Betsy Smeed

Science is cool

Bacterial ‘ropes’ tie down shifting Southwest

November17

From Physorg, several species of cyanobacteria create rope-like structures that “allows them to colonize physically unstable sedimentary environments, and to act as successful pioneers in the biostabilization process.”(From the abstract) These ropes wrap around grains of sand to prevent the sand grains from shifting.

Abstract

The deep-sea crab that eats trees

November12

From BBC, a study that looks at wood falls(trees and other vegetable matter that settle on the ocean floor) and what creatures eat them. And there is a crab that eats from these wood falls. Connected to this is the worms that eat whale bone. As humans explore more and more of the ocean, the different sources of energy used is incredible. Then there is the florescent coral that heals itself.

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Chocolate stuff

November12

From the Examiner, dark chocolate, about as much as a candy bar a day, can help reduce stress. Or rather reduces the amount of the stress hormones, cortisol and catecholamines.

Abstract

Also from Chicago Tribune blogs, basically lists some ways to get the good benefits of chocolate. Which seems to be non-dutched cocoa.

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