ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Adult Stem Cells Activated In Mammalian Brain Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Adult stem cells originate in a different part of the brain than is commonly believed, and with proper stimulation they can produce new brain cells to replace those lost to disease or injury, a new study has shown.

Older People May Need Less Sleep, Study Finds Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Along with all the other changes that come with age, healthy older people also lose some capacity for sleep. When asked to stay in bed for 16 hours in the dark each day for several days, younger people get an average of 9 hours of shuteye compared to 7.5 for older people, the researchers report.

It Takes Nerves For Flies To Keep A Level Head Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT The nerve connections that keep a fly's gaze stable during complex aerial maneuvers, enabling it to respond quickly to obstacles in its flight path, have been revealed in new detail.

Broken DNA Must Find Right Partners Quickly Amid Repairs Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Just as square dance partners join hands at a particular point in the music, so broken pieces of DNA in our cells reunite as they are repaired. Precisely and quickly, these DNA pieces identify each other and tether together. A tumor-suppressor gene called ATM choreographs this fast-paced, but reliable, reassembly operation.

Tracking Down Origin Of Matter And Antimatter Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT In science fiction stories it is either the inexhaustible energy source of the future or a superweapon of galactic magnitude: antimatter. In fact, antimatter can neither be found naturally in any abundance on Earth nor in space, is extremely complex to produce and thus difficult to study. In order to track down the origin of matter and antimatter in the universe, scientists are measuring the power of the electrical dipole moment of neutrons, which represents a measure for the different physical properties of matter and antimatter.

Frequent Family Meals Might Reduce Teen Substance Use Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Parents who have regular meals with their adolescent children might help lessen the chances they will start drinking or smoking later in their teen years, according to new research. Researchers noted benefits in families that ate five or more meals together each week, and found that about 60 percent of the participants did so.

Cow Power Could Generate Electricity For Millions Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Converting livestock manure into a domestic renewable fuel source could generate enough electricity to meet up to three percent of North America's entire consumption needs and lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, according to U.S. research.

Missing Link Found Between Circadian Clock And Metabolism Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Two new research studies have discovered a long sought molecular link between our metabolism and components of the internal clock that drives circadian rhythms, keeping us to a roughly 24-hour schedule.

Bacteria Fight Back: Biofilms Use Chemical Weapons To Neutralize Or Kill Attacking Amoebae Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Biofilms develop on any surface that bacteria can attach themselves to. The dilemma we face is that neither disinfectants and antibiotics, nor phagocytes and our immune system can destroy these biofilms. Scientists have now identified one of the fundamental mechanisms used by the bacteria in biofilms to protect themselves against the attacking phagocytes.

Advanced Liver Cancer Patients Live Longer By Taking Anti-cancer Drug Sorafenib Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Researchers have found that sorafenib (Nexavar) helps patients with advanced liver cancer live about 44 percent longer compared with patients who did not receive the anti-cancer drug. The findings are a significant advance in the management of liver cancer, which is the third cause of cancer death globally, often resulting in death within a year of diagnosis.

New Explanation For Monsoon Development Proposed Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Geoscientists have come up with a new explanation for the formation of monsoons, proposing an overhaul of a theory about the cause of the seasonal pattern of heavy winds and rainfall that essentially had held firm for more than 300 years.

Freedom’s Just Another Word For Less Sexually Active Teens Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Rigid parenting appears to be linked to increased sexual activity in older teens. More than two of every three American teens has sexual intercourse before age 19. Although it is difficult to confirm that controlling mothers and fathers cause kids to have more sex, the findings suggest it is wise to give children freedom.

Scientists Solve 30-year-old Aurora Borealis Mystery Posted: 25 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT What causes the shimmering, ethereal Northern Lights to suddenly brighten and dance in a spectacular burst of colorful light and rapid movement? Space scientists have identified the mechanism that triggers substorms in space; wreaks havoc on satellites, power grids and communications systems; and leads to the explosive release of energy that causes the spectacular brightening of the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.

