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Sugary solution to Alzheimer's?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cKGnHWF8a4g/120228191025.htm
Slowing or preventing the development of Alzheimer's disease, a fatal brain condition expected to hit one in 85 people globally by 2050, may be as simple as ensuring a brain protein's sugar levels are maintained.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Stopping hormone therapy might help breast cancer to regress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ACQptIJS638/120228190932.htm
As soon as women quit hormone therapy, their rates of new breast cancer decline, supporting the hypothesis that stopping hormones can lead to tumor regression, according to a new report.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Elephant behavior and conservation issues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U-h_H3Ys0aw/120228190930.htm
Researchers are using fieldwork and genetics research to uncover insights into elephant population genetics and social behavior as well as how human activities alter elephants' social and genetic structures.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
New 'magnetic yeast' marks step toward harnessing Nature's magnetic capabilities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AIsahtZCeAI/120228190922.htm
Researchers have developed a method for inducing magnetic sensitivity in an organism that is not naturally magnetic -- yeast. Their technology could potentially be used to magnetize a variety of different cell types in medical, industrial and research applications.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Molecular duo dictate human weight and energy levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PHMEpRSSKWA/120228190920.htm
Researchers have discovered a key cellular mechanism that may help the brain control how much we eat, what we weigh, and how much energy we have.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
The search for the first stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_U7RKkPhluQ/120228185830.htm
Recent and exciting discoveries are moving scientists closer to understanding how the first stars and galaxies formed.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Potential solution to melanoma's resistance to vemurafenib
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/guLnMITV5Eg/120228185828.htm
Researchers have found that the XL888 inhibitor can prevent resistance to the chemotherapy drug vemurafenib, commonly used for treating patients with melanoma.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Toppling raman shift in supercritical carbon dioxide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/upFuMbMzUwA/120228185544.htm
Just as a wine glass vibrates and sometimes breaks when a diva sings the right note, carbon dioxide vibrates when light or heat serenades it. When it does, carbon dioxide exhibits a vibrational puzzle known as Fermi resonance. Now, researchers studying geologic carbon storage have learned a bit more about the nature of carbon dioxide.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Synesthesia: Open your eyes and smell the roses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LGlMpuNL4vk/120228185542.htm
A new study reveals for the first time that activating the brain’s visual cortex with a small amount of electrical stimulation actually improves our sense of smell.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Mysterious electron acceleration explained: Computer simulation identifies source of aurora-causing high-speed electrons in space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/If0diKKwFIs/120228152214.htm
A mysterious phenomenon detected by space probes has finally been explained, thanks to a massive computer simulation that was able to precisely align with details of spacecraft observations. The simulation shows that an active region in Earth's magnetotail, where "reconnection" events take place in the magnetic field, is roughly 1,000 times larger than had been thought.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Mutated plants may be better for biofuels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5AZiknnb6Zs/120228152158.htm
A new study says genetic mutations in plants could make it easier to break down plant cellulose to the sugars that are fermented into biofuels.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Eat your broccoli: Another mechanism discovered by which sulforaphane prevents cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XV7iXsczWYU/120228140555.htm
Researchers have discovered yet another reason why the "sulforaphane" compound in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables is so good for you -- it provides not just one, but two ways to prevent cancer through the complex mechanism of epigenetics.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Lake Chad: Inhabitants adapt to lower water levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CwVtP3XNbo8/120228140537.htm
Lake Chad used to be one of the biggest lakes in the world, but its volume has been reduced to a tenth of what it was in the 1960s. The way this lake has dried up has become a symbol of climate change in action. It’s true that the lake’s water level has always changed, but this hasn’t diminished the major changes to the lifestyle of the inhabitants of the lake’s shoreline.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Nowhere to hide: Tigers threatened by human destruction of groundcover
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GKYzAR7fAfc/120228140502.htm
A new study is the first of its kind to systematically investigate the use of different land cover types for tiger habitat.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Developing sustainable power
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dVdKI7HQKkQ/120228123948.htm
Scientists suggest that renewable energy is a viable option for electrical power in developing and emerging nations. Researchers point out that in most of these nations, the demand for energy far exceeds the generating capacity.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Predicting children's language development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mOqyI6dm2LU/120228123943.htm
We depend on a barrage of standardized tests to assess everything from aptitude to intelligence. But do they provide an accurate forecast when it comes to something as complex as language? A new Language Use Inventory does, researchers say.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Cold air chills heart's oxygen supply, making snow shoveling dangerous for some people
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Kdta9bQwdQ0/120228123941.htm
People with heart disease may not be able to compensate for their bodies' higher demand for oxygen when inhaling cold air, according to researchers, making snow shoveling and other activities dangerous for some.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Overfishing threatens the survival of seabirds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JDJprKGKHSU/120228123852.htm
From gannets to seagulls, puffins to penguins, all seabirds suffer the same drop in birth rates when the supply of fish drops to less than a third of maximum capacity. Below the critical level of one third of the fish biomass, the birds — and the stability of the entire ecosystem —- come under threat.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
The Brazilian rainforest : Caught between biodiversity and business
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1PkqCD_bEcw/120228123849.htm
Brazil is exporting more and more agricultural produce: soya beans and beef in particular, but also corn, rice and sugar. Taken together, these exports represent half of Brazil’s total today. The increase in the export of commodities brings both a higher degree of economic dependency and a threat to the Amazon rainforest.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Initial genetic analysis reveals Iceman Ötzi predisposed to cardiovascular disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/acNhitlbvEk/120228123847.htm
The famous Iceman mummy known as Ötzi was genetically predisposed to cardiovascular diseases, according to recent studies. Not only was this genetic predisposition demonstrable in the 5,000-year-old ice mummy, there was also already a symptom in the form of arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Newly emerging staph strain transits more easily among humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YrFTcQvrFCY/120228114314.htm
Using genome sequencing and household surveillance, scientists have pieced together how a newly emerging type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria has adapted to transmit more easily among humans. Their new study underscores the need for vigilance in surveillance of S. aureus.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Study compares traits of autism, schizophrenia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q1Uh05r139s/120228114312.htm
A professor is studying the differences between the social impairments found in autism and schizophrenia to help develop better treatments for people with both disorders. Autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia are distinct disorders with unique characteristics, but they share similarities in social dysfunction.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Stress changes how people make decisions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vDlBFPbk7Lo/120228114308.htm
Trying to make a big decision while you're also preparing for a scary presentation? You might want to hold off on that. Feeling stressed changes how people weigh risk and reward. A new article published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, reviews how, under stress, people pay more attention to the upside of a possible outcome.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Enhanced brain-computer interface promises unparalleled autonomy for disabled
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jMr1-oEBG50/120228114203.htm
In the 2009 film Surrogates, humans live vicariously through robots while safely remaining in their own homes. That sci-fi future is still a long way off, but recent advances in technology are bringing this technology a step closer to reality in order to give disabled people more autonomy and independence than ever before.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Cannabis: The good, the evil, the ugly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X-MDo6vozM4/120228114159.htm
Cannabis-like substances that are produced by the body have both therapeutic and harmful properties, besides their well-known intoxicating effects, and the body’s cannabinoid system may be a target for new strategies in cancer treatment, new research suggests.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Better health another reason for getting a degree
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nYcW_OrMfT0/120228114042.htm
Attaining at least a bachelor's degree after 25 years of age is associated with better midlife health, new research shows.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Eye movement not engaged in 'arms race'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9x5T6cqyduA/120228114040.htm
We make our eye movements earlier or later in order to coordinate with movements of our arms, neuroscientists have found. Their study points to a mechanism in the brain that allows for this coordination and may have implications for rehabilitation and prosthetics.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Tomb exploration reveals first archaeological evidence of Christianity from the time of Jesus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xhWiE2ei2Kc/120228102137.htm
An examination via robotic camera of an Herodian era tomb near Jerusalem has yielded ossuary engravings that strongly imply Christian culture, including an icon that seems to invoke the Jonah story, the most popular icon in third century CE Roman tomb -- previously the earliest Christian images. The tomb is in close proximity to the controversial "Jesus Tomb," which contained an ossuary engraved "Jesus son of Joseph."
Wed, 29 Feb 12
How cells make the most of limited resources
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HVsVykVU2Nk/120228102019.htm
The bacterium that causes atypical pneumonia is helping scientists uncover how cells make the most of limited resources. By measuring all the proteins this bacterium produces, scientists have found that the secret is fine-tuning.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Sperm cannot detect smells: End of 'Lily of the Valley phenomenon' in sperm research?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wjveW0kzpzA/120228102013.htm
Scientists have now discovered that sperm do not function like olfactory cells -- a finding that casts doubt on the assumption that scents play a role in fertilization.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
How the brain responds to deceptive advertising
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XPcS4QveO0Y/120228102011.htm
Several specific regions of our brains are activated in a two-part process when we are exposed to deceptive advertising, according to new research. The work opens the door to further research that could help us understand how brain injury and aging may affect our susceptibility to fraud or misleading marketing.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Direct measurement of the formation length of photons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IGPIio1cRZs/120228102009.htm
How long does it take an electron to form a photon? The answer would normally be: so short a time that it cannot be measured. However, the scientists responsible for experiment NA63 have now succeeded in dragging out the process, thereby making it measurable.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
New measuring techniques can improve efficiency, safety of nanoparticles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KDNHH_PquuI/120228102005.htm
Using high-precision microscopy and X-ray scattering techniques, researchers have gained eye-opening insights into the process of applying green chemistry to nanotechnology that results in high yields, improves efficiency and dramatically reduces waste and potential negative exposure to human health or the environment.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
World's smallest radio stations: Two molecules communicate via single photons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t68VrkB095k/120228101712.htm
We know since the dawn of modern physics that although events in our everyday life can be described by classical physics, the interaction of light and matter is down deep governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. Despite this century-old wisdom, accessing truly quantum mechanical situations remains nontrivial, fascinating and noteworthy even in the laboratory. Recently, interest in this area has been boosted beyond academic curiosity because of the potential for more efficient and novel forms of information processing.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Optogenetic tool elucidated: Opening of the ion channel with light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-qhPRaTLyXs/120228101710.htm
Controlling nerve cells with the aid of light: this is made possible by optogenetics. It enables, for example, the investigation of neurobiological processes with unprecedented spatial and temporal precision. Biophysicists have now succeeded in explaining the switching mechanism.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Future smart phones will project images on the wall
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EXJ2qP4zpmc/120228101706.htm
New laser light source has a global market in consumer electronics. Mobile phones currently on the market are capable of showing high quality images and video, but the phones' small size sets insurmountable limits on screen size, and thus the viewing experience. Scientists are now developing a better laser light source for projectors that will be integrated into mobile phones, which will enable accurate and efficient projection of, for example, photographs and movies on any surface.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Land-ocean connections: How tree trunks, leaves and kukui nuts indirectly feed bottom fish in submarine canyons off Moloka'i, Hawaii
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R0YqZTKMaJw/120227204923.htm
Scientists recently discovered that land-based plant material, such as tree trunks, leaves, and kukui nuts; and coastal macroalgae indirectly support the increased abundances of bottom fish in submarine canyons, like those off the north shore of Moloka'i.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Modified bone drug kills malaria parasite in mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nlqx7frZK_Q/120227204919.htm
A chemically altered osteoporosis drug may be useful in fighting malaria, researchers report in a new study. Unlike similar compounds tested against many other parasitic protozoa, the drug readily crosses into the red blood cells of malaria-infected mice and kills the malaria parasite. The drug works at very low concentrations with no observed toxicity to the mouse.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Salty soil can suck water out of atmosphere: Could it happen on Mars?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RMmZ2tuvK00/120227204917.htm
The frigid McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are a cold, polar desert, yet the sandy soils there are frequently dotted with moist patches in the spring despite a lack of snowmelt and no possibility of rain. A new study has found that that the salty soils in the region actually suck moisture out of the atmosphere, raising the possibility that such a process could take place on Mars or on other planets.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Higher death risk with sleeping pills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rtVoKezUdcg/120227204830.htm
People are relying on sleeping pills more than ever to get a good night's rest, but a new study links the medications to a 4.6 times higher risk of death and a significant increase in cancer cases among regular pill users.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
How accurate are rapid flu tests?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4gPb-w3KUlw/120227204725.htm
A new study has put the accuracy of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) under the microscope. The meta-analysis of 159 studies showed three key findings: that RIDTs can be used to confirm the flu, but not to rule it out; that test accuracy is higher in children than it is in adults; and that RIDTs are better at detecting the more common influenza A virus than they are at detecting influenza B.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
How immune system's 'first responders' target infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y7jp8-tJkOQ/120227162803.htm
Researchers have discovered previously unsuspected aspects of the chemokine guidance system used by the body's first line of defense against infection.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
Ice Age coyotes were supersized compared to coyotes today, fossil study reveals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8qTw7QB5fn0/120227152721.htm
Coyotes today are pint-sized compared to their Ice Age counterparts, finds a new fossil study. Between 11,500 and 10,000 years ago -- a mere blink of an eye in geologic terms -- coyotes shrunk to their present size. The sudden shrinkage was most likely a response to dwindling food supply and changing interactions with competitors, rather than warming climate, researchers say.
Wed, 29 Feb 12
One-way romantic attraction? Ways to save your guy-gal friendship
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fT3-pN5Ce9U/120227132711.htm
When one friend admits they are “into” the other but the feeling isn't mutual, the relationship can indeed be in jeopardy. Friendships often dissolve under these circumstances, but not always, say experts.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Ultra-fast outflows help monster black holes shape their galaxies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9ayVCNDMBeU/120227162801.htm
A curious correlation between the mass of a galaxy's central black hole and the velocity of stars in a vast, roughly spherical structure known as its bulge has puzzled astronomers for years. Astronomers have now identified a new type of black-hole-driven outflow that appears to be both powerful enough and common enough to explain this link.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Deaths triple among football players, morning temperatures thought to play a role
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a1ioxuhh2BY/120227162658.htm
Heat-related deaths among football players across the country tripled to nearly three per year between 1994 and 2009 after averaging about one per year the previous 15 years, according to an analysis of weather conditions and high school and college sports data. The study found for the eastern US, where most deaths occurred, morning heat index values were consistently higher in the latter half of the 30-year study period.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Hyperactivity in brain may explain multiple symptoms of depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ifTe86V2YpM/120227162656.htm
People with depression suffer a number of symptoms -- including anxiety, memory issues, and sleep disturbances. Now researchers have found that the brains of depressed people show hyperactivity; The finding sheds new light on the brain dysfunction that causes depression and its wide array of symptoms.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
A giant 'little step' in cancer treatment opening up new therapeutic horizons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/msxm_yOHa24/120227162603.htm
A new study heralds a new horizon in the fight against cancer, opening up a parallel dimension to existing treatment options. The data demonstrate that by combining two drugs that had already been used on a patient in the past but had stopped working, they boost each other’s efficacy and at the same time manage to break down the patient’s resistance to each of them individually, presenting a third potential treatment option for clinically advanced metastatic tumors. While this may not initially appear to be an innovation, given that combined treatments are used in cancer as a matter of course, it actually represents a radical change in the use of the existing therapeutic weaponry, an extremely practical solution and a source of hope for many patients.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids may cause memory problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LnHViH3iMhU/120227162549.htm
A diet lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients commonly found in fish, may cause your brain to age faster and lose some of its memory and thinking abilities, according to a new study. Omega-3 fatty acids include the nutrients called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Amoeba may offer key clue to photosynthetic evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OMCG-wrgYC8/120227152819.htm
The major difference between plant and animal cells is the photosynthetic process, which converts light energy into chemical energy. When light isn't available, energy is generated by breaking down carbohydrates and sugars, just as it is in animal and some bacterial cells. Two cellular organelles are responsible for these two processes: the chloroplasts for and the mitochondria. New research has opened a window into the early stages of chloroplast evolution.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Solving a spintronic mystery: Researchers resolve controversy over gallium manganese arsenide that could boost spintronic performance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xU_XTkcjvK0/120227152731.htm
Scientists appear to have resolved a long-standing controversy regarding the semiconductor gallium manganese arsenide, one of the most promising materials for spintronic technology. They've determined the source of the ferromagnetic properties that make gallium manganese arsenide such a hot commodity for the smaller, faster and much cheaper data storage and processing of spintronic devices.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Research offers insight to how fructose causes obesity and other illness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XcvGrIejdPk/120227152723.htm
Scientists have provided new insights into how fructose causes obesity and metabolic syndrome, more commonly known as diabetes.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Immortal worms defy ageing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pl8LtHutrKg/120227152612.htm
Researchers have demonstrated how a species of flatworm overcomes the ageing process to be potentially immortal.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
New fossil penguin from New Zealand may be the biggest ever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pRxjNk_Tsx4/120227152546.htm
After 35 years, a giant fossil penguin has finally been completely reconstructed, giving researchers new insights into prehistoric penguin diversity.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Indigenous peoples at forefront of climate change offer lessons on plant biodiversity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8UpZDebAV6k/120227132839.htm
Over the last 40 years, an ethnobotanist has worked with the Yanesha of the upper Peruvian Amazon and the Tibetans of the Himalayas, two groups of indigenous peoples carrying on traditional ways of life, even in the face of rapid environmental changes. She explains how their traditional knowledge and practices hold the key to conserving, managing and even creating new biodiversity.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Traces of listeria found in Vancouver ready-to-eat fish products
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4wAWIPXxa2A/120227132837.htm
A new study has found traces of the bacteria listeria in ready-to-eat fish products sold in metro Vancouver, Canada.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Coral reef study traces indirect effects of overfishing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_zhQPhJqCM4/120227132835.htm
A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya has found dramatic effects of overfishing that could threaten the long-term health of the reefs.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Video games depict religion as violent, problematized, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LNPrRlGg0Ao/120227132833.htm
Many newer-generation video games equate religion with violence in the game narratives, new research shows.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
'Universal' vaccines could finally allow for wide-scale flu prevention
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/opBoduFrnSA/120227111536.htm
Scientists have found that an emerging class of long-lasting flu vaccines called "universal" vaccines could for the first time allow for the effective, wide-scale prevention of flu by limiting the virus' ability to spread and mutate. A computational model showed that the vaccines could achieve unprecedented control of the flu virus both seasonally and during outbreaks of highly contagious new strains.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Record-speed wireless data bridge demonstrated: Takes high-speed communications the 'last mile'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YBRAbokPQTg/120227111431.htm
Scientists have created a new way to overcome many of the issues associated with bringing high-speed digital communications across challenging terrain and into remote areas, commonly referred to as the "last mile" problem. The researchers developed a record-speed wireless data bridge that transmits digital information much faster than today's state-of-the-art systems.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Dwarf galaxy questions current galaxy formation models
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UEh7zRfd0Pc/120227111238.htm
Researcher observed the dwarf galaxy I Zw 18, and found that much of what is known about galaxy formation and evolution might need substantial revision.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Polysternon isonae, a new species of turtle that lived with dinosaurs in Isona (Spanish Pyrenees)
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w9AhVz1wiL8/120227111236.htm
Researchers have discovered a turtle that lived near the end of the age of dinosaurs. Unlike other kinds of turtles, it seems that Polysternon did not survive the end of Cretaceous and went extinct with the dinosaurs.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Reduction in U.S. carbon emissions attributed to cheaper natural gas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MmRwOf6zUwo/120227111206.htm
Lower emission from power plants in 2009 was driven by competitive pricing of natural gas versus coal, researchers say.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
The poor, in fact, are less likely to sue their doctor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ps319Uim2NQ/120227111204.htm
Contrary to the common perception among physicians that poor people sue doctors more frequently, researchers have demonstrated that socioeconomically disadvantaged patients, in fact, tend to sue physicians less often. Their work suggests that this myth may exist because of subconscious prejudices or stereotypes that affect thinking and decision making without doctors being aware of it -- a phenomenon known as unconscious bias.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Protein identified that can lengthen our life?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RZgDl2-RooU/120227111202.htm
Cells use various methods to break down and recycle worn-out components—autophagy is one of them. New research shows that the protein SNX18 is necessary for cells to be able to perform autophagy.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
60-year-old definition of surface tension on solids revised
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UtgoNhfQVd0/120227111200.htm
Researchers have shown that surface tension on a solid material is unconnected to the energy required to create a new surface. Consequently, surface tension on a solid does not exist in its conventional meaning.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Lethal effects of genetically modified Bt toxin confirmed on young ladybird larvae
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GOuSBhlE718/120227111158.htm
Researchers confirm earlier findings that the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin Cry1Ab produced for pesticidal purposes by genetically modified (GM) Bt maize increases mortality in the young ladybird larvae (Adalia bipunctata L., two-spotted ladybird) in laboratory tests. These ladybird larvae are typical ‘non-target’ environmental goods which are not supposed to be harmed by the GM maize.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Unusual weather: Arctic sea ice decline may be driving snowy winters seen in recent years in N. Hemisphere
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vfp0Fgfzb_0/120227111052.htm
A new study provides further evidence of a relationship between melting ice in the Arctic regions and widespread cold outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere. The study’s findings could improve seasonal forecasting of snow and temperature anomalies across northern continents.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
More Catastrophic Fires Ahead for Western U.S.
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c9L26vNBVI4/120227111050.htm
Catastrophic wildfires are on the rise in the western United States and a set of conditions may be contributing to a perfect storm for more fires, according to new research.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Study extends the 'ecology of fear' to fear of parasites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6CBeislD1rg/120227094337.htm
The ecology of fear, like other concepts from predator-prey theory, also extends to parasites, new research suggests. Raccoons and squirrels would give up food, the study demonstrated, if the area was infested with larval ticks. At some level, they are weighing the value of the abandoned food against the risk of being parasitized.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Understanding brain performance: People who take Ritalin are far more aware of their mistakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XWB3qCkiV98/120227094335.htm
Researchers have investigated how the brain monitors ongoing behavior for performance errors – specifically failures of impulse control. People who take Ritalin are far more aware of their mistakes, a new study has found.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Some bacteria attack using spring-loaded poison daggers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o7QTtqhemCk/120227094333.htm
Bacteria have evolved different systems for secreting proteins. One, called a type VI secretion system, is found in about a quarter of all bacteria with two membranes. Despite being common, researchers have not understood how it works. Now scientists have figured out the structure of the type VI secretion system apparatus and proposed how it might work -- by shooting spring-loaded poison molecular daggers.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
RNA interference cancer treatment? Delivering RNA with tiny sponge-like spheres
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iFj7m8U5uzE/120227094331.htm
For the past decade, scientists have been pursuing cancer treatments based on RNA interference -- a phenomenon that offers a way to shut off malfunctioning genes with short snippets of RNA. However, one huge challenge remains: finding a way to efficiently deliver the RNA. Scientists have now come up with a novel delivery vehicle in which RNA is packed into microspheres so dense that they withstand degradation until they reach their destinations. The new system knocks down expression of specific genes as effectively as existing delivery methods, but with a much smaller dose of particles.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Frontal attack or stealth? How subverting the immune system shapes the arms race between bacteria and hosts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RiQ7UxPRox4/120227094132.htm
Why is it that Mycobacterium tuberculosis can cause tuberculosis with as little as 10 cells, whereas Vibrio cholerae requires the host to ingest up to tens of millions of cells to cause cholera? This is the question that scientists have just answered.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Eye-tracking reveals variability in successful social strategies for children with autism spectrum disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lWZw8NQA_UM/120227094108.htm
Scientists used eye-tracking technology to measure the relationship between cognitive and social disability in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the ability of children with ASD to pay attention to social interactions. Results indicated that children with ASD were less likely than typically-developing peers to look at other people's eyes and faces, and were more likely to fixate on bodies and inanimate objects.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Quantum microphone captures extremely weak sound
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TArSuJon3YQ/120227093954.htm
Scientists have demonstrated a new kind of detector for sound at the level of quietness of quantum mechanics. The result offers prospects of a new class of quantum hybrid circuits that mix acoustic elements with electrical ones, and may help illuminate new phenomena of quantum physics.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Finding explosives with laser beams: New method detects chemicals -- even if enclosed in containers -- over long distances
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xubonOdwAKo/120227093952.htm
People like to keep a safe distance from explosive substances, but in order to analyze them, close contact is usually inevitable. A new method has now been developed to detect chemicals inside a container over a distance of more than a hundred meters. Laser light is scattered in a very specific way by different substances. Using this light, the contents of a nontransparent container can be analyzed without opening it.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Multiple sclerosis: Damaged myelin not the trigger, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nbZfCF7r_nI/120227093948.htm
Millions of adults suffer from the incurable disease multiple sclerosis (MS). It is relatively certain that MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own defense cells attack the myelin in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin enwraps the nerve cells and is important for their function of transmitting stimuli as electrical signals. There are numerous unconfirmed hypotheses on the development of MS, one of which has now been refuted by the neuroimmunologists in their current research: The death of oligodendrocytes, as the cells that produce the myelin sheath are called, does not trigger MS.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Diabetes drug improves glucose control without increasing risk of hypoglycemia, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RidIRFf1keA/120227093759.htm
Too high? Too low? Only about half of those with type 2 diabetes have their blood sugar levels on target, but a new drug shows promise in managing glucose levels. TAK-875 works by boosting the release of insulin from pancreatic B cells, but only when diabetics need it most – such as when glucose and fatty acids rise in the blood after a meal.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
In vino veritas: Promiscuous yeast hook up in wine-making vats
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SNwunCUUaeA/120226230124.htm
Humans aren't the only species that like to get busy with a glass of bubbly. Turns out, the common baker's yeast has indulged in a frenzy of amorous frolicking in the fermentation vats of winemakers for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years, with interesting results.
Tue, 28 Feb 12
Ancient Arabic writings help scientists piece together past climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V_OavqQHWHs/120226225956.htm
Ancient manuscripts written by Arabic scholars can provide valuable meteorological information to help modern scientists reconstruct the climate of the past, a new study has revealed. The research analyses the writings of scholars, historians and diarists in Iraq during the Islamic Golden Age between 816-1009 AD for evidence of abnormal weather patterns.
Mon, 27 Feb 12
Elusive platelet count and limb development gene discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w-vYlzt8DGM/120226153549.htm
Researchers have identified an elusive gene responsible for Thrombocytopenia with Absent Radii (TAR), a rare inherited blood and skeletal disorder. As a result, this research is now being transformed into a medical test that allows prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling in affected families.
Mon, 27 Feb 12
Glow and be eaten: Marine bacteria use light to lure plankton and fish
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vsHgbWWHEl8/120226153547.htm
Not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes it is just bacteria trying to get ahead in life. Many sea creatures glow with a biologically produced light. This phenomenon, known as bioluminescence, is observed, among others, in some marine bacteria which emit a steady light once they have reached a certain level of concentration (a phenomenon called "quorum sensing") on organic particles in ocean waters.
Mon, 27 Feb 12
Scientists score new victory over quantum uncertainty
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AfuuwRXYNxY/120226153510.htm
Uncertainty affects the accuracy with which measurements can be made in quantum physics. To reduce this uncertainty, physicists have learned to "squeeze" certain measurements. Researchers are now reporting a new type of measurement that can be squeezed to improve precision.
Sun, 26 Feb 12
European Neanderthals were on the verge of extinction even before the arrival of modern humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PoQG-_eAmag/120225110942.htm
Most Neanderthals in Europe died off around 50,000 years ago, new research suggests. The previously held view of a Europe populated by a stable Neanderthal population for hundreds of thousands of years up until modern humans arrived must therefore be revised, researchers say.
Sun, 26 Feb 12
Training parents is good medicine for children with autism behavior problems, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZFaPuCnG2d4/120224194318.htm
Children with autism spectrum disorders who also have serious behavioral problems responded better to medication combined with training for their parents than to treatment with medication alone, researchers report.
