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December 31, 2010

BBC News - 'Why you pay for other people's drinking'

BBC News - 'Why you pay for other people's drinking'
"As preparations for New Year's Eve celebrations near their climax, economist Professor Anne Ludbrook argues in this week's Scrubbing Up that it is unfair that we all pay for the price for the damage caused by alcohol.

Ask yourself how you would feel if you contributed to a kitty for drinks but you didn't get a drink.

Or if another customer at the supermarket asked you to pay for part of the alcohol they were buying.

Sounds a bit far-fetched? But this is the reality of the peculiar market for alcohol. Everyone pays the price for alcohol, whether they drink themselves or not."

Risk for alcoholism linked to risk for obesity

Risk for alcoholism linked to risk for obesity
Addiction researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that a risk for alcoholism also may put individuals at risk for obesity.

Was Israel the birthplace of modern humans?

Was Israel the birthplace of modern humans?
It has long been believed that modern humans emerged from the continent of Africa 200,000 years ago. Now Tel Aviv University archaeologists have uncovered evidence that Homo sapiens roamed the land now called Israel as early as 400,000 years ago -- the earliest evidence for the existence of modern humans anywhere in the world.

Lower levels of education are associated with increased risks of heart failure

Lower levels of education are associated with increased risks of heart failure

Results from a large European study suggest that poorly educated people are more likely to be admitted to hospital with chronic heart failure than the better educated, even after differences in lifestyle have been taken into account. The study is published online on December 9 in the European Heart Journal.

New cognitive robotics lab tests theories of human thought

New cognitive robotics lab tests theories of human thought
In a new Cognitive Robotics Lab, students at Rensselaer are exploring how human thought outwits brute force computing in the real world. The lab's 20 programmable robots allow students to test the real-world performance of computer models that mimic human thought.

"The real world has a lot of inconsistency that humans handle almost without noticing -- for example, we walk on uneven terrain, we see in shifting light," said Professor Vladislav Daniel Veksler, who is currently teaching Cognitive Robotics. "With robots, we can see the problems humans face when navigating their environment."

December 29, 2010

Couples who delay having sex get benefits later, study suggests

Couples who delay having sex get benefits later, study suggests
While there are still couples who wait for a deep level of commitment before having sex, today it's far more common for two people to explore their sexual compatibility before making long-term plans together.

Food in early life affects fertility, study suggests

Food in early life affects fertility, study suggests
The reproductive success of men and women is influenced by the food they receive at an early stage in life, according to new research by the University of Sheffield.

The research, which was published online December 17, 2010 in the journal Ecology, is the first study of its kind to show that early life food can have a serious influence on the life-long fertility of individuals.

Structure deep within the brain may contribute to a rich, varied social life

Structure deep within the brain may contribute to a rich, varied social life
Scientists have discovered that the amygdala, a small almond shaped structure deep within the temporal lobe, is important to a rich and varied social life among humans. The finding was published this week in a new study in Nature Neuroscience and is similar to previous findings in other primate species, which compared the size and complexity of social groups across those species.

December 28, 2010

The procrastination pandemic – - Macleans OnCampus

The procrastination pandemic – 25% of the population are chronic procrastinators

Caveon Uses Technology Against Cheaters - NYTimes.com

Caveon Uses Technology Against Cheaters - NYTimes.com
With more than 100,000 students tested, proctors could not watch everyone — not when some teenagers can text with their phones in their pockets.

So the state called in a company that turns technology against the cheats: it analyzes answer sheets by computer and flags those with so many of the same questions wrong or right that the chances of random agreement are astronomically small. Copying is the almost certain explanation.

Apple Sued Over App Privacy Violations

Apple Sued Over App Privacy Violations
Apple was accused of of letting applications on the iPhone and iPad transmit personal information to advertisers without consent, in two separate lawsuits.

iPhones and iPads are equipped with Unique Device Identifiers (UDID), 40-digit-long strings of letters and numbers which distinguish one device from another, and cannot be blocked or removed by users. The suit claims that these UDIDs are used to let advertisers track what apps users download, how long the programs are used, and how often.

PressTV - Cancer cells can trigger own suicide

PressTV - Cancer cells can trigger own suicide
Many cancer cells are equipped with a protein on their surface that makes it possible for them to send their self-destruction code to the body's immune system.

According to previous studies, a molecule on the surface of cancer and non-cancer cells, called CD47, allows these cells to avoid being destructed by sending the opposite signal, "Don't eat me" to immune cells.

Stanford University researchers identified a new antibody that blocks the CD47 activity and the transfer of the "Don't eat me" signal through an unidentified mechanism.

Far-flung movies may inspire future scientists - Technology & science - Science - LiveScience - msnbc.com

Far-flung movies may inspire future scientists - Technology & science - Science - LiveScience - msnbc.com
Sprinkling some science into Hollywood blockbusters can go a long way toward inspiring the next generation of physicists, astronomers and biologists, such scientists agree.

That was one key message from a panel of scientists, filmmakers and media experts at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union this month.

Vitamin D not linked to semen quality

Vitamin D not linked to semen quality
Vitamin D deficiency is taking blame for a growing list of health problems. Weak sperm, however, may not be one of them, hints new research.

There has been increasing interest in the importance of optimal vitamin D concentrations in recent years, and low vitamin D has been associated with a higher risk of several negative health outcomes.

Too little vitamin D has been linked to osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and some common cancers. But no one has yet looked for a link between vitamin D and the quality of a man's semen. Blood levels of vitamin D, which is manufactured in the skin in response to sunlight and can be consumed in some foods, can vary widely around the world.

Lack of vitamin D at birth may increase respiratory infection risk – The Chart - CNN.com Blogs

Lack of vitamin D at birth may increase respiratory infection risk – The Chart - CNN.com Blogs
Here's more evidence to add to research from earlier this year that pregnant women need more vitamin D:

A study led by Dr. Carlos Camargo, Jr., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, finds that newborns with low levels of cord-blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (a measure of overall vitamin D status) had a greater risk of respiratory infection than those who had higher levels. The researchers did not find an association with asthma, but respiratory infection exacerbates that condition, Camargo said.

"Mothers should be aware that vitamin D is important," Camargo said. "I wouldn’t want to change policy based on this first study, but I do think it supports the idea that vitamin D is important for health.

Delaying Sex = Better Relationships - FoxNews.com

Delaying Sex = Better Relationships - FoxNews.com
Delaying sex makes for a more satisfying and stable relationship later on, new research finds.

Couples who had sex the earliest — such as after the first date or within the first month of dating — had the worst relationship outcomes.

"What seems to happen is that if couples become sexual too early, this very rewarding area of the relationship overwhelms good decision-making and keeps couples in a relationship that might not be the best for them in the long-run," study researcher Dean Busby, of Brigham Young University's School of Family Life, told LiveScience.

Psychologists find skill in recognizing faces peaks after age 30

Psychologists find skill in recognizing faces peaks after age 30
Scientists have made the surprising discovery that our ability to recognize and remember faces peaks at age 30 to 34, about a decade later than most of our other mental abilities.

Scientists seek climate clues in shattered glass | Reuters

Scientists seek climate clues in shattered glass | Reuters
The study found that tiny particles of dust, released into the air when dirt is broken apart, follow similar fragmentation patterns as glass.

Dust plays a crucial climate role because it can affect the amount of the sun's energy absorbed by the atmosphere. Dust can also help with cloud formation and distribution of nutrients, such as iron that is vital for plants.

Some particles reflect solar energy, acting as cooling agents, while some trap extra heat.

New clues uncover how 'starvation hormone' works

New clues uncover how 'starvation hormone' works
New findings by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers may solve a 17-year-old mystery about how the so-called "starvation hormone" affects multiple biological systems, including preventing insulin sensitivity and promoting cell survival.

Finest chocolate may get better: Cacao tree genome sequenced

Finest chocolate may get better: Cacao tree genome sequenced
The production of high quality chocolate, and the farmers who grow it, will benefit from the recent sequencing and assembly of the chocolate tree genome, according to an international team led by Claire Lanaud of CIRAD, France, with Mark Guiltinan of Penn State, and including scientists from 18 other institutions.

Parents' social problems affect their children -- even in birds

Parents' social problems affect their children -- even in birds
The phrase “nature versus nurture” was coined in the mid-19th century by the English scientist Francis Galton and symbolizes the debate over the relative importance of inherited factors and the environment (or upbringing) in determining the behaviour of offspring. The issue has been complicated by the discovery of “epigenetic” effects, by which especially mothers can alter the genetic material they pass on to their young.

