People are cautious in asking help from their community, online gift exchange study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-09-25) -- People are cautious in exchanging favors and items with other people in their community. Researchers, who studied an online gift exchange service, say that many people buy services because it does not occur to them that someone in their community could help them or they are too shy to ask for a favor.

Taking a new look at old digs: Trampling animals may alter Stone Age sites

ScienceDaily (2010-09-25) -- Stone Age tools discovered embedded in the ground could mislead archaeologists about a Prehistoric site's age. A new study on animal trampling found that water buffalo and goats significantly disturbed stone tools scattered on watery ground, says archaeologists. The animals pushed the tools as much as 21 centimeters deeper than originally positioned -- potentially altering a site's interpretation thousands of years, and suggesting archaeologists should reanalyze some previous discoveries.

Taking a new look at old digs: Trampling animals may alter Stone Age sites

ScienceDaily (2010-09-25) -- Stone Age tools discovered embedded in the ground could mislead archaeologists about a Prehistoric site's age. A new study on animal trampling found that water buffalo and goats significantly disturbed stone tools scattered on watery ground, says archaeologists. The animals pushed the tools as much as 21 centimeters deeper than originally positioned -- potentially altering a site's interpretation thousands of years, and suggesting archaeologists should reanalyze some previous discoveries.

Moving closer to outdoor recreation not a recipe for being more physically active

ScienceDaily (2010-09-25) -- A new study looking at the relationship between body mass index, or BMI, and neighborhood walkability, socioeconomic status, reasons for choosing their neighborhood and how physically active they were, fruit and vegetable intake and demographic information such as age, gender, job status and education, found those who chose to move to be closer to outdoor recreation weren't necessarily more active.

Computer simulations of real earthquakes made available to worldwide network

ScienceDaily (2010-09-24) -- A research team has developed the capability to produce realistic movies of earthquakes based on complex computer simulations that can be made available worldwide within hours of a disastrous upheaval.

Man’s best friend keeps children on the move

ScienceDaily (2010-09-22) -- Children whose families own dogs are more active than those without, according to new research.

Hard-wired for chocolate and hybrid cars? How genetics affect consumer choice

ScienceDaily (2010-09-21) -- Clues to consumer behavior may be lurking our genes, according to a new study. The authors discovered that people seem to inherit the following tendencies: to choose a compromise option and avoid extremes; select sure gains over gambles; prefer an easy but non-rewarding task over an enjoyable challenging one; look for the best option available; and prefer utilitarian, clearly needed options (like batteries) over more indulgent ones (gourmet chocolate).

Vigilant camera eye: System analyzes data in real time, flags unusual scenes

ScienceDaily (2010-09-21) -- An innovative camera system could in future enhance security in public areas and buildings. Smart Eyes works just like the human eye. The system analyzes the recorded data in real time and then immediately flags up salient features and unusual scenes.

Geckos inspire new method to print electronics on complex surfaces

ScienceDaily (2010-09-21) -- Geckos are masters at sticking to surfaces of all kinds and easily unsticking themselves. Inspired by these lizards, a team of engineers has developed a reversible adhesion method for printing electronics on a variety of tricky surfaces such as clothes, plastic and leather. The stamp can easily pick up electronic devices from a silicon surface and print them on a curved surface.

Marine scientists unveil mysteries of life on undersea mountains

ScienceDaily (2010-09-21) -- They challenge the mountain ranges of the Alps, the Andes and the Himalayas in size yet surprisingly little is known about seamounts, the vast mountains hidden under the world's oceans. Now in a special issue of Marine Ecology, scientists uncover the mystery of life on these submerged mountain ranges and reveal why these under studied ecosystems are under threat.

Too much TV, video and computer can make teens fatter

ScienceDaily (2010-09-21) -- Too much television, video games and Internet can increase body fat in teens. A five-year study has found teenagers have four different patterns of screen use: increasers, decreasers, consistently high and consistently low users.

