ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Spin Battery: Physicist Develops Battery Using New Source Of Energy Posted: 12 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have been able to prove the existence of a "spin battery," a battery that is "charged" by applying a large magnetic field to nano-magnets in a device called a magnetic tunnel junction. The electrical current made in this process is called a spin polarized current and finds use in a new technology called "spintronics."

Blood Test For Alzheimer's Possible, Study Suggests Posted: 12 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have revealed a direct relationship between two specific antibodies and the severity of Alzheimer's disease symptoms, raising hopes that a diagnostic blood test for the devastating disorder is within reach.

Buckyballs Could Keep Water Systems Flowing Posted: 12 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PDT Microscopic particles of carbon known as buckyballs may be able to keep the nation's water pipes clear in the same way clot-busting drugs prevent arteries from clogging up.

How Stem Cells Develop Into Blood Cells Posted: 12 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PDT How messages sent within stem cells through a specific communication pathway can trigger the cells to specialize and become blood cells in humans has been discovered by scientists of the McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute.

Scientists Closer To Making Invisibility Cloak A Reality Posted: 12 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PDT J.K. Rowling may not have realized just how close Harry Potter's invisibility cloak was to becoming a reality when she introduced it in the first book of her best-selling fictional series in 1998. Scientists, however, have made huge strides in the past few years in the rapidly developing field of cloaking. Cloaking involves making an object invisible or undetectable to electromagnetic waves.

Cannabis Use, Dangerous Driving Behaviors Interrelated Posted: 12 Mar 2009 11:00 AM PDT Thrill-seeking young men are more likely to drive under the influence of cannabis and engage in reckless driving, according to a new study. Men who are sensation-seekers, an average age of 27 and impulsive will consider taking the wheel after consuming cannabis more often than older peers.

Neuroscientists Map Intelligence In The Brain Posted: 12 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT Neuroscientists have conducted the most comprehensive brain mapping to date of the cognitive abilities measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the most widely used intelligence test in the world. The results offer new insight into how the various factors that comprise an "intelligence quotient" score depend on particular regions of the brain.

Muscular Dystrophy: Stem Cells That Repair Injured Muscles Identified Posted: 12 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have identified a type of skeletal muscle stem cell that contributes to the repair of damaged muscles in mice, which could have important implications in the treatment of injured, diseased or aging muscle tissue in humans, including the ravages of muscular dystrophy.

First Right Whale Sedation Enables Disentanglement Effort Posted: 12 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT For the first time ever, rescuers used a new sedation delivery system to help free an entangled North Atlantic right whale. This is the first time in worldwide history a free-swimming large whale was successfully sedated in the wild.

Antibody Key To Treating Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) Posted: 12 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have determined the atomic structure of the "binding" between a brain protein and an antibody that could be key to treating patients with diseases such as variant CJD.

Wenchuan Earthquake Mudslides Emit Greenhouse Gas Posted: 12 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT Mudslides that followed the May 12, 2008, Wenchuan, China earthquake may cause a carbon-dioxide release in upcoming decades equivalent to two percent of current annual global carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion, a new study shows.

Obesity Linked To Dangerous Sleep Apnea In Truck Drivers Posted: 12 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT Truck crashes are a significant public health hazard causing thousands of deaths and injuries each year, with driver fatigue and sleepiness being major causes. A new study has confirmed previous findings that obesity-driven testing strategies identify commercial truck drivers with a high likelihood of obstructive sleep apnea and suggests that mandating OSA screenings could reduce the risk of truck crashes.

Long-term Ozone Exposure Linked To Higher Risk Of Death, Finds Nationwide Study Posted: 12 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PDT A study analyzing two decades of data for 450,000 people across the nation found that long-term exposure to ground-level ozone, a major component of smog, raises the risk of death from respiratory ailments. It is the first major study connecting chronic exposure to ozone to elevated mortality rates, and could be used in future evaluations of federal standards for acceptable ozone levels.

Magnetic Nanoparticles Navigate Therapeutic Genes Through The Body Posted: 12 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have developed a highly sensitive measuring method with which the efficiency of gene transfer in cases if cardiovascular diseases can be investigated. The researchers determine, accurate to the picogram per cell, the quantity of magnetic particles that are situated on the gene -- and thus also the quantity of the therapeutically effective genes or cells. By means of the magnetic method it is possible to dramatically increase the efficiency of the gene transfer in comparison to the non-magnetic method.

'Nanostitching' Could Strengthen Airplane Skins, More Posted: 12 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PDT MIT engineers are using carbon nanotubes only billionths of a meter thick to stitch together aerospace materials in work that could make airplane skins and other products some 10 times stronger at a nominal increase in cost.

Discovery Of New Retinal Gene Involved In Childhood Blindness Posted: 12 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new gene that causes Leber congenital amaurosis and retinitis pigmentosa, two devastating forms of childhood blindness.

