ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, August 15, 2012
New method to closely model diseases caused by splicing defects (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have developed a new way of making animal models for a broad class of human genetic diseases — those with pathology caused by errors in the splicing of RNA messages copied from genes. The new modeling approach can provide unique insights into how certain diseases progress and is likely to boost efforts to develop novel treatments. It was tested successfully in mouse analogs of human spinal muscular atrophy. … > full story
Need an expert? Try the crowd (August 14, 2012) — Can a crowd be an expert? Apparently, yes. Scientists have created the first-ever crowd-sourced predictive model. … > full story
Meditation reduces loneliness (August 14, 2012) — Researchers now report that a simple meditation program lasting just eight weeks reduced loneliness in older adults. Further, knowing that loneliness is associated with an increase in the activity of inflammation-related genes that can promote many different diseases, the researchers report this same form of meditation significantly reduced expression of inflammatory genes. … > full story
Fish brain development provides new insights into how vascular networks form (August 14, 2012) — How the intricate network of blood vessels forms within the brain has long fascinated biologists. This network, or vessel vasculature, in the human brain consists of a complex branching network of blood vessels, in total some several hundred miles in length. Abnormalities can lead to various neurological disorders, including strokes, learning difficulties and neurodegeneration. … > full story
Study demonstrates that one extinction leads to another (August 14, 2012) — When a carnivore becomes extinct, other predatory species could soon follow, according to new research. Scientists have previously put forward this theory, but now biologists have carried out the first experiment to show it. The study shows how the demise of one carnivore species can indirectly cause another to become extinct. The research team believes any extinction can create a ripple effect across a food web, with far-reaching consequences for many other animals. … > full story
Blood type may influence heart disease risk (August 14, 2012) — People with blood type A, B, or AB had a higher risk for coronary heart disease when compared to those with blood type O, according to new research. … > full story
Widespread local ‘extinctions’ in tropical forest ‘remnants’ (August 14, 2012) — The small fragments of tropical forests left behind after deforestation are suffering extensive species extinction, according to new research. … > full story
Dark chocolate, cocoa compounds, may reduce blood pressure (August 14, 2012) — Compounds in cocoa may help to reduce blood pressure, according to a new systematic review. The researchers reviewed evidence from short-term trials in which participants were given dark chocolate or cocoa powder daily and found that their blood pressure dropped slightly compared to a control group. … > full story
Online obesity treatment programmes show promise (August 14, 2012) — Computer and web-based weight management programs may provide a cost effective way of addressing the growing problem of obesity, according to a recent review. The researcher found that delivering weight loss or weight maintenance programs online or by computer helped overweight and obese patients lose and/or maintain weight. … > full story
An artificial retina with the capacity to restore normal vision (August 14, 2012) — For the first time, researchers decipher the retina’s neural code for brain communication to create novel, more effective prosthetic retinal device for blindness. … > full story
Health consequences of meltdown, damage to Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan (August 14, 2012) — Researchers report on the psychological status of workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan several months after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and the amount of internal radiation exposure among residents of a city north of the power plant that experienced a meltdown. … > full story
Do host cities get an economic ‘Olympic bounce’? (August 14, 2012) — Does the modern model of economic revitalization through hosting the Olympic Games really work for cities? … > full story
Yo-yo dieting does not thwart weight loss efforts or alter metabolism long term, study finds (August 14, 2012) — A new study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, published online in the journal Metabolism, for the first time has shown that a history of yo-yo dieting does not negatively affect metabolism or the ability to lose weight long term. … > full story
Deep inside the body, tiny mechanical microscope diagnoses disease (August 14, 2012) — Tiny space age probes — those that can see inside single living cells — are increasingly being used to diagnose illness in hard-to-reach areas of the body. … > full story
Scientists can now block heroin, morphine addiction (August 14, 2012) — In a major breakthrough, an international team of scientists has proven that addiction to morphine and heroin can be blocked, while at the same time increasing pain relief. … > full story
Researchers feed pigs, chickens high-protein fungus grown on ethanol leftovers (August 14, 2012) — A research team is feeding fungi grown on the leftovers of ethanol production to pigs and chickens. The feed-production process also cleans water used to make ethanol, boosting the amount of water that can be recycled back into biofuels. … > full story
Orbiter views NASA’s new Mars rover in color (August 14, 2012) — The first color image taken from orbit showing NASA’s rover Curiosity on Mars includes details of the layered bedrock on the floor of Gale Crater that the rover is beginning to investigate. … > full story
‘Strawberry’ birthmarks grow rapidly when babies just weeks old (August 14, 2012) — Strawberry-shaped birthmarks called infantile hemangiomas grow rapidly in infants much earlier than previously thought, researchers have found. Their study suggests that babies with complication-causing hemangiomas should be immediately referred to dermatologists for further evaluation. … > full story
Seeing sprites: Researchers catch glimpses of electromagnetic bursts high in Earth’s atmosphere (August 14, 2012) — High above the clouds during thunderstorms, some 50 miles above Earth a different kind of lightning dances. Bursts of red and blue light, known as “sprites,” flash for a scant one thousandth of a second. They are often only visible to those in flight above a storm, and happen so quickly you might not even see it unless you chance to be looking directly at it. One hard-to-reach place that gets a good view of sprites is the International Space Station. … > full story
How do they do it? Predictions are in for Arctic sea ice low point (August 14, 2012) — Each year scientists predict the low point of Arctic Sea ice. The final predictions were released Aug. 13. But how do they do it? Researchers used some new techniques this year in hopes of improving the accuracy of their prediction. … > full story
Researchers simulate volcanic eruptions: Large-scale experiment to shed light on powerful natural disaster (August 14, 2012) — A rare large-scale attempt to simulate volcanic eruptions will provide much-needed insight into one of Earth’s most powerful and mysterious natural disasters. … > full story
Overweight and obese women more likely to have large babies (August 14, 2012) — Women who are overweight or obese are more likely to deliver infants who are large for their gestational age at delivery, regardless of whether they develop gestational diabetes during their pregnancy, according to a new study. … > full story
Fish are warmer, faster, stronger: Unexpected benefits of living in a changing climate, biologists find (August 14, 2012) — Biologists suggest that growing up at warmer temperatures helps some aquatic animals cope with climate change, raising questions about the limits of adaptation. They found that when embryos raised in warm water experienced temperature variation as adults, they could swim faster and their muscle was better suited for aerobic exercise. … > full story
New book explores ‘Noah’s flood’: Says Bible and science can get along (August 14, 2012) — A geologist, is the author of a new book that explores the long history of religious thinking on matters of geological discovery, particularly flood stories such as the biblical account of Noah’s ark. … > full story
Mass spectrometry opens new frontiers in a single cell (August 14, 2012) — Pioneering mass spectrometry methods are helping plant biologists get their first glimpses of never-before-seen plant tissue structures. The new method opens up new realms of study, ones that might have long-ranging implications for biofuels research and crop genetics. … > full story
Renaissance women fought men, and won (August 14, 2012) — A three-year study into a set of manuscripts compiled and written by one of Britain’s earliest feminist figures has revealed new insights into how women challenged male authority in the 17th century. … > full story
