Thursday, May 22

  • Flames engulf Santa Cruz Mountains  (UPI / 1:24PM EDT on 05/22) SANTA CRUZ, Calif., May 22 (UPI) -- California residents near the Santa Cruz Mountains were evacuated Thursday as wildfires burned about 1,000 acres and threatened several homes, officials said.
  • Summit: HRT safe for women 50 to 59  (UPI / 1:05PM EDT on 05/22) MADRID, May 22 (UPI) -- An international group of menopause experts meeting in Switzerland said that hormone replacement therapy in the early postmenopausal period is safe.
  • Tracking consumers online stirs debate  (UPI / 12:34PM EDT on 05/22) WASHINGTON, May 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Federal Trade Commission guidelines for Internet advertising have stirred debate among consumers and companies, industry observers said.
  • Congress wants answers on immigrant health  (UPI / 12:24PM EDT on 05/22) WASHINGTON, May 22 (UPI) -- U.S. lawmakers say they want answers from Department of Homeland Security leaders about reports of inadequate medical care for detained immigrants.
  • Study: Teen oral sex epidemic 'a myth'  (UPI / 9:44AM EDT on 05/22) NEW YORK, May 22 (UPI) -- The belief teens engage in oral sex as a way to be sexually active while technically claiming to be virgins isn't true, a U.S. researcher says.
  • Tool tells how to catch up missed vaccines  (UPI / 8:14AM EDT on 05/22) ATLANTA, May 21 (UPI) -- A software tool helps pediatricians, parents and healthcare workers determine how to adjust complex childhood immunization schedules, U.S. researchers say.
  • Baby eagle to be checked for avian pox  (UPI / 7:05AM EDT on 05/22) NORFOLK, Va., May 22 (UPI) -- Experts said they are preparing to take a 3-week-old eaglet from its nest at Virginia's Norfolk Botanical Garden so it can be checked for avian pox.
  • Study: Premature ejaculation defined  (UPI / 1:34AM EDT on 05/22) SYDNEY, May 22 (UPI) -- Experts from 10 countries, including Australia, the United States, Germany and Egypt, say they have defined life-long premature ejaculation.
  • Noninvasive prostate treatment developed  (UPI / 1:05AM EDT on 05/22) SAN ANTONIO, May 22 (UPI) -- Computed tomography is an effective noninvasive method for locating the prostatic apex for radiation therapy for prostate cancer, U.S. researchers say.

