ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Evidence Appears To Show How And Where Brain's Frontal Lobe Works Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST An expert in cognitive and linguistic sciences has mapped parts of the brain that control abstract or concrete decision making by studying stroke patients.

Dentistry Of Future? Gene Responsible For Formation Of Enamel Discovered Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have identified a gene responsible for the formation of enamel, which is the key component of the teeth. The experiments were accomplished in mice carrying a deletion of the transcription factor Tbx1, a gene that plays a principal role in several human malformations (heart, thymus, parathyroid, face, and teeth) associated to the DiGeorge syndrome.

How Microscopic Changes To Brain Cause Schizophrenic Behavior In Mice Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST Disrupting the function of a key molecule in the brain leads to microscopic brain abnormalities and schizophrenia-like behavior in mice. These abnormalities are similar to those seen in the autopsied brains of people who diagnosed with schizophrenia in life, according to a scientists.

New Safer Way Developed To Reprogram Stem Cells Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST Exciting recent developments in stem cell research have revealed how specialized cells, such as skin cells, can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) that can form all the body's tissues. But the reprogramming techniques currently in use rely on potentially harmful viruses to deliver the reprogramming factors required for this change. Now stem cell scientists report a new and safer way to generate such stem cells.

Ultimate In 'Green' Energy: Plants Inspire New Generation Of Solar Cells Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST The ability of plants to turn sunlight into energy through photosynthesis has been successfully mimicked by scientists to produce a new generation of solar cells.

Health Campaigns That Promote Exercise May Cause People To Eat More Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST New research suggests that weight-loss campaigns that promote exercise may actually cause people to eat more. People who viewed posters suggesting that they "join a gym" or "take a walk" ate more food after looking at the posters than people who saw similarly designed posters prompting them to "make friends" or "be in a group," the researchers found.

Gamma Ray Burst Captured In Early Stages Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST UK astronomers, using a telescope aboard the NASA Swift Satellite, have captured information from the early stages of a gamma ray burst -- the most violent and luminous explosions occurring in the Universe since the Big Bang.

Naturally Produced Estrogen May Protect Women From Parkinson's Disease Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Women who have more years of fertility (the time from first menstruation to menopause) have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease than women with fewer years, according to a large, new study.

Oceanic Seesaw Links Northern And Southern Hemisphere During Abrupt Climate Change During Last Ice Age Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Very large and abrupt changes in temperature recorded over Greenland and across the North Atlantic during the last Ice Age were actually global in extent, according to new research. The research supports the idea that changes in ocean circulation within the Atlantic played a central role in abrupt climate change on a global scale.

Frequency Of T-cells Determines Severity Of Asthma, Study Finds Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST According to a new study, the frequency of regulatory T-cells (Treg) correlates to the severity of inflammation in allergic asthma, suggesting that Treg may play an important role in asthma pathogenesis.

Earth Structure: Fluid Factory In Solid Earth Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Earth is a giant fluid factory, according to new research. Earth scientists propose a new model for the nature and distribution of fluids from the core to Earth's based on modern concepts of plate tectonics and argue that fluids within Earth play a critical role in constraining both the interior Earth dynamics and the evolution of the surface and near-surface environment.

Reversing Ecology Reveals Ancient Environments Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers have laid the foundation for opening a window to the past using a technique called "reverse ecology." The technique uses genomic data to examine metabolic networks and pulls out proxies for reconstructing bacterial environments millions of years in the past. The work offers clues to the complex evolutionary interplay between organisms such as parasites and hosts.

Physical Fitness Improves Spatial Memory, Increases Size Of Brain Structure Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST When it comes to the hippocampus, a brain structure vital to certain types of memory, size matters. Numerous studies have shown that bigger is usually better. Now researchers have found that elderly adults who are more physically fit tend to have bigger hippocampi and better spatial memory than those who are less fit.

New Gene Associated With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Identified Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have identified a novel genetic cause of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the fourth gene associated with familial forms of the devastating neurological disorder.

