ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Sea level could rise from 0.75 to 1.9 meters this century
• Quitting smoking can reverse asthma-inducing changes in lungs
• New technology could boost disease detection tests' speed and sensitivity
• Gene positions may aid cancer diagnosis, study shows
• A greener way to get electricity from natural gas
• Craving hinders comprehension without you realizing it
• Dip ordinary paper into ink infused with nanotubes and nanowires to create an instant battery
• New platinum compound shows promise in tumor cells
• World's smallest semiconductor laser to have big impact in computing, bio-hazard detection
• Exercise reduces death rate in prostate cancer patients
• Metamaterials could reduce friction in nanomachines
• In cancer-ridden rats, loneliness can kill: Isolation and stress identified as contributing to breast cancer risk
• Super cool atom thermometer: New, reliable ways of measuring extreme low temperatures
• New York autopsies show 2009 H1N1 influenza virus damages entire airway
• Mathematical model of simple circuit in chicken brain raises fundamental questions about neural circuitry
• Association of tight glycemic control with road crashes in diabetic patients
• Method to detect chocolate fraud becomes an international standard
• Difficult childhood may increase disease risk in adulthood
• Spices halt growth of breast stem cells, study finds
• Not all parents place their babies 'back to sleep,' researchers find
• New clues into how invasive parasite spreads
• Strategies to protect new brain cells against Alzheimer's disease
• Scientists at climate talks say major changes to the nitrogen cycle cannot be ignored
• Recreational drug use is related to impulsive behavior, Spanish research reveals
• Self-destructing bacteria improve renewable biofuel production
• BMI and waist circumference can predict risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease
• Solving the mysteries of enigmatic binary star system Cygnus X-3
• Poor outcomes for chronically critically ill patients leaving hospitals on ventilators, researchers report
• Untold levels of oil sands pollution on Athabasca River confirmed
• First multilingual overview of 'Spice' drugs raises new concerns
• Lizard changes its diet to avoid predators
• Treatments for asthma and pre-term labor may increase risk of autism in developing fetus
• A cell's 'cap' of bundled fibers could yield clues to disease
• Outpatient disc treatment gives long-term back pain relief
• The end of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon?
• Many parents encourage underage drinking, Australian study finds
• Ventriloquist birds call to warn friends and enemies
• Controversial kidney transplant technique could provide lifeline for very ill patients
• Breakthrough in 'spintronics' could lead to energy efficient chips
• Innovative strategies improve outcomes and prevent complications of stem cell transplants
• New computer model could lead to safer stents
• Delinquent boys at increased risk of premature death and disability by middle age
• Undocumented volcano contributed to extremely cold decade from 1810-1819
• Papillomavirus silences innate immune response
• Cosmic rays hunted down: Physicists closing in on origin of mysterious particles
• Studies investigate new trends and treatment options for sickle cell disease patients
• Diesel truck engine made with barely measurable emissions
• Military children face more emotional challenges as parental deployments grow longer, study finds

Sea level could rise from 0.75 to 1.9 meters this century Posted: 08 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST A new scientific study warns that sea level could rise much faster than previously expected. By the year 2100, global sea level could rise between 0.75 to 1.9 meters, according to a new paper.

Quitting smoking can reverse asthma-inducing changes in lungs Posted: 08 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Asthmatic smokers may be able to reverse some of the damage to their lungs that exacerbates asthmatic symptoms just by putting down their cigarettes, according to new research.

New technology could boost disease detection tests' speed and sensitivity Posted: 08 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Scientists have developed a way to rapidly manipulate and sort different cells in the blood using magnetizable liquids. The findings could dramatically improve the speed and sensitivity of tests used to detect cancer biomarkers, blood disorders, viruses and other diseases.

Gene positions may aid cancer diagnosis, study shows Posted: 08 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Certain genes switch their nuclear position in tumor cells, offering a potential new method of diagnosing cancer, say researchers.

A greener way to get electricity from natural gas Posted: 08 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST A new type of natural-gas electric power plant could provide electricity with zero carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, at costs comparable to or less than conventional natural-gas plants, and even to coal-burning plants. But that can only come about if and when a price is set on the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases -- a step the US Congress and other governments are considering as a way to halt climate change.

