A new study suggests that smokers may benefit from earlier colon cancer screening due to their increased risk of developing the disease. The research found that current smokers were diagnosed with colon cancer approximately seven years earlier than people who never smoked.
Patients with severe acute pancreatitis who received probiotics had higher mortality rates than those receiving a placebo. The study suggests that probiotics may not be effective in preventing infectious complications and modulating the immune system in these patients.
Researchers at NIH have successfully treated a patient with a rare disorder using cancer drug imatinib, which is also effective against systemic mastocytosis and chronic basophilic leukemia. The study's findings offer new treatment options for patients with these complex conditions.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium, has been recognized for his efforts to popularize science and technology through various outreach initiatives. He will receive the AAAS Public Understanding of Science & Technology Award, which acknowledges his dynamic leadership in engaging the public in science.
A small clinical trial found that rituximab dramatically reduced inflammatory lesions and clinical symptoms in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. The study suggests that therapies targeting B-cells may provide an important treatment strategy for multiple sclerosis.
Robert Watson, a renowned climate scientist, has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to promoting international scientific cooperation. He is being awarded the AAAS International Scientific Cooperation Award for his work on environmental and sustainable development.
Researchers investigate anorthosites as a forgotten source of planetary magnetic anomalies, finding strong signatures of the Earth's magnetic field direction in ancient rocks. Another study proposes that gas hydrates in shallow marine sediments are the dominant source of methane in ice core records. A third study explores the feasibili...
The American Institute of Physics awarded prizes to four winners for their outstanding science writing. Quantum mechanics expert Tim Folger won for his article on the effect of gravity on a speck of dust, while physicist James Trefil received an award for explaining dark matter and dark energy in the universe's future.
Research published by the American Academy of Neurology found that smoking marijuana can have a harmful effect on cognitive skills in people with multiple sclerosis. The study also showed a significant association between marijuana use and emotional problems such as depression and anxiety.
The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) is launching a program to support young researcher parents, providing $18,000 'New Scholars' grants to cover childcare expenses during the Annual Meeting. This initiative aims to increase women's participation in science and address family care issues as a barrier to career development.
Researchers using Chandra X-ray Observatory data have reported a possible detection of a binary star system that was later destroyed in a supernova explosion. The new method provides great promise for finding the detailed origin of these cosmic events.
A new five-year study aims to identify modifiable beliefs and behaviors that boost memory performance in middle-aged and older adults. By assessing psychological and physiological pathways, researchers hope to develop effective interventions to reduce distress, impairment, and dependence.
Engineers at the University of Leeds have developed a new device that uses a specially-woven web to assist weak hearts, increasing internal pressure to improve blood flow. The web-based device eliminates the need for life-long drug therapy and reduces the risk of blood clots.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that physical attractiveness is equally important for both men and women, while earning power also plays a significant role. The study suggests that people may not know what they initially value in a romantic partner, leading to discrepancies between stated preferences and actual choices.
Researchers discovered over 100 mutant genes that allow the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum to cheat on spore production. This challenge evolutionary theory and suggests a constant battle between 'cheaters' and non-cheaters, with adaptations driving evolution.
A University of Illinois study found that exercise-trained mice had fewer gallstones than sedentary mice, with improved cholesterol levels and increased bile acid solubility. The researchers identified potential mechanisms to explain this link, providing new insights into the benefits of physical activity for reducing gallstone formation.
Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital found that routine screening for carbon monoxide poisoning can detect life-threatening cases in emergency room patients. The study screened over 14,000 patients and identified 11 unexpected cases, highlighting the importance of universal screening to prevent further exposure.
A genome-wide search for social genes has found that Dictyostelium discoideum have more than 100 genes regulating their cooperative behavior. Cheating mutations were identified in over 100 genes, highlighting the complex mechanisms behind social cooperation.
Research suggests that powerful individuals are less receptive to new ideas when they feel confident in their own opinions. Conversely, when made to feel powerless, they pay closer attention and weigh arguments more carefully. By temporarily reducing power, leaders can increase the likelihood of persuasion.
Researchers have developed a shirt that harnesses energy from the wearer's motion to power portable devices, generating up to 80 milliwatts of power per square meter of fabric. The technology, called the piezoelectric effect, converts mechanical stress into electrical energy.
Scientists from University of Chicago Medical Center report that moving active genes to nucleus periphery can silence them, preventing transcription. This novel form of gene regulation involves attachment to inner nuclear membrane, blocking transcription through proteins residing on the membrane.
Researchers develop fiber-based nanogenerators that harness energy from physical movement, generating up to 80 milliwatts of power per square meter of fabric. The devices use piezoelectric and semiconducting properties of zinc oxide nanostructures to convert mechanical motion into electrical energy.
Researchers at UNC School of Public Health found that noroviruses mutate genetically, similar to the flu virus. This discovery suggests a vaccine may be possible to prevent norovirus infections.
The Elsevier Foundation has awarded grants to thirteen institutions worldwide to promote innovation in developing countries and the academic workplace. The awards support initiatives that improve access to scientific information, develop information resources, and balance childcare responsibilities for early-career scholars.
