Science News – Newsletter for February 15, 2011

Scientists isolate molecule that helps produce proteins

WASHINGTON – Scientists have isolated a molecular assistant called Spy that helps bugs produce proteins for medical and industrial purposes.

Bacteria are widely used to manufacture proteins used in medicine and industry, but the bugs often bungle the job.
Many proteins fall apart and get cut up inside the bacteria before they can be …. Read the original article  : Scientists isolate molecule that helps produce proteins.

Radiation would nix sex in space: NASA

LONDON – Cosmic radiation hitting human bodies would nix sex in space, NASA scientists assert.

Researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Ames Research Centre found that without effective shielding, powerful proton particles would probably sterilise any female embryo conceived in deep space, the Journal of Cosmology reports.
They also concluded that …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Radiation would nix sex in space: NASA.

A wireless radio that is twice as fast

WASHINGTON – Researchers, several of them of Indian origin, have developed the first wireless radio that can send and receive signals at the same time. This makes them twice as fast as existing technology.

“Textbooks say you can’t do it,” said Philip Levis, assistant professor of computer science and electrical engineering at Stanford University. “The … Read : A wireless radio that is twice as fast.

Hand movements may give clues to ADHD severity

WASHINGTON – Two studies have found markers for measuring the ability of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to control impulsive movements, which may reveal insights into the neurobiology of ADHD, inform prognosis and guide treatments.

“Despite its prevalence, there is a lack of understanding about the neurobiological basis of ADHD,” said Dr. Stewart Mostofsky, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Hand movements may give clues to ADHD severity.

Internet playing cupid for middle-aged people: Study

LONDON – A new study has revealed that middle-aged people are most likely to look for love online – dispelling the myth that Internet dating is primarily for the young.

The international poll of 12,000 couples between 18 and 70 years by the University of Oxford found that 36 percent people aged 40-69 who had [..] Read the original article: here.

Here’s why consumers pay for celebrity possessions

WASHINGTON – A new study has offered insights into why someone would pay 48,875 dollars for a tape measure that had belonged to Jackie Kennedy or 3,300 dollars for Bernie Madoff’s footstool.

The authors, George E. Newman (Yale University), Gil Diesendruck (Bar-Ilan University), and Paul Bloom (Yale University) delved into the concept of “contagion,” the belief … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Here’s why consumers pay for celebrity possessions.

Secondary task may ‘improve driver’s attention, stability on road’

WASHINGTON – New research by human factors/ergonomics researchers at the University of Kansas suggests that drivers who lose focus on the road because of boredom can actually increase their attention by engaging in a secondary task, particularly during the last leg of their journey.

In a driving simulator, 45 participants drove for 30 minutes while talking … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Secondary task may ‘improve driver’s attention, stability on road’.

IBM’s supercomputer to be pitted against humans in TV quiz

LONDON – IBM’s supercomputer Watson will compete against two humans in a TV quiz for the prize of a million dollars.

Jeopardy tests a player’s knowledge of trivia in a range of categories, from geography and politics to history and entertainment.

It is seen as the greatest challenge for Watson because of the show’s rapid-fire format and …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : IBM’s supercomputer to be pitted against humans in TV quiz.

Soft, inward-folding car bonnet could save lives, cut head trauma ‘by 60 pc’

LONDON – Scientists at Cellbond in collaboration with Ruskin University in Cambridge have designed a ‘pedestrian friendly bonnet’ that folds inward on impact.

They claim it could save thousands of lives and reduce head trauma by 60 per cent for those hit by cars.

“During an impact the pedestrian exerts a dynamic force on the car bonnet. …. Read the original article  : Soft, inward-folding car bonnet could save lives, cut head trauma ‘by 60 pc’.

Obese women may be less likely to develop chronic eye disease

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that obesity may be associated with higher eye pressure and a decreased risk of open-angle glaucoma in women.

“Open-angle glaucoma is a chronic eye disease characterized by glaucomatous optic neuropathy and corresponding glaucomatous visual field loss,” the authors said.

Wishal D. Ramdas, of the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, …. Original source  : Obese women may be less likely to develop chronic eye disease.

New device to help confirm Kepler’s planetary candidates

WASHINGTON – The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) is part of an international collaboration building a new instrument called HARPS-North, which will complement Kepler by helping to confirm and characterize Kepler’s planetary candidates.

HARPS stands for High-Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher and is designed to detect the tiny radial-velocity signal induced by planets as small as …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Why budding guitarists have a fetish for rock hero instruments

WASHINGTON – Most guitarists have a desire to own an instrument just like the one their rock idol owns, or something similar to that – now a new study explains why.

“Like people from the Middle Ages who sought saints’ relics, modern consumers like the budding rock guitarist desire fetishes (objects perceived as magical and possessing … Original source on Gaea Times at : Why budding guitarists have a fetish for rock hero instruments.

Gene that controls immune system linked to preeclampsia

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that the placentas of women who suffer preeclampsia during pregnancy have an overabundance of a gene associated with the regulation of the body’s immune system.

The discovery by researchers at North Carolina State University may lead to improved screening and prenatal care for these patients and their babies.

Preeclampsia, a disorder is … Read more : Gene that controls immune system linked to preeclampsia.

Blood glucose levels indicator of retinopathy risk

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that individuals who have higher blood glucose levels and poorer control of those levels over time are more likely to develop eye-related complications 10 years later.

Pascale Massin, of Hopital Lariboisiere, Paris, and colleagues in the Data From an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (DESIR) Study Group … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Blood glucose levels indicator of retinopathy risk.

Parasites’ struggle for ‘long-term survival’ makes malaria ‘deadly’

LONDON – Malaria is particularly deadly because the parasites that carry it battle other infections for survival, Edinburgh University scientists have claimed.

They found, when malaria parasites enter the bloodstream, they alter their plan of attack if they face competition from other strains of the infection.

However, it means they have less resources left to spread the … Read : Parasites’ struggle for ‘long-term survival’ makes malaria ‘deadly’.

X-rays reveal why van Gogh paintings are losing their shine

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered why some paintings of Vincent van Gogh and other artists of the late 19th century are losing their shine.

Using sophisticated X-rays, they have identified a complex chemical reaction responsible for the degradation of the works.

They found that the Dutch master’s decision to use yellow paint mixed with white is responsible … Read more »»».

Lavender oil shows potent anti-fungal effect

WASHINGTON – Scientists have suggested that lavender oil could be used to fight the increasing incidence of antifungal-resistant infections.

The essential oil shows a potent antifungal effect against strains of fungi responsible for common skin and nail infections.

Researchers from the University of Coimbra in Portugal distilled lavender oil from the Lavandula viridis L’Her shrub that … Original source on Gaea Times at : Lavender oil shows potent anti-fungal effect.

Cigarette smoking may increase risk of muscle-wasting disease

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that cigarette smoking may be associated with an increased risk of developing the muscle-wasting disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

To examine the association between cigarette smoking and ALS, Hao Wang, of the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, and colleagues analyzed data from five different long-term studies involving a total of … Read more >>>.

Hearing loss linked to development of dementia

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that older adults with hearing loss may be more likely to develop dementia, and their risk increases as hearing loss becomes more severe.

Frank R. Lin, of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, and colleagues studied 639 individuals age 36 to 90 without dementia. Participants initially underwent cognitive and hearing …. Read the original article  : Hearing loss linked to development of dementia.

Fiber intake linked to reduced risk of death

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that dietary fiber may be associated with a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory diseases, as well as a reduced risk of death from any cause over a nine-year period.

Yikyung Park, Sc.D., of the National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Md., and colleagues analyzed data from …. Source  : Gaea News Network.