December 27, 2010

XWave Brings Mind-Control To The iPhone (VIDEO)

XWave Brings Mind-Control To The iPhone (VIDEO)
Mind control is now on the iPhone.

The latest in the field of emerging mind-controlled games and devices, XWave takes things a step further with iPhone integration. While this iteration of the device is purely entertaining, the implications for the future are great.

The headset, which attaches to the iPhone through the headphone jack, allows users to control graphical images displayed by its free iPhone app. According to the device's developer, PLX, the device is also open to use with 3rd party applications.

Swine flu pandemic outbreak sweeping through Britain even though 70 percent were vaccinated last year

Swine flu pandemic outbreak sweeping through Britain even though 70 percent were vaccinated last year
A swine flu pandemic is sweeping through Britain despite the fact that 70 percent of Britain's over-65 population was vaccinated against swine flu last year. This year, that number is nearly the same -- 68.5% -- but flu vaccine proponents insist that until everyone is vaccinated, the flu will continue to infect people.

What these vaccine advocates absolutely will not admit, however, is how many of those who are sick with the flu this year also got vaccinated last year. This little detail is left out of every mainstream media report on vaccines and the flu. They simply refuse to mention this all-important number, leaving readers to leap to the incorrect conclusion that only those who were not vaccinated get sick with the flu.

Heavy Facebook users may have weighty amygdalas

Heavy Facebook users may have weighty amygdalas
The size of your amygdala might indicate how large and complex your social network is. Amygdala volume has been connected to social network and behavior in past research, as scientists have found that nonhuman primate species with larger social groups tend to have greater amygdala volumes.

Kevin Bickart and his coauthors took the next logical step and examined how amygdala volume varies in humans with different social networks. Their results appear in a recent issue of Nature Neuroscience.

Solar-Powered Hornet Found; Turns Light Into Electricity

Solar-Powered Hornet Found; Turns Light Into Electricity
In an animal kingdom first, insect's "skin" pigments convert sunlight into energy.

The oriental hornet has built-in "solar cells" that generate electricity from sunlight—a first in the animal kingdom, according to a new study.

Scientists already knew that the hornet species, for unknown reasons, produced electricity inside its exoskeleton, according to study leader Marian Plotkin of Tel-Aviv University.

Human immune system has emergency backup plan

Human immune system has emergency backup plan
New research by scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences reveals that the immune system has an effective backup plan to protect the body from infection when the "master regulator" of the body's innate immune system fails. The study appears in the December 19 online issue of the journal Nature Immunology.

LVX System: Ceiling Lights Send Coded Internet Data

LVX System: Ceiling Lights Send Coded Internet Data
Flickering ceiling lights are usually a nuisance, but in city offices in St. Cloud, they will actually be a pathway to the Internet.

The lights will transmit data to specially equipped computers on desks below by flickering faster than the eye can see. Ultimately, the technique could ease wireless congestion by opening up new expressways for short-range communications.

December 25, 2010

Terrorist may poison the food supply (but the food companies already have)

Terrorist may poison the food supply (but the food companies already have)
I have news for CBS, the federal government, and the terrorists: If you really want to poison the U.S. food supply, just use aspartame. It causes neurological disorders and yet remains perfectly legal to dump into foods such as diet sodas and children's medicines. You don't even have to dump it into the food supply in secret, either: You can do it right out in full view of the public. Heck, you can even list this chemical right on the ingredients label!

Or get into the MSG business. MSG, which is often hidden on "natural" foods under an ingredient called yeast extract, is a potent neurotoxin that promotes obesity and even cancer, according to some experts. Feed people enough MSG and they'll probably die of cancer sooner or later, and that counts toward the goal of terrorism too, doesn't it?

December 23, 2010

Better control of building blocks for quantum computer

Better control of building blocks for quantum computer
Scientists from the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience at Delft University of Technology and Eindhoven University of Technology have succeeded in controlling the building blocks of a future super-fast quantum computer. They are now able to manipulate these building blocks (qubits) with electrical rather than magnetic fields, as has been the common practice up till now. They have also been able to embed these qubits into semiconductor nanowires.

A methane-metal marriage: Scientists insert metal atoms into methane gas molecules

A methane-metal marriage: Scientists insert metal atoms into methane gas molecules
For the first time, chemists have succeeded in plugging a metal atom into a methane gas molecule, thereby creating a new compound that could be a key in opening up new production processes for the chemical industry, especially for the synthesis of organic compounds, which in turn might have implications for drug development.

Smart Chip That Can Block Pain Signals Traveling To the Brain | The info green global

Smart Chip That Can Block Pain Signals Traveling To the Brain | The info green global
A smart chip that can block pain signals from traveling to the brain has developed by researchers from Sydney, Australia.

This smart chip was developed by biomedical, electrical and mechanical engineers at National ICT and is designed to be implanted in the spinal cord.

The idea is to dial down the effects of chronic pain and not to block all pain signals. The smart chip, smaller than the head of a match and embedded in a biocompatible device, can measure the properties of the nerves that carry pain signals to the brain and emit a 10 Volt electric pulse to block them. A couple of the devices are sewn into a 1.22mm wide micro-lead made from polymer yarn and electronic wires. The wires are then inserted into the spine (or elsewhere) and connected to a device containing a battery and a computer processor. The battery can be charged wirelessly.

Family demands, worry linked to chest pain - CNN.com

Family demands, worry linked to chest pain - CNN.com
A new study suggests that if those relationships -- particularly with your partner -- are stressful, it may be bad for your heart.

Middle-age people who feel that their family members are excessively demanding or a source of worry are more than twice as likely as worry-free people to develop angina, the chest pain that occurs with exercise or exertion due to a reduced blood flow to the heart.

Artificial Cornea Allows Blind Man to See Again - FoxNews.com

Artificial Cornea Allows Blind Man to See Again - FoxNews.com
A blind man from the U.K. is able to see for the first time in 10 years thanks to a new artificial cornea.

Norman Simpson badly damaged the front of his one good eye in an accident.

Corneal transplants from donor eyes failed and doctors said there was nothing more they could do.

Why do risks with human characteristics make powerful consumers feel lucky?

Why do risks with human characteristics make powerful consumers feel lucky?
People who feel powerful are more likely to believe they can beat cancer if it's described in human terms, according to new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

The study looks at anthropomorphism, or the tendency to attribute humanlike characteristics, intentions, and behavior to nonhuman objects. "The present research shows important downstream consequences of anthropomorphism that go beyond simple liking of products with humanlike physical features," write authors Sara Kim and Ann L. McGill (both University of Chicago)

Placebos work -- even without deception

Placebos work -- even without deception
For most of us, the "placebo effect" is synonymous with the power of positive thinking; it works because you believe you're taking a real drug. But a new study rattles this assumption.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School's Osher Research Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have found that placebos work even when administered without the seemingly requisite deception.

December 22, 2010

Fatty acid in dairy foods may lower diabetes risk - Health - Diabetes - msnbc.com

Fatty acid in dairy foods may lower diabetes risk - Health - Diabetes - msnbc.com
People with higher intakes of a fat found mainly in dairy products might have lower odds of developing diabetes, a new study suggests.

Looking at more than 3,700 U.S. adults, researchers found that those with higher blood levels of the fatty acid — known as trans-palmitoleic acid — were about 60 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes over the next 20 years than people with the lowest blood levels.

That would seem to run counter to longstanding recommendations to trade in whole milk and cheese for the skim varieties for the sake of health.

A robot with finger-tip sensitivity

A robot with finger-tip sensitivity
Two arms, three cameras, finger-tip sensitivity and a variety of facial expressions -- these are the distinguishing features of the pi4-workerbot. Similar in size to a human being, it can be employed at any modern workstation in an industrial manufacturing environment. Its purpose is to help keep European production competitive.

Discovery of new molecule could lead to more efficient rocket fuel

Discovery of new molecule could lead to more efficient rocket fuel
Trinitramid is the name of the new molecule that may be a component in future rocket fuel. This fuel could be 20 to 30 percent more efficient in comparison with the best rocket fuels available today, according to researchers. The discovery was made at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden.

Idaho’s Researchers Developed Solar Cells Able to Gather Infrared Radiation | The info green global

Idaho’s Researchers Developed Solar Cells Able to Gather Infrared Radiation | The info green global
A new kind of solar cell that can produce electricity even at night was developed by the researchers from Idaho. They promised to create a new efficient form of renewable energy.

Steven Novack at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory said to UPI in Idaho Falls that the critical factor of this solar cell is their ability to gather infrared radiation and visible light. After the sun has gone down about half of the available energy in the spectrum of solar radiation is in the infrared band. The infrared band is re-emitted as heat by planet Earth’s surface, this means that the new solar cells can capture an amount of energy during the night he says.

