ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Small Fluctuations In Solar Activity, Large Influence On Climate
• Turning Back The Clock: Fasting Prolongs Reproductive Life Span
• Fruit Is Even Better For You Than Previously Thought
• How Safe Or Unsafe Are Medical Imaging Procedures?
• Strictly Ballroom Analysis: Computers Get To Know Their Rumba From Their Cha-cha-cha
• Teetotalers More Likely To Be Depressed Than Moderate Drinkers
• Huge New Planet Orbits 'Wrong' Way Around Star; Tells Of Game Of Planetary Billiards
• Gene Variation Is 'Major Genetic Determinant Of Psoriasis'
• Making Summer In The City More Bearable
• Predicting Cancer Prognosis
• Bird Flu Leaves The Nest -- Adapting To A New Host
• Disclosing Financial Conflicts Of Interest To Research Participants May Not Be Enough
• Why Obama's Dog Has Curly Hair
• The Path To New Antibiotics
• New Temperature Reconstruction From Indo-Pacific Warm Pool
• Beta-blockers And Stroke: New Insights Into Their Use For Older People
• New Ultrasensitive Electronic Sensor Array Speeds Up DNA Detection
• 10- And 11-year-olds Feel Pressure To Have A Perfect Body
• Alternate Explanation For Dune Formation On Saturn's Largest Moon
• Death Rate Decreases Following Hospitalization For Heart Attack
• US Crop Yields Could Wilt In Heat
• Gene Assay To Help To Predict Lung Cancer Treatment Resistance
• European REACH Legislation For Chemicals May Require More Animals And Funds Than Estimated
• Working Too Much Can Be Dangerous For Teen's Sexual Health, Study Shows
• Gene Mutation Alone Causes Transmissible Prion Disease
• When Is The Pineapple Ripe? New System Uses Metal Oxide Sensors To Detect Safety And Quality Of Foods
• Neck Surgery For Cervical Spine Disorders Found To Alleviate Associated Headaches
• It’s Semantic: Easier Solution To Annotate And Search Images
• Employee’s Loyalty To Workplace Damaged By Unfair Treatment
• 'Plasmobot': Scientists To Design First Robot Using Mould
• Swimming Aids Asthma Symptoms In Children, Study Finds
• Super-sized Tiny Proteins: Software Helps Biologists Visualize Molecules
• Women With Strong Thigh Muscles Protected From Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis
• New Technology Cuts Industrial Odors, Pollutants
• Tool To Rank Death Rates Developed
• Extrasolar Hot Jupiter: The Planet That 'Shouldn’t Exist'
• 'Hedgehog' Pathway May Hold Key To Anti-cancer Therapy
• Nuisance Or Nutrient? Kudzu Shows Promise As A Dietary Supplement
• New Treatment Option For Ruptured Brain Aneurysms
• 'Metabolic Engineering' Could Herald The End Of Fossil Fuels In Industrial Chemical Production
• Skin-disease Patients Show Brain Immunity To Faces Of Disgust
• Tiny Ancient Shells -- 80,000 Years Old -- Point To Earliest Fashion Trend

Small Fluctuations In Solar Activity, Large Influence On Climate Posted: 28 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT Subtle connections between the 11-year solar cycle, the stratosphere, and the tropical Pacific Ocean work in sync to generate periodic weather patterns that affect much of the globe, according to research appearing this week in the journal Science.

Turning Back The Clock: Fasting Prolongs Reproductive Life Span Posted: 28 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientific dogma has long asserted that females are born with their entire lifetime's supply of eggs, and once they're gone, they're gone. New findings suggest that in nematode worms, at least, this does not hold true. The study suggests how fertility in humans may be regenerated later in life.

Fruit Is Even Better For You Than Previously Thought Posted: 28 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have found that the polyphenol content of fruits has been underestimated. Polyphenol content in fruits usually refers to extractable polyphenols, but new research finds that nonextractable polyphenol content is up to five times higher than extractable compounds.

How Safe Or Unsafe Are Medical Imaging Procedures? Posted: 28 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT In a new study of nearly one million adults between the ages of 18 and 64, nearly 70 percent of participants underwent at least one medical imaging procedure between July 2005 and December 2007, resulting in an average effective dose of radiation nearly double the amount they would otherwise be exposed to from natural sources.

Strictly Ballroom Analysis: Computers Get To Know Their Rumba From Their Cha-cha-cha Posted: 28 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT Computer scientists in Taiwan have devised a neural network program that can successfully classify a computerized music file based on its beat and tempo. The system could be a boon for music archivists with large numbers of untagged recordings and for users searching through mislabeled mp3 libraries.

Teetotalers More Likely To Be Depressed Than Moderate Drinkers Posted: 28 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT When it comes to alcohol consumption and depression, a new study shows that heavy drinkers -- but also teetotalers -- have higher levels of depression and anxiety than those who drink moderately. The happiest people were those who averaged about two glasses of alcohol per week.

