ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

How costly are natural hazards? Experts link cost assessment with risk management

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 12:53 PM PDT

Costs of natural hazards are at historically high levels, and show an increasing trend. Cost assessments of natural hazards often only cover direct costs and even these are assumed to be at least 50% higher than international assessments report. However, besides direct damage, also indirect damage is relevant. For example, the Thailand flood in 2011 shut down scores of factories and damaged global car manufacturing and electronics industries.

What lies beneath modern New England? Mountain-building and the end of an ancient ocean

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 12:53 PM PDT

When and where did the ancient Iapetus Ocean suture (the most fundamental Appalachian structure) form? Is part of New England made up of ancient African-derived rocks? What is the Moretown terrane? A new study finds new evidence for an earlier closing of the Iapetus that is farther west than previous studies have reported.

Specialized yoga program could help women with urinary incontinence

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 06:13 AM PDT

An ancient form of meditation and exercise could help women who suffer from urinary incontinence, according to a new study. researchers discovered that a yoga training program, designed to improve pelvic health, can help women gain more control over their urination and avoid accidental urine leakage. Men were not included in this study because urinary incontinence in men is often related to problems related to the prostate, which may be less likely to improve with yoga.

Critical end-stage liver disease discovery made

Posted: 25 Apr 2014 01:23 PM PDT

The discovery of an unknown cellular pathway has helped scientists and physicians better understand end-stage liver disease and offers a potential target for new therapeutics that could slow or even reverse the disease's progression. Although cirrhosis of the liver is most commonly associated with alcohol or drug abuse, the condition -- marked by scar tissue replacing healthy liver tissue -- also can result from viral hepatitis, obesity and diabetes, as well as certain inherited diseases.

Revolutionary 'metamaterial' has potential to reshape neurosurgery

Posted: 25 Apr 2014 01:23 PM PDT

The development of graphene -— a highly advanced metamaterial with many unique and varied properties -— may lead to exciting new applications in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases, according to a report. The authors write, "As a surgical specialty that heavily relies on technological innovations, it is expected that neurosurgery will significantly benefit from several graphene-based technological developments in the next decades."

Primary HPV screening offers important new option for cervical cancer detection, prevention

Posted: 24 Apr 2014 01:15 PM PDT

New options for detecting and preventing cervical cancer have been welcomed recently into the scientific community, including the primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing recently approved by the FDA. Primary HPV testing does not replace the Pap test, and it is extremely unlikely that doctors will stop using the Pap any time soon. However, FDA approval of primary HPV testing means the HPV test can be used first when screening a woman for cervical cancer.