Teenagers, parents and teachers unaware of social networking risks

ScienceDaily (2011-03-22) -- A report into the legal risks associated with the use of social networking sites has found that while 95 percent of students surveyed in years 7 to 10 use social networking sites, nearly 30 percent did not consider social networking to hold any risks.

New statement offers advice on treating dangerous, deep blood clots

ScienceDaily (2011-03-22) -- More than 250,000 Americans are hospitalized yearly because of blood clots that form in veins deep inside the body. A new American Heart Association statement gives doctors guidance on diagnosing and treating these potentially deadly blockages.

Streptococcus enzyme could compete with toothbrushes, dental floss

ScienceDaily (2011-03-22) -- Investigators from Japan show in vitro that the bacterium Streptococcus salivarius, a non-biofilm forming, and otherwise harmless inhabitant of the human mouth, actually inhibits the formation of dental biofilms, otherwise known as plaque. Two enzymes this bacteria produces are responsible for this inhibition.

A 'fossil seismograph' for ancient earthquakes

ScienceDaily (2011-03-22) -- Scientists have invented a "fossil seismograph," which examines geological formations to find historical patterns of earthquakes reaching far back into the ancient past. With this information, experts can better predict where and when earthquakes may occur again -- and take measures to prevent more catastrophic damage.

Human gender roles influence research on animals, Swedish biologists argue

ScienceDaily (2011-03-18) -- Biologists have shown that animals' and plants' traits and behavior in sexual conflicts are colored by a human viewpoint. They want to raise awareness of the issue and provoke discussion among their colleagues in order to promote objectivity and broaden the research field.

Tai chi beats back depression in the elderly, study shows

ScienceDaily (2011-03-20) -- To fight depression in the elderly, researchers combined a weekly Tai chi exercise class with a standard depression treatment for a group of depressed, elderly people. The found greater improvement in their level of depression, along with improved quality of life, better memory and cognition, and more overall energy.

Fairy wrens are accountants of the animal kingdom, not altruistic as previously thought

ScienceDaily (2011-03-20) -- A puzzling example of altruism in nature has been debunked with researchers showing that purple-crowned fairy wrens are in reality cunningly planning for their own future when they assist in raising other birds' young by balancing the amount of assistance they give with the benefits they expect to receive in the future.

Wide variety in nutritional content found in 'senior' dog foods

ScienceDaily (2011-03-19) -- The nutritional content of dog foods marketed for old dogs varies as widely as owner's perceptions about them, according to a new study.

Lessons from Japan's earthquake

ScienceDaily (2011-03-14) -- While Japan's 8.9-magnitude earthquake and accompanying tsunami represent a devastating natural disaster for the country's residents, scientists should also seize upon the massive temblor as an important learning tool for future quakes around the world, including the Pacific Northwest coast of the United States, according to U.S. experts.

Japanese tsunami underscores need for elder disaster preparedness

ScienceDaily (2011-03-18) -- The oldest segment of Japan's population will likely be the hardest hit as a result of the recent earthquake and subsequent tsunami, based on data from previous catastrophic events. Approximately 23 percent of Japanese citizens currently are age 65 and above.

Record-breaking 2010 Eastern European/Russian heatwave

ScienceDaily (2011-03-18) -- Scientists have compared the hot summers of 2003 and 2010 in detail for the first time. Last year’s heatwave across Eastern Europe and Russia was unprecedented in every respect: Europe has never experienced so large summer temperature anomalies in the last 500 years.

Sad dads spank more, read less, study finds

ScienceDaily (2011-03-18) -- Depression in fathers can negatively affect a young child's health and development. Compared to their non-depressed counterparts, depressed fathers are nearly four times more likely to report spanking their child, according to a new study. Depressed dads are also less likely to read to their children, the study found.

Japan earthquake disaster: Geophysicists create animation showing sequence of quakes

ScienceDaily (2011-03-16) -- The earthquake disaster on March 11, 2011 was an event of the century not only for Japan. With a magnitude of Mw = 8.9, it was one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded worldwide. Two days before, a strong foreshock with a magnitude Mw = 7.2 took place almost exactly at the breaking point of the tsunami-earthquake. Geophysicists in Germany have now created an animation that shows the sequence of quakes since March 9.

Viscous cycle: Quartz is key to plate tectonics

ScienceDaily (2011-03-16) -- More than 40 years ago, pioneering tectonic geophysicist J. Tuzo Wilson described how ocean basins opened and closed along North America's eastern seaboard. His observations, dubbed "The Wilson Tectonic Cycle," suggested the process occurred many times during Earth's long history, most recently causing the giant supercontinent Pangaea to split into today's seven continents. Now, new findings shed surprising light on these restless rock cycles.

