Thursday, March 11
Elective removal of ovaries questioned
SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 11 (UPI) -- A U.S. physician suggests elective removal of the ovaries may do more harm than good.
Protein defect found in brain disorders
LONDON, Ontario, March 11 (UPI) -- Canadian researchers say they have found a diverse group of brain disorders thought to be unrelated are all linked to defective chromatin proteins.
Video games may hurt boys' schoolwork
GRANVILLE, Ohio, March 11 (UPI) -- Owning a video-game system may hamper academic development in some children, U.S. researchers suggest.
Acceptance of human evolution investigated
MINNEAPOLIS, March 11 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say a recent study suggests high school and college students' perceptions of Earth's age influence their acceptance of human evolution.
More ethanol usage may be bad for Earth
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., March 11 (UPI) -- A Purdue University study suggests the increased use of corn ethanol might boost the Earth's greenhouse gas emissions.
Seismologists tie well to DFW earthquakes
IRVING, Texas, March 11 (UPI) -- A well used to get rid of wastewater from natural gas drilling may have caused small earthquakes at Dallas/Fort Worth airport, university researchers say.
Titan's interior: Too cold to form layers
PASADENA, Calif., March 11 (UPI) -- NASA says data from its Cassini spacecraft suggests Saturn's moon Titan's interior has been too cold and sluggish to split into layers of ice and rock.
New way found to mend traumatic bone loss
CLEVELAND, March 11 (UPI) -- Two Cleveland researchers say they've developed a method of using natural or artificial sheaths to mend traumatic bone loss using the body's own stem cells.
NASA offers zero gravity testing flights
WASHINGTON, March 11 (UPI) -- NASA says it is offering opportunities to test emerging U.S. technologies during flights on an airplane that simulates the weightless conditions of space.
Gene causes neuropathy and brain disease
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 11 (UPI) -- U.S. and Australian scientists say they've determined a gene that causes a fatal childhood brain disorder can also cause peripheral neuropathy in adults.
New cessation therapy more like smoking
DURHAM, N.C., March 11 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers suggest delivering nicotine to the lungs may give smokers a good way to kick the habit.
Cardiac catheterization revisions urged
DURHAM, N.C., March 11 (UPI) -- Some U.S. cardiologists say it is time to revise the criteria used to select patients for cardiac catheterization.
Metal ions may leak from some hip implants
CHICAGO, March 11 (UPI) -- Rush University Medical Center scientists in Chicago say they've found high cobalt and chromium levels in offspring of moms with metal-on-metal hip implants.
Jihad Jane had troubled past, records show
PHILADELPHIA, March 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. woman accused of plotting to kill a Swedish cartoonist and suspected of recruiting jihadists online led a sometimes troubled, records indicate.
Geese collision prompts aircraft landing
ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 11 (UPI) -- A spokeswoman for an airport in Rochester, N.Y., said a US Airways flight was forced to land Thursday after striking several geese on takeoff.
New method of animal lab testing proposed
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., March 11 (UPI) -- A Purdue University scientist says adding environmental variables to laboratory mouse testing would increase the accuracy of such experiments.
Jury is out on emergency vehicle devices
NEW YORK, March 11 (UPI) -- Devices installed in emergency vehicles throughout the United States can be both beneficial in saving lives and distracting to drivers, workers say.
Energy unit may be named a 'Rosenfeld'
BERKELEY, Calif., March 11 (UPI) -- A U.S.-led international group of scientists says it has proposed the name of physicist Arthur Rosenfeld be used for a unit of electricity savings.
France holds deforestation conference
PARIS, March 11 (UPI) -- France's expertise in science and forestry makes it the best nation to lead the world's fight against deforestation, the French ecology minister says.
Whole genome sequencing diagnosis achieved
HOUSTON, March 11 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they have, for the first time, used whole genome sequencing to achieve a molecular diagnosis in a person with a genetic disorder.
Indians, Alaska Natives, in poorer health
ATLANTA, March 11 (UPI) -- Compared with other groups, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native adults are more likely to have poorer health, U.S. health officials said.
Avoid burn out with marathon mindset
TEL AVIV, Israel, March 11 (UPI) -- "Control freaks" burn out faster than others, contrary to the popularly held notion they get the job done, Israeli scholars warn.
Therapy may help women with low sex desire
COLUMBIA, Mo., March 11 (UPI) -- An estimated 33 percent of U.S. women have low sexual desire and it is the top problem women bring to sex therapists, a researcher says.
Wednesday, March 10
Gov't corruption = less trust in people
ATLANTA, March 11 (UPI) -- People who live in states with more convictions for government corruption tend to trust people less, U.S. researchers suggest.
Testing if vitamin D lifts winter blues
CHICAGO, March 10 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers are testing to see if vitamin D can help lift mood during the cold weather months.
Depression plus diabetes may = dementia
SEATTLE, March 10 (UPI) -- Diabetes combined with depression increases dementia risk, University of Washington researchers found.
U.S.: Restaurant sold banned whale meat
LOS ANGELES, March 10 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors Wednesday accused a Santa Monica, Calif., restaurant and one of its chefs of selling Sei whale meat illegally.
Verdict in medical marijuana test case
SACRAMENTO, March 10 (UPI) -- A California jury convicted a man of trying to take 3 pounds of what he said was medical marijuana through the city's airport in his bags, authorities said.
Starling deaths in yard 'a mystery'
TAUNTON, England, March 10 (UPI) -- Animal experts in Britain said they have no explanation for why more than 100 starlings dropped dead from the sky onto the garden of a home.
Police investigate possible wolf attack
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, March 10 (UPI) -- Police in Alaska are trying to determine if a schoolteacher whose body was found Monday was the victim of a wolf attack, authorities said.
Bone marrow may harbor HIV
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 10 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they have found a new site in the body where HIV-infected cells may hide.
Drug cuts cholesterol without side effects
MANHASSETT, N.Y., March 10 (UPI) -- U.S. and Swedish scientists have found an experimental thyroid drug reduces cholesterol without side effects suffered by some people using statins.
Drug used for high potassium questioned
ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 10 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists say a drug used to treat high potassium levels for more than 50 years has no proven benefit and probably would not be approved today.
Python on the loose in English city?
NORTHAMPTON, England, March 10 (UPI) -- Residents of an English city were warned Wednesday that a Burmese python might be on the loose.
Prenatal BPA may affect uterus, DNA
NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 10 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers have linked exposure during pregnancy to Bisphenol A to fertility defects in offspring in mice.
U.S. expands its endangered species list
WASHINGTON, March 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday the designation of 48 more Hawaiian animals and plants as endangered species.
LED lights may be the future of broadband
BERLIN, March 10 (UPI) -- German scientists say they've created a data connection that uses light produced by lamps to encode a wireless broadband signal.
HIV-positive man faces rape charge
FLEMINGTON, N.J., March 10 (UPI) -- A young HIV-positive New Jersey man who advised those with the virus to be sexually abstinent has been charged with sexual assault.
Cotton that conducts electricity created
ITHACA, N.Y., March 10 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have developed cotton threads that can conduct electricity as well as a metal wire, yet remain light and flexible enough to wear.
Microsoft researcher, a computing pioneer, wins Turing Award
Mar. 10--For inventing a prototype of the modern PC, Microsoft researcher Chuck Thacker has won the prestigious A.M. Turing Award for a lifetime of contributions to computing.
Seattle Times Brier Dudley column: Google's 'starter set' on map for bicyclists
Mar. 10--Google engineers who built the company's new bicycle-route mapping service didn't need to look far for inspiration.
