Public Release: 6-Apr-2008
American Chemical Society 235th National Meeting
As nanotech goes mainstream, 'toxic socks' raise concerns
Valued for it's antibacterial and odor-fighting properties, nanoparticle silver is becoming the star attraction in a range of products from socks to bandages to washing machines. But as silver’s benefits propel it to the forefront of consumer nanomaterials, scientists are recommending a closer examination of the unforeseen environmental and health consequences of nanosilver.
Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-4400
American Chemical Society
Public Release: 6-Apr-2008
American Chemical Society 235th National Meeting
Meteorites delivered the 'seeds' of Earth's left-hand life
Scientists presented evidence today that desert heat, a little water, and meteorite impacts may have been enough to cook up one of the first prerequisites for life: The dominance of "left-handed" amino acids, the building blocks of life on this planet. In a report at the 235th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, Ronald Breslow, Ph.D., University Professor, Columbia University, and former ACS President, described how our amino acid signature came from outer space.
Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-4400
American Chemical Society
Public Release: 6-Apr-2008
American Chemical Society 235th National Meeting
Alligator blood may put the bite on antibiotic-resistant infections
Despite their reputation for deadly attacks on humans and pets, alligators are wiggling their way toward a new role as potential lifesavers in medicine. Scientists report that proteins in gator blood may provide powerful new antibiotics to help fight infections associated with diabetic ulcers, severe burns and "superbugs" that are resistant to conventional medication. Their research will be presented in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-4400
American Chemical Society
Public Release: 6-Apr-2008
Experimental Biology 2008
1/3 of risk for dementia attributable to small vessel disease, autopsy study shows
Alzheimer's disease may be what most people fear as they grow older, but autopsy data from a long-range study of 3,400 men and women in the Seattle region found that the brains of a third of those who had become demented before death showed evidence of small vessel damage: the type of small, cumulative injury that can come from hypertension or diabetes.
Contact: Sylvia Wrobel
ebpress@gmail.com
770-722-1055
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Public Release: 6-Apr-2008
Nature Medicine
New study shows that fetal cells to treat Parkinson's disease may not function long term
Neurons grafted into the brain of a patient with Parkinson's disease fourteen years ago have developed Lewy body pathology, the defining pathology for the disease, according to research by Jeffrey H. Kordower, PhD, and associates and published in the April 6 issue of Nature Medicine.
Contact: Mary Ann Schultz
mary_ann_schultz@rush.edu
312-942-7816
Rush University Medical Center
Public Release: 7-Apr-2008
Experimental Biology 2008
Caffeine prevents multiple sclerosis-like disease in mice
Mice given caffeine equivalent to a human drinking six to eight cups of coffee a day were protected from developing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the animal model for the human disease multiple sclerosis, according to researchers at Cornell University.
National Institutes of Health
Contact: Sylvia Wrobel
ebpress@gmail.com
770-722-1055
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Public Release: 7-Apr-2008
PLoS Biology
A landmark law for open access to biomedical research
PLoS Chairman of the Board Harold Varmus applauds the newly enacted NIH public access policy as a positive step toward ensuring greater access to and better use of the scientific literature.
Contact: Natalie Bouaravong
press@plos.org
415-568-3445
Public Library of Science
Genes trigger phobias in kids and teens
The genes controlling which phobias we develop get turned on at different stages of life, possibly because the risks we face change
07 April 2008
World's only lungless frog leaves scientists gasping
A frog recently rediscovered in Borneo has been found to breathe solely through its skin – but the creature's habitat is under threat from mining
16:44 07 April 2008
Public Release: 7-Apr-2008
Experimental Biology 2008
Backpack straps can decrease blood flow in the shoulder and arm
In some professions -- such as the military, firefighting and mountain rescue -- the load of a backpack may equal as much as 60 percent of adult body weight. A new study finds that even light loads can decrease upper extremity blood flow and may result in a loss of fine motor control and increased fatigue.
