ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Smart Rat 'Hobbie-J' Produced By Over-expressing A Gene That Helps Brain Cells Communicate
• Mercury Levels In Children With Autism And Those Developing Typically Are The Same, Study Finds
• Study Shows How Substance In Grapes May Squeeze Out Diabetes
• Detecting The Undetectable In Prostate Cancer Screening
• Shark Teeth Provide Key To North Sea’s Climatic Past
• Distracted By A Cell Phone? Some Cell Phone Users Fail To See Unicycling Clown Passing Them
• Killer Algae: Key Player In Mass Extinctions
• Added Oxygen During Stroke Reduces Brain Tissue Damage
• Children's Blood Lead Levels Linked To Lower Test Scores
• Checkered History Of Mother And Daughter Cells Explains Cell Cycle Differences
• Key To How Bacteria Clear Mercury Pollution Revealed
• Studying Cancer In Pet Dogs To Find New Treatments For Human Patients
• Conservation: Minimum Population Size Targets Too Low To Prevent Extinction?
• Compound Shows Potential For Slowing Progression Of Lou Gehrig's Disease
• Mangosteen Juice Could Protect Health In The Obese
• More Research Needed On Blast Induced Traumatic Brain Injury And Vestibular Pathology
• No Frontiers: Ushering In A New Era Of Conferencing Technology
• How Does Media Exposure Affect Self-esteem In Overweight And Underweight Women?
• West Antarctic Ice Sheet May Not Be Losing Ice As Fast As Once Thought
• Protein May Predict Heart Attack And Early Death, Not Stroke
• Eutrophication Affects Diversity Of Algae
• Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related Virus May Not Be Associated With Human Prostate Cancer
• Last Chance To Save Rare Asian Animal From Extinction?
• Dementia As A Terminal Illness: Understanding Clinical Course Of Disease Leads To Better End-of-life Care
• Unusual Metals Could Forge New Cancer Drug
• Women With Diabetes At Increased Risk For Irregular Heart Rhythm
• Predicting Seabed Response To Climate Change
• Flu Surveillance Boosts Control, Treatment Options
• World’s Fastest Satellite Internet Connection Studied
• Will This Trip Be Exciting? Consumers Respond Best To Vacation Ads That Match Current Emotions
• First-time Internet Users Find Boost In Brain Function After Just One Week
• Scan Of Turkish Infant's Genome Yields A Surprise Diagnosis
• Shifting The World To 100 Percent Clean, Renewable Energy As Early As 2030: Here Are The Numbers
• Mice Regain Ability To Extend Telomeres Suggesting Potential For Dyskeratosis Congenita Therapy
• 'Triple Space' Offers Web For Web Services
• Confidence May Not Be Convincing When Recommending Products Or Services
• Diabetic Episodes Affect Kids' Memory
• Is My Robot Happy To See Me?
• Eleven Genetic Variations Linked To Type 2 Diabetes
• The Field Narrows For Cover Crops In Biofuel Production
• Complications Are Not Best Predictor Of Hospital Mortality, Study Finds

Smart Rat 'Hobbie-J' Produced By Over-expressing A Gene That Helps Brain Cells Communicate Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Over-expressing a gene that lets brain cells communicate just a fraction of a second longer makes a smarter rat.

Mercury Levels In Children With Autism And Those Developing Typically Are The Same, Study Finds Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT In a large population-based study, researchers report that after adjusting for a number of factors, typically developing children and children with autism have similar levels of mercury in their blood streams.

Study Shows How Substance In Grapes May Squeeze Out Diabetes Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT A naturally produced molecule called resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes, has been shown to lower insulin levels in mice when injected directly into the brain, even when the animals ate a high-fat diet.

Detecting The Undetectable In Prostate Cancer Screening Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers, using an extremely sensitive tool based on nanotechnology, have detected previously undetectable levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy. With technology 300 times more sensitive than commercially available PSA tests, the researchers found measureable PSA levels in each post-operative patient in its study. After the removal of the prostate gland, patients typically have PSA levels that are undetectable when measured using conventional diagnostic tools.

Shark Teeth Provide Key To North Sea’s Climatic Past Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT A team of German and British scientists have used fossilised shark teeth to reconstruct the climate of the North Sea during the Palaeogene period, between 40 and 60 million years ago. The results suggest that the North Sea was for a brief period isolated from surrounding oceans, resulting in surface-water freshening and a significant reduction in the diversity of life.

Distracted By A Cell Phone? Some Cell Phone Users Fail To See Unicycling Clown Passing Them Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Everyone tends to float off into space once in a while and fail to see what is sitting there right in front of them. Recently researchers decided to put the theory of "inattentional blindness" to the test: the unicycling clown test. They documented real-world examples of people who were so distracted by their cell phone use that they failed to see the bizarre occurrence of a unicycling clown passing them on the street.