DNA barcoding tracks small insects
MINNEAPOLIS, March 10 (UPI) -- A U.S.-led team of scientists says it has determined a technique called DNA barcoding provides a much faster way to study the spread and diet of insects.
Conservationists back bird-safe buildings
WASHINGTON, March 10 (UPI) -- The American Bird Conservancy says it applauds a U.S. House bill designed to prevent the deaths of millions of birds that collide with building windows.
Calif. park: 1st condor egg in 100 years
PAICINES, Calif., March 10 (UPI) -- A pair of California condors have nested in a California national park for the first time in more than 100 years, park officials said Wednesday.
Scientists chemically turn CO2 into CO
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 10 (UPI) -- U.S. and British scientists say they've developed a technique that chemically turns carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide using visible light, such as sunlight.
Smartphone user accused of ticket scam
CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 10 (UPI) -- A North Carolina woman faces charges for using a smartphone to scam would-be airline ticket buyers, a police cybercrimes unit spokesman said Wednesday.
New, tough material is created
MANCHESTER, England, March 10 (UPI) -- British scientists say they have combined chalk and polystyrene to produce a tough new material that could make other materials more durable.
Immune system cells use membrane nanotubes
LONDON, March 10 (UPI) -- British scientists say they've discovered immune cells can ensnare tumor and other dangerous cells by using bungee-like membrane nanotubes.
Virus can be passed from parents to kids
TAMPA, Fla., March 10 (UPI) -- University of South Florida scientists say they've discovered a common herpes virus hidden in some people's chromosomes can be reactivated to infectious form.
Collider to shut down at end of 2011
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 10 (UPI) -- The Large Hadron Collider is to be shut down at the end of 2011 for as long as a year to strengthen its magnets, officials in Geneva, Switzerland, said.
New nanotechnology sensor array unveiled
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 10 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've built a sensor array that, for the first time, can detect a molecule of hydrogen peroxide coming from a single living cell.
King Cobra venom may lead to a new drug
SINGAPORE, March 10 (UPI) -- Singaporean scientists say a protein discovered in the venom of the King Cobra, the world's largest venomous snake, may lead to development of a unique drug.
Potential new source for biofuel found
YORK, England, March 10 (UPI) -- British scientists say they've discovered a mechanism that might lead to a new way of converting wood and straw into liquid biofuels.
Supplements may hurt prostate treatment
ROYAL OAK, Mich., March 10 (UPI) -- Some dietary supplements may harm rather than help prostate cancer patients, U.S. researchers say.
Less kidney cancer for men who work in sun
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 10 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say men who work in the sun have less kidney cancer risk than workers who do not work in the sun.
Tuesday, March 9
'Non-drugs' ease hospital pain
MINNEAPOLIS, Maine, March 9 (UPI) -- Non-traditional techniques are effective in reducing pain in hospitalized patients, U.S. researchers say.
Cisco says new routing system can handle overflowing Internet
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- It won't make your iPhone run any faster right away, but Cisco says its new generation of high-speed routing equipment -- unveiled to much fanfare Tuesday -- is designed to handle a rising tide of video and mobile data transmissions that is threatening to flood the Internet.
Electromagnetic pulses ease pain
NEW ORLEANS, March 9 (UPI) -- Patients with osteoarthritis treated with electromagnetic pulses said they experienced 40 percent less pain, U.S. researchers said.
Diabetes drug effective if taken early
PORTLAND, Ore., March 9 (UPI) -- The sooner people with diabetes take the generic drug Metformin that helps prevent high blood sugar levels, the longer it is effective, U.S. researchers said.
'Puff City' may help teens with asthma
AUGUSTA, Ga., March 9 (UPI) -- A computer asthma program tailored to teens could help those in rural areas manage their disease and avoid fatal complications, U.S. researchers said.
Woman admits faking cancer
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., March 9 (UPI) -- A former city employee in Chattanooga, Tenn., admitted Tuesday she falsely claimed to have breast cancer to get money and time off.
Discovery launch preparations under way
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 9 (UPI) -- Space shuttle Discovery's STS-131 astronauts spent the day Tuesday at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston conducting a simulated shuttle liftoff.
Botox approved to treat muscle spasticity
WASHINGTON, March 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has approved Botox to treat spasticity in the flexor muscles of the elbow, wrist, and fingers in adults.
Scientists detail human cell division
WOODS HOLE, Mass., March 9 (UPI) -- A U.S.-led group of international scientists has described newly discovered interactions that occur to a human chromosome within a dividing cell.
NASA extends Johnson safety contract
HOUSTON, March 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it has extended a safety and mission services contract for work at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and other NASA facilities.
More dinosaur extinction evidence offered
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., March 9 (UPI) -- A U.S. scientist says he's found more evidence an asteroid that crashed into the Earth 65 million years ago ended the age of the dinosaurs.
New way to produce electricity discovered
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 9 (UPI) -- A team of Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists say they've discovered a phenomenon that might lead to a new way of producing electricity.
Cooperation, kindness is contagious
SAN DIEGO, March 9 (UPI) -- Cooperative behavior is contagious and spreads from person to person to person -- just like negative behavior, U.S. researchers found.
Historic deep-sea robot is lost off Chile
WOODS HOLE, Mass., March 9 (UPI) -- The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution says its pioneering deep-sea exploration robot the "Autonomous Benthic Explorer" has been lost at sea.
January freeze killed acres of Fla. coral
MIAMI, March 9 (UPI) -- A January chill in South Florida killed hundreds of acres of corals in the Florida Keys, scientists say.
NASA offers communication simulation
WASHINGTON, March 9 (UPI) -- NASA says it is now offering the public an interactive computer program that allows virtual explorers to experience many space-related simulations.
Move over tablets, here comes HP
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 9 (UPI) -- U.S. technology giant Hewlett-Packard said it would launch a digital reader that is slanted more toward a computer than the Apple iPad.
New long-lasting hand sanitizer developed
ST. CHARLES, Ill., March 9 (UPI) -- An Illinois company says it has developed a long-lasting, alcohol free hand sanitizer that protects against pathogens for a full day.
A glass of wine may help keep weight down
BOSTON, March 9 (UPI) -- Women who are normal weight and consume no more than two drinks a day may gain less weight than those who do not drink, U.S. researchers say.
Chilean earthquake moved several cities
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 9 (UPI) -- U.S.-led scientists say the magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck western Chile last month moved the entire city of Concepcion at least 10 feet to the west.
Cisco Systems touts mega-router
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 9 (UPI) -- U.S. technology giant Cisco ended weeks of speculation Tuesday with the announcement it had designed a new router system with vastly larger traffic capacity.
Maybe no radiation for early breast cancer
ST. LOUIS, March 9 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say early-stage breast cancer patients may not need radiation after a mastectomy.
Deep Space Network antenna repairs begin
PASADENA, Calif., March 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says major renovation work has started at its Deep Space Network's "Mars Antenna" in Goldstone, Calif.
New heat-conducting material is developed
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 9 (UPI) -- A U.S. research team says it has discovered a way of transforming polyethylene into a material that conducts heat as well as most metals.
New types of plastics are envisioned
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 9 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say a multi-year study involving polymers could lead to the development of new types of biodegradable, biocompatible plastics.
Method found to grow unlimited stem cells
NEW YORK, March 9 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've devised a method that uses blood vessel cells to grow unlimited amounts of adult stem cells.
Thirty-five suspected pirates captured
PARIS, March 9 (UPI) -- Thirty-five suspected pirates and four ships were captured off Somalia in an operation involving the French Navy and European Union forces, officials said.
Depression, relational uncertainty linked
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., March 9 (UPI) -- Those with more severe depressive symptoms report more relationship distress, U.S. researchers found.