Huge New Planet Orbits 'Wrong' Way Around Star; Tells Of Game Of Planetary Billiards Posted: 28 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT A team of scientists has found a new planet which orbits the wrong way around its host star. The planet, named WASP-17, and orbiting a star 1000 light years away, was found by the UK's WASP project in collaboration with Geneva Observatory. The discovery casts new light on how planetary systems form and evolve.

Gene Variation Is 'Major Genetic Determinant Of Psoriasis' Posted: 28 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT A specific genetic region that has been increasingly identified as the strongest genetic link to psoriasis has an even more significant role in the chronic skin disease than has been suspected, medical researchers show in a new study.

Making Summer In The City More Bearable Posted: 28 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT As temperatures soar, scientists have been collecting data amid the ancient ruins that symbolize the birthplace of western culture. These data, combined with measurements from aircraft and satellites, promise to improve "urban heat island" forecasts to make life in modern-day Athens easier during heat waves.

Predicting Cancer Prognosis Posted: 28 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed a novel methodology to extract microRNAs from cancer tissues. They optimized a new protocol for extracting miRNAs from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.

Bird Flu Leaves The Nest -- Adapting To A New Host Posted: 28 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Current research suggests that viral polymerase may provide a new therapeutic target for host-adapted avian influenza. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a strain of the influenza virus that has adapted to infect birds. Although bird-specific flu strains rarely cross species, further adaption can lead to lethal infection in humans.

Disclosing Financial Conflicts Of Interest To Research Participants May Not Be Enough Posted: 28 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Disclosure of financial conflicts of interests to potential participants in research is important, but may have a limited role in managing these conflicts, according to a new study.

Why Obama's Dog Has Curly Hair Posted: 28 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers used data from Portuguese water dogs -- the breed of President Barack Obama's dog Bo -- to help find a gene that gives some dogs curly hair and others long, wavy hair. Variations in only three genes account for the seven major types of coat seen in purebred dogs.

The Path To New Antibiotics Posted: 28 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that an enzyme that is essential to many bacteria can be targeted to kill dangerous pathogens. In addition, investigators discovered chemical compounds that can inhibit this enzyme and suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria. These findings are essential to develop new broad-spectrum antibacterial agents to overcome multidrug resistance.

New Temperature Reconstruction From Indo-Pacific Warm Pool Posted: 28 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new 2,000-year-long reconstruction of sea surface temperatures from the Indo-Pacific warm pool suggests that temperatures in the region may have been as warm during the Medieval Warm Period as they are today.

Beta-blockers And Stroke: New Insights Into Their Use For Older People Posted: 28 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new study may have uncovered the reason why beta-blockers are less effective at preventing stroke in older people with high blood pressure, when compared to other drugs for high blood pressure.

New Ultrasensitive Electronic Sensor Array Speeds Up DNA Detection Posted: 28 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT A novel electronic sensor array for more rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA for disease diagnosis and biological research has shown "excellent" sensitivity at detecting trace amounts of DNA.

10- And 11-year-olds Feel Pressure To Have A Perfect Body Posted: 28 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT A study of 4,254 Canadian schoolchildren has shown a direct association between BMI and satisfaction with their body shape. The research shows a linear response for girls, who were happiest when thinnest, and a U-shaped response for boys, who were unhappy when they were too skinny or too fat.

Alternate Explanation For Dune Formation On Saturn's Largest Moon Posted: 27 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT A controversial new research paper examines a possible new mechanism for the development of very large linear dunes formed on the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon.

Death Rate Decreases Following Hospitalization For Heart Attack Posted: 27 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT From 1995 to 2006, hospital 30-day death rates decreased significantly for Medicare patients hospitalized for a heart attack, as did the variation in the rate between hospitals, according to a new study.

US Crop Yields Could Wilt In Heat Posted: 27 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Yields of three of the most important crops produced in the United States -- corn, soybeans and cotton -- are predicted to fall off a cliff if temperatures rise due to climate change.

Gene Assay To Help To Predict Lung Cancer Treatment Resistance Posted: 27 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT The genes that may contribute to drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer can be predicted. Researchers found good correlation between genes believed to be involved in drug sensitivity and resistance and actual in vitro chemosensitivity.

European REACH Legislation For Chemicals May Require More Animals And Funds Than Estimated Posted: 27 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Implementation of REACH legislation may require 54 million research animals and €9.5 billion ($13.4 billion) over the next 10 years, which represents 20 times the number of animals and six times the cost anticipated in previous estimates, according to a new analysis. Currently, the EU uses approximately 900,000 animals at a cost of €600 million ($847 million) per year to evaluate new chemicals.

Working Too Much Can Be Dangerous For Teen's Sexual Health, Study Shows Posted: 27 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Allowing teens to work too many hours in the wrong environment can be dangerous for their sexual health by fostering conditions that lead them to older sex partners, a new study shows.

Gene Mutation Alone Causes Transmissible Prion Disease Posted: 27 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have shown definitively that mutations associated with prion diseases are sufficient to cause a transmissible neurodegenerative disease. Until now, two theories about the role mutations play in prion diseases have been at odds. Deciphering the origins of prion diseases could help farmers and policy-makers determine how best to control a prion disease outbreak in livestock and to prevent prion transmission to humans.

