ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• 'Bionic Eye' May Help Blind See: Retinal Prosthesis Shown To Restore Partial Vision
• Muscular Dystrophy: Exon Skipping Shows Dramatic Effects In Preventing, Treating Muscle-wasting Disease In Mice
• Spiraling Flight Of Maple Tree Seeds Inspires New Aerial Surveillance Technology
• New Explanation For Controversial Old Patient-care Technique To Prevent Regurgitation
• Self-assembly Used To Make Molecule-sized Particles With Patches Of Charge
• Presidential Election Outcome Changed Voters' Testosterone
• Tool-making Human Ancestors Inhabited Grassland Environments Two Million Years Ago
• Transplanted Tissue Improves Vision: Study Shows Enhanced Visual Acuity
• Fracture Zones Endanger Tombs In Valley Of Kings
• Blood Clots In Lungs Might Not Always Originate In Deep Veins Of Legs And Pelvis In Trauma Patients
• Researchers Can Predict Hurricane-related Power Outages
• Prolonged Thumb Sucking In Infants May Lead To Speech Impediments
• Scientists Discover Largest Orb-weaving Spider
• Researchers Optimizing Progesterone For Brain Injury Treatment
• Cell Death Occurs In Same Way In Plants And Animals
• Study Examines Treatment For Olfactory Loss After Viral Infection
• New Method Proposed To Calculate Reduction In Road Accident Deaths
• 'Superobesity,' Chronic Disease Burden Associated With Risk Of Death Following Bariatric Surgery
• Family Tree For Cattle, Other Ruminants Created
• Aggressive Microdermabrasion Induces Wound-healing Response In Aging Skin
• Genetics Of Patterning The Cerebral Cortex: How Stem Cells Yield Functional Regions In 'Gray Matter'
• Research Shows Treating HIV-AIDS With Interleukin-2 Is Ineffective
• Sending Science Down The Phone: New Technology Will Map Research Across The World
• Smoking During Pregnancy A Cause Of Social Inequality In Stillbirths
• Engineered Proteins Restore Light Sensitivity To Animals
• New Method To Coax Retinal Cells From Stem Cells
• New Method To Help Keep Fruit, Vegetables And Flowers Fresh
• Scientists Develop Novel Method To Generate Functional Hepatocytes For Drug Testing
• Last Visit Home For ESA's Comet Chaser Rosetta
• Three-day Course Of Antibiotics May Be Sufficient Following Tonsillectomy
• Carbon-offsetting And Conservation Can Both Be Winners In Rainforest
• Anti-smoking Law Helps Waiters To Quit Smoking In Spain
• Diverting Sediment-rich Water Below New Orleans Could Lead To Extensive New Land
• Melanoma Treatment Options One Step Closer
• Genomes Of Two Popular Research Strains Of E. Coli Sequenced
• Better Blood Screening Process Needed To Prevent Babesiosis Transmission
• Computer Memory: New Material Could Dramatically Boost Data Storage, Save Energy
• Americans Who Believe In Equality Are More Likely To Buy On Impulse
• Global Warming May Spur Increased Growth In Pacific Northwest Forests
• Understanding The Brain's Natural Foil For Over-excited Neurons
• Scientists Identify Enzyme That Could Help Grow Biofuel Crops In Harsh Environments
• Major Swine Flu Outbreak At US Air Force Academy, Unique Opportunity To Study Virus Behavior
• Bedrock Of A Holy City: The Historical Importance Of Jerusalem's Geology
• Securing Biological Select Agents And Toxins Will Require Developing A Culture Of Trust
• Are Humans Still Evolving? Absolutely, Says A New Analysis Of A Long-term Survey Of Human Health
• Hormone Mix Could Cut Breast Cancer Risk And Treat Symptoms Of Menopause
• Scientists Create Robot Surrogate For Blind Persons In Testing Visual Prostheses
• Heart Disease: B-vitamin Pills Have No Effect, Review Finds

'Bionic Eye' May Help Blind See: Retinal Prosthesis Shown To Restore Partial Vision Posted: 21 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT A new artificial retina, an array of electrodes implanted on the back of the eye, has been found to restore partial vision to totally blind people. In a study focused on 15 blind participants who had the implant for at least three months, 10 of the patients subsequently tested were able to identify the direction of moving objects.

Muscular Dystrophy: Exon Skipping Shows Dramatic Effects In Preventing, Treating Muscle-wasting Disease In Mice Posted: 21 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have released details of a breakthrough which holds promise of a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an incurable muscle-wasting disease. The research has demonstrated that a process known as exon skipping has shown dramatic effects in the prevention and treatment of severely affected, dystrophin and utrophin-deficient mice, preventing severe deterioration of the treated animals and extending their lifespan.

