ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Thursday, November 6, 2008
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Fingers, Loops And Bays In The Crab Nebula's Pulsar Wind Viewed By Chandra X-ray Observatory (November 6, 2008) -- NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has provided the first clear view of the faint boundary of the Crab Nebula's X-ray-emitting pulsar wind nebula. ... > full story
New Therapeutic Target Identified For Rheumatoid Arthritis (November 6, 2008) -- Researchers have identified a potential new therapeutic target that could be used to treat inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs that hit this new target are actually in trials for the treatment of another disease, leukemia. ... > full story
Gene Against Bacterial Attack Unraveled (November 6, 2008) -- Researchers have unraveled a genetic defense mechanism against the lethal bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei. The research is the next step towards a vaccine against this bacterium suitable for bioweapons. ... > full story
Minor Shift In Vaccine Schedule Has Potential To Reduce Infant Illness, Death (November 6, 2008) -- A new study suggests that protecting infants from a common, highly contagious and even deadly disease may be as easy as administering a routine vaccine two weeks earlier than it is typically given. ... > full story
West Nile's North American Spread Described (November 6, 2008) -- Most affected bird species have not yet recovered from the rapid spread of West Nile virus in North America after 1999, and the long-term ecological implications of the pathogen seem likely to be substantial. Annual outbreaks continue, and more research is needed to identify predictive factors that could lead to stepped-up countermeasures in vulnerable areas. ... > full story
War Affects Iraqis' Health More After Fleeing (November 6, 2008) -- The risk of depression is greater among Iraqi soldiers who took part in the Gulf War than among civilians. Surprisingly, on the other hand, neither of these groups showed any signs of post-traumatic stress ten years after that war-with the exception of those Iraqis who have left Iraq. ... > full story
DNA Chunks, Chimps And Humans: Marks Of Differences Between Human And Chimp Genomes (November 6, 2008) -- Researchers have carried out the largest study of differences between human and chimpanzee genomes, identifying regions that have been duplicated or lost during evolution of the two lineages. The study, the first to compare many human and chimpanzee genomes in the same fashion, shows that particular types of genes are more commonly involved in gain or loss. It also provides new evidence for a gene associated with susceptibility to infection by HIV. ... > full story
Gene Variations Alter Risk Of Esophageal Cancer (November 6, 2008) -- Variations in a common gene pathway may affect esophageal cancer risk, a dangerous and rapidly increasing type of cancer, according to new research. ... > full story
1,000 Tags Reveal Mysteries Of Giant Bluefin Tuna (November 6, 2008) -- A 1,250-pound giant bluefin tuna caught in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada had the honor of being released with the 1000th electronic tracking tag placed on this depleted species by the Tag-A-Giant campaign. ... > full story
Flu Vaccination Rates Lag For At-risk Adolescents (November 6, 2008) -- Influenza vaccination rates are still far too low for adolescents who suffer from asthma and other illnesses that predispose them to complications from the flu. ... > full story
Bare Bones Of Crystal Growth: Biomolecules Enhance Metal Contents In Calcite (November 6, 2008) -- A finding that a hydrophilic peptide significantly enhances the magnesium-content of calcite is especially meaningful for geologists because Mg-content in carbonates is used as a 'paleo thermometer'. The findings also offer new insights for materials synthesis. ... > full story
Alcohol Advice Needs To Play Greater Role In Sex Education For Teenagers, Experts Urge (November 6, 2008) -- Alcohol and attitudes are two of the key factors that health professionals need to be aware of when they are dealing with sexually active teenagers. ... > full story
Extreme Weather Postpones Flowering Time Of Plants (November 5, 2008) -- Extreme weather events have a greater effect on flora than previously presumed. A one-month drought postpones the time of flowering of grassland and heathland plants in Central Europe by an average of 4 days. With this a so-called 100-year drought event equates to approximately a decade of global warming. ... > full story
Double-barreled Immune Cell Approach For Neuroblastoma (November 5, 2008) -- Adding an artificial tumor-specific receptor to immune system cells called T-lymphocytes that target a particular virus extended and improved the cells' ability to fight a form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma, said researchers. ... > full story
