Wolfgang Heckl awarded Descartes Prize for Science Communication
... year it was awarded to two teams in the fields of life science and physics. The new prize for science communication, created by the European Commission, was awarded in three categories. Alongside Wolfgang Heckl in the "Professional Scientists engaged in Science Communication to the Public" category, the ...Impulsive behavior may be relict of hunter-gatherer past
...we designed an experiment that better modeled real life in the wild." The new experiments were modeled on how animals encounter and exploit food clumps. The jays encountered one clump at a time and obtained some food from it. Then they had to decide whether to wait for a bit more from the same clump or...Researchers discover direct link between agricultural runoff and massive algal blooms in the sea
...marine algae that are potentially harmful to ocean life and fisheries. Researchers from Stanford University's School of Earth Sciences made the discovery by analyzing satellite images of Mexico's Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California-a narrow, 700-mile-long stretch of the Pacific Ocean that ...First analysis of chicken genome offers many new insights
...re using to better understand the human genome. As life on Earth evolved over time, genes have been created, kept, discarded or deactivated, and reorganized. At the particular point in evolutionary time over which a species first develops, these processes may have changed a gene in ways that allow scienti...Chicken genome will help our understanding of humans and improve agriculture
...d part way between mammals and fish in the tree of life and the sequenced genome will help us to understand the function of human genes and the way that they have evolved in vertebrates. Scientists at the BBSRC-sponsored Institute for Animal Health (IAH) in Compton, Berkshire, have analysed the part of th......rbal language." He adds: "If experience early in life is essential for shaping the function of the brain, then we need to understand how that happens. And songbirds are one of the few cases other than humans that actually learn their verbal language and have to be tutored." (The others are the cetaceans...What have scientists learned since Mount St. Helens erupted?
... Disturbance gradients ranged from areas where all life perished, to zones with nearly complete survival. ...e safety of their subterranean burrows." Species life history characteristics allowed some species populations to avoid the volcanic impacts by being away...Encouraging results from validation study of trial of personalized treatment in breast cancer
... have substantial impact on the overall quality of life for many women with breast cancer by reducing side effects, and also the associated health care costs. "We are very excited that we may have a chance to reduce over-treatment in early breast cancer", said Dr. Piccart. " We are looking forward ...New tuberculosis antibiotic may shorten treatment time, fight drug-resistant strains
...lobal health," said Katrina Kelner, Deputy Editor, life sciences, at Science. "If this drug is ultimately approved for humans, it could lead to a change in treatment paradigm for tuberculosis," Andries said. The drug belongs to a family of compounds called "diarylquinolines," or "DARQs" recently patented...Nanotubes glow, even within biological cells
... nanotubes by living cells, a team of chemists and life scientists from Rice University, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Texas Heart Institute have selectively detected low concentrations of nanotubes in laboratory cell cultures. The research appears in the Dec. 8 issue o...Dream home: Malaria parasite renovates to suit its tastes
... of the cells, enabling it to complete its 48-hour life cycle, multiply, and cause severe infection without detection by the immune system. "Adhesion of parasite-infected erythrocytes to host cells is a major factor in the pathology of malaria," Cowman explained. "If the parasite didn't stick to the host...Purdue scientists hunt for 'secret X' to treat liver cancer
...lation to find out what it was doing to the cells' life cycle." As a molecular biologist, Andrisani ...o see whether they conformed to healthy liver cell life cycles." To ease observation, they used samples that were only a single layer of cells thick. ...Hudson's Bay Company fur trapping policies set stage for modern environmental struggles
...e. In some areas, a number of traditional ways of life gave way to a growing dependence on European goods and trade, but it is not yet clear how big the changes were among Pacific Northwest Indians. In addition, some Indians with no experience in fur trapping or hunting on a sustained basis were encoura...Global bird populations face dramatic decline in coming decades, study predicts
...onservation, distribution, ecological function and life history of every species-more than 600,000 computer entries in total. "The result is one of the most comprehensive databases of a class of organisms ever compiled," Sekercioglu said. To forecast probable rates of extinction, he and his colleagues ent...DNA breaks and genomic instability: Broken ends stick together
...When DNA is damaged, as it routinely is during the life of cells, the damage must be properly repaired in order to keep chromosomes intact. Failure of the DNA repair process disrupts the structural stability of chromosomes, which must be intact in order to be properly segregated to daughter cells when cel...Doctors link common chemotherapy drug to jawbone necrosis
...d mineral content constantly adjust throughout the life cycle to support the places on the skeleton where the most outside force occurs. Novartis's Aredia (pamidronate disodium) and Zometa (zoledronic acid) injections are the two intravenous bisphophosphonates used in chemotherapy regimens. Novartis ...U. of Colorado research team discovers life in Rock Glacier
...arctica region has enthused scientists hunting for life in inhospitable environments, he said. Both th...der research team discovered evidence of microbial life in rock glaciers in southern Colorado and in Wyoming, said Knauf. Other CU-Boulder researchers i...In wake of Lyme disease vaccine for people, mice may be next in line for shots
... Lyme delivery systems. The tick's two-year life cycle allows it to feast first on small animals, such as mice, shrews and raccoons, and later on larger animals such as deer. Humans fall into the mix as they cross paths both in the wilderness and even in yards where wildlife treads. A vaccin...Dwarf mistletoe reveals its sexual secrets
..., the discovery of the intimate details of the sex life of the dwarf mistletoe is even getting traditional...nding the details of the dwarf mistletoe's bedroom life feeds more than just verdant curiosity. Dwarf mistletoes (species of the genus Arceuthobium) are the...Europe's fishermen should have marine 'stewardship' role, says study
...role in the stewardship of our fish stocks, marine life and maritime heritage. "The Fisheries Ecosystem process should also be about ensuring they are equipped with the necessary knowledge, tools and incentives to discharge this responsibility on behalf of society." Barrie Deas, chief executive of the Na...