5 Tips: How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution

Whatever you resolve to do differently in 2009, vow also to develop a strategy to make it happen.
Source: Livescience.com | 31 Dec 2009 | 7:03 pm

Spectacular New Images Showcase Saturn's Rings

New pictures of Saturn released Tuesday reveal the ringed planet in all its splendor.
Source: Livescience.com | 31 Dec 2009 | 6:33 pm

Sick of Main Street, Going Green and Year-End Roundups

Many of us would now like to look ahead to what we hope will be better times.
Source: Livescience.com | 31 Dec 2009 | 5:34 pm

What Science Says about Enlightened Sex

Another year, another batch of boring resolutions. So why not resolve to have better sex?
Source: Livescience.com | 31 Dec 2009 | 2:57 pm

Report: Columbia Astronauts Killed in Seconds

The tragic loss of the shuttle Columbia killed its astronaut crew in seconds, NASA says.
Source: Livescience.com | 31 Dec 2009 | 2:31 pm

New Columbia Accident Report to Help Astronaut Safety

Lessons learned from NASA's Columbia accident will help boost astronaut safety.
Source: Livescience.com | 31 Dec 2009 | 2:28 pm

Scientists Make Strides Toward Defining Genetic Signature Of Alzheimer's Disease

Scientists have new information about the complex genetic signature associated with Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly. The research uses a powerful, high-resolution analysis to look for genes associated with this devastating neurodegenerative disorder.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 7:00 pm

African Thicket Rat Malaria Linked To Virulent Human Form

Malarial parasites found in tree-dwelling African thicket rats share a close evolutionary relationship with Plasmodium falciparum and P. reichenowi. The analysis is based on amplification of entire mitochondrial genomes of malarial parasites that use humans, rodents, birds and lizards as their hosts.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 7:00 pm

Sea Rise Over Continental Shelves Significantly Affected Past Global Carbon Cycle

Since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; about 21,000 years ago) sea level has risen by 130 meters (430 feet), resulting in continental shelf submergence and a massive expansion of the surface area of shelf seas.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 7:00 pm

In Lung Cancer, Silencing One Crucial Gene Disrupts Normal Functioning Of Genome

While examining patterns of DNA modification in lung cancer, scientists have discovered what they say is a surprising new mechanism. They say that "silencing" of a single gene in lung cancer led to a general impairment in genome-wide changes in cells, contributing to cancer development and progression.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 7:00 pm

Nano 'Tractor Beam' Traps DNA

Using a beam of light shunted through a tiny silicon channel, researchers have created a nanoscale trap that can stop free floating DNA molecules and nanoparticles in their tracks. By holding the nanoscale material steady while the fluid around it flows freely, the trap may allow researchers to boost the accuracy of biological sensors and create a range of new 'lab on a chip' diagnostic tools.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 7:00 pm

The Culture Of Medicine

Everybody is familiar with the stereotypes of medical education from the student perspective: grueling hours, little recognition, and even less glory. A new study pulls back the curtain on the dominant environment of academic medicine from the perspective of faculty, the providers of medical education in medical schools. The study raises questions about how the prevailing culture of academic medicine shapes the delivery of health care.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 7:00 pm

Fusing Embryonic Stem Cells With Adult Cells Using Highly Efficient New Fusing System

Engineers have developed a new, highly efficient way to pair up cells so they can be fused together into a hybrid cell. The new technique should make it much easier for scientists to study what happens when two cells are combined. For example, fusing an adult cell and an embryonic stem cell allows researchers to study the genetic reprogramming that occurs in such hybrids.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 1:00 pm

Lung Cancer Cells Activate Inflammation To Induce Metastasis

Scientists have identified a protein produced by cancerous lung epithelial cells that enhances metastasis by stimulating the activity of inflammatory cells.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 1:00 pm

Genetic Variation May Lead To Early Cardiovascular Disease

Scientists have identified a variation in a particular gene that increases susceptibility to early coronary artery disease. For years, scientists have known that the devastating, early-onset form of the disease was inherited, but they knew little about the gene(s) responsible until now.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 1:00 pm

Microbes In The Intestine: Friend Or Foe?

