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in Science News
by
Rachel Ehrenberg, 10 May 2008
Recent research showing the accumulation of mercury in terrestrial birds and insects gives a new meaning to the idea of a poisonous spider. Once thought to be only a problem in aquatic environments, researchers are not entirely sure how the mercury is moving into terrestrial creatures, with the most probable link being microbial action. The mercury levels also bioaccumulate -- or increase in concentration with each step of the food chain -- and therefore are much higher in predatory spiders than other insects, affecting predatory birds further up the food chain. Ehrenberg keeps the story short, getting right to the point.
Posted 4:14, 1 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Alan Blickenstaff
and edited by Brijit.
in Science News
by
Sid Perkins, 10 May 2008
Perkins descriptively runs through the current state of carbon sequestration technologies. Burying coarse wood, which stops it from giving up its carbon, is cheap but impractical and not environmentally friendly. Algal blooms can absorb CO2, but encouraging their growth might wreak havoc on ecosystems, and studies show the blooms might not be as effective as hoped. Chemically capturing carbon dioxide from coal-fired plants looks promising but is in the design stages; captured CO2 has to be stored as well, either below the sea (where it could affect ecosystems) or beneath volcanic rock. Neither is ready now, Perkins says, but humanity needs sequestration "soon, and on an enormous scale."
Posted 3:20, 1 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Bryan Fagan
and edited by Brijit.
in Science News
by
Bruce Bower, 10 May 2008
It may sound obvious, but new findings confirm that multitasking (from talking on a cell phone to listening to your passengers yammer) can impede your ability to drive. Marcel Just of Carnegie Mellon has released his study that identifies an "upper limit" to the amount of systematic brain activity, so that when trying to do two things at once, the less ingrained skill (talking is learned well before driving) often suffers dramatically. Bower's brief confirmation of what any driver knows includes some surprisingly illustrative data.
Posted 1:15, 1 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Gallaway
and edited by Brijit.
in Science News
by
Deborah Blum, 10 May 2008
Inspired by the overwhelming number of cases of eating disorders she encountered as a high school counselor, Michigan State University's Kelly Klump has spent the past decade investigating the genetic factors influencing such behavior. Her current research involves studying females from mixed-gender twin pairs; in many respects, these girls act more like men, with masculine left-brain dominance and more aggressive behavior. From this evidence, Klump hypothesized that these girls would also be less prone to eating disorders, and her research confirmed the suggestion. This informative piece delves into the developmental science and explains the effects twin embryos can have on one another, yet is presented in layman's terms.
Posted 12:27, 1 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Brian Willett
and edited by Brijit.
in Science News
by
Tina Hesman Saey, 10 May 2008
Despite recent evidence to the contrary, Robert Folk, the "father" of nanobacteria, is still convinced that the particles are actually organisms. The new findings by a team of researchers at Taiwan's Chang Gung University show not so much that the particles don't exist, but that the name nanobacteria might be grossly inaccurate. Rather, they act more like certain infectious proteins called prions, which are responsible for, among other things, mad cow disease. Saey rightly advocates for more study in the field, reluctant to shelve an area of research of such potential importance.
Posted 10:49, 1 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Gallaway
and edited by Brijit.
in Science News
by
Nathan Seppa, 5 April 2008
A new study suggests that accumulation of the fatty compound ceramide in the lungs might contribute to infections in people with cystic fibrosis. A mutation of the CFTR gene in cystic fibrosis patients leaves mucus in the lungs, providing greater risk of infection and eventually leading to respiratory failure; the lack of CFTR also leads to an enzyme imbalance that causes cells to overproduce ceramide. The drug amitriptyline, on old antidepressant which has been newly proven to help regulate ceramide levels, might provide an important clue in the fight against cystic fibrosis. Seppa's succinct article provides hope for those with this debilitating disease.
Posted 3:41, 9 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Sarah Davis
and edited by Brijit.
in Science News
by
Rachel Ehrenberg, 5 April 2008
Botox, a bacterial neurotoxin, works by slicing up the messenger proteins that nerve cells use to tell muscles to contract. Without those proteins, the muscles stay relaxed -- leading to the toxin's popularity for treating wrinkles, but also to treat hyperactive muscles in diseases like Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis. In this quick synopsis, Ehrenberg reports that researchers have determined that it does not stay put once injected, and can travel throughout the nerve cells, even in a direction opposite the nerve's functioning. The scientists carefully note that their findings are important to the study of protein transport, and don't impact the compound's viability in therapeutic treatment.
Posted 2:51, 9 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Shannon Henry
and edited by Brijit.
in Science News
by
Patrick Barry, 5 April 2008
Traditional lab rats could find themselves out of a job soon, as scientists are making strides in laboratory testing technology that allows for experimentation on human cells instead of animals. While results from mice often serve as a good indicator of what will occur when humans receive a drug, inconsistencies between the species can have very dangerous results. Advances in medical research are making testing on lab-grown human organ cells a viable option, providing more reliable predictions about the effects of treatment. This detailed piece explores the new methods and offers reactions from scientists as well as those in the pharmaceutical industry.
Posted 2:50, 9 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Brian Willett
and edited by Brijit.
in Science News
by
Davide Castelvecchi, 5 April 2008
While diamonds are often coveted for their beauty, Castelvecchi investigates another aspect of nature's hardest mineral that has elicited attention from scientists. Because of its stiff crystalline structure, diamonds can shield atoms from heat vibrations; this allows them to store information in atoms at room temperature, regardless of atmospheric conditions outside the diamond. This quality makes diamonds potentially useful in the realm of quantum computing, which enables scientists to perform tasks "at speeds unattainable with ordinary computers." Castelvecchi provides a thorough, understandable explanation of the science behind quantum computing and what researchers hope to gain from using artificial diamonds.
Posted 2:49, 9 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Brian Willett
and edited by Brijit.
in Science News
by
Rachel Ehrenberg, 29 March 2008
As patrons of trendy restaurants and fans of Iron Chef America are no doubt already aware, these days being avante-garde in the modern culinary world can mean donning a lab coat and playing with sodium alginate and dry ice. Stable foams, gels, and emulsifiers have all entered the restaurant kitchen, but more important than novel ingredients is the increasingly rigorous scientific approach now being brought to bear on discovering what makes the foods we eat delicious. From colloid science to the mysterious "ouzo effect," Ehrenberg outlines big issues to salivate over, though the article lacks the wondrous food porn that might draw readers to similar articles.
Posted 12:27, 4 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Laura White
and edited by Brijit.