ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Small Robots Can Prepare Lunar Surface For NASA Outpost Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST Small robots the size of riding mowers could prepare a safe landing site for NASA's Moon outpost, according to a NASA-sponsored study.

Underlying Sleep Problem Linked To Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder In Children Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST New research suggests the presence of an intrinsic sleep problem specific to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and supports the idea that children with ADHD may be chronically sleep deprived and have abnormal REM sleep.

Concussions Linked To Weakened Brain Functioning Years Later Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST Word is spreading, on the sidelines, in the locker rooms, and in the media, that an athlete whose bell has been rung -- that is, suffered a concussion -- may have experienced an injury that could take a more serious toll later in life. Results of a new study support that speculation.

Ethnic Differences Found For Fatty Liver Disease And Insulin Resistance Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST A new study suggests that the metabolic response to obesity and insulin resistance, particularly as it pertains to the liver, differs among ethnic groups in the US African Americans are more resistant to the buildup of fat in the abdominal adipose tissue and liver, and to high triglyceride levels associated with insulin resistance.

Nano-sonar Uses Electrons To Measure Under The Surface Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST Just as sonar sends out sound waves to explore the hidden depths of the ocean, electrons can be used by scanning tunneling microscopes to investigate the well-hidden properties of the atomic lattice of metals. Scientists have now succeeded in making bulk Fermi surfaces visible in this manner. Fermi surfaces determine the most important properties of metals.

Is Our Obsession With Pandemic Bird Flu Justified? Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST While it is almost a certainty that within the next few decades humanity will experience another influenza pandemic, it may not be caused by the avian influenza strain H5N1 that many scientists believe could be a prime candidate.

From Stem Cells To New Organs: Scientists Cross Threshold In Regenerative Medicine Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST By now, most people have read stories about how to "grow your own organs" using stem cells is just a breakthrough away. Despite the hype, this breakthrough has been elusive. A new report brings bioengineered organs a step closer. Specifically, the advance clears two major hurdles, namely a matrix on which stem cells can form a three-dimensional organ and transplant rejection.

Obesity Gene: Mice Lacking FTO Gene Burn More Energy And Do Not Become Overweight Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST Mice which do not have FTO gene, burn more energy and do not become overweight. These findings verify the importance of the FTO gene for the regulation of body weight. The results of this research may lead to new ways of treating obesity.

Light Or Fight? How Plants Make Tough Survival Choices Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST Ever since insects developed a taste for vegetation, plants have faced the same dilemma: use limited resources to out-compete their neighbors for light to grow, or, invest directly in defense against hungry insects. Now, biologists have discovered how plants weigh the trade-offs and redirect their energies accordingly.

Malaria Parasite Zeroes In On Molecule To Enhance Its Survival Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have found that the parasite that causes malaria breaks down an important amino acid in its quest to adapt and thrive within the human body. By depleting this substance called arginine, the parasite may trigger a more critical and deadlier phase of the disease. The work may point the way to better treatments.

Surface Water Contaminated With Salmonella: More Common Than Thought Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST A new study suggests that health agencies investigating Salmonella illnesses should consider untreated surface water as a possible source of contamination. Researchers tested water over a one-year period and found Salmonella in 79 percent of water samples.

Overdoing It? Simple Techniques Can Help Avoid Overindulgence Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST Some people overindulge on junk foods or needless shopping sprees when they feel depressed. Others lose control the minute they feel happy. Is there a way to avoid such extreme actions? A new study demonstrates simple techniques that can help people act in their long-term interests rather than indulging in immediate pleasures.

Probing And Controlling 'Molecular Rattling' May Mean Better Preservatives Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered a fundamental property of mixture behavior that might help extend the life of many things including vaccines, food and library books.

Stem Cell Breakthrough: New Method For Creating Stem Cells Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered a new method of creating stem cells that could lead to possible cures for devastating diseases including spinal cord injury, macular degeneration, diabetes and Parkinson's disease. The study accelerates stem cell technology and provides a road map for new clinical approaches to regenerative medicine.

Butterfly Found To Be New Species, Because Of Its Mustache Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST After nearly a century in the Natural History Museum collections, a new butterfly species has been discovered because of its mustache. It lay undiscovered in the collection for 90 years.

Shorter Wait Means Longer Life For Kidney Transplant Candidates Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST A combination of kidney transplant center-related factors could mean up to a four-year difference in life expectancy for candidates, according to a new study.

Hot Solar Winds: Energy Simulation Explains Physical Mystery Of Voyager Spacecraft Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST With a new 3D-model for energy simulation scientists are studying the 'physical mystery' of the Voyager spacecraft. Over 30 years ago the spacecraft detected particles in solar wind which were 'hotter' than they should have been according to the existing theory expounded by the mathematician Andrey Kolmogorov in 1941.

Physical Activity Guidelines Are Too Confusing, Say Researchers Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Whether you are defined as leading an active or inactive lifestyle can depend on which country you are in and which guideline your GP picks off the shelf, say researchers in the U.K.