Asian 'unicorn' photographed for first time in over 10 years

ScienceDaily (2010-09-18) -- For the first time in more than ten years, there has been a confirmed sighting of one of the rarest and most mysterious animals in the world, the saola of Laos and Vietnam. The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (also known as Laos) announced on September 15 that in late August villagers in the central province of Bolikhamxay captured a saola and brought it back to their village. The animal died several days later, but was photographed while still alive.

50-million-year-old snake gets a CT scan

ScienceDaily (2010-09-20) -- Even some of the most advanced technology in medicine couldn't get Clarisse to give up all of her secrets. After all, she's protected them for more than 50 million years. Clarisse is a snake, found in the Fossil Butte region of Wyoming, perfectly fossilized in limestone and the only one of her kind known to be in existence.

U.S. tsunami detection improves, but coastal areas still vulnerable, report finds

ScienceDaily (2010-09-18) -- The nation's ability to detect and forecast tsunamis has improved since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, but current efforts are still not sufficient to meet challenges posed by tsunamis generated near land that leave little time for warning, says a new report.

Promising techniques for extending the life of an organ transplant developed

ScienceDaily (2010-09-18) -- Experts have revealed exciting new scientific developments for people with an organ transplant, intended to help prevent rejection of the new organ and extend its life. These advances in protein therapeutics and cell therapy could provide a future solution to some of the challenges surrounding organ transplantation.

Fish schools and krill swarms take on common shape

ScienceDaily (2010-09-18) -- When fish or tiny, shrimp-like krill get together, it appears they follow the same set of "rules." According to a new study, shoals of fish and swarms of krill hang out in groups that take on the same overall shape; it's not a simple sphere, a cylinder, or ovoid, but something more akin to an irregular crystal, the researchers say.

Night light pollution affect songbirds' mating life, research suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-09-18) -- In today's increasingly urbanized world, the lights in many places are always on, and according to a new study, that's having a real impact on the mating life of forest-breeding songbirds.

New map offers a global view of health-sapping air pollution

ScienceDaily (2010-09-24) -- In many developing countries, the absence of surface-based air pollution sensors makes it difficult, and in some cases impossible, to get even a rough estimate of the abundance of a subcategory of airborne particles that epidemiologists suspect contributes to millions of premature deaths each year.

Ancient Egypt's pyramids: Norwegian researcher unlocks construction secrets

ScienceDaily (2010-09-24) -- Scientists from around the world have tried to understand how the Egyptians erected their giant pyramids. Now, an architect and researcher from Norway says he has the answer to this ancient, unsolved puzzle.

Dry lake bed salts promote cloud formation

ScienceDaily (2010-09-13) -- One of the major uncertainties in climate modeling is the effect of aerosol particles on cloud formation. Sea salt in the air has been known to be important in cloud formation over oceans. A new study now provides the first direct measurements of clouds showing that wind-blown dust from dry lake beds (playas) can also act as cloud condensation nuclei, encouraging the formation of clouds over continents and thereby affecting climate.

Flying fish glide as well as birds, researchers find

ScienceDaily (2010-09-11) -- How well do flying fish fly? This is the question that puzzled researchers in South Korea. Measuring aerodynamic forces on dried darkedged-wing flying fish in a wind tunnel, they discovered that flying fish glide better than insects and as well as birds. The fish also derive an aerodynamic advantage from gliding close to the water's surface to cover distances as great as 400 meters.

Flying fish glide as well as birds, researchers find

ScienceDaily (2010-09-11) -- How well do flying fish fly? This is the question that puzzled researchers in South Korea. Measuring aerodynamic forces on dried darkedged-wing flying fish in a wind tunnel, they discovered that flying fish glide better than insects and as well as birds. The fish also derive an aerodynamic advantage from gliding close to the water's surface to cover distances as great as 400 meters.

New neurological deficit behind lazy eye identified

ScienceDaily (2010-09-10) -- Researchers have identified a new neurological deficit behind amblyopia, or "lazy eye." Their findings shed additional light on how amblyopia results from disrupted links between the brain and normal visual processing.

Portable laser backpack revolutionizes 3-D mapping

ScienceDaily (2010-09-09) -- A portable, laser backpack for 3-D mapping is being hailed as a breakthrough technology capable of producing fast, automatic and realistic 3-D mapping of difficult interior environments.

