Snippets From Science

• What is a black hole? Astronomers believe it forms when nuclear fusion in the core of a giant star burns out and the star collapses in on itself. Its gravitational forces then become concentrated in space. A black hole isn’t a “thing,” it’s a space/time phenomenon characterized by a dark area where massive gravitational forces capture nearby objects, gases, and even light, and they disappear into the hole’s darkness. Although black holes can’t be seen directly, astronomers accept their theoretical existence as a result of evidence that their intense gravitational pull affects nearby objects and gases. (Sources: http://www.imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs; other sources)

• Every star in our Milky Way galaxy revolves around a giant black hole. Fortunately, our sun is 27,000 light years away from the “hole,” too far away to cause us concern. Ken Croswell, writing in the National Geographic (Dec., 2010), described our black hole this way. “Every now and then, [it] swallows a bit of gas, a wayward planet, or even an entire star. Friction and gravity heat the victim to such high temperatures that it lets out a scream of x-rays…that light up nearby gas clouds, preserving a record of the black hole’s past feasts.”

• More good news for chocolate lovers. Researchers in Australia asked 1,216 older women how often they consumed chocolate. Those who had at least one serving a week were 24 percent less likely to die or require hospitalization from heart disease over a 10 year period (compared to those who said they ate chocolate less frequently). (Source: Consumer Reports on Health, February, 2011)

• There is evidence that a woman’s tears contain a volatile chemical (“pheromone”) that depresses sexual arousal in normal men. Scientists in Israel enlisted women who cry easily and captured their tears as they watched sad movies. Pads soaked with these tears were wafted under men’s noses. When these men were shown sexually provocative photos of women, their interest was diminished and their testosterone levels dropped. When pads soaked only in saline solution were wafted under the noses of men, they showed significant interest in the sexy photos and their testosterone levels remained the same or became elevated. Some experts on the evolution of crying theorize that crying (with accompanying tear production) may function to partly reduce male aggression and sex drive when women are in distress. (Source: The Week, January 21, 2011; New York Times, Jan. 6, 2011)

• The role of fathers has changed greatly over the last 50 years. In 1965, fathers spent an average of 2.6 hours a week on child care; today the figure is closer to 7 hours a week. Studies show that the influence of fathers profoundly affects the development of their offspring. Fathers play an important role in stretching the child’s emotional and cognitive abilities, including increasing the child’s verbal skills and, through play, encouraging them to take risks. Fathers are more likely to bounce their kids on their knees, toss them into the air, give them piggyback rides, and wrestle or chase them, all of which help develop physical skills and confidence. Children need their mothers, but fathers are important, too. (Source: Scientific American Mind, May/June, 2010)

• Volunteers at McGill University had their brains scanned as they listened to their favorite instrumental music. Neuroscientists conducting the study found that during the most thrilling moments of the music, a burst of dopamine was released; this chemical is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasurable feelings elicited by eating, sex, and psychoactive drugs. Other studies have also suggested a link between dopamine and the enjoyment of music. (Source:  The Week, Jan. 28, 2011)