ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Scientists explain puzzling lake asymmetry on Saturn's moon Titan
• Plasma produces KO cocktail for MRSA
• New culprit for viral infections among elderly -- an overactive immune response
• Past regional cold and warm periods linked to natural climate drivers
• Men and women may respond differently to danger
• New brain connections form rapidly during motor learning
• High salt intake directly linked to stroke and cardiovascular disease
• New fossil plant discovery links Patagonia to New Guinea in a warmer past
• New tools for prediction of disease progression in acute childhood leukemia
• Stents can be coated with dissolvable drug-eluting fibers
• Virtual reality offers solution to driving phobias
• Greening of Sahara desert triggered early human migrations out of Africa
• Polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids boost the birth of new neurons, study finds
• Computer program uses interactive genetic algorithm to help witnesses remember criminals
• Long-term testicular cancer survivors at high risk for neurological side effects
• Global study of salmon shows: 'Sustainable' food isn't so sustainable
• Demand for cosmetic and surgical procedures in dermatologic surgery rising rapidly
• Spinons -- confined like quarks: Phenomenon seen in condensed matter for first time
• New disease among HIV-infected gay men
• World’s largest working hydro-electric wave energy device launched
• Male factor infertility associated with comorbidities
• Engineers image nanostructure of a solid acid catalyst and boost its catalytic activity
• Connection between depression and osteoporosis detailed
• New figures on cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality but big variations
• Simulated training for ultrasound-guided procedures improves safety without risk to patients
• Traditional indigenous fire management techniques deployed against climate change

Scientists explain puzzling lake asymmetry on Saturn's moon Titan Posted: 30 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers suggest that the eccentricity of Saturn's orbit around the sun may be responsible for the unusually uneven distribution of methane and ethane lakes over the northern and southern polar regions of the planet's largest moon, Titan. On Earth, similar "astronomical forcing" of climate drives ice-age cycles.

Plasma produces KO cocktail for MRSA Posted: 30 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Two prototype devices have been developed: one for efficient disinfection of healthy skin (e.g. hands and feet) in hospitals and public spaces where bacteria can pose a lethal threat; and another to shoot bacteria-killing agents into infested chronic wounds and enable a quicker healing process.

New culprit for viral infections among elderly -- an overactive immune response Posted: 30 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have found that exaggerated responses of the immune system explain why the elderly succumb to viral infections more readily than younger people. The study bucks the general belief that declining immune responses are to blame for susceptibility to viral infections.

Past regional cold and warm periods linked to natural climate drivers Posted: 30 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Intervals of regional warmth and cold in the past are linked to the El Niño phenomenon and the so-called "North Atlantic Oscillation" in the Northern hemisphere's jet stream, according to a team of climate scientists. These linkages may be important in assessing the regional effects of future climate change.

Men and women may respond differently to danger Posted: 30 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers using functional magnetic resonance imaging to study brain activation have found that men and women respond differently to positive and negative stimuli, according to a new study.

New brain connections form rapidly during motor learning Posted: 30 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST New connections begin to form between brain cells almost immediately as animals learn a new task, according to a study in which researchers observed the rewiring processes that take place in the brain during motor learning.

High salt intake directly linked to stroke and cardiovascular disease Posted: 30 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST High salt intake is associated with significantly greater risk of both stroke and cardiovascular disease, concludes a new study.

New fossil plant discovery links Patagonia to New Guinea in a warmer past Posted: 30 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Fossil plants provide clues as to what our planet looked like millions of years ago. Identifying fossil plants can be tricky, however, when plant organs fail to be preserved. Researchers recently discovered abundant fossilized specimens of a conifer (previously known as "Libocedrus" prechilensis) found in Argentinean Patagonia. Characteristics of these fossils match those currently found only in tropical, montane New Guinea and the Moluccas. This discovery helps to explain the remarkable plant and insect diversity found in Eocene Patagonia.

New tools for prediction of disease progression in acute childhood leukemia Posted: 30 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers have devised powerful new tools for typing cells from children with acute lymphatic leukemia and for prediction of how children with leukemia will respond to chemotherapy.