Nanostructure Boosts Efficiency In Energy Transport Posted: 12 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PDT Chemists have grown a titanium nanostructure that delivers a 33 percent gain in power-collecting efficiency. Part catalyst and part conductor, the novel material could serve clean power applications like water-splitting, where a titanium catalyst has been shown to separate and store hydrogen and oxygen gases.

Diagnostic Errors: New Focus Of Patient Safety Experts Posted: 12 Mar 2009 05:00 AM PDT Johns Hopkins patient safety experts say it's high time for diagnostic errors to get the same attention from medical institutions and caregivers as drug-prescribing errors, wrong-site surgeries and hospital-acquired infections.

Best-ever View Of The Cosmos In Gamma Rays Posted: 12 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new map combining nearly three months of data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is giving astronomers an unprecedented look at the high-energy cosmos. To Fermi's eyes, the universe is ablaze with gamma rays from sources ranging from within the solar system to galaxies billions of light-years away.

Brain Tumor Treatment May Increase Number Of Cancer Stem-like Cells Posted: 12 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new study suggests that the standard treatment for a common brain tumor increases the aggressiveness of surviving cancer cells, possibly leaving patients more vulnerable to tumor recurrence. The research provides valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms that enable cancer stem-like cells to escape cytotoxic treatment and repopulate the tumor.

New Insights From Cellular Signals Pinpoint A Therapeutic Target To Tackle Cardiovascular Disease Posted: 12 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new signaling process in the heart. This discovery will help scientists and doctors to understand the complex biochemistry that causes the abnormal thickening of the heart muscle -- called hypertrophy -- in response to conditions such as high blood pressure and coronary heart disease.

Infection Rates Low With New Cataract Surgery Techniques Posted: 12 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT 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.

'Information Agents' For Faster, Better Emergency Response Posted: 12 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT "Information agents" have been developed that could prove invaluable in decision-making and directing the actions of the emergency services in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters or terrorist attacks.

Close Relationships Can Perpetuate Individual Health Problems Posted: 12 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT Human problems rarely occur in a vacuum, but persist as part of ongoing social interaction in which causes and effects are interwoven. One person's behavior can set the stage for what another does.

Biologists Find World-record Colony Of Amoeba Clones In Texas Cow Pasture Posted: 11 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT A study of microbes from a Houston-area cow pasture has confirmed once again that everything is bigger in Texas, even the single-celled stuff. The tests revealed the first-ever report of a large natural colony of amoeba clones -- a relatively Texas-sized expanse measuring at least 12 meters across. While clonal colonies of larger organisms like aspen trees and sea anemones are common, the colony of Dictyostelium discoideum is unprecedented.

Diabetes Linked To Cognitive Deterioration Posted: 11 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT Blindness, renal failure, stroke and heart disease are potential complications of type 2 diabetes, which currently afflicts more than 15 million Americans. Now research has found more worrying news -- type 2 diabetes can be a risk factor accelerating cognitive decline and dementia.

Antioxidants In Midwestern Black Raspberries Influenced By Where They Grow Posted: 11 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT Black raspberries have been studied for decades by scientists and medical researchers interested in the fruits' apparent ability to limit the onset or severity of degenerative diseases, including cancer. The prospective health benefits of black raspberries and other antioxidant-rich produce has led to increased consumer awareness and demand for fresh, locally produced fruit. This lead researchers to investigate whether antioxidant levels are influenced by where black raspberries are grown.

New Potential Therapeutic Target Discovered For Genetic Disorder -- Barth Syndrome Posted: 11 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers may have discovered a new targeted intervention for Barth Syndrome. The new study shows the benefits of targeted intervention with an iPLA2-VIA inhibitor that prevents a major symptom of the disease- cardiolipin deficiency.

New System Minimizes Pesticide Pollution Of Aquifers Posted: 11 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed and patented a encapsulation system for controlled release of herbicides and pesticides. The encapsulation retains the pesticide in a liposome and clay structure, that hold and slowly release the pesticide. The main advantages are a longer effective period for the compound and less pollution of the environment, because the pesticide is not dragged with the water.

Consumers Stop Buying As Number Of Options Increase Posted: 11 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT It is a common belief that having more options is better, and that people tend to go to stores that provide them with more choices. However, a new study in the journal Psychology & Marketing reveals that when people cannot easily determine which option is preferable, they are more likely to leave the store empty-handed.

Nature’s Origami: Protein Folding Is 'Hit And Miss' Process Posted: 11 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT Sometimes known as "nature's origami", the way that proteins fold is vital to ensuring they function correctly. But researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered this is a 'hit and miss' process, with proteins potentially folding wrongly many times before they form the correct structure for their intended purpose.

Oh, My Aching Back: Give Me A Shot Of Ozone Posted: 11 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT A minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment -- that safely and effectively uses oxygen/ozone to relieve the pain of herniated disks -- will become standard in the United States in the next few years, researchers predict.

