ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• 'Missing link' fossil was not human ancestor as claimed, anthropologists say
• Secondhand smoke raises risk of hardened arteries among 13-year-olds
• 'Pompeii-like' excavations tell us more about Toba super-eruption
• Cocaine-related deaths rise in warm weather, study finds
• Red tide: Researchers issue outlook for a significant New England bloom of a toxic alga in 2010
• Health care volunteers and disasters: First, be prepared
• Mass loss from Alaskan glaciers overestimated? Previous melt contributed a third less to sea-level rise than estimated
• Alzheimer's-associated protein may be part of the innate immune system
• Pregnancy weight gain may increase a woman's risk of gestational diabetes
• Where will the next food crisis strike? Extended geographical monitoring using satellite observation
• Hours worked by physicians have decreased steadily in last decade
• Baby monkeys receive signals through their mother's breast milk that affect behavior and temperament
• Common osteoporosis drugs are associated with a decrease in risk of breast cancer, study finds
• Imaging studies reveal order in programmed cell death
• Sepsis and pneumonia caused by hospital-acquired infections kill 48,000 patients, cost $8.1 billion to treat
• Strategies to curb urban heat island
• Challenges and opportunities facing stem cell scientists
• Learning keeps brain healthy: Mental activity could stave off age-related cognitive and memory decline
• Exercise counters negative effects of weight regain, researchers find
• Leaf veins inspire a new model for distribution networks
• Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy associated with survival in select breast cancer patients
• Marine spatial planning: A more balanced approach to ocean management
• More efficient methods of food-recall notices needed, expert urges
• Hangover-free booze? Increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcohol may reduce negative side effects
• Long-time cannabis use associated with psychosis
• ECG testing of young athletes cost-effective in preventing deaths, study shows
• Anterior cingulate cortex activity may represent a neurobiological risk for alcohol dependence
• Making light work of home grooming
• HIV and noncommunicable diseases hinder the progress of poor countries' Millennium Development Goals
• Software sniffs out criminals by the shape of their nose
• Offspring of two psychiatric patients have increased risk of developing mental disorders
• Teens with more screen time have lower-quality relationships
• Fluorescence monitoring and effect of photodynamic therapy for port wine stains
• Genetic footprint of natural selection
• Having greater purpose in life associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease
• NASA radar finds ice deposits at Moon's north pole; additional evidence of water activity on Moon
• Weight-loss diets may reverse atherosclerosis in obese, overweight people
• Women need clot-busting therapy after stroke
• New device for ultrafast optical communications
• Obesity associated with depression and vice versa
• Giant stone head of ancient Egypt's King Amenhotep III discovered

'Missing link' fossil was not human ancestor as claimed, anthropologists say Posted: 03 Mar 2010 08:00 AM PST A fossil that was celebrated last year as a possible "missing link" between humans and early primates is actually a forebear of modern-day lemurs and lorises, according new research.

Secondhand smoke raises risk of hardened arteries among 13-year-olds Posted: 03 Mar 2010 08:00 AM PST Frequent exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among 13-year-olds is associated with an increased risk of future blood vessel hardening and greater risks of other heart disease factors, according to new research.

'Pompeii-like' excavations tell us more about Toba super-eruption Posted: 03 Mar 2010 08:00 AM PST Newly discovered archaeological sites in southern and northern India have revealed how people lived before and after the colossal Toba volcanic eruption 74,000 years ago.

Cocaine-related deaths rise in warm weather, study finds Posted: 03 Mar 2010 08:00 AM PST Researchers in the United States have discovered that accidental overdose deaths involving cocaine rise when the average weekly ambient temperature passes 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit).

Red tide: Researchers issue outlook for a significant New England bloom of a toxic alga in 2010 Posted: 03 Mar 2010 08:00 AM PST Scientists have issued an outlook for a significant regional bloom of a toxic alga that can cause 'red tides' in the spring and summer of this year, potentially threatening the New England shellfish industry. This year's bloom could be similar to the major red tides of 2005 and 2008.

Health care volunteers and disasters: First, be prepared Posted: 03 Mar 2010 08:00 AM PST A surge in volunteers following a major disaster can overwhelm a response system, and without overall coordination, can actually make a situation worse instead of better. The outpouring of medical volunteers who responded to the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti in January provides a roadmap for health care providers during future disasters, say the authors of a new article.

Mass loss from Alaskan glaciers overestimated? Previous melt contributed a third less to sea-level rise than estimated Posted: 03 Mar 2010 05:00 AM PST The melting of glaciers is well documented, but when looking at the rate at which they have been retreating, a team of international researchers steps back and says not so fast. Previous studies have largely overestimated mass loss from Alaskan glaciers over the past 40-plus years, according to a new study that recalculates glacier melt in Alaska.

Alzheimer's-associated protein may be part of the innate immune system Posted: 03 Mar 2010 05:00 AM PST Amyloid-beta protein -- the primary constituent of the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients -- may be part of the body's first-line system to defend against infection. In a new study, researchers describe evidence that amyloid-beta protein is an antimicrobial peptide, part of the innate immune system.