Tom Doctoroff: Chinese Society: Racing Forward, Not Cracking Up

Tom Doctoroff: Chinese Society: Racing Forward, Not Cracking Up
Chinese society is racing forward but it is not cracking up or spinning off its axis. The traditional pillars of individual identity - the family and the nation - remain robust.

True, there are stresses - "spiritual pollution" -- that disorient and make people feel "less safe" than ten or twenty years ago. Clans are torn apart by geographic dispersion as sons and daughters, at all socio-economic levels, wander far from hometowns in search of better jobs and higher pay. The almighty renminbi is a new God, sanctified by a government that has forfeited ideological purity to shepherd the masses toward an illusory materialistic high ground.

Moms who take folic acid, iron have smarter kids | Reuters

Moms who take folic acid, iron have smarter kids | Reuters
Children in rural Nepal whose mothers were given iron and folic acid supplements during pregnancy were smarter, more organized and had better fine motor skills than children whose mothers did not get them, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Eating healthier means living longer

Eating healthier means living longer
The "Healthy foods" cluster was characterized by relatively higher intake of low-fat dairy products, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish, and vegetables, and lower consumption of meat, fried foods, sweets, high-calorie drinks, and added fat. The "High fat dairy products" cluster had higher intake of foods such as ice cream, cheese, and 2% and whole milk and yogurt, and lower intake of poultry, low-fat dairy products, rice, and pasta.

Genetic trait could triple odds of whites' susceptibility to heavy cocaine abuse

Genetic trait could triple odds of whites' susceptibility to heavy cocaine abuse
Nearly one in five whites could carry a genetic variant that substantially increases their odds of being susceptible to severe cocaine abuse, according to new research.

This genetic variant, characterized by one or both of two tiny gene mutations, alters the brain's response to specific chemical signals. In the study, led by Ohio State University researchers, the variant was associated with a more than threefold increase in the odds that carriers will be susceptible to severe cocaine abuse leading to fatal overdosing, compared to non-carriers.

Biting winters driven by global warming: scientists - Yahoo! News

Biting winters driven by global warming: scientists - Yahoo! News
Counter-intuitive but true, say scientists: a string of freezing European winters scattered over the last decade has been driven in large part by global warming.

The culprit, according to a new study, is the Arctic's receding surface ice, which at current rates of decline could to disappear entirely during summer months by century's end.

The mechanism uncovered triples the chances that future winters in Europe and north Asia will be similarly inclement, the study reports.

Obesity increases risk of death in severe vehicle crashes, study shows

Obesity increases risk of death in severe vehicle crashes, study shows
Moderately and morbidly obese persons face many health issues -- heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, gallbladder disease and others. Now, increased chances of dying while driving during a severe auto accident can be added to the list.

Long-lasting chemicals threaten the environment and human health

Long-lasting chemicals threaten the environment and human health
Every hour, an enormous quantity and variety of human-made chemicals, having reached the end of their useful lifespan, flood into wastewater treatment plants. These large-scale processing facilities, however, are designed only to remove nutrients, turbidity and oxygen-depleting human waste, and not the multitude of chemicals put to residential, institutional, commercial and industrial use.

December 21, 2010

Breastfed baby boys may do better in school later | Reuters

Breastfed baby boys may do better in school later | Reuters
School-age boys who were breastfed for at least the first six months of life may outperform their peers in reading, writing and arithmetic, a new study suggests.

The research, which followed more than 1,000 Australian children, found that 10-year-old boys who had been predominantly breastfed until at least the age of 6 months did somewhat better on a set of academic tests.

Your brain on culture

Your brain on culture
When an American thinks about whether he is honest, his brain activity looks very different than when he thinks about whether another person is honest, even a close relative. That’s not true for Chinese people. When a Chinese man evaluates whether he is honest, his brain activity looks almost identical to when he is thinking about whether his mother is honest.

That finding — that American and Chinese brains function differently when considering traits of themselves versus traits of others (Neuroimage, Vol. 34, No. 3) — supports behavioral studies that have found that people from collectivist cultures, such as China, think of themselves as deeply connected to other people in their lives, while Americans adhere to a strong sense of individuality.

BBC News - 'Chocolate cough remedy' in sight

BBC News - 'Chocolate cough remedy' in sight
A chemical in cocoa could soon be turned into a medicine for persistent cough, researchers claim.

Scientists are carrying out the final stages of clinical trials of a drug that contains theobromine, an ingredient found in chocolate and cocoa.

Electronic nose detects cancer

Electronic nose detects cancer
György Horvath from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and researchers from the University of Gävle and KTH Royal Institute of Technology have been able to confirm in tests that ovarian cancer tissue and healthy tissue smell different. The results were published recently in the journal Future Oncology.

Strange new twist: Researchers discover Möbius symmetry in metamaterials

Strange new twist: Researchers discover Möbius symmetry in metamaterials
Möbius symmetry, the topological phenomenon that yields a half-twisted strip with two surfaces but only one side, has been a source of fascination since its discovery in 1858 by German mathematician August Möbius. As artist M.C. Escher so vividly demonstrated in his "parade of ants," it is possible to traverse the "inside" and "outside" surfaces of a Möbius strip without crossing over an edge. For years, scientists have been searching for an example of Möbius symmetry in natural materials without any success.

Now a team of scientists has discovered Möbius symmetry in metamaterials -- materials engineered from artificial "atoms" and "molecules" with electromagnetic properties that arise from their structure rather than their chemical composition.

Electric current moves magnetic vortices: With the help of neutrons, physicists discover new ways to save data

Electric current moves magnetic vortices: With the help of neutrons, physicists discover new ways to save data
One of the requirements to keep trends in computer technology on track -- to be ever faster, smaller, and more energy-efficient -- is faster writing and processing of data. In the Dec. 17 issue of the journal Science, physicists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) and the Universitaet zu Koeln report results that could point the way to a solution. TUM physicists set a lattice of magnetic vortices in a material in motion using electric current almost a million times weaker than in earlier studies.

December 20, 2010

Do smart people use more drugs? - Barking up the wrong tree

Do smart people use more drugs? - Barking up the wrong tree
More intelligent children, both in the United Kingdom and the United States, are more likely to grow up to consume more alcohol. More intelligent American children are more likely to grow up to consume more tobacco, while more intelligent British children are more likely to grow up to consume more illegal drugs.

World's first animal-to-human transplant approved - health - 16 December 2010 - New Scientist

World's first animal-to-human transplant approved - health - 16 December 2010 - New Scientist
THE world's first xenotransplantation treatment - where animal cells are transplanted into humans - has been approved for sale in Russia.

The treatment, developed by Living Cell Technologies in New Zealand, is for type 1 diabetes. It consists of insulin-producing pig cells coated in seaweed, says Bob Elliott of LCT.

Intestine grown from stem cells for the first time - health - 15 December 2010 - New Scientist

Intestine grown from stem cells for the first time - health - 15 December 2010 - New Scientist
HUMAN intestinal tissue has been made in the lab for the first time from stem cells. The achievement is a big step towards replacing diseased gut tissue with fresh material in people with intestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's disease.

'Chilled Out' People Have Higher Obesity, Depression Risk - FoxNews.com

'Chilled Out' People Have Higher Obesity, Depression Risk - FoxNews.com
People who seem to face stressful situations without blinking an eye may have an increased risk of health woes such as obesity and depression, according to a new study.

These results mean that when the body underreacts to stresses in life, it can be just as bad for your health as overreacting, said study researcher Doug Carroll, a professor in the School of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Birmingham in England.

LHC’s Lack of Black Holes Rules Out Some Versions of String Theory | 80beats | Discover Magazine

LHC’s Lack of Black Holes Rules Out Some Versions of String Theory | 80beats | Discover Magazine
You know those black holes the Large Hadron Collider was going to make and kill us all? Well, not only are we still here, but the LHC doesn’t seem to be making black holes at all—their decay signature is markedly absent from the data collected so far.

While that is good for those of us who want to keep living (we jest—the hypothetical micro black holes posed no danger), it’s also helping physicists make up their minds about how many dimensions there are in our universe. The lack of black holes at the LHC nullifies some of the wackier versions of string theory which depend on multiple dimensions.

A 'spin ratchet' paves the way for spin computers: New electronic structure for generating spin current

A 'spin ratchet' paves the way for spin computers: New electronic structure for generating spin current
Scientists have proposed and experimentally demonstrated a ratchet concept to control the spin motion. In analogy to a ratchet wrench, which provides uniform rotation from oscillatory motion, such ratchets achieve directed spin transport in one direction, in the presence of an oscillating signal. Most important, this signal could be an oscillatory current that results from environmental charge noise; thus future devices based on this concept could function by gathering energy from the environment.

