ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Rocks Could Be Harnessed To Sponge Vast Amounts Of Carbon Dioxide From Air Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST Scientists say that a type of rock found in the Mideast nation of Oman and other areas around the world could be harnessed to soak up huge quantities of globe-warming carbon dioxide. Their studies show that the rock, known as peridotite, reacts naturally at surprisingly high rates with CO2 and that the process could be speeded a million times with simple drilling and injection methods.

How Tuberculosis Might Be Thwarting Immune System: Proteomics Study Yields Clues Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST A link between the immune system and the self-cleaning system by which biological cells rid themselves of obsolete or toxic parts may one day yield new weapons in the fight against tuberculosis and other deadly infectious diseases. Berkeley Lab researchers have discovered proteins residing in both systems that point to "cross-talk" between them.

2008 Sees Fifth Largest Ozone Hole Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST The ozone hole over Antarctica, which fluctuates in response to temperature and sunlight, grew to the size of North America in a one-day maximum in September that was the fifth largest on record, since NOAA satellite records began in 1979.

Parasites That Live Inside Cells Use Loophole To Thwart Immune System Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST Scientists have discovered a mechanism by which intracellular pathogens can shut down one of the body's key chemical weapons against them: nitric oxide.

Molecule Stops DNA Replication In Its Tracks Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST When a dividing cell duplicates its genetic material, a molecular machine called a sliding clamp travels along the DNA double helix, tethering the proteins that perform the replication. Researchers have discovered a small molecule that stops the sliding clamp in its tracks.

Being Unique Has Advantages: 'Rareness' Key To Some Insects Being Favored By Evolution Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 PM CST As the saying goes -- blondes have more fun, but in the world of insects it may actually be the rare "redheads" that have the last laugh ... at least in terms of evolution. A new study has discovered that genetic variation in an asexual insect -- insects that reproduce by cloning themselves -- is maintained by rare clones being chosen for the next generation, a phenomenon known as frequency-dependent selection.

Giant Simulation Could Solve Mystery Of 'Dark Matter' Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST The search for a mysterious substance which makes up most of the universe could soon be at an end, according to new research.

Multiple Sclerosis Progression Can Be Predicted With MRI Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST A new study shows that MRI scans used on multiple sclerosis patients to determine if the disease has affected gray matter in the brain can identify those at-risk for progression of disability.

Nighttime Tornadoes Are Worst Nightmare: Twisters That Occur From Midnight To Dawn Are 2.5 Times More Likely To Kill Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST A new study underscores the danger of nighttime tornadoes and suggests that warning systems that have led to overall declines in tornado death rates might not be adequate for overnight events, which occur most frequently in the nation's mid-South region.

How HIV Vaccine Might Have Increased Odds Of Infection Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST In September 2007, a phase II HIV-1 vaccine trial was abruptly halted when researchers found that the vaccine may have promoted, rather than prevented, HIV infection. A new study shows how the vaccine could have enhanced HIV infection.

Nanoscale Dimensioning Is Fast, Cheap With New Optical Technique Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST A novel technique under development uses a relatively inexpensive optical microscope to quickly and cheaply analyze nanoscale dimensions with nanoscale measurement sensitivity.

Study Finds Fears Of HIV Transmission In Families With Infected Parent Posted: 06 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Despite ongoing efforts to educate the public about HIV, a new study found that two-thirds of families with an HIV-infected parent experience fears about spreading HIV in the home.

Scientists Sequence First Genome Of Cancer Patient Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST For the first time, scientists have decoded the complete DNA of a cancer patient and traced her disease -- acute myelogenous leukemia -- to its genetic roots. A large research team sequenced the genome of the patient -- a woman in her 50s who ultimately died of her disease -- and the genome of her leukemia cells, to identify genetic changes unique to her cancer.

How Chronic Inflammation Can Lead To Stomach Cancer Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST Researchers have uncovered a major contributor to the cause of stomach cancer -- the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. The team described for the first time, that elevated levels of a single proinflammatory cytokine, an immune system protein called interleukin-1 beta, can start the progression towards stomach cancer.

Death By Hyperdisease: How DNA Detective Work Explains Extinction Of Christmas Island's Native Rats Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST A new ancient DNA study published in PLoS One is the first to demonstrate that disease can cause extinction in mammals, supporting the "hyperdisease" hypothesis. This study found rat-specific trypanosomes in museum specimens of native Christmas Island rats collected after but not before contact with black rats. It is assumed that black rats brought the pathogen to these immunologically naïve species; both Rattus macleari and R. nativitatis went extinct within a decade, by 1908.

DNA-based Vaccine Against West Nile Virus Effective Even After Onset Of Disease Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST Researchers are developing a DNA-based vaccine against the dreaded West Nile virus (WNV), which can be transmitted from animals to humans. The unique feature of this vaccine is that it is also effective after onset of the disease, for it has therapeutic properties.

