science newsletter: Science News SciGuru.com

Δευτέρα 31 Μαρτίου 2014

Science News SciGuru.com

Genetic study supports link between carbohydrate digestion and obesity
Public smoking bans have positive effects on children’s health
'Cosmic barometer' could reveal violent events in universe's past

Genetic study supports link between carbohydrate digestion and obesity

Posted: 31 Mar 2014 07:12 AM PDT

New research indicates that obesity in the general population may be genetically linked to how our bodies digest carbohydrates. Published in the journal Nature Genetics, the study investigated the relationship between body weight and a gene called AMY1, which is responsible for an enzyme present in our saliva known as salivary amylase. This enzyme is the first to be encountered by food when it enters the mouth, and it begins the process of starch digestion that then continues in the gut.

Public smoking bans have positive effects on children’s health

Posted: 31 Mar 2014 07:04 AM PDT

The last decade has seen public smoking bans enacted in several European countries and North American states with demonstrated benefits for adult health. However, a new meta-analysis study suggests that such bans also have benefits for child health. Both premature births and hospital admissions for asthma have dropped following the introduction of these bans. The findings, from researchers in the University of Edinburgh, Maastricht University, Hasselt University, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital were published on March 28th in The Lancet.

'Cosmic barometer' could reveal violent events in universe's past

Posted: 31 Mar 2014 06:11 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a way of reading the universe's 'cosmic barometer' to learn more about ancient violent events in space. Exploding stars, random impacts involving comets and meteorites, and even near misses between two bodies can create regions of great heat and high pressure.