Saturday, July 04, 2009

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Coolest Spacecraft Ever In Orbit (-273 Degrees Celsius)

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

On July 2 the detectors of Planck's High Frequency Instrument reached their amazingly low operational temperature of -273°C, making them the coldest known objects in space. The spacecraft has also just entered its final orbit around the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system, L2.

'Jumping Gene' Diminishes The Effect Of New Type 2 Diabetes Risk Gene

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Research has identified a new gene associated with diabetes, together with a mechanism that makes obese mice less susceptible to diabetes. A genomic fragment that occurs naturally in some mouse strains diminishes the activity of the risk gene Zfp69. The researchers also found that the corresponding human gene (ZNF642) is especially active in overweight individuals with diabetes.

Cancer-causing Protein Can Also Help Fight The Tumors It Causes

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

New research uses the Ras protein to fight its own malign effects.

Bypass Surgery Has Long-term Benefits For Children With Kawasaki Disease, Study Suggests

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Coronary artery bypass surgery provides "excellent" long-term survival for children who have severe inflammatory heart and blood vessel damage caused by Kawasaki disease. While post-operative problems may increase over time, these can be managed with proper follow-up care. Most of the young patients have normal lives, including participation in sports.

'A Touch Of Glass' In Metal, Settles Century-old Question

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Scientists have found evidence of an important similarity between the behavior of polycrystalline materials -- like metals and ceramics -- and glasses, research that could lead to better predictions of how many valuable materials behave under stress.

Rush Of Blood To The Head: Anger Increases Blood Flow

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Mental stress causes carotid artery dilation and increases brain blood flow. A series of ultrasound experiments also found that this dilatory reflex was absent in people with high blood pressure.

Super-energetic Bursts Discovered Near Giant Black Hole

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Combining gamma-ray telescopes with the supersharp radio 'vision' of the Very Long Baseline Array showed astronomers the location from which very-high-energy gamma rays are emerging from the core ot the giant galaxy M87.

Existing Parkinson's Disease Drug May Fight Drug-resistant TB

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Existing drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease could be repositioned for use in the treatment of extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis, which kills about 2 million people each year, according to a new study. The rise of these strains of TB throughout the world, including industrialized countries, poses a great threat to human health.

Novel Light-sensitive Compounds Show Promise For Cancer Therapy

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Chemists have developed novel compounds that show promise for photodynamic cancer therapy, which uses light-activated drugs to kill tumor cells. The new compounds, called dye-sensitized ruthenium nitrosyls, are absorbed by cancer cells and respond to specific wavelengths of light by releasing nitric oxide, which triggers cell death.

Patients With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms More Likely To Suffer From Metabolic Syndrome

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Researchers have determined that individuals with mild to severe symptoms of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are more likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome, a collection of cardiovascular risk factors thought to be linked by insulin resistance). LUTS encompass voiding (incomplete emptying, weak stream, intermittency, straining) and storage (frequency, urgency, nocturia) difficulties.

First Detailed Look At Progress Of A Wildland-urban Fire

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

To better understand increasingly prevelant Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires -- and how best to prevent or fight them -- researchers have issued an in-depth case study on fire behavior and defensive actions taken in a community during a major WUI fire in California.

Hormone Treatment Eases Post-surgery Distress In Children

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Physicians focused on reducing anxiety in children and their families report that oral treatment with melatonin before surgery can significantly reduce the occurrence of emergence delirium in children.

Climate Change And The Mystery Of The Shrinking Sheep

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Milder winters are causing Scotland's wild breed of Soay sheep to get smaller, despite the evolutionary benefits of possessing a large body, according to new research.

New Treatment For Receding Gums: No Pain, Lots Of Gain

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Dental researchers have demonstrated three-year success with a tissue regeneration application that reduces the pain and recovery time of gum grafting surgery. This specific treatment eliminates the need to take tissue from the roof of the mouth.

HIV-related Death: Predicting Fatal Fungal Infections

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Researchers have identified cells in blood that predict which HIV-positive individuals are most likely to develop deadly fungal meningitis, a major cause of HIV-related death. This form of meningitis affects more than 900,000 HIV-infected people globally--most of them in sub-Saharan Africa and other areas of the world where antiretroviral therapy for HIV is not available.

Immunology: Interleukin-21 Keeps Defense Cells In Good Trim

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Interleukin-21 plays a crucial role in fighting off chronic viral infections, scientists recently concluded. The discovery offers hope for specific treatments against HIV, hepatitis C and B, and tumors.

