Lab notes: from missing matter to magic mushrooms, this week's mindblowing science

Obviously to a scientifically-minded human like myself, the news thatastronomers have found half of the missing matter in the universe initially conjured up images of odd socks and lost car keys. It ’s a little more complex than that, it seems: the findings could potentially resolve one of cosmology’s most perplexing problems. Scientists have also discovered that dwarf planetHaumea, a rugby ball-shaped planet which lies beyond Neptune, has a ringaround it. Until now, ring-like structures had only been found around Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Returning to Earth, there ’s optimistic news from a trial usingpsilocybin – the psychoactive compound that occurs naturally in magic mushrooms – to treat patients with depression. The study suggests that it might “reboot” the brain, although more trials are needed, and the researchers have warned against self medication. Also intriguing on the brain front is a piece of research that appears to confirm the stereotype thatwomen are kinder and less selfish than men. Apparently our reward system is geared towards more “prosocial” and generous behaviour. That said, another study out this week seems to show that there is one area in whichwomen are unwilling to compromise: household temperature. And on that chilly note, we ’ll end with the cool news that in the wake of the loss of iceberg A68 from the Larsen C ice shelf,British Antarctic Survey researchers will study the damaged area, which has been hidden for up to ...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - October 13, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Tash Reith-Banks Tags: Science Source Type: news