ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Solar Cycle Driven By More Than Sunspots; Sun Also Bombards Earth With High-speed Streams Of Wind
• Discovery Of Regulatory Role Of Key Molecule: Step Towards Future Gene Therapy To Control Disease
• New Evidence That Green Tea May Help Improve Bone Health
• Researchers Isolates Liver Cancer Stem Cells Prior To Tumor Formation
• Toward The Design Of Greener Consumer Products
• The Pen May Be Mightier Than The Keyboard
• Oddball Stars Explained: New Observations Solve Longstanding Mystery Of Tipped Stars
• New Links Between Epilepsy And Brain Lipids
• Study Of Isolated Snakes Could Help Shed Light On Venom Composition
• New Vitamin K Analysis Supports The Triage Theory
• Biofuel Production Could Undercut Efforts To Shrink Gulf 'Dead Zone'
• Teenage Birth Rates Higher In More Religious States
• High Numbers Of Heat-loving Bacteria Found In Cold Arctic Ocean
• Killing Cancer Like A Vampire Slayer: New Drug Cuts Off Blood Supplies To Starve Cancer Tumors
• Introduced Japanese White-eyes Pose Major Threat To Hawaii's Native And Endangered Birds
• Guide On Lung Cancer In 'Never-smokers': A Different Disease And Different Treatments
• Invention Can Turn Red Wine By-products Into Yoghurt, Chocolates, Creams And More
• Health Staff And Relatives Underestimate Chronic Pain Experienced By Nursing Home Residents
• Scientists Complete First Geological Global Map Of Jupiter's Satellite Ganymede
• Scientists Pinpoint Protein Link To Fat Storage
• Conflict Between Plant And Animal Hormones In The Insect Gut?
• The Many Causes Of Immune Deficiency
• National New Biology Initiative Offers Potential For 'Remarkable And Far-reaching Benefits'
• Chemobrain: The Flip Side Of Surviving Cancer
• African Origin Of Anthropoid Primates Called Into Question With New Fossil Discovery
• Zinc Deficiences A Global Concern
• Space-related Radiation Research Could Help Reduce Fractures In Cancer Survivors
• New Insights Into Cardiac Aging
• Set World Standards For Electronics Recycling, Reuse To Curb E-waste Exports To Developing Countries, Experts Urge
• Web-based Screening And Intervention May Reduce Drinking In University Students
• Swift Makes Best-ever Ultraviolet Portrait Of Andromeda Galaxy
• During CPR, More Chest Compressions Mean More Saved Lives
• Laser Processes Promise Better Artificial Joints, Arterial Stents
• Cases Of Liver Cancer Reduced In Younger Population Vaccinated For Hepatitis B
• Chloride Found At Levels That Can Harm Aquatic Life In Urban Streams Of Northern US
• Zero Tolerance, Zero Effect, Says Expert
• Tiny Tyrannosaur: T. Rex Body Plan Debuted In Raptorex, But 100th The Size
• Natural Hydrogel Helps Heal Spinal Cord, Researcher Finds
• Ocean Acidification: Impact On Key Organisms Of Oceanic Fauna May Be Worse Than Predicted
• Genetic Hint For Ridding The Body Of Hepatitis C
• Friction Force Differences Could Offer A New Means For Sorting And Assembling Nanotubes
• Combat Exposure May Increase Likelihood Of Newly Reported High Blood Pressure

Solar Cycle Driven By More Than Sunspots; Sun Also Bombards Earth With High-speed Streams Of Wind Posted: 18 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Challenging conventional wisdom, new research finds that the number of sunspots provides an incomplete measure of changes in the Sun's impact on Earth over the course of the 11-year solar cycle. The Sun can bombard Earth with high-speed streams of energy even in the virtual absence of sunspots.

Discovery Of Regulatory Role Of Key Molecule: Step Towards Future Gene Therapy To Control Disease Posted: 18 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT The discovery of an additional role for a key molecule in our bodies provides a further step in world-wide efforts to develop genetic regulation aimed at controlling many diseases, including AIDS and various types of cancers.

New Evidence That Green Tea May Help Improve Bone Health Posted: 18 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers are reporting new evidence that green tea -- one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide and now available as a dietary supplement -- may help improve bone health. They found that the tea contains a group of chemicals that can stimulate bone formation and help slow its breakdown.

