ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Tuesday, November 11, 2008
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Bacteria In Mouth Help Make Certain Foods Tasty (November 11, 2008) -- Scientists in Switzerland are reporting that bacteria in the human mouth play a role in creating the distinctive flavors of certain foods. They found that these bacteria actually produce food odors from odorless components of food, allowing people to fully savor fruits and vegetables. ... > full story
Cancer Drugs May Build And Not Tear Down Blood Vessels (November 11, 2008) -- Scientists have thought that one way to foil a tumor from generating blood vessels to feed its growth -- a process called angiogenesis -- was by creating drugs aimed at stopping a key vessel growth-promoting protein. But now the opposite seems to be true. ... > full story
Deep Sea Expedition Sets Sail (November 11, 2008) -- Researchers are embarking upon an extreme adventure, plunging deep into the sea to study hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. They'll share the experience with 20,000-plus school children through interactive sessions. ... > full story
Vitamins E And C Supplements Not Effective For Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease In Men (November 11, 2008) -- Neither vitamin E nor vitamin C supplements reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events in a large, long-term study of male physicians, according to a new study. ... > full story
Clouds Can Predict Climate Changes (November 11, 2008) -- The properties of clouds can be a key to predicting coming climate changes. The earth's climate field is regulated by the balance between incoming solar radiation and outbound heat radiation. The aerosol content of the atmosphere, that is, the proportion of particles in the air, functions as a regulator: cooling off by reflecting incoming light, warming up by absorbing the outbound heat radiation. But clouds also impact the climate. ... > full story
1918 Spanish Flu Records Could Hold The Key To Solving Future Pandemics (November 11, 2008) -- Ninety years after Australian scientists began their race to stop the spread of Spanish flu in Australia, University of Melbourne researchers are hoping records from the 1918 epidemic may hold the key to preventing future deadly pandemic outbreaks. ... > full story
Mars Phoenix Lander Finishes Successful Work On Red Planet (November 11, 2008) -- NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has ceased communications after operating for more than five months. As anticipated, seasonal decline in sunshine at the robot's arctic landing site is not providing enough sunlight for the solar arrays to collect the power necessary to charge batteries that operate the lander's instruments. ... > full story
Scientists Map Molecular Regulation Of Fat-cell Genetics (November 11, 2008) -- A research team has used state-of-the-art genetic technology to map thousands of positions where a molecular "master regulator" of fat-cell biology is nestled in DNA to control genes in these cells. ... > full story
Chandrayaan-1 Now In Lunar Orbit (November 11, 2008) -- Chandrayaan-1, the Indian Space Research Organisation's lunar orbiter, was captured into orbit around the Moon on Nov. 8. One day later, the spacecraft performed a maneuver that lowered the closest point of its orbit down to 200 km from the Moon. ... > full story
Important Steps Towards Development Of Human Vaccine Against Malaria (November 11, 2008) -- Every day 2000 children die from malaria in Africa alone. The infection is transmitted from human to human by biting mosquitoes and remains one of the world's most devastating diseases. Despite many years of effort a vaccine is still not available but is urgently needed. ... > full story
Economic Incentives For Analysts Play Role In Determining Street Earnings (November 11, 2008) -- Researchers have found that analysts' self-interests often influence the value of street earnings, which makes street earnings less useful for predicting future earnings of high-growth stocks. ... > full story
Eliminating Soda From School Diets Does Not Affect Overall Consumption (November 11, 2008) -- With childhood obesity increasing, school administrators and public health officials are reducing availability of sugar-sweetened beverages in schools. In a new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, researchers found that reduction or elimination of sugar-sweetened beverages from school menus has little effect on total consumption by adolescents. ... > full story
Astonishing Life In Ocean's Depths: Major Progress Made Towards Historic Census Of Marine Life (November 10, 2008) -- In a report on progress toward the first Census of Marine Life, more than 2,000 scientists from 82 nations announce astonishing examples of recent new finds from the world's ocean depths. Among revelations in fourth interim global highlights report are the Antarctic ancestry of many octopus species and the discovery of Behemoth bacteria, colossal sea stars and mammoth mollusks. ... > full story
Quintet Of Proteins Forms New, Early-warning Blood Test Before Heart Attack Strikes (November 10, 2008) -- Biochemists have identified a mixed bag of five key proteins out of thousands secreted into blood draining from the heart's blood vessels that may together or in certain quantities form the basis of a far more accurate early warning test than currently in use of impending heart attack in people with severely reduced blood flow, or ischemia. ... > full story
Modeling Ice Cream Production In The Search For Innovation (November 10, 2008) -- The production of ice cream, a seemingly simple product, brings into play a variety of complex hydrodynamic and thermic processes, with as yet poorly known interactions. To assist industry in making new products, Cemagref scientists have developed a simulator, the size of a yogurt cup, capable of miming the entire production chain. ... > full story