Plants exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties, engineers find (August 14, 2012) — From an engineer’s perspective, plants such as palm trees, bamboo, maples and even potatoes are examples of precise engineering on a microscopic scale. Like wooden beams reinforcing a house, cell walls make up the structural supports of all plants. Depending on how the cell walls are arranged, and what they are made of, a plant can be as flimsy as a reed, or as sturdy as an oak. … > full story
Quark matter’s connection with the Higgs: Heavy ion collisions delve deeper into the origin of (visible) mass (August 14, 2012) — You may think you’ve heard everything you need to know about the origin of mass. After all, scientists colliding protons at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Europe recently presented stunning evidence strongly suggesting the existence of a long-sought particle called the Higgs boson, thought to “impart mass to matter.” But while the Higgs particle may be responsible for the mass of fundamental particles such as quarks, quarks alone can’t account for the mass of most of the visible matter in the universe — that’s everything we see and sense around us. … > full story
US wind power market riding a wave that is likely to crest in 2012 (August 14, 2012) — Facing looming policy uncertainty beyond 2012, the US remained one of the fastest-growing wind power markets in the world in 2011 — second only to China — according to a new report. Driven by the threat of expiring federal incentives, new wind power installations are widely expected to be substantially higher in 2012 than in 2011, and perhaps even in excess of 2009’s record build. … > full story
Mutation in male moth’s antenna lets him find a female at the other end of a football field (August 14, 2012) — A female moth sitting on a goal post could attract a male moth on the other end of a football field. And even if she switched her scent over time, the male could still find her because of a mutation to a single gene in his antenna. … > full story
New process doubles production of alternative fuel while slashing costs (August 14, 2012) — A new discovery should make the alternative fuel butanol more attractive to the biofuel industry. Scientists have found a way around the bottleneck that has frustrated producers in the past and could significantly reduce the cost of the energy involved in making it as well. … > full story
Remaking history: A new take on how evolution has shaped modern Europeans (August 14, 2012) — Investigators say that new analytical techniques are changing long-held, simplistic views about the evolutionary history of humans in Europe. Their findings indicate that many cultural, climatic, and demographic events have shaped genetic variation among modern-day European populations and that the variety of those mechanisms is more diverse than previously thought. … > full story
Dead men do tell tales: Sociologist used 100 years of obituaries as cultural barometer (August 14, 2012) — You know you’re living in a culture of celebrity when the Twitter for the president of the United States ranks No. 6, trailing behind rock stars Justin Bieber and Katy Perry by millions of followers. But have celebrities always trumped achievers for public attention? A sociologist has used 100 years of New York Times obituaries as a cultural barometer. … > full story
Engineers assess Dawn spacecraft’s reaction wheel (August 14, 2012) — Engineers working on NASA’s Dawn spacecraft are assessing the status of a reaction wheel — part of a system that helps the spacecraft point precisely — after onboard software powered it off on Aug. 8. Dawn’s mission is to study the geology and geochemistry of the giant asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, the two most massive objects in the main asteroid belt. Dawn is now using its thrusters to point at Earth for communications. The rest of the spacecraft is otherwise healthy. … > full story
Success of engineered tissue depends on where it’s grown (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have now shown that implanted cells’ therapeutic properties depend on their shape, which is determined by the type of scaffold on which they are grown. The work could allow scientists to develop even more effective implants and also target many other diseases, including cancer. … > full story
Scientists devise new strategy to destroy multiple myeloma (August 14, 2012) — Researchers are reporting promising results from laboratory and animal experiments involving a new combination therapy for multiple myeloma, the second most common form of blood cancer. … > full story
Impulsive micromanager microbes help plants adapt, survive (August 14, 2012) — Soil microbes are impulsive. So much so that they help plants face the challenges of a rapidly changing climate. Biologists have studied how plants and microbes work together to help plants survive the effects of global changes. … > full story
Closing in on the border between primordial plasma and ordinary matter (August 14, 2012) — Scientists have observed first glimpses of a possible boundary separating ordinary nuclear matter, composed of protons and neutrons, from the seething soup of their constituent quarks and gluons that permeated the early universe. … > full story
Studies seek better understanding and treatment of depression (August 14, 2012) — Connecting the dots between two molecules whose levels are decreased in depression and increased by current antidepressants could yield new therapies, researchers say. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that enables brain cells to communicate and brain-derived neurotropic factor, or BDNF, is a brain-nourishing molecule that also aids connectivity. Popular antidepressants such as Prozac, developed to increase levels of serotonin, have recently been found to also increase BDNF levels. … > full story
Social behavior of cancer cells leads experts to suggest launching ‘social networking war’ against cancer (August 14, 2012) — A researcher says that cancer scientists should look to cyber-warfare tactics to fight the body’s deadly enemy. … > full story
Hearing the telltale sounds of dangerous chemicals (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have developed a new chemical sensor that can simultaneously identify multiple nerve agents. … > full story
Nearly 1,000 earthquakes recorded in Arizona over three years (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have used EarthScope data to build the first comprehensive earthquake catalog for Arizona. … > full story
New research promises quiet cars — even when hitting unexpected bumps in the road (August 14, 2012) — New research featuring a mathematical model for quick-response, noise-cancellation designed to minimize sudden and unexpected noise caused by road hazards — bumps or potholes for example — has just been developed. … > full story
Scientists decode TREX which could see new treatments for cancer realized (August 14, 2012) — Scientists have decoded the processes which create proteins in all forms of life which – for the first time – opens the door to fixing these problems which can cause fatal health problems like motor neuron disease, myotonic dystrophy and cancer. … > full story
Engineered pancreatic tissues could lead to better transplants for diabetics (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have built pancreatic tissue with insulin-secreting cells, surrounded by a three-dimensional network of blood vessels. When they transplanted the tissue into diabetic mice, the cells began functioning well enough to lower blood sugar levels in the mice. The engineered tissue could pave the way for improved tissue transplants to treat diabetes. … > full story
Seeds of hope amidst Philippine floods: Rice that can survive underwater (August 14, 2012) — Amidst horrendous flooding around Manila and major rice-growing across Luzon in the Philippines, some good news has emerged for rice farmers — Submarino rice — rice that can survive around two weeks of being under water. … > full story
Graphene’s behavior depends on where it sits: Materials beneath determine how it react chemically and electrically (August 14, 2012) — Surprising new experiments show that a one-atom-thick material called graphene, a form of pure carbon whose atoms are joined in a chicken-wire-like lattice, behaves quite differently depending on the nature of material it’s wrapped around. … > full story
Feedback can have a negative impact on performance (August 14, 2012) — When people receive feedback during complex decision-making tasks, their performance gets worse according to a new study. … > full story
ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Wednesday, August 15, 2012
New method to closely model diseases caused by splicing defects (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have developed a new way of making animal models for a broad class of human genetic diseases — those with pathology caused by errors in the splicing of RNA messages copied from genes. The new modeling approach can provide unique insights into how certain diseases progress and is likely to boost efforts to develop novel treatments. It was tested successfully in mouse analogs of human spinal muscular atrophy. … > full story
