ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Ancient Earth's Magnetic Field Was Structured Like Today's Two-pole Model
• Gene With Possible Link To Infertility In Mice Identified
• Is Garbage The Solution To Tackling Climate Change?
• Over 65s Should Take High Dose Vitamin D To Prevent Falls, Say Researchers
• Using Synthetic Evolution To Study The Brain: Key Part Of Neurons Modeled On Computer
• Teen Attitudes Toward Smoking Linked To Likelihood Of Drinking And Using Drugs
• Quick Rebound From Marine Mass Extinction Event, New Findings Show
• Protein That Enhances Long-term Memory By Controlling Rest Intervals Identified
• New Study Resolves The Mysterious Origin Of Merkel Cells
• Leg Movement Training In Preterm Infants Demonstrates Positive Changes In Motor Skills
• 'Promiscuous' Protein Interactions Found In The Nuclear Pore Complex
• Where's The Science? The Sorry State Of Psychotherapy
• Scientists Discover What Makes The Same Type Of Cells Different
• Aspirin Misuse May Have Made 1918 Flu Pandemic Worse
• Coral Bleaching Increases Chances Of Coral Disease
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Tears Common And Additional Surgery Likely In Teens
• 'Visual Walkman' Offers Augmented Reality
• Researchers Develop An Integrated Treatment For Veterans With Chronic Pain And Posttraumatic Stress
• Longer-lived, Healthier Mice Offer Promise Of Drug Treatments For Age-related Diseases
• Consciousness Is The Brain's Wi-Fi, Resolving Competing Requests, Study Suggests
• Speaking, Eating Possible After Tonsil Cancer Surgery With Reconstruction
• 'Killer' Southeast U.S. Drought Low On Scale, Says Study
• Online News Garners More Attention From Readers If It's Negative And Localized
• Herschel Views Deep-space Pearls On A Cosmic String
• Retinal Rescue: Cells Derived From Human Embryonic Stem Cells Reverse Retinal Degeneration
• Step Toward Better Brain Implants Using Conducting Polymer Nanotubes
• Reactive Oxygen In Fruit Flies Acts As A Cell Signalling Mechanism For Immune Response
• Is 'Stem Cell' Concept Holding Back Biology?
• Researchers Redefine Cura Personalis -- Caring For The Whole Person -- Using Systems Medicine
• Umbilical Cord Blood As A Readily Available Source For Off-the-shelf, Patient-specific Stem Cells
• 'Anti-Atkins' Low Protein Diet Extends Lifespan In Flies
• Killer Bees May Increase Food Supplies For Native Bees
• Kidneys From Deceased Donors With Acute Renal Failure Expand Donor Pool
• Scientists Decipher Missing Piece Of First-responder DNA Repair Machine
• Stock Graphs Can Mislead: People Prefer Stocks With Shorter Runs
• Paradoxically, Food Insecurity May Be Underlying Contributor To Overweight

Ancient Earth's Magnetic Field Was Structured Like Today's Two-pole Model Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have shown that, in ancient times, the Earth's magnetic field was structured like the two-pole model of today, suggesting that the methods geoscientists use to reconstruct the geography of early land masses on the globe are accurate. The findings may lead to a better understanding of historical continental movement, which relates to changes in climate.

Gene With Possible Link To Infertility In Mice Identified Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified the role of a gene in regulating molecular signals involved with ovarian follicle development, which may one day help shed light on some of the causes of fertility issues in humans.

Is Garbage The Solution To Tackling Climate Change? Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Converting the rubbish that fills the world's landfills into biofuel may be the answer to both the growing energy crisis and to tackling carbon emissions, claim scientists in Singapore and Switzerland. New research reveals how replacing gasoline with biofuel from processed waste could cut global carbon emissions by 80%.

Over 65s Should Take High Dose Vitamin D To Prevent Falls, Say Researchers Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT A daily supplement of vitamin D at a dose of 700-1000 IU reduces the risk of falling among older people by 19 percent according to a new study. But a dose of less than 700 IU per day has no effect.

Using Synthetic Evolution To Study The Brain: Key Part Of Neurons Modeled On Computer Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT The human brain has evolved over millions of years to become a vast network of billions of neurons and synaptic connections. Understanding it is one of humankind's greatest pursuits. But to understand how the brain processes information, researchers must first understand the very basics of neurons -- even down to how proteins inside the neurons act to change the neuron's voltage. To do so requires a balance of experimentation and computer modeling.

Teen Attitudes Toward Smoking Linked To Likelihood Of Drinking And Using Drugs Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT New research looks at the specific ways parents and peers influence teenagers to smoke, drink and use marijuana in combination.