    Wednesday, May 21

  • Brazilian rainforest destruction rising  (UPI / 11:24PM EDT on 05/21) RIO DE JANEIRO, May 21 (UPI) -- The destruction of the Brazilian rainforest is on the rise again, the country's new environment minister said Wednesday.
  • Peruvian leader has pre-cancerous growth  (UPI / 10:24PM EDT on 05/21) LIMA, May 21 (UPI) -- Former Peruvian leader Alberto Fujimori has a precancerous growth on his mouth that may require an operation, his daughter says.
  • Alaska to challenge polar bear listing  (UPI / 10:14PM EDT on 05/21) ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 21 (UPI) -- Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg has been asked by the governor to challenge a recent federal decision to list polar bears as a threatened species.
  • Judge: Admit $20,000 theft or go to jail  (UPI / 9:05PM EDT on 05/21) DALLAS, May 21 (UPI) -- Former Dallas City Council member James Fantroy was told Wednesday to admit he stole money from a college or go to jail.
  • More doctor sleep, less patient mortality  (UPI / 6:44PM EDT on 05/21) TORONTO, May 21 (UPI) -- Limiting the hours of medical residents does not negatively affect outcomes in critically ill patients in intensive care units, U.S. researchers said.
  • Bush allows cell phones to be sent to Cuba  (UPI / 5:05PM EDT on 05/21) WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- President George Bush marked a day of solidarity with the Cuban people by allowing U.S. residents to send cell phones to their families in Cuba.
  • Energy Dept. OKs waste storage contracts  (UPI / 4:54PM EDT on 05/21) WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy awarded two contracts for storage containers to hold nuclear fuel bound for the proposed Yucca Mountain repository in Nevada.
  • Atmospheric aerosol measurements improved  (UPI / 4:34PM EDT on 05/21) RICHLAND, Wash., May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have developed a technique that dramatically improves the accuracy of atmospheric aerosol measurements taken on cloudy days.
  • Chimp undergoes surgery for bone deformity  (UPI / 4:24PM EDT on 05/21) LIVERPOOL, England, May 21 (UPI) -- A British veterinary surgeon has performed what's being called a groundbreaking operation on a Cameroon chimpanzee to correct a bone deformity.
  • Report: Much of U.S. oil is out of reach  (UPI / 4:05PM EDT on 05/21) WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- While gasoline prices rise, the United States has an abundance of currently unavailable energy, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management said Wednesday.
  • Study: Rural broadband access is needed  (UPI / 4:05PM EDT on 05/21) STATE COLLEGE, Pa., May 21 (UPI) -- Pennsylvania State University researchers say proactive policies are needed to provide broadband access for rural areas across the United States.
  • New grape irrigation technique is devised  (UPI / 4:05PM EDT on 05/21) PULLMAN, Wash., May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've devised a technique that can help wine grape growers produce high-quality grapes even in arid areas.
  • Modified protein might help hemophiliacs  (UPI / 3:54PM EDT on 05/21) HOUSTON, May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. pathologists say they've created a chemically modified protein that might help people suffering hemophilia -- a hard-to-treat genetic bleeding disorder.
  • 2 baby owls killed when palm tree cut down  (UPI / 3:54PM EDT on 05/21) GILROY, Calif., May 21 (UPI) -- A California crew of tree-trimmers could face criminal charges for cutting down a palm tree with a barn owl nest in its branches, killing two owlets.
  • Cause of lupus may be genetic 'editing'  (UPI / 3:44PM EDT on 05/21) WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. scientist say they've found evidence that the abnormal "editing" of gene messages in a type of white blood cell might be the cause of lupus.
  • Alligators not picky eaters  (UPI / 3:34PM EDT on 05/21) TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 21 (UPI) -- Hungry alligators will eat almost anything, from deer to dolls and tennis balls to other alligators, Florida wildlife officials say.
  • Some nanotubes as dangerous as asbestos  (UPI / 3:24PM EDT on 05/21) EDINBURGH, Scotland, May 21 (UPI) -- A Scottish-led study suggests some forms of carbon nanotubes might be as dangerous a health risk as asbestos if inhaled in large quantities.
  • Finasteride reduces prostate cancer risk  (UPI / 3:14PM EDT on 05/21) NEW YORK, May 21 (UPI) -- Re-analysis of a drug trial found finasteride reduces prostate cancer risk without boosting the odds of aggressive tumors, U.S. researchers said.
  • ESA ready to assist NASA's Phoenix mission  (UPI / 2:54PM EDT on 05/21) PARIS, May 21 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency says it is ready to help the U.S. space agency monitor the Phoenix spacecraft's descent and landing on Mars this weekend.
  • Astronomers upgrade Schmidt telescope  (UPI / 2:14PM EDT on 05/21) CLEVELAND, May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. astronomers say they've upgraded the instrumentation used in the Burrell Schmidt telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory, expanding its view.
  • NIH funds research at Ohio University  (UPI / 2:04PM EDT on 05/21) ATHENS, Ohio, May 21 (UPI) -- Three professors at Ohio University have been awarded nearly $645,000 in U.S. federal grants for research related to diabetes, Chagas disease and cancer.
  • Global warming may increase kidney stones  (UPI / 1:44PM EDT on 05/21) DALLAS, May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. urologists say rising global temperatures might lead to an increase in kidney stones.
  • Grain popper may help hungry Africans  (UPI / 1:34PM EDT on 05/21) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. students and faculty at Purdue University in Indiana have modified a popping machine that might bring needed relief to malnourished people in Africa.
  • Disabling mouse enzyme increases fertility  (UPI / 1:24PM EDT on 05/21) ST. LOUIS, May 21 (UPI) -- A U.S. study shows changing the sugars attached to a hormone produced in the pituitary gland of mice increased fertility levels by nearly 50 percent.
  • CNN: TVA vulnerable to cyberattack  (UPI / 1:14PM EDT on 05/21) WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- A government report warns that the massive Tennessee Valley Authority may be vulnerable to a crippling attack by computer hackers, CNN said Wednesday.
  • Early autism test may be possible  (UPI / 1:04PM EDT on 05/21) LONDON, May 21 (UPI) -- Eye tracker technology that measures eye direction of babies that may detect autism in children under age 1 is on horizon, a Canadian researcher said.
  • Police nab man for explosive at nuke plant  (UPI / 1:04PM EDT on 05/21) STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 21 (UPI) -- Police in Sweden said they have detained a man they said tried to bring explosive material into the Oscarshamn nuclear power plant.
  • Study finds best times for radio signals  (UPI / 12:54PM EDT on 05/21) LEICESTER, England, May 21 (UPI) -- British engineers say they've found a specific window exists when mobile radio signals are "super strength," allowing them to be clearer and travel farther.
  • Chertoff calls border fence a useful tool  (UPI / 12:05PM EDT on 05/21) WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called the fence being built along the U.S.-Mexico border a valuable tool in curbing illegal immigration.
  • Personalized cancer therapy found valuable  (UPI / 11:54AM EDT on 05/21) BOSTON, May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists said they've conducted a trial that supports first-line use of targeted therapy to treat lung cancer.
  • Upbeat Kennedy leaves Boston hospital  (UPI / 11:14AM EDT on 05/21) BOSTON, May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., was discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital Wednesday two days after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
  • Dinosaur tracks found on Arabian Peninsula  (UPI / 10:05AM EDT on 05/21) MAASTRICHT, Netherlands, May 21 (UPI) -- A Dutch-led team of scientists has announced the discovery of the first dinosaur tracks to be found on the Arabian Peninsula.
  • FDA OKs postsurgical drug for hospital use  (UPI / 9:24AM EDT on 05/21) WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced approval of the drug Entereg (alvimopan) to help restore normal bowel function after surgery.
  • Musharraf says country committed to peace  (UPI / 7:14AM EDT on 05/21) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 21 (UPI) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf told visiting Indian officials Wednesday that Pakistan is committed to the 2004 peace process between the countries.
  • Fish filmed flying 45 seconds  (UPI / 2:44AM EDT on 05/21) TOKYO, May 21 (UPI) -- A fish flew above the water for 45 seconds off the southern coast of Japan, video of the rare flight shows.
  • Celery, green peppers may help brain  (UPI / 12:54AM EDT on 05/21) URBANA, Ill., May 21 (UPI) -- University of Illinois researchers report a compound found in celery and green peppers can disrupt a component of the inflammatory response in the brain.