New Variants Of Diarrhea-causing Toxins Found In Seafood Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have described new variants of diarrhea-causing toxins in mussels, oysters and crabs. These variants are assumed to be less virulent than the forms of diarrhea toxin we are already familiar with and were found in varying amounts in the different types of seafood examined.

Muscular Dystrophy And Exercise-induced Muscle Fatigue Have More In Common Than You Might Think Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which is a severe disorder characterized by rapid progression of muscle weakness that ultimately leads to death, is caused by genetic mutations that result in the absence of the protein dystrophin. Loss of localization of the muscle-related molecule nNOS at the muscle cell membrane (which is known as the sarcolemma) is also observed in DMD and has been linked to muscle damage. What determines the localization of nNOS in muscle cells is not well understood.

Secrets Behind High Temperature Superconductors Revealed Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Scientists have found evidence that magnetism is involved in the mechanism behind high temperature superconductivity.

Public Schools Outperform Private Schools in Math Instruction Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST In another "Freakonomics"- style study that turns conventional wisdom about public- versus private-school education on its head, education professors have found that public-school students outperform their private-school classmates on standardized math tests, thanks to two key factors: Certified math teachers and a modern, reform-oriented math curriculum.

Lower Atmosphere Of Pluto Revealed Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST Using ESO's Very Large Telescope, astronomers have gained valuable new insights about the atmosphere of the dwarf planet Pluto. The scientists found unexpectedly large amounts of methane in the atmosphere, and also discovered that the atmosphere is hotter than the surface by about 40 degrees, although it still only reaches a frigid minus 180 degrees Celsius. These properties of Pluto's atmosphere may be due to the presence of pure methane patches or of a methane-rich layer covering the dwarf planet's surface.

Aching Back? Cholesterol Medication Might Help Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST A new study finds that using statins may be useful in treatment for degenerative disc. Back pain, a hallmark of degenerative disc disease, sends millions of people to their doctor. In fact, more than 80 percent of patients who undergo spine surgery do so because of disc degeneration. And part of the answer may be as close as a patient's medicine cabinet.

IPoint 3D: Using Your Fingers As A Remote Control Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST The "iPoint 3D" allows people to communicate with a 3-D display through simple gestures -- without touching it and without 3-D glasses or a data glove. Until now it has only been seen in science fiction films.

New Prognostic Indicator For Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST There may be a new way to predict mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a devastating disease that slowly petrifies the lungs. Most patients live only three years after diagnosis on average; however, some remain stable for many years, while for others, the disease progresses more rapidly.

Gold-palladium Nanoparticles Achieve Greener, Smarter Production Of Hydrogen Peroxide Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST Chemists and engineers writing in the journal Science reports a breakthrough in the decades-long effort to produce H2O2 directly from oxygen and hydrogen and to limit its decomposition after production. A gold-palladium catalyst, placed on a carbon support pretreated with nitric acid, will make it possible to produce H2O2 on-site, eliminating the need for storage and transport, which can be hazardous.

Addiction: Insights From Parkinson's Disease Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST A new comprehensive review provides vital insights into the neurological basis of addiction by investigating Parkinson's disease patients, who in some instances develop various addictions when undergoing medical treatment. The review illustrates that persistently elevated levels of dopamine in the brain promote the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors.

Low Levels Of Vitamin B12 May Increase Risk For Neural Tube Defects Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST Children born to women who have low blood levels of vitamin B12 shortly before and after conception may have an increased risk of a neural tube defect, according to a new analysis. Vegans and vegetarians may be at risk.

Causes Of Rheumatic Heart Disease Discovered Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists have discovered the causes of rheumatic heart disease. Each year, around 15 million children fall ill with rheumatic heart disease worldwide; half a million of them die as a consequence. At the beginning of the medical cases of these children stands a simple throat infection with streptococcus -- spherical bacteria responsible for causing a range of different infections.

