ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Pinch away the pain: Scorpion venom could be an alternative to morphine
• Human genetic vulnerabilities may underlie infectious diseases, scientist argues
• Massive stars’ magnetically controlled diets
• Fetal surgery continues to advance
• Orange peels, newspapers may lead to cheaper, cleaner ethanol fuel
• How far should neuroscience evidence go in court trials?
• Minor variations in one gene may be associated with endurance running
• Cellular mechanism that protects against disease discovered
• New material mimics bone to create better biomedical implants
• Heart failure worse when right ventricle goes bad, study suggests
• NASA's WISE Mission Releases Medley of First Images
• What model organisms can teach us about emotion
• Warmer planet temperatures could cause longer-lasting weather patterns
• Critical enzyme in healthy heart function identified
• Discovery of nutrient 'mining machine' in plants
• Cell-cell interactions adapt to the stiffness of the environment
• Seeds from the Moringa tree can be used for water purification, study suggests
• Parents still major influence on child’s decision to pursue science careers
• Global warming may hurt some poor populations, benefit others

Pinch away the pain: Scorpion venom could be an alternative to morphine Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Researchers are investigating new ways for developing a novel painkiller based on natural compounds found in the venom of scorpions. These compounds have gone through millions of years of evolution and some show high efficacy and specificity for certain components of the body with no side effects.

Human genetic vulnerabilities may underlie infectious diseases, scientist argues Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Infectious diseases in the general population depend to a large extent on underlying genetic vulnerabilities, an expert in innate immunity says. While microbes are required for infection, he says, one's genetic background could make the difference between fighting an infection and succumbing to it.

Massive stars’ magnetically controlled diets Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Astronomers have shown that magnetic fields play an important role during the birth of massive stars. Magnetic fields are already known to strongly influence the formation of lower-mass stars like our Sun. This new study reveals that the way in which high-mass and low-mass stars form may be more similar than previously suspected.

Fetal surgery continues to advance Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Repairing birth defects in the womb. Inserting a tiny laser into the mother's uterus to seal off an abnormal blood flow and save fetal twins. Advancing the science that may allow doctors to deliver cells or DNA to treat sickle cell anemia and other genetic diseases before birth.

Orange peels, newspapers may lead to cheaper, cleaner ethanol fuel Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Scientists may have just made the breakthrough of a lifetime, turning discarded fruit peels and other throwaways into cheap, clean fuel to power the world's vehicles.

How far should neuroscience evidence go in court trials? Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Although MRI scans showing a malfunctioning brain could conjure empathy and a finding of innocence for a criminal defendant, they might just as well lead jurors and judges to opt for convictions and long sentences, the law professor says.

Minor variations in one gene may be associated with endurance running Posted: 21 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST A few minor variations in one gene may make a difference in athletic endurance, according to a new study.

Cellular mechanism that protects against disease discovered Posted: 21 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new mechanism within human cells that constantly protects us against disease.

New material mimics bone to create better biomedical implants Posted: 21 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST A "metal foam" that has a similar elasticity to bone could mean a new generation of biomedical implants that would avoid bone rejection that often results from more rigid implant materials, such as titanium. Researchers have developed the metal foam, which is even lighter than solid aluminum and can be made of 100 percent steel or a combination of steel and aluminum.

Heart failure worse when right ventricle goes bad, study suggests Posted: 21 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST New research suggests that the ability of right side of the heart to pump blood may be an indication of the risk of death to heart-failure patients whose condition is caused by low function by the left side of their heart.

NASA's WISE Mission Releases Medley of First Images Posted: 21 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST A diverse cast of cosmic characters is showcased in the first survey images NASA from its Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE.

What model organisms can teach us about emotion Posted: 21 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Studies of model organisms such as mice and fruit flies can improve scientists' understanding of the neural basis of emotion, according to one researcher.

Warmer planet temperatures could cause longer-lasting weather patterns Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Although stagnant weather patterns are often difficult to predict, researchers are now studying whether increasing planet temperatures and carbon dioxide levels could lead to atmospheric blocking and when this blocking might occur, leading to more accurate forecasts.

Critical enzyme in healthy heart function identified Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Scientists are reporting the first-ever data to show that the enzyme calcineurin is critical in controlling normal development and function of heart cells, and that loss of the protein leads to heart problems and death in genetically modified mice. The study demonstrates that calcineurin in hearts of mice is directly linked to proper cardiac muscle contraction, rhythm and maintenance of heart activity.

Discovery of nutrient 'mining machine' in plants Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered which genes control the specialized nutrient mining machine that develops on the surface of plant roots. The discovery could help breeders develop crops that can grow on poor soils with low iron and phosphate.

Cell-cell interactions adapt to the stiffness of the environment Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST The ability of tissue cells to stick to one another is critical for many physiological and pathological processes. Now, a new study provides intriguing insight into how mechanical interaction with the external environment influences cell shape and the forces generated by a cell's internal "skeleton."

Seeds from the Moringa tree can be used for water purification, study suggests Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Pure water is a key requirement for good health and alternative cheap, safe methods are required in many countries. Researchers have now described how extracts from seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree can be used for water purification.

Parents still major influence on child’s decision to pursue science careers Posted: 21 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Parental influence and access to mathematics courses are likely to guide students to careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine, according to new research.

Global warming may hurt some poor populations, benefit others Posted: 19 Feb 2010 09:00 PM PST The impact of global warming on food prices and hunger could be large over the next 20 years. But even as some poor populations are hurt, others would be helped out of poverty, according to a new Stanford University study.

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