ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Creepy crawly cockroach ancestor revealed in new 3-D model
• Is cleanliness to blame for increasing allergies?
• Deepest core drilled from Antarctic Peninsula; may contain glacial stage ice
• Childhood obesity linked to stiff arteries
• High-performance computing reveals missing genes
• Fear of getting fat seen in healthy women's brain scans
• Giant natural particle accelerator above thunderclouds
• Gene identified for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
• Only known living population of rare dwarf lemur discovered
• Lack of omega-6 fatty acid linked to severe dermatitis
• Ice Age climate change did not pose significant challenges to first Americans, study suggests
• Blinded by jealousy?
• New material is a breakthrough in magnetism; Step closer to 'magnetic monopole'
• Wide variation found in those infected by H1N1
• DNA analysis suggests whale meat from sushi restaurants in L.A., Seoul originated from Japan
• New tool to help study prostate cancer developed
• Fats for health and beauty: Giving soybean oil a new role in serving society
• Tobacco policies: Smoking bans reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and reduce heart attacks, review finds
• Solar explosion tracked all the way from the Sun to Earth
• Diet alone will not likely lead to significant weight loss, study suggests
• What should goldenrod do to avoid an insect attack? Duck!
• Duffy-negative blood types no longer protected from P. Vivax malaria
• Household pesticide labels lack details on safe use
• Hospital admissions dropped after anti-smoking legislation in place
• Investigational immune intervention slows brain shrinkage in Alzheimer's patients
• Advancing age associated with increased risk of complications, death after implantation of cardiac devices
• Exotic flowers help bees stay busy in winter
• Targeting vascular disease linked to cancer-causing gene mutation
• Measuring global water vapor and formaldehyde
• Dying cancer patient visits to emergency departments can be avoided
• How the sea snake got its stripes
• Small molecule targets B cell lymphoma
• Assessing antibiotic breakdown in manure
• Aluminum adjuvants in vaccinations: How do they really work?
• People living in communities near oil sands can breathe easy, study finds
• Recent research on memory, learning
• Life on Saturn's moon Titan: Stand well back and hold your nose!
• New pathway involved in rheumatoid arthritis identified
• LOFAR opens up the low-frequency universe -- and starts a new SETI search
• New understanding of protein's role in brain
• Impact of antibiotic treatments on bacteria in the intestines of animals
• Depression affects how women with PMDD respond to stress, pain
• Anti-aging hormones: Little or no benefit and the risks are high, according to experts
• Traumatized trees: Bug them enough, they get fired up
• Hepatitis A virus: Recent advances for improving treatment strategies
• Synthetic peptide may enhance lung transplantation
• Guidelines issued on when people with Alzheimer's disease should stop driving

Creepy crawly cockroach ancestor revealed in new 3-D model Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT An early ancestor of the cockroach that lived around 300 million years ago is unveiled in unprecedented detail in a new three-dimensional "virtual fossil" model.

Is cleanliness to blame for increasing allergies? Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Allergies have become a widespread in developed countries: hay fever, eczema, hives and asthma are all increasingly prevalent. The reason? Excessive cleanliness is to blame, according to one expert.

Deepest core drilled from Antarctic Peninsula; may contain glacial stage ice Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT A new core drilled through an ice field on the Antarctic Peninsula may contain ice dating back into the last ice age. If so, that record should give new insight into past global climate changes. The expedition in early winter to the Bruce Plateau, an ice field straddling a narrow ridge on the northernmost tongue of the southernmost continent, yielded a core that was 445.6 meters (1,462 feet) long, the longest yet recovered from that region of Antarctica.

Childhood obesity linked to stiff arteries Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Children with more body fat and less endurance than their fitter, leaner counterparts have stiffer arteries at a young age, researchers said.

High-performance computing reveals missing genes Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have used high-performance computing to locate small genes that have been missed by scientists in their quest to define the microbial DNA sequences of life. Using an ephemeral supercomputer made up of computers from across the world, the mpiBLAST computational tool used by the researchers took only 12 hours instead of the 90 years it would have required if the work were performed on a standard personal computer.

Fear of getting fat seen in healthy women's brain scans Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT When healthy women see an image of an overweight stranger, it lights up a part of their brain that processes identity and self-reflection. These "sub-clinical" signs of body image discomfort may put women at greater risk for eating and mood disorders.

Giant natural particle accelerator above thunderclouds Posted: 14 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT A lightning researcher has discovered that during thunderstorms, giant natural particle accelerators can form 40 km above the surface of the Earth.

Gene identified for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy Posted: 14 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT A mutation in a brain protein gene may trigger irregular heart beat and sudden death in people with epilepsy, according to new research. People with epilepsy who are otherwise healthy are more than 10 times more likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than the general population.

Only known living population of rare dwarf lemur discovered Posted: 14 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered the world's only known living population of Sibree's Dwarf Lemur, a rare lemur known only in eastern Madagascar. Researchers discovered approximately a thousand of these lemurs.

