ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Changes In The Sun Are Not Causing Global Warming, New Study Shows Posted: 12 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT With the US Congress beginning to consider regulations on greenhouse gases, a troubling hypothesis about how the sun may impact global warming is finally laid to rest.

Women Have A More Powerful Immune System Than Men, Study Shows Posted: 12 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Women have a more powerful immune system than men, according to a new study. In fact, the production of estrogen by females could have a beneficial effect on the innate inflammatory response against bacterial pathogens.

New Food Safety Technology Developed For Eggs Posted: 12 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Good news for fans of raw cookie dough: Scientists have developed technology that can protect pasteurized liquid eggs from food safety threats.

Elevated Level Of Certain Protein In Urine Linked To Increased Risk For Blood Clots Posted: 12 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Preliminary research suggests that higher than normal levels of the protein albumin in urine is associated with an increased risk for blood clots in the deep veins of the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism; VTE).

High-pressure Compound Could Be Key To Hydrogen-powered Vehicles Posted: 12 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT A recently discovered hydrogen-rich compound may help overcome one of the biggest hurdles to using hydrogen for fuel -- namely, how do you stuff enough hydrogen into a volume small enough to be practical for powering a car? The newly discovered material is a form of ammonia borane. Working at high pressure in an atmosphere artificially enriched with hydrogen, the scientists were able to ratchet up the hydrogen content by roughly 50 percent.

Teenagers Are Becoming Increasingly Logical, Swedish Study Finds Posted: 12 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT The capacity of teenagers for logic has been steadily increasing during the last 50 years, according to a large study of 13-year-olds in Sweden since the early 1960s.

Ultra-dense Deuterium May Be Nuclear Fuel Of The Future Posted: 12 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT A material that is a hundred thousand times heavier than water and more dense than the core of the Sun is being produced at a university. The scientists working with this material are aiming for an energy process that is both more sustainable and less damaging to the environment than the nuclear power used today.

How Smallpox May Derail Human Immune System Posted: 12 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists describe how they looked at all of the proteins produced by the smallpox virus in concert with human proteins, and discovered one particular interaction that disables one of the body's first responders to injury -- inflammation.

Concentration Solar Power Module Integrates Into Side And Roof Of Buildings Posted: 12 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT A new concentration solar power module that produces heat, cold and electricity can be integrated to façades or building roofs.

Gene May 'Bypass' Disease-linked Mitochondrial Defects Posted: 12 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT By lending them a gene normally reserved for other classes of animals, researchers have shown they can rescue flies from their Parkinson's-like symptoms, including movement defects and excess free radicals produced in power-generating cellular components called mitochondria. The gene swap also protects healthy flies' mitochondria, and to a large extent the flies themselves, from the damaging effects of cyanide and other toxins.

Rules Proposed To Save The World's Coral Reefs Posted: 12 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have proposed a set of basic rules to help save the world's imperiled coral reefs from ultimate destruction. "The catastrophic decline in the world's coral reefs demands urgent management responses on two fronts," say the researchers.

Traumatic Brain Injury Haunts Children For Years With Variety Of Functional Problems Posted: 12 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Children who suffer traumatic brain injuries can experience lasting or late-appearing neuropsychological problems, highlighting the need for careful watching over time, according to two new studies.

Brain's Problem-solving Function At Work When We Daydream Posted: 12 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Our brains are much more active when we daydream than previously thought. Activity in numerous brain regions increases when our minds wander, according to new research. Psychologists found that brain areas associated with complex problem-solving -- previously thought to go dormant when we daydream -- are in fact highly active during these episodes.

Older People Need More Sun, Expert Urges Posted: 12 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Spending more time in the sunshine could help older people to reduce their risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. Exposure to sunlight stimulates vitamin D in the skin and older people are more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency due to the natural aging process and changes in lifestyle. Researchers have shown vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome, a combination of medical and metabolic disorders that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Disease Threatens Washington State Sea Otters Posted: 12 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Many of Washington State's sea otters are exposed to the same pathogens responsible for causing disease in marine mammal populations in other parts of the country, according to a new study.

Melanoma And Pregnancy: What Every Woman Needs To Know About The Risks, Prognosis Posted: 12 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers estimate that nearly one-third of cases of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, are diagnosed in women during their childbearing years. Since many women now are delaying pregnancy until their 30s or 40s, coupled with the fact that melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old, more women could be faced with developing melanoma before or during pregnancy.

Sewage Treatment In The East May Be Enough To Reduce Baltic Algal Blooms Posted: 12 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Upgrading sewage treatment in the southeastern Baltic Sea states to Swedish standards may suffice to reduce algal blooms in the Baltic to levels of the 1950s.