Researchers found that Group Health patients who regularly used their SilverSneakers benefit experienced significantly fewer inpatient admissions and lower total health care costs. Regular physical activity can help prevent falls, heart attacks, and diabetes complications.
The GLAST observatory will explore extreme environments and search for new laws of physics, with a scheduled May 16 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The rocket's first stage has arrived at the space station, joining the second stage and solid rocket motors.
Researchers at The Wistar Institute have solved the structure of p300/CBP, a gene regulator implicated in deadliest cancers. The breakthrough reveals how p300/CBP regulates a wide variety of genes and enables the development of targeted cancer therapies.
India is experiencing a devastating tobacco-related disease crisis, with approximately 1 million deaths expected each year from 2010 to 2019. The study reveals that smoking causes nearly one in five male deaths and one in twenty female deaths at ages 30-69.
Two new dinosaurs, Kryptops and Eocarcharia, provide insight into an earlier stage in the evolution of Cretaceous Period's bizarre meat-eaters. They had distinctive adaptations for eating fresh meat, including short snouts and jaws designed for gnawing on carcasses.
The Great Ape Trust of Iowa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Universitas Nasional in Jakarta, Indonesia, to enhance academic cooperation and conserve Sumatran orangutans. The partnership will provide opportunities for students from around the world to study rapidly disappearing orangutans in the wild.
The winners of the 2008 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books include four children’s science picture book authors and illustrator, and three young adult science book authors. The prize promotes science literacy by recognizing authors who convey the excitement of science in ways that engage young minds.
Researchers found that smokers with a CETP gene defect are at higher risk of an early onset of heart disease due to decreased HDL levels. Smokers who carry this variant experience a heart attack around age 52, while those without it have similar risks as non-smokers.
Researchers at Penn discovered that a bacterial toxin from Staphylococcus aureus can shut down the control mechanism of an ion channel in immune cell membranes, suppressing the immune response. This finding suggests that identifying inhibitors of the toxin may lead to new therapies for treating MRSA and other resistant infections.
Researchers at the University of Granada have found that maslinic acid, a compound present in olive skin wax, has anti-cancer properties. The compound regulates cell growth and is selective in its action on carcinogenic cells.
A study published in Journal of Clinical Nursing found that giving birth to a boy can lead to higher levels of severe post-natal depression (PND) and reduced quality of life than having a girl. Women who gave birth to boys reported lower quality of life scores, even without PND.
Researchers found that HIV persists in the gut despite long-term antiretroviral therapy, which failed to eradicate the virus from gut-associated lymphoid tissue. B-cell abnormalities also persisted, with memory B cells failing to recover after treatment.
The debut issue of Foot & Ankle Specialist features a 3-step treatment plan for patients with diabetic foot infections, recommending tissue removal followed by comprehensive assessment and restructuring. This approach can help prevent limb loss, enabling practitioners to provide the best current diagnosis and therapy.
Research found that DDT's main metabolite, p,p'-DDE, disrupts hormone-sensitive breast cancer cells by opposing the androgen signalling pathway. This suggests a new mechanism for breast cancer progression, potentially favouring tumour growth in women.
A study published in BMC Medicine found that UK medical graduates from different schools perform significantly differently on national exams. The researchers argue that a national licensing exam is needed to standardize the training of doctors. The results showed that some medical schools teach skills not assessed by current exams.
Climate scientist James Hansen receives AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility for his outspoken advocacy on human influence on global climate. The award recognizes his efforts to protect the public's health and safety by communicating openly with the public about critical research findings.
A new study by the National Institutes of Health found that a stent designed to open clogged brain arteries was successfully deployed in nearly all cases and reduced arterial blockage, but long-term benefits compared to medical treatment alone were inconclusive. A large-scale randomized trial is expected to provide definitive results.
A University of Alberta study analyzing over 275,000 individuals found that different factors influence participation in physical activity. Walking was the most common form of exercise, with older adults more likely to participate.
Burton Richter, a Nobel laureate in physics, has been awarded the 2007 AAAS Philip Hauge Abelson Prize for his outstanding contributions to research and public policy. The prize recognizes his work on energy and sustainable development, as well as his tireless advocacy for sound science in American government.
Researchers have identified a remarkably well-preserved fossil of the most primitive bat species known to date, Onychonycteris finneyi. The discovery reveals that bats evolved the ability to fly before developing echolocation, providing conclusive evidence for this evolutionary order.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered a genetic process that boosts an organism's natural anti-virus defences by knocking out genes repressing interferon production in mice. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new anti-viral therapies in humans, providing a potential solution to combat viral pandemics.
Carlos Castillo Chavez has been honored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his efforts to help underrepresented students earn doctoral degrees in the sciences. Through his summer research program, he has mentored numerous Hispanic Americans and Native Americans to graduate programs.
A new computer model, developed by University of Illinois ecologist Adam Davis, aims to predict the most effective biological control agent for reducing garlic mustard populations in temperate forests. The model uses simulation dynamics and testing protocols to identify a tiny weevil as a promising candidate.