Monday, March 8
CDC: U.S. STD's remain unacceptably high
ATLANTA, March 8 (UPI) -- The United States suffers high rates of herpes, particularly among women and African-Americans, health officials said.
For young teens, (condom) size matters
REGENSDORF, Switzerland, March 8 (UPI) -- A new smaller condom, called the Hotshot, has been designed to fit males ages 12-14, officials at Lamprecht AG, a condom manufacturer in Switzerland, said.
How to preserve brain function
BOSTON, March 8 (UPI) -- There are ways to preserve executive function -- being able to make choices, plan, initiate action, inhibit impulses -- a U.S. newsletter advises.
Exercise helps if weight is regained
COLUMBIA, Mo., March 8 (UPI) -- Many who lose weight subsequently regain it, but U.S. researchers say exercise can maintain the health benefits of weight loss, such as lower blood pressure.
'Faith healing' parents sentenced
PORTLAND, Ore., March 8 (UPI) -- An Oregon couple was sentenced to 16 months in prison in the death of their son, for whom they prayed in lieu of medical treatment, authorities said.
U.S. policy on wild horses challenged
PHOENIX, March 8 (UPI) -- A U.S. government policy of putting the wild mustangs of the West in corrals and pastures hundred of miles from their rangelands is under fire, officials said.
Railroad settles in 2005 chlorine spill
WASHINGTON, March 8 (UPI) -- A railroad company will pay a $4 million penalty for a 2005 chlorine spill that left nine dead in Graniteville, S.C., the U.S. Justice Department said Monday.
Toyota rejects electronics explanation
Toyota Motors Corp. said a Southern Illinois University researcher rigged a test on sudden acceleration in a way that could never occur in real life.
Toyota rejects electronics explanation
TORRANCE, Calif., March 8 (UPI) -- Toyota Motors Corp. said a Southern Illinois University researcher rigged a test on sudden acceleration in a way that could never occur in real life.
Geraniums may control Japanese beetles
WOOSTER, Ohio, March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. agriculture researchers say geraniums might hold the key to controlling Japanese beetles, which feed on nearly 300 plant species.
Nanoparticles target specific cancer cells
ITHACA, N.Y., March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have created synthesized nanoparticles that can identify, target and kill specific cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone.
Energizer Duo charger software infected
ST. LOUIS, March 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security found software for Energizer's Duo USB battery charger can leave computers vulnerable to attack.
NASA to host water sustainability forum
WASHINGTON, March 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it is planning a program called "Launch," designed to identify and support innovative approaches to sustainability challenges.
Pine bark extract may help kidneys
CHIETI, Italy, March 8 (UPI) -- Italian researchers say pine bark extract may help counteract kidney damage due to high blood pressure.
Bottle-fed Infants most at risk from BPA
ZURICH, Switzerland, March 8 (UPI) -- A study by Swiss scientists shows infants have the highest estimated levels of bisphenol A, with exposure decreasing as they grow older.
Musk Oxen decline due to climate change
STATE COLLEGE, Pa., March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've determined the sharp decline in Arctic musk oxen that began about 12,000 years ago was due to a warming climate and not hunting.
Scientists urge nanotechnology vigilance
CALGARY, Alberta, March 8 (UPI) -- A Canadian scientist says he and his colleagues have developed a way to measure nanomaterials in blood vessels.
Moderate caffeine may not hurt heart
SAN FRANCISCO, March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say it is unlikely moderate caffeine increases heart arrhythmia risks.
Soil microbes more antibiotic resistant
NEWCASTLE, England, March 8 (UPI) -- A team of British and Dutch scientists say they've found disturbing evidence that soil microbes are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
Optimistic lung cancer patients do better
ROCHESTER, Minn., March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they've discovered lung cancer patients who have an optimistic disposition experience more favorable outcomes than pessimistic patients.
New form of prion disease discovered
BETHESDA, Md., March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've discovered a new form of prion disease that damages brain arteries and might lead to new Alzheimer's disease therapies.
GM CEO still flies on AT&T's dime
DETROIT, March 8 (UPI) -- Flights on AT&T corporate jets by the head of General Motors Co. cost the telecommunications firm $20,000 a month, a company report said.
NASA to hold Lego robotics competition
PASADENA, Calif., March 8 (UPI) -- California students in grades 4-12 will test their software-enabled Lego robots this week during a live Internet television program sponsored by NASA.
El Nino may affect West Coast fisheries
LA JOLLA, Calif., March 8 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say better satellite tracking shows the El Nino affecting the northern Pacific Ocean is reducing marine life and the number of seabirds.
NASA gets ready for Great Moonbuggy Race
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., March 8 (UPI) -- More than 1,000 high school and college students are expected in Huntsville, Ala., this week for NASA's 17th annual Great Moonbuggy Race.
Vitamin D critical to fighting infections
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 8 (UPI) -- University of Copenhagen researchers report vitamin D is crucial to activating immune defenses to fight off serious infections in the body.
Sunday, March 7
Australian state endures major hail storms
MELBOURNE, March 7 (UPI) -- The Australian state of Victoria saw hail the size of golf balls Sunday as a second day of hail storms and heavy rain battered area homes, experts say.
Floods kill hundreds in Africa
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 7 (UPI) -- Floods resulting from torrential rain in Africa have killed hundreds of people and forced millions from their homes, authorities said.
Saturday, March 6
Apple: iPad to go on sale April 3
CUPERTINO, Calif., March 6 (UPI) -- The much-anticipated iPad tablet will go on sale April 3, Apple announced.
Temptation obscures healthy heart choices
SAN FRANCISCO, March 6 (UPI) -- People, even heart doctors, have a tough time making the right health choices for the heart, U.S. cardiologists say.
Washington to offer free female condoms
WASHINGTON, March 6 (UPI) -- Washington city officials say the planned distribution of free female condoms will focus on areas of the city with high HIV rates.
Full-body scanners coming to LAX
Mar. 5--Full-body imaging scanners will be installed this year at Los Angeles International Airport and ten other airports across the country as a measure to improve security screening of airline passengers, the Department of Homeland Security announced today.
Friday, March 5
U.S. foodborne illness costs $152 billion
WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) -- The total economic impact of U.S. foodborne illness is $152 billion -- or about $1,850 on average per patient, a U.S. study found.
17,000 die in Germany from medical errors
DUSSELDORF, Germany, March 5 (UPI) -- About 17,000 deaths per year in Germany are due to preventable medical errors, a patient safety non-profit group estimates.
Genealogical tourists seek link to family
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., March 5 (UPI) -- Genealogical tourism, visiting where great-grandparents or grandparents once lived, is rapidly replacing days at the beach for vacation, U.S. researchers say.
Twitter key tie to world, astronauts say
HOUSTON, March 5 (UPI) -- U.S. astronauts Jeff Williams and T.D. Creamer say Twitter is key to helping them stay connected to the world while orbiting Earth some 210 miles in space.
Antioxidants in sunscreens help skin
MIAMI, March 5 (UPI) -- Using antioxidants in sunscreens reduced the formation of damaging free radicals by 74 percent of skin exposed to ultraviolet light, U.S. researchers found.
Judge OKs sex hormone treatment for teen
SYDNEY, March 5 (UPI) -- A judge in Australia has given permission for a teenage boy to begin hormone treatments to become a girl with the permission of his parents, documents show.
Russian an adept inventor or a fraud?
VSEVOLOZHSK, Russia, March 5 (UPI) -- A Russian inventor with strong political ties who claims landmark scientific advances is a con artist offering only pseudoscience, a Russian scientist alleges.
