ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Discovering How Human-caused Sounds Affect Marine Mammals (October 1, 2008) -- Marine mammal specialists consider the research needed to assess the effects of anthropogenic sound upon marine mammals. Marine mammals are an important component in the food-chain of the marine biotope. They rely largely on sound for their communication and organization, but these mechanisms are not completely understood. ... > full story
Supplements No Better Than Placebo In Slowing Cartilage Loss In Knees Of Osteoarthritis Patients (October 1, 2008) -- In a two-year multicenter study the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate performed no better than placebo in slowing the rate of cartilage loss in the knees of osteoarthritis patients. ... > full story
Mars: Ancient And Ongoing Processes That Shape Planet Surface (October 1, 2008) -- Scientists are making leaps forward in understanding both the ongoing and ancient processes that shaped the surface of Mars. ... > full story
Continuous Glucose Monitoring In Diabetic Pregnant Women Lowers Risk Of Complications (October 1, 2008) -- Continuous glucose monitoring as part of antenatal care for women with diabetes improves maternal blood glucose control and lowers birth weight and risk of macrosomia (excessive birth weight in babies), according to a new study. ... > full story
Experiment Demonstrates 110 Years Of Sustainable Agriculture (October 1, 2008) -- Researchers have shown that a plot of land on the campus of Auburn University that has been maintained by a century old practice of sustainable farming can produce similar cotton crops to those using other methods. This 110 year old continuous field experiment, called "the Old Rotation," utilizes traditional crop rotation methods and includes winter legumes to protect the soil from winter erosion. ... > full story
Nanotechnology And Synthetic Biology: Americans Don't Know What's Coming (October 1, 2008) -- Almost half of US adults have heard nothing about nanotechnology, and nearly nine in 10 Americans say they have heard just a little or nothing at all about the emerging field of synthetic biology, according to a new report. Both technologies involve manipulating matter at an incredibly small scale to achieve something new. The poll found that about two-thirds of adults say they have heard nothing at all about synthetic biology, and only 2 percent say they have heard "a lot" about the new technology. Even with this very low level of awareness, a solid two-thirds of adults are willing to express an initial opinion on the potential benefits versus risks tradeoff of synthetic biology. ... > full story
Urban Black Bears 'Live Fast, Die Young' (October 1, 2008) -- Black bears that live around urban areas weigh more, get pregnant at a younger age, and are more likely to die violent deaths, according to a study by the Wildlife Conservation Society. ... > full story
Stroke Treatment Window Of Opportunity May Be Longer Than Previously Believed (October 1, 2008) -- Patients can still benefit up to 4.5 hours after a stroke if a drug that dissolves blood clots in the brain is administered, according to new research. Thus far, three hours had been considered the useful limit for administering thrombolytic drugs. ... > full story
Alternative To Burning: Environmentally Sound Disposal For Wood Chips (October 1, 2008) -- Pecan and other hickory woods are the third most popular hardwood group in the United States, behind only black walnut and black cherry. he pruned wood of pecan, a byproduct of forested trees, is usually burned as an economical means of disposal. Increasingly though, pruned pecan is being chipped and incorporated into the soil as an environmentally viable method of handling the waste. Although more expensive than burning, chipping and soil incorporation avoid burning controls recently imposed by many states and the Environmental Protection Agency. ... > full story
English Health Care System Failing To Encourage Breastfeeding, Say Experts (October 1, 2008) -- The English health care system is failing to encourage breastfeeding and a national strategy to promote breast feeding is urgently needed, say experts. ... > full story
Dominican Republic's Early Warning System For Hurricanes And Flooding Strengthened (October 1, 2008) -- Scientists have begun a project to strengthen the Early Warning System for Inundations in the Dominican Republic. ... > full story
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Doesn't Work In Prenatal Care (October 1, 2008) -- While obstetrical care providers are doing a good job working with their patients on smoking cessation, they are not doing as well on abuse of other substances that can harm a woman's unborn baby a new study found. ... > full story