Pregnancy weight gain may increase a woman's risk of gestational diabetes Posted: 03 Mar 2010 05:00 AM PST Women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, may increase their risk of developing diabetes later in their pregnancy, according to a new study.

Where will the next food crisis strike? Extended geographical monitoring using satellite observation Posted: 03 Mar 2010 05:00 AM PST Satellite observation is the key instrument that will allow to double in 2010 the number of countries monitored in real time for detecting first indications of adverse agricultural outcomes. The new Integrated Phase Classification system facilitates and accelerates the reaction time to food security crises by allowing a common and internationally recognized classification of their severity.

Hours worked by physicians have decreased steadily in last decade Posted: 03 Mar 2010 05:00 AM PST After remaining stable for 2 decades, the average hours worked per week by physicians decreased by about 7 percent between 1996 and 2008, according to a study in the February 24 issue of JAMA.

Baby monkeys receive signals through their mother's breast milk that affect behavior and temperament Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:00 AM PST Among rhesus macaque monkeys, mothers who weigh more and have had previous pregnancies produce more and better breast milk for their babies than mothers who weigh less and are less experienced. Scientists are using this natural variation in breast milk quality and quantity to show that a mother's milk sends a reliable signal to infants about their environment. This signal may program the infant's behavior and temperament.

Common osteoporosis drugs are associated with a decrease in risk of breast cancer, study finds Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:00 AM PST Women who take some types of bone-building drugs used to prevent and treat osteoporosis may be at lower risk of breast cancer, according to a new study.

Imaging studies reveal order in programmed cell death Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:00 AM PST Every day, about 10 billion cells in a human body commit suicide. Cells infected by virus, that are transformed or otherwise dysfunctional altruistically sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Now, new imaging experiments have revealed a previously unseen order to this process, showing closely related cells dying in synchrony as a wave of destruction sweeps across their mitochondria, snuffing out the main source of energy that keeps cells alive.

Sepsis and pneumonia caused by hospital-acquired infections kill 48,000 patients, cost $8.1 billion to treat Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:00 AM PST Two common conditions caused by hospital-acquired infections killed 48,000 people and ramped up health care costs by $8.1 billion in 2006 alone, according to a new study. This is the largest nationally representative study to date of the toll taken by sepsis and pneumonia, two conditions often caused by deadly microbes, including the antibiotic-resistant bacteria MRSA. Such infections can lead to longer hospital stays, serious complications and even death.

Strategies to curb urban heat island Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:00 AM PST Protect yourself from the summer sun is good advice to children who want to play outside on a hot summer day and it is good advice to cities as a way to mitigate the phenomenon known as urban heat island, according to experts.

Challenges and opportunities facing stem cell scientists Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:00 AM PST What is the current climate facing stem cell researchers in the United States? Do induced pluripotent stem cells have the same potential therapeutic utility as human embryonic stem cells? These are among some of the questions addressed by experts at a recent panel discussion.

Learning keeps brain healthy: Mental activity could stave off age-related cognitive and memory decline Posted: 02 Mar 2010 11:00 PM PST Neurobiologists are providing the first visual evidence that learning promotes brain health -- and, therefore, that mental stimulation could limit the debilitating effects of aging on memory and the mind.

Exercise counters negative effects of weight regain, researchers find Posted: 02 Mar 2010 11:00 PM PST Losing weight can improve health and reduce disease risk, but many people have difficulty keeping the weight off. Now, researchers have found that exercising during weight regain can maintain improvements in metabolic health and disease risk. In the study, individuals who didn't exercise during weight regain experienced significant deterioration in metabolic health, while those who exercised maintained improvements in almost all areas.

Leaf veins inspire a new model for distribution networks Posted: 02 Mar 2010 11:00 PM PST A straight line may be the shortest path from A to B, but it's not always the most reliable or efficient way to go. In fact, depending on what's traveling where, the best route may run in circles, according to a new model that bucks decades of theorizing on the subject. A team of biophysicists have developed a mathematical model showing that complex sets of interconnecting loops -- like the netted veins that transport water in a leaf -- provide the best distribution network for supplying fluctuating loads to varying parts of the system. It also shows that such a network can best handle damage.

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy associated with survival in select breast cancer patients Posted: 02 Mar 2010 11:00 PM PST Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, a preventive procedure to remove the unaffected breast in patients with disease in one breast, may only offer a survival benefit to breast cancer patients age 50 and younger, who have early-stage disease and are estrogen receptor negative, according to researchers.

Marine spatial planning: A more balanced approach to ocean management Posted: 02 Mar 2010 11:00 PM PST The old balkanized approach to ocean management, in which different resources and activities are governed by different laws and agencies, has failed to protect ocean ecosystems or reduce conflicts between ocean users, a panel of international scientists says. It should be replaced with a more balanced approach using marine spatial planning.

More efficient methods of food-recall notices needed, expert urges Posted: 02 Mar 2010 11:00 PM PST Consumers need faster, more efficient ways of being notified when there is a recall of food products, according to one Michigan expert.

