ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Biggest Breach Of Earth's Solar Storm Shield Discovered Posted: 17 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Earth's magnetic field, which shields our planet from particles streaming outward from the Sun, often develops two holes that allow the largest leaks, according to researchers sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation.

New Way Men Can Transmit HIV To Women Posted: 17 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered a critical new way a man can transmit the HIV virus to a woman. Scientists had long believed that the normal lining of the female vaginal tract was an effective barrier to invasion of the HIV virus during sexual intercourse. But new research has shown for the first time that the HIV virus does indeed penetrate a woman's normal, healthy genital tissue to a depth were it can gain access to its immune cell targets.

Engineers Developing Energy-harvesting Radios Posted: 17 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Engineers are helping a semiconductor manufacturer implement its idea of an energy-harvesting radio. It could transmit important data -- like stress measurements on a bridge, for instance -- without needing a change of batteries, ever.

Protein That Contributes To Cancer Spread Discovered Posted: 17 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Researchers have identified a protein likely responsible for causing breast cancer to spread. Metastatic cancer occurs when cancer cells from the original tumor travel to distant sites via the blood system.

Starting High School One Hour Later May Reduce Teen Traffic Accidents Posted: 17 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST With a one-hour delay of school start times, teens increased their average nightly hours of sleep and decreased their "catch-up sleep" on the weekends, and they were involved in fewer auto accidents.

Persistent Imminent Orgasms In Women Are Associated With Restless Legs Posted: 17 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Persistent imminent orgasms in women are associated with restless legs and overactive bladder. Scientists studied 18 Dutch women with Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome. Women affected by this rare and mysterious syndrome experience persistent genital sensations as if they are continuously on the verge of an orgasm. According to one of the researchers PSAS is a genital form of restless legs.

Dark Energy Found Stifling Growth In Universe Posted: 17 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST For the first time, astronomers have clearly seen the effects of 'dark energy' on the most massive collapsed objects in the Universe. By tracking how dark energy has stifled the growth of galaxy clusters and combining this with previous studies, scientists have obtained the best clues ever about what dark energy is and what the destiny of the universe could be.

Low Dose Of Caffeine When Pregnant May Damage Heart Of Offspring For A Lifetime Posted: 17 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST The equivalent of one dose of caffeine (just two cups of coffee) ingested during pregnancy may be enough to affect fetal heart development and then reduce heart function over the entire lifespan of the child. The study was in mice, but the biological cause and effect described in the research paper is plausible in humans.

'Follow The Elements' To Understand Evolution In Ancient Oceans Posted: 17 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST In the search for life beyond Earth, scientists "follow the water" to find places that might be hospitable. However, every home gardener knows that plants need more than water, or even sunshine. They also need fertilizer: a mixture of chemical elements that are the building blocks of the molecules of life. Scientists are now studying how the distribution of these elements on Earth -- or beyond -- shapes the distribution of life, the state of the environment and the course of evolution.

Advance Toward Early Diagnosis Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Posted: 17 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST Researchers in Finland are reporting identification of the first potential "biomarker" that could be used in development of a sputum test for early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). That condition, which causes severe difficulty in breathing — most often in cigarette smokers — affects 12 million people in the United States.

New 'Molecular Memory' Only 10 Atoms Thick: Massive Storage Possible Posted: 17 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST Researchers have determined that a strip of graphite only 10 atoms thick can serve as the basic element in a new type of memory, making massive amounts of storage available for computers, handheld media players, cell phones and cameras.

Ancestral History Explains Roots Of Income Inequality Posted: 17 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST Two economists have created a new data set that enables them to explain differences in countries' incomes based on their people's ancestral histories. They find that where the ancestors of a country's present population lived some 500 years ago is a significant predictor of economic outcomes today.

New Species Of Prehistoric Giants Discovered In The Sahara Posted: 17 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Dinosaur hunters on a month-long expedition to the Sahara desert have returned home in time for Christmas with more than they ever dreamed of finding.

Synthetic Molecules Prevent HIV Virus From Reproducing Within The Body, Study Suggests Posted: 17 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Researchers have identified broad-spectrum aptamers. Aptamers are synthetic molecules that prevent the HIV virus from reproducing. In lab tests, aptamers known as RT5, RT6, RT47 and some variants of those were recently identified to be broad-spectrum, which would allow them to treat many subtypes of HIV-1. Now, researchers are gaining a better understanding of the biochemical characteristics that make aptamers broad-spectrum.

Mistaken Identity Leads Researchers To Two New Extinct Species Of Coral Posted: 17 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Scientists have made an unexpected discovery that links corals of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. A new species of fossil coral -- some 6 million years old -- has been found on the Island of Curaçao. The new species, originally thought to be an elkhorn coral was recently positively identified as a Pacific coral species.

Targeting By Degradation: A New Way Forward For Treating Leukemias? Posted: 17 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Used with success for treating acute promyelocytic leukemias, retinoic acid and arsenic oxide induce the differentiation of malignant cells. Is this differentiation responsible for the eradication of the disease? Researchers have managed to prove that this is not the case: the remissions are above all linked to the disappearance of the malignant stem cells responsible for the leukemia.

