HERB the robot

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are working with a robot they call "HERB" to create a form of artificial intelligence. HERB has a color image and depth sensor as well as two mechanical arms. The current goal of the project is object recognition and manipulation. HERB uses the information from its sensors to guess what objects are of use to its task (learning how to identify and manipulate objects). Currently HERB's definition of an object is something that can be picked up. This is not true artificial intelligence but rather a program that collects data about its environment and explores.

Article:
 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130506114003.htm

"HERB eye view"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krHCCDj-fOU

NOS themes:
1. science is collaborative - many people working many hours
2. role of curiosity - HERB explores!

Virtual Evolution

A research team at Cornell University has created a computer algorithm that simulates evolution. The goal of the creatures is to move as fast and efficiently as possible. The creatures produced by the algorithm worked much better than those designed by humans. This program demonstrates the processes of natural selection because the creatures that can move farther are used as the basis for the next generation of creatures.

NOS Themes:
1. science is based on evidence - the algorithm is based on "developmental biology"
2. role of chance - the creatures that preformed better were used to create new creatures
3. role of curiosity - this program demonstrates evolution that normally takes thousands of years in seconds

Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130423135843.htm
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9ptOeByLA4&feature=youtu.be
 An interesting program that is similar: http://boxcar2d.com/

Finding planets like Earth

To find life in space scientists look for planets with conditions similar to earth. New calculations made by Penn State researcher Ravi Kopparapu reveal that their may be more of these types of planets than we previously thought. If we just look at the 10 nearest small stars, we would find at least 4 potentially habitable planets. Scientist look at M-dwarf stars to try to find these planets because they are more common than stars like our sun. The new calculations predict there to be about 3 times as many potently habitable planets than previously thought. That's good news if you are searching for extraterrestrial life.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130312152047.htm

Themes of NoS:
- Science is tentative; new calculations can be made when new data becomes available
- Science is collaborative; Kopparapu worked with many people to develop his model

Exercise can Boost Self Confidence

Scientists have discovered that short bursts of excessive increase self control and confidence. Regular exercise did not have as large of an impact on the brain. The explanation for the increase of self control is that the pre-frontal cortex gets more oxygen. Tests were conducted on people ages 6-35 years old, and the different age did not have a large affect on the results. These short bursts of exercise could help people with ADHD or autism by increasing self control.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130306221143.htm


NOS Themes:

-science is based on evedence; the scientists needed consistent resaults to make their conclusion.
-science is tentative; the results of the tests on regular exercise went reliable enough to draw conclusions

Threatening Objects Appear Closer

Researchers at New York University and Cornell University have found that objects we perceive as threats appear closer than objects we perceive as neutral. One study showed that people who perceived an object as a threat estimated a shorter distance to the object than people who perceived the object as a disgust. “The results showed that the more threatened participants felt, the closer they estimated the tarantula to be.” The study concluded that while both emotions of fear and disgust influence the perception of distance, fear is connected with the need to move/avoid the threat, and disgust is doesn’t necessitate the need to move.

Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121211101834.htm

Themes of the nature of science:

-Science is repeatable – multiple different studies took place that showed threats appear closer

-Science is based on evidence – students that perceived the object as a threat judged the distance to be (an average of) 28.9cm closer than students who perceived the object as neutral