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Molting cleanses water fleas Losing a carapace means also losing parasitic bacteria Web edition : Wednesday, April 11th, 2012 Getting naked may help to protect a species of tiny water flea. When Daphnia magna molts, its discarded body armor can carry away harmful bacteria, a new study finds.

Sugar-free sweeteners fool the body's internal computer Diet soft drinks usually have no sugar, but that doesn't mean they're not sweet. These beverages often contain ingredients that mimic sugar's sweetness without the big calorie count. In a new study, psychologists from San Diego report that the sugar-free sweeteners confuse not only taste buds but also the brain.

Men with low testosterone should have their hormone levels retested after they fast overnight because eating may transiently lower testosterone levels, a new study concludes. The results will be presented Saturday at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Charles Q. Choi Sea level rise on the U.S. East Coast has accelerated much faster than in other parts of the world-roughly three to four times the global average, a new study says. Calling the heavily populated region a sea level rise hot spot, researchers warn that cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore could face a more flood-prone future.

Egg in tiny doses curbs allergy Consuming small amounts over months stops reactions in some kids Web edition : Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 Exposure to increasing amounts of egg every day over two years can seemingly rid some children of an egg allergy, a new study finds.

Fossils show ancient insects grew as long as 2 centimeters Web edition : Wednesday, February 29th, 2012 The flea's features weren't always set in stone. Ancient fleas were larger and had longer siphons to suck blood with than today's fleas, researchers report in a study published online February 29 in Nature.

High-pressure studies reveal long-sought phase Web edition : Thursday, March 1st, 2012 Squeezing hydrogen at extreme pressures changes it into a mix of honeycombed atoms layered with free-floating molecules - an entirely new state of the element and the first new phase found in decades.

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The average surface temperature of earth has increased more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900 and the rate of warming has been nearly three times the century-long average since 1970. Almost all experts studying the recent climate history of the earth agree now that human activities, mainly the release of heat-trapping gases from smokestacks, tailpipes, and burning forests, are probably the dominant force driving the trend.

Metal water bottles may leach BPA The estrogen-mimicking pollutant traces to a polymer resin lining affected bottles Web edition : Monday, July 11th, 2011 Consumers who switched from polycarbonate-plastic water bottles to metal ones in hopes of avoiding the risk that bisphenol A will leach into their beverages aren't necessarily any better off, a new study finds.

Predator plants may cut back on flies if they can access key nutrients elsewhere, according to research. Scientists studying carnivorous sundew plants in Swedish bogs found that nitrogen deposition from rain reduced how many insects the plants trapped. Pollution from transport and industry causes nitrogen-rich rain, meaning more reaches the ground in some areas.

Youngsters can sniff out old people's scent And it isn't all that bad Web edition : Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 "Old people smell" is for real - and it isn't mothballs, Jean Naté or pipe tobacco. It's a mild and not unpleasant odor compared with the intense, unpleasant smell emitted by 40- to 50-something guys, a new study finds.

For decades, psychologists and other researchers assumed that the mother-child bond was the most important one in a kid's life. They focused on studying those relationships, and however a child turned out, mom often got the credit - or blame. Within the last several decades, though, scientists are increasingly realizing just how much dads matter.

now-fat, low-fat dressings for a saled. are they benefiting you or putting even more calories in your body.