Stents can be coated with dissolvable drug-eluting fibers Posted: 30 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have developed a new patent-pending dissolvable fiber platform that can be used to coat both metal stents, which are currently available, and biodegradable stents now in development.

Virtual reality offers solution to driving phobias Posted: 30 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Nervous drivers are being helped to overcome their road phobias by donning Cyclops-style goggles that transport them to a three-dimensional virtual world. Researchers have recruited volunteers with a variety of driving phobias to test whether virtual reality can be used alongside conventional psychological therapies to help tackle their fears.

Greening of Sahara desert triggered early human migrations out of Africa Posted: 30 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Scientists have determined that a major change in the climate of the Sahara and Sahel region of North Africa facilitated early human migrations from the African continent. Among the key findings are that the Sahara desert and the Sahel were considerably wetter around 9,000, 50,000 and 120,000 years ago then at present, allowing for the growth of trees instead of grasses.

Polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids boost the birth of new neurons, study finds Posted: 30 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers in Spain have confirmed that a diet rich in polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids, patented as an LMN diet, helps boost the production of the brain's stem cells -- neurogenesis -- and strengthens their differentiation in different types of neuron cells. The research revealed that mice fed an LMN diet, when compared to those fed a control diet, have more cell proliferation in the two areas of the brain where neurogenesis is produced, the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus.

Computer program uses interactive genetic algorithm to help witnesses remember criminals Posted: 30 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Criminals are having a harder time hiding their faces, thanks to new software that helps witnesses recreate and recognize suspects using principles borrowed from the fields of optics and genetics.

Long-term testicular cancer survivors at high risk for neurological side effects Posted: 30 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Long-term survivors of testicular cancer who were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy had more severe side effects, including neurological side effects and Raynaud-like phenomena, than men who were not treated with chemotherapy, according to a new study.

Global study of salmon shows: 'Sustainable' food isn't so sustainable Posted: 30 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Popular thinking about how to improve food systems often misses the point, according to the results of a three-year global study of salmon production systems. Rather than pushing for organic or land-based production, or worrying about simple metrics such as "food miles," the study finds that the world can achieve greater environmental benefits by focusing on improvements production and distribution.

Demand for cosmetic and surgical procedures in dermatologic surgery rising rapidly Posted: 30 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have found that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of procedures performed and patient demand for dermatologic health care since 2000. The findings parallels the growth in the age of individuals between the ages of 40 to 55, who make up the "baby boomer" generation.

Spinons -- confined like quarks: Phenomenon seen in condensed matter for first time Posted: 29 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST The concept of confinement is one of the central ideas in modern physics. The most famous example is that of quarks which bind together to form protons and neutrons. Now for the first time an experimental realization and a proof of confinement phenomenon has been observed in a condensed matter system. The finding, in a well-described magnetic system, may offer new ways to explore quantum chromodynamics, the theory that describes the fundamental interactions of quarks.

New disease among HIV-infected gay men Posted: 29 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST A rare parasitic disease, which normally only is transmitted by contaminated water, has been shown to be transmitted by gay sex between hiv-positive men. In the industrial world the disease is virtually absent, but that could change.

World’s largest working hydro-electric wave energy device launched Posted: 29 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST The global wave energy industry has taken a major stride forward with the launch of the world's largest working hydro-electric wave energy device by Aquamarine Power.

Male factor infertility associated with comorbidities Posted: 29 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST New research suggests that that male factor infertility is associated with a number of medical comorbidities, as objectively scored with the hospital-based Charlson Comorbidity Index.

Engineers image nanostructure of a solid acid catalyst and boost its catalytic activity Posted: 29 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST The catalytic processes that facilitate the production of many chemicals and fuels could become much more environmentally friendly, thanks to a new breakthrough.

Connection between depression and osteoporosis detailed Posted: 29 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Research carried out among thousands of people has shown a clear connection between depression and a loss of bone mass, leading to osteoporosis and fractures.