Need an expert? Try the crowd (August 14, 2012) — Can a crowd be an expert? Apparently, yes. Scientists have created the first-ever crowd-sourced predictive model. … > full story
Meditation reduces loneliness (August 14, 2012) — Researchers now report that a simple meditation program lasting just eight weeks reduced loneliness in older adults. Further, knowing that loneliness is associated with an increase in the activity of inflammation-related genes that can promote many different diseases, the researchers report this same form of meditation significantly reduced expression of inflammatory genes. … > full story
Fish brain development provides new insights into how vascular networks form (August 14, 2012) — How the intricate network of blood vessels forms within the brain has long fascinated biologists. This network, or vessel vasculature, in the human brain consists of a complex branching network of blood vessels, in total some several hundred miles in length. Abnormalities can lead to various neurological disorders, including strokes, learning difficulties and neurodegeneration. … > full story
Blood type may influence heart disease risk (August 14, 2012) — People with blood type A, B, or AB had a higher risk for coronary heart disease when compared to those with blood type O, according to new research. … > full story
Dark chocolate, cocoa compounds, may reduce blood pressure (August 14, 2012) — Compounds in cocoa may help to reduce blood pressure, according to a new systematic review. The researchers reviewed evidence from short-term trials in which participants were given dark chocolate or cocoa powder daily and found that their blood pressure dropped slightly compared to a control group. … > full story
Online obesity treatment programmes show promise (August 14, 2012) — Computer and web-based weight management programs may provide a cost effective way of addressing the growing problem of obesity, according to a recent review. The researcher found that delivering weight loss or weight maintenance programs online or by computer helped overweight and obese patients lose and/or maintain weight. … > full story
An artificial retina with the capacity to restore normal vision (August 14, 2012) — For the first time, researchers decipher the retina’s neural code for brain communication to create novel, more effective prosthetic retinal device for blindness. … > full story
Health consequences of meltdown, damage to Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan (August 14, 2012) — Researchers report on the psychological status of workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan several months after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and the amount of internal radiation exposure among residents of a city north of the power plant that experienced a meltdown. … > full story
Yo-yo dieting does not thwart weight loss efforts or alter metabolism long term, study finds (August 14, 2012) — A new study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, published online in the journal Metabolism, for the first time has shown that a history of yo-yo dieting does not negatively affect metabolism or the ability to lose weight long term. … > full story
Deep inside the body, tiny mechanical microscope diagnoses disease (August 14, 2012) — Tiny space age probes — those that can see inside single living cells — are increasingly being used to diagnose illness in hard-to-reach areas of the body. … > full story
Scientists can now block heroin, morphine addiction (August 14, 2012) — In a major breakthrough, an international team of scientists has proven that addiction to morphine and heroin can be blocked, while at the same time increasing pain relief. … > full story
‘Strawberry’ birthmarks grow rapidly when babies just weeks old (August 14, 2012) — Strawberry-shaped birthmarks called infantile hemangiomas grow rapidly in infants much earlier than previously thought, researchers have found. Their study suggests that babies with complication-causing hemangiomas should be immediately referred to dermatologists for further evaluation. … > full story
Overweight and obese women more likely to have large babies (August 14, 2012) — Women who are overweight or obese are more likely to deliver infants who are large for their gestational age at delivery, regardless of whether they develop gestational diabetes during their pregnancy, according to a new study. … > full story
Success of engineered tissue depends on where it’s grown (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have now shown that implanted cells’ therapeutic properties depend on their shape, which is determined by the type of scaffold on which they are grown. The work could allow scientists to develop even more effective implants and also target many other diseases, including cancer. … > full story
Scientists devise new strategy to destroy multiple myeloma (August 14, 2012) — Researchers are reporting promising results from laboratory and animal experiments involving a new combination therapy for multiple myeloma, the second most common form of blood cancer. … > full story
Studies seek better understanding and treatment of depression (August 14, 2012) — Connecting the dots between two molecules whose levels are decreased in depression and increased by current antidepressants could yield new therapies, researchers say. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that enables brain cells to communicate and brain-derived neurotropic factor, or BDNF, is a brain-nourishing molecule that also aids connectivity. Popular antidepressants such as Prozac, developed to increase levels of serotonin, have recently been found to also increase BDNF levels. … > full story
Social behavior of cancer cells leads experts to suggest launching ‘social networking war’ against cancer (August 14, 2012) — A researcher says that cancer scientists should look to cyber-warfare tactics to fight the body’s deadly enemy. … > full story
Scientists decode TREX which could see new treatments for cancer realized (August 14, 2012) — Scientists have decoded the processes which create proteins in all forms of life which – for the first time – opens the door to fixing these problems which can cause fatal health problems like motor neuron disease, myotonic dystrophy and cancer. … > full story
Engineered pancreatic tissues could lead to better transplants for diabetics (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have built pancreatic tissue with insulin-secreting cells, surrounded by a three-dimensional network of blood vessels. When they transplanted the tissue into diabetic mice, the cells began functioning well enough to lower blood sugar levels in the mice. The engineered tissue could pave the way for improved tissue transplants to treat diabetes. … > full story
Feedback can have a negative impact on performance (August 14, 2012) — When people receive feedback during complex decision-making tasks, their performance gets worse according to a new study. … > full story
Vaccine for heart disease? New discovery points to possibility (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have identified the specific type of immune cells that orchestrate the inflammatory attack on the artery wall, which is a major contributor to plaque buildup in heart disease. Further, researchers discovered that these immune cells are launching their attack in response to normal proteins that the body mistakes as being foreign, an autoimmune type response that points up the possibility of developing a tolerogenic vaccine for heart disease. … > full story
How cancer cells ‘hijack’ a mechanism to grow (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have discovered a mechanism that explains how some cancer cells “hijack” a biological process to potentially activate cell growth and the survival of cancer gene expression. … > full story
Scientists uncover strategy able to dramatically reduce chemotherapy’s side effects (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have confirmed their hypothesis that normalizing blood vessels by blocking oxygen sensor PHD2 would make chemotherapy more effective. They also demonstrated for the first time that this strategy would reduce the harmful side effects of chemotherapy on healthy organs. … > full story
Tongue pacemaker for snoring successfully implanted (August 14, 2012) — The first tongue pacemaker was implanted Europe-wide that prevents pauses in breathing during sleep and helps protect against snoring. Physicians used the device for a patient who suffers from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. In this, at times life-threatening illness, pauses in breathing can occur when the upper throat muscles are excessively relaxed during sleep. As a result, parts of the respiratory tract narrow and the person has difficulty breathing. The typical snoring noises occur when the affected person tries with great effort to get air through the blocked airways. … > full story
