ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Astronomers Get A Sizzling Weather Report From Distant Planet Posted: 29 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST Astronomers have observed the intense heating of a distant planet as it swung close to its parent star, providing important clues to the atmospheric properties of the planet. The observations enabled astronomers to generate realistic images of the planet by feeding the data into computer simulations of the planet's atmosphere.

First Gene Discovered For Most Common Form Of Epilepsy Posted: 29 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have uncovered the first gene linked to the most common type of epilepsy, called Rolandic epilepsy. One out of every five children with epilepsy is diagnosed with this form, which is associated with seizures starting in one part of the brain.

Global Warming From Carbon Dioxide Will Increase Five-fold Over The Next Millennia, Scientists Predict Posted: 29 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have found that heating from carbon dioxide will increase five-fold over the next millennia.

New Role For Serotonin 'Ironed Out' Posted: 29 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST Investigators have found a surprising link between brain iron levels and serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in neuropsychiatric conditions ranging from autism to major depression. The new study also demonstrates the utility of a powerful in silico approach for discovering novel traits linked to subtle genetic variation.

New Catalyst Paves The Path For Ethanol-powered Fuel Cells Posted: 29 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have developed a new catalyst that could make ethanol-powered fuel cells feasible. The highly efficient catalyst performs two crucial, and previously unreachable steps needed to oxidize ethanol and produce clean energy in fuel cell reactions.

Adolescents With Unpopular Names More Prone To Committing Crime Posted: 29 Jan 2009 08:00 AM PST A new study examined the relationship between first name popularity in adolescents and tendency to commit crime. Results show that, regardless of race, juveniles with unpopular names are more likely to engage in criminal activity.

Reptile Fossil Reignites Debate Over New Zealand Submergence Posted: 29 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST The fossil of a lizard-like New Zealand reptile has been identified by a team of scientists. The fossil, dating back 18 million years, has triggered fresh arguments over whether the continent was fully submerged some 25 million years ago.

Previously Unidentified Bacteria May Cause Preterm Birth Posted: 29 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST A new study suggests that that previously unidentified bacteria may play a key role in intra-amniotic inflammation and ultimately preterm births.

Mars Rover Team Diagnosing Unexpected Behavior Posted: 29 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST The team operating NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit plans diagnostic tests this week after Spirit did not report some of its weekend activities, including a request to determine its orientation after an incomplete drive.

Humans With Rare Defects In The Insulin Receptor Signaling Pathway Provide Insight Into A Common Metabolic Defect Posted: 29 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Analysis of individuals with rare, molecularly defined defects in the signaling pathway activated by the hormone insulin (which controls blood glucose levels) has provided new insight that might be applicable to the many individuals with obesity-related resistance to insulin, something that predisposes individuals to type 2 diabetes.

New Method Prevents MicroRNAs From Escaping Cells Posted: 29 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST MicroRNAs -- one of the tiniest entities in the human genome -- are great escape artists. Despite scientists' best efforts to detect and capture them in different tissues, they often manage to make a getaway, sneaking through the tissues' tiny holes before anyone can detect them.

I Feel Your Pain: Neural Mechanisms Of Empathy Posted: 29 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Is it possible to share a pain that you observe in another but have never actually experienced yourself? A new study uses a sophisticated brain-imaging technique to try and answer this question. The research provides insight into brain mechanisms involved in empathy.

Nuclear Fusion-fission Hybrid Could Contribute To Carbon-free Energy Future Posted: 29 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST Physicists have designed a new system that, when fully developed, would use fusion to eliminate most of the transuranic waste produced by nuclear power plants, making nuclear power a more viable alternative to carbon-based energy sources.

New NA Inhibitor Offers Long-Lasting Protection Against Influenza Virus Posted: 29 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST A recent study suggests that a derivative of a new potent neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor offers long-lasting protection against various strains of influenza viruses A and B, including the avian influenza subtype N1 and current drug-resistant strains.

Astronauts On International Space Station Lose Alarming Amounts Of Hipbone Strength Posted: 29 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST Astronauts spending months in space lose significant bone strength, making them increasingly at risk for fractures later in life.

Combined Aerobic And Strength Exercises May Help Decrease Functional Limitations And Insulin Resistance Among Obese Older Adults Posted: 29 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST Sedentary, obese older adults appear to improve their functional abilities and reduce insulin resistance through a combination of resistance and aerobic exercises, according to a new report.

Tracking Poultry Litter Phosphorus: Threat Of Accumulation? Posted: 29 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST A recent analysis of soils in the Delmarva Peninsula has shown that two forms of phosphorus are heavily present as a result of composted poultry litter, and two scientists have measured the accumulation of one of these forms from the manure to the crop soils.