Stressed Older Drivers Are Three Times More Likely To Brake Than Calm Drivers (November 5, 2008) -- Life can be stressful, whether you're an individual watching the stock market crash or a commuter stuck in traffic. A new study, forthcoming in the journal Psychological Science, examines how stress affects decision-making and finds that older adults alter their behavior more than young adults when under stress -- particularly in situations involving risk. ... > full story
How To Stop Winter From Weathering Your Skin (November 5, 2008) -- All winter flakes are not made of snow. Cold weather wreaks havoc on our skin, sometimes making it dry and flaky. Skin dries out if it's deprived of water and this dryness often causes itchiness, resulting in a condition commonly referred to as "winter itch." ... > full story
Biosynthetics Production With Detours (November 5, 2008) -- Scientists have achieved an important advance in better understanding metabolic pathways in bacteria. Using computer models, they calculated the genetic changes that are necessary for increasing the production of biosynthetics in the Pseudomonas putida bacteria. ... > full story
Rates Of Psychosis Higher Among Minority Groups In Britain (November 5, 2008) -- Both first- and second-generation immigrants to the United Kingdom appear to have a higher risk of psychoses than white British individuals, according to a new report. ... > full story
Dried Mushrooms Slow Climate Warming In Northern Forests (November 5, 2008) -- The fight against climate warming has an unexpected ally in mushrooms growing in dry spruce forests covering Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and other northern regions, a study finds. These findings could influence global climate change predictions and policy. ... > full story
Seizures Following Parasitic Infection Associated With Brain Swelling (November 5, 2008) -- A new study provides strong evidence associating seizures with areas of brain tissue swelling in people infected by a parasitic tapeworm. The swellings, called perilesional edemas, form around dead, calcified cysts that result when larvae of Taenia solium tapeworms lodge in the brain. The illness caused by T. solium infection -- neurocysticercosis -- is the most common cause of adult-onset seizures and epilepsy in developing countries where the tapeworm is endemic. ... > full story
Time Invested In Practicing Pays Off For Young Musicians, Research Shows (November 5, 2008) -- A new study has found that children who study a musical instrument for at least three years outperform children with no instrumental training -- not only in tests of auditory discrimination and finger dexterity (skills honed by the study of a musical instrument), but also on tests measuring verbal ability and visual pattern completion (skills not normally associated with music). ... > full story
Lung Airway Cells Activate Vitamin D And Increase Immune Response (November 5, 2008) -- Essential to good health, vitamin D requires activation to function properly in the body. Until recently, this activation was thought to occur primarily in the kidneys. A new study finds it can occur in lung airway cells. The investigation also links the vitamin D produced in the lung airway cells to activation of infection-fighting genes. ... > full story
Identity Theft Risk: Huge Amount Of Sensitive Data Still On Redundant Computer Hard Disks (November 5, 2008) -- A new report suggests that there is a huge amount of sensitive data still on redundant computer hard disks. These devices are often disposed of or sold into the second-hand market by corporations, organizations, and individuals with the data intact. The report's authors say that this data represents a significant level of risk for commercial sabotage, identity theft, and even political compromise, and suggest that better education is essential to reduce the risk of harm. ... > full story
Measuring 'Inaudible' Sounds To Detect Illegal Nuclear Tests, And Analyze Atmosphere (November 5, 2008) -- By measuring 'inaudible' sounds, events like illegal nuclear tests can be detected. This 'infrasound' can also help us understand more about the upper atmosphere, according to new research. ... > full story
Skeleton Of 12,000-Year-Old Shaman Discovered Buried With Leopard, 50 Tortoises And Human Foot (November 5, 2008) -- The skeleton of a 12,000 year-old Natufian Shaman has been discovered in northern Israel by archaeologists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The burial is described as being accompanied by "exceptional" grave offerings -- including 50 complete tortoise shells, the pelvis of a leopard and a human foot. The shaman burial is thought to be one of the earliest known from the archaeological record and the only shaman grave in the whole region. ... > full story
