ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Sunday, August 8, 2010
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Mimicking the moon's surface in the basement (August 7, 2010) -- A team of scientists used an ion beam in a basement room at Los Alamos National Laboratory to simulate solar winds on the surface of the moon. The table-top simulation helped confirm that the moon is inherently dry. ... > full story
Key mechanism in brain's computation of sound location identified (August 7, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a mechanism the brain uses to help process sound localization. Their findings focus on how the brain computes the different arrival times of sound into each ear to estimate the location of its source. ... > full story
Looking for the coolest forms of life on Earth (August 7, 2010) -- Two UK scientists are traveling to one of the coldest places on Earth to help them understand how life could exist on other planets in our Solar System. During their trip to Ny-Ålesund on the island of Svalbard, they will investigate how the snow and ice there was first colonized by extremophiles – organisms that thrive in harsh conditions. ... > full story
Newly discovered mechanism controls levels and efficacy of a marijuana-like substance in the brain (August 7, 2010) -- A newly discovered molecular mechanism helps control the amount and effectiveness of a substance that mimics an active ingredient in marijuana, but that is produced by the body's own nerve cells. Cannabinoid signaling systems are common throughout the body and affect a variety of functions. Developing new therapies that modulate these molecular communications might help patients with autoimmune or neurological disorders, including brain inflammation following a viral infections. Specifically targeted treatments would have medicinal benefits without mind-altering side effects. ... > full story
Timely technology sees tiny transitions (August 7, 2010) -- Scientists can detect the movements of single molecules by using fluorescent tags or by pulling them in delicate force measurements, but only for a few minutes. A new technique will allow them to track single molecules without modifying them -- and it works over longer timescales. ... > full story
Beautiful women face discrimination in certain jobs, study finds (August 7, 2010) -- New research shows that beautiful women are discriminated against when applying for "masculine" jobs or when looks don't matter. ... > full story
Greenland glacier calves island four times the size of Manhattan (August 7, 2010) -- A researcher reports that an "ice island" four times the size of Manhattan has calved from Greenland's Petermann Glacier. The last time the Arctic lost such a large chunk of ice was in 1962. ... > full story
Human embryonic stem cells purified in new, rapid technique (August 7, 2010) -- Researchers are reporting the first success in very rapidly purifying one type of embryonic stem cell from a mix of many different types of embryonic stem cells in the culture dish. The technique, which avoids the need to genetically alter the cells to distinguish them, is a key advance, the researchers say, for obtaining the appropriate cells for repairing specific damaged tissues. ... > full story
Nuclear physicists study 'magic' nature of tin (August 7, 2010) -- The metal tin lacks the value and prestige of gold, silver and platinum, but to nuclear physicists, tin is magic. Physicists recently reported studies on the metal tin that add knowledge to a concept known as magic numbers while perhaps helping scientists to explain how heavy elements are made in exploding stars. ... > full story
Tattooing linked to higher risk of hepatitis C, study finds (August 7, 2010) -- Youth, prison inmates and individuals with multiple tattoos that cover large parts of their bodies are at higher risk of contracting hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases, according to a new study. ... > full story
Insular evolution: Large and big-footed voles in an outer archipelago (August 7, 2010) -- According to evolutionary theory, natural selection favors traits that enhance dispersal of populations to new habitats. The empirical evidence supporting this theory, however, is relatively scarce. Scientists now report on the rapid evolution of traits facilitating dispersal in an outer archipelago. ... > full story
Economic status, genetics together influence psychopathic traits (August 7, 2010) -- Researchers studying the genetic roots of antisocial behavior report that children with one variant of a serotonin transporter gene are more likely to exhibit psychopathic traits if they also grow up poor. Children were more likely to score high on tests for psychopathic traits if they had both low socioeconomic status and the variant gene. ... > full story
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