Lack of omega-6 fatty acid linked to severe dermatitis Posted: 14 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have learned that a specific omega-6 fatty acid may be critical to maintaining skin health.

Ice Age climate change did not pose significant challenges to first Americans, study suggests Posted: 14 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Paleoindian groups occupied North America throughout the Younger Dryas interval, which saw a rapid return to glacial conditions approximately 11,000 years ago. Until now, it has been assumed that cooling temperatures and their impact on communities posed significant adaptive challenges to those groups. Two researchers suggest otherwise in their review of climatic and environmental records from this time period in continental North America.

Blinded by jealousy? Posted: 14 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Jealousy really is "blinding," according to a new study by psychology professors. They found women who were made to feel jealous were so distracted, they could not spot targets in a computer test.

New material is a breakthrough in magnetism; Step closer to 'magnetic monopole' Posted: 14 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Physicists have created a structure that acts like a single pole of a magnet, a feat that has evaded scientists for decades. The researchers say their new study takes them a step closer to isolating a 'magnetic monopole.'

Wide variation found in those infected by H1N1 Posted: 14 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT An analysis of blood samples taken before, during and after an epidemic wave of influenza A(H1N1) in Singapore in 2009 finds variation in infection risks and antibody levels, with younger age groups and military personnel having higher infection rates than other groups, according to a new study.

DNA analysis suggests whale meat from sushi restaurants in L.A., Seoul originated from Japan Posted: 14 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists, documentary filmmakers and environmental advocates have uncovered an apparent illegal trade in whale meat, linking whales killed in Japan's controversial scientific whaling program to sushi restaurants in Seoul, South Korea, and Los Angeles, Calif.

New tool to help study prostate cancer developed Posted: 14 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new method to better study the cells that line and protect the prostate in relation to the development of cancer. Using the model, they found that normal cells and cancer cells depend on different factors to survive, which could aid in discovering how to target cancer cells without affecting normal cells when developing treatments.

Fats for health and beauty: Giving soybean oil a new role in serving society Posted: 14 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have reported development of a new method for converting soybean oil into a highly effective bio-based sunscreen active ingredient that does not carry the potential health concerns of ingredients in some existing sunscreens. The new, natural sunscreen agent could replace petroleum-derived ingredients in a variety of personal-care products.

Tobacco policies: Smoking bans reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and reduce heart attacks, review finds Posted: 14 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT In countries and states that have introduced policies that restrict smoking in public, people have less exposure to secondhand smoke. There is also a reduction in the number of people who have heart attacks, as well as an improvement in other indicators of health, according to a new review.

Solar explosion tracked all the way from the Sun to Earth Posted: 14 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Solar and space scientists have built the most complete picture yet of the full impact of a large solar eruption, using instruments on the ground and in space to trace its journey from the Sun to Earth.

Diet alone will not likely lead to significant weight loss, study suggests Posted: 14 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Newly published research demonstrates that simply reducing caloric intake is not enough to promote significant weight loss.

What should goldenrod do to avoid an insect attack? Duck! Posted: 14 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Plants and herbivores have always been involved in a sort of arms race, and plants' defensive strategies commonly involve thorns, spines, and chemical toxins. But when certain flies are out looking for goldenrod to lay their eggs on, some goldenrod plants react in a seemingly rationale way: they duck.

Duffy-negative blood types no longer protected from P. Vivax malaria Posted: 14 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT In a paradigm changing discovery, Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria has been identified in a population historically thought to be resistant to the disease, those who do not express the Duffy blood group protein on their red blood cells, according to new research.

Household pesticide labels lack details on safe use Posted: 14 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Label directions for using some household pesticides are written in a way that may leave consumers with the impression that "if a little is good, more is better," according to a new study. As a result, consumers may use excessive amounts of pesticides that could subject family members and pets to increased exposures.

Hospital admissions dropped after anti-smoking legislation in place Posted: 14 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Since the implementation of anti-smoking legislation, hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions have decreased 39 percent and 33 percent respectively, according to new research.

Investigational immune intervention slows brain shrinkage in Alzheimer's patients Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT An investigational intervention using naturally occurring antibodies in human blood has preserved the thinking abilities of a group of mild- to moderate-stage Alzheimer's patients over 18 months and significantly reduced the rate of atrophy (shrinkage) of their brains, according to a new study.

Advancing age associated with increased risk of complications, death after implantation of cardiac devices Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Older patients may be more likely to die in the hospital following the implantation of defibrillators or pacemakers, according to a new report. More than one-fifth of cardiac devices appear to be implanted in individuals age 80 and older, despite the fact that most clinical trials have not included adults in this age group.

Exotic flowers help bees stay busy in winter Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Recent years have seen an unusual rise in the number of bees about in the cold winter months. Scientists have found that while most bees are hibernating, the buff-tailed bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, is out taking advantage of exotic winter-flowering plants in our gardens and parks.