NASA satellites reveal surprising connection between beetle attacks, wildfire

ScienceDaily (2010-09-09) -- If your summer travels have taken you across the Rocky Mountains, you've probably seen large swaths of reddish trees dotting otherwise green forests. While it may look like autumn has come early to the mountains, evergreen trees don't change color with the seasons. The red trees are dying, the result of attacks by mountain pine beetles.

Termites foretell climate change in Africa's savannas

ScienceDaily (2010-09-08) -- Using sophisticated airborne imaging and structural analysis, scientists mapped more than 40,000 termite mounds over 192 square miles in the African savanna. They found that their size and distribution is linked to vegetation and landscape patterns associated with annual rainfall. The results reveal how the savanna terrain has evolved and show how termite mounds can be used to predict ecological shifts from climate change.

Personality predicts cheating more than academic struggles, study shows

ScienceDaily (2010-09-08) -- Students who cheat in high school and college are highly likely to fit the profile for subclinical psychopathy -- a personality disorder defined by erratic lifestyle, manipulation, callousness and antisocial tendencies, according to new research. These problematic students cheat because they feel entitled and disregard morality, the study found.

Reading food labels, combined with exercise, can lead to weight loss, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-09-09) -- Nutritional science and food marketing has become so sophisticated in recent decades that a trip to the supermarket can require a complete nutritional re-education. The average consumer needs to be on guard against preservatives, added fat, colorings, and calories, false advertising, and sophisticated but misleading labels. Although guidelines for the information of food labels have gotten a bad rap in recent years, a new study suggests that observing them may lead to weight loss, especially for women entering their middle years.

Satellite data reveal seasonal pollution changes over India

ScienceDaily (2010-09-09) -- Armed with a decade's worth of satellite data, atmospheric scientists have documented some surprising trends in aerosol pollution concentration, distribution and composition over the Indian subcontinent.

Visual pattern preference may be indicator of autism in toddlers

ScienceDaily (2010-09-07) -- Using eye-tracking methods, researchers have shown that toddlers with autism spend significantly more time visually examining dynamic geometric patterns than they do looking at social images -- a viewing pattern not found in either typical or developmentally delayed toddlers.

Less is more: Teens who sleep less eat more fatty foods and snacks, study shows

ScienceDaily (2010-09-07) -- Teens who slept less than eight hours on weeknights consumed 2.2 percent more calories from fats and 3 percent fewer calories from carbs than teens who slept eight hours or more, according to new research. In secondary analyses stratified by sex, the results were significant among girls but not boys. Also, for each one-hour increase in sleep duration, the odds of consuming a high amount of calories from snacks decreased by an average of 21 percent.

New model provides more effective basis for biodiversity conservation

ScienceDaily (2010-09-12) -- A new mathematical model has been developed that provides a more effective basis for biodiversity conservation than existing frameworks.

Land-use expert brings satellite data down to Earth

ScienceDaily (2010-09-12) -- By integrating satellite mapping, airborne-laser technology, and ground-based plot surveys, scientists have revealed the first high-resolution maps of carbon locked up in tropical forest vegetation and emitted by land-use practices.

Carbon mapping breakthrough

ScienceDaily (2010-09-12) -- By integrating satellite mapping, airborne-laser technology, and ground-based plot surveys, scientists have revealed the first high-resolution maps of carbon locked up in tropical forest vegetation and emitted by land-use practices.

People learn new information more effectively when brain activity is consistent, research shows

ScienceDaily (2010-09-12) -- People are more likely to remember specific information such as faces or words if the pattern of activity in their brain is similar each time they study that information, according to new research. The finding challenges psychologists' long-held belief that people retain information more effectively when they study it several times under different contexts and, thus, give their brains multiple cues to remember it.

Mapping new paths for a stressed-out Internet: Collaboration aims to create first accurate geometric map of the Internet

ScienceDaily (2010-09-12) -- Researchers have created the first geometric "atlas" of the Internet as part of a project to prevent our most ubiquitous form of communication from collapsing within the next decade or so.

