ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

New 'Broadband' Cloaking Technology Simple To Manufacture Posted: 21 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have created a new type of invisibility cloak that is simpler than previous designs and works for all colors of the visible spectrum, making it possible to cloak larger objects than before and possibly leading to practical applications in "transformation optics."

Influenza Virus Evades Body's Immune Response Through Newly Discovered Mechanism Posted: 21 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified a critical molecular mechanism that allows the influenza virus to evade the body's immune response system.

Robotic Therapy Holds Promise For Cerebral Palsy Posted: 21 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Over the past few years, MIT engineers have successfully tested robotic devices to help stroke patients learn to control their arms and legs. Devices can help children learn to grasp and manipulate objects. Now, they're building on that work to help children with cerebral palsy.

Immunotherapy Effective Against Neuroblastoma In Children Posted: 21 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT A phase III study has shown that adding an antibody-based therapy that harnesses the body's immune system resulted in a 20 percent increase in the number of children living disease-free for at least two years with neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma, a hard-to-treat cancer arising from nervous system cells, is responsible for 15 percent of cancer-related deaths in children.

Snail Venoms Reflect Reduced Competition Posted: 21 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT A study of venomous snails on remote Pacific islands reveals genetic underpinnings of an ecological phenomenon that has fascinated scientists since Darwin.

Area Of Brain That Makes A 'People Person' Discovered Posted: 21 May 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that whether someone is a "people person" may depend on the structure of their brain: the greater the concentration of brain tissue in certain parts of the brain, the more likely they are to be a warm, sentimental person. This area is in the same region linked to processing of pleasures such as sweet tastes and sexual stimuli.

'Junk' DNA Has Important Role, Researchers Find Posted: 21 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers who have been studying the genome of a pond organism have found that junk DNA may not be so junky after all. They have discovered that DNA sequences from regions of what had been viewed as the "dispensable genome" are actually performing functions that are central for the organism. They have concluded that the genes spur an almost acrobatic rearrangement of the entire genome that is necessary for the organism to grow.

Protein From Algae Shows Promise For Stopping SARS Posted: 21 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT A protein from algae may have what it takes to stop severe acute respiratory syndrome infections, according to new research. A recent study has found that mice treated with the protein, Griffithsin, had a 100 percent survival rate after exposure to the SARS coronavirus, as compared to a 30 percent survival for untreated mice.

Agricultural Aromatherapy: Lavender Oil As Natural Herbicide Posted: 21 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Could essential oils extracted from lavender be used as a natural herbicide to prevent weed growth among crops? Research carried out in Italy suggests the answer may be yes.

Cancer Stem Cells May Be Related To Prognosis In Primary Breast Cancer Posted: 21 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy prior to surgery had heightened levels of cancer-initiating stem cells in their bone marrow, and the level of such cells correlated to a tumor's lymph node involvement, according to new research.

Making Bio Fuels, Textiles and Paper With Eco-friendly Wood Dissolution Process Posted: 21 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new eco-friendly way of dissolving wood using ionic liquids that may help its transformation into popular products such as bio fuels, textiles, clothes and paper.

Couples To Rely On Male Contraceptive For New Trial Posted: 21 May 2009 08:00 AM PDT Couples are being asked to replace their usual form of birth control with a new male contraceptive in a study to test its effectiveness.

'Five Dimensional' Discs With A Storage Capacity 2,000 Times That Of Current DVDs Posted: 21 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Futuristic discs with a storage capacity 2,000 times that of current DVDs could be just around the corner, thanks to new research from Australia. For the first time, researchers have demonstrated how nanotechnology can enable the creation of 'five dimensional' discs with huge storage capacities.

Vitamin D May Halt Lung Function Decline In Asthma And COPD Posted: 21 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Vitamin D may slow the progressive decline in the ability to breathe that can occur in people with asthma as a result of human airway smooth muscle proliferation, according to researchers.

Midge Bones In Lake Sediments Reveal Fish History Posted: 21 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT The mouth parts of the phantom midge are microscopic. But in the hands of scientists these midge bones become a time machine that can document 200 years of acidification and fish elimination in Swedish lakes.

Survival Predictors May Help Customize Treatment Options For Men With Metastatic Prostate Cancer Posted: 21 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Four risk factors that help predict how long men may survive with metastatic prostate cancer could help doctors choose more effective treatments, according to a study led by researchers in the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Long-awaited Atomic Structure Of Well-known Enzyme Solved: Discovery Heralds New Approaches To Protein-engineered Biofuels Posted: 21 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified the structural underpinnings of AADase, a widely known enzyme that was described correctly 43 years ago. However, it lacked a complete structural explanation. The original electrostatic perturbation hypothesis did not have a definitive structural elucidation -- until now. Using X-ray crystallography, researchers provide the missing structure that explains the original hypothesis about microenvironmental control of enzyme reactions within the cell.

