ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• New genes involved in human eye color identified
• Candidate gene culprits for chronic pain discovered
• Discovery of rare genetic mutation could help battle Tourette syndrome
• Chromosome 'glue' surprises scientists
• British summer is advancing, experts show
• Wash away your doubts when you wash your hands
• Trapping giant Rydberg atoms for faster quantum computers
• Endometrial stem cells restore brain dopamine levels; Mouse study may lead to new therapies for Parkinson's Disease
• Nanocoating makes perfectly non-reflecting displays
• Prescription drug could boost effects of vaccines for HIV and other diseases
• Engineers to improve test for cardiovascular disease
• Shape up the quick way: Lose weight fast for lasting results suggests new study
• New study ranks countries on environmental impact
• Genome breakthrough allows scientists to identify and profile tumor cells from very small samples
• A cluster and a sea of galaxies
• Cancer researchers link ovarian hormone to breast stem cells growth
• Those living near highway and railroad intersections more likely to develop asthma, study finds
• First course of veggies may appeal to hungry preschoolers
• Problem gamblers provoked by 'near misses' to gamble more
• Nausea and speeding heart can be signs of flu in pregnant women
• A new way to use herbicides: To sterilize, not kill weeds
• Toward simplifying treatment of a serious eye infection
• Multistage nanovector system provides sustained delivery of siRNA cancer therapeutic in mice
• Summer weight-loss camp improve obese children's health, study suggests
• Hidden side of star birth revealed
• Potential new drug target to combat Kaposi's sarcoma
• Stream water study detects thawing permafrost
• Drinking alcohol during pregnancy could lead to acute myeloid leukemia in children
• Doctors use ultrasound to diagnose possible muscular trauma in professional athletes on-site
• Racial disparities evident in taking sexual histories in emergency departments
• Mice can synthesize their own morphine, research shows
• Breast cancer metastasis increases after estrogen and progestin hormone therapies, study finds
• Roots meshed in waste materials could clean dirty water
• Milk and risk of renal cell cancer: Genetic research sheds new light
• Ancient leaves help researchers understand future climate
• Police, thieves and ordinary people apply different logic when making decisions, study shows
• Neanderthal genome yields insights into human evolution and evidence of interbreeding with modern humans
• Your arteries may be suffering insulin resistance, too
• Sunlight with cooling factor
• New genetic candidates for irritable bowel syndrome
• Diatoms reveal freshwater pollution
• Fear of pandemic influenza clogs emergency departments even when disease is not present
• Researchers investigate fishy sense of smell with hammerhead shark model
• New atherosclerosis vaccine gives promising results
• Researchers crack 'splicing code,' solve a mystery underlying biological complexity
• 'Bypass' may lead to vision gains for central retinal vein occlusion patients
• Radio tags could save lives after earthquakes
• High-pressure jobs boost young women's heart disease risk

New genes involved in human eye color identified Posted: 07 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Three new genetic loci have been identified with involvement in subtle and quantitative variation of human eye color. Previous studies on the genetics of human eye color used broadly-categorized trait information such as 'blue', 'green', and 'brown'. However, variation in eye color exists in a continuous grading from the lightest blue to the darkest brown.

Candidate gene culprits for chronic pain discovered Posted: 07 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists report that chronic pain may be caused by the inadvertent reprogramming of more than 2,000 genes in the peripheral nervous system. The research might ultimately lead to "transcription therapy," the researchers speculate, which would employ drugs that kill pain by correcting the activity of specific genes.

Discovery of rare genetic mutation could help battle Tourette syndrome Posted: 07 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT A single, very unusual family with Tourette syndrome has led researchers to identify a rare mutation in a gene that is required to produce histamine. The finding provides a new framework to understand many years of data on the role of histamine function in the brain and points to a potentially novel approach to treatment of tics and Tourette.

Chromosome 'glue' surprises scientists Posted: 07 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Proteins called cohesins ensure that newly copied chromosomes bind together, separate correctly during cell division, and are repaired efficiently after DNA damage. Scientists have found that cohesins are needed in different concentrations for their different functions. This discovery helps to explain how certain developmental disorders, arise without affecting cell division essential to development.

