ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Surprise! Neural mechanism may underlie an enhanced memory for the unexpected
• Suffocating head lice works in new treatment
• Brightest star-forming region in Small Magellanic Cloud
• Children can have recurrent strokes
• NASA unveils new space-weather science tool
• Single men, unhappily married men may have higher risk of fatal stroke
• Torn apart by its own tides, massive planet is on a 'death march'
• Potential rehabilitation following 'mini stroke'
• Laser surgery technique gets new life in art restoration
• Urine protein test might help diagnose kidney damage from lupus
• Biotech, nanotech and synthetic biology roles in future food supply explored
• TV ads may be more effective if we pay less attention
• Genetic link between misery and death discovered; novel strategy probes 'genetic haystack'
• Drug delivery breakthrough: Vehicle that can carry drugs to a specific organelle inside the cell
• More frequent fires could aid ecosystems
• Clot-busting drugs effective in patients with unwitnessed strokes
• Chemical element 112 is officially named 'Copernicium'
• Psychiatry's main method to prevent mistaken diagnoses of depression doesn't work: study
• African pygmy mice: Females are XY ... researchers find out why
• Research builds on genetic link to autism and schizophrenia
• Asteroid astronomers get unprecedented amount of telescope time
• New tool developed to help guide pancreatic cyst treatment
• Toxicity of antimicrobial silver in products can be reduced
• Technology and culture determine our view of the brain
• More tropical cyclones in past could play role in warmer future
• Total fat, trans fat linked to higher incidence of ischemic stroke
• More evidence on benefits of high blood pressure drugs in diabetic eye disease
• HIV drug resistance lasts about one year in women treated with nevirapine to prevent infant infection, study suggests
• Deluge of scientific data needs to be curated for long-term use
• 2010 Winter Olympics case study: Confronting infectious disease threats at large-scale international events
• Genes responsible for ability to recognize faces
• Risk of stillbirth is four times higher after IVF/ICSI compared to spontaneous pregnancies
• First images from European Space Agency's water mission
• Combined mammography and breast MRI useful for some high-risk women
• When cars go to driving school
• Few professionals keep current, Swedish study finds
• Scientists find first physiological evidence of brain's response to inequality
• Modified adult stem cells may be helpful in spinal cord injury
• Sound of melanoma: Ultrasound can help doctors find cancer more accurately
• How estrogen can interfere with chemotherapy's fight against breast cancer
• Stressed nanomaterials display unexpected movement
• Hospitalization linked to likelihood of cognitive decline for older adults
• Stem cells restore sight in mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa
• Gene mutation is linked to autism-like symptoms in mice, researchers find
• Temperature Trackers Watch Our Watery World Wax and Wane
• New cardiac CT technology drastically reduces patient radiation exposure
• Small family farms in tropics can feed the hungry and preserve biodiversity
• Liberals and atheists smarter? Intelligent people have values novel in human evolutionary history, study finds

Surprise! Neural mechanism may underlie an enhanced memory for the unexpected Posted: 25 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST The human brain excels at using past experiences to make predictions about the future. However, the world around us is constantly changing, and new events often violate our logical expectations. Researchers have discovered that unexpected stimuli enhanced an early and a late electrical potential in the hippocampus and the late signal was associated with a memory for the unexpected picture.

Suffocating head lice works in new treatment Posted: 25 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST A new non-neurotoxic treatment for head lice has been found to have an average of 91.2 percent treatment success rate after one week, and to be safe in humans from six months of age and up.

Brightest star-forming region in Small Magellanic Cloud Posted: 25 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST Astronomers have taken a dramatic new image of NGC 346, the brightest star-forming region in our neighboring galaxy, the Small Magellanic Cloud, 210,000 light-years away towards the constellation of Tucana (the Toucan). The light, wind and heat given off by massive stars have dispersed the glowing gas within and around this star cluster, forming a surrounding wispy nebular structure that looks like a cobweb.

Children can have recurrent strokes Posted: 25 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST Children can have strokes, and the strokes can recur, usually within a month, according to pediatric researchers. Unfortunately, the strokes often go unrecognized the first time, and the child does not receive treatment before the recurrence.

