ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Saturday, September 11, 2010
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Caught in the act: Fireballs light up Jupiter (September 10, 2010) -- Amateur astronomers working with professional astronomers have spotted two fireballs lighting up Jupiter's atmosphere this summer, marking the first time Earth-based telescopes have captured relatively small objects burning up in the atmosphere of the giant planet. The two fireballs -- which produced bright freckles on Jupiter that were visible through backyard telescopes -- occurred on June 3, 2010, and August 20, 2010, respectively. ... > full story
Function found for Alzheimer's protein (September 10, 2010) -- In people with Alzheimer's, the brain becomes riddled with clumps of protein, forming what are known as amyloid plaques. Now, new research appears to have found a function for the amyloid precursor protein (APP for short) that yields the prime ingredient in those plaques. ... > full story
Neurons: Faster than thought and able to multiply (September 10, 2010) -- Using computer simulations of brain-like networks, researchers from Germany and Japan have discovered why nerve cells transmit information through small electrical pulses. The process not only allows the brain to process information much faster than previously thought, but also single neurons are already able to multiply, opening the door to more complex forms of computing. ... > full story
A smart use for wisdom teeth: Making stem cells (September 10, 2010) -- A new study shows that wisdom teeth contain a valuable reservoir of tissue for the creation of stem cells; thus, everyone might be carrying around his or her own personal stem-cell repository should he or she ever need some. ... > full story
Graphene may hold key to speeding up DNA sequencing (September 10, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated that graphene can act as an artificial membrane separating two liquid reservoirs. By drilling a tiny pore just a few-nanometers in diameter, called a nanopore, in the graphene membrane, they were able to measure exchange of ions through the pore and demonstrated that a long DNA molecule can be pulled through the graphene nanopore just as a thread is pulled through the eye of a needle. ... > full story
Perceived life-threat affects mental health, Swedish research finds finds (September 10, 2010) -- Feeling like your life is in danger during an accident or disaster can have long-term negative effects on health -- whether or not the threat to your life was real, according to research on the experiences and mental health of Stockholm residents who survived the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. A few simple questions to survivors early on could help health care personnel identify those in need of extra support and follow-up, according to the researcher behind the thesis. ... > full story
In attracting mates, male bowerbirds appear to rely on special optical effect (September 10, 2010) -- Bowerbird males are well known for making elaborate constructions, lavished with decorative objects, to impress and attract their mates. Now, researchers have identified a completely new dimension to these showy structures in great bowerbirds. The birds create a staged scene, only visible from the point of view of their female audience, by placing pebbles, bones, and shells around their courts in a very special way that can make objects (or a bowerbird male) appear larger or smaller than they really are. ... > full story
New neurological deficit behind lazy eye identified (September 10, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a new neurological deficit behind amblyopia, or "lazy eye." Their findings shed additional light on how amblyopia results from disrupted links between the brain and normal visual processing. ... > full story
World's first transcontinental anesthesia: Researchers pioneer anesthetics via videoconferencing (September 10, 2010) -- Videoconferences may be known for putting people to sleep, but never like this. A team from McGill University's Department of Anesthesia achieved a world first on August 30, 2010, when they treated patients undergoing thyroid gland surgery in Italy remotely from Montreal, Canada. ... > full story
Researchers analyze impact of chemical BPA in dental sealants used in children (September 10, 2010) -- Researchers have found that bisphenol A (BPA) released from some plastic resins used in pediatric dentistry is detectable in the saliva after placement in children's mouths. ... > full story
Tally-ho! Deep Impact spacecraft eyes comet target (September 10, 2010) -- On Sunday, Sept. 5, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft beamed down the first of more than 64,000 images it's expected to take of Comet Hartley 2. The spacecraft, now on an extended mission known as EPOXI, has an appointment with the comet on Nov. 4, 2010. ... > full story
Music on prescription could help treat emotional and physical pain (September 10, 2010) -- New research into how music conveys emotion could benefit the treatment of depression and the management of physical pain. Using an innovative combination of music psychology and leading-edge audio engineering the project is looking in more detail than ever before at how music conveys emotion. ... > full story
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