ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Air-filled Bones Extended Lung Capacity And Helped Prehistoric Reptiles Take First Flight Posted: 18 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST In the Mesozoic Era, 70 million years before birds first conquered the skies, pterosaurs dominated the air with sparrow- to Cessna-sized wingspans. Researchers suspected that these extinct reptiles sustained flight through flapping, based on fossil evidence from the wings, but had little understanding of how pterosaurs met the energetic demands of active flight.

Tiny 'Lab-on-a-chip' Detects Pollutants, Disease And Biological Weapons Posted: 18 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST For centuries, animals have been our first line of defense against toxins. A canary in a coalmine served as a living monitor for poisonous gases. Scientists used fish to test for contaminants in our water. Even with modern advances, though, it can take days to detect a fatal chemical or organism. Until now. Working in the miniaturized world of nanotechnology, researchers have made an enormous -- and humane -- leap forward in the detection of pollutants.

Nanotechnology: Lithium-Ion Batteries Have Better Performance With New Electrode Material Posted: 18 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST Researchers have created hybrid carbon nanotube metal oxide arrays as electrode material that may improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries.

Pathologically Elevated Blood Fat Levels In Obesity: Molecular Causes Discovered Posted: 18 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered a mechanism in liver metabolism that is responsible for pathologically elevated blood fat levels found in severe metabolic disorders. Mice suffering from metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes produce only small amounts of a molecule called LSR in the liver. As a result, only small amounts of fat are transported from the blood into the liver and blood fat levels rise immensely.

Nanotube's 'Tapestry' Controls Its Growth Posted: 18 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST Materials scientists have put a new "twist" on carbon nanotube growth. The researchers found nanotubes grow like tiny molecular tapestries, woven from twisting, single-atom threads. The research finds a direct relationship between a nanotube's "chiral" angle -- the amount it's twisted -- and how fast it grows.

Surfing The Net Helps Seniors Cope With Pain Posted: 18 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST Surfing the Internet could provide significant relief for seniors with chronic pain, according to new research.

Bin Laden's Hide-out? Geographers Urge US To Search Three Structures In Pakistan For Bin Laden Posted: 18 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST While U.S. intelligence officials have spent more than seven years searching fruitlessly for Osama bin Laden, geographers say they have a good idea of where the terrorist leader was at the end of 2001 -- and perhaps where he has been in the years since.

New Light On Longstanding Medical Mystery That May Link Cardiovascular Disease, Osteoporosis And Perhaps Even Alzheimer's Disease Posted: 18 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST A researcher finds a clue to the calcification process by studying how a genetic mutation in rats makes them resistant to poison but also leaves them susceptible to arterial calcification and, potentially, osteoporosis.

Could Nanotechnology Make An Average Donut Into Health Food? Posted: 18 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST European food companies already use nanotechnology in consumer products, but few voluntarily inform consumers. "The promise of nanotechnology," a Dutch scientist said, "is that it could allow re-engineering ingredients to bring healthy nutrients more efficiently to the body while allowing less-desirable components to pass on through."

New Guideline For Prescribing Opioid Pain Drugs Posted: 18 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST A national panel of national pain management experts has published the first comprehensive, evidence-based clinical practice guideline to assist clinicians in prescribing potent opioid pain medications for patients with chronic non-cancer pain.

Environmental Impact Of Building Construction Can Now Be Predicted Posted: 18 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a method that makes it possible to evaluate the environmental impacts caused during the construction of buildings in advance. Before beginning the works, with just the project data, the new method makes it possible to predict up to 37 environmental impacts. This information, according to the creators, could help improve environmental management in the construction processes.

Heart Attacks: Patients Treated By Experienced Doctors In Experienced Hospitals Most Likely To Survive, Study Finds Posted: 18 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST When it comes to treating heart attacks, experience matters. New research shows that patients have a much better chance of survival when both their hospital and their physician have a strong track record in treating heart attack with angioplasty and stenting.

In Flurry Of Studies, Researcher Details Role Of Apples In Inhibiting Breast Cancer Posted: 18 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Six studies published in the past year by a Cornell researcher add to growing evidence that an apple a day -- as well as daily helpings of other fruits and vegetables -- can help keep the breast-cancer doctor away.

Engineers Create Intelligent Molecules That Seek And Destroy Diseased Cells Posted: 18 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Current treatments for diseases like cancer typically destroy nasty malignant cells, while also hammering the healthy ones. Using new advances in synthetic biology, researchers are designing molecules intelligent enough to recognize diseased cells, leaving the healthy cells alone.

