ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

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• What can 14th century Venice teach us about Ebola, other emerging threats?
• Best view yet of merging galaxies in distant universe
• Do we live in a 2-D hologram? Experiment will test the nature of the universe
• Key to speed? Elite sprinters unlike other athletes, deliver forceful punch to ground
• Laser pulse turns glass into a metal: New effect could be used for ultra-fast logical switches
• Duality principle is 'safe and sound'
• Wii Balance Board induces changes in brains of people with multiple sclerosis
• Cannibalism may contribute to successful invasion by harlequin ladybirds of new habitats
• Sleep drunkenness disorder may affect one in seven

What can 14th century Venice teach us about Ebola, other emerging threats? Posted: 26 Aug 2014 12:28 PM PDT The way in which the Italian city of Venice dealt with the outbreak of the plague in the 14th century holds lessons on how to even mitigate the consequences of today's emerging threats, like climate change, terrorism, and highly infectious or drug-resistant diseases, says one researcher.

Best view yet of merging galaxies in distant universe Posted: 26 Aug 2014 11:11 AM PDT Astronomers have obtained the best view yet of a collision between two galaxies when the Universe was only half its current age. To make this observation, the team also enlisted the help of a gravitational lens, a galaxy-size magnifying glass, to reveal otherwise invisible detail.

Do we live in a 2-D hologram? Experiment will test the nature of the universe Posted: 26 Aug 2014 09:10 AM PDT A unique experiment called the Holometer has started collecting data that will answer some mind-bending questions about our universe -- including whether we live in a hologram.

Key to speed? Elite sprinters unlike other athletes, deliver forceful punch to ground Posted: 26 Aug 2014 07:08 AM PDT The world's fastest sprinters have a distinctive ability unlike other runners to attack the ground and attain faster speeds, according to new research. The new findings indicate that sprinters use a combined limb motion and foot-strike mechanism that enhances speed by elevating foot-ground impact forces. "The sprinters we tested all used the same mechanism for maximizing force application and sprinting performance," said the study's lead author.

Laser pulse turns glass into a metal: New effect could be used for ultra-fast logical switches Posted: 26 Aug 2014 07:08 AM PDT For tiny fractions of a second, quartz glass can take on metallic properties, when it is illuminated be a laser pulse. This has been shown by new calculations. The effect could be used to build logical switches which are much faster than today's microelectronics.

Duality principle is 'safe and sound' Posted: 26 Aug 2014 06:10 AM PDT Decades of experiments have verified the quirky laws of quantum theory again and again. So when scientists in Germany announced in 2012 an apparent violation of a fundamental law of quantum mechanics, physicists were determined to find an explanation.

Wii Balance Board induces changes in brains of people with multiple sclerosis Posted: 26 Aug 2014 06:10 AM PDT A balance board accessory for a popular video game console can help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) reduce their risk of accidental falls, according to new research. Magnetic resonance imaging scans showed that use of the Nintendo Wii Balance Board system appears to induce favorable changes in brain connections associated with balance and movement.

Cannibalism may contribute to successful invasion by harlequin ladybirds of new habitats Posted: 26 Aug 2014 05:59 AM PDT The cannibalistic behavior of native and invasive populations of the Harmonia axyridis ladybird have been the focus of recent study. The researchers' findings suggest that this behavior may procure them a real survival advantage during the colonization of new habitats.

Sleep drunkenness disorder may affect one in seven Posted: 25 Aug 2014 03:53 PM PDT A study is shining new light on a sleep disorder called "sleep drunkenness." The disorder may be as prevalent as affecting one in every seven people. Sleep drunkenness disorder involves confusion or inappropriate behavior, such as answering the phone instead of turning off the alarm, during or following arousals from sleep, either during the first part of the night or in the morning. An episode, often triggered by a forced awakening, may even cause violent behavior during sleep or amnesia of the episode.

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