AT&T seeks to stop delivery in Ga. areas
ATLANTA, March 5 (UPI) -- AT&T officials said they are asking the Georgia Public Service Commission for permission to stop delivering the white pages in 18 areas of the state.
Egypt vows to push African science agenda
CAIRO, March 5 (UPI) -- Egypt promised to continue building Africa's science and technology agenda when it takes over a council promoting science and innovation, an official said.
Acupuncture eases breast cancer therapy
NEW YORK, March 5 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say acupuncture may relieve joint pain often accompanying breast cancer treatment.
Power Plate -- a food pyramid alternative
WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) -- A non-profit group of U.S. doctors recommends an alternative to what it says is the often confusing food pyramid -- a Power Plate.
Virgin Galactic eyes space test next year
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 5 (UPI) -- Britain's Virgin Galactic is prepared to launch test flights into space next year and start commercial space flights by 2015, the company's president said.
N.Y. Rep. Massa resigns, effective Monday
WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y., will resign his seat Monday, just days after announcing he would not seek re-election, his office said Friday.
Sage grouse: No endangered species status
WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) -- An iconic bird living in western U.S. sagebrush country faces extinction but won't be named an endangered species, the U.S. Interior Department said Friday.
Obama touts green jobs as key to recovery
ARLINGTON, Texas, March 5 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama pushed his clean-energy agenda Friday, stressing in Arlington, Va., the prospect of green jobs fueling an economic recovery.
Canadian Inuit reduce polar bear quota
IQALUIT, Nunavut, March 5 (UPI) -- The Canadian territorial government of Nunavut announced a reduction Friday in the quota of polar bears Inuit hunters are allowed to kill each year.
No vote on Colorado marijuana measure
DENVER, March 5 (UPI) -- Colorado lawmakers said they put off a vote on a bill that would require medical-marijuana dispensaries to get licenses from local and state officials.
Zoo cruelty charges over giraffe death
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 5 (UPI) -- A Canadian zoo in British Columbia faces criminal charges of animal cruelty after a giraffe died while sedated for hoof surgery, officials said.
Discovery astronauts do practice countdown
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 5 (UPI) -- Astronauts did a mock countdown in space shuttle Discovery at its Florida launch pad Friday, a month in advance of a flight to the International Space Station.
Researcher: People are very predictable
BOSTON, March 5 (UPI) -- People's travel habits are so predictable they can be accurately calculated in advance up to 93 percent of the time, says a Boston physicist.
Report: 36 hastened death via Wash. law
SEATTLE, March 5 (UPI) -- The Washington state Department of Health said at least 36 people have used the state's Death with Dignity Act to end their lives early.
Flash flooding kills six in Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 5 (UPI) -- Flooding in Kenya caused by heavy rains killed at least six people, including three children, and damaged hundreds of buildings, the Kenyan Red Cross said.
Warming data said stronger than IPCC claim
LONDON, March 5 (UPI) -- Evidence of manmade global warming is stronger than the besieged U.N. climate panel claimed, with rainfall changes altering the Earth, British scientists said.
Student develops low-cost prosthetic arm
URBANA, Ill., March 5 (UPI) -- A University of Illinois engineering student has been awarded $30,000 for developing a prosthetic arm for amputees in developing countries, the university says.
Japan says it won't honor bluefin tuna ban
TOKYO, March 5 (UPI) -- Japan said it won't comply with a proposed ban on trading Atlantic bluefin tuna, despite indications the species risks extinction, officials said.
Browser's 'funeral' includes flowers
DENVER, March 5 (UPI) -- A Colorado design firm says it received flowers from Microsoft when it staged a "funeral" for the company's Internet Explorer 6 Web browser.
South Korea sees drop in new H1N1 cases
SEOUL, March 5 (UPI) -- South Korea will lower the alert level to yellow for the H1N1 flu Monday because the virus is showing signs of subsiding, health officials said.
A happy life is filled with earnest talks
TUCSON, March 5 (UPI) -- A happy life is social and conversationally deep rather than solitary and superficial, U.S. researchers suggest.
Thursday, March 4
Cystoscopy suffices for bladder cancer
HOUSTON, March 4 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers suggest cystoscopy alone suffices as a test for recurrent bladder cancer.
Some infants with hearing loss lack care
ATLANTA, March 4 (UPI) -- Progress has been made in screening infants for hearing loss but many are not receiving follow-up diagnostic and intervention services, U.S. officials say.
Malaria drugs for those going to Haiti
ATLANTA, March 4 (UPI) -- U.S. health officials advise people travelling to Haiti should take medications to prevent malaria.
Fruit juice not linked to teen weight gain
HOUSTON, March 4 (UPI) -- There is no link between 100 percent juice consumption and weight gain in teens; in fact, the teens had more nutritious diets, U.S. researchers found.
16 exotic chickens taken from home
OCALA, Fla., March 4 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said someone stole nearly $5,000 worth of exotic chickens from a residence.
Dangerous Arctic Ocean methane leak found
FAIRBANKS, Alaska, March 4 (UPI) -- U.S.-led scientists say part of the Arctic Ocean seafloor that holds vast stores of frozen methane has started leaking the gas into the Earth's atmosphere.
Former Gov. Carey, 90, has bypass surgery
NEW YORK, March 4 (UPI) -- Former New York Gov. Hugh Carey, 90, successfully underwent cardiac bypass surgery Thursday at a New York hospital, his family said in a statement.
Aggressive hawk blamed for five attacks
STONINGTON, Conn., March 4 (UPI) -- Police in a Connecticut town are warning residents to be wary of an aggressive red-tailed hawk blamed for at least five attacks on humans.
Physicists create new form of matter
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, March 4 (UPI) -- Physicists using a collider at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y., say they have created what in essence is a new form of matter.
Secondhand smoke ups teen vessel damage
TURKU, Finland, March 4 (UPI) -- Exposure to secondhand smoke has been linked to an increased risk of hardened arteries in 13-year-olds, researchers in Finland said.
Sony's new gadgets are multipurpose
TOKYO, March 4 (UPI) -- Japanese electronics giant Sony is developing a phone with game options and a multipurpose game and computing platform, sources close to the company said.
Dogs' health may reflect community health
FINDLAY, Ohio, March 4 (UPI) -- A U.S. biologist says he suspects the family dog might not only be a friendly companion, but could also be a reflection of community health.
Scientists study satellite mini-thrusters
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 4 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they're developing mini-thrusters that could propel small satellites for such tasks as searching for planets beyond our solar system.
Rockefeller bill would delay EPA CO2 rule
WASHINGTON, March 4 (UPI) -- Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., introduced a bill that would delay Environmental Protection Agency regulation of greenhouse gases from smokestacks.
Climate change might help spread malaria
ATLANTA, March 4 (UPI) -- U.S. and Dutch scientists say they've found climate change is increasing the spread of malaria in some countries, along with migration and land-use changes.
Scientist wants to produce better antennas
BOSTON, March 4 (UPI) -- A U.S. scientist, saying antenna technology hasn't kept pace with wireless advancements, is starting a project he says might transform communication devices.
PETA group urges castration of polar bear
BERLIN, March 4 (UPI) -- The German branch of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said a polar bear housed at the Berlin Zoo should be castrated to avoid breeding.
Niacin may help treat stroke
DETROIT, March 4 (UPI) -- U.S. medical researchers suggest niacin -- or vitamin B3 -- may be used to treat stroke in the future.
Orbiter surpasses 100 terabits of data
PASADENA, Calif., March 4 (UPI) -- NASA says its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter -- now ending its fourth year of operation -- has surpassed a data-volume milestone of 100 terabits.