Does Mom Know When Enough Is Enough? Missed Satiety Cues From Infants Linked To Obesity Posted: 12 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT As the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States continues, researchers are examining whether early parent and child behaviors contribute to the problem. Mothers who miss signs of satiety in their infants tend to overfeed them, leading to excess weight gains during the 6 month to 1 year period, according to new research.

Blue Whales Re-establishing Former Migration Patterns Posted: 12 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have documented the first known migration of blue whales from the coast of California to areas off British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska since the end of commercial whaling in 1965.

Swine Flu: What Does It Do To Pigs? Posted: 12 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT The effects of H1N1 swine flu have been investigated in a group of piglets. Scientists studied the pathology of the virus, finding that all infected animals showed flu-like symptoms between one and four days after infection and were shedding virus two days after infection.

Biocontrol For Wide-Ranging Thrips Posted: 12 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT A pest with a voracious appetite may have met its match in a predatory mite being evaluated as a biocontrol agent.

Even Mildly Premature Infants Have Increased Risk Of Common Respiratory Tract Infection Posted: 12 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Even mildly premature infants (gestational age 33 weeks - 36 weeks) have an increased risk of medically attended respiratory syncytial virus infection, the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children and can lead to pneumonia, according to a new study. The RSV infection risk is higher among infants exposed to supplemental oxygen or assisted ventilation during the neonatal period.

Terahertz Waves Are Effective Probes For Integrated Circuit Heat Barriers Posted: 12 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT By modifying a commonly used commercial infrared spectrometer to allow operation at long-wave terahertz frequencies, researchers discovered an efficient new approach to measure key structural properties of nanoscale metal-oxide films used in high-speed integrated circuits.

Less Than One In Five Heart Problems Are Diagnosed Before Symptoms Appear Posted: 12 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT A study of nearly 14,000 people shows that clinicians are missing golden opportunities to identify heart disease before patients start displaying symptoms. Researchers found that just over 11% of the respondents had been diagnosed with heart disease. However, only 19% of those said that their heart disease was picked up during routine screening.

Swine Flu Data 'Very Consistent' With Early Stages Of A Pandemic Posted: 11 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Early findings about the emerging pandemic of a new strain of influenza A (H1N1) in Mexico are published in the journal Science. The data so far is very consistent with what researchers would expect to find in the early stages of a pandemic.

Genetic Research Work Opens Up New Horizons To The Design Of Customized Medicines Against Breast Cancer Posted: 11 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists report that gene expression profile study is a "promising strategy to individualize and improve tumour treatment", reducing toxicity and increasing its efficiency. Their work has permitted to study in depth the molecular response mechanisms to medicines, and will be useful to design other pharmacological treatments according to the patient's genetic characteristics.

Seniors Should Watch For Drug Interactions When Taking Multiple Medications Posted: 11 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT More than 80 percent of adults age 57 and older take at least one prescription drug a day and that about half of them regularly mix drugs with over-the-counter medications and supplements.

Women More Likely To Experience Non-Traditional Stroke Symptoms Posted: 11 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT The traditional stroke symptoms are well known and include a sudden onset of numbness or weakness on one side of the body, trouble talking, loss of vision, or coordination problems.

Wind, Salt And Water Are Leading Indicators Of Land Degradation In Abu Dhabi Desert Lands Posted: 11 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT The desert lands of Abu Dhabi are subjected to various land degradation stresses, including wind erosion, salinization, waterlogging, landfilling and overgrazing. Sustaining these lands has become an urgent matter, a recent article in Soil Survey Horizons suggests better conservation strategies and management options.

Health-care Providers Should Explain Vaccine Refusal Risks, Experts Urge Posted: 11 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Physicians and nurses need to explain the risks of vaccine refusal while respectfully listening to parents' concerns, a new article urges.

How Cells Move: Cooperative Forces Boost Collective Mobility Of Cells Posted: 11 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Scientists now have an experimental answer to the question of how cells move during biological processes as diverse as the development, metastasis, or regeneration of tissues. The work addresses the issue of collective mobility of cells, that is to say, how cells are moved within tissues, and what is the prevalent form of movement inside living organisms.

New Approach Promises Greater Success For Predicting Drug Safety Posted: 11 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Scientists describes a new, more effective and less costly method for testing drugs for potential toxicity and one that could also result in more people benefiting from existing drugs.

