Simple Artificial Cell Created From Scratch To Study Cell Complexity

ScienceDaily for May 16, 2008 reported on the success of researchers to create an artificial cell.

A team of Penn State researchers has developed a simple artificial cell with which to investigate the organization and function of two of the most basic cell components: the cell membrane and the cytoplasm--the gelatinous fluid that surrounds the structures in living cells. The work could lead to the creation of new drugs that take advantage of properties of cell organization to prevent the development of diseases. The team's findings will be published later this month in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

God and Science Collide in Nation's Capital

LiveScience for May 16, 2008 reported on the reconciliation of science and religion.

Scientists hate God. Or find God very disturbing. In fact, modern science has found no evidence of God and so it's stupid anymore to think God exists.

The above statements are often presented as conventional wisdom, but are they true?

Interior Of Mars Is Colder Than Previously Thought, So Any Possible Liquid Water Would Be Deep Underground

NewsDaily for May 16, 2008 reported that

"We found that the rocky surface of Mars is not bending under the load of the north polar ice cap," said Roger Phillips of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. Phillips is the lead author of a new report appearing in the online version of Science. "This implies that the planet's interior is more rigid, and thus colder, than we thought before."

'Mitochondrial Eve' Research: Humanity Was Genetically Divided For 100,000 Years

NewsDaily for May 16, 2008 reported on recent research about our ancestors in Africa.

The human race was divided into two separate groups within Africa for as much as half of its existence, says a Tel Aviv University mathematician. Climate change, reduction in populations and harsh conditions may have caused and maintained the separation.

Could Violent Video Games Reduce Rather Than Increase Violence?

An article in ScienceDaily for May 15, 2008 reported on effects of violent video games on human aggression.

Writing May 14 in the International Journal of Liability and Scientific Enquiry, Patrick Kierkegaard of the University of Essex, England, suggests that there is scant scientific evidence that video games are anything but harmless and that they do not lead to real world aggression. Moreover, his research shows that previous work is biased towards the opposite conclusion.

Obesity And Unhealthy Lifestyles Linked To More Complex Urinary Problems

ScienceDaily for May 16, 2008 reported on the effect of obesity on urinary problems.

People who are obese and lead unhealthy lifestyles are more likely to suffer from a larger number of urinary problems, according to a population-based study of more than 5,000 men and women published in the May issue of the UK-based urology journal BJU International. Researchers hope the results will help clinicians to understand why problems occur and how they can be managed more effectively.

Fibromyalgia: The Invisible Disease

ScienceDaily for May 14, 2008 reported on Fibromyalgia.

Drawing on her own experiences as well as those of 19 other women, Dr. Keddy discusses current theories of causes and treatments in her book, Women and Fibromyalgia: Living with an Invisible Dis-ease (iUniverse Co.). She also maintains a blog (http://www.womenandfibromyalgia.com) exploring the daily difficulties faced by fibromyalgia sufferers.

Middle Class Relaxing With Marijuana

ScienceDaily for May 15, 2008 reported on the use of marijuana as relaxant.

A qualitative study of 41 Canadians surveyed in 2005-06 by U of A researchers showed that there is no such thing as a 'typical' marijuana user, but that people of all ages are selectively lighting up the drug as a way to enhance activities ranging from watching television and playing sports to having sex, painting or writing.

One Third of Hospital Toilets Not Properly Cleaned: C. Difficile Germs Linger

An article in ScienceDaily for May 12, 2008 reported on inadequate cleaning of toilets in hospitals.

A team of Canadian scientists using a lotion which glows under ultraviolet light have shown that up to a third of patient toilets are not properly cleaned. Their findings also show that spores from the nasty bacteria Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) linger in the loo even when it has been thoroughly wiped down.

Astronaut Health On Moon May Depend On Good Dusting

ScienceDaily for May 14, 2008 reported on moon dust getting into the lungs of astronauts.

To prepare for a return to the moon, researchers with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) are evaluating how dust deposits in the lungs in reduced gravity in order to assess the health risk of long-term exposure to the particles. The findings will influence the design of lunar bases and could also provide benefits for healthcare on Earth, such as improved delivery of aerosol medications to the lungs.

Is Optimism Good For You?

LiveScience reported on the effects of optimism.

Several studies suggest optimists live longer and enjoy better health than pessimists. The real mystery is why.

Research links common chemicals to obesity

NewsDaily for May 14, 2008 reported on obesity and chemical pollution.

Exposure in the womb to common chemicals used to make everything from plastic bottles to pizza box liners may program a person to become obese later in life, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.

FDA defends safety of baby bottle chemical

Scientific American for May 14 2008 reported on the FDA attitude towards plastic baby bottles.

Norris Alderson, the FDA's associate commissioner for science, said although the regulatory agency is reviewing safety concerns about the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, "a large body of available evidence" shows that products such as liquid or food containers made with it are safe.

College Student Sleep Patterns Could Be Detrimental

A study reported in ScienceDaily for May 13, 2008 discussed sleep problems and college students.

College students are among the most sleep-deprived age group in the U.S. Sleep deprivation can have detrimental effects on daily performance, including academics and driving, and has also been linked to depressed mood and behavioral problems.

Asthma Linked To Higher Suicidal Thoughts With Attempts

An article in ScienceDaily for May 13 2008 reported on suicidal thoughts with and without attempts of suicide.

Cigarette smoking and concurrent mental health conditions may independently account for significant proportions (but not all) of the association between asthma and suicidal thoughts with attempts noted Diana E. Clarke, MSc, PhD, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, and colleagues.

Physical Activity More Likely To Prevent Breast Cancer In Certain Groups

ScienceDaily for May 13, 2008 reported on a link between physical activity and breast cancer.

Physically active women are 25 per cent less likely to get breast cancer, but certain groups are more likely to see these benefits than others, finds a review of research published online ahead of print in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Women Who Breastfeed For More Than A Year Halve Their Risk Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

ScienceDaily for May 13, 2008 reported that

Women who had breastfed for 13 months or more were half as likely to get rheumatoid arthritis as those who had never breast fed. Those who had breast fed for one to 12 months were 25 per cent less likely to get the disease.

Vitamin D Protects Cells From Stress That Can Lead To Cancer

The effect of vitamin D on stress in cells was reported in the May 13, 2008 issue of ScienceDaily.

"Many epidemiological studies have suggested the beneficial properties of vitamin D," said Yi-Fen Lee, associate professor of urology at the Medical Center who led the research. "Our findings reflect what we see in those studies and demonstrate that vitamin D not only can be used as a therapy for prostate cancer, it can prevent prostate cancer from happening."

Depression And Anger Can Plague Recent University Graduates

ScienceDaily for May q13, 2008 reported on depression and anger after graduation from school.

A new University of Alberta study of almost 600 of its graduates (ages 20-29 years old) tracked mental health symptoms in participants for seven years post-graduation and looked at how key events like leaving home and becoming a parent were related to depression and anger. Graduates showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms over the seven years. Expressed anger also declined over time after graduation, suggesting improved mental health.

Possible Connection Between Marijuana Abuse And Stroke Or Heart Attacks

An article in the May 13, 2008 issue of ScienceDaily reported on a possible link between marijuana use and stroke or heart attacks.

Long-term harmful effects of marijuana (MJ) include risk for heart attacks and strokes in addition to impaired learning and memory. The active chemical in MJ called delta-9-tetrahyrdocannabinol (THC) is believed to exert these effects by binding to cannabinoid (CB) receptors located on several cell types in various organs.

Risk Of Hospitalization From Violent Assault Increases When Local Alcohol Sales Rise

ScienceDaily for May 14, 2008 reported on the increase in assaults as alcohol sales increase.

The researchers identified 3,212 people aged over 13 years who had been hospitalized over a 32-month period because of a serious assault. They compared the volume of alcohol sold at the liquor store nearest to the victim's home the day before the assault with the volume sold at the same store a week earlier (this type of study is called a "case-crossover" study).

Air Pollution, Smoking Affect Latent Tuberculosis

ScienceDaily for May 14, 2008 discussed the effect of Carbon Monoxide on Tuberculosis.

The study showed that CO triggers Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, to shift from active infection to a drug-resistant dormant state. This is called latency, a global problem that results in tuberculosis escaping detection and treatment, and which contributes to overall tuberculosis transmission.

Education Linked To Risk Of Cancer Death

Gaining an education helps one avoid cancer, according to an article in ScienceDaily for September 12, 2007.

A new American Cancer Society study finds having at least some education beyond high school is associated with a decreased risk of cancer death. The study finds higher education levels were strongly associated with decreased cancer mortality among black men, white men, and white women.

Low Education Level Linked To Alzheimer's, Study Shows

ScienceDaily for October 2, 2007 reported that

People who don't finish high school are at a higher risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease compared to people with more education, regardless of lifestyle choices and characteristics such as income, occupation, physical activity and smoking, according to a study published in the October 2, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.