ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Renewable Energy: Inexpensive metal catalyst can effectively generate hydrogen from water
• Gut bacteria offer new insights -- and hope -- for people with celiac disease
• More trouble ahead from volcanic ash?
• Liver transplantation linked to accelerated cellular aging
• Climate change affects subterranean ecosystems
• Communication trumps penalties in new study of social-ecological systems
• Through the looking glass: Scientists peer into Antarctica's past to see our future climate
• Catching multiple sclerosis before it strikes
• New vaccines may come from forcing Giardia parasite to display its many disguises
• Big role for microRNA in lethal lung fibrosis
• How important is geographical isolation in speciation?
• Complex brain functions help adapt to new situations and stimuli
• Liquid-solid interactions, as never before seen: New technique improves researchers’ ability to measure a key property of material surfaces
• Combination antibiotics effective against chlamydia-induced arthritis, study finds
• NASA satellite imagery keeping eye on the Gulf oil spill
• CXCR4: A new drug target in lung cancer
• Locating tsunami warning buoys
• High rates of at-risk drinking among elderly adults, study finds
• Scientists uncover transfer of genetic material between blood-sucking insect and mammals
• Cancer tumours that fight themselves
• Physicist finds colder isn't always slower as electron emissions increase at temps down to -452 F
• Hand-washing, mask-wearing may limit transmission of pandemic flu
• Researcher explores role of human behavior in infectious disease emergence
• Roller coasters linked to common ear injury, study finds
• Seamounts identified as significant, unexplored territory
• Mirror, mirror: Scientists find cause of involuntary movements
• MicroRNA linked to shut-down of DNA-repair genes
• Scientists clock onto how sunlight puts a spring in our step
• Sex of baby drives response to pregnancy stress
• Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico nears the coast

Renewable Energy: Inexpensive metal catalyst can effectively generate hydrogen from water Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered an inexpensive metal that can generate hydrogen from neutral water, even if it is dirty, and can operate in sea water. Experts agree that hydrogen can play a key role in future renewable energy technologies if a relatively cheap, efficient and carbon-neutral means of producing it can be developed.

Gut bacteria offer new insights -- and hope -- for people with celiac disease Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Dietary changes that include probiotics and/or prebiotics (found in some foods) may help alleviate the severity of celiac disease for some patients. According to new research differing intestinal bacteria in celiac patients could influence inflammation to varying degrees.

More trouble ahead from volcanic ash? Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano continues to be active, but the full effects of volcanic ash on the aviation industry have yet to be seen, according to an aviation expert from the UK who believes the impact of ash on airplane air-conditioning systems could be serious and will build over the next few weeks as planes begin to 'hoover up' the additional ash in the atmosphere.

Liver transplantation linked to accelerated cellular aging Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have found that liver transplant recipients develop premature immune senescence, the normal process by which the immune system ages and becomes less effective.

Climate change affects subterranean ecosystems Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Changes above the ground, such as a higher concentration of carbon dioxide and increased temperatures have major consequences for the contact zone between plant roots and the soil, according to researchers in the Netherlands.

Communication trumps penalties in new study of social-ecological systems Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Research conducted in a computerized microworld by scientists show how common-pool resources -- such as fisheries, forests, water systems or even bandwidth -- can be managed effectively by self-organized user groups under certain conditions.

Through the looking glass: Scientists peer into Antarctica's past to see our future climate Posted: 01 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT In response to growing concerns about our planet's changing climate, rising global temperatures and sea levels, and increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, scientists are looking to the planet's past to help predict its future. New results from a research expedition in Antarctic waters may provide critical clues to understanding one of the most dramatic periods of climatic change in Earth's history -- and a glimpse into what might lie far ahead in our climate's future.

Catching multiple sclerosis before it strikes Posted: 01 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Medical researchers have uncovered a new way of detecting MS in the blood. The findings is expected to pave the way for a diagnosis of MS before symptoms can appear, allowing for earlier treatment.

New vaccines may come from forcing Giardia parasite to display its many disguises Posted: 01 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT The intestinal parasite Giardia lamblia changes outfits nearly as often as a fashion model on a Parisian runway. With more than 200 protein coats in its molecular wardrobe, this troublesome creature -- the cause of innumerable cases of diarrheal infections each year -- can change its appearance from one instant to the next, throwing the body's immune cells off track. Now, researchers report that Giardia parasites engineered to express all their surface proteins can work as vaccines that could help prevent or mitigate future infections.

Big role for microRNA in lethal lung fibrosis Posted: 01 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT A small piece of RNA appears to play a big role in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to lung disease researchers. Their study, which is the first to examine microRNAs in the disease, points to novel ways to treat the typically lethal, lung-scarring disease.

How important is geographical isolation in speciation? Posted: 01 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT A genetic study of island lizards shows that even those that have been geographically isolated for many millions of years have not evolved into separate species as predicted by conventional evolutionary theory.