Quick Rebound From Marine Mass Extinction Event, New Findings Show Posted: 03 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have done the most detailed analysis ever of a layer of sediments deposited during and immediately after the asteroid impact 65 million years ago that wiped out the dinosaurs and 80 percent of Earth's marine life. They found that at least some forms of microscopic marine life -- the so-called "primary producers," or photosynthetic organisms such as algae and cyanobacteria in the ocean -- had recovered within about a century after the mass extinction.

Protein That Enhances Long-term Memory By Controlling Rest Intervals Identified Posted: 03 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Repeated learning sessions produce long-lasting memory when they are spaced out between rest intervals. Neuroscientists have discovered that this so-called "spacing effect" is controlled in the brain by a molecular timer -- a protein that determines how long rest intervals need to last for long-term memory to form.

New Study Resolves The Mysterious Origin Of Merkel Cells Posted: 03 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT A new study resolves a 130-year-old mystery over the developmental origin of specialized skin cells involved in touch sensation.

Leg Movement Training In Preterm Infants Demonstrates Positive Changes In Motor Skills Posted: 03 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Preterm infants who receive leg movement training display feet-reaching behaviors similar to that of full-term infants, according to a randomized controlled trial. This finding supports feet-reaching play as an early intervention strategy to encourage interaction with physical objects in preterm infants who have movement problems within the first months of postnatal life.

'Promiscuous' Protein Interactions Found In The Nuclear Pore Complex Posted: 03 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT In higher organisms, cells are very selective about what passes in and out of their nuclei, where the genes reside. This selectivity helps protect the DNA and is the job of machines that stud the envelope of the nucleus, called nuclear pore complexes. These gatekeepers have proved largely inscrutable to researchers over the years, despite their conspicuously large size (they are made of 30 different proteins, or nucleoporins), but bit by bit, scientists are learning how these machines work.

Where's The Science? The Sorry State Of Psychotherapy Posted: 03 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT The prevalence of mental health disorders in this country has nearly doubled in the past 20 years. Who is treating all of these patients? Clinical psychologists and therapists are charged with the task, but many are falling short by using methods that are out of date and lack scientific rigor, according to a new report.

Scientists Discover What Makes The Same Type Of Cells Different Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have managed to decipher a well-known phenomenon that had, until now, remained unexplained: why cells of the same type can react differently, and what the reason for this is.

Aspirin Misuse May Have Made 1918 Flu Pandemic Worse Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT The devastation of the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic is well known, but a new article suggests a surprising factor in the high death toll: the misuse of aspirin. AThe article sounds a cautionary note as present day concerns about the novel H1N1 virus run high.

Coral Bleaching Increases Chances Of Coral Disease Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Mass coral bleaching has devastated coral colonies around the world for almost three decades. Now scientists have found that bleaching can make corals more susceptible to disease and, in turn, coral disease can exacerbate the negative effects of bleaching. A new article shows that when they occur together, this combination of afflictions causes greater harm to corals than either does on its own.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Tears Common And Additional Surgery Likely In Teens Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Patients who have their anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed are more likely to have subsequent knee surgery if they are women or are treated by a surgeon who does a low volume of ACL reconstructions, according to a new study. The study also found that overall, 6.5 percent of patients undergoing ACL surgery had to undergo another knee operation within one year.

'Visual Walkman' Offers Augmented Reality Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT "Augmented reality" involves mixing the real world with computer-generated images. The result is a kind of visual Walkman, developed by a researcher in The Netherlands.

Researchers Develop An Integrated Treatment For Veterans With Chronic Pain And Posttraumatic Stress Posted: 03 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in a growing number of soldiers evacuated to the United States for comprehensive care for physical and psychological trauma. Given the number of physical injuries often experienced by soldiers, it is not surprising that chronic pain is a frequent problem among returning soldiers from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Longer-lived, Healthier Mice Offer Promise Of Drug Treatments For Age-related Diseases Posted: 02 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have managed to extend the lifespan of mice by up to a fifth and reduce the number of age-related diseases the animals suffer. The research, which involved blocking a key molecular pathway, mimics the health benefits of reducing calorie intake and suggests that drug treatments for aging and age-related diseases are feasible.

Consciousness Is The Brain's Wi-Fi, Resolving Competing Requests, Study Suggests Posted: 02 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT Your fingers start to burn after picking up a hot plate. Should you drop the plate or save your meal? New research suggests that it is your consciousness that resolves these dilemmas by serving as the brain's Wi-Fi network, mediating competing requests from different parts of the body. The study also explains why we are consciously aware of some conflicting urges but not others.

Speaking, Eating Possible After Tonsil Cancer Surgery With Reconstruction Posted: 02 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT A new technique for reconstructing the palate after surgery for tonsil cancer maintained patients' ability to speak clearly and eat most foods, a new study shows.