Craving hinders comprehension without you realizing it Posted: 08 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST A new study reveals that craving a cigarette while performing a cognitive task not only increases the chances of a person's mind wandering, but also makes that person less likely to notice when his or her mind has wandered.

Dip ordinary paper into ink infused with nanotubes and nanowires to create an instant battery Posted: 08 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Dip an ordinary piece of paper into ink infused with carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires, and it turns into a battery or supercapacitor. Crumple the piece of paper, and it still works. Researchers see many uses for this new way of storing electricity.

New platinum compound shows promise in tumor cells Posted: 08 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Chemists have developed a new platinum compound that is as powerful as the commonly used anticancer drug cisplatin but better able to destroy tumor cells.

World's smallest semiconductor laser to have big impact in computing, bio-hazard detection Posted: 08 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated the world's smallest semiconductor laser, which may have applications to the Air Force in communications, computing and bio-hazard detection.

Exercise reduces death rate in prostate cancer patients Posted: 08 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST As little as 15 minutes of exercise a day can reduce overall mortality rates in patients with prostate cancer, according to a new study.

Metamaterials could reduce friction in nanomachines Posted: 08 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Nanoscale machines expected to have wide application in industry, energy, medicine and other fields may someday operate far more efficiently, thanks to important theoretical discoveries concerning the manipulation of famous Casimir forces.

In cancer-ridden rats, loneliness can kill: Isolation and stress identified as contributing to breast cancer risk Posted: 08 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Social isolation and related stress could contribute to human breast cancer susceptibility, research from a rat model to identify environmental mechanisms contributing to cancer risk shows. The researchers found that isolation and stress result in a 3.3-fold increase in the risk of developing cancer among rats with naturally occurring mammary tumors. The research establishes, for the first time, that isolation and stress could be a factor in human breast cancer risk.

Super cool atom thermometer: New, reliable ways of measuring extreme low temperatures Posted: 08 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Physicists have devised a thermometer that can potentially measure temperatures as low as tens of trillionths of a degree above absolute zero.

New York autopsies show 2009 H1N1 influenza virus damages entire airway Posted: 08 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST In fatal cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza, the virus can damage cells throughout the respiratory airway, much like the viruses that caused the 1918 and 1957 influenza pandemics, report researchers.

Mathematical model of simple circuit in chicken brain raises fundamental questions about neural circuitry Posted: 08 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Neural microcircuits consisting of a few neurons and their interconnections are small enough to be understood more completely than larger neural structures, whose complexity quickly becomes overwhelming. Researchers recently tackled a simple circuit in the visual processing area of a chicken's brain that detects motion in its field of view -- with surprising results.

Association of tight glycemic control with road crashes in diabetic patients Posted: 08 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST A study from Canada suggests an association between tighter glycemic control and an increased risk of a motor vehicle crash in diabetic adults.

Method to detect chocolate fraud becomes an international standard Posted: 08 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST European countries are the biggest consumers of chocolate confectioneries in the world. A newly developed method to measure vegetable fats in milk chocolate has become the first such method to be adopted as an international standard by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). It has been developed to enable the enforcement of the so-called Chocolate Directive, which stipulates that European chocolate must not contain more than 5% vegetable fats, other than cocoa butter.

Difficult childhood may increase disease risk in adulthood Posted: 08 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Individuals who experience psychological or social adversity in childhood may have lasting emotional, immune and metabolic abnormalities that help explain why they develop more age-related diseases in adulthood, according to a new report.

Spices halt growth of breast stem cells, study finds Posted: 08 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST A new study finds that compounds derived from the spices turmeric and pepper could help prevent breast cancer by limiting the growth of stem cells, the small number of cells that fuel a tumor's growth.

Not all parents place their babies 'back to sleep,' researchers find Posted: 08 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST Placing infants on their backs for sleep can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. But a new study shows that while the practice helped reduce the incidence of SIDS, it has reached a plateau since guidelines were released by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

New clues into how invasive parasite spreads Posted: 08 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered a possible strategy against Toxoplasma gondii, an invasive parasite that infects more than a quarter of the world's population, including 50 million Americans.

