ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Ancient crocodile competed with Titanoboa, world's largest snake, for food, paleontologists discover
• More women dying from breast and cervical cancer at a younger age in developing countries
• Opportunity on verge of new discovery: Mars rover poised on rock that may yield yet more evidence of a wet Red Planet
• Chemists help astronauts make sure their drinking water is clean
• Preschoolers' grasp of numbers predicts math performance in school years; Early number sense linked to elementary math scores
• Shorter treatment with hepatitis C drug combination may be more beneficial, study shows
• New study quantifies use of social media in Arab Spring
• Feared spinal X-ray found to be safe, study shows; Spinal angiography also rules out misdiagnosis of inflammation, transverse myelitis
• Water evaporated from trees cools global climate, researchers find
• Newly discovered protein discovered may suppress breast cancer growth
• Good news for rural stroke patients: Virtual stroke care appears cost-effective
• Sickle cell trait is not risk factor for kidney disease: Study contradicts earlier findings
• How do political debates affect advertising?
• Downwardly mobile: When consumer decisions are influenced by people with lower socioeconomic status
• It's all about autonomy: Consumers react negatively when prompted to think about money
• When do products (and money) literally make your mouth water?
• Feeling out of control? Consumers find comfort in boundaries
• Culturally symbolic products: Would you buy a Sony cappuccino maker?
• Being in the 'no': Questions influence what we remember
• This beetle uses eggs as shields against wasps
• Hitchhiking snails fly from ocean to ocean
• Researchers map the global spread of drug-resistant influenza
• Aquatic species decline at dams and weirs documented
• Researchers analyze the evolving human relationship with fire
• Uterine stem cells used to treat diabetes
• When it comes to college hookups, more is said than done
• Genetics, lifestyle provide clues to racial differences in head and neck cancer
• How specialized pacemaker works at biological level to strengthen failing hearts: Findings could lead to 'pacemaker in a bottle'
• Arctic sea ice nears minimum extent
• Air pollution caused by ships plummets when vessels shift to cleaner, low-sulfur fuels, study finds
• Engineers probe mechanics behind rapid-aging disease
• New invention unravels mystery of protein folding
• Chronic vulvar pain a reality for more than 100,000 women in southeast Michigan
• Self-delusion is a winning survival strategy, study suggests
• 'Synthetic' chromosome permits rapid, on-demand 'evolution' of yeast; Artificial system has built-in diversity generator
• Gender, insurance type tied to HPV infection in laryngeal cancer patients
• Milky Way's spiral arms are the product of an intergalactic collision course; Models show dark matter packs a punch
• The cause of Earth's largest environmental catastrophe
• Old-growth rainforests must be saved for tropical biodiversity
• Researchers develop mouse genetic blueprint; Mouse study drives forward understanding of human biology
• Campus smoking ban reduced students' smoking, changed attitudes
• Shake, rattle and … power up? New device generates energy from small vibrations
• Computerized anxiety therapy found helpful in small trial
• Consumers willing to pay premium for healthier genetically modified foods
• Learning how gut bacteria influence health: Scientists crack sparse genome of microbe linked to autoimmunity
• TV found to have negative impact on parent-child communication and early literacy compared to books and toys
• Links between racial discrimination, stress and health
• Cancer-killing cells are caught on film in more 3-D detail than ever before
• Screen finds an antidepressant and other drugs that might work against brain-wasting prion diseases
• Accidental sea turtle deaths drop 90 percent in U.S. fisheries; Improvements in fishing equipment seem to be preventing lethal 'bycatch'
• Voting causes stress
• Amateur botanists in Brazil discover a genuflexing plant
• New treatment for an aggressive childhood cancer
• New technology for recovering valuable minerals from waste rock
• 'Super-spaghetti' with heart-healthy label now possible
• Woolly mammoth's secrets for shrugging off cold points toward new artificial blood for humans
• Daily deal companies are here to stay, according to consumers
• Elevated cholesterol levels: No clear benefit of ezetimibe, report suggests
• New research will help combat antibiotic resistance problems in Africa
• Juvenile delinquency linked to higher suicide risk