    Tuesday, May 20

  • Farmers to make reforms or lose subsidies  (UPI / 10:34PM EDT on 05/20) LONDON, May 20 (UPI) -- English farmers could lose subsidies next year unless they agree to make environmental improvements to their land, under a sustainability plan being mulled.
  • Colleagues wish Kennedy well  (UPI / 10:24PM EDT on 05/20) WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- Senate colleagues extended their support and well-wishes to Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.
  • EU lawmakers to approve environmental law  (UPI / 10:14PM EDT on 05/20) BRUSSELS, May 20 (UPI) -- Seriously damaging the environment will soon be a crime in the European Union, under a plan agreed upon by the bloc's institutions.
  • Imaging helps diagnose prostate cancer  (UPI / 9:44PM EDT on 05/20) LEESBURG, Va., May 20 (UPI) -- Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging plus diffusion weighted imaging can diagnose recurrent prostate cancer, a U.S. researchers says.
  • Bypass patients don't have cognition risk  (UPI / 8:04PM EDT on 05/20) BALTIMORE, May 20 (UPI) -- A U.S. study finds no evidence that bypass patients have a greater risk of long-term cognitive decline than patients not undergoing surgery.
  • Men at higher risk of death from pneumonia  (UPI / 6:44PM EDT on 05/20) TORONTO, May 20 (UPI) -- Men hospitalized with pneumonia often are sicker than women and have a higher risk of dying within a year, University of Pittsburgh researchers say.
  • Phoenix moves closer to Mars landing  (UPI / 6:14PM EDT on 05/20) HOUSTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency said its controllers have successfully made a slight course correction to adjust the Phoenix spacecraft's flight path toward Mars.
  • Tick bite disease scare floods hospitals  (UPI / 5:54PM EDT on 05/20) ISTANBUL, Turkey, May 20 (UPI) -- Istanbul, Turkey, hospital workers said hundreds of the city's residents have flocked to hospitals after a Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever scare.
  • Ear infections linked to tobacco smoke  (UPI / 4:54PM EDT on 05/20) PERTH, Australia, May 20 (UPI) -- Australian researchers say they have found a strong link between childhood ear infections and exposure to tobacco smoke.
  • U.S. completes DAHRT nuke bomb monitor  (UPI / 4:34PM EDT on 05/20) ALBUQUERQUE, May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. government announced the completion of a sophisticated X-ray machine used to study the split-second early stages of a nuclear bomb explosion.
  • Poland imposes commercial cod fishing ban  (UPI / 4:14PM EDT on 05/20) WARSAW, Poland, May 20 (UPI) -- Commercial cod fishing in Poland has been temporarily banned, the government's Agriculture Minister said Tuesday.
  • Drug may be first to treat the common cold  (UPI / 4:05PM EDT on 05/20) ST. LOUIS, May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists say they've discovered a smallpox drug might also target the adenovirus -- one cause of the common cold.
  • Cenozoic fossil parrot found in Denmark  (UPI / 3:44PM EDT on 05/20) COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 20 (UPI) -- Scientists have discovered that what is now Denmark was once home to a parrot species with a wingspan of almost 20 feet.
  • NASA: Space station view is good this week  (UPI / 3:34PM EDT on 05/20) WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says this is a good week to get "an incredible view" of the International Space Station flying 220 miles above the Earth.
  • Mice on remote Atlantic island eat birds  (UPI / 3:14PM EDT on 05/20) LONDON, May 20 (UPI) -- Mice on a remote South Atlantic island have adapted so well to local conditions that they are threatening the survival of some nesting bird species.
  • Drug may become new breast cancer therapy  (UPI / 3:05PM EDT on 05/20) HOUSTON, May 20 (UPI) -- A U.S. study shows Gefitinib, a once-promising drug for treating lung cancer, can enhance hormonal therapy for treating some metastatic breast cancers.
  • Oil billionaire throws money to the wind  (UPI / 2:34PM EDT on 05/20) DALLAS, May 20 (UPI) -- Businessman T. Boone Pickens, who made a fortune in the oil business, is turning his focus to wind power, the Texas billionaire said.
  • Scientist: Cell phone study misinterpreted  (UPI / 2:34PM EDT on 05/20) LOS ANGELES, May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. and Danish researchers say their study on behavioral problems in children linked to pregnant women using cell phones may raise unnecessary alarm.
  • U.S. Energy Dept. to fund coal research  (UPI / 2:24PM EDT on 05/20) WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The Department of Energy is calling on U.S. colleges and universities to propose new projects to enhance the long-term use of coal.
  • Doctors: Kennedy has brain tumor  (UPI / 1:54PM EDT on 05/20) BOSTON, May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., has a malignant brain tumor, doctors caring for him at a Boston hospital said Tuesday.