High school robotics competitions planned
WASHINGTON, March 4 (UPI) -- NASA says it is planning to participate in a series of nationwide U.S. high school robotics competitions.
FDA Oks name change for drug Kapidex
WASHINGTON, March 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it's approved a name change for the heartburn drug Kapidex to avoid confusion with two other medications.
Study finds weakness in security system
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 4 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've discovered a weakness in the most common digital security algorithm used to protect media copyright and Internet communications.
New way found to control mosquitoes
ITHACA, N.Y., March 4 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've discovered a protein that might lead to the development of insecticides that can disrupt a mosquito's renal system.
Scientists work to improve Web security
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 4 (UPI) -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers say they are developing a computer language that will produce flexible and dynamic Web security.
NASA wins the Collier Trophy
WASHINGTON, March 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says its International Space Station program has won the 2009 Collier Trophy, the top U.S. award in aviation.
ESA updates its Eduspace Web site
PARIS, March 4 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency says it has updated its 12-year-old Eduspace Web site that's designed for Europe's secondary students and teachers.
FDA warns of contaminated hand sanitizers
WASHINGTON, March 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers in Puerto Rico two brands of hand sanitizers might be contaminated with bacteria.
Apples, nuts, oats boost immune system
URBANA, Ill., March 4 (UPI) -- An apple a day may indeed keep the doctor away by reducing inflammation associated with obesity-related diseases, U.S. researchers say.
China announces second lunar probe
BEIJING, March 4 (UPI) -- China Thursday announced plans for its second lunar probe in October ahead of its launch of an unmanned space module set for next year.
Determining blood drive motivation
CLEVELAND, March 4 (UPI) -- Blood donors in Italy are given a day off work for their generosity but U.S. researchers say this is unlikely to happen at U.S. blood drives.
Wednesday, March 3
Distraction help kids overcome needle fear
DALLAS, March 4 (UPI) -- Distracting a child can make it easier when administering vaccines for school, flu shots or blood tests, a U.S. professor of psychiatry suggests.
Maine considers cellphone warning
ALBANY, N.Y., March 3 (UPI) -- Maine is considering a bill that would require warning labels about the risks of electromagnetic radiation on cellphones sold in the state, a legislator says.
Pre-trauma alcohol may be linked to PTSD
LONDON, March 3 (UPI) -- British researchers say moderate drinking before trauma may lead to more flashbacks.
Two killed as waves hit cruise ship
BARCELONA, Spain, March 3 (UPI) -- Two passengers were killed and six injured Wednesday when three giant 26-foot waves crashed into a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, authorities said.
U.S. withdraws Yucca Mountain application
WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy said Wednesday it has filed a motion to withdraw its license application to store high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.
N.Y. Rep. won't run, cites health reasons
BUFFALO, N.Y., March 3 (UPI) -- Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y., announced Wednesday he would not seek a second term in Congress, giving a "cancer re-occurrence scare" as the principal reason.
Rove book admits to Bush-era mistakes
WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- Former U.S. presidential adviser Karl Rove has admitted failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq critically damaged the presidency of George W. Bush.
'Hero of the Hudson' pilot retires
NEW YORK, March 3 (UPI) -- Pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who crash landed a plane in New York last year with no injuries, is retiring, airline officials said Wednesday.
Study: Fruit flies have stabilizer reflex
ITHACA, N.Y., March 3 (UPI) -- Cornell University scientists say they've discovered how fruit flies, when disturbed by wind gusts, rapidly recover from midflight stumbles to stay on course.
USGS assists Haiti in earthquake recovery
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, March 3 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they're helping Haitians prepare for reconstruction and long-term earthquake monitoring in the wake of the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake.
Atlantic octopus seen imitating flounder
WOODS HOLE, Mass., March 3 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've documented for the first time an Atlantic octopus mimicking a flounder -- only the fourth report of cephalopod mimicry.
Woman sues surgeon for mastectomy error
TORONTO, March 3 (UPI) -- A Canadian woman is suing a surgeon, a pathologist and two hospitals for mistakenly removing her breast after an incorrect cancer diagnosis.
New breast cancer subtype responds to drug
ST. LOUIS, March 3 (UPI) -- U.S. cancer experts say they've found a newly identified cancer biomarker might define a new subtype of breast cancer and offer a potential way to treat it.
Robotic surgery tactile feedback evaluated
NEW YORK, March 3 (UPI) -- A U.S.-led team of physician scientists says its found the lack of tactile feedback during robotic prostate cancer surgery does not adversely impact outcomes.
Deadly blood clots can be prevented
NEW YORK, March 3 (UPI) -- The widow of David Bloom, of NBC-TV news, who died of a deep-vein thrombosis-related blood clot while covering the Iraq war, wants to prevent similar deaths.
Ancient corals offer new hope for reefs
BRISBANE, Australia, March 3 (UPI) -- Scientists say they're studying ancient fossil corals near Papua New Guinea to determine how coral reefs might withstand effects of climate change.
Pre-diabetes awareness not happening
ATLANTA, March 3 (UPI) -- Most people are not aware if they are pre-diabetic and most who know they are are not doing anything about it, U.S. health officials found.
New dinosaur-like species is discovered
SALT LAKE CITY, March 3 (UPI) -- An international team of paleontologists says it has discovered a new species of dinosaur-like animals called Asilisaurus kongwe.
Sex offender sent to Florida VA hospital
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 3 (UPI) -- A judge has ordered a transient who failed to update his sex-offender registration moved to a Miami veteran's hospital for unspecified treatment.
Drug trial jars California start-up
SAN FRANCISCO, March 3 (UPI) -- Disappointing results of a drug trial for a treatment for Alzheimer's disease hit a biochemical start-up in California hard Wednesday.
Infant bonobo joins Columbus Zoo ranks
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 3 (UPI) -- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium officials said an 11th bonobo was born at the Ohio animal park, adding to the ranks of the endangered ape species.
Sea squirt may be good Alzheimer's model
SAN DIEGO, March 3 (UPI) -- U.S. medical researchers say they've determined the sea squirt might become a good animal model with which to test new Alzheimer's disease medications.
U.S. looking at airport shoe scanners
WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration wants to buy 100 scanners that will allow airline passengers to pass through security with their shoes on.
Police: Hackers infected 13 million PCs
MADRID, March 3 (UPI) -- Spanish police say they arrested hackers who infected 13 million computers worldwide with a virus that stole credit card numbers and personal data.
New carotid artery stenting device studied
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 3 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say a multicenter study has determined a new embolic protection device for use during carotid artery stenting has a 97.5 percent success rate.
Thick masses of buried ice found on Mars
PASADENA, Calif., March 3 (UPI) -- NASA scientists say they've identified thick masses of buried ice in the middle latitudes of Mars and radar mapping suggests the ice is commonplace.
U.S. hopes for loophole-free sanctions
BRUSSELS, March 3 (UPI) -- The success of new sanctions against Iran depends on closing loopholes allowing high-tech U.S. goods to be bought in Europe then sold to Iran, officials said.
Unnecessary PET imaging on the rise
HOUSTON, March 3 (UPI) -- A growing number of non-radiologists own or lease positron emission tomography scanners, adding to self-referral and unnecessary imaging, U.S. researchers say.
Tuesday, March 2
Drug cuts bone marrow nausea, vomiting
ORLANDO, Fla., March 3 (UPI) -- A drug can dramatically reduce both nausea and vomiting when combined with other anti-nausea drugs in bone marrow transplant patients, U.S. researchers say.
Too little, too much sleep ups belly fat
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., March 3 (UPI) -- African-American and Hispanic U.S. young adults who sleep too little or too much have greater increases than others in belly fat, researchers found.
