ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Potentially Universal Mechanism Of Aging Identified Posted: 27 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST Researchers have uncovered what may be a universal cause of aging, one that applies to both single cell organisms such as yeast and multicellular organisms, including mammals. This is the first time that such an evolutionarily conserved aging mechanism has been identified between such diverse organisms. The mechanism probably dates back more than one billion years. The study shows how DNA damage eventually leads to a breakdown in the cell's ability to properly regulate which genes are switched on and off in particular settings.

Stopping Germs From Ganging Up On Humans Posted: 27 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST Evolutionary theory points to a new approach to combat drug resistance in disease-causing organisms and in cancer, according to new research. Keeping germs from cooperating can delay the evolution of drug resistance more effectively than killing germs one by one with traditional drugs such as antibiotics.

New Filtering Technology Has Environmental, Industrial Applications Posted: 27 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST Materials engineers have created a new type of membrane that separates oil from water and, if perfected, might be used for environmental cleanup, water purification and industrial applications.

Simple New Method Detects Contaminants In Life-saving Drug Posted: 27 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST The blood-thinning drug heparin is highly effective when used to prevent and treat blood clots in veins, arteries and lungs, but earlier this year its reputation as a lifesaver was sullied when contaminated heparin products caused serious allergic reactions that led to a large number of deaths.

Precise Measurement Of Phenomenon Advances Solar Cell Understanding Posted: 27 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST Researchers have shed light on a basic process that could improve future solar cells. They have now directly measured the rate of hole transfer between identical porphyrin compounds in their ground states. These results are key to understanding the fundamental processes underlying charge separation and have applications for improving the efficiency of solar cells.

Two From One: Evolution Of Genders From Hermaphroditic Ancestors Mapped Out Posted: 27 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST Research could finally provide evidence of the first stages of the evolution of separate sexes, a theory that holds that males and females developed from hermaphroditic ancestors. These early stages are not completely understood because the majority of animal species developed into the arguably less titillating separate-sex state too long ago for scientists to observe the transition.

How Did Turtles Get Their Shells? Oldest Known Turtle Fossil, 220 Million Years Old, Give Clues Posted: 27 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Since the age of dinosaurs, turtles have looked pretty much as they do now with their shells intact, and scientists lacked conclusive evidence to support competing evolutionary theories. Now with the discovery in China of the oldest known turtle fossil, estimated at 220 million years old, scientists have a clearer picture of how the turtle got its shell.

Marijuana-inspired Painkiller? New Chemical Pathway Discovered Posted: 27 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Marijuana can be an effective painkiller, but social issues and unhealthy smoke inhalation complicate its use. As a result, researchers have focused great attention on understanding the biochemical system involved so they might manipulate it by other means. Toward that end, scientists have definitively identified a chemical pathway that, in mice, imitates marijuana's painkilling effect. The work could enable the development of new pain treatments.

A Good Ear: Rats Identify Specific Sounds In Noisy Environments Posted: 27 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Alex Martin placed rats in a partially echo-free, sound-proof chamber and simultaneously played two types of sounds: Gaussian sound (containing all frequencies) of 25 decibels and a pure sound (made up of one frequency). He found that auditory neurons respond to a pure sound even if there is background noise.

Cause And Possible Treatment Of Motor Neurone Disease Illuminated Posted: 27 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Researchers have identified a molecule that could be the key to understanding the cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as motor neurone disease. This insight opens up the possibilities for developing new treatments to treat these devastating progressive conditions.

Biomedical Research Profits From Exploration Of Deep Sea Posted: 27 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Exploration of the ocean depths can benefit humankind. This is the story of a voyage of discovery, starting with marine animals that glow, the identification of the molecules responsible and their application as marker in living cells.

200-year-old Scientific Debate Involving Visual Illusions Solved Posted: 27 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Neuroscientists have discovered a direct link between eye motions and the perception of illusory motion that solves a 200-year-old debate.

Baffling Chronic Pain Linked To Weird Rewiring Of Brain Posted: 27 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Scientists peered at the brains of people with a baffling chronic pain condition and discovered something surprising. Their brains looked like an inept cable guy had changed the hookups, rewiring the areas related to emotion, pain perception and the temperature of their skin. The new finding begins to explain a mysterious condition that the medical community had doubted was real.

SARS Virus Recreated: Opens Door For Potential Defenses Against Future Strains Posted: 27 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Researchers have synthetically reconstructed the bat variant of the SARS coronavirus that caused the SARS epidemic of 2003.

26 Percent Of Sleepless Children Become Overweight Posted: 27 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST One quarter of children who sleep fewer than 10 hours a night become overweight by age 6, according to new research. The research team analyzed a sample of 1,138 children and found: 26 percent of kids who didn't sleep enough were overweight, 18.5 percent carried extra weight or a body mass index of 25 to 30, while 7.4 percent were obese with a body mass index greater than 30.

