Pollution From Livestock Farming Affects Infant Health

A new study finds that pollution from livestock facilities is associated with an increase in infant mortality.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:00 am

Insects Trained In Quest For Artificial Nose

Researchers have discovered that when training insects, the process of building associations is not a simple matter of strengthening connections through reinforcement. Understanding how associations are built between stimuli and behavior gives insight into the nature of learning and could inform the design of artificial "noses," sensor arrays that can detect chemicals in the air.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:00 am

Babies And Beethoven: Infants Can Tell Happy Songs From Sad

A new study shows that 5-month-old babies can distinguish an upbeat tune, such as "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, from a lineup of gloomier compositions. By age 9 months, babies can do the opposite and pick out the sorrowful sound of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony from a pack of happy pieces.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:00 am

Preserved By Ice: Glacial Dams Helped Prevent Erosion Of Tibetan Plateau

New research suggests that the edge of the Tibetan plateau might have been preserved for thousands of years by ice and glacial debris at the mouth of many tributaries to the Tsangpo River. Those deposits appear to have acted as dams that prevented the rapidly traveling Tsangpo from carving upstream into the plateau.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:00 am

Gut Reaction To Arsenic Exposure Simulated

A simulated gastrointestinal system is helping scientists test contaminated soil for its potential to harm humans. The method is likely to save time and money for people hoping to repurpose land with an industrial past. Most testing for potential arsenic exposure is conducted in recognition of a dirty little secret of modern life: Humans unknowingly eat a little bit of soil each day. For children who might play on contaminated soil and ingest dirt, the testing is considered particularly important.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:00 am

Fat-regenerating 'Stem Cells' Found In Mice

Researchers have identified stem cells with the capacity to build fat. Although they have yet to show that the cells can renew themselves, transplants of the progenitor cells isolated from the fat tissue of normal mice can restore normal fat tissue in animals that are otherwise lacking it. The findings may yield insight into the causes of obesity, a condition characterized by an increase in both the size and number of fat cells.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 13 Oct 2008 | 12:00 am

Tamoxifen Chemoprevention Tied To Early Detection Of Breast Cancer

The drug tamoxifen does not prevent or treat estrogen receptor negative breast cancer, but it can make the disease easier to find, researchers report in the Oct. 1 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:00 pm

Important Clue To Learning Deficit In Children With Autism

An important clue to why children with autism spectrum disorders have trouble imitating others has been discovered: they spend less time looking at the faces of people who are modeling new skills.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:00 pm

RNA Molecules, Delivery System Improve Vaccine Responses, Effectiveness

A novel delivery system that could lead to more efficient and more disease-specific vaccines against infectious diseases has been developed by biomedical engineers.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:00 pm

Brainy Genes, Not Brawn, Key To Success On Mussel Beach

Scientists have found that mussels in their natural habitat express their genes in cyclic waves, in what appears to be a survival strategy akin to the circadian rhythms that govern sleep. In addition, two sets of genes used to cope with heat stress are identified, in the first real-time molecular sampling of two mussel communities.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 6:00 pm

AIDS vaccine focus shifts after disappointments

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A global AIDS vaccine conference this week will seek fresh strategies against the HIV virus, with experts weighing the value of basic laboratory research against large-scale human clinical trials after a string of disappointments.


Source: Reuters: Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 12:19 pm

American space tourist blasts off in Soyuz rocket (AP)

The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz TMA-13 space ship carrying a new crew to the international space station (ISS) blasts off from the Russian leased Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Sunday, Oct.12, 2008. The Russian rocket carries U.S. space tourist Richard Garriott, U.S. astronaut Michael Fincke, and Russian cosmonaut, commander of the mission Yury Lonchakov. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)AP - A Soyuz spacecraft with two Americans and a Russian on board lifted off from Kazakhstan on Sunday for the international space station.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 11:28 am

Economic woes chill effort to stop global warming (AP)

In this July 11, 2008, file photo, a giant glacier is seen making its way to the waters of Croaker Bay on Devon Island. Global economic woes could halt efforts to control global warming. Economic troubles will make it tougher to pass legislation capping heat-trapping gases and could delay when reductions would start, according to lawmakers, environmentalists and industry representatives. (AP Photo/Jonathan Hayward, CP, File)AP - Attempts to tackle global warming are being made more difficult by the spreading economic crisis even as Democratic congressional leaders say it's still a top goal for next year.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 11:25 am

Endangered species ruling could slow development in floodplains (McClatchy Newspapers)

McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — A ruling that development along dozens of rivers flowing from the Cascade Mountains to Washington state's Puget Sound jeopardizes endangered salmon, steelhead and killer whales could shape future construction in floodplains nationwide.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 10:00 am

Google founder Brin visits Russian space cosmodrome

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - Google co-founder Sergey Brin, considering going into space on a private flight, made a surprise visit to Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome on Saturday to wish good luck to a fellow space tourist.