Sun, 26 Feb 12
Significant state-by-state differences in black, white life expectancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GkIMfmBWbDM/120224194315.htm
A group of researchers tracing disparities in life expectancy between blacks and whites in the US has found that white males live about 7 years longer on average than African American men and that white women live more than 5 years longer than their black counterparts.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Memory formation triggered by stem cell development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JFJn60vCXts/120224152759.htm
Researchers have discovered an answer to the long-standing mystery of how brain cells can both remember new memories while also maintaining older ones.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Bird brains follow the beat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0sdjG5q5pVA/120224152753.htm
By training birds to ‘get rhythm’, scientists uncover evidence that our capacity to move in time with music may be connected with our ability to learn speech.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Diagnostic tool: Polymer film loaded with antibodies can capture tumor cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Y3RtwpDoGA/120224152751.htm
The development of polymer film loaded with antibodies that can capture tumor cells shows promise as a diagnostic tool. Cancer cells that break free from a tumor and circulate through the bloodstream spread cancer to other parts of the body. But this process, called metastasis, is extremely difficult to monitor because the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can account for as few as one in every billion blood cells.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
NASA pinning down where 'here' is better than ever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P7RB2TkHJUQ/120224151837.htm
Before our Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation devices can tell us where we are, the satellites that make up the GPS need to know exactly where they are. For that, they rely on a network of sites that serve as "you are here" signs planted throughout the world. The catch is, the sites don't sit still because they're on a planet that isn't at rest, yet modern measurements require more and more accuracy in pinpointing where "here" is. To meet this need, NASA is helping to lead an international effort to upgrade the four systems that supply this crucial location information.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
The Many Moods of Titan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pmE5DTLcJMM/120224151341.htm
A set of recent papers, many of which draw on data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, reveal new details in the emerging picture of how Saturn's moon Titan shifts with the seasons and even throughout the day. The papers show how this largest moon of Saturn is a cousin -- though a very peculiar cousin -- of Earth.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Erosional origin of linear dunes on Earth and Saturn's moon Titan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QQatWxvV1Ow/120224140615.htm
Linear dunes, widespread on Earth and Saturn's moon, Titan, are generally considered to have been formed by deposits of windblown sand. It has been speculated for some time that some linear dunes may have formed by "wind-rift" erosion, but this model has commonly been rejected due to lack of sufficient evidence. Now, new research indicates that erosional origin models should not be ruled out.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, certain cancers: Correct protein folding illuminated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Ymw27oM90c/120224140514.htm
Using the exceptionally bright and powerful X-ray beams of the Advanced Light Source, researchers have discovered a critical control element within chaperonin, the protein complex responsible for the correct folding of other proteins. The "misfolding" of proteins has been linked to many diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and some forms of cancer.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Trusting feelings when predicting future events: The emotional oracle effect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V6DAiI8l4ok/120224140512.htm
People with higher trust in their feelings were more likely to correctly predict a variety of future events. The researchers call this phenomenon the emotional oracle effect.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Light-emitting nanocrystal diodes go ultraviolet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5WUQUhbvK74/120224140508.htm
Scientists have developed a process for creating glass-based, inorganic light-emitting diodes that produce light in the ultraviolet range. The work is a step toward biomedical devices with active components made from nanostructured systems.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
In the genes, but which ones? Studies that linked specific genes to intelligence were largely wrong, experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wtjuWNvsomo/120224140506.htm
For decades, scientists have understood that there is a genetic component to intelligence, but a new study has found both that most of the genes thought to be linked to the trait are probably not in fact related to it, and identifying intelligence's specific genetic roots may still be a long way off.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
A biodiversity discovery that was waiting in the wings -- wasp wings, that is
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1I0AbbFMmvA/120224140504.htm
From spaghetti-like sea anemones to blobby jellyfish to filigreed oak trees, each species in nature is characterized by a unique size and shape. But the evolutionary changes that produce the seemingly limitless diversity of shapes and sizes of organisms on Earth largely remains a mystery. Nevertheless, a better understanding of how cells grow and enable organisms to assume their characteristic sizes and shapes could shed light on diseases that involve cell growth, including cancer and diabetes.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Neither birth nor death stops a flock, new theory shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/foKFA2Qc-sA/120224111143.htm
Neither births nor deaths stop the flocking of organisms. They just keep moving, says a theoretical physicist. The notion, he says, has implications in biology and eventually could point to new cancer therapies.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
The genetic basis for age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iSXgKt3lJxg/120224110742.htm
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, especially in developed countries, and there is currently no known treatment or cure or for the vast majority of AMD patients. New research has identified genes whose expression levels can identify people with AMD, as well as tell apart AMD subtypes. It is estimated that 6.5% of people over age 40 in the US currently have AMD. There is an inheritable genetic risk factor but risk is also increased for smokers and with exposure to UV light.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Cunning super-parasitic wasps sniff out protected aphids and overwhelm their defenses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DOWhGuDJql8/120224110739.htm
In the war between parasite and host, the parasitic wasp and the pea aphid are locked in a battle for survival. New research shows that this cunning parasite sniffs out differences between protected and unprotected aphids, and alters its egg-laying strategy, in order to overwhelm aphid defenses and ensure survival of wasp offspring. The wasp lays an egg inside the pea aphid, where the egg hatches and converts the aphid's insides into a wasp nursery. The wasp larva uses the still-living aphid as a food source, eventually pupating inside the aphid and emerging as a fully-formed mature wasp. However the pea aphid is not defenseless. It is protected by a bacterial symbiont.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
CFC substitutes: Good for the ozone layer, bad for climate?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sdhe_V_cVCQ/120224110737.htm
The Montreal Protocol led to a global phase-out of most substances that deplete the ozone layer, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). A happy side-effect of the gradual ban of these products is that the Earth’s climate has also benefited because CFCs are also potent greenhouse gases. However, now a "rebound effect" threatens to accelerate the rate of global warming.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Female sex hormones can weaken the ability of fish to protect themselves against environmental toxins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k0ysto71UrY/120224110609.htm
It is well known that female sex hormones (estrogens) that end up in rivers and lakes, primarily via spillage from sewers and livestock farming, pose a threat to the environment. Some environmental toxins can also have the same impact as estrogens. One example of such substances are degradation products (metabolites) from the pollutant PCB.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Car tracks beyond the asphalt
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8vhiUIiycqM/120224110607.htm
The contamination caused by road traffic not only affects the air, it also seeps under the asphalt and harms the adjacent soil and plants. A chemist has delved into the subject and studied the extent of the impact of the metals emitted by cars. Likewise, he has analyzed their consequences in the short, medium and long term.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Robot obeys to commands and gestures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4mCCpAllcUU/120224110605.htm
A robot helping in the household no longer is a dream of the future. ARMAR, the humanoid robot, can understand commands and execute them independently. For instance, it gets the milk out of the fridge. Thanks to cameras and sensors, it orients itself in the room, recognizes objects, and grasps them with the necessary sensitivity. Additionally, it reacts to gestures and learns by watching a human colleague how to empty a dishwasher or clean the counter. Thus, it adapts naturally to our environment.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Novel method to make nanomaterials discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bD9RyzbgA6s/120224110601.htm
Researchers have discovered a novel way to make nanomaterials. Using computer simulations, the researchers have been able to predict that long and narrow graphene nanoribbons can be rolled into carbon nanotubes by means of twisting.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Wireless bicycle brake, a prototype on an exciting mission
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7ey9sFYOFSA/120224110559.htm
At this time, wireless networks are able to brake just one bike, but in the future, the technical elements will be further developed to regulate entire trains as they travel over the lines. In view of this, computer scientists are designing mathematical calculations to check such systems automatically.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
New strategies for treatment of infectious diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tLyuqRvwgmc/120224110555.htm
The immune system protects from infections by detecting and eliminating invading pathogens. These two strategies form the basis of conventional clinical approaches in the fight against infectious diseases. Scientists now propose that a third strategy needs to be considered: tolerance to infection, whereby the infected host protects itself from infection by reducing tissue damage and other negative effects caused by the pathogen or the immune response against the invader.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Inflammatory circuit that triggers breast cancer uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ewBm0crPXdc/120224110553.htm
Although it's widely accepted that inflammation is a critical underlying factor in a range of diseases, including the progression of cancer, little is known about its role when normal cells become tumor cells. Now, scientists have shed new light on exactly how the activation of a pair of inflammatory signaling pathways leads to the transformation of normal breast cells to cancer cells.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Novel bioactive peptides promote wound healing in vivo
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8oHF4IrTwiU/120224110333.htm
Researchers have combined bioactive peptides to stimulate wound healing. The peptides act by stimulating the growth of new blood vessels and promoting re-growth of tissue. Further development of these peptides could lead to a treatment for chronic and acute wounds.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Are you making your spring allergies worse? Five things that can aggravate your suffering
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NokBXmifp9I/120224110329.htm
Read about the five things you might be doing that are actually making your spring allergy symptoms worse.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Cancer therapy more potent when it hits two targets, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LW3NzLkR6FY/120224110326.htm
Simultaneous targeting of two different molecules in cancer is an effective way to shrink tumors, block invasion, and stop metastasis, scientists have found -— work that may improve the effectiveness of combination treatments that include drugs like Avastin.
Sat, 25 Feb 12
Metal nanoparticles shine with customizable color
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YhGJivpeggc/120223221957.htm
Engineers have demonstrated a new kind of tunable color filter that uses optical nanoantennas to obtain precise control of color output.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Neurotoxins in shark fins: A human health concern
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u4TguOOynmY/120223182516.htm
Sharks are among the most threatened of marine species worldwide due to unsustainable overfishing. They are primarily killed for their fins to fuel the growing demand for shark fin soup, which is an Asia delicacy. A new study has discovered high concentrations of BMAA in shark fins, a neurotoxin linked to neurodegenerative diseases in humans including Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig Disease (ALS). The study suggests that consumption of shark fin soup and cartilage pills may pose a significant health risk for degenerative brain diseases.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Heart attacks: Naked mole-rats bear lifesaving clues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aDf4mWCGGtY/120223182512.htm
A biologist thinks the subterranean lifestyle of the naked mole-rat may hold clues to keeping brain cells alive and functioning when oxygen is scarce, as during a heart attack. The key may lie in how brain cells regulate their intake of calcium, he says.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Climate change, increasing temperatures alter bird migration patterns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QS4gFSrP5GY/120223142642.htm
Birds in eastern North America are picking up the pace along their yearly migratory paths. The reason, according to researchers, is rising temperatures due to climate change.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Breakthrough in designing cheaper, more efficient catalysts for fuel cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fBODSDxSsPQ/120223142640.htm
Chemists are redesigning catalysts in ways that could have a profound impact on the chemical industry as well as on the growing market for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Since all catalysts, such as platinum, speed chemical reactions only at edges and defects, the chemists synthesized these edge sites and set them on a molecular platform to create a catalyst that is all edge.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Key to growth differences between species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TppgUjMvdSI/120223142638.htm
The tiny, little-noticed jewel wasp may provide some answers as to how different species differ in size and shape. And that could lead to a better understanding of cell growth regulation, as well as the underlying causes of some diseases.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Earliest horses show past global warming affected body size of mammals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cq17IJncWr4/120223142634.htm
As scientists continue developing climate change projection models, paleontologists studying an extreme short-term global warming event have discovered direct evidence about how mammals respond to rising temperatures. Researchers have now found a correlation between temperature and body size in mammals by following the evolution of the earliest horses about 56 million years ago: As temperatures increased, their body size decreased.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Evolution of earliest horses driven by climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cZPOAF8DGeg/120223142630.htm
Some 56 million years ago, rising temps and concentrations of carbon dioxide caused mammals, including tiny Sifrhippus, to shrink. New research offers new evidence of why and how it happened and provides clues to what might happen to animals in the future from global warming.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Classic Maya Civilization collapse related to modest rainfall reductions, research suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Vcl9s33Pp0/120223142455.htm
The disintegration of the Maya Civilization may have been related to relatively modest reductions in rainfall, according to new research. Rather modest rainfall reductions between times when the Classic Maya Civilization flourished and its collapse - between AD 800-950, seems to have caused the collapse. These reductions amount to only 25 to 40 per cent in annual rainfall, but they were large enough for evaporation to become dominant over rainfall, and open water availability was rapidly reduced, researchers say.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Illegal orangutan trader prosecuted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2jLbET893GA/120223142430.htm
Sumatra has made its first ever successful sentence of an illegal orangutan owner and trader in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Less is more: Study of tiny droplets could have big impact on industrial applications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_0FzEs2t9ZA/120223133214.htm
Researchers have discovered rules that govern how liquid spreads along flexible fibers and have found that when it comes to the size of liquid droplets, sometimes less is more.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Girls' verbal skills make them better at arithmetic, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7dQInIE5EmA/120223133012.htm
While boys generally do better than girls in science and math, some studies have found that girls do better in arithmetic. A new study finds that the advantage comes from girls' superior verbal skills.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Chemical clues on formation of planetary systems: Earth 'siblings' can be different
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TVIs5qRH8B0/120223132902.htm
Astronomers have discovered that the chemical structure of Earth-like planets can be very different from the bulk composition of Earth. This may have a dramatic effect on the existence and formation of the biospheres and life on Earth-like planets.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Impulsive kids play more video games, and kids who play more video games may become more impulsive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tsOKUaIbPBg/120223104118.htm
Impulsive children with attention problems tend to play more video games, while kids in general who spend lots of time video gaming may also develop impulsiveness and attention difficulties, according to new research.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Making droplets drop faster: New nanopatterned surfaces could improve the efficiency of powerplants and desalination systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UOkw0lXP1wk/120223104110.htm
New research offers important new insights into how water droplets form, and ways to pattern the collecting surfaces at the nanoscale to encourage droplets to form more rapidly. These insights could enable a new generation of significantly more efficient power plants and desalination plants, the researchers say.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
U.S. urban forests losing ground
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TeKeCu4MK4c/120223104023.htm
National results indicate that tree cover in urban areas of the United States is declining at a rate of about 4 million trees per year.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Bisphenol A exposure linked to increased risk of future onset of heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dEFScwSu9Co/120223104019.htm
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a controversial chemical widely used in the plastics industry. A new study followed people over a 10-year time period and shows that healthy people with higher urine concentrations of BPA were more likely to later develop heart disease.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
How vitamin D inhibits inflammation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p7vRht_LExY/120223103920.htm
Researchers have discovered specific molecular and signaling events by which vitamin D inhibits inflammation. Low levels of vitamin D failed to inhibit the inflammatory cascade, while levels considered adequate did inhibit inflammatory signaling.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Opinion: H5N1 flu is just as dangerous as feared, now requires action
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oP4WbNrYZ70/120223103918.htm
The debate about the potential severity of an outbreak of airborne H5N1 influenza in humans needs to move on from speculation and focus instead on how we can safely continue H5N1 research and share the results among researchers, according to experts.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
A unique on-off switch for hormone production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2XSZxQQygjo/120223103916.htm
Scientists have revealed a new kind of on-off switch in the brain for regulating the production of a main biochemical signal from the brain that stimulates cortisol release in the body.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
How cells brace themselves for starvation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T9KZD1rliRU/120223103914.htm
Cells that repress their "bad time" pumps when a nutrient is abundant were much more efficient at preparing for starvation and at recovering afterward than the cells that had been genetically engineered to avoid this repression.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Spectacularly bright object in Andromeda caused by 'normal' black hole
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3rOaRO4PrfQ/120223103814.htm
A spectacularly bright object recently spotted in one of the Milky Way’s neighbouring galaxies is the result of a “normal” stellar black hole, astronomers have found.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
First ultraluminous source in Andromeda galaxy unmasked as 'normal' stellar mass black hole
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y76Jh3mQLAM/120223103633.htm
Detailed observations show that the first ultraluminous X-ray source detected in our neighboring Andromeda galaxy is due to a stellar mass black hole swallowing material at very high rates. The emission of the ultraluminous source probably originates from a system similar to X-ray binaries in our galaxy with matter accreting onto a black hole, which is at least 13 times more massive than our Sun. Unlike X-ray binaries in our own Milky Way, however, this source is much less obscured by interstellar gas and dust, allowing detailed investigations also at low X-ray energies.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
OPERA experiment reports anomaly in flight time of neutrinos from CERN to Gran Sasso
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VxYy6mJFZWY/120223081231.htm
The OPERA collaboration has informed its funding agencies and host laboratories that it has identified two possible effects that could have an influence on its neutrino timing measurement. These both require further tests with a short pulsed beam. If confirmed, one would increase the size of the measured effect, the other would diminish it.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Scientists create potent molecules aimed at treating muscular dystrophy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Byu7RDIkZok/120222204337.htm
While RNA is an appealing drug target, small molecules that can actually affect its function have rarely been found. But now scientists have for the first time designed a series of small molecules that act against an RNA defect directly responsible for the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Surprising diversity at a synapse hints at complex diversity of neural circuitry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dqOmNYg-hyQ/120222204243.htm
A new study reveals a dazzling degree of biological diversity in an unexpected place – a single neural connection in the body wall of flies.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
If you're afraid of spiders, they seem bigger: Phobia's effect on perception of feared object allows fear to persist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xIcJvcdREOU/120222204241.htm
The more afraid a person is of a spider, the bigger that individual perceives the spider to be, new research suggests. In the context of a fear of spiders, this warped perception doesn't necessarily interfere with daily living. But for individuals who are afraid of needles, for example, the conviction that needles are larger than they really are could lead people who fear injections to avoid getting the health care they need. A better understanding of how a phobia affects the perception of feared objects can help clinicians design more effective treatments for people who seek to overcome their fears, according to the researchers.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Memo to pediatricians: Screen all kids for vitamin D deficiency, test those at high risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jH5uNlmpl9g/120222204235.htm
As study after study shows the fundamental role vitamin D plays in disease and health, vitamin D deficiency — which often develops insidiously in childhood — should be on every parent’s and pediatrician’s radar, say physicians.
Fri, 24 Feb 12
Newly approved drug for metastatic melanoma nearly doubles median survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1ee1keHnO9Y/120222204230.htm
A newly approved drug for patients with metastatic melanoma nearly doubles median survival times, a finding that will change the way this deadly form of skin cancer is treated.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
For disaster debris arriving from Japan, radiation least of the concerns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fn0JYq_Kh6Q/120222133730.htm
Later this year debris from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan should begin to wash up on US shores -- and one question many have asked is whether that will pose a radiation risk. The simple answer is, no.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Low levels of fallout from Fukushima, U.S. study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vfRXgonYgg8/120222133728.htm
Fallout from the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power facility in Japan was measured in minimal amounts in precipitation in the United States in about 20 percent of 167 sites sampled in a nationwide U.S. study.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Is there a general motivation center in the depths of the brain?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k9rC41u-gsE/120222133431.htm
Researchers have identified the part of the brain driving motivation during actions that combine physical and mental effort: the ventral striatum.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Faster way to catch cells: New microfluidic device could be used to diagnose and monitor cancer and other diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A-y8lSUGArg/120222133131.htm
Separating complex mixtures of cells, such as those found in a blood sample, can offer valuable information for diagnosing and treating disease. However, it may be necessary to search through billions of other cells to collect rare cells such as tumor cells, stem cells or fetal cells. Researchers have now demonstrated a new microfluidic device that can isolate target cells much faster than existing devices. Such technology could be used in applications such as point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
'Miracle material' graphene is thinnest known anti-corrosion coating
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GOqnv7-dM_k/120222133125.htm
New research has established the "miracle material" called graphene as the world's thinnest known coating for protecting metals against corrosion.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
New way to tap largest remaining treasure trove of potential new antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_WWKkmQomCM/120222132938.htm
Scientists are reporting use of a new technology for sifting through the world's largest remaining pool of potential antibiotics to discover two new antibiotics that work against deadly resistant microbes, including the "superbugs" known as MRSA.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Birds sing louder amidst the noise and structures of the urban jungle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SdNXk9e-DBY/120222132930.htm
Sparrows, blackbirds and the great tit are all birds known to sing at a higher pitch in urban environments. It was previously believed that these birds sang at higher frequencies in order to escape the lower frequencies noises of the urban environment. Now, researchers have discovered that besides noise, the physical structure of cities also plays a role in altering the birds' songs.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Researchers take a step forward in transplanting pig cells to regenerate human cartilage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uGhwuftnrL0/120222132741.htm
Researchers have recently studied the response of human NK cells against porcine chondrocytes. The results of the research indicate that these cells, characteristic of the innate immune system, play an important role in the rejection of xenotransplantation of porcine chondrocytes.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Exposure to micronutrients pre-pregnancy associated with gene modifications in offspring
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X0pT5Ds8I4g/120222132737.htm
The offspring of women who were given micronutrient supplements (minerals needed in small quantities, such as iron, iodine and vitamin A) before they became pregnant had gene modifications at birth as well as when they were tested at nine months.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Heart beats to the rhythm of a circadian clock
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tI__VO7FjpA/120222132559.htm
Sudden cardiac death -- catastrophic and unexpected fatal heart stoppage -- is more likely to occur shortly after waking in the morning and in the late night. In a new study, an international consortium of researchers explains the molecular linkage between the circadian clock and the deadly heart rhythms that lead to sudden death.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
World of Warcraft boosts cognitive functioning in older adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0HIHkTdUQYI/120222132255.htm
For some older adults, the online video game World of Warcraft (WoW) may provide more than an opportunity for escapist adventure. Researchers have found that playing WoW boosted cognitive functioning for older adults – particularly those who had scored poorly on cognitive ability tests before playing the game.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
How cancer cells change once they spread to distant organs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oLyURWAUzic/120222132118.htm
Oncologists have known that in order for cancer cells to spread, they must transform themselves so they can detach from a tumor and spread to a distant organ. Now, scientists have revealed critical steps in what happens next -- how these cells reverse the process, morphing back into classical cancer that can now grow into a new tumor.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
What can animals' survival instincts tell us about understanding human emotion?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XYkmA6ZZFeM/120222132116.htm
Can animals’ survival instincts shed additional light on what we know about human emotion? Neuroscientists pose this question in outlining a pioneering theory, drawn from two decades of research, that could lead to a more comprehensive understanding of emotions in both humans and animals.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
NASA's Spitzer finds solid buckyballs in space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FWFC_EFCo8E/120222114500.htm
Astronomers using data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have, for the first time, discovered buckyballs in a solid form in space. Prior to this discovery, the microscopic carbon spheres had been found only in gas form in the cosmos.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Earth's clouds are getting lower, NASA satellite finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wci34zFanjs/120222114358.htm
Earth's clouds got a little lower -- about one percent on average -- during the first decade of this century, finds a new NASA-funded university study based on NASA satellite data. The results have potential implications for future global climate.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
From Bass Strait to the Indian Ocean: Tracking a current
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-QTXZByQBi0/120222094252.htm
Deep-diving ocean "gliders" have revealed the journey of Bass Strait water from the Tasman Sea to the Indian Ocean.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Tiny, implantable medical device can propel itself through bloodstream
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DV2OKAbh6bY/120222094250.htm
For 50 years, scientists had searched for the secret to making tiny implantable devices that could travel through the bloodstream. Engineers have now demonstrated a wirelessly powered device that just may make the dream a reality.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
New twist on nanowires: Technology can control composition and structure of these tiny wires as they grow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pi2NFAEa52U/120222094244.htm
Nanowires -- microscopic fibers that can be "grown" in the lab -- are a hot research topic today, with a variety of potential applications including light-emitting diodes and sensors. Now, researchers has found a way of precisely controlling the width and composition of these tiny strands as they grow, making it possible to grow complex structures that are optimally designed for particular applications.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Newly identified oral bacterium linked to heart disease and meningitis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sN_b7LDxYJY/120222093941.htm
A novel bacterium, thought to be a common inhabitant of the oral cavity, has the potential to cause serious disease if it enters the bloodstream, according to a new study.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Observing single atoms during relaxation toward equilibrium
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QE00XHWAdZc/120222093845.htm
Scientists have succeeded for the first time in simulating the dynamic behavior of strongly correlated individual atoms in solids. They were able to string atoms in so-called optical lattices and observe their dynamic behavior, which is determined by complex interactions with other atoms.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Fried food risks: Toxic aldehydes detected in reheated oil
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P3JJuulh3kQ/120222093508.htm
Researchers have been the first to discover the presence of certain aldehydes in food, which are believed to be related to some neurodegenerative diseases and some types of cancer. These toxic compounds can be found in some oils, such as sunflower oil, when heated at a suitable temperature for frying.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Off switch for pain? Chemists build light-controlled neural inhibitor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K0mtlCjYurQ/120222093506.htm
Pain? Just turn it off! It may sound like science fiction, but researchers have now succeeded in inhibiting pain-sensitive neurons on demand, in the laboratory. The crucial element in their strategy is a chemical sensor that acts as a light-sensitive switch.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Fake drug sales are increasing on the Internet and turning up in legitimate supply chains, review finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1smShaZTkgw/120222093503.htm
Criminal gangs are increasingly using the internet to market life-threatening counterfeit medicines and some have even turned up in legitimate outlets such as pharmacies, according to a newly published review.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Recharge your cell phone with a touch? New nanotechnology converts body heat into power
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sfrOMmq-An0/120222092916.htm
Never get stranded with a dead cell phone again. A promising new technology called Power Felt, a thermoelectric device that converts body heat into an electrical current, soon could create enough juice to make another call simply by touching it.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Neuroscientists identify how the brain works to select what we (want to) see
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bHEadcrTMvQ/120221212618.htm
If you are looking for a particular object -- say a yellow pencil -- on a cluttered desk, how does your brain work to visually locate it? For the first time, neuroscientists have identified how different neural regions communicate to determine what to visually pay attention to and what to ignore. This finding is a major discovery for visual cognition and will guide future research into visual and attention deficit disorders.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Cocaine and the teen brain: New insights into addiction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YWX8MFXfCo0/120221212616.htm
When first exposed to cocaine, the adolescent brain launches a strong defensive reaction designed to minimize the drug's effects, scientists have found. Now two new studies identify key genes that regulate this response and show that interfering with this reaction dramatically increases a mouse's sensitivity to cocaine.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Stratospheric superbugs offer new source of power
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6F982-_Yte8/120221212614.htm
Bacteria normally found 30 kilometers above Earth have been identified as highly efficient generators of electricity. Bacillus stratosphericus -- a microbe commonly found in high concentrations in the stratosphere -- is a key component of a new 'super' biofilm that has been engineered by a team of scientists from Newcastle University.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Caught in the act: Scientists discover microbes speciating
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KSbO0k8MkX0/120221212534.htm
Not that long ago in a hot spring in Kamchatka, Russia, two groups of genetically indistinguishable microbes decided to part ways. They began evolving into different species – despite the fact that they still encountered one another in their acidic, boiling habitat and even exchanged some genes from time to time, researchers report. This is the first example of what the researchers call sympatric speciation in a microorganism.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Stronger intestinal barrier may prevent cancer in the rest of the body, new study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jcduz9i6W20/120221212345.htm
A leaky gut may be the root of some cancers forming in the rest of the body, a new study suggests. It appears that the hormone receptor guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C) -- a previously identified tumor suppressor that exists in the intestinal tract -- plays a key role in strengthening the body's intestinal barrier, which helps separate the gut world from the rest of the body, and possibly keeps cancer at bay. Without the receptor, that barrier weakens.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Anticipation of stressful situations accelerates cellular aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2yuEKKrdoUc/120221165803.htm
The ability to anticipate future events allows us to plan and exert control over our lives, but it may also contribute to stress-related increased risk for the diseases of aging, according to a new study.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Technique creates piezoelectric ferroelectric nanostructures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hPZZRg0_qcM/120221165801.htm
Researchers have developed a “soft template infiltration” technique for fabricating free-standing piezoelectrically active ferroelectric nanotubes and other nanostructures from PZT – a material that is attractive because of its large piezoelectric response.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Injectable gel could repair tissue damaged by heart attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mOgCCF1QNC8/120221165757.htm
Researchers have developed a new injectable hydrogel that could be an effective and safe treatment for tissue damage caused by heart attacks.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Gold coaxed into nanowires to allow inexpensive detection of poisonous industrial gases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xjuIpm42wcc/120221151545.htm
Researchers have coaxed gold into nanowires as a way of creating an inexpensive material for detecting poisonous gases found in natural gas.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Rare fungus kills endangered rattlesnakes in southern Illinois
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nuGpQlIxhHA/120221151543.htm
A small population of rattlesnakes that already is in decline in southern Illinois faces a new and unexpected threat in the form of a fungus rarely seen in the wild, researchers report. The finding matches reports of rattlesnake deaths in the northeast United States.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Cell energy sensor mechanism discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V2z6pzrU9bA/120221145915.htm
Researchers have discovered more details about how an energy sensing “thermostat” protein determines whether cells will store or use their energy reserves. The researchers have shown that a chemical modification on the thermostat protein changes how it’s controlled. Without the modification, cells use stored energy, and with it, they default to stockpiling resources. When cells don’t properly allocate their energy supply, they can die off or become cancerous.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Fastest wind from stellar-mass black hole
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_2wvakCMq2U/120221145830.htm
Astronomers have clocked the fastest wind yet discovered blowing off a disk around a stellar-mass black hole. This result has important implications for understanding how this type of black hole behaves.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Seven adult-sized humanoid robots together for first time in the U.S.
