Safety in numbers: A cloud-based immune system for computers

ScienceDaily (2010-01-28) -- A new approach for managing bugs in computer software has been developed by researchers in Switzerland. The latest version of Dimmunix, available for free download, enables entire networks of computers to cooperate in order to collectively avoid the manifestations of bugs in software.

Apple introduces the iPad

At an Apple press event, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces the iPad. The new mobile device is a half-inch thin and weighs 1.5 pounds.

Plug your iPod into your t-shirt for power?

ScienceDaily (2010-01-25) -- Could powering an iPod or cell phone become as easy as plugging it into your tee shirt or jeans, and then recharging the clothing overnight? Scientists in California are reporting an advance in that direction with an easier way of changing ordinary cotton and polyester into "conductive energy textiles" -- e-Textiles that double as a rechargeable battery.

Making family board games electronic

ScienceDaily (2010-01-25) -- A groundbreaking technology may make traditional board games a thing of the past. The technology allows groups of friends or family members to play electronic games like they used to do board games: in a sociable and physical setting, placed together around a table. It also eases game controls by using affordances of regular cardboard pieces.

Engineers find significant environmental impacts with algae-based biofuel

ScienceDaily (2010-01-25) -- With many companies investing heavily in algae-based biofuels, researchers have found there are significant environmental hurdles to overcome before fuel production ramps up. They propose using wastewater as a solution to some of these challenges.

Human brain uses a grid to represent space

ScienceDaily (2010-01-25) -- "Grid cells" that act like a spatial map in the brain have been identified for the first time in humans, which may help to explain how we create internal maps of new environments.

How to live your life twice: Psychologist busts a myth and offers tips to counter a mid-life crisis

ScienceDaily (2010-01-22) -- The myth of the mid-life crisis has been disproved by recent empirical studies and field research, according to one psychologist.

A computer per student leads to higher performance than traditional classroom settings

ScienceDaily (2010-01-22) -- Providing every student and teacher with a laptop computer can produce improved student performance in some subjects, when compared to traditional classroom settings.

Human running speeds of 35 to 40 mph may be biologically possible

ScienceDaily (2010-01-22) -- A new study offers intriguing insights into the biology of human running speed. The study identifies the critical variable imposing the biological limit to running speed, and projects how the biological limits might be pushed beyond speeds achieved by Usain Bolt to perhaps 35 or even 40 miles per hour, said study authors.

Water hits and sticks: Findings challenge a century of assumptions about soil hydrology

ScienceDaily (2010-01-23) -- Researchers have discovered that some of the most fundamental assumptions about how water moves through soil in a seasonally dry climate such as the Pacific Northwest are incorrect -- and that a century of research based on those assumptions will have to be reconsidered.

Rice responsible for Asians' alcohol flush reaction, research finds

ScienceDaily (2010-01-24) -- The mutation responsible for the alcohol flush reaction, an unpleasant response to alcohol that is relatively common in people of Asian descent, may have occurred following the domestication of rice. Researchers traced the history of the version of the gene responsible, finding that the ADH1B*47His allele appeared around the same time that rice was first cultivated in southern China.

Congo receives help from space after volcano eruption

ScienceDaily (2010-01-24) -- On Jan. 2, Mount Nyamulagira in the Democratic Republic of Congo erupted, spewing lava from its southern flank and raising concerns that the 100,000 people in the town of Sake could be under threat. Fears were also triggered in Goma as rumors circulated that an eruption was imminent at the nearby Nyiragongo volcano, which devastated the city in 2002.

Useless online student quizzes

ScienceDaily (2010-01-24) -- Online quizzes are not helping students learn their subject, according to a new study.

Scientists identify Ecuador's Yasuni National Park as one of most biodiverse places on Earth

ScienceDaily (2010-01-19) -- A team of scientists has documented that Yasuni National Park, in the core of the Ecuadorian Amazon, shatters world records for a wide array of plant and animal groups, from amphibians to trees to insects. The authors also conclude that proposed oil development projects represent the greatest threat to Yasuni and its biodiversity.

Fish oil given intravenously to patients in intensive care has many benefits, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-01-19) -- A randomized controlled trial of fish oil given intravenously to patients in intensive care has found that it improves gas exchange, reduces inflammatory chemicals and results in a shorter length of hospital stay. Researchers investigated the effects of including fish oil in the normal nutrient solution for patients with sepsis, finding a significant series of benefits.

Fish oil given intravenously to patients in intensive care has many benefits, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-01-19) -- A randomized controlled trial of fish oil given intravenously to patients in intensive care has found that it improves gas exchange, reduces inflammatory chemicals and results in a shorter length of hospital stay. Researchers investigated the effects of including fish oil in the normal nutrient solution for patients with sepsis, finding a significant series of benefits.

Offshore wind power and wave energy devices create artificial reefs

ScienceDaily (2010-01-19) -- Offshore wind power and wave energy foundations can increase local abundances of fish and crabs. The reef-like constructions also favor blue mussels and barnacles. What's more, it is possible to increase or decrease the abundance of various species by altering the structural design of foundation.

