ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Swings In North Atlantic Oscillation Variability Linked To Climate Warming Posted: 14 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST Using a 218-year-long temperature record from a Bermuda brain coral, researchers have created the first marine-based reconstruction showing the long-term behavior of one of the most important drivers of climate fluctuations in the North Atlantic.

Possible New Alzheimer's Treatment? Destroying Amyloid Proteins With Lasers Posted: 14 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have found that a technique used to visualize amyloid fibers in the laboratory might have the potential to destroy them in the clinic. The technique involves zapping the fluorescently-tagged fibers with a laser, which can inhibit their growth and degrade them.

Clothing To Crow About: Chicken Feather Suits And Dresses Posted: 14 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST In the future, you may snuggle up in warm, cozy sweats made of chicken feathers or jeans made of wheat, enjoying comfortable, durable new fabrics that are "green" and environmentally friendly. Researchers in Australia are reporting that new advances are paving the way for such exotic new materials — made from agricultural waste or byproducts — to hit store shelves as environmentally-friendly alternatives to the estimated 38 million tons of synthetic fabrics produced worldwide each year.

Safe New Therapy For Genetic Heart Disease, Clinical Trial Suggests Posted: 14 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST A new clinical trial suggests that long-term use of candesartan, a drug currently used to treat hypertension, may significantly reduce the symptoms of genetic heart disease.

Auto Gear-Change Bicycle: Computer Controlled Bicycle Gear Changes Optimize Power, Comfort Posted: 14 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers in Taiwan are designing a computer for pedal cyclists that tells them when to change gear to optimize the power they develop while maintaining comfort.

Job Strain Associated With Stroke In Japanese Men Posted: 14 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST Japanese men in high-stress jobs appear to have an increased risk of stroke compared with those in less demanding positions, according to a new report.

Can You See Me Now? Flexible Photodetectors Could Help Sharpen Photos Posted: 14 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Distorted cell-phone photos and big, clunky telephoto lenses could be things of the past.

Of Mice And Peanuts: A New Mouse Model For Peanut Allergy Posted: 14 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers report the development of a new mouse model for food allergy that mimics symptoms generated during a human allergic reaction to peanuts. The animal model provides a new research tool that will be invaluable in furthering the understanding of the causes of peanut and other food allergies and in finding new ways to treat and prevent their occurrence.

Nearly A Century Later, New Findings Support Warburg Theory Of Cancer Posted: 14 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Pioneering German biochemist Otto H. Warburg's landmark theory about the origin of cancer has inspired debate and controversy for nearly 80 years. New research into mouse brain tumors has finally detailed the elusive biochemical basis for his theory.

Ovarian Cancer: Obese And Non-obese Patients Have Same Overall Survival Posted: 14 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST A new study showed that when actual body weight was used in chemo dosing for epithelial ovarian cancer, the overall survival is 40 months for non-obese patients and 47 months for obese patients, not a significant difference. Similar outcomes are seen in obese and non-obese cancer survivors being monitored for recurrence of their ovarian cancer, the study authors said. Earlier studies found obesity as a negative indicator.

Texas State Dinosaur Facing Name Change: Case Of Mistaken Dino-identity Posted: 14 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST A Texas legislator is seeking a name change for the official state dinosaur, after master's level research at Southern Methodist University revealed the titleholder was misidentified. The Texas State Dinosaur, currently identified as Pleurocoelus, is actually Paluxysaurus jonesi - a new genus and species unique to Texas.

Elderly May Have Higher Blood Pressure In Cold Weather Posted: 14 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Outdoor temperature and blood pressure appear to be correlated in the elderly, with higher rates of hypertension in cooler months, according to a new report.

Simply Weird Stuff: Making Supersolids With Ultracold Gas Atoms Posted: 14 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST Physicists have proposed a recipe for manipulating ultracold mixtures of atoms into a "supersolid," an exotic state of matter that behaves simultaneously as a solid and a friction-free superfluid.

Vitamin D Is The 'It' Nutrient Of The Moment Posted: 14 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "it" nutrient with health benefits for diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and now diabetes. A recent review article concluded that adequate intake of vitamin D may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed.