British summer is advancing, experts show Posted: 07 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT The onset of summer in England has been advancing since the mid 1950s, new research has shown. The investigations examined records of the first blooming date of early summer flowering plants (phenology) and the timing of first occurrences of warm "summer" temperatures -- events linked with the onset of summer.

Wash away your doubts when you wash your hands Posted: 07 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Washing your hands "wipes the slate clean," removing doubts about recent choices, according to researchers. Their study expands on past research by showing that hand-washing does more than remove the guilt of past misdeeds.

Trapping giant Rydberg atoms for faster quantum computers Posted: 07 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT In an achievement that could help enable fast quantum computers, physicists have built a better Rydberg atom trap. Rydberg atoms are highly excited, nearly-ionized giants that can be thousands of times larger than their ground-state counterparts.

Endometrial stem cells restore brain dopamine levels; Mouse study may lead to new therapies for Parkinson's Disease Posted: 07 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Endometrial stem cells injected into the brains of mice with a laboratory-induced form of Parkinson's disease appeared to take over the functioning of brain cells eradicated by the disease. The finding raises the possibility that women with Parkinson's disease could serve as their own stem cell donors. Similarly, because endometrial stem cells are readily available and easy to collect, banks of endometrial stem cells could be stored for men and women with Parkinson's disease

Nanocoating makes perfectly non-reflecting displays Posted: 07 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT A new nanocoating ensures a perfectly non-reflecting view on displays and through eyeglasses. The necessary surface structure is applied to the polymeric parts during manufacture, obviating the need for a separate process step. The hybrid coating has further advantages: the components are scratch-proof and easy to clean.

Prescription drug could boost effects of vaccines for HIV and other diseases Posted: 07 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT A prescription drug already approved to treat genital warts and skin cancer may have a new use in boosting the effectiveness of future vaccines for bacterial and viral diseases, such as hepatitis C and HIV.

Engineers to improve test for cardiovascular disease Posted: 07 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists are working to help keep your heart beating stronger and longer simply by monitoring the temperature of your fingertip. VENDYS, a device mechanical engineering professors have develop, is allowing doctors to monitor how changes in blood flow affect finger temperature to measure an individual's risk for cardiovascular disease.

Shape up the quick way: Lose weight fast for lasting results suggests new study Posted: 07 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT If you thought the best way to lose and maintain weight was the slow and steady approach, think again. A new study suggests that the key to long-term weight loss and maintenance is to lose weight quickly, not gradually, in the initial stages of obesity treatment.

New study ranks countries on environmental impact Posted: 07 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT A new study led by researchers in Australia has ranked most of the world's countries for their environmental impact. The world's 10 worst environmental performers according to the proportional environmental impact index (relative to resource availability) are: Singapore, Korea, Qatar, Kuwait, Japan, Thailand, Bahrain, Malaysia, Philippines and Netherlands. In absolute global terms, the 10 countries with the worst environmental impact were found to be (in order, worst first): Brazil, USA, China, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, India, Russia, Australia and Peru.

Genome breakthrough allows scientists to identify and profile tumor cells from very small samples Posted: 07 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed a powerful new technique for analyzing the genome of single tumor cells. The breakthrough allows them to study in fine detail the biology of how tumors develop.

A cluster and a sea of galaxies Posted: 07 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT A new wide-field image released today by ESO displays many thousands of distant galaxies, and more particularly a large group belonging to the massive galaxy cluster known as Abell 315. As crowded as it may appear, this assembly of galaxies is only the proverbial "tip of the iceberg," as Abell 315 -- like most galaxy clusters -- is dominated by dark matter. The huge mass of this cluster deflects light from background galaxies, distorting their observed shapes slightly.

Cancer researchers link ovarian hormone to breast stem cells growth Posted: 07 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Cancer researchers have discovered that the ovarian hormone progesterone plays a pivotal role in altering breast stem cells, a finding that has important implications for breast cancer risk.

Those living near highway and railroad intersections more likely to develop asthma, study finds Posted: 07 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers recently released study data showing children who lived near major highway or railroad intersections have higher diagnoses of asthma. The researchers used this study to show how neighborhood environment is a risk factor in understanding the development of pediatric asthma.

