ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Crashing Comets Not Likely The Cause Of Earth's Mass Extinctions
• Got Zinc? New Zinc Research Suggests Novel Therapeutic Targets
• Assisted Reproductive Techniques Alter Expression Of Genes Important For Metabolism
• Heart Failure: Women Different From Men; Absence Of Women In Clinical Trials Hinders Development Of Tailored Treatments
• Mines Could Provide Geothermal Energy
• Health Benefits Of Physical Activity More Pronounced In Women
• Warmer Environment Means Shorter Lives For Cold-blooded Animals
• High Calcium Level In Arteries May Signal Serious Heart Attack Risk
• Reexamination Of T. Rex Verifies Disputed Biochemical Remains
• Genetic Link To Age-related Cataracts Uncovered
• 'Microfluidic Palette' May Paint Clearer Picture Of Biological Processes
• Want Responsible Robotics? Start With Responsible Humans
• Parasites May Have Had Role In Evolution Of Sex
• Natural Born Killers: How The Body's Frontline Immune Cells Decide Which Cells To Destroy
• Invigorated Muscle Structure Allows Geese To Brave The Himalayas
• Immune Cells From Spleen May Be Essential In Healing Heart Attack Damage, Mouse Study Indicates
• Teeny-tiny X-ray Vision
• College Students Who Feel 'Invincible' Unlikely To Accept STD Vaccines
• Evidence Of Liquid Water In Comets Reveals Possible Origin Of Life
• Possible Treatment For Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Bizarre Bald Bird Discovered In Asia
• Blood Transfusions Associated With Infection
• Metal Composition Hold Key To Identity Of Modern Sculptures
• Drug-proof Zebrafish Reveal Secrets Of Addiction
• Rodent Size Linked To Human Population And Climate Change
• Iron-binding Drug Could Help Diabetics Heal Stubborn Wounds
• Mapping The Crocodile Genome
• Post-transplant Combo Can Replace Toxic Immune-suppressing Drugs In Monkeys
• Artificial Intelligence Used To Diagnose Metastatic Cancer
• Just Expecting A Tasty Food Activates Brain Reward Systems
• Breakdown In Planck's Law: Bringing Objects Close Together Can Boost Radiation Heat Transfer
• Nanoparticle-delivered 'Suicide' Genes Slowed Ovarian Tumor Growth
• Secrets Of Caistor Roman Town
• New Approach To Screening For Serious Kidney Disease
• Discovery About Behavior Of Building Block Of Nature Could Lead To Computer Revolution
• A Silly Pat On The Head Helps Seniors Remember Daily Medication
• New Hope For Fisheries: Overfishing Reduced In Several Regions Around The World
• Pregnancy: Summer Heat Increases Risk Of Amniotic Fluid Level Deficiency, Study Reveals
• Waste Water Treatment Plant Mud Used As 'Green' Fuel
• Hunt For The Blood Test To Determine Melanoma Survival Rates
• Programming Tools Facilitate Use Of Video Game Processors For Defense Needs
• Stories We Tell About National Trauma Reflect Our Psychological Well-being
• Mercury Released By Dental Amalgam Fillings Are Not High Enough To Cause Harm, FDA Finds
• Key To Malaria Susceptibility In Children Discovered
• Scientists Study How To Stack The Deck For Organic Solar Power
• Two Studies On Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Shed Light On Its Causes And Its Effect On Brothers Of Women With The Condition
• Index Insurance Has Potential To Help Manage Climate Risks And Reduce Poverty
• Genetic Tests Advertised Directly To The Consumer

Crashing Comets Not Likely The Cause Of Earth's Mass Extinctions Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT A recent likely comet collision on Jupiter caused a minor sensation, but new research shows that similar impacts on Earth are most likely not responsible for any of the planet's mass extinctions, nor have they been responsible for more than one minor extinction event.

Got Zinc? New Zinc Research Suggests Novel Therapeutic Targets Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Everyone knows that vitamins "from A to zinc" are important for good health. Now, a new research study suggests that zinc may be pointing the way to new therapeutic targets for fighting infections. Specifically, scientists found that zinc not only supports healthy immune function, but increases activation of the cells (T cells) responsible for destroying viruses and bacteria.

Assisted Reproductive Techniques Alter Expression Of Genes Important For Metabolism Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Assisted reproductive techniques alter the expression of genes that are important for metabolism and the transport of nutrients in the placenta of mice. The results underscore the need for greater understanding of the long-term effects of new assisted reproductive techniques in humans.

