
Hydrogen from Acidic Water: Potential Low Cost Alternative to Platinum for Splitting Water
A technique for creating a new
molecule that structurally and
chemically replicates the active
part of the molybdenite catalyst
paves the way for developing
catalytic materials that can serve
... > full story
- more on:

Ocean Microbe Communities Changing, but Long-Term Environmental Impact Is Unclear
As oceans warm due to climate
change, water layers will mix less
and affect the microbes and
plankton that pump carbon out of
the atmosphere – but
researchers say it's still unclear
... > full story
- more on:

Gene Therapy Boosts Brain Repair for Demyelinating Diseases
Our bodies are full of tiny
superheroes -- antibodies that
fight foreign invaders, cells that
regenerate, and structures that
ensure our systems run smoothly.
One such structure is myelin, a
material that forms a protective
... > full story
- more on:

How the Zebra Got Its Stripes
Horseflies are unpleasant insects
that deliver powerful bites and
now it seems that zebras evolved
their stripes to avoid attracting
the unpleasant pests. New research
show that zebras have the least
attractive hides for horseflies. ... > full story
- more on:

Amazing Skin Gives Sharks a Push
Shark skin has long been known to
improve the fish's swimming
performance by reducing drag, but
now a new study show that in
addition, the skin generates
thrust, giving the fish an extra
boost. The duo also discovered
that Speedo's shark skin-inspired
... > full story
- more on:

Global Sea Level Rise: NASA Mission Takes Stock of Earth's Melting Land Ice
In the first comprehensive
satellite study of its kind,
researchers have used NASA data to
calculate how much Earth's melting
land ice is adding to global sea
level rise. Using satellite
measurements from the NASA/German
... > full story
- more on:

Tiny Primate Is Ultrasonic Communicator
Tarsiers' ultrasonic calls --
among the most extreme in the
animal kingdom -- give them a
"private channel" of
communication, says an
anthropologist. ... > full story
- more on:

Memory Strengthened by Stimulating Key Site in Brain
Ever gone to the movies and
forgotten where you parked the
car? New research may one day help
you improve your memory.
Neuroscientists have demonstrated
that they can strengthen memory in
human patients by stimulating a
... > full story
- more on:

January 2012 Fourth Warmest for Contiguous United States, but Alaska Extremely Cold
During January,
warmer-than-average conditions
enveloped most of the contiguous
United States, with widespread
below-average precipitation. The
overall weather pattern for the
... > full story
- more on:

