ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Newfound Moon May Be Source Of Outer Saturn Ring Posted: 04 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST NASA's Cassini spacecraft has found within Saturn's G ring an embedded moonlet that appears as a faint, moving pinprick of light. Scientists believe it is a main source of the G ring and its single ring arc. Cassini imaging scientists analyzing images acquired over the course of about 600 days found the tiny moonlet, half a kilometer (about a third of a mile) across, embedded within a partial ring, or ring arc, previously found by Cassini in Saturn's tenuous G ring.

Long-Term Use Of Nutrient Supplements May Increase Cancer Risk Posted: 04 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST Long-term use of beta carotene and some other carotenoid-containing dietary supplements may increase the risk of lung cancer, especially among smokers, according to a new study.

Cassini Maps Global Pattern Of Titan's Dunes Posted: 04 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST Titan's vast dune fields, which may act like weather vanes to determine general wind direction on Saturn's biggest moon, have been mapped by scientists who compiled four years of radar data collected by the Cassini spacecraft.

New Study Shows Long-term Dangers Of Severe Concussions Posted: 04 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST More than a half million kids go to the hospital with concussions each year. Some are worse than others, but nearly all of them are treated exactly the same. Doctors depend on the patients to tell them when they feel better. A new study says that may not be enough.

Common Marine Sponges May Provide Super-antibiotics Of The Future Posted: 04 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST No matter how sophisticated modern medicine becomes, common ailments like fungal infections can outrun the best of the world's antibiotics. In people with compromised immune systems (like premature babies, AIDS victims or those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer) the risk is very high: contracting a fungal infection can be deadly.

One Drug May Help People Both Lay Down The Drink And Put Out The Cigarette Posted: 04 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PST A popular smoking cessation drug dramatically reduced the amount a heavy drinker will consume, a new study has found. Heavy-drinking smokers in a laboratory setting were much less likely to drink after taking the drug varenicline compared to those taking a placebo.

Earth's Highest Known Microbial Systems Fueled By Volcanic Gases Posted: 04 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Gases rising from deep within the Earth are fueling the world's highest-known microbial ecosystems, which have been detected near the rim of the 19,850-foot-high Socompa volcano in the Andes.

Gene That Modifies Severity Of Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease Found Posted: 04 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered a gene that modifies the severity of lung disease in people with the lethal genetic condition, cystic fibrosis, pointing to possible new targets for treatment, according to a new study in Nature. This is the first published study to use a genome-wide approach to look for genes that modify cystic fibrosis lung disease severity, said researchers.

New Test For Detecting Fake Organic Milk Posted: 04 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists in Germany are reporting development of a new, more effective method to determine whether milk marketed as "organic" is genuine or just ordinary milk mislabeled to hoodwink consumers.

Gene Variant Associated With Both Autism And Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Posted: 04 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST A specific gene variant that links increased genetic risk for autism with gastrointestinal conditions has been identified.

Why Didn’t Darwin Discover Mendel’s Laws? Posted: 04 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Mendel solved the logic of inheritance in his monastery garden with no more technology than Darwin had in his garden at Down House. So why couldn't Darwin have done it too? A Journal of Biology article argues that Darwin's background, influences and research focus gave him a viewpoint that prevented him from interpreting the evidence that was all around him, even in his own work.

Eat Your Vegetables: Preschoolers Love Vegetables With Catchy Names Like 'X-Ray Vision Carrots' And 'Tomato Bursts' Posted: 04 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PST Do you have a picky preschooler who's avoiding their vegetables? A new shows that giving vegetables catchy new names -- like "X-Ray Vision Carrots" and "Tomato Bursts" -- left preschoolers asking for more.

Wave Of Brain Activity Linked To Anticipation Captured Posted: 04 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Neuroscientists have, for the first time, shown what brain activity looks like when someone anticipates an action or sensory input which soon follows. They say this neural clairvoyance involves strong activity in areas of the brain responsible for preparing the body to move.

Gene Involved In Pancreatic Cancer Identified Posted: 04 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have identified a gene that is overexpressed in 90 percent of pancreatic cancers, the most deadly type of cancer.

Broccoli May Help Protect Against Respiratory Conditions Like Asthma Posted: 04 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST A naturally occurring compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables may help protect against respiratory inflammation that causes conditions like asthma, allergic rhinitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Gallbladder Removal Through Vagina Offers Minimally Invasive Alternative Posted: 04 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST Physicians have successfully removed a patient's gallbladder through the vagina. The technique, known as NOTES—natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery—is gaining in popularity and has been characterized by many in the medical profession as laying the groundwork for truly "incisionless" surgery.

NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Finishes Mars Phase Posted: 04 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST With Mars disappearing in its metaphorical rearview mirror, NASA's Dawn spacecraft's next stop is the asteroid belt and the giant asteroid Vesta. Dawn got as close as 549 kilometers (341 miles) to the Red Planet during its Tuesday, Feb. 17, flyby.

Patients Seeking Health News On Internet More Likely To Receive Latest Treatments Posted: 04 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PST A new analysis finds that when colorectal cancer patients seek out health information from the Internet and news media, they are more likely to be aware of and receive the latest treatments for their disease. Patients who sought information about treatments for colorectal cancer were 2.83 times more likely to have heard about targeted therapies and 3.22 times more likely to have received targeted therapies than people who did not seek information.

Mediterranean Sea Level Could Rise By Over Two Feet, Global Models Predict Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST A Spanish-British research project has come up with three future scenarios for the effects of climate change on the Mediterranean over the next 90 years, using global models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The conclusions show that ocean temperatures in this area will increase, along with sea levels.

Statins Lower Stroke Severity, Improve Recovery Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST Researchers have shown that patients who were taking statins before a stroke experienced better outcomes and recovery than patients who weren't on the drug -- even when their cholesterol levels were ideal.

New And Unexpected Mechanism Identified How The Brain Responds To Stress Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST Using a rat model, scientists have discovered that neurons in the hypothalamus, the brain's command center for stress responses, interpret "off" chemical signals as "on" chemical signals when stress is perceived.

Prenatal Molecular Diagnosis For Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST Geneticists have reported the world's first series of cases of prenatal diagnosis for women at risk of having a child with tuberous sclerosis complex. Earlier, the team published the first molecular prenatal diagnosis of TSC. The current study details the sequencing of the TSC genes analyzed in 50 completed pregnancies.

Earth-Observing Landsat 5 Turns 25 Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST Like a trusty watch counting up the minutes, the Landsat 5 satellite keeps on ticking, orbit after orbit around Earth. Still observing the Earth after 25 years -- 22 beyond its three-year primary mission lifetime -- Landsat 5 collects valuable scientific data daily. Some attribute the satellite's longevity to over-engineering. Others say it's a long run of good luck. Whatever the reason, no one who attended the satellite's March 1984 launch could have expected it would still be working today.

Program Effective In Educating Parents About Prevention Of Shaken Baby Syndrome Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PST New studies in the United States and Canada show that educational materials aimed at preventing shaken baby syndrome increased knowledge of new mothers about infant crying, the most common trigger for people abusing babies by shaking them.

Mechanisms That Prevent Alzheimer's Disease: Enzymatic Activity Plays Key Role Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists have succeeded in gaining further insight in the functioning of endogenous mechanisms that protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease. It was found that the activity of the enzyme α-secretase is mainly responsible for the protective effect.

How A New Theory Of Bird Evolution Came About Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST A major new theory for the evolution of flight is changing textbooks around the world. It involves wing-assisted incline running and a fundamental bird wing angle. One of the scientists who led the discover describes his research. Using high-speed cameras, he analyzed how birds change the angle of their wings as they gain altitude, glide, descend or run up steep surfaces.

Women Less Likely To Have A Stroke After Mini-stroke Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST A new study shows 30 days after a transient ischemic attack, women are 30 percent less likely to have a stroke than men. The analysis, including hospitalization records for more than 122,000 patients aged 65 and older, could help improve prevention and heart-related care for both men and women.

Saving Wheat Crops Worldwide Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST Australian plant industry scientists and international collaborators have discovered the key to overcoming three major cereal diseases, which in epidemic years cost wheat growers worldwide in excess of AUS$7.8 billion ($5 billion).

Childhood Sleep Problems Persisting Through Adolescence May Affect Cognitive Abilities Posted: 03 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PST The rate of change in sleep problems through childhood, rather than the initial level of sleep problems, may affect cognitive abilities in late adolescence.

Engineered Viruses Combat Antibiotic Resistance Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST A new approach to fighting bacterial infections could help prevent bacteria from developing antibiotic resistance and help kill those that have already become resistant.

Gene Variant Associated With Cocaine Dependence, Cocaine-Induced Paranoia Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered that variants in the a-endomannosidase gene are associated with cocaine addiction and cocaine-induced paranoia in European American and African American populations.

Houseplant Pest Gives Clue To Potential New Anthrax Treatment Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers in England have found how a citric acid-based Achilles heel used by a pathogen that attacks the popular African Violet house plant could be exploited not just to save African Violets but also to provide a potentially effective treatment for anthrax.