High-tech concrete technology has a famous past

ScienceDaily (2011-03-16) -- Almost 1,900 years ago, the Romans built what continues to be the world's largest unreinforced solid concrete dome in the world-the Pantheon. The secret is in the light-weight concrete used to build the dome and a process called internal curing. A new paper reviews the status of modern improvements on this ancient material.

Some blind people 'see' with their ears, neuropsychologists show

ScienceDaily (2011-03-17) -- Neuropsychologists compared the brain activity of people who can see and people who were born blind, discovering that the part of the brain that normally works with our eyes to process vision and space perception can actually rewire itself to process sound information instead.

Improving the infant gut ‘microbiome’

ScienceDaily (2011-03-17) -- While next-generation sequencing-based research of gut microbiomes will ultimately benefit all members of the population, to date there has been a particular emphasis on investigating and, where necessary, altering the microbiota present in the gut of the elderly, infants and obese individuals. For example, evidence exists that early colonization of the infant gastrointestinal tract by microbes is crucial for the overall health of the infant.

NASA's Aqua satellite spies a '3-leaf Clover' view of Ireland for St. Patrick's Day

ScienceDaily (2011-03-17) -- Typical clovers have three leaves, unless you happen to be lucky, and NASA's Aqua satellite has provided three different views of Ireland to mark Saint Patrick's Day on March 17, 2011. With the luck o' the Irish, NASA's Aqua satellite was fortunate to capture mostly clear views of the Emerald Isle in these near-infrared/visible, infrared and microwave light views acquired by Aqua's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on March 3, 2011, at 13:11 UTC.

Rare Andean cat no longer exclusive to the Andes

ScienceDaily (2011-03-17) -- Once thought to exclusively inhabit its namesake mountain range, the threatened Andean cat -- a house cat-sized feline that resembles a small snow leopard in both appearance and habitat -- also frequents the Patagonian steppe at much lower elevations, according to a new study.

Seedless cherimoya, the next banana?

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- Mark Twain called it "the most delicious fruit known to man." But the cherimoya, or custard apple, and its close relations the sugar apple and soursop, also have lots of big, awkward seeds. Now new research by plant scientists in the United States and Spain could show how to make this and other fruits seedless.

Impact of a bad job on mental health as harmful as no job at all

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- The impact on mental health of a badly paid, poorly supported, or short term job can be as harmful as no job at all, new research indicates.

U.S. Geological Survey updates magnitude of Japan’s 2011 Tohoku earthquake to 9.0

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- The U.S. Geological Survey has updated the magnitude of the March 11, 2011, Tohoku earthquake in northern Honshu, Japan, to 9.0 from the previous estimate of 8.9. Independently, Japanese seismologists have also updated their estimate of the earthquake's magnitude to 9.0. This magnitude places the earthquake as the fourth largest in the world since 1900 and the largest in Japan since modern instrumental recordings began 130 years ago.

Describing humor with an equation

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- A new theory of humor addresses questions of human attraction to errors and our susceptibility to ideas we know are bad for us, and summarizes it with an equation. The new theory suggests an equation for identifying the cause and level of our responses to any humorous stimuli: h = m x s.

Best possible night light: Researchers study how light cycles impact zoo animals

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- A doctoral student reaches across a Cleveland Metroparks Zoo exhibit with a long pole tipped with a synthetic swab soaked in honey water. A pygmy slow loris, a big-eyed nocturnal primate, climbs down a branch and begins licking and chewing the swab. Something as seemingly innocuous as incorrect lighting may negatively impact the health and reproduction of lorises, pottos and their kin, researchers say.

Genetic analysis reveals history, evolution of an ancient delicacy -- morels

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- Scientists have completed one of the most detailed genetic analyses ever done on morels, to help identify their ancestry, show how they evolved and what conservation policies may be needed to manage and protect this valuable resource.

Why argue? Helping students see the point

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- Read the comments on any website and you may despair at Americans' inability to argue well. Thankfully, educators now name argumentative reasoning as one of the basics students should leave school with.

Bilinguals see the world in a different way, study suggests

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- Scientists have found that regularly speaking in a second language makes you literally see the world in a different way. Color perception is an ideal way of testing bilingual concepts because there is a huge variation between where different languages place boundaries on the color spectrum.

