ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Social Interactions Can Alter Gene Expression In Brain, And Vice Versa Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST Our DNA determines a lot about who we are and how we play with others, but recent studies of social animals (birds and bees, among others) show that the interaction between genes and behavior is more of a two-way street than most of us realize.

Achilles' Heel Of Pancreatic Cancer Discovered Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST Researchers have discovered a metabolic deficiency in pancreatic cancer cells that can be used to slow the progress of the deadliest of all cancers.

Gold Nanostars Hold Promise In Medical Diagnoses And Tests For Environmental Contaminants Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST Tiny gold stars, smaller than a billionth of a meter, may hold the promise for new approaches to medical diagnoses or testing for environmental contaminants.

Kidney Transplantation Can Improve Mental Performance, Study Finds Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST Individuals with kidney disease often suffer from cognitive impairment, but kidney transplantation can improve their mental performance, according to new research.

Computers Effective In Verifying Mathematical Proofs Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST New computer tools have the potential to revolutionize the practice of mathematics by providing more-reliable proofs of mathematical results than have ever been possible in the history of humankind. These tools, based on the notion of "formal proof," have in recent years been used to provide nearly infallible proofs of many important results.

James Bond Girl Draws Attention To Babies Born With Extra Fingers Or Toes Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST One of the Bond Girls in the new James Bond movie is drawing attention to a relatively common congenital condition called polydactyly -- extra fingers or toes. Gemma Arterton, who plays Agent Fields in "Quantum of Solace," opening Nov. 14, was born with six digits on each hand. The extra fingers were removed during childhood.

Brain Injury Repair? Damaged Nerves Regenerated By Silencing Natural Growth Inhibitors In Neurons Posted: 07 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Scientists have successfully regenerated damaged nerves by silencing natural growth inhibitors in neurons. The researchers used genetic techniques to delete these inhibitors, resulting in significant re-growth of axons in a mouse model. And, it may be possible to accomplish the same re-growth with drugs, potentially making it possible to regenerate nerves damaged by brain or spinal cord injury.

Hormone Therapy Helps Short Children Grow Up, Study Finds Posted: 07 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Growth-hormone treatment may significantly increase final height in children diagnosed with short stature, even in cases where the child is not growth-hormone deficient, according to a new study.

Epic Voyage To Discover Origins And Migration Routes Of Ancestors Of Ancient Polynesians And Their Animals Posted: 07 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Scientists are embarking on a 6000-kilometer trip following the migration route of ancient Pacific cultures. This is the first ever expedition to sail in two traditional Polynesian boats -- ethnic double canoes -- which attempts to re-trace the genuine migration route of the ancient Austronesians. The researchers will also be examining the local wildlife.

Novel Leukemia Vaccine For High-risk Patients In Clinical Trials Posted: 07 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Researchers are conducting clinical trials of a novel therapy aimed at revving up the immune system to combat a particularly difficult to treat form of leukemia.

Tiny Solar Cells Built To Power Microscopic Machines Posted: 07 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Some of the tiniest solar cells ever built have been successfully tested as a power source for even tinier microscopic machines -- for example, an inch-long array of 20 of these cells, each one about a quarter the size of a lowercase "o" in a standard 12-point font.

Unusual Use Of Toys In Infancy A Clue To Later Autism Posted: 07 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Researchers have found that infants later diagnosed with autism exhibited unusual exploration of objects long before being diagnosed.

Tiny Backpacks For Cells: Polymer Patches Could Ferry Drugs, Assist In Cancer Diagnosis Posted: 07 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST MIT engineers have outfitted cells with tiny "backpacks" that could allow them to deliver chemotherapy agents, diagnose tumors or become building blocks for tissue engineering.

Migraines Associated With Lower Risk Of Breast Cancer Posted: 07 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST Women who suffer from migraines may take at least some comfort in a recent, first-of-its-kind study that suggests a history of such headaches is associated with a significantly lower risk of breast cancer.

Just Scratching The Surface: New Technique Maps Nanomaterials As They Grow Posted: 07 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST Researchers have developed a measurement technique that will help scientists and companies map nanomaterials as they grow. The discovery could help create superior nanotechnologies and lead to the development of more efficient solar panels and increased magnetic data storage.

