NPR Topics: Research News

NPR Topics: Research News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1024&ft=1&f=1024 New advances in science, medicine, health, and technology.Stem cell research, drug research, and new treatments for disease. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Research News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1024&ft=1&f=1024 Scientists Seek New Ways To Produce Flu Vaccine One reason for the shortage of the new H1N1 flu vaccine this year is the way flu vaccines are made. A modified form of the virus is grown inside chicken eggs, but the process takes months. Now, scientists are working to create new flu vaccines that can be made much faster, using the virus' DNA. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120711392&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120711392&ft=1&f=1024 One reason for the shortage of the new H1N1 flu vaccine this year is the way flu vaccines are made. A modified form of the virus is grown inside chicken eggs, but the process takes months. Now, scientists are working to create new flu vaccines that can be made much faster, using the virus' DNA.

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]]> Ants That Count! Desert ants have a nifty way of finding their way back home after a foray out of the nest to find food — they count their steps. To prove it, some scientists devised a creative experiment that showed just how the little guys do it. It's already known that ants use celestial clues to establish the general direction home, but how do they know exactly the number of steps to take that will lead them right to the entrance of their nest? Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120587095&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120587095&ft=1&f=1024 Desert ants have a nifty way of finding their way back home after a foray out of the nest to find food — they count their steps. To prove it, some scientists devised a creative experiment that showed just how the little guys do it. It's already known that ants use celestial clues to establish the general direction home, but how do they know exactly the number of steps to take that will lead them right to the entrance of their nest?

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]]> Study: Political Bent Affects How We View Skin Tone These three photos of President Obama were among images shown to college students as part of a study that suggests political attitudes can impact the way people perceive skin tone. The photos on the left and right have been altered. Self-described liberals were most likely to rate lightened photos as most representative of Obama. Conservative students tended to pick darkened photos. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:50:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120691088&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120691088&ft=1&f=1024 These three photos of President Obama were among images shown to college students as part of a study that suggests political attitudes can impact the way people perceive skin tone. The photos on the left and right have been altered. Self-described liberals were most likely to rate lightened photos as most representative of Obama. Conservative students tended to pick darkened photos.

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]]> For Some, Talking Politics Can Be Emotional Guest host Jennifer Ludden interviews Emory University psychology professor Drew Westen about how the human mind can sometimes play tricks with us when it comes to politics. Professor Westen is the author of "The Political Brain: the Role of Emotion in Deciding the fate of the nation." Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120682793&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120682793&ft=1&f=1024 Guest host Jennifer Ludden interviews Emory University psychology professor Drew Westen about how the human mind can sometimes play tricks with us when it comes to politics. Professor Westen is the author of "The Political Brain: the Role of Emotion in Deciding the fate of the nation."

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]]> Big Bang Atom Smasher Sends Beams In 2 Directions The world's largest atom smasher made another leap forward Monday by circulating beams of protons in opposite directions at the same time in the $10 billion machine after more than a year of repairs, organizers said. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120683447&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120683447&ft=1&f=1024 The world's largest atom smasher made another leap forward Monday by circulating beams of protons in opposite directions at the same time in the $10 billion machine after more than a year of repairs, organizers said.

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]]> Listeners Reject, Accept New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Tell Me More host Michel Martin and Lee Hill, the program's "digital media guy," comb through listener feedback and offer important news updates to recent conversations heard on the program. This week, the audience shares personal stories in reaction to controversial new guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a component of the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency says suggests women can now wait an additional 10 years before getting an annual mammogram. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608136&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608136&ft=1&f=1024 Tell Me More host Michel Martin and Lee Hill, the program's "digital media guy," comb through listener feedback and offer important news updates to recent conversations heard on the program. This week, the audience shares personal stories in reaction to controversial new guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a component of the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency says suggests women can now wait an additional 10 years before getting an annual mammogram.

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]]> Fungus Provides Clues To North American Extinctions One of the great mysteries about North America is what killed off woolly mammoths and other exotic animals that roamed the land after the last ice age. Ideas have ranged from a comet impact and climate change to human hunters. A study published Friday in <em>Science Magazine</em> provides new clues about this — cleverly deduced from samples of a fungus that grew on the animal's dung. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:33:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120592967&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120592967&ft=1&f=1024 One of the great mysteries about North America is what killed off woolly mammoths and other exotic animals that roamed the land after the last ice age. Ideas have ranged from a comet impact and climate change to human hunters. A study published Friday in Science Magazine provides new clues about this — cleverly deduced from samples of a fungus that grew on the animal's dung.