The new adulthood: Extended parental support as a safety net

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- A new study shows that contrary to popular anxieties about slacker young adults who refuse to grow up, or indulgent parents who stifle their adult children's development by continuing to support them, there is evidence that parental assistance in early adulthood promotes progress toward autonomy and self-reliance.

Why some people are apple-shaped and others are pear-shaped

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- Scientists have shed light on why some people are apple-shaped and others are pear-shaped. Researchers have pinpointed a protein that plays a part in how fat is stored in the body.

Optical illusions show vision in a new light

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- Optical illusions have fascinated humans throughout history. Greek builders used an optical illusion to ensure that that their columns appeared straight (they built them with a bulge) and we are all intrigued by the mental flip involved in the case of the young girl/old woman faces. New research demonstrates a more serious use of these illusions in understanding how the brain assesses relative size.

Couples sometimes communicate no better than strangers

ScienceDaily (2011-03-14) -- Married people may think they communicate well with their partners, but psychologists have found that they don't always convey messages to their loved ones as well as they think -- and in some cases, the spouses communicate no better than strangers. The same communication problem also is true with close friends.

Computer model shows importance of feet, toes in body balance

ScienceDaily (2011-03-14) -- Researchers are using a new model to learn more about how toe strength can determine how far people can lean while keeping their balance. The results could help in building robotic body parts that will closely imitate human movement, and might lead to a new generation of advanced prosthetics.

'Good cholesterol' structure identified, could help explain protective effects

ScienceDaily (2011-03-14) -- Researchers have determined the structure of human HDL cholesterol and say the finding could help explain how this "fat packet" protects against cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke.

Unique frog helps amphibian conservation efforts

ScienceDaily (2011-03-14) -- A tropical frog -- the only one of its kind in the world -- is providing conservationists with exclusive insights into the genetic make-up of its closest endangered relatives.

Used woodwind and brass musical instruments harbor harmful bacteria and fungi, study suggests

ScienceDaily (2011-03-14) -- Used woodwind and brass instruments were found to be heavily contaminated with a variety of bacteria and fungi, many of which are associated with minor to serious infectious and allergic diseases, according to a new study.

Hawaii: New high-resolution carbon mapping techniques provide more accurate results

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- Scientists have developed new, more accurate methods for mapping carbon in Hawaii's forests.

Extent and speed of lionfish spread unprecedented; Invasive marine fish may stress reefs

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- The rapid spread of lionfishes along the U.S. eastern seaboard, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean is the first documented case of a non-native marine fish establishing a self-sustaining population in the region, according to recent studies.

Neanderthals were nifty at controlling fire

ScienceDaily (2011-03-15) -- A new study shows clear evidence of the continuous control of fire by Neanderthals in Europe dating back roughly 400,000 years, yet another indication that they weren't dimwitted brutes as often portrayed. But Neanderthal predecessors pushed into cold regions of Europe at least 800,000 years ago without the use of fire.

NASA study goes to Earth's core for climate insights

ScienceDaily (2011-03-11) -- The latest evidence of the dominant role humans play in changing Earth's climate comes not from observations of Earth's ocean, atmosphere or land surface, but from deep within its molten core.

Early male friendship as a precursor to substance abuse in girls

ScienceDaily (2011-03-11) -- A new study shows that girls tend to pursue mixed-gender friendships earlier than boys, and may be more likely to develop substance abuse problems during late adolescence as a result.

Reading in two colors at the same time: Patterns of synesthesia brain activity revealed

ScienceDaily (2011-03-11) -- People with synesthesia often report perceiving letters as appearing in different colors. But how do their brains accomplish this feat? What is perhaps most puzzling about this condition is that people actually claim to see two colors simultaneously when reading letters or numbers: the real color of the ink (e.g. black) and an additional -- synesthetic -- color. Now a new study has revealed the patterns of brain activity that allow some people to experience the sensation of "seeing" two colors at the same time.

Consumer beware: Rejecting an option may make you more likely to choose it later

ScienceDaily (2011-03-12) -- People make purchasing decisions by choosing between alternatives or by rejecting certain options. But a new study finds that focusing on ruling out an option can lead consumers to reverse their preferences.

Surgery without external scars is gaining traction: Organ removal through body’s orifices is minimally invasive approach to surgery

ScienceDaily (2011-03-12) -- Innovative minimally invasive procedure called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) is allowing surgeons to perform organ removal surgery without any visible incisions. Northwestern Medicine physicians were among the first in the US to perform several types of the procedure and are leading the charge in organ removal through the mouth or vagina.

