ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• New Class Of Black Holes Discovered
• Possibility Of Vaccine For Ear Infections
• Students Create Portable Device To Detect Suicide Bombers
• Environmental Cues Control Reproductive Timing And Longevity
• Microalgae As A Source Of Alternative Energy
• In Pursuit Of A Happiness Gene
• Salamanders, Regenerative Wonders, Heal Like Mammals, People
• New Connection Between Cancer Cells, Stem Cells
• Unexpectedly Long-range Effects In Advanced Magnetic Devices
• New Insight On Therapy For Devastating Parasitic Disease
• Did Melting Snow Shape America's Southern Rocky Mountains?
• Follow Regular Commuter Routes Or Be Adventurous?
• Alzheimer's Symptoms Reversed: Blood Stem Cell Growth Factor Reverses Memory Decline In Mice
• Schizophrenia Linked For First Time To Specific Chromosome Region
• Emerging Techniques Put A New Twist On Ankle Repair
• Atrial Fibrillation In Endurance Athletes Still Poses Problems For Sports Cardiologists
• New Kind Of Undersea Eruption Defined: 'Neptunian'
• Physics Education Improves When Students Make Their Own Computer Models
• Blackest Black Ever: Ultra-thin Material Absorbs Almost 100% Of Light
• Re-Write The Textbooks: Key Genetic Phenomenon Shown To Be Different Than Believed
• Antibiotics Take Toll On Beneficial Microbes In Gut
• What The Immune System Reveals About Breast Cancer
• Biogenic Origin For Earth's Oldest Putative Microfossils
• Barriers Hinder EMS Workers From Using Best Resuscitation Practices, Study Finds
• Plants Save The Earth From An Icy Doom
• Celiac Disease Four Times More Common Than In 1950s
• Protein In The Envelope Enclosing The Cell Nucleus: New Piece Of The Puzzle In Research On Cancer And Stem Cells?
• Analysis Of Drug-eluting Stents Data Demonstrates Safety, Efficacy In On-and-off-label Use
• Mid-Pliocene Asian Monsoon Intensification And The Onset Of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation
• Experts Call For New U.S. Research Effort To Identify Which Health Care Services Work Best
• Mice Run Faster On High-grade Oil
• New Enemy For Tumor-suppressor P53 Identified
• Uncovering How Cells Cover Gaps In Wound Healing And Embryonic Development
• Following The Dietary Guidelines May Slow Heart Disease In Women
• Importance Of Developmental Screening Tool For Identifying Delays In Pre-term Children Shown
• More Vigilant Monitoring Of Seizure Activity Among Intensive Care Patients
• Dense Knots Of Cold Cosmic Dust -- Potential Birthplaces Of New Stars -- Discovered In Inner Regions Of The Milky Way
• Chromosomal Problems Affect Nearly All Human Embryos: Discovery May Explain Low Fertility Rates In Humans
• In The Warming West, Climate Most Significant Factor In Fanning Wildfires' Flames
• Protein Linked To Change In Tissue That Surround And Support Breast Tumors
• Hungry Cells: Tumor Metabolism Discovery Opens New Detection And Treatment Possibilities For Rare Form Of Colon Cancer
• Lack Of Sleep Could Be More Dangerous For Women Than Men
• Biological 'Fountain Of Youth' Found In New World Bat Caves
• Interferon Alpha Can Delay Full Onset Of Type I Diabetes, Phase II Trial Suggests
• Quantum Communications One Step Closer: Novel Ion Trap For Sensing Force And Light Developed
• 115 Newly Identified Genes Implicated In Colorectal Cancer
• Plant-driven Fungal Weathering: Early Stages Of Mineral Alteration At The Nanometer Scale
• Subliminal Messages Motivate People To Actually Do Things They Already Wanted To Do

New Class Of Black Holes Discovered Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT A new class of black hole, more than 500 times the mass of the Sun, has been discovered by an international team of astronomers.

Possibility Of Vaccine For Ear Infections Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Otitis media, more commonly known as an ear infection, is the most frequently diagnosed illness in children less than 15 years of age in the United States and is the primary cause for emergency room visits. More than 80 percent of children will experience at least one ear infection before their third birthday. A new study could introduce a pain-free vaccination strategy that works against ear infections.