Prevailing Theory Of Aging Challenged: Genetic Instructions Found To Drive Aging In Worms Posted: 25 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Age may not be rust after all. Specific genetic instructions drive aging in worms. This discovery contradicts the prevailing theory that aging is a buildup of tissue damage akin to rust, and implies science might eventually halt or even reverse the ravages of age.

'Snow Flea Antifreeze Protein' Could Help Improve Organ Preservation Posted: 25 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Scientists can now make the antifreeze protein that enables billions of Canadian snow fleas to survive frigid winter temperatures. Their laboratory-produced first-of-a-kind proteins could have practical uses in extending the storage life of donor organs and tissues for human transplantation, according to new research.

Crop-production Costs Will Jump Dramatically In 2009, Study Predicts Posted: 25 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Soaring energy prices will yield sharp increases for corn and soybean production next year, cutting into farmers' profits and stretching already high food costs, according to a study. Costs to get crops in the ground will jump by about a third in 2009, fueled by fertilizer prices expected to surge 82 percent for corn and 117 percent for soybeans.

Antimicrobials Target Pathogens On Fruits And Vegetables Posted: 25 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT A novel food safety treatment could become an asset to the fast-growing fresh-cut produce industry. The antimicrobial treatment involves the use of submicroscopic agents that are unable to reproduce or grow outside bacterial host cells. The purified viral agents are called bacteriophages, which means "bacteria eater," and they can wreak havoc on deadly bacteria, such as E. coli O157:H7, that sicken consumers.

One Missing Gene Leads To Fruitless Mating Rituals Posted: 25 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Male fruit flies missing a gene for one particular odor receptor become clueless in matters of love, scientists have discovered. Because they lack the ability to read important chemical cues, these flies will indiscriminately attempt to have sex with other males, and with females who have already mated. The signals they're missing are pheromones wafting from mated females and male flies.

Quiet Explosion: Object Intermediate Between Normal Supernovae And Gamma-ray Bursts Found Posted: 25 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Astronomers are providing hints that a recent supernova may not be as normal as initially thought. Instead, the star that exploded is now understood to have collapsed into a black hole, producing a weak jet, typical of much more violent events, the so-called gamma-ray bursts. This discovery represents a crucial milestone in the understanding of the most violent phenomena observed in the Universe.

Circadian Rhythm-Metabolism Link Discovered Posted: 25 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers have found a molecular link between circadian rhythms -- our own body clock -- and metabolism. The discovery reveals new possibilities for the treatment of diabetes, obesity and other related diseases.

Outdoor Enthusiasts Scaring Off Native Carnivores In Parks Posted: 25 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Even a quiet stroll in the park can dramatically change natural ecosystems, according to a new study by conservation biologists. These findings could have important implications for land management policies.

No Need For Gene Screens In Breast Cancer Families, Study Shows Posted: 25 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT New research should provide relief to women who are worried after a relative's breast cancer diagnosis. A new study shows that a family history of breast cancer does not give a useful indication of the likelihood that a woman will develop it herself at an early age.

Biology Enters 'The Matrix' Through New Computer Language Posted: 25 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A new computer language for modeling biological phenomenon can "think" like cells and molecular mechanisms think, thereby simulating the dynamics of biological phenomenon. Through incorporating basic principles of engineering, the new language, called Little b, surpasses current biological modeling software in that it goes beyond simply representing biological information. It allows biologists to create programs that can reason about biological knowledge and thereby help overcome the barrier of complexity.

Worry About All Blows To The Head Posted: 25 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Sports-related concussions in young athletes frequently go unrecognized, and often do not receive proper respect for the potential seriousness that even a mild injury may have, according to a pediatric sports medicine specialist. With more high-profile athletes describing their postconcussive symptoms, awareness is at an all-time high. An explosion in research about concussions in the past five years has increased understanding of how serious concussions may be.

