ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Jupiter-bound space probe captures Earth and Moon
• Tropical coral could be used to create novel sunscreens for human use, say scientists
• Genetic variation found to protect against Parkinson's disease
• Simple blood test at optician's office could help to diagnose diabetes
• New tests for dangerous 'legal marijuana,' 'bath salts' and other emerging designer drugs
• 'Unfounded' pesticide concerns adversely affect health of low-income populations, expert argues
• Rare Siamese crocodiles hatched in Lao PDR
• Faulty signaling in brain increases craving for sugar and drugs
• New insight into impulse control
• New way to disarm malaria parasite
• Viruses in the human gut show dynamic response to diet
• Rural areas at higher risk of dengue fever than cities
• Mobile phone data help track populations during disasters
• Death rates in newborns remain shockingly high in Africa and India
• Ghostwriting remains a fundamental problem in the medical literature
• Like mama bears, nursing mothers defend babies with a vengeance
• Studies question effectiveness of sex offender laws
• Patients’ health motivates workers to wash their hands
• Research identifies marketing mix strategy for pharmaceutical firms
• Calling nurses to exercise as role models for their patients
• Breakthrough in hydrogen fuel cells: Chemists develop way to safely store, extract hydrogen
• Are New England's iconic maples at risk?
• Novel alloy could produce hydrogen fuel from sunlight
• Psychologists unravel mystery of how we detect life
• Natural anti-oxidant deserts aging body: Cell’s reserve fighting force shrinks with age, new study finds
• Parents' stress leaves lasting marks on children’s genes, researchers find
• Wolves may aid recovery of Canada lynx, a threatened species
• Computers are oversold and underused, research on educational programs suggests
• Double damage: Partner violence impacts mental health of over half-million Californians
• Happiness depends on who you know and your goals, study of college students suggests
• Mistaken fear of measles shot has 'devastating' effect, physician says
• Using ground covers in organic production
• Flame retardants linked to lower-birth-weight babies
• Graphene's shining light could lead to super-fast Internet
• More questions than answers remain concerning effects of airplane travel on insulin pump delivery
• Future climate change may increase asthma attacks in children
• Natural therapies: Cardiologists examine alternatives to halt high blood pressure
• Diamond planet: Radio wave observations show transformation of a galaxy into a millisecond pulsar and its companion planet
• The Great Recession could reduce school achievement for children of unemployed
• Microscope on the go: Cheap, portable, dual-mode microscope uses holograms, not lenses
• Atlas of the Milky Way leads to discovery of two supernova remnants
• Lower achieved platelet reactivity associated with better cardiovascular: Outcomes in GRAVITAS trial
• Epic search for evidence of life on Mars heats up with focus on high-tech instruments
• Hurricane Irene: Scientists collect water quality and climate change data from huge storm
• Localizing language in the brain: Study pinpoints areas of the brain used exclusively for language
• Fathers' presence linked to enhanced intellect, well-being among children
• Patients' underlying health linked to worse outcomes for melanoma
• Social media valuable tool to recruit study participants for rare diseases
• 'Landlubber' fish leap for love when tide is right: Research sheds light on how animal life first evolved to colonize land
• Wakeup call for college students: New research finds you need to catch more z's
• Tougher, lighter wind turbine blade developed: Polyurethane reinforced with carbon nanotubes
• Kelp farming is on its way
• Changes to distribution of livers for transplant proposed
• Less patient anxiety for patients with claustrophobia during MR examinations
• 'Proton flux hypothesis' offers new explanation for effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs
• New method reveals parts of bacterial genome essential to life
• Suicide methods differ between men and women
• Watching viruses 'friend' a network: Researchers develop Facebook application to track the path of infection
• Rotavirus vaccination of infants also protects unvaccinated older children and adults, study finds
• Balloon pump use prior to angioplasty does not reduce heart muscle damage, study shows

Jupiter-bound space probe captures Earth and Moon Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:56 PM PDT On its way to the biggest planet in the solar system -- Jupiter, NASA's Juno spacecraft took time to capture its home planet and its natural satellite -- the moon.

Tropical coral could be used to create novel sunscreens for human use, say scientists Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:36 PM PDT Researchers have discovered how coral produces natural sunscreen compounds to protect itself from damaging UV rays, leading scientists to believe these compounds could form the basis of a new type of sunscreen for humans.