Shape Matters In The Case Of Cobalt Nanoparticles

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

New studies show that changing the shape of cobalt nanoparticles from spherical to cubic can fundamentally change their behavior.

Children With Autism Need To Be Taught In Smaller Groups, Experts Argue

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Since the 1970s, there has been much debate surrounding the fact that individuals with autism have difficulty in understanding speech in situations where there is background speech or noise. Neuroscientists argue in favor of smaller class sizes for children with autism.

Triggering Muscle Development: A Therapeutic Cure For Muscle Wastage?

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Scientists have shown that if elderly men who were given growth hormone and exercised their legs showed an appreciable muscle mass increase. Researchers say, "This raises the question: Can age-related loss of muscle strength and increased fragility be ameliorated by the therapeutic application of mechano growth factor?"

Police Work Undermines Cardiovascular Health, Comparison To General Population Shows

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

It is well documented that police officers have a higher risk of developing heart disease: The question is why. In the most recent results coming out of one of the few long-term studies being conducted within this tightly knit society, researchers have determined that underlying the higher incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis -- arterial thickening that precedes a heart attack or stroke -- may be the stress of police work.

Risk Of Liver Cancer In Women With Hepatitis B Virus Infection Varies With Number Of Pregnancies

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, a primary malignancy of the liver, was statistically significantly higher among women with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection than among women without the virus, according to a new study.

Methane-producing Molecule Can Also Repair DNA

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

The Archaea are single-celled organisms and a domain unto themselves, quite apart from the so called eukaryotes (bacteria and higher organisms). Many species live under extreme conditions, and carry out unique biochemical processes shared neither with bacteria nor with eukaryotes. Methanogenic archaeans, for example, can produce methane gas out of carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

Overweight Kids Experience More Loneliness, Anxiety

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

As childhood obesity rates continue to increase, experts agree that more information is needed about the implications of being overweight as a step toward reversing current trends. A new study has found that overweight children, especially girls, show signs of the negative consequences of being overweight as early as kindergarten.

Human-like Brain Disturbances In Insects: Locusts Shed Light On Migraines, Stroke And Epilepsy

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

A similarity in brain disturbance between insects and people suffering from migraines, stroke and epilepsy points the way toward new drug therapies to address these conditions.

What Drives Lung Cancer's Spread?

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

A new study reveals the genetic underpinnings of what causes lung cancer to quickly metastasize, or spread, to the brain and the bone -- the two most prominent sites of lung cancer relapse.

Alzheimer's Research Yields Potential Drug Target

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Scientists have found laboratory evidence that a cluster of peptides may be the toxic agent in Alzheimer's disease. Scientists say the discovery may lead to new drugs for the disease.

Predicting The Return Of Prostate Cancer: New Study Betters The Odds Of Success

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Cancer experts say a study tracking 774 prostate cancer patients for a median of eight years has shown that a three-way combination of measurements has the best chance yet of predicting disease metastasis.

Computer Scientists Develop Model For Studying Arrangements Of Tissue Networks By Cell Division

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Computer scientists have developed a framework for studying the arrangement of tissue networks created by cell division across a diverse set of organisms, including fruit flies, tadpoles and plants.

Hurricane Katrina: Why Some People Stayed Behind

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Hurricane Katrina was the largest natural disaster in US history, claiming the lives of more than 1,800 victims and causing well over $100 billion in damage along the Gulf Coast. The 2005 storm breached every levee in New Orleans, flooding almost the entire city as well as the neighboring parishes. Yet a surprising number of people stayed behind and rode out the storm.

Brain Malformations Significantly Associated With Preterm Birth, Study Suggests

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

New research provides for the first time a solid scientific answer for the long-standing question of whether there is an association between preterm birth and brain malformations.

Nanotechnology May Increase Longevity Of Dental Fillings

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Tooth-colored fillings may be more attractive than silver ones, but the bonds between the white filling and the tooth quickly age and degrade. Researchers hope a new nanotechnology technique will extend the fillings' longevity.

Prostate Cancer Patients Disease Free After Five Years Likely To Be Disease Free After 10 Years

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Prostate cancer patients who receive brachytherapy and remain free of disease for five years or greater are unlikely to have a recurrence at 10 years, according to a new study.

New Material Made From Paper Sludge Could Replace Plastic Packaging

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Scientists have developed a new material by applying a biotechnological treatment to paper sludge. In many cases, the new material could replace plastic packaging and certain building materials.

Experts Call For Federal Regulation Of Genetic Ancestry Testing

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

The need for a clear set of rules governing genetic ancestry testing is becoming more urgent, according to experts, given the proliferation of private corporations that promise consumers insight into their genetic origins.