Girls with ADHD at risk for self-injury, suicide attempts as young adults (August 14, 2012) — Girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are significantly more likely to attempt suicide or injure themselves as young adults than girls who do not have ADHD, according to new research. … > full story
Potent human toxins prevalent in Canada’s freshwaters (August 14, 2012) — Nutrient pollution, one of the greatest threats to our freshwater resources, is responsible for the algal blooms that blanket our lakes and waterways in summer months. Large blooms of cyanobacteria (‘blue green algae’) can cause fish kills, increase the cost of drinking water treatment, devalue shoreline properties, and pose health risks to people, pets, and wildlife. Microcystin, a toxin produced by cyanobacteria, is present in Canadian lakes in every province, according to new research. … > full story
Gene variants that increase risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette syndrome identified (August 14, 2012) — Two new articles may help identify gene variants that contribute to the risks of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder or Tourette syndrome. Both studies are the first genome-wide association studies in the largest groups of individuals affected by the conditions. … > full story
Green tea and chocolate compounds offer hope for patients with HIV-associated cognitive impairment (August 14, 2012) — Researchers discover compounds in green tea and chocolate may help reduce neurological complications linked to HIV. … > full story
New approaches for evaluating benefits and risks of obesity drugs (August 14, 2012) — A new report could help transform the process used to evaluate interventions to treat obesity, a public health crisis that now affects one in three adults. … > full story
Dermatologists’ tips to reduce the signs of aging (August 14, 2012) — Getting better results from your anti-aging products can be as easy as following simple tips from dermatologists. … > full story
New technology delivers sustained release of drugs for up to six months (August 13, 2012) — A new technology which delivers sustained release of therapeutics for up to six months could be used in conditions which require routine injections, including diabetes, certain forms of cancer and potentially HIV/AIDS. … > full story
Deeply held religious beliefs prompting sick kids to be given ‘futile’ treatment (August 13, 2012) — Parental hopes of a “miraculous intervention,” prompted by deeply held religious beliefs, are leading to very sick children being subjected to futile care and needless suffering, suggests a small study. … > full story
Supercomputers solve riddle of congenital heart defects (August 13, 2012) — With the aid of pioneering technology, Danish scientists have charted several of the complex biological processes behind congenital heart defects. In time, the research promises to provide better ways to prevent, diagnose and cure heart disease. … > full story
Pay for performance may improve treatment implementation for adolescent substance use disorders (August 13, 2012) — Pay for performance appears to be associated with improved implementation of an adolescent substance use treatment program, although no significant differences were found in remission status between the pay-for-performance and implementation-as-usual groups. … > full story
Strategy appears to help rule-in, rule-out heart attack within one hour (August 13, 2012) — A strategy using an algorithm that incorporates high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T values appears to be associated with ruling-out or ruling-in myocardial infarction (heart attack) within one hour in 77 percent of patients with acute chest pain who presented to an emergency department. … > full story
Blood test could guide treatment for kidney cancer (August 13, 2012) — A common enzyme that is easily detected in blood may predict how well patients with advanced kidney cancer will respond to a specific treatment, according to doctors. … > full story
Consuming flavanol-rich cocoa may enhance brain function (August 13, 2012) — Eating cocoa flavanols daily may improve mild cognitive impairment, according to new research. … > full story
Middle-aged adults help their hearts with regular leisure-time physical activities (August 13, 2012) — Middle-aged adults who regularly engage in leisure-time physical activity for more than a decade may enhance their heart health, according to new research. … > full story
Double vision: Hybrid medical imaging technology may shed new light on cancer (August 13, 2012) — Researchers combine two types of imaging methods to give doctors a clearer picture of the inside of living bodies. … > full story
Modification of tumor suppressor affects sensitivity to potential GBM treatment (August 13, 2012) — Biologists and oncologists have long understood that a protein called the epidermal growth factor receptor or EGFR is altered in at least 50 percent of patients with glioblastoma. Yet patients with glioblastoma either have upfront resistance or quickly develop resistance to inhibitors aimed at stopping the protein’s function, suggesting that there is another signalling pathway at play. … > full story
Bringing style home: How tastes are shaped online (August 13, 2012) — Does the ideal ratio of couch to rug size keep you up at night? Are the exposed wires of your stereo causing you angst? Is that crocheted toilet paper cover kitschy enough to be cool? If you wonder, then you are not alone. … > full story
External stimulation impacts white matter development in the postnatal brain, study finds (August 13, 2012) — Researchers have found that external stimulation has an impact on the postnatal development of a specific region of the brain. The study used sensory deprivation to look at the growth and collection of NG2-expressing oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (NG2 cells) in the sensory cortex of the brain. … > full story
Cellular basis for how anti-aging cosmetics work identified (August 13, 2012) — A team of investigators have discovered a mechanism that may explain how alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) — the key ingredient in cosmetic chemical peels and wrinkle-reducing creams — work to enhance skin appearance. An understanding of the underlying process may lead to better cosmetic formulations as well as have medical applications. … > full story
Egg yolk consumption almost as bad as smoking when it comes to atherosclerosis, study suggests (August 13, 2012) — Newly published research shows that eating egg yolks accelerates atherosclerosis in a manner similar to smoking cigarettes. Surveying more than 1,200 patients, Dr. Spence found regular consumption of egg yolks is about two-thirds as bad as smoking when it comes to increased build-up of carotid plaque, a risk factor for stroke and heart attack. … > full story
Antisense approach promising for treatment of parasitic infections (August 13, 2012) — A targeted approach to treating toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease, shows early promise in test-tube and animal studies, where it prevented the parasites from making selected proteins. When tested in newly infected mice, it reduced the number of viable parasites by more than 90 percent. … > full story
New method may allow personalized clinical trial for cancer therapies (August 13, 2012) — Researchers have developed a new tool to observe cell behavior, which has revealed surprising clues about how cancer cells respond to therapy. The new tool may offer ways to improve personalized cancer therapy by predicting tumor response and testing combinations of targeted therapies in an individual patient’s tumor. … > full story
How computation can predict group conflict: Fighting among captive pigtailed macaques provides clues (August 13, 2012) — When conflict breaks out in social groups, individuals make strategic decisions about how to behave based on their understanding of alliances and feuds in the group. But it’s been challenging to quantify the underlying trends that dictate how individuals make predictions, given they may only have seen a small number of fights or have limited memory. In a new study of primates (pigtailed macaques), scientists have developed a computational approach to determine whether individuals behave predictably. … > full story
ScienceDaily Technology Headlines
for Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Need an expert? Try the crowd (August 14, 2012) — Can a crowd be an expert? Apparently, yes. Scientists have created the first-ever crowd-sourced predictive model. … > full story
Online obesity treatment programmes show promise (August 14, 2012) — Computer and web-based weight management programs may provide a cost effective way of addressing the growing problem of obesity, according to a recent review. The researcher found that delivering weight loss or weight maintenance programs online or by computer helped overweight and obese patients lose and/or maintain weight. … > full story
An artificial retina with the capacity to restore normal vision (August 14, 2012) — For the first time, researchers decipher the retina’s neural code for brain communication to create novel, more effective prosthetic retinal device for blindness. … > full story
