ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Great Apes Think Ahead: Conclusive Evidence Of Advanced Planning Capacities Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Apes can plan for their future needs just as we humans can -- by using self-control and imagining future events. Swedish researchers are the first to provide conclusive evidence of advanced planning capacities in nonhuman species.

First Gene Therapy For Heart Failure Offered In Clinical Trials Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Could injecting a gene into a patient with severe heart failure reverse their disabling and life-threatening condition? Physician-scientists are setting out to answer that question in a first-ever clinical trial of gene therapy to treat severe heart failure.

Test Of Bacteria Toxin Delivery System Could Pave Way For New Antibiotic Drugs Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in monitoring the toxin-delivery system of highly pathogenic bacteria -- an accomplishment that could help pave the way for new drugs that will be capable of neutralizing those germs.

PET Scans Reveal Hormone Replacement Therapy May Be Beneficial For Postmenopausal Women Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, yet recent research studies have sometimes resulted in conflicting data regarding how best to treat or minimize the effects of the disease.

IRobot Secures Licensing Agreement For Underwater Seagliders Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT University of Washington record-holding, ocean-observing robots that operate at sea for months at a time -- traveling thousands of miles at the behest of operators on land directing activities via a satellite phone network -- will be commercially produced by iRobot under a new licensing agreement.

Ordered Drinks Can Be Larger And Have Greater Alcohol Content Than You May Think Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Most alcohol research tends to assume that drinks contain the same amount of pure alcohol: 0.6 ounces or 18 milliliters. Why is this important? Researchers need accuracy to do their job well, and consumers need to know what they're drinking, especially if they are going to drive. New research has found that the average size of wine, mixed drinks and beer served in Northern California bars, restaurants and other drinking establishments is larger than the standard, and alcohol content can vary widely. Researchers visited 80 bars and restaurants in Northern California.

Birds Communicate Reproductive Success In Song Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Some migratory songbirds figure out the best place to live by eavesdropping on the singing of others that successfully have had baby birds -- a communication and behavioral trait so strong that researchers playing recorded songs induced them to nest in places they otherwise would have avoided.

Stem Cell Researchers Give Old Muscle New Pep Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT When bioengineers tweaked how adult stem cells reacted to biochemical signals regulating cell division, they gave muscle in old mice a shot of youthful vigor. The research sets the path for research on new treatments for age-related degenerative conditions, including muscle atrophy and Alzheimer's disease.

Marine Biologists Investigate Aliens Beneath The Waves Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Marine biologists are appealing for help from the public in looking at ways to detect and stop the spread of marine aliens.

Molecular Imaging Sheds New Light On Progression Of Alzheimer's Disease Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT In the past, physicians were able only to follow the progression of Alzheimer's disease through careful clinical histories, noting the often subtle changes associated with cognitive decline over a number of years. Recent research suggests that the use of molecular imaging in the management of neurodegenerative disease, particularly for early diagnosis of AD, will enable researchers to monitor the progression of the disease, identifying those at risk and assessing the effectiveness of new therapies.

Low Cost Quantum Dots For Biological Research Produced Through Microwave Synthesis Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Materials researchers have developed a simplified, low-cost process for producing high-quality, water-soluble 'quantum dots' for biological research.

Steroids In Female Mouse Urine Light Up Nose Nerves Of Male Mice Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT A group of steroids found in female mouse urine goes straight to the male mouse's head. Researchers found the compounds activate nerve cells in the male mouse's nose with unprecedented effectiveness.

Worm-like Marine Animal Providing Fresh Clues About Human Evolution Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Research on the genome of a marine creature is shedding new light on a key area of the tree of life. Because amphioxus is evolving slowly -- its body plan remains similar to that of fossils from the Cambrian time -- the animal serves as an intriguing comparison point for tracing how vertebrates have evolved and adapted. This includes new information about how vertebrates have employed old genes for new functions.

Patient's Own Infection-fighting T Cells Put Late-stage Melanoma Into Long-term Remission Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers describe the first successful use of a human patient's cloned infection-fighting T cells as the sole therapy to put an advanced solid-tumor cancer into long-term remission.

Plants Can Make Golf Courses Greener By Filtering Pesticides Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers have found several plants, including blue flag iris, that can reduce the amount of common pesticides used on gold courses in soils. Using these plants as a "living filter" on the edge of golf greens will help protect waterways from the impact of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.

New Possibilities For Breast Cancer Treatment On The Horizon Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT The first patient scans from a custom-built scanner combining positron emission tomography and computed tomography technologies indicate that these scans could significantly improve breast cancer imaging capabilities and lead to more targeted treatment options, according to researchers. The prototype scanner is designed to help physicians determine stages of breast cancer in patients already diagnosed with the disease, rather than as a mammography screening tool.

