Thursday, October 09, 2008

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Circadian Clock May Be Critical For Remembering What You Learn, Researchers Say

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT

The circadian rhythm that quietly pulses inside us all, guiding our daily cycle from sleep to wakefulness and back to sleep again, may be doing much more than just that simple metronomic task, according to researchers. Working with Siberian hamsters, biologist Norman Ruby has shown that having a functioning circadian system is critical to the hamsters' ability to remember what they have learned. Without it, he said, "They can't remember anything."

The Pepperoni Pizza Hypothesis

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT

What's the worst that could happen after eating a slice of pepperoni pizza? A little heartburn, for most people. But for up to a million women in the US who have a chronic bladder condition, enjoying that piece of pizza and other foods can cause intense pelvic pain and an urgent need to frequently urinate. Researchers believe a surprise culprit is causing the pain: the colon. This concept opens up new treatment options for this debilitating condition.

Sharpest Whole-Planet Picture Of Jupiter Taken From The Ground

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT

A record two-hour observation of Jupiter using a superior technique to remove atmospheric blur has produced the sharpest whole-planet picture ever taken from the ground. The new image reveals changes in Jupiter's smog-like haze, probably in response to a planet-wide upheaval more than a year ago.

Burn Treatment Cream May Delay Healing

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT

A cream commonly used to treat burns may actually delay healing. In addition, despite the wide range of wound dressings available for burns, there is no consensus on the most effective alternative treatment, say researchers who carried out a systematic review of existing data.

Plant Virus Research Could Lead To New Ways To Improve Crop Yields

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT

An interdisciplinary group of scientists has obtained the first detailed information about the structure of the most destructive group of plant viruses known: flexible filamentous viruses.

Children's Asthma Affected By Parental Expectations

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Asthmatic children whose parents have high expectations for their ability to function normally are less likely to have symptoms than other children dealing with the condition.

Cosmic Eye Sheds Light On Early Galaxy Formation, Just Two Billion Years After Big Bang

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Astronomers have provided unique insight into the nature of a young star-forming galaxy as it appeared only two billion years after the Big Bang and determined how the galaxy may eventually evolve to become a system like our own Milky Way.

Honey Helps To Heal Wounds, Review Suggests

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Honey may reduce healing times in patients suffering mild to moderate burn wounds. A systematic review concluded that honey might be useful as an alternative to traditional wound dressings in treating burns.

Molecule That Coordinates The Movement Of Cells Identified

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT

A molecule bridging two proteins that gives cells their shape and ability to migrate in a directed fashion may also shed light on how to keep cancer from spreading.

Levels Of Key Hormone During First Trimester Of Pregnancy Could Lead To Earlier Diagnosis Of Gestational Diabetes

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT

New research shows women who develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus) have reduced levels of an insulin-sensitive hormone, adiponectin, as early as nine weeks into the pregnancy. The findings show early warning signs of gestational diabetes (GDM) are evident months before the clinical diagnosis is currently made (20-22 weeks).

Robots: The Bizarre And The Beautiful

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT

The future is a foreign country, and nowhere is it more foreign that the designs thrown up by a surge in robotics research. The feverish imagination and creativity of European robot scientists has led to dozens of robot designs, some bizarre, some beautiful, but all are inspired.

School Vending Machines Dole Out Excess Calories, Fat

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Recent figures from the HEALTHY Study, a nationwide effort led by Temple University to curb obesity and type 2 diabetes in middle school students, found vending machines beverages had added sugars, high calorie 100 percent fruit juices, and snacks over 200 calories.

Genome Of Parasite That Causes Relapsing Malaria Decoded

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT

In research aimed at addressing a global epidemic, a team of scientists from around the world has cracked the genetic code for the parasite that is responsible for up to 40 percent of the 515 million annual malaria infections worldwide. Scientists have deciphered the complete genetic sequence of the parasite Plasmodium vivax, the leading cause of relapsing malaria, and compared it with the genomes of other species of malaria parasites.

Proteins In Sperm Unlock Understanding Of Male Infertility, Says New Study

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Proteins found in sperm are central to understanding male infertility and could be used to determine new diagnostic methods and fertility treatments, according to a paper published by the journal Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. The article demonstrates how proteomics, a relatively new field focusing on the function of proteins in a cell, can be successfully applied to infertility, helping identify which proteins in sperm cells are dysfunctional.

