ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Cool Stars Have Different Mix Of Life-Forming Chemicals Posted: 10 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Life on Earth is thought to have arisen from a hot soup of chemicals. Does this same soup exist on planets around other stars? A new study hints that planets around stars cooler than our sun might possess a different mix of potentially life-forming, or "prebiotic," chemicals.

Biology Of Flushing Could Renew Niacin As Cholesterol Drug Posted: 10 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Deft molecular detective work suggests that scientists may soon be able to resurrect niacin as one of the best and cheapest ways to manage cholesterol.

Novel Needle Could Cut Medical Complications Posted: 10 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Each year, hundreds of thousands of people suffer medical complications from hypodermic needles that penetrate too far under their skin. A new device developed by engineers aims to prevent this from happening by keeping needles on target.

Gene Linked To Deadly Disorder In Newborns Identified Posted: 10 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT After 12 years of searching, scientists have tracked down the first known gene mutation responsible for a heartbreaking disorder that kills newborn babies. These findings will allow for earlier testing of embryos at risk for the disease.

Climate Change Leads To Major Decrease In Carbon Dioxide Storage Posted: 10 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT The North Atlantic Ocean is one of the Earth's tools to offset natural carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, the 'carbon sink' in the North Atlantic is the primary gate for carbon dioxide entering the global ocean and stores it for about 1500 years. The oceans have removed nearly 30 per cent of anthropogenic (man-made) emissions over the last 250 years. However, several recent studies show a dramatic decline in the North Atlantic Ocean's carbon sink.

Parkinson's Disease Medication Can Trigger Destructive Behaviors, Study Finds Posted: 10 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT A new study reports that one in six patients receiving therapeutic doses of certain drugs for Parkinson's disease develops new-onset, potentially destructive behaviors, notably compulsive gambling or hypersexuality.

Life Sticks: Bioengineers' Sticky Insights Illuminate Biological Processes Posted: 10 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Sticky is good, according to bioengineers whose research is providing new insights on the "stickiness of life." The big idea is that cells, tissues and organisms hailing from all limbs of the tree of life respond to stimuli using basic biological "modules." For example, the researchers outlined similar strategies across biology for fulfilling the tasks of "sticking together" (cell-cell interactions), "sticking to their surroundings" (cell-extracellular matrix interactions), and responding to forces.

Gene Discovery Could Lead To Male Contraceptive Posted: 10 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT A newly discovered genetic abnormality that appears to prevent some men from conceiving children could be the key for developing a male contraceptive, according to scientists.

Chicken Soup May Fight Blood Pressure: Passover's Matzoh Ball Soup May Be Good For Your Health Posted: 10 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT With the Jewish holiday of Passover beginning at sundown April 8, a staple of the traditional dinner -- chicken soup with matzoh balls -- takes on medicinal importance based on new findings. The popular home remedy for the common cold sometimes known as "Grandma's Penicillin" may have a new role in fighting high blood pressure, scientists in Japan are reporting.

Radiologists Can Dramatically Lower Cardiac CT Radiation Dose In Some Patients Posted: 10 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Radiologists can now lower the radiation dose delivered by cardiac CT angiography by 39 percent in adult patients weighing 185 pounds or less, according to a new study.

World's First Nanofluidic Device With Complex 3-D Surfaces Posted: 10 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have capitalized on a process for manufacturing integrated circuits at the nanometer level and used it to develop a method for engineering the first-ever nanofluidic device with complex 3-D surfaces. The Lilliputian chamber is a prototype for future tools with custom-designed surfaces to manipulate and measure different types of nanoparticles in solution.

Researchers Find Promotion Is Bad For Mental Health And Stops Your Visiting The Doctor Posted: 10 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT New research by economics and psychology researchers has found that promotion on average produces 10 percent more mental strain and gives up to 20 percent less time to visit the doctor's.

Twin Spacecraft To Explore Gravitational 'Parking Lots' That May Hold Secret Of Moon's Origin Posted: 10 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Two places on opposite sides of Earth may hold the secret to how the moon was born. NASA's twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft are about to enter these zones, known as the L4 and L5 Lagrangian points, each centered about 93 million miles away along Earth's orbit.

Chemical Compound May Stop Deadly Brain Tumors Posted: 10 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified a compound that could be modified to treat one of the most deadly types of cancer, and discovered how a particular gene mutation contributes to tumor growth.

Amphibians May Develop Immunity To Fatal Fungus Posted: 10 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT A fungus threatens amphibians all over the globe and has contributed to extinctions. A consideration of amphibian immune responses to the fungus suggests that acquired as well as innate immunity play a role, and preliminary experimental results support this conclusion. Understanding the genetics of both types of immunity could help predict the spread of Bd and possibly support efforts to counter it.

