ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Global Warming Fix? Carbon Dioxide Captured Directly From Air With Simple Machine Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT An energy and environmental system expert has shown it is possible to reduce carbon dioxide -- the main greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming -- using a relatively simple machine that can capture the trace amount of carbon dioxide present in the air at any place on the planet. The technology could dramatically reduce emissions from transportation.

MS Patients Have Higher Spinal Fluid Levels Of Suspicious Immune Molecule Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT A protein that helps keep immune cells quiet is more abundant in the spinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), further boosting suspicion that the protein, TREM-2, may be an important contributor to the disease.

Stalagmites May Predict Next Big One Along The New Madrid Seismic Zone Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT Small white stalagmites lining caves in the Midwest may help scientists chronicle the history of the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) -- and even predict when the next big earthquake may strike, say researchers.

Free-Living Protozoa Found In Meat-Cutting Plants Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT A first time survey of free-living protozoa in meat-cutting plants showed high diversity rates of various species including those that could harbor food-borne pathogens say researchers from Belgium.

Air Quality Regulations Miss Key Pollutants Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT Air quality regulations may not effectively target a large source of fine, organic particle pollutants that contribute to hazy skies and poor air quality over the Los Angeles region.

Natural Viagra? 'Horny Goat Weed' Shows Promise Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT Move over, Viagra! Researchers in report that an ancient Chinese herbal remedy known as "horny goat weed" shows potential in lab studies as source for new future drugs to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). The study, which provides scientific evidence supporting the herb's well-known use as a natural aphrodisiac.

Meat-eating Dinosaur From Argentina Had Bird-like Breathing System Posted: 30 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT The remains of a 30-foot-long predatory dinosaur discovered along the banks of Argentina's Rio Colorado is helping to unravel how birds evolved their unusual breathing system.

TB Bacterium Uses Its Sugar Coat To Sweeten Its Chances Of Living In Lungs Posted: 30 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT Common strains of tuberculosis-causing bacteria have hijacked the human body's immune response to play tricks on cells in the lungs, scientists say. The results of this takeover are mixed. The cells essentially welcome the bacteria into the lungs and invite them to stay a while, meaning the human host becomes infected with the TB bacterium. But in about 90 percent of these cases, the infection remains latent and the infected person never has any symptoms of illness.

Radiation Device May Customize Therapy, Enable Some To Avoid More Lengthy Treatment Posted: 30 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT A study of the first approximately 100 patients who have received partial breast irradiation with a small, whisk-like, expandable device inserted inside the breast has shown that after one year, the device is effective at sparing nearby healthy tissue from the effects of radiation. The device, called SAVI, is aimed at providing customized radiation therapy while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue around the breast after a woman has received a lumpectomy for early stage cancer.

New Astroviruses Identified In Bats Posted: 30 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT New research suggests that bats are reservoirs of a newly identified group of astroviruses, a significant agent of diarrhea in many species including humans.

Smart And Gentle Alarm Clock For Mobile Phones Posted: 30 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT New technology for screening and even diagnosing sleep disorders has been developed. The first application of the new technology, a smart alarm clock for mobile phones, HappyWakeUp, is now available. It monitors depth of sleep and provides a gentle wake-up whenever possible.

Virtual World Offers New Locale For Problem Solving Posted: 30 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT Second Life, a virtual world created in 2003, currently boasts more than 12 million users worldwide who go there for everything from college recruiting to shopping. Now, Penn State researchers are investigating how virtual teams can better solve real world problems by collaborating in Second Life.

Mars Lander Sees Falling Snow On Red Planet, Soil Data Suggest Liquid Past Posted: 30 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has detected snow falling from Martian clouds. Spacecraft soil experiments also have provided evidence of past interaction between minerals and liquid water, processes that occur on Earth.

Sounds Travel Farther Underwater As World's Oceans Become More Acidic Posted: 30 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT It is common knowledge that the world's oceans and atmosphere are warming as humans release more and more carbon dioxide into the Earth's atmosphere. However, fewer people realize that the chemistry of the oceans is also changing -- seawater is becoming more acidic as carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves in the oceans. These changes in ocean temperature and chemistry will have an unexpected side effect -- sounds will travel farther underwater.

Naturally Occurring 'Protective RNA' Used To Develop New Antiviral Against Influenza Posted: 30 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers have developed a new antiviral using naturally occurring influenza virus "protecting virus" that may defend against any influenza A virus in any animal host.