Blood signatures to diagnose infection

ScienceDaily (2010-09-12) -- Coughing and wheezing patients could someday benefit from quicker, more accurate diagnosis and treatment for respiratory infections such as flu, through a simple blood test, according to scientists.

Child's 'mental number line' affects memory for numbers

ScienceDaily (2010-09-12) -- As children in Western cultures grow, they learn to place numbers on a mental number line, with smaller numbers to the left and spaced further apart than the larger numbers on the right. Then the number line changes to become more linear, with small and large numbers the same distance apart. Children whose number line has made this change are better at remembering numbers, according to a new study.

'Friendship paradox' may help predict spread of infectious disease

ScienceDaily (2010-09-16) -- Researchers used a basic feature of social networks to study the 2009 flu epidemic. The findings, they say, point to a novel method for early detection of contagious outbreaks.

Ten minutes could prevent one-third of road deaths, Spanish study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-09-13) -- Spanish researchers have calculated the probability of dying in road accidents on the basis of the time taken for the emergency services to arrive. Their conclusions are clear: reducing the time between an accident taking place and the arrival of the emergency services from 25 to 15 minutes would cut the risk of death by one-third.

'Friendship paradox' may help predict spread of infectious disease

ScienceDaily (2010-09-16) -- Researchers used a basic feature of social networks to study the 2009 flu epidemic. The findings, they say, point to a novel method for early detection of contagious outbreaks.

Blood test accurately predicts death from prostate cancer up to 25 years in advance

ScienceDaily (2010-09-16) -- A blood test at the age of 60 can accurately predict the risk that a man will die from prostate cancer within the next 25 years, according to researchers. The findings could have important implications for determining which men should be screened after the age of 60 and which may not benefit substantially from continued prostate cancer screening.

Growing La Nina chills out the Pacific

ScienceDaily (2010-09-16) -- The tropical Pacific Ocean has transitioned from last winter's El Niño conditions to a cool La Niña, as shown by new data about sea surface heights, collected by the U.S-French Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason-2 oceanography satellite.

Optimizing climate change reduction

ScienceDaily (2010-09-16) -- Scientists have taken a new approach on examining a proposal to fix the warming planet by injecting stratospheric aerosols of sulfates to shade the Earth. Past approaches modeled how the aerosols might affect Earth's climate and chemistry. These researchers began with climate goals and modeled the aerosol distribution pattern that would come closest to achieving their idealized climate. This is the first attempt to determine the optimal way of achieving defined climate goals.

Consumption of 'good salt' can reduce population blood pressure levels, research finds

ScienceDaily (2010-09-15) -- An increased intake of 'good' potassium salts could contribute significantly to improving blood pressure at the population level, according to new research. The favorable effect brought about by potassium is even estimated to be comparable with the blood pressure reduction achievable by halving the intake of 'bad' sodium salts (mostly from table salt).

NASA's Aqua satellite takes snapshot of Arctic Ocean sea ice

ScienceDaily (2010-09-15) -- The Arctic Ocean is covered by a dynamic layer of sea ice that grows each winter and shrinks each summer, reaching its yearly minimum size each fall. While the 2010 minimum remains to be seen, NASA's Aqua satellite captured a snapshot on Sept. 3.

Perception of emotion is culture-specific

ScienceDaily (2010-09-15) -- Want to know how a Japanese person is feeling? Pay attention to the tone of his voice, not his face. That's what other Japanese people would do, anyway. A new study examines how Dutch and Japanese people assess others' emotions and finds that Dutch people pay attention to the facial expression more than Japanese people do.

Fountain of youth in bile? Longevity molecule identified

ScienceDaily (2010-09-15) -- The human quest for longer life may be one step closer. A new study is the first to identify the role of a bile acid, called lithocholic acid, in extending the lifespan of normally aging yeast. The findings may have significant implications for human longevity and health, as yeast share some common elements with people.

Aerobic exercise relieves insomnia

ScienceDaily (2010-09-15) -- Millions of middle-aged and older adults who suffer from insomnia have a new drug-free prescription for a more restful night's sleep. Regular aerobic exercise dramatically improves the quality of sleep, mood and vitality, according to a new study.