Climate Change: A Dark Future For Migratory Fish Posted: 17 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST In Europe, most migratory fish species completing their cycle between the sea and the river are currently in danger. Although restoration programs have been set up, the future distribution of these species may be modified because of climate change.

When It's More Than The 'Terrible Twos' Posted: 17 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Could those toddler tantrums be a sign of a more serious developmental problem? A researcher explains more about regressive autistic spectrum disorder, which describes children who have been diagnosed with autism who demonstrate a history of a losing language and social skills they once had.

Ancient Magma 'Superpiles' May Have Shaped The Continents Posted: 17 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST Two giant plumes of hot rock deep within the earth are linked to the plate motions that shape the continents, researchers have found. The two superplumes, one beneath Hawaii and the other beneath Africa, have likely existed for at least 200 million years, explained a professor of earth sciences.

Vitamin B1 Could Reverse Early-stage Kidney Disease In Diabetes Patients Posted: 17 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST High doses of thiamine -- vitamin B1 -- can reverse the onset of early diabetic kidney disease, according to new research.

Why A Virus With Unusual Properties Injects Unusual Substance Into E. Coli Bacteria Posted: 17 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST A team of researchers has uncovered clues that may explain how and why a particular virus, called N4, injects an unusual substance -- an RNA polymerase protein -- into an E. coli bacterial cell. The results contribute to improved understanding of the infection strategies used by viruses that attack bacterial cells and they also may help researchers to devise new ways to kill E. coli bacteria, which can be dangerous to humans.

Prostate Cancer Drug Reduces Testosterone Levels In As Little As Three Days Without Initial Hormone Surge Posted: 17 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST More than 95 per cent of men who took degarelix for prostate cancer saw their testosterone levels fall dramatically as early as three days after they started treatment, according to a new article.

New Movement Models Tested In Panama Posted: 17 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST New, movement models for organisms as diverse as gut bacteria, ants, marine larvae and cheetahs include tree seed dispersal model and animal tracking systems tested in Panama.

Electronic Prescribing System May Encourage Physicians To Choose Lower-cost Drugs Posted: 17 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST Clinicians using an electronic prescribing system appear more likely to prescribe lower-cost medications, reducing drug spending, according to a new report.

United States Death Map Revealed Posted: 16 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST A map of natural hazard mortality in the United States has been produced. The map gives a county-level representation of the likelihood of dying as the result of natural events such as floods, earthquakes or extreme weather.

Unintentional Overdose Deaths Associated With Nonmedical Use Of Prescription Pain Relievers Posted: 16 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST An examination of unintentional overdose deaths in West Virginia, a state that has experienced one of the highest increases in the rate of drug overdose deaths, finds that the majority of these were associated with the nonmedical use and diversion of pharmaceuticals, primarily pain relievers, according to a new study.

Loggerhead Turtle Territories Defined By Salinity of Sea Water In Western Mediterranean Posted: 16 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Researchers have shown that the salinity of sea water could act as a "barrier", preventing the turtles from moving between the areas of the Western Mediterranean. This is why loggerhead turtles from the south and north of the Western Mediterranean do not mix as juveniles. This finding could help in the development of measures to protect this migratory species.

Some Blood-system Stem Cells Reproduce More Slowly Than Expected Posted: 16 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital have found a subpopulation of hematopoietic stem cells, the source of all blood and immune system cells, that reproduce much more slowly than previously anticipated. Use of these cells may improve the outcome of stem cell transplants -- also called bone marrow transplants -- for the treatment of leukemia and other marrow-based diseases.

Biofuel Plantations On Tropical Forestlands Are Bad For The Climate And Biodiversity, Study Finds Posted: 16 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Keeping tropical rain forests intact is a better way to combat climate change than replacing them with biofuel plantations, a study in the journal Conservation Biology finds.

Siblings Of Mentally Disabled Face Own Lifelong Challenges, According To Researchers Posted: 16 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST People who have a sibling with a mental illness are more likely to suffer episodes of depression at some point in their lives, say researchers who analyzed four decades of data.

Ocean-bearing Planets: Looking For Extraterrestrial Life In All The Right Places Posted: 16 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST Scientists are expanding the search for extraterrestrial life -- and they've set their sights on some very unearthly planets. Cold 'super-Earths' -- giant, "snowball" planets that astronomers have spied on the outskirts of faraway solar systems -- could potentially support some kind of life, they have found. Such planets are plentiful; experts estimate that one-third of all solar systems contain super-Earths.

Virus Discovery Could Lead To Vaccine For West Nile Virus And Dengue Fever Posted: 16 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST New research could contribute to the development of a vaccine and cure for West Nile virus and Dengue fever.

Hawaii's Bird Family Tree Rearranged Posted: 16 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST A group of five endemic Hawaiian songbird species were historically classified as "honeyeaters" due to striking similarities to birds of the same name in Australasia. Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution, however, have discovered that the Hawaiian birds share no close relationship with the other honeyeaters and in fact represent a new family of birds -- unfortunately, all members of the new family are extinct, with the last species of the group disappearing about 20 years ago.

