ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

NOAA Predicts Largest Gulf Of Mexico 'Dead Zone' On Record Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Scientists are forecasting that the "dead zone" off the coast of Louisiana and Texas in the Gulf of Mexico this summer could be the largest on record. Mississippi River flooding is major contributor to size of this year's dead zone.

Overweight Mothers Give Birth To Offspring Who Become Heavy, Amplifying Obesity Through Generations Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Overweight mothers give birth to offspring who become even heavier, resulting in amplification of obesity across generations, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers who found that chemical changes in the ways genes are expressed -- a phenomenon called epigenetics -- could affect successive generations of mice.

Future Snowmelt In West Twice As Early As Expected; Threatens Ecosystems And Water Reserves Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Global warming could lead to larger changes in snowmelt in the western United States than was previously thought, possibly increasing wildfire risk and creating new water management challenges for agriculture, ecosystems and urban populations. Researchers discovered that a critical surface temperature feedback is twice as strong as what had been projected by earlier studies.

Researchers Identify Immune Cells That Block Allergic Reactions Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT When it comes to allergies, both the problem and the solution are found within us. Our immune systems respond to foreign substances with an arsenal of cells. Some are programmed to "remember" invaders they've encountered in the past. Normally, anything previously identified as harmless is allowed to pass. Sometimes, however, the immune response goes awry, triggering an allergic reaction.

Tigers Disappear From Himalayan Refuge Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT World Wildlife Fund is alarmed by the dramatic decline of at least 30 percent in the Bengal tiger population of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal, once a refuge that boasted among the highest densities of the endangered species in the Eastern Himalayas. The recent survey of April 2008 showed a population of between 6-14 tigers, down from 20-50 tigers in 2005.

Full-day Kindergarteners' Reading, Math Gains Fade By 3rd Grade Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT A new analysis of data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 found that the reading and math benefits experienced by full-day kindergarteners versus part-day kindergarteners diminished soon after kindergarten. Academic skills of those in part-day kindergarten grew faster than their full-day peers from the spring of kindergarten through fifth grade, however. These differences can be explained, in part, by increased poverty and less stimulating home environments experienced by full-day kindergarteners.

Scientists Close In On Source Of X-rays In Lightning Posted: 16 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Engineering researchers have narrowed the search for the source of X-rays emitted by lightning, a feat that could one day help predict where lightning will strike.

DNA 'Palindromes' Linked To Disease Posted: 16 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Long DNA sequences, or palindromes, change the shape of the molecule from double helix to hairpin-like formation, which causes replication to stall. Altered or stalled replication causes chromosomal breaking, resulting in cancers and diseases. In the context of everyday life, palindromes are quite common. They are words, phrases, numbers or other sequences of units that read the same way in either direction, such as 'A man, a plan, a canal -- Panama!'

Rock Port, Missouri, First 100 Percent Wind-powered Community In U.S. Posted: 16 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Rock Port Missouri, with a population of just over 1,300 residents, has announced that it is the first 100% wind powered community in the United States. Four wind turbines supply all the electricity for the small town. Rock Port's 100% wind power status is due to four wind turbines located on agricultural lands within the city limits of Rock Port (Atchison County). The city of Rock Port uses approximately 13 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year. It is predicted that these four turbines will produce 16 million kilowatt hours each year.

New Study Sheds Light On How Intracellular Pathogens Trigger The Immune System Posted: 16 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Biologists have identified a molecular alarm system in which intracellular pathogens send out signals that kick the immune response into gear. The findings shed light on how host cells recognize and destroy the pathogenic bugs living within their walls, and may even provide new targets for the research and development of new vaccines and drugs.

Ethanol Byproduct Could Be Useful As Fertilizer And For Weed Control Posted: 16 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Scientists have shown that dried distiller's grains (DDGs) --- coproducts of corn ethanol production --- have potential as an organic fertilizer and for weed control. But some ethanol producers are adopting new corn-grinding methods that may affect the DDGs' usefulness.

Growing Up Amid War Affects Children's Moral Development Posted: 16 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Research among 96 war-affected children and adolescents in Colombia examined how war affects children's moral development. Though all participants said it was wrong to steal or hurt others because of justice or welfare or even to ensure one's survival, many said that it was acceptable to steal or hurt others for revenge. This was one of the first studies to examine moral development in children growing up in a war zone.

Mechanism Behind Mind-body Connection Discovered Posted: 16 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT New research explains how chronic emotional stress ages the immune system. Immune cells end in protective caps called telomeres that are shorter in the elderly -- and in persons suffering chronic stress. A new study suggests that the hormone cortisol is the culprit behind telomeres' early aging in stressed-out people and offers a potential drug target for protecting the immune system against the damage caused by long-term stress.

Women Exposed To High Levels of Pollutant PCB More Likely To Give Birth To Female Children Posted: 16 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Women exposed to high levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls -- a group of banned environmental pollutants) are less likely to give birth to male children. A new study found that among women from the San Francisco Bay Area, those exposed to higher levels of PCBs during the 50s and 60s, were significantly more likely to give birth to female children.