NASA unveils new space-weather science tool Posted: 25 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST When NASA's satellite operators need accurate, real-time space-weather information, they turn to the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) of the Space Weather Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The CCMC's newest and most advanced space-weather science tool is the Integrated Space Weather Analysis system.

Single men, unhappily married men may have higher risk of fatal stroke Posted: 25 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST Single men and unhappily married men may face a higher risk of fatal stroke in later decades compared to happily married men. The data were taken from interviews done in Israel in the 1960s and follow-up through 1997. It did not include women.

Torn apart by its own tides, massive planet is on a 'death march' Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Astrophysicists have determined that a massive planet outside our Solar System is being distorted and destroyed by its host star -- a finding that helps explain the unexpectedly large size of the planet, WASP-12b. It's a discovery that not only explains what's happening to WASP-12b; it also means scientists have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to observe how a planet enters this final stage of its life.

Potential rehabilitation following 'mini stroke' Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Researchers found that a modified version of cardiac rehabilitation was effective at reducing some symptoms of stroke in just six weeks following a transient ischemic attack (TIA) often referred to as "mini strokes." No post-TIA regimen exists to help prevent future strokes -- something that researchers say needs to change.

Laser surgery technique gets new life in art restoration Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST A laser technique best known for its use to remove unwanted tattoos from the skin is finding a second life in preserving great sculptures, paintings and other works of art. The technique, called laser ablation, involves removing material from a solid surface by vaporizing the material with a laser beam.

Urine protein test might help diagnose kidney damage from lupus Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Simple urine tests for four proteins might be able to detect early kidney disease in people with lupus, researchers have found in an animal study.

Biotech, nanotech and synthetic biology roles in future food supply explored Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Some say the world's population will swell to 9 billion people by 2030, presenting significant challenges for agriculture to provide enough food to meet demand. Scientists explore ways biotechnology could provide healthy and plentiful animal-based foods to meet future demands.

TV ads may be more effective if we pay less attention Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Viewers pay less attention to creative television adverts, shows new research from the UK, but may make themselves more vulnerable to the advertiser's message.

Genetic link between misery and death discovered; novel strategy probes 'genetic haystack' Posted: 25 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered what they describe as a biochemical link between misery and death, and in addition found a specific genetic variation that seems to break that link. Additionally, they have developed a computer model of gene-environment interactions to more efficiently probe the "genetic haystack."

Drug delivery breakthrough: Vehicle that can carry drugs to a specific organelle inside the cell Posted: 25 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST A team of scientists has got a step closer to one of the holy grails of drug delivery. The goal -- to find a vehicle that can carry drugs not just to a specific cell but a specific organ (organelle) inside the cell, and accurately measure how it behaves when it gets there -- has proved elusive despite two decades of research.

More frequent fires could aid ecosystems Posted: 25 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST With a changing climate there's a good chance that forest fires in the Pacific Northwest will become larger and more frequent -- and according to one expert speaking today at a professional conference, that's just fine. It will ultimately be good for forest health.

Clot-busting drugs effective in patients with unwitnessed strokes Posted: 25 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST When stroke symptom onset is unknown, basing emergency clot-busting treatment on the time patients were last seen normal may be beneficial. Clot-busting drugs are only recommended for stroke patients within three to 4.5 hours of symptom onset.

Chemical element 112 is officially named 'Copernicium' Posted: 25 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST The heaviest recognized chemical element with the atomic number 112 was discovered at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung and -- since February 19, 2010, -- officially carries the name copernicium and the chemical symbol "Cn". The name was approved and officially announced today by the international union for chemistry IUPAC. The name "Copernicium" honors scientist and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

Psychiatry's main method to prevent mistaken diagnoses of depression doesn't work: study Posted: 25 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST A new empirically challenges the effectiveness of psychiatrists' official diagnostic manual in preventing mistaken, false-positive diagnoses of depression.

African pygmy mice: Females are XY ... researchers find out why Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST In a great majority of cases, the Y chromosome determines sex in mammals. The African pygmy mouse M. minutoides is an exception to this rule. In this species, which is a close relative of the house mouse, it is the X chromosome that determines sex. Researchers in France have just identified this unexpected case of sex determination. These scientists have demonstrated a particular chromosomal rearrangement on the X chromosome of this mouse. This work should provide a clearer understanding of how classic sex determination functions in mammals.

