ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Bone Parts Don't Add Up To Conclusion Of Hobbit-like Palauan Dwarfs Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT Misinterpreted fragments of leg bones, teeth and brow ridges found in Palau appear to be an archaeologist's undoing, according to researchers at three institutions. They say that the so-called dwarfs of these Micronesian islands actually were modern, normal-sized hunters and gatherers.

Caesarean Babies More Likely To Develop Diabetes Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT Babies delivered by Caesarean section have a 20 per cent higher risk than normal deliveries of developing the most common type of diabetes in childhood, according to a study led by Queen's University Belfast.

Java Gives Caffeine-naive A Boost, Too Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT Females who don't drink coffee can get just as much of a caffeine boost as those who sip it regularly.

Cell Removal Technique Could Lead To Cheaper Drugs Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT Costly drugs to treat conditions such as cancer and arthritis could be manufactured more cheaply with a new technique. Researchers have pioneered a simple way to remove dead cells from cell cultures used to make protein-based drugs, which are increasingly prescribed to treat a range of illnesses.

NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity Climbing Out Of Victoria Crater Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT NASA's Mars Exploration rover Opportunity is heading back out to the Red Planet's surrounding plains nearly a year after descending into a large Martian crater to examine exposed ancient rock layers.

Men Defy Stereotypes In Defining Masculinity Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT Men interviewed in a large international study reported that being seen as honorable, self-reliant and respected was more important to their idea of masculinity than being seen as attractive, sexually active or successful with women.

Is Extinction Or Diversity On The Rise? Study Of Islands Reveals Surprising Results Posted: 27 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT It's no secret that humans are having a huge impact on the life cycles of plants and animals. UC Santa Barbara researchers decided to test that theory by studying the world's far-flung islands. Their research sheds surprising light on the subject of extinction rates of species on islands.

New Oral Vaccine May Protect Against Bubonic Plague Posted: 27 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT Researchers have used a less virulent ancestor to the highly infectious bubonic plague to develop a potentially safe, efficient and inexpensive live oral vaccine.

Fishing Technology Letting Turtles Off The Hook Posted: 27 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT Alternative fishing technology has been shown to save turtles while not affecting fish catches, according to a new report.

Bones Get Mended With High Tech Glass-of-milk Posted: 27 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT Scientists at the new Nuclear-Magnetic Resonance unit at the University of Warwick have discovered how a high-tech glass of milk is helping bones mend.

Earthquake Zone Off Oregon Coast Surprisingly Active Posted: 27 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT Scientists have completed a new analysis of an earthquake fault line that extends some 200 miles off the southern and central Oregon coast that they say is more active than the San Andreas Fault in California.

Trauma, PTSD Followed By Reduction In Region Of The Brain Involved With Memory Posted: 27 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT While debate continues over the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, a new study indicates traumatic events and PTSD symptoms may be followed in some cases by a size reduction in a part of the brain called the hippocampus.

Hot And Cold: Circulation Of Atmosphere Affected Mediterranean Climate During Last Ice Age Posted: 27 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT A new study in Science reveals the circulation of the atmosphere over the Mediterranean during the last ice age, 23,000 to 19,000 years ago, and how this affected the local climate.

Fearsome-Smelling Gas Could Have Beneficial Uses In Medicine Posted: 27 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT A single breath of hydrogen sulfide, a gas best known for its rotten-egg smell, can kill. But at low concentrations, hydrogen sulfide could protect vital organs during surgery, research conducted by a new Emory University School of Medicine professor suggests.

How Diet, Antioxidants Prevent Blindness In Aging Population Posted: 27 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT A new study reveals part of the magic behind a diet rich in antioxidants, showing how artichokes, blueberries and pecans can hold at bay the leading cause of age-related blindness in developed countries.

Stick With Simple Antibiotics For Pneumonia To Avoid Super Bugs, Says Researcher Posted: 27 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT Australian hospitals should avoid prescribing expensive broad-spectrum antibiotics for pneumonia to avoid the development of more drug-resistant super bugs, according to a new study.

DNA Barcoding In Danger Of 'Ringing Up' Wrong Species Posted: 27 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT DNA barcoding is a movement to catalog all life on earth by a simple standardized genetic tag, similar to stores labeling products with unique barcodes. But the approach as currently practiced churns out some results as inaccurately as a supermarket checker scanning an apple and ringing it up as an orange, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Trouble Quitting? New Smoking Study May Reveal Why Posted: 27 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT A new study sheds light on why smokers' intentions to quit "cold turkey" often fizzle out within days or even hours.

Secret Of Newborn's First Words Revealed Posted: 27 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT A new study could explain why "daddy" and "mommy" are often a baby's first words -- the human brain may be hard-wired to recognize certain repetition patterns.

