ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

New Shock Absorber Harvests Energy From Bumps In The Road, Increases Fuel Economy Posted: 13 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Undergraduate students have invented a shock absorber that harnesses energy from small bumps in the road, generating electricity while it smooths the ride more effectively than conventional shocks. The students hope to initially find customers among companies that operate large fleets of heavy vehicles. They have already drawn interest from the US military and several truck manufacturers.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Prevent Medical Complications Of Obesity, Study Suggests Posted: 13 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids protect the liver from damage caused by obesity and the insulin resistance it provokes. This research should give doctors and nutritionists valuable information when recommending weight-loss diets and help explain why some obese patients are more likely to suffer some complications associated with obesity. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in canola oil and fish.

Mother-of-pearl From Shells Could Inspire Regeneration of Human Bones Posted: 13 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have studied nacre's growing mechanism of gastropods, a step for the artificial reproduction of this material in laboratories which could make possible its use in biomedicine. Although molluscs have been producing nacre for million years, humans have not been able to reproduce it artificially. One of its possible applications would be the regeneration of human bones.

Fat-free Diet Reduces Liver Fat In Fat-free Mice, Researchers Report Posted: 13 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have uncovered crucial clues about a paradoxical disease in which patients with no body fat develop many of the health complications usually found in obese people.

Reducing Carbon Dioxide Through Technology And Smart Growth Posted: 13 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST A new study on climate change, published by Environmental Science and Technology, shows that "smart growth" combined with the use of hybrid vehicle technology could reduce cities' carbon dioxide emissions -- the principal driver of global warming -- significantly by 2050.

First-time Mothers At Greater Risk Of Psychosis In Month Following Childbirth Posted: 13 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST A study of risk factors associated with psychotic illness after childbirth shows that first-time mothers are at the greatest risk of developing psychosis in the month following the birth of their child -- even if they have never been treated in hospital for mental illness in the past.

Stem Cells From Skin Cells Can Make Beating Heart Muscle Cells Posted: 13 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST A little more than a year after scientists showed they could turn skin cells back into stem cells, they have pulsating proof that these "induced" stem cells can indeed form the specialized cells that make up heart muscle.

New Target For Medicine To Combat Alzheimer's: Scientists Confirm Protein's Key Role Posted: 13 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have demonstrated that a particular protein is extremely well suited to be a target for a new medicine against Alzheimer's disease.

Method For Detecting 23 Drugs And Medicines In Saliva Developed Posted: 13 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have developed a technique for detecting the presence of 23 illicit drugs and medicines in saliva samples. The method is already being used by the DGT in Spain, as part of a European study on the frequency of alcohol and drug consumption amongst drivers.

HIV Antiretroviral Medications Linked To Heart Attacks Posted: 13 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST New research findings help explain why some HIV patients treated with antiretroviral medications experience increased incidence of heart attacks.

Molecular Machines Drive Plasmonic Nanoswitches Posted: 13 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Plasmonics -- a possible replacement for current computing approaches -- may pave the way for the next generation of computers that operate faster and store more information than electronically-based systems and are smaller than optically-based systems, according to an engineer who has developed a plasmonic switch.

True Or False? How Our Brain Processes Negative Statements Posted: 13 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Previous research has suggested that including negative words in the middle of a sentence can throw off our brains and make it more difficult to understand. A new study reveals that the way negative statements are processed in the brain depends on the structure of the sentence itself. This indicates that negation, when it is useful and informative, does not make it more challenging for the brain to understand the negative meaning of the statement.

Astronomers Unveiling Life's Cosmic Origins Posted: 13 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST The foundations for life on Earth were laid by the processes of star and planet formation, and the production of complex, prebiotic molecules in interstellar space. Those processes are yielding their secrets to astronomers with powerful research tools and better tools are on the way.

Drug Found To Prevent Colon Cancer Development In Mice Posted: 13 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have found that a drug now being tested to treat a range of human cancers significantly inhibited colon cancer development in mice. Because the agent appears to have minimal side effects, it may represent an effective chemopreventive treatment in people at high risk for colon cancer, the investigators say.

Uranium Poisoning Treatment Developed Posted: 13 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a protein that binds to uranium selectively and tightly -- a simple, effective methods for the sensitive detection and effective treatment of uranium poisoning.

Bone Marrow Transplant Patients May Benefit From New Immune Research Posted: 13 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Bone marrow transplant researchers may have found a mechanism that could preserve the leukemia-killing effects of a transplant graft, while limiting the damage donor immune cells might do to the recipient host's vital organs.

Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Are Increasingly Recognized As A Source Of Food Poisoning Outbreaks Posted: 13 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Raw fruits and vegetables are good for you but may also send you to the doctor. New research highlights the fact that fresh fruits and vegetables are increasingly recognized as a source of food poisoning outbreaks in many parts of the world.

