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News | Archive (9 July 2009)
Newborn brain cells show the way
— 18:00 GMT | BiologyAlthough the fact that we generate new brain cells throughout life is no longer disputed, their purpose has been the topic of much debate. Now, an international collaboration of researchers made a big leap forward in understanding what all these newborn neurones might actually do. Their study, published in the 10 July issue of the journal Science, illustrates how these young cells improve our ability to navigate our environment…
Research may hold key to maintaining embryonic stem cells in lab
— 18:00 GMT | HealthIn a new study that could transform embryonic stem cell (ES cell) research, scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Centre have discovered why mouse ES cells can be easily grown in a laboratory while other mammalian ES cells are difficult, if not impossible, to maintain…
Map of your brain may reveal early mental illness
— 15:29 GMT | HealthJohn Csernansky wants to take your measurements. Not the circumference of your chest, waist and hips. No, this doctor wants to stretch a tape measure around your hippocampus, thalamus and prefrontal cortex…
Spread your sperm the smart way
— 15:24 GMT | HealthAttractive males release fewer sperm per mating to maximise their chances of producing offspring across a range of females, according to a new paper on the evolution of ejaculation strategies. The findings by researchers at UCL (University College London) and the University of Oxford suggest that, paradoxically, matings with attractive males may be less fertile than those with unattractive ones…
Astrophysicists solve mystery in Milky Way galaxy
— 15:19 GMT | AstronomyA team of astrophysicists has solved a mystery that led some scientists to speculate that the distribution of certain gamma rays in our Milky Way galaxy was evidence of a form of undetectable 'dark matter' believed to make up much of the mass of the universe…
Galileo's notebooks may reveal secrets of new planet
— 15:14 GMT | AstronomyGalileo knew he had discovered a new planet in 1613, 234 years before its official discovery date, according to a new theory by a University of Melbourne physicist. Professor David Jamieson, Head of the School of Physics, is investigating the notebooks of Galileo from 400 years ago and believes that buried in the notations is the evidence that he discovered a new planet that we now know as Neptune…
Two reproductive factors are important predictors of death from ovarian cancer
— 15:08 GMT | HealthResearchers from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that survival among women with ovarian cancer is influenced by age of menarche and total number of lifetime ovulatory cycles…
2000-year-old statue of an athlete sheds light on corrosion and other modern challenges
— 15:03 GMT | ChemistryThe restoration of a 2,000-year-old bronze sculpture of the famed ancient Greek athlete Apoxyomenos may help modern scientists understand how to prevent metal corrosion, discover the safest ways to permanently store nuclear waste, and understand other perplexing problems. That's the conclusion of a new study on the so-called 'biomineralisation' of Apoxyomenos appearing in the current issue of ACS' Crystal Growth and Design, a bi-monthly journal. Best known as 'The Scraper,' the statue depicts an athlete scraping sweat and dust from his body with a small curved instrument…
First evidence that weed killers improve nutritional value of a key food crop
— 14:58 GMT | ChemistryScientists are reporting for the first time that the use of weed killers in farmers' fields boosts the nutritional value of an important food a crop. Application of two common herbicides to several varieties of sweet corn significantly increased the amount of key nutrients termed carotenoids in the corn kernels, according to a study scheduled for publication in the 22 July issue of ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication…
Most neuropsychological tests don't tell Alzheimer's disease from vascular dementia
— 14:54 GMT | HealthMost of the cognitive tests that have been used to decide whether someone has Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia have not been very helpful when used alone. A new report published by the American Psychological Association concluded that when older people are confused and forgetful, doctors should base their diagnoses on many different types of information, including medical history and brain imaging…
FoxJ1 helps cilia beat a path to asymmetry
Glacial erosion changes mountain responses to plate tectonics