Cancer Breath? New Tool Aims To Detect Cancer Early In Exhaled Air Posted: 27 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT Early cancer detection can significantly improve survival rates. Current diagnostic tests often fail to detect cancer in the earliest stages and at the same time expose a patient to the harmful effects of radiation. Scientists will be using mid-infrared lasers to create a sensor to detect biomarker gases exhaled in the breath of a person with cancer.

Scientists Tie Chickpea Disease To Fungal Culprit Posted: 27 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT The fungus Sclerotinia trifoliorum plagues legume crops worldwide. But chickpeas seem to have escaped its wrath, with the exception of Australia's crop. Now, that's no longer the case, report scientists.

Newer Cardiac Imaging Machines Effective In Detecting Coronary Artery Stenosis Posted: 27 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT The first multicenter study of the accuracy of some of the latest cardiac imaging technology found it was 99 percent as effective in ruling out obstructive coronary artery stenosis -- or narrowing of these arteries -- as the more expensive and invasive coronary angiography traditionally used by physicians, according to new research.

Catalyst For Water Oxidation Adopted From Plants: A Means For Energy-efficient Production Of Hydrogen? Posted: 27 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT A team of Australian and American researchers has developed a catalyst that effectively catalyzes the photooxidation of water. The core of the catalyst is a manganese-containing complex modeled after those found in photosynthetic organisms.

Action Research Helps People Make Positive Changes Posted: 27 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT Certain kinds of research can help improve social problems, according to a new study. Participatory action research actively seeks to change the behavior or situation of the consumer.

Why Do Eyelids Sag With Age? Mystery Is Solved Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT Many theories have sought to explain what causes the baggy lower eyelids that come with aging, but researchers have now found that fat expansion in the eye socket is the primary culprit.

Exploring The Function Of Sleep Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT Is sleep essential? Ask that question to a sleep-deprived new parent or a student who has just pulled an "all-nighter," and the answer will be a grouchy, "Of course!" But to a sleep scientist, the question of what constitutes sleep is so complex that scientists are still trying to define the essential function of something we do every night.

Rifamycin Antibiotics Attack Tuberculosis Bacteria With Walls, Not Signals Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT Amid concerns about the rising number of new tuberculosis cases worldwide, researchers have reexamined and disproved a theory that describes how a potent class of antibiotics kills a deadly form of bacteria. The findings not only bring scientists closer to understanding how these antibiotics work but also how the bacteria become resistant to their effects.

New Findings Explain Genetic Disorder's Unique Shift; Father's Role As Resource Provider Influential In Prader-Willi Syndrome Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT New findings give insight into the unique characteristics of the birth defect Prader-Willi Syndrome, and at the same time, may help explain how a certain type of gene is expressed in all humans. The research finds that the amount of care a father gives to his child may cause a shift in the syndrome in which its symptoms, in essence, reverse themselves.

How Does Bluetongue Virus Survive Through The Winter? Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT In 2006, Bluetongue virus -- which infects livestock -- reached Northern Europe for the first time. Some people thought that the outbreak would be limited to that particular year, as winter was expected to kill off the midges that host and spread the disease, bringing the threat of infection to an end. In actuality, the disease escalated in the following year, spreading to the UK. So, how did the virus survive the winter?

Health Journalists Face Translation Challenge, Researchers Find Posted: 27 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT University of Missouri researchers conducted a national survey and found that the majority of health journalists have not had specialized training in health reporting and face challenges in communicating new medical science developments. Of the journalists surveyed, only 18 percent had specialized training in health reporting and only 6.4 percent reported that a majority of their readers change health behaviors based on the information they provide.

How Do Galaxies Grow? Massive Galaxies Caught In The Act Of Merging Posted: 26 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT Astronomers have caught multiple massive galaxies in the act of merging about 4 billion years ago. This discovery, made possible by combining the power of the best ground- and space-based telescopes, uniquely supports the favoured theory of how galaxies form.

Brain Cells 'Supercharged' To Attack Plaques That Cause Alzheimer’s Disease Posted: 26 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT Researchers at the University of British Columbia have discovered a new method for developing treatments for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). They have shown that by stimulating a brain cell called a microglia the cells will partially engulf the senile plaques which are abundant in post mortem AD brain.

More Strawberries, More Antioxidant Absorption Posted: 26 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT Scientists have assessed the human body's capacity for absorbing certain antioxidant compounds in strawberries, and have found that the absorption of one key beneficial plant chemical was not "maxed out" as volunteers ate more of this popular fruit. Foods high in antioxidants may be excellent sources of healthful compounds, and researchers are striving to learn more about their ability to be absorbed and utilized within the human body.