Micro-organisms in the intestine live in symbiosis with humans but can cause illness or even death. Scientists have researched the factors that make a person immune to worm infections. The knowledge can now be used to develop vaccines.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 1:00 pm

Playing golf can 'damage hearing'

A new generation of hi-tech clubs means golfers may be risking their hearing for their sport, according to research.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 5 Jan 2009 | 11:40 am

Russia-Ukraine gas dispute hits supplies to Balkans (Reuters)

Reuters - Russia's row with Ukraine slashed gas flows to Greece by a third and reduced supplies to Bulgaria and Croatia on Monday, placing Moscow's reputation as a reliable gas supplier to Europe under new scrutiny.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 10:37 am

James Randerson on the detox 'con'

Scientists have queried claims made by the multimillion pound detox industry, as James Randerson reports

Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 5 Jan 2009 | 7:40 am

Basalt rock wall found in ocean near Taiwan

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A biodiversity researcher has found a huge basalt rock formation in the Taiwan Strait, resembling a city wall and rivaling similar monoliths on land.
Source: Reuters: Science News | 5 Jan 2009 | 7:19 am

Guardian Daily podcast: The diplomatic response to the conflict in Gaza

Analysis of the escalating situation in the Gaza Strip, warnings that detox products might not be what they seem, and what fans think of the new Doctor Who. With Mike Duran

Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 5 Jan 2009 | 6:59 am

Scientists dismiss 'detox myth'

Products that claim to help the body "detox" are often based on meaningless claims, scientists warn.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 5 Jan 2009 | 2:35 am

Cancer cells 'cheat suicide call'

Cancer cells are able to escape death by reversing a process which triggers suicide in normal cells, scientists have shown.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 5 Jan 2009 | 2:09 am

Fence hope for Tasmanian Devils

Scientists want to build a fence on Tasmania to prevent the spread of a cancer that could wipe out the Tasmanian Devil.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 5 Jan 2009 | 1:20 am

Science Weekly podcast: The Guardian's new environmentally friendly headquarters

As Guardian News & Media moves into its new home at Kings Place in the King's Cross area of London, we look at the measures taken to ensure the building lives up to the company's sustainability goals.

We speak to Jeremy Dixon and Richard Thompson from architects Dixon Jones.

The Guardian's environmental manager Claire Buckley discusses how the company's waste and energy is being managed.

Feel free to post your comments about this programme on the blog below.

You can also join our Facebook group, where you can scrawl your thoughts on our wall.

Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 5 Jan 2009 | 12:16 am

Government clashes again with its own drug advisers about downgrading ecstasy

The government's drug advisers are to recommend ecstasy be downgraded to a class B drug, in a report due to go before ministers at the end of the month.

The advisory council on the misuse of drugs (ACMD) is expected to urge the home secretary, Jacqui Smith, to remove ecstasy from the class A category comprising the most dangerous drugs, following an extensive review of the medical risks associated with taking it.

The controversial proposal is set to ignite a fresh row with the Home Office, which confirmed yesterday it intended to keep ecstasy a class A drug, alongside heroin and crack cocaine.

Ecstasy remains the third most popular illicit drug in the UK, with 5% of people aged 16 to 24 claiming to have used it in the past year. The drug is blamed for at least 30 deaths a year, many of which are caused by clubbers overheating. "Ecstasy can and does kill unpredictably; there is no such thing as a safe dose. The government firmly believes that ecstasy should remain a Class A drug," a Home Office spokesman said. "The Home Office has not requested ACMD to review the classification of ecstasy. It is doing it at the request of the science and technology committee."

The government's refusal to downgrade ecstasy will mark the second time it has overruled the recommendations of its own drug advisers in less than two months. In November, the Home Office pledged to upgrade cannabis from class C to class B, against the advice of the ACMD. The move drew a barrage of criticism from experts, including two former government chief scientists and a former director of the Medical Research Council.

Many scientists claim the government is failing to base its policy on scientific evidence and undermining its own health warnings about more dangerous drugs such as heroin.

