Overweight Mothers Give Birth To Offspring Who Become Heavy, Amplifying Obesity Through Generations

Overweight mothers give birth to offspring who become even heavier, resulting in amplification of obesity across generations, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers who found that chemical changes in the ways genes are expressed -- a phenomenon called epigenetics -- could affect successive generations of mice.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 6:00 pm

NOAA Predicts Largest Gulf Of Mexico 'Dead Zone' On Record

Scientists are forecasting that the "dead zone" off the coast of Louisiana and Texas in the Gulf of Mexico this summer could be the largest on record. Mississippi River flooding is major contributor to size of this year's dead zone.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 6:00 pm

Full-day Kindergarteners' Reading, Math Gains Fade By 3rd Grade

A new analysis of data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 found that the reading and math benefits experienced by full-day kindergarteners versus part-day kindergarteners diminished soon after kindergarten. Academic skills of those in part-day kindergarten grew faster than their full-day peers from the spring of kindergarten through fifth grade, however. These differences can be explained, in part, by increased poverty and less stimulating home environments experienced by full-day kindergarteners.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 6:00 pm

Future Snowmelt In West Twice As Early As Expected; Threatens Ecosystems And Water Reserves

Global warming could lead to larger changes in snowmelt in the western United States than was previously thought, possibly increasing wildfire risk and creating new water management challenges for agriculture, ecosystems and urban populations. Researchers discovered that a critical surface temperature feedback is twice as strong as what had been projected by earlier studies.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 6:00 pm

Tigers Disappear From Himalayan Refuge

World Wildlife Fund is alarmed by the dramatic decline of at least 30 percent in the Bengal tiger population of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal, once a refuge that boasted among the highest densities of the endangered species in the Eastern Himalayas. The recent survey of April 2008 showed a population of between 6-14 tigers, down from 20-50 tigers in 2005.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 6:00 pm

Researchers Identify Immune Cells That Block Allergic Reactions

When it comes to allergies, both the problem and the solution are found within us. Our immune systems respond to foreign substances with an arsenal of cells. Some are programmed to "remember" invaders they've encountered in the past. Normally, anything previously identified as harmless is allowed to pass. Sometimes, however, the immune response goes awry, triggering an allergic reaction.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 6:00 pm

3 Chinese carrying ivory are questioned in Kenya (AP)

AP - Three Chinese citizens were arrested Wednesday at Nairobi's international airport carrying dozens of pieces of ivory, including chopsticks, bracelets and carved figurines.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 3:27 pm

Early Mars Was All Wet

NASA orbiter finds widespread evidence rocks altered by water on early Mars.
Source: Livescience.com | 16 Jul 2008 | 3:22 pm

How Tides Could Power the Future (LiveScience.com)

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 | 16 Jul 2008 | 3:21 pm

New Study Sheds Light On How Intracellular Pathogens Trigger The Immune System

Biologists have identified a molecular alarm system in which intracellular pathogens send out signals that kick the immune response into gear. The findings shed light on how host cells recognize and destroy the pathogenic bugs living within their walls, and may even provide new targets for the research and development of new vaccines and drugs.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 3:00 pm

Rock Port, Missouri, First 100 Percent Wind-powered Community In U.S.

Rock Port Missouri, with a population of just over 1,300 residents, has announced that it is the first 100% wind powered community in the United States. Four wind turbines supply all the electricity for the small town. Rock Port's 100% wind power status is due to four wind turbines located on agricultural lands within the city limits of Rock Port (Atchison County). The city of Rock Port uses approximately 13 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year. It is predicted that these four turbines will produce 16 million kilowatt hours each year.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 3:00 pm

Scientists Close In On Source Of X-rays In Lightning

Engineering researchers have narrowed the search for the source of X-rays emitted by lightning, a feat that could one day help predict where lightning will strike.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 3:00 pm

DNA 'Palindromes' Linked To Disease

Long DNA sequences, or palindromes, change the shape of the molecule from double helix to hairpin-like formation, which causes replication to stall. Altered or stalled replication causes chromosomal breaking, resulting in cancers and diseases. In the context of everyday life, palindromes are quite common. They are words, phrases, numbers or other sequences of units that read the same way in either direction, such as 'A man, a plan, a canal -- Panama!'
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 3:00 pm

NASA Makes Shaved Ice on Mars (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has begun using a special rasp tool to shave off bits of the hard icy material on the Martian ground.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 2:31 pm

Audio: Does Science Condemn God?

