ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• New Class Of Black Holes Discovered
• Possibility Of Vaccine For Ear Infections
• Students Create Portable Device To Detect Suicide Bombers
• Environmental Cues Control Reproductive Timing And Longevity
• Microalgae As A Source Of Alternative Energy
• In Pursuit Of A Happiness Gene
• Salamanders, Regenerative Wonders, Heal Like Mammals, People
• New Connection Between Cancer Cells, Stem Cells
• Unexpectedly Long-range Effects In Advanced Magnetic Devices
• New Insight On Therapy For Devastating Parasitic Disease
• Did Melting Snow Shape America's Southern Rocky Mountains?
• Follow Regular Commuter Routes Or Be Adventurous?
• Alzheimer's Symptoms Reversed: Blood Stem Cell Growth Factor Reverses Memory Decline In Mice
• Schizophrenia Linked For First Time To Specific Chromosome Region
• Emerging Techniques Put A New Twist On Ankle Repair
• Atrial Fibrillation In Endurance Athletes Still Poses Problems For Sports Cardiologists
• New Kind Of Undersea Eruption Defined: 'Neptunian'
• Physics Education Improves When Students Make Their Own Computer Models
• Blackest Black Ever: Ultra-thin Material Absorbs Almost 100% Of Light
• Re-Write The Textbooks: Key Genetic Phenomenon Shown To Be Different Than Believed
• Antibiotics Take Toll On Beneficial Microbes In Gut
• What The Immune System Reveals About Breast Cancer
• Biogenic Origin For Earth's Oldest Putative Microfossils
• Barriers Hinder EMS Workers From Using Best Resuscitation Practices, Study Finds
• Plants Save The Earth From An Icy Doom
• Celiac Disease Four Times More Common Than In 1950s
• Protein In The Envelope Enclosing The Cell Nucleus: New Piece Of The Puzzle In Research On Cancer And Stem Cells?
• Analysis Of Drug-eluting Stents Data Demonstrates Safety, Efficacy In On-and-off-label Use
• Mid-Pliocene Asian Monsoon Intensification And The Onset Of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation
• Experts Call For New U.S. Research Effort To Identify Which Health Care Services Work Best
• Mice Run Faster On High-grade Oil
• New Enemy For Tumor-suppressor P53 Identified
• Uncovering How Cells Cover Gaps In Wound Healing And Embryonic Development
• Following The Dietary Guidelines May Slow Heart Disease In Women
• Importance Of Developmental Screening Tool For Identifying Delays In Pre-term Children Shown
• More Vigilant Monitoring Of Seizure Activity Among Intensive Care Patients
• Dense Knots Of Cold Cosmic Dust -- Potential Birthplaces Of New Stars -- Discovered In Inner Regions Of The Milky Way
• Chromosomal Problems Affect Nearly All Human Embryos: Discovery May Explain Low Fertility Rates In Humans
• In The Warming West, Climate Most Significant Factor In Fanning Wildfires' Flames
• Protein Linked To Change In Tissue That Surround And Support Breast Tumors
• Hungry Cells: Tumor Metabolism Discovery Opens New Detection And Treatment Possibilities For Rare Form Of Colon Cancer
• Lack Of Sleep Could Be More Dangerous For Women Than Men
• Biological 'Fountain Of Youth' Found In New World Bat Caves
• Interferon Alpha Can Delay Full Onset Of Type I Diabetes, Phase II Trial Suggests
• Quantum Communications One Step Closer: Novel Ion Trap For Sensing Force And Light Developed
• 115 Newly Identified Genes Implicated In Colorectal Cancer
• Plant-driven Fungal Weathering: Early Stages Of Mineral Alteration At The Nanometer Scale
• Subliminal Messages Motivate People To Actually Do Things They Already Wanted To Do

New Class Of Black Holes Discovered Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT A new class of black hole, more than 500 times the mass of the Sun, has been discovered by an international team of astronomers.

Possibility Of Vaccine For Ear Infections Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Otitis media, more commonly known as an ear infection, is the most frequently diagnosed illness in children less than 15 years of age in the United States and is the primary cause for emergency room visits. More than 80 percent of children will experience at least one ear infection before their third birthday. A new study could introduce a pain-free vaccination strategy that works against ear infections.

Students Create Portable Device To Detect Suicide Bombers Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the weapons of suicide bombers, are a major cause of soldier casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. A group of engineering undergraduate students has developed a new way to detect them.