Moms' Smoking Linked To Increased Risk Of Birth Defects (November 5, 2008) -- The damaging effects of smoking and smoke exposure can be seen at any age. Pediatricians have even noted these negative effects in various stages of infant development. The consequences of maternal smoke exposure during pregnancy can range from higher rates of prematurity to increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Two new studies examine several physical and behavioral effects of cigarette smoke exposure on infants. ... > full story
Low Cost Vehicle Stability Chip Reduces Rollover Risk (November 5, 2008) -- Drivers worldwide soon will be able to navigate dangerous road conditions more safely, due to new sensor technology. The 1.7 millimeter-wide device helps stabilize automobiles, allowing them to pass safely through hazardous conditions such as sharp turns and slippery roads that could result in a rollover. ... > full story
‘Natural Killer’ Immune Cells Reveal Factors For Reproductive Success (November 5, 2008) -- Immune cells known as natural killer (NK) cells are linked with pregnancy problems including pre-eclampsia and recurrent miscarriage. Scientists are illuminating the role that pregnancy-related NK cells play in moderating the biochemical interactions at the boundary between maternal tissues and the developing fetus. Their findings reveal that uterine NK cells are 'armed' with specific receptors, enabling interaction with other molecules to ensure that the placenta develops normally and the pregnancy is successful. ... > full story
Genes That Prevent Changes In Physical Traits Due To Environmental Changes Identified (November 5, 2008) -- Biologists have identified genes that prevent physical traits from being affected by environmental changes. The research, which studied the genetic makeup of baker's yeast, appears in the Public Library of Science's journal, PloS Biology. ... > full story
MRI Reveals Relationship Between Depression And Pain (November 5, 2008) -- The brains of individuals with major depressive disorder appear to react more strongly when anticipating pain and also display altered functioning of the neural network that modifies pain sensitivity, according to a new report. ... > full story
Could Life Have Started In Lump Of Ice? Very Cold Ice Films In Laboratory Reveal Mysteries Of Universe (November 5, 2008) -- The universe is full of water, mostly in the form of very cold ice films deposited on interstellar dust particles, but until recently little was known about the detailed small scale structure. Now the latest quick freezing techniques coupled with sophisticated scanning electron microscopy techniques, are allowing physicists to create ice films in cold conditions similar to outer space and observe the detailed molecular organization, yielding clues to fundamental questions including possibly the origin of life. ... > full story
Vitamin B3 Reduces Alzheimer's Symptoms, Lesions: Clinical Trial On Nicotinamide Effect In Alzheimer's Patients (November 5, 2008) -- An over-the-counter vitamin in high doses prevented memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and scientists now are conducting a clinical trial to determine its effect in humans. ... > full story
Clue Discovered In Spread Of 'Superbugs' (November 5, 2008) -- Scientists are one step closer to finding a defense against dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria, sometimes called "superbugs." Researchers have obtained the first visual evidence of a key piece in the puzzle of how deadly superbugs spread antibiotic resistance in hospitals and throughout the general population. ... > full story
Anti-VEGF Drugs For Retinal Diseases Could Have Serious Side Effects, Scientists Caution (November 5, 2008) -- Scientists have found that reducing the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is best known as a stimulator of new blood vessel growth, in adult mice causes the death of photoreceptors and Muller glia -- cells of the retina that are essential to visual function. This finding holds implications for the chronic use of promising new anti-VEGF drugs such as Lucentis, which eliminate abnormal and damaging blood vessel growth in the retina by neutralizing VEGF. ... > full story
Ecologists Say Metabolism Accounts For Why Natural Selection Favors Only Some Species (November 5, 2008) -- Why are some species of plants and animals favored by natural selection? And why does natural selection not favor other species similarly? According to a new study, the answer lies in the rate of metabolism of a species - how fast a species consumes energy, per unit mass, per unit time. ... > full story
ADHD As A Serious Driver’s Disability (November 5, 2008) -- If your teen can’t pass a driver’s test, it might not mean more time in driver’s ed is needed. It might be due to ADHD. ... > full story
