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Science News Archive 2006 - Page 5


Page 5 of 178

Malaria vaccine prompts victims' immune system to eliminate parasite from mosquitoes

Researchers developed a malaria vaccine that prompts the immune system to eliminate the parasite from an area's mosquitoes. The vaccine was tested in mice and showed promise by eliminating the parasite from the digestive tract of infected mosquitoes.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 18, 2006

Black cohosh does not relieve menopausal hot flashes, Group Health researchers find

A study by Group Health researchers found that black cohosh did not relieve hot flashes among women going through menopause. In contrast, hormone therapy significantly reduced the frequency of hot flashes. The researchers concluded that herbal supplements like black cohosh have little potential as an alternative to hormone therapy.

SourceGroup Health Research Institute·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateDec 18, 2006

High-quality marriages help to calm nerves

A study by Dr. James A. Coan found that women in high-quality marriages experience reduced brain activity when holding their husband's hand during a threatening situation. This effect is not seen in lower quality marriages, highlighting the health-enhancing properties of close social relationships.

SourceUniversity of Virginia·JournalPsychological Science·DateDec 18, 2006

Sniffers show that humans can track scents, and that two nostrils are better than one

Researchers at UC Berkeley found that humans gain a performance advantage from cross-nostril comparisons when tracking scents. With training, humans can improve their accuracy significantly and nearly double their speed. This discovery challenges the common assumption that humans are poor smellers compared to other mammals.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateDec 18, 2006

How to avoid a bat

Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered that Yellow Underwing moths change their ear sensitivity to bats' calls when being chased, and remain tuned for several minutes after. This phenomenon challenges current understanding of bat-moth co-evolution and has implications for other hearing systems in animals.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 18, 2006

A green way to slag off bunnies

Researchers apply slag to wheat growing in greenhouses, causing plants to grow spiky structures that repel rabbits, reducing grazing damage. The environmentally friendly method uses a plentiful byproduct of blast furnaces and could circumvent pesticide regulatory approval.

SourceSociety of Chemical Industry·JournalPest Management Science·DateDec 17, 2006

Advances in breast imaging

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a new gamma camera technique that can detect breast tumors as tiny as one-fifth of an inch in diameter with 88% accuracy. The device is sensitive enough to identify small cancers that were not found by mammography, and may be more comfortable for women due to less pressure needed during imaging.

Fluid displacement from legs to neck can lead to obstructive sleep apnea

Research found that fluid displacement from the legs to the neck can narrow soft tissue around the throat and increase airflow resistance in healthy individuals, predisposing them to obstructive sleep apnea. The study involved measuring leg fluid volume, neck circumference, and airflow resistance in 11 non-obese subjects, with results ...

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateDec 15, 2006

New hope for wrinkles

Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed a cost-effective process for manufacturing GGC, a precursor to antioxidant glutathione. The new additive is set to be used in various products, including skincare creams and supplements, with significant market potential.

Drug treatment slows macular vision loss in diabetics

A new study found that a commonly used drug to slow central vision loss can also treat diabetic retinopathy, a common complication of diabetes. The treatment showed promise in improving reading ability and reducing swelling in the retina by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor, a protein that promotes unwanted blood vessel growth.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology·DateDec 15, 2006

Molecular Solomon's knot

Researchers successfully produce a molecular Solomon knot, consisting of two doubly intertwined rings, through careful selection of metal ions and solvents. The study showcases the potential for self-organization in systems with individual molecular components not chemically bound to each other.

SourceWiley·DateDec 15, 2006

JCI table of contents: December 14, 2006

Researchers have discovered that oxidative stress contributes to neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, they found that IFN-gamma stimulates osteoclast formation and bone loss, while targeting FoxM1 may limit liver cancer progression.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateDec 14, 2006

It's enough to turn your neighbors green

A study by Nives Dolsak and Maureen Dunn finds that developed countries invest in developing countries' greenhouse gas emission-reduction projects mainly due to economic reasons, such as reducing air pollution and transaction costs. The authors suggest policy makers to consider regional pollution dynamics when designing international r...

SourceSpringer·JournalPolicy Sciences·DateDec 14, 2006

Very high frequency radiation makes dark matter visible

Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics have discovered a way to make a picture of everything that gravitates in the Universe using radio telescopes. By analyzing radio waves emitted from the early Universe, they can create high-resolution images of cosmic mass distribution, surpassing current galaxy distortions.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 14, 2006