ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• New adhesive device could let humans walk on walls
• Memory failing? You may be at higher risk for stroke
• Stem cells rescue nerve cells by direct contact
• Fish oil may reduce the risk of psychotic disorders in high-risk individuals
• Managed wolf populations could restore ecosystems
• Onset of sexual activity in tweens delayed by theory-based abstinence-only program
• 'Broad spectrum' antiviral fights multitude of viruses
• Cigarette smoking a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, study shows
• Dogs may provide an excellent model for understanding human complex diseases
• Ginkgo herbal medicines may increase seizures in people with epilepsy
• Plantations can provide the same ecosystem services as natural forests
• Teens who drink with parents may still develop alcohol problems
• Magnesium supplement helps boost brainpower
• Overweight in 20s Could Lead to Serious Problems in 40s
• Seabirds' movement patterns tied to what fishermen toss away
• Researchers track evolution and spread of drug-resistant bacteria across hospitals and continents
• Smart capsules release their contents at a selected temperature
• Even mild kidney disease harms a child's quality of life
• White roofs may successfully cool cities, computer model demonstrates
• Biomarker could help doctors tailor treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
• Tumor suppressor p53 prevents cancer progression in cells with missegregated chromosomes
• Improved air quality linked to fewer pediatric ear infections
• Green energy management: How plants cope with variable light conditions
• Children with cochlear implants have quality of life equal to normal hearing peers, study finds
• New insight into reprogramming of cell fate
• New software provides 3-D views of arteries in catheterization lab
• Environmental change impacts Oklahoma rivers
• Couples can overdo being supportive
• New Species of Tyrannosaur Discovered in Southwestern U.S.
• Key milestone reached on road to graphene-based electronic devices

New adhesive device could let humans walk on walls Posted: 02 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Could humans one day walk on walls, like Spider-Man? A palm-sized invention that uses water surface tension as an adhesive bond just might make it possible.

Memory failing? You may be at higher risk for stroke Posted: 02 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST People who experience memory loss or a decline in their thinking abilities may be at higher risk of stroke, regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with dementia, according to a new study.

Stem cells rescue nerve cells by direct contact Posted: 02 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Scientists in Sweden have shown how transplanted stem cells can connect with and rescue threatened neurons and brain tissue. The results point the way to new possible treatments for brain damage and neurodegenerative diseases.

Fish oil may reduce the risk of psychotic disorders in high-risk individuals Posted: 02 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Individuals at extremely high risk of developing psychosis appear less likely to develop psychotic disorders following a 12-week course of fish oil capsules containing long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, according to a report.

Managed wolf populations could restore ecosystems Posted: 02 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Wildlife researchers argue that advances in animal control techniques mean it should be feasible and acceptable to introduce small, managed populations of wolves into a variety of parks and other sites for the purpose of ecosystem restoration. This practice could also increase the public's appreciation of wolves and boost ecotourism.

Onset of sexual activity in tweens delayed by theory-based abstinence-only program Posted: 02 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST A new study weighs in on the controversy over sex education, finding that an abstinence-only intervention for pre-teens was more successful in delaying the onset of sexual activity than a health-promotion control intervention. After two years, one-third of the abstinence-only group reported having sex, compared to one-half of the control group.

'Broad spectrum' antiviral fights multitude of viruses Posted: 02 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Researchers are developing and testing a broad-spectrum antiviral compound capable of stopping a wide range of highly dangerous viruses, including Ebola, HIV, hepatitis C virus, West Nile virus, Rift Valley fever virus and yellow fever virus, among others.

Cigarette smoking a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, study shows Posted: 02 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST An analysis of published studies on the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and smoking indicates that smoking cigarettes is a significant risk factor for the disease. After controlling for study design, quality of the journals, time of publication, and tobacco industry affiliation of the authors, the research team also found an association between tobacco industry affiliation and the conclusions of individual studies.

Dogs may provide an excellent model for understanding human complex diseases Posted: 02 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Researchers in Sweden and Finland have found several genes that lead to increased risk for a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like autoimmune disorder in dogs. This is the first time scientists have found genes behind such a complex disease. The study indicates that the homogeneity of strong genetic risk factors within dog breeds make dogs an excellent model in which to identify pathways involved in human complex diseases. The results of the study also open the door for further studies of specific T-cell activation pathways in human populations.

Ginkgo herbal medicines may increase seizures in people with epilepsy Posted: 02 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Restrictions should be placed on the use of Ginkgo biloba -- a top-selling herbal remedy -- because of growing scientific evidence that Ginkgo may increase the risk of seizures in people with epilepsy and could reduce the effectiveness of anti-seizure drugs, a new report concludes.

Plantations can provide the same ecosystem services as natural forests Posted: 02 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Not all plantations need to be the biological deserts that have come to characterize large-scale, industrial plantations. According to scientists, well-planned plantations can actually alleviate some of the social, economic and ecological burden currently being placed on natural forests.

Teens who drink with parents may still develop alcohol problems Posted: 02 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Parents who try to teach responsible drinking by letting their teenagers have alcohol at home may be well intentioned, but they may also be wrong, according to a new study.

