ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, November 14, 2008
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Marine Plankton Found In Amber (November 14, 2008) -- Marine microorganisms have been found in amber dating from the middle of the Cretaceous period. The fossils were collected in Charente, in France. This completely unexpected discovery will deepen our understanding of these lost marine species as well as providing precious data about the coastal environment of Western France during the Cretaceous. ... > full story
Molecule Linked To Aggressive Cancer Growth And Spread Identified (November 14, 2008) -- Researchers have found a genetic marker that controls an enzyme present in aggressive and metastatic cancer. ... > full story
Small Islands Given Short Shrift In Assembling Archaeological Record (November 14, 2008) -- Small islands dwarf large ones in archaeological importance, says a University of Florida researcher, who found that people who settled the Caribbean before Christopher Columbus preferred more minute pieces of land because they relied heavily on the sea. ... > full story
Differing Genetic Makeup Of Lung Cancer In African-American Patients Shown (November 14, 2008) -- The tumors of African-American non-small cell lung cancer patients are more likely to carry a higher number of copies of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene and fewer mutations of EGFR itself than Caucasians according to a new study. ... > full story
Fire Risk: Close-up On Habitat–forest Interfaces (November 14, 2008) -- In the French Mediterranean region, scattered habitations are gradually gaining on the forest, increasing the risk of fire start-ups and creating new elements that need protection. In Aix-en-Provence, Cemagref has developed a quasi-automatic method to map habitat–forest interfaces. This tool is of primary interest to land use managers and the actors involved in the fight against forest fires to prevent risk as well as to protect populations and property in case of fire. ... > full story
Risky Decision-making Essential To Entrepreneurialism, Scientists Conclude (November 14, 2008) -- Whether someone will become the next Richard Branson, Steve Jobs or Henry Ford may be down to whether they make risky decisions, scientists have concluded. ... > full story
Light Triggers New Code For Brain Cells (November 14, 2008) -- Brain cells can adopt a new chemical code in response to cues from the outside world. Dark tadpoles blanch when exposed to bright light. Cells in the tadpole brain respond to illumination by making dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is recognized by the system that controls pigmentation. The discovery opens the possibility that brain chemistry could be selectively altered by stimulating specific circuits to remedy low levels of neural chemicals that underlie some human ailments. ... > full story
Possible Link Between Diabetes And Pelvic Girdle Syndrome (November 14, 2008) -- Diabetes appears to be linked with an increased risk of pelvic girdle syndrome. A new study shows that five percent of women had serious pelvic girdle syndrome during their last pregnancy. Three percent reported that they had diabetes, while diabetes was seen in only 0.5 percent of women who had not had the syndrome. Women with diabetes had a seven times higher risk of severe pelvic girdle syndrome. ... > full story
Satellites Helping Aid Workers In Honduras (November 14, 2008) -- Humanitarian aid workers responding to devastating flooding in Honduras have received assistance from space, with satellite images of affected areas provided rapidly following activation of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters. ... > full story
Proton Therapy And Concurrent Chemotherapy May Reduce Bone Marrow Toxicity In Advanced Lung Cancer (November 14, 2008) -- Patients treated for locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer who receive chemotherapy and proton beam therapy have fewer instances of bone marrow toxicity than patients who receive the standard treatment of intensity-modulated radiation and concurrent chemotherapy, according to researchers. ... > full story
New Device To Improve Transistor Quality (November 14, 2008) -- A new configurable chip which can correct faults in newly- manufactured transistors and can be implemented in mainstream devices such as mobile phones and computers, has been developed by engineers at the University of Southampton. ... > full story