Genetic variation found to protect against Parkinson's disease Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:36 PM PDT Neuroscientists have found a genetic variation they say protects against Parkinson's disease. The study also reports the discovery of different variants of the same gene, LRRK2 -- the most important Parkinson's risk gene found to date -- that double Parkinson's risk in Caucasians and Asians.

Simple blood test at optician's office could help to diagnose diabetes Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:36 PM PDT A simple finger prick test during routine eye examinations at high street opticians could help to identify millions of people with previously undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, according to new research.

New tests for dangerous 'legal marijuana,' 'bath salts' and other emerging designer drugs Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:36 PM PDT Scientists report the development of much needed new tests to help cope with a wave of deaths, emergency room visits and other problems from a new genre of dangerous designer drugs sold legally in stores and online that mimic the effects of cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana.

'Unfounded' pesticide concerns adversely affect health of low-income populations, expert argues Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:36 PM PDT The increasingly prevalent notion that expensive organic fruits and vegetables are safer because pesticides are a risk for causing cancer has no good scientific support, according to one expert. Such unfounded fears could have the unanticipated consequence of keeping healthful fruits and vegetables from those with low incomes, he argues.

Rare Siamese crocodiles hatched in Lao PDR Posted: 30 Aug 2011 04:38 PM PDT Biologist have successfully hatched a clutch of 20 Siamese crocodiles, a species threatened across its range by hunting, habitat fragmentation and loss, and other factors.

Faulty signaling in brain increases craving for sugar and drugs Posted: 30 Aug 2011 04:38 PM PDT When glutamate and dopamine do not collaborate as they should in the brain's signal system, the kick that alcohol, sugar, or other drugs induce increases. This provides a key piece of the puzzle about the mechanisms behind both substance abuse and obesity.

New insight into impulse control Posted: 30 Aug 2011 04:38 PM PDT How the brain controls impulsive behavior may be significantly different than psychologists have thought for the last 40 years.

New way to disarm malaria parasite Posted: 30 Aug 2011 04:38 PM PDT A novel technique to "tame" the malaria parasite, by forcing it to depend on an external supply of a vital chemical, has been developed. The scientists have, in effect, created a domesticated strain of Plasmodium -- the one-celled parasite that causes malaria -- that would no longer cause this dreaded disease.

Viruses in the human gut show dynamic response to diet Posted: 30 Aug 2011 04:38 PM PDT The digestive system is home to a myriad of viruses, but how they are involved in health and disease is poorly understood. Researchers have now investigated the dynamics of virus populations in the human gut, shedding new light on the gut "virome" and how it differs between people and responds to changes in diet.

Rural areas at higher risk of dengue fever than cities Posted: 30 Aug 2011 04:38 PM PDT In dengue-endemic areas such as South-East Asia, in contrast to conventional thinking, rural areas rather than cities may bear the highest burden of dengue fever -- a viral infection that causes sudden high fever, severe headache, and muscle and joint pains, and can lead to a life-threatening condition, dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Mobile phone data help track populations during disasters Posted: 30 Aug 2011 04:38 PM PDT Mobile phone positioning data can be used to monitor population movements during disasters and outbreaks, according to a new study. The study finds that reports on the location of populations affected and in need of assistance can be generated within hours of receiving data.

Death rates in newborns remain shockingly high in Africa and India Posted: 30 Aug 2011 04:38 PM PDT Neonatal mortality -- deaths in newborns, aged 3 weeks and under -- has declined in all regions of the world over the past two decades but in 2009, more than half of all neonatal deaths occurred in five countries -- India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ghostwriting remains a fundamental problem in the medical literature Posted: 30 Aug 2011 04:38 PM PDT A new editorial concludes that in the two years since extensive ghostwriting by pharmaceutical giant Wyeth to promote its hormone drug Prempro was exposed through litigation intervention, medical ghostwriting remains a prevalent problem with few concrete solutions in sight.

Like mama bears, nursing mothers defend babies with a vengeance Posted: 30 Aug 2011 01:53 PM PDT Women who breast-feed are far more likely to demonstrate a "mama bear" effect -- aggressively protecting their infants and themselves -- than women who bottle-feed their babies or non-mothers, according to a new study.

