For those who missed them, here are this week's absolute best news and announcements from the world of science

Dec 21, 2014 15:52 GMT  ·  By
This week, scientists announced the discovery of organic molecules on Mars
11 photos
   This week, scientists announced the discovery of organic molecules on Mars

I hate to break it to you, but yet another week has gone by. We’re all older, hopefully a wee wiser and just a few days away from bidding the year 2014 its eternal farewell.

For those of you who were too busy this week making your list of New Year’s resolutions and running around trying to find the absolute best Christmas presents for friends and family, here’s another round-up of the best and most important pieces of science news of the past few days.

10. Marijuana said to lower inflammation in the body

This week, scientists announced that, having assessed the overall wellbeing of some 9,000 individuals, they found evidence that smoking marijuana can lower inflammation in the body.

Thus, of the participants in this study, those who admitted to having smoked pot at some point in their life but not during the 30 days prior to the investigation were found to have lower levels of a marker of inflammation dubbed the C-reactive protein.

As explained by the scientists behind this investigation, this discovery is especially worthwhile given the fact that, according to previous studies, high levels of inflammation in the body tend to go hand in hand with an increased risk to develop heart trouble.

9. Scientists weighed a distant galaxy cluster

Using data obtained with the help of the Chandra X-ray Observatory, a space telescope launched by NASA back in 1999, astronomers managed to determine the weight of a distant galaxy cluster known as XDCP J0044.0-2033, or Gioiello.

Long story short, it appears that this galaxy cluster, which sits at a distance of about 9.6 billion light-years from our planet, holds the mass equivalent of an impressive 400 trillion stars similar to our Sun, whose weight is one of 1.989 x 1030 kilograms.

Astronomers say that the Gioiello galaxy cluster formed some 3.3 billion years following the Big Bang. Now that they know its weight, scientists claim that this cosmic system is pretty much the most massive young cluster to have until now been documented.

8. 1962 Alcatraz escapees might have made it to land

Decades ago, on June 11, 1962, three prisoners managed to escape the prison on the island of Alcatraz off the coast of San Francisco in California, US. They were never seen again, and whether or not they actually made it to shore is still a mystery.

In a new report, researchers argue that, all things considered, it could be that, rather than freezing to death or drowning, bank robbers Clarence Anglin, John Anglin and Frank Morris might have successfully sailed their improvised raft to land.

More precisely, it appears that, had the prisoners left the island of Alcatraz sometime between 11:00 p.m. and midnight and paddled north, local currents would have carried them to land. Under this scenario, the escapees would have reached the shoreline not far from the Golden Gate Bridge.

7. NASA could one day send astronauts to Venus

As it turns out, Mars is not the only planet NASA expects will soon be visited by astronauts. On the contrary, plans are now being made to build a spacecraft and have it deliver a human crew to neighboring planet Venus.

The thing is that, seeing how Venus isn’t exactly the most people-friendly planet in the Solar System, these astronauts would not actually land on its surface. In a nutshell, the idea is to have a crew hover over Venus at an altitude of about 50 kilometers (some 30 miles).

For those unaware, Venus is a fairly harsh environment. Its surface it hot enough to melt lead and the local atmospheric pressure is dozens of times greater than on Earth. Besides, volcanic eruptions, lighting bolts and sulfuric clouds are a common sight.

6. Weight loss explained in new paper

In a new report, scientists explain that, contrary to what too many people assume, losing weight is not about converting fat into heat and energy. As surprising as this may sound, it is actually about breathing out fat.

Studies carried out over the years have shown that, when folks lose weight, the fat stored in their body is turned into carbon dioxide and water. For instance, losing 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of fat means producing 8.4 kilograms (18.5 pounds) of carbon dioxide and 1.6 kilograms (3.5 pounds) of water.

As you’ve probably figured out by now, the carbon dioxide resulting from weight loss processes leaves the body via our breath. Otherwise put, it is exhaled. The water, on the other hand, leaves the body through sweat, tears and urine.