Microbes 'Run The World': Metagenomics Increasingly Used To Characterize Them (September 30, 2008) -- Mostly hidden from the scrutiny of the naked eye, microbes have been said to run the world. The challenge is how best to characterize them given that less than one percent of the estimated hundreds of millions of microbial species can be cultured in the laboratory. The answer is metagenomics -- an increasingly popular approach for extracting the genomes of uncultured microorganisms and discerning their specific metabolic capabilities directly from environmental samples. Ten years after the term was coined, metagenomics is going mainstream and already paying provocative dividends in the areas of energy and environment. ... > full story
Potentially Toxic Substance Found In Chicago Air (September 30, 2008) -- Although the industrial compounds known as polychlorinated biphenols or PCBs have been found in previous air samples collected in the city of Chicago, a new study of Chicago air sampled between November 2006 and November 2007 found PCB11, a byproduct of the manufacture of paint pigments and a potentially toxic substance, present throughout the city. ... > full story
The 'Magnificent Seven' Of European Astroparticle Physics Unveiled To The World (September 30, 2008) -- Today Europeans presented to the world their strategy for the future of astroparticle physics. What is dark matter? What is the origin of cosmic rays? What is the role of violent cosmic processes? Can we detect gravitational waves? With seven types of major large-scale projects physicists want to find the answers to some of the most exciting questions about the Universe. ... > full story
Endoscopy May Not Be Necessary In Asymptomatic Children After Caustic Ingestion (September 30, 2008) -- A new study from researchers in Italy reports that endoscopy may not be necessary in children who show no symptoms after a caustic ingestion. The results demonstrated that the incidence of severe abnormalities of the esophagus in children without any early symptoms is very low and an endoscopy could be avoided. ... > full story
Special Probe Aids In Looking For Water On Mars (September 30, 2008) -- A Decagon designed thermal and electrical conductivity probe is mounted on the robotic arm of NASA's Phoenix Scout Lander, helping in the search for water on Mars. ... > full story
Campus Green Spaces Enhance Quality Of Life (September 30, 2008) -- The next time you see students playing an energized game of touch football or studying in the sunshine on a college quadrangle, consider this: campus green spaces can help students feel better about life and improve learning. ... > full story
Sounds Travel Farther Underwater As World's Oceans Become More Acidic (September 30, 2008) -- It is common knowledge that the world's oceans and atmosphere are warming as humans release more and more carbon dioxide into the Earth's atmosphere. However, fewer people realize that the chemistry of the oceans is also changing -- seawater is becoming more acidic as carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves in the oceans. These changes in ocean temperature and chemistry will have an unexpected side effect -- sounds will travel farther underwater. ... > full story
Pain Is Not A Symptom Of Arthritis, Pain Causes Arthritis, Study Shows (September 30, 2008) -- Pain is more than a symptom of osteoarthritis, it is an inherent and damaging part of the disease itself, according to a study in journal Arthritis and Rheumatism. More specifically, the study revealed that pain signals originating in arthritic joints, and the biochemical processing of those signals as they reach the spinal cord, worsen and expand arthritis itself. ... > full story
Like An Arrow: Jumping Insects Use Archery Techniques (September 30, 2008) -- Froghoppers, also known as spittlebugs, are the champion insect jumpers, capable of reaching heights of 700mm -- more than 100 times their own body length. New research reveals that they achieve their prowess by flexing bow-like structures between their hind legs and wings and releasing the energy in one giant leap in a catapult-like action. ... > full story
Run Out Of Pain Killers Again? New System To Provide Detailed Tracking For Pharmaceuticals (September 30, 2008) -- Research scientists have developed a control dashboard for the pharmaceuticals industry. This enables all pharmacies, wholesalers and manufacturers to check where products are in the supply chain, availability, what stocks the neighboring pharmacy has and the future prognoses. ... > full story
Novel Process Promises To Kick-start Quantum Technology Sector (September 30, 2008) -- The brave new world of quantum technology may be a big step closer to reality thanks to researchers that have come up with a unique new way of testing quantum devices to determine their function and accuracy. ... > full story
