ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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Watch And Learn: Time Teaches Us How To Recognize Visual Objects (September 17, 2008) -- In work that could aid efforts to develop more brain-like computer vision systems, MIT neuroscientists have tricked the visual brain into confusing one object with another, thereby demonstrating that time teaches us how to recognize objects. ... > full story
Genetic Profile Reveals Susceptibility To Cleft Palate (September 17, 2008) -- For the first time, researchers have identified a series of genetic mutations that appear to be linked to significant risk for cleft palate and other dental abnormalities. These are devastating conditions that cause tremendous social isolation, and also are associated with decreased lifespan, a higher risk of cancer and increased susceptibility to psychiatric disorders, even after surgical repair. ... > full story
Low-emission, High-performance Engine For Future Hybrids (September 17, 2008) -- In an advance toward introduction of an amazing new kind of internal combustion engine, researchers in China are reporting development and use of a new and more accurate computer model to assess performance of the so-called free-piston linear alternator (FPLA). ... > full story
Protective Pathway In Stressed Cells Not So Helpful When It Comes To Prions (September 17, 2008) -- Scientists have discovered that an important cellular quality control mechanism may actually be toxic to some brain cells during prion infection. The research proposes a new general mechanism of cellular dysfunction that can contribute to the devastating and widespread neuronal death characteristic of slowly progressing neurodegenerative diseases. ... > full story
New Mechanism To Produce Energy From Biomass (September 17, 2008) -- Scientists have developed a system that can improve the efficiency of the conversion process of biomass to fuel gas that will contribute to the production of energy in a more sustainable manner. ... > full story
New Insights Into Teenagers And Anxiety Disorders (September 17, 2008) -- Can scientists predict who will develop anxiety disorders years in advance? One UCLA professor of psychology thinks so, and is four years into an eight-year study, evaluating 650 students who were 16-years-old at the study's start, to learn risk factors for the development of anxiety and depression -- the most comprehensive study of its kind. ... > full story
New Clues To Oxygen At The Origin Of The Solar System (September 17, 2008) -- Oxygen is the most abundant element on Earth, accounting for almost half the planet's mass. Of its three stable isotopes, oxygen 16 makes up 99.762 percent of oxygen on Earth, while heavier oxygen 17 accounts for just 0.038 percent, and the heaviest isotope, oxygen 18, makes up 0.2 percent. Yet minerals in some of the most primitive objects in the solar system, including the meteorites called carbonaceous chondrites, have quite different ratios of oxygen isotopes than on Earth; presumably the rare heavy isotopes occurred in much greater abundances in the early solar system. ... > full story
Key Protein Molecule Linked To Diverse Human Chronic Inflammatory Diseases (September 17, 2008) -- Scientists have revealed a common connection between the cellular innate immunity network and human chronic inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, Type 2 Diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. The finding presents a viable cellular and molecular target for the diagnosis and treatment of serious human inflammatory diseases. ... > full story
Moderate Quantities Of Dirt Make More Rain (September 17, 2008) -- Drought or deluge? Scientists have now discovered how aerosols affect the when, where and how much of rainfall. ... > full story
Acting Surgeon General Issues 'Call To Action To Prevent DVT And Pulmonary Embolism' (September 17, 2008) -- Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., has issued a Call to Action to reduce the number of cases of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in the United States. Galson urged all Americans to learn about and prevent these treatable conditions. ... > full story
Bovine Colostrum And Fermented Cabbage Can Help Restrict Infections (September 17, 2008) -- Antibodies extracted from bovine colostrum as well as lactobacilli extracted from fermented cabbage and other sources prevent the action of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. ... > full story
Consumers Think Differently About Close And Distant Purchases (September 17, 2008) -- If you are deciding on a major vacation for next year, you'll use different criteria than if you are planning a trip this weekend, according to a new study. ... > full story
Immigrant Sun: Our Star Could Be Far From Where It Started In Milky Way (September 16, 2008) -- New simulations challenge a long-held belief, indicating that in galaxies similar to the Milky Way stars such as our Sun can migrate great distances. ... > full story
Genetic Mutation That May Predict Organ Rejection Identified (September 16, 2008) -- Using a novel combination of cutting-edge technologies to scan the human genome, researchers have identified a genetic mutation that identifies transplant recipients who experience rejection. ... > full story
Drinking Chamomile Tea May Help Fight Complications Of Diabetes (September 16, 2008) -- Drinking chamomile tea daily with meals may help prevent the complications of diabetes, which include loss of vision, nerve damage, and kidney damage, researchers in Japan and the United Kingdom are reporting. ... > full story
Role For Gefitinib In Asian Nonsmokers With Lung Cancer Established (September 16, 2008) -- The targeted therapy gefitinib should be considered a first-line therapy for nonsmoking Asian patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung, one of the most common types of lung cancer, suggests a presentation at the 33rd Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology. ... > full story