Smaller Than Small: Ultrahigh-resolution Electron Microscopy Enters Picometer Scale Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Scientists have succeeded in precisely measuring atomic spacings down to a few picometers using new methods in ultrahigh-resolution electron microscopy. This makes it possible to find out decisive parameters determining the physical properties of materials directly on an atomic level in a microscope. Progress in research in the area of physics is very frequently connected to an increase in the accuracy of measurements, which help researchers to track natural phenomena.

'Statins' Linked To Improved Survival In Kidney Transplant Recipients Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT For patients receiving kidney transplants, treatment with cholesterol-lowering "statin" drugs may lead to longer survival, reports a new study.

How Cranberry Juice Can Prevent Urinary Tract Infections Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT People have long consumed cranberry juice to ward off urinary tract infections, though the exact nature of its action has not been clear. The juice, the study shows, changes the thermodynamic properties of bacteria, creating an energy barrier that prevents the microorganisms from latching onto cells in the urinary tract.

Teamwork Cuts Out Unnecessary Biopsies, Researchers Find Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT New research found that when nuclear medicine clinicians and treating physicians work together to interpret PET-CT scan results, the accuracy dramatically improves, sparing patients unnecessary pain and suffering.

NIST Trumps The Clumps: Making Biologic Drugs Safer Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Scientists have developed a technique to measure the formation of clumps of proteins in protein-based pharmaceuticals, a major concern because of its impact on quality control and safety in biologic drug manufacturing.

Fat Friends And Poor Education Helps People Think Thin Posted: 25 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT People are powerfully but subconsciously influenced by the weight of those around them. Without being aware of it, researchers believe, human beings keep up with the weight of the Joneses. For a whole society, this can lead to a spiral of imitative obesity.

Costs Of Climate Change, State-by-state: Billions, Says New Report Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Climate change will carry a price tag of billions of dollars for a number of US states, says a new series of reports. The researchers conclude that the costs have already begun to accrue and are likely to endure. They studied Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey and Ohio. Studies on additional states are in the works.

Blindness In Old Age May Be Triggered By Hyperactive Immune Resistance Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Opthalmologists have now, for the first time, demonstrated that in cases of senile blindness the patient's immune resistance is hyperactive throughout his entire body.

Switchgrass May Mean Better Soil Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Soils with native grasses such as switchgrass have higher levels of a key soil component called glomalin than soils planted to non-native grasses.

Populations Of Foreign-born Persons Living In US At Higher Risk Of TB Identified Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT The relative yield of finding and treating latent tuberculosis is particularly high among higher-risk groups of foreign-born persons living in the US, such as individuals from most countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Past Climate Change: Continental Stretching Preceding Opening Of The Drake Passage Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Due to the impact of global warming, it has become essential to understand the causes and processes involved in past climate changes. One of the most prominent events in Earth's climatic evolution was the transition from the global warmth of the Eocene "greenhouse" to the Oligocene "icehouse" glacial conditions.

Nanotechnology Regulation: Former EPA Official Highlights Shortcomings Of Current Federal Oversight Posted: 25 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Nanotechnology will significantly change virtually every facet of the way we live. The next president has the opportunity to shape these changes and to ensure that nanotechnology's benefits will be maximized and its risks identified and controlled. A new report by former EPA official J. Clarence (Terry) Davies lays out a clear roadmap for the next presidential administration and describes the immediate and longer term steps necessary to deal with the current shortcomings of nanotechnology oversight.

Gummy Bears That Fight Plaque Posted: 24 Jul 2008 11:00 PM CDT The tooth-protecting sugar substitute xylitol has been incorporated into gummy bears to produce a sweet snack that may prevent dental problems. Giving children four of the xylitol bears three times a day during school hours results in a decrease in the plaque bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Scientists Break Record By Finding Northernmost Hydrothermal Vent Field Posted: 24 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Inside the Arctic Circle, scientists have found black smoker vents farther north than anyone has ever seen before. The cluster of vents -- one towering nearly four stories -- are venting water as hot as 570 F. Dissolved sulfide minerals that solidify when vent water hits the icy cold of the deep sea have, over the years, accumulated around the vents in what is one of the most massive hydrothermal sulfide deposits ever found on the seafloor.