Ethnic Conflict Stoked By Government Economic Intervention, Not Globalization, Study Finds (September 30, 2008) -- Economic globalization and liberalization have been blamed for numerous social ills over the last two decades, including a sharp rise in interethnic violence in countries all over the world. Not so, say the results of a study conducted by researchers from McGill University and published in the current issue of the journal International Studies Quarterly. ... > full story
Mass Extinctions And The Evolution Of Dinosaurs (September 30, 2008) -- Dinosaurs did not proliferate immediately after they originated, but that their rise was a slow and complicated event, and driven by two mass extinctions, according to new research. ... > full story
Birth Size Is A Marker Of Susceptibility To Breast Cancer Later In Life (September 30, 2008) -- Birth size, and in particular birth length, correlates with subsequent risk of breast cancer in adulthood, according to a new study in PLoS Medicine. ... > full story
Micro Honeycomb Materials Enable New Physics In Aicraft Sound Reduction (September 30, 2008) -- Researchers are developing innovative honeycomb structures that could make possible a new approach to noise reduction in aircraft. Composed of many tiny tubes, the structures can reduce sound more effectively than conventional methods. ... > full story
Is There More To Prion Protein Than Mad Cow Disease? (September 30, 2008) -- Prion protein, a form of protein that triggers BSE, is associated with other brain diseases in cattle, raising the possibility of a significant increase in the range of prion disease. Scientists have detected changes in the production and accumulation of the prion protein in the brains of cattle with a rare neurodegenerative disorder. ... > full story
Smart And Gentle Alarm Clock For Mobile Phones (September 30, 2008) -- New technology for screening and even diagnosing sleep disorders has been developed. The first application of the new technology, a smart alarm clock for mobile phones, HappyWakeUp, is now available. It monitors depth of sleep and provides a gentle wake-up whenever possible. ... > full story
Just In Time For School: Free Adeona Service Tracks Stolen Laptops (September 30, 2008) -- Researchers have created the first free laptop theft-protection tool. The open-source software not only provides a virtual watchdog on your precious machine -- reporting the laptop's location when it connects to the Internet -- but does so without letting anybody but you monitor your whereabouts. ... > full story
Global Warming Fix? Carbon Dioxide Captured Directly From Air With Simple Machine (September 30, 2008) -- An energy and environmental system expert has shown it is possible to reduce carbon dioxide -- the main greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming -- using a relatively simple machine that can capture the trace amount of carbon dioxide present in the air at any place on the planet. The technology could dramatically reduce emissions from transportation. ... > full story
MS Patients Have Higher Spinal Fluid Levels Of Suspicious Immune Molecule (September 30, 2008) -- A protein that helps keep immune cells quiet is more abundant in the spinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), further boosting suspicion that the protein, TREM-2, may be an important contributor to the disease. ... > full story
Stalagmites May Predict Next Big One Along The New Madrid Seismic Zone (September 30, 2008) -- Small white stalagmites lining caves in the Midwest may help scientists chronicle the history of the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) -- and even predict when the next big earthquake may strike, say researchers. ... > full story
Free-Living Protozoa Found In Meat-Cutting Plants (September 30, 2008) -- A first time survey of free-living protozoa in meat-cutting plants showed high diversity rates of various species including those that could harbor food-borne pathogens say researchers from Belgium. ... > full story
Air Quality Regulations Miss Key Pollutants (September 30, 2008) -- Air quality regulations may not effectively target a large source of fine, organic particle pollutants that contribute to hazy skies and poor air quality over the Los Angeles region. ... > full story
Natural Viagra? 'Horny Goat Weed' Shows Promise (September 30, 2008) -- Move over, Viagra! Researchers in report that an ancient Chinese herbal remedy known as "horny goat weed" shows potential in lab studies as source for new future drugs to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). The study, which provides scientific evidence supporting the herb's well-known use as a natural aphrodisiac. ... > full story
