Anchorage Daily News

Searchers shovel Northwest dirt seeking giant worm

The giant Palouse earthworm has taken on mythic qualities in this vast agricultural region that stretches from eastern Washington into the Idaho panhandle - its very name evoking the fictional sandworms from "Dune" or those vicious creatures from the movie "Tremors."

http://www.palouseprairie.org/invertebrates/palouseworm.html

Fast-growing kelp invades San Francisco Bay

A fast-growing kelp from the Far East has spread along the California coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco Bay, worrying marine scientists and outpacing eradication efforts.

Lightning delays space shuttle Endeavour launch

NASA scrubbed space shuttle Endeavour's Saturday evening launch after lightning struck at least 11 times near the seaside launch pad.

NASA

Obesity a risk factor in swine flu?

Some swine flu cases in Michigan are raising questions about obesity's role in why some people with infections become seriously ill.

CDC

Study: 1 in 3 breast cancer patients overtreated

One in three breast cancer patients identified in public screening programs may be treated unnecessarily, a new study says. Karsten Jorgensen and Peter Gotzsche of the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen analyzed breast cancer trends at least seven years before and after government-run screening programs for breast cancer started in parts of Australia, Britain, Canada, Norway and Sweden.

http://www.bmj.com

Americans favor science, but less than before

The share of Americans who see science as the nation's greatest achievement is down sharply, even as the public continues to hold scientists in high regard. A new Pew Research Center poll indicates that 27 percent of Americans say the nation's greatest achievements are in science, medicine and technology, more than any category other than don't know.

Pew Research Center for People and the Press

AAAS

Tests reveal some pet supplements skimp on meds

Arthritis supplements bought by millions of pet owners for their dogs, cats and horses sometimes skimp on the ingredients the makers claim can help aching paws and aging joints, and some contain high amounts of lead, an independent laboratory found.

National Academy of Sciences report on supplements for animals

Storms NASA's only worry for shuttle launch

Thunderstorms are threatening to delay NASA's planned launch Saturday of space shuttle Endeavour.

Mysterious tremors detected on San Andreas Fault

Scientists have detected a spike in underground rumblings on a section of California's San Andreas Fault that produced a magnitude-7.8 earthquake in 1857.

Science

U.S. Geological Survey

Ebola found in Philippine pigs for first time

A form of ebola virus has been detected in pigs for the first time, raising concerns it could mutate and threaten humans, scientists report.

Science

Monkeys live longer on low-cal diet; would humans?

Eat less, live longer? It seems to work for monkeys: A 20-year study found cutting calories by almost a third slowed their aging and fended off death. This is not about a quick diet to shed a few pounds. Scientists have long known they could increase the lifespan of mice and more primitive creatures - worms, flies - with deep, long-term cuts from normal consumption.

Swine flu shots at school: Bracing for fall return

U.S. swine flu vaccinations could begin in October with children among the first in line - at their local schools - the Obama administration said Thursday as the president and his Cabinet urged states to figure out now how they'll tackle the virus' all-but-certain resurgence.

http://www.flu.gov

El Nino conditions return to affect weather

El Nino is back.

NOAA

WHO approves cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix

The World Health Organization has approved a second cervical cancer vaccine, this one made by GlaxoSmithKline, meaning U.N. agencies and partners can now officially buy millions of doses of the vaccine for poor countries worldwide.

Abortion pill used in a quarter of US abortions

Roughly a fourth of American women getting early abortions last year did so with drugs rather than surgery, statistics show, as a new study reported improved safety in using the so-called "abortion pill."

New England Journal

Mifeprex site

Drug gives anthrax protection in animal studies

An experimental drug helped monkeys and rabbits survive anthrax in a series of studies, suggesting it could be useful in case of another anthrax attack.

New England Journal

Anthrax information

Organ transplant drug extends life of older mice

A drug used to prevent the rejection of organ transplants was found to significantly increase the life span of older mice, researchers report. The National Institute on Aging is testing compounds that may extend the life span of mice. The drug rapamycin is the first to work for both male and female mice, according to a study published online in the journal Nature.

Nature

New technique finds ancient star explosions

Astronomers have spotted the most distant and oldest star explosions yet in the universe.

Nature

Stormy weather could stall weekend shuttle launch

NASA began another countdown Wednesday for space shuttle Endeavour, but stormy weather could stall the weekend launch.

NASA

British scientists claim to create human sperm

British scientists claimed Wednesday to have created human sperm from embryonic stem cells for the first time, an accomplishment they say may someday help infertile men father children.

Swine flu resistance testing to grow after US case

U.S. health officials are stepping up testing of swine flu cases for Tamiflu resistance, now that an American has come down with a resistant strain.