Dirty air triggers illness, costs millions
SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 2 (UPI) -- Air pollution in California triggered asthma and pneumonia that caused $193 million in hospital-based medical care from 2005-2007, a U.S. non-profit group says.
Pandemic H1N1 may become drug resistant
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 2 (UPI) -- If the behavior of the seasonal form of the H1N1 virus is any indication most strains of H1N1will become resistant to Tamiflu, U.S. researchers suggest.
Demographics key to cancer screenings
BOSTON, March 2 (UPI) -- Education, race, ethnicity, income and age are related to a patients' willingness to participate in cancer screenings, U.S. researchers found.
Violent video games = aggressive kids
AMES, Iowa, March 2 (UPI) -- A U.S. researcher says his analysis of 130 studies involving 130,000 subjects worldwide proves violent video games lead to more aggressive, less caring kids.
Controversy over possible Colo. wolf pack
DENVER, March 2 (UPI) -- A report of a wolf pack living in western Colorado has been met with celebration by advocates and skepticism from local ranchers, authorities said.
Support, worries over nuclear plants
WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- Many Americans are in favor of increasing the nation's nuclear power capabilities, but large numbers worry about the potential consequences, a poll indicates.
Asbestos at U.S. university investigated
HARTFORD, Conn., March 2 (UPI) -- University of Connecticut authorities may have violated federal law when workers disposed of asbestos-laden material during a renovation, officials say.
Thief steals eagle's tail feathers
CEDAR CITY, Utah, March 2 (UPI) -- A golden eagle hit by a car in Utah suffered more serious injuries after the collision, when someone plucked its tail feathers, a wildlife rehabilitator says.
Apple sues HTC, phone maker for Google
CUPERTINO, Calif., March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. technology giant Apple filed suit against Taiwanese phone maker HTC Tuesday for infringement of 20 iPhone patents, court records say.
A new test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease
LOWELL, Mass., March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers have filed for a provisional patent for a new test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease.
A new test to diagnose Alzheimer's
BOSTON, March 2 (UPI) -- One in eight parents of a dying child say they considered hastening their child's death because of fears of the child's pain, U.S. researchers found.
Study focuses on nevirapine HIV therapy
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say women given nevirapine to protect the fetus from HIV should not use that drug for at least a year after childbirth.
Plants' root-shoot mechanism studied
LA JOLLA, Calif., March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've identified the genetic interactions plant embryos use to determine which end grows the shoot and which end puts down roots.
Celiac disease immune system defects ID'd
LONDON, March 2 (UPI) -- British-led medical researchers say they have identified four aspects of immune system disturbances that lead to the development of celiac disease.
Rescuers capture hairless raccoon
CLAREMORE, Okla., March 2 (UPI) -- Oklahoma animal rescuers said they have received multiple calls from the public concerned that a recently captured hairless raccoon is "a chupacabra."
New therapy suggested for liver fibrosis
BARCELONA, Spain, March 2 (UPI) -- Spanish medical scientists say they've found that lab rats treated with ghrelin, a stomach hormone, displayed a reduction in liver fibrosis.
Genetics may help spinal muscular atrophy
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say gene therapy can correct motor function, restore nerve signals and improve survival in mice with childhood spinal muscular atrophy.
Pre-cancer diet a factor in survival
CHICAGO, March 2 (UPI) -- What a woman ate three to five years prior to a diagnosis of ovarian cancer can impact her chances of survival, U.S. researchers found.
Scientist turns skin cells into heart cell
HOUSTON, March 2 (UPI) -- A University of Houston scientist says he has developed a stem cell technique that might lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's, diabetes and other diseases.
FDA OKs generic Flomax capsules
WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has approved the first generic version of Flomax (tamsulosin) capsules to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.
U.S. teen alcohol, drug abuse on upswing
NEW YORK, March 2 (UPI) -- The number of U.S. teens who say they used alcohol or drugs rose in 2009 compared with 2008, a survey indicates.
Countdown under way for weather satellite
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 2 (UPI) -- The countdown is under way at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida for the launch of the latest in a series of U.S. meteorological satellites.
Ponzi operator Rothstein visits hospital
MIAMI, March 2 (UPI) -- Disbarred Florida attorney Scott Rothstein was brought to a hospital for treatment, but has not been released from federal custody, federal authorities confirm.
Scammers clean up on fake bridal show ads
BOSTON, March 2 (UPI) -- Thousands of engaged couples registered for a Boston bridal show that turned out to be a scam, police said.
ESA is ready for a close-up of Phobos
PARIS, March 2 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency says its Mars Express spacecraft is ready to make a close flyby of Mars' moon Phobos, passing just 41 miles above its surface.
Material developed to trap nuclear waste
ARGONNE, Ill., March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've created a material that mimics a Venus Flytrap, but instead of catching insects, it traps radioactive nuclear waste.
Space agencies find new use for 'Leonardo'
HOUSTON, March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. and Italian space agency officials say they have found a new use for an existing Multi-Purpose Logistics Module known as "Leonardo."
Landslides kill dozens in Uganda
KAMPALA, Uganda, March 2 (UPI) -- Landslides in Uganda's coffee-growing district of Mbale have killed at least 50 people, officials said Tuesday.
Antifreeze proteins can stop ice melt
ATHENS, Ohio, March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. and Canadian scientists say they've discovered antifreeze proteins that prevent freezing in cold conditions also prevent melting in warmer environments.
Chilean quake may have moved Earth's axis
PASADENA, Calif., March 2 (UPI) -- NASA scientists say February's magnitude 8.8 Chilean earthquake might have shifted one of the Earth's axes and shortened the length of an Earth day.
Customers oppose costly nuke projects
WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- A U.S. move toward more nuclear energy could be hampered by opposition from big-business customers who don't want to foot the bill for costly projects.
U.S. to reveal parts of 'net security plan
WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- The Obama administration said it plans to declassify parts of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, a U.S. effort on Internet security rules.
Higher IQ linked to liberalism, atheism
LONDON, March 2 (UPI) -- More intelligent children may be more likely to grow up to be liberals, a researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science suggests.
Hard surfaces can harbor virus for 48 hrs.
NORTH CANTON, Ohio, March 2 (UPI) -- Hard surfaces emerged as a key source of bacterial and viral infections during the H1N1 pandemic, a U.S. physician says.
Monday, March 1
Menopause increases heart risk
CHICAGO, March 2 (UPI) -- Women entering menopause need to be aware of their increasing risk of heart disease, a U.S. doctor advises.
Novel way to study inflammatory disease
BOULDER, Colo., March 2 (UPI) -- Mice infected with salmonella develop clinical signs consistent with a poorly understood human inflammatory disease, U.S. researchers found.
Frequent napping may be linked to diabetes
BIRMINGHAM, England, March 1 (UPI) -- Frequent napping is associated with an elevated prevalence of type 2 diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in an older Chinese population, researchers say.
NYC drug overdose deaths down 27 percent
NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- Unintentional drug overdose deaths in New York declined sharply in 2008, falling to the lowest level seen since 1999, city health officials said.
Fish rain on Australian town
LAJAMANU, Australia, March 1 (UPI) -- Weather experts said the fish that fell on a remote Australian town for two days had likely been sucked up by a thunderstorm before falling to the ground.
Painkillers linked to hearing loss
BOSTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Regular use of aspirin, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increases the risk of hearing loss in men, U.S. researchers found.
NASA awards Marshall Center contract
WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- NASA says it has signed a $40 million contract modification with the InfoPro Corp. of Huntsville, Ala., for work at the Marshall Space Flight Center.
NASA announces new satellite initiative
WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it is starting an initiative to launch small cube-shaped satellites for educational and not-for-profit organizations.