Health consequences of meltdown, damage to Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan (August 14, 2012) — Researchers report on the psychological status of workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan several months after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and the amount of internal radiation exposure among residents of a city north of the power plant that experienced a meltdown. … > full story
Deep inside the body, tiny mechanical microscope diagnoses disease (August 14, 2012) — Tiny space age probes — those that can see inside single living cells — are increasingly being used to diagnose illness in hard-to-reach areas of the body. … > full story
Orbiter views NASA’s new Mars rover in color (August 14, 2012) — The first color image taken from orbit showing NASA’s rover Curiosity on Mars includes details of the layered bedrock on the floor of Gale Crater that the rover is beginning to investigate. … > full story
Mass spectrometry opens new frontiers in a single cell (August 14, 2012) — Pioneering mass spectrometry methods are helping plant biologists get their first glimpses of never-before-seen plant tissue structures. The new method opens up new realms of study, ones that might have long-ranging implications for biofuels research and crop genetics. … > full story
Plants exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties, engineers find (August 14, 2012) — From an engineer’s perspective, plants such as palm trees, bamboo, maples and even potatoes are examples of precise engineering on a microscopic scale. Like wooden beams reinforcing a house, cell walls make up the structural supports of all plants. Depending on how the cell walls are arranged, and what they are made of, a plant can be as flimsy as a reed, or as sturdy as an oak. … > full story
Quark matter’s connection with the Higgs: Heavy ion collisions delve deeper into the origin of (visible) mass (August 14, 2012) — You may think you’ve heard everything you need to know about the origin of mass. After all, scientists colliding protons at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Europe recently presented stunning evidence strongly suggesting the existence of a long-sought particle called the Higgs boson, thought to “impart mass to matter.” But while the Higgs particle may be responsible for the mass of fundamental particles such as quarks, quarks alone can’t account for the mass of most of the visible matter in the universe — that’s everything we see and sense around us. … > full story
US wind power market riding a wave that is likely to crest in 2012 (August 14, 2012) — Facing looming policy uncertainty beyond 2012, the US remained one of the fastest-growing wind power markets in the world in 2011 — second only to China — according to a new report. Driven by the threat of expiring federal incentives, new wind power installations are widely expected to be substantially higher in 2012 than in 2011, and perhaps even in excess of 2009’s record build. … > full story
New process doubles production of alternative fuel while slashing costs (August 14, 2012) — A new discovery should make the alternative fuel butanol more attractive to the biofuel industry. Scientists have found a way around the bottleneck that has frustrated producers in the past and could significantly reduce the cost of the energy involved in making it as well. … > full story
Engineers assess Dawn spacecraft’s reaction wheel (August 14, 2012) — Engineers working on NASA’s Dawn spacecraft are assessing the status of a reaction wheel — part of a system that helps the spacecraft point precisely — after onboard software powered it off on Aug. 8. Dawn’s mission is to study the geology and geochemistry of the giant asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, the two most massive objects in the main asteroid belt. Dawn is now using its thrusters to point at Earth for communications. The rest of the spacecraft is otherwise healthy. … > full story
Success of engineered tissue depends on where it’s grown (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have now shown that implanted cells’ therapeutic properties depend on their shape, which is determined by the type of scaffold on which they are grown. The work could allow scientists to develop even more effective implants and also target many other diseases, including cancer. … > full story
Closing in on the border between primordial plasma and ordinary matter (August 14, 2012) — Scientists have observed first glimpses of a possible boundary separating ordinary nuclear matter, composed of protons and neutrons, from the seething soup of their constituent quarks and gluons that permeated the early universe. … > full story
Hearing the telltale sounds of dangerous chemicals (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have developed a new chemical sensor that can simultaneously identify multiple nerve agents. … > full story
New research promises quiet cars — even when hitting unexpected bumps in the road (August 14, 2012) — New research featuring a mathematical model for quick-response, noise-cancellation designed to minimize sudden and unexpected noise caused by road hazards — bumps or potholes for example — has just been developed. … > full story
Graphene’s behavior depends on where it sits: Materials beneath determine how it react chemically and electrically (August 14, 2012) — Surprising new experiments show that a one-atom-thick material called graphene, a form of pure carbon whose atoms are joined in a chicken-wire-like lattice, behaves quite differently depending on the nature of material it’s wrapped around. … > full story
A model designed to balance the bolting load of wind turbines developed (August 14, 2012) — A researcher has built a simplified simulation model for wind turbines. All one has to do is enter the characteristics that the tower and its parts will have, and in a matter of seconds the model predicts the load that has to be given to each of the bolts, which leads to great advantages in the construction and maintenance process. … > full story
Military aircraft will soon be quieter (August 14, 2012) — Innovations on reducing the noise of the United State’s most sophisticated military aircraft have been developed. … > full story
NASA’s ‘Mighty Eagle’ robotic prototype lander flies again at Marshall (August 13, 2012) — The “Mighty Eagle,” a NASA robotic prototype lander, is soaring high again for a series of tests being conducted at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. … > full story
Second flight instrument delivered for James Webb Space Telescope (August 13, 2012) — The second of four main instruments to fly aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) has been delivered to NASA. The Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) will enable the telescope to accurately and precisely point at the correct, intended objects for it to observe. The FGS is packaged together as a single unit with the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) science instrument. … > full story
New technology delivers sustained release of drugs for up to six months (August 13, 2012) — A new technology which delivers sustained release of therapeutics for up to six months could be used in conditions which require routine injections, including diabetes, certain forms of cancer and potentially HIV/AIDS. … > full story
NASA STEREO observes one of the fastest CMEs on record (August 13, 2012) — On July 23, 2012, a massive cloud of solar material erupted off the sun’s right side, zooming out into space, passing one of NASA’s Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft along the way. Using the STEREO data, scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. clocked this giant cloud, known as a coronal mass ejection, or CME, as traveling between 1,800 and 2,200 miles per second as it left the sun. … > full story
Speedy ions could add zip to quantum computers (August 13, 2012) — Take that, sports cars! Physicists can accelerate their beryllium ions from zero to 100 miles per hour and stop them in just a few microseconds. The researchers think their zippy ions may be useful in future quantum computers. … > full story
Supercomputers solve riddle of congenital heart defects (August 13, 2012) — With the aid of pioneering technology, Danish scientists have charted several of the complex biological processes behind congenital heart defects. In time, the research promises to provide better ways to prevent, diagnose and cure heart disease. … > full story
New system could predict solar flares, give advance warning (August 13, 2012) — Researchers may have discovered a new method to predict solar flares more than a day before they occur, providing advance warning to help protect satellites, power grids and astronauts from potentially dangerous radiation. … > full story
Nanoparticle solar panel coating helps maintain panel efficiency (August 13, 2012) — A physics researcher has developed a nanoparticle coating for solar panels. This coating helps maintain the panels efficiency and reduces maintenance and operation costs. … > full story
