ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Planet-forming Disk Discovered Orbiting Twin Suns
• Bisphenol A (BPA) Found In Many Plastics May Cause Heart Disease In Women, Research Shows
• Beetle Shell Inspires Brilliant White Paper
• Breastfeeding Associated With A Reduced Risk Of Relapse In Women With Multiple Sclerosis
• New Definition Could Further Limit Habitable Zones Around Distant Suns
• Being A Night Owl In High School Is Linked With Lower College GPA
• Close Social Ties Make Baboons Better Mothers, Study Finds
• New Way That Cells Fix Damage To DNA Discovered
• Milk Goes 'Green': Today's Dairy Farms Use Less Land, Feed And Water
• Caffeine Intake Prevents Risk Taking After Extreme Sleep Deprivation
• Human Exposure To Controversial Chemical BPA May Be Greater Than Dose Considered Safe
• Sleep Apnea Linked To Sleepwalking, Hallucinations And Other 'Parasomnias'
• Ultracool Stars Take 'Wild Rides' Around, Outside The Milky Way
• Novel Mechanism Controlling Tumor Growth In The Brain Uncovered
• Early Detection Of Osteoarthritis In Dogs Could Open Doors For A Cure
• Less Sleep Associated With High, Worsening Blood Pressure In Middle Age
• Health Risks Of Nanotechnology: How Nanoparticles Can Cause Lung Damage, And How The Damage Can Be Blocked
• Nightmares Predict Elevated Suicidal Symptoms
• How Young Mice Phone Home: Study Gives Clue To How Mothers' Brains Screen For Baby Calls
• Autoinflammatory Disease Model Reveals Role For Innate, Not Adaptive, Immunity
• Oxygen Plus MRI Might Help Determine Cancer Therapy Success
• Study Redefines Roles Of Alcohol, Smoking In Risk For Pancreatitis
• Visual System That Detects Movement, Colors And Textures
• Genetic Link Found Between Stress-induced Sleep Loss And Intrusive Thinking
• Peculiar, Junior-sized Supernova Discovered By New York Teen
• Link Found Between Poor Sleep Quality And Increased Risk Of Death
• Unmanned Aircraft Helping Scientists Learn About Alaskan Ice Seals
• Sleep Restriction Results In Weight Gain Despite Decreases In Appetite And Consumption
• Mathematical Problem Solved After More Than 50 Years: Chern Numbers Of Algebraic Varieties
• Relaxed Attitudes Toward Alcohol And Youth May Increase Risk Of Binge Drinking In College
• Fossil Bone Bed Helps Reconstruct Life Along California's Ancient Coastline
• Brain Molecule Reduces Food Intake
• Manipulating Light On A Chip For Quantum Technologies
• Embryology Study Offers Clues To Birth Defects
• Adolescent Obesity Linked To Reduced Sleep Caused By Technology Use And Caffeine
• Can Light Therapy Improve Your Sexual Functioning? New Promising Data
• Moon Magic: New Tool To Visualize Past, Future Lunar Eclipses
• Stopping Diabetes Damage With Vitamin C
• New Cleaning Protocol For Future 'Search For Life' Missions
• Cancer Found To Be A Moving Target
• No More Geeky Glasses To Watch 3D
• What Causes Irritability In Menopause?
• Predictive Powers: A Robot That Reads Your Intention?
• Alzheimer's Disease: Newly Found Peptide Offers Hope Of Early Test And Better Treatment
• Toward Cheaper Imaging Systems For Identifying Concealed Weapons On The Human Body
• Fatal Brain Disease At Work Well Before Symptoms Appear
• Cloned Crops Closer To Being Realized

Planet-forming Disk Discovered Orbiting Twin Suns Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT Astronomers have announced new images that clearly reveal the presence of a rotating molecular disk orbiting the young binary star system V4046 Sagittarii. The SMA images provide an unusually vivid snapshot of the process of formation of giant planets, comets, and Pluto-like bodies. The results also confirm that such objects may just as easily form around double stars as around single stars like our Sun.

Bisphenol A (BPA) Found In Many Plastics May Cause Heart Disease In Women, Research Shows Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT New research shows that bisphenol A, found in many commonly used plastics, may be harmful for the heart, particularly in women.

Beetle Shell Inspires Brilliant White Paper Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT An obscure species of beetle has shown how brilliant white paper could be produced in a completely new way. Researchers have taken inspiration from the shell of the Cyphochilus beetle to understand how to produce a new kind of white coating for paper.