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Rr7x8N6aDbI/120221145826.htm
Seven adult-sized humanoid robots took the stage during Drexel University's celebration of National Engineers Week in a first-of-its-kind assembly of robotic technology. Their presence -- together in one place -- is a unique event.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Origin of photosynthesis revealed: Genome analysis of 'living fossil' sheds light on the evolution of plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4LiUbTWKhXg/120221125409.htm
Evolutionary biologists have shed light on the early events leading to photosynthesis, the result of the sequencing of 70 million base pair nuclear genome of the one-celled alga Cyanophora. They consider this study the final piece of the puzzle to understand the origin of photosynthesis in eukaryotes.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Can consuming caffeine while breastfeeding harm your baby?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cnXl8DZ351E/120221125405.htm
Babies are not able to metabolize or excrete caffeine very well, so a breastfeeding mother's consumption of caffeine may lead to caffeine accumulation and symptoms such as wakefulness and irritability, according to an expert.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Plant toughness: Key to cracking biofuels?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/inHy2rgDDHM/120221125203.htm
Along with photosynthesis, the plant cell wall is one of the features that most set plants apart from animals. A structural molecule called cellulose is necessary for the manufacture of these walls. Cellulose is synthesized in a semi-crystalline state that is essential for its function in the cell wall function, but the mechanisms controlling its crystallinity are poorly understood. New research reveals key information about this process.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Many young people don't know what constitutes sensible alcohol consumption
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/imLxjxDNX7o/120221125201.htm
A new study reveals that young people do not possess the knowledge or skills required to adhere to U.S. government guidelines for responsible alcohol consumption.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Rare element, tellurium, detected for the first time in ancient stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-Blv41ZJotM/120221125157.htm
Researchers has detected the element tellurium for the first time in three ancient stars. Tellurium is rare on Earth.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Is fructose being blamed unfairly for obesity epidemic?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pUA14iFiIy4/120221125020.htm
Is fructose being unfairly blamed for the obesity epidemic? Or do we just eat and drink too many calories? Researchers reviewed more than 40 published studies on whether the fructose molecule itself causes weight gain. In 31 "isocaloric" trials they reviewed, participants ate a similar number of calories, but one group ate pure fructose and the other ate non-fructose carbohydrates. The fructose group did not gain weight.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Step forward in effort to regenerate damaged nerves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qLHeLUxrFFw/120221125018.htm
Scientists have taken a step forward toward the goal of repairing nerves in such patients more effectively. In a new study, researchers report that a surprising set of cells may hold potential for nerve transplants.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Does depression contribute to the aging process?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t4R86ISvT2o/120221124825.htm
Stress has numerous detrimental effects on the human body. Many of these effects are acutely felt by the sufferer, but many more go "unseen," one of which is shortening of telomere length.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Molecular basis of touch sensation: Researchers identify new function of a well-known gene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bKIPSIx0oyM/120221124823.htm
A gene known to control lens development in mice and humans is also crucial for the development of neurons responsible for mechanosensory function, as neurobiologists have now discovered. They found that in mice in which they had removed the c-Maf gene in the nerve cells, touch sensation is impaired. This similarly applies to human carriers of a mutant c-Maf gene.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Irish mammals under serious threat from 'invasional meltdown'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tr-1LGC4_38/120221124821.htm
Some of Ireland's oldest inhabitants are facing serious threat and possible extinction because of foreign species, according to researchers.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Ant colonies remember rivals' odor and compete like sports fans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N4zVFbTarGM/120221124817.htm
A new study has shown that weaver ants share a collective memory for the odor of ants in rival nests, and use the information to identify them and compete, similar to how sports fans know each other instantly by their unique colors.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Gases drawn into smog particles stay there
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ssnRmYRTRek/120221124812.htm
Airborne gases get sucked into stubborn smog particles from which they cannot escape, according to new findings. These finding could explain why air pollution models underestimate organic aerosols.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Scientists unlock evolutionary secret of blood vessels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lyJYtF0lUPs/120221124810.htm
Scientists have shed light on how vertebrates evolved closed circulation systems designed to more effectively carry blood to organs and tissues.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Brain makes call on which ear is used for cell phone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UX6enycvLU8/120221124713.htm
A new study finds a strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used to listen to a cell phone, with more than 70 percent of participants holding their cell phone up to the ear on the same side as their dominant hand.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Evolution of staph 'superbug' traced between humans and livestock
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YIWfhp1_jRg/120221124711.htm
A strain of the potentially deadly antibiotic-resistant bacterium known as MRSA has jumped from livestock to humans, according to a new study.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Tadpoles adjust buoyancy to adapt to different environments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hAbh76Ym-pw/120221124709.htm
Survival and reproduction of many aquatic and semi-aquatic animals can depend upon how well they float. Tadpoles use various strategies to attain buoyancy, depending upon their stage of development and location in still or turbulent waters. Researchers have taken a closer look at the developing frog's strategies to achieve buoyancy.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Implantable, wireless sensors share secrets of healing tissues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JjJw1JylrYk/120221124707.htm
A new implantable sensor can wirelessly transmit data from the site of a recent orthopedic surgery. Inexpensive to make and highly reliable, this new sensor holds the promise of more accurate, more cost-effective, and less invasive post-surgery monitoring and diagnosis.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Iconic marine mammals are 'swimming in sick seas' of terrestrial pathogens
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jM2Je-U5xio/120221104117.htm
Parasites and pathogens infecting humans, pets and farm animals are increasingly being detected in marine mammals such as sea otters, porpoises, harbor seals and killer whales along the Pacific coast of the US and Canada, and better surveillance is required to monitor public health implications, according to a panel of scientific experts from Canada and the United States.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Robotic dinosaurs on the way for next-gen paleontology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uHpKaPW7axs/120221104033.htm
Researchers are bringing the latest technological advancements in 3-D printing to the study of ancient life. Using scale models of real fossils, for the first time, they will be able to test hypotheses about how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals moved and lived in their environments.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Over-reactive parenting linked to negative emotions and problem behavior in toddlers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JVYFUeJRAfY/120221103918.htm
Researchers have found that parents of young children who anger easily and overreact are more likely to have toddlers who act out and become upset easily.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Environmental pollutant level during pregnancy linked with grown daughters who are overweight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0MVDoQ_bXKs/120221103745.htm
The levels of the environmental pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that mothers had in their blood during pregnancy increased the risk of obesity in their daughters at 20 years of age.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Hubble reveals a new class of extrasolar planet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ENJ6E18gr0o/120221103741.htm
Observations by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have come up with a new class of planet, a waterworld enshrouded by a thick, steamy atmosphere. It’s smaller than Uranus but larger than Earth.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Eat and let die: Insect feeds on toxic plants for protection from predators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HQzcYcis6XM/120221090240.htm
Certain insects, such as the African variegated grasshopper or the cinnabar moth, native in Europe and Asia, feed on toxic plants in order to protect themselves from predators.
Wed, 22 Feb 12
Gene affecting the ability to sleep discovered in fruit flies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5NItFmeCAgU/120220211013.htm
On the surface, it's simple: when night falls, our bodies get sleepy. But behind the scenes, a series of complex molecular events, controlled by our genes, is hard at work to make us groggy. Now, research suggests that a newly identified gene known as insomniac may play a role in keeping us asleep. By cloning and testing this gene in fruit flies researchers say they have discovered an entirely new mechanism by which sleep is regulated.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Babies' colic linked to mothers' migraines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NBWsUJcJThY/120220203001.htm
A study of mothers and their young babies by neurologists has shown that mothers who suffer migraine headaches are more than twice as likely to have babies with colic than mothers without a history of migraines.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
300-million-year-old forest discovered preserved in volanic ash
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WihOQf9e-T8/120220161307.htm
Pompeii-like, a 300-million-year-old tropical forest was preserved in ash when a volcano erupted in what is today northern China. Paleobotanists have reconstructed this fossilized forest, lending insight into the ecology and climate of its time.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Telomere failure, telomerase activation drive prostate cancer progression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UfZvl0pUWGI/120220161233.htm
Genomic instability caused by an erosion of the protective caps on chromosomes, followed by activation of an enzyme that reinforces those caps, allows malignant cells to evade destruction and acquire more deadly characteristics, researchers report.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Blocking telomerase kills cancer cells but provokes resistance, progression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mRQyI0PLFuA/120220161229.htm
Inhibiting telomerase, an enzyme that rescues malignant cells from destruction by extending the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, kills tumor cells but also triggers resistance pathways that allow cancer to survive and spread, scientists report.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Sheep in Wolf-Rayet's clothing: New image of planetary nebula Hen 3-1333
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eQ7YyvP-VkQ/120220144413.htm
It's well known that the universe is changeable: even the stars that appear static and predictable every night are subject to change. A new image from the NASA Hubble Space Telescope shows planetary nebula Hen 3-1333. Planetary nebulae have nothing to do with planets -- they actually represent the death throes of mid-sized stars like the sun. As they puff out their outer layers, large, irregular globes of glowing gas expand around them, which appeared planet-like through the small telescopes that were used by their first discoverers.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Preparations continue for launching engine icing research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U3dmuW-8EUo/120220144132.htm
NASA scientists are making progress in their preparations to mount a detailed research campaign aimed at solving a modern-day aviation mystery involving the unlikely combination of fire and ice inside a running jet engine.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
High definition polarization vision discovered in cuttlefish
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mQ61c-5gNo8/120220142645.htm
Cuttlefish have the most acute polarization vision yet found in any animal, researchers have discovered by showing them movies on a modified LCD computer screen to test their eyesight.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Conservation risk highest off coasts of Canada, Mexico, Peru and New Zealand
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lsz6sIXYQxU/120220142643.htm
Researchers have identified conservation "hot spots" around the world where the temptation to profit from overfishing outweighs the appetite for conservation.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Water management and climate change in ancient Maya city
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aYldAK8zXjE/120220142526.htm
There are new findings from inside a cave and a key cultural and religious center for the ancient Maya.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
New species of bat, Hipposideros griffini, discovered in Vietnam
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eC6LefOymkI/120220142451.htm
A distinctive echolocation frequency led to the discovery of a new species of bat within the genus Hipposideros. Although this bat is similar to the species Hipposideros armiger, differences in acoustics, size, and DNA between these bats led to the identification of the new species. This new member of the bat community, which has been found in two locations in Vietnam, has been given the scientific name Hipposideros griffini.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
NASA spacecraft reveals recent geological activity on the moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PgVPP_5nx50/120220135000.htm
New images from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft show the moon's crust is being stretched, forming minute valleys in a few small areas on the lunar surface. Scientists propose this geologic activity occurred less than 50 million years ago, which is considered recent compared to the moon's age of more than 4.5 billion years.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Traitorous immune cells promote sudden ovarian cancer progression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BVnnA4d2gDg/120220102144.htm
In a new mouse model that mimics the tumor microenvironment of ovarian cancer, scientists have demonstrated that ovarian tumors don't necessarily break "free" of the immune system, rather dendritic cells of the immune system seem to actively support the tumor's escape. The researchers show that it might be possible to restore the immune system by targeting a patient's own dendritic cells.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
World's longest kidney transplant chain completed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t0Wpa2K9vJg/120220102128.htm
The world's longest living-donor kidney transplant chain has just been completed. The chain involved 30 donors, 30 recipients and 17 hospitals throughout the U.S.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Bird stewards increase the effectiveness of protected beaches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JkbhdT5Jo60/120220102126.htm
Bird stewards – individuals who police protected beaches and educate the public about the birds who inhabit it – greatly increase the effectiveness of protected beaches, a new survey finds.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Pulsars: The universe's gift to physics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mffdKn_wa08/120220090848.htm
Pulsars, which already have produced two Nobel Prizes, are providing scientists with unique insights on topics from particle physics to General Relativity.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Studying the evolution of life's building blocks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N4tK7XsflKo/120220090844.htm
Studying the origin of life at its building blocks offers a unique perspective on evolution, says a researcher.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
New treatment for traumatic brain injury shows promise in animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gsOdqsNf0O4/120220090616.htm
A new drug is showing promise in shielding against the harmful effects of traumatic brain injury in rats, according to a new study.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Rainforest plant combats multi-resistant bacterial strains
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C8s0UeZfmNE/120220090614.htm
Aggressive infections in hospitals are an increasing health problem worldwide. The development of bacterial resistance is alarming. Now a young Danish scientist has found a natural substance in a Chilean rainforest plant that effectively supports the effect of traditional treatment with antibiotics.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Home visits for asthma: A win for both patients and payers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uxMa8ZaYzKA/120220090612.htm
Nearly one in 10 children have asthma, according to government statistics, and in low-income parts of Boston, nearly 16 percent of children are affected. A new program demonstrates the potential to dramatically reduce hospitalization and emergency department visits for asthma -- improving patient outcomes and saving $1.46 per dollar spent through reduced hospital utilization.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Never forget your keys, phone or lipstick ever again
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y7b37QtkvOE/120220085834.htm
RFID tags are becoming ubiquitous, shops, warehouses, libraries and others use them for stock and inventory control and to reduce the risk of theft. Now, a team in Dubai has developed the concept of an IPURSE, a mobile platform that keeps track of tiny RFID tags you stick to or insert into your personal possessions, mobile phone, camera, laptop, keys other gadgets and even mundane objects such as notebooks and cosmetics.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Neurodegenerative diseases: Ring-like structure found in 'elongator' protein complex
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9qRAox1pSRk/120220085832.htm
A ring-like structure found in a protein complex called ‘Elongator’ provides new clues to its tasks inside the cell and to its role in neurodegenerative diseases. It is the first three-dimensional structure of part of this complex.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Global permafrost zones in high-resolution images on Google Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-cx3EuSdBK0/120220085830.htm
Thawing permafrost will have far-reaching ramifications for populated areas, infrastructure and ecosystems. A geographer in Switzerland reveals where it is important to confront the issue based on new permafrost maps – the most precise global maps around. They depict the global distribution of permafrost in high-resolution images and are available on Google Earth.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Which anti-HIV drug combinations work best and why?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hzz8BoC2jTo/120219143003.htm
Using a mathematical formula that carefully measures the degree to which HIV infection of immune system cells is stalled by antiretroviral therapy, AIDS experts have calculated precisely how well dozens of such anti-HIV drugs work, alone or in any of 857 likely combinations, in suppressing the virus. Results of the team’s latest research reveal how some combinations work better than others at impeding viral replication, and keeping the disease in check.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
'Duet of one' possible with hand-controlled voice synthesizer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9ewpKNliqEs/120219135344.htm
New technology makes it possible for a person to speak or sing just by using their hands to control a speech synthesizer. The new gesture-to-voice-synthesizer technology mirrors processes that human use when they control their own vocal apparatus.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Building blocks of early Earth survived collision that created moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T8wk1QSDTnA/120218134532.htm
Unexpected new findings by geochemists show that some portions of the Earth's mantle (the rocky layer between Earth's metallic core and crust) formed when the planet was much smaller than it is now, and that some of this early-formed mantle survived Earth's turbulent formation, including a collision with another planet-sized body that many scientists believe led to the creation of the moon.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Researchers develop better control for DNA-based computations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TN9k7Nr-JfU/120217145747.htm
A chemist has found a way to give DNA-based computing better control over logic operations. His work could lead to interfacing DNA-based computing with traditional silicon-based computing.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
A single protein helps the body keep watch over the Epstein-Barr virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0mL18Y9QWqA/120217145623.htm
Some 90 percent of people are exposed to the Epstein Barr virus at some point in their life. Even though it is quickly cleared from the body, the virus can linger silently for years in small numbers of infected B cells. According to researchers, the immune system subdues the virus by watching for a single viral protein called LMP1.
Tue, 21 Feb 12
Live from the thymus: T-cells on the move
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U1Zl0ToC1kI/120217145621.htm
For the first time, scientists follow the development of individual immune cells in a living zebrafish embryo. T-cells are the immune system's security force. They seek out pathogens and rogue cells in the body and put them out of action. Their precursors are formed in the bone marrow and migrate from there into the thymus. Here, they mature and differentiate to perform a variety of tasks. Scientists have now succeeded for the first time in observing the maturation of immune cells in live zebrafish embryos.
Mon, 20 Feb 12
Single-atom transistor is end of Moore's Law; may be beginning of quantum computing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w3bZsx1X1Zc/120219191244.htm
The smallest transistor ever built -- in fact, the smallest transistor that can be built -- has been created using a single phosphorus atom by an international team of researchers.
Mon, 20 Feb 12
NuSTAR Mated to its Rocket
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AUQgrs4O3q0/120219185817.htm
NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) was mated, or attached, to its Pegasus XL rocket Feb. 17, 2012 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in central California. The mission's launch is now scheduled for no earlier than March 21 to allow the launch vehicle team an additional week to complete necessary engineering reviews. NuSTAR will probe the hottest, densest and most energetic objects in space, including black holes and the remnants of exploded stars. It will be the first space telescope to capture sharp images in high-energy X-rays, giving astronomers a new tool for understanding the extreme side of our universe.
Mon, 20 Feb 12
X-rays illuminate the interior of the Moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/he9hIoABaCg/120219143323.htm
Unlike Earth, the moon has no active volcanoes. This is surprising as liquid magma is believed to exist deep inside the Moon. Scientists have now found that this hot, molten rock could actually be so dense that it is too heavy to rise to the surface. For this experiment, microscopic reproductions of moon rock were put at the extremely high pressures and temperatures found inside the moon and their densities measured with powerful X-rays.
Mon, 20 Feb 12
Yosemite's alpine chipmunks take genetic hit from climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nN7vb7O5iZc/120219143319.htm
Global warming has driven Yosemite's alpine chipmunks to higher ground, prompting a startling decline in the species' genetic diversity, according to a new study. The genetic erosion occurred in the relatively short span of 90 years, highlighting the rapid threat changing climate can pose to a species.
Mon, 20 Feb 12
Faulty fat sensor implicated in obesity and liver disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JUX8S1riFWk/120219143222.htm
Defects in a protein that functions as a dietary fat sensor may be a cause of obesity and liver disease, according to a new study. The findings highlight a promising target for new drugs to treat obesity and metabolic disorders.
Mon, 20 Feb 12
Physicists create working transistor consisting of a single atom
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QsN3jBMVIYs/120219143220.htm
In a remarkable feat of micro-engineering, physicists have created a working transistor consisting of a single atom placed precisely in a silicon crystal. The tiny electronic device uses as its active component an individual phosphorus atom.
Mon, 20 Feb 12
Surprising molecular switch: Lipids help control the development of cell polarity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kZ7P5kA7n-k/120219143216.htm
In a standard biology textbook, cells tend to look more or less the same from all sides. But in real life cells have fronts and backs, tops and bottoms, and they orient many of their structures according to this polarity explaining, for example, why yeast cells bud at one end and not the other.
Mon, 20 Feb 12
New brain connections form in clusters during learning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LoFVXVRaXJQ/120219143214.htm
New connections between brain cells emerge in clusters in the brain as animals learn to perform a new task, according to a new study. The findings reveal details of how brain circuits are rewired during the formation of new motor memories.
Mon, 20 Feb 12
Protein that sends 'painful touch' signals identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/geoU0w-Zlvk/120219143049.htm
Researchers report that they have identified a class of proteins that detect "painful touch." Scientists have known that sensory nerves in our skin detect pressure, pain, heat, cold, and other stimuli using specialized "ion channel" proteins in their outer membranes. They have only just begun, however, to identify and characterize the specific proteins involved in each of these sensory pathways. The new work provides evidence that a family of sensory nerve proteins known as piezo proteins are ion channel proteins essential to the sensation of painful touch.
Mon, 20 Feb 12
Substituting with smokeless tobacco saves lives, research suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t9Scav96TIM/120219135553.htm
Substituting smokeless tobacco products can save smokers' lives, and there is a scientific foundation that proves it, according to one researcher whose work shows that smokers can greatly reduce their risk of disease and death by replacing smoking products with e-cigarettes or modern, spit-free smokeless tobacco.
Sun, 19 Feb 12
Babies know what's fair
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nz9ydWEmiXw/120218134639.htm
"That's not fair!" It's a common playground complaint. But how early do children acquire this sense of fairness? Before they're 2, says a new study. "We found that 19- and 21-month-old infants have a general expectation of fairness, and they can apply it appropriately to different situations," says a psychology graduate student.
Sun, 19 Feb 12
Pregnancy-related complications predict CVD in middle age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1_qLVouujX4/120218134536.htm
Women who developed pregnancy-related hypertension (preeclampsia) or diabetes were at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. Preeclampsia was associated with a wider range of CVD risk factors and may be a better predictor of CVD in middle age than other pregnancy-related complications. Pregnancy may provide an opportunity to identify women at increased risk of CVD when they're relatively young -- allowing them to make lifestyle changes and get medical intervention earlier in life.
Sun, 19 Feb 12
Nasty 'superbug' emerging? Strikes otherwise healthy, young patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ET93jQaqdsI/120217221159.htm
Researchers are expressing concern about a new, under-recognized, much more potent variant of a common bacterium that has surfaced in the U.S. It's virulent, potentially drug-resistant, and strikes otherwise healthy, young patients.
Sun, 19 Feb 12
Staghorn coral transplanted to threatened reef
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jhomOuYU5H8/120217221157.htm
In a delicate operation at sea, healthy staghorn coral were transplanted to a threatened reef off the Broward County coast.
Sun, 19 Feb 12
Preemies: Novel feeding device may decrease risk of failure to thrive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OFwozJ3geQI/120217221155.htm
A novel feeding device developed may decrease the risk of failure to thrive (FTT), which currently affects half of all newborns with congenital heart defects even after their surgical lesions are corrected.
Sun, 19 Feb 12
Discovery that migrating cells 'turn right' has implications for engineering tissues, organs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zDYuZX-VdZQ/120217221151.htm
What if we could engineer a liver or kidney from a patient's own stem cells? How about helping regenerate tissue damaged by diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis? A new study bring scientists a little closer to these possibilities by providing a better understanding how tissue is formed and organized in the body.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
NASA map sees Earth's trees in a new light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mzorLoDIDSY/120217171235.htm
A NASA-led science team has created an accurate, high-resolution map of the height of Earth's forests. The map will help scientists better understand the role forests play in climate change and how their heights influence wildlife habitats within them, while also helping them quantify the carbon stored in Earth's vegetation.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Star cluster surrounds wayward black hole in cannibal galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-WVuPE-RuDs/120217145914.htm
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope may have found evidence for a cluster of young, blue stars encircling one of the first intermediate-mass black holes ever discovered. Astronomers believe the black hole may once have been at the core of a now-disintegrated unseen dwarf galaxy. The discovery of the black hole and the possible star cluster has important implications for understanding the evolution of supermassive black holes and galaxies.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Linking human evolution and climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aLPtyWbODZk/120217145757.htm
It's not a take on climate change we often hear about. But a professor of archaeology, will talk about how climate change impacts human evolution at the world’s largest science fair.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Human-made photosynthesis to revolutionize food and energy production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k48nvXGtoFw/120217145755.htm
Improving natural photosynthesis to make new fuels and boost crop production is the focus of new research. It could see us one step closer to bottling the sun's energy or turbocharging plants to produce bumper crops.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Who goes there? Verifying identity online
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qW1PdxPgnzA/120217145749.htm
We are all used to logging into networks where we have a unique identity, verified by the network server and associated with our account for other members of the network to see. Such an identity-based network system is useful because it is relatively simple. However, there are three major drawbacks including loss of anonymity of communicating users, misplaced trust and identity theft.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
No kids in public school? You still benefit
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FFAkUJeuNNQ/120217145743.htm
Quality public schools benefit everyone – including those without school-aged children – and therefore everyone should play a role in maintaining them, according to a new study.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
New braille-like texting app lets you text without looking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/awwJu8S2V04/120217145324.htm
Researchers have designed a texting solution that could become a modern substitute for passing notes under the table. BrailleTouch is a prototype texting app that requires only finger gestures to key in letters on touch screen devices – no sight required.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Models underestimate future temperature variability: Food security at risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rfUnWAqnd8k/120217145320.htm
Climate warming caused by greenhouse gases is very likely to increase summer temperature variability around the world by the end of this century, new research shows. The findings have major implications for food production.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
How mitochondrial DNA defects cause inherited deafness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zLiQEPk2G7c/120217115611.htm
Scientists have discovered the molecular pathway by which maternally inherited deafness appears to occur: Mitochondrial DNA mutations trigger a signaling cascade, resulting in programmed cell death.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Deepwater Horizon disaster could have billion dollar impact
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b57ju8baT-M/120217115553.htm
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 will have a large economic impact on the US Gulf fisheries. A new study says that over seven years this oil spill could have a $US8.7 billion impact on the economy of the Gulf of Mexico. This includes losses in revenue, profit, and wages, and close to 22,000 jobs could be lost.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Revealed in accurate detail, the underground world of plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PTMW4jKiqCk/120217115547.htm
Plant and computer scientists can now study the underground world of plants with more accuracy and clarity. The revolutionary technique will improve our chances of breeding better crop varieties and increasing yields.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
A robot sketches portraits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DDETNLwN3RM/120217115543.htm
An industrial robot as artist? A painter made of metal really can sketch faces. Its artistic genius only emerges if someone takes a seat on the model’s stool positioned in front of the robot: first, its camera records an image of its model; then it whips out its pencil and traces a portrait of the individual on its easel. After around ten minutes have passed, it grabs the work and proudly presents it to its public.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Meet plants' and algae's common ancestor: Primitive organisms not always so simple, researcher says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_J4X0D1Rv4Q/120217115012.htm
A biologist has created a sketch of what the first common ancestor of plants and algae may have looked like.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Military service, even without combat, can change personality and make vets less agreeable, research suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qcKhbvL6ZKU/120217101908.htm
It's no secret that battlefield trauma can leave veterans with deep emotional scars that impact their ability to function in civilian life. But new research suggests that military service, even without combat, has a subtle lingering effect on a man's personality, making it potentially more difficult for veterans to get along with friends, family and co-workers.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Puzzle play improves math skills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Ml132qRuDA/120217101906.htm
An important context for figuring out problems through reasoning is puzzle play, say researchers. Psychologists recently conducted a study that found two-four year-old children, who play with puzzles, have better spatial skills when assessed at 4 1/2 years of age.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
3-D microscopy to aid in cell analysis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QrZq6TwRC5o/120217101858.htm
The understanding of diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's is set to take a step forward following groundbreaking technology which will enable cell analysis using automated 3D microscopy.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Nano-technology uses virus' coats to fool cancer cell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/teewlgyyjdo/120217101705.htm
While there have been major advances in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of tumors within the brain, brain cancer continues to have a very low survival rate in part to high levels of resistance to treatment. New research has used Sendai virus to transport Quantum Dots (Qdots) into brain cancer cells and to specifically bind Qdots to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which is often over-expressed and up-regulated in tumors.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
How the quarter horse won the rodeo
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L5j_VtKz8vY/120217101703.htm
American Quarter Horses are renowned for their speed, agility, and calm disposition. Consequently over four million Quarter Horses are used as working horses on ranches, as show horses or at rodeos. New research used 'next-generation' sequencing to map variation in the genome of a Quarter Horse mare. Analysis of genetic variants associated with specific traits showed that compared to a thoroughbred the Quarter Horse's genome was enriched for variants in genes involved in sensory perception, signal transduction and the immune system.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
More than one in four elderly patients was given potentially hazardous medication during 2007, German study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DVidXtcPHX8/120217101341.htm
More than one in four elderly patients was given potentially hazardous medication during 2007, according to a new study from Germany.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Origin of photosynthesis revealed by a 'living fossil'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hiyFr4FbqPM/120217101339.htm
Recently, the complete genome of a glaucophyte alga (Cyanophora paradoxa) has been unraveled by an international consortium.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Norwegian success in creating an artificial child's voice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XKToAG7cOcI/120217101337.htm
“Synthesized speech has grown more and more similar to human speech. Yet children communicating via a speech device are still forced to use a synthetic adult voice,” explains a researcher developing tools to assist disabled persons.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Geoscientists use numerical model to better forecast forces behind earthquakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mxC1oSdBZac/120217101058.htm
Researchers have devised a numerical model to help explain the linkage between earthquakes and the powerful forces that cause them. Their findings hold implications for long-term forecasting of earthquakes.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Heat energy used to fix odd heart beat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TLhGu9bfUtI/120217101056.htm
Some hospitals are now offering patients with atrial fibrillation the breakthrough benefits of heat energy, or radio frequency waves, to irreversibly alter heart tissue that triggers an abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Brain imaging differences evident at 6 months in high-risk infants who later develop autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5o-RaXZGupo/120217101052.htm
A new study has found significant differences in brain development starting at age 6 months in high-risk infants who later develop autism, compared to high-risk infants who did not develop autism. The study also suggests that autism does not appear suddenly in young children, but instead develops over time during infancy, raising the possibility that scientists may be able to interrupt that process with targeted intervention.