Nano, photonic research gets boost from new 3-D visualization technology (August 13, 2012) — For the first time X-ray scientists have combined high-resolution imaging with 3-D viewing of the surface layer of material using X-ray vision in a way that does not damage the sample. This new technique expands the range of X-ray research possible for biology and many aspects of nanotechnology, particularly nanofilms, photonics, and micro- and nano-electronics. This new technique also reduces “guesswork” by eliminating the need for modeling-dependent structural simulation often used in X-ray analysis. … > full story
Gamma rays from galactic center could be evidence of dark matter (August 13, 2012) — Gamma-ray photons seen emanating from the center of the Milky Way galaxy are consistent with the intriguing possibility that dark-matter particles are annihilating each other in space, according to new research. … > full story
A new energy source: Major advance made in generating electricity from wastewater (August 13, 2012) — Engineers have made a breakthrough in the performance of microbial fuel cells that can produce electricity directly from wastewater, opening the door to a future in which waste treatment plants not only will power themselves while cleaning sewage, but will sell excess electricity. … > full story
How computation can predict group conflict: Fighting among captive pigtailed macaques provides clues (August 13, 2012) — When conflict breaks out in social groups, individuals make strategic decisions about how to behave based on their understanding of alliances and feuds in the group. But it’s been challenging to quantify the underlying trends that dictate how individuals make predictions, given they may only have seen a small number of fights or have limited memory. In a new study of primates (pigtailed macaques), scientists have developed a computational approach to determine whether individuals behave predictably. … > full story
Wind farms: A danger to ultra-light aircraft? (August 13, 2012) — Airfields for ultra-light aircraft are typically constructed on level ground — and so are wind farms. However, do wind power plants generate turbulence that could endanger lightweight planes? A simulation can compute how these power plants influence aircraft at various wind speeds and wind directions. … > full story
Scientists ‘waltz’ closer to using spintronics in computing (August 13, 2012) — Aiming to use electron spins for storing, transporting and processing information, researchers have revealed the first-ever direct mapping of the formation of a persistent spin helix in a semiconductor. … > full story
Optics and photonics research priorities, grand challenges presented in new report (August 13, 2012) — A new report identifies research priorities and grand challenges to fill gaps in optics and photonics. … > full story
Cyber security risk to smart grids and intelligent buildings (August 13, 2012) — Building owners and designers, and particularly members of the building services industry, are racing to implement intelligent buildings and smart grids, which are widely heralded as a boon in terms of both energy efficiency and facilities management. But many are overlooking the potential risk of malicious attacks on these highly networked control systems. … > full story
CERN’s Large Hadron Collider experiments bring new insight into matter of the primordial Universe (August 13, 2012) — Experiments using heavy ions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are advancing understanding of the primordial Universe. Scientists have made new measurements of the kind of matter that probably existed in the first instants of the Universe. … > full story
Optical fibers made from common materials (August 13, 2012) — Researchers are taking common materials to uncommon places by transforming easily obtainable and affordable materials into fiber. … > full story
Scientist invents pocket living room TV (August 13, 2012) — Leaving your TV show midway because you had to leave your home will no longer happen as you can now ‘pull’ the program on your TV screen onto your tablet and continue watching it seamlessly. … > full story
New eye sweeps the gamma sky (August 13, 2012) — H.E.S.S. II in Namibia observes the most violent and extreme phenomena of the universe in very high energy gamma-rays. … > full story
New bacteria-resistant materials discovered (August 13, 2012) — Using state-of-the-art technology, scientists at have discovered a new class of polymers that are resistant to bacterial attachment. These new materials could lead to a significant reduction in hospital infections and medical device failures. … > full story
Full color images at 100,000 dots-per-inch resolution, using metal-laced nano-structures (August 12, 2012) — Inspired by colorful stained-glass windows, researchers from Singapore have demonstrated an innovative method for producing sharp, full-spectrum color images at 100,000 dpi which can be applicable in reflective color displays, anti-counterfeiting, and high-density optical data recording. … > full story
Unraveling intricate interactions, one molecule at a time (August 12, 2012) — In a key step towards the design of better organic electronic devices, an engineering team has succeeded in performing the first quantitative characterization of van der Waals interactions at metal/organic interfaces at the single-molecule level. The researchers reveal the existence of two distinct binding regimes in gold-molecule-gold single-molecule junctions, using molecules containing nitrogen atoms at their extremities that are attracted to gold surfaces. … > full story
World’s most powerful X-ray laser beam refined to scalpel precision (August 12, 2012) — With a thin sliver of diamond, scientists have transformed the Linac Coherent Light Source into an even more precise tool for exploring the nanoworld. The improvements yield laser pulses focused to higher intensity in a much narrower band of X-ray wavelengths, and may enable experiments that have never before been possible. … > full story
Scientists’ gold discovery sheds light on catalysis (August 12, 2012) — Physicists have made an important advance in establishing the catalytic properties of gold at a nano level. They discovered that the catalytic activity of nanoporous gold (NPG) originates from high concentrations of surface defects present within its complex three-dimensional structure. … > full story
Curiosity sends high-resolution color images from Mars’ Gale Crater (August 12, 2012) — NASA’s Curiosity rover has shipped back to Earth high-resolution color images of its surroundings on Mars, sharpening our views of an intriguing channel, layered buttes and a layer of cobbles and pebbles embedded in a finer matrix of material. The images show a landscape closely resembling portions of the southwestern United States, adding to the impression gained from the lower-resolution thumbnail images released earlier this week. … > full story
Hubble’s close encounter with the Tarantula (August 11, 2012) — Turning its eye to the Tarantula Nebula, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken a close-up of the outskirts of the main cloud of the Nebula. … > full story
NASA Curiosity Mars rover installing smarts for driving (August 10, 2012) — NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity will spend its first weekend on Mars transitioning to software better suited for tasks ahead, such as driving and using its strong robotic arm. The rover’s “brain transplant,” which will occur during a series of steps Aug. 10 through Aug. 13, will install a new version of software on both of the rover’s redundant main computers. This software for Mars surface operations was uploaded to the rover’s memory during the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft’s flight from Earth. … > full story
Quantum cryptography theory has a demonstrated security defect (August 10, 2012) — Researchers have just demonstrated the incompleteness and limit of the security theory in quantum key distribution. The present theory cannot guarantee unconditional security. … > full story
ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Wednesday, August 15, 2012
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Fish brain development provides new insights into how vascular networks form (August 14, 2012) — How the intricate network of blood vessels forms within the brain has long fascinated biologists. This network, or vessel vasculature, in the human brain consists of a complex branching network of blood vessels, in total some several hundred miles in length. Abnormalities can lead to various neurological disorders, including strokes, learning difficulties and neurodegeneration. … > full story
Study demonstrates that one extinction leads to another (August 14, 2012) — When a carnivore becomes extinct, other predatory species could soon follow, according to new research. Scientists have previously put forward this theory, but now biologists have carried out the first experiment to show it. The study shows how the demise of one carnivore species can indirectly cause another to become extinct. The research team believes any extinction can create a ripple effect across a food web, with far-reaching consequences for many other animals. … > full story