Do children understand irony? New study reveals they do

ScienceDaily (2010-09-15) -- New research findings reveals that children as young as four are able to understand and use irony. The study may impact the way parents communicate with their family.

Nature's gift for gardening may hold key to biodiversity

ScienceDaily (2010-09-16) -- Gardeners are used to cross-breeding flowers to produce pretty petals or sweet scents -- now scientists have shown the importance of nature's talent for producing new types of flowers.

Expanding threat of hypoxia in U.S. coastal waters

ScienceDaily (2010-09-14) -- A new report assesses the increasing prevalence of low-oxygen "dead zones" in U.S. coastal waters and outlines a series of research and policy steps that could help reverse the decades-long trend.

Children and adults see the world differently, research finds

ScienceDaily (2010-09-14) -- Unlike adults, children are able to keep information from their senses separate and may therefore perceive the visual world differently, according to new research.

Chemicals in indoor swimming pools may increase cancer risk

ScienceDaily (2010-09-14) -- Swimming in indoor chlorinated pools may induce genotoxicity (DNA damage that may lead to cancer) as well as respiratory effects, but the positive health effects of swimming can be maintained by reducing pool levels of the chemicals behind these potential health risks, according to a new study.

Measuring preference for multitasking

ScienceDaily (2010-09-14) -- A new study may help employers identify employees who enjoy multitasking and are less inclined to quit jobs involving multitasking. The study presents a new tool developed to measure preference for multitasking.

Ending the oceans' 'tragedy of the commons'

ScienceDaily (2010-09-15) -- Leading international marine scientists are proposing radical changes in the governance of the world's oceans to rescue them from overfishing, pollution and other human impacts. Based on a successful experiment in Chile, the researchers say a new approach to marine tenure could help to reverse the maritime "tragedy of the commons" which has led to the depletion of fish stocks worldwide.

Male maturity shaped by early nutrition; Differences between the sexes affected by environment during first six months of life

ScienceDaily (2010-09-13) -- A new study makes a strong case for nurture's role in male to female differences -- suggesting that rapid weight gain in the first six months of life predicts earlier puberty for boys. Males who experienced rapid growth as babies -- an indication that they were not nutritionally stressed -- also were taller, had more muscle and were stronger, and had higher testosterone levels as young adults.

The pocket projector is a reality

ScienceDaily (2010-09-14) -- The projector of the future -- one cubic centimeter of technology that can be integrated into a portable computer or mobile telephone -- is about to take the market by storm. Many applications have already been identified, in particular in the automobile industry or the operating theater.

Public handwashing: More adults than ever (85 percent) observed washing hands in public restrooms

ScienceDaily (2010-09-14) -- A new observational study finds that 85 percent of adults washed their hands in public restrooms, compared with 77 percent in 2007.

New pump created for microneedle drug-delivery patch

ScienceDaily (2010-09-05) -- Researchers have developed a new type of pump for drug-delivery patches that might use arrays of "microneedles" to deliver a wider range of medications than now possible with conventional patches.

Backstabbing bacteria: A new treatment for infection?

ScienceDaily (2010-09-06) -- Selfish bacterial cells that act in their own interests and do not cooperate with their infection-causing colleagues can actually reduce the severity of infection. The selfish behaviour of these uncooperative bacteria could be exploited to treat antibiotic-resistant infections, according to new research.

Satellite data reveals why migrating birds have a small window to spread bird flu

ScienceDaily (2010-09-06) -- In 2005 an outbreak of the H5N1 'bird flu' virus in South East Asia led to widespread fear with predictions that the intercontinental migration of wild birds could lead to global pandemic. Such fears were never realised, and now new research reveals why the global spread of bird flu by direct migration of wildfowl is unlikely, while also providing a new framework for quantifying the risk of avian-borne diseases.

Problem of fake medicines in developing countries could be solved, experts say

ScienceDaily (2010-09-03) -- Counterfeiting of drugs is a huge industry. In Africa the situation is extremely serious. Half of the malaria medication sold there could be ineffective or even harmful. There is currently no good way to identify counterfeit drugs. However, researchers in Sweden and the UK have now developed a technique that could resolve the situation.

