New study challenges ‘critical period’ in childhood vision development
Early sensory stimulation may not be required for vision development.
Professor
Age, gender major factors in severity of auto-accident injuries
Understanding the differences among drivers in different gender and age categories is crucial to preventing serious injuries, said researchers in a new study showing stark statistical differences in traffic-accident injuries depending on the gender and age of drivers.
Metamaterials four to work for visible light
For the first time ever, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory have developed a material with a negative refractive index for visible light. Ames Laboratory senior physicist Costas Soukoulis, working with colleagues in Karlsruhe, Germany, designed a silver-based, mesh-like material that marks the latest advance in the rapidly evolving field of metamaterials, materials that could lead to a wide range of new applications as varied as ultrahigh-resolution imaging systems and cloaking devices.
Stress :: Social workers may indirectly experience post-traumatic stress
A first of its kind study by a researcher in the University of Georgia School of Social Work finds that repeatedly hearing the stories of trauma victims doubles the risk of social workers themselves experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Stem Cell :: Cancer-killing invention also harvests stem cells
Prof Michael King of the University of Rochester has invented a device that filters the blood for cancer and stem cells. When he captures cancer cells, he kills them. When he captures stem cells, he harvests them for later use in tissue engineering, bone marrow transplants, and other health applications. This is a non-controversial way of obtaining stem cells that can be differentiated into other, useful cells.
Biofuel :: York-Sichuan link to study biodiesel production
Biologists at the University of York have established new research links with Chinese scientists to investigate biodiesel — a cleaner, more environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum.
Feeling tired? You may be less likely to get hurt, MU researcher says
Sleepiness and sleep deprivation have long been associated with an increased risk of injury. However, the results of a recent study by a University of Missouri-Columbia researcher suggest that this commonly accepted theory might not be true.
Mental health risks vary within the US Black population
The longer Black Caribbean immigrants stay in the US, the poorer their mental health becomes. That’s one finding from a new study that examined the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Black individuals in the US .
Repetitive motion speeds nanoparticle uptake
Newly published research by Rice University chemists and North Carolina State University toxicologists finds that repetitive movement can speed the uptake of nanoparticles through the skin. The research is based on in vitro experiments involving animal skin that was exposed to buckyball-containing amino acids. It appears in the January 10 issue of the American Chemical Society’s journal Nano Letters.
Smoking :: Should smokers be refused surgery?
Last year a primary care trust announced it would take smokers off waiting lists for surgery in an attempt to contain costs. In this week’s BMJ, two experts go head to head over whether smokers should be refused surgery.