In case you missed them, here are the most important scientific discoveries and achievements of the week

Sep 21, 2014 20:57 GMT  ·  By

Yet another week has gone by, and once again, we can rejoice at the thought that we now know more about the world we live in than we did just a few days ago.

For those who’ve had a rather busy week and haven’t had the chance to keep an eye on the news, here are the 10 most important scientific discoveries and achievements of the week.

10. This year’s August was the hottest ever documented

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report saying that this year’s August was the hottest ever documented since record keeping began back in 1880.

Thus, the average land and ocean temperature documented on a global scale was one of 61.45 degrees Fahrenheit (16.35 degrees Celsius). By comparison, the global average for the entire 20th century was one of 60.1 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 degrees Celsius).

The same report explains that, in this year’s August, the Arctic’s average sea ice cover was the 7th smallest since record keeping began in 1979.

Specifically, sea ice covered an area of 2.40 million square miles (6.21 million square kilometers), 13.9% less than the average for the period between 1981 and 2010.

9. Researchers autopsied a ginormous squid

Wildlife researchers in New Zealand have finally gotten around to autopsying a 350-kilogram (771-pound) squid that was caught by fishermen in Antarctica several months ago and that was kept on ice until this week.

The squid was found to measure an impressive 3.5 meters (roughly 11.5 feet) in length, and to have three hearts, of which two ensured blood flow to its gills and the other one kept the rest of its body up and running. Its tentacles were fitted with rotating hooks and suckers, which the squid used to catch prey.

8. Ghost ships discovered close to the Golden Gate strait

US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers announced the discovery of three ghost ships in the waters close to the country’s Golden Gate strait. The vessels were found using remote-controlled cameras and sensing equipment.

Of the three sunken ships, just two have until now been identified: a steamer dubbed SS Selja and a clipper ship named Noonday. Both these vessels ended up at the bottom of the ocean several decades ago, in 1910 and 1863, respectively.

7. Laboratory-made spleen made its public debut

Scientists with the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering in Boston, Massachusetts, introduced the world to a lab-made spleen that can remove up to 90% of pathogens present in blood.

The spleen comprises loads of nanobeads coated with a protein that binds with bacteria, fungi and viruses, and helps remove them from the body. Given its efficiency when it comes to removing pathogens from blood, scientists suspect that this artificial spleen could help treat Ebola.

6. 3,300-year-old hair extensions found in Egypt

While excavating a cemetery in Egypt, archaeologists came across the 3,300-year-old remains of a woman who, at the time she was laid to rest, had as many as 70 hair extensions adorning her head.

What’s more, these extensions, together with her natural hair, were arranged in a fairly intricate coiffure comprising braids of different lengths. Chances are that the woman also wore her hair in this manner when she was alive.

Interestingly enough, the hair of other women whose bodies were put to rest in the same cemetery were found to contain traces of dyes, indicating that ancient Egyptians were no strangers to using various compounds to alter the color of their hair.

5. “Terminator 2” assassin robot recreated in the lab

Remember the assassin robot made of liquid metal featured in “Terminator 2: Judgement Day”? Well, brainiacs at the North Carolina State University recreated it in the lab, sort of.

More precisely, these researchers used low voltages to control a liquid metal that was basically an alloy of gallium and indium, and get it to take various shapes. What makes this achievement really impressive is the fact that, in its natural state, this alloy presents itself in the form of a spherical blob.

Mind you, the teeny tiny robot assassin wannabes developed by these researchers are by no means what some would call scary. On the contrary, they look more like snowmen than like the vicious killer in “Terminator 2.”

4. Massive galaxies found to be cosmic cannibals

Apparently, galaxies tend to change their behavior as they grow old and bigger. Thus, astronomers say that, while studying the makeup and the millennial routine of about 22,000 galaxies, they found that the massive ones like to eat their neighbors.

Specifically, it appears that, once they reach a certain size, galaxies switch from growing by forming stars to developing by engulfing their close ones. Small galaxies, on the other hand, chiefly grow by using gas to fuel star formation processes.

Oddly enough, our home galaxy, the Milky Way, appears to be well on its way to becoming a cosmic cannibal itself. In fact, it is estimated that it will only be about 4 billion years until the Milky Way eats the nearby dwarf galaxies, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.

3. Schizophrenia was revealed to be 8 disorders rolled into one

Scientists announced that, according to data obtained while looking at the genetic makeup of several thousand schizophrenia patients and healthy individuals, they found that this disease is actually 8 disorders all rolled into one.

In a paper in The American Journal of Psychiatry, the specialists behind this research project go on to explain that, in turn, these 8 distinct disorders causing various symptoms associated with schizophrenia are birthed by as many as 42 genetic clusters and their interactions with one another.

These findings explain why it is that schizophrenia patients do not all develop and display the same set of symptoms, and are expected to translate into the development of better treatment options for people affected by this condition.

2. Massive black hole documented at the core of a tiny galaxy

Astronomers announced the discovery of a freakishly massive black hole at the core of a galaxy located at a distance of about 54 million light-years. This black hole is estimated to hold the mass equivalent of about 15% of the galaxy’s stars.

To help put things into perspective, it need be said that supermassive black holes usually tip the scale at about 0.5% of the mass of the stars packed in their home galaxies’ center. Hence, the dwarf galaxy is now argued to be the smallest and lightest object ever documented to have a black hole at its core.

1. The winners of the 2014 Ig Nobel Prizes were announced

Too many people think that science is downright boring. As it turns out, this is by no means true. On the contrary, there are folks who carry out experiments that are nothing short of hilarious and who make discoveries nobody could ever have any use for. It is for these people that the Ig Nobel Prizes were created.

The 214 Ig Nobel Prizes winners were announced this September 18, and although all the research projects that were honored were weird and crazy enough to make people want to scratch their heads, only a few really stood out.

Long story short, it appears that it is possible to extract bacteria from poop and then use it to make sausages, and that, when using the loo, dogs seek to align their body with the Earth’s north-south geomagnetic lines. What’s more, one other bizarre study found that pork can be used to stop nosebleeds.

So, there you have them, the 10 most important pieces of science news of the week. Be sure to check this page again next Sunday to read the weekly round-up for September 22-28.