Producing Pigs That Provide Us With Healthy And Yet Good Tasting Meat Posted: 11 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT How can we produce pigs that provide us with healthy and yet good tasting meat? Meat eating quality and healthiness are closely related to the amount and type of fat. During the last decade there has been extensive selection towards leaner genotypes which has resulted in reduction of not only undesirable subcutaneous fat, but also in a dramatic decrease in desirable intramuscular fat (commonly known as "marbling" fat).

New Trial Casts Doubt On Role Of Zinc Supplements In Diarrhea Treatment Posted: 11 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Zinc supplementation can be ineffective in the treatment of diarrhea. A randomized controlled trial has shown that supplementation with either zinc or zinc and copper is no more effective than placebo.

Solar-Powered Irrigation System Unveiled At U.S. National Arboretum Posted: 11 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT The U.S. National Arboretum is "going green" with the installation of its first solar-powered drip irrigation system that will save electricity and water at the 446-acre facility operated by the Agricultural Research Service in Washington, DC.

Minority Groups Pick Up Worst European Eating Habits, Study Finds Posted: 11 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Immigrant populations in Europe face an increased risk of diet-related diseases as they adjust to a "Western" lifestyle, according to scientists.

New Nanocrystals Show Potential For Cheap Lasers, New Lighting Posted: 11 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT For more than a decade, scientists have been frustrated in their attempts to create continuously emitting light sources from individual molecules because of an optical quirk called "blinking," but now scientists have uncovered the basic physics behind the phenomenon and created a nanocrystal that constantly emits light.

Novel Genetic Risk Factors For Kidney Disease Posted: 11 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have identified three genes containing common mutations that are associated with altered kidney disease risk. One of the discovered genes, the UMOD gene, produces Tamm-Horsfall protein, the most common protein in the urine of healthy individuals. Although the Tamm-Horsfall protein has been known for almost 60 years, its functions are not well understood and its relationship to chronic kidney disease risk was not known previously.

Particles, Molecules Prefer Not To Mix Posted: 11 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT In the world of small things, shape, order and orientation are surprisingly important, according to findings from a new study. Chemists used computer simulations to study a very simple model of molecules on surfaces, which looks a lot like the computer game "Tetris."

Palm Oil Not A Healthy Substitute For Trans Fats, Study Finds Posted: 11 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Manufacturers are now required to state on food labels the amount of trans fatty acids, also called hydrogenated fats, in packaged foods. Both trans fatty acids and saturated fatty acids are associated with elevated heart disease risk factors. Now, new research questions whether palm oil, whose functional characteristics are similar to trans fats, would be a good substitute for partially hydrogenated fat.

Random Picks Better Than Complicated Process In Gene Identification Posted: 11 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have found a way to save time, money and a little frustration in searches for specific genes that shed light on the biological processes associated with all forms of life.

Social Class Has Major Influence On Teenagers' Diet And Weight, Study Finds Posted: 11 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Differences in social class influence the eating habits, weight and health of young people, new research reveals.

Biotechnology: Engineered Moss Can Produce Human Proteins Posted: 11 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have shown that mosses and humans share unexpected common characteristics. These evolutionary relics could be useful in the production of therapeutic proteins.

Novel Antibody Prevents Infection By Hepatitis C Virus Posted: 11 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Taking aim at a leading cause of liver failure in the United States, scientists have developed a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the Hepatitis C virus. The new antibody effectively neutralized the virus in culture, and then prevented infection by the virus in a pre-clinical animal model of the disease.

Battery-powered Vehicles To Be Revolutionized By New Technology Posted: 11 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Thousands of small electric scooters, bicycles and wheelchairs throughout Europe and Asia are powered by LifePO4 -- a material used in advanced lithium-ion batteries. New LifePO4 batteries, which can power vehicles such as scooters, are made from non-toxic materials abundant in the Earth's crust.

Future Climate Change Likely To Cause More Respiratory Problems In Young Children Posted: 11 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT More children will end up hospitalized over the next decade because of respiratory problems as a result of projected climate change, according to a new study.

Thermal Conductivity Of Seafloor Posted: 11 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT The first German offshore wind facility is expected be put into operation sometime in 2009. A total of 12 giant wind turbines out at the North Sea will turn near the isle of Borkum, each one generating 5 megawatts of power, the largest worldwide. The electrical current they will produce will be conveyed over a distance of 45 km past Norderney to the mainland, at a depth of two to three meters buried in the seafloor.

Dengue Fever Costs Billions In Health Care, Lost Productivity And Absenteeism Posted: 11 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have pinpointed for the first time the multi-country economic costs of dengue fever, the mosquito-borne illness that is a rapidly growing public health problem in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The study assessed the economic burden of dengue in eight American and Asian countries at about $1.8 billion annually.

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