ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Mysterious Source Of High-Energy Cosmic Radiation Discovered: Nearby Exotic Object? Posted: 20 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered a previously unidentified nearby source of high-energy cosmic rays. The finding was made with a NASA-funded balloon-borne instrument high over Antarctica.

New Platinum-phosphate Compounds Kill Ovarian Cancer Cells, Other Cancer Cells Posted: 20 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST A new class of compounds called phosphaplatins can effectively kill ovarian, testicular, head and neck cancer cells with potentially less toxicity than conventional drugs, according to a new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Physicist Make Droplets Dance Above A Surface Posted: 20 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST Physicists can now make droplets dance, float and bounce above a surface, keeping small amounts of fluid free of contamination and ripe for testing.

Genome-wide Association Scan For Genetic Determinants Of Warfarin Dose Posted: 20 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST A growing number of geneticists are using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to systematically search for and identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are single base changes in the human DNA sequence that can cause differences in genetic characteristics. GWAS may also detect genes that are associated with a particular health condition, or with variation in patient response to prescribed drugs.

New Gene-silencing Pathway Found In Plants Posted: 20 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST Biologists have made major headway in explaining a mechanism by which plant cells silence potentially harmful genes. New research in Cell explains how RNA polymerases work together to use the non-coding region of DNA to prevent destructive, virus-derived genes from being activated. This research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that "junk DNA" is in fact a functional part of the genome, since transcription of the intergenic regions is necessary to keep potentially harmful genes turned off.

Drug-related Preference In Cocaine Addiction Extends To Images Posted: 20 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST When given a choice between viewing pictures of cocaine and a variety of other images, cocaine addicted individuals, as compared to healthy, non-addicted research subjects, show a clear preference for the drug-related images.

Woolly-mammoth Genome Sequenced Posted: 20 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Scientists have completed the genome-wide sequence of an extinct animal. The scientists sequenced the genome of the woolly mammoth, an extinct species of elephant that was adapted to living in the cold environment of the northern hemisphere. They sequenced four billion DNA bases using next-generation DNA-sequencing instruments and a novel approach that reads ancient DNA highly efficiently.

Enzyme Discovery May Lead To Better Heart And Stroke Treatments Posted: 20 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST A new study sheds new light on the way one of our cell enzymes, implicated in causing tissue damage after heart attacks and strokes, is normally kept under control.

Turtles Alter Nesting Dates Due To Temperature Change Posted: 20 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Researchers say turtles nesting along the Mississippi River and other areas are altering their nesting dates in response to rising temperatures.

Exercise Is Safe, Improves Outcomes For Patients With Heart Failure, Study Suggests Posted: 20 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Working out on a stationary bicycle or walking on a treadmill just 25 to 30 minutes most days of the week is enough to modestly lower risk of hospitalization or death for patients with heart failure, say researchers.

Most Efficient Silicon-based OLED Microdisplay In The World Posted: 20 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Offering better comfort to users of point-and-shoot digital cameras, and new designs for video glasses with the highest resolution ever, Microoled and the CEA-Leti have targeted these and many other potential applications with the announcement of the most efficient silicon-based OLED microdisplay in the world.

Psychological Interventions Associated With Breast Cancer Survival Posted: 20 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST A new study finds that breast cancer patients who participate in intervention sessions focusing on improving mood, coping effectively and altering health behaviors live longer than patients who do not receive such psychological support.

Plastic Additives Leach Into Medical Experiments, Research Shows Posted: 20 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Researchers have shown that using plastic lab equipment can skew or ruin the results of medical experiments. The researchers identified two classes of chemical compounds in commonly-used plastic lab ware that could leach into solutions. They further demonstrated that the compounds interacted biologically with, and changed the behavior of, human enzymes and brain receptors in different experiments.

New Theory Of Visual Computation Reveals How Brain Makes Sense Of Natural Scenes Posted: 20 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Computational neuroscientists have developed a computational model that provides insight into the function of the brain's visual cortex and the information processing that enables people to perceive contours and surfaces, and understand what they see in the world around them.

Trouble In The Pipeline For Grey Whales Posted: 20 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST The fate of the world's few remaining western grey whales now rests on the outcome of appeals to Russian authorities and courts following the refusal of an oil consortium to consider alternatives to a proposal to lay an oil pipeline through a shallow lagoon crucial to the whales' food supplies.