Excerpts from a live discussion about the contents of the booklet “Does science make belief in God obsolete?” Credit: LiveScience.com / Courtesy: The Templeton Foundation and Skeptic Magazine [
Source: Livescience.com | 16 Jul 2008 | 2:30 pm

Mars Once Benign, Water-Rich

A Mars orbiter finds evidence the planet was once mild with water bathing its surface.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Jul 2008 | 2:19 pm

Warm climate

Can India build bridges across Asia on climate change?
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 16 Jul 2008 | 2:18 pm

Severn tidal 'fence' idea floated

Opponents of the proposed barrage on the Severn estuary put forward an alternative tidal energy plan.
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 16 Jul 2008 | 2:12 pm

NASA to workers: Go boldly (in cup) for science (AP)

AP - The No. 1 need right now for some of the builders of the nation's next spaceship: Lots of No. 1.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 2:11 pm

Found: Milky Way's Second-Brightest Star

A super-giant star as bright as 3.2 million suns earns a second place ribbon.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Jul 2008 | 1:44 pm

Bear Breaks Into Colorado Electronics Store

An intruder who broke into a Colorado Springs electronics store won't face any charges, even if authorities can find the culprit. Seems no one wants to poke an angry bear.
Source: Livescience.com | 16 Jul 2008 | 1:40 pm

Primal Fights: When Females Dominate

When males monkeys outnumber females, females often prove the dominant sex.
Source: Livescience.com | 16 Jul 2008 | 1:18 pm

How Tides Could Power the Future

Sloshing back and forth in constant rhythm, the ocean's tides are a predictable source of renewable energy. Hoping to tap into this, the world's largest tidal turbine is set to start generating electricity this month.
Source: Livescience.com | 16 Jul 2008 | 1:17 pm

NASA Wants Your Urine

A NASA urine drive aims to help engineers design a new space toilet.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 16 Jul 2008 | 1:05 pm

Drought diary

Colorado River trip sees effects of years of US drought
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 16 Jul 2008 | 12:39 pm

Sick bees lose their buzz, study finds

LONDON (Reuters) - Bumblebees lose a bit of their buzz when ill, and like humans, have a tougher time doing daily tasks until they recover, British researchers said on Wednesday.

Source: Reuters: Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 12:31 pm

How Far Away is the Horizon?

How far away is the horizon? It depends on your height, the temperature, weather and topography.
Source: Livescience.com | 16 Jul 2008 | 11:08 am

The Nation's Weather (AP)

AP - Showers and storms stretched from Montana to the very northern edge of the Northeast early Wednesday, while the Midwest and Central Plains were to be calm and sunny.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 10:58 am

NASA Envisions Huge Lunar Telescope

Telescope mirror made from lunar dust might compel moon mission.
Source: Livescience.com | 16 Jul 2008 | 10:55 am

Sexy People Sound Better

Many people rely heavily on their sight to determine who they are attracted to. But they probably don’t realize how their sense of sound may be indicating who is more compatible.
Source: Livescience.com | 16 Jul 2008 | 10:54 am

Russian says remains of last Tsar's son identified

YEKATERINBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday that charred remains found in a pit belonged to Tsar Nicholas II's only son and his daughter, exactly 90 years after the Bolsheviks shocked the world by murdering the last Tsar.

Source: Reuters: Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 10:31 am

Oil steadies, focus on U.S. oil demand (Reuters)

Reuters - Oil steadied on Wednesday, after a sharp fall the previous session on expectations that a faltering economy in top energy consumer the United States would hit demand growth.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 16 Jul 2008 | 10:06 am

British company launches floating wind turbines off Italy

A British company is poised to construct the world's first floating wind turbine, in a move that could herald a new generation of cheaper, less problematic wind energy
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 16 Jul 2008 | 10:05 am

Mark Vernon: Why can't scientists and bishops agree to wonder?

Mark Vernon: Neither science nor religion can banish uncertainty. If only they could thrive on that shared sense of wonder
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 16 Jul 2008 | 10:00 am

Fishing ban brings seas to life

Five years without fishing around the UK's Lundy Island have led to revival of its lobsters and other sea life.
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 16 Jul 2008 | 8:20 am

Obituary: Brian Griffiths

Obituary: Teacher eager to share his love of maths
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 15 Jul 2008 | 11:53 pm

Cosmonauts upgrade space station parking spot

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The commander and lead engineer aboard the International Space Station completed a six-hour spacewalk on Tuesday to prepare another parking spot for when the outpost's crew doubles to six.