Cranberry juice shows promise blocking Staph infections

ScienceDaily (2010-09-03) -- Expanding their scope of study on the mechanisms of bacterial infection, researchers have reported the surprise finding from a small clinical study that cranberry juice cocktail blocked a strain of Staphylococcus aureus from beginning the process of infection.

Mothers matter! High social status and maternal support play an important role in mating success of male bonobos

ScienceDaily (2010-09-05) -- The higher up a male bonobo is placed in the social hierarchy, the greater his mating success is with female bonobos, researchers have found. But even males who are not so highly placed still have a chance of impressing females. A new study finds evidence of direct support from mothers to their sons in agonistic conflicts over access to estrous females.

Next step in evolution? A technical life form that passes on knowledge and experience

ScienceDaily (2010-09-04) -- Dutch biologist Gerard Jagers op Akkerhuis has developed the ‘operator hierarchy’ -- a system based on the complexity of particles and of organisms, which can predict the next step in evolution: a technical life form, that can pass on its knowledge and experience to the next generation.

Verbal snippets offer insights on well-being amid separation, divorce

ScienceDaily (2010-09-04) -- A new study of romantically separated people shows they offer clues to their emotional status in just a few seconds of conversation.

Many urban streams harmful to aquatic life following winter pavement deicing

ScienceDaily (2010-09-04) -- The use of salt to deice pavement can leave urban streams toxic to aquatic life, according to a new study on the influence of winter runoff in northern US cities, with a special focus on eastern Wisconsin and Milwaukee.

Why fish oils work swimmingly against inflammation and diabetes

ScienceDaily (2010-09-04) -- Researchers have identified the molecular mechanism that makes omega-3 fatty acids so effective in reducing chronic inflammation and insulin resistance.

Commercial organic farms have better fruit and soil, lower environmental impact, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-09-02) -- Side-by-side comparisons of organic and conventional strawberry farms and their fruit found the organic farms produced more flavorful and nutritious berries while leaving the soil healthier and more genetically diverse. The study is among the most comprehensive of its kind, analyzing 31 chemical and biological soil properties, soil DNA, and the taste, nutrition and quality of three strawberry varieties on more than two dozen commercial fields -- 13 conventional and 13 organic.

Migration does not bring happiness, study suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- The grass might not be greener on the other side of the border, a new study has found. Economic migrants traveling to different shores for greater income could be set for disappointment -- because the pursuit of wealth does not equate with happiness, according to the research.

Girls' early puberty linked to unstable environment via insecure attachment in infancy

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- Girls are hitting puberty earlier and earlier. One recent study found that more than 10 percent of American girls have some breast development by age 7. This news has upset many people, but it may make evolutionary sense in some cases for girls to develop faster, according to new research.

Evolution rewritten, again and again

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- Palaeontologists are forever claiming that their latest fossil discovery will "rewrite evolutionary history." Is this just boasting or does our "knowledge" of evolution radically change every time we find a new fossil?

Climate change implicated in decline of horseshoe crabs

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- A distinct decline in horseshoe crab numbers has occurred that parallels climate change associated with the end of the last Ice Age, according to a study that used genomics to assess historical trends in population sizes.

Hooked on headphones? Personal listening devices can harm hearing, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- Personal listening devices like iPods have become increasingly popular among young -- and not-so-young -- people in recent years. But music played through headphones too loud or too long might pose a significant risk to hearing, according to a 24-year study of adolescent girls.

Study shows increased risk of heart attack from physical exertion at altitude and low temperatures during winter sports vacations

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- A study carried out by cardiologists has investigated the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) amongst winter sports tourists to the Tyrolean Alps. The research shows that inadequate preparation for the intense physical exertion required, combined with the effects of altitude and low temperature, leads to an increase in heart attack incidents, particularly during the first two days of vacation.

High-speed filter uses electrified nanostructures to purify water at low cost

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- Researchers have developed a water-purifying filter that makes the process more than 80,000 times faster than existing filters. The key is coating the filter fabric -- ordinary cotton -- with nanotubes and silver nanowires, then electrifying it. The filter uses very little power, has no moving parts and could be used throughout the developing world.