DNA Sequencing Helps Identify Cancer Cells for Immune System Attack
DNA sequences from tumor cells can
be used to direct the immune
system to attack cancer, according
to scientists. The immune system
relies on an intricate network of
alarm bells, targets and safety
brakes to determine when and what
... > full story
- more on:
Roll over headlines to view top news summaries:
- Hydrogen from Acidic Water
- Ocean Microbe Communities Changing
- Gene Therapy Boosts Brain Repair
- How the Zebra Got Its Stripes
- Amazing Skin Gives Sharks a Push
- Taking Stock of Earth's Melting Land Ice
- Tiny Primate Is Ultrasonic Communicator
- Memory Improved by Stimulating Key Brain Site
- January 2012 Fourth Warmest in Contiguous U.S.
- Directing the Immune System to Attack Cancer
- more top science stories
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Top Medical News
To Perform With Less Effort, Practice Beyond Perfection
Whether you are an athlete, a musician or a stroke patient learning to walk again, practice can make perfect, but more practice may make you more efficient, according to a surprising new ... > full story
Top Technology News
Seismic Resistance: Model Analyzes Shape-Memory Alloys for Use in Earthquake-Resistant Structures
Recent earthquake damage has exposed the vulnerability of existing structures to strong ground movement. Researchers are now analyzing shape-memory alloys for their potential use in constructing seismic-resistant ... > full story
Top Environment News
Deconstructing a Mystery: What Caused Snowmaggedon?
Scientists are using computer models to help unravel the mystery of a record-setting snowfall in the Washington, DC area in early ... > full story
More Science Headlines
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11 pm EST
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What Kind of Chocolate Is Best? The Last You Taste, Says a New Study
February 9, 2012 Like to save the best for last? Here's good news: If it's the last, you'll like it the ... > full story -
Presdisposition to Common Heart Disease 'Passed on from Father to Son'
February 8, 2012 A common heart disease which kills thousands each year may be passed genetically from father to son, according to a new ... > full story -
Health Policy; Today's Healthcare; Public Health; Pharmacology; Diseases and Conditions; Teen Health;
Financial Burden of Prescription Drugs Is Dropping, U.S. Study Finds
February 8, 2012 The financial challenge Americans face paying out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs has declined, but the costs remain a burden to many families, according to a new study. Despite the improvement, more than 8 million non-elderly Americans live ... > full story -
Fasting Weakens Cancer in Mice
February 8, 2012 New study finds that short fasting cycles can work as well as chemotherapy, and the two combined greatly improve ... > full story -
Eye Care; Gene Therapy; Diseases and Conditions; Personalized Medicine; Immune System; Birth Defects;
Gene Therapy for Inherited Blindness Succeeds in Patients' Other Eye
February 8, 2012 Gene therapy for congenital blindness took another step forward, as researchers further improved vision in three adult patients previously treated in one eye. The patients were better able to see in dim light, with no adverse ... > full story
8 pm EST
-
Milky Way's Black Hole Found Grazing on Asteroids
February 8, 2012 The giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way may be vaporizing and devouring asteroids, which could explain the frequent flares observed, according to ... > full story -
Wildfires; Wind Energy; Renewable Energy; Construction; Natural Disasters; Energy and the Environment;
Report on Texas Fire Urges Firefighters to Consider Wind Effects
February 8, 2012 Wind conditions at a fire scene can make a critical difference on the behavior of the blaze and the safety of firefighters, even indoors, according to a new ... > full story -
Octagonal Window of Opportunity for Carbon Capture
February 8, 2012 Scientists have gathered new insight into the performance of a material called a zeolite that may filter carbon dioxide far more efficiently than current industrial "scrubbers" ... > full story -
Flipping a Light Switch in the Cell: Quantum Dots Used for Targeted Neural Activation
February 8, 2012 By harnessing quantum dots, researchers have developed a new and vastly more targeted way to stimulate neurons in the brain. Being able to switch neurons on and off and monitor how they communicate with one another is crucial for understanding -- ... > full story -
Unusual 'Collapsing' Iron Superconductor Sets Record for Its Class
February 8, 2012 Scientists have found an iron-based superconductor that operates at the highest known temperature for a material in its class. The discovery inches iron-based superconductors closer to being useful in many practical ... > full story
5 pm EST
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Heart Disease May Be a Risk Factor for Prostate Cancer
February 8, 2012 In a large analysis of men participating in a prostate drug trial, researchers found a significant correlation between coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, suggesting the two conditions may have shared ... > full story -
Arsenic Criticality Poses Concern for Modern Technology
February 8, 2012 Risks related to the critical nature of arsenic -- used to make high-speed computer chips that contain gallium arsenide -- outstrip those of other substances in a group of critical materials needed to sustain modern technology, a new study has ... > full story -
'Shish Kebab' Structure Provides Improved Form of 'Buckypaper'
February 8, 2012 Scientists are reporting development of a new form of buckypaper, which eliminates a major drawback of these sheets of carbon nanotubes -- 50,000 times thinner than a human hair, 10 times lighter than steel, but up to 250 times stronger -- with ... > full story -
Lull in Ship Noise After Sept. 11 Attacks Eased Stress on Right Whales
