Recent observations from NASA and Japanese X-ray observatories have helped clarify one of the long-standing mysteries in astronomy -- the origin of cosmic rays. Outer space is a vast shooting gallery of cosmic rays. Discovered in 1912, cosmic rays are not actually rays at all; they are subatomic particles and ions (such as protons and electrons) that zip through space in all directions at near-light speed, with energies tens of thousands of times greater than particles produced in Earth's largest particle accelerators.
New light has been shed on the evolution of moveable genetic elements, or "jumping genes."This discovery has important implications for our understanding of molecular evolution and genetic research involving plants, including genetically modified crops. The researcher characterized the genomic DNA as "smart"for repairing itself in a manner that doesn't produce drastic abnormalities. He also said that the process of repairing is "ancient"because the mechanism appears similar to that used by the immune system of mammals.
Based in part on protein structures determined at the National Synchrotron Light Source at the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, scientists have developed new peptides that appear to be significantly more effective at blocking HIV's entry into cells than other drugs in their class. These peptides are sufficiently potent to begin preclinical studies as a new class of agents for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
One of the largest studies to investigate the relationship between blood pressure and type 2 diabetes has found that women who have high blood pressure levels are three times more likely to develop diabetes than women with low blood pressure levels. This effect was independent of body mass index and other conditions that are known to predispose people to cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Scientists are reporting an advance towards tapping the immense potential of 'hairy roots'as natural factories to produce medicines, food flavorings and other commercial products. The new research makes use of structures formed by a common soil bacterium that infects plants and incorporates its own DNA into the plant's genome. By inserting a specific gene into the bacterium, researchers can integrate that gene into the host's DNA. Eventually, the host plant develops a system of fuzzy roots near the site of the infection.
Verbs evolve and homogenize at a rate inversely proportional to their prevalence in the English language, according to a formula developed by Harvard University mathematicians who've invoked evolutionary principles to study our language over the past 1,200 years, from Beowulf to Canterbury Tales to Harry Potter.
Planetary scientists on both sides of the Atlantic have tracked down a rare molecule in the atmospheres of both Mars and Venus. The molecule, an exotic form of carbon dioxide, could affect the way the greenhouse mechanism works on Venus.
Patients living with Myasthenia Gravis may breathe easier thanks to a rare bone marrow transplant procedure. Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a rare neuromuscular autoimmune disease where the body's immune system, which normally protects the body, mistakenly attacks itself. The transmission of nerve impulses to muscles is interrupted, which ultimately prevents the muscles from contracting. Without the proper nerve impulses, muscles that control breathing can't function.
A stem cell's immediate neighborhood, a specialized environment also known as the stem cell niche, provides crucial support needed for stem cell maintenance. But nothing lasts forever. During the aging process, the level of support drops off, diminishing the stem cells'ability to replenish themselves indefinitely.
The diffusion of hepatitis C virus infection worldwide is astonishing. Liver cirrhosis is present in at least 10-20% of these infected patients, with highly increasing health care and emotional costs. In patients with compensated (early stage) hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis, antiviral combined therapy offers an interesting rate of response, ending in viral clearance. A new therapeutic schedule of treatment was used with good results when dealing with patients suffering from liver cirrhosis following hepatitis C virus infection.
Scientists have demonstrated the existence of right-handed and left-handed "magnetic vortices". They believe that this physical phenomenon could eventually lead to the construction of faster and more reliable hard-disks.
Marital status and paternal responsibility may have a significant effect on levels of testosterone and other hormones in men, according to two new studies. Hormone levels differ significantly not only between fathers and non-fathers, but also between single men and men involved in long-term marital relationships. Monogamously married men had significantly lower morning and afternoon testosterone levels compared to their single counterparts of similar age.
This winter is predicted to be warmer than the 30-year norm. For the country as a whole, NOAA's heating degree day forecast for December through February projects a 2.8 percent warmer winter than the 30-year normal. In the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic,temperatures are expected to be above average in response to the long-term warming trend.
Tooth loss may predict the development of dementia late in life, according to new research. Numerous past studies have shown that patients with dementia are more likely than patients without the condition to have poor oral health. Few researchers, however, have examined the relationship from the opposite direction, to determine whether poor oral health actually may contribute to the development of dementia.
