Brightsurf Science News and Current Science EventsScience news and current science events. Science news from private research facilities, universities, government agencies and medical centers covering earth, life, space and general sciences.Cocaine-induced synaptic plasticity linked to persistent addictive behaviors- (Found August 15, 2008 ) The persistent nature of addiction is its most devastating feature. Understanding the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is the key for designing efficient therapy. Two separate studies published by Cell Press is the August 14 issue of the journal Neuron identify specific cocaine-induced changes in dopamine (DA) neurons that play a pivotal role in behaviors associated with drug addiction.http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/39538/Cocaine-induced_synaptic_plasticity_linked_... Protein key to control, growth of blood cells- (Found August 15, 2008 ) New research sheds light on the biological events by which stem cells in the bone marrow develop into the broad variety of cells that circulate in the blood. The findings may help improve the success of bone marrow transplants and may lead to better treatments for life-threatening blood diseases.http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/39549/Protein_key_to_control_growth_of_blood_cell... Sky islands: metaphor or misnomer- (Found August 15, 2008 ) The term "sky islands" sounds intriguing, but it may be more lyrical than useful when discussing mammal distributions, according to new research from Eric Waltari of the Sackler Institute of Comparative Genomics at the American Museum of Natural History and Robert Guralnick from the University of Colorado at Boulder.http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/39553/Sky_islands_metaphor_or_misnomer.html Using live fish, new tool a sentinel for environmental contamination- (Found August 15, 2008 ) Researchers have harnessed the sensitivity of days-old fish embryos to create a tool capable of detecting a range of harmful chemicals.http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/39548/Using_live_fish_new_tool_a_sentinel_for_env... White blood cell uses DNA 'catapult' to fight infection- (Found August 15, 2008 ) U.S. and Swiss scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how a type of white blood cell called the eosinophil may help the body to fight bacterial infections in the digestive tract, according to research published online this week in Nature Medicine.http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/39551/White_blood_cell_uses_DNA_catapult_to_fight... A recipe for saving the world's oceans from an extinction crisis- (Found August 15, 2008 ) Jeremy Jackson, senior scientist emeritus of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, asserts in the Aug. 12 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that the following steps, if taken immediately, could reverse the demise of the oceans: Establish marine reserves, enforce fishing regulations, implement aquaculture, remove subsidies on fertilizer use, muster human ingenuity to limit fossil fuel consumption, buy time by..http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/39561/A_recipe_for_saving_the_worlds_oceans_from_... Study finds that sleep selectively preserves emotional memories- (Found August 15, 2008 ) As poets, songwriters and authors have described, our memories range from misty water-colored recollections to vividly detailed images of the times of our lives.http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/39563/Study_finds_that_sleep_selectively_preserve... Durham scientist explores Sichuan fault- (Found August 15, 2008 ) Durham University expert, Alex Densmore, is to explore the fault lines that caused the May 12th earthquake in China that killed 69,000 people.http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/39546/Durham_scientist_explores_Sichuan_fault.htm... New robot scouts best locations for components of undersea lab- (Found August 15, 2008 ) Like a deep-sea bloodhound, Sentry - the newest in an elite group of unmanned submersibles able to operate on their own in demanding and rugged environments - has helped scientists pinpoint optimal locations for two observation sites of a pioneering seafloor laboratory being planned off Washington and Oregon.http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/39550/New_robot_scouts_best_locations_for_compone... NIH scientists find a novel mechanism that controls the development of autoimmunity- (Found August 15, 2008 ) Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found a mechanism in the immune systems of mice that can lead to the development of autoimmune disease when turned off.http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/39543/NIH_scientists_find_a_novel_mechanism_that_... |