ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Mars, Methane And Mysteries: Red Planet May Not Be As Dormant As Once Thought
• New No-needle Approach To Prevent Blood Clots
• Jet-propelled Imaging For An Ultrafast Light Source
• Cognitive Testing, Gender And Brain Lesions May Predict Multiple Sclerosis Disease Progression Risk
• 45-nanometer Chips For Ultra-fast WiFi
• Older Drivers Unaware Of Risks From Medications And Driving
• Violent Youth Of Solar Proxies Steers Course Of Genesis Of Life
• Oxygen Treatment Hastens Memory Loss In Alzheimer's Mice
• Surveying Ships Sunk Off North Carolina In World War II
• Estrogen-dependent Switch Tempers Killing Activity Of Immune Cells
• Police Woman Fights Quantum Hacking And Cracking
• Americans Remain Divided On Government Involvement In Health Insurance, Survey Shows
• Strong Effect Of The Weak Interaction: Exploring The Standard Model Of Physics Without The High-energy Collider
• Past Flu Pandemics Studied For Clues To Future Course Of 2009 H1N1 Virus
• Discovery Of A Mechanism Controlling The Fate Of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
• Mutations In Gene Linked To Ciliopathies
• 'Chemical Genetics' Approach Used To Regulate The Activity Of Plant Hormones
• Female Supervisors More Susceptible To Workplace Sexual Harassment
• New Drug-resistant TB Strains Could Become Widespread, Says New Study
• Misuse Of Common Antibiotic Is Creating Resistant TB
• Avalanche! The Incredible Data Stream Of Solar Dynamics Observatory
• Exercise Is Healthy For Mom And Child During Pregnancy, Report States
• Potato Blight Plight Looks Promising For Food Security
• Doctors' Opinions Not Always Welcome In Life Support Decisions
• Disease-carrying Mosquitoes From Tourist Aircraft Threaten Galapagos Islands Wildlife
• Formal Education Lessens Impact Of Alzheimer’s Disease -- Even If Brain Volume Is Already Reduced
• What Science Says About Beach Sand And Stomach Aches
• Novel Tumor Suppressor Discovered
• New Laser Technique May Help Find Supernova
• Ugly Truth About One Night Stands: Men Less Choosy Than Women
• Researchers Unravel Mystery Behind Long-lasting Memories
• Aspirin Use After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis Associated With Improved Survival
• Climbing To New Heights In The Forest Canopy
• Viral Mimic Induces Melanoma Cells To Digest Themselves
• Ytterbium Gains Ground In Quest For Next-generation Atomic Clocks
• Food Stamp Use Linked To Weight Gain, Study Finds
• Scientists Control Living Cells With Light; Advances Could Enhance Stem Cells' Power
• Excessive Drinking Can Damage Brain Regions Used For Processing Facial Emotions
• NASA Goes Inside A Volcano, Monitors Activity
• Seizures During Pregnancy Associated With Risk Of Pre-term And Small Babies
• High Levels Of Estrogens Discovered In Some Industrial Wastewater
• A Real Eye-opener: Researchers Uncover Which Gender Is Losing Sleep
• Planet Smash-Up Sends Vaporized Rock, Hot Lava Flying
• Discovery May Lead To Powerful New Therapy For Asthma
• When Did Humans Return After Last Ice Age?
• Study Identifies Risk Factors For Transformation Of Eye Growths Into Melanoma
• Combustion Simulation: Digital Fireworks
• Research Reveals How Science Changed Methods Of Execution

Mars, Methane And Mysteries: Red Planet May Not Be As Dormant As Once Thought Posted: 13 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Mars may not be as dormant as scientists once thought. The 2004 discovery of methane means that either there is life on Mars, or that volcanic activity continues to generate heat below the martian surface. ESA plans to find out which it is. Either outcome is big news for a planet once thought to be biologically and geologically inactive.

New No-needle Approach To Prevent Blood Clots Posted: 13 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have found a better way to prevent deadly blood clots after joint replacement surgery -- a major problem that results in thousands of unnecessary deaths each year.

Jet-propelled Imaging For An Ultrafast Light Source Posted: 13 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT A new particle gun fires liquid droplets less than a millionth of a meter in diameter, hundreds of thousands of times a second or faster. The sample jet sends the droplets across a tightly focused X-ray beam in single file, each droplet so small it contains only a single protein or virus.