Heart Failure: Women Different From Men; Absence Of Women In Clinical Trials Hinders Development Of Tailored Treatments Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Striking differences in the risk factors for developing heart failure (HF) and patient prognosis exist between men and women. Men and women may also respond differently to treatment, raising concerns about whether current practices provide the best care and reinforcing the urgency for sex-specific clinical trials for HF, according to a new review article.

Mines Could Provide Geothermal Energy Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Mine shafts on the point of being closed down could be used to provide geothermal energy to local towns. The method engineers have developed makes it possible to estimate the amount of heat that a tunnel could potentially provide.

Health Benefits Of Physical Activity More Pronounced In Women Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT A long-term study of over 8,700 middle-aged men and women provides some of the first race- and gender- specific data on the cholesterol effects of physical activity, with the interesting result that women, particularly African-American women, experience greater benefits in their cholesterol levels as a result of exercise than men.

Warmer Environment Means Shorter Lives For Cold-blooded Animals Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT Temperature explains much of why cold-blooded organisms such as fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and lizards live longer at higher latitudes than at lower latitudes, according to new research.

High Calcium Level In Arteries May Signal Serious Heart Attack Risk Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers may be able to predict future severe cardiac events in patients with known, stable coronary artery disease using coronary calcium scoring, according to a new study.

Reexamination Of T. Rex Verifies Disputed Biochemical Remains Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT A new analysis of the remains of a Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex) that roamed Earth 68 million years ago has confirmed traces of protein from blood and bone, tendons, or cartilage. The findings is the latest addition to an ongoing controversy over which biochemical remnants can be detected in the dinosaur.

Genetic Link To Age-related Cataracts Uncovered Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered the first gene associated with the formation of age-related cataracts, a leading causes of blindness.

'Microfluidic Palette' May Paint Clearer Picture Of Biological Processes Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT Rsearchers have created an innovative device called a "microfluidic palette" that can be used to study the complex biological mechanisms in cells responsible for cancer metastasis, wound healing, biofilm formation and other fluid-related processes.

Want Responsible Robotics? Start With Responsible Humans Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT When the legendary science fiction writer Isaac Asimov penned the "Three Laws of Responsible Robotics," he forever changed the way humans think about artificial intelligence, and inspired generations of engineers to take up robotics. Two engineers now propose alternative laws to rewrite our future with robots. The future they foresee is at once safer, and more realistic.

Parasites May Have Had Role In Evolution Of Sex Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT What's so great about sex? From an evolutionary perspective, the answer is not as obvious as one might think. A new article suggests that sex may have evolved in part as a defense against parasites.

Natural Born Killers: How The Body's Frontline Immune Cells Decide Which Cells To Destroy Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT The mechanism used by "natural killer" immune cells in the human body to distinguish between diseased cells, which they are meant to destroy, and normal cells, which they are meant to leave alone, has been revealed in new detail.

Invigorated Muscle Structure Allows Geese To Brave The Himalayas Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT A higher density of blood vessels and other unique physiological features in the flight muscles of bar-headed geese allow them to do what even the most elite of human athletes struggle to accomplish -- assert energy at high altitudes.

Immune Cells From Spleen May Be Essential In Healing Heart Attack Damage, Mouse Study Indicates Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered an unexpected reservoir of monocytes in the spleen and found that these cells are essential to recovery of cardiac tissue in an animal heart attack model.

Teeny-tiny X-ray Vision Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT The tubes that power X-ray machines are shrinking, improving the clarity and detail of their Superman-like vision. A team of nanomaterial scientists, medical physicists, and cancer biologists has developed new lower-cost X-ray tubes packed with sharp-tipped carbon nanotubes for cancer research and treatment.

College Students Who Feel 'Invincible' Unlikely To Accept STD Vaccines Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT In a new study, researchers have found that students who feel invulnerable, or invincible, to physical harm are unlikely to get an HIV vaccine. Alternately, students who feel invulnerable to psychological harm are more likely to get the vaccine.

Evidence Of Liquid Water In Comets Reveals Possible Origin Of Life Posted: 31 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Comets have contained vast amounts of liquid water in their interiors during the first million years of their formation, a new study claims. The watery environment of early comets, together with the vast quantity of organics already discovered in comets, would have provided ideal conditions for primitive bacteria to grow and multiply, experts argue.

