Perinatal bisphenol-A exposure may affect fertility
Exposure to a ubiquitous environmental chemical during pregnancy may impair reproductive capacity of female offspring, according to a study published online in advance of print on December 2 in Environmental Health Perspectives. Fertility decreased over time in female mice that had been exposed during fetal and neonatal (perinatal) development to doses of bisphenol-A (BPA) that were lower than or equal to human environmental exposure levels.
December 2, 2010
Physicists create supernova in a jar
Physicists create supernova in a jar
A team of physicists from the University of Toronto and Rutgers University has mimicked a supernova -- an explosion of a star -- in miniature.
A team of physicists from the University of Toronto and Rutgers University has mimicked a supernova -- an explosion of a star -- in miniature.
Startup Tango Card Aims To Save Billions In Lost Gift Card Value
Startup Tango Card Aims To Save Billions In Lost Gift Card Value
Evidence shows that if you bought a gift card for a family member or friend, there's a strong chance you inadvertently gave a gift to the retailer or bank that issued it too.
Last year recipients left nearly $5 billion on gift cards, according to TowerGroup, a financial services consulting firm. The unspent money -- which the gift card industry calls "breakage" -- sits in an escrow account until the issuer, often a retail giant, decides to recognize it as revenue. Best Buy netted $38 million of breakage in a recent fiscal year, while Home Depot banked $37 million during the same year, reports The New York Times.
Evidence shows that if you bought a gift card for a family member or friend, there's a strong chance you inadvertently gave a gift to the retailer or bank that issued it too.
Last year recipients left nearly $5 billion on gift cards, according to TowerGroup, a financial services consulting firm. The unspent money -- which the gift card industry calls "breakage" -- sits in an escrow account until the issuer, often a retail giant, decides to recognize it as revenue. Best Buy netted $38 million of breakage in a recent fiscal year, while Home Depot banked $37 million during the same year, reports The New York Times.
Court orders Monsanto GMO sugarbeets to be destroyed | The Vigilant Citizen
Court orders Monsanto GMO sugarbeets to be destroyed | The Vigilant Citizen
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the destruction of plantings of genetically modified sugar beets developed by Monsanto Co after ruling previously the U.S. Agriculture Department illegally approved the biotech crop.
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the destruction of plantings of genetically modified sugar beets developed by Monsanto Co after ruling previously the U.S. Agriculture Department illegally approved the biotech crop.
Arsenic-Eating Bacteria Opens New Possibilities for Alien Life - Yahoo! News
Arsenic-Eating Bacteria Opens New Possibilities for Alien Life - Yahoo! News
One of the basic assumptions about life on Earth may be due for a revision. Scientists have discovered a type of bacteria that thrives on poisonous arsenic, potentially opening up a new pathway for life on Earth and other planets.
One of the basic assumptions about life on Earth may be due for a revision. Scientists have discovered a type of bacteria that thrives on poisonous arsenic, potentially opening up a new pathway for life on Earth and other planets.
Long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to dementia
Long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to dementia
Long term exposure to pesticides may be linked to the development of dementia, suggests research published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Long term exposure to pesticides may be linked to the development of dementia, suggests research published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
People in Committed Relationships Experience Less Stress
People in Committed Relationships Experience Less Stress
Although your partner may be a pain in the neck sometimes, being in a committed relationship may actually help reduce stress. Researchers from the Department of Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago found that when put in stressful situations, people in stable relationships demonstrated lower levels of stress than single folk. Moreover, single males exhibited higher testosterone levels than their paired-off counterparts.
Although your partner may be a pain in the neck sometimes, being in a committed relationship may actually help reduce stress. Researchers from the Department of Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago found that when put in stressful situations, people in stable relationships demonstrated lower levels of stress than single folk. Moreover, single males exhibited higher testosterone levels than their paired-off counterparts.
New psychology theory enables computers to mimic human creativity
New psychology theory enables computers to mimic human creativity
Solving this "insight problem" requires creativity, a skill at which humans excel (the coin is a fake -- "B.C." and Arabic numerals did not exist at the time) and computers do not. Now, a new explanation of how humans solve problems creatively -- including the mathematical formulations for facilitating the incorporation of the theory in artificial intelligence programs -- provides a roadmap to building systems that perform like humans at the task.