Gene Panel Predicts Lung Cancer Survival, Study Finds Posted: 24 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Researchers from four leading cancer centers have confirmed that an analysis involving a panel of genes can be used to predict which lung cancer patients will have the worst survival. The finding could one day lead to a test that would help determine who needs more aggressive treatment.

Spice-Rack Favorites Battle E. Coli And Other Foodborne Pathogens Posted: 24 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Herbs and spices like oregano, thyme, cinnamon and clove do more than add pleasing flavors and aromas to familiar foods. The oils from these plants, or compounds extracted from those oils, pack a powerful, antimicrobial punch--strong enough to help quell such foodborne pathogens as Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Measures To Limit Effects Of Pandemic Flu On Nursing Homes Posted: 24 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT The greatest danger in a pandemic flu outbreak is that it could spread quickly and devastate a broad swath of people across the United States before there is much of a chance to react. Now, researchers have taken a major step in determining what nonpharmaceutical interventions will work by developing mathematical models and testing scenarios that show which NPIs are appropriate for which levels of pandemic flu.

Fishing Ban Guards Coral Reefs Against Predatory Starfish Outbreaks Posted: 24 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT No-take marine reserves where fishing is banned can have benefits that extend beyond the exploited fishes they are specifically designed to protect, according to new evidence from Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Researchers have found that outbreaks of large, predatory crown-of-thorns starfish, which can devastate coral reefs although they don't yet know exactly why.

Why Play A Losing Game? Study Uncovers Why Low-income People Buy Lottery Tickets Posted: 24 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Although state lotteries, on average, return just 53 cents for every dollar spent on a ticket, people continue to pour money into them -- especially low-income people, who spend a greater percentage of their incomes on lottery tickets than the wealthier segments of society. A new study points to income as an influential factor in the decision to invest in a product that provides poor returns.

Largest Sample Of Very Distant Galaxies Ever Seen Provide New Insights Into Early Universe Posted: 24 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT New Hubble Space Telescope observations of six spectacular galaxy clusters acting as gravitational lenses have given significant insights into the early stages of the Universe. Scientists have found the largest sample of very distant galaxies seen to date: ten promising candidates thought to lie at a distance of 13 billion light-years.

Soy Foods Are Associated With Lower Sperm Concentrations Posted: 24 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Men who eat an average of half a serving of soy food a day have lower concentrations of sperm than men who do not eat soy foods. The association was particularly marked in men who were overweight or obese, the study found.

Controlling Invasive Cane Grass With Wasps? Posted: 24 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Researchers are to investigate biological control for an invasive cane grass that is choking waterways across North America. Also known as Carrizo and giant cane, the grass is growing along extensive stretches of the Rio Grande in Texas and can be found along Austin waterways such as Shoal Creek. It grows up to 20 feet tall, uses large amounts of water and may crowd out other plant species and affect wildlife.

Want A Reason To Love Your Lower Belly Fat? It's Rich In Stem Cells Posted: 24 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Fat removed from the lower abdomen and inner thigh through liposuction was found to be an excellent source of stem cells, with higher stem cell concentrations than other areas of the body. This is a finding from a first-of-its-kind study examines whether fat tissues from different areas of the body vary in stem cell concentration.

Chinese Earthquake Provides Lessons For Future Posted: 24 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT The May 12 Sichuan earthquake in China was unexpectedly large. Analysis of the area, however, now shows that topographic characteristics of the highly mountainous area identified the mountain range as active and could have pointed to the earthquake hazard. Topographic analysis can help evaluate other, similar fault areas for seismic risk, according to geologists from Penn State and Arizona State University.

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