# s-evol: more grey on their backs to camouflage (Meliphagidae and Acanthizidae songbirds)

<< Tropical birds are well known for their colorful appearance: vibrantly colored macaws, parakeets and parrots are widely considered to be the quintessential birds of this region. >>

<< But do birds evolve to become more colorful when they move to the tropics? >>

<<  "The pattern is really clear" Friedman [Nicholas Friedman]  reports, "birds living in the desert tend to be more grey on their backs, while birds living in the forest have evolved to be more of a dark green - we think they are evolving these colors to match their background." >>

<< This would be an example of natural selection, in this case more camouflaged organisms can survive and pass on their genes.
"These results help to explain the origins of the diversity of life, how species end up evolving different characteristics over time" >>

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. New research provides insight into plumage evolution. Nov. 4, 2016.

http://m.phys.org/news/2016-11-insight-plumage-evolution.html

Friedman NR, Remes V. Ecogeographical gradients in plumage coloration among Australasian songbird clades. Global Ecol. Biogeogr. 2016  doi:10.1111/geb.12522 Publ.  Sept. 25, 2016.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/geb.12522/abstract

# s-evol: smarter dinosaurs

<< Dinosaurs have a fearsome reputation for their hunting abilities but less so when it comes to their intelligence. >>

<< But the recent discovery of the first recorded fossilised brain tissue could help challenge that image >>

Alex Liu. First Dinosaur Brain Fossil Suggests They May Have Been Smarter Than We Thought. Oct 28, 2016.

http://singularityhub.com/2016/10/28/first-dinosaur-brain-fossil-suggests-they-may-have-been-smarter-than-we-thought/

https://theconversation.com/first-dinosaur-brain-fossil-suggests-they-may-have-been-smarter-than-we-thought-67715

Martin D. Brasier,  David B. Norman, et al. Remarkable preservation of brain tissues in an Early Cretaceous iguanodontian dinosaur. Geological Society, London, Special Publications(2016); SP448.3

http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP448.3

http://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/early/2016/11/01/SP448.3

# s-acad: after POTUS race: Scientists reactions, by Nature.com

<< Trump victory generates shock, disbelief and fear of funding cuts. >>

<< Some foreign researchers working in the United States started thinking about leaving the country. >>

<< Around the world, researchers expressed sympathy and wondered how the election results might upset US research. >>

<< Other researchers said they were scared that a Trump presidency might reduce funding for science. >>

<< Some researchers expressed concern over the future of climate science. >>

<< And some scientists had more existential worries. >>

Lauren Morello. How scientists reacted to the US election results.  09 Nov2016

http://www.nature.com/news/how-scientists-reacted-to-the-us-election-results-1.20965

more:

<< It is time for scientists and politicians alike to constructively engage with core issues — from climate change and energy independence to social inequality. >>

Reality must trump rhetoric after US election shock. 16 Nov. 2016

http://www.nature.com/news/reality-must-trump-rhetoric-after-us-election-shock-1.20980

more:

Tim Wallace. The Two Americas of 2016. Nov.16, 2016.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/16/us/politics/the-two-americas-of-2016.html

# n-soc: you can not explain the inequality without

<< “A lot of research has focused on the role of markets in rising inequality, but they are missing a major cause,” Jacobs [David Jacobs] said. “You can’t explain income inequality without looking at political factors.” >>

Jeff Grabmeier. New evidence that politics, not economics, drives inequality. Oct. 26, 2016

https://news.osu.edu/news/2016/10/26/inequality-politics/

David Jacobs and Jonathan C. Dirlam. Politics and Economic Stratification: Power Resources and Income Inequality in the United States. American Journal of Sociology, 2016; Vol. 122, Number 2, Sept. 2016.

http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/687744

# s-gst-evol: tiny tweaks to modulate hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)

<< Millions of years ago, some plants in the mustard family made the switch from simple leaves to complex leaves through two tiny tweaks to a single gene. One tweak to a small enhancer sequence gave the gene a new domain of expression in the leaf. Paradoxically, the other tweak sub-optimised its function in this new domain. But together, these changes gave rise to fit plants with complex leaves. >>