Sat, 18 Feb 12
Brain differences found at 6 months in infants who develop autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4SNpoJ8YsHY/120217101048.htm
A new study found significant differences in brain development starting at age 6 months in high-risk infants who later develop autism, compared to high-risk infants who did not develop autism. The study has significant implications for improving early diagnosis and intervention for autism. Intensive early intervention has been shown to improve outcomes.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
'Honeycombs' and hexacopters help tell story of Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bka16C9ohkU/120216165759.htm
In a rough-and-tumble wonderland of plunging canyons and towering buttes, some of the still-raw bluffs are lined with soaring, six-sided stone columns so orderly and trim, they could almost pass as relics of a colossal temple. The secret of how these columns, packed in edge to edge, formed en masse from a sea of molten rock is encrypted in details as tiny as the cracks running across their faces. To add to this mystery's allure, decoding it might do more than reveal the life story of some local lava: it might help explain the history of Mars.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
'Mini-cellulose' molecule unlocks biofuel chemistry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2Ax0WHHRdCI/120216165757.htm
Chemical engineers have discovered a small molecule that behaves the same as cellulose when it is converted to biofuel. Studying this "mini-cellulose" molecule reveals for the first time the chemical reactions that take place in wood and prairie grasses during high-temperature conversion to biofuel.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Texting affects ability to interpret words
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JDbKID7BmHI/120216165751.htm
Research designed to understand the effect of text messaging on language found that texting has a negative impact on people's linguistic ability to interpret and accept words, according to a linguistics researcher.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Strange new nano-region can form in quasicrystals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LWqwVAFeZgg/120216165707.htm
Researchers have discovered a new type of structural anomaly, or defect, that can appear in quasicrystals, a unique material with some crystal-like properties but a more complex structure. The new defect type occurs under certain circumstances to help balance competing energetic issues. The defect's formation at those times enables higher-energy transition-metal-rich surfaces to be exposed rather than the expected lower-energy aluminum-rich surfaces.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Cell phone hackers can track your location without your knowledge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PEDu2CaCgiM/120216165701.htm
Cellular networks leak the locations of cell phone users, allowing a third party to easily track the location of the cell phone user without the user's knowledge, according to new research by computer scientists.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Gecko feet inspire amazing glue that can hold 700 pounds on smooth wall
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A12Vab5hK58/120216165500.htm
Biologists have long been amazed by gecko feet, which allow 5-ounce lizards to produce an adhesive force equivalent to carrying 9 lbs. up a wall without slipping. Now, a team of polymer scientists and a biologist have invented “Geckskin,” an adhesive device that can hold 700 pounds on a smooth wall.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
In sickness and in health: Importance of supportive spouses in coping with work-related stress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XyIlvEarX70/120216165458.htm
The growth of two-income families and increasing levels of job stress are two of the most significant work trends affecting American businesses and families in recent years. Having just one stressed-out spouse can harm couple's work and home lives -- but what about when it's both?
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Faculty retention proves a major challenge for universities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NeJP_2mA1OU/120216144240.htm
Attracting and retaining the world's brightest students is on the mind of every university official. But a new, unprecedented study in the journal Science suggests leaders in higher education face an understated, even more pressing challenge: The retention of professors.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Successful human tests for first wirelessly controlled drug-delivery chip
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pGZQitNzoH0/120216144236.htm
About 15 years ago, two professors had the idea to develop a programmable, wirelessly controlled microchip that would deliver drugs after implantation in a patient's body. This week, they reported that they have successfully used such a chip to administer daily doses of an osteoporosis drug normally given by injection. The results represent the first successful test of such a device.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
New molecular map to guide development of new treatments for multiple sclerosis and other diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lokEAPCQCbw/120216143957.htm
Scientists have created the first high-resolution virtual image of cellular structures called S1P1 receptors, which are critical in controlling the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis and other diseases. This new molecular map is already pointing researchers toward promising new paths for drug discovery and aiding them in better understanding how certain existing drugs work.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Light shed on how body fends off bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/41sGUt8u8V8/120216143955.htm
Scientists have developed the first 3D look at the interaction between an immune sensor and a protein that helps bacteria move.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
To understand chromosome reshuffling, look to the genome's 3-D structure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bpizVtBdUmE/120216134336.htm
That our chromosomes can break and reshuffle pieces of themselves is nothing new; scientists have recognized this for decades, especially in cancer cells. The rules for where chromosomes are likely to break and how the broken pieces come together are only just now starting to come into view. Researchers have brought those rules into clearer focus by discovering that where each of the genome's thousands of genes lie within the cell's nucleus -- essentially, the genome's three-dimensional organization -- holds great influence over where broken chromosome ends rejoin. This knowledge could shed light on fundamental processes related to cancer and normal cellular functions -- for example, in immunity.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Common flame retardant linked to social, behavioral and learning deficits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WZCoYTCv7e0/120216134328.htm
Mice genetically engineered to be susceptible to autism-like behaviors that were exposed to a common flame retardant were less fertile and their offspring were smaller, less sociable and demonstrated marked deficits in learning and long-term memory when compared with the offspring of normal unexposed mice, a new study has found.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
New ability to regrow blood vessels holds promise for treatment of heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZbJAavZqmp4/120216134326.htm
Researchers have demonstrated a new and more effective method for regrowing blood vessels in the heart and limbs -- a research advancement that could have major implications for how we treat heart disease, the leading cause of death in the Western world.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Nanoparticles may enhance cancer therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/10uqAzD8bkY/120216134324.htm
A mixture of current drugs and carbon nanoparticles shows potential to enhance treatment for head-and-neck cancers, especially when combined with radiation therapy, according to new research.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Researchers make living model of brain tumor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fTHyI8pupbU/120216134322.htm
Researchers have created a living 3-D model of a brain tumor and its surrounding blood vessels. In experiments, the scientists report that iron-oxide nanoparticles carrying the agent tumstatin were taken by blood vessels, meaning they should block blood vessel growth. The living-tissue model could be used to test the effectiveness of nanoparticles in fighting other diseases.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Robot reconnoiters uncharted terrain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jr0qhbtVAxA/120216134119.htm
Mobile robots have many uses. They serve as cleaners, carry out inspections and search for survivors of disasters. But often, there is no map to guide them through unknown territory. Researchers have now developed a mobile robot that can roam uncharted terrain and simultaneously map it – all thanks to an algorithm toolbox.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
'Tornados' created inside electron microscopes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TuSGsb_xqBU/120216134114.htm
Researchers are pioneering the development of electron microscopes which will allow scientists to examine a greater variety of materials in new revolutionary ways.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Fossilized pollen unlocks secrets of ancient royal garden
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sk56oXG8qkU/120216134112.htm
The garden at the 2,500-year-old palace of Ramat Rahel in Israel hasn't been in bloom for more than two millennia. But now researchers say that pollen recovered from its plaster walls will permit them to reconstruct it for public enjoyment once again.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Preventing the Tasmanian devil's downfall: Genome of contagious cancer sheds light on disease origin and spread
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_oRtSQKJpLE/120216133442.htm
Researchers have sequenced the genome of a contagious cancer that is threatening the Tasmanian devil, the world's largest carnivorous marsupial, with extinction. Cataloguing the mutations present in the cancer has led to clues about where the cancer came from and how it became contagious.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
An 'immorta'' devil's genome and secrets of a cancer that's catching
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GcQBRpmb5UQ/120216133426.htm
Researchers have sequenced the complete genome of one immortal devil. The genomes of the Tasmanian devil and its transmissible cancer may help to explain how that cancer went from a single individual to spreading through the population like wildfire.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
The splice of life: Proteins cooperate to regulate gene splicing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5batvJhhKbI/120216133252.htm
In a step toward deciphering the “splicing code” of the human genome, researchers have comprehensively analyzed six of the more highly expressed RNA binding proteins collectively known as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoparticle (hnRNP) proteins.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Genomic imprinting of natural selection revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PIuxsxoUBt4/120216111532.htm
Discovering the relation between genetic variation and observable characteristics of individuals belonging to a species, such as a person's height or the manifestation of a hereditary disease is one of today's challenges in biology. Until now only a small part of the variation of these traits - which biologists name phenotypes - were attributed to genetic variations.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Quest for sugars involved in origin of life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aSMyOgNgcaI/120216111530.htm
Researchers have managed to isolate a sugar – a ribose – in gas phase and to characterize a number of its structures. Sugars give rise to enormous biochemical interest given the importance and diversity of the functions they carry out: they act as an energy storage system and serve as fuel for a number of biological systems; they form part of DNA and of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and, moreover, play a key role in cell processes. Recently interest in sugars has also been increasingly attracting the attention of cosmochemistry, more concretely, in the search for the fundamental matter of the origin of life in interstellar space.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Can cold-water corals adapt to climate change?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uJ82PUde1Qg/120216111528.htm
By absorbing about a third of human-made carbon dioxide, the ocean decelerates global warming. However, when dissolved in seawater, carbon dioxide reacts to produce carbonic acid, causing seawater pH to decrease. It also diminishes the concentration of carbonate ions, thereby putting organisms forming their shells and skeletons from calcium carbonate at risk. Apart from plankton, algae, mussels and snails, stony corals are among those particularly endangered: Their skeletons consist of aragonite, the most soluble form of calcium carbonate.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Augmented play helps children with autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BrSNDWHVZA8/120216111229.htm
Making play sets more interactive and giving children with autism greater opportunities to control and add content of their own to the game could improve cooperative play with other children as well as giving them greater confidence in understanding how objects interact.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Why do dinosaur skeletons look so weird?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GYxcKbRcOGI/120216111227.htm
Many fossilized dinosaurs have been found in a twisted posture. Scientists have long interpreted this as a sign of death spasms. Researchers have now come to the conclusion that these bizarre deformations occurred only during decomposition of dead dinosaurs.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Microbial oasis discovered beneath the Atacama Desert
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OWnt0fGnxN8/120216110403.htm
Two meters below the surface of the Atacama Desert there is an 'oasis' of microorganisms. Researchers have found it in hypersaline substrates thanks to SOLID, a detector for signs of life which could be used in environments similar to subsoil on Mars.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
BIg step toward vaccine for Hepatitis C
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F5UzNyODTS4/120216095040.htm
Researchers have made the discovery of a vaccine that will potentially help combat hepatitis C.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Cellular aging increases risk of heart attack and early death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xoE1pT2tODw/120216094921.htm
Every cell in the body has chromosomes with so-called telomeres, which are shortened over time and also through lifestyle choices such as smoking and obesity. Researchers have long speculated that the shortening of telomeres increases the risk of heart attack and early death. Now a large-scale population study in Denmark involving nearly 20,000 people shows that there is in fact a direct link, and has also given physicians a future way to test the actual cellular health of a person.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Protein that functions in normal breast may also contribute to breast cancer metastasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FT2fngu9Tpg/120216094917.htm
The trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) protein protects and maintains the integrity of the epithelial surface in the normal breast. New research has found that while TFF3 protein expression is higher in well-differentiated low grade tumors and therefore associated with features of a good prognosis, it has a more sinister role in breast cancer invasion and metastasis.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Low-carbon technologies 'no quick-fix': May not lessen global warming until late this century
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6GIbbl2VENE/120216094801.htm
A drastic switch to low carbon-emitting technologies, such as wind and hydroelectric power, may not yield a reduction in global warming until the latter part of this century, new research suggests. Furthermore, it states that technologies that offer only modest reductions in greenhouse gases, such as the use of natural gas and perhaps carbon capture and storage, cannot substantially reduce climate risk in the next 100 years.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
New theory of moral behavior may explain recent ethical lapses in banking industry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5Ws7BbAyBvY/120216094730.htm
Why do some people behave morally while others do not? Sociologists have developed a theory of the moral self that may help explain the ethical lapses in the banking, investment and mortgage-lending industries that nearly ruined the U.S. economy.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
New drug target found for lung cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/75iEqKvxKzo/120216094728.htm
Drugs targeting an enzyme involved in inflammation might offer a new avenue for treating certain lung cancers, according to a new study.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
First impressions form quickly on the web, eye-tracking study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YuwwQ4woly0/120216094726.htm
When viewing a website, it takes users less than two-tenths of a second to form a first impression, according to recent eye-tracking research. But it takes a little longer – about 2.6 seconds – for a user’s eyes to land on that area of a website that most influences their first impression.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Climate change threatens tropical birds: Global warming, extreme weather aggravate habitat loss, review finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hESybn0d1_Q/120216094724.htm
Climate change spells trouble for many tropical birds -- especially those living in mountains, coastal forests and relatively small areas -- and the damage will be compounded by other threats like habitat loss, disease and competition among species, according to a new review.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Video games lead to new paths to treat cancer, other diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FeqI8kapX0E/120216094642.htm
The cure for cancer comes down to this: video games. Scientists have made highly realistic video game images that simulate the inner workings of human cells. Playing these 'games' helps medical researchers see exactly how cells live, divide and die. The research opens new paths for tumor-killing drugs to treat cancer and other diseases.
Fri, 17 Feb 12
Puzzle play helps boost learning math-related skills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UqKmoWk9ai8/120216094631.htm
Children who play with puzzles between ages 2 and 4 later develop better spatial skills, researchers have found. Puzzle play was found to be a significant predictor of cognition after controlling for differences in parents’ income, education and the overall amount of parent language input.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Genetic mutation implicated in 'broken' heart
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ysp1cAAjBLA/120215190144.htm
Researchers have found that mutations in a gene called TTN account for 18 percent of sporadic and 25 percent of familial cases of dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged and cannot properly pump blood.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Smoking cessation meds shows promise as alcoholism treatment, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AGVDZdSBqP8/120215190138.htm
A medication commonly used to help people stop smoking may have an unanticipated positive side effect for an entirely different vice: drinking alcohol. A new study finds that varenicline, sold as Chantix, increases the negative effects of alcohol and therefore could hold promise as a treatment for alcoholism.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Drinking alcohol shrinks critical brain regions in genetically vulnerable mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eirNMAekz0M/120215190018.htm
Brain scans of two strains of mice imbibing significant quantities of alcohol reveal serious shrinkage in some brain regions - but only in mice lacking a particular type of receptor for dopamine, the brain's "reward" chemical. The study provides new evidence that these dopamine receptors may play a protective role against alcohol-induced brain damage.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
How fast you walk and your grip in middle age may predict dementia, stroke risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wB4_JkXB_ig/120215185850.htm
Simple tests such as walking speed and hand grip strength may help doctors determine how likely it is a middle-aged person will develop dementia or stroke.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Boiling breakthrough: Nano-coating doubles rate of heat transfer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Au6ARFLCiFg/120215155316.htm
The old saw that a watched pot never boils may not apply to pots given an ultra-thin layer of aluminum oxide, which researchers have reported can double the heat transfer from a hot surface to a liquid.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
New 'soft' motor made from artificial muscles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7KToNtPiT5Q/120215155313.htm
The electrostatic motor, used more than 200 years ago by Benjamin Franklin to rotisserie a turkey, is making a comeback in a promising new design for motors that is light, soft, and operates without external electronic controllers.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Virtual ghost imaging: New technique enables imaging even through highly adverse conditions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jx_J49MyJEk/120215155311.htm
By using some of light's "spooky" quantum properties, researchers have created images of objects that might otherwise be hidden from view.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
In new mass-production technique, robotic insects spring to life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SXpOyMSjDIE/120215155309.htm
A new technique inspired by elegant pop-up books and origami will soon allow clones of robotic insects to be mass-produced by the sheet. Devised by engineers, the ingenious layering and folding process enables the rapid fabrication of not just microrobots, but a broad range of electromechanical devices.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Time of year important in projections of climate change effects on ecosystems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KoNMjcRsDUM/120215155300.htm
Based on more than 25 years of data, ecologists looked at how droughts and heat waves affect grass growth during different months of the year.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Traumatic brain injury linked to post-traumatic stress disorder, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ufYs_5ZPHXo/120215143120.htm
Scientists have provided the first evidence of a link between a traumatic brain injury and increased susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Extreme summer temperatures occur more frequently in U.S. now, analysis shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MQrcY-lwTWM/120215143116.htm
Extreme summer temperatures are already occurring more frequently in the United States, and will become normal by mid-century if the world continues on a business as usual schedule of emitting greenhouse gases. By analyzing observations and results obtained from climate models, a new study has shown that previously rare high summertime (June, July and August) temperatures are already occurring more frequently in some regions of the 48 contiguous United States.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Dust from industrial-scale processing of nanomaterials carries high explosion risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/swtorN0TJTI/120215143112.htm
With expanded production of nanomaterials fast approaching, scientists are reporting indications that dust generated during processing may explode more easily than dust from other common dust explosion hazards. Their article indicates that nanomaterial dust could explode from a spark with only 1/30th the energy needed to ignite sugar dust — cause of the 2008 Portwentworth, Georgia, explosion that killed 13 people, injured 42 people and destroyed a factory.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Computer sleuthing helps unravel RNA's role in cellular function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XZ9mwucndzo/120215143105.htm
Computer engineers may have just provided the medical community a new way of figuring out exactly how one of the three building blocks of life forms and functions. They have used a complex computer program to analyze RNA motifs – the subunits that make up RNA.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Climate change may increase risk of water shortages in hundreds of US counties by 2050
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K7V8JkHQQkA/120215143003.htm
More than one in three counties in the US could face a "high" or "extreme" risk of water shortages due to climate change by the middle of the 21st century, according to a new study. The report concluded seven in 10 of the more than 3,100 counties could face "some" risk of shortages of fresh water.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Out of Africa? Data fail to support language origin in Africa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IBtX5iUCY6k/120215143001.htm
Last year, a report claiming to support the idea that the origin of language can be traced to West Africa appeared in Science. The article caused quite a stir. Now a linguist has challenged its conclusions, in a commentary just published in Science.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Plasmas torn apart: Discovery hints at origin of phenomena like solar flares
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QptC2kp1eP4/120215142954.htm
Using high-speed cameras to look at jets of plasma in the lab, researchers have made a discovery that may be important in understanding phenomena like solar flares and in developing nuclear fusion as a future energy source.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Hospitalization of US underage drinkers common, costs $755 million a year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sEX-9r0zFYg/120215142825.htm
Hospitalization for underage drinking is common in the United States, and it comes with a price tag -- the estimated total cost for these hospitalizations is about $755 million per year, a new study has found.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Stem cell study in mice offers hope for treating heart attack patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UVpB_DDHndo/120215142821.htm
A new stem cell study conducted in mice suggests a novel strategy for treating damaged cardiac tissue in patients following a heart attack. The approach potentially could improve cardiac function, minimize scar size, lead to the development of new blood vessels – and avoid the risk of tissue rejection.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Great eruption replay: Astronomers watch delayed broadcast of powerful stellar eruption
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p3Hv-iWwx_g/120215142819.htm
Astronomers are watching a delayed broadcast of a spectacular outburst from the unstable, behemoth double-star system Eta Carinae, an event initially seen on Earth nearly 170 years ago.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Prions play powerful role in the survival and evolution of wild yeast strains
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v1u69TNlJw4/120215142817.htm
Scientists have tested nearly 700 wild yeast strains isolated from diverse environments for the presence of known and unknown prion elements, finding them in one third of all strains. All the prions appear capable of creating diverse new traits, nearly half of which are beneficial. These unexpected findings stand as strong evidence against the common argument that prions are merely yeast "diseases" or rare artifacts of laboratory culture.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Lava formations in Western U.S. linked to rip in giant slab of Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9beQBvKHCIw/120215142814.htm
Scientists have proposed mass melting as a new force behind volcanic activity in the Columbia River region.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Protein may play role in obesity, diabetes, aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/65myTK4sOYE/120215123953.htm
Researchers have identified a potent regulator of sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels. The new findings may help scientists find better treatments for type II diabetes, obesity and other health problems caused by the body's inability to properly regulate blood sugar.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Stretching helices help keep muscles together
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cds32ONfp7w/120215123949.htm
Scientists have discovered that the elastic part of myomesin, a protein that links muscle filaments, can stretch to two and a half times its original length, unfolding in a way that was hitherto unknown.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Black hole came from a shredded galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TG9-T5lohyY/120215123945.htm
Astronomers have found a cluster of young, blue stars encircling the first intermediate-mass black hole ever discovered. The presence of the star cluster suggests that the black hole was once at the core of a now-disintegrated dwarf galaxy. The discovery of the black hole and the star cluster has important implications for understanding the evolution of supermassive black holes and galaxies.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Hubble finds relic of a shredded galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6U4ezH0QEgI/120215123838.htm
Astronomers have found a cluster of young blue stars surrounding a mid-sized black hole called HLX-1. The discovery suggests that the black hole formed in the core of a now-disintegrated dwarf galaxy. The findings have important implications for understanding the evolution of supermassive black holes and galaxies.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Children may have highest exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles, found in candy and other products
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9NQfH2fqoYA/120215123836.htm
Children may be receiving the highest exposure to nanoparticles of titanium dioxide in candy, which they eat in amounts much larger than adults, according to a new study. A new study provides the first broadly based information on amounts of the nanomaterial – a source of concern with regard to its potential health and environmental effects – in a wide range of consumer goods.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
New defense mechanism against viruses and cancer identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UHC_RfOkcio/120215123702.htm
Scientists have found a fundamentally new mechanism how our defense system is ramped up when facing a viral intruder. Exploitation of this mechanism in vaccines sparks new hope for better prevention and therapy of infectious diseases and cancer.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
In the mouth, smoking zaps healthy bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mxCJbKcSjx4/120215123357.htm
According to a new study, smoking causes the body to turn against its own helpful bacteria, leaving smokers more vulnerable to disease.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Diabetes may start in the intestines, research suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PKhz9DeZLeE/120215123352.htm
Scientists have made a surprising discovery about the origin of diabetes. Their research suggests that problems controlling blood sugar — the hallmark of diabetes — may begin in the intestines. The new study, in mice, may upend long-held theories about the causes of the disease.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
NASA Landsat's thermal infrared sensor arrives at Orbital
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sKc7UC7rGT0/120215100256.htm
A new NASA satellite instrument that makes a quantum leap forward in detector technology has arrived at Orbital Sciences Corp. in Gilbert, Ariz. There it will be integrated into the next Landsat satellite, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM).