Breastfeeding Associated With A Reduced Risk Of Relapse In Women With Multiple Sclerosis Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT Women with multiple sclerosis who breastfeed exclusively for at least two months appear less likely to experience a relapse within a year after their baby's birth, according to a new report.

New Definition Could Further Limit Habitable Zones Around Distant Suns Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT New calculations indicate that, in nearby star systems, tidal forces exerted on planets by their parent star's gravity could limit what is regarded as a star's habitable zone and change the criteria for planets where life could potentially take root.

Being A Night Owl In High School Is Linked With Lower College GPA Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT Students who consider themselves to be evening types (that is someone who feels more alert and does their best work later in the day) have poorer sleep hygiene scores than morning and intermediate types.

Close Social Ties Make Baboons Better Mothers, Study Finds Posted: 11 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT Baboons whose mothers have strong relationships with other females are much more likely to survive to adulthood than baboons reared by less social mothers, according to a new study.

New Way That Cells Fix Damage To DNA Discovered Posted: 11 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new way by which DNA repairs itself, a process that is critical to the protection of the genome, and integral to prevention of cancer development.

Milk Goes 'Green': Today's Dairy Farms Use Less Land, Feed And Water Posted: 11 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT Dairy genetics, nutrition, herd management and improved animal welfare over the past 60 years have resulted in a modern milk production system that has a smaller carbon footprint than mid-20th century farming practices, according to a new study.

Caffeine Intake Prevents Risk Taking After Extreme Sleep Deprivation Posted: 11 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT Caffeine use prevents increased risk taking that occurs after several nights of total sleep deprivation, according to new research.

Human Exposure To Controversial Chemical BPA May Be Greater Than Dose Considered Safe Posted: 11 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT People are likely being exposed to the commonly used chemical bisphenol A at levels much higher than the recommended safe daily dose, according to a new study in monkeys.

Sleep Apnea Linked To Sleepwalking, Hallucinations And Other 'Parasomnias' Posted: 11 Jun 2009 08:00 AM PDT Nearly one in 10 patients with obstructive sleep apnea also experience "parasomnia" symptoms such as sleepwalking, hallucinations and acting out their dreams, a study has found. Researchers examined records of 537 adult sleep apnea patients. Fifty-one patients, or 9.5 percent of the total, reported one or more types of parasomnia symptoms.

Ultracool Stars Take 'Wild Rides' Around, Outside The Milky Way Posted: 11 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT Astronomers have found that stars of a recently discovered type, dubbed ultracool subdwarfs, take some pretty wild rides as they orbit around the Milky Way, following paths that are very different from those of typical stars. One of them may actually be a visitor that originated in another galaxy.

Novel Mechanism Controlling Tumor Growth In The Brain Uncovered Posted: 11 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT As survival rates among some patients with cancer continue to rise, so does the spread of these cancers to the brain -- as much as 40 percent of all diagnosed brain cancers are considered metastatic, having spread from a primary cancer elsewhere in the body. Now, scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism that plays a pivotal role in controlling cancer growth in the brain. The discovery could provide a basis for potentially effective therapies for the treatment of brain metastasis.

Early Detection Of Osteoarthritis In Dogs Could Open Doors For A Cure Posted: 11 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT Osteoarthritis is commonly diagnosed in the late and irreversible stages, when treatment can only be expected to decrease pain and slow progression of disease. Because osteoarthritis is a widespread problem in dogs and humans, doctors and veterinarians need a precise way to diagnose the disease early and accurately. Now, researchers are investigating potential biomarkers in dogs for early diagnosis of osteoarthritis, which could help identify patients at increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Less Sleep Associated With High, Worsening Blood Pressure In Middle Age Posted: 11 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT Middle-aged adults who sleep fewer hours appear more likely to have high blood pressure and to experience adverse changes in blood pressure over time, according to a new report.

Health Risks Of Nanotechnology: How Nanoparticles Can Cause Lung Damage, And How The Damage Can Be Blocked Posted: 11 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have identified for the first time a mechanism by which nanoparticles cause lung damage and have demonstrated that it can be combated by blocking the process involved, taking a step toward addressing the growing concerns over the safety of nanotechnology.

