ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• To 300 Million Light Years, And Beyond: A New Way To Measure Cosmic Distances
• New Antibiotics Could Come From A DNA Binding Compound That Kills Bacteria In 2 Minutes
• Geese Involved In Hudson River Plane Crash Were Migratory
• Researchers First To Document Early Signs For Diabetes In Kids As Young As 7
• Mobile DNA Elements In Woolly Mammoth Genome Give New Clues To Mammalian Evolution
• Computer-Related Injuries On The Rise: Young Children Particularly At Risk
• Snakes Use Friction And Redistribution Of Their Weight To Slither On Flat Terrain
• 'Eco-Atkins': Plant-based, Low-carb Diet May Promote Weight Loss And Improve Cholesterol Levels
• Fruit Fly Stem Cells Filmed Live
• Discovery Of New Proteins May Lead To More Effective Treatment Of Endocarditis And Infections Associated With Implants
• Enzyme Necessary For DNA Synthesis Can Also Erase DNA
• Middle-aged Women Experience More Stress But Have Lower Blood Pressure
• Archeological Evidence Of Human Activity Found Beneath Lake Huron
• Unexpected Discovery Can Open A New Chapter In The Fight Against Tuberculosis
• Bird Species Decline: Wader Populations Decline Faster Than Ever
• Stopping Fatty Change In Heart Cells
• Evidence Of Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling Detected In Nanowires
• Let Me Sleep On It: Creative Problem Solving Enhanced By REM Sleep
• Animal Mating Choices More Complex Than Once Thought
• Link Unraveled Between Chromosomal Instability And Centrosome Defects In Cancer Cells
• Hundreds Of Cell-surface Proteins Can Be Simultaneously Studied With New Technique
• New Approach To Prevent Antibody-mediated Damage In Kidney Transplants
• Oil Platforms Vulnerable To Hackers
• Self-regulation Game Predicts Kindergarten Achievement
• Neolithic Age: Prehistoric Complex Including Two 6,000-year-old Tombs Discovered In Britain
• Gene Therapy For Hemophilia A Mice
• New Category Of Fat In Mammalian Cells May Help Explain How Toxin Harms Farm Animals
• Insights Into Locally Advanced Breast Cancer
• Is Rural Land Use Too Important To Be Left To Farmers?
• Genetic Link Found Between Anxiety, Depression And Insomnia
• Drinking Water From Air Humidity
• Colorectal Cancer Increasing In Young Adults
• Cantabrian Cornice in Spain Has Experienced Seven Cooling And Warming Phases Over Past 41,000 Years
• Gene That Regulates Tumors In Neuroblastoma Identified
• More Than Just The Tailpipe: Calculating The True Environmental Cost Of Travel
• Excessive Gaming Associated With Poor Sleep Hygiene And Increased Sleepiness
• Prehistoric Whale Discovered On The West Coast Of Sweden
• Nanoscale Zipper Cavity Responds To Single Photons Of Light
• MDCT Angiography Leads To Successful Treatment Of Severely Blocked Arteries In The Legs
• Recruitment Of Reproductive Features Into Other Cell Types May Underlie Extended Lifespan In Animals
• Television Watching Before Bedtime Can Lead To Sleep Debt

To 300 Million Light Years, And Beyond: A New Way To Measure Cosmic Distances Posted: 09 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to measure distances to objects three times farther away in outer space than previously possible, by extending a common measurement technique. They discovered that a rare type of giant star, often overlooked by astronomers, could make an excellent signpost for distances up to 300 million light years -- and beyond.

New Antibiotics Could Come From A DNA Binding Compound That Kills Bacteria In 2 Minutes Posted: 09 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT A synthetic DNA binding compound has proved surprisingly effective at binding to the DNA of bacteria and killing all the bacteria it touched within two minutes.

Geese Involved In Hudson River Plane Crash Were Migratory Posted: 09 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT Smithsonian scientists have examined the feather remains from the Jan. 15 US Airways Flight 1549 bird strike to determine not only the species, but also that the Canada geese involved were from a migratory, rather than resident, population. This knowledge is essential for wildlife professionals to develop policies and techniques that will reduce the risk of future collisions.

Researchers First To Document Early Signs For Diabetes In Kids As Young As 7 Posted: 09 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers in New Orleans are the first to document previously unknown markers for obesity, heart disease and diabetes, collectively called the metabolic syndrome, in children as young as 7.

Mobile DNA Elements In Woolly Mammoth Genome Give New Clues To Mammalian Evolution Posted: 09 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT The woolly mammoth died out several thousand years ago, but the genetic material they left behind is yielding new clues about the evolution of mammals. Scientists have now analyzed the mammoth genome looking for mobile DNA elements, revealing new insights into how some of these elements arose in mammals and shaped the genome of an animal headed for extinction.

Computer-Related Injuries On The Rise: Young Children Particularly At Risk Posted: 09 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT While back pain, blurred vision and mouse-related injuries are now well-documented hazards of long-term computer use, the number of acute injuries connected to computers is rising rapidly. Researchers have found a more-than-sevenfold increase in computer-related injuries due to tripping over computer equipment, head injuries due to computer monitor falls and other physical incidents.