Spiraling Flight Of Maple Tree Seeds Inspires New Aerial Surveillance Technology Posted: 21 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Maple tree seeds and the spiraling pattern in which they glide to the ground have delighted children for ages and perplexed engineers for decades. Now aerospace engineering graduate students have learned how to apply the seeds' unique design to aerial devices that can fly, hover and perform surveillance in defense and emergency situations.

New Explanation For Controversial Old Patient-care Technique To Prevent Regurgitation Posted: 21 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have used magnetic resonance imaging of the neck region to show that an under-fire medical maneuver often practiced when patients receive anesthesia is effective, but not for the obvious reasons. Sellick's maneuver involves pressing the fingers against a patient's throat to prevent regurgitation and spilling of stomach contents into the airway and lungs while anesthesia is being administered.

Self-assembly Used To Make Molecule-sized Particles With Patches Of Charge Posted: 21 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Physicists, chemists and engineers have demonstrated a novel method for the controlled formation of patchy particles, using charged, self-assembling molecules that may one day serve as drug-delivery vehicles to combat disease and perhaps be used in small batteries that store and release charge.

Presidential Election Outcome Changed Voters' Testosterone Posted: 21 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT Young men who voted for Republican John McCain or Libertarian candidate Robert Barr in the 2008 presidential election suffered an immediate drop in testosterone when the election results were announced, according to a new study. In contrast, men who voted for the winner, Democrat Barack Obama, had stable testosterone levels immediately after the outcome.

Tool-making Human Ancestors Inhabited Grassland Environments Two Million Years Ago Posted: 21 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers report the oldest archaeological evidence of early human activities in a grassland environment, dating to two million years ago. The article highlights new research and its implications concerning the environments in which human ancestors evolved.

Transplanted Tissue Improves Vision: Study Shows Enhanced Visual Acuity Posted: 21 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT A clinical study is the first to show that advanced stages of incurable retinal diseases can be stopped and improved by a cell replacement technique. The researchers transplanted intact "sheets" of fetal retinal cells that develop into light-sensitive nerve cells, along with a supporting layer of tissue, into damaged human eyes.

Fracture Zones Endanger Tombs In Valley Of Kings Posted: 21 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT Ancient choices made by Egyptians digging burial tombs may have led to today's problems with damage and curation of these precious archaeological treasures, but photography and detailed geological mapping should help curators protect the sites, according to a researcher.

Blood Clots In Lungs Might Not Always Originate In Deep Veins Of Legs And Pelvis In Trauma Patients Posted: 21 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT Few trauma patients who develop potentially deadly blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) also have clots in the deep veins of their pelvis and legs (deep venous thrombosis), challenging commonly held beliefs about the association between the two conditions, according to a new report.

Researchers Can Predict Hurricane-related Power Outages Posted: 21 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT Using data from Hurricane Katrina and four other destructive storms, researchers have found a way to accurately predict power outages in advance of a hurricane.

Prolonged Thumb Sucking In Infants May Lead To Speech Impediments Posted: 21 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT Using a pacifier for too long may be detrimental to your child's speech. Research suggests that the use of bottles, pacifiers and other sucking behaviors apart from breastfeeding may increase the risk of subsequent speech disorders in young children.

Scientists Discover Largest Orb-weaving Spider Posted: 21 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new, giant Nephila species (golden orb weaver spider) from Africa and Madagascar. They also reconstructed size evolution in the family Nephilidae to show that this new species, on average, is the largest orb weaver known. Only the females are giants with a body length of 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) and a leg span of 4-5 inches (10-12 centimeters); the males are tiny by comparison.

Researchers Optimizing Progesterone For Brain Injury Treatment Posted: 21 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT As doctors begin to test progesterone for traumatic brain injury at sites across the country, researchers are looking ahead to optimizing the hormone's effectiveness. Two new approaches include adding vitamin D to progesterone treatment and/or using water soluble progesterone analogues.

Cell Death Occurs In Same Way In Plants And Animals Posted: 21 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Research has previously assumed that animals and plants developed different genetic programs for cell death. Now scientists have shown that parts of the genetic programs that determine programmed cell death in plants and animals are actually evolutionarily related and moreover function in a similar way.

Study Examines Treatment For Olfactory Loss After Viral Infection Posted: 21 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Treatment with a glucocorticoid medication, either alone or in combination with Ginkgo biloba, appears to significantly improve the sense of smell in individuals with previous olfactory loss due to upper respiratory infections, according to a new report.

New Method Proposed To Calculate Reduction In Road Accident Deaths Posted: 21 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Engineers have developed a methodology to help meet Europe's objective of cutting road deaths by 50 percent between 2000 and 2010. The researchers have calculated the relevant amount for each country according to its starting point, and have done the same for each of the Spanish provinces.

