ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Living Model Of Basic Units Of Human Brain Created Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers are developing a novel new way to model how the human brain works by creating a living representation of the brain. They are using cells originally from a tumor which have been 'reprogrammed' to stop multiplying. Using the same natural molecule the body does to stimulate cellular development, the cells are turned into a co-culture of nerve cells and astrocytes - the most basic units of the human brain. The research could lead to improved treatments for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Cause For Severe Pediatric Epilepsy Disorder Identified Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that convulsive seizures in a form of severe epilepsy are generated, not on the brain's surface as expected, but from within the memory-forming hippocampus. The scientists hope that their findings -- based on a mouse model of severe epilepsy -- may someday pave the way for improved treatments of childhood epilepsy, which affects more than two percent of children worldwide.

Synthetic Biology: Transforming Cells Into Microscopic Biological Computers Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Synthetic biology is an emerging discipline through which scientists hope to transform cells into microscopic biological 'computers' programmed to perform specific tasks. Such capabilities would have a range of applications, including detecting toxic agents, generating clean energy, and large-scale drug manufacturing.

HPV Vaccine May Prevent Preterm Births Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Chronic human papilloma virus (HPV) infections can lead to cellular changes in the cervix that can be a pre-stage to cervical cancer. Surgical treatment of these pre-stages gives an increased risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies. As the HPV vaccine can prevent pre-stages of cervical cancer, it may therefore reduce the number of preterm births. A new Norwegian study has calculated the benefits of HPV vaccination.

Nanotechnology Boosts Efficiency In Converting Solar Energy Into Hydrogen In Fuel Cells Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers find great promise in a process that could use solar energy to use hydrogen, the third most abundant element on earth's surface, as the ultimate alternative to fossil fuels. This process increase dramatically the efficiency of titania photoanodes used to convert solar energy into hydrogen in fuel cells.

The Brain 'Joins The Dots' When Drawing A Cartoon Face From Memory Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists used a brain scanner to record the brain's activity in each stage of the process of drawing faces. The researchers found that the captured visual information is stored as a series of locations or action plans to reach those locations. It is as if the brain remembers key locations and then "joins the dots" with a straight or curved line to achieve the desired image on the page.

Climate Warming Affects Antarctic Ice Sheet Stability Posted: 22 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT A five-nation scientific team has published new evidence that even a slight rise in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, one of the gases that drives global warming, affects the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The massive WAIS covers the continent on the Pacific side of the Transantarctic Mountains. Any substantial melting of the ice sheet would cause a rise in global sea levels.

Search For Blood Pressure Secrets Reveals A Surprising New Syndrome Posted: 22 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers investigating the genetic causes of blood pressure variation have identified a previously undescribed syndrome associated with seizures, a lack of coordination, developmental delay and hearing loss.

Four Of Saturn's Moons Parade By Their Parent Posted: 22 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT A new Hubble Space Telescope image shows four of Saturn's moons circling the ringed planet.

New Target For Heart Failure Therapy Identified Posted: 22 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT A novel signaling pathway plays a significant role in the production of aldosterone, a hormone that promotes heart failure after a myocardial infarction, according to a study conducted by Thomas Jefferson University researchers.

Supercooled Silicon: Liquid-liquid Phase Transition In Silicon Confirmed Posted: 22 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT Using rigorous computer calculations, researchers have established evidence that supercooled silicon experiences a liquid-liquid phase transition, where at a certain temperature two different states of liquid silicon exist. The two states each have unique properties that could be used to develop new silicon-based materials. Furthermore, the methods developed can be applied to gain a better understanding of other materials.

Scots And Irish At Greater Risk Of Drink-related Death, Study Shows Posted: 22 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT Alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales are twice as high among people born in Scotland or Ireland compared with the rest of the population, a new study has shown.

Water Acts As Catalyst In Explosives Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT The most abundant material on Earth exhibits some unusual chemical properties when placed under extreme conditions. Scientists have now shown that water, in hot dense environments, plays an unexpected role in catalyzing complex explosive reactions.

Hormone Offers Promise As Fertility Treatment Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT New research suggests the hormone kisspeptin shows promise as a potential new treatment for infertility. Scientists have shown that giving kisspeptin to women with infertility can activate the release of sex hormones which control the menstrual cycle. This research could lead to a new fertility therapy for women with low sex hormone levels.

Collagen Injections Can Help Some Incontinence Patients When Surgery Fails, Researcher Finds Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT Collagen injections can benefit women who still suffer from stress urinary incontinence even after urethral or periurethral surgery, researchers have found.

Radiologic Exams On Pregnant Women More Than Doubled Over 10 Years Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have found that over a 10-year period radiologic exams on pregnant women have more than doubled, according to a new study.

Breakthrough In Chemical Separation Captures Fluorocarbons Dynamically Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have made a breakthrough in chemical separation. The new chemical separations using porous solids mostly rely on size selection, meaning that compounds too large to squeeze through the pores are excluded. The work by the research group describes a class of ionic solids that can selectively capture certain fluorocarbons dynamically.

Racial Disparities In Cancer Mortality Rates Between Blacks And Whites Quantified Posted: 22 Mar 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new study finds that the disparity in mortality between blacks and whites is almost entirely due to the fact that African Americans are more likely to get cancer in the first place. African-American men live 1.47 fewer years than white men, and African-American women 0.91 fewer years than white women, due to all cancers combined.

Carbon Sinks Losing The Battle With Rising Emissions Posted: 21 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT The stabilizing influence that land and ocean carbon sinks have on rising carbon emissions is gradually weakening, scientists who attended the international Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

Novel Spinal Cord Stimulator Sparks Hope For Parkinson's Disease Treatment Posted: 21 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT A novel stimulation method, the first potential therapy to target the spinal cord instead of the brain, may offer an effective and less invasive approach for Parkinson's disease treatment, according to pre-clinical data published in the journal Science.

Can Cherries Relieve The Pain Of Osteoarthritis? Posted: 21 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT For the estimated 27 million Americans who suffer from osteoarthritis, pain relief may come with a cherry on top. According to researchers, tart cherries, in pill form, may be a promising pain-reliever for this common and debilitating form of arthritis.

Moderate Intensity Walking Means 100 Steps Per Minute Posted: 21 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT It is recommended that people engage in 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity daily, 5 times a week. Pedometers, widely used as a monitoring tool, are unable to measure activity intensity. Researchers have determined that a rate of at least 100 steps/minute achieves moderate intensity activity.

Fuel Removal And Prescribed Burns Reduce Wildfire Severity But May Invite Invasives Posted: 21 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT Scientists compared the effectiveness of fire fuel reduction methods under the U.S. National Fire and Fire Surrogate Study. Four articles examine the effects of prescribed burns, mechanical treatment (usually thinning of the smallest trees) and a combination of both with control plots at 12 study sites in forests across the United States.

Light To Moderate Drinking And Socialization Are Jointly Good For Cardiovascular Health, Study Finds Posted: 21 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT While heavy drinking is associated with a greater risk of stroke, light-to-moderate drinking has been linked to a lesser risk of ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease. New findings show that social support may enhance the beneficial effects of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption on risk of cardiovascular disease.

Focus On Treating Malnutrition In Cancer Patients, Researchers Say Posted: 20 Mar 2009 09:00 PM PDT Cancer patients who are malnourished experience significantly greater levels of psychological distress than those who are more adequately nourished, according to new results.

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