Medication Used To Reduce Nausea Following Tonsillectomies Linked With Increased Risk Of Bleeding Posted: 16 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST Use of the steroid medication dexamethasone is effective in reducing nausea and vomiting after tonsillectomies for children, but also is associated with an increased risk of postoperative bleeding, according to a new study.

Method Sorts Out Double-walled Carbon Nanotube Problem Posted: 16 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST It's hard to study something with any rigor if the subject can't be produced uniformly and efficiently. Researchers who study double-walled carbon nanotubes find themselves in just this predicament. The problem is that current techniques for synthesizing double-walled carbon nanotubes also produce unwanted single- and multi-walled nanotubes. Researchers now offer a clever solution: They used a technique called density gradient ultracentrifugation to cleanly and easily separate the double-walled nanotubes from the undesirables.

Filling In The Gaps: Personality Types Lead People To Choose Certain Brands Posted: 16 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST Why do Gap brand jeans appeal to people who seek intimacy in relationships? It may be a result of their upbringing. According to a new study, people's relationship styles can affect their brand choices.

Tiny Ecosystem May Shed Light On Climate Change Posted: 16 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Rsearchers have created a microbial ecosystem smaller than a stick of gum that sheds new light on the plankton-eat-plankton world at the bottom of the aquatic food chain. The work may lead to better predictions of marine microbes' global-scale influence on climate.

Light Shines For Potential Early Cancer Diagnosis Technique Posted: 16 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Scientists have developed a new optical technique that holds promise for minimally invasive screening methods for the early diagnosis of cancer. The researchers have shown for the first time that nanoscale changes are present in cells extremely early on in carcinogenesis. Their simple yet sensitive technique can detect subtle abnormal changes in human colon cancer cells even when those same cells appear normal using conventional microscopy.

Over 1,000 Species Discovered In The Greater Mekong In Past Decade Posted: 16 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST A rat thought extinct for 11 million years and a hot-pink, cyanide-producing dragon millipede are among a thousand new species discovered in the Greater Mekong Region of Southeast Asia in the last decade, according to a new report by World Wildlife Fund. First Contact in the Greater Mekong reports that 1,068 species were discovered or newly identified by science between 1997 and 2007 -- which averages two new species a week.

Diabetes Drug Shows Potential For Treating One Cause Of Chronic Kidney Disease Posted: 16 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST The antidiabetes drug rosiglitazone may have the potential to protect kidney function in patients with a condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, according to a new study. The phase I clinical findings indicate that the drug warrants further study in phase II and phase III trials.

Viewing Cancer Cells In 'Real' Time: Spotlights Tumor’s Microenvironment In Living Mouse Posted: 16 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST A breakthrough technique that allows scientists to view individually-labeled tumor cells as they move about in real time in a live mouse may enable scientists to develop microenvironment-specific drugs against cancer.

Once Upon A Time, Scales Were Displayed In Parlors, Not Hidden In Bathrooms Posted: 16 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Stepping onto a scale after a calorie-filled holiday season isn't an activity many 21st-century Americans relish. But in the late 19th century, scales were all the rage at festive gatherings -- the 1800s' answer to Guitar Hero. "A family would think it fun to weigh themselves before and after a big holiday dinner to see how much they had gained," said Deborah I. Levine, Ph.D. "Knowing your weight was a novelty, a kind of parlor trick."

Goose Eggs May Help Polar Bears Weather Climate Change Posted: 16 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST Polar bears -- especially the marginal individuals like some sub-adult males -- could adapt to changes in ice and the ability to hunt seals by eating snow goose eggs. According to new calculations, bear movement should coordinate more and more with nesting as the Arctic warms, especially near Hudson Bay.

Neither Vitamin C Or E Associated With Reduced Risk Of Prostate Cancer, Or Other Cancers Posted: 16 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST In a major cancer prevention study, long-term supplementation with vitamin E or C did not reduce the risk of prostate or other cancers for nearly 15,000 male physicians.

Brain Enzyme May Play Key Role In Controlling Appetite And Weight Gain Posted: 16 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST An enzyme in the hypothalamus appears to regulate feeding behavior. Researchers have found that overactivity of a brain enzyme may play a role in preventing weight gain and obesity.

Use Weights, Not Aerobics, To Ease Back Pain, Study Suggests Posted: 16 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST People who use weight training to ease their lower back pain are better off than those who choose other forms of exercise such as jogging.

Toxic Brown Recluse Spiders Pose Danger As They Look To Move In For The Winter Posted: 16 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST As the cold weather creeps in, so do brown recluse spiders. True to their name, the brown recluse is a shy, reclusive spider looking for a warm home. Drawn to clutter, closets and complex storage environments, the spiders actually want to stay away from humans. But, if care is not taken, people could find themselves sharing their home with one of 'the big three,' according to entomologists. Often, bites occur when a person puts on a jacket or clothing that has a brown recluse spider inside, according to experts.

Experienced Pilots May Be At Risk Of DNA Damage From Ionizing Radiation Posted: 16 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST Airline pilots who have flown for many years may be at risk of DNA damage from prolonged exposure to cosmic ionizing radiation, suggests a study in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

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