30 Oct, 2013 | by Labroots

Discovery of Skull Brings Evolution of Humans into Question

A human skull that has been fossilizing for almost two million years has been the focus of multiple recent science news articles, forcing scientists to take another look at the previously-thought explanations for human evolution. Discovered in Dmanisi, Georgia in Asia, the skull has proven to be one of the most interesting, yet controversial, finds to date. Never before has a complete human skull from...... Read More

29 Oct, 2013 | by Labroots

Scientists Discover the Body’s Internal Clock

Millions of dollars are spent each year in an attempt to turn back the hands of time and make the outer body appear younger than it is. Although some people would disagree, it is the aging that occurs within the body and its organs that is of the greatest importance. Scientists have long looked for the location of the body’s internal clock, in hopes that they could slow or prevent the aging process...... Read More

28 Oct, 2013 | by Labroots

New Flu Medications May Stop the Virus at the Molecular Level

Current flu vaccines are not always effective at preventing the flu, and those who get the virus have only Tamiflu to rely on for improvement of symptoms. The primary resource for treating flu is thought to be leading to resistance in some flu strains. There is also the unpredictability of when various strains will prevail, so that the appropriate vaccine can be prepared in needed volumes. Researchers...... Read More

25 Oct, 2013 | by Labroots

Discovery of a New Mammalian Antiviral Response

Specific proteins within infected cells trigger an innate immune response known as the interferon response. As a result, neighboring cells are activated, which can cause the primarily infected cell to die. Invertebrates also have a mechanism involved in the immune response, called the RNA interference pathway, or RNAi. The RNAi is triggered by a RNA molecule which arises during the copying of the viral...... Read More

24 Oct, 2013 | by Labroots

A New Class of Synthetic Vaccines

The search for a safer and more effective synthetic vaccine has gained ground through the efforts of immunologist Yung Chang of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. Through the use of DNA nanotechnology, the introduction of a new class of synthetic vaccines may be on the horizon. A science article reporting the findings of the study was published in the scientific journal, Nano Letters....... Read More

23 Oct, 2013 | by Labroots

X-Rays Could Safely Destroy Chemical/Biological Weapons

Destroying chemical weapons quickly and effectively is becoming increasingly important as chemical and biological weapons become an ever-present threat amid evolving technology.  Yet finding a way to do so using a compact, portable source has eluded us, until now. Young K. Bae, Ph.D., founder of the Y.K. Bae Corp., has developed a technique using “warm dense matter” (WDM), material that exists...... Read More

22 Oct, 2013 | by Labroots

3-D Printing of Human Body Parts Could Transform Lives

Three-dimensional printing has already begun to revolutionize the manufacturing industry by making it as cost-effective to create a single item as it is to produce thousands of items utilizing conventional manufacturing techniques.  The technology, also called additive manufacturing, uses a digital model to create a layered, three-dimensionally printed object. Now, the biotechnology industry may...... Read More

21 Oct, 2013 | by Labroots

SpaceX’s Grasshopper Puts a New Spin on Space Travel

For the past decade in the US, the exploration of space has been gradually and forcefully expanding beyond NASA’s sphere of influence. Partly because of the end of the Cold War, and partly because of concerns about the federal deficits, the will to spend tax dollars on space missions has continued to wane. That vacuum has not gone unfilled, however; SpaceX and a number of other fledgling space transport...... Read More

18 Oct, 2013 | by Labroots

Grape Skin Extract Helps Kill Cancer Cells

Resveratrol is a compound found in grape skin, peanuts, and red wine. It turns out that this healthy compound not only is good for the heart but also might make tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment. Researchers from the University Of Missouri School Of Medicine have studied the cancer-fighting benefits of Resveratrol and found that if added to cancer treatment along with radiation helps...... Read More

17 Oct, 2013 | by Labroots

The Continuing Concern of Superbugs and Antibiotic Resistance

There has been a growing concern about the lack of regulation and the practice of giving antibiotics to livestock to minimize illness and enhance the animals’ growth. Just as people become resistant to antibiotics, when they are over-exposed to them, animals also build an antibiotic-resistance that makes mutated bacteria harder to eliminate. Due to the way that antibiotics typically affect bacteria,...... Read More