ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Virus-built Battery Could Power Cars, Electronic Devices Posted: 03 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have shown they can genetically engineer viruses to build both the positively and negatively charged ends of a lithium-ion battery. The new virus-produced batteries have the same energy capacity and power performance as state-of-the-art rechargeable batteries being considered to power plug-in hybrid cars, and they could also be used to power a range of personal electronic devices.

Blood Protein May Hold Key To Stopping Tumor Growth In Cancer Patients Posted: 03 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT A recent discovery could clear the way for a new drug that inhibits tumor growth in cancer patients and could potentially help in the healing of wounds.

New Device Helps Control Disease-causing Ticks Posted: 03 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Spring is finally here, and with it comes tick season. Scientists are reporting the latest in a series of related studies on the effectiveness of a new technology that reduces tick populations.

Whole-brain Circuit Map Could Reveal What Goes Wrong In Autism, Schizophrenia And Other Brain Disorders Posted: 03 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists from major research institutions in the U.S. and Europe argue strongly in favor of committing resources to prepare a comprehensive map of neural circuits in the mammalian brain. Along with charting the circuitry underlying brain functions, the map is also expected to provide insights about brain dysfunctions in autism, schizophrenia and various mood disorders.

First Accurate Test For Arsenic In Soil Developed Posted: 03 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT If you have a cat or dog who likes to hide under the deck or children who play on equipment made with pressure-treated wood, you'll be glad to hear that analytical chemists recently developed the first-ever accurate test for arsenic compounds in soil, promising a significantly improved environmental and health impact assessment. The method holds some promise for detecting naturally occurring high arsenic levels in Asian rice, as well.

Drug Suppresses The Compulsion To Steal, Study Shows Posted: 03 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT It appears that a drug commonly used to treat alcohol and drug addiction has a similar effect on the compulsive behavior of kleptomaniacs -- it curbs their urge to steal, according to new research.

Ice-free Arctic Ocean Possible In 30 Years, Not 90 As Previously Estimated Posted: 03 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Summers in the Arctic may be ice-free in as few as 30 years, not at the end of the century as previously expected. The updated forecast is the result of a new analysis of computer models coupled with the most recent summer ice measurements.

Potential Magic Bullet For MRSA Treatment Posted: 03 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Attaching an antimicrobial drug, which is activated by light, to a peptide that binds to bacteria and stops them making toxins, produced a "magic bullet" that was highly effective at killing the superbug, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Quails Get Super Fit By Simply Eating Omega-3 Diet Posted: 03 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Semi-palmated sandpipers migrate over thousands of miles, but how do they build up for the ultramarathon? By simply eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids according to a new study. Researchers fed sedentary bobwhite quails that don't exercise a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and found that the birds' fitness improved by up to 90 percent. A diet of omega-3 fatty acids can make birds fit by simply eating.

Transmission Of Drug Resistant HIV-1 Posted: 03 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Drug-resistant forms of HIV can be spread between individuals who have not received anti-retroviral treatment, according to new research.

Light-activated 'Lock' Can Control Blood Clotting, Drug Delivery Posted: 03 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have shed new light -- literally -- on a possible way to starve cancer tumors or prevent side effects from a wide range of drugs.

Optical Illusions: Variety Makes Us Perceive Smaller Quantities Posted: 03 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Here's another reason why dieters should avoid all-you-can-eat buffets: When faced with a large variety of items, consumers tend to underestimate how much of each item is present, according to a new study.

How Low Can It Go? Sun Plunges Into The Quietest Solar Minimum In A Century Posted: 03 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT The sunspot cycle is behaving a little like the stock market. Just when you think it has hit bottom, it goes even lower. The year 2008 was a bear. There were no sunspots observed on 266 of the year's 366 days (73 percent). To find a year with more blank suns, you have to go all the way back to 1913, which had 311 spotless days. Prompted by these numbers, some observers suggested that the solar cycle had hit bottom in 2008.

New Drug To Curb Smoking Shows Positive Results Posted: 03 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Research has shown that varenicline tartrate - a novel new drug specifically developed for smoking cessation - allows smokers to abstain from cigarettes significantly longer and more effectively than smokers using a placebo.

Researchers Spy Galfenol's Inner Beauty Mark Posted: 03 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have figured out why an alloy developed by the military over a decade ago behaves the way it does -- it's because of sprinkling of useful imperfections within an otherwise regular crystal. The new information on Galfenol could lead to more sensitive sonar equipment for submarines and other improved sensors.