Environmental Cues Control Reproductive Timing And Longevity Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT When humans and animals delay reproduction because food or other resources are scarce, they may live longer to increase the impact of reproduction, according to a new study.

Microalgae As A Source Of Alternative Energy Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists are researching the potential of mass production of microalgae as a crop.

In Pursuit Of A Happiness Gene Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT The pursuit of happiness characterizes the human condition. But for those suffering from stress, money trouble or chronic illness, a positive outlook on life can be difficult to find. Now, a researcher says we should look to our genes.

Salamanders, Regenerative Wonders, Heal Like Mammals, People Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT The salamander is a superhero of regeneration, able to replace lost limbs, damaged lungs, sliced spinal cord -- even bits of lopped-off brain. Based on experiments on genetically modified axolotl salamanders, researchers show that cells from the salamander's different tissues retain the "memory" of those tissues when they regenerate, contributing with few exceptions only to the same type of tissue from whence they came.

New Connection Between Cancer Cells, Stem Cells Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT A molecule called telomerase, best known for enabling unlimited cell division of stem cells and cancer cells, has a surprising additional role in the expression of genes in an important stem cell regulatory pathway. The unexpected finding may lead to new anticancer therapies and a greater understanding of how adult and embryonic stem cells divide and specialize.

Unexpectedly Long-range Effects In Advanced Magnetic Devices Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT A tiny grid pattern has led materials scientists to an unexpected finding -- the surprisingly strong and long-range effects of certain electromagnetic nanostructures used in data storage.

New Insight On Therapy For Devastating Parasitic Disease Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered an important new insight into how a commonly prescribed drug may work to treat those infected by a parasitic flatworm.

Did Melting Snow Shape America's Southern Rocky Mountains? Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Is it possible that something as insubstantial and transitory as snow could be responsible for large scale vertical movements of Earth's surface and the excavation of deeply incised gorges?

Follow Regular Commuter Routes Or Be Adventurous? Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT It's the same dilemma every morning: do you take your usual route with its frequent traffic jams, or try to get to work faster by going cross-country? And do you listen to the advice from the traffic information service, or work it out yourself? Researchers found that although we appear to be stubborn creatures of habit, good traffic information makes us a bit more adventurous.

Alzheimer's Symptoms Reversed: Blood Stem Cell Growth Factor Reverses Memory Decline In Mice Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT A human growth factor that stimulates blood stem cells to proliferate in bone marrow reverses memory impairment in mice genetically altered to develop Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds.

Schizophrenia Linked For First Time To Specific Chromosome Region Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have shown, for the first time, that modern genetic technologies can solve the riddle of how gene variations lead to schizophrenia.

Emerging Techniques Put A New Twist On Ankle Repair Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT People with ankle injuries who do not respond successfully to initial treatment may have a second chance at recovery, thanks to two new procedures.

Atrial Fibrillation In Endurance Athletes Still Poses Problems For Sports Cardiologists Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Competitive sports and endurance training comes with a real -- even if rare -- twist. While most people will enjoy the benefits and pleasures of exercise, there are a few for whom regular athletic training will increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and even sudden death.

New Kind Of Undersea Eruption Defined: 'Neptunian' Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Two Australian researchers have defined a newly recognized kind of explosive eruption, termed "neptunian," that is restricted to seafloor volcanoes.

Physics Education Improves When Students Make Their Own Computer Models Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT A current trend in secondary science education is for students to learn by discovering for themselves how things work. Computer modeling is a teaching method that fits in nicely with this trend and also with new learning objectives such as scientific literacy, inquiry-based learning and active involvement. Researchers have demonstrated that computer modeling is particularly useful for learning complex structures but less effective for learning simple facts.

Blackest Black Ever: Ultra-thin Material Absorbs Almost 100% Of Light Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT It appears to be a paradox: ultra-thin material that absorbs all incident light. Nonetheless, it does exist. Researchers have demonstrated that at a thickness of 4.5 nanometer niobiumnitride (NbN) is ultra-absorbent. They have recorded a light absorption of almost 100%, while the best light absorption to date was 50%. This research brings the ideal light detector a step closer.

Re-Write The Textbooks: Key Genetic Phenomenon Shown To Be Different Than Believed Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Because females carry two copies of the X chromosome to males' one X and one Y, they harbor a potentially toxic double dose of the over 1000 genes that reside on the X chromosome. To compensate for this imbalance, mammals such as mice and humans shut down one entire X-chromosome through a phenomenon known as X-inactivation. For almost two decades, researchers have believed that one particular gene, called Xist, provides the molecular trigger of X-inactivation. A new study disputes current scientific belief by showing that X-inactivation can occur even in the absence of a gene previously thought to be the trigger of the process.

