Crows Are No Bird-Brains: Neurobiologists Investigate Neuronal Basis of Crows' Intelligence

Nov. 28, 2013 — Scientists have long suspected that corvids -- the family of birds including ravens, crows and magpies -- are highly intelligent. Now, Tübingen neurobiologists Lena Veit und Professor Andreas Nieder have demonstrated how the brains of crows produce intelligent behavior when the birds have to make strategic decisions.

Crows are no bird-brains. Behavioral biologists have even called them "feathered primates" because the birds make and use tools, are able to remember large numbers of feeding sites, and plan their social behavior according to what other members of their group do. This high level of intelligence might seem surprising because birds' brains are constructed in a fundamentally different way from those of mammals, including primates -- which are usually used to investigate these behaviours. 

We can see that corvids are much different than other types of birds. For centuries, scientist belived that those types of family are highly intelligent. And with the recent studies. We can appreciate that Crowds have a huge capacity to memorize things and to react quickly. Since in the econosystem, birds are tend to follow their instints and to follow what a specific living things is doing and use it in order to survive in its habitat. 

Why am I interested in this article? First thing, it is a neurobiological studies. One on my favorite subject of biology. I love how animals and its brains works in order to survive and how to interact.

What connection can I make with this article? As I said before, I love Neurobiology. I like to read animals and how brains works along with them in order to survive. I would like to study Neurobiology more and interact with animals brains. 

Global context: It is a Continous development. They will keep looking for solution and answer with all this mysteries. 

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131128103835.htm

New Species of Dolphin Found in Australian Waters

Oct. 29, 2013 — A species of humpback dolphin previously unknown to science is swimming in the waters off northern Australia, according to a team of researchers working for the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History, and numerous other groups that contributed to the study.

To determine the number of distinct species in the family of humpback dolphins (animals 
named for a peculiar hump just below the dorsal fin), the research team examined the 
evolutionary history of this family of marine mammals using both physical features and 
genetic data. While the Atlantic humpback dolphin is a recognized species, this work 
provides the best evidence to date to split the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin into three 
species, one of which is completely new to science.


This article tells that there's a new dolphin Species swimming in the waters of north Australia. Its name is still being unknown. Scientists assumes that it can be related with four dolphins species: the Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii), which occurs in the eastern Atlantic off West Africa; the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea), which ranges from the central to the western Indian Ocean; another species of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis), which inhabits the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans; and a fourth Sousa species found off northern Australia. This is an advance relating with Biology and the ecosystem itself. We clearly see that there's alot of secrets on the planet and we will spend a lot of time to solve it.

Why am I interested in this article? I am always a guy who believes that nothing is true or over. I always looks for alternatives and I always believes that there's something new. In addition, I love animals, As I said before, I wanted to be a marine biologist and it is a pleasure to make my articles that it is related with animals who lives in the water.


Is there any connection between this article and my life? Yes, and it is with what is my hobby (Studying how animals interacts with the nature). Also in IB biology class, we have ecosystem as an optional subject and I would like to Study it. 

Global context: This is a continuous development. World has its secrets and we will keep growing and discovering stuff as a human and as a living thing.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131029143000.htm

Do Black Holes Have 'Hair'? New Hypothesis Challenges 'Clean' Model

Sep. 30, 2013 — A black hole. A simple and clear concept, at least according to the hypothesis by Roy Kerr, who in 1963 proposed a "clean" black hole model, which is the current theoretical paradigm. From theory to reality things may be quite different. According to a new research carried out by a group of scientists that includes Thomas Sotiriou, a physicist of the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) of Trieste, black holes may be much "dirtier" than what Kerr believed.

According to the traditional model, black holes are defined by only two quantities: mass and angular momentum (a black hole rotation velocity). Once their progenitor has collapsed (a high mass star, for instance, that at the end of its life cycle implodes inwards) its memory is lost forever. All that is left is a quiescent black hole, with almost no distinctive features: all black holes, mass and angular momentum aside, look almost the same.

According to Sotiriou, things may not have occurred this way. "Black holes, according to our calculations, may have hair," explains Sotiriou, referring to a well-known statement by physicist John Wheeler, who claimed that "black holes have no hair." Wheeler meant that mass and angular momentum are all one needs to describe them. 

New studies and hypothesis had been discovered about black holes. A spacetime matters that faces the gravity by cosuming everthing, Has hair. What is the significanse of the black hole having 'hair'? It could means that the black hole could not grow but the hair could and is the reason of having a magnetic power by consuming everything that they see. 

They regret most of the scientist ideas that they believed that the black hole has no hair at all such as Stephen Hawking. 

Why it is important? I love astronomy, stars planets milkyway, etc. Also it is related of what I am doing. HL/SL Biology, and someday I will study all of this. Also it is good to know what is going on in the universe, and know how to interact with all of these. 

What is the connection between me and this article? Well Is something complicated. Everytime when I do a science article, I choose something if it is related to animals or to brain health. This time I tried to make something different, something that I don't really know, such as astronomy or the black hole.

Global context: It is a Continous development. They simply keep looking and serching for what the black hole consist. And as they proove that the black hole might have hair, more hypothesis will be shown by future scientist.

Credit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130930093720.htm

A Potential Cause of Autism? Key Enzymes Are Found to Have a 'Profound Effect' Across Dozens of Genes Linked to Autism

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130828131841.htm

Aug. 28, 2013 — Problems with a key group of enzymes called topoisomerases can have profound effects on the genetic machinery behind brain development and potentially lead to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to research announced today in the journal Nature. Scientists at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have described a finding that represents a significant advance in the hunt for environmental factors behind autism and lends new insights into the disorder's genetic causes.

A huge research have been founded yesterday by scientist of University of North Carolina. Can this reserch change the whole concept of autism and how brains work? Does stem cell be part of the answer? All this question came to my mind after I read this article. It is really interesting how a single cells can change a life. I talked with a Pshychologist and he was shocked, he said that everyone didn't expect that a calcium be part of reason and also can be the solution of abolishing ASD. 

So what this article explain that a group of Enzymes called topoisomerases can be reason of ASD or autism since they can change the genetic machinery which makes brain develop. Topoisomerases is a type of enzymes that it can be founded in DNA. Their main function is to regulate the overwinding and underwinding of DNA.

This article interest me because right now, In biology class, we are talking about cells, and it could be a new and relevant toppic to discuss in class. I would really love to talk more about this in class and make more research for my Internal assesement. Also one of my main question now that I read this article is: Can stem cell be the solution? And I will find out.

What connection does this article have with my life? I love Biology, I want to be psychologist when I grow up (which is going to happen in two years)  and I am very sure that I will have patients who suffer the ASD condition, and I want to be part of how to solve this condition and more. I want to be that person who really cares my patients, and more important thing, I want to be that person who wants to make this world in a better place.

this is a Relationships between People and the Natural World global context:
Biology is all about how humans living along with the natural world. I recognize that without the nature, there will be no humans. And human will going to do research and they will keep studying about life untill we know what is our purpuses in this world and what impact do we make in order to change our world, both good or bad.