ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Worms Do Calculus To Find Meals Or Avoid Unpleasantness Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Thanks to salt and hot chili peppers, researchers have found a calculus-computing center that tells a roundworm to go forward toward dinner or turn to broaden the search. It's a computational mechanism, they say, that is similar to what drives hungry college students to a pizza. A computer-like mechanism drives neuron expression for taste and smell.

Get Smart About What You Eat And You Might Actually Improve Your Intelligence Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT New research findings provide more evidence that if we get smart about what we eat, our intelligence can improve. According to scientists, dietary nutrients found in a wide range of foods from infant formula to eggs increase brain synapses and improve cognitive abilities.

A Healthier July Fourth: Eco-friendly Fireworks And Flares Poised To Light Up The Sky Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT From the rockets' red glare to bombs bursting in air, researchers are developing more environmentally friendly fireworks and flares to light up the night sky while minimizing potential health risks. Some eco-friendly fireworks may soon appear at a Fourth of July display or rock concert near you.

Controlling Bone Disease Improves Survival Of Hemodialysis Patients Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Consistently maintaining certain blood levels of markers of bone metabolism and disease can prolong the lives of patients on hemodialysis, according to a new study. The findings indicate that keeping parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorous levels in control is critically important for dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease.

Fungi The Cause Of Many Outbreaks Of Disease, But Mostly Ignored Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Many people, scientists among them, are largely unaware of the roles fungi play in the world around us. Research on fungi and fungal diseases are seriously neglected as a result -- a situation with grave negative repercussions for human health, agriculture, and the environment -- according to a new report from the American Academy of Microbiology.

Severe Shyness? New Study Shows That Anxiety Is Likely A Long-lasting Trait Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT We all know people who are tense and nervous and can't relax. They may have been wired differently since childhood. New research indicates that the brains of those suffering from anxiety and severe shyness in social situations consistently respond more strongly to stress, and show signs of being anxious even in situations that others find safe.

Species Extinction Threat Underestimated Due To Math Glitch Posted: 03 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Extinction risks for natural populations of endangered species are likely being underestimated by as much as 100-fold because of a mathematical "misdiagnosis," according to a new study. Researchers have noted that sex ratio variations and physical variation between individuals within a population -- have been ignored or mischaracterized by most extinction risk modelers.

Evolutionary Origin Of Mammalian Gene Regulation Is Over 150 Million Years Old Posted: 03 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Scientists have found that a complex, highly conserved and extremely important mechanism of controlling genes is over 150 million years old. The findings have provided new insights into the evolution of genomic or parental imprinting and epigenetic regulation in mammals. A failure of these sophisticated processes is associated with many human genetic diseases, psychiatric and autoimmune disorders and aging.

Tummy's Taste For Red Wine With Red Meat Posted: 03 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT What happens when red wine meets red meat? If the rendezvous happens in the stomach, scientists in Israel are reporting, wine's bounty of healthful chemical compounds may thwart formation of harmful substances released during digestion of fat in the meat.

New Discovery A Step Towards Better Diabetes Treatment Posted: 03 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT New findings shed light on the processes that determine the release of the blood sugar-lowering hormone insulin. The discovery is based on the development of image analysis methods that make possible the detailed study of events immediately inside the plasma membrane of the insulin-secreting cells.

Quantum Dots Can Penetrate Skin Through Minor Abrasions Posted: 03 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Researchers have found that quantum dot nanoparticles can penetrate the skin if there is an abrasion, providing insight into potential workplace concerns for healthcare workers or individuals involved in the manufacturing of quantum dots or doing research on potential biomedical applications of the tiny nanoparticles.

Relaxation Response Can Influence Expression Of Stress-related Genes Posted: 03 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT How could a single, non-pharmacological intervention help patients deal with disorders ranging from high blood pressure, to pain syndromes, to infertility, to rheumatoid arthritis? That question may have been answered by a study finding that eliciting the relaxation response -- a physiologic state of deep rest -- influences the activation patterns of genes associated with the body's response to stress.