A Win-win: U-pick Pumpkin Farms Recycle Urban Leaves Posted: 14 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST The growing popularity of rural fall festivals, grade school farm tours, and "u-pick" pumpkin farms has resulted in an increase in consumer demand for pumpkins throughout the country. A critical challenge for pumpkin farmers promoting entertainment agriculture, or "agritourism," is maintaining fields that are weed-free, attractive, and safe for consumers.

Reduction In Antibody Gene Rearrangement In B Cells Related To Type 1 Diabetes, Lupus Posted: 14 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered that a B-cell editing process may go awry in people with certain types of autoimmune diseases.

New Technology Needed To Monitor Rain Forest Destruction Posted: 14 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST Human impact on tropical forest ecosystems has reached a "tsunami" stage, say scientists, and will require a new generation of sophisticated remote-sensing technology to monitor the changes. Roughly 1.4% of the world's tropical humid forests was deforested between 2000 and 2005, and that as of 2005 more than half of the forests contained 50% or less tree cover.

Evolution Of New Brain Area Enables Complex Movements Posted: 14 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST A new area of the cerebral cortex has evolved to enable man and higher primates to pick up small objects and deftly use tools. The brain's primary motor cortex turns out to have neighboring "old" and "new" parts. In most animals, including cats, rats and some monkeys, the old primary motor cortex controls movement indirectly through the circuitry of the spinal cord.

High Caffeine Intake Linked To Hallucination Proneness Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST High caffeine consumption could be linked to a greater tendency to hallucinate, a new research study suggests.

Potential New Weapon In Battle Against HIV Infection Identified Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered a potentially important new resistance factor in the battle against HIV: blood types. An international team of researchers have discovered that certain blood types are more predisposed to contracting HIV, while others are more effective at fending it off.

New Soybean Variety Sets Sights On Japanese Soyfoods Market Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST A new small-seed soybean variety that was developed for the lucrative Japanese soyfoods market has been released by Agricultural Research Service scientists.

Mutations Common To Cancer And Developmental Disorder Examined In A Novel Disease Model Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST A new zebrafish model of Costello syndrome is used to investigate this developmental illness and the control of a cancer-causing gene.

Might Migrating Birds Have Infected The Svalbard Arctic Fox With Parasites? Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST The cat is the main host for Toxoplasma and spreads the infection in its droppings. Previous research has shown that isolated island groups without cats are in reality free of the parasite. New research suggests that migratory birds are a probable source of infection for the Arctic fox population on Svalbard (the Spitsbergen archipelago).

Epidurals And Spinal Anesthetics Are Safer Than Previously Reported, Medical Study Shows Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST The largest ever prospective study into the major complications of epidurals and spinal anaesthetics concludes that previous studies have over-estimated the risks of severe complications of these procedures. The study concludes that the estimated risk of permanent harm following a spinal anesthetic or epidural is lower than 1 in 20,000 and in many circumstances the estimated risk is considerably lower.

Biodiversity Passes The Taste Test And Is Healthier Too Posted: 13 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Cattle and sheep grazed on natural grasslands help maintain biodiversity and produce tastier, healthier meat, according to a new study. The research, which draws together the social and natural science, concluded that pasture-based farming is good for the environment, the consumer and the producer but needs stronger support from British policy makers if it is to realize its full potential.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Worse In Women? Posted: 13 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Women appear to suffer more from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than men. The finding is revealed in research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research and Therapy.

Microswimmers Make Big Splash For Improved Drug Delivery Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST They may never pose a challenge to Olympic superstar Michael Phelps, but the "microswimmers" developed by researchers in Spain and the United Kingdom could break a long-standing barrier to improving delivery of medications for cancer and other diseases.

Healthy, Younger Adults Could Be At Risk For Heart Disease Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST Even younger adults who have few short-term risk factors for heart disease may have a higher risk of developing heart disease over their lifetimes, according to new findings.

Study Of Disease Risk Suggests Ways To Avoid Slaughter Of Yellowstone Bison Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST Last winter, government agencies killed one third of Yellowstone National Park's bison herd due to concerns about the possible spread of a livestock disease to cattle that graze in areas around the park. However, such drastic measures may be unnecessary, according to researchers who have assessed the risk of disease transmission from Yellowstone bison to cattle.

