Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive 2012 - Page 67


Page 67 of 333

New weapons detail reveals true depth of Cuban Missile Crisis

Recent analysis in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists reveals that the Cuban Missile Crisis was even more perilous than history has acknowledged. Senior experts have calculated the nature of nuclear weapons capabilities on both sides, finding that the situation was more serious and dangerous than previously thought. The study highli...

SourceSAGE·JournalBulletin of the Atomic Scientists·DateOct 12, 2012

Quiz, already used in elderly, could determine death risk for kidney dialysis patients of all ages

A simple six-question quiz can identify kidney dialysis patients at high risk of death, with those needing assistance with basic activities being more than three times more likely to die. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that over 600,000 people in the US are on dialysis due to kidney failure.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateOct 12, 2012

Veterans are at higher risk of alcohol abuse relapse due to smoking

A recent study published in Frontiers found that veterans who smoke are more likely to experience cognitive impairment and are at a higher risk of relapse. The research controlled for genetic variables and showed that smokers performed worse on measures of learning, memory, and processing speed compared to non-smokers.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Pharmacology·DateOct 12, 2012

Stem cells from muscle tissue may hold key to cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have isolated neural precursor cells from skeletal muscle tissue, which can survive in the brain and migrate to areas where neural stem cells originate. The cells also showed no signs of tumor formation, offering a potential alternative source for treating brain tumors and other central...

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalExperimental Cell Research·DateOct 12, 2012

Arctic and Southern Oceans appear to determine the composition of microbial populations

A recent study published in PNAS found that the Arctic and Southern Oceans have distinct microbial community compositions, with few common members sharing surface areas. The research suggests that freshwater input from glaciers and rivers drives these differences, with a greater prevalence of unique organisms in coastal regions.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 11, 2012

University of Washington researchers focus on quorum sensing to better understand bacteria

Researchers at the University of Washington examined the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which colonizes in cystic fibrosis patients. They found that certain cells called cheater cells share public goods without releasing them, leading to destabilization of cooperation and potential new strategies for infection control.

Choreography of submerged whale lunges revealed

Researchers found that humpback whales use a unique tactic to lunge for krill, beating their tail fins twice as fast as normal and maintaining speed while gliding after opening their mouths. This discovery suggests that lunge feeding may be cheaper than previously thought, but still highly demanding.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateOct 11, 2012

Soft-shelled turtles urinate through mouth

Researchers discovered that Chinese soft-shelled turtles urinate primarily through their mouths, allowing them to conserve water in brackish environments. This unique adaptation enables the turtles to avoid problems associated with drinking salty water and excreting excess salts.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateOct 11, 2012

UCI gets $1 million to combat elder abuse

UC Irvine's Program in Geriatrics has been awarded a three-year, $1 million grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging to implement a new federal initiative combating elder abuse. The program will test promising community-based practices to prevent the abuse of people with dementia, with the goal of reducing this complex and interrela...

Airborne superbugs elude hospital cleaning regimes

Researchers at University of Leeds found that hospital superbugs can spread far beyond patient beds through airborne dispersal, contaminating surfaces up to 3.5 meters away. This discovery highlights the need for improved ward layouts and ventilation systems to prevent microorganism deposition on accessible surfaces.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalBuilding and Environment·DateOct 11, 2012

Diverse intestinal viruses may play a role in AIDS progression

Researchers found a large number of previously undescribed viruses in the gastrointestinal tract of monkeys with SIV-induced AIDS, suggesting these viruses may contribute to disease progression. The presence of RNA viruses alongside DNA viruses offers new insights into the complex interplay between microorganisms and disease.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateOct 11, 2012