Contact: Donna Krupa
DKrupa@the-aps.org
619-525-6202
American Physiological Society
Public Release: 7-Apr-2008
Experimental Biology 2008
For some who have lost their sense of smell, a once popular asthma drug could help
Some seven percent of Americans have lost their sense of smell and with it their ability to enjoy the fragrance of flowers, foods and beverages. For individuals whose smell loss relates to the biochemistry of two common proteins, there is some good news. A team of researchers has found that a drug used long ago to help asthmatics can benefit some with smell loss.
Contact: Donna Krupa
DKrupa@the-aps.org
619-525-6202
American Physiological Society
Public Release: 7-Apr-2008
Money doesn't grow on trees, but gasoline might
Researchers have made a breakthrough in the development of "green gasoline," a liquid identical to standard gasoline yet created from sustainable biomass sources like switchgrass and poplar trees.
Contact: Joshua A. Chamot
jchamot@nsf.gov
703-292-7730
National Science Foundation
Public Release: 7-Apr-2008
War between the sexes begins before twins' birth, TAU researchers say
"Damage" caused by boys can start in the womb.
Contact: George Hunka
ghunka@aftau.org
212-742-9070
American Friends of Tel Aviv University
A Disease That Allowed Torrents of Creativity
By SANDRA BLAKESLEE
Some patients with FTD develop artistic abilities when frontal brain areas decline and posterior regions take over.
Microsoft creates 'instant backing band' for singers

Whether you're a frustrated songwriter or a shower-time warbler, new software provides instant musical accompaniment to go with your singing
13:24 07 April 2008
Seahorses discovered in the River Thames
A handful of short-snouted seahorses have been spotted in recent months, suggesting the creatures are breeding as the river becomes cleaner
22:21 07
Public Release: 8-Apr-2008
Precise cut for sparkling jewels
Rubies, emeralds and tourmalines can only sparkle with the right cut. Since early this year, a fully automatic machine has undertaken this grinding process for Paul Wild GmbH. It saves up to 30 percent of the precious material and grinds the gems with greater precision.
Contact: Karl-Heinz Küfer
karl-heinz.kuefer@itwm.fraunhofer.de
49-631-316-004-491
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Public Release: 8-Apr-2008
Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Microwave treatments for enlarged prostate cause blood pressure surges
Many men who receive microwave therapy for enlarged prostates experience significant surges in blood pressure that could raise their risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Contact: Joel Streed
newsbureau@mayo.edu
507-284-5005
Mayo Clinic
Well
Keeping Priorities Straight, Even at the End
By TARA PARKER-POPE
One man’s recipe for a happy life and achieving dreams turns into an Internet hit.Personal Health
Potential for Harm in Dietary Supplements
By JANE E. BRODY
Large doses and combinations of dietary substances can be hazardous.Findings
Findings
And Behind Door No. 1, a Fatal Flaw
By JOHN TIERNEY
Some experiments that purport to show cognitive-dissonance effects might be explainable by statistics alone.
Play The Monty Hall Problem
Public Release: 8-Apr-2008
Advances in Patient Safety
Use of information technology is minimal in nursing homes
In short-term health care settings, sophisticated information technology systems assist in the diagnosis of patients, support care management and enhance adherence to clinical guidelines. However, current levels of IT sophistication in US nursing homes are unknown. In response to recent efforts from policy makers to integrate IT in long-term health care, a University of Missouri researcher found, through two different studies, that the current level of IT use in Missouri nursing homes is minimal.
Contact: Emily Smith
SmithEA@Missouri.edu
573-882-3346
University of Missouri-Columbia
Public Release: 8-Apr-2008
Queen's develops safe 'green' decontamination method
Research by two Queen's scientists has resulted in an exciting new method for rapidly and safely destroying toxic agents such as chemical weapons and pesticides.
Contact: Lorinda Peterson
lorinda.peterson@queensu.ca
613-533-3234
Queen's University
Public Release: 8-Apr-2008
Award-winning study says back pain may be in your genes
What do you learn by looking at the spines of hundreds of Finnish twins? If you are the international team of researchers behind the Twin Spine Study, you find compelling proof that back pain problems may be more a matter of genetics than physical strain.
