Gleanings of the Week Ending April 16, 2016

Microscopic Iridescence of Peacock Feathers – I’ve always been fascinated with peacock feathers. This article zooms in closer to the feathers and uses photo stacking to get the depth of field so that the structure is in focus.

Longer maternity leave is better for infant health – The article is about a study done comparing outcomes of paid maternity leave in low and middle income countries around the world….but toward the end, there is a reminder that the US is one of the few countries in the world that has no paid maternity leave mandate. Aargh! I was lucky enough to work for a company that paid 8 weeks of maternity leave when I had my daughter; it was considered a medical leave.

Disparity in Life Spans of the Rich and Poor is Growing – Wealthier Americans live longer than poorer Americans…and the gap is getting larger. For women born in 1950, the delta is about 12 years.

Soil: Getting the Lead Out – Our soils contain our legacy --- which includes lead from gasoline and paint over many years before it was banned in recent decades. There is remediation, but one has to detect the problem

Genetically engineered immune cells are saving the lives of cancer patients – It’s still early….but the initial result are very promising.

The Four Biggest Hazards Facing Monarch Butterflies, and how you can help – Make sure to get to the end of the article for how each person can make a difference for monarchs.

Real Animals that you didn’t know existed – Hooray for biodiversity!

Could new class of fungicides play a role in autism, neurodegenerative diseases? – Yet another reason to stick with organic vegetables and fruits. The particular fungicides in this study are used on conventionally grown leafy green vegetables.

The Rogue Immune Cells that Wreck the Brain – It appears that microglia might hold the key to understanding not just normal brain development but also what causes Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, autism, schizophrenia, and other intractable brain disorders.

How NASA turns astronauts into photographers – I’m glad the astronauts have made time for photography!