Blue Bananas - nature is full of surprises!

I love learning fun facts like this (I bet it will be on QI - one of my favourite TV shows): Ripe bananas are blue - and no-one ever noticed before! Excerpts from New Scientist article: Bananas so ripe they're bright blue The really fascinating bit is why this might occur: Why would a banana want to be blue? Kräutler can think of two reasons. One, these chemicals are anti-oxidant, hence they may well defend the fruit from decay. Bananas do last an amazing time for a tropical fruit, ________________ The possibility I find most attractive, though, is that a lot of the things that eat bananas see in the UV range - including fruit bats, which love bananas and like it are native to southeast Asia. This bright blue must shout out the presence of nicely ripened fruit across the dimly lit forests where both the bats and the bananas grow. And before it became a seedless, sexless shadow of its ancestors, bananas, like all such plants, wanted their fruit eaten.

Surfing the web is good for ageing brain

The internet beats books for improving the mature mind, say neuroscientists Scientists discovered that searching the world wide web exercised the mind far more than reading and was similar to completing crosswords and puzzles. Brain scans showed that going online stimulated larger parts of the brain than the relatively passive activity of reading a novel or non-fiction book. It was so stimulating that the authors of the study believe it could actually help people maintain healthier brains into their old age. (link via telegraph.co.uk) So as people get older, they should add surfing the net* to other mental activities like doing crossword puzzles and sudoku, to exercise the brain. *If you want to learn more: Learn the Net a guide to the Internet and World Wide Web.

Should creationism be taught in science lessons?

The theory of creationism should be taught alongside evolution in school science lessons, a leading biologist and education expert has said. At present, Government policy is that discussions about creationism belong in religious education lessons, from which parents are entitled to withdraw their pupils. However, a Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said that science teachers should answer questions about creationism if asked. (link via telegraph.co.uk) The controversial views of this expert - the Rev Professor Michael Reiss, director of education at the Royal Society - have provoked some heated debates in the media and in the blogosphere. Personally, I think that creationism has absolutely nothing to do with science and should only be taught in religious studies (as it presently is). It's okay if students ask about creationism in science lessons and a debate about it should be allowed but I don't think creationism should be taught in science lessons. Creationism is a religious belief based on faith and evolution is a science based on evidence. Creationism should not be taught as if it is equal to scientific fact! What do you think? Do you think creationism should be taught in science lessons?

'Family Tree' to help identify British birds at risk of serious decline

Complete 'Family Tree' Of All British Birds Gives Clues About Which Species Might Be Endangered Next (link via ScienceDaily.com) The family tree, or 'phylogeny', covers over 93% of British birds. I notice the article mentions the greenfinch and states that it's, "not currently endangered but closely related to the linnet and bullfinch which are currently experiencing severe levels of decline." I used to see a lot of greenfinches in my garden but lately hardly any. Have any of my readers (in Britain) noticed this too?