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Science News Archive April 2012 - Page 25


Page 25 of 29

Sexual objectification of female artists in music videos exists regardless of race, MU study finds

A recent study found that sexual objectification of female artists in music videos is a pervasive issue across all genres, with African-American artists wearing more provocative attire. The research suggests that music videos can play a significant role in shaping young audiences' perceptions of attractiveness and value.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalHoward Journal of Communications·DateApr 4, 2012

Your supermarket may affect your weight

A study of 7,131 participants in Paris found that shopping at discount supermarkets or in areas with poorly educated consumers is associated with higher body mass indices (BMI) and waist circumferences. Supermarket size and produce quality were not linked to BMI or waist circumference.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 4, 2012

Cone snail venom controls pain

Researchers have identified three active variants of a conotoxin that blocks the transmission of pain signals in nerves. These venomous peptides, derived from cone snails, show great promise for developing new painkillers with minimal dependency and faster degradation rates.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateApr 4, 2012

A new MCAT for tomorrow's physician

A new medical college admission test (MCAT) is proposed to prioritize knowledge of behavioral and social sciences. The authors argue that this shift will help practicing physicians address modifiable behaviors contributing to premature deaths in the US.

SourceNIH/Office of the Director·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 4, 2012

Internet use promotes democracy best in countries that are already partially free

A study by Ohio State University researchers found that internet use is most effective in promoting democracy in countries with partial freedoms. In these nations, increased internet penetration and online activity drive demand for democratic reforms. However, the internet has limited impact in highly authoritarian regimes, where ruler...

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Communication·DateApr 4, 2012

Mobile technology helps explore nicotine addiction

A team of researchers used mobile devices to collect data on nicotine addiction and found that successful quitters had a weaker association between their urge to smoke and their ability to quit. The study suggests that baseline nicotine dependence and negative emotional states influence people's urge to smoke while trying to quit.

SourcePenn State·JournalPrevention Science·DateApr 4, 2012

Antibody therapy prevents gastrointestinal damage following radiation exposure in mice

Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have discovered an antibody therapy that prevents lethal gastrointestinal damage following radiation exposure in mice. The treatment, which targets ceramide molecules, improved survival rates from 0% to 80% among mice exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation.

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 4, 2012

Disarming disease-causing bacteria

Research discovered a protein complex called the Translocation and Assembly Module (TAM), which forms a molecular pump allowing bacteria to shuttle disease-causing molecules from inside to outside the bacterial cell. This finding paves the way for designing new drugs that inhibit this process, potentially preventing antibiotic resistance.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateApr 4, 2012

Growing nitrous oxide levels explained

Researchers have generated a 65-year record of Southern Hemisphere nitrous oxide measurements to better understand the long-lived greenhouse gas's impact on climate and stratospheric ozone depletion. The study found a 20% increase in atmospheric nitrous oxide since 1750, largely attributed to agricultural sources.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 4, 2012

Fasting for Lent forces hyenas to change diet

Spotted hyenas adapt to changing human food sources during the 55-day Abye Tsome (Lent) fast, shifting from scavenging to hunting, with donkey hairs found in their droppings increasing significantly during Lent

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateApr 4, 2012

Genetic mutations at conception linked to many cases of autism

A recent study by Yale University researchers found that approximately 15% of autism cases in families with a single autistic child are associated with spontaneous genetic mutations. The study analyzed DNA sequencing data from 238 families and identified hundreds of de novo sequence variations linked to an increased risk for autism.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateApr 4, 2012

A cannibalistic galaxy with a powerful heart

The closest large elliptical galaxy to the Milky Way, Centaurus A has a twisted disc of dust near its centre, formed from a cosmic collision with another galaxy. The galaxy's powerful heart features two massive jets streaming from a massive black hole, emitting strong radio emission and visible in far-infrared images.

SourceUK Space Agency·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateApr 4, 2012

Is rainfall a greater threat to China's agriculture than warming?

New research reveals that rainfall has a greater impact on China's agriculture than rising temperatures. The study, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, found that maize is sensitive to warming but not as affected by rainfall variability as previously thought.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the Science of Food and Agriculture·DateApr 4, 2012

Facilitating the work of forensic scientists

The Metabolomips group has developed a methodology for detecting gunshot residues, which can produce reliable analyses within an hour. They have also created a method to identify antipsychotic drugs in the human brain, with potential applications in forensic analysis and post-mortem diagnostic tests.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateApr 4, 2012

Korean connection makes an 8,000-km telescope

Australians and Koreans have linked their radio telescopes for the first time, creating a gigantic telescope spanning over 8,000 km. The combined system has 100 times the resolving power of the Hubble Space Telescope, enabling scientists to study distant galaxies in unprecedented detail.