ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Saturday, September 25, 2010

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

---

Ancient Egypt's pyramids: Norwegian researcher unlocks construction secrets (September 24, 2010) -- Scientists from around the world have tried to understand how the Egyptians erected their giant pyramids. Now, an architect and researcher from Norway says he has the answer to this ancient, unsolved puzzle. ... > full story

Researchers create first molecule-blocks key component of cancer genes' on-off switch (September 24, 2010) -- In the quest to arrest the growth and spread of tumors, there have been many attempts to get cancer genes to ignore their internal instruction manual. In a new study, a team of scientists has created the first molecule able to prevent cancer genes from "hearing" those instructions, stifling the cancer process at its root. ... > full story

New map offers a global view of health-sapping air pollution (September 24, 2010) -- In many developing countries, the absence of surface-based air pollution sensors makes it difficult, and in some cases impossible, to get even a rough estimate of the abundance of a subcategory of airborne particles that epidemiologists suspect contributes to millions of premature deaths each year. ... > full story

New findings on multiple sclerosis: Immune cells also attack neurons directly (September 24, 2010) -- Researchers in Germany have gained new insight into how the immune system causes damage associated with multiple sclerosis, an incurable neuroinflammatory disorder. Using imaging tools which enable investigation of processes in living organisms, the scientists show a direct interaction between immune cells and neurons which plays a significant role in neuronal injury. ... > full story

A biological solution to animal pandemics (September 24, 2010) -- Using all-natural materials -- flax, hemp, jute and natural resin -- researchers in Poland have developed a new absorbent matting ideal for providing a disinfectant barrier for use in animal housing and other food production sites, both at times of outbreak of contagious disease and for routine hygiene. The matting is cheaper than the synthetic alternatives, both initially and because it is fully biodegradable so does not need special disposal. ... > full story

Psychological pain of Holocaust still haunts survivors (September 24, 2010) -- Holocaust survivors show remarkable resilience in their day-to-day lives, but they still manifest the pain of their traumatic past in the form of various psychiatric symptoms, according to an analysis of 44 years of global psychological research. ... > full story

Mimicking nature, water-based 'artificial leaf' produces electricity (September 24, 2010) -- Scientists have shown that water-gel-based solar devices -- "artificial leaves" -- can act like solar cells to produce electricity. The findings prove the concept for making solar cells that more closely mimic nature. They also have the potential to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than the current standard-bearer: silicon-based solar cells. ... > full story

Botulinum toxin may offer temporary drooling relief in children with neurological disorders (September 24, 2010) -- Botulinum toxin treatment appears to offer a temporary, short-term solution to relieve drooling in children diagnosed with certain neurological disorders, according to a new study. ... > full story

Stress can control our genes, researchers find (September 24, 2010) -- Researchers in Denmark have shown that stress-factors can control our genes. Exposing human cells to a stress-activating compound turned on genes that are normally silenced. Protective complexes that prevents our genes from being read and translated into protein, where lost when the cells experienced stress. The consequence is that genes that should be turned off are now active and this may disturb cellular development, identity and growth. ... > full story

Cancer researchers discover new signaling pathway that controls cell development and cancer (September 24, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a new cell signaling pathway that controls cell growth and development, a pathway that, when defective, helps promote the formation of several major forms of human cancer, including lymphoma and leukemia. ... > full story

Biometric ID technologies 'inherently fallible,' new report finds (September 24, 2010) -- Biometric systems -- designed to automatically recognize individuals based on biological and behavioral traits such as fingerprints, palm prints, or voice or face recognition -- are "inherently fallible," says a new report, and no single trait has been identified that is stable and distinctive across all groups. ... > full story

Can't focus? Maybe it's the wrong time of month, finds estrogen study on attention and learning (September 24, 2010) -- Feeling a little sluggish and having trouble concentrating? Hormones might be to blame according to new research. The study shows that high estrogen levels are associated with an inability to pay attention and learn -- the first such paper to report how this impediment can be due to a direct effect of the hormone on mature brain structures. ... > full story

---

Copyright 1995-2010 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.

This message was sent from ScienceDaily to beritanarablog@gmail.com. It was sent from: ScienceDaily, 1 Research Court, Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20850. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below. Email Marketing by

To update/change your profile click here