Meat-eating Dinosaur From Argentina Had Bird-like Breathing System (September 30, 2008) -- The remains of a 30-foot-long predatory dinosaur discovered along the banks of Argentina's Rio Colorado is helping to unravel how birds evolved their unusual breathing system. ... > full story
TB Bacterium Uses Its Sugar Coat To Sweeten Its Chances Of Living In Lungs (September 30, 2008) -- Common strains of tuberculosis-causing bacteria have hijacked the human body's immune response to play tricks on cells in the lungs, scientists say. The results of this takeover are mixed. The cells essentially welcome the bacteria into the lungs and invite them to stay a while, meaning the human host becomes infected with the TB bacterium. But in about 90 percent of these cases, the infection remains latent and the infected person never has any symptoms of illness. ... > full story
Radiation Device May Customize Therapy, Enable Some To Avoid More Lengthy Treatment (September 30, 2008) -- A study of the first approximately 100 patients who have received partial breast irradiation with a small, whisk-like, expandable device inserted inside the breast has shown that after one year, the device is effective at sparing nearby healthy tissue from the effects of radiation. The device, called SAVI, is aimed at providing customized radiation therapy while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue around the breast after a woman has received a lumpectomy for early stage cancer. ... > full story
New Astroviruses Identified In Bats (September 30, 2008) -- New research suggests that bats are reservoirs of a newly identified group of astroviruses, a significant agent of diarrhea in many species including humans. ... > full story
Successful Re-entry Marks Bright Future For Europe's Space Station Automated Transfer Vehicle (September 30, 2008) -- Europe's first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Jules Verne has successfully completed its six-month ISS logistics mission with its controlled destructive re-entry over a completely uninhabited area of the South Pacific. ... > full story
Virtual World Offers New Locale For Problem Solving (September 30, 2008) -- Second Life, a virtual world created in 2003, currently boasts more than 12 million users worldwide who go there for everything from college recruiting to shopping. Now, Penn State researchers are investigating how virtual teams can better solve real world problems by collaborating in Second Life. ... > full story
Mars Lander Sees Falling Snow On Red Planet, Soil Data Suggest Liquid Past (September 30, 2008) -- NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has detected snow falling from Martian clouds. Spacecraft soil experiments also have provided evidence of past interaction between minerals and liquid water, processes that occur on Earth. ... > full story
Naturally Occurring 'Protective RNA' Used To Develop New Antiviral Against Influenza (September 30, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a new antiviral using naturally occurring influenza virus "protecting virus" that may defend against any influenza A virus in any animal host. ... > full story
Evidence For Rain On Mars? (September 30, 2008) -- There is evidence that lake deposits once formed inside impact craters on Mars. About four billion years ago, there were lakes on Mars which may have been fed by short-lived rivers that were, in turn, fed by precipitation. These lakes filled craters that were formed by the impact of meteorites. ... > full story
Unraveling Breast Milk (September 30, 2008) -- Researchers are reporting that new insights into the composition of human breast milk may lead to new ways to prevent and treat stomach illnesses and other diseases in babies and adults. ... > full story
Degradation Of Wood In Royal Warship Vasa Is Caused By Iron (September 30, 2008) -- During its time in the sea bottom of Stockholm harbor, huge amounts of iron and sulfurous compounds accumulated in the wood of the royal warship Vasa. Since 2000 it has been noticed that changes are taking place in the wood, changes that threaten the stability of the ship. ... > full story
Financial Risk-taking Behavior Is Associated With Higher Testosterone Levels (September 30, 2008) -- Two researchers from Harvard jointly led a recent study in which they showed that men with higher testosterone levels invest more money during a risky investment game. The study associates higher testosterone levels with financial risk-taking behavior. ... > full story
Copyright 1995-2008 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
|
 To update/change your account click here  |
No comments:
Post a Comment