Researchers have used gene therapy to safely restore vision in three young adults with a rare form of congenital blindness. Although the patients have not achieved normal eyesight, the preliminary results set the stage for further studies of an innovative treatment for this and possibly other retinal diseases. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 28 Apr 2008 | 6:00 pm
Researchers have discovered that deletions or mutations within the TFAP2A gene result in the distinctive clefting disorder Branchio-Oculo-Facial syndrome. This rare disorder is characterized by specific skin anomalies involving the neck and behind the ear, eye abnormalities, a typical facial appearance, and frequently cleft lip and palate. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 28 Apr 2008 | 3:00 pm
Engineering researchers report that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global warming, but the benefits are highly dependent on how the electricity system changes in the coming decades. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 28 Apr 2008 | 3:00 pm
Many animal species detect and avoid predators by smell, but this ability has been largely overlooked in the study of birds, since it was traditionally thought that they did not make use of this sense. However, it has now been discovered that birds are not only capable of discerning their enemies through chemical signals, but that they also alter their behavior depending on the perceived level of risk of predation. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 28 Apr 2008 | 3:00 pm
For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that the efficient coding principle regarding neurobiological processes applies to sense of smell. The team displays this quantitative relationship in a study of male moths and pheromone plumes, published in PLoS Computational Biology. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 28 Apr 2008 | 3:00 pm
A Kaiser Permanente study in Diabetes Care that found diabetes before motherhood more than doubled in six years among 175,249 teenage and adult women. This is the largest and most diverse study to examine gestational diabetes as well as pre-pregnancy type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies looked only at gestational diabetes. 52% of the women in study were Hispanic, 26% were White, 11% were Asian/Pacific Islanders and 10 % were African-American. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 28 Apr 2008 | 3:00 pm
Researchers have developed reliable methods based on DNA analysis to assess the concentration and viability of anthrax spores after prolonged storage. The techniques and data are essential steps in developing a reliable reference standard for anthrax detection and decontamination. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 28 Apr 2008 | 3:00 pm
Scientists in New Zealand have begun the delicate operation of defrosting a colossal squid which was caught of the coast of Antarctica last year Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 28 Apr 2008 | 1:47 pm
The team discuss the future of synthetic biology. Philosopher Daniel Dennett explains why religion is an affront to rationality. Plus, have scientists finally discovered dark matter in Italy? Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 28 Apr 2008 | 12:08 pm
Mammography, the gold-standard for breast cancer screening and early detection, has shown to significantly reduce the risk of being diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in women over the age of 80, an age group currently without clear guidelines recommending regular screenings. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 28 Apr 2008 | 12:00 pm
A groundbreaking free tool to help oncologists choose the best therapies for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer has been just launched by scientists at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference. The online database brings together data on all the known somatic mutations (tumor derived - tumor specific) in a molecule called epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR). Somatic mutations in this cell-surface molecule are known to affect treatment with the newer tyrosine kinase inhibitor class of drugs. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 28 Apr 2008 | 12:00 pm
Thanks to a new calibration of the versatile argon-argon dating technique, geochronologists have established a more precise date for the dinosaur die-off at the end of the Cretaceous period: 65.95 million years ago, give or take 40,000 years. This improves on the previous date of 65.5 million years plus or minus 300,000 years, but more importantly, brings argon-argon dating into agreement with other dating methods. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 28 Apr 2008 | 12:00 pm
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan has detected a strain of bird flu in four wild swans after stepping up checks following major outbreaks of the disease in neighboring South Korea, local and government officials said on Monday.
India successfully launches 10 satellites in a single mission, significantly boosting its capabilities in space. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 28 Apr 2008 | 10:08 am
United Nations agencies meet in Switzerland to come up with solutions to ease the escalating global food crisis. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 28 Apr 2008 | 9:18 am
LOS ANGELES/LONDON (Reuters) - Gene therapy for a rare type of inherited blindness has improved the vision of four patients who tried it, boosting hopes for the troubled field of gene repair technology, scientists said on Sunday.
Technicians in New Zealand begin defrosting a rare specimen of the colossal squid, the world's biggest. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 28 Apr 2008 | 8:34 am
World's top scientists to come together in programme to develop greener fuels and tackle global warming Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 27 Apr 2008 | 11:02 pm
The Daily Telegraph looks set to lose its science correspondent amid growing fears about standards of science reporting in the press. Iain Hollingshead reports Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 27 Apr 2008 | 11:02 pm
Man with a rare form of blindness amazes doctors by navigating a maze after receiving gene therapy Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 27 Apr 2008 | 11:01 pm
Steven Howarth, who has a rare form of childhood blindness, navigates a maze before and after receiving gene therapy. The trial, at University College London and Moorfields Eye hospital, is the first to use gene therapy to improve the vision of blind patients Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 27 Apr 2008 | 11:01 pm
Human activities have upset some of the Earth's delicate balances in recent times, but nature's controlling cycles are largely out of our hands Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 27 Apr 2008 | 11:01 pm
We now take it for granted that fossils can tell us the age of rocks - and therefore the Earth - but the connection wasn't made until the 18th century Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 27 Apr 2008 | 11:01 pm
We may not be able to travel to the centre of the Earth, but computer models have helped further our understanding of what's under our feet Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 27 Apr 2008 | 11:01 pm
Nothing lasts forever, not even the sun. But although its fiery demise is a long way off, scientists say the Earth will become inhospitable much sooner Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 27 Apr 2008 | 11:01 pm
A 18-year-old whose sight was failing has his vision improved in a pioneering operation using gene therapy. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 27 Apr 2008 | 9:24 pm
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Before humans began burning fossil fuels, there was an eons-long balance between carbon dioxide emissions and Earth's ability to absorb them, but now the planet can't keep up, scientists said on Sunday.