Studies question effectiveness of sex offender laws Posted: 30 Aug 2011 01:50 PM PDT Two new studies cast doubt on whether sex offender registry and notification laws actually work as intended.

Patients’ health motivates workers to wash their hands Posted: 30 Aug 2011 01:50 PM PDT Campaigns about hand-washing in hospitals usually try to scare doctors and nurses about personal illness. But new research suggests that this is the wrong kind of warning.

Research identifies marketing mix strategy for pharmaceutical firms Posted: 30 Aug 2011 01:50 PM PDT A new research model depicts that detailing, relationships between sales representatives and medical doctors, is an extremely effective long-term marketing tool, while sampling has a stronger, short-term effect.

Calling nurses to exercise as role models for their patients Posted: 30 Aug 2011 12:12 PM PDT Nurses, just like many of their patients, struggle to find time and motivation to exercise. But a new study may give these all-important caregivers some additional pressure and responsibility: nurses' attitudes can influence whether their patients commit to a healthy lifestyle.

Breakthrough in hydrogen fuel cells: Chemists develop way to safely store, extract hydrogen Posted: 30 Aug 2011 12:12 PM PDT A team of scientists has developed a robust, efficient method of using hydrogen as a fuel source.

Are New England's iconic maples at risk? Posted: 30 Aug 2011 12:12 PM PDT Results from the first study of the Asian longhorned beetle in forests show that the invasive insect can easily spread from tree-lined city streets to neighboring forests.

Novel alloy could produce hydrogen fuel from sunlight Posted: 30 Aug 2011 12:12 PM PDT Using state-of-the-art theoretical computations, a team of scientists has determined that an alloy formed by a 2 percent substitution of antimony in gallium nitride has the right electrical properties to enable solar light energy to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The alloy functions as a catalyst in the photoelectrochemical electrolysis of water.

Psychologists unravel mystery of how we detect life Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:46 AM PDT New research sheds light on how human beings visually detect the presence of a living being, even if it isn't immediately recognizable as animal or human.

Natural anti-oxidant deserts aging body: Cell’s reserve fighting force shrinks with age, new study finds Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:46 AM PDT A new study of human cells finds that mitochondria, energy plants of cells, are more vulnerable in senescent cells due to impaired function of an anti-oxidant enzyme.

Parents' stress leaves lasting marks on children’s genes, researchers find Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:46 AM PDT Researchers have shown that parental stress during their children's early years can leave an imprint on their sons' or daughters' genes -- an imprint that lasts into adolescence and may affect how these genes are expressed later in life.

Wolves may aid recovery of Canada lynx, a threatened species Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:45 AM PDT As wolf populations grow in parts of the West, most of the focus has been on their value in aiding broader ecosystem recovery -- but a new study also points out that they could play an important role in helping to save other threatened species, including the Canada lynx.

Computers are oversold and underused, research on educational programs suggests Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:45 AM PDT According to new research which studies educational programs in Bahrain, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, information and communication technology (ICT) is not effectively utilized in classrooms in the Middle East.

Double damage: Partner violence impacts mental health of over half-million Californians Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:45 AM PDT Violence from an intimate partner does not just brutalize a victim physically; exposure to violence can result in disproportionately higher rates of mental health distress, according to a new policy brief. Researchers found that of the 3.5 million Californians who reported experiencing intimate partner violence, more than half a million also reported recent symptoms of "serious psychological distress," such as anxiety or depression.

Happiness depends on who you know and your goals, study of college students suggests Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:45 AM PDT A new study involving extroverted college students and their less socially inclined peers found that less-outgoing happy people relied less on partying and drinking to be happy and more on connections with family and friends. In a companion study, the more goal-oriented students also were happier.

Mistaken fear of measles shot has 'devastating' effect, physician says Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:45 AM PDT More than 150 cases of measles have been reported in the United States already this year and there have been similar outbreaks in Europe, a sign the disease is making an alarming comeback. The reappearance of the potentially deadly virus is the result of unfounded fears about a link between the measles shot and autism that have turned some parents against childhood vaccination, a physician says in a new article.

Using ground covers in organic production Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:45 AM PDT Scientists indicate that organic farmers who need to periodically amend their soils with compost after planting can still control weeds -- and hold down costs -- by using fabric ground covers. This will be welcome news to organic farmers who till composted manure into their crop fields after planting.

