ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Two Highly Complex Organic Molecules Detected In Space Posted: 22 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have detected two of the most complex molecules yet discovered in interstellar space: ethyl formate and n-propyl cyanide. Their computational models of interstellar chemistry also indicate that yet larger organic molecules may be present -- including the so-far elusive amino acids, which are essential for life.

Dark Hair? Don't Burn? Your Genes May Still Put You At Risk For Melanoma Posted: 22 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT New genetic research suggests that the traditional risk factors for melanoma may not be as helpful in predicting risk in all people as previously thought.

Guam Rhino Beetles Got Rhythm Posted: 22 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT In May 2008 the island of Guam became a living laboratory for scientists as they attached acoustic equipment to coconut trees in order to listen for rhinoceros beetles.

New Drug To Target Tumor Cells And Blood Vessels Posted: 22 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new drug compound that appears to target tumor cells and surrounding blood vessels without the negative side effects typically associated with Cox-2 inhibitors.

Ultrasound Imaging Now Possible With Smartphone Posted: 22 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Computer engineers are bringing the minimalist approach to medical care and computing by coupling USB-based ultrasound probe technology with a smartphone, enabling a compact, mobile computational platform and a medical imaging device that fits in the palm of a hand.

Using Tools Requires That Brain Is Able To Control Movements Posted: 22 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Our ability to use objects and tools to perform actions is essential to our daily activities, and it is developed to a level that is unique to our species. Researchers have found that brain-lesioned patients who have difficulties using familiar objects and tools in their usual context (e.g. cutting paper with scissors) may also be impaired at controlling the movement of an object in the context of simpler movements such as pointing at a target.

Secret To Night Vision Found In DNA's Unconventional 'Architecture' Posted: 22 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered an important element for making night vision possible in nocturnal mammals: the DNA within the photoreceptor rod cells responsible for low light vision is packaged in a very unconventional way, according to a new article. That special DNA architecture turns the rod cell nuclei themselves into tiny light-collecting lenses, with millions of them in every nocturnal eye.

Pesticide Exposure Found To Increase Risk Of Parkinson's Disease Posted: 22 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT A new epidemiological study by scientists in California establishes a link between early exposure to pesticides and the neurodegenerative process that leads to Parkinson's disease in humans.

Charred Meat May Increase Risk Of Pancreatic Cancer Posted: 22 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Meat cooked at high temperatures to the point of burning and charring may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a new report.

Personalized Medicine Helps Cancer Patients Survive Posted: 22 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Cancer patients can survive longer under treatments based on their individual genetic profiles, according to a nationwide study. The study shows that molecular profiling of patients can identify specific treatments for individuals, helping keep their cancer in check for significantly longer periods and in some cases even shrinking tumors.

Environmentally Friendly Beer Brewing: Repaired Gene Improves Commercial Lager Fermentation Posted: 22 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT A recent study shows that beer fermentation conducted with genetically modified brewer's yeast may result in more efficient lager brewing and a lower environmental footprint.

Viking Legacy On English: What Language Tells Us About Immigration And Integration Posted: 22 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT They're a firm part of our language and even speak to us of our national culture -- but some words aren't quite as English as we think. Terms such as 'law', 'ugly', 'want' and 'take' are all loanwords from Old Norse, brought to these shores by the Vikings, whose attacks on England started in AD 793.

Increasing Antarctic Sea Ice Extent Linked To Ozone Hole Posted: 22 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Increased growth in Antarctic sea ice during the past 30 years is a result of changing weather patterns caused by the ozone hole, according to new research.

Following Meth Use In Mice: Exercise Protects Against Damage Causing Leakage In Blood-brain Barrier Posted: 22 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Regular exercise can prevent the disruption of the blood brain barrier that normally occurs with a dose of methamphetamine comparable to that used by heavy meth users. A new study is the first to look at the protective effects of exercise on the vascular effects of methamphetamine.

Walnuts May Prevent Breast Cancer Posted: 22 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Walnut consumption may provide the body with essential omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytosterols that reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to a new study.

Brain Metastases Hijack Neuron-supporting Cells To Resist Chemotherapy Posted: 22 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Cancer that spreads to other organs finds a sanctuary against treatment in the brain. New research shows that astrocytes are subverted to support metastases and that en bloc removal of tumors reduces the likelihood the cancer will spread irretrievably to spinal fluid.

