Science Notes
Compiled by Greg Lavine
Walking on water
Massachusetts researchers report that they have solved the
mystery of how some insects can walk on water, and the team
has put the theory to the test by building a tiny robot
capable of strolling on liquid.
A study
in this week's edition of Nature indicates that water
striders, small insects found on rivers, use their long legs
like oars in a row boat. Previous theories held that the bugs
were able to create surface waves to propel themselves
forward.
High-speed video and other
techniques discovered that water strider legs are able to
create small vortices that help move them forward, researchers
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology report.
Robostrider, an insect-size robot, was
built to take advantage of the newly found motion principles.
While the bug can get around on water, it is not as smooth a
walker as a real water strider, researchers said.
Audubon outings
The Great Salt Lake Audubon Society
will hold a pair of outings over the next week.
On Friday morning, the group will make
its first outing to Yellow Fork Canyon to see what kind of
birds are in the area. Participants should meet at the new REI
store at 230 W. 10600 South in Sandy's South Towne Mall at
7:30 a.m.
The other outing will take
place Wednesday at Wheeler Farm, 6351 S. 900 East, at 7:30
a.m. The group will gather in the southeast corner of the
south parking lot.
For more information
on either birding event, call June Ryburn at 801-576-0103.
Star party
Saturday
On Saturday night, the Salt
Lake Astronomical Society will be holding a star party in
Midvale.
Starting at dusk, star gazers
will gather at Harmons grocery store, 7755 S. 700 East. More
information is available on the Internet at http://slas.ws/.
Science movie
night
The Utah Museum of Natural
History's Science Movie Night series will visit the "Planet of
the Dinosaurs" on Aug. 14.
At 6:30 p.m.
next Thursday, a screening and discussion of the film will be
held at the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics's Eccles
Auditorium. University of Utah paleontology grad student
Joshua Smith will dispel the flick's shaky science.
The film is shown at the Eccles
Institute of Human Genetics, between the Eccles Health Science
Library and University Hospital. For a map to the movie site,
visit the Web at http://www.umnh.utah.edu/. For more
information, call 801-581-6927.
U. biology grant
A University of Utah biologist will receive an $83,400 grant
from the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation to study the
membranes of mitochondria.
Mitochondria
are known as the "power plants" of the cell, so when they
fail, cells lose energy and die. If enough cells fail, this
can lead to severe damage in the brain, heart, liver and other
parts of the body. Mitochondrial disease strikes an estimated
1 in 4,000 children.
Koji Okamoto, of
the U.'s biology department, will study regulatory molecules
in the membranes of mitochondria. Such research could open the
door to understanding the causes of some cancers and
neurological diseases.
glavine@sltrib.com
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