ScienceDaily: Latest Science News |
| Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have found the oldest evidence for animals in the fossil record. The researchers examined sedimentary rocks in south Oman, and found an anomalously high amount of steroids that date back to 635 million years ago, to around the end of the last ice age. The steroids are produced by sponges -- one of the simplest forms of multicellular animals. |
| Ritalin May Cause Changes In Brain’s Reward Areas; Effects May Overlap With Those Of Cocaine Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST A common treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, prescribed millions of times a year, may change the brain in the same ways that cocaine does, a new study in mice suggests. Research shows that methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin, causes physical changes in neurons in reward regions of mouse brains. In some cases, the effects overlapped with those of cocaine. |
| Chocolate Drink Used In Rituals In New Mexico 1,000 Years Ago Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Inhabitants of Chaco Canyon apparently drank chocolate from cylinders about a thousand years ago. Archaeologists generally agree the vessels were used for some ritual, but there has been great disagreement about the specific use of the vessels. Crown was thinking about how the Maya drank chocolate from ceramic cylinders, and wondered whether the cylinders found at Chaco might have been used in the same way. It was clear that the Maya used the cylinders for chocolate. Experts could read the glyphs on the vessels that made it clear they were chocolate containers. |
| Gene Variants Affecting Blood Fats Identified Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have identified new genetic sites harboring common variations in DNA that are linked to imbalances in concentrations of blood lipids (fats). The findings provide another step forward in understanding the genetic contribution to dyslipidemia, a condition marked by overproduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL "bad" cholesterol) and triglycerides, and underproduction of high-density lipoprotein (HDL "good"cholesterol). |
| Toward 'Invisible Electronics' And Transparent Displays Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers in California are reporting an advance toward the long-sought goal of "invisible electronics" and transparent displays, which can be highly desirable for heads-up displays, wind-shield displays, and electronic paper. |
| Rich Man, Poor Man: Body Language Can Indicate Socioeconomic Status, Study Shows Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST A new study in Psychological Science reveals that nonverbal cues can give away a person's socioeconomic status (SES). Volunteers whose parents were from upper SES backgrounds displayed more disengagement-related behaviors compared to participants from lower SES backgrounds. In addition, when a separate group of observers were shown 60 second clips of the videos, they were able to correctly guess the participants' SES background, based on their body language. |
| Global Warming May Delay Recovery Of Stratospheric Ozone Posted: 05 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Increasing greenhouse gases could delay, or even postpone indefinitely the recovery of stratospheric ozone in some regions of the Earth, a new study suggests. This change might take a toll on public health. |
| Discovery Could Lead To New Autism Treatment Posted: 05 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered a structure in the brain called the Fragile X granule, which offers a potential target for treating autism and mental retardation. |
| Katrina-flooded Homes May Contain Harmful Levels Of Contaminants Posted: 05 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Katrina-flooded homes may contain harmful levels of contaminants, particularly aerosols and gases, which could expose first-responders, residents and any others entering such homes to serious and lasting health risks. The results could also be applied to similar flooding events that might occur in the future. |
| In Vitro Fertilization Plancentation May Differ From Normal Plancentation Posted: 05 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers found distinct differences in protein detection between IVF and spontaneous pregnancies in the first half of gestation. |
| Nanotubes Trigger Biochemical 'Cross Talk' For Consumer Protection Tests Posted: 05 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers in West Virginia and Japan are reporting an advance toward a blood test that could help protect consumers from new products containing potentially harmful kinds of nanotubes. These ultra small wisps of carbon -- 1/5,000th the width a single human hair -- may become the basis for multibillion-dollar medical, consumer electronics, and other industries in the future. |
| Posted: 05 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST We have an evolved mental readiness to be fearful of certain things in our world. It's known that people are more fearful of "out-groups" -- people who are different from them. A new study reveals that volunteers' most persistent fears were reserved for men -- that is, male members of the out-group. So white men and women feared black men, and black men and women feared white men; all the other lab-induced fears diminished. |
| Surgeons Use Microwave Technology To Destroy Tumors Posted: 05 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST A new minimally-invasive option for treating liver tumors, called microwave ablation, is now becoming available at more hospitals in the U.S. The method, simply put, involves zapping and destroying liver tumors with heat derived from microwave energy. |
