ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Climate Change Odds Much Worse Than Thought Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT The most comprehensive modeling yet carried out on the likelihood of how much hotter the Earth's climate will get in this century shows that without rapid and massive action, the problem will be about twice as severe as previously estimated six years ago -- and could be even worse than that. The study uses the MIT Integrated Global Systems Model, a detailed computer simulation of global economic activity and climate processes.

Drug Deliver With Nanotechnology: Capsules Encapsulated Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT When cells cannot carry out the tasks required of them by our bodies, the result is disease. Nanobiotechnology researchers are looking for ways to allow synthetic systems take over simple cellular activities when they are absent from the cell. This requires transport systems that can encapsulate medications and other substances and release them in a controlled fashion at the right moment. Scientists have now developed a microcontainer that can hold thousands of individual "carrier units" -- a "capsosome" as a new approach to drug delivery.

How Crabs That Live In Hydrothermal Vents Reproduce Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT New observations of the reproductive biology of crabs living around hydrothermal vents help explain their distribution and provide clues about the selection pressures prevalent in these hostile environments.

Why Eczema Often Leads To Asthma Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Many children who get a severe skin rash develop asthma months or years later. Doctors call the progression from eczema to breathing problems the atopic march. Now scientists have uncovered what might be the key to atopic march. They've shown that a substance secreted by damaged skin circulates through the body and triggers asthmatic symptoms in allergen-exposed laboratory mice.

Microscopic Manufacturers Produce Eco-friendly Plastics Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Last year's energy crisis highlighted an unforeseen by-product of the looming fuel shortages of the 21st century. Petroleum-based products such as plastics that society takes for granted but now requires to function will run out with the oil. Scientists are looking to microorganisms to pick up the slack and help produce environmentally friendly plastics, according to new research.

Of Body And Mind, And Deep Meditation Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Chinese researchers have unlocked the mechanism of an emerging mind-body technique that produces measurable changes in attention and stress reduction in just five days of practice.

New Way Of Treating The Flu Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT What happens if the next big influenza mutation proves resistant to the available anti-viral drugs? This question is presenting itself right now to scientists and health officials this week at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, as they continue to do battle with H1N1, the so-called swine flu, and prepare for the next iteration of the ever-changing flu virus. Now promising new research could provide an entirely new tool to combat the flu.

Children Who Get Flu Vaccine Have Three Times Risk Of Hospitalization For Flu, Study Suggests Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT The inactivated flu vaccine does not appear to be effective in preventing influenza-related hospitalizations in children, especially the ones with asthma. In fact, children who get the flu vaccine are more at risk for hospitalization than their peers who do not get the vaccine, according to new research. While these findings do raise questions about the efficacy of the vaccine, they do not in fact implicate it as a cause of hospitalizations, according to researchers.

River Delta Areas Can Provide Clue To Environmental Changes Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Sediments released by many of the world's largest river deltas to the global oceans have been changed drastically in the last 50 years, largely as a result of human activity.

Trace Elements Unbalanced In Dialysis Patients Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Abnormal levels of trace elements may explain dialysis morbidity. A systematic review has shown that, compared to healthy controls, dialysis patients have significantly different blood concentrations of trace elements.

Pandemic Passenger Screening For Airports Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Four major US national laboratories have worked together to develop a computer model to help airport authorities screen passengers for pandemic influenza. The tool can help estimate false negatives, people with influenza who slip through the screening process, and so assess the risk of infected passengers unknowingly spreading disease across the nation.

Cocaine: Perceived As A Reward By The Brain? Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists demonstrate a link between cocaine and the reward circuits in the brain and also associates the susceptibility to addiction with these mechanisms.

Some People Really 'Never Forget A Face:' Understanding Extraordinary Face Recognition Ability Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Psychologists have discovered that some people have an extraordinary ability to recognize faces, a group that they call "super-recognizers," who can easily recognize someone they met in passing, even many years later. The findings imply that face recognition may vary more than previously understood, and may be on a spectrum, with "super-recognizers" at the high end, and those with face blindness, who have extraordinary difficulty recognizing a face, at the low end.

Excessive Cola Consumption Can Lead To Super-sized Muscle Problems, Warn Doctors Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Doctors have issued a warning about excessive cola consumption after noticing an increase in the number of patients suffering from muscle problems. Evidence is increasing to suggest that excessive cola consumption can lead to hypokalaemia, in which blood potassium levels fall, adversely affecting vital muscle functions. Symptoms can range from mild weakness to profound paralysis. Worldwide consumption of soft drinks was 83 litres per person per year in 2007 and is expected to rise to 95 litres in 2012. But it has already hit 212 litres in the USA.