Researchers Isolates Liver Cancer Stem Cells Prior To Tumor Formation Posted: 18 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have taken an important step in understanding the role of stem cells in development of liver cancer. Using a unique approach that involves study of individual cells, the team has demonstrated for the first time a population of cancer stem cells in the liver prior to tumor formation.

Toward The Design Of Greener Consumer Products Posted: 18 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists are reporting development of a new method for screening molecules and predicting how certain materials, ranging from chemicals used in carpeting to electronics, will contribute to global warming.

The Pen May Be Mightier Than The Keyboard Posted: 18 Sep 2009 08:00 AM PDT When it comes to writing the pen apparently is mightier than the computer keyboard. Second, fourth and sixth grade children with and without handwriting disabilities were able to write more and faster when using a pen than a keyboard to compose essays, according to new research.

Oddball Stars Explained: New Observations Solve Longstanding Mystery Of Tipped Stars Posted: 18 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT A pair of unusual stars known as DI Herculis has confounded astronomers for three decades, but new observations have provided data that they say solve the mystery once and for all.

New Links Between Epilepsy And Brain Lipids Posted: 18 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT In mice that are missing a protein found only in the brain, neural signals "go crazy," leaving the animals with epileptic seizures from a young age, researchers have found. Their study details what it is that happens when the protein encoded by plasticity related gene-1 gets lost, revealing an important fine-tuning mechanism for brain function.

Study Of Isolated Snakes Could Help Shed Light On Venom Composition Posted: 18 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT While developing a more efficient, safer way to extract venom, researchers noticed the venom delivered by an isolated population of Florida cottonmouth snakes may be changing in response to their diet.

New Vitamin K Analysis Supports The Triage Theory Posted: 18 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT A new analysis suggests the importance of ensuring optimal dietary intakes of vitamin K to prevent age-related conditions such as bone fragility, arterial and kidney calcification, cardiovascular disease, and possibly cancer. Vitamin K is concentrated in dark green plants such as spinach or Swiss chard, and is either not present or present in only small amounts in most multivitamin pills.

Biofuel Production Could Undercut Efforts To Shrink Gulf 'Dead Zone' Posted: 18 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists in Pennsylvania report that boosting production of crops used to make biofuels could make a difficult task to shrink a vast, oxygen-depleted "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico more difficult.

Teenage Birth Rates Higher In More Religious States Posted: 18 Sep 2009 05:00 AM PDT Rates of births to teenage mothers are strongly predicted by conservative religious beliefs, even after controlling for differences in income and rates of abortion. Researchers have found a strong association between teenage birth rates and state-level measures of religiosity in the United States.

High Numbers Of Heat-loving Bacteria Found In Cold Arctic Ocean Posted: 18 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have detected high numbers of heat loving, or thermophilic, bacteria in subzero sediments in the Arctic Ocean. The bacterial spores might provide a unique opportunity to trace seepages of fluids from hot sub-seafloor habitats, possibly pointing towards undiscovered offshore petroleum reservoirs. The findings could also hold important clues for solving broader riddles of bio-geography. The results also point to the potential use of microbes in offshore oil and gas exploration.

Killing Cancer Like A Vampire Slayer: New Drug Cuts Off Blood Supplies To Starve Cancer Tumors Posted: 18 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT A researcher in Israel has developed a new drug carrier to deliver compounds straight to the cancer tumor, cutting off blood supplies to the tumor and improving the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs.

Introduced Japanese White-eyes Pose Major Threat To Hawaii's Native And Endangered Birds Posted: 18 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT In the late 1920s, people intentionally introduced birds known as Japanese white-eyes into Hawaiian agricultural lands and gardens for purposes of bug control. Now, that decision has come back to bite us. A recent increase in the numbers of white-eyes that live in old-growth forests is leaving native bird species with too little to eat, according to a new report.

Guide On Lung Cancer In 'Never-smokers': A Different Disease And Different Treatments Posted: 18 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT A committee of scientists has published a new guide to the biology, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in never-smokers, fortifying measures for what physicians have long known is a very different disease than in smokers.