Caddisflies may one day aid surgeons
SALT LAKE CITY, March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists studying insects known as caddisflies say the fly's larvae can spin silk underwater that may some day lead to creation of a new surgical glue.
NASA finds ice deposits on the moon
WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- NASA scientists studying radar data from India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft say they have found more than 40 ice-filled craters at the moon's north pole.
43-Count Ticket Scam Indictment Returned
Four people were indicted in a $25 million plot to defraud and hack into Ticketmaster, Tickets.com and other ticket vendors, the U.S. Justice Department said.
43-count ticket scam indictment returned
WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Four people were indicted in a $25 million plot to defraud and hack into Ticketmaster, Tickets.com and other ticket vendors, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Study looks at nanoplankton extinction
STATE COLLEGE, Pa., March 1 (UPI) -- A U.S. study suggests an asteroid strike may not only have killed ocean and land life 65 million years ago, but it may also have caused extinction unevenness.
About 60 strip in cold for wildlife
NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- Organizers of New York's "Naked" Polar Bear Cruise said about 60 people stripped down to next to nothing on a ship's deck for a wildlife charity.
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander: Still silent
PASADENA, Calif., March 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says its Phoenix Mars Lander showed no sign during February that it has revived itself after the northern Mars winter season.
Some obese 3-year-olds show heart risk
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 1 (UPI) -- Obese children as young as 3 have elevated levels of C-reactive protein, a biomarker considered an early warning sign for heart disease, U.S. researchers say.
Oldest mammalian genome is sequenced
STATE COLLEGE, Pa., March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. and Swedish scientists say they have sequenced the genome of the polar bear -- the oldest mammalian genome to be sequenced so far.
NASA announces management changes
WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced top management changes Monday that will affect three of the space agency's field centers.
Earth's rotation affects underwater waves
NARRAGANSETT, R.I., March 1 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they're gaining new insight into the mechanisms involved in the generation of huge underwater waves in coastal regions of Earth's oceans.
Acupuncture, massage have cancer care role
CHICAGO, March 1 (UPI) -- Acupuncture, massage and other alternative therapies have a place in cancer care, a U.S. doctor says.
Euthanasia eyed as R.I. feral cat solution
PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 1 (UPI) -- Rhode Island state veterinarian Scott Marshall says euthanasia may be the best response to threats posed by the state's feral cat population.
Some OneTouch glucose test strips recalled
WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says eight lots of OneTouch SureStep glucose test strips have been recalled because they may give false readings.
Beached pygmy sperm whale dies in Florida
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 1 (UPI) -- An ocean rescue official said a pygmy sperm whale died in Brevard County, Fla., after beaching itself at Jetty Park.
Report: PCB pollution threatening dolphins
BRUNSWICK, Ga., March 1 (UPI) -- Scientists say bottlenose dolphins off the U.S. coast are at risk due to their food supply being contaminated with PCBs from a closed chemical factory.
FDA OKs drug to treat Gaucher disease
WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has approved VPRIX, a new injectable drug, as an alternative treatment for Gaucher's disease.
Manure a growing pollution problem
WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Environmentalists and scientists say animal manure is becoming a growing pollution problem in the United States.
Tigers at risk due to Year of the Tiger
BEIJING, March 1 (UPI) -- Tigers face a major threat because of an increased demand in China for tiger bone tonic wine during the Year of the Tiger, animal experts say.
Iran takes aim at U.N. nuclear watchdog
TEHRAN, March 1 (UPI) -- Iran called the U.N. nuclear watchdog an incompetent pawn of the West, in a sign of increasingly strained relations between the agency and the Islamic Republic.
White House revisiting nuclear policy
WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- The White House is developing a U.S. nuclear strategy that would reduce the country's arsenal and outline when nuclear weapons would be used, aides said
Detecting infection in large-scale events
BOSTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Researchers using real-time Internet-based surveillance said they determined no international infectious diseases posed a threat at the Vancouver Games.
New method kills prostate cancer cells
MELBOURNE, March 1 (UPI) -- Australian biomedical scientists report they have identified a new way to treat prostate cancer.
Cholesterol screening should begin at 20
DALLAS, March 1 (UPI) -- Although many may think heart disease is a middle-age worry a U.S. cardiologist suggests cholesterol screening should begin at age 20.
Advanced prostate cancer may boost suicide
UPPSALA, Sweden, March 1 (UPI) -- Swedish researchers found the suicide rate for men diagnosed with advanced or spreading prostate cancer is double that of the general male population.
Sunday, February 28
Aggressive therapy reduces H1N1 deaths
SANTIAGO, Chile, March 1 (UPI) -- The early use of anti-viral treatment and other aggressive measures for H1N1 by a hospital in Chile helped reduce H1N1 deaths, researchers said.
Gore wishes climate critics were right
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, in an op-ed piece Sunday in The New York Times, says he wishes global warming was an "illusion," as critics claim.
Pacific nations cancel tsunami alert
TOKYO, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Tsunami warnings throughout the Pacific basin were canceled Sunday after waves unleashed by Chile's earthquake reached as far as Japan.
Saturday, February 27
Calif. looking at only 3-foot waves
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Los Angeles County fire authorities say they are not warning people away from beaches despite the tsunami advisory for the California coast.
Coyotes prey on Ill. pets
NAPERVILLE, Ill., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The City Council in Wheaton, Ill., says it may combat attacks on pets by coyotes by hiring a trapper.
Blocking EPA deal could raise auto costs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The Obama administration says automakers could face sharp cost increases if Congress stops a U.S. agency from finalizing tailpipe emission standards.
Senate plan would ditch cap-and-trade
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- A U.S. Senate plan to ditch the "cap-and-trade" approach to climate legislation may represent the best shot at passing a bill this year, the Sierra Club said.
SeaWorld resumes killer whale performances
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- SeaWorld says it is resuming performances with killer whales at its U.S. parks, though trainers will not swim with the animals after a trainer was killed.
Argentina warns BHP against oil drilling
SYDNEY, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Mining giant BHP Billiton will be sanctioned in Argentina if it explores for oil off the Falkland Islands, Argentinean authorities warned Saturday.
Friday, February 26
Influenza dangerous because of mutations
DALLAS, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Influenza can be potentially dangerous because it is not very good at making copies of itself, which leads to mutations, a U.S. pathologist says.
More diagnosed with gestational diabetes
CHICAGO, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Blood-sugar levels once considered normal for pregnant women are not safe for baby or mother, researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois said.
Advisers alter aspirin recommendations
ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. health advisers have altered their advice on using low-dose aspirin to reduce cardiovascular risk, officials said.
Clot-busting drugs for unwitnessed stroke
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Canadian researchers suggest basing emergency stroke care on the time patients were last seen as normal.
Video games combat depression in elderly
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- The regular use of "exergames" -- video games that combine game play with exercise -- may reduce depression in the elderly, U.S. researchers found.
Whale trainer died of injuries, drowning
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau died of multiple injuries and drowning after a killer whale pulled her underwater at the Florida park, an autopsy revealed.
Sea turtles aiding robotics
JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Studying the locomotion of baby loggerhead sea turtles is providing clues for the development of robots over varying terrain, scientists in Georgia said.
Personalized warfarin therapy developed
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say their new rapid, genotyping method can help clinicians choose appropriate doses of the blood thinner warfarin for individual patients.
Woman in Roman tomb was of African descent
YORK, England, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A woman buried in the British city of York 16 centuries ago with signs of great wealth in her tomb was of African descent, scientists said Friday.
