ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Solar Collector Could Change Asphalt Roads Into Renewable Energy Source Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT Scientists have found a way to use asphalt's heat-soaking property for an alternative energy source by developing a solar collector that could turn roads and parking lots into ubiquitous -- and inexpensive sources of electricity and hot water.

White Blood Cell Uses DNA 'Catapult' To Fight Infection Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how a type of white blood cell called the eosinophil may help the body to fight bacterial infections in the digestive tract, according to new research in Nature Medicine.

Bouncy Cell Phones And Car Bumpers May Be Workable With Springy Nanotubes Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT Electronic devices get smaller and more complex every year. It turns out that fragility is the price for miniaturization, especially when it comes to small devices, such as cell phones, hitting the floor. Wouldn't it be great if they bounced instead of cracked when dropped?

Not All Hearing Aids Are Created Equal Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT Consumers with hearing loss might think they are saving significantly more by purchasing over-the-counter hearing aids, but they most likely will be disappointed -- or could be taking risks -- when purchasing such aids, according to new research.

Successful Series Of Measurements In Arctic Sea Ice Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT The results of the last year's research have shown that changes in the ice cover have caused a decrease of some groups of animals living at the bottom of the deep sea. The ice edge is a biologically very active zone, in which algae increasingly grow, die , sink to the ground and serve as nutrients. If the ice edge shifts, it leads to changes in the availability of nutrients in the AWI-Hausgarten. What this year's thick ice cover brings about and whether the small and bigger animals of the deep sea are affected will be shown by the upcoming analyses in Bremerhaven as well as expeditions during the next years.

Causes For Sexual Dysfunction Change As People Age Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT Sexual dysfunction is not an inevitable part of aging, but it is strongly related a number of factors, such as mental and physical health, demographics and lifetime experiences, many of which are interrelated. People who had an STD are also more likely to have had sexual experiences over their lifetimes that included more risks and multiple sex partners.

Robot With A Biological Brain: New Research Provides Insights Into How The Brain Works Posted: 14 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT Researchers in the UK have developed a robot which is controlled by a biological brain formed from cultured neurons -- the first step to examine how memories manifest themselves in the brain, and how a brain stores specific pieces of data. The key aim is that eventually this will lead to a better understanding of development and of diseases and disorders which affect the brain such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, stoke and brain injury.

Air Pollution Damages More Than Lungs: Heart And Blood Vessels Suffer Too Posted: 14 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT Air pollution has both short- and long-term toxic effects that injure the heart and blood vessels, increase rates of hospitalization for cardiac illness and can even cause death.

Microbes, By Latitudes And Altitudes, Shed New Light On Life's Diversity Posted: 14 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT Microbial biologists may not have Jimmy Buffett's music from 1977 in mind, but they are changing attitudes about evolutionary diversity on Earth, from oceanic latitudes to mountainous altitudes. They are showing that temperature primarily drives the richness of bacterial diversity in oceans, and that life, plant and microbial, by altitude in the Rocky Mountains may be close, but not exactly, to what biologists have theorized for years.

Protein Key To Control, Growth Of Blood Cells Posted: 14 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT New research sheds light on the biological events by which stem cells in the bone marrow develop into the broad variety of cells that circulate in the blood. The findings may help improve the success of bone marrow transplants and may lead to better treatments for life-threatening blood diseases.

Is It Too Late To Save The Great Migrations? Posted: 14 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT Long gone are the days when hundreds of thousands of bison grazed the Great Plains, millions of passenger pigeons darkened the skies while migrating to and from their breeding grounds, and some 12.5 trillion Rocky Mountain locusts crowded an area exceeding the size of California. The subject of great migrations -- lost and still to be saved -- is explored in two new articles in PLoS Biology.

Infant Sensitivity To Negative Emotional Expressions Develops At Around 6 Months Posted: 14 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT Scientists have discovered important changes in the way that infants react to another person's face at age 5-7 months. Infants aged 5 months react very differently to a fearful face than those aged 7 months.

