Slashdot Mirror
Domain: royalsoc.ac.uk
Stories and comments across the archive that link to royalsoc.ac.uk.
Stories · 4
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Humanity's Genetic Diversity on the Decline
jd writes "In a study covering five different periods of history, from 300 AD to the present day, and geographically spread across much of Europe, scientists have extracted the mitochondrial DNA from a sizable number of individuals in an effort to examine changes in diversity. The results, published in the Royal Society journal is intriguing to say the least. 1700 years ago, three out of every four individuals belonged to a different haplotype. In modern Europe, the number is only one in three. The researchers blame a combination of plague, selection of dominant lineages and culturally-inflicted distortions. The researchers say more work needs to be done, but are unclear if this involves archaeology or experiments involving skewing the data in the local female population." -
Royal Society Opens Free Online Archive
greenechidna writes "The Register reports that the Royal Society has put its archives online. From the article: 'One of the world's most important historical records will be made available online for the first time today. All the Royal Society's journals are free for two months and include stone-cold scientific classics going back to 1665 and the foundations of modern inquiry.'" You can set up your own account at the Royal Society; if you follow the link in the Reg article, you get logged in to some random account. -
UK Scientists Recommend Caution in Nanotechnology
PizzaFace writes "An independent study of issues posed by nanotechnology has warned that nanoparticles could pose unique risks and should be regulated by government, and generally should be considered hazardous until shown to be safe. Nanoparticles are now being used in some cosmetics, and workers in some industries face exposure on the job. As the report summary notes, 'Concerns have been expressed that the very properties of nanoscale particles being exploited in certain applications (such as high surface reactivity and the ability to cross cell membranes) might also have negative health and environmental impacts.' The year-long study was commissioned by the United Kingdom and done by a joint working group of the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Washington Post reports that the U.S. government is aware of nanotechnology but is letting industry regulate itself for now." -
Dinosaurs Never Held Heads High
richard_za writes "The common notion that long necked dinosaurs held there necks high to graze from treetops has been proven impossible. Roger Seymour, from Adelaide University's Environmental Biology Department and Harvey Lillywhite from the University of Florida. According to a research paper published at the Proceedings of the Royal Society in London, he explained that due to heart size and metablic rates the only way they could have functioned on land was with a horizontal neck. This flies in the face of images popularised in Hollywood movies such as Jurassic Park. However it is doubted that this new evidence will have any effect on the Mozilla Project."