ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Physicists Find New State Of Matter In 'Transistor': Huge Implications For New Electronic Devices Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT Scientists have discovered a new state of matter, a quasi-three- dimensional electron crystal, in a material very much alike those used in the fabrication of modern transistors. This discovery could have momentous implications for the development of new electronic devices.

Contact Lenses Are Home To Pathogenic Amoebae Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT Contact lenses increase the risk of infection with pathogenic protozoa that can cause blindness. New research shows that a high percentage of contact lens cases in Tenerife are contaminated with Acanthamoeba that cannot be killed by normal contact lens solution.

A Large Spiral Galaxy, NGC 7331, In All Its Splendor Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT The spiral galaxy NGC 7331, in Pegasus, can be seen with small telescopes under dark skies as a faint fuzzy spot. It is an island universe similar to our own Galaxy (or maybe somewhat larger) and placed at a distance of 50 million light-years. NGC 7331 was discovered by Wilhelm Herschel in 1784, and it shows all its magnificence in long-exposure photographs taken through large telescopes.

Allergy Patch Test: Children Tend To React To Different Allergens Than Adults Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT Adults and children who are referred for patch testing of allergens appear equally likely to have allergic contact dermatitis, although they tend to react to different allergens, according to a new report.

Egg Whites Solve The 3-D Problem Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT The real world is three-dimensional. That's true even in the laboratory, where scientists have to grow cells to study how they develop and what happens when their growth is abnormal. More and more laboratories are seeking to develop three-dimensional cell culture systems that allow them to test their new techniques and drugs in a system that more closely mimics the way in which cells grow. However, a big sticking point is the cost of commercial media for growing such cultures.

Scientific Hunch Poised To Save Thousands From Toxic Fish Poisoning Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT A neuroscientist has found a way to combat a debilitating illness that affects an estimated 50,000 people a year in tropical regions.

Study Of Polar Dinosaur Migration Questions Whether Dinosaurs Were Truly The First Great Migrators Posted: 22 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT A recently released study of northern and southern polar dinosaur migration indicates that some species may have migrated nearly 3,000 km in a six month period- far short of the distance needed to reach warmer climes. What's more, the study also revealed that other species would have been forced to endure polar winters and exhibited characteristics similar to today's nonmigratory animals when dealing with hibernating, foraging and even burrowing.

Education Protects Against Pre-Alzheimer's Memory Loss Posted: 22 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT People with more education and more mentally demanding occupations may have protection against the memory loss that precedes Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in Neurology.

‘Waterless’ Concrete Seen As Building Block On Moon Posted: 22 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT A new article demonstrates a concept of creating concrete structures on the lunar surface without the use of water.

Tick-borne Encephalitis Virus Reveals Its Access Code Posted: 22 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT Biologists have identified an amino acid switch that flaviviruses flip to gain access to cells. Flaviviruses such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), yellow fever, and dengue are dangerous human pathogens.

$2 Egg-beater Could Save Lives In Developing Countries Posted: 22 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT Plastic tubing taped to a handheld egg-beater could save lives in developing countries. The low-cost centrifuge replacement can separate plasma from blood in minutes, which is used in tests to detect lethal infectious diseases responsible for half of all deaths in developing countries.

'Western' Diet Increases Heart Attack Risk Globally Posted: 22 Oct 2008 10:00 AM CDT A study that examined various dietary patterns suggests that the typical Western diet -- fried foods, salty snacks and meat -- accounts for about 30 percent of heart attack risk across the globe. A diet high in fruits and vegetables was associated with a lower risk of heart attack. A diet high in tofu and soy did not affect heart attack risk.

Serendipitous Observations Reveal Rare Event In Life Of Distant Quasar Posted: 22 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT A bit of serendipity has given astronomers a surprise view of a never-before-observed event in the birth of a galaxy.

Self-assembling Nano-fiber Gel Delivers High Concentrations Of Clinically Approved Drugs Posted: 22 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT Scientists have developed a new self-assembling hydrogel drug delivery system that is biocompatible, efficient at drug release, and easy to tailor. Importantly, these structures can deliver clinically approved drugs in high concentrations without requiring carriers for the drug or generating toxic components, a problem with hydrogel systems until now.

Mechanical Pressure Accelerates Early Stages Of Colon Cancer Posted: 22 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT Genes are not the be all and end all of carcinogenesis. Scientists have shown that mechanical pressure can alter gene expression, and in particular activate the oncogenes(1) Myc and Twist, which are implicated in the early stages of colon cancer.

T Cell Response To New Melanoma Antigen Linked To Relapse-free Survival Posted: 22 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT Melanoma patients infused with a special type of tumor-fighting T cell are more likely to survive without relapse, suggests a new study by researchers in France.