Flame retardants linked to lower-birth-weight babies Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:45 AM PDT Researchers have linked prenatal exposure to flame retardant chemicals commonly found in homes to lower-birth-weight babies. For every tenfold increase in levels of PBDEs in a mother's blood during pregnancy, there was a corresponding drop of 115 grams in her baby's birth weight.

Graphene's shining light could lead to super-fast Internet Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:45 AM PDT Internet connection speeds could be tens of times faster than they currently are, thanks to new research by scientists using wonder material graphene. By combining graphene with metallic nanostructures, they show a twenty-fold enhancement in harvesting light by graphene, which paves the way for advances in high-speed internet and other communications.

More questions than answers remain concerning effects of airplane travel on insulin pump delivery Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:13 AM PDT Despite recent concerns that changes in atmospheric pressure during airplane travel may affect the amount of insulin delivered via pump devices, the current evidence is limited and it would be unwise to overreact until more data are available, according to an editorial.

Future climate change may increase asthma attacks in children Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:13 AM PDT Researchers have found that climate change may lead to more asthma-related health problems in children, and more emergency room visits in the next decade.

Natural therapies: Cardiologists examine alternatives to halt high blood pressure Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:12 AM PDT More and more, patients show up to appointments with hypertension experts carrying bags full of "natural" products that they hope will help lower their blood pressure. And like most physicians, hypertension experts don't always know if these products will do any good, or if they will cause any harm. To better educate physicians and patients, researchers have now conducted the most comprehensive review to date of the evidence behind a range of non-drug interventions.

Diamond planet: Radio wave observations show transformation of a galaxy into a millisecond pulsar and its companion planet Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:12 AM PDT A star that changes into a diamond planet? What sounds like science fiction is apparently reality. Researchers found the diamond planet with the help of the 64-meter Parkes radio telescope in Australia. The planet apparently orbits around an unusual, very dense star, a pulsar.

The Great Recession could reduce school achievement for children of unemployed Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:12 AM PDT The Great Recession could have lingering impacts on the children of the unemployed, according to researchers. "There is growing evidence that parental job loss has adverse consequences on children's behavior, academic achievement and later employment outcomes, particularly in economically disadvantaged families," said one expert.

Microscope on the go: Cheap, portable, dual-mode microscope uses holograms, not lenses Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:12 AM PDT To serve remote areas of the world, doctors, nurses and field workers need equipment that is portable, versatile, and relatively inexpensive. Now researchers have built a compact, light-weight, dual-mode microscope that uses holograms instead of lenses. It weighs about as much as a banana and fits in the palm of a hand.

Atlas of the Milky Way leads to discovery of two supernova remnants Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:12 AM PDT It may not be much use to hitchhikers through the galaxy, but it is extremely valuable to astronomers: the new radio atlas of the Milky Way. After almost ten years of work, researchers have completed their investigation into the polarized radio emission in the galactic plane.

Lower achieved platelet reactivity associated with better cardiovascular: Outcomes in GRAVITAS trial Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:12 AM PDT Compared to patients who had persistently high platelet reactivity, those who achieved low platelet reactivity, according to the VerifyNow P2Y12 Test, had a reduced incidence of cardiovascular death, heart attack and stent thrombosis, according to results from a clinical trial.

Epic search for evidence of life on Mars heats up with focus on high-tech instruments Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:12 AM PDT Scientists are expressing confidence that questions about life on Mars, which have captured human imagination for centuries, finally may be answered, thanks in part to new life-detection tools up to 1,000 times more sensitive than previous instruments.

Hurricane Irene: Scientists collect water quality and climate change data from huge storm Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:25 AM PDT While Hurricane Irene had officials along the U.S. East Coast preparing for mass evacuations, scientists were grabbing their best data collection tools and heading straight for the storm's path.

Localizing language in the brain: Study pinpoints areas of the brain used exclusively for language Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:25 AM PDT New research suggests that there are parts of our brain dedicated to language and only language, a finding that marks a major advance in the search for brain regions specialized for sophisticated mental functions.

Fathers' presence linked to enhanced intellect, well-being among children Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:25 AM PDT Fathers who actively engage in raising their children can help make their offspring smarter and better behaved, according to new research. The long-term study examined how fathers can positively influence the development of their kids through hands-on parenting.