'Superobesity,' Chronic Disease Burden Associated With Risk Of Death Following Bariatric Surgery Posted: 21 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT Veterans classified as superobese and those with a higher chronic disease burden appear more likely to die within a year of having bariatric surgery, according to a new report.

Family Tree For Cattle, Other Ruminants Created Posted: 20 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT Pairing a new approach to prepare ancient DNA with a new scientific technique developed specifically to genotype a cow, scientists have created a very accurate and widespread "family tree" for cows and other ruminants, going back as far as 29 million years. This same technique also could be used to verify ancient relatives to humans and assist scientists who are studying human diseases.

Aggressive Microdermabrasion Induces Wound-healing Response In Aging Skin Posted: 20 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT Microdermabrasion using a coarse diamond-studded instrument appears to induce molecular changes in the skin of older adults that mimic the way skin is remodeled during the wound healing process, according to a new report.

Genetics Of Patterning The Cerebral Cortex: How Stem Cells Yield Functional Regions In 'Gray Matter' Posted: 20 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists report that they have identified the first genetic mechanism that determines the regional identity of progenitors tasked with generating the cerebral cortex. Their discovery reveals a critical period during which a LIM homeodomain transcription factor known as Lhx2 decides over the progenitors' regional destiny: Once the window of opportunity closes, their fate is sealed.

Research Shows Treating HIV-AIDS With Interleukin-2 Is Ineffective Posted: 20 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT An international research team has demonstrated that treating HIV-AIDS with interleukin-2 is ineffective. As a result, the researchers recommend that clinical trials on this compound be stopped.

Sending Science Down The Phone: New Technology Will Map Research Across The World Posted: 20 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT New mobile phone software will help epidemiologists and ecologists working in the field to analyse their data remotely and map findings across the world, without having to return to the lab, according to research. The authors of the study say the software will also enable members of the public to act as 'citizen scientists' and help collect data for community projects.

Smoking During Pregnancy A Cause Of Social Inequality In Stillbirths Posted: 20 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT Tackling smoking during pregnancy may help to reduce socio-economic inequalities in stillbirths and infant deaths by as much as 30 to 40 per cent, according to a new study. Smoking during pregnancy has been clearly linked to stillbirth and infant deaths, and smoking rates during pregnancy vary markedly with socio-economic position.

Engineered Proteins Restore Light Sensitivity To Animals Posted: 20 Oct 2009 09:00 PM PDT Engineered, light-sensitive molecules introduced into a blind rodent's eye resulted in vision, according to results from an interdisciplinary collaboration between numerous labs. The results could lead to treatments for people with inherited, blinding eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, which affects one in every 3,000 individuals.

New Method To Coax Retinal Cells From Stem Cells Posted: 20 Oct 2009 09:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new method for identifying retinal precursor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (those from embryonic tissue) and induced pluripotent stem cells (those from adult skin cells). These precursor cells represent the earliest stages of retinal development. The new method results in a greater yield of retinal cells from stem cells and could be used to better understand disease processes and realize effective treatments for eye disorders.

New Method To Help Keep Fruit, Vegetables And Flowers Fresh Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT A professor has developed an innovative new way to keep produce and flowers fresh for longer periods of time. The microbiologist's method uses a naturally occurring microorganism -- no larger than the width of a human hair -- to induce enzymes that extend the ripening time of fruits and vegetables, and keeps the blooms of flowers fresh.

Scientists Develop Novel Method To Generate Functional Hepatocytes For Drug Testing Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT Scientists have for the first time produced liver cells from adult skin cells using the induced pluripotent stem cell technology. The study paves the way for the creation of a stem cell library that can be used for in vitro hepatic disease models.

Last Visit Home For ESA's Comet Chaser Rosetta Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT ESA's Rosetta comet chaser will swing by Earth on Nov. 13 to pick up orbital energy and begin the final leg of its 10-year journey to the outer Solar System. Several observations of the Earth-moon system are planned before the spacecraft heads out to study comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Three-day Course Of Antibiotics May Be Sufficient Following Tonsillectomy Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT Children who receive a three-day course of antibiotics following tonsillectomy rather than a seven-day course appear to have no differences in pain or how quickly they return to a normal diet and activity level, according to a new report.

Carbon-offsetting And Conservation Can Both Be Winners In Rainforest Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT Logged rainforests can support as much plant, animal and insect life as virgin forest within 15 years if properly managed, new research has found.

Anti-smoking Law Helps Waiters To Quit Smoking In Spain Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers in Spain have studied the impact of the law banning smoking in public places such as bars and restaurants on those working in these places. The results are positive - 5% of waiters have stopped smoking, and the number of cigarettes smoked by those who still smoke has fallen by almost 9%.