Mars And Earth Activities Aim To Get Spirit Rover Rolling Again Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT NASA's rover project team is using the Spirit rover and other spacecraft at Mars to begin developing the best maneuvers for extracting Spirit from the soft Martian ground where it has become embedded.

Discovery In Colon Cancer Prevention Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new study finds that individuals who have low expression of the "Celebrex gene," 15-PGDH, are actually resistant to Celebrex treatment when used to prevent colon cancer.

Critical Role Of Evolutionary Processes In Species Coexistence And Diversity Revealed Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT A team of researchers, addressing long-standing conflicts in ecology and evolutionary science, has provided key directions for the future of community ecology. The team comprehensively synthesized emerging work that applies knowledge of evolutionary relationships among different species—phylogenetics—to understanding species interactions, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Even In Hostile Working Environments, Employees Reluctant To Leave Jobs Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have found that almost half of employees in hostile work environments had no definite plans to leave their current job. In addition, 59 percent indicated that they either liked or did not dislike their current job.

Feeding Behaviors In Monkeys And Humans Have Ancient, Shared Roots, Bolivian Rainforest Study Suggests Posted: 19 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Spider monkeys and humans have similar ways of controlling their protein intake, suggesting that human susceptibility to obesity might have far earlier evolutionary origins than previously thought.

Special Protein Helps Maintain An Efficient Brain Posted: 19 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT The instruction manual for maintaining an efficient brain may soon include a section on synaptotagmin-IV (Syt-IV), a protein known to influence learning and memory, thanks to a new study.

Impaired Brain Plasticity Linked To Angelman Syndrome Learning Deficits Posted: 19 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT How might disruption of a single gene in the brain cause the severe cognitive deficits associated with Angelman syndrome, a neurogenetic disorder? Researchers now believe they have the answer: impaired brain plasticity.

How Glucocorticoid Drugs Protect The Heart Posted: 19 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Synthetic glucocorticoids are used clinically in many situations, such as to treat asthma, and have been shown in animals and humans to help protect the heart from the damaging effects of heart attack. This has previously been attributed to their anti-inflammatory effects, however new research now indicates there is another mechanism by which glucocorticoids protect rodent hearts from the damaging effects of heart attack: they induce heart muscle cells to produce the protective molecule PGD2.

Everyone Eating Five Portions Of Fruit And Vegetables A Day Might Have Serious Implications For Countryside Posted: 19 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Eating more healthily might be better for us as individuals, but would it be bad news for farmers? A research project has found that if we all followed government advice to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day this could have serious implications for the countryside.

Children Raise Their Parents Posted: 19 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Values are learnt at home; but not only from parents. Researchers studied the role of the family in passing on personal values. Parents influence their children. But children also influence their parents. And parents influence each other.

First Evidence Of Pre-industrial Mercury Pollution In The Andes Posted: 19 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT The study of ancient lake sediment from high altitude lakes in the Andes has revealed for the first time that mercury pollution occurred long before the start of the Industrial Revolution.

Heart Disease Patients Carrying Extra Pounds Do Better, Live Longer Posted: 19 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Being overweight or obese is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors; however, in patients with established CVD, obesity appears to play a protective role. In fact, data suggest obese patients with heart disease do better and tend to live longer than leaner patients with the same severity of disease.

Plant Life Discovery On Boston Harbor Islands Could Help Future Damage Caused By Exotic Species Posted: 19 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT New findings of ecologists studying plant life on the Boston Harbor Islands may advance societal efforts to stem the damage caused by invading exotic species.

Cerebral Neurons Assist Adjacent Neurons Posted: 19 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT After retinal lesions, the affected cerebral neurons suddenly no longer receive input signals. However, they do remain inactive: they receive signals from neighboring cells, strengthen these and then transmit them. For this purpose, they form new networks during the first few weeks after the lesion - initially on a trial basis and later as permanent connections.

New Lithium Battery Can Store And Deliver More Than Three Times Power Of Conventional Lithium Batteries Posted: 19 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Scientists have laid the groundwork for a lithium battery that can store and deliver more than three times the power of conventional lithium ion batteries.

Car Seat Belts Do Not Increase Chance Of Fetal Complications Following Accidents, Study Finds Posted: 19 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT It is well established that seat belts save lives. However, many pregnant women do not wear seat belts, for fear that the belt itself could injure the baby in a car crash. But is this actually the case?

'Singing Brain' Offers Epilepsy And Schizophrenia Clues Posted: 19 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Studying the way a person's brain "sings" could improve our understanding of conditions such as epilepsy and schizophrenia and help develop better treatments, scientists have discovered.

