ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Spitzer Catches Star Cooking Up Comet Crystals Posted: 14 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have long wondered how tiny silicate crystals, which need sizzling high temperatures to form, have found their way into frozen comets, born in the deep freeze of the solar system's outer edges. The crystals would have begun as non-crystallized silicate particles, part of the mix of gas and dust from which the solar system developed.

Novel Therapy May Prove Effective In Treatment Of 30 Percent Of Cancers Posted: 14 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT A ground-breaking Canada-wide clinical trial has shown that a common anti-viral drug, ribavirin, can be beneficial in the treatment of cancer patients.

See The Force: Mechanical Stress Leads To Self-sensing In Solid Polymers Posted: 14 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Parachute cords, climbing ropes, and smart coatings for bridges that change color when overstressed are several possible uses for force-sensitive polymers being developed by researchers.

Formaldehyde Exposure Associated With Risk Of Blood And Lymph System Malignancies Posted: 14 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Individuals exposed to relatively higher amounts of formaldehyde had a higher rate of death due to blood and lymph system malignancies than those exposed to lower levels of formaldehyde in a large cohort study.

Liquid Lens Creates Tiny Flexible Laser On A Chip Posted: 14 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Like tiny Jedi knights, tunable fluidic micro lenses can focus and direct light at will to count cells, evaluate molecules or create on-chip optical tweezers, according to engineers. They may also provide imaging in medical devices, eliminating the necessity and discomfort of moving the tip of a probe.

An Amnesic Patient With An Extraordinary Distorted Memory Posted: 14 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT If somebody asks you "Do you remember what you did on March 13, 1985?" you are very likely to answer "I don't know", even if your memory is excellent. Researchers have now been studying a patient with severe amnesia reported detailed false memories in answering this type of question.

More Critically Endangered Birds On IUCN Red List Than Ever Posted: 14 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT The latest evaluation of the world's birds reveals that more species than ever are threatened with extinction, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Researchers found 1,227 species (12 percent) are classified as globally threatened with extinction.

Muscular Dystrophy Diagnosis Delayed Almost 2.5 Years In Boys Posted: 14 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT A simple and inexpensive blood test for any boy with symptoms and signs of motor delays and abnormalities could speed up the process of potentially diagnosing Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Medicinal Plant Kava Safe And Effective In Reducing Anxiety, Study Suggests Posted: 14 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers in Australia have found a traditional extract of Kava, a medicinal plant from the South Pacific, to be safe and effective in reducing anxiety. The results of a world-first clinical trial which found that a water-soluble extract of kava was effective in treating anxiety and improving mood. The kava was prescribed in the form of tablets.

Heart Protein Regulates Blood Vessel Maintenance Posted: 14 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified a protein that regulates the physical state of blood vessels. The biochemical processes involved in this regulation are important in the study of cardiovascular health.

New Nanotube Coating Enables Novel Laser Power Meter Posted: 14 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT The US military can now calibrate high-power laser systems, such as those intended to defuse unexploded mines, more quickly and easily thanks to a novel nanotube-coated power measurement device.

Age-related Difficulty Recognizing Words Predicted By Brain Differences Posted: 14 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Older adults may have difficulty understanding speech because of age-related changes in brain tissue, according to new research. The study shows that older adults with the most difficulty understanding spoken words had less brain tissue in a region important for speech recognition. The findings may help explain why hearing aids do not benefit all people with age-related hearing difficulties.

Climate Change Could Displace Millions In Asia's Coral Triangle Posted: 14 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Coral reefs could disappear entirely from the Coral Triangle region of the Pacific Ocean by the end of the century, threatening the food supply and livelihoods for about 100 million people, according to a new study. Averting catastrophe will depend on quick and effective global action on climate change coupled with the implementation of regional solutions to problems of over-fishing and pollution.

Gene Responsible For Rare Form Of Congenital Anemia Discovered Posted: 14 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT The identification of the causal gene can now offer patients and their family members direct molecular confirmation of their condition, allowing them to know whether they are sufferers or asymptomatic carriers of the disease. More generally, this discovery shows that even well-known scientific processes, such as hemoglobin biosynthesis, still have surprises in store.

Potential Anti-ulcer Herb Medicine: Rocket 'Eruca Sativa' Posted: 14 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT A research group from Saudi Arabia studied the anti-ulcer properties of the salad herb rocket, also known as arugula (species Eruca sativa). They found that rocket extract possesses antisecretory, cytoprotective and anti-ulcer activities against experimentally-induced gastric lesions in rats. The anti-ulcer effect is possibly through prostaglandin mediated activity and/or through its anti-secretory and antioxidant properties.