Ecologists Put Price Tag On Invasive Species Posted: 22 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Invasive species can disrupt natural and human-made ecosystems, throwing food webs out of balance and damaging the services they provide to people. Now scientists have begun to put a price tag on this damage. Ecologists have listed the invasive species that cause the most harm to environment and cost the most money to control.

Controlling Our Brain's Perception Of Emotional Events Posted: 22 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Key processes in the brain that control the emotional significance of our experiences and how we form memories of them. A lack of proper brain function in this area is what lies beneath such conditions as schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Photography And Microscopes: New Technique That Scrambles Light May Lead To Sharper Images, Wider Views Posted: 22 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT When photographers zoom in on an object to see it better, they lose the wide-angle perspective -- they are forced to trade off "big picture" context for detail. But now a new imaging method could lead to lenses that show all parts of the scene at once in the same high detail. The new method could help build more powerful microscopes and other optical devices.

Prevalence Of 'Silent' Heart Attacks Revealed With New Imaging Technology Posted: 22 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT So-called "silent" heart attacks may be much more common than previously believed, according to researchers. Studies show that each year, nearly 200,000 people in the US suffer a heart attack but may not realize it. These "silent" heart attacks aren't noted because they don't cause any pain -- or at least any pain that patients believe is related to their heart -- and they don't leave behind any telltale irregularities on electrocardiograms.

Cobbe Portrait 'Not A Genuine Likeness' Of William Shakespeare Made From Life Posted: 22 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Working with four specialists, a Shakespeare scholar in Germany has refuted the claim of the picture restorer and owner Alec Cobbe that the "Cobbe portrait", in his family's possession for centuries, is a genuine life-portrait of William Shakespeare.

Newly Discovered Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Active In Human Pancreatic Cancers Posted: 22 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Finally some promising news about pancreatic cancer, one of the most fatal cancers, due to the difficulties of early detection and the lack of effective therapies: Scientists have identified an epidermal growth factor receptor aberrantly active in approximately a third of the 250 human pancreatic cancers studied.

Implementing Sustainable Technology To Monitor The Integrity Of U.S. Bridges Posted: 22 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers are implementing a self-powered monitor system for bridges that can continuously check their condition using wireless sensors that "harvest" power from structural vibration and wind energy.

Middle-school Math Classes Are Key To Closing Racial Academic Achievement Gap Posted: 22 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT More challenging middle-school math classes and increased access to advanced courses in predominantly black urban high schools may be the key to closing the racial academic achievement gap, according to a new study.

Plants Could Override Climate Change Effects On Wildfires Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT The increase in warmer and drier climates predicted to occur under climate change scenarios has led many scientists to also predict a global increase in the number of wildfires. But a new study shows that in some cases, changes in the types of plants growing in an area could override the effects of climate change on wildfire frequency.

Where 'Bad' Cholesterol Levels Are Controlled Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have found that a protein responsible for regulating "bad" cholesterol in the blood works almost exclusively outside cells, providing clues for the development of therapies to block the protein's disruptive actions.

Seabirds' Suitability As A Mate Tied To Crest Size Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT In at least one breed of northern seabird, the size of males' feather crests may be more than simple ornamentation. Crest size may be a physical indicator of a male crested auklet's quality as a mate.

Effects Of Maternal Exercise On Fetal Breathing Movements Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Exercise has many benefits for adults, teens, and youngsters. It is less clear what benefit, if any, exercise may have during fetal growth during gestation. One important study is now complete and the findings suggest a potential benefit of maternal exercise on fetal development because of the link between fetal breathing movements and the developing autonomic nervous system.

Computational Model Examines The Pathways Of Alzheimer's That Strikes At The Young Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Familial Alzheimer's disease strikes individuals as early as their 20s. Researchers have constructed a simple computational model (series of equations) to measure whether certain variables -- genetic mutations in proteins and "tau" tangles -- might be predicative of the development of the disease. While no links were found between amyloid beta plaque and tau tangles, modeling is a useful way for better understanding this complex, multi-layered disease.

People Manage Their Privacy On Facebook Naturally Posted: 21 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT People find easily ways to manage their privacy on social media, says a new study. On Facebook user's friends from different life spheres can read the same messages. For instance, one's boss may see the messages the user is changing with his closest friends. Researchers found in their research six ways Facebook users are applying to solve this kind of situations.

