Researchers comparing the fetal development of owl monkey eyes with those of the capuchin monkey have found that only a minor difference in the timing of cell proliferation can explain the multiple anatomical differences in the two kinds of eyes.  The findings help scientists understand how a structure as complex as the eye could change gradually through evolution, yet remain functional.

A team of atmospheric chemists say they have moved closer to what is considered the "holy grail" of climate change science;  the first-ever direct detections of biological particles within ice clouds.  The team, led by Kimberly Prather and Kerri Pratt of the University of California at San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, sampled water droplet and ice crystal residues at high speeds while flying through clouds in the skies over Wyoming.

Some pregnant women do not wear seat belts due to fear that the belt itself could injure the baby in a car crash.  Urban myth or legitimate concern?

It is well established that seat belts save lives but if some pregnant women do not wear seat belts out of fear that the belt could harm the baby in a car crash, are they really helping or just placing themselves in danger?    It's difficult to fault mothers for erring on the side of caution when it comes to unborn babies but is it actually the case that the seat belt can put the baby at risk?

Exposure to particulate matter has been recognized as a contributing factor to lung cancer development for some time, but a new study indicates inhalation of certain particulates can actually cause some genes to become reprogrammed, affecting both the development and the outcome of cancers and other diseases. 

Could sleep be a critical component to maintaining a healthy body weight?    Studies on subjects like this tend to have correlation arrows that point in all kinds of directions but new research presented on Sunday, May 17, at the American Thoracic Society's 105th International Conference in San Diego, says body mass index (BMI) is linked to length and quality of sleep in a surprisingly consistent fashion. 

As part of the Integrative Cardiac Health Project at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, researchers analyzed the sleep, activity and energy expenditures of 14 nurses who had volunteered for a heart-health program at the Walter Reed, where the nurses were employed. The program included nutritional counseling, exercise training, stress management and sleep improvement. 

A clinical study, led by researchers from University College Dublin, Ireland, and Stanford University, California, USA, with international collaborators, demonstrates that mortality rates of HIV patients can be almost halved when early antiretroviral (ARV) therapy is added to the treatment of AIDS-related opportunistic infections (OIs) such as pneumonia, meningitis or other serious bacterial infections.

The researchers are part of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group, the world’s largest clinical trial organization, and their scientific findings, published in PLosONE, recommend changes in the treatment regimes for HIV patients worldwide.