ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Genetic signatures of human exceptional longevity discovered
• New drug restores hearing after noise-induced hearing loss in rats
• Feathered friends: Ostriches provide clues to dinosaur movement
• Discovery of a hepatitis C-related virus in bats may reduce outbreaks in humans
• Warmer is better: Invasive cane toads set to thrive under global warming
• Can money buy happiness? Gallup poll asks, and the world answers
• Tibetan adaptation to high altitude occurred in less than 3,000 years
• High fructose diet may contribute to high blood pressure, study finds
• Three-legged dogs boost robot research
• Stroke complications may subtract additional two years of healthy life
• Scrubbing CO₂ from atmosphere could be a long-term commitment
• Planned home births associated with tripling of neonatal mortality rate vs. planned hospital births
• Killer whales and the mystery of human menopause
• UVA radiation damages DNA in human melanocyte skin cells and can lead to melanoma
• Researchers identify what makes MRSA lethal
• Overweight women undertaking ART twice as likely to miscarry as their slimmer counterparts, study finds
• World of lights in the microcosmos
• Science of soccer: Ball aerodynamics focus of research
• X-ray satellite homes in on a black hole's jets
• Genetic regulator opens new avenues to AIDS, immune system research
• New heat-tolerant beans released
• How to rapily assess children's tooth decay risk
• All-natural personal care products: Chemical engineer patents enzymatic preparation to make natural ingredients in the lab
• Stem cell scientist leads effort to prevent fraudulent treatment
• Extinction of woolly mammoth, saber-toothed cat may have been caused by human predators
• Stem-cell therapy may provide new approach to fight infection
• Acupuncture improves exercise tolerance in heart patients, German study finds
• Increasing fertility threefold with DHEA?
• Switching off your lights has a bigger impact than you might think, says new study
• Reading the look of love
• Man in the Moon has 'graphite whiskers'
• DNA mutation rates raise curtain on cause of cancer
• Work-life balance: Brain stem cells need their rest, too
• Higher testosterone may raise risk of heart disease in elderly men
• Emissions of greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide underestimated, research suggests
• Vast majority of physicians practice 'defensive medicine,' according to physician survey

Genetic signatures of human exceptional longevity discovered Posted: 02 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have identified a group of genetic variants that can predict exceptional longevity in humans with 77 percent accuracy -- a breakthrough in understanding the role of genes in determining human lifespan.

New drug restores hearing after noise-induced hearing loss in rats Posted: 02 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Researchers from New Zealand have discovered that a potent new drug restores hearing after noise-induced hearing loss in rats. The landmark discovery found that injection of an agent called 'ADAC' activates adenosine receptors in cochlear tissues, resulting in recovery of hearing function. The finding paves the way for effective non-surgical therapies to restore hearing loss after noise-induced injury.

Feathered friends: Ostriches provide clues to dinosaur movement Posted: 02 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT The flightless ostrich uses its wings as sophisticated air-rudders and braking aids when running at high speed and may provide valuable information about how its dinosaur ancestors used their feathered forelimbs to move more efficiently. A small leg muscle, if also present in dinosaurs may have reduced the energetic cost of carrying a heavy body.

Discovery of a hepatitis C-related virus in bats may reduce outbreaks in humans Posted: 02 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Viral hepatitis affects more than 500 million people worldwide and while vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B, this is not the case for hepatitis C, which affects as much as two percent of the population in the US. Now, scientists are reporting discovery of a virus related to hepatitis C in Asian bats, which may provide insights into the origins of the hepatitis C virus.

Warmer is better: Invasive cane toads set to thrive under global warming Posted: 02 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT As global warming threatens many animal species with extinction, the cane toad is set to flourish with increasing temperature. This is a major cause for concern as the cane toad, once introduced to Australia as agricultural pest-control of the cane beetle, is an already highly invasive species and considered a pest in Australia.

Can money buy happiness? Gallup poll asks, and the world answers Posted: 02 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT A worldwide survey of more than 136,000 people in 132 countries included questions about happiness and income, and the results reveal that while life satisfaction usually rises with income, positive feelings don't necessarily follow, researchers report.

Tibetan adaptation to high altitude occurred in less than 3,000 years Posted: 02 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have compared the genomes of 50 Tibetans living above 14,000 feet to 40 Han Chinese living at essentially sea level. They found that within the last 3,000 years, Tibetans evolved genetic mutations in a number of genes having to do with how the body deals with oxygen, making it possible for Tibetans to thrive at high altitudes while their Han relatives cannot.

