Science News – Newsletter for February 22, 2011

Climate change affecting safety of world’s food supplies: Study

WASHINGTON – A Michigan State University professor has said that climate change is already having an effect on the safety of the world’s food supplies and unless action is taken it’s only going to get worse.

“Accelerating climate change is inevitable with implications for animal products and crops,” said Ewen Todd, an MSU professor of advertising, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Climate change affecting safety of world’s food supplies: Study.

Skin cancer’s influence on quality of life ‘more substantial for women’

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that women experience more health-related quality of life issues than men for up to 10 years following a diagnosis of the skin cancer melanoma.

“Although the prognosis is relatively good for about 80 percent of patients with melanoma, they remain at risk for disease progression and have an increased … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Skin cancer’s influence on quality of life ‘more substantial for women’.

Bone-anchored hearing aids ‘beneficial’ for hearing-impaired kids

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that bone-anchored hearing aids appear helpful in improving hearing and quality of life in children with hearing loss in one or both ears.

“Since its introduction more than 30 years ago, the bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) has become an established treatment option for auditory rehabilitation in patients with chronic … Read more : Bone-anchored hearing aids ‘beneficial’ for hearing-impaired kids.

Men in noisy jobs likelier to suffer hearing problems, heart diseases

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that being male and having a noisy job could increase the risk of hearing impairment and cardiovascular diseases in middle-aged adults.

“The severity of this condition has been shown to be associated with a poorer quality of life, communication difficulties, impaired activities of daily living, dementia, and cognitive dysfunction,” [..] Read the original article: here.

First harmful algal bloom species genome sequenced

WASHINGTON – A team of researchers including U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI) scientists led by Igor Grigoriev has successfully completed and annotated the first genome sequence of a (harmful algal bloom) HAB species: Aureococcus anophagefferens.

Algae play key roles in the global carbon cycle, sometimes helping sequester significant amounts of carbon … Read : First harmful algal bloom species genome sequenced.

Seaweed may provide new drugs to fight malaria

WASHINGTON – Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology say that a type of tropical seaweed may hold the key to producing the next generation of treatments for malaria.

A group of chemical compounds used by a species of tropical seaweed to ward off fungus attacks may have promising anti-malarial properties for humans.

The compounds are … Read more : Seaweed may provide new drugs to fight malaria.

High cholesterol, high BP in middle age linked to early memory problems

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that middle-age men and women who have cardiovascular issues, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, may not only be at risk for heart disease, but for an increased risk of developing early cognitive and memory problems as well.

For the study, 3,486 men and 1,341 women …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : High cholesterol, high BP in middle age linked to early memory problems.

Diseased heart valve replaced through small hole in the leg

WASHINGTON – Physicians in the US have implanted a new investigational heart valve in a patient through a small puncture hole in the leg.

Dale Wilber, 69-year-old retiree from Arkansas, had the new valve implanted in Houston on Feb. 16, 2011. The disease restricted blood flow from his heart to his vital organs. This can weaken … Original article on : Diseased heart valve replaced through small hole in the leg.

Life of crime begins at 3 for some kids, say scientists

LONDON – Scientists have claimed that the seeds of criminal and anti-social behaviour can be found in children as young as three.

Prof Adrian Raine, a British criminologist, argued that abnormal physical brain make-up could be a cause of criminality, as well as helping to predict it.

His studies have shown that psychopaths and criminals have …. Original article  : Life of crime begins at 3 for some kids, say scientists.

New Facebook app pings you when your unavailable friends split up!

LONDON – A new application on Facebook called the Breakup Notifier sends you an email when the love of your life who is in a relationship with someone else, breaks up.

The app, designed by Dan Loewenherz, allows users to sign up for emails informing them of when their friends’ relationship status changes and it’s punch … Read more >>>.

LHC could prove ‘God Particle’ theory within 2 yrs: Experts

LONDON – Large Hadron Collider scientists have said that the existence of the so-called “God Particle” Higgs Boson theory could be proved within two years or it probably does not exist.

The LHC was to shut down at the end of this year but since it has been running so well, the date has been pushed …. Source article  : LHC could prove ‘God Particle’ theory within 2 yrs: Experts.

Now, a car that can be controlled by driver’s thoughts!

LONDON – German engineers have created a car, the direction and speed of which can be overridden by the driver’s thoughts.

The practical implication could be cars for people with disabilities that prevent them driving regular cars.

The semi-autonomous Volkswagen Passat has been christened “MadeInGermany,” reports New Scientist.

It’s fully capable of driving itself or interfacing with other … Read more >>>.

Light fog disrupts flights in Delhi

NEW DELHI – A light blanket of fog in the capital Tuesday morning led to the diversion of a few flights headed to the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, officials said.

“About three flights, including two international, were diverted due to foggy conditions,” an airport official told IANS.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), …. Read the original article  : here.

Did Neanderthals use feathers to deck themselves up?

LONDON – A new study has found that Neanderthals may have used feathers as ornaments most likely in the same manner they used shells.

Archaeologists say they have found evidence that Neanderthals were using feathers as ornaments 44,000 years ago.

Marco Peresani at the University of Ferrara in Italy found 660 bird bones mixed in with Neanderthal [..] Read the original article: here.

Cleanliness campaign planned by research institute

NEW DELHI – Announcing the launch of a national campaign for cleanliness, a research institute, ImagIndia, Monday called for forming a committee to find a solution to the problem of garbage in metropolitan cities.

The Delhi-based institute said in a statement: Why is our parliament not taking leadership and comprehensive action …. Original article  : Cleanliness campaign planned by research institute.

Proper care, not type on antibiotic, key to healing kids’ skin wounds

WASHINGTON – A new study has indicated that when it comes to curing skin infected with the antibiotic-resistant bacterium MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), timely and proper wound cleaning and draining is more important than the choice of antibiotic.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center originally set out to compare the efficacy of two antibiotics commonly …. Read the original article  : Proper care, not type on antibiotic, key to healing kids’ skin wounds.

Scientists study isolated islands to test limits of human existence

WASHINGTON – Scientists are studying an isolated segment of islands in the Pacific Ring of Fire to test the limits upto which humans can survive in extreme conditions.

The Kuril Islands are an 810-mile archipelago that stretches from Japan to Russia and were formed by a collision of tectonic plates. It has been learned that thousands … Read more »»».

Now, measure universe 3 times farther using super-sharp radio ‘eye’

WASHINGTON – Scientists have managed to increase their ability to measure the cosmos three times farther thanks to the super-sharp radio ‘vision’ of astronomy’s most precise telescope.

This may have important implications for numerous areas of astrophysics, including determining the nature of Dark Energy, which constitutes 70 percent of the Universe.

The continent-wide Very Long Baseline Array … Original article on : Now, measure universe 3 times farther using super-sharp radio ‘eye’.

Increasing triglyceride level ‘linked to high risk of stroke’

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that increasing levels of non-fasting triglycerides are associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke in men and women.

However, higher cholesterol levels were associated with greater stroke risk in men only.

Medical evidence has suggested that elevated non-fasting triglycerides are markers of elevated levels of lipoprotein remnants, particles similar …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Increasing triglyceride level ‘linked to high risk of stroke’.

Is groundwater clean and safe to drink anymore?

WASHINGTON – A researcher has examined society’s efforts to reverse and stop groundwater pollution, and the effectiveness of bioremediation technologies.

The technologies use microbes to clean up organic contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons (oil, gasoline or diesel) or chemicals used in the electronics or transportation industries.

Until now, the real difficulty has been in proving that the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Is groundwater clean and safe to drink anymore?.