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 News Life-shortening telomere gene discoveredTuesday, 9 February 2010
Some people carry a genetic variant responsible for short telomeres - caps at the end of DNA that control ageing - and it could shave three or four years off their life, according to a new study.  Climate change impact of soil underestimatedTuesday, 9 February 2010
Finnish researchers called for a revision of climate change estimates after their findings showed emissions from soil would be up to 50% higher than previously thought.  Public awareness of quitting is distortedTuesday, 9 February 2010
"Up to 75% of successful ex-smokers quit unaided," said a public health expert, who reviewed hundreds of studies into quitting smoking and is now calling for more effective campaigns and policies worldwide.  Older galaxies more peculiar, census showsMonday, 8 February 2010
The most common type of galaxy changed from a "peculiar" shape six billion years ago to a typical spiral shape today, and may indicate galaxies have a more violent past than previously believed.  Drink beer for your bonesMonday, 8 February 2010
Could a beer a day keep the osteopath away? American nutritionists found that beer could be a good source of silicon, thought to play an important role in bone health.  New target for male contraceptiveFriday, 5 February 2010
Researchers have found the trigger that activates sperm to start them swimming, which could lead to a male contraceptive and also explain the link between marijuana use and sperm damage.  Solar flares back, but oddly smallFriday, 5 February 2010
After a long silence, the Sun erupted in an unusual pattern of small solar flares, said an Australian astrophysicist, which may provide a unique opportunity to predict when bigger solar flares will erupt.  Darwin out of Africa 45,000 years agoFriday, 5 February 2010
The father of evolution Charles Darwin was a direct descendant of the Cro-Magnon people, whose entry into Europe 30,000 years ago heralded the demise of Neanderthals, scientists revealed.  Reacting faster than actingThursday, 4 February 2010
Just like in the old Western gunfights, people move faster when reacting to a trigger than if they initiate movement, which shows movement has different brain pathways, scientists said.  Photosynthesis uses quantum effectsThursday, 4 February 2010
Quantum effects are used to absorb and move around light energy during photosynthesis, scientists said, and its the first time such long-lived effects have been seen in this temperature range.  Bonobos "Peter Pan" of apes, share for lifeWednesday, 3 February 2010
Unlike their more selfish chimpanzee and human cousins, bonobos never lose the capacity to share with their friends, a study has found.  Paper linking vaccine to autism retractedWednesday, 3 February 2010
Medical journal The Lancet has withdrawn a 1998 study linking autism with inoculation against three childhood illnesses, a paper that caused an uproar and an enduring backlash against vaccination.  Serotonin deficiency may cause cot deathWednesday, 3 February 2010
Low levels of the mood-regulating brain chemical serotonin in the brainstem may be a cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or cot death, scientists said.  Copenhagen Accord may still rise from ashesTuesday, 2 February 2010
Fifty-five nations have registered their commitments to combat global warming, providing a much-needed boost to December's Copenhagen Accord.  Need for sleep diminishes with ageMonday, 1 February 2010
Healthy older adults need less sleep than their younger counterparts and, even with less sleep under their nightcaps, are less likely to feel tired during the day, scientists said. 
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