Turning Waste Material Into Ethanol Posted: 14 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers have developed a method for converting crop residue, wood pulp, animal waste and garbage into ethanol. The process first turns the waste material into synthesis gas, or syngas, and nanoscale catalysts then convert the syngas into ethanol.

MSG Use Linked To Obesity Posted: 14 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT People who use monosodium glutamate, or MSG, as a flavor enhancer in their food are more likely than people who don't use it to be overweight or obese even though they have the same amount of physical activity and total calorie intake, according to a study in the journal Obesity.

Aspirin, Acid Blocker A Day Keeps GI Bleeding At Bay Posted: 14 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT Over-the-counter acid-blockers are worth the price for coronary heart disease patients taking low-dose aspirin as a preventative measure, according to new research.

Extensively Drug-resistant Tuberculosis Found In California Posted: 14 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT In the first statewide study of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) in the United States, California officials have identified 18 cases of the dangerous and difficult-to-treat disease between 1993 and 2006, and 77 cases that were one step away from XDR TB.

Midge-hunting Scientists Tackle Spread Of Devastating Bluetongue Virus Posted: 14 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT Scientists are stepping up the battle against the devastating and economically damaging bluetongue virus. By combining ingenious ways to trap and monitor midges with cutting edge computer modeling and weather predictions researchers are gaining an understanding of how the insects spread the disease so that they can improve surveillance methods and advise farmers how and when to protect their animals.

'Erasing' Drug-associated Memories May Stop Drug Addiction Relapses Posted: 14 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT "Erasing" drug-associated memories may prevent recovering drug abusers from relapsing, researchers have discovered. The team was able to reduce drug-seeking behaviors in rats by blocking a brain chemical receptor important to learning and memory during the recall of drug-associated memories.

How DNA Repairs Can Reshape Genome, Spawn New Species Posted: 14 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT Researchers have shown how broken sections of chromosomes can recombine to change genomes and spawn new species. The scientists used X-rays to break yeast chromosomes, and then studied how the damage was repaired.

Novel Mechanism That Controls The Development Of Autoimmunity Discovered Posted: 14 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT Scientists have found a mechanism in the immune systems of mice that can lead to the development of autoimmune disease when turned off. The findings shed light on the processes that lead to the development of autoimmunity and could also have implications for the development of drugs to increase the immune response in diseases such as cancer and HIV.

Alternative Energy Technologies: Solar-powered Home Appliances Being Developed By Students Posted: 14 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT UC's solar house is now a summer class room where students experiment with alternative-energy technologies.

Pandemic Potential Of H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses Posted: 14 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT Since their introduction into land-based birds in 1988, H9N2 avian influenza A viruses have caused multiple human infections and become endemic in domestic poultry in Eurasia. This particular influenza subtype has been evolving and acquiring characteristics that raise concerns that it may become more transmissible among humans. Mechanisms that allow infection and subsequent human-to-human transmission of avian influenza viruses are not well understood.

New Theory For Latest High-temperature Superconductors Posted: 14 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT Physicists have published a new theory that explains some of the complex electronic and magnetic properties of iron "pnictides." In a series of startling discoveries this spring, pnictides were shown to superconduct at high temperatures. The new theory, which appears in Physical Review Letters, explains some of the similarities and differences between pnictides and cuprates, high-temperature superconductors that have been studied for more than 20 years.

Cardiac Resynchromization: Race, Age, Geography Matter, Study Shows Posted: 14 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT Race, age, and geography appear to play important roles in who receives cardiac resynchronization therapy, a proven treatment for some patients with heart failure.

Southern Ocean Seals Dive Deep For Climate Data Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT Elephant seals are helping scientists overcome a critical blind-spot in their ability to detect change in Southern Ocean circulation and sea ice production and its influence on global climate.