Study links emotional and neural responses to musical performance

Study links emotional and neural responses to musical performance
It is well known that music arouses emotions. But why do some musical performances move us, while others leave us flat? Why do musicians spend years perfecting the subtle nuances that bring us to tears? Scientists at Florida Atlantic University have now identified key aspects of musical performance that cause emotion-related brain activity, and they have shown for the first time how these performance nuances work in the brain, in real-time.

December 17, 2010

Obesity May Interfere With Vitamin D Absorption

The more obese a person is, the poorer his or her vitamin D status, a new study by a team of Norwegian researchers suggests.
The study found an inverse relationship between excess pounds and an insufficient amount of vitamin D, which is critical to cell health, calcium absorption and proper immune function. Vitamin D deficiency can raise the risk for bone deterioration and certain types of cancer.
The researchers also suggest that overweight and obese people may have problems processing the vitamin properly.

Risks: Fewer Heart Problems Among Moderate Drinkers

A new study suggests that what matters to your health is not how much alcohol you drink, but how and when you drink it.

The scientists followed the men for 10 years. After controlling for smoking, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and other risks, they found that compared with regular drinkers, both binge drinkers and teetotalers were almost twice as likely to have had a cardiac problem.

Artificial hip made by a unit of Johnson & Johnson, is failing worldwide at unusually high rates

A recently recalled artificial hip made by a unit of Johnson & Johnson, designed to last 15 years or more, is failing worldwide at unusually high rates after just a few years.

One of the most troubled orthopedic implants of the past decade, this artificial hip — known as the A.S.R., or Articular Surface Replacement — was originally promoted as a breakthrough in design that would last longer and provide patients more natural movement.

But many patients soon developed inexplicable pain, and surgeons, when replacing the implant, discovered mysterious masses of dead tissue near the thighs of some patients.

Mother sues McDonald's over Happy Meals

A mother-of-two from California has launched a class-action lawsuit against McDonald's, claiming the toys given out with Happy Meals unfairly lure kids into eating unhealthy food.

Monet Parham is spearheading the suit backed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, aimed at stopping the fast-food giant's use of toys in marketing aimed directly at small children.

The CSPI says such marketing illegally exploits children.

Obese New Zealanders put the squeeze on cemeteries

WELLINGTON (AFP) – New Zealanders' expanding waistlines are creating a weighty problem for funeral directors, who cannot fit cadavers in their crematories and have resorted to selling double burial plots, reports said Friday.

Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand president Tony Garing said the size of the standard coffin had increased as obesity rates soared.

"Caskets are getting wider to accommodate people, so it is the width that is the issue," he told new agency NZPA, adding the standard coffin was now 58 centimetres (23 inches) at the shoulder, up from 48 centimetres.

Staph Bacteria Prefer Humans to Animals

The bacteria that cause staph infections seem to prefer chomping on human blood than on the blood of other animals.

A new study finds that tiny differences in hemoglobin molecules may allow Staphylococcus aureus to thrive better in some bloodstreams than in others, and human hemoglobin is slightly different from hemoglobin in other animals, study researcher Eric Skaar of Vanderbilt University said. Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells that contains iron.

Evolutionary Diversity Threatened By Extinctions, Habitat Loss

Math-based study looks at long-running connections of species and the impact of losing them

A mathematically driven evolutionary snapshot of woody plants in four similar climates around the world has given scientists a fresh perspective on genetic diversity and threats posed by both extinctions and loss of habitat.

The message from the study, appearing online ahead of publication in Ecology Letters, says lead author Hélène Morlon, is that evolutionary diversity -- the millions of years of evolutionary innovations contained in present-day species -- is more sensitive to extinctions or loss of habitat than long thought. And that, she adds, means conservation efforts really need to take into consideration how species are evolutionarily related.

Science's Breakthrough of the Year: The First Quantum Machine

Until this year, all human-made objects have moved according to the laws of classical mechanics.

Back in March, however, a group of researchers designed a gadget that moves in ways that can only be described by quantum mechanics -- the set of rules that governs the behavior of tiny things like molecules, atoms, and subatomic particles.

In recognition of the conceptual ground their experiment breaks, the ingenuity behind it and its many potential applications, Science has called this discovery the most significant scientific advance of 2010.

Nanotechnology: Tiny Channels Carry Big Information

They say it's the little things that count, and that certainly holds true for the channels in transmembrane proteins, which are small enough to allow ions or molecules of a certain size to pass through, while keeping out larger objects. Artificial fluidic nanochannels that mimic the capabilities of transmembrane proteins are highly prized for a number of advanced technologies. However, it has been difficult to make individual artificial channels of this size -- until now.

Caffeine Negatively Affects Children: Most Consume Caffeine Daily

Caffeine consumption in children is often blamed for sleep problems and bedwetting. Information on childhood caffeine consumption is limited, and many parents may not know the amount or effects of their child's caffeine consumption. In a study published in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found that 75% of children surveyed consumed caffeine on a daily basis, and the more caffeine the children consumed, the less they slept.

Human Fetal Immune System Arises from Entirely Different Source Than Adult Immune System

The finding could lead to a better understanding of how newborns respond to both infections and vaccines, and may explain such conundrums as why many infants of HIV-positive mothers are not infected with the disease before birth, the researchers said.

It also could help scientists better understand how childhood allergies develop, as well as how to manage adult organ transplants, the researchers said. The findings are described in the Dec. 17 issue of Science.

Beetroot juice could help people live more active lives

New research into the health benefits of beetroot juice suggests it's not only athletes who can benefit from its performance enhancing properties – its physiological effects could help the elderly or people with heart or lung-conditions enjoy more active lives.

Beetroot juice has been one of the biggest stories in sports science over the past year after researchers at the University of Exeter found it enables people to exercise for up to 16% longer. The startling results have led to a host of athletes – from Premiership footballers to professional cyclists – looking into its potential uses.

A new piece of research by the university in conjunction with the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry has revealed the physiological effects of drinking beetroot juice could help a much wider range of people.

In the latest study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, the researchers looked at low intensity exercise and found that test subjects used less oxygen while walking – effectively reducing the effort it took to walk by 12%.

December 16, 2010

Garlic could protect against hip osteoarthritis

Garlic could protect against hip osteoarthritis

Researchers at King's College London and the University of East Anglia have discovered that women who consume a diet high in allium vegetables, such as garlic, onions and leeks, have lower levels of hip osteoarthritis.

Facebook face recognition finds friends in photos - Yahoo! News

Facebook face recognition finds friends in photos - Yahoo! News

Facebook is using facial recognition software to let US users automatically identify friends in photos at the world's leading online social network.

A "tag suggestion" feature crafted to identify people in uploaded pictures should be rolled out to all US users in the next few weeks, Facebook engineer Justin Mitchell said late Wednesday in a blog post.

NewsDaily: German doctors declare "cure" in HIV patient

NewsDaily: German doctors declare "cure" in HIV patient

German researchers who used a bone marrow transplant to treat a cancer patient with the AIDS virus, have declared him cured of the virus -- a stunning claim in a field where the word "cure" is barely whispered.

The patient, who had both HIV infection and leukemia, received the bone marrow transplant in 2007 from a donor who had a genetic mutation known to give patients a natural immunity to the virus.

Since the 1990s scientists have known that some people, mostly of Northern European descent, have the mutation and are rarely infected with HIV.

"They are uninfectable, virtually," Gallo said.

Australians have highest rate of skin cancer: study - Yahoo! News

Australians have highest rate of skin cancer: study - Yahoo! News

Australia's sun worshipping culture means the country's 22 million people are 13 times more likely to develop skin cancer than the global average, according to a new study released Thursday.

Unemployment Has Little Long-Term Effect on Mental Health - Yahoo! News

Unemployment Has Little Long-Term Effect on Mental Health - Yahoo! News

Losing a job can be a profoundly stressful experience, but the unemployed may be more resilient than previously believed, according to new analysis published by the American Psychological Association.

In fact, the vast majority eventually end up as satisfied with life as they were before they lost their jobs, the study found.

Atomic weights of 10 elements on periodic table about to make an historic change

Atomic weights of 10 elements on periodic table about to make an historic change

For the first time in history, a change will be made to the atomic weights of some elements listed on the Periodic table of the chemical elements posted on walls of chemistry classrooms and on the inside covers of chemistry textbooks worldwide.

December 15, 2010

Working out in your 20s helps keep you trim in midlife - CNN.com

Working out in your 20s helps keep you trim in midlife - CNN.com
If you want to stave off the middle-age spread, get active in your 20s and stay that way through your 30s and 40s, especially if you're a woman, a new study suggests.