February 8, 2012 Exposure to low-frequency ship noise may be associated with chronic stress in whales, according to a new study. The study, conducted in Canada's Bay of Fundy, has implications for all baleen whales in areas with heavy ship traffic, and for the ... > full story -
Materials Science; Alternative Fuels; Nanotechnology; Energy Technology; Inorganic Chemistry; Chemistry;
Bubble-Powered Microrockets Zoom Have Potential to Zoom Through the Human Stomach, Other Acidic Environments
February 8, 2012 Scientists have developed a new kind of tiny motor -- which they term a "microrocket" -- that can propel itself through acidic environments, such as the human stomach, without any external energy source, opening the way to a variety of medical and ... > full story
2 pm EST
-
Obstacles No Barrier to Higher Speeds for Worms
February 8, 2012 Obstacles in an organism's path can help it to move faster, not slower, researchers have found through a series of experiments and computer simulations. Their findings have implications for a better understanding of basic locomotion strategies found ... > full story -
Growing Up on a Farm Directly Affects Regulation of the Immune System, Study Finds
February 8, 2012 A new study has shown, for the first time, that growing up on a farm directly affects the regulation of the immune system and causes a reduction in the immunological responses to food ... > full story -
Scientists Make Iron Transparent: For First Time, Experiment Shows That Atomic Nuclei Can Become Transparent
February 8, 2012 At the high-brilliance synchrotron light source PETRA III, scientists have succeeded in making atomic nuclei transparent with the help of X-ray light. At the same time they have also discovered a new way to realize an optically controlled light ... > full story -
Tuna and Mackerel Populations Have Reduced by 60% in the Last Century
February 8, 2012 A new study shows that the impact of fishing for tuna and similar species during the last 50 years has lessened the abundance of all these populations by an average of 60%. Experts add that the majority of tuna fish have been exploited to the limits ... > full story -
High Levels of Cadmium or Lead in Blood Linked to Pregnancy Delay
February 8, 2012 Higher blood levels of cadmium in females, and higher blood levels of lead in males, delayed pregnancy in couples trying to become pregnant, according to a new ... > full story
11 am EST
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Most Detailed Infrared Image of the Carina Nebula Ever
February 8, 2012 ESO's Very Large Telescope has delivered the most detailed infrared image of the Carina Nebula stellar nursery taken so far. Many previously hidden features, scattered across a spectacular celestial landscape of gas, dust and young stars, have ... > full story -
Molecular Biology; Cell Biology; Sleep Disorder Research; Genetics; Biotechnology; Insomnia Research;
Molecular Path from Internal Clock to Cells Controlling Rest and Activity Revealed
February 7, 2012 The molecular pathway that carries time-of-day signals from the body's internal clock to ultimately guide daily behavior is like a black box, says a researcher. Now, new research is taking a peek inside, describing a molecular pathway and its inner ... > full story -
Fall of Communism Changed Mathematics in US
February 7, 2012 The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992 brought an influx of Soviet mathematicians to US institutions, and those scholars' differing areas of specialization have changed the way math is studied and taught in this country, according to new ... > full story -
Computer Science; Distributed Computing; Information Technology; Technology; Organic Chemistry; Biochemistry Research;
Scientists Develop Biological Computer to Encrypt and Decipher Images
February 7, 2012 Scientists have developed a "biological computer" made entirely from biomolecules that is capable of deciphering images encrypted on DNA ... > full story -
Asthma; Lung Disease; Today's Healthcare; Chronic Illness; Diseases and Conditions; Staying Healthy;
Drinking Large Amounts of Soft Drinks Associated With Asthma and COPD
February 7, 2012 A high level of soft drink consumption is associated with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to new ... > full story
8 am EST
-
Preventing Bacteria from Falling in With the Wrong Crowd Could Help Stop Gum Disease
February 7, 2012 Stripping some mouth bacteria of their access key to gangs of other pathogenic oral bacteria could help prevent gum disease and tooth loss. The study suggests that this bacterial access key could be a drug target for people who are at high risk of ... > full story -
Scientists Use Old Theory to Discover New Targets in Fight Against Breast Cancer
February 7, 2012 Reviving a theory first proposed in the late 1800s that the development of organs in the normal embryo and the development of cancers are related, scientists have studied organ development in mice to unravel how breast cancers, and perhaps other ... > full story -
Parkinson's Research; Parkinson's; Disorders and Syndromes; Diseases and Conditions; Gene Therapy; Human Biology;
Gaining Insight Into a Gene's Protective Role in Parkinson's
February 7, 2012 Researchers have identified how a specific gene protects dopamine-producing neurons from dying in both animal models and in cultures of human ... > full story -
Scared of a Younger Rival? Not for Some Male Songbirds
February 7, 2012 When mature male white-crowned sparrows duel to win a mate or a nesting territory, a young bird just doesn’t get much ... > full story -
Discovery Uses 'Fracture Putty' to Repair Broken Bone in Days
February 7, 2012 Broken bones in humans and animals are painful and often take months to heal. New research shows promise to shorten healing time significantly and revolutionize the course of fracture ... > full story
5 am EST
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Ancient Seagrass Holds Secrets of the Oldest Living Organism on Earth
February 7, 2012 It's big, it's old and it lives under the sea -- and now an international research collaboration has confirmed that an ancient seagrass holds the secrets of the oldest living organism on Earth. Ancient giant Posidonia oceanica reproduces asexually, ... > full story -
