ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Why Do Animals, Especially Males, Have So Many Different Colors?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

Why do so many animal species -- including fish, birds and insects -- display such rich diversity in coloration and other traits? New research offers an answer.

Unlocking Mysteries Of The Brain With PET

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

Inflammatory response of brain cells -- as indicated by a molecular imaging technique -- could tell researchers more about why certain neurologic disorders, such as migraine headaches and psychosis in schizophrenic patients, occur and provide insight into how to best treat them, according to two new studies.

Deep Creep Means Milder, More Frequent Earthquakes Along Southern California's San Jacinto Fault

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

New research demonstrates that deep creep may mean milder, more frequent earthquakes along SoCal's San Jacinto fault, making it a less likely candidate for a major earthquake than its neighbor to the east, the Southern San Andreas fault.

Botox Takes A Shot At Pain

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

No longer just a wrinkle fighter, Botox may have indications as a pain medication to fight Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), according to a new study.

Atlanta Floods Extremely Rare

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

The epic flooding that hit the Atlanta area in September of 2009 was so extremely rare that, six weeks later this event has defied attempts to describe it. Scientists have reviewed the numbers and they are stunning.

Weight Training Boosts Breast Cancer Survivors' Body Image And Intimate Relationship Satisfaction

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

In addition to building muscle, weightlifting is also a prescription for self-esteem among breast cancer survivors, according to new research. Breast cancer survivors who lift weights regularly feel better about bodies and their appearance and are more satisfied with their intimate relationships compared with survivors who do not lift weights, according to a new study.

Harvesting Energy From Nature's Motions

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

By taking advantage of the vagaries of the natural world, engineers have developed a novel approach that they believe can more efficiently harvest electricity from the motions of everyday life.

Widely Used Cholesterol-lowering Drug May Prevent Progression Of Parkinson's Disease

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Simvastatin, a commonly used, cholesterol-lowering drug, may prevent Parkinson's disease from progressing further. Neurological researchers conducted a study examining the use of the FDA-approved medication in mice with Parkinson's disease and found that the drug successfully reverses the biochemical, cellular and anatomical changes caused by the disease.

Ants Are Friendly To Some Trees, But Not Others

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Tree-dwelling ants generally live in harmony with their arboreal hosts. But new research suggests that when they run out of space in their trees of choice, the ants can get destructive to neighboring trees.

Heart Attacks Become More Common But Less Often Fatal In Women

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Heart attacks appear to have become more common in middle-aged women over the past two decades, but all women and especially those younger than 55 have recently experienced a greater increase than men in their chances of survival following such a heart event, according to two new reports.

Computer Predicts Reactions Between Molecules And Surfaces, With 'Chemical Precision'

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

An international team of scientists has shown how the chemistry of surface reactions underpinning catalysis can be modeled accurately with computers.

Sneezing In Times Of A Flu Pandemic

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

The swine flu (H1N1) pandemic has received extensive media coverage this year. In times of heightened health concerns, everyday behaviors like sneezing can serve as a reminder to wash our hands or take our vitamins. But, what if we overreact to everyday sneezes and coughs and sniffles? Can these signals transform healthy discretion into an unreasonable fearfulness about germs and more?

Scientists Create 'Golden Ear' Mouse With Great Hearing As It Ages

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

What do you get when you cross a mouse with poor hearing and a mouse with even worse hearing? Ironically, a new strain of mice with "golden ears" -- mice that have outstanding hearing as they age. The new mouse hears much like people with "golden ears" -- people who are able to retain great hearing even as they grow older.

Blood Test Identifies Women At Risk From Alzheimer's

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Middle-aged women with high levels of a specific amino acid in their blood are twice as likely to suffer from Alzheimer's many years later, reveals new research from Sweden. This discovery this could lead to a new and simple way of determining who is at risk long before there are any signs of the illness.

Past Climate Of Northern Antarctic Peninsular Informs Global Warming Debate

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

The seriousness of current global warming is underlined by a reconstruction of climate at Maxwell Bay in the South Shetland Islands of the Antarctic Peninsula over approximately the last 14,000 years, which appears to show that the current warming and widespread loss of glacial ice are unprecedented.

Kidney Function Decline Increases Risk Of Heart Failure And Premature Death

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Declining kidney function is linked to a higher risk of heart failure, heart attack, peripheral arterial disease, and early death in individuals with or without kidney disease, according to a pair of studies.

