Uncategorized
- Health & Medicine
Gut bacteria reflect dietary differences
A comparison of African and European children concludes that high-fiber, low-fat diets cultivate healthier intestinal microflora.
- Life
Marine census still counting new life-forms
The Gulf of Mexico ranked among the top five marine regions for number of known species.
- Life
Disabling cellular assassin prevents cancer
A counterintuitive experiment may help explain why survivors are more vulnerable to other malignancies later in life.
- Life
For ducks, penis length depends on the other guys
Male genitals grow longer with more competition from other males.
- Space
Dark matter eldorado
Astronomers have discovered that a nearby galaxy has the highest density of dark matter of any galaxy known.
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Birth of the beat
Music’s roots may lie in melodic exchanges between mothers and babies.
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Seeking a definition
Pitch is determined by a sound’s frequency. Notes that sit in different positions on a musical scale, called tones, have different pitches. Modern Western music, for example, combines 12 tones, with the A at the middle of a piano keyboard having a frequency of 440 hertz. Other cultures work with fewer tones. The first few […]
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Not just a pleasant sound
When people use music to share stories, comfort peers or worship gods, it takes on new meaning. Music’s roles vary depending on time and place. Bonding: Battle hymns, national anthems and alma maters unite people for a common cause and make them feel that they are a part of something larger. Marching bands (shown), for […]
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More than a feeling
Emotionally evocative, yes, but music goes much deeper.
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Moody tunes
To explore the effect that music has on the mind, Science News asked researchers to share a song they enjoy and the emotion it evokes. Ethan Ross, physicianSong: “Dark Star” by the Grateful Dead Emotion: “Elation, euphoria and wonder.” Virginia Naples, vertebrate paleontologist Song: “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot Emotion: “Sadness […]
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Your brain on music
Music lights up almost every area of the brain, which shouldn’t be a surprise since it makes people tap their feet, encourages the recollection of vivid memories and has the potential to lighten the mood. Around the outside 1. Prefrontal cortex: This brain region plays a role in the creation, satisfaction and violation of expectations. […]
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Songs from the Stone Age
No one knows for sure whether music played a key role in human evolution or came about as a kind of ear candy. But there are several scientifically inspired proposals for the origins of music, some included below. Da ya think I’m sexy? Charles Darwin, an avid music fan, suggested in 1871 that humans’ tunes […]