When Is The Pineapple Ripe? New System Uses Metal Oxide Sensors To Detect Safety And Quality Of Foods Posted: 27 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Customers want fresh food, which is neither unripe nor spoiled. A new system based on metal oxide sensors could check the safety and quality of foods reliably, quickly and economically -- such as how ripe that pineapple really is.

Neck Surgery For Cervical Spine Disorders Found To Alleviate Associated Headaches Posted: 27 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Two years after anterior cervical neck operations, patients who have arthroplasty or arthodesis can be expected to have significant improvement in their headache symptoms, new study suggests.

It’s Semantic: Easier Solution To Annotate And Search Images Posted: 27 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Innovative software developed in Europe that makes it easier to organise, search and navigate collections of digital images will soon be available to media agencies, photographers and, potentially, anyone trying to keep up with photo-happy Facebook or Flickr friends.

Employee’s Loyalty To Workplace Damaged By Unfair Treatment Posted: 27 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT In organizational settings, managers as well as others in leadership roles should perhaps think twice before ridiculing subordinate employees on their choice of lunch, attire, or habits, or generally acting disrespectfully towards them. Recent research shows that when an employee believes that he or she has been treated unfairly, the employee is not likely to forgive and forget.

'Plasmobot': Scientists To Design First Robot Using Mould Posted: 27 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists in England are to design the first ever biological robot using mould. Researchers are developing the amorphous non-silicon biological robot, plasmobot, using plasmodium, the vegetative stage of the slime mould Physarum polycephalum, a commonly occurring mould which lives in forests, gardens and most damp places in the UK. The research project aims to design the first every fully biological (no silicon components) amorphous massively-parallel robot.

Swimming Aids Asthma Symptoms In Children, Study Finds Posted: 27 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT Research has shown that swimming aids asthma symptoms in children. The activity has been proven to be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for children and adolescents, according to a new study.

Super-sized Tiny Proteins: Software Helps Biologists Visualize Molecules Posted: 27 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT What are the causes of illness? How can the effect of medication be improved? Molecular biologists can now gain new insights by the virtual simulations generated with a new type of software.

Women With Strong Thigh Muscles Protected From Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis Posted: 27 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT A new study has found that thigh muscle strength does not predict the occurrence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) uncovered in x-rays, but does predict incidence of painful or stiff knee OA. Women with the strongest quadriceps muscles appeared to be protected against the development of knee OA symptoms.

New Technology Cuts Industrial Odors, Pollutants Posted: 27 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have devised a new technology that could be the key to eliminating foul odors and air pollutants emitted by industrial chicken rendering facilities and -- ultimately -- large-scale swine feedlots.

Tool To Rank Death Rates Developed Posted: 27 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT Have you ever wondered what the chances are that you may die in the next year? Would it be from illness or an accident? Is it something you can control? Or is it completely out of your hands? A new Web site allows researchers and students to query and compare mortality rates globally.

Extrasolar Hot Jupiter: The Planet That 'Shouldn’t Exist' Posted: 27 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT A planet has been discovered with ten times the mass of Jupiter, but which orbits its star in less than one Earth-day.

'Hedgehog' Pathway May Hold Key To Anti-cancer Therapy Posted: 27 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists in Switzerland have discovered a way to block the growth of human colon cancer cells, preventing the disease from reaching advanced stages.

Nuisance Or Nutrient? Kudzu Shows Promise As A Dietary Supplement Posted: 27 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT Kudzu, the nuisance vine that has overgrown almost 10 million acres in the southeastern United States, may sprout into a dietary supplement. Scientists are reporting the first evidence that root extracts from kudzu show promise as a dietary supplement for a high-risk condition -- the metabolic syndrome -- that affects almost 50 million people in the United States alone.

New Treatment Option For Ruptured Brain Aneurysms Posted: 27 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers in Finland have identified an effective new treatment option using stent-assisted coil embolization on patients who have suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, a potentially life-threatening event, according to a new study.

'Metabolic Engineering' Could Herald The End Of Fossil Fuels In Industrial Chemical Production Posted: 27 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT A team of South Korean scientists have succeeded in engineering the bacterium E. coli to produce the industrial chemical putrescine. The research provides a renewable alternative to the production of this important chemical which is traditionally created using fossil fuels.

Skin-disease Patients Show Brain Immunity To Faces Of Disgust Posted: 27 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT People with psoriasis -- an often distressing dermatological condition that causes lesions and scaly patches on the skin -- are less likely to react to looks of disgust by others than people without the condition, new research has found.

Tiny Ancient Shells -- 80,000 Years Old -- Point To Earliest Fashion Trend Posted: 27 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Shell beads unearthed from four sites in Morocco confirm early humans were consistently wearing and even trading symbolic jewelery as early as 80,000 years ago. These beads add to similar finds dating back as far as 110,000 in Algeria, Morocco, Israel and South Africa, confirming these as the oldest form of personal ornaments. Together these shells -- all from the Nassarius genus -- indicate a shared tradition passed along through cultures over thousands of years.

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