ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Archaeologists Discover Oldest-known Fiber Materials Used By Early Humans
• Sleep Helps Reduce Errors In Memory, Research Suggests
• Engineers Develop Safer, Blast-resistant Glass
• New Antibiotic Shows Promise In Fighting Malaria
• Magnetic Fields Play Larger Role In Star Formation Than Previously Thought
• Worker Bees In 'Reproductive Class War' With Queen, New Research Discovers
• Dramatic Biological Responses To Global Warming In The Arctic
• Size Of Fat Cells And Waist Size Predict Type 2 Diabetes In Women
• Dandelion Rubber? Researchers Make Russian Dandelion Suitable For Large-scale Rubber Production
• Major Clinical Study Rejects Cancer Safety Fears Of Most Common Heartburn Treatment
• US Navy Ship Sunk In World War II Battle Found
• Common Mental Disorders May Be More Common Than We Think
• Dividing Cells 'Feel' Their Way Out Of Warp
• Vaccination Of 70 Percent Of US Population Could Control Swine Flu Pandemic
• Environmental Scientists Estimate That China Could Meet Its Entire Future Energy Needs By Wind Alone
• Researchers Seek Safer Cystic Fibrosis Test
• Troublesome Green Algae Harnessed To Make Paper-Based Batteries
• Noisy Roads Increase Risk Of High Blood Pressure
• Surprise In Earth's Upper Atmosphere: Mode Of Energy Transfer From The Solar Wind
• Pandemic Flu Can Infect Cells Deep In The Lungs
• Evolutionary Fate Of 'Useless' Traits: Why Some Traits Break Down Quickly While Others Persist Over Time
• Replication At DNA Damage Sites Highlights Fanconi Anemia And Breast Cancer Proteins
• Experts Urge Year-round Research On Arctic And Global Warming
• Picking Quality Health Care: New Study Shows A Little Context Makes A Big Difference
• Carbon Nanotubes Could Make Efficient Solar Cells
• New Protein Partnership That Leads To Pediatric Tumor Regression
• Roadmap Of Leptin Explains Its Regulation Of Bone And Appetite: New Clues For Obesity And Osteoporosis Prevention
• Virus Responsible For Deadly Brain Disease Found In MS Patients Treated With Natalizumab
• New Calculations May Improve Temperature Measures For Microfluidics
• Tweeting: More Than Just Self Expression
• Imitate To Communicate: Even Singers In The Bird World Have To Deal With Cover Artists
• Molecular Mechanism Underlying Form Of Diabetes Revealed
• Infertility And The Battle Of The Sexes: Evolutionary Explanation For Today's Fertility Problems?
• High Fruit And Vegetable Intake Linked To Antioxidant Status And Cognitive Performance In Healthy Subjects
• Cape Tulips: Pretty But Pests In Pastures
• How Accurate Are Hospital Report Cards?
• You Can Believe Your Eyes: New Insights Into Memory Without Conscious Awareness
• Seizure Drug Enhances Sleep For Women With Hot Flashes
• Chimps Trained To Enable Keepers To Take DNA Samples With Cheek Swabs
• Getting Better Visualization Of Joint Cartilage Through Cationic CT Contrast Agents
• Coconut Oil Extract May Be A Weapon Against Food Bacteria
• Children Can Learn A Second Language In Preschool, Study Finds
• Changing The Course Of Nature: Are Fisheries Directing The Evolution Of Fish Populations?
• Lung Cancer Oncogene Holds Key To Turning Off Cancer Stem Cells
• Graffiti-free Historic Buildings: Breathable Coating Provides Protection
• Researchers Restore Missing Protein In Rare Genetic Brain Disorder
• Drug Detection: Space-age Technology And Crime Research Combine For New Development
• 'Dung Of The Devil' Plant Roots Point To New Swine Flu Drugs

Archaeologists Discover Oldest-known Fiber Materials Used By Early Humans Posted: 11 Sep 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered the oldest-known fiber materials that could have been used by humans for making clothing, shoes, and other items for domestic use. The fibers are flax, and are over 34,000 years old. The fibers were discovered in a cave in the Republic of Georgia.

Sleep Helps Reduce Errors In Memory, Research Suggests Posted: 11 Sep 2009 11:00 AM PDT Sleep may reduce mistakes in memory, according to a first-of-its-kind study. The findings have practical implications for everyone from students flubbing multiple choice tests to senior citizens confusing their medications.

Engineers Develop Safer, Blast-resistant Glass Posted: 11 Sep 2009 11:00 AM PDT To protect from potential terrorist attacks, federal buildings and other critical infrastructures are made with special windows that contain blast-resistant glass. However, the glass is thick and expensive. Currently, researchers are developing and testing a new type of blast-resistant glass that will be thinner, lighter and less vulnerable to small-scale explosions.

