ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Thursday, August 12, 2010
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Building muscle doesn't require lifting heavy weights, study shows (August 12, 2010) -- A new study shows that building muscle depends on achieving muscle fatigue not on pumping heavy weights as previously believed. ... > full story
Red blood cells have a tiny but effective protector -- microRNA (August 12, 2010) -- Pediatric researchers have discovered a new biological pathway in which small segments of RNA, called microRNA, help protect red blood cells from injury caused by chemicals called free radicals. The microRNA seems to have only a modest role when red blood cells experience normal conditions, but steps into action when the cells are threatened by oxidant stress. The study illustrates how microRNA fine-tunes gene activity. ... > full story
Texas petrochemical emissions down, but still underestimated, says study (August 12, 2010) -- A thick blanket of yellow haze hovering over Houston as a result of chemical pollution from petroleum products may be getting a little bit thinner, according to a new study. But the new findings -- which have implications for petrochemical-producing cities around the world -- come with a catch, says a team of scientists who participated in the research. ... > full story
High malaria transmission areas remain a problem for elimination (August 12, 2010) -- Current tools for combating malaria, such as artemisinin-combination therapy and increasing coverage of long-lasting insecticide bednets can result in major reductions in Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission and the associated disease burden in Africa. ... > full story
Key mechanisms of cell division in plants identified (August 12, 2010) -- Scientists have developed new technology that may contribute to the increase of crop yields in agriculture. The technology platform based on "tandem affinity purification" was developed to map the basic machinery of cell division in plants much faster than the existing techniques. ... > full story
Study finds similar personality types in male and female domestic violence perpetrators (August 12, 2010) -- New research is providing a better picture of the roles played by gender, personality and mental illness in domestic violence. ... > full story
Breakthrough in blinking molecules phenomenon (August 12, 2010) -- A new paper offers an important new understanding of an enduring mystery in chemical physics. More than a century ago, at the dawn of modern quantum mechanics, the Noble Prize-winning physicist Neils Bohr predicted so-called "quantum jumps." He predicted that these jumps would be due to electrons making transitions between discrete energy levels of individual atoms and molecules. Although controversial in Bohr's time, such quantum jumps were experimentally observed, and his prediction verified, in the 1980s. More recently, with the development of single molecule imaging techniques in the early 1990s, it has been possible to observe similar jumps in individual molecules. ... > full story
Potential treatment for pulmonary hypertension discovered (August 12, 2010) -- Researchers are one step closer to a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, a potentially deadly disease. ... > full story
Constant overlap: Scientists identify molecular machinery that maintains important feature of cell's spindle (August 12, 2010) -- Scientists in Germany have uncovered the molecular mechanism that determines the size of anti-parallel microtubule overlaps in a cell's spindle. In a new study, they were able to reconstruct such overlaps in vitro, and identify two proteins which are sufficient to control the formation and size of this important spindle feature. ... > full story
Rate of health care associated MRSA infections decreasing, study finds (August 12, 2010) -- An analysis of data from 2005 through 2008 of nine metropolitan areas in the US indicates that health care-associated invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections decreased among patients with infections that began in the community or in the hospital, according to a new study. ... > full story
Micromachines for a safer world (August 12, 2010) -- Scientists are improving the sensitivity of MEMS accelerometers by using an efficient yet simple and manufacturable design, which can be applied in sport, communication, transportation and defense. Amplification techniques developed at his lab can be used for improving the performance of these devices. ... > full story
Focusing on immediate health effects may improve weight loss success (August 12, 2010) -- Most weight loss programs try to motivate individuals with warnings of the long-term health consequences of obesity: increased risk for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and asthma. New research suggests the immediate health benefits -- such as reduced pain -- may be the most effective motivator for helping obese individuals shed extra weight and commit to keeping it off. ... > full story
Dark-matter search plunges physicists to new depths (August 11, 2010) -- Physicists are taking their attempt to unmask the secret identity of dark matter into a Canadian mine more than a mile underground. They are deploying a 4-kilogram bubble chamber at SNOLab, which is part of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory in Ontario, Canada. A second 60-kilogram chamber will follow later this year. ... > full story
Chemical system in brain behaves differently in cocaine addicts, scientists find (August 11, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a chemical system in the brain that reacts differently in cocaine addicts, findings that could result in new treatment options for individuals addicted to the drug. ... > full story
Perseid meteor shower set to dazzle (August 11, 2010) -- This year’s Perseid meteor shower looks set to be one of the best of recent years, with near perfect viewing conditions for observers in the UK. The peak of the shower will be at around 2300 BST on Thursday 12 August but activity will be strong into the pre-dawn hours of Friday morning. This is just two days after New Moon, meaning that our celestial neighbor will not provide any natural light pollution to spoil the view. ... > full story
Research links huntingtin to neurogenesis (August 11, 2010) -- New research finds that a protein that is often mutated in Huntington's disease (HD) plays an unexpected role in the process of neurogenesis. The research provides new insight into HD pathology and has even broader implications for human health and disease. ... > full story