Airborne Ecologists Help Balance Delicate African Ecosystem Posted: 11 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT The African savanna is world famous for its wildlife, especially the iconic large herbivores such as elephants, zebras, and giraffes. But managing these ecosystems and balancing the interests of the large charismatic mammals with those of other species has been a perpetual challenge for park and game mangers. Now a new study reports the successful test of new remote-sensing technology to monitor the impact of management decisions on the savanna ecosystem.

Thumbs Down For New Testosterone Patch To Boost Women's Sex Drive Posted: 11 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT A new testosterone patch, designed to pep up a woman's flagging sex drive after womb and ovary removal, may not work, and its long term safety is not proven, says Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.

Corn-for-ethanol's Carbon Footprint Critiqued Posted: 11 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT To avoid creating greenhouse gases, it makes more sense using today's technology to leave land unfarmed in conservation reserves than to plow it up for corn to make biofuel, according to a comprehensive study.

Many Terminally Ill Patients Feel Abandoned By Their Doctors Posted: 11 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT Terminally ill patients and their family caregivers often feel abandoned by their doctors and feel a sense of "unfinished business" with them, according to a new study.

Toxoplasmosis Parasite May Trigger Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorders Posted: 11 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered how the toxoplasmosis parasite may trigger the development of schizophrenia and other bipolar disorders. They have shown that the parasite may play a role in the development of these disorders by affecting the production of dopamine -- the chemical that relays messages in the brain controlling aspects of movement, cognition and behavior.

Stem Cells Could Halt Osteoporosis, Promote Bone Growth Posted: 11 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT While interferon gamma sounds like an outer space weapon, it's actually a hormone produced by our own bodies, and it holds great promise to repair bones affected by osteoporosis. Researchers now explain that tweaking a certain group of multipotent stem cells (called mesenchymal stem cells) with interferon gamma may promote bone growth.

New Design Means Cheaper, More Sustainable Construction Posted: 11 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT People are always looking for ways to make something less expensive and more environmentally friendly -- and researchers have now figured out how to do both of those things at once when raising the large scale buildings of the future.

Immune Reaction To Metal Debris Leads To Early Failure Of Joint Implants Posted: 11 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified a key immunological defense reaction to the metals in joint replacement devices, leading to loosening of the components and early failure.

Engineers Ride 'Rogue' Laser Waves To Build Better Light Sources Posted: 11 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT A freak wave at sea is a terrifying sight. Seven stories tall, wildly unpredictable, and incredibly destructive, such waves have been known to emerge from calm waters and swallow ships whole. But rogue waves of light -- rare and explosive flare-ups that are mathematically similar to their oceanic counterparts -- have recently been tamed by a group of researchers.

High Prevalence Of Child Marriage In India Fuels Fertility Risks Posted: 11 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT Despite India's economic and educational reform efforts in the last decade, the prevalence of child marriage remains high, fueling the risks of multiple unwanted pregnancies, pregnancy terminations and female sterilizations, according to a new study.

Dead Gene Comes Back To Life In Humans Posted: 11 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that a long-defunct gene was resurrected during the course of human evolution. This is believed to be the first evidence of a doomed gene -- infection-fighting human IRGM -- making a comeback in the human/great ape lineage.

New Soldier In War On Cancer: The Blind Mole Rat Posted: 11 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT If someone ever calls you a "dirty rat," consider it a compliment. A new discovery shows that cellular mechanisms used by the blind mole rat to survive the very low oxygen environment of its subterranean niche are the same as those that tumors use to thrive deep in our tissues.

Huge Corn Plants Developed: Doubling A Gene In Corn Results In Giant Biomass Posted: 11 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT A plant geneticist has developed a corn plant with enormous potential for biomass, literally. It yields corn that would make good silage, the researcher said, due to a greater number of leaves and larger stalk, which could also make it a good energy crop.

Drugs That Act On 'Fasting Signal' May Curb Insulin Resistance In Obese Posted: 11 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT A molecular switch found in the fat tissue of obese mice is a critical factor in the development of insulin resistance, report scientists. Previously found to increase glucose production by the liver during fasting, the culprit -- a protein known as CREB -- is also activated in fat tissue of obese mice where it promotes insulin resistance.

NASA Study Finds 'Pre-Existing Condition' Fueled Killer Cyclone Posted: 11 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT A "pre-existing condition" in the North Indian Ocean stoked the sudden intensification of last year's Tropical Cyclone Nargis just before its devastating landfall in Burma, according to a new NASA/university study. The cyclone became Burma's worst natural disaster ever and one of the deadliest cyclones of all time.

Making Super Mario More Realistic Posted: 11 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Computer games are being developed at an ever more rapid pace, and the technical demands are rising, not least regarding graphics boards. Researchers have now found a solution to a problem that often arises when new computer games are constructed, namely how you can efficiently make sure that the animated figures don't run right through each other.

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