ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Bees see super color at super speed
• Secondhand smoke exposure associated with chronic sinus disease
• Beetles stand out using 'Avatar' tech
• Rare gene variants linked to high risk of broad range of seizure disorders
• Plastic chips monitor body functions, research suggests
• Tobacco company's new, dissolvable nicotine products could lead to accidental poisoning
• New bony-skulled dinosaur species discovered in Texas
• Metformin may prevent lung cancer in smokers, early research suggests
• Meat, especially if it's well done, may increase risk of bladder cancer
• Routine lifting may not be as bad for your back as thought, research suggests
• Food vs. fuel: Growing grain for food is more energy efficient
• Indoor tanning may be an addictive behavior
• Bureaucracy linked to a nation's growth
• Breast cancer risk tied to grandmother's diet
• Monocyte turnover predicts speed and severity of AIDS and onset of brain disease
• Quantum computing closer: Properties of hybrid light-matter particles discovered
• Depression medication: Patients report 20 times more side effects than recorded in charts, study finds
• Obesity gene, carried by more than a third of the US population, leads to brain tissue loss
• How genetic mutations may cause type 1 diabetes: Findings point to new drug target
• Space storms could threaten UK power grid
• Low vitamin D levels associated with more asthma symptoms and medication use
• Nanotechnology makes a strong boron-cotton fabric that feels like T-shirt material
• Therapy can help even very distressed married couples, largest study finds
• Chinese pigs 'direct descendants' of first domesticated breeds
• Brain cancer: Study focuses on forgotten cells
• For older adults, flu season tends to peak first in Nevada, last in Maine
• Two-drug combo twice as effective for Crohn's disease remission, study suggests
• Children with cochlear implants appear to achieve similar educational and employment levels as peers
• Link between solar activity and the UK's cold winters
• Biological link between stress, anxiety and depression identified
• Seabed biodiversity in oxygen minimum zones
• Mutations directly identifiable in active genes
• Traffic mining firewall logs could improve network security
• Mother-infant psychoanalysis may create a beneficial circle in the event of poor bonding
• Facial aging is more than skin deep
• Pigeon 'backpacks' track flock voting
• Terminal cancer patients do not receive appropriate radiation therapy, analysis finds
• Scientists put proteins right where they want them
• Religious beliefs seen as basis of origins of Palaeolithic art
• Printed origami offers new technique for complex structures
• Scientists find new genes for cancer, other diseases in plants, yeast and worms
• Deciphering the movement of pedestrians in a crowd
• Potential benefit of dark chocolate for liver disease patients
• US needs better-trained math teachers to compete globally, study finds
• Greater access to cell phones than toilets in India

Bees see super color at super speed Posted: 20 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Bees see the world almost five times faster than humans, according to new research. This gives bumblebees the fastest color vision of all animals, allowing them to easily navigate shady bushes to find food.

Secondhand smoke exposure associated with chronic sinus disease Posted: 20 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Individuals who are exposed to more secondhand smoke in private and public settings appear more likely to have chronic rhinosinusitis, according to a new article.

Beetles stand out using 'Avatar' tech Posted: 20 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Jewel scarab beetles find each other -- and hide from their enemies -- using the same technology that creates the 3-D effects for the blockbuster movie, "Avatar," research suggests.

Rare gene variants linked to high risk of broad range of seizure disorders Posted: 20 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered evidence suggesting that people missing large chunks of DNA on chromosome 16 are much more likely than others to develop a chronic seizure disorder during their lifetime.

Plastic chips monitor body functions, research suggests Posted: 20 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT A small blood lab that fits into the pocket of a jacket can quickly analyze the risk of blood clots in legs prior to a long distance flight; a sensor wristband for measuring electric smog can warn pacemaker patients of life-threatening exposure: "smart plastics" can turn such tools into reality.

Tobacco company's new, dissolvable nicotine products could lead to accidental poisoning Posted: 20 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT A tobacco company's new, dissolvable nicotine pellet -- which is being sold as a tobacco product, but which in some cases resembles popular candies -- could lead to accidental nicotine poisoning in children, researchers warn.

New bony-skulled dinosaur species discovered in Texas Posted: 20 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Paleontologists have discovered a new species of dinosaur with a softball-sized lump of solid bone on top of its skull. The species, which the researchers named Texacephale langstoni, was a plant-eating dinosaur about as big as a medium-sized dog that lived 70-80 million years ago. The team discovered skull fragments in Big Bend National Park and found that they represent a new genus of pachycephalosaur that is different from its northern neighbors.

Metformin may prevent lung cancer in smokers, early research suggests Posted: 20 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Metformin, a mainstay of treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes, may soon play a role in lung cancer prevention if early laboratory research is confirmed in clinical trials.

Meat, especially if it's well done, may increase risk of bladder cancer Posted: 20 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT People who eat meat frequently, especially meat that is well done or cooked at high temperatures, may have a higher chance of developing bladder cancer, according to a large study. This risk appears to increase in people with certain genetic variants.