Biological Selenium Removal: Solution To Pollution? (September 16, 2008) -- Unsafe levels of selenium, sometimes referred to as an "essential toxin," can be reduced by a microbiological treatment. With this method, microorganisms reduce selenate to the less-toxic elemental selenium, which can potentially be recovered from the process. An estimated 0.5 to 1 billion people worldwide suffer from selenium deficiency, even though many live near areas where levels of selenium have reached toxic levels. ... > full story
Massage Therapy May Have Immediate Positive Effect On Pain And Mood For Advanced Cancer Patients (September 16, 2008) -- Massage therapy may have immediate benefits on pain and mood among patients with advanced cancer. In a randomized trial of 380 advanced cancer patients at 15 U.S. hospices, improvement in pain and mood immediately following treatment was greater with massage than with simple touch. ... > full story
Photosynthesizing Bacteria With A Day-night Cycle Contain Rare Chromosome (September 16, 2008) -- Researchers sequencing the DNA of the blue-green algae Cyanothece 51142 found a linear chromosome harboring genes important for producing biofuels. Simultaneously analyzing the complement of proteins revealed more genes on the linear and typical circular chromosomes then they'd have found with DNA sequencing alone. ... > full story
Brain Protein Linked To Alzheimer's Disease (September 16, 2008) -- A link has been announced between the brain protein KIBRA and Alzheimer's disease, a discovery that could lead to promising new treatments for this memory-robbing disorder. The new discovery builds on a previous study, which showed a genetic link between KIBRA and memory. In the new study, researchers found that carriers of a memory-enhancing flavor of the KIBRA gene had a 25 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Potential New Drug For Cocaine Addiction And Overdose (September 16, 2008) -- Chemists are reporting development of what they term the most powerful substance ever discovered for eliminating cocaine from the body, an advance that could lead to the world's first effective medicine for fighting overdoses and addictions of the illicit drug. ... > full story
More Findings On Gene Involved In Childhood Asthma (September 16, 2008) -- Asthma researchers have found that a gene variant known to raise the risk of childhood asthma in European children plays a similar role in white American children, but not in African-American children. The new findings showed the gene was involved in both milder and more severe forms of asthma. ... > full story
Water Purification Down The Nanotubes: Could Nanotechnology Solve The Water Crisis? (September 16, 2008) -- Nanotechnology could be the answer to ensuring a safe supply of drinking water for regions of the world stricken by periodic drought or where water contamination is rife. Writing in the International Journal of Nuclear Desalination, researchers in India explain how carbon nanotubes could replace conventional materials in water-purification systems. ... > full story
Don't Throw The Candy Out: Temptation Leads To Moderation (September 16, 2008) -- Banishing tempting goodies may not be the best way to keep from eating them. Tempting foods can actually increase willpower, according to new research. Although it seems counterintuitive, consumers show more self-control after they've spent some time in the presence of a treat. ... > full story
Higher Urinary Levels Of Commonly Used Plastic Compound, BPA, Linked To Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes (September 16, 2008) -- Higher levels of urinary Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound commonly used in plastic packaging for food and beverages, is associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities, according to a study in the September 17 issue of JAMA. This study is being released early to coincide with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearing on BPA. ... > full story
Sun-damaged Skin Does Not Improve With Estrogen Treatments, Study Finds (September 16, 2008) -- Treating the skin with estrogen can stimulate collagen production -- which improves the appearance of the skin -- in areas not typically exposed to the sun, according to new research. But in sun-damaged skin, the same treatment does not increase collagen production, the study found. ... > full story
NASA Selects 'MAVEN' Mission To Study Mars Atmosphere (September 16, 2008) -- NASA has selected a Mars robotic mission that will provide information about the Red Planet's atmosphere, climate history and potential habitability in greater detail than ever before. ... > full story
MRI Reveals Inner Ear Anomalies In Children With Hearing Loss (September 16, 2008) -- Using magnetic resonance imaging, physicians can identify soft-tissue defects that contribute to hearing loss in children, according to a new report. ... > full story
New Rechargeable Lithium Batteries Could Jump-start Hybrid Electric Car Efficiency (September 16, 2008) -- Researchers are helping to develop new rechargeable batteries that could improve hybrid electric cars in the future. For hybrid cars, new materials are crucial to make the batteries lighter, safer and more efficient in storing energy. ... > full story
Blissfully Ignorant: Skip Those Pesky Details (September 16, 2008) -- Wouldn't you like some more information about that cream puff? Not if you just ate it. A new study examined what's known as the "blissful ignorance effect," the way consumers' goals shift after they've made purchases. ... > full story
Dark Matter Disk In Our Galaxy, Supercomputer Simulation Shows (September 16, 2008) -- The Milky Way contains a disk of "dark matter," according to new calculations by astronomers. They have used the results of a supercomputer simulation to deduce the presence of this disk. ... > full story
Childhood Brain Cancer Genes Identified (September 16, 2008) -- Scientists have isolated three important genes involved in the development of a type of childhood brain cancer. Researchers have found three genes associated with specific characteristics of ependymoma — the third most common form of childhood brain cancer. ... > full story