Keys to long life? Not what you might expect

ScienceDaily (2011-03-12) -- Cheer up. Stop worrying. Don't work so hard. Good advice for a long life? In a groundbreaking study of personality as a predictor of longevity, researchers found just the opposite.

Atlantis found? Film highlights professor’s efforts to locate fabled lost city

ScienceDaily (2011-03-13) -- Could the fabled lost city of Atlantis have been located? Using satellite photography, ground-penetrating radar and underwater technology, a team of experts has been surveying marshlands in Spain to look for proof of the ancient city. If the team can match geological formations to Plato's descriptions and date artifacts back to the time of Atlantis, we may be closer to solving one of the world's greatest mysteries.

Smart materials for high-tech products: Hard, viscous or watery at the touch of a button

ScienceDaily (2011-03-13) -- Flexible and independently operating "smart materials" can adapt to changing conditions with high speed.

Molecules work the day shift to protect the liver from accumulating fat

ScienceDaily (2011-03-13) -- Scientists have discovered molecules that act as "shift workers" to maintain the daily rhythm of fat metabolism. When those molecules do not do their jobs, the liver dramatically fills with fat.

Judging couples’ chemistry influenced by serotonin

ScienceDaily (2011-03-13) -- The judgments we make about the intimacy of other couples' relationships are influenced by the brain chemical serotonin, a new study has found.

Chilly times for Chinese dinosaurs: Abundance of feathered dinosaurs during temperate climate with harsh winters

ScienceDaily (2011-03-13) -- Dinosaurs did not always enjoy mild climates. New findings show that during part of the Early Cretaceous, north-east China had a temperate climate with harsh winters. They explain the abundance of feathered dinosaurs in fossil deposits of that period.

Testosterone linked to men's ability to 'woo' potential mates

ScienceDaily (2011-03-13) -- Theories have long proposed that testosterone influences competition among males trying to attract females. Findings from a recent study give a clearer understanding of the links between testosterone and human mating behavior, and how testosterone is associated with dominance and competitive success when men battle for the attention of an attractive woman.

NASA images tsunami's effects on northeastern Japan

ScienceDaily (2011-03-13) -- The extent of inundation from the destructive and deadly tsunami triggered by the March 11, 2011, magnitude 8.9 earthquake centered off Japan's northeastern coast about 130 kilometers (82 miles) east of the city of Sendai is revealed in this before-and-after image pair from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument on NASA's Terra spacecraft.

Sleep-deprived people make risky decisions based on too much optimism

ScienceDaily (2011-03-21) -- The powers that be in Las Vegas figured out something long before neuroscientists confirmed their ideas in a recent study: Trying to make decisions while sleep-deprived can lead to a case of optimism.

Rock-paper-scissors tournaments explain ecological diversity

ScienceDaily (2011-03-21) -- The mystery of biodiversity -- how thousands of similar species can co-exist in a single ecosystem -- might best be understood as the result of a massive rock-paper-scissors tournament, a new study has revealed.

Blood pressure: 100 million Americans may be unnecessarily labeled abnormal

ScienceDaily (2011-03-21) -- Current US definition of 'normal' blood pressure may unnecessarily label 100 million Americans as 'abnormal.'

Ancient human trash heaps gave rise to Everglades tree islands, research suggests

ScienceDaily (2011-03-21) -- Garbage mounds left by prehistoric humans might have driven the formation of many of the Florida Everglades' tree islands, distinctive havens of exceptional ecological richness in the sprawling marsh that are today threatened by human development.

Multi-tasking on the street not a good idea for older people

ScienceDaily (2011-03-21) -- Older adults may put themselves at risk by talking on cell phones while crossing the street, researchers report in a new study. The researchers found that adults aged 59 to 81 took significantly longer than college students to cross a simulated street while talking on a mobile phone, and their heightened cautiousness in initiating crossing did nothing to improve their safety. Older adults on cell phones also were more likely to fail to cross in the time allotted for the task.

Huge ocean 'Frisbees' spin off Brazil's coast

ScienceDaily (2011-03-21) -- Current rings have been known to exist off northeastern coast of Brazil for decades, but knowledge of their basic properties such as size, speed, depth, and rotation velocity has been limited. Researchers now describe the basic properties of 10 rings sampled between 1998 and 2000. Overall, this research has established that the North Brazil Current rings seem to be bigger, faster, and taller than previous observations suggested.

