A Blog Around The Clock

Missing Link Found Between Circadian Clock And Metabolism:

Two new research studies have discovered a long sought molecular link between our metabolism and components of the internal clock that drives circadian rhythms, keeping us to a roughly 24-hour schedule. The findings appear in the July 25th issue of the journal Cell.

Dinosaurs Did Not Evolve Quickly In Last 50 Million Years, New Dinosaur Super-tree Shows:

It has long been debated whether dinosaurs were part of the 'Terrestrial Revolution' that occurred some 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous when birds, mammals, flowering plants, insects and reptiles all underwent a rapid expansion.

Parasites Vastly Outweigh Predators In Estuaries: Could Have Significant Ecological Implications:

In a study of free-living and parasitic species in three estuaries on the Pacific coast of California and Baja California, a team of researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, the United States Geological Survey, and Princeton University has determined that parasite biomass in those habitats exceeds that of top predators, in some cases by a factor of 20.

Parasitic Worm Infections Increase Susceptibility To AIDS Viruses:

Persons infected with schistosomes, and possibly other parasitic worm infections, may be more likely to become infected with HIV than persons without worm infections, according to a new study.

Glia Guide Brain Development In Worms:

Again and again, experiments confirmed it. Without glia, neurons die. So scientists who wanted to study in living animals what glia -- the most abundant brain cells -- do for neurons besides keep them alive were out of luck. But now, a breakthrough.

Serious School Failure Is Depressing For Girls, But Not Boys:

Adolescent girls who had a serious school failure by the 12th grade -- being expelled, suspended or dropping out -- were significantly more likely to have suffered a serious bout of depression at the age of 21 than girls who did not have these problems.

Viagra Works For Antidepressant-related Sexual Dysfunction In Women, Study Suggests:

Women with sexual dysfunction caused by the use of antidepressants experienced a reduction in adverse sexual effects with use of sildenafil, commonly known as the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra, according to a new study.

Age-old Magic Tricks Can Provide Clues For Modern Science:

Revealing the science behind age-old magic tricks will help us better understand how humans see, think, and act, according to researchers at the University of British Columbia and Durham University in the U.K.

Licking Your Wounds: Scientists Isolate Compound In Human Saliva That Speeds Wound Healing:

A report by scientists from The Netherlands identifies a compound in human saliva that greatly speeds wound healing. This research may offer hope to people suffering from chronic wounds related to diabetes and other disorders, as well as traumatic injuries and burns. In addition, because the compounds can be mass produced, they have the potential to become as common as antibiotic creams and rubbing alcohol.

Milkweed's Evolutionary Approach To Caterpillars: Counter Appetite With Fast Repair:

The adage that your enemies know your weaknesses best is especially true in the case of plants and predators that have co-evolved: As the predators evolve new strategies for attack, plants counter with their own unique defenses.

Controlling Invasive Cane Grass With Wasps?:

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin will work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) to investigate biological control for an invasive cane grass that is choking waterways across North America.

Sex And Lifespan Linked In Worms:

A group of scientists who set out to study sex pheromones in a tiny worm found that the same family of pheromones also controls a stage in the worms' life cycle, the long-lived dauer larva.