A Step Forward in the Genetic Treatment of Down"s Syndrome:

Ordinarily, during the reproduction process, the egg cell and the sperm cell start out with 46 chromosomes. The egg and sperm each undergo cell division (a process through which the 46 chromosomes are divided in half), and the egg and the sperm cells each end up with 23 chromosomes. Consequently, when a sperm with 23 chromosomes fertilizes an egg with 23 chromosomes, the baby ends up with a complete set of 46 chromosomes (half coming from the father"s sperm and half from the mother"s egg).

From time to time, an error may occur when the chromosomes are being divided in half, and an egg or sperm cell keeps both copies of the #21 chromosome instead of just one copy. As a result, if this egg or sperm is fertilized, the baby ends up with three copies of the #21 chromosome. This is called "trisomy 21" or Down syndrome. The features of Down syndrome result from having an extra copy of chromosome 21 in every cell in the body. Ninety-five percent of Down syndrome results from trisomy 21.

People with this condition have an increased susceptibility to infection, while children with Down"s Syndrome have a 10 to 20 fold increased risk of developing leukemia, and 10 to 15% of babies with Down syndrome have a severe heart defect that requires surgical intervention during the first few months of life. Fortunately, in recent times, we have made great advancements in the fight against this condition.

Learn about these breakthroughs at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/a-step-forward-in-the-genetic-treatment-of-downs-syndrome/

Image:
X.Compagnion

Scientists Discover New Element

The existence of a new element has been confirmed!

Physicists at the Lund University have recently confirmed the existence of an element with an atomic number 115 - the newest addition to the Periodic Table.

To read the full article, see: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/scientists-discover-new-element/

What is the Shape of Space?

Take a guess and post it in the comments below. Afterwards, check out this article for the answer.

To read the full article, see: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/what-is-the-shape-of-space/

Astronomy Picture of the Day: 01/02/14 - The Lagoon Nebula

This is the Lagoon Nebula, which is also known as M8. This fascinating object can be found within the constellation Sagittarius about 5,000 light-years away. This image stretches about 60-light-years.

The Lagoon Nebula is a stellar nursery responsible for cranking out the next generation of stars in the Milky Way. Near the center of the nebula, you can see the star cluster NGC 6530. This open cluster is currently carving out the Lagoon with solar winds from the hot young stars. Scattered throughout the lagoon, you can see little cocoons shielding more new star systems from view.

To read the full article, see: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/astronomy-picture-of-the-day-010214-the-lagoon-nebula/

Image Credit: Ignacio Diaz Bobillo

Astronomers Find Manatee in Space:

Astronomers found a bright blue manatee hovering in the cosmos. Covering a distance of some 700 light-years, this celestial beast makes Earth"s manatees look like...well, quite frankly, there is no apt comparison. The manatees found on Earth typically measure just over 13 feet (3.9m) in length; this celestial mammoth stretches more than 4.1 quadrillion miles.

Of course, a creature this size would quickly deplete Earth"s oceans of all life. Fortunately, the National Wildlife Federation doesn’t have to worry because this manatee isn’t a carnivore or even a herbivore. It’s a nebula.

Get more amazing facts about this fantastic structure at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/astronomers-find-manatee-in-space/

Image:
NASA

Astronomy Picture of the Day: 01/01/14 - The Magellanic Stream

No, that"s not a bleach stain on the Milky Way. This object is called the Magellanic Stream. It was discovered in 1965 in the southern hemisphere of the Milky Way, covering at least 180 degrees of sky (it"s about 600,000 light-years in length). The mysterious structure is located about 180,000 light-years from the Milky Way. The gas moves at excessive speeds, and in a direction that doesn"t match patterns found within the Milky Way. As a result, it has been the source of much astronomical scrutiny.

However, the long search for the object that spawned this beast is over. This structure was found to originate from the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, two satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. Through this new data, originating from Hubble"s Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, scientists were able to determine that the material was likely freed from the gravitational bondage of the two satellite galaxies some 2-billion years ago, when the two galaxies interacted with each other. Most of the material is thought to originate from the Small Magellanic Cloud because it"s smaller and would have felt a stronger pull from the bullying Large Magellanic Cloud.

Another mystery solved. Yay.

Sources and further reading: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/astronomy-picture-of-the-day-010114-the-magellanic-stream/

Image Credit: D. Nidever et al., NRAO/AUI/NSF, A. Mellinger, LAB Survey, Parkes, Westerbork, and Arecibo Obs.

Evidence suggests life on Earth could have started on Mars:

There is a theory that"s gaining a bit of traction in the scientific community, a theory which suggests that life on Earth could have come from Mars. Evidence in favor of this theory has been building over the last couple of decades, which and it indicates that we all (could be) Martians.

The theory basically asserts that, some 4-billion years ago, life started on Mars. Then a meteor then struck the planet, sending little chunks of Martian rocks (containing Martian life) into interplanetary space. One or more of these rocks then fell to Earth, seeding life on the planet and BOOM, here you are.

Learn all about this theory, and the evidence that supports it, at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/evidence-suggests-life-on-earth-could-have-started-on-mars/

Image:
NASA