Grains And Liquids Demonstrate Similar Cohesion Effects Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT What if sand flowed like water? Researchers have just demonstrated that even without an attractive force between grains in flowing sand, they have a cohesion similar to that of liquids.

Claims Linking Health Problems And The Strength Of Cannabis May Be Exaggerated Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Claims that a large increase in the strength of cannabis over the last decade is driving the occurrence of mental health and other problems for users are not borne out by a study of the worldwide literature, say researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and the National Drug Research Institute, both from Australia.

Thinking Ahead: Bacteria Anticipate Coming Changes In Their Environment Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Microbes may be smarter than we think. Bacteria don't just react to changes in their surroundings -- they anticipate and prepare for them. The findings, reported in Science, challenge the prevailing notion that only organisms with complex nervous systems have this ability.

New Cancer Treatment Targets Both Tumor Cells And Blood Vessels Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT It takes more than one punch to fight tumors. Often, tumors have more than one way of surviving, and attacking the tumor alone is not enough. Now, in a new study, University of Missouri researchers have developed a new non-toxic treatment that effectively reduces breast cancer cells, by combining a small molecular drug that targets tumor cells with an antibody that causes selective shutdown of tumor blood vessels.

Tropical Forest Sustainability: A Climate Change Boon Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Improved management of the world's tropical forests has major implications for humanity's ability to reduce its contribution to climate change, according to a new article in Science.

Unexpected Link Between Coronavirus Replication And Protein Secretion In Infected Cells Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Coronavirus replication is critically linked to two factors within the early secretory pathway, according to new findings in PLoS Pathogens. The SARS virus is within the coronavirus group.

Computer Predicts Anti-cancer Molecules Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT A new computer-based method of analyzing cellular activity has correctly predicted the anti-tumor activity of several molecules. New research in Molecular Cancer describes 'CoMet' -- a tool that studies the integrated machinery of the cell and predicts those components that will have an effect on cancer.

Group Therapy May Help Memory Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Investigators are reporting a new method of improving memory disturbances in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Patients with memory complaints, but without objective cognitive impairment, suffer considerably in their daily lives, as they experience frequent lapses of memory and attention leading to embarrassment, anxiety, reported occupational shortcomings and often the fear of dementia.

Chimps Not So Selfish: Comforting Behavior May Well Be Expression Of Empathy Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Compared to their sex-mad, peace-loving bonobo counterparts, chimpanzees are often seen as a scheming, war-mongering, and selfish species. As both apes are allegedly our closest relatives, together they are often depicted as representing the two extremes of human behavior.

Gene Variants Linked To Metabolic Syndrome And HDL Cholesterol Levels Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Nutrition researchers have identified five common genetic variations that increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of factors linked to heart disease and diabetes. Another variant they found appeared to protect against the condition.

NASA Aircraft Examine Impact Of Forest Fires On Arctic Climate Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT As the summer fire season heats up, NASA aircraft are set to follow the trail of smoke plumes from some of Earth's northernmost forest fires, examining their contribution to arctic pollution and implications for climate change.

The APCs Of Nerve Cell Function Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Best known for its role in colorectal cancer, the protein adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) has recently been found to play an essential role in the nervous system. This new study provides novel insights into the molecular basis of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, mental retardation, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders.

Computers As Safe As Medical Experts In Prescribing Blood Thinning Drugs Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT The largest ever study into the administration of blood thinning drugs, principally warfarin, has concluded that dosages calculated by computer are at least as safe and reliable as those provided by expert medical professionals.

People With Lower Incomes, Lower Education Levels Have Higher Death Rates After Heart Attacks Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Researchers have long suspected that socioeconomic factors like education level and income also might affect survival rates following heart attack. Researchers present new data suggesting that people with lower incomes and education levels are more likely to die after heart attack than more affluent, educated people.

Flies Found To Have Internal Thermosensors To Monitor Environmental Temperatures Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Flies, unlike humans, can't manipulate the temperature of their surroundings so they need to pick the best spot for flourishing. New research in Nature reveals that they have internal thermosensors to help them. As global warming leads hundreds of species, including insects, fish, birds, and mammals to seek out different environments in which temperature is more optimal, understanding the molecules and the internal neural cues that drive these behaviors will shed light on the strategies animals use to cope with changes in their environments.

New Cellular Mechanism That Will Significantly Advance Vaccine Development Discovered Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Scientists have discovered a new, previously unknown mechanism in how the body fights a virus. The finding runs counter to traditional scientific understanding of this process and will provide scientists a more effective method for developing vaccines.

Plan To Conserve Forests May Be Detrimental To Other Ecosystems Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Conserving biodiversity must be considered in plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation, researchers warn in Science. The UNFCCC is currently discussing ways of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation. REDD has potential to deliver benefits for biodiversity and people, as well as for the climate. These benefits will be concentrated in forests with high carbon stocks. Land use may shift to low-carbon forests and other ecosystems important for biodiversity.