Research builds on genetic link to autism and schizophrenia Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST A genetic link between schizophrenia and autism is enabling researchers to study the effectiveness of drugs used to treat both illnesses.

Asteroid astronomers get unprecedented amount of telescope time Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST UK planetary science will be among those to benefit from an exceptional award of 82 nights of European Southern Observatory (ESO) telescope time made to an international team of astronomers. The team will study how near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) react to a phenomenon known as the YORP effect.

New tool developed to help guide pancreatic cyst treatment Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST A research team has developed an evaluation tool to help guide asymptomatic pancreatic cyst treatment. The tool takes into account overall health, age, cyst size, surgical risk and patients' views about quality of life.

Toxicity of antimicrobial silver in products can be reduced Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Chemists in Finland have managed to manufacture new polymer-stabilized silver nanoparticles. The result is significant because the antimicrobial characteristics of silver are used in textiles, floor coatings and paints even though the impact on health of silver nanoparticles are not entirely known. Researchers now think that exposure to silver can be reduced by chemically binding the nanoparticles to polymers.

Technology and culture determine our view of the brain Posted: 25 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST What does the brain look like? What do we really know about our brains? For centuries, we've been telling ourselves time and again that we now have an objective view of our brains. However, objectivity depends on technological developments, human actions and social and cultural factors, to name but a few.

More tropical cyclones in past could play role in warmer future Posted: 24 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST More frequent tropical cyclones in Earth's ancient past contributed to persistent El Niño-like conditions, according to a team of climate scientists. Their findings could have implications for the planet's future as global temperatures continue to rise due to climate change.

Total fat, trans fat linked to higher incidence of ischemic stroke Posted: 24 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Post-menopausal women who ate the most daily dietary fat had a 40 percent higher incidence of ischemic stroke compared to those who consumed the least. In addition, high trans fat consumption was associated with a 30 percent increase in the incidence of stroke caused by blockages in the brain.

More evidence on benefits of high blood pressure drugs in diabetic eye disease Posted: 24 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Scientists in Massachusetts are reporting new evidence that certain high blood pressure drugs may be useful in preventing and treating diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. The study, the largest to date on proteins in the retina, could lead to new ways to prevent or treat the sight-threatening disease, they say.

HIV drug resistance lasts about one year in women treated with nevirapine to prevent infant infection, study suggests Posted: 24 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST A new study confirms that a single dose of nevirapine (sdNVP) can lead to HIV treatment failure in women who receive the drug to prevent transmission of the AIDS virus to their infants. However, the increased risk of failure could only be detected in women who began full HIV treatment within about a year after receiving sdNVP.

Deluge of scientific data needs to be curated for long-term use Posted: 24 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST A professor of library and information science says that data curation -- the active and ongoing management of data through their lifecycle of interest to science -- is an important part of supporting and advancing scientific research.

2010 Winter Olympics case study: Confronting infectious disease threats at large-scale international events Posted: 24 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Integrating real-time Internet-based infectious disease surveillance with knowledge of worldwide air traffic patterns could help in confronting infectious disease threats at mass gatherings, such as the Olympics and other large scale events, suggests a new article.

Genes responsible for ability to recognize faces Posted: 24 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST The ability to recognize faces is largely determined by your genes, according to new research. Scientists found that identical twins were twice as similar to each other in terms of their ability to recognize faces, compared to non-identical twins. Researchers also found that the genetic effects that allow people to recognize faces are linked to a highly specific mechanism in the brain, unrelated to other brain processes such as the ability to recognize words or abstract art.

Risk of stillbirth is four times higher after IVF/ICSI compared to spontaneous pregnancies Posted: 24 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Women who become pregnant with a single fetus after in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have an increased risk of a stillbirth, according to new research. The study of over 20,000 singleton pregnancies found a four-fold increased risk of stillbirths for women who had IVF/ICSI compared with women who conceived spontaneously or after fertility treatment that did not involve IVF or ICSI.

First images from European Space Agency's water mission Posted: 24 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST In less than four months since launch, the first calibrated images are being delivered by the European Space Agency's SMOS mission. These images of 'brightness temperature' translate into clear information on global variations of soil moisture and ocean salinity to advance our understanding of the water cycle.

