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New Type Of Laser Discovered Posted: 24 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered an entirely new mechanism for making common electronic materials emit laser beams. The finding could lead to lasers that operate more efficiently and at higher temperatures than existing devices, and find applications in environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics.

Probiotics May Help People Taking Antibiotics Posted: 24 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Up to one in five people on antibiotics stop taking their full course of antibiotic therapy due to diarrhea. Physicians could help patients avoid this problem by prescribing probiotics, according to a new study.

Why Do We Believe in Santa? Posted: 24 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Having kids believe there's a jolly man in a red suit who visits on Christmas Eve isn't detrimental, although some parents can feel they're outright lying to their children, according to a new analysis. If children attribute the same supernatural powers to Santa as they do to God, why do they stop believing in Santa, but continue their belief in God?

Slamming Brakes On Deadly Ovarian Cancer Cells: Blocking Proteins Coded By Notorious Cancer-causing Gene Posted: 24 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Ovarian cancer cells are "addicted" to a family of proteins produced by the notorious oncogene, MYC, and blocking these Myc proteins halts cell proliferation in the deadliest cancer of the female reproductive system.

Does Global Warming Lead To A Change In Upper Atmospheric Transport? Posted: 24 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Most atmospheric models predict that the rate of transport of air from the troposphere to the above lying stratosphere should be increasing due to climate change. Surprisingly, an international group of researchers has now found that this does not seem to be happening. On the contrary, it seems that the air air masses are moving more slowly than predicted. This could also imply that recovery of the ozone layer may be somewhat slower than predicted by state-of-the-art atmospheric climate models.

'Smart' Surveillance System May Tag Suspicious Or Lost People Posted: 24 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Engineers here are developing a computerized surveillance system that, when completed, will attempt to recognize whether a person on the street is acting suspiciously or appears to be lost. Intelligent video cameras, large video screens and geo-referencing software are among the technologies that will soon be available to law enforcement and security agencies.

CAT Scan Reveals Inner Workings Of Volcano Island Posted: 24 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST On the ground and in the water, researchers have been collecting imaging data on the Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat to understand the internal structure of the volcano and how and when it erupts.

Newly Discovered Esophagus Stem Cells Grow Into Transplantable Tissue, Study Finds Posted: 24 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered stem cells in the esophagus of mice that were able to grow into tissue-like structures and when placed into immune-deficient mice were able to form parts of an esophagus lining.

Ocean Acidification From Carbon Dioxide Emissions Will Cause Physiological Impairment To Jumbo Squid Posted: 24 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST The elevated carbon dioxide levels expected to be found in the world's oceans by 2100 will likely lead to physiological impairments of jumbo squid.

Tumor Suppressor Gene: Gene Function 'Lost' In Melanoma And Glioblastoma Posted: 24 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST Researchers have found a gene they say is inactivated in two aggressive cancers -- malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, and glioblastoma multiforme, a lethal brain tumor. They add that because this gene, known as PTPRD, has recently been found to be inactivated in several other cancers as well, their discovery suggests that PTPRD may play a tumor suppressor role in a wide variety of different cancers.

Green Homes That Withstand Hurricanes Under Development Posted: 24 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST Home foundations and frames built of a lightweight composite material that may bend - but won't break - in a hurricane and can simply float on the rising tide of a storm's coastal surge? Sounds too Sci-Fi? Maybe like something from the distant future?

The Virtue Of Variety: More Options Can Lead To Healthier Choices Posted: 24 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST Could longer menus lead people to choose salads over French fries? According to a new study, people who choose from a large variety of menu items are more likely to make healthy choices than people who choose from shorter lists.

Solving The Mysteries Of Metallic Glass Posted: 24 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Researchers have made significant progress in understanding a class of materials that has resisted analysis for decades. Their findings could lead to the rapid discovery of a variety of useful new kinds of glass made of metallic alloys with potentially significant mechanical, chemical and magnetic applications.

E. Coli Engineered To Produce Important Class Of Antibiotic, Anti-cancer Drugs Posted: 24 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Escherichia coli bacteria has been engineered to synthesize an important group of antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs.

Honey Adds Health Benefits, Is Natural Preservative And Sweetener In Salad Dressings Posted: 24 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Antioxidant-rich honey is a healthy alternative to chemical additives and refined sweeteners in commercial salad dressings, said a new study.

Irregular Heart Beat: Rare Disease Provides Clues About Enzyme Role In Arrhythmias Posted: 24 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST A new study provides insight into calmodulin kinase II, a calcium-sensing enzyme already known to play a role in irregular heartbeats and other critical functions. The researchers showed that CaM kinase II contributes to arrhythmia in an extremely rare disease called Timothy syndrome and that inhibiting the enzyme prevents irregular heartbeats. The findings, which involved a new cellular model, could help with developing treatments for irregular heartbeat.

