ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Probing exoplanets from the ground: A little telescope goes a long way
• Poor hand-grip strength associated with poor survival
• Detecting cancer early
• Marijuana ineffective as an Alzheimer's treatment
• Ultra-cold chemistry: First direct observation of exchange process in quantum gas
• Morality research sheds light on the origins of religion
• Brain location for fear of losing money pinpointed -- the amygdala
• Mediterranean diet may lower risk of brain damage that causes thinking problems
• Beer is a rich source of silicon and may help prevent osteoporosis
• Blueberries counteract intestinal diseases
• Plant derivative could help refine cancer treatment
• Music, not gadgets, related to teenagers' headaches
• Carcinogens form from third-hand smoke
• Drug shows promise for Huntington's disease
• Smart coating opens door to safer hip, knee and dental implants
• High-altitude climbs may cause corneal swelling, but do not appear to affect vision
• Will earlier springs throw nature out of step?
• Depressed people feel more gray than blue
• Soft drink consumption may markedly increase risk of pancreatic cancer
• Enhancing arrest of cell growth to treat cancer in mice
• How respiratory tubes and capillaries form in flies
• Rab25: a suppressor of tumor formation in intestines?
• New method for measuring fluid flow in algae could herald revolution for fluid mechanics
• Nicotine replacement therapy is over-promoted since most ex-smokers quit unassisted, experts argue
• Evolution impacts environment: Fundamental shift in how biologists perceive relationship between evolution and ecology
• Mice shed new light on causes of childhood deafness
• 'Boutique' fish farms created for Ugandans to combat Lake Victoria's depleted fish supplies
• Complete chemokine profile of a cell
• Method of the future uses single-cell imaging to identify gene interactions
• More smokers than non-smokers accept HPV vaccination for their daughters
• Small insect with a big heart: 'Giving' aphids endangered by their selflessness
• Double agent: Glial cells can protect or kill neurons, vision
• Better sign of blood vessel narrowing and early coronary artery disease
• Genes that regulate maternal inflammatory response, bacterial vaginosis and preterm birth related
• Conservation from space: Landscape diversity helps to conserve insects
• People out and about make cities secure
• Like escape artists, rotifers elude enemies by drying up and -- poof! -- they are gone with the wind
• Link between advanced maternal age and autism confirmed
• The Stars behind the Curtain
• Test could predict which idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients will become severely ill
• Agricultural scientists turn to a wild oat to combat crown rust
• Month of birth determines who becomes a sports star

Probing exoplanets from the ground: A little telescope goes a long way Posted: 09 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST NASA astronomers have successfully demonstrated that a David of a telescope can tackle Goliath-size questions in the quest to study Earth-like planets around other stars. Their work provides a new tool for ground-based observatories, promising to accelerate by years the search for prebiotic, or life-related, molecules on planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system.

Poor hand-grip strength associated with poor survival Posted: 09 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST Poor or declining hand-grip strength in the oldest old is associated with poor survival and may be used as a tool to assess mortality, found a new article. The fastest growing segment of the elderly population is the group older than 85 years, classified as the oldest old.

Detecting cancer early Posted: 09 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST A new testing method is being developed to detect cancer soon after the tumor has formed. It will identify characteristic substances in the blood which accompany a certain type of tumor. The first steps in the development have already been completed.

Marijuana ineffective as an Alzheimer's treatment Posted: 09 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST The benefits of marijuana in tempering or reversing the effects of Alzheimer's disease have been challenged in a new study.

Ultra-cold chemistry: First direct observation of exchange process in quantum gas Posted: 09 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST Considerable progresses made in controlling quantum gases open up a new avenue to study chemical processes. An Austrian research team has now succeeded in directly observing chemical exchange processes in an ultra-cold sample of cesium atoms and Feshbach molecules.

Morality research sheds light on the origins of religion Posted: 09 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST The details surrounding the emergence and evolution of religion have not been clearly established and remain a source of much debate among scholars. Now, a new article brings a new understanding to this long-standing discussion by exploring the fascinating link between morality and religion.

Brain location for fear of losing money pinpointed -- the amygdala Posted: 09 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Two patients with rare lesions to the brain have provided direct of evidence of how we make decisions -- and what makes us dislike the thought of losing money.

Mediterranean diet may lower risk of brain damage that causes thinking problems Posted: 09 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST A Mediterranean diet may help people avoid the small areas of brain damage that can lead to problems with thinking and memory, according to a new study.

Beer is a rich source of silicon and may help prevent osteoporosis Posted: 09 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST A new study suggests that beer is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density. Beers containing high levels of malted barley and hops are richest in silicon.

Blueberries counteract intestinal diseases Posted: 09 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST It is already known that blueberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. New research shows that blueberry fiber is important and can alleviate and protect against intestinal inflammations, such as ulcerative colitis. The protective effect is even better if the blueberries are eaten together with probiotics.