Antibiotics Take Toll On Beneficial Microbes In Gut Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT In mice, scientists have shown two types of antibiotics can cause moderate to wide-ranging changes in normally diverse, beneficial gut microbes. The findings have implications for minimizing diarrhea in vulnerable patients, and for treating inflammatory bowel disease and C. difficile.

What The Immune System Reveals About Breast Cancer Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified the prognostic significance of the immune system in breast tumors. The research results show that patients with certain breast tumors have a better prognosis when more immune cells are present in the tumor.

Biogenic Origin For Earth's Oldest Putative Microfossils Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Microbes and bacteria were the first living organisms on Earth, and they can be preserved in Archean silica-rich rocks. One such outcrop from western Australia, dated to 3.5 billion years ago, may hold the oldest "microfossils."

Barriers Hinder EMS Workers From Using Best Resuscitation Practices, Study Finds Posted: 02 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Local laws, insurance reimbursement and public misperceptions impede emergency medical services (EMS) workers from using best resuscitation practices, according to a new study.

Plants Save The Earth From An Icy Doom Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT When glaciers advanced over much of the Earth's surface during the last ice age, what kept the planet from freezing over entirely? This has been a puzzle to climate scientists because leading models have indicated that over the past 24 million years geological conditions should have caused carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to plummet, possibly leading to runaway "icehouse" conditions. Now researchers report on the missing piece of the puzzle -- plants.

Celiac Disease Four Times More Common Than In 1950s Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT Celiac disease, an immune system reaction to gluten in the diet, is over four times more common today than it was 50 years ago, according to new findings. Undiagnosed celiac disease is associated with nearly quadrupled mortality.

Protein In The Envelope Enclosing The Cell Nucleus: New Piece Of The Puzzle In Research On Cancer And Stem Cells? Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a new protein in the inner membrane of the cell nucleus. This protein may play an important role in cell division and now provides a new piece of the puzzle to study in cancer research.

Analysis Of Drug-eluting Stents Data Demonstrates Safety, Efficacy In On-and-off-label Use Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT The Cardiovascular Research Foundation has announced the results of the largest meta-analysis to date comparing mortality rates for drug-eluting stents versus bare metal stents. The study also compared the rates of myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization.

Mid-Pliocene Asian Monsoon Intensification And The Onset Of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT The late Pliocene onset of major Northern Hemisphere glaciation is one of the most important steps in the Cenozoic global cooling. Although most attempts have been focused on high-latitude climate feedbacks, no consensus has been reached in explaining the forcing mechanism of this dramatic climate change.

Experts Call For New U.S. Research Effort To Identify Which Health Care Services Work Best Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 PM PDT A new report from the Institute of Medicine recommends 100 health topics that should get priority attention and funding from a new national research effort to identify which health-care services work best.

Mice Run Faster On High-grade Oil Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Between the 1932 and 2008 Olympic Games, world record times of the men's 100m sprint improved by 0.6 seconds. Scientists have shown that an equivalent improvement can be achieved in mice by feeding them a diet high in a certain type of polyunsaturated fatty acid.

New Enemy For Tumor-suppressor P53 Identified Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified a protein that marks the tumor suppressor p53 for destruction, providing a potential new avenue for restoring p53 in cancer cells.

Uncovering How Cells Cover Gaps In Wound Healing And Embryonic Development Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have come a step closer to understanding how cells close gaps not only during embryonic development but also during wound healing. Their study uncovers a fundamental misconception in the previous explanation for a developmental process called dorsal closure.

Following The Dietary Guidelines May Slow Heart Disease In Women Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provide guidance to promote health and reduce risk of chronic diseases. However, what evidence is there that following the DGA optimizes health? Is this advice useful for individuals already in poor health?

Importance Of Developmental Screening Tool For Identifying Delays In Pre-term Children Shown Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT A new study finds that U.S. pediatricians have plenty of room for improvement when it comes to using a screening questionnaire to flag developmental delays in premature children.

More Vigilant Monitoring Of Seizure Activity Among Intensive Care Patients Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 PM PDT Two new studies demonstrate a need for more vigilant monitoring for seizure activity among intensive care patients who may be experiencing subtle seizures that are typically unrecognized. These subtle seizures may be affecting patients' prognoses and causing long-term brain damage, death and severe disability.