Those less motivated to achieve will excel on tasks seen as fun

ScienceDaily (2010-01-21) -- Those who value excellence and hard work generally do better than others on specific tasks when they are reminded of those values. But when a task is presented as fun, researchers report, the same individuals often will do worse than those who are less motivated to achieve.

Video gamers: Size of brain structures predicts success

ScienceDaily (2010-01-21) -- Researchers can predict your performance on a video game simply by measuring the volume of specific structures in your brain.

Red grouper to be 'Frank Lloyd Wrights of the sea'

ScienceDaily (2010-01-21) -- To the casual observer in the Gulf of Mexico, the seemingly sluggish red grouper is more of a couch potato than a busy beaver. But a new study reveals the fish to be both architect and ecosystem engineer.

Retail meat linked to urinary tract infections: Strong new evidence

ScienceDaily (2010-01-21) -- Chicken sold in supermarkets, restaurants and other outlets may place young women at risk of urinary tract infections, researchers have discovered. Samples taken in the Montreal area between 2005 and 2007 provide strong new evidence that E. coli bacteria originating from these food sources can cause common urinary tract infections.

New way to generate abundant functional blood vessel cells from human stem cells discovered

ScienceDaily (2010-01-21) -- In a significant step toward restoring healthy blood circulation to treat a variety of diseases, scientists have developed a new technique and described a novel mechanism for turning human embryonic and pluripotent stem cells into plentiful, functional endothelial cells, which are critical to the formation of blood vessels.

Blueberry juice improves memory in older adults

ScienceDaily (2010-01-21) -- Scientists are reporting the first evidence from human research that blueberries -- one of the richest sources of healthful antioxidants and other so-called phytochemicals -- improve memory.

Most modern European males descend from farmers who migrated from the Near East

ScienceDaily (2010-01-21) -- A new study has found that most men in Europe descend from the first farmers who migrated from the Near East 10,000 years ago.

Urban 'green' spaces may contribute to global warming

ScienceDaily (2010-01-22) -- Dispelling the notion that urban "green" spaces help counteract greenhouse gas emissions, new research has found -- in Southern California at least -- that total emissions would be lower if lawns did not exist.

Overseas Collections Play Important Role In Controlling Invasive Species

ScienceDaily (2010-01-22) -- When melaleuca began invading the Florida Everglades and surrounding areas, scientists knew of one place to look for a solution: the Australian Biological Control Laboratory.

Link examined between omega-3 fatty acid levels and biological aging marker in patients with coronary heart disease

ScienceDaily (2010-01-22) -- Patients with coronary heart disease who had higher omega-3 fatty acid blood levels had an associated lower rate of shortening of telomere length, a chromosome marker of biological aging, raising the possibility that these fatty acids may protect against cellular aging, according to a new study.

Consumers over age 50 should consider cutting copper and iron intake, report suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-01-22) -- With scientific evidence linking high levels of copper and iron to Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and other age-related disorders, a new report suggests specific steps that older consumers can take to avoid build up of unhealthy amounts of these metals in their bodies.

Los mejores consejos para tener un espacio laboral más cómodo

El trabajo ya genera suficiente tensión cuando no hay dolores de espalda, cuello y dedos. Pero la realidad es que la gente de hábitos principalmente sedentarios –lo que incluye a cualquiera que pase la mayor parte del día en un escritorio– tiene riesgo de desarrollar este tipo de problemas, además de condiciones más serias como el síndrome del túnel carpiano o lesiones por movimientos repetitivos.

Consejos para no dejar más cosas para el día siguiente... ¡empezando hoy!

“Nunca dejes para mañana lo que puedes hacer hoy." Esta frase famosa se atribuye al estadista estadounidense Thomas Jefferson, y es una norma que le debe haber servido, ya que entre sus logros se encuentran haber escrito la Declaración de la independencia de su país,y haber sido gobernador, vicepresidente y el tercer presidente de Estados Unidos.

Los mejores consejos para las charlas con el jefe

Uno de los aspectos más difíciles del ámbito laboral es la comunicación. Literalmente, puede impulsar o destruir su carrera. Lo que uno dice a los superiores determina la impresión que les queda de uno, y esto puede representar la diferencia entre un ascenso y la indiferencia. Si bien no todos los jefes son iguales, hay algunos mandamientos relativos a la comunicación que deben tenerse en cuenta. Aquí presentamos cinco.

Researcher discovers Ebola's deadly secret

ScienceDaily (2010-01-20) -- Iowa State University researcher Gaya Amarasinghe has led scientists to uncover how the deadly Zaire Ebola virus decoys cells and eventually kills them. He had previously solved the structure of a critical part of an Ebola protein known as VP35, which is involved in host immune suppression. Now he knows how VP35 is able to do it.

Siblings play formative, influential role as 'agents of socialization'

ScienceDaily (2010-01-20) -- What we learn from our siblings when we grow up has -- for better or for worse -- a considerable influence on our social and emotional development as adults.

How clean is your knife?