  • NASA device helps detect biohazards  (UPI / 1:34PM EDT on 05/20) MOFFETT FIELD, Calif., May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it's developed a nanotechnology-based biosensor that can detect trace amounts of biohazards.
  • NASA plans to honor late astronaut Swigert  (UPI / 1:14PM EDT on 05/20) WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it plans to honor the late U.S. astronaut John Swigert Jr. with the presentation of an Ambassador of Exploration Award.
  • NASA approves May 31 space shuttle launch  (UPI / 1:05PM EDT on 05/20) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 20 (UPI) -- National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials have selected May 31 as the launch date for space shuttle Discovery's STS-124 mission.
  • Study transmits radio signals in tunnels  (UPI / 12:54PM EDT on 05/20) GAIHERSBURG, Md., May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology says it's identified "sweet spot" frequencies capable of transmitting radio signals in tunnels.
  • Erectile dysfunction sign of heart trouble  (UPI / 12:54PM EDT on 05/20) HONG KONG, May 20 (UPI) -- For men with type 2 diabetes, erectile dysfunction is a powerful early warning sign for serious heart disease, Chinese researchers say.
  • U.S-French satellite to track sea levels  (UPI / 12:14PM EDT on 05/20) PASADENA, Calif., May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. and French space agencies are preparing to launch a satellite that will monitor Earth's sea levels to help scientists better study climate change.
  • New technique sorts nanotubes by length  (UPI / 11:54AM EDT on 05/20) GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. government scientists report developing a technique that sorts batches of carbon nanotubes by length, using high-speed centrifuges.
  • Coffee before breakfast boosts blood sugar  (UPI / 11:54AM EDT on 05/20) GUELPH, Ontario, May 20 (UPI) -- Having a cup a caffeinated coffee before a breakfast of low-sugar cereal could put some at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, a Canadian researcher says.
  • NASA helps lung disease research  (UPI / 11:44AM EDT on 05/20) WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. space agency scientists have met with researchers from medical fields to discuss NASA data that might be helpful in better understanding lung disease.
  • New drug fights kidney cancer progression  (UPI / 11:44AM EDT on 05/20) NEW YORK, May 20 (UPI) -- A U.S. study has found an experimental targeted drug therapy significantly delays cancer progression in patients with metastatic kidney cancer.
  • Function of liver molecule is determined  (UPI / 11:44AM EDT on 05/20) SAN DIEGO, May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've discovered a molecule in the liver plays a vital role in helping the body fight lethal bacteria-caused blood clotting.
  • Netflix Subscribers Can Stream Films on TV  (AP / 11:34AM EDT on 05/20) Netflix, Inc., the U.S. online movie rental service, says it is selling a device that allows subscribers to stream movies and TV shows from a digital library.
  • Digital TV switch could face a glitch  (UPI / 10:44AM EDT on 05/20) WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. government ordered television broadcasters to switch to digital programming Feb. 17, 2009, but cost and quality is a concern, consumer advocates said.
  • Scientists envision self-repairing planes  (UPI / 10:34AM EDT on 05/20) BRISTOL, England, May 20 (UPI) -- British scientists say they have created a technique that enables a damaged aircraft to mend itself automatically -- even during flight.
  • NASA awards ISS contract extension  (UPI / 10:24AM EDT on 05/20) WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency has given the Ares Corp. a $26 million, one-year contract extension for development and operation of the International Space Station.
  • Two pandas missing in China quake region  (UPI / 9:44AM EDT on 05/20) BEIJING, May 20 (UPI) -- Forestry crews in China looked for two giant pandas that disappeared after an earthquake devastated Sichuan Province, an official said Tuesday.
  • U.S. parks and neighborhoods endangered  (UPI / 7:54AM EDT on 05/20) WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- California's state park system and Manhattan's Lower East Side are among endangered U.S. historic sites, a National Trust for Historic Preservation list shows.
  • Older Americans have sense of peace, calm  (UPI / 12:44AM EDT on 05/20) AUSTIN, Texas, May 20 (UPI) -- Knees may creak and climbing stairs may be harder, but aging brings a sense of peace and calm, U.S. researchers say.
  • Family history of shingles increases risk  (UPI / 12:34AM EDT on 05/20) HOUSTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The more relatives a person has who have experienced shingles, the higher the risk others in the family will too, U.S. researchers say.