Cognitive Testing, Gender And Brain Lesions May Predict Multiple Sclerosis Disease Progression Risk Posted: 13 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Cognitive testing may help people with inactive or benign multiple sclerosis better predict their future with the disease, according to a new study. Gender and brain lesions may also determine the risk of progression of MS years after diagnosis.

45-nanometer Chips For Ultra-fast WiFi Posted: 13 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Powerful new radio technologies that promise blisteringly fast WiFi have been given a boost by a team of researchers' cutting-edge work on miniscule microchips.

Older Drivers Unaware Of Risks From Medications And Driving Posted: 13 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Most older drivers are unaware of the potential impact on driving performance associated with taking medications, according to new research. The findings indicate that 95 percent of those age 55 and older have one or more medical conditions, 78 percent take one or more medications, and only 28 percent have an awareness of the risks those medications might have on driving ability.

Violent Youth Of Solar Proxies Steers Course Of Genesis Of Life Posted: 13 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT One of the hottest topics in astronomy involves the study of the conditions favorable for the development and survival of primordial life. New research shows that compared to middle-aged stars like the Sun, newly formed stars spin faster generating strong magnetic fields that result in emission of more intense levels of radiation -- all of which could wreak havoc on budding atmospheres and have a dramatic effect on the development of life forms.

Oxygen Treatment Hastens Memory Loss In Alzheimer's Mice Posted: 13 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers suspect the culprit precipitating Alzheimer's disease in some elderly patients may be high concentrations of oxygen administered during or after major surgery -- a hypothesis borne out in a recent animal model study.

Surveying Ships Sunk Off North Carolina In World War II Posted: 13 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT NOAA will lead a three-week research expedition in August to study World War II shipwrecks sunk in 1942 off the coast of North Carolina during the Battle of the Atlantic. The shipwrecks are located in an area known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," which includes sunken vessels from US and British naval fleets, merchant ships and German U-boats.

Estrogen-dependent Switch Tempers Killing Activity Of Immune Cells Posted: 13 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT The sex hormone estrogen tempers the killing activity of a specific group of immune cells, the cytotoxic T cells, which are known to attack tumor cells and cells infected by viruses. The key player in this process is a cytotoxic T cell molecule which has been known for a long time and which scientists have named EBAG9. Cancer researchers in Berlin, Germany, have now unraveled the function of EBAG9.

Police Woman Fights Quantum Hacking And Cracking Posted: 13 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT Computer scientists are working to prevent quantum computers from compromising today's online security.

Americans Remain Divided On Government Involvement In Health Insurance, Survey Shows Posted: 13 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have found that support for government-sponsored health insurance for individuals under age 65 remains virtually the same regardless of how the plan is described or how involved the government would be.

Strong Effect Of The Weak Interaction: Exploring The Standard Model Of Physics Without The High-energy Collider Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists have measured the largest effect of the "weak interaction" -- one of the four fundamental forces of nature -- ever observed in an atom.

Past Flu Pandemics Studied For Clues To Future Course Of 2009 H1N1 Virus Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT A commonly held belief that severe influenza pandemics are preceded by a milder wave of illness arose because some accounts of the flu pandemic of 1918-19 suggested that it may have followed such a pattern. But two scientists say the existing data are insufficient to conclude decisively that the 1918-19 pandemic was presaged by a milder spring wave, or that the responsible virus had increased in lethality between the beginning and end of 1918.

Discovery Of A Mechanism Controlling The Fate Of Hematopoietic Stem Cells Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Hematopoietic stem cells are capable of manufacturing all types of blood cells. But which factors influence the production of a specific type of cell? Until now, it was thought that this was a random process. Scientists have now discovered the factors that determine the type of cells produced. The mechanism they have demonstrated in the mouse involves one factor intrinsic to the cell and one extrinsic factor.

Mutations In Gene Linked To Ciliopathies Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a connection between mutations in the INPP5E gene and ciliopathies. Their findings may lead to new therapies for these diseases.

'Chemical Genetics' Approach Used To Regulate The Activity Of Plant Hormones Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT A plant researcher in Austria is working on signal transduction of hormones called strigolactones. Within his search for chemical substances to influence the activity of this pathway, he is establishing a high-throughput approach to test thousands of different chemical compounds.

Female Supervisors More Susceptible To Workplace Sexual Harassment Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Women who hold supervisory positions are more likely to be sexually harassed at work, according to the first-ever, large-scale longitudinal study to examine workplace power, gender and sexual harassment.