In the study, which appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers followed about 3,500 people between the ages of 18 and 30 for two decades.

Sleep deprived? Your looks may suffer - CNN.com

Sleep deprived? Your looks may suffer - CNN.com
"A good night's sleep tends to leave you feeling refreshed, alert, and upbeat. According to a new study, it may also make you look healthier and more attractive to others.

Poverty Equals Obesity? Study Bucks Common Wisdom - FoxNews.com

Poverty Equals Obesity? Study Bucks Common Wisdom - FoxNews.com
They found income does not greatly affect whether a man is obese but that education seems to affect both sexes.

"Among men, obesity prevalence is generally similar at all income levels, with a tendency to be slightly higher at higher income levels," the team at the National Center for Health Statistics wrote.

Obesity is a growing problem for U.S. policymakers. Two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, with 72 million U.S. adults, or 26.7 percent, being obese, with a body mass index or BMI, of 30 or more.

EPA Says Saccharin Not a Threat After All - FoxNews.com

EPA Says Saccharin Not a Threat After All - FoxNews.com
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has dropped the artificial sweetener saccharin from its list of hazardous substances, the agency said on Tuesday.

The white crystalline powder used in diet drinks, chewing gum and juice was dubbed a potential cancer-causing agent in 1980. While a review by the National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer cleared saccharin in the late 1990s, it has remained on the EPA's potential hazard list.

Champion hydrogen-producing microbe

Champion hydrogen-producing microbe
Inside a small cabinet the size of a dorm refrigerator in one of Himadri B. Pakrasi's labs, a blue-green soup percolates in thick glass bottles under the cool light of red, blue and green LEDS. This isn't just any soup, however. It is a soup of champions.

The soup is colored by a strain of blue-green bacteria that bubble off roughly 10 times the hydrogen gas produced by their nearest competitors -- in part because of their unique genetic endowment but also in part because of tricks the scientists have played on their metabolism.

Asthma? Allergens could be growing in your lungs

Asthma? Allergens could be growing in your lungs
Scientists investigating the allergic reactions that asthmatics suffer towards a common mould have discovered that many people with asthma actually had the mould growing in their own lungs.

Microchip harvests its own energy

Microchip harvests its own energy
Microchips that 'harvest' the energy they need from their own surroundings, without depending on batteries or mains electricity. That will be possible now that researchers from the University of Twente's MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, together with colleagues from the universities of Nankai (China) and Utrecht, have for the first time succeeded in manufacturing a microchip with an efficient solar cell placed on top of the microelectronics.

Novel memory-enhancing mechanism in brain

Novel memory-enhancing mechanism in brain
UC Irvine researchers have identified a novel mechanism in the brain that boosts memory.

"It appears that the combination of increased alertness and reduced anxiety produced by NPS prepares the animals to learn much better," he said. "Memory is remarkably improved after activation of their NPS system, and the effects are long-lasting, independent of content."

December 14, 2010

PressTV - High HDL levels reduce Alzheimer's risk

PressTV - High HDL levels reduce Alzheimer's risk
The higher blood levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) can place individuals at a lower risk of developing the devastating Alzheimer's disease in the long run.

According to a study published in the Archives of Neurology, individuals in the highest quartile of HDL-C, publicly known as good cholesterol, are 60% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Such an association, however, is not reported for non-HDL and LDL cholesterol and AD.

“Basically, what we found is that higher levels of good cholesterol decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease,” said lead researcher Christiane Reitz from Columbia University, NY.

Mercury in Tuna Prompts New Call to Limit Intake - NYTimes.com

Mercury in Tuna Prompts New Call to Limit Intake - NYTimes.com
“White” tuna generally contained more mercury than “light” tuna, but some light tuna contained enough that a woman of childbearing age eating less than a can a week would exceed federal recommendations for mercury consumption, the new Consumer Reports study says. The metal can affect fetal development.

The average amount of mercury found by Consumer Reports in white tuna samples was 0.427 parts per million, compared with the average 0.353 p.p.m. found in F.D.A. tests in 2002-04. The average in light tuna was 0.071 p.p.m., lower than the 0.118 p.p.m. found by the F.D.A.

Daily Kos: Why I'm Posting Bail Money for Julian Assange

Daily Kos: Why I'm Posting Bail Money for Julian Assange
"Why I'm Posting Bail Money for Julian Assange

by Michael Moore

Tue Dec 14, 2010 at 04:12:19 AM PST"

Stem Cell Transplant Cures HIV In 'Berlin Patient'

Stem Cell Transplant Cures HIV In 'Berlin Patient'
On the heels of World AIDS Day comes a stunning medical breakthrough: Doctors believe an HIV-positive man who underwent a stem cell transplant has been cured as a result of the procedure.

News break: FDA estimates US livestock get 29 million pounds of antibiotics per year | Wired Science | Wired.com

News break: FDA estimates US livestock get 29 million pounds of antibiotics per year | Wired Science | Wired.com
This afternoon, the Food and Drug Administration posted without fanfare a report that many people have been waiting a long time for: Its first-ever estimate of the amount of antibiotics sold for use in food animals in the United States.

And the number is: almost 29 million pounds in 2009.

BBC News - Voyager near Solar System's edge

BBC News - Voyager near Solar System's edge
Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, has reached a new milestone in its quest to leave the Solar System.

Now 17.4bn km (10.8bn miles) from home, the veteran probe has detected a distinct change in the flow of particles that surround it.

These particles, which emanate from the Sun, are no longer travelling outwards but are moving sideways.

It means Voyager must be very close to making the jump to interstellar space - the space between the stars.

'Fountain of youth' pill could restore aging immune system

'Fountain of youth' pill could restore aging immune system
UCSF researchers have identified an existing medication that restores key elements of the immune system that, when out of balance, lead to a steady decline in immunity and health as people age.

The team found that extremely low doses of the drug lenalidomide can stimulate the body's immune-cell protein factories, which decrease production during aging, and rebalance the levels of several key cytokines - immune proteins that either attack viruses and bacteria or cause inflammation that leads to an overall decline in health.

A benefit of flu: Protection from asthma?

A benefit of flu: Protection from asthma?
In a paper that suggests a new strategy to prevent asthma, scientists at Children's Hospital Boston and their colleagues report that the influenza virus infection in young mice protected the mice as adults against the development of allergic asthma. The same protective effect was achieved by treating young mice with compound isolated from the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that colonizes the stomach and is best known for causing ulcers and increasing the risk of gastric cancers.

Continued death of forests predicted in southwestern US due to climate change

Continued death of forests predicted in southwestern US due to climate change
If current climate projections hold true, the forests of the Southwestern United States face a bleak future, with more severe -- and more frequent -- forest fires, higher tree death rates, more insect infestation, and weaker trees. The findings by university and government scientists are published in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

New evidence that magnetism is driving force behind superconductivity

New evidence that magnetism is driving force behind superconductivity
European and U.S. physicists this week are offering up the strongest evidence yet that magnetism is the driving force behind unconventional superconductivity. The findings by researchers from Rice University, the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (MPI-CPfS) in Dresden, Germany, and other institutions were published online December 13 in Nature Physics.

December 13, 2010

Russia's Soyuz Soon To Be Only Lifeline To Space

Russia's Soyuz Soon To Be Only Lifeline To Space
"With NASA finally retiring the shuttle program next year, the venerable Russian workhorse is now set to become the world's only lifeline to the International Space Station. That predicament is provoking mixed feelings of concern over excess reliance on Russia's space program and enduring admiration for the hardiness of the Soviet-designed Soyuz."

Curiosity's Evil Twin Can Drive You Insane - FoxNews.com

Curiosity's Evil Twin Can Drive You Insane - FoxNews.com
"The problem there is that optimal arousal involves always approaching the unknown to increase stimulation, but never resolving it,' Litman said. In other words, once someone reaches an optimal level of curiosity about something, finding out the answer would reduce arousal, ruining the balance."

Doctors Perform Open-Heart Surgery on 'Wide-Awake' Patient - FoxNews.com

Doctors Perform Open-Heart Surgery on 'Wide-Awake' Patient - FoxNews.com
Surgeons have carried out open-heart surgery on a patient who was wide awake throughout the procedure - giving hope of reducing the risks of complex operations.

Catholic priest Father Bolmax Periera had an epidural injection into his spine so he could not feel anything below his neck.