Optical Computer Closer: Optical Transistor Made From Single Molecule

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT

Researchers have successfully created an optical transistor from a single molecule. This has brought them one step closer to an optical computer.

Triple Fossil Find Puts Australia Back On The Dinosaur Map

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered three new species of Australian dinosaur discovered in a prehistoric billabong in Western Queensland: two giant, herbivorous sauropods and one carnivorous theropod.

Friday, July 03, 2009

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Return To The Moon: First Images Kick Off Mapping Mission

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera has taken and received its first images of the Moon, kicking off the year-long mapping mission of Earth's nearest celestial neighbor.

Did Evolution Make Us Cancer Prone?

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered that gene mutations that once helped humans survive may increase the possibility for diseases, including cancer.

Second Life Data Offers Window Into How Trends Spread

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT

Do friends wear the same style of shoe or see the same movies because they have similar tastes, which is why they became friends in the first place? Or once a friendship is established, do individuals influence each other to adopt like behaviors?

First Evidence That Female Human Embryos Adjust The Balance Of X

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT

Researchers have found the first evidence that a process of inactivating the X chromosome during embryo development and implantation, which was known to occur in mice but unknown in humans, does, in fact, take place in human female embryos prior to implantation in the womb.

Pacific Northwest Forests Could Store More Carbon, Help Address Greenhouse Issues

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT

The forests of the Pacific Northwest hold significant potential to increase carbon storage and help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in coming years, a recent study concludes, if they are managed primarily for that purpose through timber harvest reductions and increased rotation ages.

The Problem With Self-help Books: The Negative Side To Positive Self-statements

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT

In times of doubt and uncertainty, many Americans turn to self-help books in search of encouragement, guidance and self-affirmation. The positive self-statements suggested in these books, such as "I am a lovable person" or "I will succeed," are designed to lift a person's low self-esteem and push them into positive action. According to a recent study in Psychological Science, however, these statements can actually have the opposite effect.

New Type Of El Nino Could Mean More Hurricanes Make Landfall

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

A new study, in the journal Science, suggests that the form of El Nino may be changing potentially causing not only a greater number of hurricanes than in average years, but also a greater chance of hurricanes making landfall.

New Targeted Therapy Finds And Eliminates Deadly Leukemia Stem Cells

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

New research describes a molecular tool that shows great promise as a therapeutic for human acute myeloid leukemia, a notoriously treatment-resistant blood cancer. The study describes exciting preclinical studies in which a new therapeutic approach selectively attacks human cancer cells grown in the lab and in animal models of leukemia.

Why H1N1 Flu Spreads Inefficiently

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Scientists have found a genetic explanation for why the new H1N1 "swine flu" virus has spread from person to person less effectively than other flu viruses. But researchers say the new strain bears watching as it could mutate.

Eye Damage In People With Type 1 Diabetes Significantly Slowed

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Researchers have found a treatment that significantly slows the progression of eye injury in people with type 1 diabetes, a common complication caused by this disease. By administering an antihypertensive, medication commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure, they were able to slow progression of diabetic eye damage in more than 65 percent of participants involved in the study.

New Lab-on-a-chip Measures Mechanics Of Bacteria Colonies

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Researchers have devised a microscale tool to help them understand the mechanical behavior of biofilms, slimy colonies of bacteria involved in most human infectious diseases.

Perfect Pitch Study Offers Window Into Influences Of Nature And Nurture

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Practice, practice, practice might get you to Carnegie Hall, but for aspiring musicians, there's new evidence that genes may influence one's ability to get there, as well.

Mars More Like Earth Than Earth Than Thought? New Details About History Of Water On Red Planet

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT

New details have emerged about the history of water on Mars, gleaned from the 2008 NASA Phoenix Mars Mission. Scientists found patterns in the ground near the lander, multi-sided shapes about three to ten meters in size. The shapes are created when the surface contracts and the ice cracks. Sand fills in the cracks before the ice expands and buckles the surface to make the distinctive patterns.

Molecular Differences Found Between Embryonic Stem Cells And Reprogrammed Skin Cells

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT

Researchers have found that embryonic stem cells and skin cells reprogrammed into embryonic-like cells have inherent molecular differences, demonstrating for the first time that the two cell types are clearly distinguishable from one another.

New Actions Of Neurochemicals Discovered

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT

Although the tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans has only 302 neurons in its entire nervous system, studies of this simple animal have significantly advanced our understanding of human brain function because it shares many genes and neurochemical signaling molecules with humans. Now researchers have found novel C. elegans neurochemical receptors, the discovery of which could lead to new therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders if similar receptors are found in humans.

