ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Limb Loss In Lizards: Evidence For Rapid Evolution Posted: 11 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Small skink lizards, Lerista, demonstrate extensive changes in body shape over geologically brief periods. New research shows that several species of these skinks have rapidly evolved an elongate, limbless body form.

Babies Placed In Incubators Decrease Risk Of Depression As Adults Posted: 11 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Babies who receive incubator care after birth are two to three times less likely to suffer depression as adults according to a surprising new study published in the journal Psychiatry Research.

Web-spinning Spiders And 'Wannabe Butterflies' Head To Space Shuttle Posted: 11 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST A NASA space shuttle mission carrying a payload of web-spinning spiders and wannabe butterflies will be closely monitored by hundreds of K-12 students from Colorado's Front Range after Endeavour launches from Florida for the International Space Station Nov. 14.

Heart's Surplus Energy May Help Power Pacemakers, Defibrillators Posted: 11 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Researchers have shown that a beating heart may produce enough energy to power a pacemaker or defibrillator. An experimental microgenerator captured enough surplus heart energy to provide 17 percent of the power needed to run an implantable pacemaker. Generator refinements could yield smaller, longer-lasting, and more sophisticated implantable devices.

Protein 'Tubules' Free Avian Flu Virus From Immune Recognition Posted: 11 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST A protein found in the virulent avian influenza virus strain called H5N1 forms tiny tubules in which it "hides" the pieces of double-stranded RNA formed during viral infection, which otherwise would prompt an antiviral immune response from infected cells, researchers report.

Getting Little Sleep May Be Associated With Risk Of Heart Disease Posted: 11 Nov 2008 10:00 AM CST Sleeping less than seven and a half hours per day may be associated with future risk of heart disease, according to a new article. In addition, a combination of little sleep and overnight elevated blood pressure appears to be associated with an increased risk of the disease.

Strong Education Blunts Effects Of Alzheimer's Disease, Study Suggests Posted: 11 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST A test that reveals brain changes believed to be at the heart of Alzheimer's disease has bolstered the theory that education can delay the onset of the dementia and cognitive decline that are characteristic of the disorder.

New Laser Technique Seals And Heals Wounds Posted: 11 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST Not much has changed in the last 2,000 years when it comes to suturing together cuts and wounds.  Even with microsurgery techniques, infection and permanent scarring remain major concerns. Now a new laser technique has been developed that seals and heals wounds.

Almost Frictionless Gears With Liquid Crystal Lubricants Posted: 11 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST Lubricants in bearings and gear units ensure that not too much energy is lost through friction. Yet it still takes a certain percentage of the energy to compensate for friction losses. Lubricants made of liquid crystals could reduce friction to almost zero.

Daily Rhythms In Blood Vessels May Explain Morning Peak In Heart Attacks Posted: 11 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST Daily rhythms in the activity of cells that line blood vessels may help explain why heart attacks and strokes occur most often in early morning hours, researchers have found.

Revegetation Of Native Flora More Successful If Genetically Diverse Seed Added Posted: 11 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST The answer to successful revegetation of native flora is in sourcing genetically diverse seed not necessarily relying on remnant local native vegetation to provide seed.

In The Absence Of Sexual Prospects, Parasitic Male Worms Go Spermless Posted: 11 Nov 2008 07:00 AM CST When females aren't around, one species of parasitic nematode worm doesn't even bother to make any sperm, reveals a new report.

Bacteria In Mouth Help Make Certain Foods Tasty Posted: 11 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Scientists in Switzerland are reporting that bacteria in the human mouth play a role in creating the distinctive flavors of certain foods. They found that these bacteria actually produce food odors from odorless components of food, allowing people to fully savor fruits and vegetables.

Cancer Drugs May Build And Not Tear Down Blood Vessels Posted: 11 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Scientists have thought that one way to foil a tumor from generating blood vessels to feed its growth -- a process called angiogenesis -- was by creating drugs aimed at stopping a key vessel growth-promoting protein. But now the opposite seems to be true.

Deep Sea Expedition Sets Sail Posted: 11 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Researchers are embarking upon an extreme adventure, plunging deep into the sea to study hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. They'll share the experience with 20,000-plus school children through interactive sessions.

