New Scientist Press Release
New ScientistPress release of issue dated 16 August for New Scientist, the international science and technology weekly news magazine
Press release of issue dated 16 August for New Scientist, the international science and technology weekly news magazine
A deficiency of vitamin C may play a role in a complex disorder called porphyria cutanea tarda, or PCT, according to a new report.
Some 600 or 700 million years ago, before animal life made a sudden evolutionary shift and diverged into nearly all the major animal divisions we know from fossils, primitive animals were inventing the genes that would make it all possible.
One of the major questions for people diagnosed with cancer is whether the cancer has spread. A new test is now available for men with prostate cancer to more accurately find cancerous cells that have spread to lymph nodes anywhere in the body. Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center are among the first in the U.S. to use the test, which helps patients receive the best treatment and avoid unnecessary surgery.
Evaluation of the workbook "Let's Talk About Living in a World With Violence," shows it can reduce aggression in children when the teacher is comfortable with the curriculum and integrates the material into other subjects.
The American Academy of Dermatology joins the FDA and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) in cautioning the public about using the psoriasis treatment, Skin-Cap.
The first study with fluvastatin sodium (LESCOL) to demonstrate that patients with coronary heart disease and mild-to-moderate elevations of cholesterol can significantly benefit from cholesterol-lowering treatment was published today in the American Journal of Cardiology.
Hundreds of people call Dr. JoAnn Burkholder's office at North Carolina State University each week seeking answers to questions about Pfiesteria piscicida, the toxic organism that, since 1991, has killed millions of fish in Mid-Atlantic coastal waters and, in some cases, been linked to human illnesses. Now, a new Web site may help them get the information they need with a few keystrokes and the click of a mouse.
Controlling odors from ponds holding industrial wastewater could be as easy as spreading a layer of barley straw over the water. Results from an ongoing demonstration at the American Crystal Sugar Co. beet-processing plant in East Grand Forks, Minn., have been so encouraging that the company is planning to use the technique next year three of its plants.
Astronomers, using a satellite operated by the European Space Agency, have made the first detections of fluorine in space.
MEDICAL -- Special Delivery MUSIC -- Pickin' and grinnin' COMPUTING -- Perfect memory ENVIRONMENT -- New spin on laundry
Chronic high blood pressure can be linked to sleep apnea, researchers at the University of Wisconsin Medical School have reported in the current Archives of Internal Medicine.
Meet CooLN2Car. A car that runs on air. Developed by an interdisciplinary team of scientists at the University of North Texas, CooLN2Car is a nitrogen-powered, zero-emissions vehicle.
Dartmouth researchers have found a way to dramatically restore the effectiveness of chemotherapy in cancerous cells that have become resistant to its effects.
The American Academy of Neurology has issued guidelines for neurologists on the ethical considerations that arise in the managed care environment. The guidelines are published in the August issue of the AAN's scientfic journal, Neurology. EMBARGOED UNTIL AUGUST 20, 1997.
The American system of farming grain-fed livestock consumes resources far out of proportion to the yield, accelerates soil erosion, affects world food supply and will have to change in the future, ccording to a Cornell University ecologist.
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are working with Honeywell Solid State Electronisc Center and Nonvolatile Electronics to refine a new type of computer memory that can survive power interruptions.
In a classic ground war, hordes of Argentine ants are now on the march, from coastal California citrus groves to city kitchens, through suburban backyards and into nearby natural habitats.
The National Science Board (NSB) will meet August 20 and 21, 1997 at the National Science Foundation, Room 1235, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia. The sessions open to the public are scheduled for 2:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. on Thursday, August 21.
TIPSHEET from NSF for August 8, 1997: 1- College tuitions rose uniformly; 2- Lessons learned from the 1994 Northridge, CA, earthquake; 3- Measuring heavy rains for anticipating flash floods.
Physicians at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore are part of a national study to test the effectiveness of a new vaccine to prevent recurrences of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Balloons intended to tell us something about weather and climate may pose a hazard to whales, seals and omther marine life, according to scientist Gerald K. Eddlemon at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have devised an environmentally friendly method for preventing steam explosions, a leading cause of deaths and serious injuries among workers int he metal-casting industry worldwide.