Source: Reuters: Science News | 15 Jul 2008 | 11:37 pm

Astronauts take another spacewalk for tamer job (AP)

AP - The space station's two Russian astronauts stepped outside for the second time in less than a week Tuesday, taking a spacewalk that proved to be tame compared to last week's work with explosives.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 15 Jul 2008 | 11:15 pm

Cancer: Detailed breast self-examinations may do 'more harm than good'

Value of rigorous checking in doubt as study finds it does nothing to reduce cancer death rates
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 15 Jul 2008 | 11:06 pm

Spacewatch

Alan Pickup: International Space Station to make visible passes later this week
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 15 Jul 2008 | 11:06 pm

Eating too many nuts in pregnancy could put babies at risk of asthma

Number of people diagnosed with the condition in the developed world has doubled over past 20 years
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 15 Jul 2008 | 11:05 pm

Training reassessed after plutonium spill (AP)

AP - Use of radioactive materials has been suspended and worker training is being reassessed following a plutonium spill at the Boulder, Colo., laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the agency's deputy director told a congressional subcommittee Tuesday.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 15 Jul 2008 | 9:28 pm

The U.S. Monsoon Gets New Respect

The monsoon is one of the least understood weather phenomena in the United States.
Source: Livescience.com | 15 Jul 2008 | 8:48 pm

Background TV Distracts Kids From Play

It may interfere with the development of attention skills, study suggests
Source: Livescience.com | 15 Jul 2008 | 7:13 pm

Giant Laser in the Works to Achieve Fusion

Scientists are building the world's largest laser, which they hope will achieve fusion.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 15 Jul 2008 | 7:11 pm

Tropical Storm Bertha speeds away from Bermuda

HAMILTON (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Bertha sprinted away from Bermuda on Tuesday, after lashing the mid-Atlantic British colony with storm-force winds and heavy rains, cutting power to thousands and forcing airlines to cancel flights.

Source: Reuters: Science News | 15 Jul 2008 | 7:03 pm

'Easterbunny' Planet Gets Formal Name

A dwarf planet on the fringes of the solar system gets a mythological moniker.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 15 Jul 2008 | 6:35 pm

Tumours 'alter devils' sex lives'

A facial disease killing thousands of Tasmanian devils triggers an abrupt change in the animals' breeding habits, a study shows.
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 15 Jul 2008 | 6:13 pm

Expectant moms who eat nuts boost child asthma risk

LONDON (Reuters) - Pregnant women who eat nuts or nut products like peanut butter daily raise the risk their children will develop asthma by 50 percent, Dutch researchers said on Tuesday.

Source: Reuters: Science News | 15 Jul 2008 | 5:20 pm

Fast-Spoiling Pear Mystery Solved

Why do apples outlast pears in the fruit bowl? The secret is in the the way they "breathe."
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 15 Jul 2008 | 4:57 pm

Climate change: Warming may cause increase in kidney stone cases, say US scientists

Endangered species. Economic decay. Extreme weather. The list of climate change's destructive costs is long, but US scientists today proposed adding one more: millions of new kidney stone cases
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 15 Jul 2008 | 4:22 pm

China gets ivory imports go-ahead

The UN has given China the green light to bid in a one-off sale of a 108 tonnes stockpile of African elephant ivory.
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 15 Jul 2008 | 4:14 pm

Elements brought to life online

Chemistry's periodic table is brought to life online through a collection of videos illustrating each element.
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 15 Jul 2008 | 3:27 pm

Calif. Firefighters Get Backup From NASA Drone

As wildfires rage in California, a NASA aircraft helps firefighters in the field.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 15 Jul 2008 | 2:57 pm

"Lucky" the Koala lives after horror car hit

CANBERRA (Reuters) - A koala that cheated death after being hit by a car at 100 kmh (about 60 mph) and dragged with his head jammed through the vehicle grill for 12 kms (about 7 miles) is being dubbed Australia's luckiest marsupial.

Source: Reuters: Science News | 15 Jul 2008 | 2:52 pm

Ancient Reptiles Had Parachutes (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - The Jurassic Period's Archaeopteryx is famous as the world's first known bird, but now-extinct reptiles such as pterosaurs and kuehneosaurs were flying as far back as 225 million years ago, during the Triassic and before large dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 15 Jul 2008 | 2:41 pm

Mystery Bug Stumps Museum Experts

A tiny new insect appearing in a museum's garden has stumped experts.
Source: Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel | 15 Jul 2008 | 2:11 pm