Surprise 'Spark' For Pre-cancerous Colon Polyps Posted: 19 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have studied the events leading to colon cancer and found that an unexpected protein serves as the "spark" that triggers formation of colon polyps, the precursors to cancerous tumors.

Nitrogen From Human Activities May Be As Damaging As Phosphorus Posted: 19 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Excess phosphorus and nitrogen produced by human activities on neighboring land is making its way into our coastal waters and degrading both water quality and aquatic life. Although historically the priority has been to control phosphorus, researchers now argue that nitrogen imbalance is equally damaging.

Folic Acid Effecive In Preventing Congenital Heart Defects, Canadian Research Shows Posted: 19 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Canada's policy of fortifying grain products with folic acid has already proved to be effective in preventing neural tube defects. New research shows that folic acid also decreases the incidence of congenital heart defects by more than six percent.

Combination Of Old And New Media Deepens Mathematical Understanding Posted: 19 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT By combining the trusty old book, pen and paper with the possibilities offered by the computer and the interactive whiteboard, information and communication technologies can help to improve students' understanding in maths education. So conclude a team of researchers in the Netherlands.

Sleep May Be Factor In Weight Control Posted: 19 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Could sleep be a critical component to maintaining a healthy body weight? According to new research, body mass index is linked to length and quality of sleep in a surprisingly consistent fashion.

New Sponge-like Material Can Remove Mercury From Water, Separate Hydrogen From Other Gases And Pull Sulfur Out Of Crude Oil Posted: 19 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT A new sponge-like material that is black, brittle and freeze-dried can pull off some pretty impressive feats. It can remove mercury from polluted water, easily separate hydrogen from other gases and is a more effective catalyst than the one currently used to pull sulfur out of crude oil. In fact, the material, a type of chalcogel, is twice as active as the conventional catalyst used in hydrodesulfurization.

Breakthrough In Radiotherapy Promises Targeted Cancer Treatment Posted: 19 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT A new development in radiotherapy will enable a far more precise and accurate treatment for cancerous tumors by using real-time images to guide the radiation beam.

Using High-precision Laser Tweezers To Juggle Cells Posted: 19 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new method to study single cells while exposing them to controlled environmental changes. The unique method, where a set of laser tweezers move the cell around in a microscopic channel system, allows the researchers to study how single cells react to stress induced by a constantly changing environment.

Surgery May Not Be Necessary For Achilles Tendon Rupture Posted: 19 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT The two ends of a ruptured Achilles tendon are often stitched together before the leg is put in plaster, in order to reduce the risk of the tendon rupturing again. However, new research now suggests that surgery may be unnecessary. Patients who do not undergo surgery have just as good a chance of recovery.

Global Warming May Result In Some Periods Of Cooling In Southeastern United States Posted: 19 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Global warming may include some periods of local cooling, according to a new study. Results from satellite and ground-based sensor data show that sweltering summers can, paradoxically, lead to the temporary formation of a cooling haze in the southeastern United States.

Potential Criminals Can Be Deterred By Longer Sentences, Study Suggests Posted: 19 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Can prison sentences deter potential criminals? A new study suggests that in certain circumstances, they can.

New Tool Helps Researchers Identify DNA Patterns Of Cancer, Genetic Disorders Posted: 19 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT A new tool will help researchers identify the minute changes in DNA patterns that lead to cancer, Huntington's disease and a host of other genetic disorders. The tool translates DNA sequences into graphic images, which allows researchers to distinguish genetic patterns more quickly and efficiently than is possible using computers.

Bad Breath? New Pocket-sized Breath Test Developed Posted: 19 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT A quick breath check in the palm of your hand can never give accurate results. Whether you're about to lean in for a smooch or start a job interview, you're better off asking a trusted friend if your breath is sweet. But what if a friend isn't around when you need one?

Popular Cancer Drug Linked To Often Fatal Brain Virus Posted: 19 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT A new study links use of the popular cancer drug rituximab to a swiftly moving and often fatal viral brain infection called PML. Rituximab is the most important and widely used cancer drug for lymphoma. It is also approved for rheumatoid arthritis and is widely used off-label to treat multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus and autoimmune anemias. The results indicate a greater need for caution in prescribing the drug.

Biological Link Established Between Tumors And Depression Posted: 19 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT In a study that could help explain the connections between depression and cancer, researchers have used an animal model to find, for the first time, a biological link between tumors and negative mood changes. The team determined that substances associated with depression are produced in increased quantities by tumors and are transmitted to the brain. Additionally, pathways that normally moderate the impact of depression-causing substances are disrupted when a tumor develops.

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