Mechanism That Allows 2 Pacemakers To Control Breathing Pieced Together Posted: 07 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST Two pacemakers in the brain work together in harmony to ensure that breathing occurs in a regular rhythm, according to new research. That cooperation provides critical backup during respiratory stress, from the early trauma of birth to intense exercise and oxygen shortages, said the principal research scientist at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

Reducing Pollution: Green Future For Scrap Iron Posted: 07 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST Engineers have shown that the biological treatment of industrial wastewater can be dramatically enhanced by pretreating the waste with non-oxidized iron. Researchers use zero valent iron to detoxify pollutants in industrial wastewater.

Impulse Control Area In Brain Affected In Teens With Genetic Vulnerability For Alcoholism Posted: 07 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST A new study suggests that genetic factors influence size variations in a certain region of the brain, which could in turn be partly responsible for increased susceptibility to alcohol dependence. It appears that the size of the right orbitofrontal cortex, an area of the brain that is involved in regulating emotional processing and impulsive behavior, is smaller in teenagers and young adults who have several relatives that are alcohol dependent.

Ancient China: Lack Of Rainfall Could Have Contributed To Social Upheaval And Fall Of Dynasties Posted: 07 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Chinese history is replete with the rise and fall of dynasties, but researchers now have identified a natural phenomenon that may have been the last straw for some of them: a weakening of the summer Asian Monsoons. A lack of rainfall could have contributed to social upheaval and the fall of dynasties. Such weakening accompanied the fall of three dynasties and now could be lessening precipitation in northern China.

Maternal Obesity Can Program Fetal Brain To Induce Adult-onset Obesity Posted: 07 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Researchers have found that fetuses of obese mother rats were programmed in utero to develop obesity in adulthood.

Bacteria Manage Perfume Oil Production From Grass Posted: 07 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Scientists in Italy have found bacteria in the root of a tropical grass whose oils have been used in the cosmetic and perfumery industries.

Hepatitis C Transmission Not Reduced By C-sections, Says New Study Posted: 07 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Planned cesarean sections do not help to reduce the chances of a pregnant mother with Hepatitis C (HCV) transmitting the infection to her unborn baby, according to new scientific findings.

High-temperature Superconductors: New Method Exploring 'Energy Gap' Shows Electron Pairs Exist Before Superconductivity Sets In Posted: 07 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Like astronomers tweaking images to gain a more detailed glimpse of distant stars, physicists have found ways to sharpen images of the energy spectra in high-temperature superconductors -- materials that carry electrical current effortlessly when cooled below a certain temperature. These new imaging methods confirm that the electron pairs needed to carry current emerge above the transition temperature, before superconductivity sets in.

Problems And Solutions To Inequities In Kidney Transplant Allocation Posted: 07 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Depending on where they live in the United States, patients needing a kidney transplant can wait just one year for a deceased donor's kidney or up to 10 years. What are the causes and implications of these inequities?

'Unprecedented' Warming Drives Dramatic Ecosystem Shifts In North Atlantic, Study Finds Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST While Earth has experienced numerous changes in climate over the past 65 million years, recent decades have experienced the most significant climate change since the beginning of human civilized societies about 5,000 years ago, says a new Cornell University study.

Key Gene May Be Crucial To Production Of Thymus And Disease-fighting T-cells Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST New research provides the first evidence that a key gene may be crucial to maintaining the production of the thymus and its disease-fighting T-cells after an animal's birth.

Universal Declaration Of Human Rights Flies Into Space Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a sprit of brotherhood", states Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Healthy Bones Program Reduces Hip Fractures By 37 Percent, Study Finds Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST A study of 625,000 men and women over the age of 50 that found proactive measures can reduce hip fracture rates by an average of 37.2 percent and as much as 50 percent among those at risk for osteoporosis and/or hip fractures.

Protecting Soils And Producing Biofuel With Corn Stover Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST Those lonely cornstalks--called corn stover--left behind in the fields after the grain harvest is complete could someday become valuable raw material for the production of cellulosic ethanol. In the meantime, ) soil scientists are determining which portion of the plant would work best for cellulosic ethanol production.

Growing Problem For Veterans: Domestic Violence Posted: 07 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST The increasing number of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder raises the risk of domestic violence and its consequences on families and children in communities across the United States," says an expert on veteran mental health. Domestic violence experts are working to design community prevention strategies to address this emerging public health problem.

Earthworm Activity Can Alter Forests' Carbon-carrying Capabilities Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Earthworms can change the chemical nature of the carbon in North American forest litter and soils, potentially affecting the amount of carbon stored in forests. Scientists want to determine the earthworms' effect on forest chemistry by comparing carbon composition in forests that vary in earthworm activity.