Magnesium supplement helps boost brainpower Posted: 02 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST New research finds that an increase in brain magnesium improves learning and memory in young and old rats. The study suggests that increasing magnesium intake may be a valid strategy to enhance cognitive abilities and supports speculation that inadequate levels of magnesium impair cognitive function, leading to faster deterioration of memory in aging humans.

Overweight in 20s Could Lead to Serious Problems in 40s Posted: 02 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST People who are obese and have type 2 diabetes in their 20s will be at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke in their 40s if they do not change their lifestyle.

Seabirds' movement patterns tied to what fishermen toss away Posted: 02 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Humans and human activities have clearly altered the Earth's landscape and oceans in countless ways, often to the detriment of other plants and animals. But a new report shows just what a tangled food web we've woven. Two species of Mediterranean seabirds change their every move based on the activities of local fisheries and, in particular, the fish that people toss away. The seabirds' shifting movement patterns can be seen at the regional scale.

Researchers track evolution and spread of drug-resistant bacteria across hospitals and continents Posted: 02 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Researchers have used high resolution genome sequencing to track a particularly virulent strain of MRSA as it traveled between South America, Europe and Southeast Asia. The findings shed light on how these deadly bacteria are able to spread from patient to patient in a single hospital and, on a larger scale of geography and time, between countries and entire continents.

Smart capsules release their contents at a selected temperature Posted: 02 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST How can an active principle be delivered in a controlled way? Until now, there was no obvious answer to this question. Now however, researchers have designed smart capsules that are able to release their contents on demand, simply by raising the temperature. This technology opens the way to many applications in fields such as food, perfumes and agriculture, to deliver pesticides above a specific temperature.

Even mild kidney disease harms a child's quality of life Posted: 02 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Challenging prevailing wisdom that only children with end-stage kidney disease suffer physical, social, emotional and educational setbacks from their disease, new research shows that even mild to moderate kidney disease may seriously diminish a child's quality of life.

White roofs may successfully cool cities, computer model demonstrates Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Painting the roofs of buildings white has the potential to significantly cool cities and mitigate some impacts of global warming, a new study indicates. The research, which is the first computer modeling study to simulate the impacts of white roofs on urban areas worldwide, suggests there may be merit to an idea advanced by US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and other policymakers that white roofs can be an important tool to help society adjust to climate change.

Biomarker could help doctors tailor treatment for rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Investigators have identified a biomarker that could help doctors select patients with rheumatoid arthritis who will benefit from therapy with drugs such as Enbrel, a tumor necrosis factor-antagonist drug.

Tumor suppressor p53 prevents cancer progression in cells with missegregated chromosomes Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Cells missegregate a chromosome approximately once every hundred divisions. But don't be too alarmed: new research shows that the tumor suppressor p53 limits the growth of cells with incorrect numbers of chromosomes and prevents their progression toward cancer.

Improved air quality linked to fewer pediatric ear infections Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Improvements in air quality over the past decade have resulted in fewer cases of ear infections in children, new research suggests.

Green energy management: How plants cope with variable light conditions Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Plants use energy derived from sunlight to form sugars from carbon dioxide and water by the process of photosynthesis. Recent discoveries provide new insights into the control circuit that enables plants to make optimal use of incident light.

Children with cochlear implants have quality of life equal to normal hearing peers, study finds Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Children who have cochlear implants rank their quality of life equal to their normally hearing peers, indicates new research.

New insight into reprogramming of cell fate Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST A discovery brings new insight into how cells are reprogrammed and a greater understanding of how the environment, or factors like nutritional signals, can interact with our genes to affect health. As an embryo develops, cells acquire a particular fate, for example becoming a nerve or skin cell. The findings pinpoint a protein called AID as being important for complete cellular reprogramming in mammals. In addition, these findings may advance the field of regenerative medicine, by potentially enhancing our ability to guide the reversal of cell fate, and pave the way for novel therapeutics.

New software provides 3-D views of arteries in catheterization lab Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST New software allows for 3-D images of the heart's arteries during cardiac catheterization. Still in the testing phase, this technology may provide more information on the width and length of artery blockages, while exposing patients to less dye and radiation.

Environmental change impacts Oklahoma rivers Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Biodiversity in freshwater systems is impacted as much or more by environmental change than tropical rain forests, according to new research.

Couples can overdo being supportive Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Couples having problems are often advised to be more supportive of each other, but a series of University of Iowa studies shows that too much support -- or the wrong kind of support -- may actually do more harm than good.

New Species of Tyrannosaur Discovered in Southwestern U.S. Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST A new species of tyrannosaur has been discovered in the Bisti/De-na-zin Wilderness of New Mexico. Bistahieversor was different from other tyrannosauroids in having an extra opening above its eye, a complex joint at its "forehead," and a keel along its lower jaw; it also had more teeth than its distant relative T. rex.

Key milestone reached on road to graphene-based electronic devices Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST Researchers have produced 100mm diameter graphene wafers, a key milestone in the development of graphene for next generation high frequency electronic devices. Graphene is a 2-dimensional layer of tightly bound carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal arrays. Sheets of graphene are the building blocks of graphite. Due to its phenomenal electronic properties, graphene has been considered as a leading material for next generation electronic devices in the multibillion dollar semiconductor industry.

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