Survival Mode That Protects Cells When Oxygen Is Low Also Slows Aging Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT A biochemical pathway that keeps cells alive when oxygen is low has now been showed to play a role in longevity and resistance against some diseases of old age. The study was conducted in an animal model of aging, the nematode worm.

Damage To Forests From Climate Change Could Cost The Planet Its Major Keeper Of Greenhouse Gases, Study Warns Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT The critical role of forests as massive "sinks" for absorbing greenhouse gases is "at risk of being lost entirely" to climate change-induced environmental stresses that threaten to damage and even decimate forests worldwide, according to a new report.

Colorectal Cancer Risks Quantified Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Although the presenting features of colorectal cancer are well known, the risks they confer are less well defined. New research describes the exact risks posed by eight clinical features for the development of colorectal cancer in a large group of patients.

Cloud Computing: A New Horizon Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT The outlook is bleak for laptops, hard drives and desktops – clouds are on the horizon and could change the way we use computers forever. For some, the 'cloud' is just the latest technological craze, but for others it is the future of computing, and it has already generated a large body of research literature. What seems certain is that cloud computing has the potential to bring about irreversible changes in the way computers are used around the world.

Barely Legal: Alcohol Does Not Appear To Affect Perceptions Of Age Posted: 21 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT A new study led by the University of Leicester has demonstrated that consuming alcohol did not affect how men judged the age of women. This has important legal implications if alcohol is cited as a cause of impairing judgment in cases of unlawful sex with a minor.

Fat Droplet Nanoparticle Delivers Tumor Suppressor Gene To Tumor And Metastatic Cells Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT The first systemic, nonviral, tumor-targeted, nanoparticle method designed to restore normal gene function to tumor cells while completely bypassing normal tissue has been developed. The nanoparticle is able to locate primary and hidden metastatic tumor cells and deliver its payload: a fully functioning copy of the P53 tumor suppressor gene.

Features Of Early Martian Environment And Presence Of Water Drive Search For Life Forms Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Solar energy and winds, collisions with asteroids and comets, and changing magnetic fields have all altered the environment of Mars, a planet that may have been able to support life during its history.

Pelvic Pain As Prevalent In Teens As Older Males Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have found that a painful pelvic affliction associated with adult men occurs as frequently in adolescent boys. Chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a urogenital disease associated with persistent and life-altering pelvic and genital pain.

Technology Used To Improve Traffic Flow And Road Safety Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT The MARTA project develops technological solutions to the growing problem of traffic congestion, making driving a safer and more comfortable experience for all road users.

Driven To Distraction? Taking Your Mind Off A Decision Can Help Posted: 21 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Remember when the answer to a big question came to you in the shower? Is "sleep on it" really good advice for someone making a big decision? A new study examines the way distraction affects consumers' product decisions.

Primitive Interstellar Dust Samples Provide Pre-solar Time Capsules Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have found some of the most primitive matter containing abundant interstellar material analyzed to date amongst dust particles collected from the upper atmosphere by NASA aircraft. The samples were gathered in April 2003 during the Earth's passage through the dust stream left behind by comet 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup.

Inexpensive Drug Appears To Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT A small pilot study was conducted over a 14-week period to test the new use of a low dose of a drug called naltrexone for the treatment of chronic pain. The drug, which has been used clinically for more than 30 years to treat opioid addiction, was found to reduce symptoms of pain and fatigue an average of 30 percent over placebo.

Tulip Entered Europe Through Al-Andalus Five Centuries Earlier Than Believed Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT A new study provides information on the arrival of the tulip flower to Europe. Contrary to what was thought up until now, the first bulbs could have arrived to Holland, where today the tulip is the country symbol, through 11th century al-Andalus, five centuries before what was believed.

Caffeine Appears To Be Beneficial In Males, But Not Females, With Lou Gehrig's Disease Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Lou Gehrig's disease is believed to involve an interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. One environmental factor is diet. With oxidative stress (which damages the cells) a common concern in ALS pathology, researchers have examined what role antioxidants might play. Coffee is a potent dietary antioxidant, and recently been used to study the disease in an animal model. The findings indicate that coffee appears to be beneficial for males with ALS but not for females.

Wireless Networks Can Now Be Truly Wireless Posted: 21 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT It is difficult and expensive to create wireless networks in sparsely populated areas or to cover a whole city, for example. Each wireless connection point requires, notwithstanding the name, a cable with a connection to the Internet. But these problems are now being solved.

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