P. Huijser. A small piece of DNA with a large effect on leaf shape. Nov. 17, 2016

http://m.phys.org/news/2016-11-small-piece-dna-large-effect.html

Francesco Vuolo, Remco A. Mentink et al. Coupled enhancer and coding sequence evolution of a homeobox gene shaped leaf diversity. Genes & Development (2016). Nov.16, 2016, doi: 10.1101/gad.290684.116

http://m.genesdev.cshlp.org/content/early/2016/11/16/gad.290684.116

# n-soc: POTUS after the race: a sadic consideration, by Jonah and Stephen

<< It  has  become  a  reflexive  pledge,  often  half-joking,  after  an  election:  Worried  about the  next  president?  Move  to  another  country. After  the  news  of  Donald  J.  Trump’s  victory  in  the  presidential  election  was confirmed  early  Wednesday,  many  Americans  apparently  considered  doing  just that.  One  likely  destination  was  north.  Late  at  night, Canada’s  citizenship  and immigration  website  crashed as  it  was  flooded  with  interest. >>

<< Stephen  J.  Farnsworth,  a  co-author  of  the  2013  book  “The  Global  President: International  Media  and  the  U.S.  Government”  and  a  professor  of  political  science at  the  University  of  Mary  Washington,  said  that  escaping  to  Canada  would  not shield  you  from  the  influence  of  a  President  Trump. >>

Jonah Engel Bromwich. Want  to  Move  to  Canada?  Europe?  Somewhere? Trump’s  Impact  Will  Follow  You. NYT. Nov. 9,  2016

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/797739518833127424

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/us/-canada-immigration.html

FonT: forse (e si sottolinea forse)  vista la trascorsa sorprendente esclusione e autoesclusione di importanti personaggi dalla "POTUS race" (ad es. Michael R. Bloomberg, http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/03/08/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-not-running-for-president.html ) nella sopravveniente, impellente necessita' di confinare (se cosi' si puo' dire) un ipotetico (e si sottolinea ipotetico) Donald "dalle singolari bizzarrie in.onda giallo- carota- s.fumante" sarebbe (sarebbe stato) utile, anzi, forse indispensabile, avvalersi (anche) delle preziose  consulenze di una ipotetica Entita' "El Morisco" simile, cioe' una sorta di El Morisco, gia' naturalizzato negli States, capace di districare, in senso preventivo ma anche successivo, nell'ordalia d'intrecci multi- dimensionali a corde vibranti stazionarie sensibili alle modalita' a pulsivita' quasistocastica (quantistico-) transizionali (vale a dire il normale reale nel quale siamo normalmente  immersi e normalmente operiamo). D'altronde, come si e' notato in contesti ecologici, coli' dove esiste una ipotetica tossina (l'antigene) e' probabile si possa individuare anche il suo specifico ipotetico antidoto (l'anticorpo). Percio' una Entita' "El Morisco" simile potrebbe essere adatta a trattare (anche) un caso Donald ipotetico. Ovviamente questa e'  solo una ipotesi di prima approx,  anzicheforse.

"El Morisco". in: Gianluigi Bonelli, Aurelio Galleppini. Il signore dell'abisso. Tex e El Morisco.

http://www.sergiobonelli.it/news/news/37046/Tex-e-El-Morisco-.html

http://www.mondadoristore.it/signore-dell-abisso-Tex-El-Aurelio-Galleppini-Gianluigi-Bonelli/eai978880463993/

more:

"Donald"

http://flashontrack.blogspot.it

# zen-brain: a low-cost approach (without genetics and/or pharmacology) to become (hypothetically) smarter

<< ‘Superbrain Yoga’ is a quick exercise that can help to enhance your brain’s sharpness and clarity. The method is scientifically validated, according to Queensland Academics, and the practice is based on the principles of subtle energy and ear acupuncture. >>

Kelsey Drain. What Is Superbrain Yoga? How To Improve Cognitive Function With This Yogi Practice.
Nov 7, 2016 01:31 PM 

http://www.medicaldaily.com/what-superbrain-yoga-how-improve-cognitive-function-yogi-practice-403639

Jane Sleeman. SuperBrain Yoga – a simple exercise to maximize brain power. Oct. 30, 2014

https://qahs.eq.edu.au/superbrain-yoga-a-simple-exercise-to-maximize-brain-power/

Kelsey Drain. The Science Of Acupuncture: Treatment Activates Opioids, Lowers Hypertension.
Nov 2, 2016 10:48 AM

http://www.medicaldaily.com/science-acupuncture-treatment-activates-opioids-lowers-hypertension-403084