Dense Knots Of Cold Cosmic Dust -- Potential Birthplaces Of New Stars -- Discovered In Inner Regions Of The Milky Way Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT Astronomers have unveiled an unprecedented new atlas of the inner regions of the Milky Way, our home galaxy, peppered with thousands of previously undiscovered dense knots of cold cosmic dust -- the potential birthplaces of new stars. Made using observations from the APEX telescope in Chile, this survey is the largest map of cold dust so far.

Chromosomal Problems Affect Nearly All Human Embryos: Discovery May Explain Low Fertility Rates In Humans Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have shown that chromosomal abnormalities are present in more than 90 percent of IVF embryos, even those produced by young, fertile couples.

In The Warming West, Climate Most Significant Factor In Fanning Wildfires' Flames Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT The recent increase in area burned by wildfires in the Western United States is a product not of higher temperatures or longer fire seasons alone, but a complex relationship between climate and fuels that varies among different ecosystems, according to a new study.

Protein Linked To Change In Tissue That Surround And Support Breast Tumors Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT A protein known to be overly active in breast cancer can exist in a form that seems to change the structural composition of mammary tissue, potentially making it more conducive to tumor progression, say researchers.

Hungry Cells: Tumor Metabolism Discovery Opens New Detection And Treatment Possibilities For Rare Form Of Colon Cancer Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT People who suffer from Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a rare inherited cancer syndrome, develop gastrointestinal polyps and are predisposed to colon cancer and other tumor types. Carefully tracing the cellular chain-of-command that links nutrient intake to cell growth (and which is interrupted in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome), allowed researchers to exploit the tumors' weak spot.

Lack Of Sleep Could Be More Dangerous For Women Than Men Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 PM PDT Women who get less than the recommended eight hours sleep a night are at higher risk of heart disease and heart-related problems than men with the same sleeping patterns.

Biological 'Fountain Of Youth' Found In New World Bat Caves Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists are batty over a new discovery which could lead to the single most important medical breakthrough in human history -- significantly longer lifespans. The discovery shows that proper protein folding over time in long-lived bats explains why they live significantly longer than other mammals of comparable size, such as mice.

Interferon Alpha Can Delay Full Onset Of Type I Diabetes, Phase II Trial Suggests Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT A low dose of oral interferon alpha shows promise in preserving beta cell function for patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, according to the results of a Phase II trial.

Quantum Communications One Step Closer: Novel Ion Trap For Sensing Force And Light Developed Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT A novel ion trap could usher in a new generation of applications, because the device holds promise as a stylus for sensing very small forces or for an interface for efficient transfer of individual light particles for quantum communications.

115 Newly Identified Genes Implicated In Colorectal Cancer Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT Previously, only a few genes had been associated with the formation of metastases in colorectal cancer. Now, researchers have identified 115 genes that are disregulated both in the primary tumor and in its metastases. In the future, their findings may help identify patients with aggressive tumors at an earlier stage.

Plant-driven Fungal Weathering: Early Stages Of Mineral Alteration At The Nanometer Scale Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT For the first time, the boundary between fungi and rock has been imaged on a nanoscale -- unraveling the fundamental processes by which fungi break down rocks into soil whilst extracting essential nutrients.