New figures on cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality but big variations Posted: 28 Nov 2009 09:00 PM PST New figures on deaths from cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality between the periods 1990-1994 and 2000-2004. Deaths from all cancers in the European Union between these two periods fell by nine percent in men and eight percent in women, with a large drop among the middle-aged population.

Simulated training for ultrasound-guided procedures improves safety without risk to patients Posted: 28 Nov 2009 09:00 PM PST Using mannequins to teach doctors-in-training how to do ultrasound-guided procedures is an effective way to improve their skills without compromising patient care and safety, according to a new study.

Traditional indigenous fire management techniques deployed against climate change Posted: 28 Nov 2009 09:00 PM PST A landmark Australian project that mitigates the extent and severity of natural savannah blazes by deploying traditional Indigenous fire management techniques is being hailed as a model with vast global potential in the fights against climate change and biodiversity loss, and for protecting indigenous lands and culture. Proponents heading to climate change talks in Copenhagen say similar projects can be adopted in the savannas of Africa, where the potential for reductions is very high.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• 'Cosmic fruit machine' matches galactic collisions
• New therapy may be effective against bacterial infections and sepsis
• Tough yet stiff deer antler is materials scientist's dream
• New findings suggest strategy to help generate HIV-neutralizing antibodies
• Peat fires drive temperatures up: Burning rainforests release huge amounts of greenhouse gases
• Client-directed therapy technique drastically reduces rates of divorce or separation
• Solar power from your windows, awnings, even clothing?
• Clue to mystery of how biological clock operates on 24-hour cycle
• Rare woodland plant uses 'cryptic coloration' to hide from predators
• How HIV is assembled and released from infected cells
• Academic questions 'green' initiatives on cutting carbon footprint
• Free e-samples of prescription drugs: At what cost?
• 'Glow-in-the-dark' red blood cells made from human stem cells
• Forming new brain cells: Key regulatory peptide discovered
• Oceanic crust formation is dynamic after all
• Measuring and modeling blood flow in malaria
• New nanocrystalline diamond probes overcome wear
• Motivational 'women-only' cardiac rehab improves symptoms of depression
• Over-the-counter eye drops raise concern over antibiotic resistance

'Cosmic fruit machine' matches galactic collisions Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST A new website will give everyone the chance to contribute to science by playing a 'cosmic fruit machine' and compare images of colliding galaxies with millions of simulated images of galactic pile-ups.

New therapy may be effective against bacterial infections and sepsis Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST A new study found that certain immune cells primarily associated with asthma and allergies may enhance innate immunity and improve clearance of bacterial infections and may be an effective new therapy against bacterial infections and sepsis in humans.

Tough yet stiff deer antler is materials scientist's dream Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST It is almost impossible to make materials that are tough yet stiff: stiff materials tend to break easily and cannot absorb impacts. But not so dry deer antlers. Surviving impacts that are six times greater than crashes that shatter wet femur, deer antler is stiff enough to endure the dueling animals' pushing contests and could teach us how to make stiff, yet tough, materials.

New findings suggest strategy to help generate HIV-neutralizing antibodies Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST New discoveries about anti-HIV antibodies may bring researchers a step closer to creating an effective HIV vaccine, according to a new paper.

Peat fires drive temperatures up: Burning rainforests release huge amounts of greenhouse gases Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST The forested peatlands of the tropics store vast amounts of carbon. Forest fires convert this into the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Scientists have now quantified these emissions and shown that peatland fires contribute significantly to global warming.

Client-directed therapy technique drastically reduces rates of divorce or separation Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Using four simple questions to generate client-directed feedback can greatly increase the chances that struggling couples will stay together, according to a recently published study. Couples that had systematic client feedback incorporated into their sessions were 46.2 percent less likely to wind up divorced or separated.

Solar power from your windows, awnings, even clothing? Posted: 29 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST New research could one day lead to photovoltaic materials thin enough, flexible enough and inexpensive enough to go not only on rooftops but in windows, outdoor awnings and even clothing.

