ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

On The Boil: New Nano Technique Significantly Boosts Boiling Efficiency Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT A new study shows that by adding an invisible layer of the nanomaterials to the bottom of a metal vessel, an order of magnitude less energy is required to bring water to boil. This increase in efficiency could have a big impact on cooling computer chips, improving heat transfer systems, and reducing costs for industrial boiling applications.

Portable Device Effective In Zapping Away Migraine Pain Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT A novel electronic device designed to "zap" away migraine pain before it starts has proven to be the next form of relief for those suffering from the debilitating disease, according to a study conducted at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

Robot That Climbs In The Pipe Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Industrial pipe systems are inaccessible and narrow. The pipes can be vertical and have junctions. Just as challenging, leakage points in the water system must be located, the condition of oil and gas pipelines must be checked and ventilation systems need to be cleaned.

Lack Of Fragile X And Related Gene Fractures Sleep Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Lack of both the fragile X syndrome gene and one that is related could account for sleep problems associated with the disorder, which is the common cause of inherited mental impairment.

Online Service Lets Blind Surf The Internet From Any Computer, Anywhere Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT New software lets blind and visually impaired people surf the Internet on the go. The computer science student who created the software, called WebAnywhere, says more accessibility tools must move from desktop machines to the Web.

Why Do People Vote? Genetic Variation In Political Participation Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT A groundbreaking new study finds that genes significantly affect variation in voter turnout, shedding new light on the reasons why people vote and participate in the political system. The researchers suggest that, contrary to decades of conventional wisdom, family upbringing may have little or no effect on children's future participatory behavior.

New Fossils Of Extremely Primitive 4-Legged Creatures Close The Gap Between Fish And Land Animals Posted: 27 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT New exquisitely preserved fossils from Latvia cast light on a key event in our own evolutionary history, when our ancestors left the water and ventured onto land. Scientists have reconstructed parts of the animal and explain the transformation in the new issue of Nature.

Pregnancy May Help Protect Against Bladder Cancer Posted: 27 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Pregnancy seems to confer some protection against bladder cancer in mice, scientists have found. Female mice that had never become pregnant had approximately 15 times as much cancer in their bladders as their counterparts that had become pregnant, according to new findings by investigators at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Their work appears online as a rapid communication in the journal Urology.

Database Shows Effects Of Acid Rain On Microorganisms In Adirondack Lakes Posted: 27 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Researchers have long known that acid rain can severely decrease the diversity of plant and animal communities in fresh water lakes and ponds. However, little is known about how microscopic bacteria, which form the foundation of freshwater ecosystems, respond to acidification.

Drug Treatment For Marfan Syndrome Looks Promising Posted: 27 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT A small study in 18 patients assessing the effectiveness of the drug losartan for treating Marfan syndrome in children has yielded encouraging results. Reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers showed that losartan -- a compound used for years to treat high blood pressure -- slowed the enlargement of the aorta, the most life-threatening defect associated with Marfan syndrome.

Genomics Of Large Marine Animals Showcased Posted: 27 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT The powerful advantages of using gene catalogs to infer biological function in marine animals are highlighted in a virtual symposium in the June issue of the Biological Bulletin, published by the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass.

Mixed Feelings Not Remembered As Well As Happy Or Sad Ones Posted: 27 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Imagine you're about to step onto a rollercoaster at an amusement park. You are filled with apprehension and joy, mixed emotions that last beyond the dizzying ride. How will you remember the experience? New research shows people tend to underestimate the intensity of their recalled feelings if those feelings were mixed, as opposed to purely happy or sad.

Huge Genome-scale Phylogenetic Study Of Birds Rewrites Evolutionary Tree-of-life Posted: 27 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT The largest ever study of bird genetics redraws the avian evolutionary tree, challenges current classifications, alters our understanding of avian evolution, and provides a resource for future studies. Early Bird, centered at the Field Museum, examined DNA from all major living bird groups. Scientists built and analyzed a dataset of more than 32 kilobases of nuclear DNA sequences from 19 locations on the DNA of each of 169 species -- equivalent to a small genome project.

New Research May Lead To Safer, More Effective Gene Therapy Posted: 27 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT A new study helps bring scientists closer to a safe and efficient gene delivery method that doesn't involve viruses. Researchers have created a novel synthetic gene vector that packages DNA into well-defined nanostructures that allow it to efficiently deliver genes without triggering immune responses.

Gene Silencer And Quantum Dots Reduce Protein Production To A Whisper Posted: 27 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Fluorescent nanoparticles, called quantum dots, are dramatically better than existing methods for delivering a gene-silencing tool into cells. The quantum-dot chaperones help impede the cell's production of a given protein.

Faulty DNA Repair Could Be A Risk Factor For Lung Cancer In Nonsmokers Posted: 27 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT People who have never smoked but whose cells cannot efficiently repair environmental insults to DNA are at higher risk of developing lung cancer than those with effective genomic repair capability.