Oral Administration Of Lactobacillus From Breast Milk May Treat Common Infection In Lactating Mothers Posted: 26 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT Oral administration of lactobacillus strains found in breast milk may provide an alternative method to antibiotics for effectively treating mastitis, a common infection that occurs in lactating mothers say researchers from Spain.

Large Hadron Collider: Final Synchronization Test A Success Posted: 26 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT CERN has announced the success of the second and final test of the Large Hadron Collider's beam synchronization systems. The test will allow the LHC operations team to inject the first beam into the LHC.

Fingerprint Analysis Technique Could Be Used To Identify Bombmakers Posted: 26 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT University of Leicester experts have held discussions with military personnel in Afghanistan following the discovery of new technology to identify fingerprints on metal.

How Much Risk Can You Handle? Making Better Investment Decisions Posted: 26 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT Many Americans make investment decisions with their retirement funds. But they don't always make informed judgments. A new study introduces a new tool that investors can use to choose investments based on their financial goals and risk attitudes.

'Perfect Pitch' In Humans Far More Prevalent Than Expected Posted: 26 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT Researchers have developed a unique test for perfect pitch, and have found that perfect pitch is apparently much more common in non-musicians than scientists had expected.

Potential Diabetes Treatment Selectively Kills Autoimmune Cells From Human Patients Posted: 26 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT In experiments using blood cells from human patients with diabetes and other autoimmune disorders, researchers have confirmed the mechanism behind a potential new therapy for type 1 diabetes. Scientists showed that blocking a metabolic pathway regulating the immune system specifically eliminated immune cells that react against a patient's own tissues.

Alcohol Consumption Can Cause Too Much Cell Death, Fetal Abnormalities Posted: 26 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT The initial signs of fetal alcohol syndrome are slight but classic: facial malformations such as a flat and high upper lip, small eye openings and a short nose. Researchers want to know if those facial clues can help them figure out how much alcohol it takes during what point in development to cause these and other lifelong problems.

Looking Beyond The Drug Receptor For Clues To Drug Effectiveness Posted: 26 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT Antipsychotic drugs that are widely used to treat schizophrenia and other problems may not work as scientists have assumed, according to findings from Duke University Medical Center researchers that could lead to changes in how these drugs are developed and prescribed.

Fertilizer Technology Used Worldwide, But Few New Products Since 1970s Posted: 26 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT Most fertilizers used worldwide today were developed from 1950 to 1970 by the Tennessee Valley Authority based in Muscle Shoals. A $41 million investment in fertilizer research returned $57 billion to US agriculture. Public funding for fertilizer development has dropped dramatically since the TVA fertilizer program closed in the 1990s. Research is needed to develop a new generation of energy-efficient fertilizers to help alleviate the food crisis.

Troubled Children Hurt Peers' Test Scores, Behavior Posted: 26 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT Troubled children hurt their classmates' math and reading scores and worsen their behavior, new research shows.

New Space Telescope Reveals Entire Gamma-ray Sky Posted: 26 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT NASA's Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope has revealed its first all-sky map in gamma rays. The onboard Large Area Telescope's all-sky image -- which shows the glowing gas of the Milky Way, blinking pulsars and a flaring galaxy billions of light-years away -- was created using only 95 hours of "first light" observations, compared with past missions which took years to produce a similar image.

Scientists Identify New Drug Target Against Virulent Type Of Breast Cancer Posted: 26 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT Researchers have identified an enzyme called Brk as a target for future drugs to fight a virulent subset of cancers overexpressing a protein called ErbB2 -- also often called HER2 -- which drives tumor cells to proliferate unchecked. Brk, they report, helps these tumors become virulent and is also implicated in the process through which the tumors develop drug resistance to "targeted" therapies Herceptin and Lapatinib.

Protein Structure Discovery Opens Door For Drugs To Fight Bird Flu, Other Influenza Epidemics Posted: 26 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT Researchers have reported a discovery that could help scientists develop drugs to fight the much-feared bird flu and other virulent strains of influenza. They have determined the three-dimensional structure of a site on an influenza A virus protein that binds to one of its human protein targets, thereby suppressing a person's natural defenses to the infection and paving the way for the virus to replicate efficiently.

Low Cholesterol Associated With Cancer In Diabetics Posted: 26 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT Low levels of LDL cholesterol as well as high levels are associated with cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes, found a prospective cohort study published in CMAJ.

New Virus Threatens High Plains Wheat Crop Posted: 26 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT Triticum mosaic virus poses a new threat to Texas wheat, according to Texas AgriLife Research scientists in Amarillo. Researchers are working on a variety of studies to determine how big of a role it plays in the disease pressure put on area wheat.

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