Optical Techniques Show Continued Promise In Detecting Pancreatic Cancer Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST Optical technology has been shown to be effective in detecting the presence of pancreatic cancer through analysis of neighboring tissue in the duodenum. The promising new technology uses novel light-scattering techniques to analyze extremely subtle changes in the duodenum's cells. Cells that appear normal using traditional microscopy techniques do show signs of abnormality when examined using the new technique, which provides cell analysis on the much smaller nanoscale.

Solid-state Metamaterial Device Tames Terahertz Frequency Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST Terahertz radiation, a fleeting phase of the electromagnetic spectrum, has proved difficult to manipulate with great precision. Scientists report engineering a solid-state metamaterial device capable of controlling a terahertz beam 30 times faster than a conventional optical device. The device could prove critical to new applications employing the terahertz frequency.

Sex Is In The Brain, Whether It Be Lack Of Sexual Interest Or Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Posted: 03 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PST More than 40 percent of women ages 18-59 experience sexual dysfunction, with lack of sexual interest -- hypoactive sexual desire disorder, or HSDD -- being the most commonly reported complaint, according to medical researchers. While some question the validity of this diagnosis, a multidisciplinary team from the Stanford University School of Medicine is devoted to objective investigation of such problems.

Three Galaxies Locked In Gravitational Tug-of-war: May Result In Eventual Demise Of One Of Them Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST A new Hubble image shows three galaxies locked in a gravitational tug-of-war that may result in the eventual demise of one of them.

Skin Moles May Indicate Higher Eye Melanoma Risk Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST It is well known that people with light skin and numerous moles and freckles -- which develop when skin is over-exposed to UV light -- are at higher risk for skin cancer (cutaneous melanoma). But the evidence was less clear on whether moles and freckles also indicate a higher risk of uveal melanoma, cancer of the eye's iris, ciliary body, or choroid.

Predicting Red Tide: How Thin Layers Of Tiny Organisms Form At Sea Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST Researchers' explanation of how common, startlingly dense layers of photosynthetic phytoplankton form moves the scientific community a step closer to being able to predict harmful algal blooms, a well-known example of which is red tide. The work also opens new perspectives on other phenomena, like predatory feeding by larger organisms at these ecological hotspots.

Vitamin B And Folic Acid May Reduce Risk Of Age-related Vision Loss Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST Taking a combination of vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid appears to decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration in women, according to a new report.

Cost Of Installed Solar Photovoltaic Systems Drops Significantly Over The Last Decade Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST Researchers report that records from a decade's worth of solar power installations indicate that overall costs have declined significantly because of decreases in associated expenses such as labor and overhead -- most likely because of federal, state, and local support for solar photovoltaic systems.

Impulsivity In Kindergarten May Predict Gambling Behavior In Sixth Grade Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PST Children whose teachers rated them as more impulsive in kindergarten appear more likely to begin gambling behaviors by the sixth grade, according to a new report.

First Fossil Brain: Shark Relative That Lived 300 Million Years Ago Yields Very Rare Specimen Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST A 300-million-year-old brain of a relative of sharks and ratfish has been revealed by French and American scientists using synchrotron holotomography. It is the first time that the soft tissue of such an old fossil brain has ever been found.

How Cellular Protein Detects Viruses And Sparks Immune Response Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST Scientists reveal how a cellular protein recognizes an invading virus and alerts the body to the infection.

Seabird Deaths Linked To Soap-like Foam Produced By Red-tide Algae Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST In late 2007, hundreds of dead and stranded seabirds washed up on the shores of Monterey Bay, their feathers saturated with water and coated with an unknown substance. After an intensive investigation, scientists determined that a massive "red tide" bloom of marine algae had produced a foamy soap-like substance that stripped the natural waterproofing from the birds' feathers.

Novel Approach To Treating Rett Syndrome Under Development Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST A paper published online in Nature Neuroscience reveals the presence of methyl CpG binding protein 2 in glia. MeCP2 is a protein associated with a variety of neurological disorders, including Rett Syndrome, the most physically disabling of the autism spectrum disorders. The researchers show that MeCP2-deficient astrocytes, a subset of glia, stunt the growth of neighboring neurons. Remarkably, these neurons can recover when exposed to normal glia in culture. This research suggests a novel approach to treating Rett Syndrome.

Billions Of Years Ago, Microbes Were Key In Developing Modern Nitrogen Cycle Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST New research shows that the large-scale evolution of microbes was mostly complete 2.5 billion years ago, and that included the beginning of the modern aerobic nitrogen cycle.

Having Parents With Bipolar Disorder Associated With Increased Risk Of Psychiatric Disorders Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PST Children and teens of parents with bipolar disorder appear to have an increased risk of early-onset bipolar disorder, mood disorders and anxiety disorders, according to a new report.

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