Clue to mystery of how biological clock operates on 24-hour cycle Posted: 29 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST How does our biological system know that it is supposed to operate on a 24-hour cycle? Scientists have discovered that a tiny molecule holds the clue to the mystery.

Rare woodland plant uses 'cryptic coloration' to hide from predators Posted: 29 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST It is well known that some animal species use camouflage to hide from predators. Individuals that are able to blend in to their surroundings and avoid being eaten are able to survive longer, reproduce, and thus increase their fitness (pass along their genes to the next generation) compared to those who stand out more. This may seem like a good strategy, and fairly common in the animal kingdom, but who ever heard of a plant doing the same thing?

How HIV is assembled and released from infected cells Posted: 29 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST The HIV/AIDS virus continues to ravage populations worldwide. Using a novel combination of optical techniques, researchers visualize how virus particles assemble and are released from infected cells to find new victims -- knowledge which could lead to new technologies for inhibiting this process.

Academic questions 'green' initiatives on cutting carbon footprint Posted: 29 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Global carbon markets may well have been hailed as the savior of the planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but in many ways they are doing more harm than good, according to new evidence.

Free e-samples of prescription drugs: At what cost? Posted: 29 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST An analysis of Web coupons and vouchers for free or discounted prescription medications found the value of such introductory offers is low compared to costs to continue to take the medication. Many such Web sites also de-emphasize risks and provide little quantitative data on indications for use and effectiveness. Many sites also collect personal information as a condition of the free offer.

'Glow-in-the-dark' red blood cells made from human stem cells Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Stem cell scientists have modified a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line to glow red when the stem cells become red blood cells. The modified hESC line, ErythRED, represents a major step forward to the eventual aim of generating mature, fully functional red blood cells from human embryonic stem cells.

Forming new brain cells: Key regulatory peptide discovered Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST The generation of new nerve cells in the brain is regulated by a peptide known as C3a, which directly affects the stem cells' maturation into nerve cells and is also important for the migration of new nerve cells through the brain tissue.

Oceanic crust formation is dynamic after all Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Earth scientists have found strong evidence that the geological processes that lead to the formation of oceanic crust are not as uniformly passive as believed. They found centers of dynamic upwelling in the shallow mantle beneath spreading centers on the seafloor.

Measuring and modeling blood flow in malaria Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST When people have malaria, they are infected with Plasmodium parasites, which enter the body from the saliva of a mosquito, infect cells in the liver, and then spread to red blood cells. Inside the blood cells, the parasites replicate and also begin to expose adhesive proteins on the cell surface that change the physical nature of the cells in the bloodstream.

New nanocrystalline diamond probes overcome wear Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have developed, characterized, and modeled a new kind of probe used in atomic force microscopy, which images, measures, and manipulates matter at the nanoscale. Using diamond, researchers made a much more durable probe than the commercially available silicon nitride probes, which are typically used in AFM to gather information from a material, but can wear down after several uses.

Motivational 'women-only' cardiac rehab improves symptoms of depression Posted: 29 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Women who participated in a motivational cardiac rehab program designed for women experienced less symptoms of depression. The positive impact of the women-centered program remained six months after the 12-week study ended. Other research shows that positive emotions in men and women may protect from heart disease.