| Vitamin D Found To Stimulate A Protein That Inhibits The Growth Of Breast Cancer Cells Posted: 05 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Calcitrol, the active form of vitamin D, has been found to induce a tumor suppressing protein that can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, according to a new study. |
| Global Scientists Draw Attention To Threat Of Ocean Acidification Posted: 05 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST More than 150 leading marine scientists from 26 countries are calling for immediate action by policy-makers to sharply reduce carbon dioxide emissions so as to avoid widespread and severe damage to marine ecosystems from ocean acidification. |
| Process Found To Play Role In Rheumatoid Arthritis Could Lead To New Treatment Posted: 05 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Although the origin of rheumatoid arthritis remains unclear, bioactive proteins known as cytokines, particularly TNF± and IL-6, which are involved in inflammation, play a major role in the disease by contributing to joint and tissue destruction. |
| Connectivity Illuminates Risk Of Spread Of Crop Pests, Diseases Posted: 05 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Graphical analysis of the distribution of crops in the United States identifies crops and regions that might be particularly vulnerable to pathogens. The work could help formulate preventive measures and emergency response strategies for dealing with pest outbreaks. |
| Divorce, Antidepressants, Or Weight Gain/loss Can Add Years To Your Face Posted: 05 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Your mother's wrinkles -- or lack there of, may not be the best predictor of how you'll age. In fact, a new study claims just the opposite. The study, involving identical twins, suggests that despite genetic make-up, certain environmental factors can add years to a person's perceived age. |
| Powerful New Technique Measures Asteroids' Sizes And Shapes Posted: 04 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Astronomers have devised a new method for measuring the size and shape of asteroids that are too small or too far away for traditional techniques, increasing the number of asteroids that can be measured by a factor of several hundred. This method takes advantage of the unique capabilities of ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer. |
| Chondroitin Slows Progression And Relieves Symptoms Of Knee Osteoarthritis Posted: 04 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Osteoarthritis causes disability and is a major public health problem. A new study examined the effect of chondroitins 4 and 6 sulfate on osteoarthritis progression and symptoms. |
| March Launch Planned For ESA's Gravity Mission Posted: 04 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST ESA is now gearing up to return to Russia to oversee preparations for the launch of its GOCE satellite – now envisaged for launch on 16 March 2009. This follows implementation of the corrective measures after the anomaly with the Rockot launcher that delayed the launch of GOCE by Eurockot Launch Services last October. |
| Sudden Cardiac Death Without Recognizable Cause Posted: 04 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST In about 10% of cases, sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people is due to a cardiac gene defect. Sudden cardiac death is defined as unexpected death occurring rapidly--usually within 1 h of the onset of symptoms--in persons who had previously seemed to be healthy. |
| Plant Soybeans Early To Increase Yield Posted: 04 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Planting date is probably one of the most important yet least expensive management decisions that significantly affects soybean yield, yet few scientists have studies the effect of early planting. |
| 'Inoculating' Elderly Against Slip-related Falls Posted: 04 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Training people to avoid falls by repeatedly exposing them to unstable situations in the laboratory helped them to later maintain their balance on a slippery floor. The study furthered the understanding of how the brain develops fall prevention strategies that can be generalized to a variety of conditions and could eventually help people, including the elderly, for whom falling is an important health issue. |
| Natural Predispositions Determine The Social Roles Of Bees Posted: 04 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Bees have an innate tendency to form social connections. What is the origin of this social behavior? Researchers have discovered that distribution of labor, which is a feature of the social organization of bee colonies, is a result of the existence of insects specialized in aversive and appetitive responses to stimuli. |
| Cardiac Imaging Method May Expose Patients To High Radiation Dose Posted: 04 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Use of the imaging technique known as cardiac computed tomography angiography has the potential to expose patients to high doses of radiation, and methods available to reduce radiation dose are not frequently used, according to a new study. |
| Arctic Region Underprepared For Maritime Accidents, Report Finds Posted: 04 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST The existing infrastructure for responding to maritime accidents in the Arctic is limited and more needs to be done to enhance emergency response capacity as Arctic sea ice declines and ship traffic in the region increases, according to new report. |
| Exercise Plays Large Role In Recovery From Knee Replacement And Occurrence Of Osteoarthritis Posted: 04 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Two new studies found that exercise may be a factor in recovering from a total knee replacement and knee osteoarthritis. |
