ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Disproving Conventional Wisdom On Diversity Of Marine Fossils And Extinction Rates Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT New research may be disproving much of the conventional wisdom about the diversity of marine fossils and extinction rates. While previous research showed eventual recoveries in the diversity of fossils after periods of extinction, new work shows that the number of species comes back up quickly -- at least on a geological time scale -- and then stays relatively flat.

Deep Brain Pacemaker Offers Hope For Parkinson's Sufferers: 'Cross Fire' From Brain Makes Patients Tremble Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT A typical symptom of Parkinson's disease is tremor in patients. Scientists have succeeded in demonstrating the mechanisms which cause the so-called tremor: neuron clusters in the depths of the brain drive the tremor. This discovery supports Tass' research activities aiming at developing a therapy for Parkinson's disease. A new deep brain pacemaker has been developed with the aim of bringing cells out of the diseased mode for good.

River Damming Leads To Dramatic Decline In Native Fish Numbers Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Damming of the Colorado, alongside introduction of game fish species, has led to an extensive decline in numbers of native fish. Scientists have found that physical changes to the river caused by damming have adverse effects on young native fish because they are unable to effectively swim away from introduced predators. They have made proposals to management agencies, which, if implemented, could help reverse the loss of native species.

Alaskan Eskimos' High Rates Of Artery Plaque Could Be From High Smoking Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Alaskan Inuit people have higher rates of fatty-plaque lined arteries than other Americans, possibly because they smoke more and are increasing other unhealthy behaviors. An observational population study found that 60 percent of adult Eskimos smoke at least three times more than other US populations. Researchers said heart protection that should come with Eskimos' high fish diet may be negated by smoking.

Revolutionary Chefs? Not Likely, Physics Research Shows Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT However much the likes of Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay might want to shake up our diets, culinary evolution dictates that our cultural cuisines remain little changed as generations move on. Three national cuisines - British, French and Brazilian -- are affected by the founder effect which keeps idiosyncratic and nutritionally ambivalent, expensive and sometimes hard to transport ingredients in our diets.

The Brain Hides Information From Us To Prevent Mistakes Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT When we notice a mosquito alight on our forearm, we direct our gaze in order to find its exact position and quickly try to swat it or brush it away to prevent it bite us. This apparently simple, instantaneous reaction is the result of a mental process that is much more complex than it may seem.

Genetic Variations Put Youth At Higher Risk For Lifetime Of Tobacco Addiction Posted: 14 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Common genetic variations affecting nicotine receptors in the nervous system can significantly increase the chance that European Americans who begin smoking by age 17 will struggle with lifelong nicotine addiction, according to researchers at the University of Utah and their colleagues at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Magnolia Compound Hits Elusive Target In Cancer Cells Posted: 14 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT The natural compound honokiol blocks survival signals from the Ras family of genes in breast, lung and bladder cancer cells. As a drug target, Ras is considered difficult to approach chemically. Honokiol comes from magnolia trees and has been used in Japanese and Chinese herbal medicines.

Who Dares Sings, And Who Sings Wins: Bold Birds Get The Girl Posted: 14 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Humans often choose partners based on behavioural keys that are displayed during social interactions. The way we behave in different social contexts can reflect personality traits or temperament that may inspire long-term love. Behavioural norms that we perceive as sexually attractive are not culturally or evolutionarily arbitrary. Researchers used bird song as a model to investigate whether behavioral traits involved in sexual advertisement can serve as good indicators of personality in wild animals.

Researchers Unveil Near-complete Protein Catalog For Mitochondria Posted: 14 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Researchers have created the most comprehensive "parts list" to date for mitochondria, a compendium that includes nearly 1,100 proteins. By mining this critical resource, the researchers have already gained deep insights into the biological roles and evolutionary histories of several key proteins. This careful cataloging has already identified a mutation in a novel protein-coding gene as the cause behind one devastating mitochondrial disease.

Computer Simulations Help Predict Bone Fracture Risk Posted: 14 Jul 2008 10:00 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 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50.

New Hearing Aid Technology Passes The Restaurant Noise Test Posted: 14 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT The sound of a noisy Chicago restaurant during the breakfast rush -- the clang of plates and silverware and the clamor of many voices -- was the crucial test of new hearing aid technology in a study conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The study showed that the hearing aids worked well in a noisy environment -- the most challenging test for a hearing aid.

Source Of Most Common Meteorites Discovered Posted: 14 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT When observing with the GEMINI telescopes, two astronomers discovered for the first time asteroids that are similar to "ordinary chondrites" -- the most common meteorites found on Earth. Until now, astronomers have failed to identify their asteroidal sources because of the various geologic processes that occur after the meteorites are ejected from their asteroidal parent body.

