As summer comes and people across America get ready to start slathering on the sunscreen, a note of caution is in order -- a little sunshine is good for you. Studies increasingly are suggesting the value of vitamin D -- often known as the sunshine vitamin, because that's one way you can obtain it -- in everything from bone metabolism to maintaining muscle strength, immune function, reducing hypertension and possibly even playing a role in prevention of cancer and autoimmune disease. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 3:00 pm
Three months of aerobic exercise decreased body fat and calorie intake in overweight and obese people, according to a new study, and the researchers believe that changes to a central nervous system factor are responsible. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 3:00 pm
Research on octopuses has shed new light on how our brains store and recall memory. Why octopuses? Octopuses and other related creatures, known as cephalopods, are considered to be the most intelligent invertebrates because they have relatively large brains and they can be trained for various learning and memory tasks. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 3:00 pm
Scientists suggests that the immunosuppressive effect of the drug misoprostol, if given vaginally rather than orally along with RU-486 to terminate a pregnancy, is likely the reason a small number of women taking the two-drug combination have contracted a rare, fatal bacterial infection. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 3:00 pm
Nanotechnology is paving the way toward improved solar cells. New research shows that a film of carbon nanotubes may be able to replace two of the layers normally used in a solar cell, with improved performance at a lower cost. Researchers have found a surprising way to give the nanotubes the properties they need: add defects. Currently, these solar cells, called dye-sensitized solar cells, have a transparent film made of an oxide that is applied to glass and conducts electricity. In addition, a separate film made of platinum acts as a catalyst to speed the chemical reactions involved. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 3:00 pm
The transition in Iraq from maneuver warfare to insurgency warfare is associated with changes in the type and severity of injuries treated by surgical units of the U.S. Marine Corps, according to a new report. In the second, insurgent phase of the war, injuries have been more severe, transport times longer, more injuries have occurred per individual and more soldiers have been killed in action or died of their wounds. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 3:00 pm
Early-career engineers at Lockheed Martin who are also earning engineering degrees at Cornell broke the world amateur high-altitude balloon record in a recent near-space flight that exceeded 125,000 feet. The students' flight beat the previous amateur altitude record by nearly 5,000 feet. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 12:00 pm
Researchers found that the activation of a molecular pathway important in stem cell and developmental biology leads to the increase in lung stem cells. Harnessing this knowledge could help develop therapies for lung-tissue repair after injury or disease. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 12:00 pm
A compound found in grape seed extract reduces plaque formation and resulting cognitive impairment in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease, new research shows. The nutritional supplement was as effective as red wine in preventing amyloid beta plaque build up. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 12:00 pm
Swedish researchers have found that some physical attributes of the homosexual brain resemble those found in the opposite sex. Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 12:00 pm
LiveScience.com - Editor's Note: Each Wednesday LiveScience examines the viability of emerging energy technologies - the power of the future. Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 11:15 am
Reuters - China has posted hundreds of
police and rescue officials to shore up dams threatening to
burst under torrential rain that has already flooded 9,000
square miles of crops and homes.
Reuters - President George W. Bush on
Wednesday will call on Congress to pass legislation lifting a
ban on offshore oil drilling as he seeks remedies to
record-high energy prices, the White House said.
LONDON (Reuters) - Female chimps keep quiet during sex to keep other females from finding out and punishing them for mating with the best males, British researchers said on Wednesday.
AP - A newly discovered batch of well-preserved dinosaur bones, petrified trees and even freshwater clams in southeastern Utah could provide new clues about life in the region some 150 million years ago. Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 18 Jun 2008 | 12:39 am
AP - At least 80 percent of the habitat for giant pandas in China's earthquake-hit province was destroyed or damaged, a forestry official said Tuesday.
A scratchy recording of Baa Baa Black Sheep is thought to be the oldest known recording of computer generated music. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 17 Jun 2008 | 11:10 pm
The animals vary the volume of their mating calls during sex depending on whether there are dominant males or aggressive females around Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 17 Jun 2008 | 11:00 pm
AP - Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo have revealed they reversed a vasectomy on an endangered horse to allow it to reproduce naturally the first-known operation of its kind on an endangered species.
The organisation that looks after some of the biggest science facilities in the UK is to commission an independent review of its operations. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 17 Jun 2008 | 7:39 pm
AP - India said that it needs a military space program to defend its satellites from threats like China's newly revealed ability to shoot down targets in orbit.
Plans to use high resolution cameras in space to monitor deforestation in the Congo Basin are unveiled. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 17 Jun 2008 | 3:45 pm
LiveScience.com - Thousands of new plant and animal species were discovered in 2007, though only 10 were bizarre enough, lethal enough or just plain cool enough to garner spots on a new Top-10 list. Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 17 Jun 2008 | 1:11 pm
Three snails are equipped with electronics to allow them to send e-mails on behalf of visitors to a website. Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 17 Jun 2008 | 12:11 pm
Katharine Locke had never exercised before she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After months of painful treatment she completed her first 5km challenge Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 17 Jun 2008 | 11:19 am
Mark Lynas's grim exploration of the implications of global warming has won Britain's most prestigious prize for science writing Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 17 Jun 2008 | 10:38 am
Reuters - China has posted hundreds of
police and rescue officials to shore up dams threatening to
burst under torrential rain that has already flooded 9,000
square miles of crops and homes.
Reuters - President George W. Bush on
Wednesday will call on Congress to pass legislation lifting a
ban on offshore oil drilling as he seeks remedies to
record-high energy prices, the White House said.
AP - At least 80 percent of the habitat for giant pandas in China's earthquake-hit province was destroyed or damaged, a forestry official said Tuesday.
AP - Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo have revealed they reversed a vasectomy on an endangered horse to allow it to reproduce naturally the first-known operation of its kind on an endangered species.
AP - India said that it needs a military space program to defend its satellites from threats like China's newly revealed ability to shoot down targets in orbit.