Patients' underlying health linked to worse outcomes for melanoma Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:25 AM PDT It's not how old but how frail patients are that can predict how well they will fare after a melanoma diagnosis. In fact, young patients in poor health may have worse outcomes than older patients in good shape.

Social media valuable tool to recruit study participants for rare diseases Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:25 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new benefit of social media and online networking: a novel way to study rare diseases. Through patient-run websites dedicated to heart conditions and women's heart health, cardiologists are reaching out to survivors of spontaneous coronary artery dissection, also known as SCAD, a poorly understood heart condition that affects just a few thousand Americans every year.

'Landlubber' fish leap for love when tide is right: Research sheds light on how animal life first evolved to colonize land Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:25 AM PDT One of the world's strangest animals -- a unique fish that lives on land and can leap large distances despite having no legs -- has a rich and complex social life, a new study has found. The odd lifestyle of the Pacific leaping blenny (Alticus arnoldorum) has been detailed for the first time in research findings that throw new light on how animal life first evolved to colonize the land.

Wakeup call for college students: New research finds you need to catch more z's Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:22 AM PDT A new study finds that college students are spending too much time burning the midnight oil and not enough time gaining the sleep that will benefit their ability to learn.

Tougher, lighter wind turbine blade developed: Polyurethane reinforced with carbon nanotubes Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:21 AM PDT Efforts to build larger wind turbines able to capture more energy from the air are stymied by the weight of blades. Researchers have now built a prototype blade that is substantially lighter and eight times tougher and more durable than currently used blade materials.

Kelp farming is on its way Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:16 AM PDT An underwater "field" as big as a Norwegian county could provide two billion liters of kelp-based fuel a year. Researchers are working to cultivate seaweed and kelp on a large scale.

Changes to distribution of livers for transplant proposed Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:16 AM PDT Transplantation specialists have proposed changes to the allocation and distribution of organs used for liver transplants. The recommended policy modifications take into account the scarcity of available organs, ensuring rapid allocation and delivery of the organ to those most in need in order to reduce mortality for waitlisted patients.

Less patient anxiety for patients with claustrophobia during MR examinations Posted: 30 Aug 2011 07:15 AM PDT Patients who suffer from fear in small, enclosed spaces (claustrophobia) experience less anxiety if examined in open than in closed magnetic resonance (MR) scanners.

'Proton flux hypothesis' offers new explanation for effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:24 AM PDT A researcher in Hawaii has come up with a new explanation for the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs: the "proton flux hypothesis" is that calcification of coral skeletons are dependent on the passage of hydrogen ions between the water column and the coral tissue.

New method reveals parts of bacterial genome essential to life Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:23 AM PDT A research team has cataloged, down to the letter, exactly what parts of the genetic code are essential for survival in one bacterial species, Caulobacter crescentus. They found that 12 percent of the bacteria's genetic material is essential for survival under laboratory conditions. The essential elements included not only protein-coding genes, but also regulatory DNA and, intriguingly, other small DNA segments of unknown function. The other 88 percent of the genome could be disrupted without harming the bacteria's ability to grow and reproduce.

Suicide methods differ between men and women Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:11 AM PDT Men are nearly twice as likely as women to use a method that disfigures the face or head when taking their own lives.

Watching viruses 'friend' a network: Researchers develop Facebook application to track the path of infection Posted: 30 Aug 2011 05:22 AM PDT PiggyDemic, an application developed by researchers in Israel, allows Facebook users to "infect" their friends with a simulated virus or become infected themselves. This will allow researchers to gather information on how a virus mutates, spreads through human interaction, and the number of people it infects.

Rotavirus vaccination of infants also protects unvaccinated older children and adults, study finds Posted: 30 Aug 2011 05:21 AM PDT Vaccinating infants against rotavirus also prevents serious disease in unvaccinated older children and adults, according to a new study. This helps reduce rotavirus-related hospital costs in these older groups.

Balloon pump use prior to angioplasty does not reduce heart muscle damage, study shows Posted: 30 Aug 2011 05:21 AM PDT Inserting intra-aortic balloon pumps prior to angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction does not reduce the scope of heart muscle damage, a condition referred to as infarct size, according to a new study.

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