Evidence For Rain On Mars? Posted: 30 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT There is evidence that lake deposits once formed inside impact craters on Mars. About four billion years ago, there were lakes on Mars which may have been fed by short-lived rivers that were, in turn, fed by precipitation. These lakes filled craters that were formed by the impact of meteorites.

Unraveling Breast Milk Posted: 30 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers are reporting that new insights into the composition of human breast milk may lead to new ways to prevent and treat stomach illnesses and other diseases in babies and adults.

Degradation Of Wood In Royal Warship Vasa Is Caused By Iron Posted: 30 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT During its time in the sea bottom of Stockholm harbor, huge amounts of iron and sulfurous compounds accumulated in the wood of the royal warship Vasa. Since 2000 it has been noticed that changes are taking place in the wood, changes that threaten the stability of the ship.

Financial Risk-taking Behavior Is Associated With Higher Testosterone Levels Posted: 30 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Two researchers from Harvard jointly led a recent study in which they showed that men with higher testosterone levels invest more money during a risky investment game. The study associates higher testosterone levels with financial risk-taking behavior.

Parental Warning: Second-hand Smoke May Trigger Nicotine Dependence Symptoms In Kids Posted: 30 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Parents who smoke cigarettes around their kids in cars and homes beware -- second-hand smoke may trigger symptoms of nicotine dependence in children. The findings are published in the September edition of the journal Addictive Behaviors in a joint study from nine Canadian institutions.

Wetlands Restoration Not A Panacea For Louisiana Coast Posted: 30 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Counting on wetlands restoration projects to protect storm buffeted infrastructure along the Louisiana Coast is likely to be a "losing battle" that provides "false hope" and prevents endangered communities from clearly planning for their future, says a researcher from Western Carolina University (WCU).

Robotic Surgery Lowers Risk Of A Rare But Serious Complication Of Gastric Bypass, Study Suggests Posted: 30 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT The use of a robot to assist with the most commonly performed weight-loss surgery appears to significantly lower a patient's risk of developing a rare but serious complication, according to a study published in the Journal of Robotic Surgery.

Zeroing In On Wi-Fi 'Dead Zones' To Inexpensively Fill Gaps In Wireless Networks Posted: 30 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Rooting out Wi-Fi "dead zones" in citywide wireless networks is an expensive proposition. The paucity of techniques for mapping areas that lack coverage is an impediment, both for pre-deployment and post-deployment testing. New research could change that. A new test method lets engineers refine their networks using readily available information about basic topography, street locations and general land use.

Community-based Behavior Change Management Cuts Neonatal Mortality In Half Posted: 30 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT A community-based program that reinforces basic childbirth and newborn care practices can reduce a baby's risk of death within the first month of life by as much as 54 percent, according to a new study.

Solar Cell Sets World Efficiency Record At 40.8 Percent Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Scientists at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory have set a world record in solar cell efficiency with a photovoltaic device that converts 40.8 percent of the light that hits it into electricity. This is the highest confirmed efficiency of any photovoltaic device to date.

Microbes 'Run The World': Metagenomics Increasingly Used To Characterize Them Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Mostly hidden from the scrutiny of the naked eye, microbes have been said to run the world. The challenge is how best to characterize them given that less than one percent of the estimated hundreds of millions of microbial species can be cultured in the laboratory. The answer is metagenomics -- an increasingly popular approach for extracting the genomes of uncultured microorganisms and discerning their specific metabolic capabilities directly from environmental samples. Ten years after the term was coined, metagenomics is going mainstream and already paying provocative dividends in the areas of energy and environment.

How A 'Stuck Accelerator' Causes Cancer Cell Expansion Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT What allows cancer cells to divide uncontrolled? The cellular oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are analogous to the accelerator and brake pedals in a car. If an oncogene is permanently active, similar to a stuck accelerator in a car, cells divide without restraints and a tumor develops.

A Robot In Every Home? Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Observers like Bill Gates believe that by 2025 we could have robots in every home. In labs across Europe, researchers are creating designs that could become the robo-butler of the future.

Age Alone Should Not Be Used To Determine Whether To Treat Prostate Cancer With Hormones, Research Suggests Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Concerns regarding the association of hormone therapy used to treat prostate cancer with cardiovascular disease in some older men may lead doctors to forgo hormone treatment solely on the basis of age. But a new study shows that men over age 70 with high-risk prostate cancer lived longer and experienced increases in PSA less frequently when treated with long-term androgen deprivation therapy.

