ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Mystery Of South American Trophy Heads Solved	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
A recent study using specimens from Chicago's Field Museum establishes that Nazca trophy heads came from people who lived in the same place and were part of the same culture as those who collected them.

Adult-onset Diabetes Slows Mental Functioning In Several Ways, With Deficits Appearing Early	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
Adults with diabetes experience a slowdown in several types of mental processing, which appears early in the disease and persists into old age, according to new research. Given the sharp rise in new cases of diabetes, this finding means that more adults may soon be living with mild but lasting deficits in their thought processes.

Gold Nanoparticles For Controlled Drug Delivery	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
Using tiny gold particles and infrared light, MIT researchers have developed a drug-delivery system that allows multiple drugs to be released in a controlled fashion.

Gene Expression And Splicing Vary Widely From One Tissue To The Next	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
Genes talk to themselves and to each other to control how a given cell manufactures proteins. But variation in the control of the same gene in two different tissues may contribute to certain human traits, including the likelihood of getting a disease, said a team of geneticists and neuroscientists.

Grazing Animals Help Spread Plant Disease	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
Researchers have discovered that grazing animals such as deer and rabbits are actually helping to spread plant disease -- quadrupling its prevalence in some cases -- and encouraging an invasion of annual grasses that threaten more than 20 million acres of native grasslands in California.

Teens Girls Smoke Now, Pay Later With Larger Waistlines As Adults	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
Remember the cool girls, huddled together in high school restrooms, puffing their cigarettes? Well, here's consolation for the nerds in the crowd: Those teen smokers are more likely to experience obesity as adults, according to a new study from Finland.

Stars Forming Just Beyond Black Hole's Grasp At Galactic Center	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
The center of the Milky Way presents astronomers with a paradox: It holds young stars, but no one is sure how those stars got there. The galactic center is wracked with powerful gravitational tides stirred by a 4 million solar-mass black hole. Those tides should rip apart molecular clouds that act as stellar nurseries, preventing stars from forming in place. Yet the alternative -- stars falling inward after forming elsewhere -- should be a rare occurrence.

Obesity Linked To Elevated Risk Of Ovarian Cancer	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
A new epidemiological study has found that among women who have never used menopausal hormone therapy, obese women are at an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer compared with women of normal weight.

Amazon Deforestation Trend On The Increase	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon forests has flipped from a decreasing to an increasing trend, according to new annual figures recently released by the country's space agency INPE.

Increased Risk Of Pneumococcal Disease In Asthma Patients	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
Adults with asthma are at increased risk of serious pneumococcal disease caused by Streptococcus pneumonia, the most common bacteria causing middle ear infections and community acquired pneumonia.

New Methods For The Environmental Chemist’s Toolbox	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
Organic compounds exhibit specific isotopic compositions that can be used as their "fingerprint". Environmental chemists nowadays exploit changes of isotopic compositions to identify the origin of organic pollutants and to assess their (bio)degradation in the environment by compound-specific stable isotope analysis.

‘Magnetic Bra’ Gives Independence Back To Disabled And Older Women	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
Researchers have developed a new bra for older and disabled women which replaces traditional fastenings with magnets.

Possible Abnormality In Fundamental Building Block Of Einstein's Theory Of Relativity	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
Physicists have developed a promising new way to identify a possible abnormality in a fundamental building block of Einstein's theory of relativity known as "Lorentz invariance." If confirmed, the abnormality would disprove the basic tenet that the laws of physics remain the same for any two objects traveling at a constant speed or rotated relative to one another.

Defensive Protein Killed Ancient Primate Retroviruses, Research Suggests	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
Retroviruses are the worst sort of guest. Over eons, these molecular parasites have insinuated themselves into their hosts' DNA and caused a ruckus. The poor hosts can't even be rid of the intruders by killing them, because they stubbornly remain after death.

New Park Protects Penguins And Other Marine Life In Argentina	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
A new coastal marine park has recently been signed into law by the Government of Argentina. The park protects half a million penguins along with several species of rare seabirds and the region's only population of South American fur seals. It is the first protected area in Argentina specifically designed to safeguard not only onshore breeding colonies but also areas of ocean where wildlife feed at sea.

Alternative Way To Save Brain Cells After Stroke Or Head Trauma, New Finding Suggests	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
Shredded extracellular matrix is toxic to neurons. Researchers reveal a new mechanism for how ECM demolition causes brain damage. The study suggests that drugs that block KA1, one subunit of the kainate receptor, might provide an alternative way to save brain cells after stroke or head trauma.

Genetic Modification Turns E. Coli Bacteria Into High Density Biofuel	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
Scientists have successfully pushed nature beyond its limits by genetically modifying Escherichia coli, a bacterium often associated with food poisoning, to produce unusually long-chain alcohols essential in the creation of biofuels.