Strategies to protect new brain cells against Alzheimer's disease Posted: 08 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered that two main causes of AD amyloid-beta (A²) peptides and apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) impair the growth of new neurons born in adult brains. What is more, they have identified drug treatments that can normalize the development of these cells even in the presence of A² or apoE4.

Scientists at climate talks say major changes to the nitrogen cycle cannot be ignored Posted: 08 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST An international group of scientists say there is an immediate need for a global assessment of the nitrogen cycle and its impact on climate.

Recreational drug use is related to impulsive behavior, Spanish research reveals Posted: 08 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST Psychologists in Spain have just concluded a study regarding the use of addictive substances by young university students and the manifestation of impulsive behavior in the same group of people, on a cognitive and psychomotor level. The findings suggest that regular consumers of cannabis and alcohol are more impulsive than non-users. However, there is no evidence of the differences between both of these consumer groups, which makes these experts believe that "consuming these substances, whatever their nature, is related to impulsivity."

Self-destructing bacteria improve renewable biofuel production Posted: 07 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST An Arizona State University research team has developed a process that removes a key obstacle to producing lower-cost, renewable biofuels. The team has programmed a photosynthetic microbe to self-destruct, making the recovery of high-energy fats -- and their biofuel byproducts -- easier and potentially less costly.

BMI and waist circumference can predict risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease Posted: 07 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Body mass index and waist circumference are well known risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, but a new study now concludes that these risk factors, when accurately measured by trained staff, can actually predict the risk of fatal and non-fatal disease.

Solving the mysteries of enigmatic binary star system Cygnus X-3 Posted: 07 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Deep in our Galaxy, approximately 30,000 light-years from Earth, a small gravitational monster is sucking matter from a companion star, causing the infalling matter to violently radiate X-rays and occasionally be launched to form radio-wave-emitting jets that emanate close to the speed of light. This enigmatic binary star system, known as Cygnus X-3, has fascinated astronomers over four decades. It is thought to be either a small black hole or a neutron star and an ordinary, albeit massive star orbiting each other. Now, researchers have made the first definitive detection of high-energy gamma rays from this system. The findings may provide a new window on how Cygnus X-3 accelerates charged particles to enormous energies.

Poor outcomes for chronically critically ill patients leaving hospitals on ventilators, researchers report Posted: 07 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Patients discharged from hospitals on ventilator support and with cognitive impairments fare poorly four months later, researchers report.

Untold levels of oil sands pollution on Athabasca River confirmed Posted: 07 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST After an exhaustive study of air and water pollution along the Athabasca River and its tributaries from Fort McMurray to Lake Athabasca, researchers say pollution levels have increased as a direct result of nearby oil sands operations.

First multilingual overview of 'Spice' drugs raises new concerns Posted: 07 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Recent research into the availability of 'Spice' drugs online raises new concerns about its mood altering effects.

Lizard changes its diet to avoid predators Posted: 07 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists have shown that the presence of predators affects the behavior of Acanthodactylus beershebensis, a lizard species from the Negev Desert in Israel. According to the study, these reptiles move less and catch less mobile and different prey if they are under pressure from predators.

Treatments for asthma and pre-term labor may increase risk of autism in developing fetus Posted: 07 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST Commonly prescribed beta 2 adrenergic agonist drugs for the treatment of asthma in pregnant women as well as pre-term labor may increase the incidence of autism-spectrum disorders, psychiatric pathology, cognitive problems and poor school performance in their children, according to a new study.

A cell's 'cap' of bundled fibers could yield clues to disease Posted: 07 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST Research engineers have discovered that in healthy cells, a bundled "cap" of thread-like fibers holds the cell's nucleus in its proper place.

Outpatient disc treatment gives long-term back pain relief Posted: 07 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST A randomized, controlled study comparing standard conservative therapy to a minimally invasive treatment called percutaneous disc decompression for painful herniated disc revealed that while both treatments help patients in the short run, only disc decompression kept patients pain free up to two years later.

