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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News


Virtual water cannot remedy freshwater shortage

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 05:39 PM PDT

The implementation of virtual water into trading deals has been suggested as a realistic solution to solving the global inequality of renewable freshwater, but new research suggests that it may not be as revolutionary as first thought.

Scientists unlock potential of frog skin to treat cancer

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 03:11 PM PDT

Scientists have discovered proteins in frog skins which could be used to treat cancer, diabetes, stroke and transplant patients by regulating the growth of blood vessels.

Deciding to stay or go is a deep-seated brain function, monkey-watching researchers find

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 12:22 PM PDT

Foraging creatures decide at some point that the food source they're working on is no richer than the rest of the patch and that it's time to move on and find something better. Researchers have now found an area of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) that seems to be integral to this decision, firing with increasing activity until a threshold is reached, whereupon the animal decides it's time to move on.

Jellyfish blooms shunt food energy from fish to bacteria

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 12:21 PM PDT

A new study shows that jellyfish are more than a nuisance to bathers and boaters, drastically altering marine food webs by shunting food energy from fish toward bacteria. An apparent increase in the size and frequency of jellyfish blooms in coastal and estuarine waters around the world during the last few decades means that jellies' impact on marine food webs is likely to increase into the future.

Oatmeal-labeling ideal for molecular imaging of stomach emptying

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:17 AM PDT

Patients undergoing molecular imaging to evaluate their stomach's ability to clear food are going to have an altogether new kind of breakfast. A new study has confirmed that nuclear medicine technologists can effectively use oatmeal products radiolabeled with a medical isotope to target and image the emptying of the stomach.

Applying conductive nanocoatings to textiles

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:34 AM PDT

Imagine plugging a USB port into a sheet of paper, and turning it into a tablet computer. It might be a stretch, but ideas like this have researchers examining the use of conductive nanocoatings on simple textiles -- like woven cotton or even a sheet of paper.

Kinder, gentler video games may actually be good for players

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:34 AM PDT

While violent video games may lead to more aggression and anger in players, a new study shows that the opposite is also true: relaxing video games can make people happier and more kind. "With all the evidence about the dangers of violent video games, it's good to know that game players can choose games that will provide a positive experience," researchers said.

What, me worry? Young adults get self-esteem boost from debt

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:34 AM PDT

Instead of feeling stressed by the money they owe, many young adults actually feel empowered by their credit card and education debts, according to a new nationwide study. Researchers found that the more credit card and college loan debt held by young adults aged 18 to 27, the higher their self-esteem and the more they felt like they were in control of their lives.

Material turns hard or soft at the touch of a button

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:31 AM PDT

A world premiere: A material which changes its strength, virtually at the touch of a button. This transformation can be achieved in a matter of seconds through changes in the electron structure of a material; thus hard and brittle matter, for example, can become soft and malleable. What makes this development revolutionary, is that the transformation can be controlled by electric signals.

Astrophysicists use X-ray fingerprints to study eating habits of giant black holes

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 06:27 AM PDT

By studying the X-rays emitted when superheated gases plunge into distant and massive black holes, astrophysicists have provided an important test of a long-standing theory that describes the extreme physics occurring when matter spirals into these massive objects.

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