Early Family Depression Has Lasting Effects On Teens, Young Adults	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
A new study on 485 Iowa adolescents over a 10-year period (1991-2001) found that early socioeconomic adversity experienced by children contributes to poor mental health by the time they become teens -- disrupting their successful transition into adulthood.

Swarm Of Small Earthquakes Rattles Yellowstone National Park, U.S.	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST
A notable swarm of earthquakes has been underway since December 26, 2008 beneath Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, three to six miles south-southeast of Fishing Bridge, Wyoming.

Common Gene Variant Linked To High Blood Pressure Identified	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST
Researchers have identified a common gene variant that appears to influence people's risk of developing high blood pressure, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The STK39 gene is the first hypertension susceptibility gene to be uncovered through a new technique called a genome-wide association study and confirmed by data from several independent studies.

Organic Plant Waste Proves Effective Weed Control For Citrus Trees	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST
Interest in organic crop production is increasing around the world. Organics are healthy for consumers while adding environmental benefits and decreasing the amount of synthetic herbicides in foods, soil, and water. While organics gain popularity with consumers, organic farmers are faced with new production challenges, especially managing and reducing invasive weeds.

Acute Gastric Injury Due To High-dose Analgesics?	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST
A new study has documented the gastrointestinal complications of high dose acetaminophen, a commonly used drug. The study investigated the acute high dose ingestion of analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen, with suicidal intent. The study results surprisingly indicated that acetaminophen induces gastric lesions.

Better Predictions Of Share Yields	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST
It is not easy to predict stock market trends. Two financial researchers at BI Norwegian School of Management have identified a target indicator that can predict future return on shares.

Power Of Wilderness Experiences As A Catalyst For Change In Young Offenders	Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST
Researchers have been working with young offenders to help them turn their lives around. Findings of the self-reported measures of self-confidence, trust, belonging and connectedness to nature showed that after each wilderness experience, feelings increased and during the months in between levels fell, as participants had less contact with nature. The final value at the end of the project was substantially higher than the initial starting value.

Astronomers To Gaze Back In Time And Map History Of Universe	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
Astronomers are set to expand our knowledge of the history of our universe with a new project to map the inception and formation of galaxies.

Dormant Cancer Cells Rely On Cellular Self-cannibalization To Survive	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
A tumor-suppressing gene is a key to understanding, and perhaps killing, dormant ovarian cancer cells that persist after initial treatment only to reawaken later, researchers report. They found that expression of ARHI turns on autophagy, or self-eating, in ovarian cancer cells, which promotes their survival in a dormant state.

Patient-derived Induced Stem Cells Retain Disease Traits	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
When neurons started dying in Clive Svendsen's lab dishes, he couldn't have been more pleased. The dying cells -- the same type lost in patients with the devastating neurological disease spinal muscular atrophy -- confirmed that the stem cell biologist had recreated the hallmarks of a genetic disorder in the lab, using stem cells derived from a patient.

Newly Identified Gene Powerful Predictor Of Colon Cancer Metastasis	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
Scientists have identified a gene which enables them to predict for the first time with high probability if colon cancer is going to metastasize. They were able to demonstrate that the gene MACC1 not only promotes tumor growth but also the development of metastasis. When MACC1 gene activity is low, the life expectancy of patients with colon cancer is longer in comparison to patients with high MACC1 levels.

Quantum Electronics: Tunneling Effect In Strong Laser Field Interaction Under Attack	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
Physicists have worked on the quantum physics description of the tunneling effect for 60 years. The group has now for the first time succeeded in measuring time intervals that enable the direct measurement of the tunneling time of electrons in laser-induced ionization. No corresponding delay was measured in the experiment: something that astonished many physicists. An established but perhaps over-simplified explanatory model begins to look shaky.

Family Members Of Critically Ill Patients Want To Discuss Loved Ones' Uncertain Prognoses	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST
Critically ill patients frequently have uncertain prognoses, but their families overwhelmingly wish that physicians would address prognostic uncertainty candidly, according to a new study.

Nano 'Tractor Beam' Traps DNA	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
Using a beam of light shunted through a tiny silicon channel, researchers have created a nanoscale trap that can stop free floating DNA molecules and nanoparticles in their tracks. By holding the nanoscale material steady while the fluid around it flows freely, the trap may allow researchers to boost the accuracy of biological sensors and create a range of new 'lab on a chip' diagnostic tools.

Scientists Make Strides Toward Defining Genetic Signature Of Alzheimer's Disease	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
Scientists have new information about the complex genetic signature associated with Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly. The research uses a powerful, high-resolution analysis to look for genes associated with this devastating neurodegenerative disorder.