Computer Scientists Work To Strengthen Online Security

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

If you forget your password when logging into an e-mail or online shopping website, the site will likely ask you a security question: What is your mother's maiden name? Where were you born? The trouble is that such questions are not very secure. But computer scientists are testing a new tactic that could be both easier and more secure.

Physician Bias Might Keep Life-saving Transplants From Black And Hispanic Patients

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Physician bias might be the reason why African Americans are not receiving kidney/pancreas transplants at the same rate as similar patients in other racial groups.

'Dropouts' Pinpoint Earliest Galaxies

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Astronomers, conducting the broadest survey to date of galaxies from about 800 million years after the Big Bang, have found 22 early galaxies and confirmed the age of one by its characteristic hydrogen signature at 787 million years post Big Bang. The finding is the first age-confirmation of a so-called dropout galaxy at that distant time and pinpoints when an era called the reionization epoch likely began.

Breast Density Associated With Increased Risk Of Cancer Recurrence

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

A new study finds that women treated for breast cancer are at higher risk of cancer recurrence if they have dense breasts. The study's results indicate that breast cancer patients with dense breasts may benefit from additional therapies following surgery, such as radiation.

Notion That Amputee Runners Gain Advantage From Protheses Further Disputed

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

A new study shows that amputees who use running-specific prosthetic legs have no performance advantage over counterparts who use their biological legs.

Robotic Repair For Vaginal Prolapse Has Significant Benefits

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

New research has found that robotic surgery for vaginal prolapse dramatically reduces patient hospital stay and recovery time.

Changing Arctic Affecting Air, Ocean, And Everything In Between

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Despite the fact that summer 2009 had more sea ice than in 2007 or 2008, scientists are seeing drastic changes in the region from just five years ago and at rates faster than anticipated.

Failing The Sniff Test: Researchers Find New Way To Spot Fraud

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Companies that commit fraud can find innovative ways to fudge the numbers, making it hard to tell something is wrong by looking at their financial statements. But a new warning system sees through accounting tricks by evaluating things that are easily verifiable, such as the number of employees or the square footage a company owns. If a company says its profits are up, but these nonfinancial measures are down, something is wrong.

Unsettled Youth: Spitzer Observes A Chaotic Planetary System

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Before our planets found their way to the stable orbits they circle in today, they wiggled and jostled about like unsettled children. Now, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has found a young star with evidence for the same kind of orbital hyperactivity. Young planets circling the star are thought to be disturbing smaller comet-like bodies, causing them to collide and kick up a huge halo of dust.

Gene Therapy Stalls Development Of Huntington's Disease In Mice

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have shown that a highly specific intrabody (an antibody fragment that works against a target inside a cell) is capable of stalling the development of Huntington's disease in a variety of mouse models. "Gene therapy in these models successfully attenuated the symptoms of Huntington's disease and increased life span," notes Paul Patterson, the Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences.

New Mechanism Increases Atherosclerosis In Mice

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

A shot of espresso may rev you up in the morning, but the downside is that it may also ramp up levels of bad cholesterol due to its effects on a unique liver protein called PXR. New research now shows that when chronically activated, the protein rejiggers how cholesterol is broken down in and cleared from the liver, a disturbance that can lead to high levels of the waxy substance or worse, full-blown atherosclerosis.

Time Between Treatment And PSA Recurrence Predicts Death From Prostate Cancer

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Men whose prostate specific antigen rise within 18 months of radiotherapy are more likely to develop spread and die of their disease, according to an international study.

Lasers Put A Shine On Metals

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Polishing metal surfaces is a demanding but monotonous task, and it is difficult to find qualified young specialists. Polishing machines do not represent an adequate alternative because they cannot get to difficult parts of the surface. A new solution is provided by laser polishers.

Pregnant Women Risk Early Delivery From Using Psychiatric Medication

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Women who used psychiatric medication during pregnancy have triple the odds of delivering prematurely.

Nanomedicine Promising For Treating Spinal Cord Injuries, Findings Show

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Researchers have discovered a new approach for repairing damaged nerve fibers in spinal cord injuries using nano-spheres that could be injected into the blood shortly after an accident.

Developmental Delay Could Stem From Nicotinic Receptor Deletion

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The loss of a gene through deletion of genetic material on chromosome 15 is associated with significant abnormalities in learning and behavior, say researchers in a new study.

Archaeologists Uncover Prehistoric Landscape Beneath Oxford University, England

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Archaeologists excavating the former Radcliffe Infirmary site in Oxford have uncovered evidence of a prehistoric monumental landscape stretching across the gravel terrace between the Thames and Cherwell rivers.

