News Articles

Scientists studying the DNA marker profiles between smokers and non-smokers have found several genetic variants that are associated with key smoking behaviors. In a new Nature Genetics paper, the international research team reported that three genetic regions are associated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day, one with smoking initiation and one with smoking cessation. The variants on chromosome 15 associated with heavy smoking lie within a region that contains nicotinic receptor genes, which other scientists have previously associated with nicotine dependence and lung cancer.

Physicists at Ohio University and the University of Hamburg in Germany have captured  the first images of atomic spin in action.  The research indicates that scientists can observe and perhaps manipulate spin, a finding that may impact future development of nanoscale magnetic storage, quantum computers and spintronic devices.The images have been published in a new Nature Nanotechnology study.

Researchers have discovered a new species of monitor lizard, a close relative of the Komodo dragon, on the Moluccan islands of east Indonesia. The lizard was discovered just last spring  and belongs to the mangrove monitor, V. indicus group. The discovery was reported in Zootaxa this week.Varanus obor, popularly referred to as Torch monitor and Sago monitor, has a bright orange head with a glossy black body. It is a close relative of the fruit-eating monitor lizard recently reported from the Philippines. The Torch monitor can grow to nearly four feet in length, and thrives on a diet of small animals and carrion.

After a decade of development, the Air Force has launched the the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on an Atlas V expendable launch vehicle, and the Internet is abuzz with speculation about what it means because it is the first craft to have autonomous space re-entry.  Star Wars 2010?   

Northwestern University scientists say Eyjafjallajökull and its massive cloud of volcanic ash have impacted mobility patterns in places far from Europe -- including the United States, India and southeast Asia.The team compared the entire worldwide air transportation network before and after the 27 major European airports were closed and used complex network theory to compute and list the most affected airports still operating.

Most of the 350 million facebook users around the world spend more time searching for specific content than aimlessly browsing news feeds or friends lists, according to research conducted at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.Researchers have dubbed the practices "social searching" and "social browsing." People engage in social searching when navigating facebook in search of certain information about a specific person, group, or event; users engage in social browsing, on the other hand, when surveying the general landscape, such as their newsfeed or wall, without looking for specific information.

Are you overweight? Do you want to slim down? Forget about exercising and dieting because there is actually a way to magically cure poor eating habits. A new study examining the effects of psychological acupuncture suggests that the practice can reduce food cravings for up to six months in people who are overweight or obese. The study did not show any significant impact on body weight or body mass index (BMI) after six months, but the results of a 12-month follow-up are still being analyzed, the authors say. Cross your fingers. The results of the study will be presented at the International Congress of Applied Psychology in Melbourne in July.

Immunization against "swine flu" in 1976 might have partially protected some individuals from the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus, according to a new study in Clinical Infectious Diseases.Researchers found that individuals who reported receiving the 1976 vaccine mounted an enhanced immune response against both the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus and a different H1N1 flu strain that circulated during the 2008-09 flu season.It is unclear if the response was enough to protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus, but the study points to a lingering benefit. The findings also raise hope that those vaccinated against the 2009 H1N1 pandemic strain might also enjoy a similar long-term advantage.

High-resolution visible and thermal infrared images captured by a joint NASA-Japanese satellite sensor have provided the first clear glimpse of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull that began erupting last week.The images, taken by NASA's Earth-orbiting Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflectance Radiometer (ASTER) instrument, show that although the volcano's infamous ash plume is receding, its internal temperature is rising.Eyjafjallajökull appears on the left side of the images as a bright spot with a cloud emanating from it. More images are available here.

Academics are being increasingly pressured to produce 'publishable' results and The quality of scientific research may be suffering as a consequence, according to a new PLoS ONE study. The analysis of papers in all disciplines shows that researchers report more "positive" results for their experiments in US states where academics publish more frequently.

The suggestion that famous athletes serve as role models for underage fans is "rubbish," say researchers writing in Drug and Alcohol Review. The authors found that the loutish and drunken behavior of some pro athletes – routinely reported in the media – has little or no effect on the drinking habits of young people.The research team asked more than 1,000 young sportspeople at elite and amateur level and non-sportspeople to report the perceived drinking behavior of high-profile sport stars compared with their friends, and then report their own drinking behavior using the World Health Organizations Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test.

The exoplanet GJ 436b has left scientists confused after defying their assumptions about the composition of its atmosphere. Neptune-sized planets as hot as 800 Kelvin -- about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit -- should contain high levels of methane and very little carbon monoxide. Instead, the researchers found 7,000 times less methane than expected and plenty of carbon monoxide.Using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, researchers measured the dimming of light as GJ 436b passed behind its star and re-emerged. The difference in the two light levels -- measured six times at different infrared wavelengths -- represents the light emitted by the planet itself.