ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Watching A 'New Star' Make The Universe Dusty Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Astronomers were able for the first time to witness the appearance of a shell of dusty gas around a star that had just erupted, and follow its evolution for more than 100 days. This provides the astronomers with a new way to estimate the distance of this object and obtain invaluable information on the operating mode of stellar vampires, dense stars that suck material from a companion.

New Health Drink? Chemist Goes Nano With CoQ10 Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT If one researcher has his way, you may soon be buying bottles of water brimming with the life-sustaining coenzyme CoQ10 at your local Costco. Like vitamin C, CoQ10 is a compound that's vital to our survival.

Meet Robo Habilis: Robot Has Human-like Hand Controlled By 'Brain' Modeled After Human Cerebellum Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT The dream of human-like robots is a step closer to reality with the recent creation of a human-like arm and hand controlled by an electronic 'brain' modeled on the human cerebellum.

CMV Infections Affect More Than Just Patients With Compromised Immune Systems Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT An infection due to a virus called cytomegalovirus, which most commonly affects people with compromised immune systems, can also affect hospital intensive-care patients who have no immune-system problems, researchers have found. CMV infection is also associated with longer hospital and intensive-care unit stays independent of other causes, according to the study.

Surgery Will Put Dog With Amputated Leg Back On All Fours Again Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT A pioneering collaboration between a veterinary surgeon and an engineer will give a deserving dog the ability to walk on four legs again. A German shepherd mix is having a lost leg replaced with an osseointegrated prosthetic limb. If successful, this research could lead to implants for humans that allow the prosthetic limbs to attach without chafing or irritation, and limbs with more natural ranges of motion.

No Gender Differences In Math Performance Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT We've all heard it. Many of us in fact believe it. Girls just aren't as good at math as boys. But is it true? After sifting through mountains of data - including SAT results and math scores from 7 million students who were tested in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act - a team of scientists says the answer is no.

Researchers Discover New States Of Electrons That Behave Like Light Posted: 27 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT A team of researchers has observed electrons moving through a crystal of bismuth metal behaving like light. The discovery may enable powerful new electronic devices that exploit the principles of quantum mechanics to compute and communicate.

Giving An Additional Early Vaccination May Reduce Measles Outbreaks Posted: 27 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Outbreaks of measles in developing countries may be reduced by vaccinating infants at 4.5 months of age as well as at the World Health Organization's recommended routine vaccination at 9 months, according to a new study.

New Generation Of Simpler Sensors For Detecting Disease-causing Microbes And Toxins Posted: 27 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Scientists in Singapore are reporting development of a complete, palm-sized sensor that can detect disease-causing microbes, toxins, and other biological threats instantly without the need for an external power source or a computer.

Genetic Mutation Identified For Eye Complaint Posted: 27 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Researchers have identified a gene that, when modified, causes the eye disease Duane syndrome. Importantly, by identifying this gene the team has discovered how the visual system develops which may lead to new ways to treat other vision disorders.

Rising Energy, Food Prices Major Threats To Wetlands As Farmers Eye New Areas For Crops Posted: 27 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Resisting pressures to convert wetlands for agriculture, bio-fuels and hydro-electricity is vital to avoid destroying ecosystems that provide a suite of services essential to humanity, including safe, steady local water supplies, preserving biodiversity and the large-scale capture and storage of climate warming greenhouse gases, according 700 leading world experts concluding a week-long meeting in Cuiaba, Brazil.

Wealth Does Not Dictate Concern For The Environment, Study Finds Posted: 27 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Citizens of poorer nations are just as concerned about environmental quality as their counterparts in rich nations, new research shows.

New Cellular Pathway Linked To Cancer Identified Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT In the life of a cell, the response to DNA damage determines whether the cell is fated to pause and repair itself, commit suicide, or grow uncontrollably, a route leading to cancer. Scientists have now identified a way that cells respond to DNA damage through a process that targets proteins for disposal. The finding points to a new pathway for the development of cancer and suggests a new way of sensitizing cancer cells to treatment.

Mindfulness Meditation Slows Progression Of HIV, Study Suggests Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT CD4+ T lymphocytes, or simply CD4 T cells, are the "brains" of the immune system, coordinating its activity when the body comes under attack. They are also the cells that are attacked by HIV, the devastating virus that causes AIDS and has infected roughly 40 million people worldwide. The virus slowly eats away at CD4 T cells, weakening the immune system.

Ocean Surface A Boon For Extreme Event Forecasts, Warnings Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT For humans in the path of destructive hurricanes and tsunamis, an accurate warning of the pending event is critical for damage control and survival. Such warnings, however, require a solid base of scientific observations, and a new satellite is ready for the job. The Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason 2 adds to the number of eyes in the sky measuring sea surface and wave heights across Earth's oceans. The increased coverage will help researchers improve current models for practical use in predicting hurricane intensity, while providing valuable data that can be used to improve tsunami warning models.

Making Patients Move Requires The Right Exercise Advice Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers found that adults with chronic illness who received interventions focused on behavior-changing strategies significantly increased their physical activity levels. In contrast, interventions based on cognitive approaches, which attempt to change knowledge, beliefs and attitudes, and are most commonly used by health care providers, did not improve physical activity.

Lab-on-a-chip at home: Make Your Own Microfluidic Testing Device With New Kit Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A type of device called a "lab-on-a-chip" could bring a new generation of instant home tests for illnesses, food contaminants and toxic gases. But today these portable, efficient tools are often stuck in the lab themselves. Specifically, in the labs of researchers who know how to make them from scratch.

Overweight Elderly Americans Contribute To Financial Burdens Of U.S. Health Care System, Study Finds Posted: 27 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT The extra Medicare cost associated with overweight elderly people could place a significant burden on taxpayers.

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