Read My Lips: Using Multiple Senses In Speech Perception Posted: 13 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST When someone speaks to you, do you see what they are saying? We tend to think of speech as being something we hear, but recent studies suggest that we use a variety of senses for speech perception - that speech is not meant to be just heard, but also to be seen. A new report describes research examining how our different senses blend together to help us perceive speech.

Code Of The Common Cold Cracked Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Scientists have begun to solve some of the mysteries of the common cold by putting together the pieces of the genetic codes for all the known strains of the human rhinovirus. The researchers say this work provides a powerful tool that may lead to the development of the first effective treatments against the common cold. The study also sheds light on the suspected cause of asthma and acute asthma attacks.

Can A Dietary Supplement Stave Off Hearing Loss? Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Many people take a vitamin each morning to maintain good nutrition, energy, bone strength, and overall health. Can popping a pill also protect our hearing against damage caused by loud noise?

Exercise After Knee Replacement Critical Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Exercising to strengthen your quadriceps after knee replacement surgery can boost the function of your new knee to nearly that of a healthy adult your age. It's a simple thing, but such rehab isn't common practice.

Healthy People With High Urinary Protein Levels Have Elevated Kidney Disease Risk Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Measuring the amount of protein lost in the urine can identify individuals at risk of developing kidney disease, according to a new study. The results suggest that a simple and low-cost urine screen is a promising way to address the epidemic of chronic kidney disease.

Biodiversity In Crops Decreases Fertilizer Damage To Rivers And Lakes Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Researchers have identified a link between the diversity of crops grown in farmlands and the pollution they create in lakes and rivers. Ecologists show that when the biodiversity of crops is high, less dissolved nitrogen is found exiting the surrounding watersheds.

Two Genes Influence Social Behavior, Visual-spatial Performance In People With Williams Syndrome Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Unraveling the genetics of social behavior and cognitive abilities, researchers have traced the role of two genes, GTF2I and GTF2IRD, in a rare genetic disorder known as Williams Syndrome.

Rift Zones: New Understanding Of Incredible Forces, Oil And Gas Reserves Beneath The Earth’s Surface Posted: 12 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Researchers have developed a new model to explain the forming of rift zones. Rift zones are long cracks in the Earth's crust between the tectonic plates. They are generally over 1000km long, 30-100km wide and up to 10km deep. Over time they fill up with the remains of volcanic explosions and other sediment. The research results has great significance for oil and natural gas exploration, plus our general understanding of the forces beneath.

Long-term Use Of Popular Inhalers Increases Risk Of Pneumonia For COPD Patients Posted: 12 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Newly published research out of Wake Forest University School of Medicine finds that a popular class of anti-inflammatory inhalers significantly increases the risk of pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic Asthma: Study Reveals Long-Lasting Airway Blockages, Even In Medicated Asthma Patients Posted: 12 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists now are able to get a much clearer picture of what happens inside the lungs of asthma patients, thanks to an innovative MRI technique that shows the flow of air within the lung. The new images show that asthma patients can continue to have persistent narrowing of airways over a span of a month or more – even while taking medication.

Angiogenesis Linked To Poor Survival In Patients With Rare Type Of Ovarian Cancer Posted: 12 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Researchers have found that increased angiogenesis, or blood vessel formation, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression are associated with poor survival in women with sex cord-stromal ovarian tumors.

Portuguese Mine Generates Acidic Water Following 43 Years Of Inactivity Posted: 12 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Located five kilometers from the Spanish border, the Portuguese São Domingos mine, abandoned since 1966, continues to pollute the river ways that flow into Chanza dam, the largest drinking water reservoir in the province of Huelva, according to scientists. The new study shows that oxidation and the dissolving of sulfurs are processes that remain active today, so the researchers are asking that solution plans be put in place.

Old Or Tired? How People Read And Rate Faces Posted: 12 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST How do people read faces to judge age or fatigue? This question is explored in the February issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

How Do You Build A Synthetic Brain? Posted: 12 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Nanocarbon modeling may be the next step toward emulating human brain function. That's the focus of a "synthetic cortex" under development.

Wrinkles Removed With Protein RHAMM, Study Shows Posted: 12 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Hollywood stars of a certain age take note: New research suggests that a protein linked to the spread of several major human cancers may also hold great potential for the elimination of wrinkles and the rejuvenation of the skin. If this promise bears fruit, the protein, called RHAMM, could one day replace injections with neurotoxins that carry such unpleasant side-effects as muscle paralysis and loss of facial expressions.