Over-the-counter eye drops raise concern over antibiotic resistance Posted: 27 Nov 2009 09:00 PM PST The use of antibiotic eye drops for conjunctivitis has increased by almost half since they became available over the counter at U.K. pharmacies in 2005.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Latest Science News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Biological basis of 'bacterial immune system' discovered
• New device implanted by surgeons help paralyzed patients breathe easier
• Fruit fly sperm makes females do housework after sex
• Bell's palsy: Study calls for rethink of cause and treatment
• Nuclear waste reduction: Polymers designed to mop up radioactive isotopes
• Dispensing prescription drugs in 3-month supplies reduces drug costs by a third
• RNA network seen in live bacterial cells for first time
• Researchers fine-tune diffuse optical tomography for breast cancer screening
• 24-carat gold 'snowflakes' improve graphene's electrical properties
• Biologics for rheumatoid arthritis work, but which is best?
• Ecologists sound out new solution for monitoring cryptic species
• Talking to ourselves: How consumers navigate choices and inner conflict
• Small hairy balls hide foul-tasting healthful enzymes
• New treatment more than doubles survival for high risk childhood leukemia
• Volunteers wanted for simulated 520-day Mars mission
• Common herbicides and fibrates block nutrient-sensing receptor found in gut and pancreas
• Control of mosquito vectors of malaria may be enhanced by a new method of biocontrol
• Obese patients' reaction to diet can be predicted, study finds
• With first neutrino events, physicists closer to answering why only matter in universe
• Nano-scale drug delivery developed for chemotherapy
• Study pits man versus machine in piecing together 425-million-year-old jigsaw
• Drug therapy more cost-effective than angioplasty for diabetic patients with heart disease, study suggests
• Plasma-in-a-bag for sterilizing devices
• Comforted by carpet: How do floors and distance affect purchases?
• Mass extinction: Why did half of N. America's large mammals disappear 40,000 to 10,000 years ago?
• Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant may help lung, heart disorders
• How plants and bacteria 'talk' to thwart disease
• Diabetes cases to double and costs to triple by 2034
• Ecological speciation by sexual selection on good genes
• Building real security with virtual worlds
• Wide heads give hammerhead sharks exceptional stereo view
• Knockouts in human cells point to pathogenic targets
• 3-D software gives doctors, students a view inside the body
• Research sheds light on workings of anti-cancer drug
• New computer virus disguised as social security administration download
• School closure could reduce swine flu transmission by 21 percent, European study finds

Biological basis of 'bacterial immune system' discovered Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Scientists have discovered how the bacterial immune system works, and the finding could lead to new classes of targeted antibiotics, new tools to study gene function in microorganisms and more stable bacterial cultures used by food and biotechnology industries to make products such as yogurt and cheese.

New device implanted by surgeons help paralyzed patients breathe easier Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Physicians will soon begin implanting a new device designed to improve breathing in patients with upper spinal-cord injuries or other diseases that keep them from breathing independently.

Fruit fly sperm makes females do housework after sex Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST The sperm of male fruit flies are coated with a chemical 'sex peptide' which inhibits the female's usual afternoon siesta and compels her into an intense period of foraging activity.

Bell's palsy: Study calls for rethink of cause and treatment Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Drugs widely prescribed to treat facial paralysis in Bell's palsy are ineffective and are based on false notions of the cause of the condition, according to researchers. They say research must now focus on discovering other potential causes and treatments.

Nuclear waste reduction: Polymers designed to mop up radioactive isotopes Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Nuclear power could solve our energy problems but it has rather nasty by-products: radioactive waste. Not only the disposal of the old core rods but also reactor operation results in a large amount of low-level waste, especially contaminated cooling water. Scientists have now developed a new method to reduce the amount of this radioactive waste considerably. They use small beads consisting of a special polymer which "fishes" the radioactivity out of the water.

Dispensing prescription drugs in 3-month supplies reduces drug costs by a third Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Purchasing prescription drugs in a three-month supply rather than a one-month supply has long been regarded as a way to save money. New research quantifies the savings for the first time.

RNA network seen in live bacterial cells for first time Posted: 28 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST New technology has given scientists the first look ever at RNA in a live bacteria cell -- a sight that could offer new information about how the molecule moves and works.

Researchers fine-tune diffuse optical tomography for breast cancer screening Posted: 28 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers are working to make the physical pain and discomfort of mammograms a thing of the past, while allowing for diagnostic imaging eventually to be done in a home setting.

24-carat gold 'snowflakes' improve graphene's electrical properties Posted: 28 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST In an effort to make graphene more useful in electronics applications, engineers have made a golden discovery -- gold "snowflakes" on graphene.

Biologics for rheumatoid arthritis work, but which is best? Posted: 28 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST More studies that directly compare the effectiveness of different biologic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis are needed, say researchers who reviewed previous studies assessing the effectiveness of biologic disease-modifying drugs for treatment of RA and found that although all were very effective, there was little data on direct comparisons between the drugs that could help doctors decide which to prescribe.

