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Thursday, May 8, 2014

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News


Magnetic fingerprint of our galaxy revealed

Posted: 06 May 2014 09:02 AM PDT

Astrophysicists have released an unprecedented map of the entire sky that charts the magnetic field shaping our Milky Way Galaxy. The map reveals magnetic field lines running parallel to the plane of the Galaxy, as well as great loops and whorls associated with nearby clouds of gas and dust.

Do we yawn to cool the brain? Yawning frequencies of people vary with temperature of the season

Posted: 06 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

Why do we yawn? We tend to yawn before sleep and after waking, when we are bored or under stimulated. We yawn in the anticipation of important events and when we are under stress. What do all of these have in common? Researchers highlight a link with thermoregulation, and in particular, brain cooling.

Novel antioxidant makes old arteries seem young again, study shows

Posted: 06 May 2014 06:49 AM PDT

An antioxidant that targets specific cell structures -- mitochondria -- may be able to reverse some of the negative effects of aging on arteries, reducing the risk of heart disease, according to a new study. When the research team gave old mice -- the equivalent of 70- to 80-year-old humans -- water containing an antioxidant known as MitoQ for four weeks, their arteries functioned as well as the arteries of mice with an equivalent human age of just 25 to 35 years.

Mysterious 150-year-old writing in rare copy of Homer's 'Odyssey' identified

Posted: 05 May 2014 12:51 PM PDT

An Italian computer engineer has solved a 150-year-old literary mystery found in a rare edition of Homer's Odyssey at the University of Chicago Library. The 1504 Venetian edition contains handwritten annotations in a previously unknown script.

Evolution in species may reverse predator-prey population cycles

Posted: 05 May 2014 12:51 PM PDT

Populations of predators and their prey usually follow predictable cycles. When the number of prey increases -- perhaps as their food supply becomes more abundant -- predator populations also grow. When the predator population becomes too large, however, the prey population often plummets, leaving too little food for the predators, whose population also then crashes. Co-evolutionary changes in species may reverse traditional predator-prey population cycles, creating the appearance that prey are eating the predators, according to a new study.

How does stress increase risk for stroke, heart attack?

Posted: 05 May 2014 07:44 AM PDT

Scientists have shown that anger, anxiety, and depression not only affect the functioning of the heart, but also increase the risk for heart disease. Stroke and heart attacks are the end products of progressive damage to blood vessels supplying the heart and brain, a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis progresses when there are high levels of chemicals in the body called pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is thought that persisting stress increases the risk for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease by evoking negative emotions that, in turn, raise the levels of pro-inflammatory chemicals in the body.

Vibrating capsule shows promising results in treating chronic constipation: Non-pharmacological therapy

Posted: 03 May 2014 11:12 AM PDT

An oral capsule that vibrates as it moves through the digestive tract has shown notable promise as a non-pharmacological treatment for constipation, according to new research. The capsule, which houses a small engine inside, is programmed to begin vibrating six to eight hours after swallowing. The vibrations (mechanical stimulations) cause contractions in the intestine, which help move stool through the digestive tract.

Big sisters do better: New study of siblings finds eldest girls have the edge

Posted: 02 May 2014 01:04 PM PDT

A new study has revealed that oldest children are the most ambitious, especially girls, and a wider gap between siblings increases the chances of children achieving higher levels of qualifications.

Stimulated mutual annihilation: How to make a gamma-ray laser with positronium

Posted: 01 May 2014 01:56 PM PDT

Theorists expect that positronium, a sort of 'atom' consisting of an electron and an anti-electron, can be used to make a powerful gamma-ray laser. Scientists now report detailed calculations of the dynamics of a positronium BEC. This work is the first to account for effects of collisions between different positronium species. These collisions put important constraints on gamma-ray laser operation.

European seafloor survey reveals depth of marine litter problem

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:27 PM PDT

A major new survey of the seafloor has found that even in the deepest ocean depths you can find bottles, plastic bags, fishing nets and other types of human litter. The litter was found throughout the Mediterranean, and all the way from the continental shelf of Europe to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge 2,000 kilometers from land. Litter is a problem in the marine environment as it can be mistaken for food and eaten by some animals or can entangle coral and fish -- a process known as "ghost fishing."

Discovery of anti-appetite molecule released by fiber could help tackle obesity

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 05:30 AM PDT

A long-standing mystery has been addressed about how dietary fiber supresses appetite. An international team of researchers identified an anti-appetite molecule called acetate that is naturally released when we digest fiber in the gut. Once released, the acetate is transported to the brain where it produces a signal to tell us to stop eating. This confirms the natural benefits of increasing the amount of fiber in our diets to control over-eating and could also help develop methods to reduce appetite.

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