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Science News for May 15, 2006


No evidence of 'Iraq War Syndrome'

A study published in The Lancet found that UK armed forces personnel who took part in the 2003 Iraq War experienced slight rises in common symptoms, but not to the same extent as those who fought in the 1991 Gulf War. Fatigue was not increased after the 2003 Iraq War.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateMay 15, 2006

A ruler to measure the universe

Researchers have created a massive 3-D map of the universe, mapping the distribution of galaxies and providing new insights into dark energy. The map uses luminous red galaxies as 'lighthouses' to measure distances, covering vast scales of up to a billion light-years across.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 15, 2006

Penn State researchers look beyond the birth of the universe

A team of researchers at Penn State has discovered a mathematical description of a contracting universe that existed before the Big Bang, with space-time geometry and gravity exhibiting unique properties. The findings rely on loop quantum gravity theory, which proposes a discrete 'atomic' structure to space-time.

SourcePenn State·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 15, 2006

The Daily Show affects young voters

A study found that exposure to The Daily Show led participants to rate candidates more negatively and view the political system as more cynical. Researchers conclude that this may deter young Americans from voting. The study's implications for political participation should be explored further.

SourceSAGE·JournalAmerican Politics Research·DateMay 15, 2006

Free access to science speeds its use

A natural experiment found that open-access articles in PNAS gained a significant citation advantage over non-OA articles, being twice as likely to be cited within 4-10 months and almost three times more likely between 10-16 months after publication. The study suggests that open access accelerates the dissemination of scientific research.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMay 15, 2006

Global warming may have damaged coral reefs forever

A recent study found that coral reefs in the Seychelles have suffered severe damage from global warming, leading to a 90% decline in coral cover and a significant loss of biodiversity. The damaged reefs are unable to reseed and recover, resulting in profound impacts on other organisms in the ecosystem.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 15, 2006

Plants tell caterpillars when it's safe to forage

Researchers found that caterpillars respond to variations in plant volatile production to reduce encounters with parasitic wasps. The study demonstrates that plant volatiles, rather than light, control the daily behavior of caterpillars.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMay 15, 2006

Prozac's target revealed

Researchers have identified the specific step in the neurogenesis pathway that Prozac (fluoxetine) stimulates, increasing the number of neurons in the brain. The study's findings lay the foundation for future cell replacement therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 15, 2006