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Science News Archive 2007 - Page 52


Page 52 of 203

Penn State, Chevron launch energy alliance

Penn State has launched a major research alliance with Chevron to develop advanced coal conversion and carbon dioxide management technologies. The partnership aims to promote energy innovation, train new generations of experts in energy, and educate the public about energy issues.

Spouses often mirror each other's health habits

A new study found that when one spouse improves their health behavior, the other is also more likely to do so, particularly in behaviors like smoking and drinking. This phenomenon suggests that interventions targeting spouses can be an effective way to promote healthy habits.

SourceYale University·JournalHealth Services Research·DateOct 3, 2007

50 years after Sputnik

Satellite technology has enabled us to monitor the effects of deforestation and climate change. However, there are concerns about the weaponization of space and the creation of space junk.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalPhysics World·DateOct 3, 2007

'Extreme' teenagers

A Norwegian study found that teenagers in Norway increased in height and weight between 1966-69 and 1995-97. The study also revealed a shift in the distribution of body mass index (BMI), with more underweight adolescents than previously thought.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Public Health·DateOct 3, 2007

Mathematicians defy gravity

Researchers at University of Bristol show that small drops can climb an incline of 85 degrees by overcoming surface tension through vigorous shaking. The method may aid in understanding fluid manipulation and DNA microarray analysis.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 3, 2007

Toothy dinosaur newest to come out of southern Utah

Researchers from the University of Utah and California's Raymond M. Alf Museum have unearthed a new duck-billed dinosaur species, Gryposaurus monumentensis, in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The creature is estimated to have grown up to 30 feet long as an adult and had over 300 teeth embedded in its thick skull.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalZoological Journal of the Linnean Society·DateOct 3, 2007

Stopping atoms

Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin create an 'atomic coilgun' that slows and stops a wide range of atoms using pulsed magnetic fields. This breakthrough enables the study of previously inaccessible elements like hydrogen, with implications for atomic and nuclear physics.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateOct 3, 2007

War more traumatic than tsunami

A study published in International Journal of Mental Health Systems highlights the long-term effects of war on mental health. The research suggests that grassroots community approaches are effective in coping with disasters and promoting collective well-being.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems·DateOct 3, 2007

How do patients choose the best treatment for their disease?

Research in Medical Decision Making explores how patients select optimal treatments by weighing factors such as health outcomes, side effects, and cost. New approaches and best practices for assessing and conveying risk information are also discussed to improve decision-making processes.

SourceSAGE·JournalMedical Decision Making·DateOct 3, 2007

Brain's 'social enforcer' centers identified

The study found activation of specific areas in the prefrontal cortex when subjects knew they could face punishment for non-compliance. People with Machiavellian traits showed higher brain activity in these areas, suggesting a link to their selfish behavior.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateOct 3, 2007

Patients over age 60 do well after liver transplantation

A study of over 400 patients found that those over 60 years old had similar 1-year and 5-year survival rates as younger patients, with fewer rejection episodes. The researchers attribute this to the older patients' softer immune systems, which may also increase their risk of infection and cancer.

SourceWiley·JournalLiver Transplantation·DateOct 2, 2007

Tamiflu survives sewage treatment

A study found that Tamiflu is not removed or degraded during normal sewage treatment, leading to high levels of the drug in surrounding waters. This increases the risk of influenza viruses developing resistance to the medication, posing a threat to public health.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 2, 2007

The 'MIP-MAP' game: Indian bug is the ancestor of Crohn's disease pathogen

Researchers found that Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) is the earliest ancestor of generalist mycobacterial pathogens, including Crohn's disease pathogen M. avium paratuberculosis (MAP). The study suggests that MIP and MAP descended from a common ancestor and infected marine organisms before arriving on soil through bird-droppings.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 2, 2007