Thunderstorms Linked To Asthma Attacks Posted: 14 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT In the first in-depth study of its kind ever done in the Southeastern United States, researchers have discovered a link between thunderstorms and asthma attacks in the metro Atlanta area that could have a "significant public health impact."

Improved Tsunami Early Warning With New Software System Posted: 14 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT After completing their simulation component in the German-Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System, tsunami modeling scientists have presented a new software system for warning of tsunami events with the potential for catastrophe.

Enzyme Key To 'Sister Act' That Maintains Genome Stability Posted: 14 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Keeping the genome stable is a "sister act" of matched chromatids -- the pairs of the double helix DNA molecule that exist during the chromosome duplication in the S phase of the cell cycle.

Researchers Enhance Lithography Light Sources Posted: 14 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A breakthrough discovery may help aid the semiconductor industry's quest to squeeze more information on chips to accelerate the performance of electronic devices.

Touch Can Trump Taste, Even When It Comes To Selecting Mineral Water Posted: 14 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT For some consumers, the way a cup of mineral water tastes has more to do with the container than the contents. Especially for consumers who are less likely to enjoy touching items or products before deciding to buy them.

Mobilizing White Blood Cells To The Lung: New Discovery Could Lead To An Improved Influenza Vaccine Posted: 14 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT New findings shed new light on how a previously-unknown messaging mechanism within the human immune system prompts specific influenza-fighting cells to the lung airways during an infection. Although researchers have known for some time that white blood cells congregating in the lung and directly attacking the virus play an important role in defending against influenza, it has never been clear how exactly these white blood cells know when they are required in the lung.

Orbiting Gamma-ray Observatory Begins Search For Odd Space Objects Posted: 14 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT The researchers have stopped holding their breath. The $690 million observatory they sent into orbit June 11 has awoken to begin its observation of the gamma-ray light from celestial mystery object such as black holes, spinning neutron stars and dark matter.

Identifying And Disrupting Key Elements Of Malaria's 'Sticky Sack' Adhesion Strategy Posted: 14 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Malaria is one of the most devastating diseases afflicting humanity. It infects and debilitates about 600 million people, and kills up to three million people every year, mainly in the wet tropical regions of the world. Children and pregnant women are at particularly high risk.

Bio-X Researchers Use Needle-thin Probe To Get First Look At Working Muscle Fiber Posted: 14 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Sarcomeres are key microscopic elements of muscle fiber. Examining them typically requires a painful muscle biopsy that does not offer the opportunity to see the sarcomeres at work within the body. The Stanford microendoscopy technique provides a real-time view of contracting sarcomeres. This should prove useful in understanding how muscles are altered by spinal cord injuries or strokes, as well as muscular dystrophy and other diseases of diminished muscular control.

Binge Drinking Tied To Conditions In The College Environment Posted: 14 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Heavy alcohol use, or binge drinking, among college students in the United States is tied to conditions in the college environment. The review of a landmark 14-year study cites factors such as easy access to alcohol, low prices and special promotions, weak control policies and lax enforcement.

Keeping Hands Where You Can See Them Alters Perception, Study Finds Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Psychologists have shown that to see objects better, you should take the matter into your own hands. The new study demonstrates that humans more thoroughly inspect objects when their hands are near the object rather than farther away from it.

Why Men Are More At Risk Of Diseases Caused By Blood Clots Than Women Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Being male increases your risk of diseases caused by the inappropriate formation of a blood clot (a process known as thrombosis), such as heart attack and stroke, but the reasons for this are not completely understood. However, researchers have used a mouse model of thrombosis to shed light on this matter in the hope of facilitating the development of sex-specific treatments for thrombosis.

Multitasking Nanotechnology: Tiny Electronically Active Chemicals Can Form Ordered Layers Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Tiny electronically active chemicals can be made to form ordered layers on a surface. These nanostructured layers may one day be used to build the components of electronics devices, such as transistors and switches, for a future generation of powerful computers based on molecules rather than silicon chips.

Herpesvirus Proteins That Target Key Cellular Processes Identified Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Herpesviruses use multiple strategies to manipulate important components of the host cell nuclear environment during infection, according to new research. The study provides novel insights into the potential functions of over 120 previously uncharacterized viral proteins.

Report Calls For Expansion Of Professional Science Master's Degree Programs Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Policymakers, universities, and employers should work together to speed the development of professionally oriented master's degree programs in the natural sciences, says a new report from the National Research Council.

Reading, Math Scores Up For U.S. 4th And 8th Graders Posted: 14 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT The United States' fourth and eighth graders scored higher in reading and mathematics than they did during their last national assessment, according to the federal government's latest annual statistical report on the well-being of the nation's children. Not all the report's findings were positive; there also were increases in the adolescent birth rate and the proportion of infants born at low birthweight.

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