HIV Screening Found Cost-effective In Older Adults Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Recent studies suggest that large numbers of Americans remain sexually active well into their 60's, 70's and even 80's. But researchers say seniors may be overlooked as possible carriers of the AIDS virus, and based on a new study, they are recommending screening for most adults ages 55 to 75 as a sensible, cost-effective way to prolong life, and decrease the spread of the disease.

New Intrusion Tolerance Software Fortifies Server Security Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT In spite of increased focus and large investments in computer security, critical infrastructure systems remain vulnerable to attacks. The increasing sophistication and incessant morphing of cyber-attacks lend importance to the concept of intrusion tolerance: a system must fend off, or at least limit, the damage caused by unknown and/or undetected attacks.

It's The Way You Say It: How Using The Right Words Can Cut Environmental Conflicts Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Ecologists have developed a new "tool" that could in future help prevent costly and acrimonious environmental conflicts such as campaigns against culling problem populations of charismatic animals and arguments over genetically modified organisms. The tool, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, involves a novel use of computer-aided content analysis and is based on the recent environmental conflict surrounding hedgehog culling on the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.

Stress During Childhood Increases Risk Of Allergies Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Moving house or the separation of parents can significantly increase the risk of children developing allergies later on. These are the results from a long-term study correlating lifestyle, immune system development and allergies.

Inflammatory Disease Causes Blindness, Study Suggests Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT New research shows a link between blindness and temporal arteritis, a problem that restricts blood flow to the brain. The research finds that giant cells play a key role in the disease, as well as another inflammatory problem that causes aches and stiffness in the arms, thighs and neck.

Dingo Urine Offers Humane Solution To Kangaroo Cull Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Tasmania's marsupials have been offered a life-line by researchers utilizing cutting edge science involving fresh dingo urine. Historically, Tasmania's logging industry has used 1080 poison, shooting and more recently cyanide to control kangaroos and wallabies in areas marked for reforestation, however this method is unselective and kills all wildlife.

Blood Pressure Levels In Childhood Track Into Adulthood Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT High blood pressure in childhood is associated with higher blood pressure or hypertension in adulthood, according to a new study.

Rising Diesel Prices Renew Interest In Fuel-saving Technologies For Heavy Trucks Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Diesel fuel prices approaching $5 a gallon -- and the resulting economic impact on products transported by truck -- have created renewed interest in fuel-saving technologies developed during the past decade.

Patterns Of Normal Brain Activity May Predispose Individuals To Different Symptoms Of Psychosis Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT A new study offers a potential predictive technique to anticipate how individuals might behave during a psychotic episode. The study related the brain activity of healthy participants to how they behaved after exposure to ketamine (a psychosis-inducing drug that mimics schizophrenia symptoms). The findings help explain why schizophrenia symptoms vary greatly from person to person and may ultimately help personalize diagnosis and intervention.

Black Holes Have Simple Feeding Habits Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT The biggest black holes may feed just like the smallest ones, according to data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ground-based telescopes. This discovery supports the implication of Einstein's relativity theory that black holes of all sizes have similar properties, and will be useful for predicting the properties of a conjectured new class of black holes.

Olfactory Bulb Size May Change As Sense Of Smell Changes Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT The olfactory bulb in the brain appears to change in size in a way that corresponds to individual alterations in sense of smell, according to a report in the Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.

Key Mechanism Of DDT Resistance Found In Malarial Mosquitoes Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Researchers have identified a key detoxifying protein in Anopheles mosquitoes that metabolizes DDT, a synthetic insecticide used since World War II to control the mosquitoes that spread malaria.

Gene Variation May Be Why Some Don't Respond To Cholesterol-lowering Drugs Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT A variation in the way a gene is processed may explain varied individual responses to cholesterol-lowering drugs. This is the first study to show that a biological process substantially influences the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins. The discovery could lead to better treatment for high cholesterol and other ailments.

New Soft Safety Helmet Lining Turns Into Rock Hard Shock Absorber When Hit Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT If something hits you on the head while you are wearing this safety helmet, its soft flexible inner layer will instantly turn into a rock-hard shock-absorbent material. The helmet is lined on the inside with a material that is soft and flexible under normal conditions, but which "locks" instantaneously, becoming hard and shock-absorbent, if the helmet is subjected to impact or blows.

Male Homosexuality Can Be Explained Through A Specific Model Of Darwinian Evolution, Study Shows Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT An Italian research team found that the evolutionary origin and maintenance of male homosexuality in human populations could be explained by a model based around the idea of sexually antagonistic selection, in which genetic factors spread in the population by giving a reproductive advantage to one sex while disadvantaging the other.

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