Exacerbations In COPD: One Thing Leads To Another Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST New research shows that individual exacerbations in chronic obstructive lung disease themselves increase the likelihood of repeat exacerbations, even after five days of full, asymptomatic recovery -- bad news for patients with COPD, where each exacerbation can drive the progression of the disease.

Invasive Species Threaten Salmon In Pacific Northwest Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST Researchers assembled a database of invasive animals and plants in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The large numbers present included many nonindigenous fishes. The effect of the invasive species on salmonids was assessed by extrapolation from previous studies. The results indicate that non-native fishes, in particular, pose a major threat to native salmonids comparable to hatcheries, harvest, habitat loss, and changes to the hydrosystem.

One-third Of Americans Lose Sleep Over Economy Posted: 02 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST One-third of Americans are losing sleep over the state of the US economy and other personal financial concerns, according to a new poll. The poll suggests that inadequate sleep is associated with unhealthy lifestyles and negatively impacts health and safety.

Scientists Debug Superbug, Clostridium Difficile Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST Scientists have uncovered the workings of Clostridium difficile, a superbug that kills elderly hospital patients worldwide -- a discovery that has the potential to save lives and health-care systems billions of dollars each year.

Drug-resistant Influenza A Virus Potentially Serious To High-risk Patients Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST A mutation of the influenza A (H1N1) virus that is resistant to the drug oseltamivir may pose a serious health threat to hospitalized patients who have a weakened immune system, according to a new study.

Dog Bites A Particular Threat To Young Children, Especially As Temperatures Rise Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST Young children are especially vulnerable to severe dog bites in the head and neck areas, and there is a correlation between cases of dog bites and rising temperatures, according to new research.

Thyroid Surgery Performed Without Neck Incision, Scar Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST Surgeons have performed robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery to remove the thyroid gland without an incision or scar on the patient's neck.

Atomic-sized One-stop Shop For Nanoelectronics Created Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers have created a nanoscale one-stop shop, a single platform for creating electronics at a nearly single-atom scale that could yield advanced forms of such technologically important devices as high-density memory devices and -- most importantly -- transistors and computer processors. This multitude of uses stems from a technique previously developed by the same team to fashion rewritable nanostructures at the interface between two insulating materials.

TV Viewing Before The Age Of 2 Has No Cognitive Benefit, Study Finds Posted: 02 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST In the first longitudinal study of its kind, researchers show that TV viewing before the age of two does not improve a child's language and visual motor skills. The findings suggest that maternal, child and household characteristics are more influential in a child's brain development.

Psychologists Shed Light On Origins Of Morality Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST People sometimes say that immoral behavior leaves a bad taste in your mouth. A new study provides evidence of a link between moral disgust and more primitive forms of disgust related to poison and disease.

Brain’s Reserve Cells Can Be Activated After Stroke Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST Scientists have found a way of activating the neuronal reserves in the brains of mice by switching off the signal that inhibits the formation of new nerve cells.

Decline Of Shorebird Linked To Bait Use Of Horseshoe Crabs Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST Declining numbers of a shorebird called the red knot have been linked to bait use of horseshoe crabs.

Concerns Over Minimally Invasive Surgery For Breast Cancer Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST Minimally invasive breast surgery may be trading better cosmetic outcomes for worse rates of cure, warns a senior doctor.

Flow Structure Under Breaking Waves Analyzed Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST The study of wave structure and turbulence helps provide valuable information to predict how often waves are generated, the velocity of them, how long they last and their temporal extent.

Genes Important To Sleep Discovered Posted: 02 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST The fruit fly is genetically wired to sleep, although the sleep comes in widely variable amounts and patterns, according to new research. Learning more about the genetics of sleep in model animals could lead to advances in understanding human sleep and how sleep loss affects the human condition.

Gullies On Mars Show Tantalizing Signs Of Recent Water Activity Posted: 02 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST Planetary geologists have located a gully system on Mars that appears to have been carved by melt water that originated in nearby snow and ice deposits. The gullies, which were determined to be about 1.25 million years old, may represent the most recent period when water flowed on the planet.

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