Great Indian Ocean Earthquake Of 2004 Set Off Tremors In San Andreas Fault Posted: 24 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST New research shows that the great Indian Ocean earthquake that struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on the day after Christmas in 2004 set off tremors nearly 9,000 miles away in the San Andreas fault at Parkfield, Calif.

For Best Results, Ask A Few Thought-provoking Questions Posted: 24 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST The next time a telemarketer opens with a friendly question, you might stop and wonder why. A new study shows that it is surprisingly effective when salespeople or fundraisers ask how your day has been or which football team you support before broaching the subject of a purchase or donation.

Chocolate, Wine And Tea Improve Brain Performance Posted: 24 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST All that chocolate might actually help finish the bumper Christmas crossword over the seasonal period. According to Oxford researchers working with colleagues in Norway, chocolate, wine and tea enhance cognitive performance.

Breast Cancer Genome Shows Evolution, Instability Of Cancer Posted: 24 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST A newly published genome sequence of a breast cancer cell line reveals a heavily rearranged genetic blueprint involving breaks and fusions of genes and a broken DNA repair machinery, said researchers in the journal Genome Research.

Why Do Pigs Die During Commercial Transportation? Posted: 24 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST Scientists have evaluated the factors involved in causing injuries or even death in pigs as they are transported to the slaughter house. The results show that the stress and suffering the animals undergo would be reduced if more time was spent on loading them properly onto trucks and the temperature was kept down.

Poor Sleep Quality Linked To Postpartum Depression Posted: 24 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST Postpartum depression (PPD) can lead to poor sleep quality, recent research shows. The study shows that depression symptoms worsen in PPD patients when their quality of sleep declines.

Researcher Nabs Doubly Magic Tin Isotope, A North American First Posted: 24 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST Researchers have been able to make first-of-its-kind measurements of several rare nuclei, one of which has been termed a "holy grail" of experimental nuclear physics.

Go For The Gold (or Silver): Status Tiers Promote Loyalty Posted: 24 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST How special does that gold card offered by a hotel or airline make you feel? A new study explores the connection between status and loyalty.

Unusual Microbial Ropes Grow Slowly In Cave Lake Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Deep inside the Frasassi cave system in Italy and more than 1,600 feet below the Earth's surface, divers found filamentous ropes of microbes growing in the cold water, according to a team of researchers.

New Technique Is Quantum Leap Forward In Understanding Proteins Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Proteins drive critical functioning in the cells of everything from bacteria to humans. But deciphering genomic data to discover just how the thousands upon thousands of proteins in a given organism interact has emerged as one of the most confounding biological challenges of the new century. The new method should enable the development of new antibiotics and other drugs.

Developing Countries Lack Means To Acquire More Efficient Technologies Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Contrary to earlier projections, few developing countries will be able to afford more efficient technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the next few decades, new research concludes. Continuing economic and technological disparities will make it more difficult than anticipated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Hormone Therapy For Prostate Cancer Does Not Appear To Increase Cardiac Deaths Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Treating prostate cancer patients with drugs that block hormonal activity does not appear to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a study. While a 2006 report from members of the same study team found that treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists increased the risk of diabetes and heart disease, the current study is the first to examine whether treatment actually increased heart disease-related deaths.

Movement Ecology: Unifying Theory Of How Plants And Animals Move From One Place To Another Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Movement ecology is a developing academic pursuit, combining expertise in a variety of fields, including biology, ecology, botany, environmental science, physics, mathematics, virology and others. It involves the study of how microorganisms, plants and animals travel from one place to another, sometimes for great distances and in highly surprising ways.

Just Look: When It Comes To Art, Viewing May Be As Satisfying As Buying Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST The experience of purchasing art shares much in common with viewing it in exhibits, according to a new study. Research shows that visiting a gallery can provide many of the same benefits as buying a painting.

Protea Plants Help Unlock Secrets Of Species 'Hotspots' Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST New species of flowering plants called proteas are exploding onto the scene three times faster in parts of Australia and South Africa than anywhere else in the world, creating exceptional 'hotspots' of species richness, according to new research.

Advanced Imaging Technology Improves Spinal Surgery Outcome Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST Using a three-dimensional image-guided system to help place screws in the spines of patients results in safe and accurate surgery with a decrease in the number of misplaced screws, and subsequent injuries, seen in more traditional operations, say neurosurgeons.