'Paperless' Hospitals Are Better For Patients, Study Confirms Posted: 29 Jan 2009 02:00 AM PST Results from a large-scale study of more than 40 hospitals and 160,000 patients show that when health information technologies replace paper forms and handwritten notes, both hospitals and patients benefit strongly.

Is Technology Producing A Decline In Critical Thinking And Analysis? Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST As technology has played a bigger role in our lives, our skills in critical thinking and analysis have declined, while our visual skills have improved, according to psychological research.

Earlier Diagnosis Of Uterine Cancer Possible With New Findings Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST Cancer of the uterus (womb) is the commonest gynaecological malignancy in the West. Medical researchers have now identified a gene that may simplify future diagnosis.

Hoard Of Hundreds Of Antique Gold Coins Uncovered In Walls Around Jerusalem National Park Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST One thousand three hundred year old Chanukah money in Jerusalem: a hoard of more than 250 gold coins was exposed December 11 in excavations in the Walls Around Jerusalem National Park. "This is one of the largest and most impressive coin hoards ever discovered in Jerusalem -- certainly the largest and most important of its period," archaeologists said.

Loop Diuretics And Fractures In Postmenopausal Women Studied Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST Short-term use of loop diuretics does not appear to be associated with changes in bone mineral density, falls or fractures in postmenopausal women, according to a new report. However, prolonged use of loop diuretics may increase fracture risk in this group.

Biofuels Ignite Food Crisis Debate Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST Study highlights problems linked to converting crops into biofuels. Taking up valuable land and growing edible crops for biofuels poses a dilemma: Is it ethical to produce inefficient renewable energies at the expense of an already malnourished population? Researchers highlight the problems linked to converting a variety of crops into biofuels. Not only are these renewable energies inefficient, they are also economically and environmentally costly and nowhere near as productive as projected.

Controlling Neglected Tropical Diseases May Be Key To US Foreign Policy Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 PM PST Stating that neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) not only promote poverty but also destabilize communities, experts call upon the public-health and foreign-policy communities to embrace medical diplomacy and NTD control as a means to combat terrorism.

Honey Bees Can Tell The Difference Between Different Numbers At A Glance Posted: 28 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST The remarkable honey bee can tell the difference between different numbers at a glance. A fresh, astonishing revelation about the 'numeracy' of insects has emerged.

Fast-food Diet Cancels Out Benefits Of Breastfeeding In Preventing Asthma, Study Shows Posted: 28 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST Eating fast food more than once or twice a week negated the beneficial effects that breastfeeding has in protecting children from asthma.

Infants Draw On Past To Interpret Present, Understand Other People's Behavior Posted: 28 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST Psychologists have learned that 10-month-old infants use their prior exposure and understanding of familiar actions by a person to unravel novel actions. However, this ability is limited by the location in which the new action is performed.

New Class Of Small RNAs Discovered: Function Defined Posted: 28 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered a new class of small RNAs and the presence of a strikingly novel biochemical pathway for RNA processing in which these and possibly other small RNAs are produced. These findings significantly improve our understanding of how functional information is stored in the genome.

Hybrid Foams And Lightweight Constructions Posted: 28 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST A special process will make it possible to improve the mechanical, thermal and acoustic properties of foams in the future. This will be of particular benefit to lightweight construction.

Contagious Products: For Good Luck, Stay Close To A Winner Posted: 28 Jan 2009 08:00 PM PST Is luck contagious? A new study sheds light on why, at a casino, people seem to gather around machines and people on a winning streak.

New Twist On Old Medical Technology May Prevent Amputations Posted: 28 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Old technologies, bone cement and a well known antibiotic, may effectively fight an emerging infection in soldiers with compound bone fractures, according to a new study. An urgent search for solutions is underway as 20,000 additional American soldiers head for Afghanistan, and as evidence emerges that the infection studied may set the stage for more dangerous infections that can lead to amputation.

Bears, Gazelles And Rats Inspire New Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment Posted: 28 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Observing bears, gazelles and rats has inspired a new Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) model and treatment.

Reducing Salt Intake Isn't The Only Way To Reduce Blood Pressure Posted: 28 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Most people know that too much sodium from foods can increase blood pressure. A new study suggests that people trying to lower their blood pressure should also boost their intake of potassium, which has the opposite effect to sodium. Researchers found that the ratio of sodium-to-potassium in subjects' urine was a much stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease than sodium or potassium alone.

Superconductivity: Pseudogap Persists As Material Superconducts Posted: 28 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Physicists combined two investigative techniques to discover that the mysterious pseudogap state that precedes superconductivity actually persists and may even compete with the phase where materials conduct electricity with zero resistance.