The very strategies that real people have used to detect and escape from con artists -- particularly "the human ability to identify patterns of suspicious behavior" -- are seldom mentioned in widely distributed materials designed to help consumers avoid getting conned, according to a psychologist from Eastern Michigan University. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 17, 1997
Stay-at-home dads are equal parts traditional mom and traditional dad, according to two studies presented by psychologists from Loyola University and DePaul University at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention in Chicago. EMBARGO: UNTIL 11:30 AM (CDT), AUGUST 16, 1997
If told the story of a child who was kicked, bitten, hit with a fist or choked, the words that would come into most people's mind are "child abuse." But when the victims (and perpetrators) of such aggressive acts are siblings, they tend to be perceived differently. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 18, 1997
A paper released today by the American Psychological Association at its 105th Annual Convention in Chicago, "Can -- or Should -- America Be Color-Blind?", states that a color-blind approach to equal opportunity for all Americans will fail. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 14, 1997
Three studies examining the shortcomings of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), school- based sex education programs and the Children's Television Act (CTA) will be presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 15, 1997
New research examining the literature on what works in changing driving behavior found that educating youths about good driving behavior and traffic safety is not enough to change bad driving. The threat of severe penalties is also needed to keep teenagers safe behind the wheel, according to a review of over 54 studies. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 17, 1997
Parents who work in creative professions seem to create the most happy home environments, according to a study presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention in Chicago. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 14, 1997
Two studies examining the important ingredients of a satisfying marriage and why others are better at predicting the outcomes of relationships will be presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention in Chicago. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 17, 1997
Male cartoon characters still outnumber female cartoon characters almost four to one, and male characters are also still portrayed as dominate, powerful and aggressive. Female characters don't have any "character" at all, according to research presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention in Chicago. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 17, 1997
Keeping teenagers out of trouble may be as simple as eating meals together as a family more often, according to a study presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 15, 1997
When it comes to successful job performance a high level of practical intelligence may be even more important than an abundance of academic intelligence. That's the conclusion of a study of 200 high-level managers presented at the 105th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in Chicago. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 16, 1997
New research presented at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 105th Annual Convention in Chicago shows that bringing along a child's security blanket, (or other "security item") may actually make routine medical exams go smoother when mom is unable to accompany the child. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 17, 1997
For those whose Internet use has crossed the line from "avid" to "compulsive," information gathering is not the main attraction for pathological Internet users. EMBARGO: UNTIL 5:00 PM (CDT), AUGUST 14, 1997
Violent behavior in young men appears to be linked to an imbalance in body chemistry, specifically the relationship of copper and zinc, according to a study published today in the journal Physiology & Behavior.
Fly ash is going from coal cars to racing cars thanks to new research from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The Wilkes University School of Science & Engineering , UGI Utilities Inc. and Falcon Racing Services Ltd, are developing components for the auto-racing industry manufactured from anthracite coal-fly ash, a by-product of coal combustion. Falcon Racing is already testing some of the products on their Formula Ford 2000 racing cars. The components: downdraft wings, nose cones and heat shields.
More studies show that hard core smokers may be using nicotine to manage depression, ADHD, anxiety or bulimia. People with these conditions or co-factors often use nicotine to help manage their symptoms. Treat the disorders first or simultaneously, says U-M study.
New epidemiological data presented at the FIGO 97 Congress has shown that the risk of venous thromboembolism among users of oral contraceptives (OCs) with 3rd generation progestagens as compared with users of OCs with 2nd generation progestagens, may be less than initially reported.
In adult women, androgens are important for maintaining bone density, well-being and libido. Clinical investigation of oral estrogen-androgen therapy is increasing in response to growing awareness that residual hormonal imbalance persists in some women receiving estrogen-only therapy. The following "At-A-Glance" information provides a snapshot of the research findings about androgen-estrogen therapy presented at a symposium sponsored by the University of California at San Diego.
Robert Jarrow, professor of finance, economics and investment management at Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management, has been named the IAFE/SunGard Financial Engineer of the Year by the International Association of Financial Engineers (IAFE). He was cited not only for his cutting edge research, but for his work as an educator.
A collaboration between researchers at the University of Michigan Medical Center and the University of Kiel, Germany, has shed new light on the complex genetic roots of psoriasis---information which researchers believe will point the way to more effective treatments for the skin disease which afflicts 6 million Americans.
Nearly 20 years ago, Columbia University researchers observed brain cell changes in Huntington's disease patients. Today, the significance of those changes has finally been explained--and the new findings may lead to a treatment or cure for the progressive, degenerative brain disease.
When continental plates come together to form mountain ranges, the impact from the collision bends microscopic grains in rocks more than 1,200 miles away. Evidence shows that seemingly quiet mid-continent areas are highly sensitive recorders of plate tectonic activity.
A combination of a blood test and ultrasound could give physicians a better picture of who is at risk of a fatal or disabling stroke, researchers in Denmark reported today (Aug. 16).
A content analysis of 518 televised music videos from four major cable networks showed 25.7 percent of MTV videos portrayed use of tobacco, most often by the lead singer, according to a study conducted by faculty from three medical centers.
In a finding that could have implications for millions of Americans, particularly those who are diabetic, medical researchers reported today that whites and Hispanics who are insulin resistant are at a higher risk of developing atherosclerosis that can lead to stroke and heart attack.
A Korean neurologist has found a way to use ultrasound to monitor how well migraine medicine is working and help in preventing the vicious headaches.
To understand more about back pain, researchers are using sonography to study healthy people who are pain-free, and confirming that ultrasound can be used to map the major landmarks of the spine.