Electrons in motion (August 11, 2010) -- In order to understand the behavior of atoms and molecules, it is not enough to know their structure; physicists also want to observe their motions, and the motions of their electrons. Because electrons move so rapidly, this was not possible until now. A European team of researchers has now developed a method that allows one to observe the motions of electrons. ... > full story
Distracted drivers benefit from in-car driving coach (August 11, 2010) -- A study shows an in-car coach has the strongest effect on drivers most prone to distraction, suggesting that technology could help prevent dangerous driving. ... > full story
Scientists achieve highest-resolution MRI of the inside of a magnet (August 11, 2010) -- In a development that holds potential for both data storage and biomedical imaging, researchers have used a new technique to obtain the highest-ever resolution MRI scan of the inside of a magnet. ... > full story
Proteins linked with Alzheimer's, other neurodegenerative diseases found to clump in normal aging (August 11, 2010) -- In neurodegenerative diseases, clumps of insoluble proteins appear in patients' brains. These aggregates contain proteins that are unique to each disease, such as amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease, but they are intertwined with small amounts of many other insoluble proteins that are normally present in a soluble form in healthy young individuals. For years, these other proteins were thought to be accidental inclusions in the aggregates, much as a sea turtle might be caught in a net of fish. Now, in a surprising new finding, researchers report that many of the proteins present as minor components of disease aggregates actually clump together as a normal part of aging in healthy individuals. ... > full story
Best way to pour champagne? 'Down the side' wins first scientific test (August 11, 2010) -- In a study that may settle a long-standing disagreement over the best way to pour a glass of champagne, scientists in France are reporting that pouring bubbly in an angled, down-the-side way is best for preserving its taste and fizz. The study also reports the first scientific evidence confirming the importance of chilling champagne before serving to enhance its taste, the scientists say. ... > full story
Spinal muscular atrophy may also affect the heart, study finds (August 11, 2010) -- Along with skeletal muscles, it may be important to monitor heart function in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to a new study. ... > full story
Energy storage system deals with sudden draws on the grid (August 11, 2010) -- Researchers have found a way to manage short-lived draws on the electricity grid. ... > full story
Perceived intentions influence brain response (August 11, 2010) -- People generally like to see generous people rewarded and selfish people punished. Now, new research reveals a critical link between how we perceive another's intentions and our evaluation of their behavior. The study makes some intriguing observations about how a description of the impact of an individual's actions on a group can alter the neural representation of their observed behavior. ... > full story
Rain contributes to cycling patterns of clouds: Researchers demonstrate how honeycomb clouds exhibit self-organization (August 11, 2010) -- Like shifting sand dunes, some clouds disappear in one place and reappear in another. New research shows why: Air movement due to rain forms patterns in low clouds that remain cohesive structures even while appearing to shift about the sky, due to a principle called self-organization. These clouds cover much of the open ocean. Understanding how their patterns evolve will eventually help scientists build better models for predicting climate change. ... > full story
Menstrual cramps may alter brain structure (August 11, 2010) -- Primary dysmenorrheal, or menstrual cramps, is the most common gynecological disorder in women of childbearing age. Lower abdominal pain starts with the onset of menstrual flow and this ongoing pain stimulus can cause alterations throughout the nervous system. In a new study, researchers report abnormal changes in the structure of the brain in PDM patients, whether or not they are in fact experiencing pain. ... > full story
Advance toward earlier detection of melanoma (August 11, 2010) -- Scientists are now able to image subcutaneous melanoma tumors with startling clarity. The new imaging technique relies on sound rather than light because sound is less strongly scattered by tissues. In addition, the tumors are preloaded with a nanoparticle contrast agent that latches onto proteins that stud the surface of the cancerous cells. ... > full story
Initial trials on new ovarian cancer tests exhibit extremely high accuracy (August 11, 2010) -- Scientists have attained very promising results on their initial investigations of a new test for ovarian cancer. Using a new technique involving mass spectrometry of a single drop of blood serum, the test correctly identified women with ovarian cancer in 100 percent of the patients tested. ... > full story
When chimpanzees attack humans: Loss of habitat may lead to increased conflict (August 11, 2010) -- Scientists from Japan, studying chimpanzees in Guinea, have published research revealing why nonhuman primates attack humans and what preventive measures can be taken. The study suggests that while rare, attacks by primates on humans may increase as wild habitat is increasingly converted for agriculture. ... > full story
Fixing technical problems for a good night's sleep as kids start a new school year (August 11, 2010) -- Getting a good night's sleep often comes down to technique. Avoiding late-night technology use and keeping a regular sleep schedule are two important techniques to heed as kids head back to school. ... > full story
Oldest evidence of stone tool use and meat-eating among human ancestors discovered: Lucy's species butchered meat (August 11, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered evidence that human ancestors were using stone tools and consuming meat from large mammals nearly a million years earlier than previously documented. Two fossilized bones with cut marks and percussion marks were unearthed in Ethiopia. The bones are about 3.4 million years old and provide the first evidence that Australopithecus afarensis used stone tools and consumed meat. ... > full story