The end of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon? Posted: 07 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST A new article addresses how the combined efforts of government commitments and market transition could save forest and reduce carbon emissions in Brazil.

Many parents encourage underage drinking, Australian study finds Posted: 07 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST Half of Australian adults and 63 percent of Australians on a higher income believe 15- to 17-year-olds should be allowed to consume alcohol under parental supervision at home, according to a new survey.

Ventriloquist birds call to warn friends and enemies Posted: 07 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST Birds' alarm calls serve both to alert other birds to danger and to warn off predators. And some birds can pull a ventriloquist's trick, singing from the side of their mouths, according to a new study.

Controversial kidney transplant technique could provide lifeline for very ill patients Posted: 07 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST Surgeons have developed a controversial technique that could offer a vital lifeline to patients with end-stage renal disease, as well as increasing the supply of viable organs. They have successfully performed kidney transplants after removing small cancerous and benign masses from the donated organs. Patient follow-ups are very promising, say the US team.

Breakthrough in 'spintronics' could lead to energy efficient chips Posted: 07 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST Scientists have succeeded in transferring magnetic information directly into a semiconductor. For the first time, this is achieved at room temperature. This breakthrough brings the development of a more energy efficient form of electronics, so-called 'spintronics' within reach.

Innovative strategies improve outcomes and prevent complications of stem cell transplants Posted: 07 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST The methods and outcomes for stem cell transplants are constantly improving as leading experts continue to investigate new approaches for reducing the serious adverse events associated with the procedure. New research takes a closer look at complications of stem cell transplants, including veno-occlusive disease and graft-versus-host disease.

New computer model could lead to safer stents Posted: 07 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers have developed a computer model that explains why those drugs (which include rapamycin and its analogs as well as paclitaxel) can accumulate in the arteries and cause blood clots.

Delinquent boys at increased risk of premature death and disability by middle age Posted: 07 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST Men who have a history of delinquency in childhood are more likely to die or become disabled by the time they are 48, and not just from the obvious consequences of antisocial behavior, new research indicates. The UK study is the first to examine how a wide range of early antisocial behaviours, as well as parental factors, affect various health outcomes 40 years later.

Undocumented volcano contributed to extremely cold decade from 1810-1819 Posted: 07 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Researchers have found compelling evidence of a previously undocumented large volcanic eruption that occurred exactly 200 years ago, in 1809. The discovery helps explain the record cold decade from 1810-1819.

Papillomavirus silences innate immune response Posted: 07 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Human papillomavirus type 16, the most common cause of cervical cancer, silences a key signaling molecule of immune response in its host cells. Once the body's own immune defense is missing, the pathogens are able to infect the cells of the cervical mucosa even more successfully. Scientists have found out that the viral E6 oncogene is responsible for this mechanism.

Cosmic rays hunted down: Physicists closing in on origin of mysterious particles Posted: 07 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Nearly 100 years after the discovery of cosmic rays, a new type of gamma ray telescope is finally allowing physicists to make images of sites of cosmic ray acceleration.

Studies investigate new trends and treatment options for sickle cell disease patients Posted: 07 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST New research highlights intriguing studies on the acute danger that the H1N1 pandemic presents for children with this blood disorder, evaluations of both new and standard treatments for common complications of sickle cell disease, and an expansion of the current understanding of hemoglobin expression in red blood cells that may lead to new treatments.

Diesel truck engine made with barely measurable emissions Posted: 07 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Scientists are pushing to see how clean and green a diesel truck engine can be. Researchers have simultaneously cut nitrogen oxide and soot production, reducing pollutants in exhaust emissions to barely measurable levels. Their experimental engine nearly meets stringent requirements set to go into effect in 2014. They've also developed a probe for studying the growth of soot during combustion.

Military children face more emotional challenges as parental deployments grow longer, study finds Posted: 07 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST A new study finds that children in military families suffer from more emotional and behavioral problems as the length of their parents' deployments grow. Researchers found that military children may suffer from more emotional and behavioral difficulties when compared to other American youths, with older children and girls struggling the most when a parent is deployed overseas.

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