Lab notes: Aloha 'Oumuamua, welcome to our solar system and a fine week in science!

It was exciting whenfirst detected hurtling past the sun last month, and it ’s even more exciting now. Astronomers have named the visitor’Oumuamua and have confirmed that it hails from another star system. Even more intriguingly, its red colour suggests it carries organic molecules that are building blocks of life. Another big hit this week was research revealingwhy left-handers excel at certain elite sports but not others. Leaving a bitter taste in the mouth, however, was a paper claiming that 50 years ago, thesugar industry withheld research into the effects of sucrose. The paper ’s authors say the negative health impacts of sucrose could have been combated sooner had the research been released, although industry bodies dispute their findings. Also worrying is a newstudy linking poor sperm quality to air pollution. Scientists found a strong association between high levels of fine particulate matter and abnormal sperm shape, though the wider impact on fertility remains unclear. And finally, heading into the festive season here is the research you ’ve all been waiting for: a study has concluded that thetype of alcohol you ’re drinking determines whether you become merry or maudlin. Researchers hope understanding a bit more about the emotional impact of alcohol will help people think more carefully about their booze intake.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Science Source Type: news