New Target In Brain For Treating Schizophrenia Identified Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Research could expand the options for controlling schizophrenia by identifying a brain region that responds to more than one type of antipsychotic drug. The findings illustrate for the first time that the orbitofrontal cortex could be a promising target for developing future antipsychotic drugs -- even those that have very different mechanisms of action.

Tennis: Referees More Likely To Make Mistakes When Calling Balls 'Out' Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST A universal bias in the way people perceive moving objects means that tennis referees are more likely to make mistakes when they call balls "out" than when they call them "in," according to a new report. Because recent rule changes allow professional tennis players to challenge the refs' calls, athletes could exploit the new findings to their advantage.

New Regulatory Mechanism Discovered For Cell Identity And Behavior In Forming Organs Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Two proteins interact in a previously unknown molecular mechanism that may have broad implications in future studies looking for the causes of defective organs in fetuses, metastatic cancers and other diseases, according to new researcher, Reporting their work in Genes & Development, the researchers said the mechanism coordinates cell identity and behavior in the forming organs of embryos.

Computer Model Improves Ultrasound Image Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Doctors use diagnostic sonography or ultrasound to visualize organs and other internal structures of the human body. Scientist have now developed a computer model that can predict the sound transmission of improved designs for ultrasound instruments. The computer model is capable of processing large quantities of data and can be run on both a PC and a parallel supercomputer.

Famous French Artist's Genetic Disorder Sheds Light On Enzyme's Role In Bone Metabolism Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Pycnodysostosis, a condition from which the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec suffered, is a genetic disease characterized by short stature. This rare disease, surprisingly, provides a window into how joints are destroyed by arthritis.

Seeing A Brain As It Learns To See Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST A brain isn't born fully organized. It builds its abilities through experience, making physical connections between neurons and organizing circuits to store and retrieve information in milliseconds for years afterwards. Now that process has been caught in the act for the first time by a research team that watched a naïve brain organize itself to interpret images of motion.

Selective Reprogramming Of General Cells? Compounds For Stem-cell Production From Adult Cells Identified Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST Scientists have identified a combination of small molecules that significantly improve the reprogramming of general adult cells into pluripotent stem cells, which can then develop into all cell types.

Study Reveals Continued Damage From Banned Obesity Drug Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST Fenfluramine, the appetite suppressant drug banned in the US in 1997 due to fears over its links to heart conditions, has been shown to have serious long-term effects. In a report published today in the open access journal BMC Medicine, researchers have shown that people who stopped using fenfluramine 11 years ago had damaged heart valves up to seven years later.

Conclusive Proof That Polar Warming Is Being Caused By Humans Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST New research by the University of East Anglia has demonstrated for the first time that human activity is responsible for significant warming in both polar regions.

Coping And Copulation Behavior May Help Calculate Diabetes Risk, Mouse Study Suggests Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST Researchers use two species of deer mice to study diabetes, and find that males of a calmer and more monogamous species regulate blood sugar better than males of a less calm and less monogamous species when subject to stress.

Looming Ecological Credit Crunch? Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST The world is heading for an ecological credit crunch as human demands on the world's natural capital reach nearly a third more than earth can sustain. That is the stark warning contained in the latest edition of WWF's Living Planet Report, the leading statement of the planet's health. In addition global natural wealth and diversity continues to decline, and more and more countries are slipping into a state of permanent or seasonal water stress.

Completely Novel Action Of Insulin Unveiled Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST New research has uncovered an important piece in the puzzle of how insulin works, a problem that has plagued researchers for more than 50 years. The finding brings scientists one step closer to explaining exactly how insulin prompts fat and muscle cells to absorb glucose.

Chandrayaan-1 Now In Lunar Transfer Trajectory Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST Following a fifth orbit-raising maneuver, the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft successfully settled into a trajectory that will take it to the Moon.

Reducing Epidemic Proportions: High-tech System Cuts Hospital-related Infections By Half Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST Hospitals are supposed to be havens for healing, but the numbers tell a different story. Too many people are infected by illnesses they acquire after they've been admitted, and hospital-related infections continue to be the number-two killer of hospitalized Americans after heart disease. Now, a radical new high-tech software program developed to fight these infections is now catching on faster than the flu.

Married Prisoners At Increased Risk Of Suicide Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST Being white, male, married and in a job makes you more likely to die by suicide on being sent to prison, an Oxford University study has found.

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