New Antibiotic Shows Promise In Fighting Malaria Posted: 11 Sep 2009 11:00 AM PDT A new study suggests that tigecycline, the first member of a new class of antibiotics, shows significant antimalarial activity on its own and may also be effective against multi drug-resistant malaria when administered in combination with traditional antimalarial drugs.

Magnetic Fields Play Larger Role In Star Formation Than Previously Thought Posted: 11 Sep 2009 11:00 AM PDT The simple picture of star formation calls for giant clouds of gas and dust to collapse inward due to gravity, growing denser and hotter until igniting nuclear fusion. In reality, forces other than gravity also influence the birth of stars. New research shows that cosmic magnetic fields play a more important role in star formation than previously thought.

Worker Bees In 'Reproductive Class War' With Queen, New Research Discovers Posted: 11 Sep 2009 11:00 AM PDT Bee colonies are well known for high levels of cooperation, but new research demonstrates a conflict for reproduction between worker bees and their queens, leading some workers to selfishly exploit the colony for their own needs. The study focused on Melipona scutellaris -- a Brazilian species of highly social stingless bees, found throughout the Atlantic rainforest. Colonies contain around 1,500 workers and are headed by one single-mated Queen.

Dramatic Biological Responses To Global Warming In The Arctic Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT The Arctic as we know it may soon be a thing of the past, according to the research of a large, international team. The researchers carried out ecosystem-wide studies of the biological response to Arctic warming, and documented a wide range of responses by the plants, birds, animals, insects and humans living there.

Size Of Fat Cells And Waist Size Predict Type 2 Diabetes In Women Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT When it comes to assessing risk for type 2 diabetes, not only do waistlines matter to women, but so does the size of their fat cells. The discovery by a team of Swedish researchers helps explain why some women of normal weight develop type 2 diabetes, despite not having any known risk factors.

Dandelion Rubber? Researchers Make Russian Dandelion Suitable For Large-scale Rubber Production Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Most natural rubber comes from rubber trees in Southeast Asia, but this source is now under threat from a fungus. Researchers have optimized the Russian dandelion to make it suitable for large-scale rubber production.

Major Clinical Study Rejects Cancer Safety Fears Of Most Common Heartburn Treatment Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Fears about the cancer-causing effects of the second most prescribed group of drugs in the Western world have been put to rest, following the largest ever study into their use.

US Navy Ship Sunk In World War II Battle Found Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have located and identified the final resting place of the YP-389, a US Navy patrol boat sunk approximately 20 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, NC, by a German submarine during World War II.

Common Mental Disorders May Be More Common Than We Think Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT The prevalence of anxiety, depression and substance dependency may be twice as high as the mental health community has been led to believe. It depends on how one goes about measuring.

Dividing Cells 'Feel' Their Way Out Of Warp Posted: 11 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT Every moment, millions of a body's cells flawlessly divvy up their genes and pinch perfectly in half to form two identical progeny for the replenishment of tissues and organs -- even as they collide, get stuck, and squeeze through infinitesimally small spaces that distort their shapes.

Vaccination Of 70 Percent Of US Population Could Control Swine Flu Pandemic Posted: 11 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT An aggressive vaccination program that first targets children and ultimately reaches 70 percent of the US population would mitigate pandemic influenza H1N1 that is expected this fall, according to computer modeling and analysis of observational studies.

Environmental Scientists Estimate That China Could Meet Its Entire Future Energy Needs By Wind Alone Posted: 11 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT A team of environmental scientists demonstrated the enormous potential for wind-generated electricity in China. Using extensive metrological data and incorporating the Chinese government's energy bidding and financial restrictions for delivering wind power, the researchers estimate that wind alone has the potential to meet the country's electricity demands projected for 2030. The switch from coal and other fossil fuels to greener wind-based energy could also mitigate CO2 emissions, thereby reducing pollution.

Researchers Seek Safer Cystic Fibrosis Test Posted: 11 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers are trying to invent a novel noninvasive lung test for cystic fibrosis sufferers. The goal is to find a method that requires a patient only to breath into a machine instead of undergo an invasive procedure.

Troublesome Green Algae Harnessed To Make Paper-Based Batteries Posted: 11 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT Unwanted blooms of Cladophora algae throughout the Baltic and in other parts of the world are not entirely without a positive side. Researchers in Sweden have discovered that the distinctive cellulose nanostructure of these algae can serve as an effective coating substrate for use in environmentally friendly batteries.

