* 8hile their parents search '!r '!!d the !#lets ad(ertise their hun%er t! their br!thers and sisters b& callin% !ut* 2These (!cal si%nals deter siblin%s 'r!m (!cali5in% and 'r!m c!mpetin% '!r the pre& at parental return)2 e4plained Dr Dreiss* 2@' there is a disa%reement) the& can escalate si%nal intensit& little b& little) al#a&s #ith!ut ph&sical a%%ressi!n) until less hun%r& siblin%s 'inall& #ithdra# 'r!m the c!ntest*2 T! understand m!re ab!ut ab!ut this c!mmunicati!n) researchers studied #ild !#ls li(in% in nest b!4es in #estern S#it5erland* ,ased !n rec!rdin%s) the scientists estimated that a sin%le nestlin% ma"es up t! 5)000 calls a ni%ht in the absence !' its parents* The& su%%ested that the pr!babilit& !' the chic" ma"in% 'alse si%nals is l!# because it is an ener%eticall& c!stl& acti(it&* Earlier this &ear an!ther member !' the research team) Pr!' 0le4andre .!ulin) re(ealed that the !#lets d! n!t interrupt each !ther3s calls and that the& ea(esdr!p !n callin% c!ntests as part !' this ne%!tiati!n '!r '!!d* @n their latest stud&) Dr Dreiss and c!llea%ues recruited students t! listen t! the rec!rded calls !' !#l chic"s* The students #ere able t! tell the di''erence bet#een !#lets3 calls b& ear) su%%estin% that the birds had indi(idual (!ices that made them identi'iable t! nest mates* urther anal&sis !' the calls re(ealed that the& (aried dependin% !n the !#let3s 'amil&) a%e and se4) as #ell as h!# hun%r& the& #ere* Dr Dreiss su%%ests this sh!#s that siblin% ri(alr& has pr!m!ted the e(!luti!n !' indi(idual (!ices am!n%st barn !#ls
Stalkers right to shoot orphan deer
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8hen are animals culledC $ull hal' !' +;3s deer 7 scientists $!ncern !(er cullin% !' red deer <!un% deer sh!uld als! be "illed #hen their m!thers are sh!t) acc!rdin% t! scientists* .esearch carried !ut !n the @sle !' .um in Sc!tland sh!#ed that !rphaned deer #ere much less li"el& t! sur(i(e than th!se #ith their m!ther3s care* <!un% males that #ere !rphaned in their 'irst &ear #ere sl!# t! %r!# antlers) indicatin% a p!tential li'el!n% impact* The results supp!rt best practice %uidelines in Sc!tland #here deer are culled t! c!ntr!l p!pulati!ns* The stud& #as supp!rted b& the +; /atural En(ir!nment .esearch $!uncil) the /atural Sciences and En%ineerin% .esearch $!uncil !' $anada and Sc!ttish /atural 9erita%e DS/9E* $!ntinue readin% the main st!r&
Red deer
9ear the hauntin% calls !' the hi%hlands durin% matin% seas!n See a ni%ht time sur(e& !' Sc!tland3s deer ind !ut m!re ab!ut the c!ntr!(ers& !' c!ntr!llin% deer @t is published in the =!urnal ,eha(i!ural Ec!l!%& and S!ci!bi!l!%&* 0cc!rdin% t! rep!rts c!mmissi!ned b& S/9) there are bet#een 350)000 and 600)000 red deer in Sc!tland* 8ith!ut #ild predat!rs t! c!ntr!l the numbers) p!pulati!ns are n!# mana%ed in particular areas #here deer ha(e caused issues* 2.ed deer are an ic!nic species in Sc!tland and the& brin% an a#'ul l!t !' bene'it t! !ur bi!di(ersit& and t!urism*** but the&3(e als! %!t the p!tential t! impact ad(ersel& !n natural habitats) public sa'et&) #!!dland GandH a%ricultural cr!ps)2 e4plained .!bbie ;ernahan) #ildli'e !perati!ns mana%er '!r S/9* T! mana%e p!pulati!ns) I0)000 red deer !n a(era%e are sh!t b& deer stal"ers e(er& &ear as part !' !r%anised culls and land mana%ement* 225)000 !' th!se are sta%s) 25)000 are hinds and the remainin% 10)000 are cal(es)2 said Mr ;ernahan* Pr!' 1!sephine Pembert!n 'r!m the +ni(ersit& !' Edinbur%h and c!llea%ues c!nducted their stud& !n the @sle !' .um in the @nner 9ebrides) Sc!tland) +; #here indi(idual7based deer research has been carried !ut since 19-2* <!un% deer #ere cau%ht) se4ed and ta%%ed be'!re bein% returned t! their m!thers and m!nit!red* M!nthl& censuses and sprin% searches '!r dead deer pr!(ided data '!r the scientists t! understand h!# &!un% deer 'ared #ith and #ith!ut their m!thers* $!ntinue readin% the main st!r&
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@t d!es ma"e str!n% m!ral sense t! ma"e sure that cal(es d!n3t su''er !r stru%%leA .!bbie ;ernahan Sc!ttish /atural 9erita%e Deer #ean at se(en m!nths and research sh!#ed that animals that #ere !rphaned be'!re this a%e had l!#er sur(i(al rates* Males that l!st their m!ther be'!re #eanin% #ere als! '!und t! de(el!p their 'irst antlers m!re sl!#l&* This is "n!#n t! ha(e "n!c" !n e''ects '!r antler %r!#th later in li'e and repr!ducti(e success*
.esearchers als! '!und that male deer !rphaned under the a%e !' t#! had an increased ris" !' death* emale deer sta& #ith their m!thers s! their ris" !' death #as increased #hen their m!ther #as "illed re%ardless !' a%e* Mr ;ernahan e4plained that 'emale deer are tar%eted t! c!ntr!l p!pulati!ns and current best practice %uidelines enc!ura%e deer stal"ers t! a(!id lea(in% !rphans* 28hen the stal"in% seas!n G'!r 'emalesH !pens in ?ct!ber #e still ha(e Buite a l!t !' cal(es that are n!t e4clusi(el& nutriti!nall& dependent !n their m!ther but certainl& s!ciall&)2 he said e4plainin% that cal(es learn #here t! shelter and '!ra%e 'r!m their m!thers* 20s such i' &!u #ere t! sh!!t a red deer hind #ith!ut ta"in% the cal' there are !b(i!us c!ncerns that that cal' #!uld n!t be able t! sur(i(e*** because the& rel& !n that maternal lin" t! %et them thr!u%h the #inter*2 0lth!u%h he #as unsurprised b& the results !' the research Mr ;ernahan said the& #ere help'ul in underpinnin% mana%ement decisi!ns* 2@t3s stren%th t! the arm !' #hat #e3(e been sa&in% in the past* @t d!es ma"e str!n% m!ral sense t! ma"e sure that cal(es d!n3t su''er !r stru%%le)2 he said* 1!in ,,$ /ature !n aceb!!" and T#itter L,,$/ature*