Ancient crocodile competed with Titanoboa, world's largest snake, for food, paleontologists discover Posted: 14 Sep 2011 04:23 PM PDT Did an ancient crocodile relative give the world's largest snake a run for its money? In a new study, researchers describe a new 20-foot extinct species discovered in the same Colombian coal mine with Titanoboa, the world's largest snake. The findings help scientists better understand the diversity of animals that occupied the oldest known rainforest ecosystem, which had higher temperatures than today, and could be useful for understanding the impacts of a warmer climate in the future.

More women dying from breast and cervical cancer at a younger age in developing countries Posted: 14 Sep 2011 04:23 PM PDT The number of cases and deaths from breast and cervical cancer are rising in most countries, especially in the developing world where more women are dying at younger ages, according to a new global analysis. Breast cancer cases more than doubled around the world in just three decades, from 641,000 cases in 1980 to 1.6 million cases in 2010. During that same period, deaths from breast cancer rose from 250,000 to 425,000 in 2010.

Opportunity on verge of new discovery: Mars rover poised on rock that may yield yet more evidence of a wet Red Planet Posted: 14 Sep 2011 02:17 PM PDT The Mars rover Opportunity, which was designed to operate for three months and to rove less than a mile, has now journeyed more than seven years crossing more than 21 miles. Today, it is poised at the edge of a heavily eroded impact basin, the possible location of clay minerals formed in low-acid wet conditions on the red planet.

Chemists help astronauts make sure their drinking water is clean Posted: 14 Sep 2011 02:17 PM PDT Researchers have developed chemistry and procedures that astronauts can use to test the quality of their drinking water at the International Space Station. The testing technology is now considered operational hardware at the space station. Astronauts will begin using refinements to the tests in late September.

Preschoolers' grasp of numbers predicts math performance in school years; Early number sense linked to elementary math scores Posted: 14 Sep 2011 02:17 PM PDT A new study reports that the precision with which preschoolers estimate quantities, prior to any formal education in mathematics, predicts their mathematics ability in elementary school, according to researchers.

Shorter treatment with hepatitis C drug combination may be more beneficial, study shows Posted: 14 Sep 2011 02:17 PM PDT New research shows that patients with hepatitis C who took a combination medication -- a telaprevir-based regimen that is commonly used to treat the illness -- for 24 weeks were cured.

New study quantifies use of social media in Arab Spring Posted: 14 Sep 2011 01:17 PM PDT After analyzing more than three million tweets, gigabytes of YouTube content and thousands of blog posts, a new study finds that social media played a central role in shaping political debates in the Arab Spring. Conversations about revolution often preceded major events, and social media has carried inspiring stories of protest across international borders.

Feared spinal X-ray found to be safe, study shows; Spinal angiography also rules out misdiagnosis of inflammation, transverse myelitis Posted: 14 Sep 2011 01:17 PM PDT Medical imaging experts have reviewed the patient records of 302 men and women who had a much-needed X-ray of the blood vessels near the spinal cord and found that the procedure, often feared for possible complications of stroke and kidney damage, is safe and effective.

Water evaporated from trees cools global climate, researchers find Posted: 14 Sep 2011 01:17 PM PDT Scientists have long debated about the impact on global climate of water evaporated from vegetation. New research concludes that evaporated water helps cool the earth as a whole, not just the local area of evaporation, demonstrating that evaporation of water from trees and lakes could have a cooling effect on the entire atmosphere. These findings have major implications for land-use decision making.

Newly discovered protein discovered may suppress breast cancer growth Posted: 14 Sep 2011 01:17 PM PDT Researchers have found that a protein discovered by his laboratory can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Building upon the earlier discovery of nischarin, a novel protein that regulates breast cancer cell migration and movement, a new study examined the presence and levels of nischarin in breast cancer tumor tissue from 300 women as well as normal breast tissue samples. The researchers also generated derivatives of human metastatic breast cancer cells to test by manipulating the protein in a mouse model.