Widespread local ‘extinctions’ in tropical forest ‘remnants’ (August 14, 2012) — The small fragments of tropical forests left behind after deforestation are suffering extensive species extinction, according to new research. … > full story
Dark chocolate, cocoa compounds, may reduce blood pressure (August 14, 2012) — Compounds in cocoa may help to reduce blood pressure, according to a new systematic review. The researchers reviewed evidence from short-term trials in which participants were given dark chocolate or cocoa powder daily and found that their blood pressure dropped slightly compared to a control group. … > full story
Health consequences of meltdown, damage to Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan (August 14, 2012) — Researchers report on the psychological status of workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan several months after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and the amount of internal radiation exposure among residents of a city north of the power plant that experienced a meltdown. … > full story
Researchers feed pigs, chickens high-protein fungus grown on ethanol leftovers (August 14, 2012) — A research team is feeding fungi grown on the leftovers of ethanol production to pigs and chickens. The feed-production process also cleans water used to make ethanol, boosting the amount of water that can be recycled back into biofuels. … > full story
Seeing sprites: Researchers catch glimpses of electromagnetic bursts high in Earth’s atmosphere (August 14, 2012) — High above the clouds during thunderstorms, some 50 miles above Earth a different kind of lightning dances. Bursts of red and blue light, known as “sprites,” flash for a scant one thousandth of a second. They are often only visible to those in flight above a storm, and happen so quickly you might not even see it unless you chance to be looking directly at it. One hard-to-reach place that gets a good view of sprites is the International Space Station. … > full story
How do they do it? Predictions are in for Arctic sea ice low point (August 14, 2012) — Each year scientists predict the low point of Arctic Sea ice. The final predictions were released Aug. 13. But how do they do it? Researchers used some new techniques this year in hopes of improving the accuracy of their prediction. … > full story
Researchers simulate volcanic eruptions: Large-scale experiment to shed light on powerful natural disaster (August 14, 2012) — A rare large-scale attempt to simulate volcanic eruptions will provide much-needed insight into one of Earth’s most powerful and mysterious natural disasters. … > full story
Fish are warmer, faster, stronger: Unexpected benefits of living in a changing climate, biologists find (August 14, 2012) — Biologists suggest that growing up at warmer temperatures helps some aquatic animals cope with climate change, raising questions about the limits of adaptation. They found that when embryos raised in warm water experienced temperature variation as adults, they could swim faster and their muscle was better suited for aerobic exercise. … > full story
New book explores ‘Noah’s flood’: Says Bible and science can get along (August 14, 2012) — A geologist, is the author of a new book that explores the long history of religious thinking on matters of geological discovery, particularly flood stories such as the biblical account of Noah’s ark. … > full story
Mass spectrometry opens new frontiers in a single cell (August 14, 2012) — Pioneering mass spectrometry methods are helping plant biologists get their first glimpses of never-before-seen plant tissue structures. The new method opens up new realms of study, ones that might have long-ranging implications for biofuels research and crop genetics. … > full story
Renaissance women fought men, and won (August 14, 2012) — A three-year study into a set of manuscripts compiled and written by one of Britain’s earliest feminist figures has revealed new insights into how women challenged male authority in the 17th century. … > full story
Plants exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties, engineers find (August 14, 2012) — From an engineer’s perspective, plants such as palm trees, bamboo, maples and even potatoes are examples of precise engineering on a microscopic scale. Like wooden beams reinforcing a house, cell walls make up the structural supports of all plants. Depending on how the cell walls are arranged, and what they are made of, a plant can be as flimsy as a reed, or as sturdy as an oak. … > full story
US wind power market riding a wave that is likely to crest in 2012 (August 14, 2012) — Facing looming policy uncertainty beyond 2012, the US remained one of the fastest-growing wind power markets in the world in 2011 — second only to China — according to a new report. Driven by the threat of expiring federal incentives, new wind power installations are widely expected to be substantially higher in 2012 than in 2011, and perhaps even in excess of 2009’s record build. … > full story
Mutation in male moth’s antenna lets him find a female at the other end of a football field (August 14, 2012) — A female moth sitting on a goal post could attract a male moth on the other end of a football field. And even if she switched her scent over time, the male could still find her because of a mutation to a single gene in his antenna. … > full story
New process doubles production of alternative fuel while slashing costs (August 14, 2012) — A new discovery should make the alternative fuel butanol more attractive to the biofuel industry. Scientists have found a way around the bottleneck that has frustrated producers in the past and could significantly reduce the cost of the energy involved in making it as well. … > full story
Remaking history: A new take on how evolution has shaped modern Europeans (August 14, 2012) — Investigators say that new analytical techniques are changing long-held, simplistic views about the evolutionary history of humans in Europe. Their findings indicate that many cultural, climatic, and demographic events have shaped genetic variation among modern-day European populations and that the variety of those mechanisms is more diverse than previously thought. … > full story
Dead men do tell tales: Sociologist used 100 years of obituaries as cultural barometer (August 14, 2012) — You know you’re living in a culture of celebrity when the Twitter for the president of the United States ranks No. 6, trailing behind rock stars Justin Bieber and Katy Perry by millions of followers. But have celebrities always trumped achievers for public attention? A sociologist has used 100 years of New York Times obituaries as a cultural barometer. … > full story
Impulsive micromanager microbes help plants adapt, survive (August 14, 2012) — Soil microbes are impulsive. So much so that they help plants face the challenges of a rapidly changing climate. Biologists have studied how plants and microbes work together to help plants survive the effects of global changes. … > full story
Nearly 1,000 earthquakes recorded in Arizona over three years (August 14, 2012) — Researchers have used EarthScope data to build the first comprehensive earthquake catalog for Arizona. … > full story
Seeds of hope amidst Philippine floods: Rice that can survive underwater (August 14, 2012) — Amidst horrendous flooding around Manila and major rice-growing across Luzon in the Philippines, some good news has emerged for rice farmers — Submarino rice — rice that can survive around two weeks of being under water. … > full story
Macabre finds in the bog at Alken Enge, Denmark: Skeletal remains of hundreds of warriors unearthed (August 14, 2012) — A fractured skull and a thighbone hacked in half. Finds of damaged human bones along with axes, spears, clubs and shields confirm that the bog at Alken Enge was the site of violent conflict. … > full story
A model designed to balance the bolting load of wind turbines developed (August 14, 2012) — A researcher has built a simplified simulation model for wind turbines. All one has to do is enter the characteristics that the tower and its parts will have, and in a matter of seconds the model predicts the load that has to be given to each of the bolts, which leads to great advantages in the construction and maintenance process. … > full story
Potent human toxins prevalent in Canada’s freshwaters (August 14, 2012) — Nutrient pollution, one of the greatest threats to our freshwater resources, is responsible for the algal blooms that blanket our lakes and waterways in summer months. Large blooms of cyanobacteria (‘blue green algae’) can cause fish kills, increase the cost of drinking water treatment, devalue shoreline properties, and pose health risks to people, pets, and wildlife. Microcystin, a toxin produced by cyanobacteria, is present in Canadian lakes in every province, according to new research. … > full story