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Teachers fly experiments on NASA reduced gravity flights
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kC7ycSWU9pE/120215095945.htm
More than 70 teachers had an opportunity to experience what it feels like to float in space as they participated in the Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston last week.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
NASA science aircraft to travel the globe in 2012
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vwhAtCvKaXo/120215095843.htm
With missions scheduled throughout the year, 2012 is shaping up to be an extraordinary time for NASA's Airborne Science Program and Earth system science research. Multiple aircraft and specialized instruments will operate in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America this year in support of studies conducted by NASA and the Earth science community, improving scientists' understanding of our planet.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Pocket microscope with accessory for ordinary smart phone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4cZhcwuqVJ0/120215083025.htm
Engineers have developed an optical accessory that turns an ordinary camera phone into a high-resolution microscope. The device is accurate to one hundredth of a millimeter. Among those who will benefit from the device are the printing industry, consumers, the security business, and even health care professionals.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Tiny chameleons discovered in Madagascar: Small enough to stand on the tip of a finger
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Gcb3bEntFsA/120215083023.htm
Four new species of miniaturized lizards have been identified in Madagascar. These lizards, just tens of millimeters from head to tail and in some cases small enough to stand on the head of a match, rank among the smallest reptiles in the world.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Newborn stars emerge from dark clouds in Taurus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j7Pu6P6tTfs/120215083021.htm
A new image from the APEX telescope in Chile shows a sinuous filament of cosmic dust more than ten light-years long. In it, newborn stars are hidden, and dense clouds of gas are on the verge of collapsing to form yet more stars. The cosmic dust grains are so cold that observations at wavelengths of around one millimeter are needed to detect their glow.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
New molecule discovered in fight against allergy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EFPCu51D39A/120215082938.htm
Scientists have discovered a new molecule that could offer the hope of new treatments for people allergic to the house dust mite.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Virtual reality supports planning by architects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vd3bpXGMGY0/120215082827.htm
Even the most exact construction plan lacks many details and design options. The building owner needs imagination to obtain an idea of the constructed building. Now, new 3D video glasses provide a true representation in virtual reality. With the help of integrated high-resolution motion sensors, the virtual environment adapts to the natural movement of the head in real time.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
New clues about how cancer cells communicate and grow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0a-0uNjueb0/120215082819.htm
Researchers have shown that the communication signals sent around the body by cancer cells, which are essential for the cancer to grow, may contain pieces of RNA – these substances, like DNA, are pieces of genetic code that can instruct cells, and ultimately the body, how to form. The same study also found early indications that these genetic instructions can be intercepted and modified by chemotherapy to help prevent cancer cells growing.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Freeze-dried heart valve scaffolds hold promise for heart valve replacement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vbJ1jD01kdg/120215082812.htm
The biological scaffold that gives structure to a heart valve after its cellular material has been removed can be freeze-dried and stored for later use as a tissue-engineered replacement valve to treat a failing heart, as described in a new article.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
When nerve meets muscle, biglycan seals the deal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HzqQCD_VeMw/120214215509.htm
In the absence of the protein biglycan, synapses at neuromuscular junctions in mice began to break up about five weeks after birth, according to a new study. Reintroducing byglycan helped fix the loss of synaptic stability in cell culture. The research may be relevant to efforts to treat motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gherig's Disease) and spinal muscular atrophy.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Stem cell treatments improve heart function after heart attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EYbk6Ksn8DA/120214215344.htm
Stem cell therapy moderately improves heart function after a heart attack, according to a systematic review. But the researchers behind the review say larger clinical trials are needed to establish whether this benefit translates to a longer life.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Cognitive stimulation beneficial in dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KiJVKU3AW7Q/120214215342.htm
Cognitive stimulation therapies have beneficial effects on memory and thinking in people with dementia, according to a systematic review. Despite concerns that cognitive improvements may not be matched by improvements in quality of life, the review also found positive effects for well-being.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
High population density is greatest risk factor for water-linked diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k55yHxB_kXs/120214215338.htm
Water-associated infectious disease outbreaks are more likely to occur in areas where a region's population density is growing, according to a new global analysis of economic and environmental conditions that influence the risk for these outbreaks.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Building bone from cartilage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dOwBGW6ukUU/120214171132.htm
A person has a tumor removed from her femur. A soldier is struck by an improvised explosive device and loses a portion of his tibia. A child undergoes chemotherapy for osteosarcoma but part of the bone dies as a result. Every year, millions of Americans sustain fractures that don't heal or lose bone that isn't successfully grafted.Orthopaedic researchers have just found a very promising, novel way to regenerate bone.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Left-handed? Different bodies, different minds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3Eyp_VIKUew/120214171121.htm
We like to think of ourselves as rational creatures, absorbing information, weighing it carefully, and making thoughtful decisions. But, as it turns out, we're kidding ourselves. Over the past few decades, scientists have shown there are many different internal and external factors influencing how we think, feel, communicate, and make decisions at any given moment. One particularly powerful influence may be our own bodies, according to new research.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Short-term exposure to most major air pollutants associated with increased risk of heart attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cq6LS8Y1Tgg/120214171040.htm
Short-term exposure (for up to 7 days) to all major air pollutants, with the exception of ozone, is significantly associated with an increased risk of heart attack, according to a new review article.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Report seeks to integrate microbes into climate models
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DwDKFqjJ69g/120214145337.htm
The models used to understand how Earth's climate works include thousands of different variables from many scientific including atmospherics, oceanography, seismology, geology, physics and chemistry, but few take into consideration the vast effect that microbes have on climate. Now, a new report offers a plan for integrating the latest understanding of the science of microbiology into climate models.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Proteins in Yellowstone bacteria considered for biofuel inspiration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QGHUnGyyIfg/120214145335.htm
Studies of bacteria first found in Yellowstone's hot springs are furthering efforts toward commercially viable ethanol production from crops such as switchgrass.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Noncoding RNAs alter yeast phenotypes in a site-specific manner
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aVegrhUGMGI/120214145333.htm
Scientists have shown for the first time how two long intergenic noncoding RNAs in brewer's yeast contribute to a location-dependent switch for the yeast FLO11 gene to toggle between active and inactive states.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
New nano-material combinations produce leap in infrared technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NckanBG88Lw/120214145331.htm
Researchers are using new combinations of nano-materials to produce advances in infrared photodetection technology.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
SIV infection may lead to increase in immune-suppressive Treg cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_tL74MAbuZ8/120214134944.htm
Tissue in monkeys infected with a close relative of HIV can ramp up production of a type of T cell that actually weakens the body's attack against the invading virus.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Tangled up in DNA: New molecule has potential to help treat genetic diseases and HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4tO9mmsAKqA/120214134942.htm
Chemists have created a molecule that's so good at tangling itself inside the double helix of a DNA sequence that it can stay there for up to 16 days before the DNA liberates itself, much longer than any other molecule reported.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Chemists mimic nature to design better medical tests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eEMVj5z53L4/120214134940.htm
Over their 3.8 billion years of evolution, living organisms have developed countless strategies for monitoring their surroundings. Chemists have adapted some of these strategies to improve the performance of DNA detectors. Their findings may aid efforts to build better medical diagnostics, such as improved HIV or cancer tests.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Possible link to hyper-excitability factors in epilepsy, autism and more
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QzHl7CbNhCM/120214134938.htm
A new study is revealing new information about a key protein's role in the development of epilepsy, autism and other neurological disorders. This work could one day lead to new treatments for the conditions.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Sobering future of wildfire dangers in U.S. west, researchers predict
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mZpzSRGvgn4/120214134936.htm
The American West has seen a recent increase in large wildfires due to droughts, the build-up of combustible fuel, or biomass, in forests, a spread of fire-prone species and increased tree mortality from insects and heat. A research team warns that these conditions may be "a perfect storm" for more fires.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
People forage for memories in the same way birds forage for berries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hF9r6KQOb3s/120214134809.htm
Humans move between ‘patches’ in their memory using the same strategy as bees flitting between flowers for pollen or birds searching among bushes for berries.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Motherhood 'detrimental' to women's scientific careers, study concludes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fpv8Nv_NgSs/120214134620.htm
Women with advanced degrees in math-intensive academic fields drop out of fast-track research careers primarily because they want children – not because their performance is devalued or they are shortchanged during interviewing and hiring, according to a new study.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
European credit downgrade bad news for USA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZvUCz65Z6jY/120214134618.htm
An expert discusses the implication of a downgraded bond rating for European nations.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Weight loss can be contagious, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xvgs_CdHT6M/120214122124.htm
Researchers have found that teammates in a team-based weight loss competition significantly influenced each other's weight loss, suggesting that weight loss can be contagious.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Cellphone use linked to selfish behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pljcKLORSgI/120214122038.htm
Though cellphones are usually considered devices that connect people, they may make users less socially minded, finds a recent study. The researchers found that after a short period of cellphone use subjects were less inclined to volunteer for community service when asked, compared to control-group counterparts. Talking on a cell phone reduces the desire to connect with others, they explain.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Fragmented sleep, fragmented mind: A new theory of sleep disruption and dissociation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PhliOogUm34/120214122035.htm
Scientific research has shed new light on dissociative symptoms and dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder. This condition seems to arise most often when a vulnerable person meets a therapist with a suggestive line of questioning or encounters sensationalized media portrayals of dissociation. Research shows that people with rich fantasy lives may be especially susceptible to such influences.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
New class of potential drugs inhibits inflammation in brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wXjrw2xS7cs/120214122031.htm
Scientists have identified a new group of compounds that may protect brain cells from inflammation linked to seizures and neurodegenerative diseases. The compounds block signals from EP2, one of the four receptors for prostaglandin E2, which is a hormone involved in processes such as fever, childbirth, digestion and blood pressure regulation.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Best time for a coffee break? There's an app for that
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_6UpI8mvDLE/120214121856.htm
Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and soda are the pick-me-ups of choice for many people, but too much caffeine can cause nervousness and sleep problems. Caffeine Zone, a new software app developed by researchers, can help people determine when caffeine may give them a mental boost and when it could hurt their sleep patterns. The software takes information on caffeine use and integrates it with information on the effects of caffeine to produce a graph of how the caffeine will affect the users over time.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Bumblebees get by with a little help from their honeybee rivals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j-BgCvGzFoE/120214121854.htm
Bumblebees can use cues from their rivals the honeybees to learn where the best food resources are, according to new research. In a new study, researchers trained a colony of bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) to use cues provided by a different species, the honeybee (Apis mellifera), as well as cues provided by fellow bumblebees to locate food resources on artificial flowers.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Super high-resolution carbon estimates for endangered Madagascar
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DPkt2lO_-v0/120214121852.htm
By combining airborne laser technology, satellite mapping, and ground-based plot surveys, a team of researchers has produced the first large-scale, high-resolution estimates of carbon stocks in remote and fragile Madagascar. The group has shown that it is possible to map carbon stocks in rugged geographic regions and that this type of carbon monitoring can be successfully employed to support conservation and climate-change mitigation under the United Nations initiative on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Shear stiffness and friction mechanics of single-layer graphene measured for the first time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LwenqO7tZoU/120214121848.htm
Researchers have measured and identified for the first time the stress and strain shear modulus and internal friction of graphene sheets.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Critical stage of embryonic development now observable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4MJksNyvsIA/120214121844.htm
A novel approach in the study of the development of mammalian embryos has just been developed. The research enables scientists to view critical aspects of embryonic development which was previously unobservable.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Email language tips off work hierarchy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IvOXZdXCjDY/120214121734.htm
Members of the modern workforce might be surprised to learn that if they use the word “weekend” in a workplace email, chances are they’re sending the message up the org chart. The same is true for the words “voicemail,” “driving,” “okay”—- and even a choice four-letter word that rhymes with “hit.” However a new study shows that certain words and phrases indeed are reliable indicators of whether workplace emails are sent to someone higher or lower in the corporate hierarchy.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
How Do Children Learn to Read Silently?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JZJbfHJ-lzg/120214121726.htm
Researchers uses eye-tracking technology to chart oral-to-silent reading transition.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
The indiscretions of a champagne bubble paparazzi
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BA5aFmgks0Y/120214100930.htm
The innermost secrets of champagne bubbles are about to be unveiled by a scientist tackling champagne bubbles from both a physics and a chemistry perspective. To understand what appears to be a harmless phenomenon such as the fizz in champagne, the author studied the role of the carbon dioxide throughout its journey from the bottle to the glass.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Fukushima at increased earthquake risk, scientists report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YmFEA_07KhQ/120214100819.htm
Seismic risk at the Fukushima nuclear plant increased after the magnitude 9 earthquake that hit Japan last March, scientists report. The new study, which uses data from over 6,000 earthquakes, shows the 11 March tremor caused a seismic fault close to the nuclear plant to reactivate. The research suggests authorities should strengthen the security of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to withstand large earthquakes that are likely to directly disturb the region.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
'Invisibility' cloak could protect buildings from earthquakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8MW42jtjWaU/120214100817.htm
Mathematicians have developed the theory for a Harry Potter style 'cloaking' device which could protect buildings from earthquakes. Scientists have been working on the theory of invisibility cloaks which, until recently, have been merely the subject of science fiction. In recent times, however, scientists have been getting close to achieving 'cloaking' in a variety of contexts. The new work focuses on the theory of cloaking devices which could eventually help to protect buildings and structures from vibrations and natural disasters such as earthquakes.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Globular clusters: Survivors of a 13-billion-year-old massacre
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WVi1o9mGQ3s/120214100815.htm
Our Milky Way galaxy is surrounded by some 200 compact groups of stars, containing up to a million stars each. At 13 billion years of age, these globular clusters are almost as old as the universe itself and were born when the first generations of stars and galaxies formed. Now astronomers have conducted a novel type of computer simulation that looked at how they were born -- and they find that these giant clusters of stars are the only survivors of a 13-billion-year-old massacre that destroyed many of their smaller siblings.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Nanotechnology may lead to more energy-efficient electronics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NTluwprXVKU/120214100723.htm
Carbon nanotubes and graphene consist of just a couple of layers of carbon atoms, but they are lighter than aluminium, stronger than steel and can bend like spring-coils. Physicists have been studying the unique properties of the materials, which in future may result in improved electronics and light, strong material.
Wed, 15 Feb 12
Turmeric-based drug effective on Alzheimer flies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IVIThpzF9ek/120214100554.htm
Curcumin, a substance extracted from turmeric, prolongs life and enhances activity of fruit flies with a nervous disorder similar to Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. The study indicates that it is the initial stages of fibril formation and fragments of the amyloid fibrils that are most toxic to neurons.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Cut your Valentine some slack: Partner's efforts at improving your relationship should not be ignored
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ova5r_pLrwM/120213185826.htm
If the one you love usually forgets Valentine's Day, but this year makes a romantic effort, you should give him credit for trying. A new study shows that the more you believe your partner is capable of change and perceive that he or she is trying to improve, the more secure and happy you will feel in your relationship.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Plants use circadian rhythms to prepare for battle with insects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8NCn2or9K1M/120213185654.htm
In a study of the molecular underpinnings of plants' pest resistance, biologists have shown that plants use circadian rhythms to both anticipate raids by hungry insects and to time the production of defensive hormones that protect against insect attack. The researchers demonstrated that when the plants' timing was shifted, the plants were defenseless against daytime-feeding caterpillars.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Prolonged fructose intake not linked to rise in blood pressure, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KkZKYlgt0c4/120213185652.htm
Eating fructose over an extended period of time does not lead to an increase in blood pressure, according to new research.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Sensing self and non-self: New research into immune tolerance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3iALm0TsXXo/120213185643.htm
Cancer cells can undergo unchecked proliferation, producing self-antigens that are tolerated by the immune system, rather than being targeted for destruction. At the opposite extreme, autoimmune disorders can result when healthy cells in the body are misidentified as hazards. Researchers now examine how CD8 T cells -- critical weapons in the body's defensive arsenal -- are regulated when they transition from this tolerant state to an activated state and back.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Hearing aid gap: Millions who could benefit remain untreated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CLKhYvJH3e4/120213185125.htm
Though an estimated 26.7 million Americans age 50 and older have hearing loss, only about one in seven uses a hearing aid, according to a new study.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Brain-imaging technique predicts who will suffer cognitive decline over time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KuGKEF5WLgY/120213185123.htm
Scientists have used a brain imaging tool that effectively tracked and predicted cognitive decline over a two-year period. The team had previously developed this tool that can assess the neurological changes associated with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Air pollution linked to cognitive decline in women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GkRQNJGDL8U/120213185121.htm
A large, prospective study indicates that chronic exposure to particulate air pollution may accelerate cognitive decline in older adults.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Even moderate air pollution can raise stroke risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W3Rbole66f4/120213185119.htm
Air pollution, even at levels generally considered safe by federal regulations, increases the risk of stroke by 34 percent, researchers have found.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Large Hadron Collider to run at 4 TeV per beam in 2012
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cjy6RFrGdTA/120213172038.htm
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, has announced that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will run with a beam energy of 4 TeV this year, 0.5 TeV higher than in 2010 and 2011.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Neuron memory key to taming chronic pain, new research suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JO36JIcKrDw/120213154141.htm
Researchers have found the key to understanding how memories of pain are stored in the brain. More importantly, the researchers are also able to suggest how these memories can be erased, making it possible to ease chronic pain.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Antibodies to intracellular cancer antigens combined with chemotherapy enhance anti-cancer immunity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_NMT-TOCHQE/120213154110.htm
Scientists have confirmed that combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy in cancer treatment enhances the immune system's ability to find and eliminate cancer cells, even when the cancer-associated proteins targeted by the immune system are hidden behind the cancer cell membrane.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Compound may help in fight against antibiotic-resistant superbugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W3rUiJHfSFA/120213154106.htm
Chemists have created a compound that makes existing antibiotics 16 times more effective against recently discovered antibiotic-resistant "superbugs."
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Six to nine-month-olds understand the meaning of many spoken words
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YbPSDkKRSDs/120213154057.htm
At an age when "ba-ba" and "da-da" may be their only utterances, infants nevertheless comprehend words for many common objects, according to a new study.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Explosive evolution need not follow mass extinctions, study of ancient zooplankton finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wyoeNd0Eqog/120213154055.htm
Fossil record of graptoloids challenges the theory that immediately after a mass extinction, species develop new physical traits at a rapid pace.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Fish of Antarctica threatened by climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uZ8bcGG9BpY/120213154053.htm
A study of the evolutionary history of Antarctic fish and their "anti-freeze" proteins illustrates how tens of millions of years ago a lineage of fish adapted to newly formed polar conditions -- and how today they are endangered by a rapid rise in ocean temperatures.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Love, chocolate good for the heart, says cardiologist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n1FQxM2enos/120213153957.htm
Being involved in a healthy, loving relationship is good for the heart, says a cardiologist. People who are married or who are in close, healthy relationships tend to be less likely to smoke, are more physically active and are more likely to have a well-developed social structure, she said. They are also more likely to have lower levels of stress and anxiety in their day-to-day lives.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Lovelorn Liars Leave Linguistic Leads
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D-1lUeW4c9I/120213153951.htm
Online daters intent on fudging their personal information have a big advantage: most people are terrible at identifying a liar. But new research is turning the tables on deceivers using their own words.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Mexican-American youth add pounds as they lose native eating habits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PO-H9pssHsE/120213153948.htm
Researchers have found that Mexican-American youth gain pounds as they move away from the dietary habits of their native country, a move that is putting them at risk for serious health problems.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Unique testbed soon will be in space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RA8omJapaCE/120213145618.htm
New and improved ways for future space travelers to communicate will be tested on the International Space Station after a launch later this year from Japan. The SCaN Testbed, or Space Communications and Navigation Testbed, was designed and built at NASA's Glenn Research Center over the last three years.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
3-D map study shows before-after of 2010 Mexico quake
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s9ktrJ5z7cs/120213143327.htm
Geologists have a new tool to study how earthquakes change the landscape, and it's giving them insight into how earthquake faults behave. Scientists from the United States, Mexico and China report the most comprehensive before-and-after picture yet of an earthquake zone, using data from the magnitude 7.2 event that struck near Mexicali, northern Mexico in April 2010.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Planck all-sky images show cold gas and strange haze in Milky Way galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2kAMA7FCQqc/120213143016.htm
New images from the Planck mission show previously undiscovered islands of star formation and a mysterious haze of microwave emissions in our Milky Way galaxy. The views give scientists new treasures to mine and take them closer to understanding the secrets of our galaxy.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Where big fish take shelter has big impact on their ability to cope with climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SQZ4vBXAlmE/120213134144.htm
The choices big fish make on where to shelter could have a major influence on their ability to cope with climate change, say scientists. In research aimed at understanding the process of fish population decline when coral reefs sustain major damage, scientists have found that big fish show a marked preference for sheltering under large, flat table corals.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
New HIV-vaccine tested on people shows limited success
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hMDDEjnrEV0/120213134142.htm
Scientists have tested a new 'therapeutic vaccine' against HIV on volunteers. The participants were 'so to say' vaccinated with their own cells. The immune system of the testees was better than before in attacking and suppressing the virus, the scientists have reported.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Children at risk for ingestion of PAHs from pavement sealant, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wPFoA-xABHw/120213134140.htm
Children living near coal-tar-sealed pavement are likely to receive a far higher dose of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from incidental ingestion of house dust than do children living near unsealed pavement, and that dose is more than two times higher than the PAH dose children are estimated to receive from food.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
In older adults, fluctuating sense of control linked to cognitive ability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/buF9_L0Sx3M/120213134137.htm
Everyone has moments when they feel more in control of their lives than at other times. New research shows that this sense of control fluctuates more often, and more quickly, than previously thought – and that this sense of control may actively affect cognitive abilities.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Motivation to exercise affects behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_fqcVBU-NHQ/120213134135.htm
For many people, the motivation to exercise fluctuates from week to week, and these fluctuations predict whether they will be physically active, according to researchers. In an effort to understand how the motivation to exercise is linked to behavior, the researchers examined college students' intentions to be physically active as well as their actual activity levels.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
New cases of rare genetic disorder identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6oLp_Q5ubIc/120213134133.htm
Scientists have shown a rare genetic disease, that causes crippling osteoarthritis in the spine and major joints, is far more prevalent worldwide than previously thought.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Prognosis for heart failure patients improving
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iVvsayULY4E/120213133711.htm
More than six million American adults suffer from heart failure. But, while the prevalence of this disease has increased over time, there are signs that deaths from it have not and hospitalization rates may be stabilizing as well. Healthcare professionals say this is good news and the future looks even more promising.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Engineers create tandem polymer solar cells that set record for energy-conversion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u5mzsne49bw/120213133709.htm
Researchers in California report that they have significantly enhanced polymer solar cells' performance by building a device with a new "tandem" structure that combines multiple cells with different absorption bands. The device had a certified power-conversion efficiency of 8.62 percent and set a world record in July 2011. After the researchers incorporated a new infrared-absorbing polymer material into the device, the device's architecture proved to be widely applicable and the power-conversion efficiency jumped to 10.6 percent -- a new record -- as certified by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Blood from periodontal disease can be used to screen for diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bU9oZknEUBM/120213133707.htm
Oral blood samples drawn from deep pockets of periodontal inflammation can be used to measure hemoglobin A1c, an important gauge of a patient's diabetes status, a nursing-dental research team has found.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Scientist works to detach protein that HIV uses as protective shield
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c_v-clFsz68/120213133704.htm
One of the frustrations for scientists working on HIV/AIDS treatments has been the human immunodeficiency virus' ability to evade the body's immune system. Now a researcher has discovered a compound that could help put the immune system back in the hunt.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Stress in cells activates hepatitis viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rsRQlyDHwVU/120213133504.htm
Substances which suppress the immune system while simultaneously keeping viral infections in check would be an ideal drug for organ transplant recipients. Scientists have now demonstrated that specific substances with such an activity profile caused a state of stress in cells which promotes the replication of hepatitis B viruses.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Molecular carpet: Startling results in synthetic chemistry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YDRH5MqhJZE/120213133451.htm
Swiss scientists have created a minor sensation in synthetic chemistry. The team of scientists succeeded for the first time in producing regularly ordered planar polymers that form a kind of 'molecular carpet' on a nanometer scale.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Good aerobic capacity promotes learning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4-pgcvIo-t8/120213084208.htm
Aerobic fitness has a favorable effect on cognitive functions. For example, physically active elderly people are less prone to aging-related cognitive decline than those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. An increase in physical activity raises both aerobic capacity and learning ability in both humans and animals. However, it is not known whether it is the aerobic capacity or the pleasure and enrichment of physical activity that promotes cognitive functions.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Seniors show greater life satisfaction than young people, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S8QlnTuCkPs/120213084204.htm
Healthy older adults reported less negative thinking compared to other age groups, leading to greater life satisfaction in seniors. The study examined the complex relationship between aging and factors leading to depression. Research suggests differences in the way age groups think can influence the onset of depression. Sufferers of negative thinking, or brooding, tend to fixate on their problems and feelings without taking action, which can intensify depressive moods and lead to the onset of depression.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Ordered planar polymers created for the first time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MAO6y_-WGog/120213083854.htm
At ETH Zurich in 1920, the chemist Hermann Staudinger postulated the existence of macromolecules consisting of many identical modules strung together like a chain. For this he was initially rewarded with mockery and incomprehension in professional circles. But Staudinger was to be proven right: today the macromolecules described as polymers are known as plastics, and by 1950 one kilogram of them was already being produced per capita worldwide.
Tue, 14 Feb 12
Overeating may double risk of memory loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4_wNU4PEGOk/120213083717.htm
New research suggests that consuming between 2,100 and 6,000 calories per day may double the risk of memory loss, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), among people age 70 and older. MCI is the stage between normal memory loss that comes with aging and early Alzheimer’s disease.
Mon, 13 Feb 12
Starve a virus, feed a cure?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x0vZYWNW6KA/120212192737.htm
A protein that protects some of our immune cells from the most common and virulent form of HIV works by starving the virus of the molecular building blocks that it needs to replicate. While researchers hope the work will one day lead to a way to make anti-HIV drugs more effective by increasing their potency against the virus, they're also excited about its implications for our knowledge of other pathogens, such as herpes viruses.
Mon, 13 Feb 12
Molecular secrets of ancient Chinese herbal remedy discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DVVyu3gFff4/120212192733.htm
Researchers have discovered the cellular target for a two-thousand-year-old herbal remedy known as Chang Shan. The bioactive compound, called febrifugine, triggers a stress-response pathway that tells cells to conserve resources and eliminate unnecessary functions, which in turn blocks the production of dangerous, disease-causing immune cells.
Mon, 13 Feb 12
Researchers develop method to examine batteries -- from the inside
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dU3IIA0JzdE/120212192557.htm
Researchers have developed methodology, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to examine batteries without destroying them. Their technique creates the possibility of improving battery performance and safety by serving as a diagnostic of its internal workings.
Mon, 13 Feb 12
How a protein protects cells from HIV infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NnAoL-aNosk/120212192555.htm
A novel discovery reveals a mechanism by which the immune system tries to halt the spread of HIV. Harnessing this mechanism may open up new paths for therapeutic research aimed at slowing the virus’ progression to AIDS.
Mon, 13 Feb 12
A mitosis mystery solved: How chromosomes align perfectly in a dividing cell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rFeT96-8Epo/120212192552.htm
Although the process of mitotic cell division has been studied intensely for more than 50 years, researchers have only now solved the mystery of how cells correctly align their chromosomes during symmetric mitosis.
Sun, 12 Feb 12
Complex wiring of the nervous system may rely on a just a handful of genes and proteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XcSjnFHSGaw/120211095353.htm
Researchers have discovered a startling feature of early brain development that helps to explain how complex neuron wiring patterns are programmed using just a handful of critical genes. The findings may help scientists develop new therapies for neurological disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and provide insight into certain cancers.
Sun, 12 Feb 12
Human cognitive performance suffers following natural disasters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jMGFkYIJS1Y/120211095351.htm
Not surprisingly, victims of a natural disaster can experience stress and anxiety, but a new study indicates that it might also cause them to make more errors - some serious - in their daily lives. Researchers have explored how cognitive performance can decline after earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Sun, 12 Feb 12
Putting the squeeze on planets outside our solar system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AkDcpt-Wur4/120211095349.htm
Using high-powered lasers, scientists have discovered that molten magnesium silicate undergoes a phase change in the liquid state, abruptly transforming to a more dense liquid with increasing pressure. The research provides insight into planet formation.
Sun, 12 Feb 12
Pitchers: Elbow position not a predictor of injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TNtJztwKX8E/120211095255.htm
Elbow position alone appeared to not affect injury rates and performance in college-level, male pitchers say researchers.
Sun, 12 Feb 12
Finding love has no expiration date: People over 60 are fastest growing demographic in online dating
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FXhiAyi5Z6g/120211095051.htm
People may think that online dating is only for the young, but individuals over the age of 60 are the fastest growing demographic in online dating. However, they may be looking for different qualities in their relationships than their younger counterparts.
Sun, 12 Feb 12
Environment's effects on evolution of survival traits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ucuXxN_6hRw/120211095049.htm
Advances in studying genes mean that scientists in evolutionary developmental biology or “evo-devo” can now explain more clearly than ever before how bats got wings, the turtle got its shell and blind cave fish lost their eyes, says an evolutionary biologist.
Sun, 12 Feb 12
Dramatic improvements and persistent challenges for women in science
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VT9jAUsVq4Q/120211095047.htm
The underrepresentation of women in science has received significant attention. However, there have been few studies in which longitudinal data were used to assess changes over time. Now researchers find that women in the field of ecological studies have experienced dramatic improvements, but persistent challenges remain.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
Both maternal and paternal age linked to autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tn1vqx8DMPo/120210133439.htm
Older maternal and paternal age are jointly associated with having a child with autism, according to a recent study.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
Night, weekend delivery OK for babies with birth defects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ceh-ywus-tg/120210133358.htm
Weekday delivery is no better than night/weekend delivery for infants with birth defects, according to a new study. Researchers found that infants with birth defects that were delivered at night or over the weekend fared just as well as those delivered on a weekday -- they stayed at the hospital for the same amount of time, were admitted to the NICU at the same rate, and were given antibiotics or got help breathing just as often.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
Protein libraries in a snap
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ti53D8xfJfs/120210133354.htm
One undergraduate student will depart university with not only a degree but also a possible patent for his invention of an efficient way to create protein libraries, an important component of biomolecular research.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
Cochlear implants may be safe, effective for organ transplant patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tnPe8ysBdOU/120210133352.htm
Cochlear implants may be a safe, effective option for some organ transplant patients who've lost their hearing as an unfortunate consequence of their transplant-related drug regime, researchers report.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
Numeracy: The educational gift that keeps on giving?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/coUbZiK_9Sg/120210133346.htm
Cancer risks. Investment alternatives. Calories. Numbers are everywhere in daily life, and they figure into all sorts of decisions. A new article examines how people who are numerate -- that's like literacy, but for numbers -- understand numbers better and process information differently so that they ultimately make more informed decisions.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
The power of estrogen: Male snakes attract other males
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vyoNpv8Oz4Y/120210111302.htm
A new study has shown that boosting the estrogen levels of male garter snakes causes them to secrete the same pheromones that females use to attract suitors, and turned the males into just about the sexiest snake in the neighborhood -- attracting dozens of other males eager to mate.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
Kids show cultural gender bias
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5aF24vXPzyw/120210111258.htm
A recent study examining whether speaking French influenced how children assigned gender to objects yielded some interesting observations. Researchers found some differences between the monolingual English children and the bilingual French-English children they surveyed.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
A mineral way to catalysis?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wy4fc0r_hxo/120210110514.htm
Catalytic materials, which lower the energy barriers for chemical reactions, are used in everything from the commercial production of chemicals to catalytic converters in car engines. However, with current catalytic materials becoming increasingly expensive, scientists are exploring viable alternatives.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
High school students test best with 7 hours of sleep at night
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6gDk7DNP8LQ/120210110510.htm
New research finds that 16- to 18-year-olds perform better academically when they shave about two hours off what current guidelines prescribe.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
Controlling parents more likely to have delinquent children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/97TOrAmLvBY/120210105901.htm
Authoritarian parents whose child-rearing style can be summed up as “it’s my way or the highway” are more likely to raise disrespectful, delinquent children who do not see them as legitimate authority figures than authoritative parents who listen to their children and gain their respect and trust, according to new research.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
What lies beneath: Mapping hidden nanostructures within materials, and perhaps cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y8qSd-5Qjxo/120210104748.htm
A new method to map nanostructures within materials may lead to biological imaging of the internal organization of cells.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
Unpicking HIV's 'invisibility cloak'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/187SFfpxOEw/120210104745.htm
Drug researchers hunting for alternative ways to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections may soon have a novel target -- its camouflage coat. HIV hides inside a cloak unusually rich in a sugar called mannose, which it uses to slip past the immune system before infecting its host's cells. Recently, however, biochemists discovered a family of chemical compounds that stick strongly to mannose. Understanding how this mechanism works could reveal a way to make drugs adhere to and kill HIV.