Hangover-free booze? Increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcohol may reduce negative side effects Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:00 PM PST Oxygen for ethanol oxidation is normally supplied through breathing, the stomach, and the skin. A new study has found that increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcohol may help to reduce alcohol-related side effects and accidents.

Long-time cannabis use associated with psychosis Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:00 PM PST Young adults who have used cannabis or marijuana for a longer period of time appear more likely to have hallucinations or delusions or to meet criteria for psychosis, according to a new study.

ECG testing of young athletes cost-effective in preventing deaths, study shows Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:00 PM PST Routine testing of the hearts of young American athletes using electrocardiograms to screen for sudden death is "reasonable in cost and effective at saving lives," according to a new study by cardiologists.

Anterior cingulate cortex activity may represent a neurobiological risk for alcohol dependence Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:00 PM PST Activation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been associated with risk factors for alcohol use disorders in adolescents. A new study has used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine ACC activity among adults. The increased ACC activation found during a working-memory task among alcohol-dependent participants may be an indicator of less control over alcohol-consuming behavior.

Making light work of home grooming Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:00 PM PST Scientists recently assessed the light emitted by a home-use intense-pulsed light (IPL) hair reduction system and confirmed that it is safe. This confirmation is important, as IPL devices must meet the necessary safety guidelines, to ensure users are protected in the case of accidental exposure to the human eye.

HIV and noncommunicable diseases hinder the progress of poor countries' Millennium Development Goals Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:00 PM PST Problems controlling common diseases like HIV, heart disease and diabetes in poor countries could be hindering efforts to meet the world's key child health and tuberculosis goals, a new study has warned.

Software sniffs out criminals by the shape of their nose Posted: 02 Mar 2010 05:00 PM PST Forget iris and fingerprint scans -- scanning noses could be a quicker and easier way to verify a person's identity, according to scientists in the UK.

Offspring of two psychiatric patients have increased risk of developing mental disorders Posted: 02 Mar 2010 05:00 PM PST Offspring of two parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder appear more likely to develop the same illness or another psychiatric condition than those with only one parent with psychiatric illness, according to a new study.

Teens with more screen time have lower-quality relationships Posted: 02 Mar 2010 05:00 PM PST Teens who spend more time watching television or using computers appear to have poorer relationships with their parents and peers, according to new study.

Fluorescence monitoring and effect of photodynamic therapy for port wine stains Posted: 02 Mar 2010 05:00 PM PST It is known that fluctuations in the treatment outcome of photodynamic therapy between patients are related to the concentration of photosensitizer in target tissue. Researchers recently carried out a study in order to establish a fluorescence method not only providing a semi-quantitative measurement of photosensitizer concentration but also predicting the efficacy of PDT for port wine stains.

Genetic footprint of natural selection Posted: 02 Mar 2010 05:00 PM PST A further step has been taken towards our understanding of natural selection. Scientists in France have shown that humans, and some of their primate cousins, have a common genetic footprint -- i.e., a set of genes which natural selection has often tended to act upon during the past 200,000 years. This study has also been able to isolate a group of genes that distinguish us from our cousins the great apes.

Having greater purpose in life associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 02 Mar 2010 05:00 PM PST Individuals who report having greater purpose in their lives appear less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or its precursor, mild cognitive impairment, according to a new study.

NASA radar finds ice deposits at Moon's north pole; additional evidence of water activity on Moon Posted: 02 Mar 2010 02:00 PM PST Using data from a NASA radar that flew aboard India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, scientists have detected ice deposits near the moon's north pole. NASA's Mini-SAR instrument, a lightweight, synthetic aperture radar, found more than 40 small craters with water ice. The craters range in size from 1 to 9 miles (2 to15 km) in diameter. Although the total amount of ice depends on its thickness in each crater, it's estimated there could be at least 600 million metric tons of water ice.

Weight-loss diets may reverse atherosclerosis in obese, overweight people Posted: 02 Mar 2010 02:00 PM PST A low-carbohydrate diet, a low-fat diet and the Mediterranean diet were equally effective in helping obese people to reverse carotid atherosclerosis after losing moderate amounts of weight and improving their blood pressure, in a new study.

Women need clot-busting therapy after stroke Posted: 02 Mar 2010 02:00 PM PST New research shows women who don't receive a clot-busting drug after a stroke fare worse than men who are not treated.

New device for ultrafast optical communications Posted: 02 Mar 2010 02:00 PM PST A new device invented by engineers in California could make it much faster to convert pulses of light into electronic signals and back again. The technology could be applied to ultrafast, high-capacity communications, imaging of the Earth's surface and for encrypting secure messages.

Obesity associated with depression and vice versa Posted: 02 Mar 2010 02:00 PM PST Obesity appears to be associated with an increased risk of depression, and depression also appears associated with an increased risk of developing obesity, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies.

Giant stone head of ancient Egypt's King Amenhotep III discovered Posted: 02 Mar 2010 11:00 AM PST A colossal red granite head of ancient Egypt's King Amenhotep III (circa 1390-1352 BC) has been discovered in his funerary temple of the Kom El-Hettan area on Luxor's West Bank.

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