Ecologists sound out new solution for monitoring cryptic species Posted: 28 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Ecologists have worked out a way of using recordings of birdsong to accurately measure the size of bird populations. This is the first time sound recordings from a microphone array have been translated into accurate estimates of bird species' populations. The new technique will also work with whale song and could lead to a major advance in our ability to monitor whale and dolphin numbers.

Talking to ourselves: How consumers navigate choices and inner conflict Posted: 28 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST From simple decisions like "Should I eat this brownie?" to bigger questions such as "Should my next car be a hybrid?" consumers are involved in an inner dialogue that reflects thoughts and perspectives of their different selves, according to the authors of a new study.

Small hairy balls hide foul-tasting healthful enzymes Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST A Dutch researcher has discovered a new way to package enzymes by causing charged polymers to form a 'ball of hair' around them. Her approach significantly increases the utility of the enzymes. For example, healthy enzymes with a foul taste can be packaged in such a way that they are released in the stomach without being tasted.

New treatment more than doubles survival for high risk childhood leukemia Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Phase 2 study results show high-dose imatinib plus chemo more than doubled survival for high risk type of childhood leukemia.

Volunteers wanted for simulated 520-day Mars mission Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Starting in 2010, an international crew of six will simulate a 520-day round-trip to Mars, including a 30-day stay on the martian surface. In reality, they will live and work in a sealed facility in Moscow, Russia, to investigate the psychological and medical aspects of a long-duration space mission. ESA is looking for European volunteers to take part.

Common herbicides and fibrates block nutrient-sensing receptor found in gut and pancreas Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Certain common herbicides and lipid-lowering fibrate drugs act in humans to block T1R3, a nutrient-sensing taste receptor also present in intestine and pancreas. These compounds were not previously known to act on the receptor, which influences glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism. The effect is specific to humans and not revealed during animal testing.

Control of mosquito vectors of malaria may be enhanced by a new method of biocontrol Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Biopesticides containing a fungus that is pathogenic to mosquitoes may be an effective means of reducing malaria transmission, particularly if used in combination with insecticide-treated bednets, according to a modeling study. Results of the study show that incorporating this novel vector control technique into existing vector management programs may substantially reduce malaria transmission rates and help manage insecticide resistance.

Obese patients' reaction to diet can be predicted, study finds Posted: 28 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST The presence of increased body fat, and therefore higher levels of inflammatory substances in the blood, hinders the loss and maintenance of body weight, as shown by new research from Spain.

With first neutrino events, physicists closer to answering why only matter in universe Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Physicists have just announced that they have detected the first neutrino events generated by the newly built neutrino beam at the J-PARC accelerator laboratory in Tokai, Japan. Neutrino oscillations, which require neutrinos to have mass and therefore were not allowed in previous theoretical understanding of particle physics, probe new physical laws and are of great interest in the study of the fundamental constituents of matter.

Nano-scale drug delivery developed for chemotherapy Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Bioengineers have developed a simple and inexpensive method for loading cancer drug payloads into nano-scale delivery vehicles and demonstrated in animal models that this new nanoformulation can eliminate tumors after a single treatment.

Study pits man versus machine in piecing together 425-million-year-old jigsaw Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Reconstructing ancient fossils from hundreds of thousands of jumbled up pieces can prove challenging. A new study tested the reliability of expert identification versus computer analysis in reconstructing fossils. The investigation, based on fossil teeth from extinct vertebrates, found that the most specialized experts provided the most reliable identifications.

Drug therapy more cost-effective than angioplasty for diabetic patients with heart disease, study suggests Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Many patients with diabetes should forego angioplasties for heart disease and just take medicine instead, a new study suggests.