    Monday, May 19

  • Microsoft, Yahoo Keep Mum About Possible Deal  (AP / 9:34PM EDT on 05/19) SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Microsoft has invited hundreds of media, tech and advertising industry representatives to its Redmond, Wash., headquarters Tuesday for the company's annual conference on advertising. But many will be keeping one eye turned to Silicon Valley, where Yahoo executives are mulling a deal for sharing some of their ...
  • Bone drug may prevent breast cancer spread  (UPI / 7:24PM EDT on 05/19) ST. LOUIS, May 19 (UPI) -- Maintaining bone density could be a key to decreasing the spread of cancer -- metastasis -- in women with advanced breast cancer, U.S. researchers said.
  • Twin Cities top heart-friendly city  (UPI / 6:44PM EDT on 05/19) DALLAS, May 19 (UPI) -- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn., is the top heart-friendly city and Nashville the least heart-friendly, American Heart Association officials say.
  • N.C. tests toll road monitors  (UPI / 4:34PM EDT on 05/19) RALEIGH, N.C., May 19 (UPI) -- North Carolina officials have concluded a two-week test of equipment that could become the backbone of a toll highway without tollbooths.
  • Bush says position on Iran unchanged  (UPI / 4:24PM EDT on 05/19) WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush says he's never wavered on Iran -- if it verifiably suspends its uranium enrichment program, negotiations could begin.
  • Widow of atomic worker battles red tape  (UPI / 4:24PM EDT on 05/19) LAS VEGAS, May 19 (UPI) -- A Nevada woman says her long-running battle for compensation for her husband's death has become a crusade to expose U.S. Department of Labor intransigence.
  • ESA seeks people who want to be astronauts  (UPI / 3:54PM EDT on 05/19) PARIS, May 19 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency began accepting applications Monday in its first search since 1992 for potential astronauts.
  • Scientists make self-regulating molecule  (UPI / 3:34PM EDT on 05/19) TEMPE, Ariz., May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have created a molecule they say regulates its activities in response to the intensity of light.
  • NASA awards contract to SP Systems Inc.  (UPI / 3:14PM EDT on 05/19) GREENBELT, Md., May 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it has selected SP Systems Inc. of Greenbelt, Md., to provide mission support services at the Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • Asian vultures face extinction in the wild  (UPI / 3:05PM EDT on 05/19) LONDON, May 19 (UPI) -- British researchers say Asian vultures are facing the possibility of extinction in the wild within a decade.
  • Energy costs lead to new equipment designs  (UPI / 2:54PM EDT on 05/19) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. engineers say rising energy costs and environmental concerns are boosting interest in more efficient designs for air conditioning and refrigeration.
  • NASA seeks partners in innovation  (UPI / 2:24PM EDT on 05/19) WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency is seeking innovative U.S. companies and organizations to take part in its Innovation Transfusion Program.
  • Huntington's disease animal model created  (UPI / 2:05PM EDT on 05/19) ATLANTA, May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have developed the first transgenic non-human primate model of Huntington's disease.
  • Mom - to-be stress may have asthma effect  (UPI / 1:34PM EDT on 05/19) BOSTON, May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say stress may magnify the effect of a pregnant mother's dust exposure and alter an infant's immune response.
  • Climbing easy as walking for some primates  (UPI / 1:24PM EDT on 05/19) DURHAM, N.C., May 19 (UPI) -- A U.S. study shows climbing is as easy as walking for smaller primates, who expend no more energy for either activity.
  • New hope for chronic lung disease patients  (UPI / 1:24PM EDT on 05/19) ST. LOUIS, May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists have found a new type of immune response that might lead to improved treatment of people with chronic inflammatory lung disease.
  • Evolution of St. Louis encephalitis traced  (UPI / 1:14PM EDT on 05/19) NEW YORK, May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. geneticists say they have traced the evolution of St. Louis encephalitis and determined the origin of the disease.
  • Scientists work on 3-D mapping of planets  (UPI / 1:05PM EDT on 05/19) ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they're developing a technology to produce three-dimensional maps of various planets and moons.
  • MIT creates new material for fuel cells  (UPI / 12:34PM EDT on 05/19) CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. engineers say they have improved the power output of one type of fuel cell by more than 50 percent by creating a new fuel cell membrane.
  • Human genetic separation suggested  (UPI / 12:34PM EDT on 05/19) TEL AVIV, Israel, May 19 (UPI) -- Israeli scientists say they've determined the human race was divided into two separate groups within Africa for as much as half of the specie's existence.
  • Airbags save lives, reduce hospital costs  (UPI / 12:34PM EDT on 05/19) MEMPHIS, May 19 (UPI) -- New airbags may cut costs at U.S. hospital trauma centers as well as help protect people from vehicle injury and death, researchers say.
  • U.S Jaguar supercomputer upgraded  (UPI / 12:14PM EDT on 05/19) OAK RIDGE, Tenn., May 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy says upgrades to its Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Jaguar supercomputer have more than doubled its performance.
  • Doctors await Kennedy test results  (UPI / 10:44AM EDT on 05/19) BOSTON, May 19 (UPI) -- Test results shedding light on what caused U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., to have a seizure should be known soon, doctors in Boston said.
  • Researchers try to define 'fatigue' better  (UPI / 10:44AM EDT on 05/19) PHILADELPHIA, May 19 (UPI) -- Fatigue is a recognized symptom of cancer treatment, but the measurement of fatigue has been based on many different definitions, a U.S. researcher says.
  • New way found to control bacteria growth  (UPI / 10:24AM EDT on 05/19) CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have found they can control the amount of bacteria adhering to surfaces by controlling the stiffness of some polymer films.
  • Mud flows buries relief workers in China  (UPI / 7:05AM EDT on 05/19) BEIJING, May 19 (UPI) -- Mud flows in China's earthquake-hit Sichuan province buried more than 200 relief workers in the past three days, the government said Monday.
  • Rare British beetle spotted  (UPI / 2:34AM EDT on 05/19) CAMBRIDGE, England, May 19 (UPI) -- A British naturalist recently spotted a crucifix ground beetle, an insect so rare the last known sighting was 10 years ago.
  • Fla. and Calif. orangutans escape cages  (UPI / 12:34AM EDT on 05/19) LOS ANGELES, May 19 (UPI) -- Two orangutans, one at the Los Angeles Zoo and another at Florida's Busch Gardens, caused a stir by trying to escape their enclosures, officials said.

    Sunday, May 18

  • Caver trapped for 48 hours in Australia  (UPI / 8:54PM EDT on 05/18) LIVERPOOL, Australia, May 18 (UPI) -- An Australian caver was rescued Sunday after two days trapped underground wedged by a large rock.
  • Body found guarded by gator  (UPI / 8:34PM EDT on 05/18) LAKELAND, Fla., May 18 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida are investigating the death of a man who was found with a 7-foot female alligator guarding his body, officials said.
  • Citrus peels compound could help diabetics  (UPI / 8:34PM EDT on 05/18) ORLANDO, Fla., May 18 (UPI) -- Citrus fruits may have a compound in their peels that could help diabetes patients and even prevent the disease, researchers say.
  • Firefighting aircraft delayed for a year  (UPI / 8:34PM EDT on 05/18) SAN DIEGO, May 18 (UPI) -- Aircraft promised by the federal government to help fight California wildfires won't be available until next year, officials say.
  • Possible MRSA cure undergoing trials  (UPI / 7:34PM EDT on 05/18) LONDON, May 18 (UPI) -- A drug compound undergoing human testing trials in England could lead to a preventive treatment for the bacterial threat MRSA, British researchers say.
  • Egypt quashes Facbook-driven revolt  (UPI / 1:44PM EDT on 05/18) CAIRO, May 18 (UPI) -- A group of mostly young Egyptians was trying to organize an uprising using the Internet until the government cracked-down on the dissidents, the dissidents say.
  • Kennedy seizure: No long-term impact seen  (UPI / 1:05PM EDT on 05/18) BOSTON, May 18 (UPI) -- Neurologists in Boston familiar with the seizure suffered by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said Sunday he should suffer no long-term health effects.
  • Everglades fires consume 33,000 acres  (UPI / 12:54PM EDT on 05/18) MIAMI, May 18 (UPI) -- A series of wildfires raging through the Everglades National Park in Florida spread to encompass nearly 33,000 acres by Sunday morning, fire officials said.
  • Kennedy comfortable in a Boston hospital  (UPI / 8:04AM EDT on 05/18) BOSTON, May 18 (UPI) -- Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., did not suffer a stroke and was "resting comfortably" Sunday at a Boston hospital, his doctor said.