First course of veggies may appeal to hungry preschoolers Posted: 07 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Increasing the amount of vegetables in the first course of preschool lunch could be a smart way to get children to eat more vegetables, according to nutrition researchers.

Problem gamblers provoked by 'near misses' to gamble more Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT The brains of problem gamblers react more intensely to "near misses" than casual gamblers, possibly spurring them on to play more, according to new research. The researchers found the brain region that responds to rewards by delivering a dose of the chemical dopamine was especially active in these individuals.

Nausea and speeding heart can be signs of flu in pregnant women Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Nausea in pregnant women tends to fade after the first three months, but during the second and third trimesters it can be a sign of flu, researchers have found in a study of expectant women who sought medical care.

A new way to use herbicides: To sterilize, not kill weeds Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Using herbicides to sterilize rather than to kill weedy grasses might be a more economical and environmentally sound weed-control strategy, according to a study by agricultural scientists and a cooperator.

Toward simplifying treatment of a serious eye infection Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Scientists are reporting development of a potential new way of enabling patients with bacterial keratitis to stick with the extraordinarily intensive treatment needed for this potentially blinding eye infection. The disease affects more than 500,000 people each year worldwide, including 30,000 people in the United States.

Multistage nanovector system provides sustained delivery of siRNA cancer therapeutic in mice Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT New research could make it easier for patients to use a family of promising experimental cancer therapeutics known as small interfering RNA.

Summer weight-loss camp improve obese children's health, study suggests Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT A residential summer weight-loss camp markedly improved obese children's health. A physician found the camp improved children's weight, body mass index, physical fitness and blood pressure.

Hidden side of star birth revealed Posted: 06 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT The first scientific results from ESA's Herschel infrared space observatory are revealing previously hidden details of star formation. New images show thousands of distant galaxies furiously building stars and beautiful star-forming clouds draped across the Milky Way. One picture even catches an "impossible" star in the act of formation.

Potential new drug target to combat Kaposi's sarcoma Posted: 06 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Scientists have identified how the virus which causes Kaposi's sarcoma replicates and spreads -- opening a door to a possible new treatment for the disease.

Stream water study detects thawing permafrost Posted: 06 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Among the worrisome environmental effects of global warming is the thawing of Arctic permafrost -- soil that normally remains at or below the freezing point for at least a two-year period and often much longer. Monitoring changes in permafrost is difficult with current methods, but a new study offers a new approach to assessing the extent of the problem.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy could lead to acute myeloid leukemia in children Posted: 06 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Despite public health warnings, drinking is still high among pregnant women. In a new study, acute myeloid leukemia risk increased 56 percent among children of those who drank alcohol.

Doctors use ultrasound to diagnose possible muscular trauma in professional athletes on-site Posted: 06 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Doctors can use ultrasonography (ultrasound) to evaluate and diagnose muscular trauma in professional athletes on-site, which helps them to determine whether or not a player's injuries are severe enough to take them out of the game, according to a new study.

Racial disparities evident in taking sexual histories in emergency departments Posted: 06 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Emergency department physicians are more likely to document sexual histories of black adolescent girls with symptoms potentially related to sexually transmitted infections than white teen girls with the same symptoms, according to a new study. The result is that emergency physicians may be providing less comprehensive services for white teen girls than black, say study authors.

Mice can synthesize their own morphine, research shows Posted: 06 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT Traces of morphine in urine samples have been considered a clear proof of drug use or the consumption of food containing poppy in the past. Now a study by a team of scientists in Germany and the U.S. points to another possible explanation: they managed for the first time to prove that mice -- and probably humans and other mammals as well -- produce their own morphine in their bodies.

Breast cancer metastasis increases after estrogen and progestin hormone therapies, study finds Posted: 06 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT New evidence has been found that estrogen and progestin in hormone therapies increase the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. Now, a new study has found that progestins can also increase the chance of the cancer metastasizing, or spreading to the lymph nodes.

Roots meshed in waste materials could clean dirty water Posted: 06 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT Plant roots enmeshed in layers of discarded materials inside upright pipes can purify dirty water from a washing machine, making it fit for growing vegetables and flushing toilets, according to horticulturists.

Milk and risk of renal cell cancer: Genetic research sheds new light Posted: 06 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT While previous research had suggested that drinking milk was related to factors that may increase the risk of renal cell cancer, results of a recent study exploiting the genetic contribution to variation in milk consumption suggest that this may not be the case.