Solving this "insight problem" requires creativity, a skill at which humans excel (the coin is a fake -- "B.C." and Arabic numerals did not exist at the time) and computers do not. Now, a new explanation of how humans solve problems creatively -- including the mathematical formulations for facilitating the incorporation of the theory in artificial intelligence programs -- provides a roadmap to building systems that perform like humans at the task.
Longevity breakthrough: Scientists 'activate' life extension in worm, discover mitochondria's metabolic state controls life span
Longevity breakthrough: Scientists 'activate' life extension in worm, discover mitochondria's metabolic state controls life span
If you think life's too short, then you're not alone. A team of scientists set out to find what it would take to live a very long life and they made important discoveries that bring longer life spans much closer to reality. A new research report featured on the cover of The FASEB Journal, describes how scientists "activated" life extension in the roundworm C. elegans, and in the process discovered a new metabolic state correlating with long life.
If you think life's too short, then you're not alone. A team of scientists set out to find what it would take to live a very long life and they made important discoveries that bring longer life spans much closer to reality. A new research report featured on the cover of The FASEB Journal, describes how scientists "activated" life extension in the roundworm C. elegans, and in the process discovered a new metabolic state correlating with long life.
Ideal body mass index identified in new study; Overweight and obesity associated with increased risk of death
Ideal body mass index identified in new study; Overweight and obesity associated with increased risk of death
A study looking at deaths from any cause found that a body mass index (BMI) between 20.0 and 24.9 is associated with the lowest risk of death in healthy non-smoking adults. Investigators also provided precise estimates of the increased risk of death among people who are overweight and obese. Previous studies that examined the risks from being overweight were inconclusive, with some reporting only modestly increased risks of death and others showing a reduced risk. Also, the precise risks for different levels of obesity were uncertain.
A study looking at deaths from any cause found that a body mass index (BMI) between 20.0 and 24.9 is associated with the lowest risk of death in healthy non-smoking adults. Investigators also provided precise estimates of the increased risk of death among people who are overweight and obese. Previous studies that examined the risks from being overweight were inconclusive, with some reporting only modestly increased risks of death and others showing a reduced risk. Also, the precise risks for different levels of obesity were uncertain.
Colorful Images to Help Illuminate the Brain - NYTimes.com
Colorful Images to Help Illuminate the Brain - NYTimes.com
Who has seen the mind? Neither you nor I — nor any of the legions of neuroscientists bent on opening the secrets of that invisible force, as powerful and erratic as the wind.
Who has seen the mind? Neither you nor I — nor any of the legions of neuroscientists bent on opening the secrets of that invisible force, as powerful and erratic as the wind.
December 1, 2010
AFP: US regulator wants 'Do Not Track' button on Internet
AFP: US regulator wants 'Do Not Track' button on Internet
US regulators in charge of protecting the privacy of consumers are proposing safeguards including a "Do Not Track" mechanism for people who want to be stealthy online.
US regulators in charge of protecting the privacy of consumers are proposing safeguards including a "Do Not Track" mechanism for people who want to be stealthy online.
NASA Astrobiology Press Conference: Have They Made Breakthrough In Search For Extraterrestrial Life?
NASA Astrobiology Press Conference: Have They Made Breakthrough In Search For Extraterrestrial Life?
Has NASA made a breakthrough in the search extraterrestrial life? That's what some are speculating after NASA sent out a curious press release announcing a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 2, to discuss an "astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life."
Has NASA made a breakthrough in the search extraterrestrial life? That's what some are speculating after NASA sent out a curious press release announcing a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 2, to discuss an "astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life."
Most low birth weight babies become productive adults, study finds
Most low birth weight babies become productive adults, study finds
Most survivors of extremely low birth weight grow up to become productive adults, according to a study led by a Michigan State University economist.
Most survivors of extremely low birth weight grow up to become productive adults, according to a study led by a Michigan State University economist.