Vitamins E And C Supplements Not Effective For Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease In Men Posted: 11 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Neither vitamin E nor vitamin C supplements reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events in a large, long-term study of male physicians, according to a new study.

Clouds Can Predict Climate Changes Posted: 11 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST The properties of clouds can be a key to predicting coming climate changes. The earth's climate field is regulated by the balance between incoming solar radiation and outbound heat radiation. The aerosol content of the atmosphere, that is, the proportion of particles in the air, functions as a regulator: cooling off by reflecting incoming light, warming up by absorbing the outbound heat radiation. But clouds also impact the climate.

1918 Spanish Flu Records Could Hold The Key To Solving Future Pandemics Posted: 11 Nov 2008 04:00 AM CST Ninety years after Australian scientists began their race to stop the spread of Spanish flu in Australia, University of Melbourne researchers are hoping records from the 1918 epidemic may hold the key to preventing future deadly pandemic outbreaks.

Mars Phoenix Lander Finishes Successful Work On Red Planet Posted: 11 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has ceased communications after operating for more than five months. As anticipated, seasonal decline in sunshine at the robot's arctic landing site is not providing enough sunlight for the solar arrays to collect the power necessary to charge batteries that operate the lander's instruments.

Scientists Map Molecular Regulation Of Fat-cell Genetics Posted: 11 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST A research team has used state-of-the-art genetic technology to map thousands of positions where a molecular "master regulator" of fat-cell biology is nestled in DNA to control genes in these cells.

Chandrayaan-1 Now In Lunar Orbit Posted: 11 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST Chandrayaan-1, the Indian Space Research Organisation's lunar orbiter, was captured into orbit around the Moon on Nov. 8. One day later, the spacecraft performed a maneuver that lowered the closest point of its orbit down to 200 km from the Moon.

Important Steps Towards Development Of Human Vaccine Against Malaria Posted: 11 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST Every day 2000 children die from malaria in Africa alone. The infection is transmitted from human to human by biting mosquitoes and remains one of the world's most devastating diseases. Despite many years of effort a vaccine is still not available but is urgently needed.

Economic Incentives For Analysts Play Role In Determining Street Earnings Posted: 11 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST Researchers have found that analysts' self-interests often influence the value of street earnings, which makes street earnings less useful for predicting future earnings of high-growth stocks.

Eliminating Soda From School Diets Does Not Affect Overall Consumption Posted: 11 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST With childhood obesity increasing, school administrators and public health officials are reducing availability of sugar-sweetened beverages in schools. In a new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, researchers found that reduction or elimination of sugar-sweetened beverages from school menus has little effect on total consumption by adolescents.

Astonishing Life In Ocean's Depths: Major Progress Made Towards Historic Census Of Marine Life Posted: 10 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST In a report on progress toward the first Census of Marine Life, more than 2,000 scientists from 82 nations announce astonishing examples of recent new finds from the world's ocean depths. Among revelations in fourth interim global highlights report are the Antarctic ancestry of many octopus species and the discovery of Behemoth bacteria, colossal sea stars and mammoth mollusks.

Quintet Of Proteins Forms New, Early-warning Blood Test Before Heart Attack Strikes Posted: 10 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Biochemists have identified a mixed bag of five key proteins out of thousands secreted into blood draining from the heart's blood vessels that may together or in certain quantities form the basis of a far more accurate early warning test than currently in use of impending heart attack in people with severely reduced blood flow, or ischemia.

Modeling Ice Cream Production In The Search For Innovation Posted: 10 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST The production of ice cream, a seemingly simple product, brings into play a variety of complex hydrodynamic and thermic processes, with as yet poorly known interactions. To assist industry in making new products, Cemagref scientists have developed a simulator, the size of a yogurt cup, capable of miming the entire production chain.

Impact Of Insulin Pump Under Study Posted: 10 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Using an insulin pump to manage diabetes is more convenient than managing the disease with daily insulin injections. That much, physicians already know. But the pump's impact on the lives of diabetics and their primary caregivers is an important question that hasn't been answered yet, researchers say.