Exploding Asteroid Theory Strengthened By New Evidence Located In Ohio, Indiana Posted: 03 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Was the course of life on the planet altered 12,900 years ago by a giant comet exploding over Canada? New evidence suggests the answer is affirmative. The timing attached to this theory of about 12,900 years ago is consistent with the known disappearances in North America of the wooly mammoth population and the first distinct human society to inhabit the continent, known as the Clovis civilization.

Gene Directs Stem Cells To Build The Heart Posted: 03 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers have shown that they can put mouse embryonic stem cells to work building the heart, potentially moving medicine a significant step closer to a new generation of heart disease treatments that use human stem cells. Scientists report in Cell Stem Cell that the Mesp1 gene locks mouse embryonic stem cells into becoming heart parts and gets them moving to the area where the heart forms.

New Wind Measurement Technology May Help Olympic Sailing, Aviation and Weather Forecasting Posted: 03 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A team of researchers at the Ocean University of China has developed and tested a mobile lidar (light detection and ranging) station that can accurately measure wind speed and direction over large areas in real time -- an application useful for aviation safety, weather forecasting and sports.

Improving Diagnosis Of Osteoporosis: Computer Simulations Help Predict Fracture Risk Posted: 03 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Using a Blue Gene supercomputer, scientists have demonstrated the most extensive simulation yet of actual human bone structure. This achievement may lead to better clinical tools to improve the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, a widespread disease that worldwide affects one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50.

Disease-detecting Lab In The Palm Of Your Hand Posted: 03 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Detecting food-borne diseases such as campylobacter and salmonella long before they enter the food chain would help ensure that the dinner on your table is safe to eat. There is currently no quick and simple way to detect infectious bacteria on farms, or even in food processing and distribution plants. Samples have to be sent to labs for testing, a process that can take hours or days. But what if tests for campylobacter and salmonella could be run on the spot in as little as half an hour?

Political Participation Is Partially Rooted In Genetic Inheritance Posted: 03 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT The decision to vote is partly genetic. Researchers have now identify a link between two specific genes and political participation. They show that individuals with a variant of the MAOA gene are significantly more likely to have voted in the 2000 presidential election. Their research also demonstrates a connection between a variant of the 5HTT gene and voter turnout, which is moderated by religious attendance. These are the first results ever to link specific genes to political behavior.

New Form Of Energy-Transfer Processes: Atomic Tug Of War Posted: 03 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT A new form of energy-transfer processes, reported in Nature may have implications for the study of reactions going on in the atmosphere, and even for those occurring in the body.

Pediatric Researchers Find Possible 'Master Switch' Gene In Juvenile Arthritis Posted: 03 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Researchers have found that a gene region known to play a role in some varieties of adult rheumatoid arthritis is also present in all types of childhood arthritis. The researchers say the responsible gene may be a "master switch" that helps turn on the debilitating disease.

Protecting Romaine Lettuce From Pathogens Posted: 03 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Knowing the preferences of foodborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 is essential to a successful counterattack on these microbes. That's why microbiologists are scrutinizing the little-understood ability of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica to contaminate romaine lettuce.

Benefits Of Green Tea In Reducing An Important Risk Factor For Heart Disease Posted: 03 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT More evidence for the beneficial effect of green tea on risk factors for heart disease has emerged in a new study. The study found that the consumption of green tea rapidly improves the function of (endothelial) cells lining the circulatory system; endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the progression of atherosclerosis.

Molecular Basis And Regulation Of Circadian Rhythms In Plants Posted: 03 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT As anyone who has suffered from jetlag knows, we have internal clocks that tell us when to sleep and wake, and we can be miserable when these are disrupted. The daily cycles of many organisms are well known, but what has not been clear is whether these cycles are just responses to external cues of light, dark, heat, and cold, or if there are internal clocks that are set and reset by environmental signals. In animals, circadian rhythms are known to be important for maintaining a multitude of physiological processes. New research investigates circadian rhythms in plants.

Minimum Drinking Age Of 21 Saves Lives, Study Finds Posted: 03 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT One of the most comprehensive studies on the minimum drinking age shows that laws aimed at preventing consumption of alcohol by those under 21 have significantly reduced drinking-related fatal car crashes.