Trapping White Blood Cells Proves Novel Strategy Against Chronic Viral Infections Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT A drug that sequesters white blood cells in lymph nodes can allow mice to fight off a chronic infection by a virus that causes meningitis. The novel strategy of restricting white blood cells' circulation has implications for treating chronic viral infections in humans.

Graduate Student Discovers, Names Bacterium Linked To Psyllid Yellows Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT Allison Hansen, a doctoral student in entomology at the University of California, Riverside, has discovered and named a new bacterial pathogen that could be responsible for "psyllid yellows," a disease that infects and kills tomato and potato plants. The disease is spread from plant to plant by the psyllid, a sap-sucking insect.

Sensitivity To Antidepressants Linked With TrkB-mediated Neural Proliferation Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT Scientists have unveiled a functional link between production of new neurons and the effectiveness of antidepressants in an animal model. The study, published by Cell Press in the journal Neuron, provides exciting insight into a mechanism that might underlie a poor response to antidepressive medications for anxiety or depression.

Genomics Of Plant-based Biofuels Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT Genomics is accelerating improvements for converting plant biomass into biofuel -- as an alternative to fossil fuel for the nation's transportation needs. Now researchers lay out a path forward for how emerging genomic technologies will contribute to a substantially different biofuels future as compared to the present corn-based ethanol industry -- and in part mitigate the food-versus-fuel debate.

Built Environment Connected With Obesity In Baby Boomers Posted: 14 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT Results showed significant associations among built-environment factors and the prevalence of overweight/obesity and various forms of physical activity in middle-aged and older adults. These findings suggest the need for public health and city planning officials to consider how modifiable neighborhood-level, built-environment characteristics can create more livable residential communities and promote active, healthy lifestyles.

Smells Like Bees' Spirit: Response To Pheromone Changes According To Situation Posted: 13 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT When bumblebees return to the nest from a successful foraging mission, they produce a pheromone which encourages their nest mates to also go out and find food. Scientists had originally thought that these pheromones elicited a standard response from all bees. But new research from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences has shown that bees' response to the pheromone changes according to their situation.

Childhood Dairy Intake May Improve Adolescent Bone Health Posted: 13 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT Dairy is recognized as a key component of a healthy, balanced diet. However, until recently it was unclear how long-term dairy intake contributes to the many aspects of bone health in children, including bone density, bone mineral content and bone area. A new study soon to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics investigates the effect of childhood dairy intake on adolescent bone health.

Virtual Reality Goggles Create An Equal Opportunity Eye Test Posted: 13 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT Visual field tests are widely used by eye doctors and neurologists. By determining the health of the retina, optic nerve and the visual pathway throughout the brain, the test can uncover glaucoma and conditions such as optic neuritis or brain damage. Essential to undergo before one can drive a car or fly a plane, the visual field test is also used to pinpoint neurological damage after an accident or surgery.

Overweight Hispanic Children At Significant Risk For Pre-diabetes, According To New Study Posted: 13 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT Overweight Hispanic children are at significant risk for pre-diabetes, a condition marked by higher than normal blood glucose levels that are not yet high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. The persistence of pre-diabetes during growth is associated with progression in risk towards future diabetes, according to the study.

Green Roofs Differ In Building Cooling, Water Handling Capabilities Posted: 13 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT The first study to compare the performance of different types of green roofs suggests that buyers shouldn't assume these roofs are created equal.

Reserve, National Guard At Higher Risk Of Alcohol-related Problems After Returning From Combat Posted: 13 Aug 2008 10:00 PM CDT Younger service members and Reserve and National Guard combat personnel returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are at increased risk of new-onset heavy drinking, binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems, according to a new study.

