Sunday, November 08, 2009

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Hubble Image Showcases Star Birth In M83, The Southern Pinwheel

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST

The spectacular new camera installed on NASA's Hubble Space Telescope during Servicing Mission 4 in May has delivered the most detailed view of star birth in the graceful, curving arms of the nearby spiral galaxy M83. Nicknamed the Southern Pinwheel, M83 is undergoing more rapid star formation than our own Milky Way galaxy, especially in its nucleus.

Raising 'Good' Cholesterol Levels May Benefit Clogged Arteries

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST

A drug that raises levels of 'good' cholesterol, when taken in addition to standard statin therapy to lower 'bad' cholesterol, can reduce the furring up of arteries in patients with established heart disease, a new study has shown.

Nothing But Net: The Physics Of Basketball Free Throws

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST

Pay attention, Shaq: Two engineers have figured out the best way to shoot a free throw -- a frequently underappreciated skill that gets more important as the game clock winds down.

'Optical Biopsy' For Breast Cancer Increasingly Accurate, Research Finds

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST

Most biopsies following mammograms reveal benign abnormalities, not cancer. But women may not have to endure the medical costs, stress and potential complications that accompany such invasive biopsies forever. A biomedical engineering researcher is making progress on an "optical biopsy" that has the potential to determine whether growths are cancerous without ever puncturing the skin.

Precuneus Region Of Human And Monkey Brain Is Divided Into Four Distinct Regions

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST

New research provides a comprehensive comparative functional anatomy study in human and monkey brains which reveals highly similar brain networks preserved across evolution. Scientists examined patterns of connectivity to show that the precuneus, long thought to be a single structure, is actually divided into four distinct functional regions.

Warmer Homes Mean Better Health For Poor People, Study Suggests

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST

Being warm enough at home might lead to better health, according to a new review. Positive effects included reductions in breathing-related concerns such as cold and flu symptoms, first diagnosis of nasal allergies and wheezing and dry coughs at night. Better heating also appeared to have on impact on first diagnosis of high blood pressure and heart disease, and there were also indications of less depression or anxiety.

Seafloor Fossils Provide Clues To Climate Change

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST

Deep under the sea, a fossil the size of a sand grain is nestled among a billion of its closest dead relatives. Known as foraminifera, these complex little shells of calcium carbonate can tell you the sea level, temperature, and ocean conditions of Earth millions of years ago. That is, if you know what to look for.

Pathogen Protection And Virulence: Dark Side Of Fungal Membrane Protein Revealed

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST

Researchers have discovered a fungal protein that plays a key role in causing disease in plants and animals and which also shields the pathogen from oxidative stress.

Novel Cancer Detection Method Uses Tiny Silica Beads To Adhere To Cells

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST

A novel method of detection of cervical cancer cells has now been developed. The method uses nonspecific adhesion of silica beads to cells.

Plastic Surgeons Offer Microsurgery Technique For Breast Reconstruction, Tummy Tuck After Mastectomy

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST

A new microsurgery by plastic surgeons called the Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap procedure can offer women seeking breast reconstruction after a mastectomy some of the advantages of a more natural breast with the effects of a tummy tuck. Although it is more complex surgery, it preserves muscles for quicker recovery and less postoperative pain, researchers say.

ChIA-PET: Novel Method For 3-D Whole Genome Mapping Research

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST

Technological advance in the study of gene expression and regulation in the genome's 3-D folding and looping state through the development of a novel technology.

Psychiatric Impact Of Torture Could Be Amplified By Head Injury

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST

Depression and other emotional symptoms in survivors of torture and other traumatic experiences may be exacerbated by the effects of head injuries, according to a new study. The researchers found structural changes in the brains of former South Vietnamese political detainees who had suffered head injuries and clearly linked those changes to psychiatric symptoms often seen in survivors of torture.

New Synthetic Molecules Trigger Immune Response To HIV And Prostate Cancer

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST

Researchers have developed synthetic molecules capable of enhancing the body's immune response to HIV and HIV-infected cells, as well as to prostate cancer cells. Their findings could lead to novel therapeutic approaches for these diseases.

Two Genes Cooperate To Cause Aggressive Leukemia

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST

Two genes, each one of which is known to cause cancer on its own, together can lead to aggressive leukemia. This is the conclusion from new research carried out on gene-modified mice by scientists in Sweden. The discovery has surprised scientists, and may lead to new treatments.

Higher Incidence Of Thyroid Cancer In Volcanic Area Of Sicily

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST

People living in volcanic areas may be at a higher risk for thyroid cancer, according to a new study.

Findings Key For Understanding, Interpreting Genetic Testing For Long QT Syndrome

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST

Results of a long QT syndrome (LQTS) study play an important role in understanding genetic testing's role in diagnosing disease, according to researchers.

Breeding Better Broccoli: Research Points To Pumped Up Lutein Levels In Broccoli

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST

Plant carotenoids are the most important source of vitamin A in the human diet and are considered to be valuable antioxidants capable of protecting humans from chronic diseases including macular degeneration, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Researchers investigating the carotenoid content of field-grown broccoli discovered that when it comes to breeding broccoli, lutein levels were linked to the plants' genetics; the environment in which the vegetables were grown had little effect on carotenoid production.

Discrimination Takes Its Toll On Black Women

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST

Racial discrimination is a major threat to African American women's mental health. It undermines their view of themselves as masters of their own life circumstances and makes them less psychologically resilient and more prone to depression, according to new findings.

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