Lifespan Of HIV-infected Cells Might Be Shorter Than Previously Believed

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT

Researchers have used mathematical models to demonstrate that cells infected with HIV could die sooner than was thought until now. If infected cells have a shorter lifespan then this increases the chances of the virus escaping the attention of the immune system.

Computer Recognizes Archaeological Material And Fake Van Goghs

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT

People find it very easy to recognize a face, even under very different circumstances. For a computer, on the other hand, it is extremely difficult. Researchers have developed a new analytical technique which enables the computer to better interpret the content of photos and images, but also of data.

Doubts Cast On Credibility Of Some Published Clinical Trials

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT

Randomized controlled trials are considered the "gold standard" research method for assessing new medical treatments. But new research shows that the design of a remarkable 93 percent of 2235 so-called RCTs published in some Chinese medical journals during 1994 to 2005 was flawed, casting doubt on the reliability of research that is likely to influence medical decision-makers.

New Class Of Pulsars Solve Mystery Of Previously Unidentified Gamma-ray Sources

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

A new class of pulsars detected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is solving the mystery of previously unidentified gamma-ray sources and helping scientists understand the mechanisms behind pulsar emissions.

Natural Compound Stops Retinopathy, Study Suggests

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Researchers have found a way to use a natural compound to stop one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.

Vegetarian Diets Can Help Prevent Chronic Diseases, American Dietetic Association Says

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

The American Dietetic Association has released an updated position paper on vegetarian diets that concludes such diets, if well-planned, are healthful and nutritious for adults, infants, children and adolescents and can help prevent and treat chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes.

History Of Periodontitis Linked To Cerebrovascular Disease In Men

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

The potential role of periodontitis, an inflammatory disease of the gums, in the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly ischemic stroke, has received growing attention during the last decade. A new study is the first prospective cohort study to use clinical measures of periodontitis to evaluate the association between this disease and the risk of cerebrovascular disease.

Greater Understanding Of Lyme Disease-causing Bacteria

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Lyme disease in the US is caused by the tick-borne bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, and usually begins with a skin lesion, after which the bacteria spread throughout the body to the nervous system, heart or joints.

Both Good And Bad Movie Characters Who Smoke Influence Teens To Do The Same

Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Researchers have determined that movie characters who smoke, regardless of whether they are "good guys" or "bad guys," influence teens to try smoking.

Small Heat-Shielded Habitats Could Help Threatened Species Survive Climate Change

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT

Intelligent countryside management could improve the survival chances of animal and plant species threatened by climate change. The creation of small heat-shielded habitats and better links between habitats would counteract a moderate temperature increase, and give threatened species more time to adapt better and/or to migrate to cooler regions.

Prostate Cancer Screening Has Yet To Prove Its Worth, Researchers Say

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT

The recent release of two large randomized trials suggests that if there is a benefit of screening, it is, at best, small, says a new report.

Largest Ever Survey Of Very Distant Galaxy Clusters Completed

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT

Astronomers have completed the largest ever survey designed to find very distant clusters of galaxies. Named the Spitzer Adaptation of the Red-sequence Cluster Survey, "SpARCS" detects galaxy clusters using deep ground-based optical observations. SpARCS is designed to find clusters, snapped as they appeared long ago in time, when the universe was 6 billion years old or younger.

Risk Of Tuberculosis From Arthritis Medication Examined

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT

Treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents is recognized as a risk factor for tuberculosis in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

Quantum Encrypted Information Sent Over An Eight Node, Mesh Network

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT

Researchers from across Europe have united to build the largest quantum key distribution network ever built. The efforts of 41 research and industrial organizations were realized as secure, quantum encrypted information was sent over an eight node, mesh network.

Poor Sleep Is Independently Associated With Depression In Postpartum Women

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT

Postpartum depression may aggravate an already impaired sleep quality, as experiencing difficulties with sleep is a symptom of depression.

Giant Moa Rebuilt Using Ancient DNA From Prehistoric Feathers

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Scientists have performed the first DNA-based reconstruction of the giant extinct moa bird, using prehistoric feathers recovered from caves and rock shelters in New Zealand.

Acid-reducing Medicines May Lead To Dependency

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Treatment with proton pump inhibitors for eight weeks induces acid-related symptoms like heartburn, acid regurgitation and dyspepsia once treatment is withdrawn in healthy individuals. Data suggests proton pump inhibitors can induce acid-related symptoms in healthy adults.

