News and notes from the world of science

• The surface, or cortex, of the human brain is folded into ridges and grooves that have a distinctive pattern in each individual. It’s thought that the folding provides for more brain cells to be packed into a tight space inside the skull. Theoretically, the more brain cells, the greater the brain’s ability to process information, and the cortex is the site where higher-level thought occurs (thought, perception, interpreting emotion, etc.). Recently, neuroscientists discovered irregularities in the folding of the cortex in schizophrenics. Also, autistic children appear to have over-folded brains, and overall their brains are larger than those of normal children. The hope is that with early detection of abnormalities and deficiencies there may be ways to intervene and modify brain folding. (Brain in the News, September, 2009)

• In 1919, a German researcher named Carl Wieselsberger discovered that birds flying in a V-shaped formation expend less energy. Birds, such as geese, alternate being at the apex of the V. When one gets tired, another takes its place. What happens is that the air flowing over a bird’s wingtips curls upwards, and the trailing bird benefits from this upwash by expending less energy. An aeronautics expert at the U. of Southern California estimates that a formation of 25 birds could increase their range by 71 percent flying in formation. (The Economist, December 5, 2009)

• Of the several species of tuna, Bluefin is the most prized for its rich meat, especially to sushi lovers. These magnificent fish grow up to 12 feet long and may weigh up to 1,500 pounds. A single Bluefin sold at markets in Japan may bring $100,000. Too bad they’re going extinct, thanks to illegal, unreported, or unregulated taking of these great tuna. The commission supposed to regulate their capture and marketing is the 48-nation International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (or ICCAT). The joke is that ICCAT really means “International Conspiracy to Catch All Tuna.” If Bluefin tuna is served at your restaurant, consider asking for an alternative. (The Week, December 11, 2009)

• Federal officials are calling for a moratorium on entering caves in the northeast U.S., for bat populations are being killed by the thousands by a mysterious fungus that turns their faces white. The disorder is referred to as “White Nose Syndrome.” Discovered in New York State in 2006, the disease has spread to caves as far south as Virginia. Since bats eat 50 – 100 percent of their body weight in insects, if they go extinct there is potential for an explosion of certain kinds of insects (e.g., mosquitoes). (Nature Conservancy, Winter, 2009).

• Matt Ridley (writer on science and evolution) wrote the following in a recent issue of The Economist. “Drought-tolerant plants are nearing the market and salt-tolerant ones are not far behind. Within a decade there may be crops that are no-till, insect-resistant, omega-3-enriched, drought-tolerant, salt tolerant and nitrogen efficient. If they boost yields, then the 21st century will see more and more people better and better fed from less and less land.” These are possible benefits from genetically modified crops.