November 30, 2010
For Women, Belly Fat May Lead to Osteoporosis | My Health News Daily
For Women, Belly Fat May Lead to Osteoporosis | My Health News Daily
"long thought to protect against osteoporosis, may instead promote the disease, according to a new study. Specifically, high levels of belly fat may hurt bone health and increase women's risk for developing the bone-weakening disease, the researchers said."
"long thought to protect against osteoporosis, may instead promote the disease, according to a new study. Specifically, high levels of belly fat may hurt bone health and increase women's risk for developing the bone-weakening disease, the researchers said."
Thin air: Oxygen atmosphere found on Saturn's moon Rhea
Thin air: Oxygen atmosphere found on Saturn's moon Rhea
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has detected a very tenuous atmosphere known as an exosphere, infused with oxygen and carbon dioxide around Saturn's icy moon Rhea. This is the first time a spacecraft has directly captured molecules of an oxygen atmosphere -- albeit a very thin one -- at a world other than Earth.
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has detected a very tenuous atmosphere known as an exosphere, infused with oxygen and carbon dioxide around Saturn's icy moon Rhea. This is the first time a spacecraft has directly captured molecules of an oxygen atmosphere -- albeit a very thin one -- at a world other than Earth.
Caffeinated alcoholic beverages: A growing public health problem?
Caffeinated alcoholic beverages: A growing public health problem?
In the wake of multiple state bans on caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs) and an FDA warning to four companies to remove their products from the marketplace, an article published online November 29 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine delineates the scope of the public health problem and suggests areas of research that might help address it.
In the wake of multiple state bans on caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs) and an FDA warning to four companies to remove their products from the marketplace, an article published online November 29 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine delineates the scope of the public health problem and suggests areas of research that might help address it.
Proof of extra dimensions possible next year: CERN | Reuters
Proof of extra dimensions possible next year: CERN | Reuters
Scientists at the CERN research center say their "Big Bang" project is going beyond all expectations and the first proof of the existence of dimensions beyond the known four could emerge next year.
In surveys of results of nearly 8 months of experiments in their Large Hadron Collider (LHC), they also say they may be able to determine by the end of 2011 whether the mystery Higgs particle, or boson, exists.
Scientists at the CERN research center say their "Big Bang" project is going beyond all expectations and the first proof of the existence of dimensions beyond the known four could emerge next year.
In surveys of results of nearly 8 months of experiments in their Large Hadron Collider (LHC), they also say they may be able to determine by the end of 2011 whether the mystery Higgs particle, or boson, exists.
CBC News - Technology & Science - Extinctions feared as ocean dead zones grow
CBC News - Technology & Science - Extinctions feared as ocean dead zones grow
Scientists fear the planet is on the brink of another mass extinction as ocean dead zones continue to grow in size and number.
More than 400 ocean dead zones — areas so low in oxygen that sea life cannot survive — have been reported by oceanographers around the world between 2000 and 2008.
That is compared with 300 in the 1990s and 120 in the 1980s.
Scientists fear the planet is on the brink of another mass extinction as ocean dead zones continue to grow in size and number.
More than 400 ocean dead zones — areas so low in oxygen that sea life cannot survive — have been reported by oceanographers around the world between 2000 and 2008.
That is compared with 300 in the 1990s and 120 in the 1980s.
Farmers Wage Organic Battle Against Pests and Weeds - NYTimes.com
Farmers Wage Organic Battle Against Pests and Weeds - NYTimes.com
Research here on wild sunflowers, he says, shows they are home to lady beetles and parasitic wasps, which are good bugs that kill bad bugs.
“The sunflowers help us provide a bed-and-breakfast for beneficial insects and keep them going year round,” he said. “And native sunflowers are a lot better at it than domestic. There’s a lot more insect biodiversity in wild sunflowers.”
Research here on wild sunflowers, he says, shows they are home to lady beetles and parasitic wasps, which are good bugs that kill bad bugs.
“The sunflowers help us provide a bed-and-breakfast for beneficial insects and keep them going year round,” he said. “And native sunflowers are a lot better at it than domestic. There’s a lot more insect biodiversity in wild sunflowers.”
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