Invention Can Turn Red Wine By-products Into Yoghurt, Chocolates, Creams And More Posted: 18 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT A conversation over a glass of wine turned into a research effort to create new, healthy wine-flavored products. The German and Spanish research team say they have invented a way of making powder from by-products of red wine production, which could be used in everything from yogurt and chocolates to creams and face masks.

Health Staff And Relatives Underestimate Chronic Pain Experienced By Nursing Home Residents Posted: 18 Sep 2009 02:00 AM PDT Relatives and nurses find it hard to judge how much chronic pain nursing home residents experience, according to a five-year study. Researchers have highlighted the need for more education on assessing and treating chronic pain after they spoke to 174 residents, 171 nurses and 122 relatives. They would also like to see more alternative pain relief strategies used, like providing massage and encouraging greater mobility.

Scientists Complete First Geological Global Map Of Jupiter's Satellite Ganymede Posted: 17 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists have assembled the first global geological map of Jupiter's moon Ganymede -- the solar system's largest moon -- and in doing so have gathered new evidence into the formation of the large, icy satellite.

Scientists Pinpoint Protein Link To Fat Storage Posted: 17 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT A protein found present in all cells in the body could help scientists better understand how we store fat. Researchers have found that the protein invadolysin, which is essential for healthy cell division, is present in lipid droplets -- the parts of cells used to store fat.

Conflict Between Plant And Animal Hormones In The Insect Gut? Posted: 17 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT A reaction similar to the inactivation of prostaglandin hormones has now been discovered in the larval guts of two plant pest species. The insects bear an enzyme which structurally modifies and thereby inactivates OPDA, a highly active plant hormone. The results illustrate the close relationships and interactions of hormone activities in the animal and plant kingdoms.

The Many Causes Of Immune Deficiency Posted: 17 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT Defects of the immune system lead to increased susceptibility to infection, autoimmune diseases (e.g. inflammatory rheumatism), allergies and sometimes even cancer. An intact immune system, on the other hand, ensures physical health and well-being.

National New Biology Initiative Offers Potential For 'Remarkable And Far-reaching Benefits' Posted: 17 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT A report released by the National Research Council calls on the United States to launch a new multiagency, multiyear, and multidisciplinary initiative to capitalize on the extraordinary advances recently made in biology and to accelerate new breakthroughs that could solve some of society's most pressing problems -- particularly in the areas of food, environment, energy, and health.

Chemobrain: The Flip Side Of Surviving Cancer Posted: 17 Sep 2009 11:00 PM PDT Breast cancer survivors tell their story in a descriptive study of the effects that cognitive impairment has on women's work, social networks and dealings with the health care profession.

African Origin Of Anthropoid Primates Called Into Question With New Fossil Discovery Posted: 17 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT Well-preserved craniodental fossil remains from two primate species have been discovered during excavations at an Algerian site. They reveal that the small primate Algeripithecus, which is 50 million years old and until now was considered as the most ancient African anthropoid, in fact belonged to another group, that of the crown strepsirhines.

Zinc Deficiences A Global Concern Posted: 17 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT Other vitamins and nutrients may get more headlines, but experts say as many as two billion people around the world have diets deficient in zinc -- and studies are raising concerns about the health implications this holds for infectious disease, immune function, DNA damage and cancer. One new study has found DNA damage in humans caused by only minor zinc deficiency.

Space-related Radiation Research Could Help Reduce Fractures In Cancer Survivors Posted: 17 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT A research project looking for ways to reduce bone loss in astronauts may yield methods of improving the bone health of cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment. The scientists are seeking to understand radiation-induced bone loss and to determine which treatments can be used to reduce that loss and lower the risk of fractures. The results could be beneficial to cancer patients, especially those who receive radiation therapy in the pelvic region.

New Insights Into Cardiac Aging Posted: 17 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have found that the conserved protein d4eBP modulates cardiac aging in Drosophila (fruit flies). The team also found that d4eBP, which binds to the protein dEif4e, protects heart function against aging.

Set World Standards For Electronics Recycling, Reuse To Curb E-waste Exports To Developing Countries, Experts Urge Posted: 17 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT Processes and policies governing the reuse and recycling of electronic products need to be standardized worldwide to stem and reverse the growing problem of illegal and harmful e-waste processing practices in developing countries, according to experts behind the world's first international e-waste academy.