ScienceDaily (2010-01-20) -- A new fast-acting disinfectant that is effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi and prions could help to reduce the spread of deadly infections in hospitals, according to new research.

Painless plasma jets could replace dentist's drill

ScienceDaily (2010-01-20) -- Plasma jets capable of obliterating tooth decay-causing bacteria could be an effective and less painful alternative to the dentist's drill, according to a new study.

Friendly bacteria love the humble apple

ScienceDaily (2010-01-20) -- Why does an apple a day keep the doctor away? New research contributes to our understanding of why eating apples is good for you.

Cuando el destino nos alcance? Reasoning through the rationing of end-of-life care

ScienceDaily (2010-01-21) -- Acknowledging that the idea of rationing health care, particularly at the end of life, may incite too much vitriol to get much rational consideration, a professor of neurology called for the start of a discussion.

Prototype for a new living concept: Living module makes its debut

ScienceDaily (2010-01-21) -- A novel, highly innovative module for working and living has been designed to be self-sufficient in energy and water consumption. It includes a bedroom, bathroom, toilet and kitchen and is being used as a test bed and demonstrator for new building concepts and energy technologies.

Future jobs: what might you be doing?

With the help of the team at Fast Future Research, Science: [So what? So everything] has looked at potential developments in science and technology over  the next 20 years and identified 20 jobs we could be doing as a result of these advances.

Self-control, and lack of self-control, is contagious

ScienceDaily (2010-01-18) -- A new study has revealed that self-control -- or the lack thereof -- is contagious.

Walking robot switches gaits autonomously and flexibly

ScienceDaily (2010-01-18) -- Even simple insects can generate quite different movement patterns with their six legs. The animal uses various gaits depending on whether it crawls uphill or downhill, slowly or fast. Scientists have now developed a walking robot, which can flexibly and autonomously switch between different gaits. The success of their solution lies in its simplicity: a small and simple network with just a few connections can create very diverse movement patterns. To this end, the robot uses a mechanism for "chaos control."

Teaching Math Two Ways At The Same Time Boosts Learning

ScienceDaily (2005-02-23) -- Researchers at the University of Chicago have come up with a technique for teachers to use that increases student understanding of mathematics: explain how to solve a problem in one way, and also provide an alternative approach through gesture.

Fat mass helps build bone mass in girls, study suggests; excessive fat reduction may increase osteoporosis risk

ScienceDaily (2010-01-07) -- According to a new study, fat mass is important in increasing bone size and thickness, but this effect appears to be stronger in girls than boys.

Natural compound blocks hepatitis C infection

ScienceDaily (2010-01-06) -- Researchers have identified two cellular proteins that are important factors in hepatitis C virus infection, a finding that may result in the approval of new and less toxic treatments for the disease, which can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis.

Caffeine consumption associated with less severe liver fibrosis

ScienceDaily (2010-01-06) -- Researchers have discovered that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus who consumed more than 308 mg of caffeine daily had milder liver fibrosis. The daily amount of caffeine intake found to be beneficial is equivalent to 2.25 cups of regular coffee.

Two sides of the same coin: Speech and gesture mutually interact to enhance comprehension

ScienceDaily (2010-01-06) -- Your mother may have taught you that it's rude to point, but according to new research, gesturing may actually help improve communication. These findings suggest that when gesture and speech convey the same information, they are easier to understand than when they convey different information. In addition, these results indicate that gesture and speech form an integrated system that helps us in language comprehension.

Adding technology to geometry class improves opportunities to learn

ScienceDaily (2010-01-05) -- A new study suggests the students who used dynamic geometry software were more successful in discovering new mathematical ideas than when they used static, paper-based diagrams.

Adding technology to geometry class improves opportunities to learn

Blocking inflammation receptor kills breast cancer stem cells, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-01-05) -- Scientists have uncovered an important link between inflammation and breast cancer stem cells that suggests a new way to target cells that are resistant to current treatments.

Blocking inflammation receptor kills breast cancer stem cells, study finds

10 Foods for a Better Sex Life

Humans have always linked sex and food. Since the dawn of time, we've been experimenting with dietary supplements to amp up our sex drive. Some foods, like wine and oysters, have a pretty good record (though you can probably attribute the success of these two to the alcohol and suggestive shape). 

5 Foods that Will Make You Happier

Everyone wants to be happy, but that doesn't mean everyone is happy. It can be a struggle for many of us to continually remain in good spirits. There's an entire pharmaceutical industry based on chemically inducing feelings of contentment, but what if there were a way to naturally perk up a person's moods? What if, instead of popping a pill, you could get an emotional pick-me-up from the foods you eat? The truth is, you can, and you've probably already eaten, or are at least familiar with, many of the foods that will help you do it.

10 Diet Tips Doctors Want You to Hear

One pie-crust promise that often tops lists of New Year's resolutions is to get fitter by going on a diet. But most people fall off the health bandwagon just a few weeks after making this weight-loss vow. As many health professionals will tell you, there's no such thing as a temporary or quick fix when it comes to fitness.