Nightmares Predict Elevated Suicidal Symptoms Posted: 11 Jun 2009 05:00 AM PDT Self-reported nightmares among patients seeking emergency psychiatric evaluation uniquely predicted elevated suicidal symptoms, according to new research.

How Young Mice Phone Home: Study Gives Clue To How Mothers' Brains Screen For Baby Calls Posted: 11 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified a surprising mechanism in the brains of mother mice that focuses their awareness on the calls of baby mice. Their study found that the high-frequency sounds of mice pups stand out in a mother's auditory cortex by inhibiting the activity of neurons more attuned to lower frequency sounds.

Autoinflammatory Disease Model Reveals Role For Innate, Not Adaptive, Immunity Posted: 11 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed the first mouse model for autoinflammatory diseases, disorders that involve the over-activation of the body's innate, primitive immune system. Their study suggests that the innate -- not adaptive -- immune system drives autoinflammatory diseases. The findings could open new therapeutic directions for research into disorders such as gout or inflammatory bowel disease.

Oxygen Plus MRI Might Help Determine Cancer Therapy Success Posted: 11 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT A simple magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test involving breathing oxygen might help oncologists determine the best treatment for some cancer patients.

Study Redefines Roles Of Alcohol, Smoking In Risk For Pancreatitis Posted: 11 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT Although alcohol consumption is known to be associated with chronic pancreatitis, new evidence indicates that a threshold of five or more drinks per day is required to significantly raise risk; however, most patients with chronic pancreatitis do not drink this amount, according to a new report. In addition, smoking is an independent, dose-dependent risk factor.

Visual System That Detects Movement, Colors And Textures Posted: 11 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers in Spain, basing their work on American models, have added a color -- and light-sensitive device to an artificial retina. The new device can detect and locate moving objects in a real-time setting.

Genetic Link Found Between Stress-induced Sleep Loss And Intrusive Thinking Posted: 11 Jun 2009 02:00 AM PDT The genetic factors that cause increased sleep problems during times of stress seem to be the same as those that make people with intrusive and ruminative thoughts have a higher prevalence of insomnia, according to new research.

Peculiar, Junior-sized Supernova Discovered By New York Teen Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT In November 2008, Caroline Moore, a 14-year-old student from upstate New York, discovered a supernova in a nearby galaxy, making her the youngest person ever to do so. Additional observations determined that the object, called SN 2008ha, is a new type of stellar explosion, 1000 times more powerful than a nova but 1000 times less powerful than a supernova. Astronomers say that it may be the weakest supernova ever seen.

Link Found Between Poor Sleep Quality And Increased Risk Of Death Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT Quality, in addition to quantity, is important for maintaining health, according to new research.

Unmanned Aircraft Helping Scientists Learn About Alaskan Ice Seals Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists have launched an unmanned aircraft to mount the vehicle's first search for ice seals at the southern edge of the Bering Sea pack ice during the Arctic spring, in an effort to learn more about these remotely located species.

Sleep Restriction Results In Weight Gain Despite Decreases In Appetite And Consumption Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT In the presence of free access to food, sleep restricted subjects reported decrease in appetite, food cravings and food consumption; however, they gained weight over the course of the study. Thus, the finding suggests that energy intake exceeded energy expenditure during the sleep restriction.

Mathematical Problem Solved After More Than 50 Years: Chern Numbers Of Algebraic Varieties Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT Hirzebruch's problem at the interface of topology and algebraic geometry has occupied mathematicians for more than 50 years. A professor of mathematics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet in Munich has now solved this problem concerning the relationship between different mathematical structures.

Relaxed Attitudes Toward Alcohol And Youth May Increase Risk Of Binge Drinking In College Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT Restaurants in Germany legally sell alcohol to teenagers after their sixteenth birthdays and French children drink wine with dinner at an early age, but US parents who follow this relaxed European example, believing it fosters a healthier attitude toward alcohol, should be careful -- it may increase the likelihood that their children binge drink in college.

Fossil Bone Bed Helps Reconstruct Life Along California's Ancient Coastline Posted: 10 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Sharktooth Hill near Bakersfield, Calif., is the home of the most extensive marine bone bed in the world, a 100-square-mile layer of shark, seal, ray, whale, turtle and fish bones. Researchers have analyzed the 15-million-year-old fossils to decipher the history of what used to be the California coastline, reconstructing a 700,000-year period of warming climate and teaming sea life.

