Nerdy Science Blog

Investigators at  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Emory University, and Andrews University analyzed a survey data of 500 adults showing that there is a positive correlation between video-game playing and health risks in adults.  The participants were from Seattle-Tacoma, and the data of self-assessment of depression, personality, health status, physical and mental health, body mass index (BMI), and quality of life were collected.  It is found that generally playing video game will lead to greater depression and lower health status in female and higher BMI in male.  Both sexes that play video game also have higher reliance on internet for social support.

(news [pic])

“That guy is nose-picking like I do with my middle finger… Oh man… He’s so SEXY!”

Scientists from National Institutes of Health and two other Italian research institutions studied how imitation promotes social relationship.  Scientists used capuchin monkeys, a highly social species, as a study subject.  It is found that imitation helps stranger to engage a new group of friends better.  Studies showed that researchers who imitated the monkeys are more acceptable by the capuchin monkeys.  The monkeys spent more time with the imitators than non-imitators and it is easier to get the monkeys to engage in simple task by the imitators.

Imitation is also an unconscious behaviour among human beings.  Human beings are normally unaware of such behaviour, and those who were unaware being imitated are likely to feel affection and empathy.  Imitation may be a ticket to promote your social life, but please don’t over-do it.

(news [pic])

Some old technologies used even today. 40 years has passed since Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins travelled to space in Apollo 11. The technologies used in getting a man on the moon were amazing, and many of those developments are now used back here on Earth. Here are some of the technologies inspired by the space program.

Wireless Headsets

Neil Armstrong used a wireless headset to say those famous words when he stepped onto the moon’s surface, created by Pacific Plantronics. Since then headset technologies has grown a lot, and various wireless headsets were developed not just for the aviation and the space program and, but also for regular users with the desktop headsets and Bluetooth headsets used for mobile phones.

Memory Foam

Memory foam was developed in 1966 and it helps to absorb shock and was used in NASA’s airplane seats. Nowadays temper foam is used in everything from hospital beds, football helmets, and shoe insoles. Specialized “memory foam” mattresses and pillows also use this technology these days.

Cordless tools

The origin of the Cordless tools can be considered with the development of lunar drill which was battery powered developed by Black & Decker and was used for the Apollo program. Technology similar to this can be can be found in cordless screwdrivers and power drills which is used in everyday life. Flame-Resistant Clothing A fire in the Apollo launch pad killed three astronauts and this led to the development of fire-resistant textiles used for space suits and vehicles. Since then Polybenzimidazole (PBI) materials have been used by soldiers, race-car drivers and firefighters, to protect them from fire.

Cooling Suits

Space suits designed for astronauts helped them to survive in deflect radiation, extreme temperatures, and provide life support. These materials provided essential oxygen, heating, and cooling, pressure while ensuring the mobility of astronauts. Today, cooling suits are used in industrial environments to maintain body temperature and also used for people suffering from hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, which affect the body’s capability to cool itself.

Fluid Recycling

Kidney dialysis machines that we use now use a process created by NASA which helps remove the toxic waste from used fluids. This process helps to save electricity and also eliminates the need for a continuous water supply, which provides greater freedom for patients.

Exercise Equipment

Prolonged exposure to the microgravity environment of space has led to a research on “cardiovascular deconditioning,” which causes the potential deterioration the cardiovascular system of an astronaut. As a result “horizontal trampoline” (the Shuttle 2000-1) was developed, which is now extensively used by sports teams and the medical rehabilitation centers. The equipment increases cardiovascular fitness and also the muscular strength through a series of plyometric and closed-chain kinetic exercises.

Reflective Materials

Materials such as Mylar or propylene which protected astronauts from heat and radiation, are now used in regular home insulation. The “vacuum metalizing” techniques are widely used in products such as food packaging, garment insulation, window shades and wall coverings.

Freeze-Dried

Food Feeding astronauts during their long missions was a big problem and the solution was freeze-drying, a process which helps to preserve the food’s nutritional value and taste, at the same time reducing its weight and increasing shelf life.

Scratch-Resistant Lenses

A highly abrasion-resistant coating was developed by NASA’s Ames Research Center which helped to protect the plastic surfaces of aerospace equipment from various harsh environments. Foster Grant used this same technology to manufacture its Space Tech Lens, which has five times more scratch resistance capacity than regular eyeglass lenses.