High fructose diet may contribute to high blood pressure, study finds Posted: 02 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT People who eat a diet high in fructose, in the form of added sugar, are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure, or hypertension, according to a new study. The results suggest that cutting back on foods and beverages containing a lot of fructose (sugar) might decrease one's risk of developing hypertension.

Three-legged dogs boost robot research Posted: 02 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists in Germany are examining how three-legged dogs move to help design and develop robots that can adapt in the event of an "injury." The new research looked at walking and running techniques in dogs with fore-limb or hind-limb amputations, using a treadmill and a set of high-tech infra-red cameras.

Stroke complications may subtract additional two years of healthy life Posted: 02 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Stroke complications may deprive patients of about two years of healthy life, in addition to three years of healthy life lost due to the stroke, according to a South Korean study. A combined measure of potential life years and function lost can impact public health decisions, researchers said. However, it's unclear if the findings can be applied to other populations.

Scrubbing CO<sub>2</sub> from atmosphere could be a long-term commitment Posted: 02 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT With carbon dioxide in the atmosphere approaching alarming levels, even halting emissions altogether may not be enough to avert catastrophic climate change. Could scrubbing carbon dioxide from the air be a viable solution? A new study suggests that while removing excess carbon dioxide would cool the planet, keeping carbon dioxide at low levels would require a long-term commitment spanning decades or even centuries.

Planned home births associated with tripling of neonatal mortality rate vs. planned hospital births Posted: 02 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT In a new study, researchers report that less medical intervention, characteristic of planned home births, is associated with a tripling of the neonatal mortality rate compared to planned hospital deliveries. Planned home births were characterized by a greater proportion of deaths attributed to respiratory distress and failed resuscitation.

Killer whales and the mystery of human menopause Posted: 02 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT The evolutionary mystery of menopause is a step closer to being solved thanks to research on killer whales. A new study has found a link between killer whales, pilot whales and humans -- the only three known species where females stop breeding relatively early in their lifespan.

UVA radiation damages DNA in human melanocyte skin cells and can lead to melanoma Posted: 02 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT A new study has found that UVA radiation damages the DNA in human melanocyte cells, causing mutations that can lead to melanoma. Melanocytes, which contain a substance called melanin that darkens the skin to protect it from the ultraviolet rays of the sun, are more vulnerable to UVA radiation than normal skin cells because they are unable to repair themselves as efficiently.

Researchers identify what makes MRSA lethal Posted: 02 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Scientists studying the so-called "superbug" MRSA have identified one of the components responsible for making it so deadly. Scientists have proven for the first time that a protein called FnBP is central to the bacteria's ability to invade the body's organs.

Overweight women undertaking ART twice as likely to miscarry as their slimmer counterparts, study finds Posted: 02 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Being overweight leads to a greater risk of miscarriage for patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology, according to a new study.

World of lights in the microcosmos Posted: 02 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Light-emitting diodes are gaining ground: They are now being used as background lighting for displays. But the manufacturing of complex LED optics is still complex and expensive. A new technology is revolutionizing production: Large-scale LED components can now be manufactured cost-effectively.

Science of soccer: Ball aerodynamics focus of research Posted: 02 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT With the attention of sports fans worldwide focused on South Africa and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, US scientist John Eric Goff has made the aerodynamics of the soccer ball a focus of his research.

X-ray satellite homes in on a black hole's jets Posted: 01 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Astronomers using NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer satellite, together with optical, infrared and radio data, find that, at times, most of the X-rays come from Black Hole jets.

Genetic regulator opens new avenues to AIDS, immune system research Posted: 01 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a genetic regulator that plays a key role in the formation of "T cells," a type of white blood cell. The discovery suggests that some types of immune function might be influenced by manipulation of this genetic regulator. This could be a target for drug development, and could open the door to new immune system-based therapies for everything from diseases of T cells, such as HIV/AIDS, to autoimmune disorders and allergies.

New heat-tolerant beans released Posted: 01 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT New bean germplasm lines containing heat, drought and disease tolerance are being released by agricultural scientists.

How to rapily assess children's tooth decay risk Posted: 01 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have determined that ATP-driven (adenosine triphosphate-driven) bioluminescence -- a way of measuring visible light generated from ATP contained in bacteria -- is an innovative tool for rapidly assessing in children at the chair-side the number of oral bacteria and amount of plaque that can ultimately lead to tooth decay.