Working Toward Artificial Corneas Posted: 18 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Extremely intense X-rays from Diamond - the UK's national synchrotron - are helping to advance research into the understanding and treatment of eye diseases. Due to the detailed nature of the experiments, researchers are making discoveries about the eye that should help to advance laser surgeries such as LASIK and contribute to the eventual development of an artificial cornea.

Black Women With Uterine Cancers More Likely To Die Than White Patients Posted: 18 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Black women with cancers of the uterus are less likely to survive the disease than white women, and relatively little progress has been made over the past two decades to narrow this racial difference.

Measuring Molecules To Improve Drug Design Posted: 18 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST CSIRO has patented an improved microscopy method for measuring the shapes and sizes of proteins which could help scientists create new pharmaceuticals that are a better match for the proteins they target.

New Diagnoses May Provide Window Of Opportunity For Health Behavior Change Posted: 18 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Older adults appear more likely to quit smoking or lose weight following a recent diagnosis of heart disease, diabetes or another serious condition, according to a new report.

Robot Playmates Monitor Emotional State Of Children With Autism Posted: 18 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST The day that robot playmates help children with autism learn the social skills that they naturally lack has come a step closer with the development of a system that allows a robot to monitor a child's emotional state.

Gene Linked To Aggressive Progression Of Liver Cancer Identified Posted: 18 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have identified a gene that plays a key role in regulating liver cancer progression, a discovery that could one day lead to new targeted therapeutic strategies to fight the highly aggressive disease.

Compact Biosensor For Wide-ranging Applications Under Development Posted: 18 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Scientists are developing a sensor system for biomolecules that could make a significant contribution to a variety of fields such as healthcare, veterinary diagnostics, food safety, environmental testing, and national security.

Routine Scans For Low-back Pain Do Not Improve Outcomes Posted: 18 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Physicians should not immediately order routine scans for low-back pain unless they observe features of a serious underlying condition, researchers report. Performing routine X-rays or MRIs for patients with low-back pain does not lead to improved pain, function or anxiety level, and there are even some trends toward worse outcomes.

Accidental Wireless: Wireless-based Sensor System Could SAVE Lives Posted: 18 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Following a rollover automobile accident, driver and passengers are usually unable to call for help. So, unless the accident occurs on a busy road, rescue is unlikely to arrive in time to save them. Researchers describe SAVE, which could solve that problem and reduce deaths on the roads.

Chronic Low-back Pain On The Rise: Study Finds 'Alarming Increase' In Prevalence Posted: 18 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST The proportion of people suffering from long term, impairing low back pain has more than doubled in North Carolina since the early 1990s, according to a new study. What's more, researchers believe the increase may be indicative of a similar trend across the country.

If You're Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be Too, Says Veterinary Study Posted: 17 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST In a new, year-long survey of dog owners who use confrontational or aversive methods to train aggressive pets, veterinary researchers have found that most of these animals will continue to be aggressive unless training techniques are modified.

Fibromyalgia Pain Linked To Central Nervous System Dysfunction Posted: 17 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Widespread body pain in fibromyalgia patients is associated with specific brain metabolite abnormalities, according to new research.

Growing Peppers: Does Hotter Mean Healthier? Posted: 17 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is a major plant disease that affects many crop species worldwide, including chile peppers in New Mexico. Farmers' observations suggested that Phytophthora capsici caused less damage in pepper crops of the hot pepper varieties than low-heat pepper varieties.

New Genes Involved In Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Play Fundamental Role In Prognosis Of The Disease Posted: 17 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST The inactivity or "silence" of certain genes plays a fundamental role in the prognosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as well as in response to treatment, according to a new study.

Semantic Web Promises A Smarter Electricity Grid Posted: 17 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Dispersed wind farms and solar panels on people's homes are posing new challenges for managing power grids that were designed when all electricity was generated in centralized plants. A new semantic web technology promises a solution.

High Blood Pressure Control Continues To Improve In England Posted: 17 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Awareness, treatment and control of high blood pressure have increased significantly in England. Rates of blood pressure control have increased to more than 50 percent in men and women. Controlling blood pressure is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths, researchers said.

Climate 'Flickering' Ended Last Ice Age In North Atlantic Region Posted: 17 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST The period towards the end of the ice age was engraved by extreme and short-lived variations, which finally terminated the ice age.

Novel Genetic Markers Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Attack Identified Posted: 17 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists have succeeded in identifying new gene variants associated with an increased risk for myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack. The identified genes and their underlying mechanisms provide new starting points for understanding genetic patterns in MI and for developing new treatment options. A key finding is that the MI risk is more than twice as great in individuals who carry not only one but several of the genetic markers.