New Evidence That Ancient Choanoflagellates' Form Evolutionary Link Between Single-celled And Multi-celled Organisms Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT What do humans and single-celled choanoflagellates have in common? More than you'd think. New research into the choanoflagellate genome shows these ancient organisms have similar levels of proteins that cells in more complex organisms, including humans, use to communicate with each other.

Being An MRSA Carrier Increases Risk Of Infection And Death Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Patients harboring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus for long periods of time continue to be at increased risk of MRSA infection and death, according to a new study.

Toward Long-range Beach Forecasts On Bacterial Contamination Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Long-range forecasts of beach bacterial contamination are inching closer to reality because of a new water quality prediction method.

Since Introduction Of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, HIV Death Rate Has Decreased Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT In industrialized countries, persons infected sexually with HIV now appear to experience mortality rates similar to those of the general population in the first 5 years following infection, though a higher risk of death remains as the duration of HIV infection lengthens, according to a new study.

Where Is Your Soil Water? Crop Yield Has The Answer Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Crop yield is highly dependent on soil plant-available water, the portion of soil water that can be taken up by plant roots. New research has shown that measured plant-available water capacity correlated with corn yield better in dry years than in normal or wet years. Agreement between measured plant-available water and estimates was weaker in the claypan soils than well-drained soils.

Erectile Dysfunction Lower In Men Who Have Intercourse More Often Posted: 03 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Having intercourse more often may help prevent the development of erectile dysfunction. Researchers have found that men who had intercourse more often were less likely to develop ED.

Secret Of The Sweet-Sounding Stradivarius: Wood Density Explains Sound Quality Of Great Master Violins Posted: 02 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT The advantage of using medical equipment to study classical musical instruments has been proven by a Dutch researcher from the Leiden University Medical Center. In collaboration with a renowned luthier, Dr. Berend Stoel put classical violins, including several made by Stradivarius, in a CT scanner.

Eating Broccoli May Keep Prostate Cancer Away, Study Suggests Posted: 02 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT For the first time, a research group has provided an explanation of how eating broccoli might reduce cancer risk based upon studies in men, as opposed to trying to extrapolate from animal models. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer for males in western countries. The research has provided an insight into why eating broccoli can help men stay healthy.

Cubing Potatoes Before Boiling Can Reduce Mineral Content By 75% Posted: 02 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT The preparation of a potato can have a big impact on its mineral content, Agricultural Research Service scientists report in a new study of this popular vegetable. Baked, roasted, boiled or fried, the potato is America's favorite vegetable. Every year, the average American eats about 130 pounds of potatoes, which are loaded with vitamins and minerals.

New Combination Of Tests Measures Child's Ability To Taste And Smell Posted: 02 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Researchers have developed a series of tests that for the first time accurately measure the normality of taste (gustatory function) and smell (olfactory function) in young children.

Pricey Chemicals Gleaned From Biodiesel Waste Posted: 02 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Chemical engineers have unveiled a set of techniques for cleanly converting problematic biofuels waste into profitable chemicals. New research in the journal Metabolic Engineering describes a new fermentation process that allows E. coli and other enteric bacteria to convert glycerin -- the major waste byproduct of biodiesel production -- into formate, succinate and other valuable organic acids. The researchers say the technology could yield a new platform for "green" chemical production.

Mobile Users Make Same Mistakes As Disabled PC Users Posted: 02 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Many able-bodied people make the same errors -- and with similar frequencies -- when typing and 'mousing' on mobile phones, as physically impaired users of desktop computers. This means that software already developed for PC users with disabilities may be applicable to mobile phones. Software may be able to automatically correct erroneous commands and help reduce annoying occurrences such as accidentally canceling a text message or calling someone by sitting on the phone.

First Images Of Solar System's Invisible Frontier Posted: 02 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT An instrument aboard NASA's STEREO spacecraft unexpectedly detected particles from the edge of the solar system last year, allowing UC Berkeley scientists to map for the first time the energized particles in the region where the hot solar wind slams into the cold interstellar medium. The region, at about 100 AU, is invisible to other telescopes, but can be mapped by detecting energetic neutral atoms, largely hydrogen.