Teens Who Think They’re Overweight More Likely To Try Suicide Posted: 21 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT Being overweight -- or simply believing they are overweight -- might predispose some U.S. teens to suicide attempts, according to a new study.

Swine Flu: Influenza A (H1N1) Susceptibility Linked To Common Levels Of Arsenic Exposure Posted: 21 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT The ability to mount an immune response to influenza A (H1N1) infection is significantly compromised by a low level of arsenic exposure that commonly occurs through drinking contaminated well water, scientists have found.

Low Oxygen Levels In Prostate Tumors Can Predict Recurrence Posted: 21 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that low-oxygen regions in prostate tumors can be used to predict a rise in prostate-specific antigen levels, a marker of tumor recurrence in prostate cancer.

Non-wovens As Scaffolds For Artificial Tissue Posted: 21 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT In future, cartilage, tendon and blood vessel tissue will be produced in the laboratory, with cells being grown on a porous frame, such as non-wovens. A new software program helps to characterize and optimize the non-wovens.

Important Clue Found To Help Identify Common Cause Of Kidney Failure In Children Posted: 21 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers are zeroing in on the genetic abnormalities predisposing to vesicoureteric reflux, one of the most common causes of urinary tract infections and kidney failure in children.

New Evolutionary Computing Developments Optimize Complex Problem Solving Posted: 21 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have been working on the design and implementation of an evolutionary computing platform capable of integrating classical and new techniques to together optimize complex problem solving.

Use Science To Convince Teens A Sober Prom Is Better Posted: 21 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT Middle and high school proms and graduation are big events, and there will be multiple parties to attend and a wide array of opportunities for alcohol to be served. Instead of just asking your teen not to drink, try explaining how alcohol can affect his or her body.

Monkeys Found To Wonder What Might Have Been Posted: 20 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Monkeys playing a game similar to "Let's Make A Deal" have revealed that their brains register missed opportunities and learn from their mistakes.

AIDS Patients With Serious Complications Benefit From Early Retroviral Use, Study Shows Posted: 20 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT HIV-positive patients who don't seek medical attention until they have a serious AIDS-related condition can reduce their risk of death or other complications by half if they get antiretroviral treatment early on, according to a new multi-center trial.

Arsenic In Irrigation Water Is Transferred To Crops Posted: 20 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have shown that potatoes irrigated with arsenic-rich water contain this element at levels up to 35 times higher than crops on which this water was not used. The scientists have also confirmed the impact of water with high arsenic content on beet, carrot and wheat crops.

Vitamin D Insufficiency Linked To Bacterial Vaginosis In Pregnant Women Posted: 20 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with bacterial vaginosis in the first four months of pregnancy.

Low-cost Materials For Capturing Solar Energy Posted: 20 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Cost is one of the main disadvantages of the use of renewable energies. Researchers are aiming to make the development of efficient solar panels easier and cheaper. They propose the use of more economic synthesis methods using sulphur-based compounds (chalcopyrites) as an alternative to the ones used up until now.

Fathers Respond To Teens' Risky Sexual Behavior With Increased Supervision Posted: 20 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT Findings from a study following more than 3,200 teenagers over a period of four years show that fathers react differently than mothers to their children's sexual behavior. When teens engaged in risky sexual behavior, instead of parents becoming less involved, as previously seen, fathers actually boosted their involvement, learning more about their children's friends and activities. This study also identified involvement in family activities as a protective force.

Plastic That Grows On Trees Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT To turn plants into a renewable, nonpolluting replacement for crude oil, scientists have to learn how to convert plant biomass into a building block for plastics and fuels cheaply and efficiently. In new research, chemists have successfully converted cellulose -- the most common plant carbohydrate -- directly into the building block called HMF in one step. This simple process generates a high yield of HMF and allows the use of raw cellulose as feed material.

Old Diabetes Drug Teaches Experts New Tricks Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT New research reveals that the drug most commonly used in type 2 diabetics who don't need insulin works on a much more basic level than once thought, treating persistently elevated blood sugar -- the hallmark of type 2 diabetes -- by regulating the genes that control its production.

Sprained Ankle Rehab Complicated By Delayed Muscle Response, Study Finds Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Experiments on ankle stability find that people with a history of injury have a delayed and diminished response in a leg muscle that normally provides a protective response.