Plasma-in-a-bag for sterilizing devices Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST The practice of sterilizing medical tools and devices helped revolutionize health care in the 19th century because it dramatically reduced infections associated with surgery. Through the years, numerous ways of sterilization techniques have been developed, but the old mainstay remains a 130-year-old device called an autoclave, which is something like a pressure steamer. Now researchers in the Netherlands are developing a new way to sterilize medical devices by sealing them inside plastic bags and then using electromagnetic fields to create plasmas -- partially ionized gasses that contain free electrons and reactive ions.

Comforted by carpet: How do floors and distance affect purchases? Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Consumers who stand on carpeted flooring feel comforted, but they judge products close to them to be less comforting, according to a new study.

Mass extinction: Why did half of N. America's large mammals disappear 40,000 to 10,000 years ago? Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Years of scientific debate over the extinction of ancient species in North America have yielded many theories. However, new findings reveal that a mass extinction occurred in a geological instant.

Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant may help lung, heart disorders Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Two recent studies investigating the use of human umbilical cord blood stem cell (UCB) transplants for lung and heart disorders in animal models found beneficial results. When human UCB-derived mensenchymal cells were transplanted into newborn laboratory rats with induced oxygen-deprived injury, the effects of the injury lessened. A second study found that UCB mononuclear cells transplanted into sheep with a right ventricular malfunction beneficially altered the malfunction and enhanced diastolic function.

How plants and bacteria 'talk' to thwart disease Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Unwrapping some of the mystery from how plants and bacteria communicate to trigger an innate immune response, scientists have identified the bacterial signaling molecule that matches up with a specific receptor in rice plants to ward off a devastating disease known as bacterial blight of rice.

Diabetes cases to double and costs to triple by 2034 Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST In the next 25 years, the number of Americans living with diabetes will double and spending on diabetes will triple, rising from $113 billion to $336 billion. This will add to the existing strains on an overburdened health care system, according to a new study.

Ecological speciation by sexual selection on good genes Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Darwin suggested that the action of natural selection can produce new species, but 150 years after the publication of "On the Origin of Species" debate continues on the mechanisms of speciation. New research finds sexual selection to greatly enlarge the scope for adaptive speciation by triggering a positive feedback between mate choice and ecological diversification that can eventually eliminate gene flow between species.

Building real security with virtual worlds Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Advances in computerized modeling and prediction of group behavior, together with improvements in video game graphics, are making possible virtual worlds in which defense analysts can explore and predict results of possible military and policy actions, say computer science researchers.

Wide heads give hammerhead sharks exceptional stereo view Posted: 27 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Why hammerhead sharks have their distinctively shaped heads has puzzled scientists for generations, but now researchers have discovered that hammerheads' wide heads give them an impressive stereo view.

Knockouts in human cells point to pathogenic targets Posted: 27 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a new approach for genetics in human cells and used this technique to identify specific genes and proteins required for pathogens. With the ability to generate knockout cells for most human genes, the authors were able to find genes used by pathogens to enter and kill human cells. The identification of such factors could aid the future development of new therapeutics to combat infectious disease.

3-D software gives doctors, students a view inside the body Posted: 27 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Researchers have developed technology that turns flat medical scans into vibrant 3-D images that can be shifted, adjusted, zoomed and replayed at will.

Research sheds light on workings of anti-cancer drug Posted: 27 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST The copper sequestering drug tetrathiomolybdate (TM) has been shown in studies to be effective in the treatment of Wilson disease, a disease caused by an overload of copper, and certain metastatic cancers. That much is known. Very little, however, is known about how the drug works at the molecular level. A new study now has provided an invaluable clue: the three-dimensional structure of TM bound to copper-loaded metallochaperones.

New computer virus disguised as social security administration download Posted: 27 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST A new spam campaign using false e-mails made to look like messages from the Social Security Administration is capable of stealing Social Security numbers and downloading malware onto victims' home computers, says a computer forensics expert.

School closure could reduce swine flu transmission by 21 percent, European study finds Posted: 27 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST A survey carried out in eight European countries has shown that closing schools in the event of an infectious disease pandemic could have a significant role in reducing illness transmission. Researchers compared opportunities for infection on school days and weekends/holidays, finding that they were reduced when schools are shut.

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