First 3-D Images Obtained Of Core Component Of Molecular Machinery Used For Cell Reproduction Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST For the first time, structural biologists have managed to obtain the detailed three-dimensional structure of one of the proteins that form the core of the complex molecular machine, called the replisome, that plant and animal cells assemble to copy their DNA as the first step in cell reproduction.

Examination Of Widely Used Antimicrobial Compound Reveals New Strategies To Fight Malaria Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST Scientists working on a common antimicrobial compound with antimalarial activity have discovered a range of new therapeutic strategies to combat malaria. The research, published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe, provides valuable insight into how the human malaria parasite's requirement for fatty acids can be exploited as it progresses through the distinct stages of its complex life cycle.

Mathematical Models Of Adaptive Immunity Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST More than five million people die every year from infectious diseases, despite the availability of numerous antibiotics and vaccines. The discovery of penicillin to treat bacterial infections, along with the development of vaccines for previously incurable virus diseases such as polio and smallpox, achieved great reductions in mortality during the mid-20th century.

Snoring Intensity Linked To Subjective Measure Of Sleepiness In Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST A new study shows that objectively measured snoring intensity is correlated with subjective sleepiness independent of the apnea-hypopnea index in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Evolution: Life On Earth Got Bigger In 2-million-fold Leaps Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Earth's creatures come in all sizes, yet they (and we) all sprang from the same single-celled organisms that first populated the planet. So how on Earth did life go from bacteria to the blue whale? "It happened primarily in two great leaps, and each time, the maximum size of life jumped up by a factor of about a million," said a professor of geological and environmental science.

Scientists Unlock Key Mechanism Behind Cancer Metastasis Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Researchers have shed light on a key mechanism behind the development of metastasis -- the main cause of death associated with cancer. The findings, published in Cancer Research, could have potential in treating the spread of metastasis, and so reduce cancer deaths.

Gender Gap In Spatial Skills Starts In Infancy, Psychologists Report Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Men tend to perform better than women at tasks that require a person to rotate an object mentally, studies have indicated. Now developmental psychologists have discovered that this type of spatial skill is present in infancy, and can be found in boys as young as five months old.

Popular Class Of Diabetes Drugs Doubles Risk Of Fractures In Women Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST New findings out of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the University of East Anglia show that long-term use of a popular class of oral diabetic drugs doubles the risk of fractures in women with type 2 diabetes.

Novel Technique For Fluorescence Tomography Of Tumors In Living Animals Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Fluorescent molecules -- i.e. substances which can be stimulated to emit light -- are extremely valuable tools in biological research and medical diagnosis. Fluorescence can be used for instance to analyze the regulation and expression of genes, to locate proteins in cells and tissues, to follow metabolic pathways and to study the location and migration of cells. Of particular importance is the combination of fluorescence imaging with novel techniques that allow tomographic three-dimensional visualization of objects in living organisms.

Dark Chocolate Is More Filling Than Milk Chocolate And Lessens Cravings Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Dark chocolate is far more filling than milk chocolate, lessening our craving for sweet, salty and fatty foods, according to new research. In other words, eating dark chocolate may be an efficient way to keep your weight down over the holidays.

Health Monitoring With Your Cell Phone Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST Cell phones have already revolutionized the way people all over the world communicate and do business. Now they are about to do the same thing for medicine. A prototype cell phone has been constructed which is capable of monitoring the condition of HIV and malaria patients, as well as testing water quality in undeveloped areas or disaster sites. New advances result in accurate ID of smaller particles using holograms.

Your Genetic Make-up Influences The Levels Of Fats In Your Blood Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST A team of researchers has provided new insight into how genetic variation can cause different individuals to have distinct levels of a fat known as triglyceride in their blood.

3-D Cell Growth: Engineers' New Microfluidic Device Could Help With Drug Development Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST Engineers have built a device that gives them an unprecedented view of three-dimensional cell growth and migration, including the formation of blood vessels and the spread of tumor cells.

EPA Should Pursue Cumulative Risk Assessment Of Phthalates And Other Chemicals, Experts Urge Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST The US Environmental Protection Agency should examine whether combined exposures to chemicals known as phthalates could cause adverse health effects in humans, says a new report from the National Research Council.

Satellites Used To Measure Inland Floods Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST Satellites that were designed to measure sea level over the world's oceans can serve a valuable purpose over land, a new study has found. Researchers used satellite to measure the height and extent of flooding in North America, South America, and Asia.

A Walk In The Park A Day Keeps Mental Fatigue Away Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST If you spend the majority of your time among stores, restaurants and skyscrapers, it may be time to trade in your stilettos for some hiking boots. A new study in Psychological Science reveals that spending time in nature may be more beneficial for mental processes than being in urban environments.

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