It's murder on the dancefloor

Scientists using 3D motion-capture technology have identified key dance moves that make male dancers look good in the eyes of female observers.

The research, conducted at Northhumbria University led to the creation of computer avatars depicting "good" and "bad" dancers by filming 19 male volunteers (who volunteers for these things!) and gauging female reaction.

Dr. Nick Neave of Northhumbria University says "We now know which area of the body females are looking at when they are making a judgement about male dance attractiveness. If a man knows what the key moves are, he can get some training and improve his chances of attracting a female through his dance style".

There has been some debate online as to whether this constitutes a worthwhile scientific endeavor. So, just for the record: Do I consider this an important scientific breakthrough? No. Do I consider these videos hilariously funny? Yes!



A "good" male dancer:



A "bad" male dancer:

Siamese Mushroom: Update

Cross section of the original siamese mushroom

Earlier this week, I posted about the siamese/conjoined mushroom that I discovered in a punnet of mushrooms. Well, I can now confirm that I have found a second example of siamese mushrooms in the same punnet!

Such a shocking discovery clearly, I felt, had the capability to shake the field of mycology (aka field of mushrooms) to its very core! Where had these freaky mushrooms been hidden all my life? Why had they only began to surface now..and in such numbers in my shopping trolley?

I had visions of being carried shoulder high into the Society of Mycology's annual conference (it's a great conference because they are all such fun guys!) to give a keynote speech on the new siamese mushroom phenomenon.

Unfortunately, it wasn't to be.

As Dr. John Collier, Group Research and Development Manager with Monaghan Mushrooms, pointed out "this is very common".

"It is nothing unnatural", Dr. Collier continued "Mushrooms do not have an outer skin but are a mass of hyphae knotted around each other. If you have two immature mushrooms very close beside each other they can then grow into each other as they develop".

However, Dr. Collier notes that these mushrooms do not usually enter the market: "Through proper harvesting management, this can be minimised by removing the smaller one early on".

Monaghan Mushrooms employs over 2,200 people in Ireland and overseas and recently created 150 new jobs in Co. Monaghan with the opening of a state-of-the-art mushroom growing facility at Tyholland. The new facility can produce up to 115 tonnes of mushrooms every week, most of which will be exported to the UK where they command a 45% share of the mushroom market.

MRI and Siamese Mushrooms

You know what it's like. You're sitting there eating your bacon and cabbage and wondering to yourself... I wonder what this looks like under MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

Well, wonder no more because Inside Insides is a blog which posts MRI scans of various fruit and veg; from cabbage to squash, tomato to celery. It's quite bizarre but mesmerising nonetheless. Well done to the Naturally Selected blog for bringing it to my attention.

MRI of Cabbage from Inside Insides

In further weird food news (and this time closer to home) I found this beauty in amongst my mushrooms purchased from a well-known chain of supermarkets in the last few days. I'm in two minds as to whether I should make a nice stirfry or put it up for sale on ebay.

Has anybody ever seen something like this before? Other weird fruit, veg or fungi? Send me your stories and photos communicatescience1@gmail.com

Siamese Mushroom

Friday Fun: Do it my way!

Some scientists have some pretty interesting hidden talents. The following is a clip of Francis Collins, former head of the Human Genome Project and current Director of the National Institutes of Health in the US giving a speech to a group of new college graduates. Enjoy!

Friday Fun: Some tricks to try at home

Here are some wonderful science tricks you can try out to amaze your friends and family this weekend. Created by Richard Wiseman from the University of Hertfordshire.