QuikScat Finds Tempests Brewing In 'Ordinary' Storms

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

"June is busting out all over," as the song says, and with it, U.S. residents along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts begin to gaze warily toward the ocean, aware that the hurricane season is revving up. In the decade since NASA's QuikScat satellite and its SeaWinds scatterometer launched in June 1999, the satellite has measured the wind speed and wind direction of these powerful storms, providing data that are increasingly used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Hurricane Center and other world forecasting agencies. The data help scientists detect these storms, understand their wind fields, estimate their intensity and track their movement.

CPAP Treatment Linked To Lower Mortality In Stroke Patients With OSA

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea who undergo treatment with continuous positive airway pressure following their stroke may substantially reduce their risk of death.

Magmatic Plumbing Of A Large Permian Caldera Exposed To A Depth Of 25 Kilometers

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Large volcanic calderas, aka supervolcanoes, are enormous craters tens of kilometers in diameter produced by giant, explosive eruptions that rank among the most violent geologic events. Geophysical studies of recently active calderas and investigations of their eruption products suggest that their magmatic systems are driven by intrusion of mantle-derived basalt in the deep crust, a process commonly referred to as magmatic underplating.

Brain Functions That Can Prevent Relapse Improve After A Year Of Methamphetamine Abstinence

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Researchers report that it takes at least a year for former methamphetamine users to regain impulse control. The results tell recovering substance abusers, their families and drug-treatment specialists that it can take an extended period of time for the brain functions critical to recovery to improve.

Astronomers Discover Pair Of Solar Systems In The Making

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Astronomers have found a binary star-disk system in which each star is surrounded by the kind of dust disk that is frequently the precursor of a planetary system.

Virus-gene Therapy Combination Against Melanoma Under Testing

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Researchers are injecting a modified herpes virus into melanoma tumors, hoping to kill the cancer cells while also bolstering the body's immune defenses against the disease.

Keeping Fish in Home Aquariums: Two Is Not Company, As Far As Fish Are Concerned

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

New research has shown that fish kept alone or in small groups are more aggressive and exhibit fewer natural behaviors such as shoaling.

What Should A Teenage Girl Do If She Finds A Lump In Her Breast?

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

If a lump is found in the breast of an adolescent girl, she often will undergo an excisional biopsy. However, breast cancer is rare in adolescents, and the vast majority of teenage breast lumps are benign. A recent study suggests that a breast ultrasound might eliminate the need for biopsy in many cases.

Key To Evolutionary Fitness: Cut The Calories

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Charles Darwin postulated that animals eat as much as possible while food is plentiful, and produce as many offspring as this would allow. However, new research shows that, even when food is abundant, intake reaches a limit. One theory for this is that animals actively limit their energy turnover to maintain a higher level of reproductive success over their lifetime.

People Sometimes Seek The Truth, But Most Prefer Like-minded Views

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT

We swim in a sea of information, but filter out most of what we see or hear. A new analysis of data from dozens of studies sheds new light on how we choose what we do and do not hear. The study found that while people tend to avoid information that contradicts what they already think or believe, certain factors can cause them to seek out, or at least consider, other points of view.

Sea Ice At Lowest Level In 800 Years Near Greenland

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

New research, which reconstructs the extent of ice in the sea between Greenland and Svalbard from the 13th century to the present indicates that there has never been so little sea ice as there is now.

Successful Initial Safety Tests For Genetically-modified Rice That Fights Allergy

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

In a first-of-its-kind advance toward the next generation of genetically modified foods — intended to improve consumers' health — researchers in Japan are reporting that a new transgenic rice designed to fight a common pollen allergy appears safe in animal studies. 

'Stealth' Herpes Simplex Inflammation Impacts Corneal Transplants

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) can infect the eye and sometimes causes so much damage that the person's cornea must be replaced with a transplant. (The cornea is the clear covering of the front of the eye that helps focus light for vision.) Doctors knew transplants were more likely to fail in people with HSV than in patients with other disorders, such as keratoconus, an abnormal steepening of the cornea.

Stirred, Not Shaken: Bio-inspired Cilia Mix Medical Reagents At Small Scales

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Engineers used a novel underwater manufacturing technique to successfully build biomimetic cilia. The hairlike appendages mix tiny volumes of liquid to speed up biomedical reactions.

Will IVF Work For A Particular Patient? The Answer May Be Found In Her Blood

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT

For the first time, researchers have been able to identify genetic predictors of the potential success or failure of IVF treatment in blood. New research helps explain why IVF works for some patients but not for others.