All-natural personal care products: Chemical engineer patents enzymatic preparation to make natural ingredients in the lab Posted: 01 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT A chemical engineer has developed and patented a chemical structure to make all-natural personal care products and purer pharmaceuticals in the laboratory.

Stem cell scientist leads effort to prevent fraudulent treatment Posted: 01 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Leading stem cell researchers from institutions around the world are issuing warnings about unproven stem cell therapies being marketed on the Internet and have launched a website to educate and protect patients seeking such treatments. Often conducted outside of the United States, most of these therapies have little or no benefit -- and can be dangerous as well as costly.

Extinction of woolly mammoth, saber-toothed cat may have been caused by human predators Posted: 01 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT A new analysis of the extinction of woolly mammoths and other large mammals more than 10,000 years ago suggests that they may have fallen victim to the same type of "trophic cascade" of ecosystem disruption that scientists say is being caused today by the global decline of predators such as wolves, cougars and sharks.

Stem-cell therapy may provide new approach to fight infection Posted: 01 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT A new study shows that treatment with mesenchymal stem cells can triple survival rates in mice with sepsis, a deadly condition that can occur when an infection spreads throughout the body. The treatment reduced the damaging effects of inflammation and increased the body's ability to clear the infection. Mesenchymal stem cells are found in adult bone marrow and they have been used extensively in clinical trials in humans for other conditions.

Acupuncture improves exercise tolerance in heart patients, German study finds Posted: 01 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Acupuncture can improve exercise tolerance in patients suffering from chronic heart failure, according to a clinical pilot study by a team in Germany.

Increasing fertility threefold with DHEA? Posted: 01 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have found a statistical connection between the vitamin supplement DHEA, used to counter the effects of aging, and successful pregnancy rates in women undergoing treatment for infertility. In the first controlled study on the effects of the supplement, researchers found that women being treated for infertility who also received supplements of DHEA were three times more likely to conceive than women being treated without the additional drug.

Switching off your lights has a bigger impact than you might think, says new study Posted: 01 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Switching off lights, turning the television off at the mains and using cooler washing cycles could have a much bigger impact on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power stations than previously thought, according to a new study. Researchers in the UK show that the figure used by government advisers to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide saved by reducing people's electricity consumption is up to 60 percent too low.

Reading the look of love Posted: 01 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT How fast you can judge whether a person of the opposite sex is looking at you depends on how masculine or feminine they look, according to a new study. The researchers speculate that there may be an evolutionary advantage to quickly noticing when a 'hottie' is looking at you.

Man in the Moon has 'graphite whiskers' Posted: 01 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT In a new analysis of a lunar sample collected by Apollo 17, researchers have detected and dated carbon on the moon in the form of graphite -- the sooty stuff of pencil lead -- which survived from around 3.8 billion years ago, when the moon was heavily bombarded by meteorites. Up to now, scientists thought the trace amounts of carbon previously detected on the surface of the moon came from the solar wind.

DNA mutation rates raise curtain on cause of cancer Posted: 01 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT What if we could understand why cancer develops? One idea that has emerged is that for a cell to transform into a cancer cell it must suffer a large number of mutations affecting different genes needed to control cell growth. Researchers have found that the process of repairing DNA damage also unexpectedly increases the rate of mutations and changes the kinds of mutations that arise.

Work-life balance: Brain stem cells need their rest, too Posted: 01 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Stem cells in the brain remain dormant until called upon to divide and make more neurons. However, little has been known about the molecular guards that keep them quiet. Now scientists have identified the signal that prevents stem cells from proliferating, protecting the brain against too much cell division and ensuring a pool of neural stem cells that lasts a lifetime.

Higher testosterone may raise risk of heart disease in elderly men Posted: 01 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT A large new study shows that older men with higher testosterone levels are more likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular disease in the future.

Emissions of greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide underestimated, research suggests Posted: 01 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT The emission of the greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide has been structurally underestimated, as a result of the measuring methods used, according to new research from the Netherlands.

Vast majority of physicians practice 'defensive medicine,' according to physician survey Posted: 01 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT A survey has found that 91 percent of physicians believe concerns over malpractice lawsuits result in "defensive medicine," ordering more tests and procedures than necessary as a protective measure.

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