Primordial soup gets spicier: 'Lost' samples from famous origin of life researcher shed new light on Earth's first life

ScienceDaily (2011-03-21) -- Stanley Miller gained fame with his 1953 experiment showing the synthesis of organic compounds thought to be important in setting the origin of life in motion. Five years later, he produced samples from a similar experiment, shelved them and, as far as friends and colleagues know, never returned to them in his lifetime. More 50 years later, Jeffrey Bada, Miller's former student and now a professor of marine chemistry, discovered the samples in Miller's laboratory material and made a discovery that represents a potential breakthrough in the search for the processes that created Earth's first life forms.

Trauma patients protected from worse outcomes associated with so-called 'weekend effect'

ScienceDaily (2011-03-21) -- Patients who've been hurt in car or bike crashes, been shot or stabbed, or suffered other injuries are more likely to live if they arrive at the hospital on the weekend than during the week, according to new research.

A dose of safflower oil each day might help keep heart disease at bay

ScienceDaily (2011-03-21) -- A daily dose of safflower oil, a common cooking oil, for 16 weeks can improve such health measures as good cholesterol, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity and inflammation in obese postmenopausal women who have Type 2 diabetes, according to new research. This finding comes about 18 months after the same researchers discovered that safflower oil reduced abdominal fat and increased muscle tissue in this group of women after 16 weeks of daily supplementation.

Keys to long life? Not what you might expect

ScienceDaily (2011-03-12) -- Cheer up. Stop worrying. Don't work so hard. Good advice for a long life? In a groundbreaking study of personality as a predictor of longevity, researchers found just the opposite.

Near-real-time map of Japan quake aftershocks

ScienceDaily (2011-03-11) -- Researchers have created a near-real-time map of the aftershocks occurring globally following the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked Japan Friday.

Reading in two colors at the same time: Patterns of synesthesia brain activity revealed

ScienceDaily (2011-03-11) -- People with synesthesia often report perceiving letters as appearing in different colors. But how do their brains accomplish this feat? What is perhaps most puzzling about this condition is that people actually claim to see two colors simultaneously when reading letters or numbers: the real color of the ink (e.g. black) and an additional -- synesthetic -- color. Now a new study has revealed the patterns of brain activity that allow some people to experience the sensation of "seeing" two colors at the same time.

As we sleep, speedy brain waves boost our ability to learn

ScienceDaily (2011-03-10) -- Scientists have long puzzled over the many hours we spend in light, dreamless slumber. But a new study suggests we're busy recharging our brain's learning capacity during this traditionally undervalued phase of sleep, which can take up half the night.

Banana peels get a second life as water purifier

ScienceDaily (2011-03-10) -- To the surprisingly inventive uses for banana peels -- which include polishing silverware, leather shoes, and the leaves of house plants -- scientists have added purification of drinking water contaminated with potentially toxic metals. Minced banana peel performs better than an array of other purification materials, according to a new study.

Weed-eating fish 'key to reef survival'

ScienceDaily (2011-03-11) -- Preserving an intact population of weed-eating fish may be vital to saving the world's coral reefs from being engulfed by weed as human and climate impacts grow. A study by researchers in Australia has found weed-eaters like parrotfish and surgeonfish can only keep coral reefs clear of weed up to a point. After the weeds reach a certain density, they take over and the coral is lost.

Why poor diet during pregnancy negatively affects offspring's long-term health

ScienceDaily (2011-03-09) -- Poor diet during pregnancy increases offspring's vulnerability to the effects of aging, new research has shown for the first time.

More reasons to be nice: It's less work for everyone

ScienceDaily (2011-03-09) -- A polite act shows respect. But a new study of a common etiquette -- holding a door for someone -- suggests that courtesy may have a more practical, though unconscious, shared motivation: to reduce the work for those involved. The new research is among the first to combine two fields of study ordinarily considered unrelated: altruism and motor control.

Giving children the power to be scientists

ScienceDaily (2011-03-09) -- Children who are taught how to think and act like scientists develop a clearer understanding of the subject, a study has shown.

New weight loss discovery moves us closer to 'the Pill' for obesity

ScienceDaily (2011-03-08) -- A discovery in mice may make a big difference in people's waistlines thanks to scientists who found that reducing the function of a transmembrane protein, called Klotho, in obese mice with high blood sugar levels produced lean mice with reduced blood sugar. This protein exists in humans, suggesting that targeting Klotho could lead to new drugs that reduce obesity and possibly type 2 diabetes.