    Saturday, May 17

  • Experts criticize Earth-saving efforts  (UPI / 8:04PM EDT on 05/17) WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) -- Some U.S. efforts to save the environment have become part of a popular trend rather than an effective solution, some energy and environmental experts say.
  • Bacteria warning issued for oyster eaters  (UPI / 7:14PM EDT on 05/17) SEATTLE, May 17 (UPI) -- Oyster consumers should be cautious about a potential build-up of bacteria in the shellfish, Washington state health officials say.
  • Space station welcomes Russian craft  (UPI / 4:54PM EDT on 05/17) MOSCOW, May 17 (UPI) -- The Russian Progress M-64 cargo spacecraft docked at the International Space Station without incident, a Russian spokesman said Saturday.
  • U.S. food aid to North Korea resumes  (UPI / 4:34PM EDT on 05/17) WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) -- U.S. officials say food aid to North Korea has resumed after a two-year suspension in the wake of a new agreement to better monitor its distribution.
  • Spanish hackers busted  (UPI / 4:24PM EDT on 05/17) MADRID, May 17 (UPI) -- Five young people were in custody Saturday on charges they hacked into government Web sites from bases in four Spanish cities, authorities said.
  • Russian republic besieged by wildfires  (UPI / 1:24PM EDT on 05/17) GORNO-ALTAYSK, Russia, May 17 (UPI) -- Wildfires have destroyed nearly 42 square miles of woodlands in the Russian republic of Tuva, officials say.
  • Dawkins among Einstein letter bidders  (UPI / 12:05PM EDT on 05/17) LONDON, May 17 (UPI) -- Renowned British atheist Richard Dawkins says he was among the bidders for a rare Albert Einstein letter that dismissed religion as "childish superstitions."
  • Apple lines up overseas iPhone partners  (UPI / 9:54AM EDT on 05/17) CUPERTINO, Calif., May 17 (UPI) -- Apple Inc. says the popularity of its iPhone is gaining international ground, with new distribution deals in place Saturday for Europe and elsewhere.
  • No epidemics after China earthquake  (UPI / 7:54AM EDT on 05/17) BEIJING, May 17 (UPI) -- Despite the large-scale devastation from last week's China earthquake, disease epidemics have so far been prevented, government officials said Saturday.

