Catherine Griffin : Science World Report

Oct 22, 2013 10:25 AM EDT

Coffee May Reduce the Risk of Liver Cancer by 50 Percent with Three Cups

Like coffee? Can't live without it? Well it turns out that your morning cup may just be a bit better for your health than you may have thought. Scientists have discovered that coffee consumption reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, by about 40 per...

Oct 22, 2013 09:45 AM EDT

The Evolution of Human Personality Traits: Outgoing Versus Introverted

Are you bold and outgoing or shy and retiring? People's personalities shift during their lives, but they usually lean one way or the other. Now, scientists are taking a closer look at how these personality traits affect how well we do evolutionarily. The findings could allow researchers to better un...

Oct 22, 2013 08:30 AM EDT

Risk of Amazon Rainforest Dieback Higher Than Predicted

The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most species rich locations in the world. Now, though, scientists have discovered that this ecological hotspot may be facing new dangers from climate change. It turns out that the southern portion of this rainforest is at a much higher risk of dieback due to stron...

Oct 22, 2013 07:41 AM EDT

Astrophysicists Reveal New Explanation for Star Formation in Molecular Clouds

How do stars form? Scientists have long speculated exactly how these bright objects form in our universe. Now, we're learning a bit more about star birth. Scientists have provided an explanation for the origin of three observed correlations between various properties of molecular clouds in the Milky...

Oct 21, 2013 01:50 PM EDT

Scientists Uncover Internal Biological Clock: Slowing Down Aging

Everyone grows older over time. We age and change as our bodies react to our external environment. Yet scientists have wondered exactly why we age for years. Now, they've discovered a biological clock embedded in our genomes that may shed new light on why our bodies age and how we could potentially ...

Oct 21, 2013 12:27 PM EDT

NASA Cassini Spacecraft Captures Saturn's Gauzy Rings in New Infrared Image

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has captured new images of Saturn's gauzy rings and the dark side of the planet. The pictures reveal an infrared view of Saturn, backlit by the sun, which shows scientists a little bit more about the ringed planet.

Oct 21, 2013 11:07 AM EDT

Critically Endangered Yangtze Finless Porpoise Faces Threats from River Noise

There may be another threat to the Yangtze finless porpoise, one of the most endangered species in the world. It turns out that noise from shipping traffic could be impacting this animal's ability to hunt for and find prey in the wild. This, in turn, could greatly affect species populations.

Oct 21, 2013 10:08 AM EDT

Land Use Helps Tigers in Nepal: Villagers Improve Animal Forest Habitat

Tigers are rapidly declining across the globe as conservationists desperately try to bolster failing populations. Yet there may be some hope for these large, striped felines. Researchers have discovered that when Nepalese villagers are empowered to make local land management decisions, the resulting...

Oct 21, 2013 09:29 AM EDT

Archaeological Gender Switch: Etruscan Warrior Prince Was Really a Princess

It's a case of archaeological gender switching. Last month, researchers unearthed a completely sealed tomb that held the remains of an Etruscan prince with a spear along with the ashes of his deceased wife. Now, a bone analysis has shown that this prince wasn't really a prince--instead, the warrior ...

Oct 21, 2013 08:48 AM EDT

How to Keep an Aging Mind Sharp: Learning New Skills Helps the Brain

Want to keep your mind sharp? Then you'd better use it. Older adults are often encouraged to stay active and engaged to keep their brains in shape. Now, though, scientists have discovered that only certain activities are likely to improve cognitive functioning. The findings could allow older adults ...

Oct 21, 2013 08:13 AM EDT

How the Global Ocean Conveyor-Belt Impacts Northern Hemisphere Precipitation

A quick glance at the world precipitation map shows that most tropical rain falls in the Northern Hemisphere. Yet as our climate continues to change, these weather patterns may soon be impacted. It turns out that ocean currents originating from the poles thousands of miles away may influence this p...

Oct 21, 2013 07:30 AM EDT

The Earth is Safe: NASA Reveals Massive Asteroid Will Not Crash into Our Planet in 2032

Don't worry, the Earth is safe. Although the massive 1,300-foot-wide asteroid that passed near our planet last month is due to return in 2032, the probability that it will impact Earth is only one in 63,000. Those are pretty good odds.