Subliminal Messages Motivate People To Actually Do Things They Already Wanted To Do Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT How is it possible that you were not planning on going shopping, but that you still end up going and even return home with four new shirts? Apparently you really did want to go shopping but were not consciously aware of it. Researchers have demonstrated that you can motivate people with subliminal messaging: quickly flashing words onto a screen without their noticing. This is only successful, however, if the subliminal message matches a biological need and if the behavior is associated with a positive effect.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• New Fossil Primate Suggests Common Asian Ancestor, Challenges Primates Such As 'Ida'
• New Test Can Detect Both Genetic And Chromosomal Abnormalities In Embryos
• New Fluorescent Silicon Nanoparticles Discovered
• Fighting TB Might Be A Matter Of 'Flipping A Switch' In Immune Response
• Breakthrough In Development Of Tiny Biological Fuel Cells
• Brain Plasticity: Changes And Resets In Homeostasis
• Intense Heat Killed The Universe's Would-be Galaxies, Researchers Say
• Orange Juice Worse For Teeth Than Whitening Agents, Study Finds
• Brain Section Multitasks, Handling Phonetics And Decision-making
• Tumor-suppressor Recruits Help To Overcome A Barrier And Fix Cancer-causing Defects
• Little-known Marine Decomposers Attract The Attention Of Genome Sequencers
• Risky Business: Stressed Men, But Not Stressed Women, More Likely To Gamble And Takes Risks
• First Direct Evidence Of Lightning On Mars Detected
• Peptic Ulcer Bacterium Alters The Body's Defense System
• X-rays For Early Alzheimer's Disease Detection
• How Cells Reconcile Mixed Messages In Decisions About Growth
• Eye-tracking Software Opens Online Worlds To People With Disabilities
• Promises Come At A Price
• Less Empathy Toward Outsiders: Brain Differences Reinforce Preferences For Those In Same Social Group
• Scientific System Accurately Predicts Spread Of H1N1
• Rising Acidity Levels Could Trigger Shellfish Revenue Declines, Job Losses
• Roux-en-Y Weight Loss Surgery Raises Kidney Stone Risk, Study Suggests
• Subseafloor Sediment In South Pacific Gyre One Of Least Inhabited Places On Earth
• Daily Sex Helps Reduce Sperm DNA Damage And Improve Fertility
• NASA, Japan Release Most Complete Topographic Map Of Earth
• Complications Early In Pregnancy Or In Previous Pregnancies Adversely Affect Existing Or Subsequent Pregnancies
• Nonstick And Laser-safe Gold Aids Laser Trapping Of Biomolecules
• Enzyme Doesn't Act Alone In Atrial Fibrillation
• Big Impact From Tiny Semiconductor Lasers
• Seasonal Hunger Devastating And Under-recognized
• Thirst For Blood Sparks Toxic Algal Blooms
• Mouse Model Of Parkinson's Reproduces Nonmotor Symptoms
• Tunnel Vision: Border Patrol Agents To Spot Tunnels With Advanced Ground-penetrating Radar
• New Take On Growth Factor Signaling In Tamoxifen Resistance
• New Lasers Drive Powerful Applications
• What Is The Risk Of Obesity While Taking Antidepressant Drugs?
• Study Of Flower Color Shows Evolution In Action
• Health Benefits Of Molecule Associated With Male Sexual Arousal Examined
• Natural-born Divers And The Molecular Traces Of Evolution
• Carb Synthesis Sheds Light On Promising Tuberculosis Drug Target
• New Crops Needed For New Climate
• Music May Have A Future Role In Heart And Stroke Patient Rehabilitation
• New Exotic Subatomic Particle Observed: Omega-sub-b Baryon
• Magic Ingredient In Breast Milk Protects Babies' Intestines
• Can A New Implant Coating Technique Create A New Six Million Dollar Man?
• Older Men With Breathing Problems During Sleep More Likely To Have Irregular Heartbeats
• Study Advises Chinese Government To Change Fuel In Millions Of Households
• 'Sleep Walking' And Talking That Can Occur With Popular Sleep-aid Ambien Explained

New Fossil Primate Suggests Common Asian Ancestor, Challenges Primates Such As 'Ida' Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT A new fossil primate from Myanmar (previously known as Burma) suggests that the common ancestor of humans, monkeys and apes evolved from primates in Asia, not Africa as many researchers believe.

New Test Can Detect Both Genetic And Chromosomal Abnormalities In Embryos Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT One-step screening for both genetic and chromosomal abnormalities has come a stage closer as scientists announced that an embryo test they have been developing has successfully screened cells taken from spare embryos that were known to have cystic fibrosis. The technique, known as genomewide karyomapping, was capable of not only detecting diseases caused by a specific gene mutation, in this case cystic fibrosis, but that it was also capable of detecting aneuploidy (an abnormal number of any of the 23 pairs of chromosomes) at the same time.

New Fluorescent Silicon Nanoparticles Discovered Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Physicists and astronomers have developed a new synthesis method, which has led them to the discovery of fluorescent silicon nanoparticles, and may ultimately help track the uptake of drugs by the body's cells.

Fighting TB Might Be A Matter Of 'Flipping A Switch' In Immune Response Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists are focusing on a new concept in fighting airborne pathogens by manipulating what is called the "switching time," the point at which a highly regulated immune response gives way to powerful cells that specialize in fighting a specific invading bug. In the case of tuberculosis, researchers are using mathematical modeling to determine whether a change to the natural switching time would result in a more effective immune response.

