07 Jan, 2014 | by Labroots
Dirty Dogs Could Be a Child’s Best FriendParents of children with allergies are familiar with the routine cleanings and keeping potential allergens away, including the family pet. It turns out that the family dog that carries dust from outdoors into the home may actually benefit babies. New research suggests that the dust that comes in with the dog can impart immune protection to infants. A study performed on mice showed that microbes in...... Read More
06 Jan, 2014 | by Labroots
Why Men Drink More than WomenMost people are already aware that men drink more than women. The results of a new study indicate that differences in the way men and women respond to stress may be the reason for the discrepancy. The findings were published in Science News and a number of other science articles after the original report in the December 11 issue of Addiction. Researchers studied men and women in a situation where...... Read More
03 Jan, 2014 | by Labroots
Glassblowers Have Important Science JobsWhen most of us think about potential science jobs that may hold promise as a career choice, glass blower isnât typically one of the first areas that comes to mind. However, an article in New Scientist explains the important role that scientific glass-blowers play in the overall scheme of things. The story focuses on Stephen Ramsey, the scientific glass-blower at Imperial College London, who is...... Read More
02 Jan, 2014 | by Labroots
Fast Production of Hydrogen may Lead to Clean FuelScientists have made a discovery that could increase the amount of hydrogen available to use as clean fuel. By increasing the speed at which the natural process takes place to form hydrogen in rocks deep below the surface of the Earth, hydrogen may be more widely available to use as a clean fuel resource. Hydrogen is currently being used in rockets and in battery-like fuel cells while research is being...... Read More
31 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Elective Early-Term Deliveries Increase Risk of ComplicationsAlthough it has become common practice these days for women to have an elective, early-term delivery in lieu of waiting on the natural labor process, the choice can mean increasing complications instead of alleviating them. In spite of the aches, pains and other symptoms that cause discomfort during the last part of pregnancy, speeding up the delivery to relieve symptoms can cause complications to...... Read More
30 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Patients in Vegetative State found to Recognize their Loved OnesThe concern of those who have loved ones in a vegetative state have long been troubled by the lack of evidence that they are able to hear them or recognize that they are not alone. A vegetative state is one in which patients are awake and breathing without the aid of a ventilator, and they give the appearance of going in and out of sleep. They do not respond to any type of stimulus around them and...... Read More
27 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Discovery of Human Hand Bone Closes Evolution GapUntil a recent discovery, a gap has existed in human evolution. The distinctive hand anatomy of humans is what allows them to make and use tools of which apes and other nonhuman primates are incapable. The question for scientists has always been âAt what point in time did these features first appear during human evolution?â Now, a researcher from the University of Missouri, along with her team...... Read More
26 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Future Prosthetics May Include Sense of TouchTechnology has continued to improve the effectiveness of prosthetics over the years, making it easier for those who have lost limbs to lead more normal lives by being able to grasp objects in much the same way they would with their natural hand. The one detail that has always been missing, however, was the sense of touch that let the person know when the prosthetic had contacted the object. New research...... Read More
25 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Light after Near-Death from Heart Attack ExplainedSome people who have had severe heart attacks, and most movie buffs, know the implications of the light many survivors of near-death experiences have seen. In spite of the belief by many that they have glimpsed the afterlife, it turns out that there is a scientific explanation for the phenomena. When blood flow stops, the brain keeps working for as long as 30 seconds. The implications of this finding...... Read More
24 Dec, 2013 | by Labroots
Beating Heart Grown in Petri DishScientists have reached a new level in the use of stem cells to grow organs. Human heart tissue that was grown in a petri dish contracted spontaneously, encouraging news for the millions of people who die from cardiovascular ailments annually. Complications associated with organ transplants have limited the number of those with cardiovascular disease from getting the life-saving transplants they need....... Read More