Impact Of Insulin Pump Under Study (November 10, 2008) -- Using an insulin pump to manage diabetes is more convenient than managing the disease with daily insulin injections. That much, physicians already know. But the pump's impact on the lives of diabetics and their primary caregivers is an important question that hasn't been answered yet, researchers say. ... > full story
How 'Molecular Machines' Kick Start Gene Activation Revealed (November 10, 2008) -- How "molecular machines" inside cells swing into action to activate genes at different times in a cell's life is revealed in new research published in Molecular Cell. ... > full story
Dead Famous: 18th Century Obituaries Sparked Modern Cult Of Celebrity, Research Says (November 10, 2008) -- Research by the University of Warwick shows how death gave birth to the modern cult of celebrity as the sudden rise in the popularity of obituaries of unusual people in the 1700s provided people with the 18th Century equivalent of a celebrity magazine. ... > full story
Can Vitamins And Minerals Prevent Hearing Loss? (November 10, 2008) -- Researchers and physicians at the University of Michigan Kresge Hearing Research Institute are hoping to reverse a rising trend of noise-induced hearing loss with a cocktail of vitamins and the mineral magnesium that has shown promise as a possible way to prevent hearing loss caused by loud noises. ... > full story
Bone Marrow Transplant Can Cure Sickle Cell Disease, Children's Hospital Study Suggests (November 10, 2008) -- A unique approach to bone marrow transplantation has proven to be the only safe and effective cure for sickle cell disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Engineered Killer T Cell Recognizes HIV-1's Lethal Molecular Disguises (November 10, 2008) -- Researchers have engineered T cells able to recognize HIV-1 strains that have evaded the immune system. The findings have important implications for developing new treatments for HIV, especially for patients with chronic infection who fail to respond to antiretroviral regimens. ... > full story
Seven Years Without A Nose (November 10, 2008) -- Patients whose nose has been destroyed by a tumor or injury carry a severe psychological and social burden. Esthetic reconstruction ranges among the most challenging tasks in plastic surgery. Researchers have presented the different options for nasal reconstruction surgery. ... > full story
Untangling DNA Regulation: Biologists Theorize Role For DNA Packaging In Stem Cell Development (November 10, 2008) -- Biologists have discovered that the organization of DNA's packing material plays a critical role in directing stem cells to become different types of adult cells. ... > full story
World Needs Climate Emergency Backup Plan, Says Expert (November 10, 2008) -- In submitted testimony to the British Parliament, climate scientist said that while steep cuts in carbon emissions are essential to stabilizing global climate, there also needs to be a backup plan. Geoengineering solutions such as injecting dust into the atmosphere are risky, but may become necessary if emissions cuts are insufficient to stave off catastrophic warming. He urged that research into the pros and cons of geoengineering be made a high priority. ... > full story
Neuroimaging Of Brain Shows Who Spoke To A Person And What Was Said (November 10, 2008) -- Scientists have developed a method to look into the brain of a person and read out who has spoken to him or her and what was said. With the help of neuroimaging and data mining techniques the researchers mapped the brain activity associated with the recognition of speech sounds and voices. In their Science article "Who" is Saying "What"? Brain-Based Decoding of Human Voice and Speech the four authors demonstrate that speech sounds and voices can be identified by means of a unique 'neural fingerprint' in the listener's brain. ... > full story
Multiple Sclerosis Research Charges Ahead With New Mouse Model Of Disease (November 10, 2008) -- A new study highlights the role of a charge-switching enzyme in nervous system deficits characteristic of multiple sclerosis and other related neurological illness. Too much of a charge-switching enzyme causes symptoms of multiple sclerosis and related disorders in mouse models. ... > full story
Small Water Fleas Help Ecologists Understand Population Dynamics (November 10, 2008) -- A study of populations of tiny water fleas is helping ecologists to understand population dynamics, which may lead to predictions about the ecological consequences of environmental change. ... > full story
New Imaging Technology Accurately Identifies A Broad Spectrum Of Liver Disease (November 10, 2008) -- New imaging technology can identify liver fibrosis with high accuracy and help eliminate the need for liver biopsies. Liver fibrosis is a common condition that can lead to incurable cirrhosis if not treated in time. ... > full story
Research On Breathing Disorders And Congenital Heart Defects (November 10, 2008) -- New optical techniques have been developed for visualizing the invisible processes at work in several human diseases. ... > full story
Age Is Not A Key Factor In Cancer Survival, But Clinical Trials Exclude Older Patients (November 10, 2008) -- Age is not an independent factor in cancer survival rates and should not influence decisions about how to treat older patients, according to a new study. ... > full story
New Small-scale Generator Produces Alternating Current By Stretching Zinc Oxide Wires (November 10, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a new type of small-scale electric power generator able to produce alternating current through the cyclical stretching and releasing of zinc oxide wires encapsulated in a flexible plastic substrate with two ends bonded. ... > full story