Breakthrough In Development Of Tiny Biological Fuel Cells Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed a successful way to grow molecular wire brushes that conduct electrical charges, a first step in developing biological fuel cells that could power pacemakers, cochlear implants and prosthetic limbs.

Brain Plasticity: Changes And Resets In Homeostasis Posted: 01 Jul 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have found that synaptic plasticity, long implicated as a device for "change" in the brain, may also be essential for stability.

Intense Heat Killed The Universe's Would-be Galaxies, Researchers Say Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Millions of would-be galaxies failed to develop after being exposed to intense heat from the first stars and black holes formed in the early Universe, according to new research. Our Milky Way galaxy only survived because it was already immersed in a large clump of dark matter which trapped gases inside it, scientists have found.

Orange Juice Worse For Teeth Than Whitening Agents, Study Finds Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have determined that the effects of 6 percent hydrogen peroxide, the common ingredient in professional and over-the-counter whitening products, are insignificant compared to acidic fruit juices. Orange juice markedly decreased hardness and increased roughness of tooth enamel.

Brain Section Multitasks, Handling Phonetics And Decision-making Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have found that a portion of the brain that handles decision-making also helps decipher different sounds.

Tumor-suppressor Recruits Help To Overcome A Barrier And Fix Cancer-causing Defects Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Like a mechanic popping the hood of a car to get at a faulty engine, a tumor-suppressing protein allows cellular repair mechanisms to pounce on damaged DNA by overcoming a barrier to DNA access.

Little-known Marine Decomposers Attract The Attention Of Genome Sequencers Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists will sequence the genomes of four species of labyrinthulomycetes. These little-known marine species were selected for sequencing as the result of a proposal submitted to the competitive JGI Community Sequencing Program by a team of microbiologists.

Risky Business: Stressed Men, But Not Stressed Women, More Likely To Gamble And Takes Risks Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT Stressed out, dude? Don't go to Vegas. New research shows that men under stress may be more likely to take risks, correlating to such real-life behavior as gambling, smoking, unsafe sex and illegal drug use.

First Direct Evidence Of Lightning On Mars Detected Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT For the first time, direct evidence of lightning has been detected on Mars, say researchers who found signs of electrical discharges during dust storms on the Red Planet.

Peptic Ulcer Bacterium Alters The Body's Defense System Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Helicobacter pylori survives in the body by manipulating important immune system cells. The discovery may lead to new treatments against the common peptic ulcer bacterium.

X-rays For Early Alzheimer's Disease Detection Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated a new, highly detailed x-ray imaging technique that could be developed into a method for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The technique has previously been used to look at tumors in breast tissue and cartilage in human knee and ankle joints, but this study is the first to test its ability to visualize a class of minuscule plaques that are a hallmark feature of Alzheimer's disease.

How Cells Reconcile Mixed Messages In Decisions About Growth Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT The cells in our body are constantly receiving mixed messages. An epithelial cell might be exposed to one signal telling it to divide and, simultaneously, another telling it to stop dividing. The tug-of-war between these two sets of influences, and the effects they have on tissue growth, are explained and explored in a new article.

Eye-tracking Software Opens Online Worlds To People With Disabilities Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Technology that allows gamers to control game functions with only their eyes is helping to open virtual worlds such as Second Life and World of Warcraft to people with severe motor disabilities. For people suffering from conditions such as cerebral palsy, motor neurone disease (MND) or so-called locked-in syndromes, being able to move around and interact in a virtual environment is a "truly liberating experience," says a computer scientist who helped develop the software.

Promises Come At A Price Posted: 01 Jul 2009 05:00 AM PDT Be careful what you promise people. You are not just obliging yourself to keep your promises; other people will hold you to account for them as well. Researchers investigated how the behavior of other people and one's own behavior influences later behavior. If other people say they trust you, you actually become more trustworthy. If you believe you are trustworthy, you oblige yourself to keep your promises. And other people will hold you to account for them; if you do not keep your promise, you can expect revenge.

Less Empathy Toward Outsiders: Brain Differences Reinforce Preferences For Those In Same Social Group Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT An observer feels more empathy for someone in pain when that person is in the same social group, according to new research. The study shows that perceiving others in pain activates a part of the brain associated with empathy and emotion more if the observer and the observed are the same race. The findings may show that unconscious prejudices against outside groups exist at a basic level.

Scientific System Accurately Predicts Spread Of H1N1 Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new scientific system designed to rapidly evaluate the world's air traffic patterns, accurately predicted how the H1N1 virus would spread around the world.