Diverting Sediment-rich Water Below New Orleans Could Lead To Extensive New Land Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT Diverting sediment-rich water from the Mississippi River below New Orleans could generate new land in the river's delta in the next century. Openings in Mississippi levees could build new land in sinking delta.

Melanoma Treatment Options One Step Closer Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT A targeted chemotherapy for the treatment of skin cancer is one step closer, after researchers successfully synthesized a natural substance that shows exceptional potential to specifically treat this often fatal disease.

Genomes Of Two Popular Research Strains Of E. Coli Sequenced Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two important laboratory strains of E. coli bacteria, one used to study evolution and the other to produce proteins for basic research or practical applications. The findings will help guide future research and will also open a window to a deeper understanding of classical research that is the foundation of our understanding of basic molecular biology and genetics.

Better Blood Screening Process Needed To Prevent Babesiosis Transmission Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT Babesiosis is a potentially dangerous parasitic disease transmitted by ticks and is common in the Northeast and the upper Midwest. It can also be transmitted through a blood transfusion from an infected but otherwise asymptomatic blood donor. A new study finds a dramatic increase in the number of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis cases, leading to a call for a better screening test in blood donors living in areas of the country where babesiosis is prevalent.

Computer Memory: New Material Could Dramatically Boost Data Storage, Save Energy Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT Engineers have created a new material that would allow a fingernail-size computer chip to store the equivalent of 20 high-definition DVDs or 250 million pages of text, far exceeding the storage capacities of today's computer memory systems.

Americans Who Believe In Equality Are More Likely To Buy On Impulse Posted: 20 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT A new study finds that Americans who believe in equality are more-impulsive shoppers. And it has implications for how to market products differently in countries where shoppers are more likely to buy on impulse.

Global Warming May Spur Increased Growth In Pacific Northwest Forests Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Global warming in the next century could cause a significant increase in the productivity of high-elevation forests of the Pacific Northwest, a new study suggests. However, forests at lower elevations -- which in recent years have accounted for more than 80 percent of the region's timber harvest -- could face a decline in growth.

Understanding The Brain's Natural Foil For Over-excited Neurons Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Glutamate is to the brain like coffee is to our bodies. A cup of Joe in the morning can wake us, but overloading on caffeine causes the stimulant to work against us.

Scientists Identify Enzyme That Could Help Grow Biofuel Crops In Harsh Environments Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have identified a novel enzyme responsible for the formation of suberin -- the woody, waxy, cell-wall substance found in cork. Adjusting the permeability of plant tissues by genetically manipulating the expression of this enzyme could lead to easier agricultural production of crops used for biofuels.

Major Swine Flu Outbreak At US Air Force Academy, Unique Opportunity To Study Virus Behavior Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Investigators from the US Air Force Academy and US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Consult Service capitalized on a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights about the natural behavior of the nH1N1 virus, including shedding patterns, during a recent large-scale outbreak at the US Air Force Academy.

Bedrock Of A Holy City: The Historical Importance Of Jerusalem's Geology Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT Jerusalem's geology has been crucial in molding it into one of the most religiously important cities on the planet, according to a new study.

Securing Biological Select Agents And Toxins Will Require Developing A Culture Of Trust Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT The most effective way to prevent the deliberate misuse of biological select agents and toxins -- agents housed in laboratories across the US considered to potentially pose a threat to human health -- is to instill a culture of trust and responsibility in the laboratory, says a new report. Focusing on the laboratory environment will be critical for identifying and reducing concerns about facilities or personnel.

Are Humans Still Evolving? Absolutely, Says A New Analysis Of A Long-term Survey Of Human Health Posted: 20 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT Although advances in medical care have improved standards of living over time, humans aren't entirely sheltered from the forces of natural selection, a new study shows. Researchers decided to find out if natural selection is still at work in humans today. The result? Humans are still evolving. In fact, we're likely to evolve at roughly the same rates as other living things, findings suggest.

Hormone Mix Could Cut Breast Cancer Risk And Treat Symptoms Of Menopause Posted: 20 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT The right combination of estrogen and a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), which blocks the effects of estrogen in breast tissue, could relieve menopause symptoms and cut breast cancer risk, according to new research.

Scientists Create Robot Surrogate For Blind Persons In Testing Visual Prostheses Posted: 20 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have created a remote-controlled robot that is able to simulate the "visual" experience of a blind person who has been implanted with a visual prosthesis, such as an artificial retina. An artificial retina consists of a silicon chip studded with a varying number of electrodes that directly stimulate retinal nerve cells. It is hoped that this approach may one day give blind persons the freedom of independent mobility.

Heart Disease: B-vitamin Pills Have No Effect, Review Finds Posted: 20 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT B-vitamin supplements should not be recommended for prevention of heart disease, say scientists. A new review has shown these supplements do not reduce the risk of developing or dying from the disease.

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