Routine lifting may not be as bad for your back as thought, research suggests Posted: 20 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new study disputes advice that routine lifting is bad for your back. Researchers found that physical loading, the pressure put on the spine that comes with, for example, frequent lifting, may in fact slightly delay disc degeneration.

Food vs. fuel: Growing grain for food is more energy efficient Posted: 20 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Using productive farmland to grow crops for food instead of fuel is more energy efficient, scientists concluded, after analyzing 17 years' worth of data to help settle the food versus fuel debate.

Indoor tanning may be an addictive behavior Posted: 20 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Individuals who have used indoor tanning facilities may meet criteria for addiction, and may also be more prone to anxiety symptoms and substance use, according to a new article.

Bureaucracy linked to a nation's growth Posted: 20 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT "Bureaucracy is the death of all sound work," said Albert Einstein, sharing a popular view about bureaucracy grinding progress to a halt. But it now appears that the organizing functions of bureaucracy were essential to the progressive growth of the world's first states, and may have helped them conquer surrounding areas much earlier than originally thought.

Breast cancer risk tied to grandmother's diet Posted: 20 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Eating too much fat in pregnancy may be an indulgence that has a less-than-beneficial effect on generations to come, say researchers. Their unique study in rats shows that pregnant females that ate a high fat diet not only increased breast cancer risk in their female daughters but also in that daughter's offspring -- the "granddaughters."

Monocyte turnover predicts speed and severity of AIDS and onset of brain disease Posted: 20 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers report the first observation within AIDS of a marker in blood or plasma exclusive to monocytes, which underscores the relationship between innate immune response and the devastating effects of AIDS within the brain.

Quantum computing closer: Properties of hybrid light-matter particles discovered Posted: 20 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Physicists have discovered properties of hybrid light-matter particles, existing in the solid state matrix, which could one day lead to faster and more efficient computers and telecommunications.

Depression medication: Patients report 20 times more side effects than recorded in charts, study finds Posted: 20 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Patients report side effects from medication for the treatment of depression 20 times more than psychiatrists have recorded in the charts. The researchers recommend the use of a self-administered patient questionnaire in clinical practice to improve the recognition of side effects for patients in treatment.

Obesity gene, carried by more than a third of the US population, leads to brain tissue loss Posted: 20 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have found that an obesity-related gene carried by nearly half of all Central and Western Europeans may also be associated with brain degeneration.

How genetic mutations may cause type 1 diabetes: Findings point to new drug target Posted: 20 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have provided an answer to the 40-year-old mystery of how certain genetic mutations lead to Type 1 diabetes. This new molecular understanding could lead to novel therapies for Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.

Space storms could threaten UK power grid Posted: 20 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Changes in the space environment caused by the Sun can lead to periods of bad "space weather." As well as driving intense displays of the northern lights (or aurora borealis), this can generate unexpected currents in electricity distribution grids that could lead to blackouts and damage to valuable infrastructure with potentially high cost to the global economy. Now, scientists have developed a new model that shows the widespread impact inclement space weather could have on the UK.

Low vitamin D levels associated with more asthma symptoms and medication use Posted: 20 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Low levels of vitamin D are associated with lower lung function and greater medication use in children with asthma, according to researchers. They also reported that vitamin D enhances the activity of corticosteroids, the most effective controller medication for asthma.

Nanotechnology makes a strong boron-cotton fabric that feels like T-shirt material Posted: 20 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Cotton reinforced with boron carbide is tough and hard but nonetheless elastic. These properties indicate future promise, but this material is not yet bulletproof.

Therapy can help even very distressed married couples, largest study finds Posted: 20 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT The largest, most comprehensive clinical trial of couple therapy ever conducted has found therapy can help even very distressed married couples if both partners want to improve their marriage. The study also has the longest, most comprehensive follow-up assessment of couple therapy ever conducted.

Chinese pigs 'direct descendants' of first domesticated breeds Posted: 19 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Modern-day Chinese pigs are directly descended from ancient pigs which were the first to be domesticated in the region 10,000 years ago, a new archaeological and genetic study has revealed.

Brain cancer: Study focuses on forgotten cells Posted: 19 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Glioblastoma can often be removed surgically, but the brain tumor often reappears, because some tumor cells remain in the brain. Researchers have now subjected these "forgotten" cells to closer scrutiny for the first time. They found out that many of their fundamental properties were substantially different from the cells in the midst of the tumor mass. This possibly explains, why radiation or chemotherapy cannot entirely prevent the disease to reoccur.

For older adults, flu season tends to peak first in Nevada, last in Maine Posted: 19 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT An analysis of hospitalization records for adults age 65 and over found that seasonal flu tends to move in traveling waves, peaking earliest in western states and moving east. New England states tend to have the latest peak in seasonal flu. The public health research team detected patterns between peak timing and intensity of seasonal flu. The findings may help healthcare providers prepare for flu outbreaks in this vulnerable population.

