Science Headlines for March 23, 2009

Wet Combing More Accurate Than Visual Inspection For Identifying Active Head Lice Infestation

Combing through a child's wet hair may lead to more accurate identification of active head lice infestation than visual inspection, according to a new report. However, visual inspection may yield a more precise assessment of the number of children who have eggs or nits (larvae) in their hair.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 3:00 pm

Longer Bouts Of Exercise Help Prevent Childhood Obesity

Children who exercise in bouts of activity lasting five minutes or longer are less likely to become obese than those whose activity levels are more sporadic and typically last less than five minutes each, researchers have discovered.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 3:00 pm

Genetic Mechanism In Mole Rats Can Be Targeted In Cancer Research

Cellular mechanisms that subterranean mole rats have developed in order to survive the low levels of oxygen in their underground habitat are similar to the mechanisms used by tumors to survive and progress in humans. Based on a new study, the mole rat can represent the human tumor in research, and the gene targeted in mole rats can be targeted for development of anti-cancer drugs.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 3:00 pm

Ten Genes Associated With A Risk Factor For Sudden Cardiac Death Identified

That an abnormality in his heart's electrical system had managed to stay on the Q.T. -- until it proved lethal -- is characteristic of sudden cardiac death, which annually claims more than a quarter million Americans. A dearth of discernable symptoms and lack of detectable molecules circulating in the blood makes the prediction of sudden cardiac death largely dependent on genetic risk factors.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 3:00 pm

Mice With Disabled Gene That Helps Turn Carbs Into Fat Stay Lean Despite Feasting On High-carb Diet

Researchers have identified a gene that plays a critical regulatory role in the process of converting dietary carbohydrate to fat. Mice that had this gene disabled had lower levels of body fat than their normal counterparts, despite being fed the equivalent of an all-you-can-eat pasta buffet.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 3:00 pm

Brain On A Chip?

How does the human brain run itself without any software? Find that out, say European researchers, and a whole new field of neural computing will open up. A prototype ‘brain on a chip’ is already working.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 3:00 pm

First Automated Carbohydrate 'Assembly Line' Opens Door To New Field Of Medicine

Scientists from Germany have reported a major advance toward opening the doors of a carbohydrate-based medicine chest for the 21st century. Much more than just potatoes and pasta, these carbohydrates may form the basis of revolutionary new vaccines and drugs to battle malaria, HIV, and a bevy of other diseases.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 12:00 pm

New Type Of Botulinum Toxin Appears To Be Well Tolerated And May Help Reduce Forehead Wrinkles

Injections with a new type of botulinum toxin appears to be well tolerated and may help to improve the appearance of moderate to severe forehead lines with no evidence of diminishing treatment response over 13 months, according to a new report.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 12:00 pm

How Proteins Find The Right DNA Sequences

Researchers have developed a new theoretical model to explain how proteins can rapidly find specific DNA sequences, even though there are many obstacles in the way on the chromosomes.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 12:00 pm

Common Anti-seizure Medications May Increase Risk Of Cardiovascular Problems

An important clinical repercussion in the treatment of epilepsy has been discovered. Medical researchers have determined that two of the most commonly prescribed anti-seizure medications may lead to significantly increased levels of cholesterol, C-reactive protein and other markers of cardiovascular disease risk.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 12:00 pm

Astronauts prepare for 3rd and final spacewalk (AP)

AP - Shuttle Discovery's astronauts have one last spacewalk ahead of them. Late Monday morning, two former schoolteachers Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold II will venture outside the international space station and take another crack at deploying a jammed equipment storage platform.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 10:58 am

Oil and gas giant BG acquires 70% of Pure Energy (AFP)

AFP - The British oil and gas group BG said on Monday it had acquired 70 percent of the capital of Pure Energy of Australia, adding that it had extended its offer until April 6.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 10:56 am

Bills reveal how Darwin lived a gentleman's lifestyle

Bills recording details of naturalist Charles Darwin's daily life at Cambridge University are discovered.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 23 Mar 2009 | 9:35 am

NASA delays test of space station urine recycler

HOUSTON (Reuters) - NASA delayed tests of the International Space Station's urine recycler on Sunday after problems developed with centrifuge-like device and revamped plans for Monday's spacewalk to deal with an improperly installed cargo platform attachment.

Source: Reuters: Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 9:09 am

NASA delays test of space station urine recycler (Reuters)

Reuters - NASA delayed tests of the International Space Station's urine recycler on Sunday after problems developed with centrifuge-like device and revamped plans for Monday's spacewalk to deal with an improperly installed cargo platform attachment.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 9:09 am

ND officials plead for volunteers as flood sets in (AP)

AP - Officials in Fargo and Minnesota issued urgent pleas for volunteers to help with sandbagging as a storm on Sunday increased the threat of flood in an area already expected to be swamped by a record river crest.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 1:21 am

Cancer drug 'fuels tumour growth'

A type of drug designed to stunt tumour growth has been found to fuel cancer spread if given at too low a dose.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 23 Mar 2009 | 12:56 am

Star Explodes, and So Might Theory

A massive star a million times brighter than our sun exploded way too early in its life, suggesting scientists don't understand stellar evolution as well as they thought.
Source: Livescience.com | 23 Mar 2009 | 12:29 am

Archives shed light on Darwin's student days

LONDON (Reuters) - With someone to polish his shoes, make his bed and stoke the fire in his spacious rooms, Charles Darwin enjoyed the sort of pampered university life that today's debt-laden British students can only dream about.

Source: Reuters: Science News | 23 Mar 2009 | 12:08 am

Bees and ants 'operate in teams'

Scientists say bees and ants are team players - unlike other creatures that are motivated by self-interest.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 23 Mar 2009 | 12:06 am

Meet the mind-reader

On this week's show, Demis Hassabis, a cognitive neuroscientist at University College London, explains how brain scans can reveal people's innermost thoughts, and how the computer games industry needs to reinvent itself.

Nasa climate scientist Jim Hansen tells David Adam why democracy is obstructing the fight against climate change. Jim was in Britain to join a climate protest in Coventry, which ended up outside the headquarters of the power company E.On.

And it's life, but not as we know it. Stanford University's Drew Endy explains how synthetic biology could revolutionise engineering. Drew, a leading light in the field, spoke to Ian Sample at the recent AAAS meeting in Chicago.

George Monbiot recently attacked Agas for being a threat to the environment. He talks to the CEO of Aga Rangemaster, William McGrath, about carbon dioxide emissions from the cookers.

In other news, Britain's chief scientist warns of a "perfect storm" of food, water and energy shortages; a medical device that can treat Parkinson's disease; how confusion over DNA evidence may have kept an innocent man in jail for 10 years; and a fossilised sea monster is unearthed in the Arctic.

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