New DNA Weapon Against Avian Flu Identified Posted: 02 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT By delivering vaccine via DNA constructed to build antigens against flu, along with a minute electric pulse, researchers have immunized experimental animals against various strains of the virus. This approach could allow for the build up of vaccine reserves that could be easily and effectively dispensed in case of an epidemic.

New Insights Into Quantum Mechanics: Unlocking Mysteries Of 'Blinking' Phenomena Of Fluorescent Molecules Posted: 02 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT More than a century ago, at the dawn of modern quantum mechanics, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Neils Bohr predicted so-called "quantum jumps." More recently, it has been possible to observe similar jumps in individual molecules. Experimentally, these quantum jumps translate to discrete interruptions of the continuous emission from single molecules, revealing a phenomenon known as florescent intermittency or "blinking."

Asthma Risk Increases In Children Treated For HIV Posted: 02 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Children whose immune systems rebound after treatment with potent anti-viral drugs for HIV infection face an increased risk of developing asthma, according to a new report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Pesticides Persist In Ground Water Posted: 02 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Numerous studies over the past four decades have established that pesticides, which are typically applied at the land surface, can move downward to reach the water table at detectable concentrations. The downward movement of pesticide degradation products can also contribute to the contamination of ground water. This study found that the pesticides and degradation products detected most frequently in shallow ground-water samples were predominantly from two classes of herbicides -- triazines and chloroacetanilides.

Weekends Slow Weight Loss, Researchers Find Posted: 02 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Saturday can be the worst enemy for our waistlines. Researchers found that study subjects on strict diet and exercise programs tend to lose weight more slowly than expected because they eat more on weekends than during the week.

Hubble Sees Stars And A Stripe In Celestial Fireworks Posted: 02 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT A delicate ribbon of gas floats eerily in our galaxy. A contrail from an alien spaceship? A jet from a black-hole? Actually this image, taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, is a very thin section of a supernova remnant caused by a stellar explosion that occurred more than 1,000 years ago.

'Hibernation-on-demand' Drug Significantly Improves Survival After Extreme Blood Loss Posted: 02 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that the administration of minute amounts of inhaled or intravenous hydrogen sulfide -- the molecule that gives rotten eggs their sulfurous stench -- significantly improves survival from extreme blood loss in rats. The researchers successfully used hydrogen sulfide to induce a state of reversible metabolic hibernation as a way to reduce death from insufficient blood supply to organs and tissues in a rat model of lethal hemorrhage.

Chip-cooling Technology Achieves 'Dramatic' 1,000-watt Capacity Posted: 02 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Researchers have developed a technology that uses "microjets" to deposit liquid into tiny channels and remove five times more heat than other experimental high-performance chip-cooling methods for computers and electronics.

New Way To Predict Prostate Cancer Spreading Posted: 02 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT For men, one of the leading causes of death from cancer is prostate cancer that has spread to a second site (something known as metastatic prostate cancer). Defining the molecular mechanisms by which the initial tumor becomes able to spread to a new site (a process known as metastasis) is likely to help clinicians predict an individual's chance of survival and help researchers develop new therapies.

Laser Spectrometer Opens Way For More Effective Carbon Trading, Drug Development And Carbon Dating Posted: 02 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Carbon offsets increasingly are becoming a major component in the arsenal for reducing global warming. Even Bon Jovi, the Rolling Stones and the Dave Matthews Band are doing it: acquiring carbon offsets to reduce the carbon footprint of their tours. As more organizations and businesses start trading in carbon offsets, the need for accurate measurements of carbon emissions also is becoming critically important for fair and exact exchanges. Scientists have now developed a new ultra-sensitive laser-assisted ratio analyzer that is capable of measuring even slight changes in carbon 14, an isotope of carbon.

Intuition Can Be Explained Posted: 02 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Intuition, or tacit knowledge, is difficult to measure, so it is often denigrated. A new dissertation in education research shows that there is a neurobiological explanation for how experience-based knowledge is created. "Skate where the puck´s going, not where it´s been" (Wayne Gretsky).

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