ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Lizards Bask In The Sun For A Vitamin D Boost Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Keeping warm isn't the only reason lizards and other cold-blooded critters bask in the sun. Chameleons alter their sunbathing behavior based on their need for vitamin D.

Blood Cells Can Be Reprogrammed To Act As Embryonic Stem Cells Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have reprogrammed cells found in circulating blood into cells that are molecularly and functionally indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells, a revolutionary achievement that provides a readily accessible source of stem cells and an alternative to harvesting embryonic stem cells.

Carbon Dioxide Snatched From The Air Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed a novel reaction scheme by which carbon dioxide can be efficiently converted into methanol under very mild conditions.

Valve Implantation On The Beating Heart Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Transcatheter valve implantation is a newly developed technique for the curative treatment of high-grade aortic stenosis. It is likely to be of benefit especially to elderly, multi-morbid patients for whom the risk of open heart surgery would be too great.

Early Oxygen Rich Atmosphere? Origins Of Sulfur In Rocks Tells Early Oxygen Story Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Sedimentary rocks created more than 2.4 billion years ago sometimes have an unusual sulfur isotope composition thought to be caused by the action of ultra violet light on volcanically produced sulfur dioxide in an oxygen poor atmosphere. Now geochemists can show an alternative origin for this isotopic composition that may point to an early, oxygen-rich atmosphere.

Nearly 1 In 10 Youth Gamers Addicted To Video Games Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT In a new national study of 1,178 American youths, psychologists found nearly one in 10 of the gamers (8.5 percent) to be pathological players according to standards established for pathological gambling.

First Broad-spectrum Anti-microbial Paint To Kill 'Superbugs' Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have developed the first broad-spectrum antimicrobial paint, a material that can simultaneously kill not just disease-causing bacteria but mold, fungi, and viruses. Designed to both decorate and disinfect homes, businesses, and health-care settings, the paint is the most powerful to date, according to their new study.

Genetic Source Of Rare Childhood Cancer Found; Gene Is Implicated In Other Cancers Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT The search for the cause of an inherited form of a rare, aggressive childhood lung cancer has uncovered important information about how the cancer develops and potentially sheds light on the development of other cancers. The finding adds the final link to the chain connecting the gene DICER1 to cancer development.

Turmeric: India's 'Holy Powder' Finally Reveals Its Centuries-old Secret Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists in Michigan are reporting discovery of the secret behind the fabled healing power of the main ingredient in turmeric -- a spice revered in India as "holy powder."

Huntington Disease Begins To Take Hold Early On Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT A global analysis of brain proteins over a 10-week period in a mouse model of Huntington disease has revealed some new insights into this complex neurodegenerative disorder.

Discovered After 40 Years: Moon Dust Hazard Influenced By Sun's Elevation Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT In the 1960s and 1970s, the Apollo Moon Program struggled with a minuscule, yet formidable enemy: sticky lunar dust. Four decades later, a new study reveals that forces compelling lunar dust to cling to surfaces -- ruining scientific experiments and endangering astronauts' health -- change during the lunar day with the elevation of the sun.

Best Intentions: Presence Of Healthy Food Can Lead To Unhealthy Choices Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT More restaurants and vending machines offer healthy choices these days, so why do Americans' waistlines continue to expand? A new study shows that some efforts to control eating may backfire.

Cyclones Spurt Water Into Stratosphere, Feeding Global Warming Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have found that tropical cyclones readily inject ice far into the stratosphere, possibly feeding global warming. The finding provides more evidence of the intertwining of severe weather and global warming by demonstrating a mechanism by which storms could drive climate change.

Humanized Mouse Infected With HIV Vaginally And Rectally Allows Testing Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT A "humanized mouse" has allowed physician-scientists to conduct HIV/AIDS studies that would have been impossible without such a small animal model of HIV infection. The virus only infects humans and chimpanzees, which are protected as endangered species.

Self-assembled Nanowires Could Make Chips Smaller And Faster Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have found a new way to make transistors smaller and faster. The technique uses self-assembled, self-aligned, and defect-free nanowire channels made of gallium arsenide.

New Therapeutic Target For Melanoma Identified Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT A protein called Mcl-1 plays a critical role in melanoma cell resistance to a form of apoptosis called anoikis, according to new research.

Critical Turning Point Can Trigger Abrupt Climate Change Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Ice ages are the greatest natural climate changes in recent geological times. Their rise and fall are caused by slight changes in the Earth's orbit around the sun due to the influence of the other planets. New research indicates that there can be changes in the CO2 levels in the atmosphere that suddenly reach a critical turning point and with that trigger the dramatic climate changes.