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]]> Sounds During Sleep May Help You Remember Certain sounds played while people napped helped them remember information associated with those sounds once they woke up, say researchers at Northwestern University. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120573613&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120573613&ft=1&f=1024 Certain sounds played while people napped helped them remember information associated with those sounds once they woke up, say researchers at Northwestern University.

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]]> Reef Conservation Strategy Backfires Conservationists worried about overfishing on the Pacific island of Kiribati persuaded fishermen to pick coconuts instead. The strategy backfired: Coconut oil production increased, but so did fishing. It turns out, fishermen who earned more money in coconut agriculture had more leisure time — which they spent fishing. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120536304&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120536304&ft=1&f=1024 Conservationists worried about overfishing on the Pacific island of Kiribati persuaded fishermen to pick coconuts instead. The strategy backfired: Coconut oil production increased, but so did fishing. It turns out, fishermen who earned more money in coconut agriculture had more leisure time — which they spent fishing.

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]]> Ancient Egyptians Suffered From Hardened Arteries X-ray scans of the arteries of Egyptian mummies show that hardening of the arteries wasn't uncommon among the upper classes in ancient times. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114403619&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114403619&ft=1&f=1024 X-ray scans of the arteries of Egyptian mummies show that hardening of the arteries wasn't uncommon among the upper classes in ancient times.

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]]> New Guidelines On Breast Cancer Stir Confusion For years, health care organizations have worked to send a consistent message to women about breast cancer. But new guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a component of the Department of Health and Human Services, have stirred confusion. The agency suggests women can now wait an additional 10 years before getting an annual mammogram — at age 50 instead of age 40 — and that some women ages 50-74 can even skip a year between exams. Dr. Diana Petitti, who leads the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and Dr. Wayne Frederick, an oncologist at Howard University discuss the new guidelines. Frederick shares his concern about how the changes may affect black women, who are at higher risk of breast cancer between 40 and 50 years old. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120493002&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120493002&ft=1&f=1024 For years, health care organizations have worked to send a consistent message to women about breast cancer. But new guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a component of the Department of Health and Human Services, have stirred confusion. The agency suggests women can now wait an additional 10 years before getting an annual mammogram — at age 50 instead of age 40 — and that some women ages 50-74 can even skip a year between exams. Dr. Diana Petitti, who leads the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and Dr. Wayne Frederick, an oncologist at Howard University discuss the new guidelines. Frederick shares his concern about how the changes may affect black women, who are at higher risk of breast cancer between 40 and 50 years old.

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]]> Panel: Mammograms Should Start At 50, Not 40 A panel of experts says mammograms are causing women being screened for breast cancer to have too many false alarms and unneeded biopsies. The panel is recommending that women wait until 50 to get mammograms and then only every two years. The American Cancer Society says it stands by its recommendations of regular mammograms beginning at age 40. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120488586&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120488586&ft=1&f=1024 A panel of experts says mammograms are causing women being screened for breast cancer to have too many false alarms and unneeded biopsies. The panel is recommending that women wait until 50 to get mammograms and then only every two years. The American Cancer Society says it stands by its recommendations of regular mammograms beginning at age 40.

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]]> Doctor Backs New Breast Cancer Guidelines New guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force say women would get almost as much benefit out of having mammograms every two years after they turn 50 as having a mammogram once a year starting at age 40. Dr. Jeffrey Tice, general internist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, says the benefits of early screening for women between 40 and 49 are small. He says early testing for these women often results in more false positives , more procedures and more anxiety. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:02:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120474820&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120474820&ft=1&f=1024 New guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force say women would get almost as much benefit out of having mammograms every two years after they turn 50 as having a mammogram once a year starting at age 40. Dr. Jeffrey Tice, general internist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, says the benefits of early screening for women between 40 and 49 are small. He says early testing for these women often results in more false positives , more procedures and more anxiety.

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]]> The Dirt On Dust Where does all that dust under your couch come from? It turns out that most household dust comes from outside — and may contain some pretty harmful stuff. How the toxins in dust get into your body depends on the size of the dust particle. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120252957&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120252957&ft=1&f=1024 Where does all that dust under your couch come from? It turns out that most household dust comes from outside — and may contain some pretty harmful stuff. How the toxins in dust get into your body depends on the size of the dust particle.

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]]> Study Raises New Questions About Cholesterol Drug A new study raises fresh concerns about Zetia and its cousin, Vytorin — drugs still taken by millions of Americans to lower cholesterol, despite questions raised last year about how well they work. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120441209&ft=1&f=1024 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120441209&ft=1&f=1024 A new study raises fresh concerns about Zetia and its cousin, Vytorin — drugs still taken by millions of Americans to lower cholesterol, despite questions raised last year about how well they work.

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