Snakes Use Friction And Redistribution Of Their Weight To Slither On Flat Terrain Posted: 09 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT Snakes use both friction generated by their scales and redistribution of their weight to slither along flat surfaces, researchers have found. Their findings run counter to previous studies that have shown snakes move by pushing laterally against rocks and branches.

'Eco-Atkins': Plant-based, Low-carb Diet May Promote Weight Loss And Improve Cholesterol Levels Posted: 09 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT Overweight individuals who ate a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet high in plant-based proteins for four weeks lost weight, and experienced improvements in blood cholesterol levels and other heart disease risk factors, according to a new report. A high-carbohydrate, low-fat vegetarian diet also resulted in weight loss but without the additional cardiovascular benefits.

Fruit Fly Stem Cells Filmed Live Posted: 09 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT How can stem cells be used in regenerative medicine? In what way might they lead to certain cancers? Stem cell research is a major challenge for medicine. Recently, asymmetric cell division was filmed in vivo in fruit fly germinal stem cells for the first time.

Discovery Of New Proteins May Lead To More Effective Treatment Of Endocarditis And Infections Associated With Implants Posted: 09 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered two new proteins that are of importance to the survival of bacteria and their colonization of the human body. Besides enhancing our knowledge of the ability of bacteria to spread, the findings may also lead to more effective treatment of endocarditis and infections associated with implants.

Enzyme Necessary For DNA Synthesis Can Also Erase DNA Posted: 09 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new mechanism behind an important process that causes a rapid reduction of DNA in the chromosomes of bacteria. The findings advance our knowledge of how DNA content has been reduced, which is something that has occurred in bacteria that live as parasites inside the cells of other organisms.

Middle-aged Women Experience More Stress But Have Lower Blood Pressure Posted: 09 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT Both blood pressure and serum lipid levels have improved in Swedish middle-aged women during the past 30 years. Levels of perceived mental stress, however, have increased significantly.

Archeological Evidence Of Human Activity Found Beneath Lake Huron Posted: 09 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT More than 100 feet deep in Lake Huron, on a wide stony ridge that 9,000 years ago was a land bridge, researchers have found the first archeological evidence of human activity preserved beneath the Great Lakes.

Unexpected Discovery Can Open A New Chapter In The Fight Against Tuberculosis Posted: 09 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT A close relative of the microorganism that causes tuberculosis in humans has been found to form spores. This discovery might constitute a new turn in the fight against human tuberculosis.

Bird Species Decline: Wader Populations Decline Faster Than Ever Posted: 09 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT More than half the populations of waders in Europe, West Asia and Africa are declining at an accelerating rate.

Stopping Fatty Change In Heart Cells Posted: 09 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT One molecule is all it takes to set a fatal chain of events in motion that can end up leading to heart failure. Cell biologists have discovered why oxygen deficiency causes the myocardial muscle to extract energy from sugar and store fat in the cells.

Evidence Of Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling Detected In Nanowires Posted: 09 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated that, counter to classical Newtonian mechanics, an entire collection of superconducting electrons in an ultrathin superconducting wire is able to "tunnel" as a pack from a state with a higher electrical current to one with a notably lower current, providing more evidence of the phenomenon of macroscopic quantum tunneling.

Let Me Sleep On It: Creative Problem Solving Enhanced By REM Sleep Posted: 09 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT Research led by a leading expert on the positive benefits of napping suggests that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep enhances creative problem-solving. The findings may have important implications for how sleep, specifically REM sleep, fosters the formation of associative networks in the brain.

Animal Mating Choices More Complex Than Once Thought Posted: 09 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT When female tiger salamanders choose a mate, it turns out that size does matter -- tail size that is -- and that's not the only factor they weigh. Findings of a new study show that animals make more complex decisions about choosing mates than once thought.

Link Unraveled Between Chromosomal Instability And Centrosome Defects In Cancer Cells Posted: 09 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have disproved a century-old theory about why cancer cells often have too many or too few chromosomes, and show that the actual reason may hold the key to a novel approach to cancer therapy.

Hundreds Of Cell-surface Proteins Can Be Simultaneously Studied With New Technique Posted: 09 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new method now enables researchers to study hundreds of cell-surface proteins simultaneously. The results obtained could help to develop more accurate diagnostic tests and more specific therapies in the future.

New Approach To Prevent Antibody-mediated Damage In Kidney Transplants Posted: 09 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT Early results from research study demonstrate the effectiveness of a new approach to blocking an important part of the immune system that causes severe damage to some kidney transplants.

Oil Platforms Vulnerable To Hackers Posted: 09 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT The current trend is in the direction of unmanned robot-controlled platforms, which leave electronic equipment more exposed to attack.

Self-regulation Game Predicts Kindergarten Achievement Posted: 09 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT Early childhood development researchers have discovered that a simple, five-minute self-regulation game not only can predict end-of-year achievement in math, literacy and vocabulary, but also was associated with the equivalent of several months of additional learning in kindergarten.