Method Of Predicting Clear Air Turbulence Could Make Flights Smoother In The Future

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT

A new method of forecasting clear air turbulence will be published this week in the Journal of Atmospheric Sciences. The research, led by a scientist at the University of Georgia, could help pilots chart new courses around these patches of rough but clear air that can turn an otherwise unremarkable flight into a nightmare.

Belt And Braces Approach May Prevent Deep Vein Thromboses

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Combining short periods of leg compression with medications such as heparin is more effective at preventing blood clots in high-risk patients than using either preventative measure alone. A team of Cochrane researchers believe that this "belt and braces" approach can significantly decrease a patient's risk of deep vein thrombosis.

Highest Power Tabletop Laser Ever Built

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Physicists at the University of Texas have built a tabletop laser that produces, at the present time, the largest peak power of any laser in the world: 1.1 petawatts (PW), or 1,100 terawatts (1.1 x 10^15 watts).

Little Evidence That Sobriety Checkpoints Curb Drunk-Driving Crashes

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Although communities commonly use sobriety checkpoints and increased police patrols to detect drivers under the influence of alcohol, a new review finds that there is not enough evidence to say definitively that the efforts work to cut down the number of accidents and deaths from drunk driving.

Star Born From The Wind: Unique Multi-wavelength Portrait Of Star Birth

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Telescopes on the ground and in space have teamed up to compose a colorful image that offers a fresh look at the history of the star-studded region NGC 346. This new, ethereal portrait, in which different wavelengths of light swirl together like watercolors, reveals new information about how stars form.

Can Stem Cells Heal Damaged Hearts? No Easy Answers, But Some Signs Of Hope

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Recent studies indicate that infusing hearts with stem cells taken from bone marrow could improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction (tissue damage that results from a heart attack). But in a recent systematic review researchers concluded that more clinical trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of stem cell therapies for heart patients, as well as studies to establish how these treatments work.

Psychologists Show Experience May Be The Best Teacher For Infants

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT

There's a lot of truth in the old proverb "experience is the best teacher," and apparently it even applies to 10-month-old infants.

Carpal Tunnel Surgery Relieves More Symptoms Than Splinting, According To Review

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is more effective at relieving the symptoms of the painful condition than splinting, according to an updated review of studies by Chilean researchers.

New Optics For Improved Solar Power Generators

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Researchers are hoping to achieve higher solar cell efficiency involves using special coatings on solar cells that split light into colors like blue and red, which scientists estimate will increase efficiency by 50 percent.

Plastic Surgeons Face War Injuries From Iraq To Inner-city Violence

Posted: 09 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Born out of war, plastic surgery remains at the forefront of surgical innovation, and advances from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan benefit victims of inner city wars being fought on our streets.

Arctic Soil May Contain Nearly Twice Greenhouse-Gas Producing Material Than Previously Estimated

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 10:00 PM CDT

Frozen arctic soil contains nearly twice the greenhouse-gas-producing organic material as was previously estimated, according to new research. The research team discovered a previously undocumented layer of organic matter on top of and in the upper part of permafrost, ranging from 60 to 120 centimeters deep.

Killing 'Angry' Immune Cells In Fat Could Fight Diabetes

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 10:00 PM CDT

By killing off "angry" immune cells that take up residence in obese fat and muscle tissue, researchers have shown that they can rapidly reverse insulin resistance in obese mice. The findings suggest that treatments aimed at specific subsets of the so-called macrophage cells might offer a very effective new anti-diabetic therapy, according to the researchers.

Alternative Fossil Fuels Have Economic Potential, Study Shows

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 10:00 PM CDT

Alternative sources of fossil fuels such as oil sands and coal-to-liquids have significant economic promise, but the environmental consequences must also be considered, according to a new study.

Lifesaving TB Vaccine A Step Closer

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 10:00 PM CDT

Researchers have licensed ground-breaking research to a non-profit product development partnership working to develop new, more effective vaccines against tuberculosis. This development will give hope that significantly better prevention and treatment of TB will be available within the next few years.

Fuzziness On The Road To Physics' Grand Unification Theory

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 10:00 PM CDT

Leave it to hypothesized gravity to weigh down what physicists have thought for 30 years. If theoretical physicists are right, the idea that nature's forces merge under grand unification has grown fuzzy. Theoretical physicists now suggest a layer of particles may exist and block a merger.

