Cows Rx | Hot Roads | Reef Riffs

A rare phrase that represents drastically different emotions between the first and second time you say it:

“There’s sand everywhere!”

I hope your weekend is full of happy exclamation points!

-Steve

Get the weekly email that explains science in sweatpants. Stay smart for free.

Cows Rx 

Insulin production goes moooo. A transgenic cow produced human insulin to improve diabetes treatment.

• Transgenic = genome artifically edited by foreign DNA

• Proinsulin human DNA injected into cow embryos

• Cow mammary gland naturally transforms proinsulin to insulin

Early estimates suggest a 100-cow herd could provide over one year of treatment for all US diabetics. Researchers are working on cloning this cow to make that happen. Udderly impressive.

Moo moo

Hot Roads

Shoveling snow could become a thing of the past. Self-heating concrete uses paraffin to melt wintry precipitation for up to 10 hours without salt.

• Paraffin = releases heat when freezing

• Absorbed by pebbles and added to concrete mix

• Maintains above-freezing surface temperature

Aside from eliminating shoveling-induced back pain, self-heating concrete can reduce the cost and environmental impact of road maintanence in snowy areas. Ongoing research will improve melting capacity. Sounds hot.

The ground is (almost) lava

Reef Riffs

Coral reefs love background music. Struggling reefs attract more life if they sound like they’re thriving.

• 3 US Virgin Islands’ reefs studied

• Underwater speakers played “healthy reef” sounds

• More coral larvae settled at audio-enhanced locations

A new tool in reef restoration to make up for human-caused destruction. Further research will review a variety of coral species and monitor larvae growth over time. Great reef estate opportunities!

Tropical lofi to rebuild to

Stay charged with EV Universe

Unnatural Selection

Last week: “Which imaging technology sounds cooler?”

Do we get to hang out with the cats before or after the scan?

st3v on site

Choral Reef

DJ st3v back on the ones and twos bringing life back to coral reefs. Next up: “Yellow Submarine”, “I’m Blue”, and “Baby Shark”…again.

New to the casualSTEM?

Get the weekly email that explains science in sweatpants. Stay smart for free.

Missed last week’s science in sweatpants?

Catch-up here: 🔬X-ray Vision | Roundish Planet | Phantastic Physics

I'd love to hear from you!

Reply to this email, I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!