Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for January 18, 2008


Face facts: People don't stand out in crowds

Researchers found that face recognition is more difficult when target faces are surrounded by upright faces, indicating that images of upright faces interfere with each other. The study's findings have implications for individuals with face-recognition disorders and may inform the development of efficient artificial visual systems.

SourceAssociation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology·JournalJournal of Vision·DateJan 18, 2008

Can hantavirus infection spread among humans?

Research at Umea University in Sweden has shown that hantavirus exists in human saliva, sparking concerns about its potential spread among humans. The study found virus RNA in saliva samples from 10 out of 14 patients with nephropathia epidemica during last year's epidemic.

SourceSwedish Research Council·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateJan 18, 2008

Case researcher in RNA biology makes waves by challenging current thinking

A recent study by Kristian E. Baker and Ambro van Hoof directly challenged the 'faux 3' UTR model of mRNA decay, revealing a critical flaw in the existing understanding of this process. This breakthrough discovery has significant implications for gene expression regulation and potential therapeutic strategies for genetic diseases.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalMolecular Cell·DateJan 18, 2008

World-leading journal publishes special issue on UN/GA

The special issue reports on discussions of selected legal and environmental issues at the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly. It also covers high-level meetings on climate change and explores underlying sources of global problems.

SourceIOS Press·JournalEnvironmental Policy and Law·DateJan 18, 2008
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

People not always needed to alleviate loneliness

Research reveals that people's tendency to anthropomorphize (attribute human-like qualities) non-human entities can serve as a coping mechanism for loneliness. This phenomenon carries therapeutic and societal implications, suggesting that non-human connections can provide psychological benefits similar to those from human relationships.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalPsychological Science·DateJan 18, 2008

Going global -- is the future bright?

A new book, Going Global, explores emerging trends and potential future of business, global poverty, communications and the world food supply. It forecasts that more people will work in virtual worlds like Second Life, blurring the line between work and leisure.

SourceEconomic & Social Research Council·DateJan 18, 2008

MNI researchers locate neurological basis of depression following sports concussion

Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute found that concussed athletes with depression showed reduced brain activity in regions known to be implicated in depression. The study provides important clinical implications for treating individuals who have suffered a cerebral concussion and highlights the importance of early interv...

SourceMontreal Neurological Institute and Hospital·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateJan 18, 2008
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings Jan. tip sheet

Antioxidant supplements were found to have no beneficial effects on reducing cancer risk, while beta carotene supplementation was linked to increased risk of smoking-related cancers. The study also provides practical guidelines for workplace drug screening and concludes that nasal spray flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to preven...

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateJan 18, 2008

Tiny genetic differences have huge consequences: McGill researchers

A recent study by McGill researchers has identified that small genetic variations can significantly affect the way genes produce proteins, resulting in diverse physical characteristics. These changes may contribute to the development of diseases such as cystic fibrosis and Type 1 diabetes.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Genetics·DateJan 18, 2008

The human brain: Detective of auditory and visual change

The human brain can quickly perceive visual and auditory changes, but a recent study found that this ability is impaired when there's a brief time gap between the change and our perception. The researchers discovered that the brain uses more efficient mechanisms for auditory memory than visual memory.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJan 18, 2008
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Stevens' Environmental Entrepreneurship Program receives $570,000 from NSF

The National Science Foundation has awarded Stevens Institute of Technology a two-year grant to create and implement the Environmental Entrepreneurship Lab. The lab aims to foster rapid marketplace realization of environmental innovations through an unconventional innovation transfer process, combining technology push with market pull.

SourceStevens Institute of Technology·DateJan 18, 2008

Depression and anxiety can double chances of heart ailments

Researchers at McGill University and Université de Montréal found that depression and anxiety can double a patient's chances of repeated heart ailments. Patients with coronary artery disease who had major depression or anxiety were more likely to experience cardiac events over two years.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateJan 18, 2008

Europe's Mercury mission swings into action

BepiColombo, a joint ESA-JAXA mission, will make the most comprehensive study of Mercury ever, revealing its composition, magnetosphere, and origin. The mission consists of two spacecraft: MPO and MMO, carrying instruments to study the planet's surface and internal structure.

SourceScience and Technology Facilities Council·DateJan 18, 2008

USC advances in application for stem cell research facilities grant

The University of Southern California (USC) has been selected for a major funding round to establish a new institute for stem cell research. The grant, worth up to $262 million, will support the construction of a facility for basic and discovery stem cell research, as well as preclinical and clinical studies.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·DateJan 18, 2008

Combined radiation seed, chemotherapy wafer implants show promise in treating cancerous brain tumors

A study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery found that simultaneous implantation of radioactive seeds and chemotherapy wafers following surgery improved patient survival rates for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients. The median survival was 69 weeks, with nearly a quarter of patients surviving two years.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalJournal of Neurosurgery·DateJan 18, 2008
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Multinationals in emerging China should stick to their own ways of managing

A new study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council found that foreign retailers can provide workers with opportunities to prosper and improve their skills in Chinese subsidiaries. Contrary to expectations, job satisfaction was high among employees in apparently menial jobs, such as checkout staff and warehouse workers.

SourceEconomic & Social Research Council·DateJan 18, 2008