New Studies Examine Elimination Of Hepatitis B And C Posted: 10 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Two new studies explore the ways that hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus can be cleared from patients' bodies.

3-D Printing Hits Rock-bottom Prices With Homemade Ceramics Mix Posted: 10 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT A new, not-so-secret recipe uses artist-grade ceramics powder for 3-D printing. Ceramics objects can now be printed for about three percent the cost of commercial printing mixes.

More Women With Early-stage Breast Cancer Choosing Double Mastectomies Posted: 10 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT A cancer surgeon and researcher has found a dramatic increase in the number of women diagnosed with the earliest stage of breast cancer choosing to have both breasts surgically removed.

Genes From Tiny Algae Shed Light On Big Role Managing Carbon In World's Oceans Posted: 10 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists from two-dozen research organizations have decoded genomes of two algal strains, highlighting the genes enabling them to capture carbon and maintain its delicate balance in the oceans. These findings will illuminate cellular processes related to algae-derived biofuels.

Cancer, Asthma: New Light Shed On Inflammatory Disease Posted: 10 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have found that understanding the precise timing of communication between cells that coordinate the body's response to disease could be key to new drug developments. A new study in Science examines a key player in conditions such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma and has shown that cells use a sophisticated communication system to coordinate responses to infection and maintain inflammation in the body. This system is now a target for designing drugs to treat these conditions.

Satellite Snow Maps Help Reindeer Herders Adapt To A Changing Arctic Posted: 10 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Arctic reindeer herders are facing the challenges of adapting to climate change as a warmer Arctic climate makes it harder for herds to find food and navigate. To help them adapt, the ESA-backed Polar View initiative is providing them with satellite-based snow maps.

Increase In P53 Mutation Linked To Advanced Colorectal Cancer In African Americans Posted: 10 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified a possible genetic cause for increased risk for a more advanced form of colorectal cancer in African Americans that leads to shorter survival, according to new data.

Renewable Energies: The Promise Of Organic Solar Cells Posted: 10 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT In the race to renewable energy, organic solar cells are now really starting to take off. They can be manufactured easily and cheaply, they have low environmental impact, and since they are compatible with flexible substrates, they could be used in many applications such as packaging, clothing, flexible screens, or for recharging cell phones and laptops.

Lower Educational Outcomes Found For Survivors Of Childhood Cancer Posted: 10 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Childhood cancer survivors may suffer from poor educational achievement and learning difficulties.

Towards A Natural Pacemaker Posted: 09 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Artificial heart pacemakers have saved and extended the lives of thousands of people, but they have their shortcomings -- such as a fixed pulse rate and a limited life. Could a permanent biological solution be possible? New research suggests so.

Procedure Improves Health Of Cancer Patients Posted: 09 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT A novel hemodialysis procedure helps restore kidney function and increases lifespan in patients with multiple myeloma, according to a new study.

Flame Retardants Concern To US Coastal Ecosystems, NOAA Reports Posted: 09 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT NOAA scientists, in a first-of-its-kind report, state that Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, chemicals commonly used in commercial goods as flame retardants since the 1970s, are found in all United States coastal waters and the Great Lakes, with elevated levels near urban and industrial centers. The new findings are in contrast to analysis of samples as far back as 1996 that identified PBDEs in only a limited number of sites around the nation.

Accurate Assessment Of Heart Disease Leads To Earlier, More Aggressive Therapy Posted: 09 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT In a study comparing the ability of various medical techniques to accurately determine the extent of heart disease and stratify patients according to disease severity, researchers found that myocardial perfusion testing with gated single photon emission computed tomography was a more accurate predictor of prognosis in chronic ischemic heart disease -- a painful condition caused by a temporary reduction of oxygen-rich blood to the heart.

Monitoring Yellowstone Earthquake Swarms Posted: 09 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Analysis of the recent swarm suggests epicenters migrated north over the 12-day period and maximum hypocenter depths abruptly shallowed from 12 km to 3 km depth at the time of rapid cessation of activity on Jan. 7.

Pre-surgical Stress Management Improves Mood, Quality Of Life Posted: 09 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Brief stress management sessions prior to and immediately after surgery may have both short- and long-term benefit for men undergoing a radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancer, according to new research.

Research Could Lead To New Non-antibiotic Drugs To Counter Hospital Infections Posted: 09 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Lack of an adequate amount of the mineral phosphate can turn a common bacterium into a killer, according to research. The findings could lead to new drugs that would disarm the increasingly antibiotic-resistant pathogen rather than attempting to kill it.

