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Science News for January 6, 2010


Seeing with your hands? Hand amputation may result in altered perception around the hands

A study in Psychological Science reveals that hand amputation distorts visuospatial perception of the action space. Participants with amputations underestimated distances relative to their intact limbs. The research suggests losing a hand may 'shrink' the action space, leading to permanent spatial perception distortions.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJan 6, 2010

Fewer headaches on the horizon thanks to latest guidelines

The International Headache Society has published new research guidelines to stimulate more research into headache treatment and reduce health risks associated with treatment. The guidelines focus on episodic and chronic tension-type headaches, aiming to identify more effective treatments and improve clinical trial safety for patients.

SourceSAGE Publications UK·JournalCephalalgia·DateJan 6, 2010

Getting a grip on school timetables

Researchers in Brazil develop a GRASP heuristic for efficient school timetabling, solving the NP-hard problem by balancing teacher preferences, student schedules, and resource constraints. The algorithm improves solution quality and reduces building time.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Operational Research·DateJan 6, 2010

Setting the record straight on weight loss

A recent study by Research Australia suggests that relying solely on fat oxidation for weight loss is ineffective. The research found that mice genetically altered to burn fats in preference to carbohydrates still converted unburned carbohydrates into stored fat, ultimately leading to the same weight and body composition as normal mice.

SourceResearch Australia·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJan 6, 2010

Study: US biofuels policies flawed

A new policy paper questions the economic, environmental and logistical basis for billions of dollars in federal subsidies and protectionist tariffs for domestic ethanol producers. The report highlights the environmental threats posed by current biofuels policy and challenges claims that ethanol use lowers greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists reveal Milky Way's magnetic attraction

Scientists have discovered that the Milky Way's magnetic field is significantly stronger than initially believed, with a strength of at least 10 times greater than the rest of the galaxy. This finding has important implications for various astronomical data calculations and theories, including star formation and cosmology.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNature·DateJan 6, 2010

Multiple patient samples of an analyte improve detection of changes in clinical status

Researchers developed a mathematical methodology to reduce biologic variation in laboratory results, improving the sensitivity of detecting physiologic changes. By using multiple paired sets of patient data, they found a substantial decrease in the difference necessary to achieve a given confidence interval.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalArchives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine·DateJan 6, 2010