Fuel Emissions From Marine Vessels Remain A Global Concern (September 16, 2008) -- The forecast for clear skies and smooth sailing for oceanic vessels has been impeded by worldwide concerns of their significant contributions to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that impact the Earth's climate. ... > full story
Prosthetic Ears Appear To Improve Hearing And Speech Recognition In Noisy Environments (September 16, 2008) -- Prosthetic ears appear to improve hearing and speech recognition in noisy environments, according to a new report. ... > full story
Flower-shaped Nanoparticles May Lead To Better Batteries For Portable Electronics (September 16, 2008) -- Want more power and longer battery life for that cell phone, laptop, and digital music player? "Flower power" may be the solution. Chemists are reporting development of flower-shaped nanoparticles with superior electronic performance than conventional battery materials. ... > full story
Magic Can Conjure Up Confidence And Social Skills (September 16, 2008) -- For years, audiences have been thrilled by the amazing performances of master magicians, such as David Blaine and Derren Brown. Now, the results of a new experiment suggests that such magical feats can also work wonders with children’s confidence and social skills. ... > full story
New Ant Species Discovered In The Amazon Likely Represents Oldest Living Lineage Of Ants (September 16, 2008) -- A new species of blind, subterranean, predatory ant discovered in the Amazon rainforest is likely a descendant of the very first ants to evolve. ... > full story
Two Beta Blockers Also Protect Heart Tissue, Study Finds (September 16, 2008) -- A newly discovered chemical pathway that helps protect heart tissue can be stimulated by two of 20 common beta-blockers, drugs that are prescribed to millions of patients who have experienced heart failure. ... > full story
Depressed Dialysis Patients More Likely To Be Hospitalized Or Die, Researcher Finds (September 16, 2008) -- Dialysis patients diagnosed with depression are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized or die within a year than those who are not depressed, researchers have found. ... > full story
Newest Interventional Radiology Treatment Used To Bust Blood Clots In Legs (September 16, 2008) -- The first major national trial of a catheter-based treatment for deep vein thrombosis will evaluate the use of clot-dissolving drugs in combination with clot removal devices to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome in patients with DVT (the formation of a blood clot in a leg vein). PTS, a common irreversible complication of DVT, causes permanent damage to the veins, resulting in debilitating chronic leg pain, swelling, fatigue and/or skin ulcers. ... > full story
Automated System Provides Early Warning Of Natural Disasters (September 16, 2008) -- When disaster threatens, the first hours are crucial. Researchers have developed an automated system to provide early detection, forecasting, and warning of natural disasters such as floods and wildfires. ... > full story
Pervasive Games Promise To Spice Up Daily Life (September 16, 2008) -- In the movie The Game, the character is hounded by villains and left for dead in Mexico in an intense version of an alternative reality game. Minus the Hollywood bravado, games that merge the virtual with the real could be the next entertainment revolution. ... > full story
Arctic Sea Ice At Lowest Recorded Level Ever (September 16, 2008) -- Arctic sea ice may well have reached its lowest volumes ever, as summer ice coverage of the Arctic Sea looks set to be close to last year's record lows, with thinner ice overall. Final figures on minimum ice coverage for 2008 are expected in a matter of days, but they are already flirting with last year's record low of 1.59 million square miles, or 4.13 million square kilometers. ... > full story
New Treatment For Prostate Cancer Pioneered (September 16, 2008) -- Scientists are developing and commercializing a promising novel therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer that may offer patients a faster and more precise treatment than existing clinical alternatives, with fewer side effects. ... > full story
Slicing Solar Power Costs: New Method Cuts Waste In Making Most Efficient Solar Cells (September 16, 2008) -- Engineers have devised a new way to slice thin wafers of the chemical element germanium for use in the most efficient type of solar power cells. They say the new method should lower the cost of such cells by reducing the waste and breakage of the brittle semiconductor. ... > full story
Dental Fillings Without Gaps (September 16, 2008) -- Tooth cavities are usually closed with plastic fillings. However, the initially soft plastic shrinks as it hardens. The tension can cause gaps to appear between the tooth and the filling, encouraging more caries to form. For the first time, researchers have simulated this process. ... > full story
New Technique Allows Certain Objects To Be Invisible To Human Eye (September 16, 2008) -- Researchers in Spain have taken a step forward to realize a dream of science fiction writers and film makers: invisibility. By means of a numerical technique known as Transmission Line Matrix (TLM) Modelling method, scientists have managed to hide an object or make it invisible in a certain frequency, inside an electromagnetic simulator. Such research are key to achieving invisibility to radars and even to the human eye. ... > full story
Help For Shopaholics: New Test Determines Who's At Risk For Compulsive Buying (September 16, 2008) -- Compulsive shopping can lead to financial problems, family conflicts, stress, depression, and loss of self-esteem. According to a new study, there may be more people engaged in compulsive buying than previously thought. ... > full story
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