Rural Women Are At Higher Risk Of Blood Pressure Disorders During Pregnancy Posted: 20 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Several factors, such as older age and high weight gain, are known risk factors for pre-eclampsia and other pregnancy-related blood pressure disorders. Now a new report suggests that social factors -- including living in a rural county -- may also increase the risk of pre-eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension, according to new research.

Sonography In Space Posted: 20 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Astronauts on extended space missions can get injured or develop diseases, necessitating immediate diagnosis and treatment. Research conducted on the International Space Station ensuring that astronauts could accurately perform remotely-guided sonograms was published in the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Media Violence Cited As 'Critical Risk Factor' For Aggression Posted: 20 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST You are what you watch, when it comes to violence in the media and its influence on violent behavior in young people, and an article provides new evidence that violent media does indeed impact adolescent behavior.

How Do Bacteria Swim? Physicists Explain Posted: 20 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST Physicists have completed the most detailed study of the swimming patterns of a microbe, showing for the first time how its movement is affected by drag and a phenomenon called Brownian motion.

ADHD Medications Do Not Cause Genetic Damage In Children, Study Shows Posted: 20 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST In contrast to recent findings, two of the most common medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder do not appear to cause genetic damage in children who take them as prescribed, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and Duke University Medical Center.

Gene That Regulates Mold's Resistance To Drugs Identified Posted: 20 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST Researchers have found a gene that regulates mold's resistance to anti-mold drugs.

General Anesthesia For Hernia Surgery In Children And Risk Of Later Developmental Problems Posted: 20 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST Children under the age of three who had hernia surgery showed almost twice the risk of behavioral or developmental problems later compared to children who had not undergone the surgery.

Second Life: 'Second China' Offers Foreign Service Workers First Impression Posted: 20 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST Diplomats or military envoys making their first trip to China may soon have a chance to visit a Chinese office building, stop in at a traditional teahouse or hop a cab -- all before they board a plane.

Extensive Use Of Illicit Alcohol Found Posted: 20 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST The consumption of illicit or noncommercial alcohol is widespread in many countries worldwide and contributes significantly to the global burden of disease, according to a new report.

New Bacteria Discovered In Raw Milk Posted: 19 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST Raw milk is illegal in many countries as it can be contaminated with potentially harmful microbes. Contamination can also spoil the milk, making it taste bitter and turn thick and sticky. Now scientists have discovered new species of bacteria that can grow at low temperatures, spoiling raw milk even when it is refrigerated. It seems the microbial population of raw milk is much more complex than previously thought.

Rhesus Factor Controls Renal Function And Male Fertility Posted: 19 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST The "Rhesus" blood group is well-known from the public for its importance in the field of transfusion medicine. New observations have implications in human medicine. They suggest that in man, mutations affecting the RHCG gene could cause some forms of renal pathologies and/or a loss of male fertility.

Consumers Influence Christmas Tree Styles Posted: 19 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST The Fraser fir is gaining popularity among American consumers looking for beautiful, long-lasting Christmas trees. Consumers favor Fraser fir for its conical shape, dark green foliage, pleasant aroma and excellent needle retention.

Jumonjd3: A Key For Unlocking Neuronal Stem Cell Fate Posted: 19 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST A novel role for the protein, Jumonjd3, as an epigenetic modulator in the neuronal differentiation of embryonic stem cells, has recently been uncovered -- a step forward in the understanding of cellular reprogramming and in the development of innovative cancer therapies.

Hops Extract May Reduce Clostridium In Chickens Posted: 19 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST Hops contain substances that control pathogenic bacteria in the intestines of chickens, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators have reported.

African-Americans With Depression And Heart Attack Have Greater Risk Of Death Posted: 19 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST African-American patients with acute myocardial infarction and previously treated depression that persists at their MI hospitalization have an increased risk of post-MI death, according to new research.

'New' Penguin Species In New Zealand Found Using Ancient DNA From Fossils Posted: 19 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Australian and New Zealand researchers have used ancient DNA from penguin fossils to make a startling discovery that may change the way we view species extinctions.

Gut Check Reveals Vast Multicultural Community Of Bugs In Bowels Posted: 19 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Mention the phrase "diverse ecosystem," and it conjures images of tropical rainforests and endangered coral reefs. It also describes the human colon. A new study reveals in greater detail than ever before the full extent of the bacterial community inhabiting the human bowel -- 10 times more diverse than previous research had suggested.