Mars Express Radar Yields Strong Evidence of Ocean That Once Covered Part of Red Planet
February 7, 2012 ESA's Mars Express has returned strong evidence for an ocean once covering part of Mars. Using radar, it has detected sediments reminiscent of an ocean floor within the boundaries of previously identified, ancient shorelines on ... > full story -
2011 Shark Attacks Remain Steady, Deaths Highest Since 1993
February 7, 2012 Shark attacks in the US declined in 2011, but worldwide fatalities reached a two-decade high, according to the a new ... > full story -
Ovarian Cancer Risk Related to Inherited Inflammation Genes
February 7, 2012 Genes that are known to be involved in inflammation were found to be related to risk of ovarian ... > full story -
Innovation Promises Expanded Roles for Microsensors
February 7, 2012 Researchers have learned how to improve the performance of sensors that use tiny vibrating microcantilevers to detect chemical and biological agents for applications from national security to food ... > full story
2 am EST
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New Diet: Top Off Breakfast With -- Chocolate Cake?
February 7, 2012 In a study of nearly 200 clinically obese, non-diabetic adults, a researcher found that a 600-calorie breakfast that includes dessert as well as proteins and carbohydrates can help dieters lose weight and keep it off over the long term. Her research ... > full story -
Vitamin D Deficiency High Among Trauma Patients
February 7, 2012 New research has found that 77 percent of trauma patients had deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin ... > full story -
A Bronze Russian Doll: The Metal in the Metal in the Metal
February 7, 2012 Just like in the Russian wooden toy, a hull of 12 copper atoms encases a single tin atom. This hull is, in turn, enveloped by 20 further tin atoms. Scientists have now generated these spatial structures built up in three layers as isolated metal ... > full story -
Today's Healthcare; Heart Disease; Wounds and Healing; Diseases and Conditions; Stroke Prevention; Health Policy;
Knee Replacement May Lower a Patient's Risk for Mortality and Heart Failure, Study Suggests
February 7, 2012 New research highlights the benefits of total knee ... > full story -
Competitive Soccer Linked to Increased Injuries and Menstrual Dysfunction in Girls
February 7, 2012 In the US, there are nearly three million youth soccer players, and half of them are female. New research has found that despite reporting appropriate body perception and attitudes toward eating, elite youth soccer athletes face an increased risk ... > full story
Health & Biomedical Sciences
Health & Medicine
Chlorhexidine Umbilical Cord Care Can Save Newborn Lives
Cleansing a newborn's umbilical cord with chlorhexidine can reduce an infant's risk of infection and death during the first weeks of life by as much as 20 percent, according to a new study. The study is the latest in a series of studies showing that ... > full story
Mind & Brain
As Valentine's Day Approaches, Cardiologist Describes Broken Heart Syndrome
People who have been unlucky in love are said to suffer from a "broken heart." A broken heart is an actual medical condition. Broken heart syndrome occurs during highly stressful or emotional times, such as a painful breakup, the death of a spouse ... > full story
Living Well
Some Formerly Cohabiting Couples With Children Keep Romantic Relationship
When low-income cohabiting couples with children decide to no longer live together, that doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their romantic relationship, a new study ... > full story
- After-School Program Can Reduce Alcohol Use Among Middle School Students, Study Finds
- Physical Activity Yields Feelings of Excitement, Enthusiasm
- New Non-Invasive Fat Removal Technologies Offer Alternative to Liposuction for Removing Stubborn Fat
- New Anti-Aging Treatments Make It Easier to Turn Back the Clock
- more stories
Biological & Earth Sciences
Plants & Animals
Why Bad Immunity Genes Survive: Study Implicates Arms Race Between Genes and Germs
Biologists have found new evidence for why mice, people and other vertebrate animals carry thousands of varieties of genes to make immune-system proteins named MHCs -- even though some of those genes make us ... > full story
Earth & Climate
Americans' Knowledge of Polar Regions Up, but Not Their Concern
Americans’ knowledge of facts about the polar regions of the globe has increased since 2006, but this increase in knowledge has not translated into more concern about changing polar environments, according to new ... > full story
Fossils & Ruins
Charter Service: Encasing the Magna Carta
You often hear about the Framers of the Constitution, but not so much the framers of the Magna Carta. They work for the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Not the authors, of course; they've been dead 700 years. But a NIST ... > full story
Physical & Applied Sciences
Space & Time
NASA Small Explorer Mission Celebrates 10 Years and 40,000 X-Ray Flares
On February 5, 2002, NASA launched what was then called the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (HESSI) into orbit. Renamed within months as the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) after Reuven Ramaty, a deceased NASA scientist ... > full story
Matter & Energy
Mars-Bound NASA Rover Carries Coin for Camera Checkup
The camera at the end of the robotic arm on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has its own calibration target, a smartphone-size plaque that looks like an eye chart supplemented with color chips and an attached penny. When Curiosity lands on Mars in ... > full story
Computers & Math
Hard Drive Breakthrough: New Magnetic Recording Technique Uses Heat to Process Information Much Faster Than Current Technology
Scientists have demonstrated a revolutionary new way of magnetic recording which will allow information to be processed hundreds of times faster than by current hard drive technology. The researchers found they could record information using only ... > full story

