Are patterns of current climate sufficient to explain and predict the diversity of life found on the planet? A new theory proposes that historical climate patterns are of strong importance to diversity prediction.
Being overweight is a known risk factor for heart disease, diabetes and a host of other health conditions. Now, a new study finds that obesity may also be bad for bone health.
Ecologists pay too much attention to increasingly rare "pristine"ecosystems, say some researchers. They assert that the current system of classifying ecosystems into biomes (or "ecological communities") like tropical rainforests, grasslands and deserts may be misleading. Instead, they propose an entirely new model of human-centered "anthropegenic"biomes.
Endemic cholera, a potentially fatal diarrheal disease found in the world's most impoverished countries, could be effectively controlled by orally vaccinating half of the affected populations once every two years for only pennies per dose, according to new findings.
Scientists have developed a portable and low-cost device which can measure the ionizing radiation that patients are exposed to. Thanks to the minuscule size of the detectors, not only can radiation be measured quickly in different areas of the body but also a historical record of the information can be maintained.
Parents who are active during pregnancy and early in their child's life tend to raise more active children, finds a new study. Some risk factors for adult diseases are associated with lower levels of physical activity in children. Associations have also been reported between early life factors (from birth to around five years) and childhood obesity.
It was not the isolation of the Ice Age that determined the genetic distribution of bears, as has long been thought. One possible interpretation is that the hunting of bears by humans and human land use have been crucial factors.
Research findings conclude that alcoholics in early recovery tend to have impaired cognitive functioning, and nicotine is known to have beneficial effects under certain circumstances. New findings show that nicotine patches may enhance cognitive functioning among newly recovering alcoholics with a history of smoking.
Remains of an ancient synagogue from the Roman-Byzantine era have been revealed in excavations carried out in the Arbel National Park in the Galilee. A unique feature of the synagogue is the design of its mosaic floor.
Heart surgeons at Johns Hopkins say people who need heart transplants can largely avoid transplant failure due to elevated blood pressure in their lungs with the help of proper drug treatment.
Scientists have discovered that the older the water filter the better when it comes to reducing the off-putting earthy taste of some tap water. They explain how bacteria that grow on particles in a sand filter effectively extract the compounds that produce the taste.
Children with bipolar disorder respond differently to facial expressions than typically developing children without psychiatric disorders, according to a new study. Children with bipolar disorder also demonstrated reduced memory for emotional faces as compared to children without bipolar disorder -- particularly with "fearful"faces.
Researchers have modeled the structure of the largest cellular structure ever crystallized, suggesting ways to engineer the particles for drug delivery. The research study focuses on new engineered nanomaterial vaults for use as a drug-therapy vehicle.
Researchers have discovered that individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder and their close family members have distinctive patterns in their brain structure. These findings could help predict risk of OCD as well as lead to improved diagnostics.