Good news for rural stroke patients: Virtual stroke care appears cost-effective Posted: 14 Sep 2011 01:17 PM PDT In a first of its kind study, researchers have found that using two way audio-video telemedicine to deliver stroke care, also known as telestroke, appears to be cost-effective for rural hospitals that don't have an around-the-clock neurologist, or stroke expert, on staff.

Sickle cell trait is not risk factor for kidney disease: Study contradicts earlier findings Posted: 14 Sep 2011 12:44 PM PDT Researchers report that sickle cell trait is not a risk factor for the development of severe kidney disease in African-Americans. The study contradicts findings from a 2010 study that first suggested that having one copy of the sickle cell gene was a kidney disease risk factor.

How do political debates affect advertising? Posted: 14 Sep 2011 12:44 PM PDT Advertisers covet spots during political debates, which often draw large numbers of viewers. But according to a new study, political debate can sometime decrease the effectiveness of subsequent ads.

Downwardly mobile: When consumer decisions are influenced by people with lower socioeconomic status Posted: 14 Sep 2011 12:44 PM PDT People assume that consumers are influenced by celebrities and high-status individuals, but according to a new study, it may be the janitor or the security guard who makes you want to run out and purchase the latest gadget.

It's all about autonomy: Consumers react negatively when prompted to think about money Posted: 14 Sep 2011 12:44 PM PDT Whether they are aware of it or not, consumers dislike being reminded of money -- so much that they will rebel against authority figures, according to a new study.

When do products (and money) literally make your mouth water? Posted: 14 Sep 2011 12:44 PM PDT In certain situations, people actually salivate when they desire material things, like money and sports cars, according to a new study.

Feeling out of control? Consumers find comfort in boundaries Posted: 14 Sep 2011 12:44 PM PDT Consumers who feel a lack of control over circumstances seek boundaries -- including physical borders, according to a new study.

Culturally symbolic products: Would you buy a Sony cappuccino maker? Posted: 14 Sep 2011 12:44 PM PDT Certain brands bring to mind particular cultures, and consumers react more positively to brand extensions when products match expectations about cultures, according to a new study. That's why a Budweiser barbecue sauce might be a more successful product than a Sony cappuccino maker.

Being in the 'no': Questions influence what we remember Posted: 14 Sep 2011 12:44 PM PDT Imagine that you are sitting in the park, deeply engaged in a conversation with your loved one. A group of teenagers pass by in front of you. The next day you learn that the police are looking for someone to identify them as these teenagers are suspected of a serious mugging. You would most probably not be able to make a positive identification. Do you really have absolutely no memory for their faces?

This beetle uses eggs as shields against wasps Posted: 14 Sep 2011 12:43 PM PDT Seed beetles often will stack their eggs, using them as shields to protect the bottom egg from attacks by parasitic wasps, reveals new research.

Hitchhiking snails fly from ocean to ocean Posted: 14 Sep 2011 11:36 AM PDT Scientists report that snails successfully crossed Central America, long considered an impenetrable barrier to marine organisms, twice in the past million years -- both times probably by flying across Mexico, stuck to the legs or riding on the bellies of shorebirds and introducing new genes that contribute to the marine biodiversity on each coast.

Researchers map the global spread of drug-resistant influenza Posted: 14 Sep 2011 11:36 AM PDT In the new movie "Contagion," fictional health experts scramble to get ahead of a flu-like pandemic as a drug-resistant virus quickly spreads, killing millions of people within days after they contract the illness. Although the film isn't based entirely on reality, it's not exactly science fiction, either. In a new study, researchers explain how seasonal H1N1 influenza became resistant to oseltamivir, otherwise known as Tamiflu, the most widely used antiviral agent for treating and preventing flu. The scientists say that a combination of genetic mutations and human migration through air travel can lead to the rapid global spread of drug-resistant strains.