Buying Experiences, Not Possessions, Leads To Greater Happiness Posted: 17 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Can money make us happy if we spend it on the right purchases? A new psychology study suggests that buying life experiences rather than material possessions leads to greater happiness for both the consumer and those around them. The study demonstrates that experiential purchases, such as a meal out or theater tickets, result in increased satisfaction and well-being.

Link Between Control Of Chromosome Duplication And Segregation Discovered Posted: 17 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST A dividing cell duplicates its chromosomes and its centrosome, an organelle that helps divide the two sets of chromosomes equally to daughter cells, just once. Extra centrosome copies can lead to incorrect distribution of chromosomes, genomic instability and cancer. Now scientists have identified the protein that controls the copying of the centrosome and prevents it from being re-duplicated.

Voluntary Vaccination Programs Shown Effective For Some Diseases Posted: 17 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists analyze "free-rider" effects under voluntary vaccination for vaccine-preventable diseases where disease transmission occurs in a social network. Previous studies have suggested that voluntary programs cannot be 100% effective due to the self-interested behavior of individuals. However, most mathematical models used in these studies assume that populations mix homogenously – in effect, that an individual is just as likely to be infected by a complete stranger as by a close friend or family member.

Multilingualism Brings Communities Closer Together Posted: 17 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Learning their community language outside the home enhances minority ethnic children's development, according to research led from the University of Birmingham. The research found that attending language classes at complementary schools has a positive impact on students.

Genetic Adaptations Key To Extreme Microbe's Survival In Challenging Environment Posted: 17 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST The genome of a marine bacterium living 2,500 meters below the ocean's surface is providing clues to how life adapts in extreme thermal and chemical gradients, according to a new article.

New Way That Bacteria Evolve Into Something That Can Make You Sick Posted: 17 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered a new way that bacteria evolve into something that can make you sick. The finding has implications for how scientists identify and assign risk to emerging diseases in the environment.

Engineering Graduate Student Narrows Gap Between High-resolution Video And Virtual Reality Posted: 17 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST A graduate student has found a way to optimize virtual reality environments for high resolution video.

Colorectal Cancer: Immunological Tests For More Accurate Detection Of Cancer Precursors Posted: 17 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST The detection of hidden blood in the stool is an important part of the early detection of colorectal cancer. Scientists have now shown that a number of immunological tests are significantly superior to the commonly used enzymatic method. However, the scientists found a wide variance in diagnostic performance of tests by different providers.

Photosynthesis Genes Linked To Marine Virus Fitness Posted: 17 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST A recent study has shown, for the first time, the effect of individual genes on the fitness of a marine species at the ecosystem level. Using his innovative computer simulation model, an engineering professor has found that eliminating photosynthesis genes from viruses that attack important marine photosynthetic bacterial organisms will negatively impact the fitness of these viruses, ultimately killing them.

Gardening Gives Older Adults Benefits Like Hand Strength And Self Esteem Posted: 17 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers already have shown that gardening can offer enough moderate physical activity to keep older adults in shape. The researchers also discovered that among the other health benefits of gardening is keeping older hands strong and nimble.

Carina Nebula: Astronomers Capture Intricate Structures Of One Of Brightest Nebulae In Sky Posted: 17 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Astronomers have captured amazing detail in the intricate structures of one of the largest and brightest nebulae in the sky, the Carina Nebula (NGC 3372), where strong winds and powerful radiation from an armada of massive stars are creating havoc in the large cloud of dust and gas from which the stars were born.

Secrets Of Potential Bioterror Virus Uncovered Posted: 17 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered a key tactic that the Rift Valley fever virus uses to disarm the defenses of infected cells.

New Plasma Transistor Could Create Sharper Displays Posted: 17 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST By integrating a solid-state electron emitter and a microcavity plasma device, researchers have created a plasma transistor that could be used to make lighter, less expensive and higher resolution flat-panel displays.

Mutant Rats Resist Warfarin Posted: 17 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST A new series of mutations have been discovered that allow rats to resist the effects of the popular poison warfarin. New research describes 18 new genetic changes found in rats from four continents.

Utilities: Protecting Electrical Equipment Against Lightning Damage Posted: 17 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Firing bolts of lightning at expensive electrical equipment is all in a day's work at the National Electric Energy Testing Research and Applications Center. The goal for the lightning research and other testing done by the center is to improve reliability for the nation's electric energy transmission and distribution system.

Food Counterfeiting, Contamination Outpace International Regulatory Systems Posted: 17 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Intentionally contaminated Chinese milk killed several children and sickened 300,000 more, causing concern around an increasingly connected world economy. Demand for inexpensive products virtually guarantees future repeats of food adulteration and counterfeiting from overseas, researchers said, as trade volumes overwhelm regulatory oversight.

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