Watching Television, Channeling Unhappiness? (November 14, 2008) -- Are happy or unhappy people more attracted to television? A new 30-year study shows unhappy people watch more TV, while happy people read more newspapers and socialize more. The relationship between happiness and television viewing becomes particularly noteworthy, since in theory, engaging in a highly enjoyable activity time like watching television should improve the quality of people's lives. ... > full story
Species Diversity Of Enigmatic 'Flying Lemurs' Doubled By New Study (November 13, 2008) -- Colugos, the closest living relatives of primates most notable for their ability to glide from tree to tree over considerable distances, are more diverse than had previously been believed, according to a new report in Current Biology. ... > full story
Nanoparticles Trigger Cell Death? (November 13, 2008) -- Nanoparticles that are one milliard of a meter in size are widely used, for example, in cosmetics and food packaging materials. There are also significant amounts of nanoparticles in exhaust emissions. New findings give rise to concern that nanoparticles carry potential health hazards. ... > full story
Dalmatian Bladder Stones Caused By Gene That Regulates Uric Acid In Humans (November 13, 2008) -- A gene mutation that causes high levels of uric acid in all Dalmatian dogs and bladder stones in some Dalmatians, has been identified. The discovery equips dog breeders with the tools to eliminate that trait from the Dalmatian breed and yields clues to the cause of similar problems in humans. ... > full story
Eye Conditions Linked With Obstructive Sleep Apnea (November 13, 2008) -- Numerous studies have shown a connection between sleep disorders and medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and metabolic disorders, including the risk of obesity and diabetes mellitus. ... > full story
High Temperatures Decrease Antifungal Properties Of Contact Solution (November 13, 2008) -- Exposure to prolonged temperature elevation reduces antifungal activity of a contact lens solution that was implicated in the epidemic of the eye infection Fusarium keratitis that occurred between 2004 and 2006, according to a new article. ... > full story
Sweepstakes Are For The Lucky, Not Every Customer, Researchers Say (November 13, 2008) -- Using a test that probed consumers' beliefs in luck, researchers investigated the question of who the best prospects are for "lucky draw" in their article appearing in the journal Psychology & Marketing. ... > full story
Hubble Directly Observes A Planet Orbiting Another Star (November 13, 2008) -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has taken the first visible-light snapshot of a planet circling another star. Estimated to be no more than three times Jupiter's mass, the planet, called Fomalhaut b, orbits the bright southern star Fomalhaut, located 25 light-years away in the constellation Piscis Australis (the Southern Fish). ... > full story
Protein Identified That Turns Off HIV-fighting T Cells (November 13, 2008) -- In HIV-infected patients, the body's immune system is unable to fight off the virus. A new study shows that T cells in HIV-infected individuals express a protein called TIM-3, which inactivates their virus killing capacity. Blocking this protein, the study suggests, might one day help patients to eliminate HIV as well as other chronic infections. ... > full story
Pond Snail Programmed To Be Left Or Right 'Handed' (November 13, 2008) -- Just like humans, the pond snail is genetically programmed to use the left- or right-handed side of its brain to perform different tasks, new research reveals. ... > full story
Epstein-Barr Virus Associated With Inflammatory Diseases Of The Mouth (November 13, 2008) -- Researchers have found that a significant percentage of dental patients with the inflammatory diseases irreversible pulpitis and apical periodontitis also have the Epstein-Barr virus. The Epstein-Barr virus is an important human pathogen found in more than 90 percent of the world population. It is associated with many diseases, including infectious mononucleosis, malignant lymphomas and naspharyngeal carcinoma. ... > full story
Liquid Or Solid? Charged Nanoparticles In Lipid Membrane Decide (November 13, 2008) -- Patchiness in phospholipid membranes is fundamental to their use as biomolecules and biosensors. Using charged nanoparticles, researchers at the University of Illinois have found a new way to stimulate patchiness in phospholipid membranes. ... > full story
Those Were The Days: Counteracting Loneliness With Nostalgia (November 13, 2008) -- All of us are struck with nostalgic feelings from time to time but a new study indicates that nostalgia may serve a greater purpose than just taking us back to the good old days. The results showed that individuals who felt the loneliest turned out to be the most nostalgic. The findings suggest that nostalgia amplifies perceptions of social support, and in this way, counteracts feelings of loneliness. ... > full story