How 'Molecular Machines' Kick Start Gene Activation Revealed Posted: 10 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST How "molecular machines" inside cells swing into action to activate genes at different times in a cell's life is revealed in new research published in Molecular Cell.

Dead Famous: 18th Century Obituaries Sparked Modern Cult Of Celebrity, Research Says Posted: 10 Nov 2008 10:00 PM CST Research by the University of Warwick shows how death gave birth to the modern cult of celebrity as the sudden rise in the popularity of obituaries of unusual people in the 1700s provided people with the 18th Century equivalent of a celebrity magazine.

Can Vitamins And Minerals Prevent Hearing Loss? Posted: 10 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST Researchers and physicians at the University of Michigan Kresge Hearing Research Institute are hoping to reverse a rising trend of noise-induced hearing loss with a cocktail of vitamins and the mineral magnesium that has shown promise as a possible way to prevent hearing loss caused by loud noises.

Bone Marrow Transplant Can Cure Sickle Cell Disease, Children's Hospital Study Suggests Posted: 10 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST A unique approach to bone marrow transplantation has proven to be the only safe and effective cure for sickle cell disease, according to a new study.

Engineered Killer T Cell Recognizes HIV-1's Lethal Molecular Disguises Posted: 10 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST Researchers have engineered T cells able to recognize HIV-1 strains that have evaded the immune system. The findings have important implications for developing new treatments for HIV, especially for patients with chronic infection who fail to respond to antiretroviral regimens.

Seven Years Without A Nose Posted: 10 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST Patients whose nose has been destroyed by a tumor or injury carry a severe psychological and social burden. Esthetic reconstruction ranges among the most challenging tasks in plastic surgery. Researchers have presented the different options for nasal reconstruction surgery.

Untangling DNA Regulation: Biologists Theorize Role For DNA Packaging In Stem Cell Development Posted: 10 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST Biologists have discovered that the organization of DNA's packing material plays a critical role in directing stem cells to become different types of adult cells.

World Needs Climate Emergency Backup Plan, Says Expert Posted: 10 Nov 2008 07:00 PM CST In submitted testimony to the British Parliament, climate scientist said that while steep cuts in carbon emissions are essential to stabilizing global climate, there also needs to be a backup plan. Geoengineering solutions such as injecting dust into the atmosphere are risky, but may become necessary if emissions cuts are insufficient to stave off catastrophic warming. He urged that research into the pros and cons of geoengineering be made a high priority.

Neuroimaging Of Brain Shows Who Spoke To A Person And What Was Said Posted: 10 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST Scientists have developed a method to look into the brain of a person and read out who has spoken to him or her and what was said. With the help of neuroimaging and data mining techniques the researchers mapped the brain activity associated with the recognition of speech sounds and voices. In their Science article "Who" is Saying "What"? Brain-Based Decoding of Human Voice and Speech the four authors demonstrate that speech sounds and voices can be identified by means of a unique 'neural fingerprint' in the listener's brain.

Multiple Sclerosis Research Charges Ahead With New Mouse Model Of Disease Posted: 10 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST A new study highlights the role of a charge-switching enzyme in nervous system deficits characteristic of multiple sclerosis and other related neurological illness. Too much of a charge-switching enzyme causes symptoms of multiple sclerosis and related disorders in mouse models.

Small Water Fleas Help Ecologists Understand Population Dynamics Posted: 10 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST A study of populations of tiny water fleas is helping ecologists to understand population dynamics, which may lead to predictions about the ecological consequences of environmental change.

New Imaging Technology Accurately Identifies A Broad Spectrum Of Liver Disease Posted: 10 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST New imaging technology can identify liver fibrosis with high accuracy and help eliminate the need for liver biopsies. Liver fibrosis is a common condition that can lead to incurable cirrhosis if not treated in time.

Research On Breathing Disorders And Congenital Heart Defects Posted: 10 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST New optical techniques have been developed for visualizing the invisible processes at work in several human diseases.

Age Is Not A Key Factor In Cancer Survival, But Clinical Trials Exclude Older Patients Posted: 10 Nov 2008 04:00 PM CST Age is not an independent factor in cancer survival rates and should not influence decisions about how to treat older patients, according to a new study.

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