Noisy Roads Increase Risk Of High Blood Pressure Posted: 11 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT Traffic noise raises blood pressure. Researchers have found that people exposed to high levels of noise from nearby roads are more likely to report suffering from hypertension.

Surprise In Earth's Upper Atmosphere: Mode Of Energy Transfer From The Solar Wind Posted: 11 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT Atmospheric scientists have discovered a basic mode of energy transfer from the solar wind to the Earth's magnetosphere, which was previously unknown. The research could improve the safety and reliability of spacecraft that operate in the upper atmosphere. "It's like finding it got hotter when the sun went down," said one researcher.

Pandemic Flu Can Infect Cells Deep In The Lungs Posted: 11 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT Pandemic swine flu can infect cells deeper in the lungs than seasonal flu can, according to a new study. The researchers say this may explain why people infected with the pandemic strain of swine-origin H1N1 influenza are more likely to suffer more severe symptoms than those infected with the seasonal strain of H1N1.

Evolutionary Fate Of 'Useless' Traits: Why Some Traits Break Down Quickly While Others Persist Over Time Posted: 11 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT What happens when traits no longer give creatures a competitive edge? In a recent review, researchers teamed up to take a closer look at the evolutionary fate of useless traits.

Replication At DNA Damage Sites Highlights Fanconi Anemia And Breast Cancer Proteins Posted: 11 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT While Fanconi anemia is a rare and dangerous disease, new laboratory research shows it may lead researchers toward clues in more common diseases, including highly hereditary types of breast cancer.

Experts Urge Year-round Research On Arctic And Global Warming Posted: 11 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT Arctic and Antarctic research teams pulled back to warmer climates when the International Polar Year wrapped last March. But the call has gone out for a return to the poles for a more focused investigation into the effects of global warming.

Picking Quality Health Care: New Study Shows A Little Context Makes A Big Difference Posted: 11 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT A hospital pneumonia survival rate of 93 percent may sound good, but knowing that it's actually merely "fair" can help people pick a better hospital, according to new research. A "good" survival rate would be from 95 percent to 98 percent, medical experts say.

Carbon Nanotubes Could Make Efficient Solar Cells Posted: 10 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT Using a carbon nanotube instead of traditional silicon, researchers have created the basic elements of a solar cell that hopefully will lead to much more efficient ways of converting light to electricity than now used in calculators and on rooftops.

New Protein Partnership That Leads To Pediatric Tumor Regression Posted: 10 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that the cell receptor TrkA may be involved in the spontaneous regression of some pediatric cancers. Further research towards a better understanding of the mechanism of action might hopefully lead, in the future, to the development of drugs that will be able to induce regression of certain tumors.

Roadmap Of Leptin Explains Its Regulation Of Bone And Appetite: New Clues For Obesity And Osteoporosis Prevention Posted: 10 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT New research has illuminated a previously unknown leptin-serotonin pathway in the brain that simultaneously promotes appetite and bone mass accrual. The research explains how leptin -- well-known appetite-suppressing hormone -- acts in the brain.

Virus Responsible For Deadly Brain Disease Found In MS Patients Treated With Natalizumab Posted: 10 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT The virus responsible for PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy), a rare brain disease that typically affects AIDS patients and other individuals with compromised immune systems, has been found to be reactivated in multiple-sclerosis patients being treated with natalizumab (Tysabri), according to new research.

New Calculations May Improve Temperature Measures For Microfluidics Posted: 10 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have proposed a mathematical tweak that improves the accuracy of a temperature measurement technique used to monitor critical temperatures in microfludic devices used for tasks such as medical diagnostics and DNA forensics.

Tweeting: More Than Just Self Expression Posted: 10 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT From CNN to Ashton Kutcher everyone is tweeting. In ads, many companies now display the logo of an animated blue bird holding a sign that says "follow me."

Imitate To Communicate: Even Singers In The Bird World Have To Deal With Cover Artists Posted: 10 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT Competitors copying songs is an issue that every great singer must face, but now it has been discovered that even birds have to deal with cover artists. New research reveals how some bird species have evolved to sing the same tune as their rivals in order to compete effectively.

Molecular Mechanism Underlying Form Of Diabetes Revealed Posted: 10 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT By investigating a rare and severe form of diabetes in children, researchers have discovered a new molecular mechanism that regulates specialized pancreatic cells and insulin secretion. The mechanism involves a protein called ankyrin, which researchers previously linked to potentially fatal human heart arrhythmias.

Infertility And The Battle Of The Sexes: Evolutionary Explanation For Today's Fertility Problems? Posted: 10 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT About 10 percent of all couples hoping for a baby have fertility problems. Some environmentalists say pollution is to blame, while some psychiatrists point to our stressful lifestyles. But an evolutionary biologist in Israel offers a different take. The reproductive organs of men and women are currently involved in an evolutionary arms race, he reports in a new study. And the fight isn't over yet.