A draft report circulated among ACMD members includes a review of the most recent evidence about ecstasy. One study published last year in the Lancet ranked 20 drugs according to the risks posed to users and society. It ranked ecstasy lowest of all, concluding it was not only less harmful than other class A drugs, but also less of a threat to health than tobacco or alcohol. A second study from the US found that per capita, fewer people die taking ecstasy than eating peanuts.

Last year David Nutt, who chairs the ACMD, said people knew ecstasy was relatively safe and putting it in class A made a mockery of the ABC classification system.

Experts on the ACMD believe another refusal by government to adopt its recommendations will lead to renewed calls for a complete overhaul of the ABC system, which has been criticised by the Commons science and technology committee, the Academy of Medical Sciences, the UK drug policy commission and the leader of the opposition, David Cameron.

Downgrading ecstasy to class B would see the maximum prison sentence for possession reduced from seven years to five, with the maximum sentence for dealers falling from life to 14 years in prison.

"Should the ACMD recommend a change it will test again whether drug policy is based on scientific advice and evidence or on more fluid and flaky political considerations," said a spokesman for the DrugScope charity.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 5 Jan 2009 | 12:02 am

Detox remedies are a waste of money, say scientists

After the excess of New Year's Eve and the Christmas season, the desire to detox is natural. But the burgeoning industry which caters for this demand makes claims which are frequently misleading or questionable, a group of scientists says today.

The charity Sense About Science has compiled a dossier of information on claims made about 11 products including drinks, patches, diet supplements and even a "detox brush". A charity leaflet says: "The multimillion pound detox industry sells products with little evidence to support their use. These products trade on claims about the body which are often wrong." Our bodies are capable of recovering from binges on their own, the scientists argue.

One product criticised is Boots's "detox brush" which the company claims will "brush away impurities" and "stimulates the lymphatic system to help remove impurities and toxins from your skin". The charity argues that the brush simply cleans the skin.

Boots said the brush works by stimulating the circulation to remove blockages in the body's lymphatic system. "All Boots products go through extensive scientific trials and testing with human volunteers. Our evidence is based on customer feedback and the results they saw and how they felt," said a spokeswoman.

But she admitted that the effect was not specific to the detox brush. "Using any kind of body brush will help to increase circulation and will help the body eliminate the waste products." Another product - the Crystal Spring Detox patch - is meant to be stuck to the foot where the manufacturer claims it draws toxins out of the body.

"The footpads contain tourmaline crystal, which is a natural source of far infrared [radiation]," said a Crystal Spring spokesman. "They create warmth in the foot and the herbs in the pads have a drawing action - they absorb perspiration which contains toxins."

But Dr Adrian Finch, a mineralogist at St Andrews University says this claim is misleading. "Tourmaline is not particularly radioactive. Therefore the amount of heat it emits is the same as the heat it absorbs (ie from your feet)," he said.

Crystal Spring's spokesman said: "We work closely with trading standards to make sure that our products and marketing materials do not make any unsubstantiated claims and conform to the latest EU standards."

Also criticised was the Farmacia spa therapy detox pad which, according to the company's website, "harness powerful natural ingredients, including tree sap and use the principles of foot reflexology to rid your body of these damaging toxins".

Tom Sheldon, of Sense About Science, asked Farmacia at the company's Harrods concession whether cutting down on alcohol and cigarettes would be as effective. "There's no substitute for that at all, there really isn't," the company's representative said. When asked to back up the company's claims with scientific evidence the representative said: "There have been very many scientifically controlled studies and unfortunately the findings are inconclusive."

To "cleanse your system and whisk away the polluting nasties" is the claim from V Water Detox, a brand of soft-drink owned by PepsiCo. When Frances Downey, of Sense About Science, contacted V Water to ask how it worked she was told that it is "formulated using herbal extracts that have been proven to aid liver function such as artichoke and dandelion," and that the drink was "designed by a celebrity nutritionist". When the Guardian asked the company for evidence of how the product works and the identity of the celebrity, V Water declined to answer any specific questions. A spokesman responded: "We are in the process of reviewing the ingredients and labelling information of V Water Detox."

The chemical scientist and award winning science author Dr John Emsley said: "There is no scientific reason for people to waste time and money on so-called detox regimes, fancy diets, or expensive remedies, none of which can compare to the detox system that is already inbuilt into our natural system."

