S. Kwok and Y. Zhang. Mixed aromatic–aliphatic organic nanoparticles as carriers of unidentified infrared emission features. Nature 479: 80–83, Nov. 3, 2011. DOI: 10.1038/nature10542.
Astronomers claim that organic compounds of unanticipated complexity are present throughout the Universe, signifying that complex organic compounds are not the exclusive province of life but instead can also be made by stars. Continue reading
Filed under Astronomy
M.T. Osterholm, N.S. Kelley, A. Sommer, and E.A. Belongia. Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Infectious Diseases; October 25, 2011. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099%2811%2970295-X/abstract
The Study: Critical gaps exist in the evidence for the effectiveness of licensed influenza vaccines in the United States. Individuals who are at risk for medical complications or people who are aged 65 years or older are especially affected by the gaps. Continue reading
Filed under Biology
M.M. Cotter, D.A. Loomis, S.W. Simpson, B. Latimer, and C.J. Hernandez. Human Evolution and Osteoporosis-Related Spinal Fractures. PLoS ONE 2011, 6(10): e26658. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026658.
Study: Some diseases may be the result of trade-offs made during human evolution. Spinal fractures are the most common osteoporosis-related fracture in humans, but are not observed in apes, even in cases of severe reduced bone mass. Continue reading
Filed under Biology
Geothermal mapping report confirms vast coast-to-coast clean energy source in United States. Science Daily, Oct. 25, 2011. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111025135936.htm
New research from Southern Methodist University’s Geothermal Laboratory shows significant geothermal resources across the United States capable of producing more than three million megawatts of power, which is about 10 times the capacity of today’s coal power plants. Sophisticated mapping produced from this research demonstrates that vast reserves of this renewable source of power generated from Earth’s heat are realistically accessible using current technology. Continue reading
Filed under Earth Sciences
S.N. Rajpathak, Y. Liu, O. Ben-David, S. Reddy, G. Atzmon, J. Crandall, and N. Barzilai. Lifestyle factors of people with exceptional longevity. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 59 (8): 1509-1512, August, 2011. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/749017
This was a retrospective cohort study carried out to assess the lifestyle factors, including body mass index, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary habits in men and women with exceptional longevity to see if they differed from a comparison group. They apparently did not. Continue reading
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R.J. Nevle, D.K. Bird, W.F. Ruddiman, and R.A. Dull. Neotropical human–landscape interactions, fire, and atmospheric CO2 during European conquest. Holocene 21, August 2011, p. 853. DOI: 10.1177/0959683611404578.
By sailing to the New World, Christopher Columbus and the explorers who followed may have set off a sequence of events that cooled the climate for centuries. The European take-over of the Americas decimated the people living there, leaving large areas of bare land. Trees that later returned, filling in this bare land, pulled billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the air, reducing the heat-trapping capacity of the atmosphere and cooling the climate. Continue reading
Filed under Earth Sciences
T. Adam, et al. Measurement of the neutrino velocity with the OPERA detector in the CNGS beam. arXiv: 1109.4897. September 23, 2011. http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1109/1109.4897.pdf
In 1905, Albert Einstein’s theory of special relatively said that the universe has imposed a speed limit on light. He argued that no particle, people, or spaceship can ever travel faster than light. Ever since then, light has been viewed as the fastest thing in the universe. Until now. Perhaps. Continue reading
Filed under Physics
J. Mursu, K. Robien, L. J. Harnack, K. Park, and D.R. Jacobs Jr. Dietary supplements and mortality rate in older women: the Iowa Women’s Health Study. Archives of Internal Medicine 171: 1625-1633, 2011. DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.445
Bottom Line: In older women (55-69), several commonly used dietary vitamin and mineral supplements may be associated with an increased total mortality risk. This association may be strongest with supplemental iron. In contrast to the findings of other studies, calcium was associated with a decreased risk of death. Continue reading
Filed under Biology
R. Morales, C. Duran-Aniotz, J. Castilla, L.D. Estrada, and C. Soto. De novo induction of amyloid-β deposition in vivo. Molecular Psychiatry, Oct. 4, 2011; DOI: 10.1038/mp.2011.120.
Background: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease and most common form of senile dementia in the U.S., afflicting approx. 20% of people over age 70. Its onset usually occurs in late middle age and the disease is distinguished by an inability to acquire new memories, memory lapses, emotional instability, confusion, and progressive loss of mental abilities. Gradually, bodily functions are lost, ultimately resulting in death. Continue reading
Filed under Biology
