From Bones to Flesh- The Australian Museum

Scientists have discovered that the weight and mass of dinosaurs may be much lower than previously believed.

A new technique allows experts to estimate the weight of prehistoric animals by measuring something other than their weight and volume. The method will undoubtedly change all current illustrations of the creatures, and provide insight into their unique anatomies.

William Sellers of the University of Manchester’s Faculty of Life Sciences led his team in a project that measured the amount of skin needed to wrap around the skeletons of large animals such as elephants, giraffes and polar bears. The test revealed that almost all of the specimens had 21% percent more body mass than the minimal skin and bone volume.

“This is a huge help for any sort of reconstruction,” Sellers said. “We now have a number that suggests how much flesh to add to the bones and that should help people produce animals that are the right balance of too fat or too thin.”

He added, “This technique can also allow you to calculate the numbers you need for more sophisticated reconstructions, such as the running simulations we have produced in the past.”

The researchers applied their findings to the skeleton of a brachiosaur in a museum in Berlin. This dinosaur was previously believed to have weighed around 176,370 pounds. According to the new estimate, however, the figure was reduced to 50,706; a mere fraction of the original weight!

“The 23-ton weight is quite low, but I think it reflects the fact that all other dinosaur weights are getting lower,” Sellers explained. The new estimates, he said, “reflect a better understanding of biology, and I think the early estimates were set in that big, fat and slow lizard mindset before the dinosaur renaissance. I think we will find that the lower estimates are much more appropriate for many dinosaurs.”

As if being bald weren’t enough of a difficulty, now it appears that bald men may actually be at higher risk for developing prostate cancer. The study from the University of Toronto, led by Dr. Neil Fleshner found that men who underwent prostate biopsies were more likely to actually be diagnosed with cancer if they had significant levels of hair loss.

The study included 214 men, and it showed a correlation between the two but didn’t show that baldness triggered cancer.

While the findings shouldn’t send bald men into a tizzy, and they need to be replicated in other studies, they should be a warning sign for balding men. Researchers aren’t exactly clear about why there is a link between balding and prostate cancer, but they believe that it is connected to higher levels of testosterone.

Testosterone inhibits hair growth and can trigger the development of cancer cells.

As Dr. Felshner explained the findings, “Bald men should be aware that they may benefit from being screened earlier and perhaps, if necessary, from being biopsied sooner.”

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association in Atlanta, Georgia. They were able to show that men with more severe hair loss were more likely to have tumors. Their study was backed by another one in 1020 that showed that bald men have a higher risk for another prostate condition, called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.

Today, June 5^th, astronomers and space enthusiasts will be able to experience the transit of Venus, a rare planetary alignment that helped scientists map out our solar system many years ago. The second since 2004, the phenomenon won’t occur again until December 2117.

For centuries, astronomers have studied the transit with the goal of estimating the distance between Earth and the sun. Explorers competed for viewing locations, and watched the Venus crossed the sun over a six hour period.

Modern technology has allowed scientists to reach more accurate readings of the distance between our world and the sun, as well as the other planets in our solar system, but the transit of Venus remains an iconic event in astronomic development. The occurrence also aids astronomers in their search for other planets outside our solar system today.

A recent study has researched the various ‘families’ of trans-fat and their impact on a person’s health, providing new insight into an old argument.

According to a group of Canadian scientists, ruminant animals like cattle, goats and sheep produce a type of natural trans-fat that, unlike its industrial counterpart, is actually beneficial to our health.

“We are learning there is a very important public health message to convey about ruminant natural trans-fats that have been targeted as harmful to health,” explains University of Alberta’s Director of the Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases Laboratory, Dr. Spencer Proctor.

“The research indicates that consuming these natural trans-fats as part of a balanced diet is not a health concern. On the contrary, there is increasing evidence these are ‘good fats’ and could be fundamentally health-enhancing. They should not be an unintended target of the bid to rid the diet of trans-fats.”

The research team explained that the new information is based on numerous studies involving both animals and humans.

Jean-Michel Chardigny, who also researched the animal-produced trans-fat, said: “Our knowledge of natural trans-fats is relatively recent and we will continue to learn more about the human health implications.” He added, “But clearly we know they are different from industrial trans-fats and should not be painted with the same brush.”

In a meta-analysis of 13 human studies, Chardigny found that while industrial trans-fats may have a negative effect on health, there is currently no information that suggests similar issues with the natural substance.

“There is no association between natural trans-fats intake and cholesterol-dependent cardiovascular risk factors,” he said. “The findings indicate that intake of natural trans-fats is not associated with coronary heart disease within the range of intake in the general population.”

This past Friday was National Donut Day. Though it sounds more like an internet scheme, the national food holiday, which is held on the first Friday of every June, can actually be traced back to the WWI.

National Donut Day was established in 1938, set up right after Memorial Day, to celebrate another type of U.S. troop- women with the Salvation Army who delivered doughnuts and coffee to soldiers during the war.

Though the actual origin of the food is disputed, with many claiming the donut was brought by Dutch settlers, or invented by an American man named Hansen Gregory, the ring-shaped cake America enjoys today may have originated from the Salvation Army. The very first was given to a man in uniform by Helen Purvience, an ensign nurse. The treat later spread throughout the ranks, becoming a staple food for the soldiers. The Salvation Army’s recipe has since been modified, but closely resembles the one used by most eateries today.

In honor of the food holiday, several franchises distributed free doughnuts. Krispy Kreme offered a free donut per customer, no purchase necessary, while Dunkin’ Donuts handed out free donuts with each beverage bought. Local chains like Lamar’s Donuts and Tim Horton’s are also participating through various means. Meanwhile, Entenmann’s, the leading baked-good producer, served the largest box of donuts ever made, and donated $25,000 to the Salvation Army as well.