Targeting vascular disease linked to cancer-causing gene mutation Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered how a genetic disease known mainly for its life-threatening tumors also can cause sudden death from cardiovascular disease in children, and are mounting a clinical trial to develop treatments for the problem.

Measuring global water vapor and formaldehyde Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Atmospheric water vapor is the most important natural greenhouse gas, accounting for about two-thirds of the natural greenhouse effect. Despite this importance, its role in climate and its reaction to climate change are still difficult to assess. Many details of the hydrological cycle are poorly understood, such as the process of cloud formation and the transport and release of latent heat contained in the water vapor. In contrast to other important greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, water vapor has a much higher temporal and spatial variability.

Dying cancer patient visits to emergency departments can be avoided Posted: 14 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Many visits by dying cancer patients to the emergency department can be avoided with effective palliative care, states a recent article. In Ontario, about 40 percent of cancer patients visit the emergency department in the last 2 weeks of life.

How the sea snake got its stripes Posted: 13 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT We all know that looks matter, and for snakes, a color which works well on land has dramatically different results under water, according to a recent study.

Small molecule targets B cell lymphoma Posted: 13 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Scientists are one step closer to developing a targeted therapy for lymphoma. New research identifies a specific small-molecule inhibitor that was nontoxic in animal experiments and could kill human lymphoma cells.

Assessing antibiotic breakdown in manure Posted: 13 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Agricultural scientists are studying how oxytetracycline, an antibiotic that is administered to animals, breaks down in cattle manure.

Aluminum adjuvants in vaccinations: How do they really work? Posted: 13 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT An new article by a leading researcher in the bioinorganic chemistry of aluminum explains how aluminum adjuvants work in boosting the immune response to vaccination.

People living in communities near oil sands can breathe easy, study finds Posted: 13 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT A researcher has found that despite ongoing oil sands development, people living in the communities near Alberta's oil sands should feel confident that the air they are breathing is safe.

Recent research on memory, learning Posted: 13 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Are we over estimating remembering and underestimating learning? In a recent study, people failed to predict that they would be able to remember more words after studying more.

Life on Saturn's moon Titan: Stand well back and hold your nose! Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT New research suggests that if life has evolved on the frozen surface of Saturn's moon, Titan, it would be strange, smelly and explosive compared to life on Earth.

New pathway involved in rheumatoid arthritis identified Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified a pathway involved in turning off inflammation that does not work properly in people with inflammatory arthritis. The finding could lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches to treating arthritis in the future.

LOFAR opens up the low-frequency universe -- and starts a new SETI search Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), a new pan-European radio astronomy facility, has started mapping the universe at very low energy wavelengths, a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is relatively unexplored. It will detect faint signals from the first stars and mini-black holes that emerged when the universe was only 500,000 years old -- and will also be looking for signs of other civilizations in the Universe closer to home.

New understanding of protein's role in brain Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Brains in mammals modify a particular protein in a unique way, which alters the protein's normal function according to new research. The modified protein plays a key role in memory processes. This discovery represents an important step in understanding how our brains work.

Impact of antibiotic treatments on bacteria in the intestines of animals Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Recent research from Norway has found that resistance to antibiotics is on the increase in intestinal bacteria in animals as a direct result of antibiotic treatments. The antibiotics also alter the composition of bacteria in the intestines. These discoveries provide more knowledge about the undesirable effect of antibiotic treatments and are of comparative interest as regards other animals and humans.

Depression affects how women with PMDD respond to stress, pain Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT A severe mood disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, affects 5 percent to 7 percent of all women of reproductive age in the United States, but it is often misdiagnosed as major depression or other mood disorder. A recent study further establishes that PMDD is biologically different, and that women with PMDD who have experienced depression could make up a subset.

Anti-aging hormones: Little or no benefit and the risks are high, according to experts Posted: 13 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT In the wake of the American Medical Association's Council on Science and Public Health's recently released report "The use of hormones for 'anti-aging': a review of efficacy and safety," a leading medical authority has criticized the use of anti-aging hormones.

Traumatized trees: Bug them enough, they get fired up Posted: 13 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Whether forests are dying back, or just drying out, projections for warming show the Pacific Northwest is primed for more wildfires. Fuels built up after a century of rushing to suppress fires have long been pointed to as the reason, but starting in the early 1990s climate appears to have become a contributing factor.

Hepatitis A virus: Recent advances for improving treatment strategies Posted: 13 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT A research article could lead to improvements in the production of vaccines for hepatitis A, the most widespread viral disease in the world.

Synthetic peptide may enhance lung transplantation Posted: 13 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have shown that putting the TIP peptide into the trachea of rat lungs about a half hour before transplantation can nullify the bad result, called ischemic reperfusion injury, and improve oxygenation.

Guidelines issued on when people with Alzheimer's disease should stop driving Posted: 13 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT The American Academy of Neurology has issued a new guideline to help determine when people with Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia should stop driving.

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