Aquatic species decline at dams and weirs documented Posted: 14 Sep 2011 11:36 AM PDT Dams and weirs have a stronger impact on watercourse ecosystems than was previously realized. Species diversity in the dammed area upstream of weirs shows a significant decline: one-quarter lower on average among fish, up to 50 percent lower among invertebrates. Scientists have demonstrated this through a survey of five rivers. Theirs is the first such analysis to consider both abiotic and biotic factors.

Researchers analyze the evolving human relationship with fire Posted: 14 Sep 2011 11:36 AM PDT Humanity's relationship to fire -- including wildfires, burning of fossil fuels, controlled burns and human-caused fire -- is the focus of a report by an international team of scientists.

Uterine stem cells used to treat diabetes Posted: 14 Sep 2011 11:36 AM PDT Controlling diabetes may someday involve mining stem cells from the lining of the uterus, researchers report in a new study. The team treated diabetes in mice by converting cells from the uterine lining into insulin-producing cells.

When it comes to college hookups, more is said than done Posted: 14 Sep 2011 11:36 AM PDT College students talk a lot about hooking up -- in fact, they talk about it much more than it actually happens, and they believe other students are having the encounters more often than they really are.

Genetics, lifestyle provide clues to racial differences in head and neck cancer Posted: 14 Sep 2011 11:36 AM PDT Why are African Americans more likely than Caucasians to be not only diagnosed with head and neck cancer, but also die from the disease? While the answer isn't a simple one, differences in lifestyle, access to care and tumor genetics may, in part, be to blame, according to a new study.

How specialized pacemaker works at biological level to strengthen failing hearts: Findings could lead to 'pacemaker in a bottle' Posted: 14 Sep 2011 11:36 AM PDT Heart specialists have figured out how a widely used pacemaker for heart failure, which makes both sides of the heart beat together to pump effectively, works at the biological level. Their findings may open the door to drugs or genetic therapies that mimic the effect of the pacemaker and to new ways to use pacemakers for a wider range of heart failure patients.

Arctic sea ice nears minimum extent Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:56 AM PDT In the last few days, the decline in Arctic sea ice extent has slowed. New data show Arctic sea ice extent currently at the second-lowest levels in the satellite record.

Air pollution caused by ships plummets when vessels shift to cleaner, low-sulfur fuels, study finds Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:49 AM PDT New clean fuel regulations in California and voluntary slowdowns by shipping companies substantially reduce air pollution caused by near-shore ships, according to a new study.

Engineers probe mechanics behind rapid-aging disease Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT Researchers are using both civil engineering and bioengineering approaches to study the behavior of a protein associated with progeria, a rare disorder in children that causes extremely rapid aging and usually ends in death from cardiovascular disease before age 16. The disease is marked by the deletion of 50 amino acids near the end of the lamin A protein, which helps support a cell's nuclear membrane. Pulling the tail of mutated protein could help illuminate problems with misfolding.

New invention unravels mystery of protein folding Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT A new invention able to quickly predict three-dimensional structure of protein could have huge implications for drug discovery and human health.

Chronic vulvar pain a reality for more than 100,000 women in southeast Michigan Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT A new study, which surveyed 2,269 women in the metro Detroit area, found that more than 25 percent of women have experienced ongoing vulvar pain at some point in their lives. However, only two percent of women sought treatment for their pain.

Self-delusion is a winning survival strategy, study suggests Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT Harboring a mistakenly inflated belief that we can easily meet challenges or win conflicts is actually good for us, a new study suggests.

'Synthetic' chromosome permits rapid, on-demand 'evolution' of yeast; Artificial system has built-in diversity generator Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT In the quest to understand genomes -- how they're built, how they're organized and what makes them work -- a team of researchers has engineered from scratch a computer-designed yeast chromosome and incorporated into their creation a new system that lets scientists intentionally rearrange the yeast's genetic material.

Gender, insurance type tied to HPV infection in laryngeal cancer patients Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT The human papillomavirus (HPV) is more likely to be found in tumors of laryngeal cancer patients who are male and those with private health insurance, according to a new study from researchers at Henry Ford Hospital. The study also reveals that laryngeal cancer patients with Medicare, who tend to be 65 and older, have a lower prevalence of HPV, suggesting that HPV infection may be closely tied to age and changes in sexual behavior with younger generations.