Sat, 11 Feb 12
Accounting for missing meson particles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UxbBLcyZQpk/120210104743.htm
Measurements from high-energy collision experiments lead to a better understanding of why meson particles disappear.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Electrical engineers build 'no-waste' laser
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wgqgOeQlNRE/120209173327.htm
Researchers have built the smallest room-temperature nanolaser to date, as well as an even more startling device: a highly efficient, "thresholdless" laser that funnels all its photons into lasing, without any waste.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
'Dark plasmons' transmit energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zeeXB6EsiIY/120209172916.htm
Microscopic channels of gold nanoparticles have the ability to transmit electromagnetic energy that starts as light and propagates via "dark plasmons," according to researchers.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Substance P causes seizures in patients infected by pork tapeworm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nTl4lKl90jQ/120209172812.htm
A neuropeptide called Substance P is the cause of seizures in patients with brains infected by the pork tapeworm.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Deconstructing a mystery: What caused Snowmaggedon?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_PgCqqrCNgw/120209152816.htm
Scientists are using computer models to help unravel the mystery of a record-setting snowfall in the Washington, DC area in early 2010.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Most lethal known species of prion protein identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bIQYt_A0nIk/120209152814.htm
Scientists have identified a single prion protein that causes neuronal death similar to that seen in "mad cow" disease, but is at least 10 times more lethal than larger prion species.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Hydrogen from acidic water: Potential low cost alternative to platinum for splitting water
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZwzVRA6wCVc/120209152810.htm
A technique for creating a new molecule that structurally and chemically replicates the active part of the molybdenite catalyst paves the way for developing catalytic materials that can serve as effective low-cost alternatives to platinum for generating hydrogen gas from water.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
To perform with less effort, practice beyond perfection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OYbQ4F1htAQ/120209144013.htm
Whether you are an athlete, a musician or a stroke patient learning to walk again, practice can make perfect, but more practice may make you more efficient, according to a surprising new study.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Ocean microbe communities changing, but long-term environmental impact is unclear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NU3ljzAtNTU/120209144003.htm
As oceans warm due to climate change, water layers will mix less and affect the microbes and plankton that pump carbon out of the atmosphere – but researchers say it's still unclear whether these processes will further increase global warming or decrease it. It could be either, they say.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Chemists harvest light to create 'green' tool for pharmaceuticals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VLyZiWjM8A4/120209143920.htm
Researchers have created a new, “green” method for developing medicines. The researchers used energy from a light bulb to create an organic molecule that may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Gene therapy boosts brain repair for demyelinating diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PTkNcBHe-YE/120209140208.htm
Our bodies are full of tiny superheroes -- antibodies that fight foreign invaders, cells that regenerate, and structures that ensure our systems run smoothly. One such structure is myelin, a material that forms a protective cape around the axons of our nerve cells so that they can send signals quickly and efficiently. But myelin becomes damaged in demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis, leaving neurons without their sheaths. Researchers now believe they have found a way to help the brain replace damaged myelin.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Ocean warming causes elephant seals to dive deeper
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2BfVWa_30NA/120209140200.htm
Global warming is having an effect on the dive behavior and search for food of southern elephant seals. Researchers have discovered that the seals dive deeper for food when in warmer water. The scientists attribute this behavior to the migration of prey to greater depths and now wish to check this theory using a new sensor which registers the feeding of the animals below water.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Seismic resistance: Model analyzes shape-memory alloys for use in earthquake-resistant structures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5xm0LFKUjoY/120209135846.htm
Recent earthquake damage has exposed the vulnerability of existing structures to strong ground movement. Researchers are now analyzing shape-memory alloys for their potential use in constructing seismic-resistant structures.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Baby knows best: Baby-led weaning promotes healthy food preferences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EYAJNTs9o2Y/120209135842.htm
A new study has shown that babies who are weaned using solid finger food are more likely to develop healthier food preferences and are less likely to become overweight as children than those who are spoon-fed pureed food.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
New battery could lead to cheaper, more efficient solar energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TbWeQFSy2yo/120209135838.htm
Scientists have found that a new type of battery has the potential to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar power.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Physically abused children report higher levels of psychosomatic symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qYfUbJTRLng/120209135343.htm
Children who display multiple psychosomatic symptoms, such as regular aches and pains and sleep and appetite problems, are more than twice as likely to be experiencing physical abuse at home than children who do not display symptoms. Researchers who studied 2,510 children found a strong association between reported physical abuse and three or more psychosomatic symptoms. The association was highest in children who were physically abused and also witnessed intimate partner violence.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Secrets of immune response illuminated in new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AKCb61-Q4uI/120209135106.htm
When disease-causing invaders like bacteria infect a human host, cells of various types swing into action, coordinating their activities to address the threat. Scientists have now investigated the coordination of a particular type of immune response, involving the release of of IFN-λ -- a cell-signaling protein molecule known as a cytokine.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Nanotube therapy takes aim at breast cancer stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F-bCcQVSTGw/120209131412.htm
Researchers have again shown that injecting multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into tumors and heating them with a quick, 30-second laser treatment can kill them.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Right hand or left? How the brain solves a perceptual puzzle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rty6vn1OSCI/120209102007.htm
When you see a picture of a hand, how do you know whether it's a right or left hand? This "hand laterality" problem may seem obscure, but it reveals a lot about how the brain sorts out confusing perceptions. Now, a new study challenges the long-held consensus about how we solve this problem.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
What kind of chocolate is best? The last you taste, says a new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZunEA5c5UpY/120209102003.htm
Like to save the best for last? Here's good news: If it's the last, you'll like it the best.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
How the zebra got its stripes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/plHyHodxDI0/120209101730.htm
Horseflies are unpleasant insects that deliver powerful bites and now it seems that zebras evolved their stripes to avoid attracting the unpleasant pests. New research show that zebras have the least attractive hides for horseflies.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Amazing skin gives sharks a push
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vJBBhbTcw-8/120209101728.htm
Shark skin has long been known to improve the fish's swimming performance by reducing drag, but now a new study show that in addition, the skin generates thrust, giving the fish an extra boost. The duo also discovered that Speedo's shark skin-inspired Fastskin® FS II fabric surface does not improve swimming speed, although they point out that the figure hugging costumes probably enhance performance in other ways.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Mobile launcher tests confirm designs, NASA analysis concludes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HWH2sDKuMm0/120209101541.htm
The 355-foot-tall mobile launcher, or ML, behaved as expected during its move to Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in November 2011, an analysis of multiple sensors showed. The top of the tower swayed less than an inch each way.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Fruit fly turn-on: A sexy, youthful smell may make up for advancing age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ONUIZLCNUgI/120209101456.htm
Beauty is more than skin deep, at least for fruit flies studied in new research that demonstrates how age-related changes in pheromone production can reduce sexual attractiveness.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
NASA small explorer mission celebrates 10 years and 40,000 X-ray flares
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J1jQWJM5RLQ/120209101327.htm
On February 5, 2002, NASA launched what was then called the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (HESSI) into orbit. Renamed within months as the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) after Reuven Ramaty, a deceased NASA scientist who had long championed the mission, the spacecraft's job was to observe giant explosions on the sun called solar flares. Ten years since its launch, RHESSI has observed more than 40,000 X-ray flares, helped craft and refine a model of how solar eruptions form, and fueled additional serendipitous science papers on such things as the shape of the sun and thunder-storm-produced gamma ray flashes.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Mars-bound NASA rover carries coin for camera checkup
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8TJASrNEi28/120209100806.htm
The camera at the end of the robotic arm on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has its own calibration target, a smartphone-size plaque that looks like an eye chart supplemented with color chips and an attached penny. When Curiosity lands on Mars in August, researchers will use this calibration target to test performance of the rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager, or MAHLI. MAHLI's close-up inspections of Martian rocks and soil will show details so tiny, the calibration target includes reference lines finer than a human hair. This camera is not limited to close-ups, though. It can focus on any target from about a finger's-width away to the horizon.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer in standby mode
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zgnICiin4Sk/120209100646.htm
NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer, or Galex, was placed in standby mode Feb. 7, 2012 as engineers prepare to end mission operations, nearly nine years after the telescope's launch. The spacecraft is scheduled to be decommissioned -- taken out of service -- later this year. The mission extensively mapped large portions of the sky with sharp ultraviolet vision, cataloguing millions of galaxies spanning 10 billion years of cosmic time.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Global sea level rise: NASA mission takes stock of Earth's melting land ice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d0teYEftTEs/120209100544.htm
In the first comprehensive satellite study of its kind, researchers have used NASA data to calculate how much Earth's melting land ice is adding to global sea level rise. Using satellite measurements from the NASA/German Aerospace Center Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), the researchers measured ice loss in all of Earth's land ice between 2003 and 2010, with particular emphasis on glaciers and ice caps outside of Greenland and Antarctica. The total global ice mass lost from Greenland, Antarctica and Earth's glaciers and ice caps during the study period was about 4.3 trillion tons (1,000 cubic miles), adding about 0.5 inches (12 millimeters) to global sea level. That's enough ice to cover the United States 1.5 feet (0.5 meters) deep.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
New views show old NASA Mars landers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cPJIspwG8M8/120209100422.htm
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recorded a scene on Jan. 29, 2012, that includes the first color image from orbit showing the three-petal lander of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit mission. Spirit drove off that lander platform in January 2004 and spent most of its six-year working life in a range of hills about two miles to the east.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Presdisposition to common heart disease 'passed on from father to son'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kaGsN0kb3ug/120208220212.htm
A common heart disease which kills thousands each year may be passed genetically from father to son, according to a new study.
Fri, 10 Feb 12
Tiny primate is ultrasonic communicator
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sKDiyMCCyls/120208220210.htm
Tarsiers' ultrasonic calls -- among the most extreme in the animal kingdom -- give them a "private channel" of communication, says an anthropologist.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
January 2012 fourth warmest for contiguous United States, but Alaska extremely cold
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aGKuoRh-LFk/120208153449.htm
During January, warmer-than-average conditions enveloped most of the contiguous United States, with widespread below-average precipitation. The overall weather pattern for the month was reflected in the lack of snow for much of the Northern Plains, Midwest, and Northeast. This scenario was in stark contrast to Alaska where several towns had their coldest January on record.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
DNA sequencing helps identify cancer cells for immune system attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/09JzIWHmwZY/120208152342.htm
DNA sequences from tumor cells can be used to direct the immune system to attack cancer, according to scientists. The immune system relies on an intricate network of alarm bells, targets and safety brakes to determine when and what to attack. The new results suggest that scientists may now be able to combine DNA sequencing data with their knowledge of the triggers and targets that set off immune alarms to more precisely develop vaccines and other immunotherapies for cancer.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Transformational fruit fly genome catalog completed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5lfLg7R5hPw/120208152340.htm
Scientists searching for the genomics version of the holy grail – more insight into predicting how an animal’s genes affect physical or behavioral traits – now have a reference manual that should speed gene discoveries in everything from pest control to personalized medicine.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Fasting weakens cancer in mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wqWoDIrZO9o/120208152254.htm
New study finds that short fasting cycles can work as well as chemotherapy, and the two combined greatly improve survival.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Gene therapy for inherited blindness succeeds in patients' other eye
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/urzbj2ZSjI4/120208152252.htm
Gene therapy for congenital blindness took another step forward, as researchers further improved vision in three adult patients previously treated in one eye. The patients were better able to see in dim light, with no adverse effects.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Some formerly cohabiting couples with children keep romantic relationship
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LPfND4vNQLE/120208152250.htm
When low-income cohabiting couples with children decide to no longer live together, that doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their romantic relationship, a new study suggests.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Sound rather than sight can activate 'seeing' for the blind, say researchers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d59TXOjdX2Q/120208145955.htm
Scientists have tapped onto the visual cortex of the congenitally blind by using sensory substitution devices (SSDs), enabling the blind in effect to "see" and even describe objects. SSDs are non-invasive sensory aids that provide visual information to the blind via their existing senses. For example, using a visual-to-auditory SSD in a clinical or everyday setting, users wear a miniature video camera connected to a small computer (or smart phone) and stereo headphones. The images are converted into "soundscapes," using a predictable algorithm, allowing the user to listen to and then interpret the visual information coming from the camera.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
New image captures 'stealth merger' of dwarf galaxies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9CShAoL_kh4/120208133041.htm
New images of a nearby dwarf galaxy have revealed a dense stream of stars in its outer regions, the remains of an even smaller companion galaxy in the process of merging with its host. The host galaxy, known as NGC 4449, is the smallest primary galaxy in which a stellar stream from an ongoing merger has been identified and studied in detail.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Milky Way's black hole found grazing on asteroids
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iH-w5G8V46Y/120208133039.htm
The giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way may be vaporizing and devouring asteroids, which could explain the frequent flares observed, according to astronomers.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Study to determine whether fish oil can help prevent psychiatric disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YJpDma0kSn8/120208133037.htm
A new study was designed to test whether Omega-3 fatty acids improve clinical symptoms, and help adolescents and young adults (ages 12 to 25) who are at elevated risk for severe psychiatric disorders function better in school, work and other social environments.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Why bad immunity genes survive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2OiQlTxQfTo/120208133029.htm
Biologists have found new evidence of why mice, people and other vertebrate animals carry thousands of varieties of genes to make immune-system proteins named MHCs -- even though some of those genes make vertebrate animals susceptible to infections and to autoimmune diseases.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
After-school program can reduce alcohol use among middle school students, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LH3ppkkNE4A/120208132850.htm
A voluntary substance prevention program held after school and presented by trained facilitators can help reduce alcohol use among young adolescents, according to a new study.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Report on Texas fire urges firefighters to consider wind effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R_MyntKZWcM/120208132848.htm
Wind conditions at a fire scene can make a critical difference on the behavior of the blaze and the safety of firefighters, even indoors, according to a new report.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
New 'cell assay on a chip:' Solid results from simple means
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dzTyBwR4u6c/120208132846.htm
A research engineer combined a glass slide, plastic sheets and double-sided tape to build a "diffusion-based gradient generator", a tool to rapidly assess how changing concentrations of specific chemicals affect living cells.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Octagonal window of opportunity for carbon capture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LtdbbrwhYco/120208132844.htm
Scientists have gathered new insight into the performance of a material called a zeolite that may filter carbon dioxide far more efficiently than current industrial "scrubbers" do.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Charter service: Encasing the Magna Carta
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xQ4pBsFdrzg/120208132842.htm
You often hear about the Framers of the Constitution, but not so much the framers of the Magna Carta. They work for the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Not the authors, of course; they've been dead 700 years. But a NIST engineering team, at the behest of the National Archives, designed and built a state-of-the-art encasement and transport cart to protect the Archive's prized copy of the 1297 Magna Carta.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Timing capability added to living cell sensors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t45Vw9En0dw/120208132723.htm
Individual cells modified to act as sensors using fluorescence are already useful tools in biochemistry, but now they can add good timing to their resume.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Flipping a light switch in the cell: Quantum dots used for targeted neural activation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LRA4H6xtPh8/120208132721.htm
By harnessing quantum dots, researchers have developed a new and vastly more targeted way to stimulate neurons in the brain. Being able to switch neurons on and off and monitor how they communicate with one another is crucial for understanding -- and, ultimately, treating -- a host of brain disorders.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Unusual 'collapsing' iron superconductor sets record for its class
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dgqb66WFJdo/120208132719.htm
Scientists have found an iron-based superconductor that operates at the highest known temperature for a material in its class. The discovery inches iron-based superconductors closer to being useful in many practical applications.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Heart disease may be a risk factor for prostate cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5m-8SenSOGc/120208132717.htm
In a large analysis of men participating in a prostate drug trial, researchers found a significant correlation between coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, suggesting the two conditions may have shared causes.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Arsenic criticality poses concern for modern technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5wISsxtvEG4/120208132715.htm
Risks related to the critical nature of arsenic -- used to make high-speed computer chips that contain gallium arsenide -- outstrip those of other substances in a group of critical materials needed to sustain modern technology, a new study has found. Scientists evaluated the relative criticality of arsenic and five related metals.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
'Shish kebab' structure provides improved form of 'buckypaper'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/spr99JDfMrs/120208132713.htm
Scientists are reporting development of a new form of buckypaper, which eliminates a major drawback of these sheets of carbon nanotubes -- 50,000 times thinner than a human hair, 10 times lighter than steel, but up to 250 times stronger -- with potential uses ranging from body armor to next-generation batteries.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Lull in ship noise after Sept. 11 attacks eased stress on right whales
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_OyX22G2BEQ/120208132711.htm
Exposure to low-frequency ship noise may be associated with chronic stress in whales, according to a new study. The study, conducted in Canada's Bay of Fundy, has implications for all baleen whales in areas with heavy ship traffic, and for the recovery of the endangered North Atlantic right whale population.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Physical activity yields feelings of excitement, enthusiasm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ExGyX-dOABc/120208132709.htm
People who are more physically active report greater levels of excitement and enthusiasm than people who are less physically active, according to researchers. People also are more likely to report feelings of excitement and enthusiasm on days when they are more physically active than usual.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Bubble-powered microrockets zoom have potential to zoom through the human stomach, other acidic environments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mQX1Z75i7F0/120208132601.htm
Scientists have developed a new kind of tiny motor -- which they term a "microrocket" -- that can propel itself through acidic environments, such as the human stomach, without any external energy source, opening the way to a variety of medical and industrial applications. Their report describes the microrockets traveling at virtual warp speed for such devices. A human moving at the same speed would have to run at a clip of 400 miles per hour.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Spotlight on Carina Nebula stellar nursery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/149cZ-gjiTs/120208132559.htm
Astronomers have obtained the most detailed – and dramatic - infrared image of the Carina Nebula stellar nursery taken so far. Many previously hidden features have emerged.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Obstacles no barrier to higher speeds for worms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yluEA2L7onY/120208132555.htm
Obstacles in an organism's path can help it to move faster, not slower, researchers have found through a series of experiments and computer simulations. Their findings have implications for a better understanding of basic locomotion strategies found in biology, and the survival and propagation of the parasite that causes malaria.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Growing up on a farm directly affects regulation of the immune system, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jCOEhrVCuKU/120208132549.htm
A new study has shown, for the first time, that growing up on a farm directly affects the regulation of the immune system and causes a reduction in the immunological responses to food proteins.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Tuna and mackerel populations have reduced by 60% in the last century
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-R3MtkAvw-4/120208103226.htm
A new study shows that the impact of fishing for tuna and similar species during the last 50 years has lessened the abundance of all these populations by an average of 60%. Experts add that the majority of tuna fish have been exploited to the limits of sustainability.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Most detailed infrared image of the Carina Nebula ever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WneXlxfUzkg/120208082428.htm
ESO's Very Large Telescope has delivered the most detailed infrared image of the Carina Nebula stellar nursery taken so far. Many previously hidden features, scattered across a spectacular celestial landscape of gas, dust and young stars, have emerged. This is one of the most dramatic images ever created by the VLT.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Molecular path from internal clock to cells controlling rest and activity revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CxhI0iSd8cI/120207202813.htm
The molecular pathway that carries time-of-day signals from the body's internal clock to ultimately guide daily behavior is like a black box, says a researcher. Now, new research is taking a peek inside, describing a molecular pathway and its inner parts that connect the well-known clock neurons to cells governing rhythms of rest and activity in fruit flies.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Fall of Communism changed mathematics in US
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zxy4Gj2ueAE/120207202805.htm
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992 brought an influx of Soviet mathematicians to US institutions, and those scholars' differing areas of specialization have changed the way math is studied and taught in this country, according to new research.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Scientists develop biological computer to encrypt and decipher images
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7lLwNBQ7tPk/120207202803.htm
Scientists have developed a "biological computer" made entirely from biomolecules that is capable of deciphering images encrypted on DNA chips.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Drinking large amounts of soft drinks associated with asthma and COPD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ceee07XhQ9I/120207202801.htm
A high level of soft drink consumption is associated with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to new research.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Chlorhexidine umbilical cord care can save newborn lives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VehTtAMAogs/120207202759.htm
Cleansing a newborn's umbilical cord with chlorhexidine can reduce an infant's risk of infection and death during the first weeks of life by as much as 20 percent, according to a new study. The study is the latest in a series of studies showing that umbilical cord cleaning with chlorhexidine can save lives.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Preventing bacteria from falling in with the wrong crowd could help stop gum disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lOGwnPlz-xg/120207202628.htm
Stripping some mouth bacteria of their access key to gangs of other pathogenic oral bacteria could help prevent gum disease and tooth loss. The study suggests that this bacterial access key could be a drug target for people who are at high risk of developing gum disease.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Scientists use old theory to discover new targets in fight against breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MvKNhYHr7Ik/120207202438.htm
Reviving a theory first proposed in the late 1800s that the development of organs in the normal embryo and the development of cancers are related, scientists have studied organ development in mice to unravel how breast cancers, and perhaps other cancers, develop in people. Their findings provide new ways to predict and personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Gaining insight into a gene's protective role in Parkinson's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OeMa5lu5mso/120207202306.htm
Researchers have identified how a specific gene protects dopamine-producing neurons from dying in both animal models and in cultures of human neurons.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Scared of a younger rival? Not for some male songbirds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5JNEDJ6KKW8/120207202302.htm
When mature male white-crowned sparrows duel to win a mate or a nesting territory, a young bird just doesn’t get much respect.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Discovery uses 'fracture putty' to repair broken bone in days
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9jgVaXValRw/120207193407.htm
Broken bones in humans and animals are painful and often take months to heal. New research shows promise to shorten healing time significantly and revolutionize the course of fracture treatment.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Ancient seagrass holds secrets of the oldest living organism on Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dst-riQot0I/120207152545.htm
It's big, it's old and it lives under the sea -- and now an international research collaboration has confirmed that an ancient seagrass holds the secrets of the oldest living organism on Earth. Ancient giant Posidonia oceanica reproduces asexually, generating clones of itself. A single organism -- which has been found to span up to 15 kilometers in width and reach more than 6,000 metric tonnes in mass -- may well be more than 100,000 years old.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Mars Express radar yields strong evidence of ocean that once covered part of Red Planet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bc-KQF7xxeE/120207151800.htm
ESA's Mars Express has returned strong evidence for an ocean once covering part of Mars. Using radar, it has detected sediments reminiscent of an ocean floor within the boundaries of previously identified, ancient shorelines on Mars.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
2011 shark attacks remain steady, deaths highest since 1993
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VvXCrPyaXoQ/120207142144.htm
Shark attacks in the US declined in 2011, but worldwide fatalities reached a two-decade high, according to the a new report.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Ovarian cancer risk related to inherited inflammation genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AjDOkS6lnh8/120207133823.htm
Genes that are known to be involved in inflammation were found to be related to risk of ovarian cancer.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Innovation promises expanded roles for microsensors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_VHujqiwtIQ/120207133752.htm
Researchers have learned how to improve the performance of sensors that use tiny vibrating microcantilevers to detect chemical and biological agents for applications from national security to food processing.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
New diet: Top off breakfast with -- chocolate cake?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6ZWhUlmMhyU/120207133750.htm
In a study of nearly 200 clinically obese, non-diabetic adults, a researcher found that a 600-calorie breakfast that includes dessert as well as proteins and carbohydrates can help dieters lose weight and keep it off over the long term. Her research indicates that such a morning meal staves off cravings and defuses psychological addictions to sweet foods.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Vitamin D deficiency high among trauma patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D5q97CajDlo/120207133748.htm
New research has found that 77 percent of trauma patients had deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
A bronze Russian doll: The metal in the metal in the metal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HUk8HHhev18/120207133746.htm
Just like in the Russian wooden toy, a hull of 12 copper atoms encases a single tin atom. This hull is, in turn, enveloped by 20 further tin atoms. Scientists have now generated these spatial structures built up in three layers as isolated metal clusters in alloys. With their large surfaces these structures can serve as highly efficient catalysts.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Knee replacement may lower a patient's risk for mortality and heart failure, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YIU82QDmVTc/120207133614.htm
New research highlights the benefits of total knee replacement.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Competitive soccer linked to increased injuries and menstrual dysfunction in girls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QS4JJqf1mgg/120207133610.htm
In the US, there are nearly three million youth soccer players, and half of them are female. New research has found that despite reporting appropriate body perception and attitudes toward eating, elite youth soccer athletes face an increased risk for delayed or irregular menstruation.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Entire genome of extinct human decoded from fossil
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GSeWCxx98o8/120207133602.htm
Scientists have completed the genome sequence of a Denisovan, a representative of an Asian group of extinct humans related to Neanderthals.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Scientists 'record' magnetic breakthrough
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6pzhQw0I0fY/120207133506.htm
Scientists have demonstrated a revolutionary new way of magnetic recording which will allow information to be processed hundreds of times faster than by current hard drive technology.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Americans' knowledge of polar regions up, but not their concern
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/plLy_5pKcC4/120207121930.htm
Americans’ knowledge of facts about the polar regions of the globe has increased since 2006, but this increase in knowledge has not translated into more concern about changing polar environments, according to new research.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
As Valentine's day approaches, cardiologist describes broken heart syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zy0c2T3eEtU/120207121928.htm
People who have been unlucky in love are said to suffer from a "broken heart." A broken heart is an actual medical condition. Broken heart syndrome occurs during highly stressful or emotional times, such as a painful breakup, the death of a spouse or the loss of a job.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
First remote-control leg lengthening implant cleared by the FDA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WdLklc7Wv54/120207121926.htm
A revolutionary new limb lengthening system developed by orthopedic surgeons represents a major advancement in the treatment of limb deformities.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
New non-invasive fat removal technologies offer alternative to liposuction for removing stubborn fat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mc1UW63MAH0/120207121818.htm
Dermatologists are finding that the introduction of non-invasive fat removal technologies is opening the door for more people who are not candidates for liposuction to remove stubborn fat, safely and effectively.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Lasers lighting the way for enhanced treatment of melasma and tattoo removal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8aZg6PXLujs/120207121816.htm
On the surface, it would seem as though the skin condition melasma and tattoos would have little in common. However, they both affect a person’s skin, can be quite difficult to treat or remove and, now, dermatologists are discovering new laser therapies which enhance treatment for both conditions.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
New anti-aging treatments make it easier to turn back the clock
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FpMEyYwlzVE/120207121814.htm
As we age, our skin undergoes a number of changes affecting its texture, volume and appearance. Fortunately, dermatologists can use fillers or lasers to correct the most notable signs of aging and can recommend skin care products with added ingredients that can further repair damaged skin.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Study of live human neurons reveals Parkinson's origins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HlEKh0eSIfg/120207121812.htm
Parkinson’s disease researchers have discovered how mutations in the parkin gene cause the disease, which afflicts at least 500,000 Americans and for which there is no cure.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Low-cost instrument developed by high school students could aid severe weather research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1i9UzJaftd8/120207121810.htm
A group of high school students designed, built and tested a low-cost device that monitors the buildup of electrical charge in clouds. A network of such field mill devices could be used to learn more about the lightning that is part of severe weather.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Why bad immunity genes survive: Study implicates arms race between genes and germs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RK0COYlYnuk/120207121808.htm
Biologists have found new evidence for why mice, people and other vertebrate animals carry thousands of varieties of genes to make immune-system proteins named MHCs -- even though some of those genes make us sick.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
An electronic green thumb
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/741rHwt9UwI/120207100139.htm
If sensors are supposed to communicate with each other to compare the measured data and to secure them, then, in the future, a network of distributed sensor nodes will aid in that: the network ensures problem-free communication between the sensors. For example, they can be used to reliably monitor the watering of plants.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
The dark path to antisocial personality disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NrDIAY4YOBM/120207100008.htm
With no lab tests to guide the clinician, psychiatric diagnostics is challenging and controversial. Antisocial personality disorder is defined as "a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood," according to a standard definition. But, until now, no one has studied the dimensional structure associated with the DSM antisocial personality disorder criteria.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Why the middle finger has such a slow connection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XMYlDW8Iz3w/120207100004.htm
Each part of the body has its own nerve cell area in the brain -- we therefore have a map of our bodies in our heads. The functional significance of these maps is largely unclear. What effects they can have is now shown by neuroscientists through reaction time measurements combined with learning experiments and "computational modeling." They have been able to demonstrate that inhibitory influences of neighboring "finger nerve cells" affect the reaction time of a finger.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Rapid bone loss as possible side effect of anti-obesity drug
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c4AtL6ykhfs/120207095635.htm
An endocrine hormone used in clinical trials as an anti-obesity and anti-diabetes drug causes significant and rapid bone loss in mice, raising concerns about its safe use, researchers have shown.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Super dog: Bud Light’s rescue dog ‘Weego’ fetches Cocky Award
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7260tX88PkQ/120207095633.htm
Students in the nation's oldest and maybe still the only course on Super Bowl Advertising rated the big game's commercials in the 9th annual Super Ad Poll.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
New stinky flower: Our amorphophallus is smaller, but it stinks like its big cousin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JnRZrf3lUzg/120207095539.htm
The famed “corpse flower” plant – known for its giant size, rotten-meat odor and phallic shape – has a new, smaller relative: A botanist has discovered a new species of Amorphophallus that is one-fourth as tall but just as stinky.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Young love really can hurt: Parents can use Valentine's month to teach safe dating for teens
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FiiK2RqX-SQ/120207095535.htm
There’s a dark side to puppy love. Teen dating: it’s a subject that causes many parents to shudder and shy away, but parents can use Valentine’s Day to start important conversations with their teens or pre-teens. There are ways to make dating and relationships safer for them – not just now but throughout their lives.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Engineers boost computer processor performance by over 20 percent
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cm0KiO98sUc/120207095531.htm
Researchers have developed a new technique that allows graphics processing units (GPUs) and central processing units (CPUs) on a single chip to collaborate – boosting processor performance by an average of more than 20 percent.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Fall monitoring device could help keep seniors safer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hbrTuJOaf1U/120207095529.htm
It’s a scenario played out all too frequently: Adult children, worried about the safety of their aging parents, foist devices on them to monitor their safety. And their parents, resentful of having their privacy invaded and losing their independence, resist fiercely. A tiny new devise should overcome these problems.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Redder ladybirds more deadly, say scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PZZGYEn9yyY/120206214228.htm
A ladybird's color indicates how well-fed and how toxic it is, according to scientists. This research directly shows that differences between animals' warning signals reveal how poisonous individuals are to predators. The study shows that redder ladybirds are more poisonous than their paler peers and reveals that this variation is directly linked to diet in early life, with better-fed ladybirds being more visible and more deadly.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Invasive alien predator causes rapid declines of European ladybugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fq649Cvb_aw/120206214226.htm
A new study provides compelling evidence that the arrival of the invasive non-native harlequin ladybird (ladybug) to mainland Europe and subsequent spread has led to a rapid decline in historically-widespread species of ladybird in Britain, Belgium and Switzerland. The analysis is further evidence that harlequin ladybirds are displacing some native ladybirds, most probably through predation and competition.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Metabolic 'breathalyzer' reveals early signs of disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tIfO_O1GCH0/120206174213.htm
The future of disease diagnosis may lie in a “breathalyzer”-like technology currently under development.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Big jolt to California economy with new tax on cigarettes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GFTbf2gb1Kc/120206174211.htm
A new analysis has found that a state ballot initiative to increase the cigarette tax would create about 12,000 jobs and nearly $2 billion in new economic activity in California.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Three 'targeted' cancer drugs raise risk of fatal side effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hz0RIYoivZ8/120206174209.htm
Treatment with three "targeted" cancer drugs has been linked to a slightly elevated chance of fatal side effects, according to a new analysis. These risks remain low, but they should be factored in when developing patients’ treatment plans.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Who Will Benefit From Stroke Drug? New Score Can Help Decide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JPPeRkl0g8g/120206174207.htm
A new scoring method can help doctors quickly decide which stroke patients will respond well to the clot-busting drug alteplase, according to a new study.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Smoking associated with more rapid cognitive decline in men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l-vm3e7ffE8/120206164624.htm
Smoking in men appears to be associated with more rapid cognitive decline, according to a new report.