Killer Algae: Key Player In Mass Extinctions Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT Supervolcanoes and cosmic impacts get all the terrible glory for causing mass extinctions, but a new theory suggests lowly algae may be the killer behind the world's great species annihilations.

Added Oxygen During Stroke Reduces Brain Tissue Damage Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have countered findings of previous clinical trials by showing that giving supplemental oxygen to animals during a stroke can reduce damage to brain tissue surrounding the clot. The timing of the delivery of 100 percent oxygen -- either by mask or in a hyperbaric chamber -- is critical to achieving the benefit, however.

Children's Blood Lead Levels Linked To Lower Test Scores Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT Exposure to lead in early childhood significantly contributes to lower performances on end-of-grade reading tests among minority and low-income children, according to researchers.

Checkered History Of Mother And Daughter Cells Explains Cell Cycle Differences Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT New research reveals that regulatory differences between mother and daughter cells during cell division are directly linked to how they prepare for their next split.

Key To How Bacteria Clear Mercury Pollution Revealed Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT Mercury's persistent and toxic presence in the environment has flummoxed scientists for years in the quest to find ways to mitigate the dangers posed by the buildup of its most toxic form, methylmercury. A new discovery, however, has shed new light on one of nature's best mercury fighters: bacteria.

Studying Cancer In Pet Dogs To Find New Treatments For Human Patients Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists say that studying pet dogs with cancer could yield valuable information on how to diagnose and treat human cancers.

Conservation: Minimum Population Size Targets Too Low To Prevent Extinction? Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Conservation biologists are setting their minimum population size targets too low to prevent extinction, according to a new study.

Compound Shows Potential For Slowing Progression Of Lou Gehrig's Disease Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT A chemical cousin of a drug currently used to treat sepsis dramatically slows the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, in mice. The results offer a bit of good news in efforts to develop a therapy to stop or slow the progression of a disease that generally kills its victims within just a few years.

Mangosteen Juice Could Protect Health In The Obese Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Mangosteen juice has anti-inflammatory properties which could prove to be valuable in preventing the development of heart disease and diabetes in obese patients. A study describes how the juice of the exotic "superfruit" lowered levels of C-reactive protein.

More Research Needed On Blast Induced Traumatic Brain Injury And Vestibular Pathology Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Physical therapists are calling for definitive vestibular screenings and assessment measures for US military service members with blast-induced traumatic brain injuries.

No Frontiers: Ushering In A New Era Of Conferencing Technology Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Poor image and sound quality is encountered all too frequently in the world of video and telephone conferencing, but powerful compression technologies are set to consign these problems to the past -- even in the humble living room. At this year's IFA international consumer electronics exhibition in Berlin, researchers demonstrated the power and flexibility of these new technologies by holding games sessions in which players compete against each other via the Internet.

How Does Media Exposure Affect Self-esteem In Overweight And Underweight Women? Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Overweight women's self-esteem plummets when they view photographs of models of any size, according to a new study. And underweight women's esteem increases, regardless of models' size.

West Antarctic Ice Sheet May Not Be Losing Ice As Fast As Once Thought Posted: 19 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT New ground measurements suggest the rate of ice loss of the West Antarctic ice sheet has been slightly overestimated. For the first time, researchers have directly measured the vertical motion of the bedrock at sites across West Antarctica using GPS. The results will lead to more accurate estimates of ice mass loss.

Protein May Predict Heart Attack And Early Death, Not Stroke Posted: 19 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT People with high levels of a protein called C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation in the blood, may be at higher risk for heart attack and death but not stroke, according to a new study.

Eutrophication Affects Diversity Of Algae Posted: 19 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT Eutrophication of the seas may have an impact on genetic variation in algae, new research shows.

Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related Virus May Not Be Associated With Human Prostate Cancer Posted: 19 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT The xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus which has previously been linked to prostate cancer has been found to have a dramatically lower prevalence among German prostate cancer patients, if any. Contrary to some reports, which have found XMRV in 40 percent of cases in patients in the US with familial prostate cancer, new research has found no link between the two conditions in a large study of German prostate cancer patients.

Last Chance To Save Rare Asian Animal From Extinction? Posted: 19 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT Discovered only in 1992, the Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) that inhabit remote valleys along the border of Lao PDR and Vietnam are fast approaching the point of extinction. An emergency meeting of wildlife biologists, government agencies and other key organizations from four countries in Lao PDR urged prompt action to save the rare Asian animal.