Rock Reinforcement: New Technology Makes Excavations Safer Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST One of the biggest challenges facing the mining industry is rock wall failure. A new invention could change all that, by making excavations safer.

Living With Smokers May Be Associated With Inadequate Access To Healthful Food Posted: 06 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST Children and adults living with adult smokers appear less likely to have daily access to enough healthy food compared with those living with non-smoking adults, according to a new report.

Fingers, Loops And Bays In The Crab Nebula's Pulsar Wind Viewed By Chandra X-ray Observatory Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has provided the first clear view of the faint boundary of the Crab Nebula's X-ray-emitting pulsar wind nebula.

New Therapeutic Target Identified For Rheumatoid Arthritis Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Researchers have identified a potential new therapeutic target that could be used to treat inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs that hit this new target are actually in trials for the treatment of another disease, leukemia.

Gene Against Bacterial Attack Unraveled Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Researchers have unraveled a genetic defense mechanism against the lethal bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei. The research is the next step towards a vaccine against this bacterium suitable for bioweapons.

Minor Shift In Vaccine Schedule Has Potential To Reduce Infant Illness, Death Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST A new study suggests that protecting infants from a common, highly contagious and even deadly disease may be as easy as administering a routine vaccine two weeks earlier than it is typically given.

West Nile's North American Spread Described Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Most affected bird species have not yet recovered from the rapid spread of West Nile virus in North America after 1999, and the long-term ecological implications of the pathogen seem likely to be substantial. Annual outbreaks continue, and more research is needed to identify predictive factors that could lead to stepped-up countermeasures in vulnerable areas.

War Affects Iraqis' Health More After Fleeing Posted: 06 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST The risk of depression is greater among Iraqi soldiers who took part in the Gulf War than among civilians. Surprisingly, on the other hand, neither of these groups showed any signs of post-traumatic stress ten years after that war-­with the exception of those Iraqis who have left Iraq.

DNA Chunks, Chimps And Humans: Marks Of Differences Between Human And Chimp Genomes Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST Researchers have carried out the largest study of differences between human and chimpanzee genomes, identifying regions that have been duplicated or lost during evolution of the two lineages. The study, the first to compare many human and chimpanzee genomes in the same fashion, shows that particular types of genes are more commonly involved in gain or loss. It also provides new evidence for a gene associated with susceptibility to infection by HIV.

Gene Variations Alter Risk Of Esophageal Cancer Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST Variations in a common gene pathway may affect esophageal cancer risk, a dangerous and rapidly increasing type of cancer, according to new research.

1,000 Tags Reveal Mysteries Of Giant Bluefin Tuna Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST A 1,250-pound giant bluefin tuna caught in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada had the honor of being released with the 1000th electronic tracking tag placed on this depleted species by the Tag-A-Giant campaign.

Flu Vaccination Rates Lag For At-risk Adolescents Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST Influenza vaccination rates are still far too low for adolescents who suffer from asthma and other illnesses that predispose them to complications from the flu.

Bare Bones Of Crystal Growth: Biomolecules Enhance Metal Contents In Calcite Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST A finding that a hydrophilic peptide significantly enhances the magnesium-content of calcite is especially meaningful for geologists because Mg-content in carbonates is used as a 'paleo thermometer'. The findings also offer new insights for materials synthesis.

Alcohol Advice Needs To Play Greater Role In Sex Education For Teenagers, Experts Urge Posted: 06 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST Alcohol and attitudes are two of the key factors that health professionals need to be aware of when they are dealing with sexually active teenagers.

Computer That Reacts To Thought A Lifeline For Brain Injured Posted: 05 Nov 2008 11:00 PM CST People who have suffered traumatic brain injuries and who are unable to speak or move are being given the first chance to communicate using just the power of thought -- and a laptop loaded with sophisticated algorithms.

Extreme Weather Postpones Flowering Time Of Plants Posted: 05 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Extreme weather events have a greater effect on flora than previously presumed. A one-month drought postpones the time of flowering of grassland and heathland plants in Central Europe by an average of 4 days. With this a so-called 100-year drought event equates to approximately a decade of global warming.

Double-barreled Immune Cell Approach For Neuroblastoma Posted: 05 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Adding an artificial tumor-specific receptor to immune system cells called T-lymphocytes that target a particular virus extended and improved the cells' ability to fight a form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma, said researchers.

Stressed Older Drivers Are Three Times More Likely To Brake Than Calm Drivers Posted: 05 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Life can be stressful, whether you're an individual watching the stock market crash or a commuter stuck in traffic. A new study, forthcoming in the journal Psychological Science, examines how stress affects decision-making and finds that older adults alter their behavior more than young adults when under stress -- particularly in situations involving risk.