Possible Treatment For Spinal Muscular Atrophy Posted: 31 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Spinal muscular atrophy affects 1 in 6,000 to 1 in 10,000 children born every year. One in 40 people are carriers of the disease -- they don't have the symptoms, but could pass the disease to their children. Medical researchers have now made a huge discovery on the road to curing the disease.

Bizarre Bald Bird Discovered In Asia Posted: 31 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT An odd songbird with a bald head living in a rugged region in Laos has been discovered. Dubbed the "Bare-faced Bulbul" because of the lack of feathers on its face and part of its head, it is the only example of a bald songbird in mainland Asia, according to scientists.

Blood Transfusions Associated With Infection Posted: 31 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT A study of almost 25,000 coronary artery bypass graft patients has shown that receiving blood from another person is associated with a two-fold increase in post-operative infection rates. The research also found considerable hospital variation in transfusion practices.

Metal Composition Hold Key To Identity Of Modern Sculptures Posted: 31 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Alloying elements in bronze sculptures give clues about artist, date, origin and authenticity. How do you tell when, where and how a Picasso or a Matisse sculpture was cast? Could bronze sculptures have their very own DNA? By linking data from the alloy composition of modern sculptures with parameters from art history, researchers have classified the unique composition profiles of cast bronze sculptures by major European artists of the first half of the 20th century, profiles which could be used as another method to identify, date and even authenticate sculptures.

Drug-proof Zebrafish Reveal Secrets Of Addiction Posted: 31 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT The effects of amphetamines on gene expression in zebrafish have been uncovered. A new study provides clues to the genetics that underlie susceptibility to addiction by describing the nad zebrafish mutant, which does not feel the rewarding effects of the drugs.

Rodent Size Linked To Human Population And Climate Change Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT You probably hadn't noticed, but the head shape and overall size of rodents has been changing over the past century. Ecologists have tied these changes to human population density and climate change.

Iron-binding Drug Could Help Diabetics Heal Stubborn Wounds Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT A drug used to remove iron from the body could help doctors fight one of diabetes' cruelest complications: poor wound healing, which can lead to amputation of patients' toes, feet and even legs.

Mapping The Crocodile Genome Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT The first ever genetic linkage map for a non-avian member of the Class Reptilia has been developed. Researchers have constructed a first-generation genetic linkage map for the saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus.

Post-transplant Combo Can Replace Toxic Immune-suppressing Drugs In Monkeys Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT A combination of costimulation blockers and alefacept can replace calcineurin inhibitors, the mainstay drugs given to transplant patients, in preventing graft rejection after kidney transplants in monkeys. The finding opens the door to less-toxic post-transplant treatment for humans that could be administered once a week. Costimulation blockers target immune cells without the predominant side effects of conventional transplant drugs. Alefacept subdues T cells responsible for immunological memory.

Artificial Intelligence Used To Diagnose Metastatic Cancer Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT When doctors are managing care for women with breast cancer, the information available to them profoundly influences the type of care they recommend. Knowing whether a woman's cancer has metastasized, for instance, directly affects how her doctors will approach treatment -- which may in turn influence the outcome of that treatment.

Just Expecting A Tasty Food Activates Brain Reward Systems Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Exposing rats to a context associated with eating chocolate activates a part of the brain's reward system known as the orexin system. The results have implications for the development of new drug treatments for overeating.

Breakdown In Planck's Law: Bringing Objects Close Together Can Boost Radiation Heat Transfer Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT A well-established physical law describes the transfer of heat between two objects, but some physicists have long predicted that the law should break down when the objects are very close together. Scientists had never been able to confirm, or measure, this breakdown in practice. For the first time, however, researchers have achieved this feat, and determined that the heat transfer can be 1,000 times greater than the law predicts.

Nanoparticle-delivered 'Suicide' Genes Slowed Ovarian Tumor Growth Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Nanoparticle delivery of diphtheria toxin-encoding DNA selectively expressed in ovarian cancer cells reduced the burden of ovarian tumors in mice, and researchers expect this therapy could be tested in humans within 18 to 24 months.

Secrets Of Caistor Roman Town Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT New investigations have shown that rather than simply being a provincial Roman town, Caistor may represent the development of a major settlement from the Iron Age until the 9th century AD. Crucially, however, the site was ultimately superseded by medieval Norwich and reverted to green fields. This is quite unlike other Roman towns that have the same long occupation sequence which now lie buried beneath the modern towns of Britain and Europe.