Students Create Portable Device To Detect Suicide Bombers Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the weapons of suicide bombers, are a major cause of soldier casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. A group of engineering undergraduate students has developed a new way to detect them.

Environmental Cues Control Reproductive Timing And Longevity Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT When humans and animals delay reproduction because food or other resources are scarce, they may live longer to increase the impact of reproduction, according to a new study.

Microalgae As A Source Of Alternative Energy Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists are researching the potential of mass production of microalgae as a crop.

In Pursuit Of A Happiness Gene Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT The pursuit of happiness characterizes the human condition. But for those suffering from stress, money trouble or chronic illness, a positive outlook on life can be difficult to find. Now, a researcher says we should look to our genes.

Salamanders, Regenerative Wonders, Heal Like Mammals, People Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT The salamander is a superhero of regeneration, able to replace lost limbs, damaged lungs, sliced spinal cord -- even bits of lopped-off brain. Based on experiments on genetically modified axolotl salamanders, researchers show that cells from the salamander's different tissues retain the "memory" of those tissues when they regenerate, contributing with few exceptions only to the same type of tissue from whence they came.

New Connection Between Cancer Cells, Stem Cells Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT A molecule called telomerase, best known for enabling unlimited cell division of stem cells and cancer cells, has a surprising additional role in the expression of genes in an important stem cell regulatory pathway. The unexpected finding may lead to new anticancer therapies and a greater understanding of how adult and embryonic stem cells divide and specialize.

Unexpectedly Long-range Effects In Advanced Magnetic Devices Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT A tiny grid pattern has led materials scientists to an unexpected finding -- the surprisingly strong and long-range effects of certain electromagnetic nanostructures used in data storage.

New Insight On Therapy For Devastating Parasitic Disease Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered an important new insight into how a commonly prescribed drug may work to treat those infected by a parasitic flatworm.

Did Melting Snow Shape America's Southern Rocky Mountains? Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Is it possible that something as insubstantial and transitory as snow could be responsible for large scale vertical movements of Earth's surface and the excavation of deeply incised gorges?

Follow Regular Commuter Routes Or Be Adventurous? Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT It's the same dilemma every morning: do you take your usual route with its frequent traffic jams, or try to get to work faster by going cross-country? And do you listen to the advice from the traffic information service, or work it out yourself? Researchers found that although we appear to be stubborn creatures of habit, good traffic information makes us a bit more adventurous.

Alzheimer's Symptoms Reversed: Blood Stem Cell Growth Factor Reverses Memory Decline In Mice Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT A human growth factor that stimulates blood stem cells to proliferate in bone marrow reverses memory impairment in mice genetically altered to develop Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds.

Schizophrenia Linked For First Time To Specific Chromosome Region Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have shown, for the first time, that modern genetic technologies can solve the riddle of how gene variations lead to schizophrenia.

Emerging Techniques Put A New Twist On Ankle Repair Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT People with ankle injuries who do not respond successfully to initial treatment may have a second chance at recovery, thanks to two new procedures.

Atrial Fibrillation In Endurance Athletes Still Poses Problems For Sports Cardiologists Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Competitive sports and endurance training comes with a real -- even if rare -- twist. While most people will enjoy the benefits and pleasures of exercise, there are a few for whom regular athletic training will increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and even sudden death.

New Kind Of Undersea Eruption Defined: 'Neptunian' Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Two Australian researchers have defined a newly recognized kind of explosive eruption, termed "neptunian," that is restricted to seafloor volcanoes.

Physics Education Improves When Students Make Their Own Computer Models Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT A current trend in secondary science education is for students to learn by discovering for themselves how things work. Computer modeling is a teaching method that fits in nicely with this trend and also with new learning objectives such as scientific literacy, inquiry-based learning and active involvement. Researchers have demonstrated that computer modeling is particularly useful for learning complex structures but less effective for learning simple facts.

Blackest Black Ever: Ultra-thin Material Absorbs Almost 100% Of Light Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT It appears to be a paradox: ultra-thin material that absorbs all incident light. Nonetheless, it does exist. Researchers have demonstrated that at a thickness of 4.5 nanometer niobiumnitride (NbN) is ultra-absorbent. They have recorded a light absorption of almost 100%, while the best light absorption to date was 50%. This research brings the ideal light detector a step closer.