Milky Way's spiral arms are the product of an intergalactic collision course; Models show dark matter packs a punch Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT Astronomers have shown how the Milky Way galaxy's iconic spiral arms form, according to new research. A dwarf galaxy named Sagittarius loaded with dark matter has careened twice through our much larger home galaxy in the past two billion years, according to telescope data and detailed simulations, and is lined up to do it again. As the galaxies collide, the force of the impact sends stars streaming from both in long loops.

The cause of Earth's largest environmental catastrophe Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT The eruption of giant masses of magma in Siberia 250 million years ago led to the Permo-Triassic mass extinction when more than 90 % of all species became extinct. Scientists report on a new idea with respect to the origin of the Siberian eruptions and their relation to the mass extinction.

Old-growth rainforests must be saved for tropical biodiversity Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT A team of researchers from Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, the UK and the USA has carried out a comprehensive assessment to estimate the impact of disturbance and land conversion on biodiversity in tropical forests. In a recent study published in Nature, they found that primary forests -- those least disturbed old-growth forests -- sustain the highest levels of biodiversity and are vital to many tropical species.

Researchers develop mouse genetic blueprint; Mouse study drives forward understanding of human biology Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:13 AM PDT An international team of researchers has decoded and compared the genome sequence of 17 mouse strains, developing a valuable mouse genetic blueprint that will accelerate future research and understanding of human genetics. The team found an astonishing 56.7 million SNPs among the strains, in addition to other more complex differences, and used these sequence differences to uncover genetic associations with more than 700 biological differences, including markers for diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Campus smoking ban reduced students' smoking, changed attitudes Posted: 14 Sep 2011 09:27 AM PDT Smoking bans have become more common on university campuses, but do they work? Do they help reduce smoking in this newly independent age group? According to a new study by tobacco control and health behavior experts, they do.

Shake, rattle and … power up? New device generates energy from small vibrations Posted: 14 Sep 2011 09:26 AM PDT Today's wireless-sensor networks can do everything from supervising factory machinery to tracking environmental pollution to measuring the movement of buildings and bridges. Working together, distributed sensors can monitor activity along an oil pipeline or throughout a forest, keeping track of multiple variables at a time. While uses for wireless sensors are seemingly endless, there is one limiting factor to the technology -- power. A new tiny energy harvester picks up a wider range of vibrations than current designs, and is able to generate 100 times the power of devices of similar size.

Computerized anxiety therapy found helpful in small trial Posted: 14 Sep 2011 09:26 AM PDT An emerging therapy known as cognitive bias modification, in which software helps subjects divert attention away from anxiety and interpret situations more calmly, helped improve social anxiety disorder symptoms in a pilot-scale randomized controlled trial.

Consumers willing to pay premium for healthier genetically modified foods Posted: 14 Sep 2011 09:26 AM PDT Consumers are eager to get their hands on, and teeth into, foods that are genetically modified to increase health benefits - and even pay more for the opportunity, new research shows.

Learning how gut bacteria influence health: Scientists crack sparse genome of microbe linked to autoimmunity Posted: 14 Sep 2011 09:26 AM PDT Scientists have deciphered the genome of a bacterium implicated as a key player in regulating the immune system of mice. The genomic analysis provides the first glimpse of its unusually sparse genetic blueprint and offers hints about how it may activate a powerful immune response that protects mice from infection but also spurs harmful inflammation.

TV found to have negative impact on parent-child communication and early literacy compared to books and toys Posted: 14 Sep 2011 09:23 AM PDT Since the first television screens lit up our living rooms scientists have been studying its affect on young children. Now scientists have compared mother-child communication while watching TV to reading books or playing with toys to reveal the impact on children's development. The results show that watching TV can lead to less interaction between parents and children, with a detrimental impact on literacy and language skills.