Neolithic Age: Prehistoric Complex Including Two 6,000-year-old Tombs Discovered In Britain Posted: 08 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT A prehistoric complex including two 6,000-year-old tombs representing some of the earliest monuments built in Britain has been discovered by archaeologists. The researchers found the previously undiscovered Neolithic tombs, also known as long barrows, at a site at Damerham, Hampshire.

Gene Therapy For Hemophilia A Mice Posted: 08 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT Hemophilia A is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by a lack of the blood clotting protein Factor VIII. Current gene therapy approaches to treat the condition have had little clinical success. However, hope is provided by researchers who have developed a new approach to target genes to the cells that are the main source of Factor VIII and used it to provide long-term expression of Factor VIII in hemophilia A mice, markedly reducing their disease.

New Category Of Fat In Mammalian Cells May Help Explain How Toxin Harms Farm Animals Posted: 08 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT A new category of fats in mammalian cells may help explain how a harmful toxin called fumonisin causes disease in farm animals.

Insights Into Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Posted: 08 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists are reporting two findings that could influence the way researchers screen for, treat and assess prognosis for women with locally advanced breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease. One finding offers a critical message regarding treatment strategy, they say.

Is Rural Land Use Too Important To Be Left To Farmers? Posted: 08 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT As demands on rural land increase and we are all having to deal with the effects of climate change, we may need to take a fresh look at our priorities, according to leading academics meeting in the UK. Research from the Relu Program will be important for the complex policy decisions about land use that need to be taken at national and regional level. Is it time for a debate on a land use planning system for the countryside?

Genetic Link Found Between Anxiety, Depression And Insomnia Posted: 08 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT The genes that play a role in adolescent insomnia are the same as those involved in depression and anxiety, according to a new research.

Drinking Water From Air Humidity Posted: 08 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Not a plant to be seen, the desert ground is too dry. But the air contains water, and research scientists have found a way of obtaining drinking water from air humidity. The system is based completely on renewable energy and is therefore autonomous.

Colorectal Cancer Increasing In Young Adults Posted: 08 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT A new study finds that in sharp contrast to the overall declining rates of colorectal cancer in the United States, incidence rates among adults younger than age 50 years are increasing. The authors theorize that these increases may be related to rising rates of obesity and changes in dietary patterns, including increased consumption of fast food.

Cantabrian Cornice in Spain Has Experienced Seven Cooling And Warming Phases Over Past 41,000 Years Posted: 08 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT The examination of the fossil remains of rodents and insectivores from deposits in the cave of El Mirón, Cantabria, has made it possible to determine the climatic conditions of this region between the late Pleistocene and the present day. In total, researchers have pinpointed seven periods of climatic change, with glacial cold dominating during some of them, and heat in others.

Gene That Regulates Tumors In Neuroblastoma Identified Posted: 08 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified a gene that may play a key role in regulating tumor progression in neuroblastoma, a form of cancer usually found in young children. Scientists hope the finding could lead to an effective therapy to inhibit the expression of this gene.

More Than Just The Tailpipe: Calculating The True Environmental Cost Of Travel Posted: 08 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Trains, planes, buses and automobiles do not only effect the environment via their exhaust pipes. There is a full lifecycle of processes associated with getting from A to B that we rarely acknowledge. Researchers have now created a framework to help us calculate the true environmental cost of travel.

Excessive Gaming Associated With Poor Sleep Hygiene And Increased Sleepiness Posted: 08 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Computer/console gamers who play for more than seven hours a week, and who identify their gaming as an addiction, sleep less during the weekdays and experience greater sleepiness than casual or nongamers, according to new research.

Prehistoric Whale Discovered On The West Coast Of Sweden Posted: 08 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT The skeleton of a whale that died around 10,000 years ago has been found in connection with the extension of the E6 motorway in Strömstad. The whale bones are now being examined by researchers who, among other things, want to ascertain whether the find is the mystical "Swedenborg whale".

Nanoscale Zipper Cavity Responds To Single Photons Of Light Posted: 08 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Physicists have developed a nanoscale device that can be used for force detection, optical communication and more. The device exploits the mechanical properties of light to create an optomechanical cavity in which interactions between light and motion are greatly strengthened and enhanced.

MDCT Angiography Leads To Successful Treatment Of Severely Blocked Arteries In The Legs Posted: 08 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT MDCT angiography leads to accurate recommendations for successful treatment of patients with critical limb ischemia, sometimes allowing the patients to avoid more complicated surgery, according to a new study.

Recruitment Of Reproductive Features Into Other Cell Types May Underlie Extended Lifespan In Animals Posted: 08 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have found that certain genetic mutations known to extend the lifespan of the C. elegans roundworm induce "mortal" somatic cells to express some of the genes that allow the "immortality" of reproductive germline cells.

Television Watching Before Bedtime Can Lead To Sleep Debt Posted: 08 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Television watching may be an important determinant of bedtime, and may contribute to chronic sleep debt.

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