Combined mammography and breast MRI useful for some high-risk women Posted: 24 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Annual breast cancer screening with both mammography and magnetic resonance imaging is likely to be a cost-effective way to improve life expectancy in women with an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a new study.

When cars go to driving school Posted: 24 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Posh cars already learn how you like your seat and steering wheel adjusted. The next generation of cars may be smart enough to learn how you drive and warn you when you're not driving safely.

Few professionals keep current, Swedish study finds Posted: 24 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Researchers have looked at how professionals in different occupational groups seek and use information and keep updated after finishing their education. The results show that teachers seek information they can use in their own teaching and that librarians focus on helping library users find information, while nurses just don't have the time.

Scientists find first physiological evidence of brain's response to inequality Posted: 24 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST The human brain is a big believer in equality -- and a team of scientists has become the first to gather the images to prove it. Specifically, the team found that the reward centers in the human brain respond more strongly when a poor person receives a financial reward than when a rich person does.

Modified adult stem cells may be helpful in spinal cord injury Posted: 24 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST Researchers have demonstrated in rats that transplanting genetically modified adult stem cells into an injured spinal cord can help restore the electrical pathways associated with movement.

Sound of melanoma: Ultrasound can help doctors find cancer more accurately Posted: 24 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST Researchers are studying how photoacoustics, or a laser-induced ultrasound, could help scientists locate the general area of the lymph node where melanoma cells could be residing. This new technology could help doctors identify the stage of melanoma with more accuracy.

How estrogen can interfere with chemotherapy's fight against breast cancer Posted: 24 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST A new study looks at the ways in which estrogen can interfere with how chemotherapy does its job in destroying breast cancer cells.

Stressed nanomaterials display unexpected movement Posted: 24 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered that, under the right conditions, newly developed nanocrystalline materials exhibit surprising activity in the tiny spaces between the geometric clusters of atoms called nanocrystals from which they are made.

Hospitalization linked to likelihood of cognitive decline for older adults Posted: 24 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST Older patients hospitalized for acute care or a critical illness are more likely to experience cognitive decline compared to older adults who are not hospitalized, according to a new study.

Stem cells restore sight in mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa Posted: 24 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Scientists have successfully used mouse embryonic stem cells to replace diseased retinal cells and restore sight in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. This strategy could potentially become a new treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, a leading cause of blindness that affects approximately one in 3,000 to 4,000 people, or 1.5 million people worldwide.

Gene mutation is linked to autism-like symptoms in mice, researchers find Posted: 24 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST When a gene implicated in human autism is disabled in mice, the rodents show learning problems and obsessive, repetitive behaviors, researchers have found.

Temperature Trackers Watch Our Watery World Wax and Wane Posted: 24 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Climatologists have long known that human-produced greenhouse gases have been the dominant drivers of Earth's observed warming since the start of the Industrial Revolution. But other factors also affect our planet's temperature. Of these, the ocean plays a dominant role. Its effects helped nudge global temperatures slightly higher in 2009, and, according to NASA scientists, could well contribute to making 2010 the warmest year on record.

New cardiac CT technology drastically reduces patient radiation exposure Posted: 24 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Researchers have determined that an imaging exam of the heart using the latest generation of CT technology exposes patients to as much as 91 percent less radiation than standard helical CT scanning.

Small family farms in tropics can feed the hungry and preserve biodiversity Posted: 24 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Conventional wisdom among many ecologists is that industrial-scale agriculture is the best way to produce lots of food while preserving biodiversity in the world's remaining tropical forests. But some researchers reject that idea and argue that small, family-owned farms may provide a better way to meet both goals.

Liberals and atheists smarter? Intelligent people have values novel in human evolutionary history, study finds Posted: 24 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Higher intelligence is associated with liberal political ideology, atheism, and men's (but not women's) preference for sexual exclusivity. More intelligent people are statistically more likely to exhibit social values and religious and political preferences that are novel to human evolution. Specifically, liberalism and atheism, and for men (but not women), preference for sexual exclusivity correlate with higher intelligence, a new study finds.

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