Wed, 8 Feb 12
Clues to common birth defect found in gene expression data
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_lXJRTXfJQA/120206154120.htm
Researchers have uncovered 27 new candidate genes for congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a common and often deadly birth defect. Their sophisticated data-filtering strategy offers a new, efficient and potentially game-changing approach to gene discovery.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Gene mutation discovery sparks hope for effective endometriosis screening
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W69A3n5zhMw/120206174354.htm
Researchers have, for the first time, described the genetic basis of endometriosis, a condition affecting millions of women that is marked by chronic pelvic pain and infertility. The researchers' discovery of a new gene mutation provides hope for new screening methods.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Patterns in sand dunes explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FnmZ3e6n-Ag/120206174350.htm
In a study of the harsh but beautiful White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, researchers have uncovered a unifying mechanism to explain dune patterns. The new work represents a contribution to basic science, but the findings may also hold implications for identifying when dune landscapes like those in Nebraska's Sand Hills may reach a "tipping point" under climate change, going from valuable grazing land to barren desert.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Why common tree is toxic to snowshoe hares
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y6x5QseVK7w/120206174256.htm
Biologists have uncovered why the chemical defenses in birch, a common type of tree found in North America, are toxic to snowshoe hares.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
School Closures Slow Spread of pH1N1
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fbsXpk5IKHk/120206174205.htm
Using high-quality data about the incidence of influenza infections in Alberta during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, the researchers show that when schools closed for the summer, the transmission of infection from person to person was sharply reduced.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Domestic cats, and wild bobcats and pumas, living in same area have same diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X6ABznmZW5U/120206164632.htm
Scientists found evidence that domestic cats and wild cats that share the same outdoor areas in urban environments also can share diseases such as Bartonellosis and Toxoplasmosis. Both can be spread from cats to people.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
A bug's (sex) life: Diving beetles offer unexpected clues about sexual selection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U3oTlI7rcic/120206154122.htm
Studies of diving beetles suggest sperm evolution may be driven by changes in female reproductive organs, challenging the paradigm of post-mating sexual selection being driven mostly by competition among sperm. In the process, the researchers discovered an unexpected and stunning variety of sperm form and behavior.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Copper + love chemical = big sulfur stink
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cRAVXCMWt-A/120206154116.htm
When a researcher set out to study a chemical in male mouse urine called MTMT that attracts female mice, he didn't think he would stumble into a new field of study. But the research has led scientists to the discovery that it's the copper in our bodies that makes mammals recoil from sulfur chemical smells.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Fossil cricket reveals Jurassic love song
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fuNjYZvPTnA/120206154114.htm
The love song of an extinct cricket that lived 165 million years ago has been brought back to life by scientists. The song – possibly the most ancient known musical song documented to date – was reconstructed from microscopic wing features on a fossil discovered in North East China. It allows us to listen to one of the sounds that would have been heard by dinosaurs and other creatures roaming Jurassic forests at night.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
NASA's Juno spacecraft refines its path to Jupiter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CtNXWqR3go0/120206145903.htm
NASA's solar-powered Juno spacecraft successfully refined its flight path Feb. 1 with the mission's first trajectory correction maneuver. The maneuver is the first of a dozen planned rocket firings that, over the next five years, will keep Juno on course for its rendezvous with Jupiter.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Medical debt keeps rising, new report shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D1MyUke31gg/120206144133.htm
A comprehensive new report on health insurance shows the so-called Great Recession caused hundreds of thousands of Californians to lose coverage and acquire medical debt.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Discovery predicts patient sensitivity to important drug target in deadly brain cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DDC_Faaj_Ww/120206144129.htm
A recent discovery enables the prediction of patient sensitivity to proposed drug therapies for glioblastoma – the most common and most aggressive malignant brain tumor in humans.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
More environmental rules needed for shale gas, says geophysicist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-5EvGjQxr44/120206144127.htm
In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama praised the potential of the country's tremendous supply of natural gas buried in shale. But the "Halliburton exclusion" passed by Congress says gas companies don't have to disclose the chemicals used in fracturing fluids. That was a real mistake because it makes the public needlessly paranoid, says a geophysicist.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
PET techniques provide more accurate diagnosis, prognosis in challenging breast cancer cases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ey9e1JPlXAA/120206143956.htm
Researchers are revealing how molecular imaging can be used to solve mysteries about difficult cases of breast cancer. One recent article focuses on an imaging agent that targets estrogen receptors in estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer patients with formerly inconclusive assessments, and the second highlights a different imaging agent's ability to help predict the prognosis for patients undergoing chemotherapy for a very aggressive type of breast cancer.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Satellite tracking reveals sea turtle feeding hotspots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZsOjkIjRdG0/120206143952.htm
Satellite tracking of threatened loggerhead sea turtles has revealed two previously unknown feeding "hotspots" in the Gulf of Mexico that are providing important habitat for at least three separate populations of the turtles.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Consumers willing to buy sustainable US cotton, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MQbjWOG7CB8/120206143950.htm
Researchers have found that United States consumers are more willing to buy clothing made from sustainably grown US cotton than apparel produced using conventional practices in an unknown location.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
It's not solitaire: Brain activity differs when one plays against others
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pJRFJ2Eqk4k/120206143948.htm
Researchers have found a way to study how our brains assess the behavior -- and likely future actions -- of others during competitive social interactions. Their study is the first to use a computational approach to tease out differing patterns of brain activity during these interactions, the researchers report.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Researchers examine consequences of non-intervention for infectious disease in African great apes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1EQnsq48_X4/120206143946.htm
Infectious disease has joined poaching and habitat loss as a major threat to the survival of African great apes as they have become restricted to ever-smaller populations. Despite the work of dedicated conservationists, efforts to save our closest living relatives from ecological extinction are largely failing, and new scientific approaches are necessary to analyze major threats and find innovative solutions.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Exercise triggers stem cells in muscle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YL_R_G2q1Wc/120206143944.htm
Researchers have determined that an adult stem cell present in muscle is responsive to exercise, a discovery that may provide a link between exercise and muscle health. The findings could lead to new therapeutic techniques using these cells to rehabilitate injured muscle and prevent or restore muscle loss with age.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Why people can hold visual information in great detail in their working memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/obgyYkrLefg/120206143817.htm
A new study may explain why people can hold visual information in great detail in their working memory.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Raw milk is a dangerous raw deal for farmers and consumers, experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dmDSuNf1cQE/120206143815.htm
Researchers and experts on food safety have commented on the danger presented to farmers and consumers by the raw milk movement.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Key finding in stem cell self-renewal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fV10F-ZEGYk/120206122747.htm
Scientists have proposed a mechanism for the control of whether embryonic stem cells continue to proliferate and stay stem cells, or differentiate into adult cells like brain, liver or skin. The work has implications in two areas. In cancer treatment, it is desirable to inhibit cell proliferation.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
New species of bamboo-feeding plant lice found in Costa Rica
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_Q5A_7-bP-E/120206122618.htm
Several periods of field work during 2008 have led to the discovery of a new species of bamboo-feeding plant lice in Costa Rica's high-altitude region Cerro de la Muerte. The discovery was made thanks to molecular data analysis of mitochondrial DNA. The collected records have also increased the overall knowledge of plant lice (one of the most dangerous agricultural pests worldwide) from the region with more that 20 percent.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Playing RFID tag with sheets of paper
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3RNUSoiUQ4U/120206102952.htm
Researchers in France have developed a way to deposit a thin aluminum RFID tag onto paper that not only reduces the amount of metal needed for the tag, and so the cost, but could open up RFID tagging to many more systems, even allowing a single printed sheet or flyer to be tagged.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Low levels of lipid antibodies increase complications following heart attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XaS5SlbraDQ/120206102950.htm
Coronary patients with low levels of an immune system antibody called anti-PC, which neutralizes parts of the "bad" cholesterol, run a greater risk of suffering complications following an acute cardiac episode and thus of premature death.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
East views the world differently to West
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IA12mUzLTv4/120206102948.htm
Cultural differences between the West and East are well documented, but a study shows that concrete differences also exist in how British and Chinese people recognize people and the world around them. Easterners really do look at the world differently to Westerners, according to new research.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Combined approach to global health has benefits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wiqXTTMKyBI/120206092635.htm
A new analysis demonstrates that confronting several diseases at once is a viable way to make the most of thinly stretched donor dollars and national health care budgets, and help save more lives.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Engineers weld nanowires with light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yNQlvy-0Lpo/120206092633.htm
At the nano level, researchers have discovered a new way to weld together meshes of tiny wires. Their work could lead to exciting new electronics and solar applications. To succeed, they called upon plasmonics.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Strategy shift with age can lead to navigational difficulties
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AYhOd_0s_-A/120206092628.htm
A researcher believes studying people's ability to find their way around may help explain why loss of mental capacity occurs with age.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Children hospitalized at alarming rate due to abuse, U.S. study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mASnibt0fzE/120206092626.htm
In one year alone, over 4,500 children in the United States were hospitalized due to child abuse, and 300 of them died of their injuries, researchers report in a new study.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Positive parenting during early childhood may prevent obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bNigivcD-tw/120206092555.htm
Programs that support parents during their child’s early years hold promise for obesity prevention, according to a new study.
Tue, 7 Feb 12
Did your surgeons miss something? New system to prevent retained surgical items
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YuOJUEYsfAE/120206092550.htm
It may sound like something from a TV medical drama, but the incidence of surgeons leaving something behind in the body is very real at hospitals across the country. But researchers have now created a new system using state-of-the-art technologies to insure that no foreign objects are left behind during surgery.
Mon, 6 Feb 12
Key to immune cell's 'internal guidance' system discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g4TLSsYnP-Y/120205163806.htm
Researchers have discovered the molecular pathway that enables receptors inside immune cells to find, and flag, fragments of pathogens trying to invade a host. The discovery of the role played by the molecule CD74 could help immunologists investigate treatments that offer better immune responses against cancers, viruses and bacteria, and lead to more efficient vaccines.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Whole exome sequencing identifies cause of metabolic disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QcrvPH3PCDk/120203182621.htm
Sequencing a patient's entire genome to discover the source of his or her disease is not routine, but geneticists are getting close. A case report shows how researchers can combine a simple blood test with an "executive summary" scan of the genome to diagnose a severe glycosylation disorder.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Discovery of extremely long-lived proteins may provide insight into cell aging and neurodegenerative diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nHVpYXNxnbA/120203180905.htm
One of the big mysteries in biology is why cells age. Now scientists report that they have discovered a weakness in a component of brain cells that may explain how the aging process occurs in the brain.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
A lonely heart can make you sick: Middle aged divorced women vulnerable to contracting HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kA6QKCs9-R4/120203180903.htm
Newly divorced middle aged women are more vulnerable to contract HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, according to new research, because they tend to let their guard down with new sexual partners and avoid using protection since they are not afraid of getting pregnant.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Regular use of vitamin and mineral supplements could reduce the risk of colon cancer, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/08P_BucMhZk/120203141509.htm
Could the use of vitamin and mineral supplements in a regular diet help to reduce the risk of colon cancer and protect against carcinogens? A study published in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology found that rats given regular multivitamin and mineral supplements showed a significantly lower risk of developing colon cancer when they were exposed to carcinogens.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
The complex relationship between memory and silence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4MgJEeHiuBE/120203141507.htm
People who suffer a traumatic experience often don't talk about it, and many forget it over time. But not talking about something doesn't always mean you'll forget it; if you try to force yourself not to think about white bears, soon you'll be imagining polar bears doing the polka. A group of psychological scientists explore the relationship between silence and memories.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Schooling protects refugee children from disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2cE8ToTGxGY/120203141505.htm
Refugee children have scant access to medical care and are particularly vulnerable to disease. Fresh research results show that just a few hours of schooling a week may have a pronounced positive impact on their health not only in childhood but later in life when they achieve adulthood.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Placebo effect: New study shows how to boost the power of pain relief, without drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fzEkZnT3b7k/120203141503.htm
Placebos reduce pain by creating an expectation of relief. Distraction -- say, doing a puzzle -- relieves it by keeping the brain busy. But do they use the same brain processes? Neuromaging suggests they do. When applying a placebo, scientists see activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. That's the part of the brain that controls high-level cognitive functions like working memory and attention -- which is what you use to do that distracting puzzle.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
High-precision map of Milky Way's magnetic fields charted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hjj3aku2SKk/120203141501.htm
Scientists have pooled their radio observations into a database, producing the highest precision map to date of the magnetic field within our own Milky Way galaxy.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Warfarin and aspirin are similar in heart failure treatment, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EsETn_xYMjo/120203141459.htm
In the largest and longest head-to-head comparison of two anti-clotting medications, warfarin and aspirin were similar in preventing deaths and strokes in heart failure patients with normal heart rhythm, according to new research.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Rare mutations may help explain aneurysm in high-risk families
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J4t9CRfytYs/120203141457.htm
An innovative approach to genome screening has provided clues about rare mutations that may make people susceptible to brain aneurysms, predisposing them to brain bleeds, according to preliminary research.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
New hope for patients with brain tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jRA5h2vvQss/120203141105.htm
In the United States, each year, approximately 10,000 patients are affected by recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Now, a novel investigational device – available only at clinical trial sites – is offering new hope to these patients.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
New drug doesn't improve disability among stroke patients, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QHKsBH3TsKE/120203113322.htm
A new drug that showed promise in animal studies and an early clinical trial didn't improve disability among stroke patients, according to new research.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Clopidogrel with aspirin doesn't prevent more small strokes, may increase risk of bleeding and death, researchers report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7AhMEE7quIM/120203113319.htm
The anti-blood clot regimen that adds the drug clopidogrel (Plavix) to aspirin treatment is unlikely to prevent recurrent strokes and may increase the risk of bleeding and death in patients with subcortical stroke, according to new research.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
New device performs better than old for removing blood clots, research shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m9_WwqO0Dew/120203113317.htm
An experimental blood clot-removing device outperformed the FDA-approved MERCI; retriever device, according to new research.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Preference for fatty foods may have genetic roots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jAH2PdXOxyg/120203113312.htm
A preference for fatty foods has a genetic basis, according to researchers, who discovered that people with certain forms of the CD36 gene may like high-fat foods more than those who have other forms of this gene.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Lower levels of sunlight exposure link to allergy and eczema in children, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lG0Iij5qFBQ/120203113310.htm
Increased exposure to sunlight may reduce the risk of both food allergies and eczema in children, according to a new scientific study.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Global extinction: Gradual doom is just as bad as abrupt
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kv0OqcolWqA/120203113308.htm
Around 250 million years ago, most life on Earth was wiped out in an extinction known as the "Great Dying." Geologists have learned that the end came slowly from thousands of centuries of volcanic activity.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
A battle of the vampires, 20 million years ago?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RVabThd-exQ/120203102414.htm
They are tiny, ugly, disease-carrying little blood-suckers that most people have never seen or heard of, but a new discovery in a one-of-a-kind fossil shows that "bat flies" have been doing their noxious business with bats for at least 20 million years.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
To make a social robot, key is satisfying the human mind
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YQ-kgIg4mMU/120203101153.htm
Understanding the human mind is the key to social robotics, and researchers describe what we can expect from this field in the future.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
New procedure repairs severed nerves in minutes, restoring limb use in days or weeks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YRKgMMe-C8w/120203092423.htm
Scientists believe a new procedure to repair severed nerves could result in patients recovering in days or weeks, rather than months or years. The team used a cellular mechanism similar to that used by many invertebrates to repair damage to nerve axons.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Classic portrait of a barred spiral galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N4mrnzF2UbE/120203092421.htm
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken a picture of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1073, which is found in the constellation of Cetus (The Sea Monster). Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is a similar barred spiral, and the study of galaxies such as NGC 1073 helps astronomers learn more about our celestial home.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
New technology to tackle treatment-resistant cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n7OX9TrjavY/120203092033.htm
Free-flowing cancer cells have been mapped with unprecedented accuracy in the bloodstream of patients with prostate, breast and pancreatic cancer, using a brand new approach, in an attempt to assess and control the disease as it spreads in real time through the body, and solve the problem of predicting response and resistance to therapies. In comparison to a previous generation of systems, the researchers state their test showed a significantly greater number of high-definition circulating tumour cells (HD-CTCs), in a higher proportion of patients, by using a computing-intensive method that enables them to look at millions of normal cells and find the rare cancer cells among them.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Schizophrenia: When hallucinatory voices suppress real ones, new electronic application may help
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/30pc1SRKqNk/120203092031.htm
When a patient afflicted with schizophrenia hears inner voices something is taking place inside the brain that prevents the individual from perceiving real voices. A simple electronic application may help the patient learn to shift focus.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Surface of Mars an unlikely place for life after 600-million-year drought, say scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iT_Cyokv9NM/120203092006.htm
Mars may have been arid for more than 600 million years, making it too hostile for any life to survive on the planet’s surface, according to researchers who have been carrying out the painstaking task of analyzing individual particles of Martian soil.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Collective action: Occupied genetic switches hold clues to cells' history
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-D4fHielslI/120203092000.htm
If you wanted to draw your family tree, you could start by searching for people who share your surname. Cells, of course, don’t have surnames, but scientists have found that genetic switches called enhancers, and the molecules that activate those switches – transcription factors – can be used in a similar way, as clues to a cell’s developmental history. The study also unveils a new model for how enhancers function.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Can immune cells from healthy people pulverize cancer?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WyFxCNS6Cs0/120203091815.htm
Immune cells from healthy individuals can be the new immune cure for cancer. This treatment can kill cancer cells without destroying neighboring cells. The hope is to eradicate cancer for ever.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Breastfeeding linked to improved lung function at school-age, especially with asthmatic mothers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gUwftTS4ajc/120203091403.htm
Breastfeeding is associated with improved lung function at school age, particularly in children of asthmatic mothers, according to a new study.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
New 'biopsy in a blood test' to detect cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6tUbV4O9ER4/120202201744.htm
Scientists and cancer physicians have successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of an advanced blood test for detecting and analyzing circulating tumor cells -- breakaway cells from patients' solid tumors -- from cancer patients. The findings show that the highly sensitive blood analysis provides information that may soon be comparable to that from some types of surgical biopsies.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
Malaria kills nearly twice as many people than previously thought, but deaths declining rapidly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bCfmTDCOb5g/120202201740.htm
Malaria is killing more people worldwide than previously thought -- 1.2 million -- but the number of deaths has fallen rapidly as efforts to combat the disease have ramped up, according to new research. Researchers say that deaths from malaria have been missed by previous studies because of the assumption that the disease mainly kills children under age five.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
How to tell apart the forgetful from those at risk of Alzheimer’s disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SIXrdB5xvmI/120202201600.htm
It can be difficult to distinguish between people with normal age-associated memory loss and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However people with aMCI are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and identification of these people would mean that they could begin treatment as early as possible. New research shows that specific questions, included as part of a questionnaire designed to help diagnose AD, are also able to discriminate between normal memory loss and aMCI.
Sat, 4 Feb 12
U.S. counties with thriving small businesses have healthier residents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iFbjhp46CpM/120202201511.htm
U.S. counties and parishes with a greater concentration of small, locally-owned businesses have healthier populations — with lower rates of mortality, obesity and diabetes — than do those that rely on large companies with “absentee” owners, according to a national study.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
New RNA-based therapeutic strategies for controlling gene expression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/94-KKGu842I/120202164825.htm
Small RNA-based nucleic acid drugs represent a promising new class of therapeutic agents for silencing abnormal or overactive disease-causing genes, and researchers have discovered new mechanisms by which RNA drugs can control gene activity.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Football findings suggest concussions caused by series of hits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0izLAorv_Mg/120202164823.htm
A two-year study of high school football players suggests that concussions are likely caused by many hits over time and not from a single blow to the head, as commonly believed.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Google Earth ocean terrain receives major update
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JS9aWbSWwpQ/120202164819.htm
Internet information giant Google updated ocean data in its Google Earth application this week, reflecting new bathymetry.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Untangling the mysteries of Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NG541AD0xBE/120202151725.htm
Researchers have found new evidence that confirms the significance of a protein that neuroscientists call tau to the development of Alzheimer's disease. While earlier studies have focused on tau's aggregation into twisted structures known as "neurofibrillary tangles," the new work emphasizes intermediary steps between single protein units and the much larger tangles – small assemblages of two, three, four or more proteins, which the investigators believe are the most toxic entities in Alzheimer's.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
DNA test that identifies Down syndrome in pregnancy can also detect trisomy 18 and trisomy 13
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FnLxOuasMtk/120202151723.htm
A recent study shows that a new DNA test that identifies Down syndrome in pregnancy can also detect trisomies 18 and 13.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Unraveling a butterfly's aerial antics could help builders of bug-size flying robots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d_zxkhx51CU/120202151608.htm
By figuring out how butterflies flutter among flowers with amazing grace and agility, researchers hope to help build small airborne robots that can mimic those maneuvers.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
New super-Earth detected within the habitable zone of a nearby cool star
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZtzDZqk_dlA/120202151434.htm
Sientists have discovered a potentially habitable super-Earth orbiting a nearby star. The star is a member of a triple star system and has a different makeup than our Sun, being relatively lacking in metallic elements. This discovery demonstrates that habitable planets could form in a greater variety of environments than previously believed.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Why red wine can be healthy: Probable mechanism underlying resveratrol activity uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/itqCxq0uZSc/120202151133.htm
Researchers have identified how resveratrol, a naturally occurring chemical found in red wine and other plant products, may confer its health benefits. The authors present evidence that resveratrol does not directly activate sirtuin 1, a protein associated with aging. Rather, the authors found that resveratrol inhibits certain types of proteins known as phosphodiesterases (PDEs), enzymes that help regulate cell energy.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Castaway lizards provide insight into elusive evolutionary process, founder effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E8ziHxEUcwA/120202151131.htm
A biologist who released lizards on tiny uninhabited islands in the Bahamas has shed light on the interaction between evolutionary processes that are seldom observed. He found that the lizards' genetic and morphological traits were determined by both natural selection and a phenomenon called founder effects, which occur when species colonize new territory.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Coffee consumption reduces fibrosis risk in those with fatty liver disease, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TGYH7vIPhaU/120202151029.htm
Caffeine consumption has long been associated with decreased risk of liver disease and reduced fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Now, new research confirms that coffee caffeine consumption reduces the risk of advanced fibrosis in those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. New findings show that increased coffee intake, specifically among patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, decreases risk of hepatic fibrosis.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Hubble zooms in on a magnified galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jv_nnLM725Q/120202150821.htm
Astronomers aimed Hubble at one of the most striking examples of gravitational lensing, a nearly 90-degree arc of light in the galaxy cluster RCS2 032727-132623. Hubble's view of the distant background galaxy, which lies nearly 10 billion light-years away, is significantly more detailed than could ever be achieved without the help of the gravitational lens.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Sickle cell anemia stroke prevention efforts may have decreased racial disparities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IhSDJtVD9UA/120202094604.htm
The disparity in stroke-related deaths among black and white children dramatically narrowed after prevention strategies changed to include ultrasound screening and chronic blood transfusions for children with sickle cell anemia, according to new research.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Erratic heart rhythm may account for some unexplained strokes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sNFH4jIHM6M/120202094600.htm
Occasional erratic heart rhythms appear to cause about one-fifth of strokes for which a cause is not readily established.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Anemia may more than triple your risk of dying after a stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4XuUqKr1i4Y/120202094558.htm
Being anemic could more than triple your risk of dying within a year after having a stroke, according to new research.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Do black holes help stars form?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rtiBhyflq04/120202094328.htm
The center of just about every galaxy is thought to host a black hole, some with masses of thousands of millions of Suns and consequently strong gravitational pulls that disrupt material around them. They had been thought to hinder the birth of stars, but now astronomers studying the nearby galaxy Centaurus A have found quite the opposite: a black hole that seems to be helping stars to form.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Men behaving nicely: Selfless acts by men increase when attractive women are nearby
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3lw9CIsPXCA/120202093836.htm
Men put on their best behavior when attractive ladies are close by. When the scenario is reversed however, the behavior of women remains the same.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Human immune cells react sensitively to 'stress'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X4q8phb8-c8/120202093834.htm
Scientists have demonstrated for the first time that certain cells circulating in human blood -- so-called monocytes -- are extremely sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS). They were also able to clarify the reason for this: ROS are aggressive forms of oxygen that are generated during states of "oxidative stress" and play a significant role in various diseases.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Eating together? Simply a matter of adapting
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pWrKkNt8UyM/120202093828.htm
Women dining together finely tune their eating behavior to that of their dining partner. Rather than eating at their own pace, they tend to take bites at the same time as the person sitting across the table.