'Killer' Southeast U.S. Drought Low On Scale, Says Study Posted: 02 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT A 2005-2007 dry spell in the southeastern United States destroyed billions of dollars of crops, drained municipal reservoirs and sparked legal wars among a half-dozen states -- but the havoc came not from exceptional dryness but booming population and bad planning, says a new study.

Online News Garners More Attention From Readers If It's Negative And Localized Posted: 02 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers examined the physiological effects of reading threatening health news online. The researchers found that news about local health threats increased attention and memory in readers more than news about distant, or non-local, health threats.

Herschel Views Deep-space Pearls On A Cosmic String Posted: 02 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Europe's Herschel space telescope has delivered spectacular vistas of cold gas clouds lying near the plane of the Milky Way, revealing intense, unexpected activity. The dark, cool region is dotted with stellar factories, like pearls on a cosmic string.

Retinal Rescue: Cells Derived From Human Embryonic Stem Cells Reverse Retinal Degeneration Posted: 02 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT A new study reports that transplanted pigment-containing visual cells derived from human embryonic stem cells successfully preserved structure and function of the specialized light-sensitive lining of the eye (known as the retina) in an animal model of retinal degeneration.

Step Toward Better Brain Implants Using Conducting Polymer Nanotubes Posted: 02 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Brain implants that can more clearly record signals from surrounding neurons in rats have been created. The findings could eventually lead to more effective treatment of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and paralysis.

Reactive Oxygen In Fruit Flies Acts As A Cell Signalling Mechanism For Immune Response Posted: 02 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT For years, health conscious people have been taking antioxidants to reduce the levels of reactive oxygen in their blood and prevent the DNA damage done by free radicals, which are the result of oxidative stress. But could excessive use of antioxidants deplete our immune systems?

Is 'Stem Cell' Concept Holding Back Biology? Posted: 02 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Chemists used to explain combustion as the release of a mysterious substance, which they named "phlogiston." Only when it came to pinning down the distinctive physical properties of phlogiston did it become clear that no such thing exists. Now one expert argues that the idea of stem cells is running into similar troubles as investigators try to pin it down to a set of distinctive molecular characteristics.

Researchers Redefine Cura Personalis -- Caring For The Whole Person -- Using Systems Medicine Posted: 02 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT At a time when medicine tends to focus on patients as a "collection of visceral organs and a nervous system," systems medicine provides a new approach to medical practice that is "anticipated to result in more comprehensive and systematic patient care." In a recent commentary, two researchers ask, "Is there a future for systems medicine" particularly as the country considers a health care overhaul?

Umbilical Cord Blood As A Readily Available Source For Off-the-shelf, Patient-specific Stem Cells Posted: 02 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT Umbilical cord blood cells can successfully be reprogrammed to function like embryonic stem cells, setting the basis for the creation of a comprehensive bank of tissue-matched, cord blood-derived induced pluripotent stem cells for off-the-shelf applications, researchers report.

'Anti-Atkins' Low Protein Diet Extends Lifespan In Flies Posted: 02 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT A new study provides details of a causal relationship between diet and mitochondrial function. It also provides the first genome-wide study of how proteins are translated under dietary restriction in any organism. Flied fed a low protein diet live longer because their mitochondria function better. The molecular mechanisms involved are conserved among many species -- making the research relevant for human aging and diseases such as obesity, cancer and diabetes.

Killer Bees May Increase Food Supplies For Native Bees Posted: 02 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT A long-term study of Africanized bee invasion of Mexico's Yucatan shows that "killer bees" may actually increase food resources for native bees.

Kidneys From Deceased Donors With Acute Renal Failure Expand Donor Pool Posted: 02 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT Kidneys recovered from deceased donors with acute renal failure -- once deemed unusable for transplant -- appear to work just as well as kidneys transplanted from deceased donors who do not develop kidney problems prior to organ donation, according to a new study.

Scientists Decipher Missing Piece Of First-responder DNA Repair Machine Posted: 02 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered the role played by the least-understood part of a first-responder molecule that rushes in to bind and repair breaks in DNA strands, a process that helps people avoid cancer.

Stock Graphs Can Mislead: People Prefer Stocks With Shorter Runs Posted: 02 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT Can the way stock information is presented lead investors to make the wrong decisions? A new study shows that when investors use charts, they are likely to make a baseless decision about the riskiness of a stock based on its run-length.

Paradoxically, Food Insecurity May Be Underlying Contributor To Overweight Posted: 02 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Both household food insecurity and childhood overweight are significant problems in the United States. Paradoxically, being food-insecure may be an underlying contributor to being overweight. A study of almost 8,500 low-income children ages 1 month to 5 years suggests an association between household food insecurity and overweight prevalence in this low-income population. However, sex and age appear to modify both the magnitude and direction of the association.

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