Mutations in ‘essential’ genes linked to autism
Mutations in those genes that are essential to life have been linked to autism in a huge review of family data in a few huge databases. From U.Penn.
Academics
Congrats, brother, on your new STEMpathy job
New jobs, a large number of them, involve both STEM skills and knowledge as well as interpersonal skills, like communication and management skills.
Brain health at age 3 predicts adults’ social cost
Brain health at age 3 has been linked to how much we spend on healthcare and other social costs as adults. Digitization of life helped with the matching.
When ice melts on Earth, it happens layer by layer
Even at very cold temps, the surface of ice is liquid, which makes it slippery. As it warms, deeper layers melt one at a time.
Miss. students rent their desks, learn finances
Learning how to manage money is part of financial literacy. 2 teachers in Miss. have found a creative way to drive those lessons home.
Shooting, gang violence lead to PTSD
Many people, especially women, who experience trauma and violence in their neighborhoods, develop PTSD and depression, a Northwestern U. study suggests.
Based on acidity, where is the soil most fertile?
A research team in Calif. has produced a global map of soil pH, linking the fertility of the soil to wet and dry climates, as well as to human need for crops.
Grade 8 PARCC math: geometric transformations
Transformations are introduced in 8th grade under the Common Core under the umbrella of congruency (and similarity).
Grade 8 PARCC math: Pythagorean distance
Determining the distance along the diagonal of a right triangle using the Pythagorean Theorem is new to 8th graders under the Common Core.
Grade 8 PARCC math: functions as rules
Working with functions comes to the Common Core in 8th grade, and the properties of functions described in different ways can be compared.