Scientists Reveal How Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Differ From Embryonic Stem Cells

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The same genes that are chemically altered during normal cell differentiation, as well as when normal cells become cancer cells, are also changed in stem cells that scientists derive from adult cells, according to new research.

Super-fast Quantum Computer Gets Ever Closer: Quantum Particles Pinned Down

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Researchers have succeeded in getting hold of the environment of a quantum particle. This allows them to exercise greater control over a single electron, and brings the team of researchers a step closer still to the super-fast quantum computer.

Why Some People Get Sick From Harmless Smells

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

People who become ill from harmless smells are not being silly, says a researcher. Rather, they perceive these smells differently than other people. The smell is detected more rapidly by the brain and processed more deeply. If you expect to become ill from a smell, then the smell in question might really make you ill.

Discovery Of The Oldest European Marsupial In Southwest France

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

Remains of one of the oldest known marsupials have been recovered in Charente-Maritime, France, by palaeontologists. This discovery raises a new hypothesis about the dispersal route of the earliest marsupial mammals.

Drug Candidate For Treating Spinal Muscular Atrophy Identified

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

A chemical cousin of the common antibiotic tetracycline might be useful in treating spinal muscular atrophy, a currently incurable disease that is the leading genetic cause of death in infants. The new molecule fixes a mistake in a cellular processing mechanism called RNA splicing, thereby boosting the levels of a protein whose deficiency in neurons causes the disease.

Consumers Spend More On Products With Detailed Nutritional Information

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

People would be willing to pay more for products that carry detailed nutritional information than for the so-called light items, according to a new study on the nutritional labeling of breakfast biscuits.

Low Vitamin D Levels Explains Most End-stage Renal Disease Risk In African-Americans

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

Low levels of vitamin D may account for nearly 60 percent of the elevated risk of end-stage renal disease in African-Americans, according to a new report.

Boat Tail Reduces Truck Fuel Consumption By 7.5 Percent

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

A boat tail, a tapering protrusion mounted on the rear of a truck, leads to fuel savings of 7.5 percent. This is due to dramatically improved aerodynamics, as shown by road tests conducted by the Dutch PART (Platform for Aerodynamic Road Transport) public-private partnership platform.

Dangers Of Incapacitating Chemical Weapons And Widespread Misuse Of Riot Control Agents

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

Seven years ago, Russian Security Forces employed a secret incapacitating chemical weapon in their attempt to free 800 hostages held in a Moscow theatre by armed Chechen fighters. Over 120 hostages were killed by the incapacitant and many more continue to suffer long term health problems. Despite reports of further Russian research and use of incapacitants, the international community has refused to address the dangers of the development and proliferation of such weapons, according to a new report.

Nitrogen Loss Threatens Desert Plant Life, Study Shows

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

As the climate gets warmer, arid soils lose nitrogen as gas, reports a new study. That could lead to deserts with even less plant life than they sustain today, say the researchers.

Approved Lymphoma Drug Shows Promise In Early Tests Against Bone Cancer

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

A drug already approved for the treatment of lymphoma may also slow the growth of the most deadly bone cancer in children and teens, according to an early-stage study.

How Size Matters For Catalysts: Study Links Size, Activity, Electronic Properties

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

University of Utah chemists demonstrated the first conclusive link between the size of catalyst particles on a solid surface, their electronic properties and their ability to speed chemical reactions. The study is a step toward the goal of designing cheaper, more efficient catalysts to increase energy production, reduce Earth-warming gases and manufacture a wide variety of goods from medicines to gasoline.

New Plastic Optical Fiber Technology May Revolutionize High Speed Last-mile Communication Networks

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

It may look like little more than fishing line, but plastic optical fiber or POF promises to revolutionize high-speed last-mile communications networks.

Nutritional Value Of Andalusian Lupins Revealed

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

Researchers in Spain have found that several species of lupins from the mountains of Andalusia have a protein content similar to that of other cultivated legumes.

Health Information Not Communicated Well To Minority Populations, Researcher Finds

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

According to the Institute of Medicine, more than 90 million Americans suffer from low health literacy, a mismatch between patients' abilities to understand health care information and providers' abilities to communicate complex medical information in an understandable manner. In two recent studies, researchers found that two groups -- those with limited English proficiency and those with disabilities -- experience significantly lower health literacy than the general population.