Smoke From Cigarettes, Cooking Oil, Wood, Shift Male Cardiovascular System Into Overdrive Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Secondhand tobacco smoke and smoke from cooking oil and wood smoke affected cardiovascular function of men and women who were exposed to small doses of the smoke for as little as 10 minutes, according to a new study. The results confirm previous findings that tobacco smoke could possibly harm cardiovascular function.

Physicists See The Cosmos In A Coffee Cup Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a universal principle that unites the curious interplay of light and shadow on the surface of your morning coffee with the way gravity magnifies and distorts light from distant galaxies.

Cold And Brown Fat Raise Prospect Of A New Method Of Treating Obesity Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have shown that adults use brown fat to convert energy to heat - a discovery that may provide new possibilities in treating overweight and obesity.

Signaling Networks That Set Up Genetic Code Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified and visualized the signaling pathways in protein-RNA complexes that help set the genetic code in all organisms. The genetic code allows information stored in DNA to be translated into proteins.

Combo Inhaler Might Simplify Treatment For Asthma Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT People suffering from chronic asthma might have a new treatment option that allows them to manage their condition with a single prescribed inhaler that contains two medicines, according to a new review.

Much Better Way To Protect Streams From Construction Runoff Is Also Low Cost Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have found an exponentially better way to protect streams and lakes from the muddy runoff associated with stormwater around road and other construction projects. The alternative is lower or comparable in cost to commonly used best management practices (BMPs) around construction sites, yet much more effective at keeping streams and lakes free of runoff sediment that pollutes water and harms aquatic life.

Low Lead Levels In Children Can Affect Cardiovascular Responses To Stress Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Even low levels of lead found in the blood during early childhood can adversely affect how the child's cardiovascular system responds to stress and could possibly lead to hypertension later in life.

Breaking The Animal Kingdom's Color Code Posted: 20 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Charles Darwin was fascinated by the colors of animals. Ever since, researchers have wondered why most animals that have an anti-predatory defense, such as a sting or poison, tend to be brightly colored. Now, new computer models have been developed to explain the evolution of the distinctive colouring of many species of wildlife.

Stroke Recovery: 'First Aid' For Brain Cells Comes From Blood Posted: 20 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT In acute ischemic stroke, the blood supply to the brain is restricted. Initially, brain cells die from lack of oxygen. In addition, ischemia activates harmful inflammatory processes in the affected area of the brain. For the first time, scientists have shown that certain immune cells in the blood inhibit inflammation after a stroke.

Mangrove Forests Save Lives In Storms, Study Of 1999 Super Cyclone Finds Posted: 20 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT A new study of storm-related deaths from a super cyclone that hit the eastern coast of India in 1999 finds that villages shielded from the storm surge by mangrove forests experienced significantly fewer deaths than villages that were less protected.

Epilepsy: Exposure To Valproate During Pregnancy Can Impair A Child's Cognitive Development Posted: 20 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Three-year-olds whose mothers took the antiepileptic drug valproate during pregnancy had average IQs six to nine points lower than children exposed to three other antiepileptic drugs, a landmark multi-center study has found.

Urban Centers With Most Polluted Air: North East Of Barcelona And South East Of Madrid Posted: 20 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT During the summer, the southern region of the Mediterranean basin, where Spain is found, frequently experiences high levels of chemical pollutants in the air. Researchers have studied the contribution of atmospheric processes during the hottest months of the year and have concluded that the areas leeward of Barcelona and Madrid have the poorest air quality levels.

Differences Among Exercisers And Nonexercisers During Pregnancy Posted: 20 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT No one doubts that mothers -- especially pregnant mothers -- are among the busiest people on earth. And while the benefits of exercise for these women and their developing fetuses are widely known, many expectant mothers do not exercise. A survey examining daily activities of moms-to-be will soon be released as part of a larger study looking at the effect of maternal exercise on fetal development. The results suggest, among other things, that exercising during pregnancy does not require "stealing" time from other activities.

Possible Way To Block The Spread Of Deadly Brain Tumors Discovered Posted: 20 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers may have found a way to stop the often-rapid spread of deadly brain tumors. A gene with the playful-sounding name NHERF-1 may be a serious target for drugs that could prevent malignant tumors from rapidly multiplying and invading other parts of the brain, according to a new article.