Breaking BubR1 Mimics Genetic Shuffle Seen In Cancer Cells Posted: 27 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST A study of how BubR1 helps make sure chromosomes are equally distributed during mitosis might explain how the process of cell division goes so awry in cancer, according to researchers. Mutations in BubR1 lead to a genetic rearrangement similar to a process that allows cancer cells to evade destruction by medical treatment. Inhibiting BubR1 could be a strategy that enhances the killing power of current therapeutics.

Indigo Ointment May Help Treat Patients With Psoriasis Posted: 27 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST An ointment made from indigo naturalis, a dark blue plant-based powder used in traditional Chinese medicine, appears effective in treating plaque-type psoriasis, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Dermatology.

Prejudice Affects Perception Of Ethnic Minority Faces Posted: 27 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Prejudice can be a powerful influence, biasing the way we think about and act towards ethnic minorities. Now, a new study revels that the way people view ethnic minority faces is related to their level of prejudice. It turns out that the visualized faces based on the choices of prejudiced people were characterized by another group as being more criminal-looking.

Plate Tectonics Started Over 4 Billion Years Ago, Geochemists Report Posted: 27 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST A new picture of the early Earth is emerging, including the surprising finding that plate tectonics on Earth may have started more than four billion years ago -- much earlier than scientists had previously believed.

Nitric Oxide Can Alter Brain Function Posted: 27 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST Nitric oxide can change the computational ability of the brain. This finding has implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and our understanding of brain function more generally.

Clouds And Climate Change: CERES Flight Model Moves Toward Launch Posted: 27 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST NASA's Langley Research Center's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments have been observing clouds and the radiation budget for nearly a decade now. Key questions remain about how a warming climate will affect clouds, which play an important role in what scientists call the planet's "radiation budget."

Behavior, Lifestyle Factors Influence Cancer Risk Among The Elderly Posted: 27 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST Behavioral risk factors have a significant effect on cancer risk in the US elderly population, according to new research. Understanding these factors may allow clinicians to make specific recommendations for their elderly patients in order to reduce their risks of future cancers.

Increased Irrigation In Wetland Linked To Reduction Of Tenebrionid Beetles Posted: 27 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST Hydrological changes over the past 24 years in the Mar Menor, including increased irrigation, are altering habitats and biological communities of the wetland area. Researchers have studied tenebrionid beetles and how their numbers have declined as a result of increased ground moisture and salinity.

Electronic Health Records May Lower Malpractice Settlements Posted: 27 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST Use of electronic health records may help reduce paid malpractice settlements for physicians, according to a new study. The study showed a trend toward lower paid malpractice claims for physicians who are active users of electronic health records technology.

Source Of Geysers On Saturn's Moon Enceladus May Be Underground Water Posted: 26 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST Saturn's moon may have underground water which is spewing plumes of water vapor into space through geysers. Scientists found that the source of plumes on Enceladus may be vents on the moon that channel water vapor from a warm, probably liquid source to the surface at supersonic speeds.

Exercise Increases Brain Growth Factor And Receptors, Prevents Stem Cell Drop In Middle Age Posted: 26 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST A new study confirms that exercise can reverse the age-related decline in the production of neural stem cells in the hippocampus of the mouse brain, and suggests that this happens because exercise restores a brain chemical which promotes the production and maturation of new stem cells.

Dawn Spacecraft Glides Into New Year Posted: 26 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST NASA's Dawn spacecraft shut down its ion propulsion system this week as scheduled. The spacecraft is now gliding toward a Mars flyby in February of next year.

New European Guidelines On Heart Attack Management Put Emphasis On Speed Of Action Posted: 26 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST New European guidelines on the management of heart attack emphasize speed of action and the importance of "reperfusion" therapy to restore blood flow to the heart and improve survival rates. "A well-functioning regional system of care... and fast transport to the most appropriate facility is key to the success of the treatment," state the guidelines, which have been developed by a Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology.

New Molecular Insight Into Vertebrate Brain Development Posted: 26 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST Scientists reveal a role for the Hippo signaling pathway in the regulation of vertebrate neural development, identifying new factors and potential therapeutic targets that may be involved in congenital brain size disorders and neurological tumor formation.

Researcher Sheds New Light On Witch-hunting And Epidemics Of Fear Posted: 26 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST Research by the Russian semiologist Yuri M. Lotman analyzes how epidemics of fear work, through the study of witch-hunting processes which claimed thousands of victims among Catholics and Protestants.

Hubble Captures Outstanding View Of Mammoth Stars Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST The Hubble telescope has captured a spectacular image of a pair of colossal stars, WR 25 and Tr16-244, located within the open cluster Trumpler 16. This cluster is embedded within the Carina Nebula, an immense cauldron of gas and dust that lies approximately 7500 light-years from Earth.

Sperm Size Isn't Everything Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Contrary to common scientific belief, the length of a sperm's tail does not always determine how fast it can swim. Research has shown that in the counterintuitive microscopic world in which sperm operate, streamlining and longer tails don't always provide a speed advantage.