    Friday, May 16

  • Lung cancer patients tolerate exercise  (UPI / 11:44PM EDT on 05/16) DURHAM, N.C., May 16 (UPI) -- Patients who undergo surgical procedures for the removal of lung cancer can tolerate and benefit from exercise one month after surgery, U.S. researchers say.
  • Marsupials shot at Australian croc farm  (UPI / 10:14PM EDT on 05/16) INNISFAIL, Australia, May 16 (UPI) -- Vandals shot 12 pademelons and a wallaroo at an Australian wildlife farm, authorities said.
  • Stroke outcome helped by clot-busting drug  (UPI / 7:34PM EDT on 05/16) BALTIMORE, May 16 (UPI) -- A multicountry study of stroke patients found survivability was boosted by prescribing the clot-busting tissue plasminogen activator, a U.S. researcher says.
  • Study casts doubt on high-salt diet risk  (UPI / 7:24PM EDT on 05/16) NEW YORK, May 16 (UPI) -- New York researchers say that contrary to long-held assumptions, high-salt diets may not increase the risk of death.
  • Study: Fish underwent 'reverse evolution'  (UPI / 6:44PM EDT on 05/16) SEATTLE, May 16 (UPI) -- Researchers in Washington state said a sewage cleanup in Lake Washington caused a species of fish, the threespine stickleback, to evolve in reverse.
  • Metastatic breast cancer test being tested  (UPI / 5:44PM EDT on 05/16) WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) -- A blood test measuring circulating tumor cells should help improve breast cancer treatment, a U.S. doctor predicts.
  • Pa. nuclear plant violated security rules  (UPI / 5:24PM EDT on 05/16) HARRISBURG, Pa., May 16 (UPI) -- Federal nuclear regulators said they will be conducting inspections at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station after a security lapse.
  • Green tea helps beat sleep apnea deficits  (UPI / 4:44PM EDT on 05/16) LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 16 (UPI) -- Chemicals found in green tea may be able to stave off the cognitive deficits that occur with obstructive sleep apnea, U.S. researchers say.
  • Old nuclear reactor avoids replacement  (UPI / 4:24PM EDT on 05/16) OTTAWA, May 16 (UPI) -- The world's oldest nuclear reactor won't be replaced due to budgetary and scheduling concerns, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. says.
  • Family and school stress linger for teens  (UPI / 4:24PM EDT on 05/16) LOS ANGELES, May 16 (UPI) -- Some teens may not do well in school because stress at home affects their academic performance and vice versa, U.S. researchers said.
  • South Korea bird flu bypasses humans  (UPI / 3:34PM EDT on 05/16) SEOUL, May 16 (UPI) -- The type of bird flu that broke out in South Korea this year has caused no human infections worldwide, the country's quarantine service said Friday.
  • Crohn's disease linked to protein  (UPI / 3:05PM EDT on 05/16) MILAN, Italy, May 16 (UPI) -- Crohn's disease and other chronic intestinal disorders are linked to low levels of a protein that helps bind the stomach lining, Italian scientists say.
  • Mayo Clinic mastectomies have increased  (UPI / 3:05PM EDT on 05/16) ROCHESTER, Minn., May 16 (UPI) -- More women are opting for mastectomy for early breast cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., but researchers say they are not sure why.
  • Shingles vaccine recommended for elderly  (UPI / 2:25PM EDT on 05/16) ATLANTA, May 16 (UPI) -- People age 60 and older should be vaccinated against shingles, or herpes zoster, a painful condition, U.S. health officials said.
  • European Union opposing Google Maps  (UPI / 2:14PM EDT on 05/16) BRUSSELS, May 16 (UPI) -- The "Street View" feature of the Google Maps service could prompt a privacy controversy in the European Union, the EU data protection chief says.
  • U.S. experts survey China's nuclear plants  (UPI / 2:05PM EDT on 05/16) BEIJING, May 16 (UPI) -- U.S. officials said they are monitoring nuclear plants in China's damaged earthquake zone for evidence of leaked radioactive materials.
  • Computing field drawing mostly males  (UPI / 2:05PM EDT on 05/16) NEW YORK, May 16 (UPI) -- The number of U.S. students pursuing computing degrees has declined markedly since 2000, and even faster among women, a college dean said Friday.
  • Urinary track symptoms up risk of falls  (UPI / 1:44PM EDT on 05/16) ORLANDO, Fla., May 16 (UPI) -- Symptoms of lower urinary tract symptoms may be linked to falling in elderly men, U.S. urologists said.
  • Treatment for hot flashes tested  (UPI / 1:44PM EDT on 05/16) CHICAGO, May 16 (UPI) -- A new treatment for hot flashes in breast cancer survivors is being tested, U.S. researchers said.
  • Cell cancer-fighting trigger is found  (UPI / 1:34PM EDT on 05/16) SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, May 16 (UPI) -- A Canadian scientist says he's found a way to trigger a protein that causes cells to fight cancer-causing agents, such as ultraviolet radiation.
  • Arson suspected at Chicago mayor's house  (UPI / 1:24PM EDT on 05/16) CHICAGO, May 16 (UPI) -- Authorities say an arsonist with a grudge may have caused the fire at Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's Grand Beach, Mich., vacation home three weeks ago.
  • Tooth loss linked to three cancers  (UPI / 1:24PM EDT on 05/16) NAGOYA, Japan, May 16 (UPI) -- People with tooth loss are 136 percent more likely to develop esophageal cancer, researchers in Japan said.
  • Cause of Mercury's magnetic field proposed  (UPI / 1:05PM EDT on 05/16) CHAMPAIGN, Ill., May 16 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've determined convection currents inside Mercury's core create that planet's weak magnetic field.
  • Study shows bird sight isn't human sight  (UPI / 12:05PM EDT on 05/16) UPPSALA, Sweden, May 16 (UPI) -- Swedish researchers say they've found a bird's visual perception is very different from that of a human, suggesting a re-evaluation of many studies.
  • IBM claims solar power breakthrough  (UPI / 11:34AM EDT on 05/16) ARMONK, N.Y., May 16 (UPI) -- The IBM Corp. reports a research breakthrough in photovoltaics technology that the company says might significantly reduce the cost of solar power.
  • Biodiversity on Earth is declining  (UPI / 11:14AM EDT on 05/16) GLAND, Switzerland, May 16 (UPI) -- The WWF, also known as the World Wildlife Fund, says more than a quarter of the Earth's wildlife has been lost during the last 35 years.
  • Interior of Mars is colder than thought  (UPI / 10:05AM EDT on 05/16) PASADENA, Calif., May 16 (UPI) -- New data from the U.S. space agency's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter suggest the crust and upper mantle of Mars is stiffer and colder than thought.
  • Yahoo! chairman fires salvo in proxy fight  (UPI / 9:14AM EDT on 05/16) SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 16 (UPI) -- Yahoo! Inc. Chairman Roy Bostock denied the company's board acted irrationally when it rejected a purchase offer from U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp.
  • Counseling teams arrive in quake area  (UPI / 6:44AM EDT on 05/16) BEIJING, May 16 (UPI) -- China's massive relief effort in its quake-ravaged Sichuan province includes a team of experts to counsel the survivors and rescuers.
  • Caged sea lions died of heatstroke  (UPI / 1:44AM EDT on 05/16) PORTLAND, Ore., May 16 (UPI) -- Six sea lions found dead in traps near a dam on the Columbia River in Oregon were killed by heatstroke, the National Marine Fisheries Service said.
  • Florida warns of pig frog risk  (UPI / 1:24AM EDT on 05/16) TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 16 (UPI) -- Florida health and wildlife officials are warning residents of elevated mercury levels in pig frogs.
  • No jury for whaling trial  (UPI / 1:14AM EDT on 05/16) TACOMA, Wash., May 16 (UPI) -- A tribal judge with the Makah Nation in Washington state had to give up prosecuting five men for illegally killing a gray whale because he could not get a jury.
  • Lack of vitamin D linked to breast cancer  (UPI / 1:14AM EDT on 05/16) SAN DIEGO, May 16 (UPI) -- Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, say they have shown a clear association between breast cancer and deficient exposure to sunlight.
  • Most U.S. female teens sexually harassed  (UPI / 12:34AM EDT on 05/16) LEXINGTON, Ky., May 16 (UPI) -- A study of 600 U.S. teenage girls ages 12 to 18 found 90 percent reported sexual harassment at least once.

