Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for October 17, 2000


Boys' writing perceived worse than girls: study

A study by University of Toronto professor Shelley Peterson found that students perceive male authors as more competent if their stories are descriptive and well-written, while female authors are viewed as more capable if they write about relationships or emotional themes. This perceived incompetence can have long-term implications on ...

One in three women may have been abused in childhood

A recent report from the World Bank suggests that violence against women is responsible for one out of every five working days lost. Research found a third of women aged 40-50 had been abused as children, with common symptoms like joint pain and fatigue more likely in those who were beaten or sexually abused.

SourceBMJ Specialty Journals·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateOct 17, 2000

Bifidobacteria act as a barrier against infection

Researchers have identified two Bifidobacterium strains that exhibit potent antimicrobial properties, protecting the intestinal tract from lethal infection with salmonella. These strains, CA1 and F9, decrease bacterial numbers, prevent entry into cells, and work in concert with gut lining enzymes to produce a barrier against infection.

SourceBMJ Specialty Journals·JournalGut·DateOct 17, 2000

Finding by Syracuse University and University of Michigan researchers reveals secret to mass extinction events

Researchers used a new technique to analyze fossilized otoliths, revealing seasonal temperature records that led to the discovery of colder winters as the cause of the Eocene/Oligocene boundary mass extinction. This finding sheds light on the global-scale problem and provides new insights into climate change's impact on evolution and e...

SourceSyracuse University·JournalNature·DateOct 17, 2000