Brain Molecule Reduces Food Intake Posted: 10 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new appetite suppressant for promoting weight loss that they say works in rodents and may one day be used to develop an effective anti-obesity treatment.

Manipulating Light On A Chip For Quantum Technologies Posted: 10 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT A team of physicists and engineers has demonstrated exquisite control of single particles of light -- photons -- on a silicon chip to make a major advance towards long-sought-after quantum technologies, including super-powerful quantum computers and ultra-precise measurements.

Embryology Study Offers Clues To Birth Defects Posted: 10 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Embryologists have clarified the role that retinoic acid plays in limb development. A new study showed that retinoic acid controls the development (or budding) of forelimbs, but not hindlimbs, and that retinoic acid is not responsible for patterning (or differentiation of the parts) of limbs. This research corrects longstanding misconceptions about limb development and provides new insights into congenital limb defects.

Adolescent Obesity Linked To Reduced Sleep Caused By Technology Use And Caffeine Posted: 10 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Adolescent obesity is associated with having less sleep. Reduction in sleep could be related to a higher caffeine intake, more hours of technology use and increased symptoms of sleep disorders (such as snoring).

Can Light Therapy Improve Your Sexual Functioning? New Promising Data Posted: 10 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT The results of this study suggest a potentially favorable effect of bright light therapy on primary sexual dysfunctions. A larger study is now needed to confirm these preliminary findings and to test whether bright light therapy may be of help for the treatment of sexual dysfunctions that are associated with certain psychiatric illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, or with medications that are prescribed to treat those illnesses.

Moon Magic: New Tool To Visualize Past, Future Lunar Eclipses Posted: 10 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new method for using computer graphics to simulate and render an accurate visualization of a lunar eclipse. The model uses celestial geometry of the sun, Earth, and moon, along with data for the Earth's atmosphere and the moon's peculiar optical properties to create picture-perfect images of lunar eclipses.

Stopping Diabetes Damage With Vitamin C Posted: 10 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have found a way to stop the damage caused by type 1 diabetes with the combination of insulin and a common vitamin found in most medicine cabinets.

New Cleaning Protocol For Future 'Search For Life' Missions Posted: 10 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed a new cleaning protocol for space hardware, such as the scoops of Mars rovers, which could be used on future "search for life" missions on other planets.

Cancer Found To Be A Moving Target Posted: 10 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have mathematically analyzed the mutator hypothesis and compared the cancer-generating efficiency of mutator and nonmutator pathways to cancer.

No More Geeky Glasses To Watch 3D Posted: 10 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Most people's experience with 3D involves wearing tinted glasses in a cinema. But a new technology, which does not require glasses and may enable 3DTV, is being developed.

What Causes Irritability In Menopause? Posted: 10 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT In this study outward and inward irritability of peri- and postmenopausal women were found to be related to the presence of chronic disease. Moreover, outward irritability correlated with FSH and LH levels, independently of specific menopausal symptoms, such as vasomotor problems or insomnia. Further research is needed to clarify the meaning of irritability in the context of women's mental health.

Predictive Powers: A Robot That Reads Your Intention? Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT European researchers in robotics, psychology and cognitive sciences have developed a robot that can predict the intentions of its human partner. This ability to anticipate (or question) actions could make human-robot interactions more natural.

Alzheimer's Disease: Newly Found Peptide Offers Hope Of Early Test And Better Treatment Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers in Japan have detected a peptide in cerebrospinal fluid that can show whether a person is developing Alzheimer's disease. Measuring the level of this peptide could show that the disease process has started, long before any serious damage is done to the brain.

Toward Cheaper Imaging Systems For Identifying Concealed Weapons On The Human Body Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT Electrical engineers have created high-performance W-Band silicon-germanium radio frequency integrated circuits for passive millimeter-wave imaging. This advance could lead to significantly less expensive imaging systems for identifying concealed weapons, for helping helicopters to land during dust storms, and for high frequency data communications.

Fatal Brain Disease At Work Well Before Symptoms Appear Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered why a paralyzing brain disorder speeds along more rapidly in some patients than others -- a finding that may finally give researchers an entry point toward an effective treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Cloned Crops Closer To Being Realized Posted: 10 Jun 2009 11:00 AM PDT Clonal reproduction of crop species took a step closer to being realized with new research. The advantage of clonal reproduction is that it produces an individual exactly like an existing one -- very useful for farmers who could replicate the best of their animals or crops without the lottery of sexual reproduction.

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