New Approach To Screening For Serious Kidney Disease Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT The combination of two common medical tests can improve a doctor's ability to predict which patients will develop serious kidney disease.

Discovery About Behavior Of Building Block Of Nature Could Lead To Computer Revolution Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Physicists have shown that electrons in narrow wires can divide into two new particles called spinons and a holons.

A Silly Pat On The Head Helps Seniors Remember Daily Medication Posted: 31 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Doing something unusual, like knocking on wood or patting yourself on the head, while taking a daily dose of medicine may be an effective strategy to help seniors remember whether they've already taken their daily medications, suggests new research.

New Hope For Fisheries: Overfishing Reduced In Several Regions Around The World Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT A groundbreaking assessment of marine fisheries and ecosystems reveals that overfishing has been reduced in several regions around the world, resulting in some stock recovery. Importantly, the work bolsters the case that sound management can contribute to the rebuilding of fisheries elsewhere.

Pregnancy: Summer Heat Increases Risk Of Amniotic Fluid Level Deficiency, Study Reveals Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Pregnant women have a higher incidence of insufficient amniotic fluid levels (oligohydramnios) in the summer months due to dehydration, according to a new study. During the study period, there were 191,558 deliveries of which 4,335 were diagnosed with idiopathic oligohydramnios. Of these, a proportionally higher number, 1,553 deliveries (36 percent), occurred during these four summer months, while 2,782 deliveries occurred during the other eight months of the year (64 percent).

Waste Water Treatment Plant Mud Used As 'Green' Fuel Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have shown that using mud from waste water treatment plants as a partial alternative fuel can enable cement factories to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and comply with the Kyoto Protocol, as well as posing no risk to human health and being profitable. These are the results of an environmental impact assessment.

Hunt For The Blood Test To Determine Melanoma Survival Rates Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT New research will be breaking new ground in the search for a simple blood test that could tell whether a patient with melanoma has the condition in an aggressive form. Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Staging, which involves determining the size of the tumor and its extent of spread, is the best predictor of whether a patient will succumb to disease or survive.

Programming Tools Facilitate Use Of Video Game Processors For Defense Needs Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers are developing programming tools to enable engineers in the defense industry to utilize the processing power of GPUs without having to learn the complicated programming language required to use them directly.

Stories We Tell About National Trauma Reflect Our Psychological Well-being Posted: 31 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new study by psychologists finds that in the aftermath of national trauma, the ability to make sense out of what happened has implications for individual well-being and that the kinds of stories people tell about the incident predict very different psychological outcomes for them.

Mercury Released By Dental Amalgam Fillings Are Not High Enough To Cause Harm, FDA Finds Posted: 30 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a final regulation classifying dental amalgam and its component parts -- elemental mercury and a powder alloy -- used in dental fillings. While elemental mercury has been associated with adverse health effects at high exposures, the levels released by dental amalgam fillings are not high enough to cause harm in patients.

Key To Malaria Susceptibility In Children Discovered Posted: 30 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have solved the mystery of why some children are more susceptible to malaria infection and anemia. These novel findings suggest that some children who are exposed to Plasmodium falciparum malaria before birth become tolerant to the malaria parasites, or their soluble products. This tolerance, which persists into childhood, reduces the ability of the immune system to attack and destroy parasites and increases the susceptibility of these children to develop a malaria infection.

Scientists Study How To Stack The Deck For Organic Solar Power Posted: 30 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT A new class of economically viable solar power cells has come a step closer to reality. Scientists have deepened their understanding of the complex organic films at the heart of the devices.

Two Studies On Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Shed Light On Its Causes And Its Effect On Brothers Of Women With The Condition Posted: 30 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have found evidence that chronic disease in either a mother or father can create unfavorable conditions in the womb that are associated with the development of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in daughters. In another study, researchers found that brothers of women with PCOS and insulin resistance are themselves at greater risk of developing insulin resistance or diabetes, suggesting that factors associated with the condition can be passed down to sons as well as daughters.

Index Insurance Has Potential To Help Manage Climate Risks And Reduce Poverty Posted: 30 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT A type of insurance called index insurance offers significant opportunities as a climate-risk management tool in developing countries, according to a new article.

Genetic Tests Advertised Directly To The Consumer Posted: 30 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT Genetic testing services have recently begun to be advertised directly to the patient, and the results of the consumers' response can affect public health, as well as the future adoption of pharmacogenetic/genomic testing, according to a new article.

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