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Young children exposed to anesthesia multiple times show elevated rates of ADHD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IDyX5-JiZUI/120202092259.htm
Researchers have found that multiple exposures to anesthesia at a young age are associated with higher rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Fri, 3 Feb 12
Rearranging the cell's skeleton: Small molecules at the cell’s membrane enable cell movement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FPWnxUozW5Q/120202092249.htm
Cell biologists have identified key steps in how certain molecules alter a cell’s skeletal shape and drive the cell’s movement.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
NASA mission returns first video from moon's far side
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1FT0CQNSP_M/120201182149.htm
A camera aboard one of NASA's twin Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) lunar spacecraft has returned its first unique view of the far side of the moon. MoonKAM, or Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students, will be used by students nationwide to select lunar images for study.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Facebook is not such a good thing for those with low self-esteem, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ug-Bb6RXWEk/120201181459.htm
In theory, the social networking website Facebook could be great for people with low self-esteem. Sharing is important for improving friendships. But in practice, people with low self-esteem seem to behave counterproductively, bombarding their friends with negative tidbits about their lives and making themselves less likeable, according to a new study.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
NASA's GCPEx mission: What we don't know about snow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KPCElIkri9g/120201181457.htm
NASA's GCPEx science team is collecting as much data as they can to improve understanding of snow dynamics inside clouds, because they relate to how snow moves through Earth's water and climate cycles.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Building a better light bulb: Energy efficient organic LEDs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yjMqWdh5NKM/120201181455.htm
Incandescent light bulbs are energy hogs, but many people prefer them for the cozy quality of light they emit. Scientists in Germany have set out to build energy efficient organic LED (OLED) lights that could rival incandescent bulbs in white-light color quality.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Here is what real commitment to your marriage means
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HlxCH95jbyk/120201181453.htm
What does being committed to your marriage really mean? A psychology professors answer this question in a new study based on their analysis of 172 married couples over the first 11 years of marriage.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Precision time: A matter of atoms, clocks, and statistics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xJZxdpIVvlo/120201181451.htm
The ability to accurately measure a second in time is at the heart of many essential technologies; the most recognizable may be the Global Positioning System (GPS). A new paper addresses how achieving a stable and coordinated global measure of time requires more than just the world's most accurate timepieces; it also requires approximately 400 atomic clocks working as an ensemble.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Powering pacemakers with heartbeat vibrations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_zWH_lm6Bvw/120201181449.htm
Aerospace engineers have developed a prototype device that could power a pacemaker using a source that is surprisingly close to the heart of the matter: vibrations in the chest cavity that are due mainly to heartbeats.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Are nuisance jellyfish really taking over the world's oceans?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6wpuUiFIZ0k/120201181222.htm
Evidence is lacking that populations of jellyfish and similar gelatinous plankton are surging in numbers globally and will likely dominate the seas in coming decades. Rather, increasing scientific and media interest as well as the lack of good baseline data seem to explain the widespread perception of an increase.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Global experts question claims about jellyfish populations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XxpV1w_PIPo/120201181220.htm
Blooms, or proliferation, of jellyfish have shown a substantial, visible impact on coastal populations -- clogged nets for fishermen, stinging waters for tourists, even choked intake lines for power plants -- and recent media reports have created a perception that the world's oceans are experiencing increases in jellyfish due to human activities such as global warming and overharvesting of fish. Now, a new study questions claims that jellyfish are increasing worldwide and suggests claims are not supported with any hard evidence or scientific analyses to date.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Yellow-cedar are dying in Alaska: Scientists now know why
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K501lYFTuBE/120201181218.htm
Yellow-cedar, a culturally and economically valuable tree in southeastern Alaska and adjacent parts of British Columbia, has been dying off across large expanses of these areas for the past 100 years. But no one could say why -- until now.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Are jellyfish increasing in world's oceans?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lfNI9V_JE50/120201173254.htm
A global study has questioned claims that jellyfish are increasing worldwide. Blooms, or proliferation, of jellyfish have shown a substantial, visible impact on coastal populations -- clogged nets for fishermen, stinging waters for tourists, even choked intake lines for power plants -- and recent media reports have created a perception that the world's oceans are experiencing increases in jellyfish due to human activities such as global warming and overharvesting of fish. Now, a new global and collaborative study questions claims that jellyfish are increasing worldwide and suggests claims are not supported with any hard evidence or scientific analyses to date.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Self-assembling nanorods: Researchers obtain 1-, 2- and 3-D nanorod arrays and networks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cgo4rBRB6EU/120201142404.htm
Researchers have developed a relatively fast, easy and inexpensive technique for inducing nanorods to self-assemble into aligned and ordered macroscopic structures. This technique should enable more effective use of nanorods in solar cells, magnetic storage devices and sensors, and boost the electrical and mechanical properties of nanorod-polymer composites.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Sun delivered curveball of powerful radiation at Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZmmWh0X4CF8/120201142402.htm
A potent follow-up solar flare, which occurred Jan. 17, 2012, just days after the Sun launched the biggest coronal mass ejection seen in nearly a decade, delivered a powerful radiation punch to Earth's magnetic field despite the fact that it was aimed away from our planet.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Need an excuse to book a massage? Massage reduces inflammation and promotes growth of new mitochondria following strenuous exercise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3joYDiqKEOg/120201141710.htm
About 18 million individuals undergo massage therapy annually in the U.S. Despite several reports that long-term massage therapy reduces chronic pain and improves range of motion in clinical trials, the biological effects of massage on skeletal tissue have remained unclear - until now.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Nano-oils keep the electronic devices really cool
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QAdfe2oeJXY/120201140038.htm
Scientists have created a nano-infused oil that could greatly enhance the ability of devices as large as electrical transformers and as small as microelectronic components to shed excess heat.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Scientists help define structure of exoplanets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n_2GnNVYZUc/120201140014.htm
Using models similar to those used in weapons research, scientists may soon know more about exoplanets, those objects beyond the realm of our solar system. Astronomers have come up with new methods for deriving and testing the equation of state of matter in exoplanets and figured out the mass-radius and mass-pressure relations for materials relevant to planetary interiors.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
'Life and activity monitor' provides portable, constant recording of vital signs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g_o_z5S66XU/120201140010.htm
Researchers have developed a type of wearable, non-invasive electronic device that can monitor vital signs such as heart rate and respiration at the same time it records a person's activity level, opening new opportunities for biomedical research, diagnostics and patient care.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Scientists confirm first 'frequency comb' to probe ultraviolet wavelengths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rmZhP92zt-k/120201140006.htm
Physicists have created the first "frequency comb" in the extreme ultraviolet band of the spectrum, high-energy light less than 100 nanometers in wavelength. Laser-generated frequency combs are the most accurate method available for precisely measuring frequencies, or colors, of light. The new tool can aid in the development of "nuclear clocks" based on ticks in the nuclei of atoms, and measurements of previously unexplored behavior in atoms and molecules.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
A spider web's strength lies in more than its silk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tZz-I4S4dMI/120201140004.htm
A study that combines experimental observations of spider webs with complex computer simulations has shown that web durability depends not only on silk strength, but on how overall web design compensates for damage and the response of individual strands to continuously varying stresses.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Bacterial plasmids -- the freeloading and the heavy-lifters -- balance the high price of disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H2-ihMKLTnU/120201135318.htm
Studying self-replicating genetic units, called plasmids, found in one of the world's widest-ranging pathogenic soil bacteria -- the crown-gall-disease-causing microorganism Agrobacterium tumefaciens -- biologists are showing how freeloading, mutant derivatives of these plasmids benefit while the virulent, disease-causing plasmids do the heavy-lifting of initiating infection in plant hosts. The research confirms that the ability of bacteria to cause disease comes at a significant cost that is only counterbalanced by the benefits they experience from infected host organisms.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
New technology shows molecules and cells in action
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/udY9Xym8ynE/120201135316.htm
A new affinity capture device provides a platform for viewing cancer cells and other macromolecules in dynamic, life-sustaining liquid environments.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Sleep deprivation tied to increased nighttime urination in preadolescence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pBc0bNycZqg/120201135314.htm
A new study sheds light on why some children may need to urinate more often during the rest cycle. Researchers found sleep deprivation caused healthy children, ages 8-12, to urinate significantly more frequently, excrete more sodium in urine, have altered regulation of the hormones important for excretion.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Societal control of sugar essential to ease public health burden, experts urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IcjdIcFgi_g/120201135312.htm
Sugar should be controlled like alcohol and tobacco to protect public health, according to a team of researchers, who maintain in a new report that sugar is fueling a global obesity pandemic, contributing to 35 million deaths annually worldwide from non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Chaos in the cell's command center
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ExIHgfX5b4c/120201135310.htm
Researchers have determined the critical role one enzyme, lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), plays as mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) differentiate. This research may provide targets for developing drugs to push cells with dysfunctional gene expression programs back to a more normal, healthier state.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Road runoff spurring spotted salamander evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/moi6isuTiyo/120201120732.htm
Spotted salamanders exposed to contaminated roadside ponds are adapting to their toxic environments, according to new research. The study provides the first documented evidence that a vertebrate has adapted to the negative effects of roads apparently by evolving rapidly.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Tropical cyclones to cause greater damage, researchers predict
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sy063T10b3U/120201105227.htm
Tropical cyclones will cause $109 billion in damages by 2100, according to researchers in a new paper. That figure represents an increased vulnerability from population and especially economic growth, as well as the effects of climate change. Greater vulnerability to cyclones is expected to increase global tropical damage to $56 billion by 2100 -- double the current damage -- from the current rate of $26 billion per year if the present climate remains stable.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Less summer Arctic sea ice cover means colder, snowier winters in Central Europe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lPkjWsLdeTY/120201105126.htm
Even if the current weather situation may seem to go against it, the probability of cold winters with a lot of snow in Central Europe rises when the Arctic is covered by less sea ice in summer.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Why the brain is more reluctant to function as we age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ksXUHsuImI4/120201105124.htm
New findings reveal a novel mechanism through which the brain may become more reluctant to function as we grow older.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Available information on the free release of genetically modified insects into the wild is highly restricted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Mn-ACarKK68/120201104637.htm
Scientists analyzing the release of genetically modified insects into the environment have found that access to accurate scientific information can be misleading.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Encouraging results with stem cell transplant for brain injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2oSiH9coALY/120201104516.htm
Experiments in brain-injured rats show that stem cells injected via the carotid artery travel directly to the brain, where they greatly enhance functional recovery.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Artificial intelligence: Getting better at the age guessing game
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k6YXoY_m-KM/120201102829.htm
The active learning algorithm is faster and more accurate in guessing the age of an individual than conventional algorithms.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Data storage: Magnetic memories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kc18vnBAdJk/120201102826.htm
Magnetic random-access memory based on new spin transfer technology achieves higher storage density by packing multiple bits of data into each memory cell.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
New tool determines value of solar photovoltaic power systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C_8TjNTYYH8/120201094956.htm
Consistent appraisals of real estate outfitted with photovoltaic installations are a challenge for the nation's real estate industry, but a new tool addresses that issue.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
First plants caused ice ages, new research reveals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jx-NhgIgAI0/120201094923.htm
New research reveals how the arrival of the first plants 470 million years ago triggered a series of ice ages. The research reveals the effects that the first land plants had on the climate during the Ordovician Period, which ended 444 million years ago. During this period the climate gradually cooled, leading to a series of 'ice ages.' This global cooling was caused by a dramatic reduction in atmospheric carbon, which this research now suggests was triggered by the arrival of plants.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Stellar nursery: A pocket of star formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QidoxtAoKoQ/120201094326.htm
A new view shows a stellar nursery called NGC 3324. It was taken using the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile. The intense ultraviolet radiation from several of NGC 3324's hot young stars causes the gas cloud to glow with rich colors and has carved out a cavity in the surrounding gas and dust.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Sleep apnea linked to silent strokes, small lesions in brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/duO2ldvwX3E/120201094323.htm
People with severe sleep apnea may have an increased risk of silent strokes and small lesions in the brain, according to a small study.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Clot-busting drugs appear safe for treating 'wake-up' stroke patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ecN4txaRYYw/120201094321.htm
Clot-busting drugs may be safe for patients who wake up experiencing stroke symptoms, according to preliminary research.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Experimental drug reduces 'second stroke' after aneurysm rupture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9JTWn-yT-zU/120201094319.htm
An experimental drug, clazosentan, reduced the risk of blood vessel spasm in patients with a brain aneurysm, according to new research.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Infections in childhood linked to high risk of ischemic stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UJWxD_U02mA/120201094317.htm
Common infections in children pose a high risk of ischemic stroke, according to new research. In a review of 2.5 million children, the researchers identified 126 childhood ischemic stroke cases and then randomly selected 378 age-matched controls from the remaining children without stroke. They discovered that 29 percent of those who suffered a stroke had a medical encounter for infection in the two days preceding the stroke versus one percent of controls during the same dates.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Severe, rapid memory loss linked to future, fatal strokes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iLNsA8vAJFs/120201094315.htm
Severe, rapid memory loss may be linked to -- and could predict -- a future deadly stroke, according to new research.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Re-blockage rates low in both stented and surgically-opened arteries, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XyZ-u9M12S0/120201094313.htm
In a large, head-to-head comparison of two procedures that clear blocked neck arteries, outcomes were similar. The study found that 94 percent of the arteries remained open two years after using surgery or a metal stent.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Genetic information migrates from plant to plant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yCLFqJ5dH8c/120201093100.htm
To generate phylogenetic trees and investigate relationships between organisms, scientists usually look for similarities and differences in the DNA. Plant scientists were confounded by the fact that the DNA extracted from the plants’ green chloroplasts sometimes showed the greatest similarities when related species grew in the same area. Scientists have now discovered that a transfer of entire chloroplasts, or at least their genomes, can occur in contact zones between plants. Inter-species crossing is not necessary. The new chloroplast genome can even be handed down to the next generation and, thereby, give a plant with new traits. These findings are of great importance to the understanding of evolution as well as the breeding of new plant varieties.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Men more likely to have an accurate memory of unpleasant experiences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ioT-39RqAXc/120201092721.htm
Researchers reveal how pleasantness and emotional intensity affects memories. A woman's memory of an experience is less likely to be accurate than a man's if it was unpleasant and emotionally provocative, new research suggests.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Testosterone makes us less cooperative and more egocentric
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c9rTXQetYzs/120131210259.htm
Testosterone makes us overvalue our own opinions at the expense of cooperation, new research has found. Higher levels of testosterone were associated with individuals behaving egocentrically.
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Honey could be effective at treating and preventing wound infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qCYsysmKH0w/120131205919.htm
Manuka honey could help clear chronic wound infections and even prevent them from developing in the first place, according to a new study. The findings provide further evidence for the clinical use of manuka honey to treat bacterial infections in the face of growing antibiotic resistance.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Pairing masks and hand washing could drastically slow spread of a pandemic flu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_8ltLhmMIQ8/120131175729.htm
Masks and hand hygiene could cut the spread of flu-like symptoms up to 75 percent, a new study found.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Scientists prove plausibility of new pathway to life's chemical building blocks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AOP36fp5iVw/120131175629.htm
Scientists have demonstrated an alternative pathway to life-essential sugars called the glyoxylate scenario, which may push the field of pre-life chemistry past the formose reaction hurdle.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Gene mutation in autism found to cause hyperconnectivity in brain's hearing center
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KGPFA2hwxoI/120131175627.htm
New research might help explain how a gene mutation found in some autistic individuals leads to difficulties in processing auditory cues and paying spatial attention to sound.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
New species of ancient crocodile discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NBfHgucz6Dc/120131175625.htm
A new species of prehistoric crocodile has been discovered. The extinct creature, nicknamed "Shieldcroc" due to a thick-skinned shield on its head, is an ancestor of today's crocodiles.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Scientists decode brain waves to eavesdrop on what we hear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U7u7wPMMUt8/120131175158.htm
Neuroscientists and surgeons have recorded electrical activity in the temporal lobe -- the seat of the auditory system -- to discover how the brain encodes sound. Their model allows them to predict what a person heard based solely on temporal lobe activity. If, as studies suggest, internal "imagined" conversations activate similar areas of the temporal lobe, it may be possible to hear the internal verbalizations of people who cannot talk because of paralysis or stroke.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Botany: Moonlighting enzyme works double shift 24/7
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HAI-uEoKBfU/120131150830.htm
A team of researchers has discovered an overachieving plant enzyme that works both the day and night shifts. The discovery shows that plants evolved a new function for this enzyme by changing merely one of its protein building blocks.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
IBEX probe glimpses interstellar neighborhood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7T0V_k9sa7g/120131150828.htm
Space scientists have described the first detailed analyses of captured interstellar neutral atoms -- raw material for the formation of new stars, planets and even human beings.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Golf course weeds are developing resistance to the herbicide glyphosate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UOvPCEOoDSs/120131150036.htm
If your golf game isn’t up to par, you may be able to blame it on those tufts of weeds on the course. Annual bluegrass is a problematic winter weed on many U.S. golf courses. After years of management with the herbicide glyphosate, resistant biotypes of this weed have developed, which will make keeping a clean fairway more challenging.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Partisans not locked in media 'echo chambers,' study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O18NE4w3ME4/120131150031.htm
Despite the fears of some scholars and pundits, most political partisans don’t avoid news and opinion sources that contradict their own beliefs, according to a new study.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
NASA's THEMIS satellite sees a great electron escape
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LsGYAge8huA/120131143745.htm
When scientists discovered two great swaths of radiation encircling Earth in the 1950s, it spawned over-the-top fears about "killer electrons" and space radiation effects on Earthlings. The fears were soon quieted: the radiation doesn't reach Earth, though it can affect satellites and humans moving through the belts. Nevertheless, many mysteries about the belts -- now known as the Van Allen Radiation belts -- remain to this day.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Glimpses of the interstellar material beyond our solar system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cR0qmlSXGIw/120131140114.htm
A great magnetic bubble surrounds the solar system as it cruises through the galaxy. The sun pumps the inside of the bubble full of solar particles that stream out to the edge until they collide with the material that fills the rest of the galaxy, at a complex boundary called the heliosheath. On the other side of the boundary, electrically charged particles from the galactic wind blow by, but rebound off the heliosheath, never to enter the solar system. Neutral particles, on the other hand, are a different story. They saunter across the boundary as if it weren't there, continuing on another 7.5 billion miles for 30 years until they get caught by the sun's gravity, and sling shot around the star.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
'Your password is invalid': Improving website password practices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3VOKN_cK3m0/120131135757.htm
Internet users are increasingly asked to register with a user name and password before being able to access the content of many sites. Researchers have now identified impediments to efficient password creation and provided design strategies for enhancing the user experience.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Risk-based passenger screening could make air travel safer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qXxHazLtHSQ/120131135753.htm
Intensive screening of all airline passengers actually makes the system less secure by overtaxing security resources, while risk-based methods increase overall security, according to new research. The researchers developed three algorithms dealing with risk uncertainty in the passenger population. Then, they ran simulations to demonstrate how their algorithms could estimate risk in the overall passenger population and how errors in this estimation procedure can be mitigated to reduce the risk to the overall system.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Ultra-fast photodetector and terahertz generator
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WpmzM4Pyc3o/120131135747.htm
Photodetectors made from graphene can process and conduct light signals as well as electric signals extremely fast. Within picoseconds the optical stimulation of graphene generates a photocurrent. Until now, none of the available methods were fast enough to measure these processes in graphene. Scientists have now developed a method to measure the temporal dynamics of this photo current. Furthermore they discovered that graphene can emit terahertz radiation.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
IBEX spacecraft measures 'alien' particles from outside solar system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I_fITQWzeOA/120131135743.htm
Using data from NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer spacecraft, an international team of researchers has measured neutral "alien" particles entering our solar system from interstellar space. A suite of studies provides a first look at the constituents of the interstellar medium, the matter between star systems, and how they interact with our heliosphere.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Volunteers clear tiger snares in China
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BsqtMJEjM8Y/120131135414.htm
Volunteers working in northeast China have cleared 162 illegal wire snares in an ongoing effort to protect the nation’s remaining population of critically endangered Amur (Siberian) tigers.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Severe declines in Everglades mammals linked to invasive pythons, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/03d57L8UvGw/120131135205.htm
New research links precipitous declines in formerly common mammals in Everglades National Park to the presence of invasive Burmese pythons.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
New genetic subtype of lung cancer defined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IdQ_U1YTJG4/120131122500.htm
Investigators have defined the role of a recently identified gene abnormality – rearrangements in the ROS1 gene – in a deadly form of lung cancer. ROS1-rearranged tumors represent one to two percent of non-small-cell lung cancers, the leading cause of cancer death in the US. The researchers also show that ROS1-driven tumors can be treated with crizotinib and describe the remarkable response of one patient to crizotinib treatment.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Five US urban counties lead 'Terror Hot Spots' list, but rural areas not exempt
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/47F9cyvBKbw/120131122458.htm
Five urban counties lead the list of US terror "hot spots" - Manhattan, LA, Miami-Dade, San Francisco and Washington, DC - though smaller, more rural areas have emerged as hot spots in their own right in recent years with an increase in domestic terror there, says new research. The researchers identified 65 of the nation's 3,143 counties as "hot spots" of terrorism.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Perfect nanotubes shine brightest: Researchers show how length, imperfections affect carbon nanotube fluorescence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1ttKJuFSMmY/120131122456.htm
A painstaking study has brought a wealth of new information about single-walled carbon nanotubes through analysis of their fluorescence. The researchers found that the brightest nanotubes of the same length show consistent fluorescence intensity, and the longer the tube, the brighter.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Online news portals get credibility boost from trusted sources
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ctDfiUabbU0/120131121853.htm
People who read news on the web tend to trust the gate even if there is no gatekeeper, according to researchers.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Exposure to common environmental bacteria may be source of some allergic inflammation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-U7fobVS3CQ/120131121851.htm
Could some cases of asthma actually be caused by an allergic reaction to a common environmental bacteria? New research findings suggests that this idea may not be as far-fetched as it seems.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Short-term memory is based on synchronized brain oscillations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cUdUs28FbFk/120131121421.htm
Holding information within one's memory for a short while is a seemingly simple and everyday task. We use our short-term memory when remembering a new telephone number if there is nothing to write at hand, or to find the beautiful dress inside the store that we were just admiring in the shopping window. Yet, despite the apparent simplicity of these actions, short-term memory is a complex cognitive act that entails the participation of multiple brain regions. However, whether and how different brain regions cooperate during memory has remained elusive. Researchers in Germany have now come closer to answering this question. They discovered that oscillations between different brain regions are crucial in visually remembering things over a short period of time.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Following the shifting of tectonic plates to understand Mediterranean biodiversity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uUozKVCdgLI/120131121419.htm
Around 30 millions years ago, the Western Mediterranean basin opened as a result of the tectonic collision of the African and Eurasian plates. This geologic event was the starting point for the diversification of an endemic group of Western Mediterranean spiders, as has been demonstrated by a new study.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Norovirus is the leading cause of infection outbreaks in U.S. hospitals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eO36r0D2h_8/120131121417.htm
Norovirus, a pathogen that often causes food poisoning and gastroenteritis, was responsible for 18.2 percent of all infection outbreaks and 65 percent of ward closures in U.S. hospitals during a two-year period.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Microscopy reveals 'atomic antenna' behavior in graphene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E40ZWTRq3_g/120131121243.htm
Atomic-level defects in graphene could be a path forward to smaller and faster electronic devices. With unique properties and potential applications in areas from electronics to biodevices, graphene, which consists of a single sheet of carbon atoms, has been hailed as a rising star in the materials world. Now, a new study suggests that point defects, composed of silicon atoms that replace individual carbon atoms in graphene, could aid attempts to transfer data on an atomic scale by coupling light with electrons.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Protein study gives fresh impetus in fight against superbugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wzBv4xTMz-I/120131102521.htm
Scientists have shed new light on the way superbugs such as MRSA are able to become resistant to treatment with antibiotics.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Ancient DNA holds clues to climate change adaptation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ST2Hvs4iwto/120131102519.htm
Thirty-thousand-year-old bison bones discovered in permafrost at a Canadian goldmine are helping scientists unravel the mystery about how animals adapt to rapid environmental change.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Sharp rise in use of bone growth factor for spinal fusion surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y5VYvaz5IqA/120131101652.htm
The use of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) for spinal fusion surgery has risen sharply over the past decade, increasing costs with no evidence of improved outcomes, reports a new study.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
'Cool' gas may form and strengthen sunspots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_ueFDKK9se0/120131093104.htm
Hydrogen molecules may act as a kind of energy sink that strengthens the magnetic grip that causes sunspots, according to scientists using a new infrared instrument on an old telescope.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Surprise finding redraws 'map' of blood cell production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YWgz3T2YR8E/120131093100.htm
A study of the cells that respond to crises in the blood system has yielded a few surprises, redrawing the 'map' of how blood cells are made in the body. The finding could have wide-ranging implications for understanding blood diseases such as myeloproliferative disorders as well as used to develop new ways of controlling how blood and clotting cells are produced.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Stimulation of brain hormone action may improve pneumonia survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jggHOYEpoW4/120131093056.htm
An international research team may have found a way to block a second wave of death that can result from pneumonia treatment.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Researchers visualize the development of Parkinson's cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ul0LfPGCuQc/120131093054.htm
In the US alone, at least 500,000 people suffer from Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder that affects a person's ability to control his or her movement. New technology lets researchers observe the development of the brain cells responsible for the disease.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Surprisingly high number of adults with severe learning disabilities also have autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j2yBlRdSzGk/120131092844.htm
New research on autism in adults has shown that adults with a more severe learning disability have a greater likelihood of having autism. This group, mostly living in private households, was previously 'invisible' in estimates of autism.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Are diet soft drinks bad for you?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PxRCXyYVYH4/120131092746.htm
A new study finds a potential link between daily consumption of diet soft drinks and the risk of vascular events.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Researchers identify cell-permeable peptide that inhibits hepatitis C
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/50VGuDNKj_Q/120131092458.htm
Researchers have identified a cell-permeable peptide that inhibits a hepatitis C virus protein and blocks viral replication, which can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis.
Wed, 1 Feb 12
Evolutionary geneticist helps to find butterfly gene, clue to age-old question
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tpWTFVMz-kU/120131092455.htm
An evolutionary geneticist helped discover the gene in passion vine butterflies that keeps predators from eating them. The gene is responsible for red patterns on the butterflies' wings.