Re-Write The Textbooks: Key Genetic Phenomenon Shown To Be Different Than Believed Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Because females carry two copies of the X chromosome to males' one X and one Y, they harbor a potentially toxic double dose of the over 1000 genes that reside on the X chromosome. To compensate for this imbalance, mammals such as mice and humans shut down one entire X-chromosome through a phenomenon known as X-inactivation. For almost two decades, researchers have believed that one particular gene, called Xist, provides the molecular trigger of X-inactivation. A new study disputes current scientific belief by showing that X-inactivation can occur even in the absence of a gene previously thought to be the trigger of the process.

Antibiotics Take Toll On Beneficial Microbes In Gut Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT In mice, scientists have shown two types of antibiotics can cause moderate to wide-ranging changes in normally diverse, beneficial gut microbes. The findings have implications for minimizing diarrhea in vulnerable patients, and for treating inflammatory bowel disease and C. difficile.

What The Immune System Reveals About Breast Cancer Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified the prognostic significance of the immune system in breast tumors. The research results show that patients with certain breast tumors have a better prognosis when more immune cells are present in the tumor.

Biogenic Origin For Earth's Oldest Putative Microfossils Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Microbes and bacteria were the first living organisms on Earth, and they can be preserved in Archean silica-rich rocks. One such outcrop from western Australia, dated to 3.5 billion years ago, may hold the oldest "microfossils."

Barriers Hinder EMS Workers From Using Best Resuscitation Practices, Study Finds Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Local laws, insurance reimbursement and public misperceptions impede emergency medical services (EMS) workers from using best resuscitation practices, according to a new study.

Plants Save The Earth From An Icy Doom Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT When glaciers advanced over much of the Earth's surface during the last ice age, what kept the planet from freezing over entirely? This has been a puzzle to climate scientists because leading models have indicated that over the past 24 million years geological conditions should have caused carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to plummet, possibly leading to runaway "icehouse" conditions. Now researchers report on the missing piece of the puzzle -- plants.

Celiac Disease Four Times More Common Than In 1950s Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT Celiac disease, an immune system reaction to gluten in the diet, is over four times more common today than it was 50 years ago, according to new findings. Undiagnosed celiac disease is associated with nearly quadrupled mortality.

Protein In The Envelope Enclosing The Cell Nucleus: New Piece Of The Puzzle In Research On Cancer And Stem Cells? Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a new protein in the inner membrane of the cell nucleus. This protein may play an important role in cell division and now provides a new piece of the puzzle to study in cancer research.

Analysis Of Drug-eluting Stents Data Demonstrates Safety, Efficacy In On-and-off-label Use Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT The Cardiovascular Research Foundation has announced the results of the largest meta-analysis to date comparing mortality rates for drug-eluting stents versus bare metal stents. The study also compared the rates of myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization.

Mid-Pliocene Asian Monsoon Intensification And The Onset Of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT The late Pliocene onset of major Northern Hemisphere glaciation is one of the most important steps in the Cenozoic global cooling. Although most attempts have been focused on high-latitude climate feedbacks, no consensus has been reached in explaining the forcing mechanism of this dramatic climate change.

Experts Call For New U.S. Research Effort To Identify Which Health Care Services Work Best Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT A new report from the Institute of Medicine recommends 100 health topics that should get priority attention and funding from a new national research effort to identify which health-care services work best.

Mice Run Faster On High-grade Oil Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Between the 1932 and 2008 Olympic Games, world record times of the men's 100m sprint improved by 0.6 seconds. Scientists have shown that an equivalent improvement can be achieved in mice by feeding them a diet high in a certain type of polyunsaturated fatty acid.

New Enemy For Tumor-suppressor P53 Identified Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified a protein that marks the tumor suppressor p53 for destruction, providing a potential new avenue for restoring p53 in cancer cells.

Uncovering How Cells Cover Gaps In Wound Healing And Embryonic Development Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have come a step closer to understanding how cells close gaps not only during embryonic development but also during wound healing. Their study uncovers a fundamental misconception in the previous explanation for a developmental process called dorsal closure.

Following The Dietary Guidelines May Slow Heart Disease In Women Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provide guidance to promote health and reduce risk of chronic diseases. However, what evidence is there that following the DGA optimizes health? Is this advice useful for individuals already in poor health?