Smart Materials: Textile That Change Phase, Intelligent Molecules That Absorb Shocks, And More Posted: 22 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT Norway's most elaborate travel-wear keeps the body cool in hot helicopter cabins, but transforms into a heat-retaining suit if the helicopter should fall into the sea.

Grades In College Directly Linked To Health-related Behaviors Posted: 22 Oct 2008 07:00 AM CDT Lack of sleep, excessive television/computer screen time, stress, gambling, alcohol and tobacco use and other health-related issues are taking a toll on college students' academic performance.

Amphibian Diversity Decreases Chances Of Parasitic Disease, Study Shows Posted: 22 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT A new study showing that American toads who pal around with gray tree frogs reduce their chances of parasitic infections known to cause limb malformations has strong implications for the benefits of biodiversity on emerging wildlife diseases.

On The Trail Of A Targeted Therapy For Blood Cancers Posted: 22 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT Researchers are examining a family of blood proteins that they hope holds a key to decreasing the toxic effects of chemotherapy in children and adults. Their findings may one day help in the development of targeted therapies for leukemia, multiple myeloma and other cancers of the blood.

Fitness In A Changing World: Genetics And Adaptations Of Alaskan Stickleback Fish Posted: 22 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT The stickleback fish, Gasterosteus aculeatus, is one of the most thoroughly studied organisms in the wild, and has been a particularly useful model for understanding variation in physiology, behavior, life history and morphology caused by different ecological situations in the wild.

How Neuronal Activity Leads To Alzheimer's Protein Cleavage Posted: 22 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT Amyloid precursor protein, whose cleavage product, amyloid-b, builds up into fibrous plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, jumps from one specialized membrane microdomain to another to be cleaved, according to a new report in the Journal of Cell Biology.

Out Of Mesopotamia: Evolutionary History Of Tuberculosis Posted: 22 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT The evolutionary timing and spread of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), one of the most successful groups of bacterial pathogens, remains largely unknown. Using mycobacterial tandem repeat sequences as genetic markers, scientists show that the MTBC consists of two independent clades, one composed exclusively of M. tuberculosis lineages from humans and the other composed of both animal and human isolates.

Creating Unique Health ID Numbers Would Improve Health Care Quality, Efficiency, Study Claims Posted: 22 Oct 2008 04:00 AM CDT Creating a unique patient identification number for every person in the United States would facilitate a reduction in medical errors, simplify the use of electronic medical records, increase overall efficiency and help protect patient privacy, according to a new study. Although the cost of such a system could reach $11 billion, the effort would likely return even more in benefits to the nation's health care system.

Microscopic Structure Of Quantum Gases Made Visible: Bose-Einstein Condensate Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT Scientists have, for the first time, succeeded in rendering the spatial distribution of individual atoms in a Bose-Einstein condensate visible. Bose-Einstein condensates are small, ultracold gas clouds which, due to their low temperatures, can no longer be described in terms of traditional physics but must be described using the laws of quantum mechanics. The first Bose-Einstein condensates were generated in 1995 by Eric A. Cornell, Carl E. Wieman and Wolfgang Ketterle, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work only six years later. Since then, these unique gas clouds, the coldest objects humans ever created, have become a global research object.

Can Exercise Prevent A Severe Stroke? Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT A new study shows that people who are physically active before suffering a stroke may have less severe problems as a result and recover better compared to those who did not exercise before having a stroke. The research is published in the journal Neurology.

Pandemic Flu Models Help Determine Food Distribution And School Closing Strategies Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT Pandemic flu models can help organizations improve their food distribution and school closing strategies in the event of such an emergency. The models are flexible so that multiple scenarios can be investigated to see which options meet an organization's specific goal.

Embolic Neuroprotection System Reduces Risk Of Cardiac Events, Study Reveals Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT New research shows a low number of strokes and cardiac events in patients who had stents implanted utilizing a new embolic neuroprotection system during carotid stenting with commercial stents.

New Hope For The Red Squirrel Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT Study says free-living red squirrels are mounting an immune response to the squirrelpox viral disease.

Baseball: Professor Sees 59 Percent Chance Of Rays Win Over Phillies In World Series Posted: 22 Oct 2008 01:00 AM CDT A mathematician who has applied mathematical modeling techniques to elucidate the dynamics of scoring in baseball, has computed the probability of the Rays and Phillies winning the World Series now that the Rays have defeated the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series.

Vast Stellar Nursery: Claret-colored Cloud With A Massive Heart Posted: 21 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT An image of the amazing intricacies of a vast stellar nursery, which goes by the name of Gum 29, is now available. In the center, a small cluster of stars -- called Westerlund 2 -- has been found to be the home of one of the most massive double star systems known to astronomers.

Vaccine Type That Holds Promise In Protecting Against TB Identified Posted: 21 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT A recombinant vaccine against tuberculosis shows promise, researchers find. The investigational vaccine for TB appears likely to offer significantly better protection against the potentially fatal disease than the one in current use.

