Science Buzz Lunch in Building 2 , Room 107, 10-1-2012

Science Buzz Lunch in Building 2 , Room 107, 10-1-2012

Topics Discussed:

1) Translations of French phrases into Japanese

2)  A simulation study predicting the population dynamics of the Japanese Ibis as a result of its re-introduction into Japan via the release of birds raised in captivity

3) Relationship between eye and facial color and social structure in various animals

Science Buzz Lunch in Bldg 1, Mixer Room, 9-25-2012

Science Buzz Lunch in Bldg 1, Mixer Room, 9-25-2012

Topics discussed:

1) The recent publication in Current Biology of the paper by Sakai et al. comparing fetal brain development as measured by 3D ultrasonography in humans and chimpanzees, which have similar gestation periods (human: 38 weeks; chimpanzee: 34 - 35 weeks). Human fetal brains showed continously increasing brain growth velocity from 14 weeks until 34 weeks of gestation, in contrast to chimpanzee fetal brains, which showed a similar increase of brain growth velocity from 14 until 22 weeks of gestation, but a sharp decrease of this velocity thereafter

2) Professor Shinichi Mochizuki's recently published solution to the abc conjecture 

Science Buzz Lunch in Bldg 2, Room 107, 9-25-2012

Science Buzz Lunch in Bldg 2, Room 107, 9-25-2012

Topics discussed:

1) Climate and wildlife of Nebraska

2) The Japanese otter has been declared extinct. There is some public discussion of the possibility of introducing the closely related Eurasian otter as a replacement into Japan. The attendees of our discussion group didn't think this is a good idea due to its artificiality and the uncertainty of how to manage it in a way that wouldn't disrupt the environment. But then one attendee raised the interesting parallel of the introduction of a Chinese population of the Japanese Crested Ibis ("toki" in Japanese) into Japan to replace that recently lost species. This introduction of this ibis seems to have widespread support and even to be a source of rejoicing for many people in Japan. How does this differ from the proposed introduction of the Eurasian otter?

3)  Ongoing longitudinal MRI and ultrasound imaging studies of the brain in chimpanzees

4) Map-based compensation of victims of radiation exposure after atomic bomb explosions or atomic power plant meltdowns do not necessarily accurately identify the persons who actually suffered radiation exposure

5) How mutations in the same gene  (Taqpep) cause the blotches of "blotched tabby" cats and King cheetahs

Science Buzz Lunch in Bldg 1, Mixer Room 9-18-2012

Science Buzz Lunch in Bldg 1, Mixer Room  9-18-2012

Topics discussed included:

1) Agricultural shows (state and county fairs) in the United States

2) Fetal brain development in chimpanzees compared to that in humans

3) Recent news in EurekaAlert