Saturday, September 20, 2008

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Interstellar Space Molecules That Help Form Basic Life Structures Identified

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Scientists have succeeded in identifying naphthalene, one of the most complex molecules yet discovered in the interstellar medium. The detection of this molecule suggests that a large number of the key components in prebiotic terrestrial chemistry could have been present in the interstellar matter from which the Solar System was formed.

Longevity, Cancer And Diet Connected: New Research In Worms Could Apply To Humans

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Researchers have discovered a connection between genes that could hold the key to a longer, healthier life. Using worms that share similar genetics to humans, scientists have identified a previously unknown link between two genes -- one associated with aging, the other with certain types of cancer.

Easier-to-hit 'Targets' Could Help Older People Make The Most Of Computers

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Older people could make better use of computers if icons, links and menu headings automatically grew bigger as the cursor moves towards them.

Stem Cells May Solve Mystery Of Early Pregnancy Breast Cancer Protection

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT

The answer to why an early pregnancy seems to protect against breast cancer could rest with a decrease in stem cells found after animals have given birth, said researchers in a report in the journal Stem Cell.

Putting Pictures Into Words

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Visual images can contain a wealth of information, but they are difficult to catalogue in a searchable way. European researchers are generating and combining scraps of information to create a searchable picture.

Overbearing Parents Foster Obsessive Children, New Study Finds

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Parents watch your nagging. A new study from the Université de Montréal in Quebec, Canada, has found that parental control directly influences whether a child will develop a harmonious or obsessive passion for their favorite hobby.

Emergence Of Agriculture In Prehistory Took Much Longer, Genetic Evidence Suggests

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Researchers have found evidence that genetics supports the idea that the emergence of agriculture in prehistory took much longer than originally thought.

Programmed Cell Death Contributes Force To Movement Of Cells

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT

In addition to pruning cells out of the way during embryonic development, the much-studied process of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, has been newly found to exert significant mechanical force on surrounding cells.

Prosthetic Vein Valve Designed To Direct Blood Flow Shows Promising Pre-clinical Results

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Engineers have developed a prosthetic vein valve to help improve the lives of those suffering from a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency. The valve was designed to replace damaged, non-functioning valves.

Sole Use Of Impaired Limb Improves Recovery In Spinal Cord Injury

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT

A new study finds that following minor spinal cord injury, rats that had to use impaired limbs showed full recovery due to increased growth of healthy nerve fibers and the formation of new nerve cell connections. These findings help explain how physical therapy advances recovery, and support the use of rehabilitation therapies that specifically target impaired limbs in people with brain and spinal cord injuries.

Optical Sensors Make MRI Scans Safer

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Magnetic resonance scans will be safer for children and other patients needing anaesthesia, thanks to new kinds of optical sensors.

Collaboration Helps Police Address Job Stress

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Mangled bodies, gunfire, high-speed chases and injured children are just a few events witnessed by police officers and soldiers serving in dangerous hot spots around the world. These traumas take a high toll on the police officers and soldiers, who suppress human emotions to get the job done and can be reluctant to share their experiences in an effort to spare others from their ordeals, according to a September Police Quarterly article.

NASA's Swift Catches Farthest Ever Gamma-Ray Burst

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT

NASA's Swift satellite has found the most distant gamma-ray burst ever detected. The blast, designated GRB 080913, arose from an exploding star 12.8 billion light-years away.

Thin Men More Vulnerable To Osteoporosis And Bone Fractures Than Other Older Men

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Obesity and weight increase leads to an increased risk of many chronic diseases, and the advice is therefore to maintain a stable healthy weight. Now, research shows that there may be disadvantages to being thin. Men who have low weight in middle age and who reduce their weight, increase the chance of osteoporosis and fracture. The findings are now published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Harnessing New Technology To Keep Older People Behind The Wheel For Longer

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT

A new study has highlighted the key role technology could play in extending the age at which people can drive safely on our roads.

Incontinence Affects A Substantial Proportion Of Women; Prevalence Increases With Age

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Nearly one-quarter of women surveyed, and more than one-third of older women, report at least one pelvic floor disorder, which includes urinary and fecal incontinence and the shifting of a pelvic organ, according to a new study. These disorders become more prevalent with increasing age and weight.

Mobile Video Communication From A Mountain Top

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Imagine being able to communicate with video images anywhere in the world. Regardless of the connection you still have a good image of the person you are communicating with. Ulrik Söderström from Digital Media Lab, Umea university in Sweden, has developed a technique that enables this.

Homosexuals' Negative Feelings About Sexuality Predict Poor Mental And Sexual Health

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Researchers have published a study showing that the degree of internalized homonegativity (negative attitude towards homosexuality) among homosexual men is what predicts poor mental and sexual health -- not the act of being homosexual.

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