A visual pathway links brain structures active during magnetic compass orientation in migratory birds. Every year millions of migratory birds fly towards their wintering quarters and come back in next year´s spring to breed. Behavioral experiments have shown that the Earth´s magnetic field is the main orientation cue on their journeys. Nevertheless, surprisingly little is known about the neuronal substrates underlying these navigational abilities. New findings strongly support the hypothesis that migratory birds use their visual system to perceive the reference compass direction of the geomagnetic field and that migratory birds are thus likely to "see"the geomagnetic field.

  Preliminary research suggests that in children at increased risk for type 1 diabetes, dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic islet autoimmunity, which is linked to the development of diabetes, according to a new article.

  A new analysis of high-resolution satellite images pinpoints evidence consistent with village destruction, forced relocations and a growing military presence at 25 sites across eastern Burma where eyewitnesses have reported human rights violations.

  Lymph nodes can be crucial for spreading low doses of infective prion agents -- the pathogens responsible for conditions such as scrapie and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease -- into the nervous system, according to new research.

  If our planet did not have the ability to store oxygen in the deep reaches of its mantle there would probably be no life on its surface. This is the conclusion reached by scientists who have subjected the mineral majorite to close laboratory examination. Majorite performs an important function as an oxygen reservoir. Near the Earth's surface the mineral breaks down, releasing oxygen, which then binds with hydrogen from the Earth's interior to form water.

  Specific variations in two genes have been linked to suicidal thinking that sometimes occurs in people taking the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. Depending on the particular mix inherited, these versions increased the likelihood of such thoughts from 2- to 15-fold, a study found. About 1 percent of adult patients were deemed to be at high genetic risk. The findings may hold promise for genetic testing, as more such markers are identified.

  A new report on the impact of global warming on the Chesapeake Bay (near Washington D.C., USA) calls for a major shift in how land is managed in the bay to protect the nation's most prized hunting and fishing grounds.

  Researchers have a developed a totally new approach to treating liver failure -- manipulating the immune response. If the results of the animal study can be applied in human patients, the approach may be able to keep patients alive until donor organs become available or to support liver function until the organ can regenerate itself, eliminating the need for a transplant.

  Compared to advancements in modern medicine over the past 70 years, there have been few new treatment options for people who stutter. That's one reason a $50 digital device under development is drawing attention. In contrast, a typical digital speech device costs approximately $5,000. The researcher also determined that many people who stutter may only need an external source of speech initiation to address their problem.

  Unprecedented warm temperatures in the High Arctic this past summer were so extreme that researchers with a climate change project have begun revising their forecasts. From their camp on Melville Island last July, where they recorded air temperatures over 20ºC (in an area with July temperatures that average 5ºC), the team watched in amazement as water from melting permafrost a meter below ground lubricated the topsoil, causing it to slide down slopes, clearing everything in its path and thrusting up ridges at the valley bottom "that piled up like a rug,"according to one of the scientists.

  Patients in Hong Kong who were newly diagnosed with coronary artery disease had nearly twice the prevalence of colorectal tumors and cancers, with this association stronger in persons who had smoked or have the metabolic syndrome, according to a new article.

  A new project aims to design intelligent cars which make driving easier and safer at night. A system of night vision cameras with vision which extends further than the distance covered by car headlights is under development. About 42% of fatal car accidents happen at night, according to the European Commission for the Automobile Industry. This figure is extremely worrying bearing in mind that there is about 60% less traffic during the night.

  If you notice that your mood, energy level and motivation take a nosedive each November only to return to normal in April, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). "This condition, characterized by depression, exhaustion and lack of interest in people and regular activities, interferes with a person's outlook on life and ability to function properly,"according to researchers. But people should not despair, because SAD is treatable.

  There's good news and bad news in the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) report. The good news: The peregrine falcon and the sea otter no longer face extinction. The not-so-good news: COSEWIC proposes adding another 36 species to Canada's official List of Wildlife Species at Risk. Species from all regions of the country, on the land and in the sea, are at risk of extinction.