Babies born past term associated with increased risk of cerebral palsy

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- While preterm birth is a known risk factor for cerebral palsy, an examination of data for infants born at term or later finds that compared with delivery at 40 weeks, birth at 37 or 38 weeks or at 42 weeks or later was associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy, according to a new study.

Mindfulness meditation increases well-being in adolescent boys, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- "Mindfulness," the process of learning to become more aware of our ongoing experiences, increases well-being in adolescent boys, a new study reports.

Capacity for exercise can be inherited: Finding suggests pharmaceutical drugs can be used to alter activity levels in humans

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- Biologists have found that voluntary activity, such as daily exercise, is a highly heritable trait that can be passed down genetically to successive generations. Working on mice in the lab, they found that activity level can be enhanced with selective breeding. Their experiments showed that mice that were bred to be high runners produced high-running offspring, indicating that the offspring had inherited the trait for activity.

Airline passengers in developing countries face 13 times crash risk as US

ScienceDaily (2010-09-01) -- Passengers who fly in Developing World countries face 13 times the risk of being killed in an air accident as passengers in the First World. The more economically advanced countries in the Developing World have better overall safety records than the others, but even their death risk per flight is seven times as high as that in First World countries.

Less waste with shelf-life indicator for food

ScienceDaily (2010-09-02) -- Norwegian food retailers discard over 50,000 tonnes of food annually – much of it of perfectly good quality. New technology the TimeTemp company in cooperation with Norwegian research institutions could substantially reduce this wastefulness. TimeTemp has developed a new method of more precisely measuring the freshness of food items: a shelf-life indicator attached directly to the product. In addition to time, the company’s device also factors in the temperatures to which the item has been exposed.

Increased risk of death in men with insomnia and a short sleep duration

ScienceDaily (2010-09-02) -- Men with chronic insomnia who slept for less than six hours were four times more likely to die during the 14-year follow-up period, according to a new study. Results were adjusted for potential confounders such as body mass index, smoking status, depression and obstructive sleep apnea. Further adjustments for hypertension and diabetes had little effect on the elevated mortality risk. No significant mortality risk was found in women with insomnia and a short sleep duration of less than six hours.

NASA and NOAA's newest GOES satellite ready for action

ScienceDaily (2010-09-02) -- NASA and NOAA's latest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, GOES-15, has successfully completed five months of on-orbit testing and has been accepted into service. The satellite has demonstrated operational readiness of its subsystems, spacecraft instruments and communications services. GOES-15 is the third and final spacecraft in the GOES N-P Series of geostationary environmental weather satellites.

Economic theory suggests symbiosis is driven by simple self-interest, not rewards or punishment

ScienceDaily (2010-09-02) -- Applying employment contract theory to symbiosis, a new paper suggests mutually beneficial relationships are maintained by simple self-interest, with partners benefiting from healthy hosts much as employees benefit from robust employers. The new work discounts the theory that host species have evolved to promote symbiosis by promising rewards or threatening punishment.

Lower blood pressure may preserve kidney function in some patients

ScienceDaily (2010-09-02) -- Intensively treating hypertension in some African Americans with kidney disease by pushing blood pressure well below the current recommended goal may significantly decrease the number who lose kidney function and require dialysis, suggests a new study.

Older adults experience “destination amnesia” and over-confidence with false beliefs

ScienceDaily (2010-08-31) -- I'm sure I told you that already! Older adults are more likely to have destination memory failures -- forgetting who they've shared or not shared information with, according to a new study.

Shifting ozone hole exposed South America to more ultraviolet light in 2009

ScienceDaily (2010-08-31) -- The ozone layer, which protects humans, plants, and animals from potentially damaging ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun, develops a hole above Antarctica in September that typically lasts until early December. However, in November 2009, that hole shifted its position, leaving the southern tip of South America exposed to UV light at levels much greater than normal.

Ultra-endurance running may not be good for the heart, study suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-08-31) -- In 2009, a study was conducted in the UK to assess the effects of running in ultra-endurance races. Typically aimed at super-fit and experienced athletes, these races are held over distances exceeding 50 miles (80 kilometres). The conclusions suggest that some damage is likely to occur to the heart muscle of competitors, while 12 percent of the study group showed signs of significant cardiac damage.