Ancient leaves help researchers understand future climate Posted: 06 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT Potential climate change caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide might be better understood by examining fossil plant remains from millions of years ago, according to biogeochemists. The types of carbon within the leaves can serve as a window into past temperatures and environmental conditions.

Police, thieves and ordinary people apply different logic when making decisions, study shows Posted: 06 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT A study conducted by researchers in Spain and the United Kingdom reveals that police officers and criminals are more consistent in their judgments than ordinary people. However, police officers' reasoning is more similar to that of ordinary people than to that of thieves. This conclusion might have significant implications on criminal jurisdiction.

Neanderthal genome yields insights into human evolution and evidence of interbreeding with modern humans Posted: 06 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT After extracting ancient DNA from the 40,000-year-old bones of Neanderthals, scientists have obtained a draft sequence of the Neanderthal genome, yielding important new insights into the evolution of modern humans. Among their findings is evidence that shortly after early modern humans migrated out of Africa, some of them interbred with Neanderthals, leaving bits of Neanderthal DNA sequences scattered through the genomes of present-day non-Africans.

Your arteries may be suffering insulin resistance, too Posted: 06 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT In people with insulin resistance or full-blown diabetes, an inability to keep blood sugar levels under control isn't the only problem by far. A new report shows that our arteries suffer the effects of insulin resistance, too, just for entirely different reasons.

Sunlight with cooling factor Posted: 06 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Although it sounds like a contradiction in terms, using the power of the sun for refrigeration is proving to be an original energy concept. In Tunisia and Morocco, research scientists are using solar energy to keep perishable foodstuffs such as milk, wine and fruit fresh.

New genetic candidates for irritable bowel syndrome Posted: 06 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Most people associate serotonin with brain neurology, but over 95 percent of the body's serotonin occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, which has a complex neuronal circuit that has been called "the second brain" of the body.

Diatoms reveal freshwater pollution Posted: 06 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers in India have demonstrated that microscopic aquatic creatures could be used as the ecological equivalent of a canary in a coalmine for assessing inland freshwater lakes and ponds. The team reports how diatoms respond badly to pollutants and sewage contamination.

Fear of pandemic influenza clogs emergency departments even when disease is not present Posted: 06 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT A study of emergency department activity before and during the H1N1 influenza pandemic highlights the role public fear can play in unnecessarily straining medical facilities and will aid in ongoing preparations for public health emergencies.

Researchers investigate fishy sense of smell with hammerhead shark model Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT As every Jaws fan knows, sharks can smell a drop of blood from up to a kilometer away, but how are their noses so sensitive? Researchers in the UK are using the latest technology to find out how these fish are able to sniff out their prey. The scientists are testing a scale model of a hammerhead shark in a flow tank to see how the water flows around the nasal cavity of its strange flattened head.

New atherosclerosis vaccine gives promising results Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT A new study by researchers in Sweden shows that the immune defense's T cells can attack the "bad" LDL cholesterol and thereby cause an inflammation that leads to atherosclerosis. By producing a vaccine against the T cell receptors, the researchers have managed to inhibit the development of atherosclerosis in animals. The study is expected to be of significance to the treatment of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.

Researchers crack 'splicing code,' solve a mystery underlying biological complexity Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a fundamentally new view of how living cells use a limited number of genes to generate enormously complex organs such as the brain.

'Bypass' may lead to vision gains for central retinal vein occlusion patients Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) affects one to four percent of Americans older than 40 and very often causes severe vision loss, including "legal blindness" (20/200 vision). While current treatments reduce CRVO symptoms such as macular edema-swelling of the center of the eye's light-sensitive retina-none address the underlying problem, the blocked retinal vein. Researchers recently took direct aim at the problem, using lasers to create a "bypass" around the constricted retinal vein with the aim of restoring near-normal blood flow to the retina.

Radio tags could save lives after earthquakes Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Radio frequency identification, RFID, could be used in the immediate aftermath of a major earthquake to save lives, according to new research.

High-pressure jobs boost young women's heart disease risk Posted: 06 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT High-pressure jobs boost young women's risk of heart disease, finds a large study of female nurses.

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