Deathstalker scorpion venom could improve gene therapy for brain cancer (August 11, 2010) -- An ingredient in the venom of the "deathstalker" scorpion could help gene therapy become an effective treatment for brain cancer, scientists are reporting. The substance allows therapeutic genes -- genes that treat disease -- to reach more brain cancer cells than current approaches, according to a new study. ... > full story
Innovation could bring super-accurate sensors, crime forensics (August 11, 2010) -- A new technology enabling tiny machines called micro electromechanical systems to "self-calibrate" could make possible super-accurate and precise sensors for crime-scene forensics, environmental testing and medical diagnostics. ... > full story
'New' human adenovirus may not make for good vaccines, after all (August 11, 2010) -- In a new study of four adenovirus vectors, researchers show that a reportedly rare human adenovirus, AdHu26, is not so rare, after all, and would not be optimal as a vaccine carrier. As previous research has shown, a viral vector may be ineffective if the virus it is based on is common. The study supports the use of chimpanzee adenoviruses as vaccine vectors, since humans have little exposure to these viruses. ... > full story
Send in the clouds: NASA's CloudSat sees clouds' effect on climate by studying them from space (August 11, 2010) -- Gaze up at a cloud-filled sky, and you may spot the white, fluffy shape of a dragon, fish or elephant. Looking at the same sky, Graeme Stephens sees a different vision -- a possible future for Earth's climate. ... > full story
People who are angry pay more attention to rewards than threats (August 11, 2010) -- Anger is a negative emotion. But, like being happy or excited, feeling angry makes people want to seek rewards, according to a new study of emotion and visual attention. The researchers found that people who are angry pay more attention to rewards than to threats -- the opposite of people feeling other negative emotions like fear. ... > full story
Dogs' physical traits controlled by small number of genetic regions, researcher finds (August 11, 2010) -- Next time you gaze soulfully into a dog's eyes or scratch behind its ears, take note of the length of his nose or the size of his body. Although such attributes can vary wildly among different breeds, a team of researchers has found that they are determined by only a few genetic regions. ... > full story
Scientists identify new drug strategy against fragile X syndrome (August 11, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a potential new strategy for treating fragile X syndrome -- the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. They have found that a class of drugs called phosphoinositide-3 kinase inhibitors can correct defects in the anatomy of neurons seen in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. In experiments with cultured neurons from the hippocampus, a brain region involved in learning and memory, the drugs could restore normal appearance and levels of protein production at synapses. ... > full story
Scientists show there's nothing boring about watching paint dry (August 11, 2010) -- It turns out that watching paint dry might not be as boring as the old adage claims. Researchers have come up with a new technique to study the mechanics of coatings as they dry and peel, and has discovered that the process is far from mundane. ... > full story
Better understanding of mapmaking in the brain (August 11, 2010) -- "Grid cells," which help the brain map locations, have been found for the first time outside of the hippocampus in the rat brain, according to new research. ... > full story
Bacteria from hot springs reveal clues to evolution of early life and to unlock biofuels' potential (August 11, 2010) -- Bacteria that lives in hot springs in Japan may help solve one of the mysteries of the early evolution of complex organisms, according to a new study. It may also be the key to 21st century biofuel production. ... > full story
Students' understanding of the equal sign not equal, professor says (August 11, 2010) -- Taken very literally, not all students are created equal -- especially in their math learning skills, say researchers who have found that not fully understanding the "equal sign" in a math problem could be a key to why US students underperform their peers from other countries in math. ... > full story
Indonesian ice field may be gone in a few years, core may contain secrets of Pacific El Nino events (August 11, 2010) -- Glaciologists who drilled through an ice cap perched precariously on the edge of a 16,000-foot-high Indonesian mountain ridge say that the ice field could vanish within in the next few years, another victim of global climate change. ... > full story
Adult autism diagnosis by brain scan (August 11, 2010) -- Scientists in the UK have developed a pioneering new method of diagnosing autism in adults. For the first time, a quick brain scan that takes just 15 minutes can identify adults with autism with over 90 per cent accuracy. The method could lead to the screening for autism spectrum disorders in children in the future. ... > full story
Better displays ahead (August 11, 2010) -- Researchers are actively pursuing an alternative approach for low-power displays and hope to provide details about what's ahead for display technology. ... > full story
Walking to school could reduce stress reactivity in children, may curb risk of heart disease (August 11, 2010) -- A simple morning walk to school could reduce stress reactivity in children during the school day, curbing increases in heart rate and blood pressure that can lead to cardiovascular disease later in life, according to a new study. ... > full story
Deep ocean floor research yields promising results for microbiologists (August 11, 2010) -- Research by microbiologists is revealing how marine microbes live in a mysterious area of the Earth: the realm just beneath the deep ocean floor. The ocean crust may be the largest biological reservoir on our planet. ... > full story
Drugs to treat cocaine abuse? Effectiveness may depend on how one uses cocaine (August 11, 2010) -- A new study explores pharmacological strategies for reducing cocaine self-administration in animals that may have implications for treating cocaine dependence in humans. ... > full story
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