Light Pollution Offers New Global Measure Of Coral Reef Health Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Scientists unveil the first global index correlating night light with threats to coral reefs. The Lights Proximity Index offers a new tool for conservation and for studying the direct and indirect effects of light pollution.

New Layer Of Regulation In Cell Division Cycle Discovered: Could Help Cancer Research Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Scientists have discovered an important new layer of regulation in the cell division cycle, which could lead to a greater understanding of the way cancer begins.

Collapse Of Helium’s Chemical Nobility Predicted By Polish Chemist Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST 140 years since its discovery, and despite the best endeavors of many scientists, helium, the lightest of the 'noble' gases, still stubbornly refuses to enter into any chemical alliance. Now a new glimmer of hope has emerged from Poland as a chemist there has calculated that two new compounds containing a helium-oxygen bond could be formed.

Publication Bias Found Among Trials Submitted To FDA: New Study Posted: 26 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST A quarter of drug trials submitted in support of new drug applications to the US Food and Drug Administration remain unpublished five years after the fact, says new research.

Synthetic Sea Worm Glue May Mend Shattered Knee, Face Bones Posted: 26 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Sandcastle worms live in intertidal surf, building sturdy tube-shaped homes from bits of sand and shell and their own natural glue. Bioengineers have made a synthetic version of this seaworthy superglue, and hope it will be used within several years to repair shattered bones in knees, other joints and the face.

Pain Is In The Eye Of The Beholder Posted: 26 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST By manipulating the appearance of a chronically achy hand, researchers have found they could increase or decrease the pain and swelling in patients moving their symptomatic limbs. The findings reveal a profound top-down effect of body image on body tissues, according to the researchers.

Scientists Shed Light On Evolution Of Gene Regulation Posted: 26 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Scientists have shed light on some of the processes that regulate genes and on the evolution of the DNA regions that regulate genes. The team focused on regulatory regions that, when bound to a certain protein, are thought to turn on genes that play an important role in the development of red blood cells. The research results could help in the development of drugs to treat sickle-cell anemia and other blood disorders.

High Blood Pressure In The Doctor's Office May Not Predict Heart Risks Posted: 26 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Continuously measuring blood pressure may help predict heart disease and related deaths among individuals with treatment-resistant hypertension, while blood pressure readings taken in a medical office do not appear to predict future heart risks, according to a report in Nov. 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

New Light Shed On Catalyzed Reactions Posted: 26 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Scientists searching for a better way to clean up the stubborn pollutant TCE have found a new way to watch the molecules break apart as individual chemical bonds are formed and broken. Researcher Michael Wong says, "We can watch how molecules transform into other molecules step-by-step. There's no other method that lets you 'see' these catalyzed reactions in water while the reaction is happening."

Mothers' Mental Games Increase Depressive Symptoms In Daughters, Study Finds Posted: 26 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST A new study in the journal Family Relations examined the effects of a mother's psychological control on the risk for depression of African-American adolescents. Researchers found that girls whose mothers played mental games with them like making them feel guilty or withdrawing expressions of love reported much higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of personal agency.

Record Set Simulating Seismic Wave Propagation Across The Earth Posted: 26 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST Scientists have successfully completed record-setting, petascale-level simulations of the earth's inner structure, paving the way for seismologists to model seismic wave propagations at frequencies of just over one second -- the same frequencies that occur in nature.

Tiny Protein Provokes Healthy Bonding Between Cells Posted: 26 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST In human relationships, a certain "spark" often governs whether we prefer one person to another. Critical first impressions can occur within seconds. Researchers have found that cell-to-cell "friendships" operate in much the same way and that dysfunctional bonding is linked to the spread of cancer.

When Good Maples Go Red: Why Leaves Change Color In The Fall Posted: 26 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST On a hushed autumn morning, when leaves have ripened to the fall, who hasn't stood under a flaming maple and wondered why it goes red?

Gasping Helps Cardiac Arrest Victims Survive, New Research Shows Posted: 26 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST People who witness an individual collapse suddenly and unexpectedly should perform uninterrupted chest compressions even if the patient gasps or breathes in a funny way, a new study shows. Researchers hope their findings lead to greater willingness of untrained bystanders to jump in and perform continuous chest compressions.

Misfolded Proteins Accelerate Yeast Evolution Posted: 26 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST In yeast, a protein-misfolding mechanism can reveal hidden genetic variations and thus generate new phenotypes that may increase cell survival. Researchers now have demonstrated that when yeast cells are stressed, this mechanism is triggered much more often. This heightened ability to adapt to changing environments may be maintained in yeast as a way to accelerate evolutionary changes.

Archeology Of Homelessness Posted: 26 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST No matter what you see in the movies, archaeology isn't really about finding ancient temples or golden idols. It's about the day-to-day "stuff" -- the material culture—of people's lives. It doesn't even have to be ancient, as a study of homeless peoples' stuff in Indianapolis is showing. Instead of being an exotic field, archaeology may even help the homeless to live better lives.

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