Futurity.org » Johns Hopkins University

Dunes on the move reveal Mars in flux

Katie Neith-Caltech — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:51:38 +0000

CALTECH/JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — New technology has allowed scientists to take the first measurements of sand dunes and ripples moving across the surface of Mars.

Last year, images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured the activity on Mars’ surface—observations that challenged previously held beliefs that there was not a lot of movement on the red planet’s surface.

The new method for data processing is outlined in an advance online publication of the journal Nature.

Simple ‘thread’ test diagnoses fever

Dennis O'Shea-JHU — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:42:27 +0000

JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — The knotty problem of diagnosing fevers in poor, remote areas may be unraveled by a short length of cotton thread.

A health worker roaming the outback of an impoverished developing nation—often on foot—must carry the diagnostic equipment and supplies needed to care for patients who cannot get to distant hospitals, say experts from Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University unit working around the world for maternal and child health.

‘Bling’ could give data storage a big boost

Phil Sneiderman-JHU — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:44:13 +0000

JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — Engineers have uncovered new electrical properties of a material used in computer memory by applying pressure with diamond-tipped tools.

The discovery opens the door to more durable drives, discs, and computer systems that absorb more data more quickly, researchers say.

Black hole caught snacking on a star

Ray Villard-Johns Hopkins/STScI — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:55:23 +0000

JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — Astronomers have gathered the most direct evidence yet of a supermassive black hole shredding a star that wandered too close.

Supermassive black holes, weighing millions to billions times more than our sun, lurk in the centers of most galaxies. These hefty monsters lay quietly until an unsuspecting victim, such as a star, wanders close enough to get ripped apart by their powerful gravitational clutches.

Protein propels cancer through brain

Stephanie Desmon-JHU — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:54:28 +0000

JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — A protein that moves chemicals in and out of cells also appears to be critical to the rapid progression of the deadliest, most common form of brain cancer.

The findings, reported in the journal PLoS Biology, also suggest that an inexpensive FDA-approved drug already on the market could slow movement of cancerous glioblastoma cells and contain their spread.

To ease chronic pain, direct thoughts elsewhere

Stephanie Desmon-JHU — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:24:20 +0000

JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — Chronic pain sufferers may sleep better and experience less day-to-day discomfort by learning to dwell less on their ailments, say researchers.

Sleeping pills and painkillers can help, but at least some patients may benefit just as much, if not more, from cognitive behavioral therapy to help them reduce their mental focus on physical pain, researchers say.

“We have found that people who ruminate about their pain and have more negative thoughts about their pain don’t sleep as well, and the result is they feel more pain,” says Luis F. Buenaver, leader of a study published online in the journal Pain.

More blood may amp surgery cost and risk

Stephanie Desmon-JHU — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:44:43 +0000

JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — Surgical patients often get expensive, potentially risky blood transfusions they don’t need, in part because of a lack of clear guidelines, researchers say.

Overuse of transfusions is a problem, they say, because blood is a scarce resource and because recent studies have shown that surgical patients do no better, and may do worse, if given blood prematurely or unnecessarily.

“Transfusion is not as safe as people think,” says Steven M. Frank, leader of a study described in the journal Anesthesiology.

Neurons handle sensory data in order

Allison Flynn-McGill — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:18:17 +0000

MCGILL (CAN) /JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — New research sheds light on how the brain processes what we sense, and could lead to advances for people with sensory deficiencies.

In Canada alone, 600,000 people are visually impaired while almost three million suffer from partial or total hearing loss.

In a paper published this week in The Journal of Neuroscience, researchers from McGill University have demonstrated for the first time that there are specific neurons that respond selectively to first and second order sensory attributes.

For trauma victims, costly choppers save lives

Stephanie Desmon-JHU — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:33:17 +0000

JOHNS HOPKINS / U. MARYLAND (US) — Patients with traumatic injuries fare better when airlifted by helicopter compared to patients transported by ambulance.

According to a new study, airlifted patients by comparison are 16 percent more likely to survive.

Lime-sun mixer makes drinking water safe

Dennis O'Shea-JHU — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:59:05 +0000

JOHNS HOPKINS (US) — A dash of lime juice and a dose of sunshine make a cheap, effective combination for safer drinking water in impoverished countries.

Adding lime juice to water being treated with a solar disinfection method removes detectable levels of harmful bacteria such as E. coli significantly faster than solar disinfection alone, researchers say.