How To Stop Winter From Weathering Your Skin Posted: 05 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST All winter flakes are not made of snow. Cold weather wreaks havoc on our skin, sometimes making it dry and flaky. Skin dries out if it's deprived of water and this dryness often causes itchiness, resulting in a condition commonly referred to as "winter itch."

Biosynthetics Production With Detours Posted: 05 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Scientists have achieved an important advance in better understanding metabolic pathways in bacteria. Using computer models, they calculated the genetic changes that are necessary for increasing the production of biosynthetics in the Pseudomonas putida bacteria.

Rates Of Psychosis Higher Among Minority Groups In Britain Posted: 05 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Both first- and second-generation immigrants to the United Kingdom appear to have a higher risk of psychoses than white British individuals, according to a new report.

Dried Mushrooms Slow Climate Warming In Northern Forests Posted: 05 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST The fight against climate warming has an unexpected ally in mushrooms growing in dry spruce forests covering Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and other northern regions, a study finds. These findings could influence global climate change predictions and policy.

Seizures Following Parasitic Infection Associated With Brain Swelling Posted: 05 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST A new study provides strong evidence associating seizures with areas of brain tissue swelling in people infected by a parasitic tapeworm. The swellings, called perilesional edemas, form around dead, calcified cysts that result when larvae of Taenia solium tapeworms lodge in the brain. The illness caused by T. solium infection -- neurocysticercosis -- is the most common cause of adult-onset seizures and epilepsy in developing countries where the tapeworm is endemic.

Time Invested In Practicing Pays Off For Young Musicians, Research Shows Posted: 05 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST A new study has found that children who study a musical instrument for at least three years outperform children with no instrumental training -- not only in tests of auditory discrimination and finger dexterity (skills honed by the study of a musical instrument), but also on tests measuring verbal ability and visual pattern completion (skills not normally associated with music).

Lung Airway Cells Activate Vitamin D And Increase Immune Response Posted: 05 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST Essential to good health, vitamin D requires activation to function properly in the body. Until recently, this activation was thought to occur primarily in the kidneys. A new study finds it can occur in lung airway cells. The investigation also links the vitamin D produced in the lung airway cells to activation of infection-fighting genes.

Identity Theft Risk: Huge Amount Of Sensitive Data Still On Redundant Computer Hard Disks Posted: 05 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST A new report suggests that there is a huge amount of sensitive data still on redundant computer hard disks. These devices are often disposed of or sold into the second-hand market by corporations, organizations, and individuals with the data intact. The report's authors say that this data represents a significant level of risk for commercial sabotage, identity theft, and even political compromise, and suggest that better education is essential to reduce the risk of harm.

Measuring 'Inaudible' Sounds To Detect Illegal Nuclear Tests, And Analyze Atmosphere Posted: 05 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST By measuring 'inaudible' sounds, events like illegal nuclear tests can be detected. This 'infrasound' can also help us understand more about the upper atmosphere, according to new research.

Skeleton Of 12,000-Year-Old Shaman Discovered Buried With Leopard, 50 Tortoises And Human Foot Posted: 05 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST The skeleton of a 12,000 year-old Natufian Shaman has been discovered in northern Israel by archaeologists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The burial is described as being accompanied by "exceptional" grave offerings -- including 50 complete tortoise shells, the pelvis of a leopard and a human foot. The shaman burial is thought to be one of the earliest known from the archaeological record and the only shaman grave in the whole region.

Moms' Smoking Linked To Increased Risk Of Birth Defects Posted: 05 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST The damaging effects of smoking and smoke exposure can be seen at any age. Pediatricians have even noted these negative effects in various stages of infant development. The consequences of maternal smoke exposure during pregnancy can range from higher rates of prematurity to increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Two new studies examine several physical and behavioral effects of cigarette smoke exposure on infants.

Low Cost Vehicle Stability Chip Reduces Rollover Risk Posted: 05 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST Drivers worldwide soon will be able to navigate dangerous road conditions more safely, due to new sensor technology. The 1.7 millimeter-wide device helps stabilize automobiles, allowing them to pass safely through hazardous conditions such as sharp turns and slippery roads that could result in a rollover.

‘Natural Killer’ Immune Cells Reveal Factors For Reproductive Success Posted: 05 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST Immune cells known as natural killer (NK) cells are linked with pregnancy problems including pre-eclampsia and recurrent miscarriage. Scientists are illuminating the role that pregnancy-related NK cells play in moderating the biochemical interactions at the boundary between maternal tissues and the developing fetus. Their findings reveal that uterine NK cells are 'armed' with specific receptors, enabling interaction with other molecules to ensure that the placenta develops normally and the pregnancy is successful.

Genes That Prevent Changes In Physical Traits Due To Environmental Changes Identified Posted: 05 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST Biologists have identified genes that prevent physical traits from being affected by environmental changes. The research, which studied the genetic makeup of baker's yeast, appears in the Public Library of Science's journal, PloS Biology.

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