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Science News Archive 2005 - Page 67


Page 67 of 165

Tough new probe developed for nanotechnologists

Scientists from Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory have created a new type of atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe made from ultra-nano-crystalline diamond, exhibiting properties similar to single-crystal diamond. The development enables improved durability and scalability for high-resolution imaging.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalSmall·DateAug 10, 2005

Rubble-pile minor planet Sylvia and her twins

Astronomers have discovered a triple asteroid system, with minor planet 87 Sylvia and its twin moons Romulus and Remus. The asteroids were found using the NACO instrument at ESO's Very Large Telescope Array in Chile, revealing details about their orbits and composition.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateAug 10, 2005

Retail utopia

Researchers uncover how utopian meanings are constructed in retail environments through the lens of a transformed 18th-century home. The study reveals the dynamic qualities of these spaces and their role in both escaping crass commercialization and fostering consumer resistance.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateAug 10, 2005

Ecology must be part of research on renewable energy

A review highlights the need for ecological consideration in renewable energy development, particularly offshore wind farms. Environmental impacts of construction, operation, and decommissioning of these projects could harm coastal species and ecosystems. However, offshore renewables also offer opportunities to enhance local biodiversity.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·DateAug 10, 2005

Harry: The wizard of DVT

A new study involving 30,000 people worldwide will investigate travel-related DVT and its prevention. Professor Harry Büller's research has made significant advances in diagnosing and treating blood clots, with 90% of patients now able to be treated outside hospital

Revelations of rice

The University of Arizona team successfully mapped and sequenced the rice genome, unlocking the secrets of over 37,500 genes. This breakthrough will enable researchers to identify desirable traits such as drought tolerance and pest resistance, leading to improved rice varieties for global food security.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature·DateAug 10, 2005

Back-to-back use of two drugs shows strong osteoporosis benefit

A new study shows that combining parathyroid hormone and alendronate for a year followed by a year increases bone density significantly more than other treatments, providing sustained gains. The treatment has the potential to offer the largest gains in bone density yet available at a lower cost than using parathyroid hormone alone.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 10, 2005

Feeding the world

The completed rice genome sequence provides a raw material for studies aimed at improving the agricultural yield of the world's most important food source. The sequence reveals some 37,500 genes on the 12 chromosomes of rice, closely related to other major cereal grasses.

Volcanoes inner workings disclosed when the Earth moved

Researchers studied tiltmeter data from the Soufriere Hills Volcano to understand its behavior and inner workings. They found that pressure is centered around a half mile below the dome or nearly 2.5 miles above the magma chamber, suggesting a more extensive region involved in pressurization.

SourcePenn State·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 9, 2005

Cocoa is the new red wine

Research shows that cocoa's flavinoids can inhibit platelet function, potentially preventing coronary heart disease. In contrast, people with non-O blood types are at increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), particularly those carrying the Factor V Leiden variant protein.

Rethinking anti-oxidants

Researchers have discovered a novel probucol-analog that effectively protects against atherosclerosis without the same side effects as its predecessor. This breakthrough compound induces an anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory pathway in blood vessel walls, offering new hope for treating people with or at risk of heart disease.

How the brain understands pictures

A Johns Hopkins University study reveals the brain's subconscious process of organizing images into a 'whole' even when focusing on only one part. The research, based on nerve cell recordings in macaque monkeys, suggests that the brain continuously organizes scenes, even when attending to small parts.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalNeuron·DateAug 9, 2005

Nutrition scientists take a look at cataract prevention

Researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University have found that long-term vitamin E supplementation may delay cataract development. Additionally, higher intakes of riboflavin and thiamin were associated with reduced cataract progression in women. However, the study's findings on dietary fat intake...

SourceTufts University·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateAug 9, 2005

A 'smart' bio-nanotube

Scientists have developed a novel structure made from cell components that can assemble into nanotubes with controllable open or closed states. This innovation has the potential to deliver drugs or genes where they would be most effective, using the natural properties of cells similar to skin and bone.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 9, 2005

Brain's opioid receptors—or endorphin system—may hold key to treatment possibilities for bulimia

Researchers found lower mu-opioid receptor binding in the left insular cortex of women with bulimia, inversely correlated with fasting behavior. This study suggests that medications targeting brain opioid receptors may help treat bulimia, a serious eating disorder marked by destructive patterns of dieting and vomiting.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateAug 9, 2005

Two new lemur species discovered

German and Malagasy primatologists have discovered two new lemur species, Mirza zaza and Microcebus lehilahytsara, highlighting biodiversity patterns among humans' closest relatives. The discoveries shed light on human origins and evolution, with lemurs being crucial to understanding ancient primate lineages.

Plants discriminate between self and non self

Researchers found that plants grow more and longer secondary roots on the non-self side, suggesting a mechanism based on physiological coordination. This coordination might involve internal pulsing of hormonal or electrical signals that desynchronize when plants are separated.