First Direct Images Of A Planetary Family Around A Normal Star (November 13, 2008) -- Astronomers using the Gemini North telescope and W.M. Keck Observatory on Hawaii's Mauna Kea have obtained the first-ever direct images identifying a multi-planet system around a normal star. ... > full story
Brain Implants May Help Stroke Patients Overcome Partial Paralysis (November 13, 2008) -- Scientists have shown for the first time that neuroprosthetic brain implants may be able to help stroke patients with partial paralysis. ... > full story
U.S. 'Super Bugs' Invading South America (November 13, 2008) -- Two clones of highly antibiotic-resistant organism strains, which previously had only been identified in the United States, are now causing serious sickness and death in several Colombian cities including the capital Bogotá, according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine. ... > full story
Sex Differences Narrow In Death After Heart Attack, Study Shows (November 13, 2008) -- In recent years, women, particularly younger women, experienced larger improvements in hospital mortality after myocardial infarction than men, according to a new study. ... > full story
Arsenic-free Water Provides Hope To Millions Of People In South East Asia (November 13, 2008) -- A new technology could provide safe drinking water for over 70 million people in South East Asia. The joint collaboration has resulted in the world’s first low-cost technology to provide arsenic-free water to people in India and surrounding countries. ... > full story
Decisions, Decisions: Feedback Influences Decision Making (November 13, 2008) -- Numerous studies have shown that people will choose differently, depending on whether they are choosing based on experience or description. But, what is it that causes people to choose differently in the two situations? The results of a new study suggest that feedback plays a key role in decision making. The findings indicate that feedback after repeated choice may drive people towards rational decision making. ... > full story
Environmentally Friendly Acrylic Glass Made Of Sugar: New Enzyme Could Revolutionize Production Of Plastics (November 13, 2008) -- Acrylic glass could be made from natural raw materials such as sugars, alcohols or fatty acids, according to new research. Compared with the previous chemical production process, a biotechnological process is far more environmentally friendly. ... > full story
Large Waist Can Almost Double Your Risk Of Premature Death, Says Europe-wide Study (November 13, 2008) -- Having a large waistline can almost double your risk of dying prematurely even if your body mass index is within the 'normal' range, according to a new study of over 350,000 people across Europe. ... > full story
Plants Can Accumulate Nanoparticles In Tissues (November 13, 2008) -- Plants can take up nanoparticles and accumulate them in their tissues, according to new research. The laboratory study, which involved pumpkin plants, indicates a possible pathway for nanoparticles to enter the food chain. The research also reveals a new experimental approach for studying nanoparticles and their potential impacts. ... > full story
Relative Risk Of Brain Cancer: Tell Your Doctor If Tumors Run In The Family (November 13, 2008) -- Doctors know that you’re at a higher risk for breast, colon and prostate cancers if they’ve been found in your family. Brain cancer can now be placed on that same list, says a new study by Tel Aviv University and the University of Utah. ... > full story
Vest Monitors Show Air Pollution Is Dangerous Indoors And Out (November 13, 2008) -- Personal and community exposure to air pollution have significant, although differing adverse effects on heart health. A novel study included pollution-monitoring vests to measure personal levels of pollution exposure. Personal pollution exposure was linked with increased blood pressure and impaired blood vessel function within two days. Globally, air pollution is the 13th leading cause of death. ... > full story
Placebo Acupuncture Is Associated With Higher Pregnancy Rate After IVF Than Real Acupuncture (November 13, 2008) -- A study comparing the effects of real and placebo acupuncture on pregnancy rates during assisted reproduction has found that, surprisingly, placebo acupuncture was associated with a significantly higher overall pregnancy rate than real acupuncture. The study is published in Human Reproduction journal. ... > full story
Octopus Family Tree Traced Using New Molecular Evidence (November 13, 2008) -- Many of the world's deep-sea octopuses evolved from species that lived in the Southern Ocean, according to new molecular evidence reported by researchers. ... > full story