Moderate coffee consumption improves aortic distensibility in hypertensive elderly individuals, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-31) -- A detailed study conducted by researchers on the Aegean island of Ikaria has demonstrated that moderate consumption of coffee by hypertensive elderly individuals can lead to improvements in aortic distensibility.

Diverse diet of veggies may decrease lung cancer risk

ScienceDaily (2010-08-31) -- Adding a variety of vegetables to one's diet may help decrease the chance of getting lung cancer, and adding a variety of fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk of squamous cell lung cancer, especially among smokers.

Eye movements reveal readers' wandering minds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-30) -- It's not just you -- everybody zones out when they're reading. Scientists recorded eye movements during reading and found that the eyes keep moving when the mind wanders -- but they don't move in the same way as they do when you're paying attention.

Batteries for battery powered cars are more environmentally friendly than expected

ScienceDaily (2010-08-30) -- Battery powered cars will play a major role in future of mobility. What was not known so far, was how environmentally friendly the manufacture, operation and disposal of the batteries are. Researchers have now calculated the ecological footprint of the most commonly used type, the lithium-ion battery. A car with a petrol engine must consume less than 4 liters of fuel per 100km or about 70 mpg (miles per gallon) in order to be as environmentally friendly as modern electric cars.

Scientists bring new species of turtle out of its shell

ScienceDaily (2010-08-30) -- When scientists announce the discovery of a new animal species, we often imagine exotic, difficult to reach locations -- the untouched shore of a distant island, the forests of the rain-drenched Amazon or the darkest depths of the Arctic Ocean. But the recent announcement of a new species of turtle in the southeastern United States proves that even in a country considered to be well-explored, perhaps more awaits discovery.

Parenting style: Italians strict, French moderate, Canadians lenient

ScienceDaily (2010-08-30) -- Canadian teenagers enjoy more freedom than French and Italian peers, according to a new study. The investigation examined how parents fashion emotional bonds and exert behavioral control with adolescents.

Over 50? You probably prefer negative stories about young people

ScienceDaily (2010-08-30) -- When given a choice, older people prefer to read negative news, rather than positive news, about young adults, a new study suggests. In fact, older readers who chose to read negative stories about young individuals actually get a small boost in their self-esteem, according to the results.

School-based intervention successfully lowers drinking rates in at risk children

ScienceDaily (2010-08-31) -- In an effort to combat these startling findings, researchers in the UK describe a successful personality-based intervention for substance abuse delivered by teachers.

Shallow water habitats important for young salmon and trout

ScienceDaily (2010-08-31) -- Research from Sweden shows that competition from older fish causes young salmon and trout to seek refuge in shallow water. Preserving such habitats may, therefore, be important for the survival of the young fish.

Social isolation worsens cardiac arrest effects on heart regulation

ScienceDaily (2010-08-31) -- A new study in mice shows how social support can help minimize some of the worst physical damages to the brain caused by a heart attack. From cell death to depressive symptoms to regulation of the heart, mice that lived with a partner after a heart attack suffered less damage than did similar mice that were housed alone.

New Norwegian earplug solution to a deafening problem

ScienceDaily (2010-08-31) -- Some 600 cases of noise-induced hearing impairment are reported by the Norwegian petroleum industry every year. A new, intelligent earplug is now set to alleviate the problem. The international energy company Statoil ASA has led efforts to further develop a combined hearing protection and communication product for use on offshore platforms. The QUIETPRO hearing protection and communication device was originally developed for military use by the Trondheim-based company Nacre AS. The company’s customers include the United States Army, which uses QUIETPRO devices in armoured vehicles.

Acidifying oceans spell bleak marine biological future 'by end of century', Mediterranean research finds

ScienceDaily (2010-08-31) -- A unique 'natural laboratory' in the Mediterranean Sea is revealing the effects of rising carbon dioxide levels on life in the oceans. The results show a bleak future for marine life as ocean acidity rises, and suggest that similar lowering of ocean pH levels may have been responsible for massive extinctions in the past.