New Drug-resistant TB Strains Could Become Widespread, Says New Study Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT The emergence of new forms of tuberculosis could swell the proportion of drug-resistant cases globally, a new study has found. The finding raises concern that although TB incidence is falling in many regions, the emergence of antibiotic resistance could see virtually untreatable strains of the disease become widespread.

Misuse Of Common Antibiotic Is Creating Resistant TB Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Use of a common antibiotic may be undercutting its utility as a first-line defense against drug-resistant tuberculosis. Fluoroquinolones are the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics in the US and are used to fight a number of different infections such as sinusitis and pneumonia. They are also an effective first line of defense against TB infections that show drug resistance. New research shows, however, that widespread general use of fluoroquinolones may be creating a strain of fluoroquinolone-resistant TB.

Avalanche! The Incredible Data Stream Of Solar Dynamics Observatory Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT When NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) leaves Earth in November 2009 onboard an Atlas V rocket, the thunderous launch will trigger an avalanche. Mission planners are bracing themselves -- not for rocks or snow, but an avalanche of data.

Exercise Is Healthy For Mom And Child During Pregnancy, Report States Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Physicians should recommend low to moderate levels of exercise to their pregnant patients, even if they have not exercised prior to pregnancy, states a new article.

Potato Blight Plight Looks Promising For Food Security Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Over 160 years since potato blight wreaked havoc in Ireland and other northern European countries, scientists finally have the blight-causing pathogen in their sights and are working to accelerate breeding of more durable, disease resistant potato varieties.

Doctors' Opinions Not Always Welcome In Life Support Decisions Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Some caregivers of critical care patients prefer doctors to keep their opinions on life support decisions to themselves, according to new research that challenges long-held beliefs in the critical care community.

Disease-carrying Mosquitoes From Tourist Aircraft Threaten Galapagos Islands Wildlife Posted: 12 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT Mosquitoes with the potential to carry diseases lethal to many unique species of Galapagos wildlife are being regularly introduced to the islands via aircraft, according to new research published today.

Formal Education Lessens Impact Of Alzheimer’s Disease -- Even If Brain Volume Is Already Reduced Posted: 12 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers in Europe investigated the effects of formal education on the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. They were able to show that education diminishes the impact of Alzheimer's disease on cognition even if a manifest brain volume loss has already occurred.

What Science Says About Beach Sand And Stomach Aches Posted: 12 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT By washing your hands after digging in beach sand, you could greatly reduce your risk of ingesting bacteria that could make you sick. In new research, scientists have determined that, although beach sand is a potential source of bacteria and viruses, hand rinsing may effectively reduce exposure to microbes that cause gastrointestinal illnesses.

Novel Tumor Suppressor Discovered Posted: 12 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers studying an enzyme believed to play a role in allergy onset, instead have discovered its previously unknown role as a tumor suppressor that may be important in myeloproliferative diseases and some types of lymphoma and leukemia. Myeloproliferative diseases are a group of disorders characterized by an overproduction of blood cells by the bone marrow and include chronic myeloid leukemia. Lymphoma and leukemia are cancers of the blood.

New Laser Technique May Help Find Supernova Posted: 12 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT One single atom of a certain isotope of hafnium found on Earth would prove that a supernova once exploded near our solar system. The problem is how to find such an atom 00 among billions of others. Researchers in Sweden have developed a laser technique that, in combination with standard techniques, may be able to do the job.

Ugly Truth About One Night Stands: Men Less Choosy Than Women Posted: 12 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT Men are far more interested in casual sex than women. While men need to be exceptionally attractive to tempt women to consider casual sex, men are far less choosy. New research shows that men are more likely than women to report having had casual sex and they express a greater desire for it than do women. It is also thought that women but not men raise their standards of attractiveness for a casual sex partner.

Researchers Unravel Mystery Behind Long-lasting Memories Posted: 12 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT A new study may reveal how long-lasting memories form in the brain. Researchers hope that the findings may one day help scientists develop treatments to prevent and treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Aspirin Use After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis Associated With Improved Survival Posted: 12 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT Men and women who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and began regular use of aspirin had a lower risk of overall and colorectal cancer death compared to patients not using aspirin, according to a new study.

