When I was growing up I had quite an interest in science. I even ended up taking Chemistry and Biology A’levels in sixth form. Somehow that interest died a quick death shortly thereafter but I do still suffer from remnants of that scientific mind. As a result I do keep my ears open for interesting happenings in the world of science, though my interests are definitely more along the lines of psychology and human behaviour.

Here are some tidbits I caught this morning:

• Itching and Scratching
  Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding why it is that scratching relieves an itch. Amazing, no? It seems the scratching may actually affect areas of the brain related to unpleasant feelings. Hmm.

• Walk on walls
  Taking our cue from lizards, scientists have produced what may be a gravity-busting adhesive. The adhesive uses micro-fibres to mimic the hairs on geckos’ toes. Most importantly, this adhesive though extremely strong does not require massive amounts of energy to attach and detach to a surface. Fascinating.

• Blue-eyed baby
  Taking the already well-known fact that blue is the least common eye colour in humans a couple steps further, scientists have found eveidence that those blue eyes all have a common source. They have identified a a genetic mutation which took place 6-10,000 years ago and was handed down from a single, common ancestor.