Importance Of Developmental Screening Tool For Identifying Delays In Pre-term Children Shown Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT A new study finds that U.S. pediatricians have plenty of room for improvement when it comes to using a screening questionnaire to flag developmental delays in premature children.

More Vigilant Monitoring Of Seizure Activity Among Intensive Care Patients Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Two new studies demonstrate a need for more vigilant monitoring for seizure activity among intensive care patients who may be experiencing subtle seizures that are typically unrecognized. These subtle seizures may be affecting patients' prognoses and causing long-term brain damage, death and severe disability.

Dense Knots Of Cold Cosmic Dust -- Potential Birthplaces Of New Stars -- Discovered In Inner Regions Of The Milky Way Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT Astronomers have unveiled an unprecedented new atlas of the inner regions of the Milky Way, our home galaxy, peppered with thousands of previously undiscovered dense knots of cold cosmic dust -- the potential birthplaces of new stars. Made using observations from the APEX telescope in Chile, this survey is the largest map of cold dust so far.

Chromosomal Problems Affect Nearly All Human Embryos: Discovery May Explain Low Fertility Rates In Humans Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have shown that chromosomal abnormalities are present in more than 90 percent of IVF embryos, even those produced by young, fertile couples.

In The Warming West, Climate Most Significant Factor In Fanning Wildfires' Flames Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT The recent increase in area burned by wildfires in the Western United States is a product not of higher temperatures or longer fire seasons alone, but a complex relationship between climate and fuels that varies among different ecosystems, according to a new study.

Protein Linked To Change In Tissue That Surround And Support Breast Tumors Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT A protein known to be overly active in breast cancer can exist in a form that seems to change the structural composition of mammary tissue, potentially making it more conducive to tumor progression, say researchers.

Hungry Cells: Tumor Metabolism Discovery Opens New Detection And Treatment Possibilities For Rare Form Of Colon Cancer Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT People who suffer from Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a rare inherited cancer syndrome, develop gastrointestinal polyps and are predisposed to colon cancer and other tumor types. Carefully tracing the cellular chain-of-command that links nutrient intake to cell growth (and which is interrupted in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome), allowed researchers to exploit the tumors' weak spot.

Lack Of Sleep Could Be More Dangerous For Women Than Men Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT Women who get less than the recommended eight hours sleep a night are at higher risk of heart disease and heart-related problems than men with the same sleeping patterns.

Biological 'Fountain Of Youth' Found In New World Bat Caves Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists are batty over a new discovery which could lead to the single most important medical breakthrough in human history -- significantly longer lifespans. The discovery shows that proper protein folding over time in long-lived bats explains why they live significantly longer than other mammals of comparable size, such as mice.

Interferon Alpha Can Delay Full Onset Of Type I Diabetes, Phase II Trial Suggests Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT A low dose of oral interferon alpha shows promise in preserving beta cell function for patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, according to the results of a Phase II trial.

Quantum Communications One Step Closer: Novel Ion Trap For Sensing Force And Light Developed Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT A novel ion trap could usher in a new generation of applications, because the device holds promise as a stylus for sensing very small forces or for an interface for efficient transfer of individual light particles for quantum communications.

115 Newly Identified Genes Implicated In Colorectal Cancer Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT Previously, only a few genes had been associated with the formation of metastases in colorectal cancer. Now, researchers have identified 115 genes that are disregulated both in the primary tumor and in its metastases. In the future, their findings may help identify patients with aggressive tumors at an earlier stage.

Plant-driven Fungal Weathering: Early Stages Of Mineral Alteration At The Nanometer Scale Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT For the first time, the boundary between fungi and rock has been imaged on a nanoscale -- unraveling the fundamental processes by which fungi break down rocks into soil whilst extracting essential nutrients.

Subliminal Messages Motivate People To Actually Do Things They Already Wanted To Do Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT How is it possible that you were not planning on going shopping, but that you still end up going and even return home with four new shirts? Apparently you really did want to go shopping but were not consciously aware of it. Researchers have demonstrated that you can motivate people with subliminal messaging: quickly flashing words onto a screen without their noticing. This is only successful, however, if the subliminal message matches a biological need and if the behavior is associated with a positive effect.

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