Plant derivative could help refine cancer treatment Posted: 09 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Researchers are seeking to refine cancer treatment with an anti-inflammatory plant derivative long used in Chinese medicine.

Music, not gadgets, related to teenagers' headaches Posted: 09 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Use of most electronic media is not associated with headaches, at least not in adolescents. A study of 1,025 13- to 17-year-olds found no association between the use of computer games, mobile phones or television and the occurrence of headaches or migraines. However, listening to one or two hours of music every day was associated with a pounding head.

Carcinogens form from third-hand smoke Posted: 09 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Nicotine in third-hand smoke, the residue from tobacco smoke that clings to virtually all surfaces long after a cigarette has been extinguished, reacts with the common indoor air pollutant nitrous acid to produce dangerous carcinogens.

Drug shows promise for Huntington's disease Posted: 09 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST An early stage clinical trial of the experimental drug dimebon (latrepirdine) in people with Huntington's disease appears to be safe and may improve cognition.

Smart coating opens door to safer hip, knee and dental implants Posted: 09 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a "smart coating" that helps surgical implants bond more closely with bone and ward off infection.

High-altitude climbs may cause corneal swelling, but do not appear to affect vision Posted: 09 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Swelling commonly occurs in the corneas of mountain climbers, but does not appear to affect vision at altitudes of up to 6,300 meters (about 20,670 feet), according to a new study.

Will earlier springs throw nature out of step? Posted: 09 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST The recent trend towards earlier UK springs and summers has been accelerating, according to a new study. The research is the most comprehensive and rigorous assessment so far of long-term changes in the seasonal timing of biological events across marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments in the UK.

Depressed people feel more gray than blue Posted: 09 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST People with anxiety and depression are most likely to use a shade of gray to represent their mental state. Researchers describe the development of a color chart, the Manchester Color Wheel, which can be used to study people's preferred pigment in relation to their state of mind.

Soft drink consumption may markedly increase risk of pancreatic cancer Posted: 09 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Consuming two or more soft drinks per week increased the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by nearly twofold compared to individuals who did not consume soft drinks, according to a new study.

Enhancing arrest of cell growth to treat cancer in mice Posted: 09 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST New research has identified a new type of cellular senescence (i.e., irreversible arrest of cell growth) and determined a way to enhance it to suppress prostate tumor development and growth in mice. These data suggest that enhancing this process might provide a new approach for cancer prevention and therapy.

How respiratory tubes and capillaries form in flies Posted: 09 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Scientists in Spain report on the formation of the small-diameter respiratory tubes of the fly Drosophila -- a process that resembles the development of the finest blood vessels, the capillaries, in mammals.

Rab25: a suppressor of tumor formation in intestines? Posted: 09 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Colorectal adenocarcinoma accounts for the majority of cases of colorectal cancer. A series of genetic mutations in the cells lining the colon (intestinal epithelial cells) is thought to be the cause of colorectal adenocarcinoma. By studying mouse models of colon cancer and tissue from individuals with colorectal adenocarcinoma, researchers have now identified RAB25 as one gene that might be involved in the formation of colorectal adenocarcinomas.

New method for measuring fluid flow in algae could herald revolution for fluid mechanics Posted: 09 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Researchers in fluid dynamics have studied algae to illuminate fluid mechanics. One of the researchers said, "Nature has long inspired researchers in fluid mechanics to explore the mechanical strategies used by living creatures. Where better to look for innovative solutions to a technological challenge than to organisms that have had millions of years to devise strategies for related challenges?"

Nicotine replacement therapy is over-promoted since most ex-smokers quit unassisted, experts argue Posted: 09 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Health authorities should emphasize the positive message that the most successful method used by most ex-smokers is unassisted cessation, despite the promotion of cessation drugs by pharmaceutical companies and many tobacco control advocates, according to a new article.

Evolution impacts environment: Fundamental shift in how biologists perceive relationship between evolution and ecology Posted: 08 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST The traditional view is that ecology shapes evolution. Some research has suggested, however, that evolutionary processes reciprocate by influencing ecology in turn. Now biologists present evidence that ecology and evolution are indeed reciprocally interacting processes, presenting a fundamental shift in our understanding of the relationship between evolution and ecology. The results represent a first significant step in showing that evolution cannot be ignored when studying ecological interactions.

Mice shed new light on causes of childhood deafness Posted: 08 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Mice with a genetic change that causes progressive hearing loss in children, also have hearing loss because sound waves are not processed properly. The ear's attempts to compensate for hearing loss may, ironically, cause further damage leading to complete hearing loss. These mice will allow detailed research into many forms of deafness, and bring closer the prospects of therapies to slow or halt hearing loss in both children and adults.