How To Build A Plant: Plant Architecture From The Genomics Toolbox Posted: 27 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Dr. Sarah Hake and her colleagues, George Chuck, Hector Candela-Anton, Nathalie Bolduc, Jihyun Moon, Devin O'Connor, China Lunde, and Beth Thompson, have taken advantage of the information from sequenced grass genomes to study how the reproductive structures of maize are formed.

Independent Thinkers Judge Distances Differently Than Holistic Types Posted: 27 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Every day we're faced with decisions that involve spatial judgments. Which line should we choose at the supermarket? Which route should we take to work? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research shows that thinking styles affect spatial judgment.

Phoenix Mars Lander Returns Treasure Trove For Science Posted: 27 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander performed its first wet chemistry experiment on Martian soil flawlessly yesterday, returning a wealth of data that for Phoenix scientists was like winning the lottery.

Seniors With Type 2 Diabetes May Experience Memory Declines Immediately After Eating Unhealthy Meal Posted: 27 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Adults with type 2 diabetes who eat unhealthy, high-fat meals may experience memory declines immediately afterward, but this can be offset by taking antioxidant vitamins with the meal, according to new research from Baycrest.

Mini Subs To Probe Odd Coral-like Growths In British Columbia, Canada, Lake Posted: 27 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Strange coral-like growths at the bottom of Pavilion Lake in British Columbia have been out of the reach of scientists until now with the addition of new submersible technology. The growths might hold the key to life beyond Earth.

Mechanism Explains Calcium Abnormalities In Alzheimer's Brain Posted: 27 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT A new study uncovers a mechanism that directly links mutations that cause early onset Alzheimer's disease with aberrant calcium signaling. The research, published by Cell Press in the June 26 issue of the journal Neuron, provides exciting molecular insights into the pathology of AD and may lead to new treatment strategies.

Breakthrough In Plant Medicine Production Posted: 27 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Researchers have succeeded in further unraveling and manipulating the glycosylation of proteins in plants. The scientists expect that this knowledge will allow plants to be applied more often in the production of therapeutic proteins, an important type of medicine.

Researchers Study Hidden Homicide Trend Posted: 27 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Gun-related homicide among young men rose sharply in the United States in recent years even though the nation's overall homicide rate remained flat, according to a new study. Between 1999 and 2005, homicide involving firearms increased 31 percent among black men ages 25 to 44 and 12 percent among white men of the same age.

What It's Like To Be A Bat: Vocal Sonar Does More Than Locate Objects; It Cues Memory And Assists Flight Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Not many people think about what it's like to be a bat, but for those who do, it's enlightening and potentially groundbreaking for understanding aspects of the human brain and nervous system.

Morbid Thoughts Whet The Appetite Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Can watching TV news or crime shows trigger overeating? According to new research, people who are thinking about their own deaths want to consume more.

Toxic Key To Alzheimer’s Disease Memory Loss Identified Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Using new scientific techniques, scientists have unlocked the cascade of molecular events that lead to Alzheimer's disease. The scientific findings published in Nature Medicine suggest a potential new target for the development of drug therapies to fight the irreversible and degenerative disease which affects some 29.8 million people worldwide.

Dry Tortugas Show Positive Trends: Protected Area Slowly Rebounding Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Thirty-eight research divers recently completed a successful 20-day biennial census to measure how the protected status of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Tortugas Ecological Reserve and Dry Tortugas National Park's Research Natural Area are helping the regional ecosystem rebound from decades of overfishing and environmental changes.

Identification Of A Tumor Suppressor Gene Associated With Patient Outcome In Neuroblastoma Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Expression of the CHD5 gene is frequently down-regulated in neuroblastomas, and patients whose tumors lacked CHD5 expression were more likely to have shorter event-free and overall survival compared with patients whose tumors expressed CHD5, according to a study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The Fight For The Best Quantum Bit (Qubit) Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Scientists have come an important step closer to the quantum computer. "Our results give us, for the first time, the possibility to understand the interaction between just two electrons placed next to each other in a carbon nanotube. A groundbreaking discovery, which is fundamental for the creation of a quantum mechanical bit, a so-called quantum bit -- the cornerstone of a quantum computer," explains Henrik Jørgensen, who is one of the many researchers competing on an international level to be the first to make a quantum bit in a carbon nanotube.

Disclosure Of Organ Transplant Risks: A Question Of When, Not If Posted: 27 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Physicians and bioethicists are calling for a new, more standardized way for patients in need of organ transplants to be informed of the risks they face. If adopted, their policy recommendations could promote greater equity in how organs are allocated while restricting patients' abilities to "cherry-pick" the best organs.

Climate Change May Challenge National Security, Classified Report Warns Posted: 26 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT The National Intelligence Council has completed a new classified assessment that explores how climate change could threaten US security in the next 20 years by causing political instability, mass movements of refugees, terrorism, or conflicts over water and other resources in specific countries.

Low Childhood IQ Linked To Type Of Dementia Posted: 26 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Children with lower IQs are more likely decades later to develop vascular dementia than children with high IQs, according to new research in Neurology.