Web-based Screening And Intervention May Reduce Drinking In University Students Posted: 17 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT Web-based screening and personalized interventions for alcohol use may reduce drinking in undergraduate students, according to a new report.

Swift Makes Best-ever Ultraviolet Portrait Of Andromeda Galaxy Posted: 17 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT In a break from its usual task of searching for distant cosmic explosions, NASA's Swift satellite has acquired the highest-resolution view of a neighboring spiral galaxy ever attained in the ultraviolet. The galaxy, known as M31 in the constellation Andromeda, is the largest and closest spiral galaxy to our own.

During CPR, More Chest Compressions Mean More Saved Lives Posted: 17 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT The chance that a person in cardiac arrest will survive increases when rescuers doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) spend more time giving chest compressions, according to a multi-center study.

Laser Processes Promise Better Artificial Joints, Arterial Stents Posted: 17 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers are developing technologies that use lasers to create arterial stents and longer-lasting medical implants that could be manufactured 10 times faster and also less expensively than is now possible.

Cases Of Liver Cancer Reduced In Younger Population Vaccinated For Hepatitis B Posted: 17 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT A 20-year follow-up study revealed a dramatic drop in liver cancer cases among 6- to 19-year-olds who were vaccinated for the hepatitis B virus at birth, according to a new study.

Chloride Found At Levels That Can Harm Aquatic Life In Urban Streams Of Northern US Posted: 17 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT Levels of chloride, a component of salt, are elevated in many urban streams and groundwater across the northern United States, according to a new government study. Chloride levels above the recommended federal criteria set to protect aquatic life were found in more than 40 percent of urban streams tested. The study was released today by the US Geological Survey. Elevated chloride can inhibit plant growth, impair reproduction, and reduce the diversity of organisms in streams.

Zero Tolerance, Zero Effect, Says Expert Posted: 17 Sep 2009 05:00 PM PDT Zero tolerance laws have zero effect, says one expert, who analyzed data from 30,000 fatalities in nighttime accidents involving drivers under 21.

Tiny Tyrannosaur: T. Rex Body Plan Debuted In Raptorex, But 100th The Size Posted: 17 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT When you think of Tyrannosaurus rex, a small set of striking physical traits comes to mind: an oversized skull with powerful jaws, tiny forearms and the muscular hind legs of a runner. But, researchers have just unearthed a much smaller tyrannosauroid in China, no more than three meters long, that displays all the same features -- and it predates the T. rex by tens of millions of years.

Natural Hydrogel Helps Heal Spinal Cord, Researcher Finds Posted: 17 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Injecting biomaterial gel into a spinal cord injury site provides significantly improved healing, new research has shown. The project indicates that a "practical path" to treatment may be found for spinal injury patients.

Ocean Acidification: Impact On Key Organisms Of Oceanic Fauna May Be Worse Than Predicted Posted: 17 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT In addition to global warming, carbon dioxide emissions cause another, less well-known but equally serious and worrying phenomenon: ocean acidification. Researchers have just demonstrated that key marine organisms, such as deep-water corals and pteropods (shelled pelagic mollusks) will be profoundly affected by this phenomenon during the years to come.

Genetic Hint For Ridding The Body Of Hepatitis C Posted: 17 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT More than seventy percent of people who contract Hepatitis C will live with the virus that causes it for the rest of their lives and some will develop serious liver disease including cancer. However, 30 to 40 percent of those infected somehow defeat the infection and get rid of the virus with no treatment. Researchers have now discovered the strongest genetic alteration associated with the ability to get rid of the infection.

Friction Force Differences Could Offer A New Means For Sorting And Assembling Nanotubes Posted: 17 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers report measuring different friction forces when a carbon nanotube slides along its axis compared to when it slides perpendicular to its axis. The observation could provide a new means for assembling and sorting nanotubes.

Combat Exposure May Increase Likelihood Of Newly Reported High Blood Pressure Posted: 17 Sep 2009 02:00 PM PDT Military deployment with multiple combat exposures appeared to be a unique risk factor for newly reported hypertension. Specifically, personally witnessing or being exposed to death due to war or disaster was significantly associated with increased likelihood of newly self-reported hypertension both at single and multiple exposures.

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