| Researchers Help Unlock The Secrets Of Gene Regulatory Networks Posted: 04 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Gene regulatory networks are the complex networks of gene interactions that direct the development of any given species. In four new articles researchers consider new developments in the field. |
| Happy Employees Are Critical For An Organization's Success, Study Shows Posted: 04 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST When employees have high levels of psychological well-being and job satisfaction, they perform better and are less likely to leave their job -- making happiness a valuable tool for maximizing organizational outcomes. |
| Potential New Herpes Therapy Studied Posted: 04 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers are trying to employ a specially designed RNA enzyme to inhibit strains of the herpes simplex virus. The enzyme disables a gene responsible for producing a protein involved in the maturation and release of viral particles in an infected cell. The technique appears to be effective in experiments with mice and rabbits. |
| What Your Mother Did When She Was A Child May Have An Effect On Your Memory Posted: 04 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST A study of brain function in young, memory-deficient mice reveals that a stimulating environment improves not only their memory but also the memory of their memory-deficient offspring. If this improvement also occurs in humans, a mother's youthful experiences may help shape her children's ability to learn. |
| Tobacco Smoke And Alcohol Harm Liver Worse As Combo Posted: 04 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Mice exposed to secondhand smoke and who drank ethanol had 110 percent more liver fibrosis proteins than mice who breathed filtered air, according to the findings of a new study. Elevated risk of liver disease is now added to mounting evidence that tobacco smoke and alcohol are worse for health as a combination, beyond the individual exposure risks, researchers said. |
| How A Cell’s Mitotic Motors Direct Key Life Processes Posted: 04 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST In a cleverly designed experiment, cell biologists have discovered how dyneins organize chromosome placement to prepare for cell division. The surprise finding suggests it's the motor domain of the nanoscale chemical engine, not the cargo domain as once believed, that directs pre-mitotic action. |
| How Your Body Clock Avoids Hitting The Snooze Button Posted: 04 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Scientists have discovered a new part of the mechanism which allows our body clocks to reset themselves on a molecular level. |
| Early Whales Gave Birth On Land, Fossil Find Reveals Posted: 04 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Two newly described fossil whales -- a pregnant female and a male of the same species -- reveal how primitive whales gave birth and provide new insights into how whales made the transition from land to sea. |
| Tinkering With Circadian Clock Can Suppress Cancer Growth Posted: 04 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Researchers have shown that disruption of the circadian clock -- the internal time-keeping mechanism that keeps the body running on a 24-hour cycle -- can slow the progression of cancer. |
| Can Cannibalism Fight Infections? Posted: 04 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Whenever humans create a new antibiotic, deadly bacteria can counter it by turning into new, indestructible super-bugs. That's why bacterial infection is the number one killer in hospitals today. But new research may give drug developers the upper hand in outsmarting bacteria once and for all. The secret weapon against a colony of bacteria may be to stress it with its own protection system, which forces it to reduce its population through cannibalism. |
| Small Device Helps Sleep Apnea Sufferers In A Big Way Posted: 04 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST A new device helps pull the lower jaw forward, creating an open airway in the throat to benefit those with moderate to severe sleep apnea. It is more appealing, affordable and easier to use than standard therapies. |
| Genetic Marker For Insecticide Resistance In Mosquitoes Identified Posted: 04 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST The genetic basis for resistance to commonly-used insecticides in Anopheles funestus, one of the major malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Africa has been identified. |
| Neurobiologist Proposes ‘The End Of Sex As We Once Knew It’ Posted: 04 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Women are not from Venus any more than men are from Mars. But even though both sexes are perfectly terrestrial beings, they are not lacking in other differences. And not only in their reproductive organs and behavior, either, but in such unsexy characteristics as the propensity for drug abuse, fine motor control, reaction to stress, moods and many brain structures. |
| At 2,500 Pounds And 43 Feet, Prehistoric Snake Is Largest On Record Posted: 04 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST The largest snake the world has ever known -- as long as a school bus and as heavy as a small car -- ruled tropical ecosystems only 6 million years after the demise of the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex, according to a new discovery published in the journal Nature. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Latest Science News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
Inbox too full?  Subscribe to the feed version of ScienceDaily: Latest Science News in a feed reader. | |
| If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News, c/o Google, 20 W Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment