Genetic test finds healthiest fish for breeding

ScienceDaily (2010-08-28) -- A Norwegian company has developed a new genetic test that quickly determines which salmon have the highest resistance to the IPN virus. The recently launched commercial product could mean a breakthrough in the battle against this costly disease.

Wonder of the natural world: Key to Christmas Island's red crab migration discovered

ScienceDaily (2010-08-30) -- One of the most spectacular migrations on Earth is that of the Christmas Island red crab. Acknowledged as one of the wonders of the natural world, every year millions of the crabs simultaneously embark on a five-kilometer breeding migration. Now, scientists have discovered the key to their remarkable athletic feat.

New view of tectonic plates: Computer modeling of Earth's mantle flow, plate motions, and fault zones

ScienceDaily (2010-08-30) -- Computational scientists and geophysicists have developed new computer algorithms that for the first time allow for the simultaneous modeling of Earth's mantle flow, large-scale tectonic plate motions, and the behavior of individual fault zones, to produce an unprecedented view of plate tectonics and the forces that drive it.

Scientists concerned about environmental impact of recycling of e-waste

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- Much of the world's electronic waste is being shipped to China for recycling and the cottage industry that has sprung up there to recover usable materials from computers, cell phones, televisions and other goods may be creating significant health and environmental hazards.

Attention, couch potatoes! Walking boosts brain connectivity, function

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- A group of "professional couch potatoes," as one researcher described them, has proven that even moderate exercise -- in this case walking at one's own pace for 40 minutes three times a week -- can enhance the connectivity of important brain circuits, combat declines in brain function associated with aging and increase performance on cognitive tasks.

Mayan water reservoir in Mexican rainforest: Archaeologists find huge artificial lake with ceramic-lined floor

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- Archaeologists have found an almost seven-foot-deep water reservoir the size of a soccer field, whose floor is lined with ceramic shards, in the Mexican rainforest. It seems that in combination with the limestone on top, the shards were supposed to seal the artificial lake. The system was built about 1,500 years ago. It is the first example of this design found for the Maya. It is not yet known whether the reservoir's entire floor is tiled.

Grapefruit's bitter taste holds a sweet promise for diabetes therapy

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- A new study demonstrates the mechanism by which a single grapefruit compound controls fat and glucose metabolism, replacing multiple drugs.

Moms who don't breastfeed more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- Mothers who did not breastfeed their children have significantly higher rates of type 2 diabetes later in life than moms who breastfed, a new study finds. Twenty-seven percent of mothers who did not breastfeed developed type 2 diabetes and were almost twice as likely to develop the disease as women who had breastfed or never given birth.

New model to help organize, keep private 'vast ocean' of social network data

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- Researchers have developed a new model to manage the "vast ocean" of user-generated content being generated by the ever-growing social networking sites including Facebook and Twitter.

Shrinking atmospheric layer linked to low levels of solar radiation

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- Scientists link a recent, temporary shrinking of a high atmospheric layer with a sharp drop in the sun's ultraviolet radiation levels.

Fluoride in water prevents adult tooth loss, study suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-08-28) -- Children drinking water with added fluoride helps dental health in adulthood decades later, a new study finds.

Ugly Betty forced to aim for Average Joe, house sparrow study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-28) -- Less-pretty female house sparrows tend to lower their aim when selecting a mate. Addressing the lack of studies on condition-dependency of female mate choice, evolutionary biologists found that female sparrows of a low quality prefer males of an equally low quality.

Secrets of the gecko foot help robot climb

ScienceDaily (2010-08-28) -- The science behind gecko toes holds the answer to a dry adhesive that provides an ideal grip for robot feet. A mechanical engineer is using the new material, based on the structure of a gecko foot, to keep his robots climbing.

Secrets of the gecko foot help robot climb

ScienceDaily (2010-08-28) -- The science behind gecko toes holds the answer to a dry adhesive that provides an ideal grip for robot feet. A mechanical engineer is using the new material, based on the structure of a gecko foot, to keep his robots climbing.

Tiny gulf sea creature could shed light on oil spill’s impact

ScienceDaily (2010-08-28) -- A molecular biologist will soon bring dozens of tiny, transparent animals that live in Gulf Coast waters back to his campus laboratory as part of an effort to better understand the oil spill's long-term impact on the coastal environment and creatures living there.

Two heads are better than one -- with the right partner

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- In the new age of coalition governments, the question of whether two heads are better than one is more relevant than ever. Neuroscientists now show that two heads can be better than one -- but only if you have the right partner.

Novel mechanism protects plants against freezing; Insights could add to understanding of drought tolerance also

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- New nesearch helps explain how plants protect themselves from freezing temperatures and could lead to discoveries related to plant tolerance for drought and other extreme conditions.

El Niños are growing stronger, NASA/NOAA study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- A relatively new type of El Niño, which has its warmest waters in the central-equatorial Pacific Ocean, rather than in the eastern-equatorial Pacific, is becoming more common and progressively stronger, according to a new study by NASA and NOAA. The research may improve our understanding of the relationship between El Niños and climate change, and has potentially significant implications for long-term weather forecasting.

Buzz off: Popular insect repellents pack a powerful 'one-two' punch

ScienceDaily (2010-08-26) -- Fire up the citronella-scented tiki torches, and slather on the DEET: Everybody knows these simple precautions repel insects, notably mosquitoes, whose bites not only itch and irritate, but also transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, malaria and dengue. Now, scientists have discovered what it is in the bugs' molecular makeup that enables citronellal (the aromatic liquid used in lotions, sprays and candles) and DEET, to deter insects from landing and feeding on you.

Cement, the glue that holds oyster families together

ScienceDaily (2010-08-26) -- Researchers have shown that oysters produce a unique adhesive material for affixing themselves to each other, a cement that differs from the glues used by other marine organisms.

'Dry water' could make a big splash commercially, help fight global warming

ScienceDaily (2010-08-26) -- An unusual substance known as "dry water," which resembles powdered sugar, could provide a new way to absorb and store carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, scientists report.

Federal school lunches -- but not breakfasts -- linked to childhood obesity, research finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-26) -- Children who eat school lunches that are part of the U.S. federal government's National School Lunch Program are more likely to become overweight, according to new research. Yet children who eat both the breakfast and lunch sponsored by the federal government are less heavy than children who don't participate in either, and than children who eat only the lunch, says an economist.

A moment on the lips, a year on the hips

ScienceDaily (2010-08-26) -- A short period of excess food consumption can have long term effects on your body weight and fat storage even after the initial weight is lost. A new study has found that a four-week episode of increased energy intake and decreased exercise can cause increased weight and fat mass more than two years later when compared to control individuals.

Supplement produces a 'striking' endurance boost

ScienceDaily (2010-08-26) -- Taking a dietary supplement to boost nitric oxide in the body can significantly boost stamina during high-intensity exercise. The study has important implications for athletes, as results suggest that taking the supplement can allow people to exercise up to 20 percent longer and could produce a 1-2 percent improvement in race times.

Students need help to save money, but don't always know it, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-27) -- Students could use help saving more money, but they don't always know it. If they were offered a simple way to do so, would they take it? A new study suggests the answer is no. And the reason is that their very good intentions can give rise to a sense of optimism that leads them to undervalue opportunities that could make it easier to actually achieve a long-term savings goal.

Oxytocin makes people trusting, but not gullible, study suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-08-25) -- Oxytocin (OT) is a hormone that plays an important role in social behavior -- it has even been nicknamed "the love hormone" and "liquid trust." Increased levels of OT have been associated with greater caring, generosity, and trust. But does OT increase people's trust in anybody or does it act more selectively? Recent findings suggest that OT fosters trust, but not gullibility: OT may make individuals more trusting, but only in certain situations.

Painkilling system in brain: Too much of a good thing?

ScienceDaily (2010-08-25) -- Repeatedly boosting brain levels of one natural painkiller soon shuts down the brain cell receptors that respond to it, so that the painkilling effect is lost, according to a surprising new study that has important implications for drug development.

Tiny, new, pea-sized frog is old world's smallest

ScienceDaily (2010-08-25) -- The smallest frog in the Old World (Asia, Africa and Europe) and one of the world's tiniest was discovered inside and around pitcher plants in the heath forests of the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. The pea-sized amphibian is a species of microhylid, which, as the name suggests, is composed of miniature frogs under 15 millimeters.

Juicing up laptops and cell phones with soda pop or vegetable oil?

ScienceDaily (2010-08-25) -- Scientists are reporting the development of a new battery-like device that opens the possibility that people one day could "recharge" cell phones, laptops, and other portable electronics in an unlikely way -- with a sugar fix from a shared sip of soda pop or even a dose of vegetable oil.

Spouses do not grow more alike, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-25) -- Contrary to popular belief, married couples do not become more similar over time, according to new research.

Seeing the world with new eyes: Biosynthetic corneas restore vision in humans

ScienceDaily (2010-08-25) -- A new study from researchers in Canada and Sweden has shown that biosynthetic corneas can help regenerate and repair damaged eye tissue and improve vision in humans. The results are from an early phase clinical trial with 10 patients.

Doctors' religious beliefs strongly influence end-of-life decisions, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-25) -- Atheist or agnostic doctors are almost twice as willing to take decisions that they think will hasten the end of a very sick patient's life as doctors who are deeply religious, new research suggests.

Why fish don't freeze in the Arctic Ocean: Chemists unmask natural antifreeze

ScienceDaily (2010-08-25) -- Researchers have discovered how natural antifreeze works to protect fish in the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean from freezing to death. They were able to observe that an antifreeze protein in the fish's blood affects the water molecules in its vicinity such that they cannot freeze, and everything remains fluid. Here, there is no chemical bond between protein and water -- the mere presence of the protein is sufficient.

Antagonistic people may increase heart attack, stroke risk

ScienceDaily (2010-08-18) -- Antagonistic people have greater thickening of neck artery walls than agreeable people, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Those deemed the least agreeable had a 40 percent increased risk of artery narrowing compared to those who were the most agreeable, according to a new study.

Integrative body-mind training (IBMT) meditation found to boost brain connectivity

ScienceDaily (2010-08-18) -- Just 11 hours of learning a meditation technique induces positive structural changes in brain connectivity by boosting efficiency in a part of the brain that helps a person regulate behavior in accordance with their goals, researchers report. The technique -- integrative body-mind training (IBMT) -- has been the focus of intense scrutiny by a team of Chinese researchers.

Astronaut muscles waste in space: Safety for future Mars missions questioned

ScienceDaily (2010-08-18) -- Astronaut muscles waste away on long space flights, reducing their capacity for physical work by more than 40 percent, according to new research. This is the equivalent of a 30- to 50-year-old crew member's muscles deteriorating to that of an 80-year-old. The destructive effects of extended weightlessness to skeletal muscle -- despite in-flight exercise -- pose a significant safety risk for future human missions to Mars and elsewhere in the universe.

Clothing to power personal computers

ScienceDaily (2010-08-18) -- Scientists in the UK are developing technology that may enable people to power MP3 players and other devices through their clothes and the carpets they walk on.

Novel diabetes hope comes from Chinese herbs

ScienceDaily (2010-08-18) -- Emodin, a natural product that can be extracted from various Chinese herbs including Rheum palmatum and Polygonum cuspidatum, shows promise as an agent that could reduce the impact of type 2 diabetes. New findings show that giving emodin to mice with diet-induced obesity lowered blood glucose and serum insulin, improved insulin resistance and lead to more healthy levels of lipid in the blood. It also decreased body weight and reduced central fat mass.

Dwindling green pastures, not hunting, may have killed off the mammoth

ScienceDaily (2010-08-18) -- A massive reduction in grasslands and the spread of forests may have been the primary cause of the decline of mammals such as the woolly mammoth, woolly rhino and cave lion, according to scientists.

New link found between inflammation and cancer

ScienceDaily (2010-08-18) -- Researchers have uncovered a new link between chronic inflammation and cancer. Although cancers do not always cause inflammation, chronic inflammation is known to help tumor cells grow.

Future air travel: Quieter, cleaner and more environmentally friendly?

ScienceDaily (2010-08-18) -- Less noise, less exhaust, less refuse - air travel of the future is expected to be quieter, cleaner and more environmentally friendly. To achieve this goal, new structural concepts and aerodynamic profiles have to be engineered, along with better drive concepts as well as adapted logistical designs, and then put to use. In the European project Clean Sky, researchers want to make their contribution to solving this Herculean task.

How corals fight back

ScienceDaily (2010-08-18) -- Researchers are a step closer to understanding the rapid decline of our coral reefs, thanks to a breakthrough study linking coral immunity with its susceptibility to bleaching and disease.

Deadly Samoa-Tonga earthquake concealed two other quakes, seismic sleuths discover

ScienceDaily (2010-08-19) -- A magnitude-8.1 earthquake and tsunami that killed 192 people last year in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga was more complicated than initially thought: The 8.1 "great earthquake" concealed and triggered two major quakes of magnitude 7.8, seismologists report.

Growing up without sibs doesn't hurt social skills, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-17) -- Growing up without siblings doesn't seem to be a disadvantage for teenagers when it comes to social skills, new research suggests. A study of more than 13,000 middle and high school students across the country found that "only children" were selected as friends by their schoolmates just as often as were peers who grew up with brothers and sisters.

Measuring salt shine to improve climate understanding

ScienceDaily (2010-08-17) -- From Aug. 14-25, 2010, scientists from around the world will gather in Southern Turkey to measure the spectral reflectance of a few square kilometers of salt. These measurements will have a major impact on the future of satellite based Earth observation, and will ultimately improve our understanding of the Earth's climate.

SPF on your plate: Researcher connects the Mediterranean diet with skin cancer prevention

ScienceDaily (2010-08-17) -- New research shows that a diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, like the diet eaten in Mediterranean regions where melanoma rates are extremely low, can help protect us from skin cancer. A researcher in Israel has a simple prescription: "go Greek" with foods such as olive oil, fish, yogurt and colorful fruits and vegetables to fight the oxidizing effect of the sun.

Ancient Chinese medicine may help chemotherapy patients

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- A centuries-old traditional Chinese medicine may reduce the intestinal side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients by stimulating gut cell division and reducing inflammation, a new study in mice suggests.

'Smart' adult stem cells repair hearts

ScienceDaily (2010-08-17) -- Researchers have demonstrated that rationally "guided" human adult stem cells can effectively heal, repair and regenerate damaged heart tissue.

Language as a window into sociability

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- People with Williams syndrome -- known for their indiscriminate friendliness and ease with strangers -- process spoken language differently from people with autism spectrum disorders -- characterized by social withdrawal and isolation -- researchers found.

Do-gooders get voted off island first: People don't really like unselfish colleagues, psychologists find

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Psychologists have found that unselfish workers who are the first to throw their hat in the ring are also among those that coworkers most want to, in effect, vote off the island.

Making vehicles safer

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- A car's crash components can spell the difference between life and death. Their job is to absorb energy in a collision in order to protect the driver inside. Researchers have now found a way for the automotive industry to mass-produce a particularly safe class of materials known as thermoplastic fiber composite components.

Young people identify with an online community almost as strongly as with their own family

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Teenage online community users feel part of their online community almost as much as they feel part of their own family. An international study of the users of a teenage online community reveals that users identify more strongly with the online community than with their neighborhood or offline hobby group.

Self-cleaning technology from Mars can keep terrestrial solar panels dust free

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Find dusting those tables and dressers a chore or a bore? Dread washing the windows? Imagine keeping dust and grime off objects spread out over an area of 25 to 50 football fields. That's the problem facing companies that deploy large-scale solar power installations, and scientists have now developed a possible solution -- self-dusting solar panels -- based on technology developed for space missions to Mars.

Preschoolers use statistics to understand others

ScienceDaily (2010-08-17) -- Children are natural psychologists. By the time they're in preschool, they understand that other people have desires, preferences, beliefs and emotions. But how they learn this isn't clear. A new study finds that children figure out another person's preferences by using a topic you'd think they don't encounter until college: statistics.

Can cloned plants live forever?

ScienceDaily (2010-08-18) -- Despite the many cosmetic products, surgical treatments, food supplements, and drugs designed specifically to reverse the biological effects of aging in humans, long-lived aspen clones aren't so lucky. Researchers have shown that as long-lived male aspen clones age, their sexual performance declines.

Climate change affects geographical range of plants, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-16) -- Researches in Sweden have shown how climate change many million years ago has influenced the geographical range of plants by modeling climate preferences for extinct species. The method can also be used to predict what effects climate change of today and tomorrow will have on future distributions of plants and animals.

Resolving the paradox of the Antarctic sea ice

ScienceDaily (2010-08-16) -- While Arctic sea ice has been diminishing in recent decades, the Antarctic sea ice extent has been increasing slightly. Researchers provide an explanation for the seeming paradox of increasing Antarctic sea ice in a warming climate.

Disadvantaged adolescents prone to adult crime and substance abuse problems, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-17) -- Early intervention among young adolescents with delinquency problems may help prevent the development of long-term crime and substance abuse problems, a new article suggests.

Massive coral mortality following bleaching in Indonesia

ScienceDaily (2010-08-17) -- Initial field observations indicate that a dramatic rise in the surface temperature in Indonesian waters has resulted in a large-scale bleaching event that has devastated coral populations.

Obesity rates decline for many adolescents, but disparities worsen

ScienceDaily (2010-08-17) -- Obesity rates have started to decline and level off for many adolescents, but continue to increase for certain racial and ethnic minorities, according to a new study.

Gene that causes barnacles to avoid ship hulls identified

ScienceDaily (2010-08-17) -- The substance medetomidine has proved effective in preventing fouling of ship bottoms. Researchers have now identified the gene that causes the barnacle to react to the substance, opening up the possibility of an anti-fouling paint that is gentle both on barnacles and on the environment.

New study finds new connection between yoga and mood

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Researchers have found that yoga may be superior to other forms of exercise in its positive effect on mood and anxiety. The findings are the first to demonstrate an association between yoga postures, increased GABA levels and decreased anxiety.

NASA images show anatomy of Pakistan flood disaster

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- In late July 2010, flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains began across several regions of Pakistan. Tens of thousands of villages have been flooded, more than 1,500 people have been killed, and millions have been left homeless. The floodwaters are not expected to recede fully before late August. NASA's CloudSat satellite captured the genesis of the flooding event as it flew over the region on July 28, 2010.

Maslow Updated: Reworking of the famous psychological pyramid of needs puts parenting at the top

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Caring for your children, feeding them, nurturing them, educating them and making sure they get off on the right foot in life -- all of the things that make parenting successful -- may actually be deep rooted psychological urges that we fulfill as part of being human.

What the locals ate 10,000 years ago

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Archaeologists have found a Utah site occupied by humans 11,000 years ago. The researchers documented a variety of dishes the people dined on back then. Grind stones for milling small seeds appeared 10,000 years ago.

Body clock drugs could ease psychiatric disorders and jet lag

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Researchers have successfully used a drug to reset and restart the natural 24 hour body clock of mice in the lab. The ability to do this in a mammal opens up the possibility of dealing with a range of human difficulties including some psychiatric disorders, jet lag and the health impacts of shift work.

Drink water to curb weight gain? Clinical trial confirms effectiveness of simple appetite control method

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Has the long-sought magic potion in society's "battle with the bulge" finally arrived? An appetite-control agent that requires no prescription, has no common side effects, and costs almost nothing? Scientists report results of a new clinical trial confirming that just two 8-ounce glasses of the stuff, taken before meals, enables people to shed pounds. The weight-loss elixir is ordinary water.

Polyphenol antioxidants inhibit iron absorption

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Health benefits from polyphenol antioxidants -- substances found in many fruits and vegetables -- may come at a cost to some people. Nutritional scientists found that eating certain polyphenols decreased the amount of iron the body absorbs, which can increase the risk of developing an iron deficiency.

Alcohol intake increases certain types of breast cancer, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- Alcohol increases the risk of lobular and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, but not necessarily invasive ductal carcinomas, according to a new study.

Organizations learn more from failure than success, study finds; Knowledge gained from failure lasts longer

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- While success is surely sweeter than failure, it seems failure is a far better teacher, and organizations that fail spectacularly often flourish more in the long run, according to a new study.

Plants give up some deep secrets of drought resistance

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- In a study that promises to fill in the fine details of the plant world's blueprint for surviving drought, a team of researchers has identified in living plants the set of proteins that help them withstand water stress.

Eating berries may activate the brain's natural housekeeper for healthy aging

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- Scientists report the first evidence that eating blueberries, strawberries, and acai berries may help the aging brain stay healthy in a crucial but previously unrecognized way. Their study concludes that berries, and possibly walnuts, activate the brain's natural "housekeeper" mechanism, which cleans up and recycles toxic proteins linked to age-related memory loss and other mental decline.

Stress of freshman year can trigger eating disorders for some young people

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- While the start of college is a positive, momentous event for many young people, it also can be an episode that pushes some into a dangerous battle with eating disorders, says a psychologist who fought her own battle against bulimia as a college student. Hear her story.

Bug with bifocals baffles biologists

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- Researchers have discovered a bug with bifocals -- such an amazing finding that it initially had the researchers questioning whether they could believe their own eyes.

Alcohol-based hand disinfectants improve business productivity, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- The placement of alcohol-based hand disinfectants in businesses can reduce illness and absenteeism amongst the work force. A new study has found that incidences of absenteeism in public administrations due to the common cold, fever and cough are significantly reduced when alcohol-based hand disinfectants are used by employees.

Americans using less energy, more renewables

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- Americans are using less energy overall and making more use of renewable energy resources. The United States used significantly less coal and petroleum in 2009 than in 2008, and significantly more wind power. There also was a decline in natural gas use and increases in solar, hydro and geothermal power, according to the most recent energy flow charts.

Solar system similar to ours? Richest planetary system discovered

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- Astronomers have discovered a planetary system containing at least five planets, orbiting the Sun-like star HD 10180. The researchers also have tantalizing evidence that two other planets may be present, one of which would have the lowest mass ever found. This would make the system similar to our Solar System in terms of the number of planets (seven as compared to the Solar System’s eight planets). Furthermore, the team also found evidence that the distances of the planets from their star follow a regular pattern, as also seen in our Solar System.

Widely used herbicide, atrazine, causes prostate inflammation in male rats and delays puberty

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- A new study shows that male rats prenatally exposed to low doses of atrazine, a widely used herbicide, are more likely to develop prostate inflammation and to go through puberty later than non-exposed animals. The research adds to a growing body of literature on atrazine, an herbicide predominantly used to control weeds and grasses in crops such as corn and sugar cane. Atrazine and its byproducts are known to be relatively persistent in the environment, potentially finding their way into water supplies.

Sea level to rise even with aggressive geo-engineering and greenhouse gas control, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- Sea level will likely be 30-70 centimeters higher by 2100 than at the start of the century, even if all but the most aggressive geo-engineering schemes are undertaken to mitigate the effects of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions are stringently controlled, according to new findings by international research group of scientists from England, China and Denmark.

Fires and floods key to dinosaur island secrets

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- Fires and floods which raged across the Isle of Wight some 130 million years ago made the island the richest source of pick ’n’ mix dinosaur remains of this age anywhere in the world. A new study has revealed the Island’s once violent weather explains why thousands of tiny dinosaur teeth and bones lie buried alongside the huge bones of their gigantic relatives.

Moderate drinking: Health benefits or not?

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- There is disagreement about the health benefits of moderate drinking. A new study has examined drinking and mortality during a 20-year period. Findings confirm an association between moderate drinking and reduced mortality among older adults.

Moderate drinking: Health benefits or not?

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- There is disagreement about the health benefits of moderate drinking. A new study has examined drinking and mortality during a 20-year period. Findings confirm an association between moderate drinking and reduced mortality among older adults.

Moderate drinking: Health benefits or not?

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- There is disagreement about the health benefits of moderate drinking. A new study has examined drinking and mortality during a 20-year period. Findings confirm an association between moderate drinking and reduced mortality among older adults.

Salmon baby food? Babies need omega-3s and a taste for fish, scientist says

ScienceDaily (2010-08-24) -- Has your toddler eaten fish today? A food science professor has two important reasons for including seafood in your young child's diet, reasons that have motivated her work in helping to develop a tasty, nutritious salmon baby food for toddlers.

Cactus genes connect modern Mexico to its prehistoric past

ScienceDaily (2010-08-25) -- In prehistoric times farmers across the world domesticated wild plants to create an agricultural revolution. As a result the ancestral plants have been lost, causing problems for anyone studying the domestication process of modern-day varieties, but that might change.

New evidence on how cranberry juice fights bacteria that cause urinary tract infections

ScienceDaily (2010-08-25) -- Scientists report new evidence on the effectiveness of that old folk remedy -- cranberry juice -- for urinary tract infections.

Fear of falling linked to future falls in older people

ScienceDaily (2010-08-22) -- Fear of falling is likely to lead to future falls among older people, irrespective of their actual fall risk, a new study finds.

A tale of two atolls

ScienceDaily (2010-08-22) -- To gain new insights on the impact of fishing on coral reefs, marine biologists are taking advantage of an ongoing "natural experiment" at two isolated Pacific atolls -- one inhabited by people, the other off-limits to fishing.

New understanding of the 'flight-or-fight' response

ScienceDaily (2010-08-22) -- New research helps explain how the body's "flight-or-fight" response is mediated. The study may provide new answers to the question of how the heart pacemaker -- the sinoatrial node -- is regulated.

Oxytocin: It’s a Mom and Pop Thing

ScienceDaily (2010-08-22) -- The hormone oxytocin has come under intensive study in light of emerging evidence that its release contributes to the social bonding that occurs between lovers, friends, and colleagues. Oxytocin also plays an important role in birth and maternal behavior, but until now, research had never addressed the involvement of oxytocin in the transition to fatherhood.

New compound may be effective against Chagas' disease

ScienceDaily (2010-08-22) -- A new compound may offer an effective drug candidate against the deadly tropical infection, Chagas' disease say researchers from Brazil.

Avian influenza virus may persist on feathers fallen from domestic ducks

ScienceDaily (2010-08-22) -- Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) may persist on feathers fallen from the bodies of infected domestic ducks and contribute to environmental contamination.

Limiting ocean acidification under global change

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Emissions of carbon dioxide are causing ocean acidification as well as global warming. Scientists have previously used computer simulations to quantify how curbing of carbon dioxide emissions would mitigate climate impacts. New computer simulations have now examined the likely effects of mitigation scenarios on ocean acidification trends. They show that both the peak year of emissions and post-peak reduction rates influence how much ocean acidity increases by 2100.

Street outreach workers an important tool for violence prevention and intervention

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- A new study describes how using street outreach workers is an effective strategy to reach and engage youth with the goal of violence prevention and intervention. Street outreach workers are typically members of the community who intervene to prevent conflict and retaliation. While violence prevention programs utilizing street outreach workers , including CeaseFire in Chicago and Safe Streets in Baltimore, this is the first peer-reviewed study on a program to be published.

The future of the Web is a matter of semantics

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- The first incarnation of the web was composed of static websites that linked to each other and search engines to help you find sites of interest. Web 2.0 brought a social element to the web, with users sharing, commenting, and interacting through sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Flickr. The future web, the "semantic web," or Web 3.0, will embed meaning within digital information so that any given page can be understood by computers as well as people.

Electrifying findings: New ways of boosting healthful antioxidant levels in potatoes

ScienceDaily (2010-08-23) -- Scientists in Japan are busy zapping potatoes and, as a result, the fifth most popular food consumed around the world may one day become an even more healthful vegetable.

Hydrogen causes metal to break

ScienceDaily (2010-08-21) -- Hydrogen is considered the fuel of the future. Yet this lightest of the chemical elements can embrittle the metals used in vehicle engineering. The result: components suddenly malfunction and break. A new special laboratory is aiding researchers' search for hydrogen-compatible metals.

Drought drives decade-long decline in plant growth

ScienceDaily (2010-08-21) -- Global plant productivity that once was on the rise with warming temperatures and a lengthened growing season is now on the decline because of regional drought, according to a new study of NASA satellite data.

Today's superheroes send wrong image to boys, say researchers

ScienceDaily (2010-08-21) -- Watching superheroes beat up villains may not be the best image for boys to see if society wants to promote kinder, less stereotypical male behaviors, according to psychologists.

Headaches in teens tied to overweight, smoking and lack of exercise

ScienceDaily (2010-08-19) -- Teens who are overweight, get little exercise or who smoke may be more likely to have frequent headaches and migraines than teens with none of these factors, according to a new study.

New computer model advances climate change research

ScienceDaily (2010-08-19) -- Scientists can now study climate change in far more detail with powerful new computer software released by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The Community Earth System Model will be one of the primary climate models used for the next assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Creation of the first frozen repository for Hawaiian coral

ScienceDaily (2010-08-19) -- Climate change is causing higher air and water temperatures along the east coast of the United States. These changes have shrunk the geographic region where blue mussels are able to survive, according to new findings.

Too hot to handle: Impacts of climate change on mussels

ScienceDaily (2010-08-19) -- Climate change is causing higher air and water temperatures along the east coast of the United States. These changes have shrunk the geographic region where blue mussels are able to survive, according to new findings.

Internet access at home increases the likelihood that adults will be in relationships, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-19) -- Adults who have Internet access at home are much more likely to be in romantic relationships than adults without Internet access, according to new research.

Moderate drinking, especially wine, associated with better cognitive function

ScienceDaily (2010-08-19) -- A large prospective study of 5,033 men and women has reported that moderate wine consumption is independently associated with better performance on cognitive tests.

Cultural capital is key to preparing for college and getting into a good school

ScienceDaily (2010-08-15) -- A new study has found that students with low-income or minority status do not prepare for college in the same way as their more privileged counterparts, regardless of their academic ability or plans to attend college. The less privileged students are over-represented in community colleges while their counterparts are more likely to attend more selected schools.

Combination of biological and chemical pesticides more effective than expected on malaria mosquitoes

ScienceDaily (2010-08-16) -- A combination of fungal spores and chemical insecticides are effective in combating insecticide-resistant malaria mosquitoes. Researchers have shown that the effect of using a combination of both is greater than the sum of using the two methods separately.

Green tea extract appears to keep cancer in check in majority of CLL patients

ScienceDaily (2010-06-04) -- An extract of green tea appears to have clinical activity with low toxicity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients who used it in a Phase II clinical trial.

Climate change affects geographical range of plants, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-16) -- Researches in Sweden have shown how climate change many million years ago has influenced the geographical range of plants by modeling climate preferences for extinct species. The method can also be used to predict what effects climate change of today and tomorrow will have on future distributions of plants and animals.

Pushing the limits of 3D TV technology

ScienceDaily (2010-08-16) -- Some of the thrills of 3D cinema have reached the living room of the average family this year, but the result is still far from perfect. That could change thanks to a technology developed by a German-Swiss partnership.

Fires around Moscow: Satellite perspective reveals startling images of massive smoke clouds

Fires around Moscow: Satellite perspective reveals startling images of massive smoke clouds

Ocean's color affects hurricane paths

ScienceDaily (2010-08-14) -- A change in the color of ocean waters could have a drastic effect on the prevalence of hurricanes, new research indicates. In a simulation of such a change in one region of the North Pacific, the study finds that hurricane formation decreases by 70 percent.

Human noise pollution in ocean can lead fish away from good habitats and off to their death

ScienceDaily (2010-08-13) -- The growing amount of human noise pollution in the ocean could lead fish away from good habitat and off to their death.

Biodiversity hot spots more vulnerable to global warming than thought

ScienceDaily (2010-08-12) -- Global warming may present a threat to animal and plant life even in biodiversity hot spots once thought less likely to suffer from climate change, according to a new study.

Learn more in kindergarten, earn more as an adult

ScienceDaily (2010-08-12) -- There isn't a lot of research that links early childhood test scores to earnings as an adult. But new research reveals a surprising finding: Students who learn more in kindergarten earn more as adults. They are also more successful overall.

For infant sleep, receptiveness more important than routine

ScienceDaily (2010-08-12) -- Parents understand the challenge of getting infants to sleep through the night, and now researchers show that being emotionally receptive can reduce sleep disruptions and help infants and toddlers sleep better.

Video quality less important when you're enjoying what you're watching

ScienceDaily (2010-08-12) -- If you like what you're watching, you're less likely to notice the difference in video quality of the TV show, Internet video or mobile movie clip, new research shows.

How algae 'enslavement' threatens freshwater bodies

ScienceDaily (2010-08-12) -- How toxic, blue-green algae out-compete other organisms through a form of selfish "enslavement" -- and by so doing proliferate dangerously in freshwater bodies -- has been described by a researcher.

Scientists test Australia's Moreton Bay as coral 'lifeboat'

ScienceDaily (2010-08-13) -- An international team of scientists has been exploring Australia's Moreton Bay, close to Brisbane, as a possible 'lifeboat' to save corals from the Great Barrier Reef at risk of extermination under climate change. In a new research paper, they say that corals have been able to survive and flourish in the Bay, which lies well to the south of the main GBR coral zones, during about half of the past 7000 years.

Walking to school could reduce stress reactivity in children, may curb risk of heart disease

ScienceDaily (2010-08-11) -- A simple morning walk to school could reduce stress reactivity in children during the school day, curbing increases in heart rate and blood pressure that can lead to cardiovascular disease later in life, according to a new study.

People who are angry pay more attention to rewards than threats

ScienceDaily (2010-08-11) -- Anger is a negative emotion. But, like being happy or excited, feeling angry makes people want to seek rewards, according to a new study of emotion and visual attention. The researchers found that people who are angry pay more attention to rewards than to threats -- the opposite of people feeling other negative emotions like fear.

Menstrual cramps may alter brain structure

ScienceDaily (2010-08-11) -- Primary dysmenorrheal, or menstrual cramps, is the most common gynecological disorder in women of childbearing age. Lower abdominal pain starts with the onset of menstrual flow and this ongoing pain stimulus can cause alterations throughout the nervous system. In a new study, researchers report abnormal changes in the structure of the brain in PDM patients, whether or not they are in fact experiencing pain.

Best way to pour champagne? 'Down the side' wins first scientific test

ScienceDaily (2010-08-11) -- In a study that may settle a long-standing disagreement over the best way to pour a glass of champagne, scientists in France are reporting that pouring bubbly in an angled, down-the-side way is best for preserving its taste and fizz. The study also reports the first scientific evidence confirming the importance of chilling champagne before serving to enhance its taste, the scientists say.

Study finds similar personality types in male and female domestic violence perpetrators

ScienceDaily (2010-08-12) -- New research is providing a better picture of the roles played by gender, personality and mental illness in domestic violence.

Building muscle doesn't require lifting heavy weights, study shows

ScienceDaily (2010-08-12) -- A new study shows that building muscle depends on achieving muscle fatigue not on pumping heavy weights as previously believed.

'Magnetic' solution to identify and kill tumors

ScienceDaily (2010-08-10) -- Scientists are developing a new way to destroy tumors with fewer side effects and minimal damage to surrounding tissue. The innovative method uses heat to kill the tumor cells but leaves surrounding healthy tissue intact. Using specific biomarkers attached to individual tumors, the mixture of nano-particles and antibodies locates and binds to the tumor itself.

Larger waist associated with greater risk of death

ScienceDaily (2010-08-10) -- Individuals with a large waist circumference appear to have a greater risk of dying from any cause over a nine-year period, according to a new report.

College undergrads study ineffectively on computers, study finds: Students transfer bad study habits from paper to screen

ScienceDaily (2010-08-10) -- Despite the prevalence of technology on college campuses, a new study indicates that computers alone can't keep students from falling into the same old weak study habits.

Stone Age remains are Britain's earliest house

ScienceDaily (2010-08-10) -- Archaeologists working on Stone Age remains at a site in North Yorkshire say it contains Britain's earliest surviving house. Archaeologists have revealed that the home dates to at least 8,500 BC -- when Britain was part of continental Europe.

Mosasaur fossil: Life of 85-million-year-old 'sea monster' illuminated

ScienceDaily (2010-08-10) -- One of the ocean's most formidable marine predators, the mosasaur Platecarpus, lived in the Cretaceous Period some 85 million years ago and was thought to have swum like an eel. That theory is debunked in a new article. Scientists have reconceived the animal's morphology, or body plan, based on a spectacular specimen housed at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Common orchid gives scientists hope in face of climate change

ScienceDaily (2010-08-10) -- A study that focuses on epigenetics in European common marsh orchids has revealed that some plants may be able to adapt more quickly to environmental change than previously thought. The research brings new hope to plant conservation.

Dying of cold: More heart attacks in cooler weather

ScienceDaily (2010-08-11) -- Lower outdoor temperatures are linked to an increase in the risk of heart attacks, according to a new study by scientists in the UK.

Evolutionary surprise: Freedom of neck played major role in human brain evolution, research suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-08-11) -- By deciphering the genetics in humans and fish, scientists now believe that the neck -- that little body part between your head and shoulders -- gave humans so much freedom of movement that it played a surprising and major role in the evolution of the human brain, according to neuroscientists.

Ovulating women unconsciously buy sexier clothing to outdo attractive women

ScienceDaily (2010-08-05) -- Ovulating women unconsciously buy sexier clothes, says new research. The study finds that ovulating women unconsciously dress to impress -- doing so not to impress men, but to outdo rival women during the handful of days each month when they are ovulating.

Travelling by car increases global temperatures more than travelling by plane, but only in the long term

ScienceDaily (2010-08-05) -- Driving alone in a car increases global temperatures in the long run more than making the same long-distance journey by air according to a new study. However, in the short run traveling by air has a larger adverse climate impact because airplanes strongly affect short-lived warming processes at high altitudes.

Coastal creatures may have reduced ability to fight off infections in acidified oceans

ScienceDaily (2010-08-05) -- The ocean is filled with a soup of bacteria and viruses. Animals living in these environments are constantly under assault by pathogens and need to be able to mount an immune response to protect themselves from infection, especially if they have an injury or wound that is openly exposed to the water. Researchers are studying the effects of low oxygen and high carbon dioxide on these organisms' immune systems.

Computer scientists build 'pedestrian remover'

ScienceDaily (2010-08-05) -- Imagine encountering leashed dogs without dog walkers, or shoes filled just with ankles -- when scoping out potential apartments using Google Street View. These are the sorts of visual hiccups that an experimental computer vision system occasionally generates when it automatically removes individual pedestrians from images that populate Google Street View.

Social ecology: Lost and found in psychological science

ScienceDaily (2010-08-06) -- Various aspects of our environment -- including political systems, economic systems and even climate and geography -- can affect our thinking and behavior, a field of study known as socioecological psychology.

Survey of coastal residents shows Gulf oil spill has significant impact on families

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- As the acute phase of the Gulf oil spill transitions to a chronic phase, researchers have found evidence of significant impact of the disaster on the health, mental health, and economic fortunes of residents.

New inexpensive solar cell design

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- One of the most promising technologies for making inexpensive but reasonably efficient photovoltaic cells just got much cheaper. Scientists in Canada have shown that inexpensive nickel can work just as well as gold for one of the critical electrical contacts that gather the electrical current produced by colloidal quantum dot solar cells.

Chili peppers may come with blood pressure benefits

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- For those with high blood pressure, chili peppers might be just what the doctor ordered, according to a new study. While the active ingredient that gives the peppers their heat -- a compound known as capsaicin -- might set your mouth on fire, it also leads blood vessels to relax, the research in hypertensive rats shows.

Generating energy from ocean waters off Hawaii

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- Researchers in Hawaii say that the Leeward side of Hawaiian Islands may be ideal for future ocean-based renewable energy plants based on a technology referred to as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion.

Brain study shows that thinking about God reduces distress -- but only for believers

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- Thinking about God may make you less upset about making errors, according to a new study.

Study may improve screening and treatment of people with severe myopia

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- Severe myopia (nearsightedness) can lead to other, more serious eye disorders in some people. Ophthalmologists are interested in understanding the factors that make some patients more susceptible to these disorders and related vision loss. Researchers in Japan studied severely myopic patients over time, and found that in 40 percent of them a condition known as myopic maculopathy became significantly worse.

Preserving sperm vital to saving 'snot otter' salamanders

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- The hellbender salamander -- known affectionately as a snot otter or devil dog -- is one of America's unique giant salamander species. For unexplained reasons, most hellbender populations have rapidly declined as very little reproduction has occurred in recent decades. Working with researchers from the Nashville Zoo and Antwerp Zoo in Belgium, veterinarians are helping develop conservation techniques to sample and freeze the sperm from some of the last surviving salamanders.

Ancient blob-like creature of the deep revealed by scientists

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- A unique blob-like creature that lived in the ocean approximately 425 million years ago is revealed in a 3D computer model. The model is helping researchers to understand what primitive species on early Earth looked like and how they might have evolved into the types of creatures that are on Earth today.

Habitat of elusive Northern squid documented

ScienceDaily (2010-08-05) -- Squid and octopus play an important but often overlooked role as key prey in the Arctic marine food web. Large species such as narwhal, beluga and seals rely heavily on energy-rich squid. Until recently little was known about where these animals prefer to live, but a new study aims to shed light on the habitat preferences of these elusive creatures.

Aurora alert: The Sun is waking up

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Sky viewers might get to enjoy some spectacular Northern Lights, or aurorae. After a long slumber, the Sun is waking up. Early Sunday morning, the Sun's surface erupted and blasted tons of plasma (ionized atoms) into interplanetary space. That plasma is headed our way, and when it arrives, it could create a spectacular light show.

What lives in the sea? Census of Marine Life publishes historic roll call of species in 25 key world areas

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- The global Census of Marine Life has published a landmark series of papers that detail biodiversity in 25 key world ocean areas on all seven continents.

New carbon dioxide emissions model

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Meteorologists have determined exactly how much carbon dioxide humans can emit into the atmosphere while ensuring that the Earth does not heat up by more than two degrees, experts say.

Women attracted to men in red, research shows

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Wearing the color red or being bordered by the rosy hue makes a man more attractive and sexually desirable to women, a multicultural study finds. And women are apparently unaware of this arousing effect.

When memory-related region of brain is damaged, other areas compensate, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Many neuroscientists believe the loss of the brain region known as the amygdala would result in the brain's inability to form new memories with emotional content. New research indicates this is not so, and suggests that when one brain region is damaged, other brain regions can compensate.

Behind the secrets of silk lie high-tech opportunities

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Tougher than a bullet-proof vest yet synonymous with beauty and luxury, silks spun by worms and spiders are a masterpiece of nature whose properties have yet to be fully replicated in the laboratory. But scientists have begun to unravel the secrets of silk. Biomedical engineers report that silk-based materials have been transformed from commodity textile to a growing web of high tech applications.

Brain may age faster in people whose hearts pump less blood

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Keep your heart healthy and you may slow down the aging of your brain, according to a new study.

Couch potatoes of the animal kingdom: Orangutans have extremely low rate of energy use

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Pass the chips and hand over the remote. In a study involving the first-ever daily energy expenditure measurements in apes, researchers have determined that orangutans living in a large indoor/outdoor habitat used less energy, relative to body mass, than nearly any eutherian mammal ever measured, including sedentary humans.

