People from different cultures use their brains differently to solve the same visual perceptual tasks, researchers report in the first brain imaging study of its kind. Psychological research has established that American culture, which values the individual, emphasizes the independence of objects from their contexts, while East Asian societies emphasize the collective and the contextual interdependence of objects. Behavioral studies have shown that these cultural differences can influence memory and even perception. But are they reflected in brain activity patterns?
Scientists have shown that a high protein, low carbohydrate diet is most effective at reducing hunger and promoting weight loss, at least in the short term. Healthy, obese men were given two different diets. Both diets had a high protein content (30% of total energy value of the diet) but they differed in the amount of carbohydrate: One diet was low in carbohydrate (4%) and the other contained a moderate amount of carbohydrate (35% total energy value).
Astronomers have discovered in a single pass about a dozen otherwise invisible galaxies halfway across the Universe. The discovery, based on a technique that exploits a first-class instrument, represents a major breakthrough in the field of galaxy 'hunting'. The team of astronomers have used quasars to find these galaxies. Quasars are very distant objects of extreme brilliance, which are used as cosmic beacons that reveal galaxies lying between the quasar and us. The galaxy's presence is revealed by a 'dip'in the spectrum of the quasar - caused by the absorption of light at a specific wavelength.
Sweet indulgences are Valentine's Day traditions. For some of us, they may also trigger episodes of "holiday heart,"or rapid, irregular heart beats. Medically, the condition is called atrial fibrillation, or Afib. "Too much caffeine or alcohol or food can sometimes cause your heart to race in an erratic way,"says one of the researchers. People without underlying heart disease can experience Afib. Besides overindulging, the condition can be triggered by stress, infections, medications and metabolic and electrolyte imbalances. A specialized non-surgical procedure can now treat Afib by eliminating abnormal electrical signals within the atria.
Scientists have just discovered how the protein Asf1 ensures the correct (re)organization of duplicated DNA. During DNA replication, all the information in the mother cell must be transmitted to the daughter cells. The DNA must be faithfully copied, of course, but also properly organized within the cell. DNA is wrapped around proteins called histones, to form chromatin. This complex structure contains so-called epigenetic information, which governs gene expression and gives each cell its specific identity.
A new study reveals more than 3 million adolescents and young adults have used non-prescription cough and cold medicines to get high at least once in their lifetimes. The level is comparable to LSD, and more than the reported use of methamphetamines, among those aged 12 to 25. White youths were more than three times as likely as Black youths to have misused these drugs during the past year.
Scientists have demonstrated in the lab a collision warning system for cars that could alert the driver several seconds in advance of an imminent impact. The device could save thousands of lives and usher in the first steps towards the 'connected car'. It knows its location, can talk to other cars and can tell the future. Are we entering the era of truly automated cars?
Early tests show promising results for a new treatment for tuberous sclerosis, which can cause tumors in organs throughout the body. The is the first study to identify the genes linked to the disease.
A new study indicates older, multi-year sea ice in the Arctic is giving way to younger, thinner ice, making it more susceptible to record summer sea-ice lows like the one that occurred in 2007.
Preliminary data from two Women's Health Initiative trials that assessed factors that indicate increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with postmenopausal hormone therapy is now available. VTE refers to a blood clot that forms in the veins, usually in the legs. These clots can become fatal if they travel through the veins to the lung. According to the American Heart Association, more than 200,000 cases of VTE occur each year and 30 percent of these people die within three days. It is known that postmenopausal hormone treatments can double the risk of developing VTE, and in recent years hormone prescriptions have declined, partly as a result of this.
Plans in the 1990s to bring ultra-high speed telecom lines into every home foundered because the optical fiber infrastructure was just too expensive. But a new project using plastic fiber and off-the-shelf components could make optical networking so cheap and simple that anyone could install it. What happened to the dream of optical fiber in every home?
Research on patients suffering from head injuries reveals that four out of 10 patients feign cognitive disorders such as depression, headaches or anxiety. A lie detector was used in this research and it proved to be a useful tool to help professionals from the field of neuropsychology to find out when a person is faking or exaggerating their symptoms.
A giant cloud of hydrogen gas is speeding toward a collision with our Milky Way Galaxy, and when it hits -- in less than 40 million years -- it may set off a spectacular burst of stellar fireworks.
Is an aspirin a day good for you, and how much should you take? Ten years after the FDA issued recommendations about the use of aspirin for people who have had heart attacks or are at risk for them, it may be a good time to talk to your doctor about the aspirin you're taking. Heart disease researchers say that nearly a quarter of a million Americans each year may be hospitalized with bleeding complications caused by needlessly taking a daily dose of an adult-sized aspirin rather than a baby aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke.