Rising Acidity Levels Could Trigger Shellfish Revenue Declines, Job Losses Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Changes in ocean chemistry -- a consequence of increased carbon dioxide emissions from human industrial activity -- could cause US shellfish revenues to drop significantly in the next 50 years, according to a new study.

Roux-en-Y Weight Loss Surgery Raises Kidney Stone Risk, Study Suggests Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT The most popular type of gastric bypass surgery appears to nearly double the chance that a patient will develop kidney stones, despite earlier assumptions that it would not. The overall risk, however, remains fairly small at about 8 percent.

Subseafloor Sediment In South Pacific Gyre One Of Least Inhabited Places On Earth Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Oceanographers have found so few organisms beneath the seafloor that it may be the least inhabited sediment ever explored for evidence of life.

Daily Sex Helps Reduce Sperm DNA Damage And Improve Fertility Posted: 01 Jul 2009 02:00 AM PDT Daily sex (or ejaculating daily) for seven days improves men's sperm quality by reducing the amount of DNA damage, according to a new study. Until now there has been no evidence-based consensus amongst fertility specialists as to whether or not men should refrain from sex for a few days before attempting to conceive with their partner, either spontaneously or via assisted reproduction.

NASA, Japan Release Most Complete Topographic Map Of Earth Posted: 30 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT NASA and Japan has released a new digital topographic map of Earth that covers more of our planet than ever before. The map was produced with detailed measurements from NASA's Terra spacecraft.

Complications Early In Pregnancy Or In Previous Pregnancies Adversely Affect Existing Or Subsequent Pregnancies Posted: 30 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT Complications in early pregnancy or in previous pregnancies can predict the likelihood of further problems in current or subsequent pregnancies, according to new research. The findings will help clinicians to predict more easily which women might need greater care and supervision during pregnancy, as well as enabling new research to improve clinical management of such high risk patients.

Nonstick And Laser-safe Gold Aids Laser Trapping Of Biomolecules Posted: 30 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT Biophysicists have made gold more precious than ever -- at least as a research tool -- by creating nonstick gold surfaces and laser-safe gold nanoposts to aid in trapping and fixing individual biomolecules for study.

Enzyme Doesn't Act Alone In Atrial Fibrillation Posted: 30 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT An overactive enzyme is behind a leaky calcium channel that plays a role in the development of atrial fibrillation, which is the most common cardiac arrhythmia that is responsible for a third of all strokes. However, it doesn't act alone, say researchers.

Big Impact From Tiny Semiconductor Lasers Posted: 30 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT A massive project to develop a complete cycle of technologies for a new generation of high-brightness semiconductor lasers promises to transform the healthcare, telecom and display technology sectors. The semiconductor lasers developed by the Brighter project offer high power and very high efficiency in a small, relatively low-cost package, and they have direct applications in cancer treatment and imaging, high-bandwidth fibre-optic communications, laser-based projectors, heads-up-displays, and even TV screens.

Seasonal Hunger Devastating And Under-recognized Posted: 30 Jun 2009 11:00 PM PDT Most of the world's acute hunger and undernutrition occurs not in conflicts and natural disasters but in the annual "hunger season," according to a new article. The hunger season is the time of year when the previous year's harvest stocks have dwindled, food prices are high and jobs are scarce, and is often under-recognized.

Thirst For Blood Sparks Toxic Algal Blooms Posted: 30 Jun 2009 08:00 PM PDT The blooming of toxic algae that occurs during the summer conceal a fight for life and death. Scientists now propose that algal blooms are created when aggressive algae kill and injure their competitors in order to absorb the nutrients they contain.

Mouse Model Of Parkinson's Reproduces Nonmotor Symptoms Posted: 30 Jun 2009 08:00 PM PDT Nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's include digestive and sleep problems, loss of sense of smell and depression. A mouse with a mutation in a gene responsible for packaging neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine reproduces the major non-motor symptoms as well as motor symptoms. The finding sheds light on nonmotor symptoms' causes and their relationship with the neurodegeneration seen in Parkinson's.

Tunnel Vision: Border Patrol Agents To Spot Tunnels With Advanced Ground-penetrating Radar Posted: 30 Jun 2009 08:00 PM PDT They're digging tunnels along the US border at a fast and furious pace, but not a single one of them has ever been discovered by US border patrol agents using technology. That's going to change.

