Individuals with long QT syndrome are at increased risk of sudden death due to irregular heartbeats (also known as a cardiac arrhythmias). Although mutations in several genes have been shown to cause the disease, the most commonly affected genes are KCNQ1 and KCNH2. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 12 May 2008 | 12:00 am
Among four year-olds attending Head Start programs in New York City, those who had older siblings were more likely to experience respiratory symptoms including an episode of wheezing in the past year than those who were oldest or only children. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 12 May 2008 | 12:00 am
Investigations continue into the cause of a mysterious illness that has killed thousands of bats since March 2008. At more than 25 caves and mines in the northeastern US, bats exhibiting a condition now referred to as "white-nosed syndrome" have been dying. The US Geological Survey recently issued a Wildlife Health Bulletin, advising wildlife and officials throughout the US to lookout for the condition known as "white-nose syndrome" and to report suspected cases of the disease. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 12 May 2008 | 12:00 am
Quantum cryptography has been regarded as 100-percent protection against attacks on sensitive data traffic. But now a research team in Sweden has found a hole in this advanced technology. The risk of illegal accessing of information, for example in money transactions, is necessitating more and more advanced cryptographic techniques. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 12 May 2008 | 12:00 am
When you try to remove adhesive paper from a surface, you inevitably get a pointy flap, while what you want is to remove the entire piece. Physicists have finally explained the physics behind this frustrating experience. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 12 May 2008 | 12:00 am
Eco-friendly plant and animal life have been thriving in intensively managed cereal farms alongside increasing crop yields, according to the first study of its kind. The analysis of 230 farms shows that Government and EU policies which subsidize farmers to protect the environment are - at least to some degree - working. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 12 May 2008 | 12:00 am
Scientist have examined a new mechanism in the reproductive cycle of a certain species of mold. This mechanism protects the organism from genetic abnormalities by "silencing" unmatched genes during meiosis (sexual reproduction). The finding could have implications for higher organisms and may lead to precise "targeting" of unwanted genes, such as those from the HIV virus. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 11 May 2008 | 6:00 pm
Scientists have developed a new technique for fabricating nanowire photonic and electronic integrated circuits that may one day be suitable for high-volume commercial production. The fabrication technique could yield low-cost, scalable nanowire photonic and electronic circuits. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 11 May 2008 | 6:00 pm
Therapist-assisted walking rehabilitation showed greater improvements in walking ability in ambulatory stroke survivors compared to robotic-assisted therapy. Post-stroke patients in both groups improved their walking ability, but the amount of improvement in the physical therapist-assisted group was greater. Robotic devices may be best reserved for acute stroke patients who have no ability to walk on their own. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 11 May 2008 | 6:00 pm
Individual birds can adjust their behavior to take climate change in their stride, according to a study by scientists from the University of Oxford. A study of the great tit population in Wytham Woods, near Oxford, has shown that the birds are now laying their eggs, on average, two weeks earlier than half a century ago. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 11 May 2008 | 6:00 pm
IQ levels rocketed in the last century, but argument still rages about how our brain power should be tested, and the roles played by genetics, social conditions, culture and even race. Keen to find out whether he might pass for a genius, our reporter puts himself to the test at Mensa, and asks the question: why are some people smarter than others? Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 10 May 2008 | 11:11 pm
On the brink of ecological catastrophe Alex Renton tells why the international community has failed to act Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 10 May 2008 | 11:05 pm
Scientists and health experts discuss marriages between cousins and their impact on health in Britain Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 10 May 2008 | 11:04 pm
The number of grants to people fitting green energy systems in their homes has halved, the BBC has learned. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 10 May 2008 | 1:29 pm