Artificial Vision Used To Improve Recycling Of Electronic Scrap Metal Posted: 12 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers are studying an innovative method based on multispectral artificial vision systems to enhance the value of electronic scrap which currently represent 4% of urban waste in Europe.

Cystic Fibrosis And Muscular Dystrophy: New Findings Raise Questions About Identifying Experimental Drug Posted: 12 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers have revealed surprising new insights into the process used to initially identify an experimental drug now being tested in people with cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.

Multimedia System Provides New View Of Musical Performance Posted: 12 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Musicians can now use 3D computer analysis to radically improve their technique using the latest research in multimedia technology.

Boys Have Greater Psychological Well-being Than Girls, Due To Better Physical Self-concept, Study Finds Posted: 12 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST New research has investigated the relationship between adolescents' perception of their physical qualities and their psychological well-being and unwellness.

Restoring Function Of A Mutant Gene Without Altering DNA Might Be Possible Posted: 12 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Researchers have demonstrated that it might be possible to treat genetic diseases, including some forms of cancer, by "rescuing" the misshapen, useless proteins produced by some mutant genes. The researchers demonstrate that manipulating the cellular amounts of a protein called Hsp70, they can give mutants another shot at refolding. The researchers believe it may be a means of hacking the natural biochemistry of cells to restore proteins otherwise lost to mutation.

People Who Exercise Lower Their Risk Of Colon Cancer Posted: 12 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST An ambitious new study has added considerable weight to the claim that exercise can lower the risk for colon cancer. Researchers combined and analyzed several decades worth of data from past studies on how exercise affects colon cancer risk. They found that people who exercised the most were 24 percent less likely to develop the disease than those who exercised the least.

A Better Mesh: Researchers 'Tighten' Body's Protective Coating Posted: 12 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Fibers in the mucus coatings of the eyes, lungs, stomach or reproductive system naturally bundle together and allow the tiniest disease-causing bugs, allergens or pollutants to slip by. But researchers have discovered how to shrink the holes in the mucus layer's "netting" so that it keeps out more unwanted particles.

Snail1 May Spur Cancer Cells By Stimulating Tissue Invasion And Angiogenesis Posted: 12 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST A transcription factor known to drive the formation of fibroblasts during development also promotes their ability to invade and remodel surrounding tissues, report researchers.

Mediterranean Sea Dried Up Five Million Years Ago Posted: 12 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Upward movement of the Earth's crust transformed the Straits of Gibraltar into a dam. Approximately five million years ago, the Mediterranean Sea dried up after it was sealed off from the Atlantic Ocean. According to earth scientists, a reduction in the weight on the Earth's crust led to the Straits of Gibraltar moving upwards.

Alcohol Advertisements Attract The Young Posted: 12 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Alcohol advertising and marketing may lead to underage drinking. A large systematic review of more than 13,000 people suggests that exposure to ads and product placements, even those supposedly not directed at young people, leads to increased alcohol consumption.

New Refrigeration System Based On Magnetics More Economical And Quieter Than Current Technology Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST An exotic metal alloy may be the key to a new quieter, more economical class of home and commercial refrigeration systems based on magnetics rather than conventional gas compression and expansion.

Women Who Drink Lots Of Soda At Higher Risk For Early Kidney Disease Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST Women who drink two or more cans of soda pop per day are nearly twice as likely to show early signs of kidney disease, a recent study has found. However, researchers did not find an elevated risk for men, or for people who drink diet soda.

Carbon Nanotube Avalanche Process Nearly Doubles Current Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST By pushing carbon nanotubes close to their breaking point, researchers have demonstrated a remarkable increase in the current-carrying capacity of the nanotubes, well beyond what was previously thought possible.

Lack Of Specific Gene Plays Role In Autism, Study Shows Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST It is estimated that three to six out of every 1,000 children in the United States have autism -- and the number of diagnosed cases is rising. Autism is one of a group of series developmental problems called autism spectrum disorders that appear in early childhood, usually before age 3. Through symptoms and severity vary, all autism disorders affect a child's ability to communicate and interact with others.

Fish Oil Alternatives To Farmed Fish Feed May Alleviate Global Seafood Shortage Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST Fish oil replacements for farmed fish feeds may help reduce the aquaculture industry's dependence on wild fisheries for their essential omega-3 requirements. This move may also help overcome existing barriers that impede the industry's expansion. A new study focuses on the effects of fish oil replacement in finfish nutrition on feed quality, fish performance, feed efficiency, lipid metabolism, final eating quality and related economic aspects.

How Your Brain Deciphers Cocktail Party Banter Posted: 12 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST Anyone who has tried to carry on a conversation in a roomful of talkers knows how difficult it can be to concentrate on what one person is saying while tuning everyone else out. Researchers now have a better picture of how the brain manages this feat.

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