Two-drug combo twice as effective for Crohn's disease remission, study suggests Posted: 19 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT A new study suggests remission from Crohn's disease may be more likely if patients get biologic therapy combined with immune-suppressing drugs first instead of immune-suppressing drugs alone.

Children with cochlear implants appear to achieve similar educational and employment levels as peers Posted: 19 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Deaf children who receive cochlear implants appear more likely to fail early grades in school, but they ultimately achieve educational and employment levels similar to their normal-hearing peers, according to a new article.

Link between solar activity and the UK's cold winters Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT A link between low solar activity and jet streams over the Atlantic could explain why, despite global warming trends, people in regions North East of the Atlantic Ocean might need to brace themselves for more frequent cold winters in years to come.

Biological link between stress, anxiety and depression identified Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered the biological link between stress, anxiety and depression. By identifying the connecting mechanism in the brain, the researchers show exactly how stress and anxiety could lead to depression. The study also reveals a small molecule inhibitor developed by Ferguson, which may provide a new and better way to treat anxiety and depression.

Seabed biodiversity in oxygen minimum zones Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Some regions of the deep ocean floor support abundant populations of organisms, despite being overlain by water that contains very little oxygen, according to an international study. But global warming is likely to exacerbate oxygen depletion and thereby reduce biodiversity in these regions, they warn.

Mutations directly identifiable in active genes Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new method for identifying genetic variation, including mutations, in active genes. Hopes are strong that the method represents an important research tool that will lead to the development of new diagnostic tests.

Traffic mining firewall logs could improve network security Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Managing firewall rules has proven to be a complex, error-prone, expensive, and inefficient for many large-networked organizations, according to a new research.

Mother-infant psychoanalysis may create a beneficial circle in the event of poor bonding Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Even when a baby has been longed for, some mothers might have trouble bonding with their baby, who in turn may develop disturbed behavior, such as crying, poor sleeping patterns and breast refusal. A new thesis shows that in such cases, the joint psychoanalytic treatment of mother and infant may be effective, particularly if the mother feels that she is unconsciously contributing to the problems.

Facial aging is more than skin deep Posted: 19 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Facelifts and other wrinkle-reducing procedures have long been sought by people wanting to ward off the signs of aging, but new research suggests that it takes more than tightening loose skin to restore a youthful look. A new study indicates that significant changes in facial bones -- particularly the jaw bone -- occur as people age and contribute to an aging appearance.

Pigeon 'backpacks' track flock voting Posted: 19 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Pigeon flocks are guided by a flexible system of leadership in which almost every member gets a 'vote' but the votes of high-ranking birds carry more weight, a new study has shown.

Terminal cancer patients do not receive appropriate radiation therapy, analysis finds Posted: 19 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT A new analysis has found that a considerable proportion of patients with end-stage or terminal cancer do not benefit from palliative radiation therapy (radiotherapy) despite spending most of their remaining life undergoing treatments.

Scientists put proteins right where they want them Posted: 19 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Using a method they developed to watch moment to moment as they move a molecule to precise sites inside live human cells, scientists are closer to understanding why and how a protein at one location may signal division and growth, and the same protein at another location, death.

Religious beliefs seen as basis of origins of Palaeolithic art Posted: 19 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT The idea that palaeolithic art is based in religious beliefs isn't new. But for years, anthropologists, archaeologists and historians of art understood these artistic manifestations as purely aesthetic and decorative motives. A researcher in Spain now reveals the origins of the theory.

Printed origami offers new technique for complex structures Posted: 19 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT The marriage of direct-printing and wet-folding origami techniques heralds a new method for creating complex three-dimensional structures for biocompatible devices, microscaffolding and other microsystems. Researchers use sheets printed with inks containing metallic, ceramic or plastic particles to fold complex structures not attainable by conventional direct-print assembly, such as an origami crane.

Scientists find new genes for cancer, other diseases in plants, yeast and worms Posted: 19 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT From deep within the genomes of organisms as diverse as plants, worms and yeast, scientists have uncovered new genes responsible for causing human diseases such as cancer and deafness.

Deciphering the movement of pedestrians in a crowd Posted: 19 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT How do pedestrians move in the street? How do they interact? Researchers in Europe have carried out a series of studies to improve understanding of the group behavior of pedestrians in urban environments. Their results establish realistic models of crowd dynamics to improve pedestrian traffic management.

Potential benefit of dark chocolate for liver disease patients Posted: 19 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Doctors could soon be prescribing a dose of dark chocolate to help patients suffering from liver cirrhosis and from dangerously high blood pressure in their abdomen, according to new research.

US needs better-trained math teachers to compete globally, study finds Posted: 19 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Math teachers in the United States need better training if the nation's K-12 students are going to compete globally, according to new research.

Greater access to cell phones than toilets in India Posted: 19 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Far more people in India have access to a cell phone than to a toilet and improved sanitation, according to UN experts.

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