Treating Heart Failure With A Gas (November 13, 2008) -- At low concentrations, the toxic gas hydrogen sulfide protects the hearts of mice from heart failure, scientists have found. The research suggests that doctors could use hydrogen sulfide to treat humans with heart failure. ... > full story
New Laser Method Reproduces Art Masterworks To Protein Patterns (November 13, 2008) -- To illustrate the precision of their protein patterning technique, scientists reproduced a masterwork of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, specifically Girl with a Pearl Earring, in the miniature dimension of 200 microns wide or about the thickness of two hairs. The researchers also used their novel technology to replicate the brain's complex cellular environment. ... > full story
Past Gains In Reducing Risk Of Heart Disease Have Flattened, Women Especially Affected (November 13, 2008) -- The positive US health trend documented over the past 30 years of reduction in risk for heart disease is not as strong as is widely perceived and, in fact, the trend has flattened, according to a new analysis of national data by Mayo Clinic. ... > full story
Rare Hebrew Seal From First Temple Period Discovered In Archaeological Excavations In Jerusalem's Western Wall Plaza (November 13, 2008) -- A rare and impressive Hebrew seal was discovered that dates to the latter part of the First Temple period. The seal was found in a building that is currently being uncovered, which dates to the seventh century BCE -- to the time when the kings Manasseh and Josiah reigned. ... > full story
Chronic Pain Might Contribute To Suicidal Thoughts (November 13, 2008) -- New research suggests that patients with chronic pain are more prone than others are to consider suicide. The increased risk remained even when study authors took the possible influence of mental illness into account. ... > full story
Cassini Finds Mysterious New Aurora On Saturn (November 13, 2008) -- Saturn has its own unique brand of aurora that lights up the polar cap, unlike any other planetary aurora known in our solar system. This odd aurora revealed itself to one of the infrared instruments on NASA's Cassini spacecraft. ... > full story
Gender Matching Aids Long-term Survival After Heart Transplants (November 13, 2008) -- Men who received heart transplants from a male donor and women who had female donors had lower chances of death than patients who received a transplant from the opposite sex, according to a new 10-year study. Pairing female patients with male donors had the greatest risk for death during the study. Researchers said heart size and perhaps differences in the immune system explain the correlation. ... > full story
Contact Lenses That Germs Can't Adhere To? Scientists Breed Designer Molecular Furs On Surfaces (November 13, 2008) -- Proteins play a decisive role in both the tolerability of contact lenses and the adherence of mussels to the hulls of ships. They develop a biofilm during their initial contact with the foreign material. A new designer surface is completely resistant to the adsorption of proteins. ... > full story
Heating Heart With Catheter Works Better Than Drugs For Heart Rhythm Disorder, Study Shows (November 13, 2008) -- Treating a common heart rhythm disorder by burning heart tissue with a catheter works dramatically better than drug treatments, a major international study has found. One year after undergoing a treatment called catheter ablation, 75 percent of patients with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation were free of symptoms. By comparison, only 21 percent of those treated with drugs were symptom-free. Results were so convincing the trial was halted early. ... > full story
Drought Tolerant Plants? New Technique Enables Assessment Of Drought Performance (November 13, 2008) -- Measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence is an effective way of determining how well plants can cope with low-water conditions. The technique allows a quantitative and precise determination of viability in intact, drought-stressed plants. ... > full story
Only One In Eight Educational Television Programs For Children Is Of High Quality, Study Shows (November 13, 2008) -- A new study shows that only one in eight children's education TV programs meet high quality standards. Commercial television broadcasters in the U.S. are required by law to air a minimum of three hours per week of children's educational programming. Most programs designated as educational offer only limited educational value for child viewers. ... > full story
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