RSS Channels IndexNew Scientist Press Release - Issue 25 Nov 06
EAR IMPLANT SUCCESS SPARKS CULTURE WAR
Newswise — Is this the end of sign language? New studies have shown that profoundly deaf children who received cochlear implants before the age of 1 develop language and speech skills remarkably close to hearing children. But although a triumph to audiologists, the findings could be seen as a threat to the culture and language of those born deaf. The deaf community maintain that it is unethical to give deaf babies cochlear implants. According to a psycholinguist in the US: "There is nothing wrong with them that needs fixing with a surgeon's scalpel" . Pages 16-17
THIS WILL HURT AND NOW WE KNOW WHY
Researchers have found the biochemical pathway for the nocebo effect. The nocebo effect (the opposite to the placebo effect) can be the unpleasant physical symptoms felt after receiving an inert drug that has been suggested to be harmful. In the same way the nocebo can have a negative effect on a patient's recovery, if they go into surgery expecting or believing there will be adverse effects. The Italian team have shown that a certain neurotransmitter can turn anxiety into pain. The breakthrough could lead to a drug that blocks the neurotransmitter and reduces pain. Page 12
HOW TO LIVE LONG AND PROSPER
If you are the first-born child of a young mother you are more likely to life to 100. This is according to a study by researchers at the University of Chicago who collated data on centenarians born in the US between 1875 and 1899. They suspect one reason for this could be that younger mothers may have better-quality eggs. Pages 19
HOMING IN ON A NAVAL LEGEND
A clever software package could help locate a sunken warship that some say is the holy grail of US maritime history. 18th-century relic Bonhomme Richard sank in a battle with a British ship in 1779, during the US fight for independence. The software, developed by a company in Rhode Island has already thrown up several possible locations for the ship off the north-east coast of England. Page 25
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