Shaken Self-confidence? Certain Products And Activities Can Fix It Posted: 28 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Someone who has momentarily lost confidence in her intelligence is more likely to purchase a pen than a candy bar, according to a new study. The pen helps restore her belief in herself as an intelligent person.

Birds Survived Mass Extinction That Wiped Out Dinosaurs Because Of Their Larger Brains Posted: 28 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST The Cretaceous--Tertiary mass extinction 65 million years ago may have wiped out the dinosaurs, but those that survived -- the ancestors of today's birds -- may have done so because of their bird brains.

Major Immune System Branch Has Hidden Ability To Learn Posted: 28 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST Half of the immune system has a hidden talent, researchers have discovered. They found the innate immune system, long recognized as a specialist in rapidly and aggressively combating invaders, has cells that can learn from experience and fight better when called into battle a second time. Scientists previously thought any such ability was limited to the immune system's other major branch, the adaptive immune system.

Chemical Come-on Successfully Lures Lovesick Lampreys To Traps Posted: 28 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST A synthetic chemical version of what male sea lampreys use to attract spawning females can lure them into traps and foil the mating process of the destructive invasive species. A professor of fisheries and wildlife, with colleagues developed a synthetic lamprey pheromone that shows promise for controlling the destructive parasitic species.

Is Rapid Transition Through Menopause Linked To Earlier Onset Of Heart Disease? Posted: 28 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST An evaluation of 203 women found that those who transitioned more quickly through menopause were at increased risk for a higher rate of progression of "preclinical atherosclerosis" -- narrowing of arteries caused by the thickening of their walls.

Gene-engineered Flies Are Pest Solution Posted: 28 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST For the first time, male flies of a serious agricultural pest, the medfly, have been bred to generate offspring that die whilst they are still embryos. Researchers describe the creation of the flies that, when released into a wild population, could out-compete the normal male flies and cause a generation of pests to be stillborn -- protecting important crops.

Stress Disrupts Human Thinking, But The Brain Can Bounce Back Posted: 28 Jan 2009 02:00 PM PST Med school students prepping for their boards and rodents digging for food have a bit of psychology in common: Stress hampers their nimbler thinking abilities. A new neuroimaging study, building on earlier rodent research, shows that stressed-out men, like rats, have a hard time shifting their attention from one task to another. But the work holds good news too, for both rats and humans: Their brains are resilient. Less than one month after the stress disappears, the quick thinking returns.

Ancient Wounds Reveal Triceratops Battles Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST How did the dinosaur Triceratops use its three horns? The horns and frills of horned dinosaurs were not just for looks. Battle scars on the skulls of Triceratops preserve rare evidence of Cretaceous-era combat.

Skin Cell Into Sperm Or Egg? Human Induced Plurtipotent Stem Cells Reprogrammed Into Germ Cell Precursors Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST For the first time, researchers have reprogrammed human induced pluripotent stem cells into the cells that eventually become eggs and sperm, possibly opening the door for new treatments for infertility using patient-specific cells. Theoretically, an infertile patient's skin cells, for example, could be taken and reprogrammed into iPS cells, which, like embryonic stem cells, have the ability to become every cell type in the human body. Those cells could then be transformed into germ line precursor cells that would eventually become eggs and sperm.

Dynamical Theory And Novel 4-D Colorimetric Method Reveal Modus Operandi Of Intact Living Brain Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST For the brain to achieve its intricate functions such as perception, action, attention and decision making, neural regions have to work together yet still retain their specialized roles. Excess or lack of timely coordination between brain areas lies at the core of a number of psychiatric and neurological disorders such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorders and depression. How the brain is coordinated is a complex and difficult problem in need of new theoretical insights as well as new methods of investigation.

Bacterial Intestinal Infections: Was It The Chicken Salad, Private Well Water, Or The Swim? Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST A new study finds swimming, having a private well or septic system, and other factors not involving food consumption were major risk factors for bacterial intestinal infections not occurring in outbreaks.

Artificial Mechanism Analogous To Human Body Clock Created In Mammalian Cell Cultures For First Time Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Scientists have succeeded in artificially creating mechanisms analogous to the human body clock in mammalian cell cultures for the first time ever -- a first step towards therapeutic use.

Does Smokeless Tobacco Help Smokers Quit Cigarettes? Posted: 28 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Some smokers say they just can't quit cigarettes. But previous studies of smokers in Sweden have suggested that many have done just that, by switching to smokeless tobacco. While not without health risks, smokeless tobacco is less harmful than cigarettes.

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