Using Live Fish, New Tool A Sentinel For Environmental Contamination Posted: 13 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT Researchers have harnessed the sensitivity of days-old fish embryos to create a tool capable of detecting a range of harmful chemicals. By measuring rates of oxygen use in developing fish, which are sensitive to contaminants and stressful conditions, the technology could reveal the presence of minute levels of toxic substances before they cause more obvious and substantial harm. It could be used as an early warning system against environmental contamination or even biological weapons.

Scientists Use Old Enemy To K.O. Cancer Posted: 13 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT Chemists are pulling cancer onto a sucker punch by getting infected cells to drop their guard -- according to research published today. They are using the metal ruthenium as a catalyst to a cancer-busting reaction which calls up an old cellular enemy -- oxidants -- as an ally.

Molecular Bridge Serves As A Tether For A Cell’s Nucleus Posted: 13 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT A cell's nucleus -- home of it its most precious contents -- is a delicate envelope that, without support, is barely able to withstand the forces that keep it in place. Now, researchers have discovered a network of molecules in the nuclear membrane that provide the nucleus with rigidity and also facilitate a previously undiscovered form of communication between the cell's nucleus and its cytoplasm.

Prostatectomy Improves Outcome Of Some Men With Prostate Cancer Over Watchful Waiting Posted: 13 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT Men with early prostate cancer who undergo radical prostatectomy have a lower rate of death due to prostate cancer than men who are followed without treatment, known as watchful waiting, according to a randomized controlled trial.

Climate Change May Boost Middle East Rainfall Posted: 13 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT The prospect of climate change sparking food and water shortages in the Middle East is less likely than previously thought, with new research by an Australian climate scientist suggesting that rainfall will be significantly higher in key parts of the region.

Simply Listening To Music Affects One’s Musicality Posted: 13 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT Researchers have demonstrated how much the brain can learn simply through active exposure to many different kinds of music. "More and more labs are showing that people have the sensitivity for skills that we thought were only expert skills," Henkjan Honing (UvA) explains. "It turns out that mere exposure makes an enormous contribution to how musical competence develops."

Mass Extinctions And 'Rise Of Slime' Predicted For Oceans Posted: 13 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT Human activities are cumulatively driving the health of the world's oceans down a rapid spiral, and only prompt and wholesale changes will slow or perhaps ultimately reverse the catastrophic problems they are facing.

Adverse Reactions To Antibiotics Send Thousands Of Patients To The ER Posted: 13 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT Adverse events from antibiotics cause an estimated 142,000 emergency department visits per year in the United States, according to a new study.

Pesticide Spills Common When Farmers Transfer Highly Concentrated Liquids Into Spray Tanks Posted: 13 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT Scientists in Sweden are cautioning about the need for further research as more countries embrace a popular method for preventing pesticide spills. Researchers point out that pesticide spills are common when farmers transfer highly concentrated liquid preparations into spray tanks where the pesticide is diluted with water. Even if a small, few-inch wide puddle of this concentrate spilled under the tank, the nearby environment could be exposed to up to one hundred thousand times the normal pesticide dose.

Breast Cancer Patients Still Have Risk Of Relapse After 5 Years Of Systemic Therapy Posted: 13 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT Breast cancer survivors continue to have a substantial risk of disease recurrence after five years of systemic therapy, according to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Among breast cancer patients who were cancer-free five years after initiating systemic therapy, 89 percent remained recurrence-free at five years (approximately 10 years after a woman's initial diagnosis) and 80 percent remained recurrence free at 10 years (approximately 15 years after diagnosis).

Computer Simulates Thermal Stress Posted: 13 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT A new simulation method has made it possible to predict in record time when and where heavily stressed engine components are likely to fail. Car manufacturers can thereby significantly reduce the time for developing new engine components.

Nature Or Nurture: Are You Who Your Brain Chemistry Says You Are? Posted: 13 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT Researchers using positron emission tomography (PET) have validated a long-held theory that individual personality traits -- particularly reward dependency -- are connected to brain chemistry, a finding that has implications for better understanding and treating substance abuse and other addictive behaviors.

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