Cleansing the soul by hurting the flesh: The guilt-reducing effect of pain

ScienceDaily (2011-03-08) -- Lent in the Christian tradition is a time of sacrifice and penance. It also is a period of purification and enlightenment. Pain purifies. It atones for sin and cleanses the soul. Or at least that's the idea. Theological questions aside, can self-inflicted pain really alleviate the guilt associated with immoral acts? A new study explores the psychological consequences of experiencing bodily pain.

The better off sleep better

ScienceDaily (2011-03-07) -- The employed and self-employed enjoy much better sleep than those out of work, according to Understanding Society, the world's largest longitudinal household study. Those who are unemployed are over 40% more likely to report difficulty staying asleep than those in employment (having controlled for age and gender differences). However, job satisfaction affects the quality of sleep with 33% of the most dissatisfied employees report poor sleep quality compared to only 18% of the most satisfied.

Eating apples extends lifespan of test animals by 10 percent

ScienceDaily (2011-03-08) -- Scientists are reporting the first evidence that consumption of a healthful antioxidant substance in apples extends the average lifespan of test animals, and does so by 10 percent. The new results, obtained with fruit flies -- stand-ins for humans in hundreds of research projects each year -- bolster similar findings on apple antioxidants in other animal tests.

New system can warn of tsunamis within minutes

ScienceDaily (2011-03-04) -- Seismologists have developed a new system that could be used to warn future populations of an impending tsunami only minutes after the initial earthquake. The system, known as RTerg, could help reduce the death toll by giving local residents valuable time to move to safer ground.

Feet first? Old mitochondria might be responsible for neuropathy in the extremities

ScienceDaily (2011-03-04) -- The burning, tingling pain of neuropathy may affect feet and hands before other body parts because the powerhouses of nerve cells that supply the extremities age and become dysfunctional as they complete the long journey to these areas, scientists suggest in a new study. The finding may eventually lead to new ways to fight neuropathy, a condition that often accompanies other diseases including HIV/AIDS, diabetes and circulatory disorders.

Observing Arctic ice-edge plankton blooms from space

ScienceDaily (2011-03-04) -- Ongoing climate-driven changes to the Arctic sea-ice could have a significant impact on the blooming of tiny planktonic plants (phytoplankton) with important implications for the Arctic ecosystem, according to new research,

Fossils of horse teeth indicate 'you are what you eat'

ScienceDaily (2011-03-04) -- Fossil records verify a long-standing theory that horses evolved through natural selection. Scientists arrived at the conclusion after examining the teeth of 6,500 fossil horses representing 222 different populations of more than 70 extinct horse species.

Invasive species widespread, but not more than at home range

ScienceDaily (2011-03-05) -- Invasive plant species have long had a reputation as being bad for a new ecosystem when they are introduced. As it turns out, they aren't any more abundant away from home than they are at home.

Happy Hour linked to pub violence, UK study finds

ScienceDaily (2011-03-06) -- A new study has established a link between pub violence and happy hour-style drinking promotions. The findings also show that pub staff themselves need to do more to stop heavily intoxicated customers from continuing to drink.

Does Guinness beer taste better in Ireland?

ScienceDaily (2011-03-06) -- Does Guinness beer taste better in Ireland than other parts of the world? Over a period of one year, four researchers traveled to 14 countries and visited 71 Guinness serving establishments in 33 cities to collect data for 103 tastings.

Large forest animals contribute to plant diversity

ScienceDaily (2011-03-07) -- Over several decades, the growth in deer, roe deer and wild boar populations has spread to all of France. Researchers have shown that in spite of the damage caused, notably to bushes and young trees in forests and to crops, these animals also help in increasing plant diversity.

Mean girls and queen bees: Females threatened by social exclusion will reject others first

ScienceDaily (2011-03-05) -- Many studies have suggested that males tend to be more physically and verbally aggressive than females. According to a new study, it may not be the case that women are less competitive than men -- they may just be using a different strategy to come out ahead. Specifically, women may rely more on indirect forms of aggression, such as social exclusion.

Has Earth's sixth mass extinction already arrived?

ScienceDaily (2011-03-05) -- Researchers have delved into the fossil record to compare past animal extinctions, in particular the five "mass extinctions" that occurred within the past 540 million years, with today's extinctions. They find that, while the rate of extinctions today is higher than during past mass extinctions, we haven't yet lost too many animal species. Efforts to conserve threatened species could avoid the tipping point toward a sixth mass extinction.