Formaldehyde in Wrinkle-Free Clothes May Pose Skin Risks - NYTimes.com

Formaldehyde in Wrinkle-Free Clothes May Pose Skin Risks - NYTimes.com
The iron, that relic of households past, is no longer required to look neat and freshly pressed. Why bother when retailers like Nordstrom offer crisp “wrinkle-free finish” dress shirts and L. L. Bean sells chinos that are “great right out of the dryer.”

And clothing is not the only thing treated with the chemical. Formaldehyde is commonly found in a broad range of consumer products and can show up in practically every room of the house. The sheets and pillow cases on the bed. The drapes hanging in the living room. The upholstery on the couch. In the bathroom, it can be found in personal care products like shampoos, lotions and eye shadow. It may even be in the baseball cap hanging by the back door.

Physicists make atoms and dark matter add up

Physicists make atoms and dark matter add up
UBC and TRIUMF physicists have proposed a unified explanation for dark matter and the so-called baryon asymmetry--the apparent imbalance of matter with positive baryon charge and antimatter with negative baryon charge in the Universe.

"This links the formation of atoms and dark matter and helps resolve the baryon asymmetry mystery, as the total dark plus visible baryon balance of the Universe is restored."

Observations of the the big bang's afterglow, the cosmic microwave background, by the WMAP satellite now show about 4.6 per cent of the Universe (by density) is comprised of atoms, with about five times more dark matter (23 per cent).

Ukraine to open Chernobyl area to tourists in 2011 - Yahoo! News

Ukraine to open Chernobyl area to tourists in 2011 - Yahoo! News
KIEV, Ukraine – Want a better understanding of the world's worst nuclear disaster? Come tour the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Beginning next year, Ukraine plans to open up the sealed zone around the Chernobyl reactor to visitors who wish to learn more about the tragedy that occurred nearly a quarter of a century ago, the Emergency Situations Ministry said Monday.

Chernobyl's reactor No. 4 exploded on April 26, 1986, spewing radiation over a large swath of northern Europe. Hundreds of thousands of people were resettled from areas contaminated with radiation fallout in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. Related health problems still persist.

Stem cells turned into complex, functioning intestinal tissue in lab

Stem cells turned into complex, functioning intestinal tissue in lab
For the first time, scientists have created functioning human intestinal tissue in the laboratory from pluripotent stem cells.

Best Meteor Shower of 2010 Peaks Tonight

Best Meteor Shower of 2010 Peaks Tonight
What promises to be the best meteor shower of the year is hitting its peak just in time for the holidays, but skywatchers should act fast: This sky show peaks overnight tonight.

At the heart of the skywatching spectacle is the Geminid meteor shower, an annual mid-December rain of meteors that will reach its height tonight (Dec. 13) and early tomorrow morning. Skywatchers with good weather and clear skies could see up to 120 meteors an hour during the meteor shower's peak.

This sky map* shows where to look to see the Geminid meteor shower during peak hours on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14. The meteors will appear to emanate from a spot in the sky near the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini (the Twins), which gave the shower its name.

*PICTURE OF SKY - where to look
http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?pic=sky-map-geminid-meteor-shower-101213-02.jpg

December 12, 2010

Research proves sunblock prevents melanoma › News in Science (ABC Science)

Research proves sunblock prevents melanoma › News in Science (ABC Science)
Australian research has shown for the first time that daily sunblock use can prevent potentially deadly melanoma.

"It provides the first scientific data that shows that sunscreen can be beneficial for melanoma prevention," says Professor Adele Green from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.

NewsDaily: Study links finger length to prostate cancer risk

NewsDaily: Study links finger length to prostate cancer risk
Men with long index fingers have a lower risk of prostate cancer, British scientists said on Wednesday, a finding that could be used to help select those who need regular screening for the disease.

Researchers at Britain's Warwick University and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) found that men whose index finger is longer than their ring finger were one-third less likely to develop the disease than men with the opposite pattern of finger lengths.

Scientists discover that caterpillars can whistle - CSMonitor.com

Scientists discover that caterpillars can whistle - CSMonitor.com
Caterpillars apparently can whistle, letting out squeaks that can fend off attacking birds, scientists have now found.

They don't whistle by puckering their lips and blowing, since they don't have lips. Instead, they blow out their sides, researchers said.

Ants lay trail to complex problem-solving › News in Science (ABC Science)

Ants lay trail to complex problem-solving › News in Science (ABC Science)
A species of ant could lend important clues to solving problems in telephone networks, traffic circulation and computer networks.

An international team of scientists, who have been studying the way ants navigate, found ants are better problem solvers than had previously been thought.

Their research, published today in the Journal of Experimental Biology, suggets problem-solving in natural systems is a rich source of inspiration for computer scientists.

How the Future of Big Tobacco Could Be Tiny Lithium Batteries | Fast Company

How the Future of Big Tobacco Could Be Tiny Lithium Batteries | Fast Company
The tobacco mosaic virus is a destructive beast infecting over a hundred different species of plants, including tomatoes. But it may have a weird eco benefit: Incorporated into lithium batteries, it can increase storage capacity ten times.

Drugs can pass through human body almost intact: New concerns for antibiotic resistance, pollution identified

Drugs can pass through human body almost intact: New concerns for antibiotic resistance, pollution identified
When an antibiotic is consumed, researchers have learned that up to 90 percent passes through a body without metabolizing. This means the drugs can leave the body almost intact through normal bodily functions.

December 11, 2010

Mark Hyman, MD: Autism Research: Breakthrough Discovery on the Causes of Autism

Mark Hyman, MD: Autism Research: Breakthrough Discovery on the Causes of Autism
Imagine being the parent of a young child who is not acting normally and being told by your doctor that your child has autism, that there is no known cause, and there is no known treatment except, perhaps, some behavioral therapy. That is exactly what Jackson's parents were told as their 22-month-old son regressed into the non-verbal psychic prison of social withdrawal, disconnection, and repetitive behaviors typical of autism.

B.C. forests release more carbon than they store thanks to pine beetle

B.C. forests release more carbon than they store thanks to pine beetle
The double whammy of the mountain pine beetle infestation and the increased severity of wildfires have tipped the balance in B.C. forests, turning them from a carbon sink to net emitters of greenhouse gases, according to a new ministry of forests, mines and lands report.

BBC News - Morality is modified in the lab

BBC News - Morality is modified in the lab
Scientists have shown they can change people's moral judgements by disrupting a specific area of the brain with magnetic pulses.

They identified a region of the brain just above and behind the right ear which appears to control morality.

Is good luck at gambling all in the genes? : Nature News

Is good luck at gambling all in the genes? : Nature News
A gene associated with rash behaviour may in fact enable shrewd decision-making in risky situations.

The so-called 'warrior gene' may give its carriers better judgement when confronted with financial risk rather than make them prone to impulsive decisions.

December 10, 2010

Former WikiLeaks worker: rival site under way - Yahoo! News

Former WikiLeaks worker: rival site under way - Yahoo! News
STOCKHOLM – Wikileaks soon won't be the only secret-spilling game in town.

A former co-worker of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to launch a rival website Monday called Openleaks that will help anonymous sources deliver sensitive material to public attention.

AP Enterprise: FAA loses track of 119,000 aircraft - Yahoo! News

AP Enterprise: FAA loses track of 119,000 aircraft - Yahoo! News
NEW YORK – The Federal Aviation Administration is missing key information on who owns one-third of the 357,000 private and commercial aircraft in the U.S. — a gap the agency fears could be exploited by terrorists and drug traffickers.

The records are in such disarray that the FAA says it is worried that criminals could buy planes without the government's knowledge, or use the registration numbers of other aircraft to evade new computer systems designed to track suspicious flights. It has ordered all aircraft owners to re-register their planes in an effort to clean up its files.

Why Groupon was smart to spurn Google's $6 billion offer - CNN.com

Why Groupon was smart to spurn Google's $6 billion offer - CNN.com
Groupon, the fastest-growing web company on the planet, reportedly turned down a $6 billion buyout offer from Google late last week.

Sounds crazy, right? For most two-year-old companies, the idea of getting a $6 billion offer -- never mind turning it down -- is a wild dream.

Cycling May Have Impact on Sperm Health - FoxNews.com

Cycling May Have Impact on Sperm Health - FoxNews.com
Most exercise appears to have little relationship to either the quality or quantity of sperm, but men who bike at least five hours a week have fewer and less active sperm than men who didn't exercise, a study said.

Snails with shells coiling to the left survive snake attacks (w/ Video)

Snails with shells coiling to the left survive snake attacks (w/ Video)
Mating between sinistral and dextral snails is almost impossible because their genitals are on opposite sides of their bodies. In the large Satsuma snails, for example, mating takes place face-to-face. All snails have both male and female reproductive organs, and when both snails are dextral or both are sinistral, everything lines up nicely. When one is dextral and the other is sinistral the genitals line up male-male and female-female.