European Forest Fire Information System: Current situation in Europe (August 14, 2012) — The 2012 fire season has been characterized by a high number of fires in the early season. Over 100,000 hectares had already been consumed by fire at the end of March. July brought critical fire episodes in Spain and Portugal, which led to a number of human casualties. … > full story
Old skull bone rediscovered in mammals (August 14, 2012) — Although clearly discernible in the embryo, shortly afterwards it fuses with other bones beyond recognition. Consequently, researchers have often missed it. Now, however, paleontologists have rediscovered it: the “os interparietale”, a skull bone also referred to as the interparietal. Using imaging methods, they were able to detect its presence in all mammals – including humans, which is new as it was previously believed to have been lost in the course of evolution. … > full story
Mysterious snake disease decoded (August 14, 2012) — A novel virus has been identified as the possible cause of a common but mysterious disease that kills a significant number of pet snakes all over the world, thanks to new research. … > full story
NASA STEREO observes one of the fastest CMEs on record (August 13, 2012) — On July 23, 2012, a massive cloud of solar material erupted off the sun’s right side, zooming out into space, passing one of NASA’s Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft along the way. Using the STEREO data, scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. clocked this giant cloud, known as a coronal mass ejection, or CME, as traveling between 1,800 and 2,200 miles per second as it left the sun. … > full story
Consuming flavanol-rich cocoa may enhance brain function (August 13, 2012) — Eating cocoa flavanols daily may improve mild cognitive impairment, according to new research. … > full story
New system could predict solar flares, give advance warning (August 13, 2012) — Researchers may have discovered a new method to predict solar flares more than a day before they occur, providing advance warning to help protect satellites, power grids and astronauts from potentially dangerous radiation. … > full story
Nanoparticle solar panel coating helps maintain panel efficiency (August 13, 2012) — A physics researcher has developed a nanoparticle coating for solar panels. This coating helps maintain the panels efficiency and reduces maintenance and operation costs. … > full story
Egg yolk consumption almost as bad as smoking when it comes to atherosclerosis, study suggests (August 13, 2012) — Newly published research shows that eating egg yolks accelerates atherosclerosis in a manner similar to smoking cigarettes. Surveying more than 1,200 patients, Dr. Spence found regular consumption of egg yolks is about two-thirds as bad as smoking when it comes to increased build-up of carotid plaque, a risk factor for stroke and heart attack. … > full story
Antisense approach promising for treatment of parasitic infections (August 13, 2012) — A targeted approach to treating toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease, shows early promise in test-tube and animal studies, where it prevented the parasites from making selected proteins. When tested in newly infected mice, it reduced the number of viable parasites by more than 90 percent. … > full story
A new energy source: Major advance made in generating electricity from wastewater (August 13, 2012) — Engineers have made a breakthrough in the performance of microbial fuel cells that can produce electricity directly from wastewater, opening the door to a future in which waste treatment plants not only will power themselves while cleaning sewage, but will sell excess electricity. … > full story
Florida state record 87 eggs in largest python from Everglades (August 13, 2012) — Researchers curating a 17-foot-7-inch Burmese python, the largest found in Florida, discovered 87 eggs in the snake, also a state record. … > full story
Research raises doubts about whether modern humans and Neanderthals interbred (August 13, 2012) — New research raises questions about the theory that modern humans and Neanderthals at some point interbred, known as hybridization. The findings suggest that common ancestry, not hybridization, better explains the average 1-4 per cent DNA that those of European and Asian descent (Eurasians) share with Neanderthals. … > full story
How computation can predict group conflict: Fighting among captive pigtailed macaques provides clues (August 13, 2012) — When conflict breaks out in social groups, individuals make strategic decisions about how to behave based on their understanding of alliances and feuds in the group. But it’s been challenging to quantify the underlying trends that dictate how individuals make predictions, given they may only have seen a small number of fights or have limited memory. In a new study of primates (pigtailed macaques), scientists have developed a computational approach to determine whether individuals behave predictably. … > full story
Chemical widely used in antibacterial hand soaps may impair muscle function (August 13, 2012) — Triclosan, an antibacterial chemical widely used in hand soaps and other personal-care products, hinders muscle contractions at a cellular level, slows swimming in fish and reduces muscular strength in mice, according to new research. Researchers call for regulatory agencies to reconsider its use. … > full story
Fresh water breathes fresh life into hurricanes (August 13, 2012) — An analysis of a decade’s worth of tropical cyclones shows that when hurricanes blow over ocean regions swamped by fresh water, the conditions can unexpectedly intensify the storm. Although the probability that hurricanes will hit such conditions is small, ranging from 10 to 23 percent, the effect is potentially large: Hurricanes can become 50 percent more intense, researchers report. … > full story
Protected areas allow wildlife to spread in response to climate change, citizen scientists reveal (August 13, 2012) — A new study has shown how birds, butterflies, other insects and spiders have colonized nature reserves and areas protected for wildlife, as they move north in response to climate change and other environmental changes. … > full story
Marine research in the Brazilian rain forest: Slash and burn practice for centuries as source of stable carbon compounds in the oceans (August 13, 2012) — Until recent decades the Atlantic Rainforest covered a large area of today’s Brazil from Amazonas to present-day Argentina. In the 1970s, after years of deforestation, this rain forest was almost completely destroyed, mainly replaced by cattle pastures. This study reveals an unexpected aspect of deforestation. … > full story
Protective bacteria in the infant gut have resourceful way of helping babies break down breast milk (August 13, 2012) — Scientists have found that important and resourceful bacteria in the baby microbiome can ferret out nourishment from a previously unknown source, possibly helping at-risk infants break down components of breast milk. … > full story
Wind farms: A danger to ultra-light aircraft? (August 13, 2012) — Airfields for ultra-light aircraft are typically constructed on level ground — and so are wind farms. However, do wind power plants generate turbulence that could endanger lightweight planes? A simulation can compute how these power plants influence aircraft at various wind speeds and wind directions. … > full story
The ins and outs of building the sperm tail (August 13, 2012) — Sperm swim, lung cells sweep mucus away, and the cells in the female Fallopian tube move eggs from the ovary to the uterus. Underlying these phenomena are flagella – slender, hair-like structures extending from the surface of the cells, that bend, beat or wave rhythmically. Biologists have now dissected how sperm cells of the fruit fly build their flagella. These findings pave the way to further understand the molecules and processes that may trigger a variety of human diseases and disorders, including infertility, respiratory problems and hydrocephaly, known to be associated with defects in flagellar movements. … > full story
Scientists use light to ‘tag and track’ genetic processes (August 13, 2012) — In a new study, researchers outline how they used fluorescent molecules to “tag” DNA and monitor a process called DNA looping, a natural biological mechanism involved in rearranging genetic material in some types of cells. The “tag and track” method not only sheds light on how DNA loops form, but also might be adapted to screen drugs for effectiveness against certain viruses that shuffle genetic material, such as HIV. … > full story
Ancient seal may add substance to the legend of Samson (August 13, 2012) — An ancient seal depicting a man and a lion in hand-to-paw combat places the Biblical story of Samson in the archaeological setting of Beth Shemesh during the 12th century BCE, researchers say. … > full story
For young birds, getting stressed out can be a good thing (August 13, 2012) — Many studies have found that high levels of hormones that are associated with stress are a sign of poor fitness and reduced chance of survival — but recent research on young songbirds found that some elevated hormones can be a good thing, often the difference between life and death. … > full story