New EEG Trace Interpretation Method Predicts Neurological Recovery Of Cardiac Arrest Patients Posted: 14 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have developed an innovative method for the verification of brain damage following cardiac arrest. Up until now, the use of electroencephalography (EEG) in the monitoring of cardiac patients has been limited due to interpretation difficulties.

Real-time Traffic Information For Connected Drivers Posted: 14 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Connected vehicles and infrastructure can produce and share real-time traffic and environment information, which, when processed and delivered to drivers, will improve mobility efficiency, lead to fewer traffic accidents and reduce road congestion, fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and driver frustration.

Negative Mood-related Drinking May Mean Vulnerability For Major Depression And Alcohol Dependence Posted: 14 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Major depression and alcohol dependence are strongly connected to one another. New research looks at how mood-related drinking may explain the overlapping familial risk for MD and AD. Drinking related to mood that is based on negative feelings accounted for the majority of the overlapping risk for both MD and AD that is due to genetic and familial environmental factors.

Cold Water Ocean Circulation Doesn't Work As Expected Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT The familiar model of Atlantic ocean currents that shows a discrete "conveyor belt" of deep, cold water flowing southward from the Labrador Sea is probably all wet.

Blood Glucose Control More Important For Patients With Diabetes Than Previously Believed Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT It is even more important than previously believed that patients with diabetes accurately maintain their blood glucose levels at a normal, low level. Even small improvements can make a great difference in the long term.

First Two ALMA Antennas Successfully Linked Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists and engineers working on the world's largest ground-based astronomical project have achieved another milestone — the successful linking of two ALMA astronomical antennas, synchronized with a precision of one millionth of a millionth of a second — to observe the planet Mars.

Drug-eluting Stents Prove More Effective, Equally As Safe As Bare-metal Stents Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have compared the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents and bare-metal stents. The study showed that in heart attack patients undergoing angioplasty, the use of paclitaxel-eluting stents reduces rates of target lesion revascularization (TLR) and binary angiographic restenosis when compared to the use of bare-metal stents after 1 year.

Switchgrass Genome May Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT A recently published study examined the impact of very cheap sequence data (approximately $1 per genome) on improvement of switchgrass, a perennial grass well suited to biomass production.

Two-thirds Of Booster Car Seats Not Being Used Appropriately Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have found that an alarming two-thirds of the booster seats observed in a study conducted throughout Indiana were not being used appropriately.

Bacteria Create Aquatic Superbugs In Waste Treatment Plants Posted: 13 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT For bacteria in wastewater treatment plants, the stars align perfectly to create a hedonistic mating ground for antibiotic-resistant superbugs eventually discharged into streams and lakes.

Connections Between Diabetes And Alzheimer’s Disease Explored Posted: 13 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Modern societies face the increasing burden of age-related diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). There is some evidence that the causes underlying both diseases are linked. Do AD and T2D represent the endpoint of aged, exhausted, and dysfunctional cells having reached their maximal life expectancy or are AD and T2D the consequences of living in superabundance including excessive food supply, work demands, psychosocial stress, and an excessive sedentary life style?

Herschel And Planck Flight Dynamics: It Really Is Rocket Science Posted: 13 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Once Herschel and Planck are launched, ESA's Flight Dynamics team are responsible for knowing where they are, where they are headed and how soon they will get there. The team uses sophisticated techniques to solve some of spaceflight's most complex orbital problems.

Malaria Makes Relapsing Fever More Serious Posted: 13 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Malaria and the Borrelia infection relapsing fever are diseases with similar symptoms that can occur simultaneously. In such cases, the malaria is moderated while the relapsing fever becomes more serious.

Advance Toward Producing Biofuels Without Stressing Global Food Supply Posted: 13 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Scientists are reporting use of a first-of-its-kind approach to craft genetically engineered microbes with the much-sought ability to transform switchgrass, corn cobs, and other organic materials into methyl halides -- the raw material for making gasoline and a host of other commercially important products. The new bioprocess could help pave the way for producing biofuels from agricultural waste, easing concerns about stress on the global food supply from using corn and other food crops.

29 Percent Of Cancer Studies Report Conflict Of Interest Posted: 13 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Nearly one-third of cancer research published in high-impact journals disclosed a conflict of interest, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Body Movements Can Influence Problem Solving, Researchers Report Posted: 13 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Swinging their arms helped participants in a new study solve a problem whose solution involved swinging strings, researchers report, demonstrating that the brain can use bodily cues to help understand and solve complex problems.

Glucose-To-Glycerol Conversion In Long-lived Yeast Provides Anti-aging Effects Posted: 13 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Cell biologists have found a more filling substitute for caloric restriction in extending the life span of simple organisms. Researchers show that yeast cells maintained on a glycerol diet live twice as long as normal -- as long as yeast cells on a severe caloric-restriction diet. They are also more resistant to cell damage.