Dextral snails are far more common than sinistral snails, and therefore have far more mating opportunities. This and the difficulty in mating means sinistral snails should become extinct unless sinistrality has some unknown advantage. Now, scientists in Japan and Taiwan have discovered the advantage is a resistance to snake predation.

Bioengineers develop bacterial strain to increase ethanol biofuel production

Bioengineers develop bacterial strain to increase ethanol biofuel production
A team of bioengineers in the United States has modified a strain of bacteria to increase its ability to produce ethanol. The research, published in Biotechnology and Bioengineering, reveals how adaptation and metabolic engineering can be combined for strain improvement, a positive development for the biofuel industry.

Menstrual Cycle May Influence Mammogram Accuracy - Yahoo! News

Menstrual Cycle May Influence Mammogram Accuracy - Yahoo! News
Women who undergo regular mammograms may want to consider scheduling their screening for the first week of their menstrual cycle, according to a new study.

The breast tissue may be less dense during this week, so mammograms conducted at this time may be more accurate for some women, the researchers said.

Living in certain neighborhoods increases the chances older men and women will develop cancer, study finds

Living in certain neighborhoods increases the chances older men and women will develop cancer, study finds
Older people who live in racially segregated neighborhoods with high crime rates have a much higher chance of developing cancer than do older people with similar health histories and income levels who live in safer, less segregated neighborhoods.

December 9, 2010

EBay not liable on trademark dispute: EU court | Reuters

EBay not liable on trademark dispute: EU court | Reuters
Internet auction site eBay Inc is generally not liable for trademark infringements committed by users on its site, the European Court of Justice said on Thursday.

FoxNews.com - Lost Civilization Under Persian Gulf?

FoxNews.com - Lost Civilization Under Persian Gulf?
Archaeologists have turned up evidence of a wave of human settlements along the shores of the Gulf dating to about 7,500 years ago.

How do DNA components resist damaging UV exposure?

How do DNA components resist damaging UV exposure?
The genetic material of DNA contains shielding mechanisms to protect itself from the exposure to the UV light emitted by the sun. This is of crucial importance, since without photostability -- i.e. without "programmed" defense mechanisms against UV irradiation -- there would be a rapid degradation of DNA and RNA.

Fewer synapses, more efficient learning: Molecular glue wires the brain

Fewer synapses, more efficient learning: Molecular glue wires the brain
Yale University researchers have found that a single molecule not only connects brain cells but also changes how we learn. The findings, reported in the December 9 issue of the journal Neuron, may help researchers discover ways to improve memory and could lead to new therapies to correct neurological disorders.

December 8, 2010

Study finds bisphenol A on money – The Chart - CNN.com Blogs

Study finds bisphenol A on money – The Chart - CNN.com Blogs
A new report says Bisphenol A (BPA), the controversial hormone disrupting chemical widely used in plastics, is turning up in an unlikely place–the money in your wallet.

Girls who walk, bike to school do better in tests | Reuters

Girls who walk, bike to school do better in tests | Reuters
Girls, but not boys, who walk or bike to school instead of getting a ride perform better in tests of verbal and math skills, according to a new study of teens living in Spanish cities.

Searching the Brain for the Spark of Creative Problem-Solving - NYTimes.com

Searching the Brain for the Spark of Creative Problem-Solving - NYTimes.com
Either way, creative problem-solving usually requires both analysis and sudden out-of-the-box insight.

“You really end up toggling between the two, but I think that they are truly different brain states,” said Adam Anderson, a psychologist at the University of Toronto.

Do Energy Drinks Improve Athletic Performance? - NYTimes.com

Do Energy Drinks Improve Athletic Performance? - NYTimes.com
So should you or your teenage soccer player be drinking energy drinks? Not if your aim is to improve sports performance, Dr. Higgins said. “I wouldn’t recommend energy drinks to athletes,” he said. “Look at the name. These are not sports drinks.”

Astronomers detect first carbon-rich exoplanet

Astronomers detect first carbon-rich exoplanet
A team led by a former postdoctoral researcher in MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences and the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics, recently measured the first-ever planetary atmosphere that is substantially enriched in carbon.

The researchers found that the carbon-to-oxygen ratio of WASP-12b, an exoplanet about 1.4 times the mass of Jupiter and located about 1,200 light years away, is greater than one. As they report in a paper to be published on Dec. 8 in Nature, this carbon-rich atmosphere supports the possibility that rocky exoplanets could be composed of pure carbon rocks like diamond or graphite rather than the silica-based rock found in Earth.

Blueberries and other purple fruits to ward off Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's

Blueberries and other purple fruits to ward off Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's
Eating purple fruits such as blueberries and drinking green tea can help ward off diseases including Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's, a University of Manchester report claims.

Wikileaked Cables from Beijing Reveal China's Pursuit of Fusion Power, Teleportation | Popular Science

Wikileaked Cables from Beijing Reveal China's Pursuit of Fusion Power, Teleportation | Popular Science
It’s no secret that China is beating up on America and the West in everything from infrastructure to technology investment, but news of exactly what the People’s Republic is up to is often scarce. So while the diplomatic establishment continues to reel from the stink of its own dirty laundry in last week’s Wikileaks document dump, cables coming from the American Embassy in Beijing are also shedding light on the strides Chinese scientists are making in far-out fields like nuclear fission, biometrics, and even quantum teleportation.

One confidential diplomatic cable sent from the Beijing Embassy to Washington in February suggests China is doing big things at the small scale. For one, China is aggressively expanding its nuclear energy resources, with plans to open at least 70 nuclear plants in the next decade. More interestingly, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is pouring research funding into its Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) to conduct ongoing research into nuclear fusion.

Food; health; obesity; No one's a 'victim' of obesity - latimes.com

Food; health; obesity; No one's a 'victim' of obesity - latimes.com
Call it the McVictim syndrome. Too many pundits, public health experts and politicians are working overtime to find scapegoats for America's obesity epidemic.

Plants 'remember' winter to bloom in spring with help of special molecule

Plants 'remember' winter to bloom in spring with help of special molecule
The role a key molecule plays in a plant's ability to remember winter, and therefore bloom in the spring, has been identified by University of Texas at Austin scientists.

Scientists map changes in genetic networks caused by DNA damage

Scientists map changes in genetic networks caused by DNA damage
Using a new technology called "differential epistasis maps," an international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, has documented for the first time how a cellular genetic network completely rewires itself in response to stress by DNA-damaging agents.

Creating 'Living' Buildings

Creating 'Living' Buildings
The University of Greenwich's School of Architecture & Construction is poised to use ethical synthetic biology to create 'living' materials that could be used to clad buildings and help combat the effects of climate change.

Feeling chills in response to music

Feeling chills in response to music
Most people feel chills and shivers in response to music that thrills them, but some people feel these chills often and others feel them hardly at all. People who are particularly open to new experiences are most likely to have chills in response to music, according to a study in the current Social Psychological and Personality Science.

December 7, 2010

Study links cellphones to child misbehavior - Yahoo! News

Study links cellphones to child misbehavior - Yahoo! News
Researchers studying the health effects of cellphones say they have found evidence that when pregnant women use them regularly, their children are more likely to have behavioral problems.

The study, sure to renew controversy over the safety of mobile telephones, does not demonstrate that cellphone use causes the behavioral problems and does not suggest a possible way that they could.

Flu Viruses Gaining Resistance, Study Confirms - Yahoo! News

Flu Viruses Gaining Resistance, Study Confirms - Yahoo! News
Certain influenza virus strains are developing increasing drug resistance and greater ability to spread, a new study warns.
American and Canadian researchers confirmed that resistance to the two approved classes of antiviral drugs can occur in several ways and said this dual resistance has been on the rise over the past three years.
The team analyzed 28 seasonal H1N1 influenza viruses that were present in five countries from 2008 to 2010 and were resistant to both M2 blockers (adamantanes) and neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), including oseltamivir and zanamivir.

December 6, 2010

Dr. Russell Blaylock: Fluoride’s Deadly Secret | Dprogram.net

Dr. Russell Blaylock: Fluoride’s Deadly Secret | Dprogram.net

Silicon Valley Bubble Shows Signs of Reinflating - NYTimes.com

Silicon Valley Bubble Shows Signs of Reinflating - NYTimes.com
In a memorable scene in the “The Social Network,” the actor Justin Timberlake, who portrays the Silicon Valley investor Sean Parker in the movie, leans over the table and tells the founders of Facebook in a conspiratorial tone: “A million dollars isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? A billion dollars.”

