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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