ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Dark Energy: Is It Merely An Illusion? Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT Dark energy is at the heart of one of the greatest mysteries of modern physics, but it may be nothing more than an illusion, according physicists at Oxford University.

Existing Anti-obesity Drugs May Be Effective Against Flu, Hepatitis And HIV Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT Viruses dramatically increase cellular metabolism, and existing anti-obesity drugs may represent a new way to block these metabolic changes and inhibit viral infection, according to a new study in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

Is The Salad Bar Safe? Produce Concerns Linger After Summer Scares Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT Widespread reports had most people afraid to eat tomatoes this summer and when tomatoes were vindicated, eating peppers became a fear. A food safety expert says there is only so much that can be done to assure produce is safe to eat.

Vascular Marker Of Ovarian Cancer Identified Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT Researchers have identified TEM1 as a specific genetic marker for the vascular cells associated with tumor growth, a finding that could aid in diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.

Voice-Commanded Robot Wheelchair Finds Its Own Way Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT A new kind of autonomous wheelchair under development can learn all about the locations in a given building, and then take its occupant to a given place in response to a verbal command.

Ethical Argument: Include Pregnant Women In Research Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT Why aren't pregnant women included in most clinical trials? That's the question posed by leading bioethicists, who say it's time to confront the challenges that have led to the exclusion of pregnant women from important research that could positively impact maternal and fetal health.

Tsunami Invisibility Cloak Could Make Structures 'Disappear' Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Rather than building stronger ocean-based structures to withstand tsunamis, it might be easier to simply make the structures disappear.

New Understanding Of Diabetes Drug Target Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Scientists have made a new advance in the study of major diabetes drug target. The advance -- described by the researchers as 'very significant' -- could lead to new drugs being developed to target a protein that plays a critical role in controlling the way the body breaks down sugar.

Pistachio Nuts May Improve Heart Health Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Going green may be heart healthy if the green you choose is pistachio nuts, according to researchers who conducted the first study to investigate the way pistachios lower cholesterol.

Hormone Therapy May Be Safe For Postmenopausal BRCA Mutation Carriers Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT The use of hormone therapy was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who carry BRCA mutations, according to a case-control study.

Mercury's 'Spider' Pantheon Fossae Formation Linked To Asteroid Impact Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT A new model suggests that the origin of the Pantheon Fossae on the planet Mercury, a radiating web of troughs located in the giant Caloris Basin, is directly linked to an impact crater at the centre of the web. The Caloris Basin is the youngest-known large impact basin on Mercury.

Optimism Experts Handicap The Presidential Election With About 6 Weeks Remaining Until Nov. 4 Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers have determined that the most optimistic candidates win more than 80 percent of presidential elections dating back to 1900. A new study measures the optimism of this year's candidates.

NASA’s Dirty Secret: Moon Dust Posted: 29 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT The Apollo Moon missions of 1969-1972 all share a dirty secret. "The major issue the Apollo astronauts pointed out was dust, dust, dust," says one researcher. Fine as flour and rough as sandpaper, Moon dust caused 'lunar hay fever,' problems with space suits, and dust storms in the crew cabin upon returning to space.

Novel Attempt Of Gene Therapy For Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Posted: 29 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT There are considerable endocrine cells in gastrointestinal tracts. These cells may be the potential and ideal target cells in gene therapy of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Chitosan nanoparticle is a kind of non-viral vector. A research group in China investigated the gene therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus in rats by gastrointestinal administration of chitosan nanoparticles containing human insulin gene.

Tourism on Antarctica Threatening South Pole Environment; Solution Offered Posted: 29 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Tourism on Antarctica is increasing and that can form a threat for the vulnerable South Pole area. New research provides a possible solution: market the visitor rights to the highest bidder.

New Tool To Assess Speech Development In Infants, Toddlers With Hearing Impairments Posted: 29 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT The number of hearing impaired infants and toddlers who are successfully aided by technological devices, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, continues to grow, but there are still unknowns about these children's speaking abilities.

Foam Reactor Is 10 Times More Energy Efficient Posted: 29 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT There is considerable worldwide demand for new types of reactors for the rapid and well- controlled production of high value chemicals. Now a new porous foam reactor has been developed, which has an energy efficiency ten times higher than traditional reactors at comparable production rates.

Side Effects Severely Under-reported In ENT Medical Journals Posted: 29 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Harms and adverse events (untoward side effects of surgery or medicine) have been under-reported or poorly described at an alarming low rate by the publishing authors in the four leading otolaryngology medical journals, according to new research.

Promising Approach In Prevention And Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer Posted: 29 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal human cancers and continues to be a major unsolved health problem. The overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor and its ligands correlates with rapidly progressive disease and resistance to chemotherapy.

When Leaves Fall, More Is Occurring Than A Change Of Weather Posted: 29 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Researchers have uncovered the genetic pathway that controls abscission in the plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. The ability to control abscission in plants is of special interest to those in the commercial fruit tree and cut flower industries, which rely heavily on abscission-promoting or inhibiting agents to regulate fruit quality and pre-harvest fruit drop.

Neuropeptide Y System Linked To More Severe Form Of Alcohol Dependence Posted: 29 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Prior animal research showed an association between the neuropeptide Y (NPY) pathway and its three receptor genes and alcohol dependence, alcohol withdrawal and cocaine use. New human findings link two NPY receptor genes, NPY2R and NPY5R, with a more severe form of AD, and cocaine dependence.

Don't Blame Cities For Climate Change, See Them As Solutions, New Study Says Posted: 29 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Cities are being unfairly blamed for most of humanity's greenhouse gas emissions and this threatens efforts to tackle climate change, warns a new study.

Impact Of Stress On Police Officers' Physical And Mental Health Posted: 29 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Policing is dangerous work, and the danger lurks not on the streets alone. The pressures of law enforcement put officers at risk for high blood pressure, insomnia, increased levels of destructive stress hormones, heart problems, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, researchers have found through a decade of studies of police officers.

Deadly Rugby Virus Spreads In Sumo Wrestlers Posted: 27 Sep 2008 11:00 PM CDT Rugby players may get more than just the ball out of a scrum -- herpes virus can cause a skin disease called "scrumpox" and it spreads through physical contact. Researchers have studied the spread of the disease among sumo wrestlers in Japan and have discovered that a new strain of the virus could be even more pathogenic, according to an article in the Journal of General Virology.

Reversible 3D Cell Culture Gel Invented Posted: 27 Sep 2008 11:00 PM CDT A unique user-friendly gel that can liquefy on demand, with the potential to revolutionize three-dimensional cell culture for medical research, has been invented.

Gene That May Contribute To Improved Rice Yield Identified Posted: 27 Sep 2008 11:00 PM CDT Biologists have identified a gene in rice that controls the size and weight of rice grains. The gene may prove to be useful for breeding high-yield rice and, thus, may benefit the vast number of people who rely on this staple food for survival.

'Hub' Of Fear Memory Formation Identified In Brain Cells Posted: 27 Sep 2008 11:00 PM CDT A protein required for the earliest steps in embryonic development also plays a key role in solidifying fear memories in the brains of adult animals, scientists have revealed. An apparent "hub" for changes in the connections between brain cells, beta-catenin could be a potential target for drugs to enhance or interfere with memory formation.

New Way To Control Protein Activity Could Lead To Cancer Therapies Posted: 27 Sep 2008 11:00 PM CDT Investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found a way to quickly and reversibly fine-tune the activity of individual proteins in cells and living mammals, providing a powerful new laboratory tool for identifying — more precisely than ever before — the functions of different proteins.

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