    Thursday, May 15

  • Prostate cancer increases fracture risk  (UPI / 11:54PM EDT on 05/15) SYDNEY, May 15 (UPI) -- Research by scientists at the Garvan Institute for Medical Research in Australia shows a link between prostate cancer and a higher risk of bone fracture.
  • Health risk of particle pollution studied  (UPI / 7:14PM EDT on 05/15) BALTIMORE, May 15 (UPI) -- A U.S. study found no evidence of a link between daily changes in coarse particles and the number of hospital admissions for respiratory diseases.
  • Study: U.S. educational 'death gap' widens  (UPI / 7:05PM EDT on 05/15) WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- The death gap between U.S. adults with less than high school education and those with college degrees increased rapidly from 1993 to 2001, a U.S. study said.
  • Breast cancer risk reduced by exercise  (UPI / 5:34PM EDT on 05/15) ST. LOUIS, May 15 (UPI) -- Girls and young women who exercise regularly between ages 12 to 35 have a substantially lower risk of breast cancer before menopause, a U.S. study said.
  • Heparin producer to raise prices  (UPI / 4:34PM EDT on 05/15) SCHAUMBURG, Ill., May 15 (UPI) -- APP Pharmaceuticals Inc., Thursday said it was raising the price of its blood thinner heparin in the wake of an ingredient shortage in China.
  • Cholesterol drug may help hepatitis C  (UPI / 4:34PM EDT on 05/15) OKLAHOMA CITY, May 15 (UPI) -- A drug used to treat high cholesterol levels lowers the viral load in hepatitis C, a U.S.study said.
  • Ultrasound mammography: Good but risky  (UPI / 4:14PM EDT on 05/15) PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 15 (UPI) -- A U.S. study shows adding an ultrasound screening to routine mammography may find more breast cancers, but also hikes the rate of false positive findings.
  • Coyotes move into San Francisco  (UPI / 3:54PM EDT on 05/15) SAN FRANCISCO, May 15 (UPI) -- Coyotes in San Francisco have become more numerous, more aggressive and less afraid of humans, experts said Thursday.
  • Female sex offenders often mentally ill  (UPI / 3:54PM EDT on 05/15) STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 15 (UPI) -- Women who commit sexual offenses are just as likely to have mental problems or drug addictions as other violent female criminals, researchers in Sweden said.
  • Genes in mice act differently in humans  (UPI / 3:34PM EDT on 05/15) ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 15 (UPI) -- Although mice are used in medical research since they share 85 percent of their genes with humans, a U.S. study suggests genes behave differently in mice.
  • Medtronic recalls selected products  (UPI / 3:24PM EDT on 05/15) WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Medtronic Inc. is recalling selected products featuring its Carmeda BioActive surface.
  • Trophic-brand kelp warning issued  (UPI / 3:14PM EDT on 05/15) OTTAWA, May 15 (UPI) -- Health Canada issued a warning Thursday cautioning people not to use Trophic-brand kelp and glutamic acid due to a health risk.
  • New way to inhibit HIV target is created  (UPI / 2:54PM EDT on 05/15) ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 15 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've created what's believed to be the first new mechanism in more than 20 years for treating the human immunodeficiency virus.
  • Urgent efforts needed to save white oaks  (UPI / 2:34PM EDT on 05/15) PORTLAND, Ore., May 15 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say aggressive efforts are needed if communities of Oregon white oak trees, now in decline, are to be saved in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Why patients may delay knee surgery  (UPI / 2:14PM EDT on 05/15) KENT, Ohio, May 15 (UPI) -- Patients usually postpone but ultimately undergo knee replacement surgery, U.S. researchers found.
  • Man with HIV jailed for spitting on cop  (UPI / 2:14PM EDT on 05/15) DALLAS, May 15 (UPI) -- A man who tested positive for HIV was given a 35-year jail sentence for allegedly spitting into a Dallas police officer's eye and mouth, authorities said.
  • Michigan lawmakers adopt Great Lakes pact  (UPI / 2:14PM EDT on 05/15) LANSING, Mich., May 15 (UPI) -- The Michigan House and Senate, without a single dissenter, has voted to join the international Great Lakes water pact.
  • Scientists closer to understand pain  (UPI / 2:05PM EDT on 05/15) BALTIMORE, May 15 (UPI) -- U.S. neuroscientists say they are moving closer to understanding pain sensitivity and specifically why it's variable instead of constant.
  • Dutch set new solar cell efficiency mark  (UPI / 1:54PM EDT on 05/15) EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, May 15 (UPI) -- Dutch scientists say they've achieved a new efficiency record for solar cells by the use of an ultra-thin aluminum oxide layer at the front of each cell.
  • Alzheimer's brain tangles found in chimps  (UPI / 1:10PM EDT on 05/15) ATLANTA, May 15 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've discovered the first conclusive evidence of Alzheimer's-like neurofibrillary brain tangles in non-human primates.
  • Scientists are wary of lunar dust  (UPI / 12:40PM EDT on 05/15) HOUSTON, May 15 (UPI) -- U.S. National Space Biomedical Research Institute scientists say they are studying the possible negative effects lunar dust may have on visiting astronauts.
  • Bayer withdraws Trasylol from U.S. market  (UPI / 12:20PM EDT on 05/15) WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp. is removing its entire stock of the drug Trasylol from the U.S. market.
  • Study; Great Lakes gulls in poor health  (UPI / 11:50AM EDT on 05/15) OTTAWA, May 15 (UPI) -- It might be assumed stocking the Great Lakes with exotic salmon and trout might be good for gulls but a Canadian study puts that assumption in doubt.
  • The molecule hydroxyl is detected on Venus  (UPI / 11:00AM EDT on 05/15) PARIS, May 15 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency said the molecule hydroxyl has been detected on another planet for the first time by its Venus Express spacecraft.
  • ESA opens satellite navigation competition  (UPI / 10:10AM EDT on 05/15) PARIS, May 15 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency's fifth annual European Satellite Navigation Competition is seeking ideas for satellite navigation usage in non-space businesses.