Contact: Isabela C. Varela
isabela.varela@ualberta.ca
780-492-6041
University of Alberta
Public Release: 8-Apr-2008
American Chemical Society 235th National Meeting
14-year-old CEO makes chemistry a game with 'Elementeo'
Age seems to be no obstacle when it comes to starting a business. That's the case with 14-year-old Anshul Samar, CEO of Alchemist Empire, Inc., who invented a trading card game, "Elementeo," that aims to teach chemistry to students in a fun, unusual way. At the 235th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans, Samar will present his inventive card game.
Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-4400
American Chemical Society
Public Release: 8-Apr-2008
Nature
Argonne scientists, collaborators create first superinsulator
Superinsulation may sound like a marketing gimmick for a drafty attic or winter coat. But it is actually a newly-discovered fundamental state of matter created by scientists at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory in collaboration with several European institutions. This discovery both opens new directions of inquiry in condensed matter physics and breaks ground for a new generation of microelectronics.
Contact: Steve McGregor
smcgregor@anl.gov
630-252-5580
DOE/Argonne National Laboratory
Public Release: 8-Apr-2008
British Journal of Cancer
Evidence now suggests eating soy foods in puberty protects against breast cancer
Evidence is growing from animal and human studies that genistein, a potent chemical found in soy, protects against development of breast cancer -- but only if consumed during puberty, says a Georgetown University Medical Center researcher in the British Journal of Cancer published online today. The challenge now, she says, is for scientists to understand precisely why soy appears to provide a shield against the most common cancer in women.
NIH/National Cancer Institute, NIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Academy of Finland
Contact: Karen Mallet
km463@gmail.com
414-312-7085
Georgetown University Medical Center
Ancient Imbalances Sent Earth's Continents "Wandering"
A new study lends weight to the controversial theory that Earth became massively imbalanced in the distant past, sending its tectonic plates on a mad dash to even things out.
Anne Minard
National Geographic News
April 7, 2008
Public Release: 9-Apr-2008
American Chemical Society 235th National Meeting
Biochemical signals associated with atherosclerosis may damage other organs
In a finding that challenges conventional medical knowledge, researchers report that plaques formed in during atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, are associated with certain harmful chemical reactions that can contribute to damage in the lungs, liver and other organs. The study, which suggests that the effects of the disease are more widespread than previously believed, will be presented in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-4400
American Chemical Society
Public Release: 9-Apr-2008
Experimental Biology 2008
People with diabetes may have all natural citrus supplement
Two new studies presented at the Experimental Biology Annual Meeting suggest that an all-natural dietary supplement made from citrus may help people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood glucose numbers after a meal and their LDL-cholesterol levels.
KGK Synergize Inc.
Contact: Jeff Nedelman
nedelman@verizon.net
703-628-6011
Strategic Communications
Public Release: 9-Apr-2008
Nature
1 in 7 cases of bird flu could be prevented by closing schools in event of pandemic
Closing schools in the event of a flu pandemic could slow the spread of the virus and prevent up to one in seven cases, according to a new study published in Nature. School closure is the nonpharmaceutical policy option that health organizations and governments most often consider to control the spread of a future flu pandemic, but there had previously been little evidence about its potential effectiveness.
Medical Research Council, European Union, NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Contact: Laura Gallagher
L.Gallagher@imperial.ac.uk
44-020-759-46702
Imperial College London
Public Release: 9-Apr-2008
Journal of Pediatrics
Omega-3 intake during last months of pregnancy boosts an infant’s cognitive and motor development
A study supervised by Université Laval researchers reveals that omega-3 intake during the last months of pregnancy boosts an infant's sensory, cognitive, and motor development. However, high concentration of omega-3s in mother's milk doesn't seem to have the same positive effect in breast-fed babies, highlighting the importance of prenatal exposure to omega-3 fatty acids.
NIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Contact: Jean-François Huppé
jean-francois.huppe@dap.ulaval.ca
418-656-7785
Université Laval
Public Release: 9-Apr-2008
Journal of Population Economics
Study: Health 'shocks' diminish wealth more later in life
A new study underscores the need for seniors to maintain their health -- in order to maintain their wealth. Building on a 2003 study that found that healthy seniors are more likely to retain their savings, Ohio State University researchers have now discovered that the later in life a serious illness occurs, the more damage it does to a person's finances.
Contact: Jinkook Lee
Lee.42@osu.edu
614-247-7892
Ohio State University
Powerful laser is 'brightest light in the universe'
The world's most powerful laser is now operating – it might create supernova-like shock waves and possibly even antimatter
18:04 09 April 2008
Public Release: 10-Apr-2008
Astronomy & Astrophysics
The coldest brown dwarf ever observed
An international team of astronomers has discovered the coldest brown dwarf star ever observed. This finding, to be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, is a new step toward filling the gap between stars and planets.
Contact: Jennifer Martin
aanda.paris@obspm.fr
Astronomy & Astrophysics
'Doomed' Mars moon imaged in stunning detail
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has taken the highest quality images yet of Phobos – the tiny moon will one day be destroyed by the Red Planet
Breaking News - 09 April 2008
Public Release: 10-Apr-2008
Science
Absence of clouds caused pre-human supergreenhouse periods
In a world without human-produced pollution, biological productivity controls cloud formation and may be the lever that caused supergreenhouse episodes during the Cetaceous and Eocene, according to Penn State paleoclimatologists.
National Science Foundation
Contact: A'ndrea Elyse Messer
aem1@psu.edu
814-865-9481
Penn State
Public Release: 10-Apr-2008
British Medical Journal
Does the Internet really influence suicidal behavior?
People searching the Internet for information about suicide methods are most likely to come across sites that encourage suicide rather than sites offering help and support, finds a study in this week's issue of the BMJ.
Contact: Rachael Davies
rdavies@bma.org.uk
44-020-738-36529
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Public Release: 10-Apr-2008
American Journal of Epidemiology
Wine may protect against dementia
Wine may protect against dementia There may be constituents in wine that protect against dementia. This is shown in research from the Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
Contact: Ulrika Lundin
ulrika.lundin@sahlgrenska.gu.se
46-317-863-869
Swedish Research Council
Public Release: 10-Apr-2008
Geological Society of America Bulletin
Grand Canyon may be as old as dinosaurs, says new study
New geological evidence indicates the Grand Canyon may be so old that dinosaurs once lumbered along its rim, according to a study by researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the California Institute of Technology.
National Science Foundation, California Institute of Technology
Contact: Rebecca Flowers
rebecca.flowers@colorado.edu
303-492-5135
University of Colorado at Boulder
Public Release: 10-Apr-2008
And the first animal on Earth was a ...
A new study mapping the evolutionary history of animals indicates that Earth's first animal -- a mysterious creature whose characteristics can only be inferred from fossils and studies of living animals -- was probably significantly more complex than previously believed.
Contact: Lily Whiteman
lwhitema@nsf.gov
703-292-8310
National Science Foundation
Public Release: 10-Apr-2008
Picture this: Explaining science through drawings
If a picture is worth a thousand words, creating one can have as much value to the illustrator as to the intended audience. This is the case with "Picturing to Learn," a project in which college students create pencil drawings to explain scientific concepts to a typical high school student. The National Science Foundation, Division of Undergraduate Education, provides support for this effort.
Contact: Maria C. Zacharias
mzachari@nsf.gov
703-292-8070
National Science Foundation
Public Release: 10-Apr-2008
Nature
Journey to the center of the earth: Discovery sheds light on mantle formation
Uncovering a rare, two-billion-year-old window into the Earth's mantle, a University of Houston professor and his team have found our planet's geological history is more complex than previously thought. Geoscientist Jonathan Snow led a team on a North Pole expedition, resulting in a discovery that could shed new light on the mantle. Recently described in Nature, these ancient rocks were found along the bottom of the Arctic Ocean floor, unearthed during voyages to Gakkel Ridge.
Contact: Lisa Merkl
lkmerkl@uh.edu
713-743-8192
University of Houston

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