African Thicket Rat Malaria Linked To Virulent Human Form	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
Malarial parasites found in tree-dwelling African thicket rats share a close evolutionary relationship with Plasmodium falciparum and P. reichenowi. The analysis is based on amplification of entire mitochondrial genomes of malarial parasites that use humans, rodents, birds and lizards as their hosts.

In Lung Cancer, Silencing One Crucial Gene Disrupts Normal Functioning Of Genome	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
While examining patterns of DNA modification in lung cancer, scientists have discovered what they say is a surprising new mechanism. They say that "silencing" of a single gene in lung cancer led to a general impairment in genome-wide changes in cells, contributing to cancer development and progression.

Sea Rise Over Continental Shelves Significantly Affected Past Global Carbon Cycle	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
Since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; about 21,000 years ago) sea level has risen by 130 meters (430 feet), resulting in continental shelf submergence and a massive expansion of the surface area of shelf seas.

The Culture Of Medicine	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST
Everybody is familiar with the stereotypes of medical education from the student perspective: grueling hours, little recognition, and even less glory. A new study pulls back the curtain on the dominant environment of academic medicine from the perspective of faculty, the providers of medical education in medical schools. The study raises questions about how the prevailing culture of academic medicine shapes the delivery of health care.

Fusing Embryonic Stem Cells With Adult Cells Using Highly Efficient New Fusing System	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
Engineers have developed a new, highly efficient way to pair up cells so they can be fused together into a hybrid cell. The new technique should make it much easier for scientists to study what happens when two cells are combined. For example, fusing an adult cell and an embryonic stem cell allows researchers to study the genetic reprogramming that occurs in such hybrids.

Genetic Variation May Lead To Early Cardiovascular Disease	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
Scientists have identified a variation in a particular gene that increases susceptibility to early coronary artery disease. For years, scientists have known that the devastating, early-onset form of the disease was inherited, but they knew little about the gene(s) responsible until now.

Microbes In The Intestine: Friend Or Foe?	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
Micro-organisms in the intestine live in symbiosis with humans but can cause illness or even death. Scientists have researched the factors that make a person immune to worm infections. The knowledge can now be used to develop vaccines.

Lung Cancer Cells Activate Inflammation To Induce Metastasis	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
Scientists have identified a protein produced by cancerous lung epithelial cells that enhances metastasis by stimulating the activity of inflammatory cells.

Fat Tissue Is Sensitive To Irradiation	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
Scientists found that irradiation damages fat tissue. Radiation therapy directed at cancer management also damages normal tissues. Autologous transplant of tissues such as fat tissue has often been used to prevent the fibrosis, organ dysfunction, and necrosis that result from radiation treatment; however, the effects of radiation on the transplanted fat tissue had not been studied.

Nutrigenomics: Developing Personalized Diets For Disease Prevention	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST
The emerging field of nutrigenomics aims to identify the genetic factors that influence the body's response to diet and studies how the bioactive constituents of food affect gene expression.

Testes Stem Cells Can Change Into Other Body Tissues	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST
Scientists have succeeded in isolating stem cells from human testes. The cells bear a striking resemblance to embryonic stem cells -- they can differentiate into each of the three main types of tissues of the body -- but the researchers caution against viewing them as one and the same.

Baby Jupiters Must Gain Weight Fast	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST
The planet Jupiter gained weight in a hurry during its infancy. It had to, since the material from which it formed probably disappeared in just a few million years, according to a new study of planet formation around young stars.

Jupiter-like Planets Could Form Around Twin Suns	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST
Life on a planet ruled by two suns might be a little complicated. Two sunrises, two sunsets. Twice the radiation field. Astronomers suggest that planets may easily form around certain types of twin star systems. A disk of molecules discovered orbiting a pair of twin young suns in the constellation Sagittarius strongly suggests that many such binary systems also host planets.

Evolution In Action: Our Antibodies Take 'Evolutionary Leaps' To Fight Microbes	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST
With cold and flu season in full swing, the fact that viruses and bacteria rapidly evolve is apparent with every sneeze, sniffle and cough. A new report explains for the first time how humans keep up with microbes by rearranging the genes that make antibodies to foreign invaders. This research fills a significant gap in the understanding of how the immune system helps us survive.

Breast Cancer Gene Linked To Disease Spread Discovered	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST
Researchers have identified a long-sought gene that is fatefully switched on in 30 to 40 percent of all breast cancer patients, spreading the disease, resisting traditional chemotherapies and eventually leading to death. In doing so, the scientists may have answered one of the biggest mysteries in cancer research.

Removing User Fees Does Not Improve Health Outcomes In Ghana	Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST
Removing user fees for primary health care changed health utilization behavior but did not improve health outcomes among households with children under the age of five in Ghana, says a new study.