Microwaves Could Extract Water From Moon And Mars Posted: 21 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT When astronauts land on the Moon in the not too distant future, it's possible they will be visiting an outpost where they can pick up some fuel and a refreshing container of liquid.

Potential New Way To Make A Good Anti-leukemia Drug Even Better Posted: 21 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT A recently identified cancer-causing protein makes the anti-leukemia drug imatinib, less effective. By blocking the protein, researchers were able to slow the spread of leukemia cells in culture. The study, which will appear in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that the most effective treatment for leukemia may rely on a combination of targeted drugs, rather than a single miracle drug.

Squeezing More Synthetic Fuel From Abundant Supplies Of Coal Posted: 21 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT Scientists in Italy are reporting that a new process could eliminate key obstacles to expanded use of coal gasification to transform that abundant domestic energy resource into synthetic liquid fuels for cars and trucks.

Effect Of Gamma Waves On Cognitive And Language Skills In Children Posted: 21 Oct 2008 07:00 PM CDT Gamma wave activity in the brains of children provide a window into their cognitive development, and could open the way for more effective intervention for those likely to experience language problems.

Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Governor's Palace In Turkey Posted: 21 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT Archaeologists have unearthed parts of a Neo-Assyrian governor's palace dating back to the 9th to 7th century BCE in an excavation program amongst the ruins on Ziyaret Tepe. The discoveries were extraordinary. The site in the south-east of Turkey (Diyarbakir province) is at risk from the construction of the Ilisu Dam.

Beta-blocker Use Linked To Risks Of Death And Heart Attack After Surgery, Study Suggests Posted: 21 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT Some patients who received beta-blockers before and around the time of undergoing non-cardiac surgery appear to have higher rates of heart attack and death within 30 days of their surgery, according to a new report.

Cleaning Up Iraqi Nuclear Facilities, Radioactive Waste Posted: 21 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT Sandia scientists are helping train Iraqi scientists and technicians to clean up radioactively contaminated sites and safely dispose of the radioactive wastes as part of the Iraqi Nuclear Facility Dismantlement and Disposal Program.

Non-AIDS Deaths In People With HIV Linked To Inflammation And Coagulation, Study Suggests Posted: 21 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT In an analysis of deaths occurring during a large international trial of treatments for HIV-positive patients, researchers have found a strong association between markers of inflammation and coagulation and increased risk of death from non-AIDS diseases, including cardiovascular problems.

Pesticide Concentrations Decreasing Posted: 21 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT The use of pesticides in the United States has been widespread for decades, and a new study shows the effects they have had as a contaminant in the nation's groundwater. The researchers took samples from over 300 wells and examined different contaminants that have been used over the years, with encouraging results as to the levels of concentration that the samples have measured.

The Nose Knows: Two Fixation Points Needed For Face Recognition Posted: 21 Oct 2008 04:00 PM CDT Many of us are bad at remembering names but we are very quick to point out that at least we never forget a face. Never mind recognizing a familiar face -- how is it that we recognize faces at all?

Man's Best Friend Recruited In Hunt For Disease Genes Posted: 21 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT For centuries man has had a uniquely close relationship with dogs -- as a working animal, for security and, perhaps most importantly, for companionship. Now, dogs are taking on a new role -- they are helping in the hunt for genetic mutations that lead to diseases in humans.

Low-carb Diets Alter Glucose Formation By The Liver Posted: 21 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT A new study shows that a low-carbohydrate diet changes hepatic energy metabolism. When carbohydrates are restricted, the liver relies more on substances like lactate and amino acids to form glucose, instead of glycerol.

Blowing Bubbles On A Nanoscale Posted: 21 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT Scientists are puzzled by the nanobubbles that can develop on surfaces under water. It should be impossible for them to exist but nevertheless they remain intact for hours. They are something of a mystery, yet it is possible to manipulate the development of these bubbles, according to experts. The bubbles can then, for example, be used to reduce flow resistance in liquids.

Respiratory Rhythms Can Help Predict Insomnia Posted: 21 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT The breathing and heart rates and cortisol levels of women with metastatic breast cancer can be used to predict if they'll suffer from chronic insomnia and sleep disruptions, a common complaint from patients who want to maintain their quality of life, according to a new study.

Alternative Fuels May Drain Dwindling Water Supplies Posted: 21 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT As the search for new fuels intensifies, researchers in Texas report that switching to certain alternative fuels to power cars, trucks, and SUVs may require the use of much more water than conventional petroleum-based gasoline and diesel. The findings suggest that producing alternative fuels could strain already limited water supplies in some regions of the country.

Group Bragging Betrays Insecurity, Study Shows Posted: 21 Oct 2008 01:00 PM CDT Groups that boast, gloat and denigrate outsiders tend to be of low social status or vulnerable to threats from other groups, research shows.

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