Plant Gene Mapping May Lead To Better Biofuel Production Posted: 20 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT By creating a "family tree" of genes expressed in one form of woody plant and a less woody, herbaceous species, scientists have uncovered clues that may help them engineer plants more amenable to biofuel production. The study also lays a foundation for understanding these genes' evolutionary and structural properties and for a broader exploration of their roles in plant life.

Non-drug Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease? Long-term Benefit Not Proven Posted: 20 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Whether people with Alzheimer's disease benefit in the long term from non-drug treatment interventions remains an unanswered question. This unsatisfactory finding is mainly due to the fact that convincing studies are lacking so far. For individual approaches, the studies provide indications of a benefit, but also of harm.

Chemists Synthesize Herbal Alkaloid Posted: 20 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Synthetic chemists have found an efficient way to create one of the complex alkaloids found in club moss, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine, so that it can be made in sufficient quantity to test the compound's therapeutic value.

Worst Environmental Problem? Overpopulation, Experts Say Posted: 20 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Overpopulation is the world's top environmental issue, followed closely by climate change and the need to develop renewable energy resources to replace fossil fuels, according to a survey of the faculty at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

'Instant-On' Computing By Putting The Squeeze On An Old Material Posted: 20 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT The ferroelectric materials found in today's "smart cards" used in subway, ATM and fuel cards soon may eliminate the time-consuming booting and rebooting of computer operating systems by providing an "instant-on" capability as well as preventing losses from power outages.

Herbal Extract Inhibits Development Of Pancreatic Cancer Posted: 20 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT An herb recently found to kill pancreatic cancer cells also appears to inhibit development of pancreatic cancer as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties, according to new research.

Minimizing The Spread Of Deadly Hendra Virus Posted: 20 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have made a breakthrough in better understanding how Hendra virus spreads from infected horses to other horses and humans.

Helping Hand Of Hybrid Surgery Benefits Colorectal Patients Posted: 20 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Despite rapid strides in minimally invasive surgical techniques -- most notably, laparoscopy -- traditional open surgery remains the most common surgical option across the United States for people with diseases of the rectum and colon. A newer, third option is a hybrid -- hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery.

'Natural' Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria Protect Soybeans From Aphids Posted: 20 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT An invasion of soybean aphids poses a problem for soybean farmers requiring application of pesticides, but entomologists think a careful choice of nitrogen-fixing bacteria may provide protection against the sucking insects.

Indigenous Peoples At World Summit To Share Climate Change Observations, Coping Techniques Posted: 20 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT With the first climate change-related relocation of an Inuit village already underway, some 400 indigenous people and observers from 80 nations are convening in Alaska for a UN-affiliated conference to discuss ways in which traditional knowledge can be used to both mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Human Brains Make Their Own 'Marijuana' Posted: 20 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that the brain manufactures proteins that act like marijuana at specific receptors in the brain itself. This discovery may lead to new marijuana-like drugs for managing pain, stimulating appetite and preventing marijuana abuse.

Fish Oil Protects Against Diseases Like Parkinson's Posted: 20 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists show that an omega three fatty acid in the diet protects brain cells by preventing the misfolding of a protein resulting from a gene mutation in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Huntington's.

Tourette Syndrome And ADHD Frequently Occur Together Posted: 20 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT The most disabling aspect of Tourette syndrome is that in 90% of cases, it exists in conjunction with another disorder. The most frequent co-occurring condition in people with Tourette is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, though the cause of this association is uncertain. Having one disorder can be disabling enough, but having two means coping with more than twice the disability.

Antioxidant Levels In Cooked Vegetables Vary With Cooking Method Healthier To Griddle-Cook Or Microwave Posted: 20 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Some vegetable cooking methods may be better than others when it comes to maintaining beneficial antioxidant levels, according to a new study in the Journal of Food Science. Results showed that, depending on the vegetable, cooking on a flat metal surface with no oil (griddling) and microwave cooking maintained the highest antioxidant levels.

Shrinking Size Of Nanotechnology Circuitry With Novel Technology Posted: 20 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed a new method of shrinking the size of circuitry used in nanotechnology devices like computer chips and solar cells by using two separate colors of light -- one to inscribe patterns, the other to erase their edges to create smaller structures.

Binge Eating: When Perfection Unravels Posted: 20 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT In everyday life, someone who takes a perfectionist's approach to activities might be admired or even rewarded with a pat on the back. These attitudes are tied to a commonly held, but mistaken, belief that perfectionism will ultimately produce achievement and social success. But a psychologist warns that perfectionism is not a healthy, or even effective, approach to life's challenges.

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