Sequencing The Cacao Genome To Safeguard Chocolate Posted: 26 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT During the past 15 years, the global cocoa industry has confronted a trio of devastating fungal diseases that cost growers an estimated $700 million in losses annually. Now scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Subtropical Horticultural Research Station (SHRS) in Miami, Fla., are developing productive cacao (Theobroma cacao) trees resistant to these diseases: witches' broom, frosty pod and black pod.

Bedsharing And Bassinets: Two New Studies Assess The Risks Posted: 26 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Even though more than 45 percent of infants between the ages of 0-2 months use bassinets, little is known about bassinet safety. In 2005, the American Academy of Pediatrics revised its recommendations for a safe infant sleep environment, suggesting a separate but nearby sleeping arrangement. Two studies soon to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics evaluate the frequency of bedsharing and the potential risk factors of bassinet use.

Engineering Students’ Airplane Research Is Crystal Clear Posted: 26 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Forget delays, lines and ticket costs -- for many people, flying isn't just an aggravation, it's an outright phobia. New research may make airplane passengers a little less fearful in the future. Young researchers have been focusing on ice clouds and crystals, which can contribute to plane crashes. Some crashes occur because ice crystals collect on a plane's wings as it passes through a cloud, causing the shape of the wing to change, reducing the lift force needed for flying.

The High Cost Of Low Status: Feeling Powerless Leads To Expensive Purchases Posted: 26 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Feeling powerless can trigger strong desires to purchase products that convey high status, according to new research. In a study that may explain why so many Americans who are deeply in debt still spend beyond their means, authors found that research subjects who were asked to recall times when someone else had power over them were willing to pay higher prices for status-symbol items.

Computer Scientist Turns His Face Into A Remote Control That Speeds And Slows Video Playback Posted: 26 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT A computer science Ph.D. student can turn his face into a remote control that speeds and slows video playback. The proof-of-concept demonstration is part of a larger project to use automated facial expression recognition to make robots more effective teachers.

Sonar System For The Blind Posted: 26 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Animals use echolocation for hunting and navigation, but visually impaired humans also employ echolocation as part of their orienting repertoire while navigating the world. There are a few rare individuals who can echolocate very well without assistance. However, researchers at Boston University have developed a prototype device that can enhance auditory cues while navigating an environment.

No Scent, No Sex For The Japanese Beetle Posted: 26 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Having a good nose is essential to a Japanese beetle's survival. The beetle's sense of smell helps it avoid enemies and zero in on a mate. Meanwhile, the potential mate is programmed to release sex pheromones in exactly the right proportions. Like cheap perfume, there is such a thing as too much: Excessive pheromones can get the attention of a passing fly, leading her to the beetle.

Multiple Regions Of Chromosome 8 Found To Be Associated With Different Cancers Posted: 26 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT A recently discovered, but not yet understood, section of chromosome 8, called 8q24, may contain at least five distinct regions that are associated with different cancers, according to a study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Looming Tropical Disaster Needs Urgent Action, According To New Report Posted: 26 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT A major review shows that the world is losing the battle over tropical habitat loss with potentially disastrous implications for biodiversity and human well-being. Tropical forests support more than 60% of all known species. But up to 15 million hectares of tropical rainforest are being lost every year and species are being lost at a rate of up to 10,000 times higher than would happen randomly without humans present.

Are You A Different Person When You Speak A Different Language? Posted: 26 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT People who are bicultural and speak two languages may actually shift their personalities when they switch from one language to another, according to new research.

Nerve Cells Derived From Stem Cells And Transplanted Into Mice May Lead To Improved Brain Treatments Posted: 26 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Scientists have genetically programmed embryonic stem cells to become nerve cells when transplanted into the brain, according to a new study. The research, an important step toward developing new treatments for stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurological conditions showed that mice afflicted by stroke showed therapeutic improvement following transplantation of these cells. None of the mice formed tumors, a major setback in prior attempts at stem cell transplantation.

Umbilical Cord Blood Cell Transplants May Help ALS Patients Posted: 26 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Researchers transplanted human umbilical cord blood cells into mouse models with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to determine which of three dose strength levels -- low, moderate and high -- delayed symptom progression and increased lifespan. Moderate strength doses of HUCB cells proved most effective and may have provided a neuroprotective effect for motor neurons through active involvement of the cells in modulating the host immune inflammatory system response.

NSAID Use Not Associated With Reduction In Melanoma Risk Posted: 26 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is not associated with a reduction in the risk of melanoma, according to the results of a large cohort study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

One Step Closer To Green Chemistry And Improved Pharmaceuticals Posted: 26 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT The end of dangerous chemical compounds in our homes? Cheap and environment friendly production of biofuel? Efficient design of medicines against cancer, Alzheimer's and AIDS? The solution to these challenges has come one step closer after researchers have solved an important piece of the puzzle behind how proteins are shaped.

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