Over-stressing Already Taxed Cancer Cells May Kill Them Posted: 19 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Cancer cells are already stressed by the fast pace they require to grow and spread and scientists believe a little more stress just may kill them.

Genetics For Personalized Coronary Heart Disease Treatment Posted: 19 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Identifying a single, common variation in a person's genetic information improves prediction of his or her risk of a heart attack or other heart disease events and thus, choice of the best treatment accordingly, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine.

Quicker, Easier Way To Make Coal Cleaner Posted: 19 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Construction of new coal-fired power plants in the United States is in danger of coming to a standstill, partly due to the high cost of the requirement -- whether existing or anticipated -- to capture all emissions of carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas. But an MIT analysis suggests an intermediate step that could get construction moving again, allowing the nation to fend off growing electricity shortages using our most-abundant, least-expensive fuel while reducing emissions.

Improving Long-term Learning Through Spacing Of Lessons Posted: 19 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Combine the aphorisms that "practice makes perfect" and "timing is everything" into one and you might get something resembling findings published in this month's issue of Psychological Science. Proper spacing of lessons, the researchers report, can dramatically enhance learning. And larger gaps between study sessions result in better recall of facts. Conversely: Cramming is ineffective in the long haul.

Floppy-footed Gibbons Help Us Understand How Early Humans May Have Walked Posted: 19 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Early humans roamed the plains long before we evolved our modern inflexible feet. So how did they walk on floppy feet? New research shows how a close relative, the gibbon, manages perfectly well despite their 'floppy' feet. They even use the same energy saving mechanisms when pushing off, despite the foot's different architecture.

Gene Associated With Epilepsy Discovered Posted: 19 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Scientists have found a new gene associated with the brain disorder epilepsy. While the PRICKLE1 gene mutation was specific to a rare form of epilepsy, the study results could help lead to new ideas for overall epilepsy treatment.

Speeding Antarctic Glacier: Scientists Discover Another Reason For Glacial Acceleration Posted: 19 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST New satellite data have helped scientists crack the case of a speeding Antarctic glacier -- a finding that promises to help improve sea level forecasts.

Cellular Safety Shelters Allow TB Agent To Survive In Infected Individuals Posted: 19 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST "Foamy" macrophage formation may be the key to persistence of infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, explains a new study in PLoS Pathogens. These immunity-related cells are shown to be a safety reservoir where the bacterium can hide for years in infected individuals, before inducing an active disease.

Hybrid Cars Too Quiet For Pedestrian Safety? Add Engine Noise, Say Researchers Posted: 19 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Hybrid and electric vehicles do not emit the sounds pedestrians and bicyclists are accustomed to hearing as a vehicle approaches them. Human factors/ergonomics researchers examined participants' preferences for sounds that could be added to quiet vehicles to make them easier to detect.

Men With Facial Scars Are More Attractive To Women Seeking Short-term Relationships Posted: 19 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Men with facial scars are more attractive to women seeking short-term relationships, scientists at the University of Liverpool have found.

Garlic Chemical Tablet Treats Diabetes I And II, Study Suggests Posted: 19 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST A drug based on a chemical found in garlic can treat diabetes types I and II when taken as a tablet, a new study shows.

First Detailed 3-D Glimpse Of Bacterial Cell-wall Architecture Posted: 19 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST The bacterial cell wall that is the target of potent antibiotics such as penicillin is actually made up of a thin single layer of carbohydrate chains, linked together by peptides, which wrap around the bacterium like a belt around a person, according to scientists at the California Institute of Technology. This first-ever glimpse of the cell-wall structure in three dimensions was made possible by new high-tech microscopy techniques.

Individuals With HIV Have Higher Risk Of Non-AIDS Cancers Posted: 19 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST The risk of non-AIDS cancer is higher for individuals infected with HIV than for the general population, according to a meta-analysis presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.

How Household Bleach Kills Bacteria Posted: 19 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST Developed more than 200 years ago and found in households around the world, chlorine bleach is among the most widely used disinfectants, yet scientists never have understood exactly how the familiar product kills bacteria.

Kids From Juvenile Justice System 7 Times More Likely To Commit Criminal Acts, Study Finds Posted: 19 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST A new study shows that juvenile delinquents sentenced to either a juvenile retreat, probation or unsupervised community service were seven times more likely to commit criminal acts as adults than youngsters from the control group who managed to avoid the juvenile justice system.

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