COPD-related Problems Hard To Swallow Posted: 03 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exhibit a disordered breathing-swallowing pattern that may account for their higher risk of aspiration pneumonia, according to new research.

Light-activated Antibacterial Coating Is New Weapon In Fight Against Hospital-acquired Infections Posted: 03 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT A new hard coating with antibacterial properties that has been tested by researchers and has been shown to kill 99.9 percent of Escherichia coli bacteria when a white hospital light was shone on its surface to activate it.

Sleep Problems In Adults Linked To Increased Risk Of Suicidal Behaviors Posted: 03 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Adults who suffer chronic sleep problems may face an increased risk of suicidal behavior, new research indicates. American scientists studying more than 5,000 people found that the more types of sleep disturbances people had, the more likely they were to have thoughts of killing themselves, engage in planning a suicidal act or make a suicide attempt.

Being Isaac Newton: Computer Derives Natural Laws From Raw Data Posted: 03 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT If Isaac Newton had access to a supercomputer, he'd have had it watch apples fall -- and let it figure out the physical matters. But the computer would have needed to run an algorithm, just developed by researchers, which can derive natural laws from observed data.

Low Birth Weight Linked To Heart Disease And Diabetes Risk In Adulthood Posted: 03 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Lower weight at birth may increase inflammatory processes in adulthood, which are associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, according to a new study.

Prestige Oil Spill Caused Changes In Cell Structure Of Mussels Posted: 03 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT The oil spill from the Prestige petroleum oil tanker in 2002 caused serious damage to the ecosystems in the Bay of Biscay. It also caused changes in the cell structure of mussels inhabiting this northern coast of the Iberian peninsula, according to new research.

Risk Of Aggressive Breast Cancer Subtype Three Times Higher For African-American Women Posted: 03 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Lifestyle, age and weight have all been considered as risk factors for breast cancer. A new study has found that even taking these factors into consideration, African-American women face three times the risk of developing an aggressive "triple negative tumor" compared to women of other racial backgrounds.

Fitter Frames: Nanotubes Boost Structural Integrity Of Composites Posted: 03 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Chemists have demonstrated that incorporating chemically treated carbon nanotubes into an epoxy composite can significantly improve the overall toughness, fatigue resistance and durability of a composite frame. The discovery could lead to tougher, more durable composite frames for aircraft, watercraft and automobiles.

Diversity Linked To Increased Sales Revenue And Profits, More Customers Posted: 03 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Workplace diversity is among the most important predictors of a business' sales revenue, customer numbers and profitability, according to new research.

No Sponge In Human Family Tree: Sponges Descended From Unique Ancestor Posted: 02 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT New research shows that all sponges descended from a unique sponge ancestor, who in turn was not the ancestor of all other animals. That means that humans did not descend from a sponge-like organism either, as some scientists have put forward. Moreover, the results also suggest that the nervous system only evolved once in animal history.

New Strategy Developed To Diagnose Melanoma Posted: 02 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed a technique to distinguish benign moles from malignant melanomas by measuring differences in levels of genetic markers. Standard microscopic examinations of biopsied tissue can be ambiguous and somewhat subjective, the researchers say, and supplementing standard practice with the new technique is expected to help clarify difficult-to-diagnose cases.

Turning Back The Clock To Save The Bramley Apple Posted: 02 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT The world's most famous cooking apple celebrates its 200th birthday this year, and the unique flavour of the original Bramley Apple is thriving, thanks to scientists.

Protective Role For Kallikrein Proteins In Kidney Disease Posted: 02 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT A team of researchers has shed new light on several forms of the kidney disease known as nephritis.

New Architects Of Service-oriented Computing Posted: 02 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT European researchers have developed a new approach and tools for the deployment of robust software over service-oriented architecture, where applications are no longer blocks of immovable software running on a computer's operating system, but a mix of web services developed on application servers.

Physicians Mending Broken Hearts Posted: 02 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Pediatric surgeons are able to repair complex heart defects with a survival rate of greater than 90 percent, but that doesn't necessarily mean a happy ending for these children and teens. Some may have a great quality of life and others, with the same condition, may not. A study conducted at seven pediatric medical centers throughout the United States shows that several categories of patients with heart disease, including African-Americans and lower-income families, have a lower quality of life.

Beverage Consumption A Bigger Factor In Weight, Study Shows Posted: 02 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT When it comes to weight loss, what you drink may be more important than what you eat, according to researchers. Researchers examined the relationship between beverage consumption among adults and weight change and found that weight loss was positively associated with a reduction in liquid calorie consumption and liquid calorie intake had a stronger impact on weight than solid calorie intake.