5. Rock found to contain 30,000 diamonds

If diamonds are indeed a girl’s best friends, then one rock pulled from a mine in Russia not too long ago might just be the absolute best army of friends a gal could ever hope for. Thus, geologists say that this rock, a photo of which is included in the gallery below, packs some 30,000 diamonds.

On the downside, neither of the diamonds that comprise this rock is big enough to be worth harvesting. As explained by geologists, they each measure merely 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) across, which means that they are not fit to be added to jewelry.

Seeing how the rock is pretty much worthless, it was donated to scientific research not long after having been discovered. Specialists hope that, by studying it, they will gain a better understanding of how diamonds form deep in our planet’s entrails.

4. Llama antibodies could help develop new HIV vaccine

Scientists say that, having exposed several llamas to HIV genetic material, they found that these animals’ immune system can produce antibodies well capable of fighting off the AIDS-causing virus.

During this rather peculiar investigation, researchers managed to zoom in on as many as four llama antibodies that they say are designed to take on HIV and destroy it. When combined, these four antibodies managed to neutralize 60 distinct HIV strains.

Admittedly, further research into the makeup and working principles of these antibodies is very much needed. Still, the researchers behind this project expect that, in time, their find will help develop a highly efficient HIV vaccine.

3. Gene found to enable the spread of cancer

Evidence at hand indicates that a gene that normally serves to control embryonic development also facilitates the spread of cancer through the body. Essentially, this gene makes it easier for cancer cells to migrate to other sites and form new tumors, the end result being metastasis.

The gene is known to the scientific community as SNAIL. It is understood that it facilitates metastasis by making cancer cells more mobile. Specifically, specialists say that cancer cells that express this gene are unlikely to be hindered by the properties of the tissues they encounter in their path or by biological control mechanisms.

Seeing how metastasis is what kills about 90% of cancer patients, scientists say that, were it possible to somehow control the SNAIL gene and keep it from allowing cancer cells to become ultimate hikers, thousands of lives could be saved.

2. Biblical kings David and Solomon might have existed

Archeologists exploring a site in Israel claim to have found evidence that, rather than being no more and no less than mythological figures, the biblical kings David and Solomon actually existed.

This evidence boils down to six official clay seals that were unearthed at the Khirbet Summeily archeological site in southern Israel and that specialists who have had the chance to examine them say date back to the 10th century BC.

Researchers explain that the discovery of these official clay seals in southern Israel is proof that, in the 10th century BC, the region was home to a kingdom. Given the fact that David and Solomon are said to have ruled in this moment in history, it could be that this kingdom was theirs.

1. Organic molecules discovered on Mars

This week, NASA announced that, with the help of the Curiosity rover, it managed to detect the presence of organic molecules on the Red Planet. The molecules were identified in a mudstone sample retrieved from a site in Mars’ Gale Crater.

Not long ago, NASA announced that, according to data obtained by the Curiosity rover, it is possible that the Gale Crater was once a lake. Consequently, it’s safe to assume that the organic molecules were once part and parcel of sediment deposited by a fairly large body of water.

Interesting enough, it appears that, since it landed on the Red Planet in August 2012, NASA’s Curiosity rover has also found that local atmospheric methane concentrations tend to vary. As explained by scientists, it might just be that bacteria are the source of this variation.

The discovery of organic molecules on Mars means that, rather than being a barren place all throughout its history, the Red Planet might have once been home to primitive organisms. Heck, it could be that it still is.

“We think life began on Earth around 3.8 billion years ago, and our result shows that places on Mars had the same conditions at that time – liquid water, a warm environment, and organic matter. So if life emerged on Earth in these conditions, why not on Mars as well?” says scientist Caroline Freissinet.

This news concerning the discovery of organic molecules on Mars concludes this week’s round-up. If you are one of those people who like to keep up to date with the latest science news and announcements, be sure to keep an eye on this page.

Weekly round-up photo gallery (11 Images)

This week, scientists announced the discovery of organic molecules on Mars
Evidence indicates marijuana lowers inflammation in the bodyDistant galaxy cluster holds the mass of 400 trillion Suns
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