Complex brain functions help adapt to new situations and stimuli Posted: 01 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new study provides intriguing insight into the way that humans approach novel situations. The research reveals neural mechanisms that underlie our remarkable ability to discover abstract cognitive relationships when dealing with new problems.

Liquid-solid interactions, as never before seen: New technique improves researchers’ ability to measure a key property of material surfaces Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have found a way to obtain images that improves the resolution of such measurements by a factor of 10,000 or more, allowing for unprecedented precision in determining the details of the interactions between liquids and solid surfaces. In addition, the new method can be used to study curved, textured or complex solid surfaces, something that could not be done previously.

Combination antibiotics effective against chlamydia-induced arthritis, study finds Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Combination antibiotics effectively treat Chlamydia-induced reactive arthritis -- a major step toward management, and possibly cure, of this disease, a federal multicenter clinical trial has found.

NASA satellite imagery keeping eye on the Gulf oil spill Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites are helping keep tabs on the extent of the recent Gulf oil spill with satellite images from time to time.

CXCR4: A new drug target in lung cancer Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Lung cancer patients whose tumors over-express a cell surface molecule called CXCR4 do significantly worse than those who do not, Canadian researchers have found

Locating tsunami warning buoys Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Australian researchers describe a mathematical model that can find the ten optimal sites at which tsunami detection buoys and sea-level monitors should be installed. The model could save time and money in the installation of a detection system as well as providing warning for the maximum number of people should a potentially devastating tsunami occur.

High rates of at-risk drinking among elderly adults, study finds Posted: 01 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers find that more than a third of drinkers 60 years old and older consume amounts of alcohol that are excessive or that are potentially harmful in combination with certain diseases they may have or medications they may be taking.

Scientists uncover transfer of genetic material between blood-sucking insect and mammals Posted: 30 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have found the first solid evidence of horizontal DNA transfer, the movement of genetic material among non-mating species, between parasitic invertebrates and some of their vertebrate hosts.

Cancer tumours that fight themselves Posted: 30 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Cancer cells producing toxins that destroy tumours – could this be a future treatment for cancer? Researchers in Sweden have achieved good results in tests on both cells and animals.

Physicist finds colder isn't always slower as electron emissions increase at temps down to -452 F Posted: 30 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Working with highly sensitive photomultipliers, nuclear physicists have identified new attributes to a phenomenon called cryogenic electron emission.

Hand-washing, mask-wearing may limit transmission of pandemic flu Posted: 30 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Practicing non-pharmaceutical interventions such as hand-washing and mouth covering may help limit the transmission of the pandemic flu, but more research on these measures is critical, according to a new study.

Researcher explores role of human behavior in infectious disease emergence Posted: 30 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT A wildlife scientist has examined how different human behaviors influence disease transmission between domestic dogs and the African wild dog, an endangered species.

Roller coasters linked to common ear injury, study finds Posted: 30 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT The high speeds of today's roller coasters bring a lot of thrills, but if you're not careful, the ride could also cause damage to your ears, say physicians. Their case study offers the first reported link between the force of acceleration in roller coasters and a common ear injury that can cause temporary hearing loss and ear pain.

Seamounts identified as significant, unexplored territory Posted: 30 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists were astounded to find that seamounts, mountains that rise from the seafloor, rank as some of the most common ocean habitats in the world. Their findings reverse previous beliefs about the prevalence of seamounts, which are treasure troves of marine biodiversity.

Mirror, mirror: Scientists find cause of involuntary movements Posted: 30 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified the genetic cause of mirror movements, where affected people are unable to move one side of the body without moving the other. For example, when trying to open and close their right hand, their left hand will unintentionally copy the movement. This important discovery provides new understanding on how mirror movements happen and improve scientific knowledge concerning how the brain functions.

MicroRNA linked to shut-down of DNA-repair genes Posted: 30 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT New research shows that microRNA can silence genes that protect against cancer-causing mutations. The study found that microRNA-155 can inhibit the activity of mismatch repair genes, which normally correct damage that occurs when the wrong bases are paired in DNA. Loss of these genes causes cancer-susceptibility syndromes and can contribute to colorectal, uterine, ovarian, and other cancers. It is the first evidence that deregulation of microRNAs can cause genomic instability, a characteristic of cancer cells.

Scientists clock onto how sunlight puts a spring in our step Posted: 30 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered two "body clock" genes that reveal how seasonal changes in hormones are controlled and could ultimately help find treatments for seasonal affective disorder. Researchers also found that one of these genes has a similar role in both birds and mammals, showing a common link that has been conserved for more than 300 million years.

Sex of baby drives response to pregnancy stress Posted: 30 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT The sex of the baby determines the way it responds to stressors during pregnancy and its ability to survive pregnancy complications.

Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico nears the coast Posted: 30 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new image acquired by ESA's Envisat shows oil from the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico as a dark blue swirl advancing toward the Louisiana coast.

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