High Fruit And Vegetable Intake Linked To Antioxidant Status And Cognitive Performance In Healthy Subjects Posted: 10 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers in Germany investigated the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake, plasma antioxidant micronutrient status and cognitive performance in healthy subjects aged 45 to 102 years. Their results indicated higher cognitive performance in individuals with high daily intake of fruits and vegetables.

Cape Tulips: Pretty But Pests In Pastures Posted: 10 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT Agricultural researchers are trying to outwit one of southern Australia's worst agricultural weeds.

How Accurate Are Hospital Report Cards? Posted: 10 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT A key statistic that consumer groups and the media often use when compiling hospital report cards and national rankings can be misleading, researchers report in a new study.

You Can Believe Your Eyes: New Insights Into Memory Without Conscious Awareness Posted: 10 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists may have discovered a way to glean information about stored memories by tracking patterns of eye movements, even when an individual is unable (or perhaps even unwilling) to report what they remember. The research provides compelling insight into the relationship between activity in the hippocampus, eye movements, and both conscious and unconscious memory.

Seizure Drug Enhances Sleep For Women With Hot Flashes Posted: 10 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT Gabapentin, a drug initially used to treat seizures, improves sleep quality in menopausal women with hot flashes, researchers report in a new study.

Chimps Trained To Enable Keepers To Take DNA Samples With Cheek Swabs Posted: 10 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT As the 25th anniversary of the discovery of DNA fingerprinting approaches, geneticists interested in a particular type of DNA are receiving some help from an unusual band of assistants. Chimpanzees at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire have been trained to enable keepers to take DNA samples with special cheek swabs.

Getting Better Visualization Of Joint Cartilage Through Cationic CT Contrast Agents Posted: 10 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT A new computer tomography (CT) contrast agent for visualizing the spatial distribution of glycosaminoglycans -- the anionic sugars that account for the strength of joint cartilage -- was found by a team of chemists, engineers and clinicians recently. Assessing local variations in GAGs are of significant interest for the study of cartilage biology and the diagnosis of cartilage diseases like osteoarthritis, which afflicts more than 27 million people in the US.

Coconut Oil Extract May Be A Weapon Against Food Bacteria Posted: 10 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT Monolaurin, an extract from coconut oil could be used as a microbial agent in foods, according to a new study.

Children Can Learn A Second Language In Preschool, Study Finds Posted: 10 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT An international research project which looks at bilingual education shows that children can learn a second language as early as preschool.

Changing The Course Of Nature: Are Fisheries Directing The Evolution Of Fish Populations? Posted: 10 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT For many of the types of fish we buy in stores or order in restaurants, the chance that an individual dies from fishing is several times higher than dying of natural causes. This may seem obvious to most (they had to get to our table somehow), but what may not be apparent is that the relentless pursuit of consumer-friendly fish product is having a massive impact on fish populations around the world. By repeatedly choosing only the biggest fish, or only those found in certain habitats, the fisheries industry may be permanently altering the genetic composition of fish populations.

Lung Cancer Oncogene Holds Key To Turning Off Cancer Stem Cells Posted: 10 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have found that the lung cancer oncogene PKCiota is necessary for the proliferation of lung cancer stem cells. These stem cells are rare and powerful master cells that manufacture the other cells that make up lung tumors and are resistant to chemotherapy treatment.

Graffiti-free Historic Buildings: Breathable Coating Provides Protection Posted: 10 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Many a historic landmark is defaced with graffiti, but the spray paint can only be removed – if at all – using caustic solutions which risk damaging the underlying surface. A new breathable coating provides efficient, all-round protection against attacks by taggers.

Researchers Restore Missing Protein In Rare Genetic Brain Disorder Posted: 10 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have successfully used protease inhibitors to restore to normal levels a key protein involved in early brain development. Reduced levels of that protein have been shown to cause the rare brain disorder lissencephaly, which is characterized by brain malformations, seizures, severe mental retardation and very early death in human infants.

Drug Detection: Space-age Technology And Crime Research Combine For New Development Posted: 10 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have combined crime research and space-age technology in ways that could lead to the quick detection of counterfeit pharmaceuticals in a black market currently worth an estimated $40 billion per year.

'Dung Of The Devil' Plant Roots Point To New Swine Flu Drugs Posted: 10 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that roots of a plant used a century ago during the great Spanish influenza pandemic contains substances with powerful effects in laboratory experiments in killing the H1N1 swine flu virus that now threatens the world.

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