Tang, Teflon, Velcro?

Tang, invented by General Foods in 1957, was used when performing eating experiments in orbit by John Glenn in 1962. Teflon, material invented for DuPont in 1938, was used for space suits, heat shields, and cargo hold liners. Velcro, which was invented in 1940s, was also used to anchor equipment for zero-gravity environments by NASA.

Twitter is no doubt a social network wherein emerging trends can be easily tracked. In case of any major event, user twitter tweets about it and thus the story ends up at the top of Twitter Search and becomes a top trend . The more people tweet about it greater is the possibility of it ending as a top trend. A wide variety of web applications, Twitter accounts, and iPhone applications enable people to track recent tags and thus track recent twitter trends. This gives valid input on what is quite popular with the people.

The web based apps mentioned above include Web-based Applications such as :

Twitter Search : Recent trends on Twitter usually appear on the Twitter homepage or on it’s official search page. By clicking on these, the user can bring up feeds on public conversations on twitter.

Twist : Twist is an interesting application which enables the user to see trends and keywords on Twitter through a graphical interface. It is more of visual based application which lists trends for hours, days or weeks for the user. This not only enables comparison of different trends but also provides embeddable charts to compare them.

Monitter : Using these trends can be tracked in real time. Just by typing keywords, this impressive application will all by it update the latest tweets containing those keywords. To access the right information the user can add or remove columns.

Hashtags.org : This is one of the most popular webpage on Twitter. It provides graphs on the use of hashtags. Though it’s up time reliability is low, these show the latest and the most viewed hastags.

Tweetmeme : This is one of the best solutions to provide access to the most popular links on Twitter.

Plodt : Plodt website is a trend tracker. This is based on ranking the tweets. User is required to follow Plodt Twitter account to participate in Plodt. It features timelines, tags, and statistics.

Twitturly : Used to track top-shared URLs. All tweets that have shared a specific link can be viewed by the user.

Next category is the Twitter Accounts:

twithority : This is one of the easiest ways to tweet the trends on Twitter. Based on time and authority these links provide the user with latest Twitter trends.

TweetingTrends : It is considered to be the easiest way to track twitter trends. Links go directly to Twitter Search.

PowerSearch : It Tweets top weekly and daily trends along with other hot trends so that the user does not miss any of these.

gtrend : gtrend stands for ‘Google Trend’. Recent trends within Google Search can be easily accessed by the users. Though it does not track Twitter trends it can track trends across the web. Comparison of trends is also possible.

Another category is the iPhone Apps to track twitter trends:

Retweet : Priced at 99 cents, it provides simple iPhone interface for reading top retweets and links. Retweeting now has become a means for finding the best on Twitter. The users can share tweets of interest just by reposting a tweet and adding ‘RT’ plus the originator’s username.

TweetieTweetie reviews : This displays the current trends on twitter. The user can save these trends for further reference. Twitter Trend Emerging trends on twitter can be viewed though this free application.

Summizer : One of the advanced Twitter search tool is the Summizer. It is available as both paid and free version. Summizer enables users to view trends and tweets specific in nature. Tweets from a specific user or those not having a specific search keyword can be viewed though this.

Education in Malaysia:

A professor from UiTM in the faculty of chemical engineering has informed us of an opportunity for students looking to pursue their PhD in the field. We are publishing this notice as a public service for interested students, and this should not be taken as an endorsement of the programme. The details:

Ph.D. studentship opportunities

Master’s degree holders interested to pursue Ph.D. in any of the following research themes at Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA are invited to forward their CVs to yinyang@salam.uitm.edu.my and yinyang@streamyx.com. A stipend will be provided for the suitable candidate to support his/her study.

The research themes are:

1) Hazardous waste treatment (e-waste; soil, water and air decontamination).
2) Synthesis and application of nanoporous materials.
3) Life cycle assessment
4) Clean technologies
5) Brownfield management

Candidates that show excellent progress during their study shall be considered for paid short-term research placements in either Japan, South Korea, Australia or Germany. The selection criteria for this Ph.D. studentship are listed in the following:

1) Good written english;
2) Published at least an ISI-indexed journal article as the first author (preferably – not essential);
3) Graduated either cum laude or has at least an Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate engineering or science degree.