New Devices Aid Deaf People By Translating Sound Waves To Vibrations Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Lip reading is a critical means of communication for many deaf people, but it has a drawback: Certain consonants (for example, p) can be nearly impossible to distinguish by sight alone. Tactile devices, which translate sound waves into vibrations that can be felt by the skin, can help overcome that obstacle by conveying nuances of speech that can't be gleaned from lip reading. Now researchers are working on a new generation of such devices.

Being Overweight Just As Risky To Health As Being A Smoker Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Obese adolescents have the same risk of premature death in adulthood as people who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day, while those who are overweight have the same risk as less heavy smokers.

Historical Photographs Expose Decline In Florida's Reef Fish, Study Finds Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST A unique study has provided fresh evidence of fishing's impact on marine ecosystems. Researchers accessed archival photographs spanning more than five decades to analyze and calculate a drastic decline of so-called "trophy fish" caught around coral reefs surrounding Key West, Florida.

Ultrasound And TPA Effective For Stroke Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST An experimental therapy using tiny bubbles activated by transcranial doppler ultrasound combined with the clot busting drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is more effective than tPA alone in treating patients suffering from ischemic stroke, according to new research.

Cleaning The Atmosphere Of Carbon: African Forests Out Of Balance Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Carbon held in African forests is on the rise, but there's no simple explanation. The two most likely explanations are that forests are responding to high atmospheric carbon dioxide or that they are recovering from a previous natural or human-induced disturbance.

Computerized Mobile Health Support Systems Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Scientists have developed an intelligent sensor networks monitor to measure important vital signs of patients or measure their activity.

Weakened Monsoon Season Predicted For South Asia, Due To Rising Temperatures Posted: 01 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST The South Asian summer monsoon -- critical to agriculture in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan -- could be weakened and delayed due to rising temperatures in the future, according to a recent climate modeling study.

Cardiovascular Risks: Venous Thromboembolism Risk Increases Up To Four Fold With Long-haul Flights Posted: 01 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST Following a review by the Lancet of the medical issues associated with commercial air travel, the European Society of Cardiology has reaffirmed its advice about the risks of venous thromboembolism, whose risk, according to the Lancet, is increased "up to four-fold" by long-haul flight.

Atmosphere Rich In Carbon Dioxide, Oxygen Enhances Quality Of Refrigerated Potatoes Posted: 01 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST New research examining the effects of the composition of the atmosphere surrounding the processed potato concludes that an atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide and with high concentrations of oxygen enhances the quality of the minimally processed potato given that these factors slow down the loss processes of water and nutrients, and its change of color (turning brown).

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Leads To Pulmonary Hypertension, Study Suggests Posted: 01 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered that HAART contributes to pulmonary hypertension in HIV-infected patients.

Gene To Reduce Wheat Yield Losses Posted: 01 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST A new gene that provides resistance to a fungal disease responsible for millions of hectares of lost wheat yield has been discovered. The scientists report finding a novel type of gene in wild wheat that is absent in modern pasta and bread wheat varieties.

Yoga Provides Emotional Benefits To Women With Breast Cancer Posted: 01 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST Women undertaking a ten week program of 75 minute Restorative Yoga classes gained positive differences in aspects of mental health such as depression, positive emotions, and spirituality (feeling calm/peaceful) compared to the control group. The study shows the women had a 50 percent reduction in depression and a 12 percent increase in feelings of peace and meaning after the yoga sessions.

Safer Nanoparticles Release Cancer Drugs, Then Break Down Posted: 01 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST Nanoparticles promise to illuminate tiny tumors and precisely deliver drugs, but many worry about the safety of nano-scale materials. Now scientists have created minuscule flakes of silicon that glow brightly, slowly release cancer drugs, then break down into harmless by-products. They are the first luminescent nanoparticles to be purposely designed to minimize toxic side effects and this is the first study to image tumors using biodegradable silicon nanoparticles, the scientists say.

Growing Danger From Post-birth Bleeding Posted: 01 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST Post-partum haemorrhage immediately after giving birth is the largest threat to new mothers in high-income countries. An Australian study shows that an increasing number of women suffered severe problems arising from blood loss after delivery.

Tiny Tool To Control Growing Blood Vessels Opens New Potential In Tumor Research Posted: 01 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST Researchers have developed a new tool that makes it possible to study the signals in the body that control the generation of blood vessels. The findings enable scientists to determine what signals in the body attract or repel blood vessels, knowledge that is extremely interesting in tumor research.

Drug Combination Reduces Kidney Disease Risk In Diabetics Posted: 01 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST For patients with type two diabetes, a combination of two blood-pressure-lowering drugs reduces the risk of kidney disease by about 20 percent -- even in patients who don't have high blood pressure, reports a new study.

Coffee Cultivation Good For Diversity In Agrarian Settlements But Not In Forests Posted: 01 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST Coffee shrubs, both in themselves and because they are most often cultivated in the shade of large trees, can have a positive impact on plant and animal diversity in those parts of the landscape that are deforested and dominated by agriculture. What constitutes a dilemma for consumers wishing to shop ecologically is that when coffee is grown in a forest, which is also common, the impact on diversity is negative.

Treating Drug-addicted Doctors Is Good Medicine Posted: 01 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST Research shows Physician Health Programs that combine treatment, monitoring and rapid responses to noncompliance can help doctors beat drug addiction and return to their practices.

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