Our brain can be taught to control cravings, new researcher finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Standard therapeutic techniques decrease cravings of cigarette smokers by regulating activity in two separate but related areas of the brain, a new study shows.

Why are male spiders small while females are giant?

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- 'Bridging', an unusual mode of getting around frequently used by vegetation-inhabiting spiders to cross large gaps, may partly explain the tendency for male spiders to be much smaller than females. Researchers studied bridging, in which spiders use the wind to carry a strand of web to their destination and then clamber upside down along the resulting bridge, finding that small size was associated with a greater ability to carry out the maneuver.

Deep, open ocean is vastly under-explored, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Researchers have discovered that the deep open ocean, by far the largest habitat for life on Earth, is currently the most under-explored area of the sea, and the one we know least about.

No such thing as a free lunch for Venus flytraps

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Charles Darwin described the Venus flytrap as "one of the most wonderful plants in the world." It's also one of the fastest as many an unfortunate insect taking a stroll across a leaf has discovered. But what powers this speed? A researcher in Slovakia has been studying the plants with the help of some specialized equipment and a few unlucky insects.

Culture wires the brain: A cognitive neuroscience perspective

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Where you grow up can have a big impact on the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and even how your brain works. Researchers discuss ways in which brain structure and function may be influenced by culture.

Top predators and biodiversity historically pressured in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- The numbers of top-level predators in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, such as halibut and swordfish, have decreased significantly over what existed 100 years ago, according to a new NOAA report. The National Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series report describes fish populations in the sanctuary that are resilient, but have suffered declines in numbers and species diversity over time.

World’s most endangered otter 'rediscovered' in Malaysia

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- The world’s most endangered otter species, known as the hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana), has been “rediscovered” in Deramakot Forest Reserve in Sabah, Malaysia, by a collaboration of German and Malaysian researchers.

Carnivorous mice spread deadly plague in prairie dog towns, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- Prairie dogs, once abundant in North America, have been decimated in recent decades by plague. Researchers may have solved the mystery of how the deadly disease is spread.

Pep talk to teens in the ER helped reduce violence, alcohol misuse, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- A brief, motivational talk in the emergency room reduced by half the chances that teenagers would experience peer violence or problems due to drinking, according to a new study.

New estimates of the global population at risk of Plasmodium vivax malaria

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- A new evidence-based global distribution map of Plasmodium vivax malaria is used to estimate that 2.85 billion people lived at risk of infection with this parasite in 2009.

Emotions help animals to make choices, research suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-08-04) -- A new review of animal emotion suggests that, as in humans, emotions may tell animals about how dangerous or opportunity-laden their world is, and guide the choices that they make.

Body of evidence: New fast, reliable method to detect gravesoil

ScienceDaily (2010-08-02) -- Finding bodies buried by someone who wanted them to stay undiscovered can be difficult. However a new technique can reliably detect biochemical changes in a decomposing cadaver.

Breeding is changing dog brains, scientists find

ScienceDaily (2010-08-02) -- For the first time, scientists have shown that selective breeding of domestic dogs is not only dramatically changing the way the animals look but is also driving major changes in the canine brain. The brains of many short-snouted dog breeds have rotated forward as much as 15 degrees, while the brain region controlling smell has fundamentally relocated.

What you say about others says a lot about you, research shows

ScienceDaily (2010-08-03) -- How positively you see others is linked to how happy, kind-hearted and emotionally stable you are, according to new research. In contrast, negative perceptions of others are linked to higher levels of narcissism and antisocial behavior.

Most panda habitat is outside nature reserves, according to joint US-China research

ScienceDaily (2010-08-01) -- Though much effort and many resources have been expended to protect the endangered giant panda, research by an international team of scientists shows that much suitable panda habitat is outside the nature reserves and areas where the panda is reported to live.

Tools that assess bias in standardized tests are flawed, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-07-31) -- Overturning more than 40 years of accepted practice, new research proves that the tools used to check tests of "general mental ability" for bias are themselves flawed. This key finding challenges reliance on such exams to make objective decisions for employment or academic admissions even in the face of well-documented gaps between mean scores of white and minority populations.

Reforestation projects capture more carbon than industrial plantations, new research reveals

ScienceDaily (2010-07-31) -- Australian scientists researching environmental restoration projects have found that the reforestation of damaged rainforests is more efficient at capturing carbon than controversial softwood monoculture plantations. The research challenges traditional views on the efficiency of industrial monoculture plantations.

Breaking the language barrier: Language translation devices for US troops tested

ScienceDaily (2010-07-31) -- In recent tests evoking visions of the universal translator on "Star Trek," researchers evaluated three two-way, real-time, voice-translation devices designed to improve communications between the US military and non-English speakers in foreign countries.

Male modesty not appreciated by female or male interviewers, study suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-07-31) -- A researcher who explored the consequences for men (and women) when they acted modestly in job interviews found that "modest" males were less liked, a sign of social backlash. Modesty was viewed as a sign of weakness, a low-status character trait for males that could adversely affect their employability or earnings potential. Modesty in women, however, was not viewed negatively nor was it linked to status.

Plant compound resveratrol shown to suppresses inflammation, free radicals in humans

ScienceDaily (2010-07-30) -- Resveratrol, a popular plant extract shown to prolong life in yeast and lower animals due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, appears also to suppress inflammation in humans, based on results from the first prospective human trial of the extract.

Unexpected viral 'fossils' found in vertebrate genomes

ScienceDaily (2010-07-30) -- Over millions of years, retroviruses, which insert their genetic material into the host genome as part of their replication, have left behind bits of their genetic material in vertebrate genomes. In a recent study, a team of researchers found that human and other vertebrate genomes also contain many ancient sequences from Ebola/Marburgviruses and Bornaviruses -- two deadly virus families.

As crops wither in Russia's severe drought, vital plant field bank faces demolition

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- As the fate of Europe's largest collection of fruit and berries hangs in the balance of a Russian court decision, the Global Crop Diversity Trust issued an urgent appeal for the Russian government to embrace its heroic tradition as protector of the world's crop diversity and halt the planned destruction of an incredibly valuable crop collection near St. Petersburg.

New anti-viral drug shows promise for dramatic improvement in hepatitis C treatment

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- Adding a direct acting anti-viral drug to the standard treatment regimen for hepatitis C significantly increases the cure rate in the most difficult to treat patients, according to a new study.

'Delicious' invader: More fishing, higher consumption might help reverse lionfish invasion

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- A new study looking at how to curb the rapid growth of lionfish, an invasive species not native to the Atlantic Ocean, suggests that approximately 27 percent of mature lionfish will have to be removed monthly for one year to reduce its population growth rate to zero.

In breakthrough, nerve connections are regenerated after spinal cord injury

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- Researchers for the first time have induced robust regeneration of nerve connections that control voluntary movement after spinal cord injury, showing the potential for new therapeutic approaches to paralysis and other motor function impairments.

Competing for a mate can shorten lifespan

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- Men who reach sexual maturity in a context where males outnumber females don't live as long as men whose numbers roughly equaled females' and faced less competition for a mate.

NASA images show continuing Mexico quake deformation

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- New NASA airborne radar images of Southern California near the U.S.-Mexico border show Earth's surface is continuing to deform following the April 4 magnitude, 7.2 temblor and its many aftershocks that have rocked Mexico's state of Baja California and parts of the American Southwest.

People think immoral behavior is funny -- but only if it also seems benign

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- What makes something funny? Philosophers have been tossing that question around since Plato. Now two psychological scientists think they've come up with the formula: humor comes from a violation or threat to the way the world ought to be that is, at the same time, benign.

Engineers use rocket science to make wastewater treatment sustainable

ScienceDaily (2010-07-26) -- Engineers are developing a new sewage treatment process that would increase the production of two greenhouse gases -- nitrous oxide and methane -- and use those gases to power the treatment plant. Applying rocket technology, they hope to make the process energy neutral and emissions free.

Biochemist proposes worldwide policy change to step up daily vitamin D intake

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- An expert in vitamin D proposes worldwide policy changes regarding people's vitamin D daily intake amount in order to maximize the vitamin's contribution to reducing the frequency of many diseases, including childhood rickets, adult osteomalacia, cancer, autoimmune type-1 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity and muscle weakness.

Essential ingredients of supportive sibling relationships

ScienceDaily (2010-07-19) -- Many moms and dads say the toughest part of parenting is keeping the peace when their kids squabble and bicker. But making an end to conflict your primary focus is a mistake, according to experts.

Compact microscope a marvel: Matches performance of expensive lab gear in diagnosing TB

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- New research shows that a portable, battery-operated fluorescence microscope, which costs $240, stacks up nicely against devices that retail for as much as $40,000 in diagnosing signs of tuberculosis.

Insects sense danger on mammals' breath

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- When plant-eating mammals such as goats chomp on a sprig of alfalfa, they could easily gobble up some extra protein in the form of insects that happen to get in their way. But a new report shows that plant-dwelling pea aphids have a strategy designed to help them avoid that dismal fate: The insects sense mammalian breath and simply drop to the ground.

Corporal punishment of children remains common worldwide, studies find

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- Spanking and other forms of corporal punishment of children are still common in the US and worldwide, despite bans in 24 countries.

Higher temperatures to slow Asian rice production

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- Production of rice, the world's most important crop for ensuring food security, will be thwarted as temperatures increase in rice-growing areas with continued climate change, according to a new study. Researchers found evidence that the net impact of projected temperature increases will be to slow the growth of rice production in Asia. Rising temperatures during the past 25 years have already cut the yield growth rate by 10-20 percent in several locations.

New study examines effects of drought in the Amazon

ScienceDaily (2010-08-02) -- Recent research surrounding the impact of drought in the Amazon has provided contradictory findings as to how tropical forests react to a drier and warmer climate. A new study examines the response of Amazon forests to variations in climate conditions, specifically considering how those changes may influence forest productivity. These findings provide possible context for why previous studies have offered varying conclusions.

The salp: Nature's near-perfect little engine just got better

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- What if trains, planes, and automobiles all were powered simply by the air through which they move? Moreover, what if their exhaust and byproducts helped the environment? Well, such an energy-efficient, self-propelling mechanism already exists in nature. The salp, a smallish, barrel-shaped organism that resembles a kind of streamlined jellyfish, gets everything it needs from the ocean waters to feed and propel itself.

Beautiful women face discrimination in certain jobs, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-07) -- New research shows that beautiful women are discriminated against when applying for "masculine" jobs or when looks don't matter.

First satellite measurement of water volume in Amazon floodplain

ScienceDaily (2010-08-08) -- For the first time, scientists have been able to measure the amount of water that rises and falls annually in the Amazon River floodplain. The result -- 285 billion metric tons, or 285 cubic kilometers of water by volume -- sounds like a lot. That amount is over half the volume of Lake Erie, which is the world's 15th largest lake.

Butterflies shed light on how some species respond to global warming

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- Researchers have begun studying the genetic explanation for how two species of butterflies respond to warming. They are investigating what genes are responsible for the individualized responses, and will use genomic tools to learn which genes are involved when the species is experiencing climate change.

Gain and loss in optimistic versus pessimistic brains

ScienceDaily (2010-08-09) -- Our belief as to whether we will likely succeed or fail at a given task -- and the consequences of winning or losing -- directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, according to a new brain-imaging study by neuroscientists.

Children's vegetable intake linked to Popeye cartoons

ScienceDaily (2010-08-06) -- Popeye cartoons, tasting parties and junior cooking classes can help increase vegetable intake in kindergarten children, according to new research. Researchers in Thailand found the type and amount of vegetables children ate improved after they took part in a program using multimedia and role models to promote healthy food.

A 'crystal ball' for predicting the effects of global climate change

ScienceDaily (2010-08-06) -- In trying to predict how species will respond to climate change caused by global warming, researchers and scientists are turning to comparative physiology, a sub-discipline of physiology that studies how different organisms function and adapt to diverse and changing environments. Overall, the comparative approach gives researchers insights into the effects of global warming that they wouldn't otherwise have.

Reading zip codes of 3,500-year-old letters: Non-destructive X-ray scanning of archaeological finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-06) -- A researcher in Israel uses a hand-held device based on x-ray fluorescence, a device that can be found in many chemistry labs, to non-destructively ascertain the chemical composition of ancient tablets. Using an index that he's developed, he can determine the geographical origin of coins, ancient plasters, glass and tablets to investigate the secrets of ancient history.

Newts' ability to regenerate tissue replicated in mouse cells

ScienceDaily (2010-08-06) -- Scientists have taken a big step toward being able to confer a regenerative capacity on mammalian muscle cells; they accomplished this feat in experiments with laboratory mice in which they blocked the expression of just two tumor-suppressing proteins. The finding may move us closer to future regenerative therapies in humans -- surprisingly, by sending us shimmying back down the evolutionary tree.

Worst impact of climate change may be how humanity reacts to it

ScienceDaily (2010-08-06) -- The way that humanity reacts to climate change may do more damage to many areas of the planet than climate change itself unless we plan properly, an important new study by a group of leading scientists has concluded.

Selenium makes more efficient solar cells

ScienceDaily (2010-08-06) -- By embedding the element selenium in zinc oxide, researchers have made a relatively inexpensive material that could be promising for solar power conversion by making more efficient use of the sun's energy.

Secret of life on Earth may be as simple as what happens between the sheets -- mica sheets, that is

ScienceDaily (2010-08-06) -- That age-old question, "where did life on Earth start?" now has a new answer. If the life between the mica sheets hypothesis is correct, life would have originated between sheets of mica that were layered like the pages in a book.

Tattooing linked to higher risk of hepatitis C, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-07) -- Youth, prison inmates and individuals with multiple tattoos that cover large parts of their bodies are at higher risk of contracting hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases, according to a new study.

Nuclear physicists study 'magic' nature of tin

ScienceDaily (2010-08-07) -- The metal tin lacks the value and prestige of gold, silver and platinum, but to nuclear physicists, tin is magic. Physicists recently reported studies on the metal tin that add knowledge to a concept known as magic numbers while perhaps helping scientists to explain how heavy elements are made in exploding stars.

NASA instrument tracks pollution from Russian fires

ScienceDaily (2010-08-08) -- Drought and the worst heat wave Russia has seen in 130 years have sparked a devastating outbreak of wildfires across the nation this summer, primarily in the country's western and central regions.