Source: Reuters: Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 9:21 am

Google founder Brin visits Russian space cosmodrome (Reuters)

U.S. space tourist Richard Garriott (C) meets his friends Peter Diamandis (L), co-founder and managing director of Space Adventure, and Sergey Brin, Google co-founder, at Baikonur cosmodrome October 11, 2008. Garriott, Russian cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov and U.S. astronaut Michael Fincke are scheduled to fly to the International Space Station on October 12, 2008. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)Reuters - Google co-founder Sergey Brin, considering going into space on a private flight, made a surprise visit to Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome on Saturday to wish good luck to a fellow space tourist.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 9:21 am

U.S. space tourist blasts off in Russian rocket

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - U.S. video game magnate Richard Garriott blasted off into space aboard a Russian rocket on Sunday watched by his father, a NASA astronaut who went into space at the height of the Cold War.


Source: Reuters: Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 9:17 am

The Nation's Weather (AP)

The forecast for noon, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 shows a strong trough of low pressure will continue to provide snow in the Intermountain West and Northern Plains. Rain and some thunderstorms are possible along a cold front from the Southern Plains through the Upper Midwest. (AP Photo/Weather Underground)AP - The season's first large western snowstorm was expected to continue across the Intermountain West and northern Rockies on Sunday, while showers and thunderstorms were forecast from the southern Plains to the upper Mississippi Valley.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 12 Oct 2008 | 9:13 am

The 100th Crewed Soyuz Flight That (Maybe) Isn't

The Sunday launch of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft will mark the 100th crewed launch. Or will it?
Source: Livescience.com | 12 Oct 2008 | 8:18 am

Former Astronaut's Son Blasts Off Toward Space Station

Space tourist Richard Garriott launched into orbit with the new space station crew Sunday.
Source: Livescience.com | 12 Oct 2008 | 8:16 am

US tourist set for space station

US space tourist Richard Garriott follows in the footsteps of his astronaut father as he blasts off into space.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 12 Oct 2008 | 7:19 am

Peru's president names leftist as new prime minister (AFP)

Peruvian President Alan Garcia, seen here in September 2008, on Saturday named Yehude Simon, a leftist governor once jailed for alleged links to outlawed Tupac Amaru rebels, as the country's next prime minister.(AFP/File/Nelson Almeida)AFP - Peruvian President Alan Garcia on Saturday named Yehude Simon, a leftist governor once jailed for alleged links to outlawed Tupac Amaru rebels, as the country's next prime minister.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 11 Oct 2008 | 11:28 pm

Letters, the big issue: GM crops have fallen into the wrong hands

Letters, the big issue: GM is firmly in the hands of the type of people who gave us tobacco lies, asbestos lies and weapons-of-mass destruction lies
Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 11 Oct 2008 | 11:06 pm

Surgeons find a use for oil rig water jet tools

Scientists trial cutting technology in hospitals to dissect human bone and tissue
Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 11 Oct 2008 | 11:03 pm

New literary prize is just what the doctor ordered

Key aim of award, judged by Jo Brand and panel, is to attract more people to the world of medicine
Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 11 Oct 2008 | 11:03 pm

Tourism curbed in bid to save Galapagos haven

Record numbers of tourist developments have threatened endangered plant and animal species
Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 11 Oct 2008 | 11:02 pm

Five alive (just)

Rare, not well done - the species on the brink of extinction
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 11 Oct 2008 | 9:13 pm

Scientists sequence giant panda's genome: report

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Scientists have sequenced the genome of the giant panda, an achievement which may aid efforts to protect the endangered species, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.


Source: Reuters: Science News | 11 Oct 2008 | 5:55 pm

Lions and cheetahs prove to be a big hit on the BBC's webcams

Webcams in Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve have proven to be a big hit with users during the BBC's Big Cat Live event.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 11 Oct 2008 | 5:30 pm

Financial Fears Outweigh Terrorist Threat (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - Most Americans believe the current financial crisis poses a greater threat than terrorism.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 11 Oct 2008 | 4:41 pm

Financial Fears Outweigh Terrorist Threat

Most Americans believe the current financial crisis poses a greater threat than terrorism.
Source: Livescience.com | 11 Oct 2008 | 3:44 pm

U.S. Controls Bird Flu Vaccines Over Bioweapon Fears

Experts question U.S. fears over bird flu vaccine becoming a bioweapon.
Source: Livescience.com | 11 Oct 2008 | 3:06 pm

Richard Smith: This week's boost for open access research is good news for science

Richard Smith: Never mind the bank chaos – this week's boost for open access research could be more important in the long run
Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 11 Oct 2008 | 3:00 pm

Western group petitions for species protection (AP)

This undated photo provided by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department shows a New Mexican meadow jumping mouse at a marsh near Espanola, N.M. The New Mexico meadow jumping mouse is among 13 species listed in petitions filed by WildEarth Guardians on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008. The conservation group is seeking protections for the species under the Endangered Species Act. (AP Photo/New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Joan L. Morrison)AP - A tortoise, a hare, a mouse and a half-dozen mussels are some of the creatures that a conservation group hopes to save through a "Western Ark" project aimed at petitioning the government for federal protection.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 11 Oct 2008 | 2:42 pm

Space Tourist, Station Crew to Launch Sunday

The new space station Expedition 18 is set to launch Sunday.
Source: Livescience.com | 11 Oct 2008 | 1:01 pm