Climbing To New Heights In The Forest Canopy Posted: 12 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT With summer in full swing, many plants are at their peak bloom and climbing plants, like clematis, morning glories, and sweet peas, are especially remarkable. Not only are these plants beautiful, but their ability to climb walls and trellises is an impressive feat of biological engineering that has taken millions of years to accomplish. New research explores the logistics of this incredible ability.

Viral Mimic Induces Melanoma Cells To Digest Themselves Posted: 12 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT Recent research has uncovered an unexpected vulnerability in deadly melanoma cells that, when exploited, can cause the cancer cells to turn against themselves. The study identifies a new target for development of future therapeutics aimed at selectively eliminating this aggressive skin cancer which is characterized by a notoriously high rate of metastasis and treatment-resistance.

Ytterbium Gains Ground In Quest For Next-generation Atomic Clocks Posted: 12 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT Physicists have improved an experimental atomic clock based on ytterbium atoms, which now about four times more accurate than it was several years ago, giving it a precision comparable to that of the NIST-F1 cesium fountain clock.

Food Stamp Use Linked To Weight Gain, Study Finds Posted: 12 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT The U.S. Food Stamp Program may help contribute to obesity among its users, according to a new nationwide study that followed participants for 14 years. Researchers found that the average user of food stamps had a body mass index 1.15 points higher than non-users.

Scientists Control Living Cells With Light; Advances Could Enhance Stem Cells' Power Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have shown for the first time that light energy can gently guide and change the orientation of living cells within lab cultures. That ability to optically steer cells could be a major step in harnessing the healing power of stem cells and guiding them to areas of the body that need help.

Excessive Drinking Can Damage Brain Regions Used For Processing Facial Emotions Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Heavy, constant drinking damages the brain in many different ways, including difficulties in perception of emotional expressions. Brain-imaging findings show that abstinent alcoholics have decreased activation in the amygdala and hippocampus regions of the brain when viewing faces with emotional expressions. Misreading facial cues can escalate conflict and difficulties, impaired social interaction and continued drinking.

NASA Goes Inside A Volcano, Monitors Activity Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have placed high-tech "spiders" inside and around the mouth of Mount St. Helens, one of the most active volcanoes in the United States. Networks such as these could one day be used to respond rapidly to an impending eruption.

Seizures During Pregnancy Associated With Risk Of Pre-term And Small Babies Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Women with epilepsy who have seizures during pregnancy appear more likely to give birth to pre-term, small or low-birth-weight babies than women without epilepsy, according to a new report.

High Levels Of Estrogens Discovered In Some Industrial Wastewater Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT In a groundbreaking study, civil engineering researchers have discovered that certain industries may be a significant source of plant-based estrogens, called phytoestrogens, in surface water.

A Real Eye-opener: Researchers Uncover Which Gender Is Losing Sleep Posted: 12 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Despite the strides in gender equality at work and at home, sociologists reveal the social factors that are causing multitasking women to lose sleep.

Planet Smash-Up Sends Vaporized Rock, Hot Lava Flying Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has found evidence of a high-speed collision between two burgeoning planets around a young star. Astronomers say that two rocky bodies, one as least as big as our moon and the other at least as big as Mercury, slammed into each other within the last few thousand years or so -- not long ago by cosmic standards. The impact destroyed the smaller body, vaporizing huge amounts of rock and flinging massive plumes of hot lava into space.

Discovery May Lead To Powerful New Therapy For Asthma Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have found that a single enzyme is apparently critical to most allergen-provoked asthma attacks -- and that activity of the enzyme, known as aldose reductase, can be significantly reduced by compounds that have already undergone clinical trials as treatments for complications of diabetes.

When Did Humans Return After Last Ice Age? Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT The Cheddar Gorge in Somerset was one of the first sites to be inhabited by humans when they returned to Britain near the end of the last Ice Age. According to new radio carbon dating humans were living in Gough's Cave 14,700 years ago.

Study Identifies Risk Factors For Transformation Of Eye Growths Into Melanoma Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT Eight factors may predict whether a choroidal nevus -- a benign, flat, pigmented growth inside the eye and beneath the retina -- may develop into melanoma, according to a new report.

Combustion Simulation: Digital Fireworks Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have simulated autoignition in a turbulent flow using a supercomputer with up to 65,000 processors in one of the largest reactive flow simulations to date. The results could help to develop better models and reduce the high cost of real experiments.

Research Reveals How Science Changed Methods Of Execution Posted: 12 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT A sociologist has combed through newspaper accounts of 19th and 20th century Ohio executions to understand how executions became more "professional and scientific" in character.

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