Sir Colin Berry, professor emeritus of pathology at Queen Mary, University of London, agreed: "It's easy to detox; just let your body use the great systems it has evolved over thousands of years to get rid of whatever is harming you. But if it's booze, drink less as well."

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 5 Jan 2009 | 12:01 am

Jon Henley salutes the simple brilliance of Murphy's Law

Among the many fine anniversaries in prospect this year, not the least is the 60th birthday of Murphy's Law, alternatively - though erroneously - known as Sod's Law or, if you're really into this kind of thing, Finagle's Law.

This is the commonly held perception that the world is inherently a perverse place; in other words, if something can go wrong, it will. The proverbial example of the principle is, of course, that if you drop a slice of toast, it will land buttered side down. There are countless others; people have written entire books of them and websites abound (including murphys-laws.com, to which my thanks).

The military are fond of: "The more advanced your equipment, the further you will be from civilisation when it fails." Parents will relate to: "No child ever throws up in the toilet." Drivers will appreciate: "The other lane is always faster." Shoppers will relate to: "The simpler and quicker your transaction, the more complex and time-consuming the transaction of the person in front of you in the queue."

We can all enjoy: "The paper is strongest along the perforated line", "You always find something in the last place you look" (a necessary corollary of which is: "You will never find something in the last place you look but in the first place, where you did not see it first time around") and (my personal favourite) "Any foreign body in your shoe will invariably work itself into the position where it causes most discomfort."

It is worth noting that there is no point disputing Murphy's Law (ML). It is both correct and self-proving, as can be shown by the following: ML states that if anything can go wrong, it will. ML itself can therefore go wrong. If ML can go wrong, then things can sometimes go right. We know from experience that things do sometimes go right. Ergo, ML can go wrong. Ergo, ML is correct and self-proving.

There is, however, some dispute about its precise origin. The principle it embodies has obviously existed since the dawn of mankind, and dedicated researchers from the American Dialect Society have found it described in print as early as 1877. But according to a fascinating series of articles by one Nick T Spark in the Annals of Improbable Research, there can be little doubt that Murphy's Law as we now know it is named after Edward A Murphy Jr, a test engineer for the McDonnell Douglas aerospace manufacturer during a series of G-force experiments carried out in 1949 by the US air force to assess the tolerance of the human body to acceleration.

One experiment apparently involved a set of 16 sensors attached to the subject's body. These could be mounted in one of two ways, and one of Murphy's assistants installed all of them the wrong way round, resulting in a zero reading. According to Robert Murphy, Edward's son, the words his father uttered at the time were along the lines of: "If there's more than one way to do a job, and one of those ways will result in disaster, then somebody will do it that way."

This we might term the original Murphy's Law. However George Nichols, another engineer present at the experiment, recalls the phrase as: "If that guy has any way of making a mistake, he will," a rather cruel jibe later more kindly condensed by the McDonnell Douglas team to: "If it can happen, it will happen." Major John Paul Stapp, the subject of the experiment, then reportedly summed up the newly coined law at a press conference some days later as: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong."

The first mentions of Murphy's Law in this context occur in print in 1952 and 1955, whereafter it gradually became a commonplace, although in a multitude of variants. Finagle's Law is actually a corollary to Murphy's, and states: "Anything that can go wrong, will - and at the worst possible moment."

All of which, of course, only serves to bear out Murphy's third law of journalism (just invented by me), which reads: "The likelihood of your misquoting someone is directly proportional to their present or future importance".

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Source: Science | guardian.co.uk | 5 Jan 2009 | 12:01 am

Diamonds suggest comets caused killer cold spell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tiny diamonds sprinkled across North America suggest a "swarm" of comets hit the Earth around 13,000 years ago, kicking up enough disruption to send the planet into a cold spell and drive mammoths and other creatures into extinction, scientists reported on Friday.
Source: Reuters: Science News | 4 Jan 2009 | 10:55 pm

Leading light

The Islamic genius working 700 years before Newton
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 4 Jan 2009 | 10:18 pm

The Nation's Weather (AP)

AP - Snow was to fall in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes on Sunday morning.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 4 Jan 2009 | 12:03 pm