New Take On Growth Factor Signaling In Tamoxifen Resistance Posted: 30 Jun 2009 08:00 PM PDT Differences in growth factor (GF) signaling may cause the poor prognosis in some breast cancer cases. A new study suggests that some estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers respond poorly to tamoxifen because of increased GF signaling.

New Lasers Drive Powerful Applications Posted: 30 Jun 2009 08:00 PM PDT Telecoms, healthcare and display technology will be the major beneficiaries of a new generation of semiconductor lasers developed in a massive research effort. Better cancer treatment, wider bandwidth and smaller, better displays could be on their way.

What Is The Risk Of Obesity While Taking Antidepressant Drugs? Posted: 30 Jun 2009 08:00 PM PDT Major depressive episode (MDE) does not appear to increase the risk of obesity. The cross-sectional associations that have been reported in this study, albeit inconsistently, in the literature probably represent an effect of obesity on MDE risk. Pharmacologic treatment with antidepressants may be associated with an increased risk of obesity, and strategies to offset this risk may be useful in clinical practice.

Study Of Flower Color Shows Evolution In Action Posted: 30 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have zeroed in on the genes responsible for changing flower color, an area of research that began with Gregor Mendel's studies of the garden pea in the 1850's.

Health Benefits Of Molecule Associated With Male Sexual Arousal Examined Posted: 30 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT A new study examines how molecules producing erections may change the way we think and hear.

Natural-born Divers And The Molecular Traces Of Evolution Posted: 30 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT When the ancestors of present marine mammals returned to the oceans, their physiology had to adapt radically. Scientists have been studying how myoglobin, the molecule responsible for delivering oxygen to the muscles during locomotion, has been modified in seals and whales to help them cope with the needs of a life at sea.

Carb Synthesis Sheds Light On Promising Tuberculosis Drug Target Posted: 30 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT A fundamental question about how sugar units are strung together into long carbohydrate chains has also pinpointed a promising way to target new medicines against tuberculosis.

New Crops Needed For New Climate Posted: 30 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Plants grown under high carbon dioxide and drought conditions show an increase in toxic compounds, a decrease in protein content and a decrease in yield. Therefore new cultivars should be developed in order to sustain food production in a future environment.

Music May Have A Future Role In Heart And Stroke Patient Rehabilitation Posted: 30 Jun 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers find evidence that music can synchronize with and influence the cardiovascular system. Crescendos in music narrowed blood vessels on the skin, and increased blood pressure and heart rate. Results explain how music can influence the cardiovascular system, and provide a rationale for using music as therapeutic tool for blood pressure, rehabilitation and more.

New Exotic Subatomic Particle Observed: Omega-sub-b Baryon Posted: 30 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Physicists have announced the observation of a new particle, the Omega-sub-b (Ωb). The particle contains three quarks -- two strange quarks and a bottom quark (s-s-b). It is an exotic relative of the much more common proton and has about six times the proton's mass.

Magic Ingredient In Breast Milk Protects Babies' Intestines Posted: 30 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that an ingredient in human breast milk protects and repairs the delicate intestines of newborn babies. The ingredient called pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor, or PSTI, is found at its highest levels in colostrum -- the milk produced in the first few days after birth. The new study highlights the importance of breastfeeding in the first few days after the birth.

Can A New Implant Coating Technique Create A New Six Million Dollar Man? Posted: 30 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed an electrochemical process for coating metal implants which vastly improves their functionality, longevity and integration into the body.

Older Men With Breathing Problems During Sleep More Likely To Have Irregular Heartbeats Posted: 30 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Increasingly severe sleep-related breathing disorders in older men appear to be associated with a greater risk of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), according to a new article. In addition, different types of breathing problems appear more closely associated with different categories of arrhythmia.

Study Advises Chinese Government To Change Fuel In Millions Of Households Posted: 30 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Scientists in China are recommending that the Chinese government consider phasing out the direct burning of traditional chunks of coal in millions of households. It suggests that the government substitute coal briquettes and improved stoves for cooking and heating to help reduce the country's high air pollution levels.

'Sleep Walking' And Talking That Can Occur With Popular Sleep-aid Ambien Explained Posted: 30 Jun 2009 02:00 PM PDT Some people who take the fast-acting sleep-aid zolpidem (Ambien) have been observed walking, eating, talking on the phone and even driving while not fully awake. Many often don't remember doing any of these activities the next morning. Similarly, this drug has been shown to awaken the minimally conscious into a conscious state. A new study may help explain why these "awakenings" occur.

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