Assisted Suicide Laws May Overlook Depressed Patients

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 10:00 PM CDT

One in four terminally-ill patients in the State of Oregon who opt for physician assisted suicide have clinical depression and the Death with Dignity Act may not be adequately protecting them, concludes a new study.

Scent On Demand: Scientists Genetically Enhance Scent Of Flowers

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Scientists have found a way to genetically enhance the scent of flowers and implant a scent in those that don't have one.

New, Tiny, Super-sensitive Probe Could Cut Colon Polyp Removal In Half, Study Suggests

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Researchers see a future in which virtual biopsies will eliminate the need to remove colon polyps that are not cancerous or will not morph into the disease.

Deep Biosphere Research Points To New Methods For Recovering Petroleum

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Miles below us, deep within Earth's crust, life is astir. Organisms there are not the large creatures typically envisioned when thinking of life. Instead, thriving there are microbes, the smallest and oldest form of life on Earth. Researchers are using a novel approach to uncover the source of organic compounds found deep within Earth's crust; in the process, new ideas will be tested about how petroleum forms from deeply buried organic matter.

Largest Review Of Its Kind Associates Anti-inflammatory Drugs With Reduced Breast Cancer Risk

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Analysis of data from 38 studies that enrolled more than 2.7 million women -- the largest of its kind -- reveals that regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with a 12 per cent relative risk reduction in breast cancer compared to nonusers.

New Invention Could Change Design Of Future Memory Storage Devices

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT

A new phase change material that has the potential to change the design of future memory storage devices has been invented.

Traumatic Brain Injury Common Amongst Homeless People

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Traumatic brain injury is common amongst homeless people and is associated with poorer health, found a study of more than 900 homeless men and women in Toronto.

DNA Could Reveal Your Surname

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Researchers have shown that men with the same British surname are highly likely to be genetically linked. The results of the research have implications in the fields of forensics, genealogy, epidemiology and the history of surnames.

Pneumococcal Vaccine Associated With 50 Percent Lower Risk Of Heart Attacks

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccination was associated with a 50 percent lower risk of heart attacks two years after vaccination, suggests a large hospital-based case-control study.

Future Looks Bleak For One Of World’s Smallest Seal Species

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT

One of the smallest seals -- the Caspian -- has joined a growing list of mammal species in danger of extinction.

Pediatric Study Finds Alternatives For Radiation Of Low-grade Brain Tumors

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT

A new study has found that using chemotherapy alone and delaying or avoiding cranial radiation altogether can be effective in treating pediatric patients with unresectable or progressive low-grade glioma.

Fungus Fights Air Pollution By Removing Sulfur From Crude Oil

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Researchers in Iran are publishing what they describe as the first study on a fungus that can remove sulfur -- a major source of air pollution -- from crude oil more effectively than conventional refining methods.

Customers' Fixation On Minimum Payments Drives Up Credit Card Bills

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Many credit card customers become fixated on the level of minimum payments given on credit card bills. The mere presence of a minimum payment is enough to reduce the actual amount many people choose to pay on their bills, leading to further interest payments.

Possibilities -- But No Proof -- To Prevent Alzheimer’s

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT

No one knows how to prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease. But researchers are finding clues to the mystery by studying exercise, estrogen, diet and drugs, and many other avenues.

Bomb-proof Thermometer To Measure Heat Of Explosions Developed

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Scientists have designed a high-speed thermometer that can measure the temperature inside explosions without being damaged in the impact.

Contracting Pelvic Floor Muscles Prevents Urine Leakage Before And After Pregnancy

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Women who receive one-to-one instruction on how to contract the pelvic floor muscles and practice pelvic floor muscle exercises with health professional supervision are less likely to suffer urine leakage during or after pregnancy. A systematic review suggests that these exercises are effective for preventing and treating incontinence.

Flexi Display Technology Is Now

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Screen display technology is taking a significant step forward as researchers from Sony and the Max Planck Institute demonstrate the possibility of bendable optically assessed organic light emitting displays for the first time, based on red or IR-A light upconversion.

Counterterrorism Programs That Collect And Mine Data Should Be Evaluated For Effectiveness, Report Recommends

Posted: 08 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT

All US agencies with counterterrorism programs that collect or "mine" personal data -- such as phone, medical and travel records or Web sites visited -- should be required to systematically evaluate the programs' effectiveness, lawfulness, and impacts on privacy, says a new report from the National Research Council.

No comments: