24 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots

Celiac Disease More Prevalent in Children with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

For children who suffer with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), the pain may not end there. A study of 992 children who suffered with abdominal pain-related disorders included 270 children with IBS, 201 with functional dyspepsia, and 311 with functional abdominal pain. Blood tests were performed on each participant of a study, with 15 positive results for celiac disease. Twelve of the children had IBS,...... Read More

21 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots

Evidence that Global Warming Is Due to Nature Continues to Decline

The argument used to be that global warming existed at all. Now, the debate is more often over whether global warming is the result of natural or manmade activities. A new study is designed to eliminate any argument that warming is caused by nature or that the previous computer models are wrong. The study, published in the science journal Climate Dynamics, takes a new approach in determining whether...... Read More

18 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots

Laboratory-Grown Cartilage Means New Nose for Patients

The first-ever successful nose reconstruction surgery performed with cartilage that was grown in the laboratory is a significant advance in the area of facial reconstruction. The procedure was completed at the University of Basel, Switzerland, starting with cartilage cells that were extracted from the patient’s nasal septum, which were then multiplied and expanded onto a collagen membrane. The membrane...... Read More

17 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots

Bird Flu Could Easily Become Current News Again

It was just a few years ago that bird flu was a topic of concern in science news. Now, a new study shows that the concern over the virus making the transition to mammals could occur with just five mutations. H5N1 avian influenza was tested previously on ferrets, leading to the assumption that the virus had the potential to turn into a pandemic virus. While the research was controversial, the virus...... Read More

16 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots

Groundbreaking Data Set on How Mammalian Brains Are Wired

The publication of the first comprehensive, large-scale data set on the way mammalian brains are wired has proven to be some of the most exciting science in the news to date. This publication provides a data resource that gives new insight into how the nervous system in mammals processes information. Researchers from the Allen Institute for Brain Science published their landmark paper in the scientific...... Read More

15 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots

Touched Female Cockroaches Reproduce Faster

Not that there are many reasons for improving the efficiency of reproduction in cockroaches, but a new study has determined that nothing beats a gentle touch to get the process in high gear. Researchers at North Carolina State University used duck feathers as artificial antennae to determine whether their touch could speed up reproduction in cockroach females. The study in tactile stimulation and reproduction...... Read More

14 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots

Americans Using More Renewable, Fossil and Nuclear Energy

The annual energy flow charts released by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory illustrate how much energy is being used by the nation. The sheets released for 2013 show that Americans increased their energy use last year by 2.3 quadrillion thermal units, in comparison with the usage in 2012. In addition, the carbon dioxide emissions for the same year increased to 5,390, the first time there has...... Read More

11 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots

Remember the Golden Guides?

The Golden Guides, which were originally titled Golden Nature Guides, were widely available in the 1950s. They were primarily intended for children who were inclined toward science. Written by experts and profusely illustrated, the series covered subjects such Birds (1949), Flowers (1950), Fishes (1955) and Mammals (1955), and then expanded to a wider range of subjects, including Hallucinogenic Plants...... Read More

09 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots

It Beat Jeopardy, Now It’s Taking on Cancer.

IBM recently announced that its Watson supercomputer, which grew to fame on the TV game show Jeopardy, will be teaming up with the New York Genome Center (NYGC) to help doctors develop personalized treatments for cancer patients based on their genetic makeup. Genetic information obtained though genome sequencing has the potential to help clinicians tailor treatment for individual cancer patients....... Read More

07 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots

One Species of Drosophila Flies Turning Into Pests

Fruit flies have long been used for all types of studies. Many species exist, and only one has been identified as being a crop pest. Researchers from the University of California recently explained the similarities and crucial differences between this species and the others. They also expanded on the idea of why another close relative has the potential to become a pest, as well. Drosophila flies...... Read More