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News | Archive (1 May 2009)
Iran's ancient story preserved digitally
— 17:50 GMT | TechnologyThe Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago is using modern technology to digitally record thousands of tablets that, as they are being pieced together, tell an unusually detailed story of the Persian Empire. These ancient tablets from the palaces of Persepolis include pieces of language and art from the centre of the Persian Empire, all made when it extended from India and Central Asia to Egypt and the Mediterranean…
Potentially harmful chemicals found in forest fire smoke
— 17:49 GMT | HealthResearchers have detected common plant toxins that affect human health and ecosystems in smoke from forest fires. The results from the new study also suggest that smouldering fires may produce more toxins than wildfires - a reason to keep human exposures to a minimum during controlled burns…
People of higher socioeconomic status choose better diets - but pay more per calorie
— 17:49 GMT | HealthAs people become more educated, studies have demonstrated that they tend to choose foods that are lower in calories but higher in nutrients. They also pay more. In a study published in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers from the University of Washington compared the eating habits and food costs of a sample of 164 adults in the Seattle, Washington area…
Scientists find the cellular on and off switch for allergies and asthma
— 17:47 GMT | HealthIf you're one of the millions who dread the spring allergy season, things are looking up. A research study appearing in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows how a team of American scientists have identified a previously unknown cellular switch that turns allergies and asthma both on and off. Equally important, this study also suggests that at least for some people with asthma and allergies, their problems might be caused by genes that prevent this switch from working properly. Taken together, this information is an important first step toward new medications that address the root causes of allergies, asthma and other similar diseases…
New therapy based on magnetic stimulation shows promise for non-drug treatment for migraine
— 17:45 GMT | HealthA new UCSF study examining the mechanism of a novel therapy that uses magnetic pulses to treat chronic migraine sufferers showed the treatment to be a promising alternative to medication…
Some short-term memories die suddenly, no fading
— 17:42 GMT | HealthThe human brain stores some kinds of memories for a lifetime. But when our eyes are open and looking at things, our grey matter also creates temporary memories that help us process complex tasks during the few seconds these visual memories exist. For decades, scientists have held that such short-term memories don't suddenly disappear, but grow gradually more imprecise over the course of several seconds…
Analysis finds strong match between molecular, fossil data in evolutionary studies
— 17:40 GMT | Geology and palaeontologyDuring a seminar at another institution several years ago, University of Chicago palaeontologist David Jablonski fielded a hostile question: Why bother classifying organisms according to their physical appearance, let alone analyse their evolutionary dynamics, when molecular techniques had already invalidated that approach?…
Finding a stereotype that is true: Mexicans more sociable than Americans
— 17:37 GMT | HealthStereotypes often paint a partial or false picture of an individual or group. But now researchers have found evidence that supports a stereotype held by many in the United States - that Mexicans are more outgoing, talkative, sociable and extroverted. The finding also contradicts the way many Mexicans view themselves as being less extroverted than Americans…
Study suggests new target for treatment of depression
— 17:35 GMT | HealthA brain protein involved in fear behaviour and anxiety may represent a new target for depression therapies, according to a study by researchers at the University of Iowa and the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Centre. The results appear in the 29 April issue of the Journal of Neuroscience…
Researchers report oral delivery system for RNAi therapeutics
— 17:32 GMT | HealthResearchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) report today on a novel approach to the delivery of small bits of genetic material in order to silence genes using 'RNA interference' - and in the process, discovered a potent method of suppressing inflammation in mice similar to what occurs in a range of human diseases…
Bye to batteries and power sockets
Measuring the footprint of cells