It's official: asteroids did kill the dinosaurs | Homeland Security News Wire

It's official: asteroids did kill the dinosaurs | Homeland Security News Wire
The prevailing scientific consensus is that at least one asteroid -- possibly more -- hit the earth about sixty-five million years ago, showering the planet with dust and debris, blocking sunlight, causing firestorms, and marking the end of the Cretaceous Period and the beginning of the Paleogene Period; most scientists believe the impact was directly responsible for the mass extinction of many species of plants and animals -- most famously, the dinosaurs; geological evidence buried deep in the soil of New Jersey offers support for the impact theory of dinosaur extinction

Best Meteor Shower of 2010 Arrives in December - Yahoo! News

Best Meteor Shower of 2010 Arrives in December - Yahoo! News
What should be the best meteor shower of 2010 will occur in a little over a week beginning on the evening of Monday, Dec. 13.

Like most meteor showers, the Geminids will be at their best after midnight (early on the morning of Dec. 14), when the Earth is heading directly into the meteoroid stream. But some will be visible earlier in the night, on the evening of Dec. 13, because the meteors' radiant – where they appear to originate – is nearly circumpolar, so they will stay in view above the horizon all night.

Now You See It: Neuroscientists Reveal Magicians' Secrets - Yahoo! News

Now You See It: Neuroscientists Reveal Magicians' Secrets - Yahoo! News
There is a place for magic in science. Five years ago, on a trip to Las Vegas, neuroscientists Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde realized that a partnership was in order with a profession that has an older and more intuitive understanding of how the human brain works. Magicians, it seems, have an advantage over neuroscientists.

Season of birth may have long-term effects on personality, study suggests

Season of birth may have long-term effects on personality, study suggests
The season in which babies are born can have a dramatic and persistent effect on how their biological clocks function.

The imprinting effect, which was found in baby mice, may help explain the fact that people born in winter months have a higher risk of a number of neurological disorders including seasonal affective disorder (winter depression), bipolar depression and schizophrenia.

December 5, 2010

Heat helped hasten life's beginnings on Earth, research suggests

Heat helped hasten life's beginnings on Earth, research suggests
There has been controversy about whether life originated in a hot or cold environment, and about whether enough time has elapsed for life to have evolved to its present complexity.

China to lead world in innovation by 2020

China to lead world in innovation by 2020: survey

China is set to become the world's most important center for innovation by 2020, overtaking both the United States and Japan, according to a public opinion survey to be published on Monday.

The Double Life of Women | Psychology Today

The Double Life of Women | Psychology Today
The influence of the menstrual cycle on women is apparent not only in whom they desire but in how they act. Women who are in the ovulatory phase show more interest in erotic materials than women in the luteal or follicular phases; given a choice of movies to watch, they select ones with more romantic or sexual themes. They take more care with their appearance, and they choose more revealing clothes to wear. In 2004, a group of researchers from the University of Vienna digitally analyzed pictures of 351 women going out to Austrian nightclubs and collected a saliva sample from each. Women whose clothes were tight or showed a lot of skin had higher levels of estradiol, a female hormone that is elevated around the time of ovulation.

Electronic cigarettes are unsafe and pose health risks, study finds

Electronic cigarettes are unsafe and pose health risks, study finds
Electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes), also called "electronic nicotine delivery systems," are increasingly used worldwide even though only sparse information is available on their health effects. In the United States, e-cigarettes are readily available in shopping malls in most states and on the Internet. But how safe are e-cigarettes?


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December 4, 2010

Your toxic living room is making you sick - Health - Health care - More health news - msnbc.com

Your toxic living room is making you sick - Health - Health care - More health news - msnbc.com
You pride yourself on keeping your home clean and safe. But the biggest threat to your well-being isn't visible to the naked eye.

Pollution in your home is often 2 to 5 times higher than it is outdoors, according to the EPA. "The air in your house contains pollen, mold, and ozone that leach in from the outdoors, as well as pet dander and pollutants from household cleaning products," says Ted Myatt, ScD, a senior scientist at the consulting firm Environmental Health and Engineering, Inc.

Infidelity Might Be in the Genes - Yahoo! News

Infidelity Might Be in the Genes - Yahoo! News
Genetics might help explain why some people are more prone to infidelity and promiscuity, says a new study.

Researchers analyzed the DNA of 181 young adults who provided a complete history of their sexual activity and intimate partnerships. They concluded that the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene plays a major role in sexual behavior.

"The motivation seems to stem from a system of pleasure and reward, which is where the release of dopamine comes in. In cases of uncommitted sex, the risks are high, the rewards substantial and the motivation variable -- all elements that ensure a dopamine 'rush,'" Garcia explained.

Tooth decay to be a thing of the past? Enzyme responsible for dental plaque sticking to teeth deciphered

Tooth decay to be a thing of the past? Enzyme responsible for dental plaque sticking to teeth deciphered
The Groningen professors Bauke Dijkstra and Lubbert Dijkhuizen have deciphered the structure and functional mechanism of the glucansucrase enzyme that is responsible for dental plaque sticking to teeth. This knowledge will stimulate the identification of substances that inhibit the enzyme. Just add that substance to toothpaste, or even sweets, and caries will be a thing of the past.

More efficient polymer solar cells fabricated

More efficient polymer solar cells fabricated
Researchers from Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory have developed a process capable of producing a thin and uniform light-absorbing layer on textured substrates that improves the efficiency of polymer solar cells by increasing light absorption.

Molecular mechanism that causes teens to be less sensitive to alcohol than adults identified

Molecular mechanism that causes teens to be less sensitive to alcohol than adults identified
Researchers have known for years that teens are less sensitive than adults to the motor-impairing effects of alcohol, but they do not know exactly what is happening in the brain that causes teens to be less sensitive than adults. But now, neuropsychologists at Baylor University have found the particular cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the age-dependent effect of alcohol in teens that may cause the reduced motor impairment.

Novel metal catalysts may be able to turn greenhouse gases into liquid fuels

Novel metal catalysts may be able to turn greenhouse gases into liquid fuels
It sounds a bit like spinning straw into gold, but novel metal catalysts may be able to turn greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide into liquid fuels without producing more carbon waste in the process.

December 3, 2010

John M. Eger: The Second Internet Revolution

John M. Eger: The Second Internet Revolution
As a consequence, communities across the globe are suddenly competing with every other community around the world for basic manufacturing requirements and provision of high tech and bio-tech services.

Cities everywhere must accelerate the change taking place within their region, reinvent their centers of learning -- their schools -- at every level and at a pace unparalleled in the history of the country, and put in place the incubators of creativity and innovation.

Some Internet-Use Tracking Firms to Reveal What They Know - WSJ.com

Some Internet-Use Tracking Firms to Reveal What They Know - WSJ.com
Seeking to head off escalating scrutiny over Internet privacy, a group of online tracking rivals is building a service that lets consumers see what information those companies know about them.

Google vows quicker, tougher copyright enforcement - Yahoo! News

Google vows quicker, tougher copyright enforcement - Yahoo! News
Google Inc. is promising to do a better job of weeding out copyright violations on the Internet.

Finger length predicts mental toughness in sport

Finger length predicts mental toughness in sport
Mental toughness and an aptitude for sport may be biologically determined.

Previous research has shown that the 2D:4D ratio (index finger/ring finger) has the potential to explain sporting success. An index finger that is much shorter than the ring finger is caused by exposure to testosterone in the womb. This research investigated the relationship between 2D:4D and mental toughness, optimism, aggression and performance.

December 2, 2010

Declining energy quality could be root cause of current recession, expert suggests

Declining energy quality could be root cause of current recession, expert suggests
An overlooked cause of the economic recession in the U.S. is a decade long decline in the quality of the nation's energy supply, often measured as the amount of energy we get out for a given energy input, says energy expert Carey King of The University of Texas at Austin.

Scientists create new anti-shock material | Reuters

Scientists create new anti-shock material | Reuters
Researchers in Japan have invented a new shock-resistant material that can withstand extreme temperatures, which they hope can be used in the engines of spacecraft and cars.

Made entirely of carbon, it can flow and stretch slowly like thick honey and spring back to its original form, said materials scientist Xu Ming at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan.

Experts find brain enzyme that makes pain last | Reuters

Experts find brain enzyme that makes pain last | Reuters
Researchers working on mice have found an enzyme in the brain that appears to make pain last after nerve injury and they hope to use it as a new target to treat chronic pain in people.

Africa can feed itself within a generation: study - Yahoo! News

Africa can feed itself within a generation: study - Yahoo! News
African nations can break dependence on food imports and produce enough to feed a growing population within a generation despite extra strains from climate change, a study said on Thursday.