New Spaceship Force Field Makes Mars Trip Possible (November 5, 2008) -- According to the international space agencies, "space weather" is the single greatest threat to deep space travel. New research in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion shows how knowledge gained from the pursuit of nuclear fusion research may reduce the threat to acceptable levels, making humanity's first mission to Mars a much greater possibility. ... > full story
Drug Mimics Low-cal Diet To Ward Off Weight Gain, Boost Running Endurance (November 5, 2008) -- A drug designed to specifically hit a protein linked to the life-extending benefits of a meager diet can essentially trick the body into believing food is scarce even when it isn't, suggests a new report in Cell Metabolism. ... > full story
New Device Controls, Measures Dynamics Of Chemicals In Live Tissue (November 5, 2008) -- The "chemistrode," a droplet-base microfluidic device, provides new exciting opportunities to study stimulus-response dynamics in chemistry and biology. It will help researchers study any surface that responds to chemical stimulation (cells, tissue, biofilms, catalytic surfaces, etc.). It may also help neurologists, cardiologists, and endocrinologists study and diagnose diseases. Researchers have already used it to measure how a single murine islet responds to glucose. They have applied for a patent on the device. ... > full story
Chronic Headaches? 'Medication Overuse Headaches' Surprisingly Common (November 5, 2008) -- There is a critical need to review current treatment strategies for the increasingly common problem of medication overuse headaches (MOH), according to a new research. ... > full story
Light Weight Hydrogen 'Tank' Could Fuel Hydrogen Economy (November 5, 2008) -- Researchers have shown that an alloy of the metals magnesium, titanium and nickel is excellent at absorbing hydrogen. This light alloy brings us a step closer to the everyday use of hydrogen as a source of fuel for powering vehicles. A hydrogen ‘tank’ using this alloy would have a relative weight that is sixty percent less than a battery pack. ... > full story
Is ADHD More Likely To Affect Movement In Boys Or Girls? (November 5, 2008) -- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder appears to affect movement in boys more than it does in girls, according to a new study. ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders found in children. Symptoms include impulsiveness, hyperactivity, such as not being able to sit still, and inattention or constant daydreaming. Few studies have been done that compare ADHD and movement in both boys and girls. ... > full story
'Junk' DNA Proves Functional; Helps Explain Human Differences From Other Species (November 5, 2008) -- In a new study, scientists in Singapore report that what was previously believed to be "junk" DNA is one of the important ingredients distinguishing humans from other species. ... > full story
Folic Acid, B Vitamins Do Not Appear To Affect Cancer Risk (November 5, 2008) -- A daily supplementation combination that included folic acid and vitamin B6 and B12 had no significant effect on the overall risk of cancer, including breast cancer, among women at high risk of cardiovascular disease, according to new study. ... > full story
Rising Carbon Dioxide Levels 'Will Hit Coral Reefs Harder' (November 5, 2008) -- Rising carbon dioxide levels in the world's oceans could deliver a disastrous blow to the ability of coral reefs to withstand climate change. A major new investigation by Australian scientists has revealed that acidification of the oceans from human carbon dioxide emissions has the potential to worsen the impact of the bleaching and death of reef-building organisms expected to occur under global warming. ... > full story
Steroid Therapies Following Transplant Can Be Eliminated, Study Suggests (November 5, 2008) -- Using modern immunosuppressive drugs eliminates the need for steroid therapy as early as seven days following a transplant surgery while still maintaining kidney function, according to new research. ... > full story
High-performance Steel For Possible Use In ITER Fusion Project Developed (November 5, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a new cast stainless steel that is 70 percent stronger than comparable steels and is being evaluated for use in the huge shield modules required by the ITER fusion device. ... > full story
'Weapons Of Mass Production', I Mean, 'Mass Destruction!' How The Brain Prevents Verbal Errors (November 5, 2008) -- New research illuminates how the brain prevents verbal errors. Our brain is fairly good at preventing mistakes in speech. Unfortunately it does make the odd mistake. George W. Bush, famous for his verbal errors, made the mistake of referring to weapons of 'mass production' instead of 'mass destruction'. Former UK deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, had the same problem when he spoke of solving industrial disputes through 'meditation' instead of 'mediation'. ... > full story
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