Fluorescent Cancer Cells To Guide Brain Surgeons Posted: 09 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Malignant brain tumors grow with fine extensions which make them hard to distinguish from healthy brain tissue during surgery. Scientists have developed a staining method that makes tumor cells glow in yellow-green. Thus, borders between tumor tissue and normal tissue become visible during the entire operation, which makes resection easier for brain surgeons.

Tropical Forest Seed Banks: A Blast From The Past Posted: 09 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Seeds of some tree species in the Panamanian tropical forest can survive for more than 30 years before germinating. That is 10 times longer than most field botanists had believed. When disturbance kills canopy trees in tropical forest, light reaches the forest floor triggering the germination of seeds of pioneer tree species buried in the soil.

New Gluten-Free French Bread Underway For Celiac Disease Patients Posted: 09 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Gluten-free bread, which is suitable for patients with celiac disease, has been supplemented to resemble French bread in terms of texture and color, according to a study in the Journal of Food Science.

Earth Under Global Cooling Posted: 09 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Thirty-four-million years ago, Earth changed profoundly. What happened, and how were Earth's animals, plants, oceans, and climate affected? Focusing on the end of the Eocene epoch and the Eocene-Oligocene transition was a critical but very brief interval in Earth's history.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Helps Older Adults With Anxiety Reduce Worry, Improve Mental Health Posted: 09 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Older adults with generalized anxiety disorder who received cognitive behavior therapy had greater improvement on measures of worry, depression and mental health than patients who received usual care, according to a study in the April 8 issue of JAMA.

Axons Necessary For Voluntary Movement Regenerated Posted: 09 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT For the first time, researchers have clearly shown regeneration of a critical type of nerve fiber that travels between the brain and the spinal cord and which is required for voluntary movement. The regeneration was accomplished in a brain injury site in rats.

Major Breakthrough In Transplantation Immunity Posted: 09 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Australian scientists have made a discovery that may one day remove the need for a lifetime of toxic immunosuppressive drugs after organ transplants.

Active Component Of Marijuana Has Anti-cancer Effects, Study Suggests Posted: 09 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Cannabinoids such as the main active component of marijuana have anticancer effects on human brain cancer cells, according to new research.

Heartburn Medications Do Not Ease Asthma Symptoms, Study Shows Posted: 09 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Lung experts and elsewhere are calling on physicians to suspend the routine use of potent heartburn medications in asthmatics solely to temper recurrent attacks of wheezing, coughing and breathlessness.

'Taco Shell' Protein: Orientation Of Antenna Protein In Photosynthetic Bacteria Described Posted: 09 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have figured out the orientation of a protein in the antenna complex to its neighboring membrane in a photosynthetic bacterium, a key find in the process of energy transfer in photosynthesis.

What Is The Best Strategy For Overcoming Constant Worries? Posted: 09 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT A study conducted by a group of German investigators examined whether worry exposure (WE) alone is as efficacious as the empirically supported stand-alone treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), applied relaxation (AR). Both AR and WE seem to represent effective principles of change in GAD. The treatment effects were stable at 6 month and 1 year follow-up.

Ancient Diatoms Lead To New Technology For Solar Energy Posted: 09 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Engineers have discovered a way to use an ancient life form to create one of the newest technologies for solar energy, in systems that may be surprisingly simple to build compared to existing silicon-based solar cells. The secret: diatoms.

Stem Cell Therapy Makes Cloudy Corneas Clear Posted: 09 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Stem cells collected from human corneas restore transparency and don't trigger a rejection response when injected into eyes that are scarred and hazy, according to new experiments.

Distinguishing Single Cells With Nothing But Light Posted: 09 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a novel optical technique that permits rapid analysis of single human immune cells using only light. Availability of such a technique means that immunologists and other cellular researchers may soon be able to observe the responses of individual cells to various stimuli, rather than relying on aggregate statistical data from large cell populations.

Model Tissue System Reveals Cellular Communication Via Amino Acids Posted: 09 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have found the first evidence of cell-to-cell communication by amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, rather than by known protein signaling agents such as growth factors or cytokines.

Magnetic Nano-'shepherds' Organize Cells Posted: 09 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT The power of magnetism may address a major problem facing bioengineers as they try to create new tissue -- getting human cells to not only form structures, but to stimulate the growth of blood vessels to nourish that growth.

Altered Gene Can Increase Risk Of Schizophrenia Posted: 09 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Geneticists have identified a specific DNA change that is likely to increase risk for developing schizophrenia in some people. It provides a potential mechanism that may be a point of entry for drug therapy.

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