'Boutique' fish farms created for Ugandans to combat Lake Victoria's depleted fish supplies Posted: 08 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST In a unique project to combat depleted fish supplies in Lake Victoria, researchers have established 'boutique' fish farms in small villages around the Lake's shore in Uganda.

Complete chemokine profile of a cell Posted: 08 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Chemokines are a large group of proteins whose predominant function is to direct cell migration. They regulate many physiological and pathophysiological processes, in particular in the immune system. Researchers have now developed a simple method to efficiently identify all the chemokines produced by a single cell type, something that has not been possible before.

Method of the future uses single-cell imaging to identify gene interactions Posted: 08 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Cellular imaging offers a wealth of data about how cells respond to stimuli, but harnessing this technique to study biological systems is a daunting challenge. Researchers have now developed a novel method of interpreting data from single-cell images to identify genetic interactions within biological networks, offering a glimpse into the future of high-throughput cell imaging analysis.

More smokers than non-smokers accept HPV vaccination for their daughters Posted: 08 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST A parent's existing health habits or behaviors, like cigarette smoking, may influence the likelihood that they will have their daughters vaccinated against HPV.

Small insect with a big heart: 'Giving' aphids endangered by their selflessness Posted: 08 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST One of the founding principles of Darwin's theory is that biological evolution has been shaped by the survival of the fittest. Things, however, are not always that simple as researchers have discovered while analyzing the social behavior of aphids. A few aphid species have "soldiers" who stop reproducing and instead contribute to the public good. Not only do they risk their lives to defend the nest from invaders, but they also mend and clean it.

Double agent: Glial cells can protect or kill neurons, vision Posted: 08 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Scientists have identified a double agent in the eye that, once triggered, can morph from neuron protector to neuron killer. The discovery has significant health implications since the neurons killed through this process results in vision loss and blindness.

Better sign of blood vessel narrowing and early coronary artery disease Posted: 08 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Cardiologists and heart imaging specialists at 15 medical centers in eight countries have enrolled the first dozen patients in a year-long investigation to learn whether the subtle squeezing of blood flow through the inner layers of the heart is better than traditional SPECT nuclear imaging tests and other diagnostic radiology procedures for accurately tracking the earliest signs of coronary artery clogs.

Genes that regulate maternal inflammatory response, bacterial vaginosis and preterm birth related Posted: 08 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Researchers have used haplotype tagging (hap-tag) single-nucleotide polymorphisms to study the relationship between genetic predispositions, an environmental factor -- bacterial vaginosis -- and preterm birth.

Conservation from space: Landscape diversity helps to conserve insects Posted: 08 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Rugged, hilly landscapes with a range of different habitat types can help maintain more stable butterfly populations and thus aid their conservation, according to new findings. This has implications for how we might design landscapes better to help conserve species.

People out and about make cities secure Posted: 08 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Young people who have experienced threats and violence feel more insecure than others in urban public spaces, especially when alone.

Like escape artists, rotifers elude enemies by drying up and -- poof! -- they are gone with the wind Posted: 08 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST They haven't had sex in some 30 million years, but some very small invertebrates named bdelloid rotifers are still shocking biologists -- they should have gone extinct long ago. Researchers have discovered the secret to their evolutionary longevity: these rotifers are microscopic escape artists. When facing pathogens, they dry up and are promptly gone with the wind.

Link between advanced maternal age and autism confirmed Posted: 08 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST Advanced maternal age is linked to a significantly elevated risk of having a child with autism, regardless of the father's age, according to an exhaustive study of all births in California during the 1990s.

The Stars behind the Curtain Posted: 08 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST Astronomers have obtained a new image of the giant stellar nursery surrounding NGC 3603, in which stars are continuously being born. Embedded in this scenic nebula is one of the most luminous and most compact clusters of young, massive stars in our Milky Way, which therefore serves as an excellent "local" analogue of very active star-forming regions in other galaxies. The cluster also hosts the most massive star to be "weighed" so far.

Test could predict which idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients will become severely ill Posted: 08 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST A simple blood test could predict which patients with the lung-scarring disease known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are soon to get far worse, an indicator that could one day influence their treatment, according to researchers. Their findings indicate that the body's immune cells attack healthy lung tissue, suggesting that IPF is in fact an immunologic disease.

Agricultural scientists turn to a wild oat to combat crown rust Posted: 08 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST Scientists are tapping into the DNA of a wild oat, considered by some to be a noxious weed, to see if it can help combat crown rust, the most damaging fungal disease of oats worldwide.

Month of birth determines who becomes a sports star Posted: 08 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST The month of your birth influences your chances of becoming a professional sportsperson, an Australian researcher has found. Scientists studied the seasonal patterns of population health and found the month you were born in could influence your future health and fitness.

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