25 Feb, 2014 | by Labroots
Dogs Shown to Have Brain Areas which Respond to VoicesTaking the command âstay!â to a new level has allowed scientists to learn new details of how dogsâ brains work. A science article reprinted in Science News, Science Daily and other current science news publications was originally reported in the scientific journal Current Biology on February 20th giving details of the study where researchers taught dogs to lie perfectly still inside a brain scanner...... Read More
20 Feb, 2014 | by Labroots
Concussions May Increase Risk of Alzheimer's DiseaseThe links between head trauma and degenerative brain disorders has been increasingly in the spotlight with the issues of professional athletes. A 2012 study concluded that retired National Football League players were 4 times more likely to die from diseases such as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease) and Alzheimer's. Repeated concussions were believed to play a significant...... Read More
19 Feb, 2014 | by Labroots
Plastic Shopping Bags May Have a New UseAll those plastic bags that you bring home from the grocery store may turn out to be useful. Not only do they clutter homes, but there is also an abundance of them on land and at sea. Now, scientists have found that these bags can be converted to diesel, natural gas and other petroleum products. According to an article in eScience News, the process to convert the bags results in a much larger volume...... Read More
18 Feb, 2014 | by Labroots
Cat Bites Pose Special RisksFor people who go to the emergency room with animal bites each year, cat bites account for only 10 to 15 percent. Although dog bites are much more common, the wounds inflicted by cats are of special concern because of a greater infection risk. Dog bites are also more likely to tear through flesh and break bones. Even so, these wounds are open and easier to clean. This reduces the potential to become...... Read More
17 Feb, 2014 | by Labroots
Crazy Ants Replacing Fire AntsA new predator is invading North America: the crazy ant. Until now, fire ants were the most feared invaders of their kind, producing a notorious sting painful to their victims. It turns out that the crazy ants have the ability to detoxify fire ant venom in a way that that no other insect or animal has been able to before. According to a science news article printed on NYTimes.com, the crazy ant uses...... Read More
14 Feb, 2014 | by Labroots
Poll Shows Americans Have Little Faith in ScientistsThe reason that so many people doubt the scientific findings that relate to important issues such as global warning may be a simple reflection of their mistrust of scientists. According to a new HuffPost/YouGov poll, only 36% of Americans admit to having âa lotâ of trust that the information obtained from scientists is accurate and reliable. Of those polled, only 51% reported that they trusted...... Read More
13 Feb, 2014 | by Labroots
Surgeons Now Have the Ability to See CancerThanks to advances in technology, new high-tech glasses to be worn by surgeons allow them to see cancer cells. The glasses, developed by a team led by Samuel Achilefu, PhD, professor of radiology and biomedical engineering at Washington University, were used for the first time this week at Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Surgeons...... Read More
12 Feb, 2014 | by Labroots
Scientists Using Tiny Sensors to Track Honey BeesHoney bees have been in a number of science articles over the past few years as their population has been steadily declining. The efforts of a group of Australian scientists could help the world gain an understanding of how the spread of diseases has wiped out bee populations in the northern hemisphere. According to an eScience News article, the scientists are tracking the beesâ movements in an effort...... Read More
10 Feb, 2014 | by Labroots
How you experience pain may depend on your lifestyle.Everyone is familiar with pain, but no one fully understands its underlying molecular mechanisms. Scientists at Kingâs College, London, are doing something about that. In a recent study they found that life style and environmental factors that affect the epigenome, such as diet, smoking, drinking and exposure to pollution, might also alter a personâs sensitivity to pain. The study, published...... Read More
05 Feb, 2014 | by Labroots
MERS Coronavirus Infections a Larger Threat than PublicizedReports of MERS infections have been on the decline over the past few years, but according to current news, the problem remains a significant one. Infection control experts reported in a science journal editorial recently that the problem is âsignificant but underappreciated.â Due to the concentration of vulnerable patients in the hospital, their frequent movement, and the repeated contact between...... Read More