Big Predatory Mammals Such As Felines Need Between 5 And 7 Different Types Of Prey To Meet Their Dietary Needs Posted: 16 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Faced with earlier studies stating that the big predators such as tigers, lions, and lynxes fulfill their dietary needs by eating one or two types of prey, scientists now assure us now that felines need from 5 to 7 different types of prey to fulfill their dietary needs, although they may be more specialized anatomically than the canines (wolves, dogs) who can obtain 100% ingested biomass by eating three types of prey.

Incorrectly Cleaved Protein Leads To Schizophrenia Posted: 16 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT The causes of schizophrenia are not yet clear. But now, researchers have discovered that a disturbed cleavage of the Nrg-1 protein lies at the basis of the development of the disease. Greater understanding of this molecular process is a first step toward improved diagnosis and more effective treatment of schizophrenia and other related disorders.

Nanoencapsulation Of Low Soluable Cancer Drugs Posted: 16 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Biomedical engineering researchers have developed a innovative approach to cancer drug nanoencapsulation. The new method allows for adjusting drug release rates and attaching antibodies at the outer shell layers for targeted drug delivery.

Bluffing Could Be Common In Prediction Markets, Study Shows Posted: 16 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A new mathematical model suggests that bluffing in prediction markets is a profitable strategy more often than previously thought. The analysis calls into question the incentives such markets create for revealing information and making accurate predictions. The researchers also pose a tactic to discourage bluffing.

Pathologists Believe They Have Pinpointed Achilles Heel Of HIV Posted: 16 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Human immunodeficiency virus researchers believe they have uncovered the Achilles heel in the armor of the virus that continues to kill millions. The weak spot is hidden in the HIV envelope protein gp120.

Huntington's Disease Linked To Overactive Immune Response In The Brain Posted: 16 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT The damage to brain tissue seen in Huntington's disease may be caused by an overactive immune response in the bloodstream and the brain. Working separately, two teams found evidence in both brain cells and the bloodstream suggesting an important link between the immune system's response and Huntington's disease.

Mystery Insect Found In London's Natural History Museum's Wildlife Garden Posted: 16 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT An insect, not seen in the UK before, has been discovered living in the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Garden in London. The tiny bug is baffling insect experts at the Museum who are still trying to identify the mystery newcomer. Experts checked the new bug with those in the Museum's national insect collection of more than 28 million specimens. Amazingly, there is no exact match.

Administering Heparin Soon After Stroke Can Increase Risk Of Serious Bleeding Posted: 16 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT The common practice of administering heparin soon after cardioembolic stroke is associated with an increased risk for serious bleeding, according to an article in the Archives of Neurology. However, it appears that anticoagulation with warfarin therapy may safely begin shortly after stroke.

Principles Behind Stability And Electronic Properties Of Gold Nanoclusters Identified Posted: 16 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Scientists have described the principles behind the stability and electronic properties of tiny nanoclusters of metallic gold. The study found that the clusters are stable because they behave like "superatoms" and exhibit a "divide and protect" bonding structure -- a core of gold atoms and a protective layer of gold-thiolate complexes.

Rx For Time-crunched Physicians Posted: 16 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Certain communication skills can help physicians increase the efficiency of their time with patients during office visits.

Newly Described 'Dragon' Protein Could Be Key To Bird Flu Cure Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Scientists have taken a big step closer to a cure for the most common strain of avian influenza, or "bird flu," the potential pandemic that has claimed more than 200 lives and infected nearly 400 people in 14 countries since it was identified in 2003.

Gaining Ground On Sickle Cell Disease Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Although sickle cell disease is a single-gene disorder, its symptoms are highly variable. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists report five gene variants that could potentially be helpful in predicting sickle cell disease severity, perhaps even leading to better treatment approaches in the future.

Lead Shot And Sinkers: Weighty Implications For Fish And Wildlife Health Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Millions of pounds of lead used in hunting, fishing and shooting sports wind up in the environment each year and can threaten or kill wildlife, according to a new scientific report. Lead is a metal with no known beneficial role in biological systems, and its use in gasoline, paint, pesticides, and solder in food cans has nearly been eliminated. Although lead shot was banned for waterfowl hunting in 1991, its use in ammunition for upland hunting, shooting sports, and in fishing tackle remains common.

High-dose HBO2 Therapy Extends Survival Window After Cardiopulmonary Arrest, Study Suggests Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT A new study has major implications for the No. 1 cause of death of Americans -- sudden cardiac arrest. To resuscitate any living organism after 25 minutes of heart stoppage at room temperature has never been reported and suggests that the time to successful resuscitation in humans may be extended beyond the stubborn figure of 16 minutes that has stood for 50 years.

California Wildfires As Seen From Remotely Piloted Aircraft Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT A remotely piloted aircraft carrying a NASA sensor flew over much of California earlier this week, gathering information that will be used to help fight more than 300 wildfires burning within the state.

New System Detects Dementia Risk Among Highly Educated Older Adults Posted: 16 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT A different cutoff point on an existing mental function assessment may more effectively assess the risk of dementia in highly educated older adults, according to a new article.