Dementia As A Terminal Illness: Understanding Clinical Course Of Disease Leads To Better End-of-life Care Posted: 19 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT The clinical course of advanced dementia, including uncomfortable symptoms such as pain and high mortality, is similar to that experienced by patients of other terminal conditions, according to scientists in a new study.

Unusual Metals Could Forge New Cancer Drug Posted: 19 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT Drugs made using unusual metals could form an effective treatment against colon and ovarian cancer, including cancerous cells that have developed immunity to other drugs, according to new research.

Women With Diabetes At Increased Risk For Irregular Heart Rhythm Posted: 19 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT Diabetes increases by 26 percent the likelihood that women will develop atrial fibrillation, a potentially dangerous irregular heart rhythm that can lead to stroke, heart failure, and chronic fatigue.

Predicting Seabed Response To Climate Change Posted: 19 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT Scientists have produced the first preliminary predictions of the potential impact of climate change on the Australian seabed.

Flu Surveillance Boosts Control, Treatment Options Posted: 19 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT Tracking and understanding the patterns of H1N1's spread is crucial to keeping a big-picture look at the disease. Says one expert, "Back in 1918 and 1919 when we had the great flu epidemic, it took six months or more to spread across the world. The new H1N1 swine flu spread across the world in six weeks."

World’s Fastest Satellite Internet Connection Studied Posted: 19 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers in Asia are working to come up with solutions to improve satellite links during heavy rainfall, which is common in tropical regions.

Will This Trip Be Exciting? Consumers Respond Best To Vacation Ads That Match Current Emotions Posted: 19 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT Most of us won't respond to the call of adventure while soaking in a relaxing bath. According to a new study, we're more likely to book a weekend at a spa.

First-time Internet Users Find Boost In Brain Function After Just One Week Posted: 19 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have found that middle-aged and older adults with little Internet experience were able to trigger key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning after just one week of surfing the Web. The findings suggest that Internet training can stimulate neural activation patterns and could potentially enhance brain function and cognition in older adults.

Scan Of Turkish Infant's Genome Yields A Surprise Diagnosis Posted: 19 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT In a dramatic illustration of the power of emerging genetic technologies, researchers have reported making a clinical diagnosis for the first time using comprehensive DNA sequencing of all the protein-coding genes in the genome. The information changed the course of treatment of a baby boy suffering from symptoms of dehydration thousands of miles away in Turkey.

Shifting The World To 100 Percent Clean, Renewable Energy As Early As 2030: Here Are The Numbers Posted: 19 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT Wind, water and solar energy resources are sufficiently available to provide all the world's energy. Converting to electricity and hydrogen powered by these sources would reduce world power demand by 30 percent, thereby avoiding 13,000 coal power plants. Materials and costs are not limitations to these conversions, but politics may be, say researchers who have mapped out a blueprint for powering the world.

Mice Regain Ability To Extend Telomeres Suggesting Potential For Dyskeratosis Congenita Therapy Posted: 19 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT A new study reveals that mice used as a model for the human genetic disease dyskeratosis congenita, have short telomeres for 10 generations when they are interbred. In later generations, the mice regain the ability to lengthen telomeres. Discovering how to induce this equilibration process in DKC patients could suggest new treatment strategies to decrease the genomic instability in their high turnover tissues.

'Triple Space' Offers Web For Web Services Posted: 19 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT What the World Wide Web is to humans, the Triple Space could become for machines, say European researchers who have helped lay the foundations for this innovative integration of web services, semantic web and tuple space technologies.

Confidence May Not Be Convincing When Recommending Products Or Services Posted: 19 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT Sometimes people can gain influence by expressing uncertainty, according to a new study.

Diabetic Episodes Affect Kids' Memory Posted: 19 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Children who have had an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis, a common complication of diabetes, may have persistent memory problems.

Is My Robot Happy To See Me? Posted: 19 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists tested our ability to interpret a robot's "emotion" by reading its expression to see if there were any differences between the ages. They found that older adults showed some unexpected differences in the way they read a robot's face from the way younger adults performed.

Eleven Genetic Variations Linked To Type 2 Diabetes Posted: 19 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Mathematicians have developed powerful new tools for winnowing out the genes behind some of humanity's most intractable diseases.

The Field Narrows For Cover Crops In Biofuel Production Posted: 19 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists are looking for cover crop perennials that provide the best balance in biofuel production between agronomic success and environmental sustainability.

Complications Are Not Best Predictor Of Hospital Mortality, Study Finds Posted: 19 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT The assumption is high mortality hospitals have high complication rates. But a new report shows complications are common after major surgery -- about one in six patients. What distinguishes good and bad hospitals is how proficient they are at rescuing patients from those complications. Patients at high mortality hospitals are twice as likely to die from a post-surgical complication.

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