Gene Therapy Eliminates Brain Tumors Through Selective Recruitment Of Immune Cells Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists seeking to harness the power of the immune system to eradicate brain tumors face two major hurdles: recruiting key immune cells called dendritic cells into areas of the brain where they are not naturally found and helping them recognize tumor cells as targets for attack. Researchers have identified a sequence of molecular events that accomplish both objectives.

Continental-scale Salt Tectonics On Mars And The Origin Of Valles Marineris And Associated Outflow Channels Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST A synthesis of deformation patterns within and around the Thaumasia Plateau, Mars, points to a new interpretation for regional deformation and the origin of Valles Marineris and associated outflow channels.

Race And Gender Determine How Politicians Speak Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST A new study looks at speech patterns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and others. Race and gender influence the way politicians speak, which is not always to their advantage. Scientists compared the language of male and female, and black and white politicians to determine whether ethnicity and gender play a role in the way they speak.

Voracious Sponges In Underwater Caves Save Reefs Posted: 13 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Tropical oceans are known as the deserts of the sea. And yet this unlikely environment is the very place where the rich and fertile coral reef grows. Dutch researchers have investigated how caves in the coral reef ensure the reef's continued existence. Although sponges in these coral caves take up a lot of dissolved organic material, they scarcely grow. However, they do discard a lot of cells that in turn provide food for the organisms on the reef.

Getting Less Sleep Associated With Lower Resistance To Colds Posted: 13 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Individuals who get less than seven hours of sleep per night appear about three times as likely to develop respiratory illness following exposure to a cold virus as those who sleep eight hours or more, according to a new report.

Unconventional Superconductivity Discovered In New Iron Arsenide Compounds Posted: 13 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Scientists used inelastic neutron scattering to show that superconductivity in a new family of iron arsenide superconductors cannot be explained by conventional theories. Normally, electrons repel each other because of their similar charge, but, in superconductors, they coordinate with vibrations of the crystal lattice to overcome this repulsion.

Antibodies Produced Within Joints In Rheumatoid Arthritis Posted: 13 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Antibodies produced within the joints themselves may be responsible for joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis, according to new research.

'Refinery Dust' Reveals Clues About Local Polluters, Research Team Says Posted: 13 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Cloaked in the clouds of emissions and exhaust that hang over the city are clues that lead back to the polluting culprits, and a research team led by the University of Houston is hot on their trails.

Delusions Associated With Consistent Pattern Of Brain Injury Posted: 13 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST A new study provides a novel theory for how delusions arise and why they persist. Researchers performed an in-depth analysis of patients with certain delusions and brain disorders revealing a consistent pattern of injury to the frontal lobe and right hemisphere of the human brain.

'Smart Scaffolds' May Help Heal Broken Hearts Posted: 13 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST Canadian researchers have, for the first time, developed an organic substance that attracts and supports cells necessary for tissue repair and can be directly injected into problem areas. This development is a major step toward treatments that allow people to more fully recover from injury and disease and may even help reduce the need for organ transplantation.

Dirty Snow Causes Early Runoff In Cascades, Rockies Posted: 13 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST Soot from pollution causes winter snowpacks to warm, shrink and warm some more. This continuous cycle sends snowmelt streaming down mountains as much as a month early, a new study finds, which could exacerbate winter flooding and summer droughts. How pollution affects a mountain range's natural water reservoirs is important for water resource managers in the western United States and Canada who plan for hydroelectricity generation, fisheries and farming.

Most Heart Attack Patients' Cholesterol Levels Did Not Indicate Cardiac Risk Posted: 13 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST A new national study has shown that nearly 75 percent of patients hospitalized for a heart attack had cholesterol levels that would indicate they were not at high risk for a cardiovascular event, according to current national cholesterol guidelines.

Schistosomiasis Could Be Eradicated With Strategy Shift, Expert Aruges Posted: 13 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST A schistosomiasis expert concludes that global eradication of schistosomiasis is feasible if the current infection control strategy shifts to a proactive, comprehensive elimination strategy.

Mechanism For Dental Pain Uncovered Posted: 13 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered a novel function of the peptide known as Nerve Growth Factor in the development of the trigeminal nerve.

Giant Bird Feces Record Pre-human New Zealand Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST A treasure trove of information about pre-human New Zealand has been found in feces from giant extinct birds, buried beneath the floor of caves and rock shelters for thousands of years.

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