Two Extinct Flying Reptiles Compared: One Was A Glider, The Other A Parachutist Posted: 15 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT A new study of extinct flying reptiles called kuehneosaurs, has shown that of the of the two genera found in Britain, Kuehneosuchus was a glider while Kuehneosaurus, with much shorter "wings," was a parachutist.

'Smothered' Genes Combine With Mutations To Yield Poor Outcome In Cancer Patients Posted: 15 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Researchers have identified a set of genes in breast and colon cancers with a deadly combination of traditional mutations and "smothered" gene activity that may result in poor outcomes for patients.

The Emerging Story Of Plant Roots Posted: 15 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Biologists have uncovered a fascinating new insight into the unseen side of plant biology - the root. Although less visible than shoots, leaves and flowers, plant roots are critical to our lives. They provide the crops we eat with water, nutrients, a firm anchor and a place to store food.

Diabetes Could Be A Hidden Condition For Heart Disease Patients Posted: 15 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Diabetes could be a hidden condition for some patients with coronary heart disease. Researchers found high levels of oxidative stress in people with coronary heart disease, previously thought to be a marker of the heart condition, could instead indicate a condition of glucose abnormality, such as overt type 2 diabetes.

Cruise-liner Sewage Adds To Baltic Decline Posted: 15 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Most international cruise ship companies operating in the Baltic Sea have refused to co-operate with a plea from WWF to stop dumping their sewage straight into the water. The Baltic, an inland sea, is one of the most polluted seas in the world, so much so that the countries on its northern European shores have recently joined together to form the Baltic Sea Action Plan in an attempt to reverse its decline.

Weeding Out The Highs Of Medical Marijuana Posted: 15 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Research exploring new ways of exploiting the full medicinal uses of cannabis while avoiding unwanted side-effects. Cannabis is a source of compounds known as cannabinoids, one of which, THC -- the main chemical responsible for the 'high' -- has long been licensed as a medicine for suppressing nausea produced by chemotherapy and for stimulating appetite, for instance, in AIDS patients.

Possible Link Found Between X-rays And Prostate Cancer Posted: 15 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Researchers have shown an association between certain past diagnostic radiation procedures and an increased risk of young-onset prostate cancer -- a rare form of prostate cancer which affects about 10 percent of all men diagnosed with the disease.

Men And Women Are Programmed Differently When It Comes To Temptation Posted: 15 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Men may not see their flirtations with an attractive woman as threatening to the relationship while women do, according to research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Kidney Transplants Less Successful At Night Posted: 15 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Kidney transplants should be carried out during the day if possible. At least this is the conclusion suggested by a survey just published by urologists and internists at the University of Bonn. Operations carried out at night require a further operation more than twice as often as other operations.

Freeing Light Shines Promise On Energy-efficient Lighting Posted: 15 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT The latest bright idea in energy-efficient lighting for homes and offices uses big science in nano-small packages to dim the future Edison's light bulb. A new discovery pushes more appealing white light from organic light-emitting devices. More white light is the holy grail of the next generation of lighting. The innovation describes a way to deliver significantly more bright light from a watt than incandescent bulbs.

Myths About Postmenopausal Pain During Sex Shattered Posted: 15 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Using hormone replacement therapy to alleviate painful sexual intercourse in post-menopausal women is not effective for a significant proportion of sufferers, according to a review study. "This often-prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has mainly been studied in women who suffer from vaginal atrophy, a condition caused by declining estrogen levels, and changes in the genitals," one of the researchers said.

Marsupials And Humans Share Same Genetic Imprinting That Evolved 150 Million Years Ago Posted: 15 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Research published in Nature Genetics has established an identical mechanism of genetic imprinting, a process involved in marsupial and human fetal development, which evolved 150 million years ago.

Consumption Of Nut Products During Pregnancy Linked To Increased Asthma In Children Posted: 15 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Expectant mothers who eat nuts or nut products like peanut butter daily during pregnancy increase their children's risk of developing asthma by more than 50 percent over women who rarely or never consume nut products during pregnancy, according to new research from the Netherlands.

Snake Venom Tells Tales About Geography Posted: 15 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Just as people give away their origins by that southern drawl or New England twang, poisonous snakes produce venom that differs distinctly from one geographic area to another, the first study of the "snake venomics" of one of the most common pit vipers in Latin America has found.

Tumor-inhibiting Protein Could Be Effective In Treating Leukemia Posted: 15 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Angiocidin, a tumor-inhibiting novel protein, may also have a role as a new therapeutic application in treating leukemia by inducing a differentiation of monocytic leukemia cells into a normal, macrophage-like phenotype.

150-meter Ice Core Drawn From McCall Glacier In Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Posted: 15 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT A 150-meter ice core pulled from the McCall Glacier in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge this summer may offer researchers their first quantitative look at up to two centuries of climate change in the region.

Parents Should Limit Young Children's Exposure To Background TV Posted: 15 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Research conducted among 50 children ages 1, 2, and 3 found that background TV disrupted children's play and may be an environmental risk factor for most American children. A television in the room played an episode of Jeopardy for half of the hour of observation, while the television was turned off for the other half hour. Children played for significantly less time and focused for shorter intervals on their play when the television was on.

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