Medicinal Plant, St John's Wort, May Reduce Neuronal Degeneration Caused By Parkinson's Disease Posted: 13 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT The plant St John's wort has both antidepressant properties and antioxidants that could help reduce the neuronal degeneration caused by Parkinson's disease, according to researchers.

System That Regulates Blood Pressure Is Amiss In Some Healthy, Young African-Americans Posted: 13 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT When stress increases blood pressure, a natural mechanism designed to bring it down by excreting more salt in the urine doesn't work well in about one-third of healthy, African-American adolescents, researchers report.

When Virtual Reality Feels Real Posted: 13 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Despite advances in computer graphics, few people would think virtual characters or objects are real. Yet placed in a virtual reality environment most people will interact with them as if they are really there.

Sporadic Play Activity As Beneficial To Child Health As Continuous Bouts Of Exercise, Study Suggests Posted: 13 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT New research suggests for the first time that frequent bouts of sporadic activity could be just as beneficial to children's health as longer exercise sessions. A team measured the frequency, intensity and duration of bouts of physical activity in a group of children and analyzed the results against a number of health indicators. The results highlighted that the associations between children's activity and health were similar regardless of how the child accumulated the activity.

Old Genes Can Learn New Tricks, Horned Beetles Show Posted: 13 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT A popular view among evolutionary biologists that fundamental genes do not acquire new functions has been challenged by a new study. Biologists report that two ancient genes were "co-opted" to help build a new trait in beetles -- the fancy antlers that give horned beetles their name. The genes touch most aspects of insect larval development, and have therefore been considered off-limits to the evolution of new traits.

Brain Chemical Reduces Anxiety, Increases Survival Of New Cells Posted: 13 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT New research on a brain chemical involved in development sheds light on why some individuals may be predisposed to anxiety. It also strengthens understanding of cellular processes that may be common to anxiety and depression, and suggests how lifestyle changes may help overcome both.

Hubble Photographs A Planetary Nebula To Commemorate Decommissioning Of A Super Camera Posted: 13 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT The Hubble community bids farewell to the soon-to-be decommissioned Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. In tribute to Hubble's longest-running optical camera, a planetary nebula has been imaged as WFPC2's final "pretty picture."

Closer To An Effective Treatment For Gum Disease In Smokers Posted: 13 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered why smokers may be more prone to chronic gum disease (periodontitis). One of the bacteria responsible for this infection responds to cigarette smoke -- changing its properties and the way it infects a smokers mouth.

Grilling With Charcoal Less Climate-friendly Than Grilling With Propane, Study Finds Posted: 13 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Do biofuels always create smaller carbon footprints than their fossil-fuel competitors? Not necessarily, finds a new study.

Terrorist Attacks Provoke Surge In Alcohol And Drug Use Posted: 13 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Nearly one in 12 people exposed to terrorism report increased use and misuse of alcohol. Investigators combined data from 31 studies conducted in the aftermath of such incidents as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Oklahoma City Bombings of 1995, and the Intifada uprisings in Israel.

New Tissue Scaffold Regrows Cartilage And Bone Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have built a new tissue scaffold that can stimulate bone and cartilage growth when transplanted into the knees and other joints. The scaffold, which recently went into clinical trials, could offer a potential new treatment for sports injuries and other cartilage damage, such as arthritis.

Genetic Cause Of Most Common Form Of Breast Cancer Identified Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT The discovery of tumor-suppressor genes has been key to unlocking the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation -- the hallmark of cancer. Often, these genes will work in concert with others in a complex biochemical system that keeps our cells growing and dividing, disease free. Now researchers have found that defects in one gene, called p18, may override the rest, eventually leading to cancer.

Genetically Engineered Mice Don't Get Obese, But Do Develop Gallstones Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Obesity and gallstones often go hand in hand. But not in a new line of mice. Even when these mice eat high-fat diets, they don't get fat, but they do develop gallstones. Researchers say the findings offer clues about genetic factors related to gallstones.

Walking Often And Far Reduces Risks In Heart Patients Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Walking longer at a slower pace improved heart health much more effectively than standard cardiac rehabilitation of walking a shorter distance at a brisker pace in overweight patients with coronary heart disease. In this study, moderate-pace walking for 45-60 minutes on five to six days was considered high-calorie-burning exercise. Researchers said it's necessary to modify traditional rehabilitation because more heart patients are overweight.

City-dwellers Have Higher Risk Of Late-stage Cancer Than Rural Residents Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT A new study finds people who live in urban areas are more likely to develop late-stage cancer than those who live in suburban and rural areas.

Pandemic Warning System Keys On 'Human Factors' Posted: 13 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers are proposing a new system that would warn of an impending pandemic before the first case of disease emerged in a given population by detecting subtle signals in human behavior.

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