Caspian Sea beluga at risk of extinction
ATYRAU, Kazakhstan, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Conservation strategies for beluga sturgeon should focus on reducing the overfishing of adults, a team of U.S. and Kazakh scientists said.
Child abuse can cause brain changes
DUBLIN, Ireland, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Childhood abuse or emotional neglect can result in structural brain changes, say researchers at Ireland's Trinity College Dublin.
Micro-ear would listen to cells
OXFORD, England, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- British scientists say they're building a micro-ear that would let researchers listen to the inner workings of micro-organisms.
Dying planet being torn apart by sun
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A planet 800 light years from Earth has been squashed into a football shape by the gravity exerted by its sun, scientists in California said.
Wild hogs plague Florida neighborhood
PLANTATION, Fla., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Officials in a Florida town are refusing to take action against a pack of wild hogs living in an affluent neighborhood, homeowners say.
Louisiana restoration plans lack funding
GRETNA, La., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Many of the more than 400 restoration projects planned for Louisiana's coastline lack funding and may never be started, some residents said.
Studies conflict on stent use for strokes
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A European report conflicts with a North American study that suggests stents are as effective as surgery in opening blocked neck arteries, officials said.
Doctor gives ice, snow walking tips
NEW YORK, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A New York physician says walking sideways up and down inclines can prevent falling in icy, snowy conditions.
Optimistic salmon forecast worries some
SACRAMENTO, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Some salmon fishermen say they're wary of an upbeat forecast that predicts 245,483 Chinook will spawn in California's Sacramento River system this fall.
Red wine may help impede cancer
NEW YORK, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Derivatives of resveratrol -- found in red wine grapes -- may impede cancer cell development, U.S. researchers said.
Guidant hit with federal charges
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Guidant LLC was charged with federal criminal violations related to safety problems with some of its implantable defibrillators, U.S. officials said.
Thursday, February 25
Women's mid-life crisis -- no health ins.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Men may buy a convertible for their mid-life crises but unmarried middle-age women have a mid-life crisis as well, no health insurance, U.S. researcher say.
Concord grape juice may help brain
CINCINNATI, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Concord grape juice may help support healthy brain function, especially in older adults with early memory decline, U.S. researchers suggest.
Study: Tanning ads similar to smoking ads
NEWTON, Mass., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. dermatologists say the tanning industry uses misleading ad tactics similar to those used by smoking advertisers.
Trans fat linked to higher stoke risk
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say increased dietary fat increased ischemic stroke risk -- caused by a blood clot -- in post-menopausal women.
Study: Food 'sin taxes' effective
BUFFALO, N.Y., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Taxing unhealthy foods reduces overall calories purchased, while cutting the proportion of fat and carbohydrates and increasing protein, U.S. researchers say.
Depleted uranium safe in Utah?
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The head of a company operating a radioactive waste disposal site in Utah said Thursday the diversion of two trainloads of depleted uranium is temporary.
To prevent lung cancer -- don't smoke
BOSTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Both African-Americans and whites say they are confused about how to prevent lung cancer, U.S. researchers found.
Prostate surgery may be all about volume
DALLAS, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A U.S. urologist says prostate surgery patients all too often perceive a new approach will be significantly superior.
Italian oil spill deliberate
MILAN, Italy, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A spill that sent massive amounts of oil into the Po River in northern Italy was a deliberate act of vandalism, officials said Thursday.
Modified immune cells found to fight HIV
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say a genetic modification of immune cells significantly reduced the number of infected cells in HIV patients who stopped antiviral treatment.
NASA extends Johnson facilities contract
HOUSTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it has exercised two one-year extension options in a facilities contract at its Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Oncogene linked with pancreatic cancer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Mayo Clinic scientists in Florida say they've discovered an oncogene important in colon and lung cancer is also linked with poor pancreatic cancer survival.
All-optical computing moves a step closer
ATLANTA, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology say they have developed a photonic material that could facilitate all-optical switching and computing.
Corruption defendant Twitters for money
DETROIT, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A Michigan political consultant on trial for corruption is using the social networking site Twitter to try to drum up legal defense funds, his messages show.
Genome of the pea aphid is sequenced
CORAL GABLES, Fla., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have sequenced the entire genome of the pea aphid -- the first sap-sucking insect to be sequenced.
Birds dropping dead in Tenn. neighborhood
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Scientists are trying to determine why red-winged blackbirds, grackles and other birds have been dying in northwest Tennessee.
NASA: Discovery is mated with its rocket
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Work was under way Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for space shuttle Discovery's upcoming STS-131 mission to the International Space Station.
New battery plant planned for Michigan
MIDLAND, Mich., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Michigan economic development officials said Dow Kocam MI LLC has committed to a $294 million investment that would bring 320 full-time jobs to the state.
Grizzly bears found in polar bear habitat
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. and Canadian researchers say they've discovered grizzly bears in what has traditionally been Canadian polar bear habitat.
Theme park seeks smelly urine for maze
CHERTSEY, England, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A British theme park said it is seeking the smelliest possible urine for a maze attraction based on the "Saw" series of horror films.
Stressed nanomaterial: Startling activity
BALTIMORE, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've discovered that under certain conditions, newly developed nanocrystalline materials exhibit surprising activity.
Feds probe school's shock treatments
CANTON, Mass., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Federal officials said they are looking into whether a Massachusetts special needs school violates the law by using electrical shocks to discipline students.
Medicare: Not seeing doctor costs more
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Medicare beneficiaries with chronic diseases, who do not visit the doctor much cost more money because of emergency room visits, U.S. researchers found.
NASA 2009 software award is presented
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it has awarded its 2009 Software of the Year award to engineers at the agency's Ames Research Center in California.
Guilty plea made in AIDS crime case
FRANKLIN, Ind., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A 47-year-old man pleaded guilty in an Indiana court to charges he met women online and had sex with them without informing them he has AIDS.
Debated climate hypothesis is researched
NORMAN, Okla., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Two U.S. scientists are looking for clues to validate or debunk a controversial hypothesis that ice existed at the Earth's equator 300 million years ago.
DNA relationships found between plants
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- University of Florida scientists say a DNA study they conducted has made clearer the origins of flowering plants from peas to oak trees.
NASA to improve deep space communications
PASADENA, Calif., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it has started an antenna-building project designed to improve its Deep Space Network Communications.
New technique may help melanoma patients
COLUMBIA, Mo., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say the use of laser-induced ultrasound could help physicians locate the general area of a lymph node where melanoma cells might reside.
New fuel cell technology is introduced
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A U.S. energy company has unveiled a fuel cell that it says can transform the nation's current system of grid-distributed power into localized energy sources.
Syria says no to inspection of nuke plant
DAMASCUS, Syria, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Syria has said no to the International Atomic Energy Agency's bid for another inspection of the country's nuclear facilities, officials said Thursday.
Stennis Space Center to test rocket engine
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Officials at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi have announced an initiative they say will shape the future of the rocket engine testing facility.
Way to improve cryopreservation developed
BOSTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have used mathematical modeling to improve the cryopreservation of biological materials, such as blood.
Lavrov: Nuke treaty may have missile link
MOSCOW, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The new Russian-U.S. nuclear arms reduction agreement likely will be tied to U.S. plans for missile shields in Europe, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
India, Pakistan hold talks
NEW DELHI, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan met in New Delhi Thursday for formal talks, the first since the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.
Exercising in cold can take breath away
DALLAS, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Cold weather sports of the Winter Olympics can increase the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma but there's no need to skip sports, a U.S. allergist says.
Hospitalization linked to cognitive drop
SEATTLE, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Older patients hospitalized for acute care or critical illness are more likely than others to experience cognitive decline, U.S. researchers found.
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