A Blog Around The Clock

'Snow Flea Antifreeze Protein' Could Help Improve Organ Preservation:

Scientists in Illinois and Pennsylvania are reporting development of a way to make the antifreeze protein that enables billions of Canadian snow fleas to survive frigid winter temperatures. Their laboratory-produced first-of-a-kind proteins could have practical uses in extending the storage life of donor organs and tissues for human transplantation, according to new research.

Freedom's Just Another Word For Less Sexually Active Teens:

Sophisticated statistical research is providing more evidence of a link between rigid parenting and increased sexual activity in older teens. Although it is difficult to confirm that controlling mothers and fathers cause kids to have more sex, the findings suggest it is wise to give children freedom, said Rebekah Levine Coley, lead author of a new study of nearly 5,000 U.S. teenagers. Coley is an associate professor of applied developmental and educational psychology at Boston College.

Costs Of Climate Change, State-by-state: Billions, Says New Report:

Climate change will carry a price tag of billions of dollars for a number of U.S. states, says a new series of reports from the University of Maryland's Center for Integrative Environmental Research (CIER). The researchers conclude that the costs have already begun to accrue and are likely to endure.

It Takes Nerves For Flies To Keep A Level Head:

The nerve connections that keep a fly's gaze stable during complex aerial manoeuvres, enabling it to respond quickly to obstacles in its flight path, are revealed in new detail in research published today (22 July 2008).

Various Species' Genes Evolve To Minimize Protein Production Errors:

Scientists at Harvard University and the University of Texas at Austin have found that genetic evolution is strongly shaped by genes' efforts to prevent or tolerate errors in protein production.

Prevailing Theory Of Aging Challenged: Genetic Instructions Found To Drive Aging In Worms:

Age may not be rust after all. Specific genetic instructions drive aging in worms, report researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Their discovery contradicts the prevailing theory that aging is a buildup of tissue damage akin to rust, and implies science might eventually halt or even reverse the ravages of age.

Outdoor Enthusiasts Scaring Off Native Carnivores In Parks:

Even a quiet stroll in the park can dramatically change natural ecosystems, according to a new study by conservation biologists from the University of California, Berkeley. These findings could have important implications for land management policies.