Researchers Discover New Risk Factor For Cardiovascular Disease, And A Way To Control It (November 10, 2008) -- Scientists have discovered that having high levels of particular protein puts patients at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The results of the study were so conclusive that the clinical trial had to be stopped before its scheduled completion date. ... > full story
Nanoparticles Research Aids Drug Development (November 10, 2008) -- Scientists have developed a new technology which can dramatically improve the effectiveness of antibacterial treatments. ... > full story
Half-broken Gene Is Enough To Cause Cancer (November 10, 2008) -- Tumor suppressor genes do not necessarily require both alleles to be knocked out before disease phenotypes are expressed. Only one allele of SMAD4 has to be damaged to put a person at risk of pancreatic and colorectal cancer. ... > full story
MP3 Headphones Interfere With Implantable Defibrillators, Pacemakers, Study Suggests (November 10, 2008) -- MP3 player headphones can cause potentially dangerous interactions with pacemakers and implantable defibrillators. For safe use, the headphones must be at least 1.2 inches (3 cm) from the implanted devices. Unrelated research did not find adverse reactions to pacemakers and defibrillators from iPods, Bluetooth headsets, iPhones, electric blankets, hand-held airport metal detectors or pills swallowed to perform video endoscopy. ... > full story
Computer Model Can Predict Human Behavior And Learning (November 10, 2008) -- A new computer model can predict how people will complete a controlled task and how the knowledge needed to complete that task develops over time. ... > full story
Simple Brain Mechanisms Explain Arbitrary Human Visual Decisions (November 10, 2008) -- Scientists report that a simple decision-making task does not involve the frontal lobes, where many of the higher aspects of human cognition, including self-awareness, are thought to originate. Instead, the regions that decide are the same brain regions that receive stimuli relevant to the decision and control the body's response to it. ... > full story
Flu Shots May Cut Risk Of Blood Clots Forming In Veins (November 10, 2008) -- Flu shots may reduce the risk of blood clots forming in veins by 26 percent. Flu shots may be more protective before age 52. ... > full story
Intelligent Walker Designed To Assist The Elderly And People Undergoing Medical Rehabilitation (November 10, 2008) -- Researchers have designed an intelligent walker (i-Walker) that goes a step beyond conventional walkers as it can communicate with the user, think for itself and react to the environment. The device can understand a set of voice commands and can be activated by means of simple verbal instructions given by the user (e.g., "take me to the kitchen"). To do this, it includes elements for independent movement and a personalized intelligent software agent. ... > full story
New Research Finds Markers For Esophageal Cancer Before It Develops (November 10, 2008) -- Researchers have identified genetic proteins, also known as biomarkers, capable of distinguishing changes at the microscopic level that can signal a precancerous condition in the esophagus. These markers may help identify patients who are likely to progress to esophageal cancer. ... > full story
Preventing Traffic Accidents Before They Happen? (November 10, 2008) -- A new automotive safety systems will alert drivers to potential hazards by using information from the car, other road users and the roadside infrastructure to predict and prevent traffic accidents. ... > full story
Racial Disparities Increasing For Cancers Unrelated To Smoking, Study Finds (November 10, 2008) -- A new American Cancer Society study finds that recent progress in closing the gap in overall cancer mortality between African-Americans and whites may be due primarily to smoking-related cancers, and that cancer mortality differences related to screening and treatment may still be increasing. ... > full story
Global Warming Predicted To Hasten Carbon Release From Peat Bogs (November 10, 2008) -- Billions of tons of carbon sequestered in the world's peat bogs could be released into the atmosphere in the coming decades as a result of global warming, according to a new analysis of the interplay between peat bogs, water tables, and climate change. ... > full story
Harnessing Nature’s Diagnostic Tools For Disease Prevention (November 10, 2008) -- The earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of effecting a cure. A revolutionary new hybrid technology offers the possibility of detecting this and other diseases right at inception. ... > full story
DNA Provides 'Smoking Gun' In The Case Of The Missing Songbirds (November 10, 2008) -- DNA evidence shows conclusively that males from a North American warbler species interbred with females from a related species and took over a large part of the other species' range. ... > full story
XDR-TB: Deadlier And More Mysterious Than Ever (November 10, 2008) -- New research has found that extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis is increasingly common and more deadly than previously known. Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis is a growing public health threat that is only just beginning to be understood by medical and public health officials. ... > full story
Plant Virus Spreads By Making Life Easy For Crop Pests (November 10, 2008) -- In 752, Japanese Empress Koken wrote a short poem about the summertime yellowing of a field in what is thought to be the first account of a viral plant disease. More than 1,250 years later, scientists concluded that the virus Koken described was part of the particularly insidious geminivirus family that continues to decimate tomato, tobacco and cotton crops worldwide. ... > full story
Mental Health Linked To Stillbirth And Newborn Deaths (November 10, 2008) -- Women with a history of serious mental illness are much more likely to have babies that are stillborn or die within the first month of life, new research reveals. ... > full story
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