Blood Test For Brain Injuries Gains Momentum Posted: 02 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT A blood test that can help predict the seriousness of a head injury and detect the status of the blood-brain barrier is a step closer to reality, according to two recently published studies.

DNA Analysis Uncovers The Prehistory Of Norwegian Red Deer Posted: 02 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Norwegian red deer are genetically different from other European red deer, due to their historical distribution. However, a century ago, red deer were imported from continental Europe to the island of Otterøya in Namsos, and these imported deer have created hybrid forms with the Norwegian red deer on the island. These hybrids have only to a modest degree become integrated with the rest of the Norwegian red deer population.

The Protein SRF Keeps The Skin Healthy Posted: 02 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have determined a role for the protein SRF in the skin and found that its expression is markedly decreased in the diseased areas of skin of individuals with psoriasis.

Researchers Decipher Blood Stem Cell Attachment, Communication Posted: 02 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have deciphered a key sequence of events governing whether the stem cells that produce red and white blood cells remain anchored to the bone marrow, or migrate into the circulatory system.

Dealing With Dwarfism Posted: 02 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT A popular cable reality television show, "Little People, Big World," focuses on the daily lives of short stature individuals. This series bring achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, into the spotlight.

Huge Population Of Rare Dolphins Discovered Posted: 02 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Biologists have discovered a huge population of rare dolphins in South Asia --- but they warn that the population is threatened by climate change and fishing nets.

Taste, Odor Intervention Improves Cancer Therapy, According To Study Posted: 02 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Cancer therapies, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, may alter and damage taste and odor perception, possibly leading to patient malnutrition, and in severe cases, significant morbidity. Scientists conducted a study to provide researchers and physicians with a better understanding of the types and causes of taste and odor dysfunctions so that they can develop treatments and improve the quality of life of their patients.

Flatland Physics Probes Mysteries Of Superfluidity Posted: 02 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT New experimental results on the behavior of ultracold, two-dimensional gases reported by physicists may help clarify the mysterious phenomenon called "superfluidity" -- frictionless flow.

Bacterial Toxin Leads To Systemic Infection Posted: 02 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT New research suggests that bacterial lymphotoxin disrupts intestinal epithelial barrier function.

Dust May Settle Unanswered Questions On Antarctica Posted: 02 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Dust trapped deep in Antarctic ice sheets is helping scientists unravel details of past climate change. Researchers have found that dust blown south to Antarctica from the windy plains of Patagonia -- and deposited in the ice periodically over 80,000 years -- provides vital information about glacier activity.

How Do We Support Today's Einsteins? Posted: 02 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Is today's academic and corporate culture stifling science's risk-takers and stopping disruptive, revolutionary science from coming to the fore? A new article considers those who have shifted scientific paradigms and asks what we can do to make sure that those who have the potential to change our outlook on the world also have the opportunity to do so.

Spintronics Advance Reveals New Conservation Law In Fundamental Physics Posted: 02 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have taken a major step forward in the technology of spintronics by controlling spin states of highly mobile electrons at different locations in a semiconductor and turning the collective state on and off at will. The discovery also represents a new conservation law, an important advance in fundamental physics.

The More Oral Bacteria, The Higher The Risk Of Heart Attack, Study Shows Posted: 02 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Several studies have suggested there is a connection between organisms that cause gum disease, and the development of heart disease, but few studies have tested this theory. A study now has shown that two oral pathogens in the mouth were associated with an increased risk of having a heart attack, but that the total number of germs, regardless of type, was more important to heart health.

New Way To Battle MRSA And Superbugs Posted: 02 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed new agents to fight MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections that are resistant to antibiotics. The fluids are a class of ionic liquids that not only kill colonies of these dangerous microbes, they also prevent their growth.

Faster, Better Diagnosis For Patients With Heart Rhythm Disorders Posted: 02 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Patients with heart rhythm disorders can look forward to better and faster diagnosis and treatment, thanks to the latest generation of electrophysiology equipment.

Hot Solution To Bean Sprout Safety Posted: 02 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Bacterial infection of mung bean seeds can cause outbreaks of food poisoning when the sprouts are eaten. New research has shown ways of disinfecting the bean seeds using natural methods and which do not prevent the beans from sprouting.

UK Teen Binge Drinking Is Serious And Chronic, Study Suggests Posted: 02 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT The latest findings on teenage drinking, smoking and drug use across Europe have just been released. The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) is a study of 15 and 16 year old teenagers in 35 European countries.

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