Carbonate-hosted Avalon-type Fossils In Arctic Siberia Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Our present understanding of the origin of animals and Phanerozoic ecosystems depends critically on the ability to interpret impressions left behind by soft-bodied Ediacaran organisms, and to document their spatial and temporal distribution, which conceivably relate to strong environmental gradients in terminal Proterozoic seawater.

Drinking Alcohol Before 15 Years Of Age Is Risky For Later Alcohol Problems Posted: 30 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Researchers have known that age of first drink (AFD) is associated with the later development of alcohol-use disorders (AUDs). New findings show that an early AFD, before the age of 15, is especially risky for later AUDs. Experts recommend delaying the onset of drinking behavior as late as possible, until 18 or older.

Out Of Iraq Emerges Hope For Those With Severest Of Head Injuries Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT There may be more hope than has been recognized for some people with severe brain injuries, according to a US neurosurgeon who earlier this year spent four months in Iraq treating soldiers and civilians.

Popular COPD Treatment Increases Risk For Cardiac Events, Cardiac Death Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT The use of the most commonly prescribed once-a-day treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for longer than one month increases the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke by more than 50 percent, according to new research.

Helping Dogs With Cancer May Benefit People Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT A new study may one day help not only our canine friends with cancer, but also people with the human form of the disease.

New Predictive Tool Can Help Determine Treatment Of Breast Cancer Patients Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT A new predictive measurement, called a PEPI score, could bring good news to many women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer -- a low PEPI (preoperative endocrine prognostic index) score could show that they have little risk of relapse, and can safely avoid chemotherapy after surgery.

Tweezers Trap Nanotubes By Color Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Singled-walled carbon nanotubes are graphene sheets wrapped into tubes, and are typically made up of various sizes and with different amounts of twist (also known as chiralities). Each type of nanotube has its own electronic and optical properties. Physicists in Japan used colored light to selectively manipulate different types of carbon nanotubes.

Helping Students With Mental Illnesses: Support Services Prepare For 'What If' Scenarios Posted: 29 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Nationally, an estimated 15 percent of students experience some form of mental illness such as major depression while in college. Many often struggle with where to get support.

Getting Lost: A Newly Discovered Developmental Brain Disorder Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Researchers have recently documented the first case of a patient who, without apparent brain damage or cognitive impairment, is unable to orient within any environment. Researchers also believe that there are many others in the general population who may be affected by this developmental topographical disorder.

NASA's Mars Rover To Head Toward Bigger Crater Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity is setting its sights on a crater more than 20 times larger than its home for the past two years.

Black Patients At Higher Risk For Colon Polyps Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Compared with white patients, black patients undergoing screening colonoscopy have a higher prevalence of colon polyps.

Warming Of 4 Degrees Celsius Depressed Plant Growth And Reduced Land Carbon Absorption Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Scientists are reporting findings on the long-term effects of warming anomaly on grassland productivity and ecosystem carbon cycling. They found that warming by 4 degrees Celsius in the Reno greenhouse not only depressed plant growth and suppressed land carbon absorption in the treatment year but also resulted in prolonged suppression of plant growth and carbon absorption in the following year.

Independent Brain Pathways Generate Positive Or Negative Reappraisals Of Emotional Events Posted: 29 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Scientists now have a better understanding of how the human brain orchestrates the sophisticated pathways involved in the regulation of emotions. New research identifies brain pathways that underlie reinterpretation of aversive images in ways that reduce or enhance their negative emotional intensity.

Ancient Arctic Ice Could Tell Us About Future Of Permafrost Posted: 29 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT Researchers have discovered the oldest known ice in North America, and that permafrost may be a significant touchstone when looking at global warming.

Do 'Light' Cigarettes Deliver Less Nicotine To The Brain Than Regular Cigarettes? Posted: 29 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT So-called light (low) nicotine cigarettes act in a similar way to regular cigarettes by occupying most of the common nicotine receptors in the brain.

Cool Summer, Warm Future: Extreme Heat Days Increase For Southern California Posted: 29 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT Despite a moderate summer, the heat is rising in Southern California. Scientists now forecast that in coming decades, 10- to 14-day heat waves will become the norm. And because these will be hotter heat waves, they will be more threatening to public health.

Childhood Cancer Survivors Continue To Have Higher Mortality Rates than the General Population Posted: 29 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT Survivors of childhood or adolescent cancer have a greater than 8-fold increased risk of death than the general U.S. population 16 to 32 years after hitting the five-year survival mark.

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