Snail Fossils Suggest Semiarid Eastern Canary Islands Were Wetter 50,000 Years Ago

Isotopic measurements performed on fossil land snail shells found in ancient soils on the subtropical eastern Canary Islands resulted in oxygen isotope ratios that suggest the Spanish archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa has become progressively drier over the past 50,000 years, according to new research.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

Dysfunctional Protein Dynamics Behind Neurological Disease?

Researchers have taken a snapshot of proteins changing shape, sticking together and creating structures that are believed to trigger deadly processes in the nervous system. The discovery opens the possibility of designing drugs for a devastating neurological disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

Next-generation Microcapsules Deliver 'Chemicals On Demand'

Scientists are reporting development of a new generation of the microcapsules used in carbon-free copy paper, in which capsules burst and release ink with pressure from a pen. The new microcapsules burst when exposed to light, releasing their contents in ways that could have wide-ranging commercial uses from home and personal care to medicine.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

First Synthetic Cellulosome In Yeast Created

Scientist have constructed for the first time a synthetic cellulosome in yeast, which could make the production of bioethanol from biomass more efficient and economical.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

Security Measures Lead To False Sense Of Security: Scientists Dispute Use Of National Security Tools

Many of the security tools used by national governments lack scientific underpinning, according to an expert.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

Diets High In Sodium And Artificially Sweetened Soda Linked To Kidney Function Decline

Individuals who consume a diet high in sodium or artificially sweetened drinks are more likely to experience a decline in kidney function, according to two new articles.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

Discovery May Lead To Precision Engineering Of Superconducting Thin Films For Electronic Devices

Using precision techniques for making superconducting thin films layer-by-layer, physicists have identified a single layer responsible for one such material's ability to become superconducting, i.e., carry electrical current with no energy loss. The technique could be used to engineer ultrathin films with "tunable" superconductivity for higher-efficiency electronic devices.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

Venomous Shrew And Lizard: Harmless Digestive Enzyme Evolved Twice Into Dangerous Toxin In Two Unrelated Species

Biologists have shown that independent but similar molecular changes turned a harmless digestive enzyme into a toxin in two unrelated species -- a shrew and a lizard -- giving each a venomous bite.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

Pregnant Women At 'Serious Risk' from Flu

Pregnant women who catch the flu are at serious risk for flu-related complications, including death, and that risk far outweighs the risk of possible side effects from injectable vaccines containing killed virus, according to an extensive review.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

New Model May Help Scientists Better Predict And Prevent Influenza Outbreaks

Each year, the influenza virus evolves. And each year, public health officials try to predict what the new strain will be and how it will affect the population in order to best combat it. A new study may make their task a little easier. The study breaks ground by working across scales and linking sub-molecular changes in the influenza virus to the likelihood of influenza outbreaks.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

Probe to track impact of warming on Earth's water (AFP)

The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission ? and the second demonstration satellite under ESA?s Project for Onboard Autonomy (Proba-2) prepare to launch into orbit at the the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. The 315-million-euro satellite that will gauge the impact of climate change on the movement of water across land, air and sea.(AFP/Stephane Corvaja)AFP - A 315-million-euro satellite that will gauge the impact of climate change on the movement of water across land, air and sea was hoisted into space on Monday, the European Space Agency said.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 3:34 am

Climate change will burn Yosemite

Scientists unravel how warming temperatures will trigger more wild fires in California's Yosemite National Park.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 2 Nov 2009 | 3:17 am

Global warming: Nepali Cabinet to meet on Everest (AP)

AP - Nepal's Cabinet will hold a meeting on Mount Everest to highlight the threat from global warming, which is causing glaciers to melt in the Himalayas, an official said Monday.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 2:44 am

Human Genome, Glaxo lupus drug works in 2nd trial (Reuters)

Reuters - Human Genome Sciences Inc said on Monday its experimental lupus drug Benlysta was successful in a second large clinical trial, paving the way for approval of the first new treatment for the disease in 50 years.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 2:11 am

Deforestation sped demise of Nasca in Peru: study

BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - The mysterious people who etched the "Nasca Lines" across deserts in Peru hastened their own demise by clearing forests 1,500 years ago, according to a study on Monday.

Source: Reuters: Science News | 2 Nov 2009 | 1:57 am

Spaceman

Spain makes its 'breakthough' in space
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 2 Nov 2009 | 1:54 am

European water mission lifts off

A European satellite is set to provide major new insights into how water is cycled around the Earth.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 1 Nov 2009 | 10:26 pm

Japanese freighter makes re-entry

Japan's new space freighter burns up in the Earth's atmosphere after completing its mission to the International Space Station.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 1 Nov 2009 | 8:36 pm

Australia oil well catches fire

An oil well at the centre of a massive spill in the Timor Sea off the north-west coast of Australia catches fire.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 1 Nov 2009 | 6:31 pm

Colorado county copes with methane mystery (AP)

In this photograph taken on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009, the sign and fire extinguisher were put up near a water well owned by Ben and Melanie Bounds after a build up of methane blew the roof off the couple's water well shed on the land outside of Walsenburg, Colo. Area residents are experiencing problems with their wells since drilling for natural gas started around the southeast Colorado community. (AP Photo/Judith Kohler)AP - Bernice and Jerry Angely like to show visitors the singed T-shirt a friend was wearing when their water well exploded and shot flames 30 feet high.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 1 Nov 2009 | 5:19 pm

Final round for UN climate talks

The last set of UN climate talks before the Copenhagen summit will open with divisions remaining over targets and money.
Source: BBC News | Science & Environment | UK Edition | 1 Nov 2009 | 4:48 pm

Wild Explosions on Video

From nuclear bombs to exploding beds and lab screw-ups.
Source: Livescience.com | 1 Nov 2009 | 10:43 am

7 Things to Know About Windows 7

The latest version of Windows is more secure and is loaded with new features.
Source: Livescience.com | 1 Nov 2009 | 8:58 am

Permanent Arctic Ice Nearly Gone

We are almost out of multiyear sea ice in the Northern Hemisphere, researcher says.
Source: Livescience.com | 1 Nov 2009 | 8:51 am

Verizon to Continue Droid Line of Phones with Droid Eris

The Motorola Droid will be followed by another Android phone that should be quite familiar: the Droid Eris.
Source: Livescience.com | 1 Nov 2009 | 8:36 am

Sony Leaks the 14MP Alpha A750 DSLR

Photography enthusiasts have been pointing out the huge gap between the A550 and A850 in both price and megapixels.
Source: Livescience.com | 1 Nov 2009 | 8:28 am

LG to Release 40-inch OLED TV in 2012

OLED TVs have been far too expensive to compete with LCD or plasma in larger sizes. That's changing.
Source: Livescience.com | 1 Nov 2009 | 8:20 am

Rest Easy: Retirement (and Money) Can Improve Sleep (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - It's no secret the stress of work can keep you up at nights. Now research shows that retirement can spur less fitful sleep, at least for people who are financially stable.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 1 Nov 2009 | 7:32 am

Rest Easy: Retirement (and Money) Can Improve Sleep

Retirement can spur less fitful sleep, at least for people who are financially stable.
Source: Livescience.com | 1 Nov 2009 | 7:26 am