Sunday, June 20, 2010

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Hubble scrutinizes site of mysterious flash and missing cloud belt on Jupiter

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT

New and detailed observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have provided insights into two recent events on Jupiter: the mysterious flash of light seen on June 3 and the recent disappearance of the planet's dark Southern Equatorial Belt.

New test may simply and rapidly detect Lyme disease

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a more sensitive test for Lyme disease that may offer earlier detection and lower cost.

Living fast and dangerously: Hormones influence the 'pace of life' of songbirds

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT

Human beings, fish, reptiles and birds have the same hormones in their blood with very similar functions. But why does one find hormone values in some species that are ten times higher than in others? Scientists have now discovered that the differing concentrations in birds of the stress hormone, corticosterone, and the reproductive hormone, testosterone, are correlated with the "pace of life". They control whether energy is invested into reproduction, i.e. the number of eggs laid and the breeding attempts in a given season, or more into longevity, i.e. immune function or the flight response in times of danger.

Understanding robustness in organisms -- a potential weapon against infectious diseases

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT

"Robust" is an adjective appreciatively applied to certain vintage wines, but when describing viruses and pathogens, robustness is a property that may be much less desirable. It evokes drug resistant microbes and other superbugs that can wreak havoc as researchers struggle to deal with new pandemics. How can we undercut this robustness? A new study examines the ability of organisms to survive in the face of various kinds of change.

LCD television waste could help prevent bacterial infections

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT

The fastest growing waste in Europe could soon be helping to combat hospital infections, according to scientists in the UK. Researchers have discovered a way of transforming the chemical compound polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA), which is a key element of television sets with liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, into an anti-microbial substance that destroys infections such as Escherichia coli and some strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

More than just baby blues: How postpartum depression arises and how it could be prevented

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT

Within the first week after giving birth, up to 70 percent of all women experience symptoms of the baby blues. While most women recover quickly, up to 13 percent of all new mothers suffer from symptoms of a clinical-level postpartum depression.

Songbirds learn their songs during sleep

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT

When zebra finches learn their songs from their father early in life, their brain is active during sleep. These findings are a further demonstration that birdsong learning is very similar to the way that children learn how to speak.

Deadly effect of arsenic in drinking water measured in Bangladesh study

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT

More than 20 percent of deaths in a study of 12,000 Bangladeshis were attributable to arsenic exposure from contaminated drinking water, new research reports. The large 10-year study is the first to prospectively measure the relationship between individual exposure to arsenic and its associated mortality risk.

Retooling the ocean conveyor belt

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT

Oceanographer are reviewing the growing body of evidence that suggests it's time to rethink the ocean conveyor belt model.

Surveillance may be suitable treatment option for patients with low-risk prostate cancer

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT

Active surveillance or watchful waiting might be sufficient treatment for patients with prostate cancer that has a low risk of progression, according to a new study.

Physicists help biologists to understand protein folding

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT

Physicists have created a microscopic device to assist biologists in making very fast molecular measurements that aid the understanding of protein folding. This development may help elucidate biological processes associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Since proteins in the body perform different functions according to their shape, the folding process is considered a key area of study.

Faster employees may indirectly motivate colleagues to increase production

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT

You wouldn't think that there would be much similarity between a hockey line and an automobile assembly line. However, management-science researchers say that both groups can learn something about line design and human behavior, which may help them perform better.

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