New Target To Combat Cancer? Defects In Pathway Underlying Fanconi Anaemia Can Cause Cancer In Non-FA Patients Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT In patients with Fanconi anaemia (FA), one of the DNA repair mechanisms that normally protects us against cancer no longer works adequately. A Dutch researcher set out to find the genes responsible for this defect. He discovered a new FA gene and established that FA gene defects could also cause cancer in people who do not suffer from FA. Although this does not sound positive, it is in fact good news. That is because cells with a FA defect are hypersensitive to certain types of chemotherapy and can therefore be specifically targeted.

Technology To 'Watch Over' Vulnerable Road Users Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a bespoke system that will prevent accidents by using highly advanced sensing systems which track road users. The WATCH-OVER project uses a cooperative system, where both cars and vulnerable road users "are seen" and able to "communicate" with each other.

Prevention Program Helps Teens Override A Gene Linked To Risky Behavior Posted: 20 May 2009 08:00 PM PDT A family-based prevention program designed to help adolescents avoid substance use and other risky behavior proved especially effective for a group of young teens with a genetic risk factor contributing toward such behavior, according to a new study.

Neurons That 'Mirror' The Attention Of Others Discovered Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Whether a monkey is looking to the left or merely watching another monkey looking that way, the same neurons in his brain are firing, according to researchers. The authors speculate that the neurons' activity may lie beneath critical social behavior, such as joint attention.

Stem Cell Transplant In Mouse Embryo Yields Heart Protection In Adulthood Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Stem cells play a role in heart muscle rejuvenation by attracting cells from the body that develop into heart muscle cells. They have been successfully used to halt or reverse cardiac injury following heart attack, but not to prevent injury before it occurs.

Tone Language Is Key To Perfect Pitch Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT "Perfect" or "absolute" pitch is quite rare in the U.S. and Europe. But musicians who speak an East Asian tone language fluently are much more likely to have the ability.

Key Mechanism In Pathogenesis Of Osteoporosis Unraveled Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Osteoporosis, or bone loss, is a disease that is most common in the elderly population, affecting women more often than men. Until now, it was not clear exactly how the disease develops. Researchers have now elucidated a molecular mechanism which regulates the equilibrium between bone formation and bone resorption. They hope these findings will lead to new therapies for this bone disease.

Epigenetics: 100 Reasons To Change The Way We Think About Genetics Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Increasingly, biologists are finding that non-genetic variation acquired during the life of an organism can sometimes be passed on to offspring -- a phenomenon known as epigenetic inheritance. A new article lists over 100 well-documented cases of epigenetic inheritance between generations of organisms, and suggests that non-DNA inheritance happens much more often than scientists previously thought.

Genes: An Extra Hurdle To Quitting Smoking During Pregnancy? Posted: 20 May 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children and the Exeter Family Study of Childhood Health, have identified a common genetic variant that explains why some women may find it more difficult to quit smoking during pregnancy.

Asteroid Attack 3.9 Billion Years Ago May Have Enhanced Early Life On Earth Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT The bombardment of Earth nearly 4 billion years ago by asteroids as large as Kansas would not have had the firepower to extinguish potential early life on the planet and may even have given it a boost, according to a new study.

New Gene Linked To Autism Risk, Especially In Boys Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a variant of a gene called CACNA1G that may increase a child's risk of developing autism, particularly in boys.

NASA Flight Facility Successfully Launches Nanosatellite Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT NASA's PharmaSat nanosatellite successfully launched Tuesday (May 19) from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. PharmaSat will investigate the effects of antifungal agents on the growth of yeast in microgravity. This research could improve understanding of how microbes may become resistant to the drugs used to treat sick astronauts on long-duration space missions.

Variation Of Natural Compound Cures Malaria In Mice Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Approximately 350 million to 500 million cases of malaria are diagnosed each year mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. While medications to prevent and treat malaria do exist, the demand for new treatments is on the rise, in part, because malaria parasites have developed a resistance to existing medications. Now, researchers have discovered one way to stop malaria parasite growth, and this new finding could guide the development of new malaria treatments.

Computer Simulation Captures Immune Response To Flu Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have successfully tested first the first time a computer simulation of major portions of the body's immune reaction to influenza type A, with implications for treatment design and preparation ahead of future pandemics.

For Adolescent Crime Victims, Genetic Factors Play Lead Role Posted: 20 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT Genes trump environment as the primary reason that some adolescents are more likely than others to be victimized by crime, according to a criminologist.

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