Links between racial discrimination, stress and health Posted: 14 Sep 2011 09:23 AM PDT The consequences of psychological stress, resulting from racial discrimination, may contribute to racial health disparities in conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other age-associated diseases.

Cancer-killing cells are caught on film in more 3-D detail than ever before Posted: 14 Sep 2011 09:23 AM PDT Scientists reveal in more detail than ever before how white blood cells kill diseased tissue using deadly granules. The researchers used 'optical' laser tweezers and a super-resolution microscope to see the inner workings of white blood cells at the highest resolution ever. The researchers describe how a white blood cell rearranges its scaffolding of actin proteins on the inside of its membrane, to create a hole through which it delivers deadly enzyme-filled granules to kill diseased tissue.

Screen finds an antidepressant and other drugs that might work against brain-wasting prion diseases Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:58 AM PDT In a new study, researchers report that they have found several chemical compounds, including an antidepressant, that have powerful effects against brain-destroying prion infections in mice, opening the door to potential treatments for human prion diseases.

Accidental sea turtle deaths drop 90 percent in U.S. fisheries; Improvements in fishing equipment seem to be preventing lethal 'bycatch' Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:58 AM PDT The number of sea turtles accidentally caught and killed in fishing gear in United States coastal waters has declined by an estimated 90 percent since 1990, according to a new study by researchers at Duke University Project GloBAL and Conservation International.

Voting causes stress Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:58 AM PDT Researchers have determined that voting is a stressful event, inducing measurable hormonal changes. Researchers say they were surprised that voting in democratic elections causes emotional reactions accompanied by such physical and psychological stress that can easily influence our decision making.

Amateur botanists in Brazil discover a genuflexing plant Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:58 AM PDT A new plant species that buries its seeds -- the first in its family -- was discovered in the Atlantic forest of Bahia, Brazil, by an international team of amateur and professional scientists.

New treatment for an aggressive childhood cancer Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:58 AM PDT Researchers have shown that glucose metabolism inhibition with 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) induces cell death in a type of childhood sarcoma: alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

New technology for recovering valuable minerals from waste rock Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:58 AM PDT Researchers report discovery of a completely new technology for more efficiently separating gold, silver, copper, and other valuable materials from rock and ore. The process uses nanoparticles to latch onto those materials and attach them to air bubbles in a flotation machine.

'Super-spaghetti' with heart-healthy label now possible Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:58 AM PDT Consumers could soon see packages of pasta labeled 'good source of dietary fiber' and 'may reduce the risk of heart disease' thanks to the development of a new genre of pasta made with barley -- a grain famous for giving beer its characteristic strength and flavor.

Woolly mammoth's secrets for shrugging off cold points toward new artificial blood for humans Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:58 AM PDT The blood from woolly mammoths -- those extinct elephant-like creatures that roamed Earth in pre-historic times -- is helping scientists develop new blood products for modern medical procedures that involve reducing patients' body temperature.

Daily deal companies are here to stay, according to consumers Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:01 AM PDT Despite recent news reports questioning the long-term viability of daily deal companies, a new study shows that the companies are more popular than ever among consumers.

Elevated cholesterol levels: No clear benefit of ezetimibe, report suggests Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:01 AM PDT Elevated blood cholesterol levels are regarded as a risk factor for heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. However, this does not necessarily mean that every cholesterol-lowering drug can also prevent heart attacks. New research suggests the benefit of the cholesterol-lowering drug ezetimibe is unclear. In particular, proof is lacking that patients have a greater benefit if they take ezetimibe in addition to statins for the prevention of heart attacks.

New research will help combat antibiotic resistance problems in Africa Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:01 AM PDT Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem in several African countries. One of the main problems is the very uneven quality of medicine, which makes it difficult for health professionals to prescribe correct doses of medication. A student has now developed a new chemical analysis technique that will help combat antibiotic resistance.

Juvenile delinquency linked to higher suicide risk Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:57 AM PDT Criminality can be an indicator of a higher risk of suicide in young people. A new study shows that repeat offenders between the ages of 15 and 19 are three times more likely to commit suicide than young people who have not been convicted for a crime during these years.

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