ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Milky Way's Not-so-distant Cousin Likely Harbors Supermassive Black Hole
• Researchers Identify Critical Gene For Brain Development, Mental Retardation
• Insomnia Is Bad For The Heart; Increases Blood Pressure
• Cardiac Biomarker Levels Strongly Predict Outcome Of Bypass Surgery
• Flying By The Skin Of Our Teeth
• Design Research Points The Way So You Won't Get Lost At The Hospital
• Monkey Brains Signal The Desire To Explore
• Researchers Identify Key Contributor To Pre-eclampsia
• Indoor Plants Found To Release Volatile Organic Compounds
• Mitotic Release Of Chromatin-binding RNA Gives Insight Into X Chromosome Silencing
• Open Source DNA: A New Solution To Guarantee Privacy And Scientific Freedom In Genetic Research
• Health Experts Offer Action Steps Local Governments Can Use To Cut Childhood Obesity Rates
• Economists Measure GDP Growth From Outer Space
• Discovery Leads To Rapid Mouse 'Personalized Trials' In Breast Cancer
• Large-scale Study Probes How Cells Fight Pathogens
• Parkinson’s Disease: Iron Accumulation To The Point Of Demise
• Counting Duplicated Genome Segments Now Possible
• Greening University Classrooms: Adding Plants Increases Student Satisfaction

Milky Way's Not-so-distant Cousin Likely Harbors Supermassive Black Hole Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Astronomers have taken a striking new image of a nearby galaxy that many astronomers think closely resembles our own Milky Way. Though the galaxy is seen edge-on, observations of NGC 4945 suggest that this hive of stars is a spiral galaxy much like our own, with swirling, luminous arms and a bar-shaped central region. These resemblances aside, NGC 4945 has a brighter center that likely harbors a supermassive black hole, which is devouring reams of matter and blasting energy out into space.

Researchers Identify Critical Gene For Brain Development, Mental Retardation Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have now discovered that establishing the neural wiring necessary to function normally depends on the ability of neurons to make finger-like projections of their membrane called filopodia.

Insomnia Is Bad For The Heart; Increases Blood Pressure Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Can't sleep at night? A new study has found that people who suffer from insomnia have heightened nighttime blood pressure, which can lead to cardiac problems. The investigation measured the 24-hour blood pressure of insomniacs compared to sound sleepers.

Cardiac Biomarker Levels Strongly Predict Outcome Of Bypass Surgery Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Levels of a biomarker used in the diagnosis of heart attacks are almost universally elevated in patients who have undergone coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) and, when markedly elevated, powerfully predict the risk of complications.

Flying By The Skin Of Our Teeth Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT A new study looks at the highly sophisticated structure of teeth and how this structure could be applied to aircraft and space vehicles of the future.

Design Research Points The Way So You Won't Get Lost At The Hospital Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Design students have been working on a national project to create symbols that will guide users in health-care settings -- no matter a user's language or reading level. The students are completing their work and testing begins soon.

Monkey Brains Signal The Desire To Explore Posted: 06 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Sticking with what you know often comes at the price of learning about more favorable alternatives. Managing this trade-off is easy for many, but not for those with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or obsessive-compulsive disorder who are trapped in simple routines. Using brain scans in monkeys, researchers are now able to predict when monkeys will switch from exploiting a known resource to exploring their options.

Researchers Identify Key Contributor To Pre-eclampsia Posted: 06 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT A new study reveals a key component in the development of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, a condition that can result in miscarriage and maternal death.

Indoor Plants Found To Release Volatile Organic Compounds Posted: 06 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Potted plants add aesthetic value to homes and offices, and have been shown to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) gases or vapors emitted by solids and liquids that may have adverse health effects. But take heed when considering adding some green to your environment; in addition to giving off oxygen and sucking out harmful VOCs, a new study shows that some indoor plants actually release volatile organic compounds into the environment.

Mitotic Release Of Chromatin-binding RNA Gives Insight Into X Chromosome Silencing Posted: 06 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Early in development, mammalian female cells counteract their double dose of X chromosomes by coating one of them with a large RNA named XIST. The RNA binds to the same X chromosome from which it is transcribed and initiates a series of events leading to the chromosome's permanent silencing. Researchers recently exploited the fact that XIST temporarily dissociates from the X chromosome during mitosis and find that Aurora B kinase helps regulate the RNA's chromatin binding.

Open Source DNA: A New Solution To Guarantee Privacy And Scientific Freedom In Genetic Research Posted: 06 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT A new mathematical tool from a computer scientist in Israel aims to protect genetic privacy while giving genomic data to researchers.

Health Experts Offer Action Steps Local Governments Can Use To Cut Childhood Obesity Rates Posted: 06 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Zoning restrictions on fast-food restaurants near schools and playgrounds, community policing to improve safety around public recreational sites, requirements that publicly run after-school programs limit video game and TV time, and taxes on high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and drinks are some of the strategies local government officials can use to tackle the childhood obesity epidemic in their communities, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council.

Economists Measure GDP Growth From Outer Space Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT Measurements of economic growth often fall short for developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and are rarely calculated at all for cities throughout the world. In a new paper, three economists suggest a way to improve GDP estimates for such areas by using images of nighttime lights as seen from outer space.

Discovery Leads To Rapid Mouse 'Personalized Trials' In Breast Cancer Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT Using a finding that the genetic complexity of tumors in mice parallels that in humans, researchers are starting trial studies in mice, just like human clinical trials, to evaluate whether understanding tumor diversity can improve cancer treatment.

Large-scale Study Probes How Cells Fight Pathogens Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have deciphered a key molecular circuit that enables the body to distinguish viruses from bacteria and other microbes, providing a deep view of how immune cells in mammals fend off different pathogens. The new research signifies one of the first large-scale reconstructions of a mammalian circuit and offers a practical approach for unraveling the circuits that underpin other important biological systems.

Parkinson’s Disease: Iron Accumulation To The Point Of Demise Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT Neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine are the cerebral cells that most commonly die-off in Parkinson's disease. The cells in the so-called substantia nigra, which contain the dark pigment neuromelanin, are affected. It is also known that the iron content of these cells increases during the course of Parkinson's disease.

Counting Duplicated Genome Segments Now Possible Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new computational method has proven its usefulness in counting duplicated sequences in human genomes and in initially assessing their content. Duplicated segments have been linked with several types of diseases, including intellectual impairment, schizoprhenia, lupus, Crohn's, psoriasis and macular degeneration. They have also been found in resistance to certain diseases, like HIV infections. Determining the number, content, and location of segmental duplications is vital to understanding their health implications.

Greening University Classrooms: Adding Plants Increases Student Satisfaction Posted: 06 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT In today's frenetic world, many urban dwellers spend more than 80 percent of the day indoors. Enhancing homes and offices with ornamental plants has become a popular way to "green" our lives. Researchers have found that the presence of houseplants in homes and workplaces can reduce eye irritation and stress, motivate employees, improve concentration and even reduce air impurities. Now, scientists are testing the impact of plants on student performance and satisfaction in the classroom.

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