ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, October 8, 2010
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Family ties bind desert lizards in social groups (October 8, 2010) -- Researchers have found that a species of lizard in the Mojave Desert lives in family groups and shows patterns of social behavior more commonly associated with mammals and birds. Their investigation of the formation and stability of family groups in desert night lizards provides new insights into the evolution of cooperative behavior. ... > full story
Novel protein critical for cellular proliferation discovered (October 8, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a novel protein that is highly conserved in higher eukaryotes. They have shown that in human cells, this protein binds to heterochromatic structures, and plays an essential role in DNA replication. ... > full story
Researchers find no visible oil sands off Florida Panhandle, Alabama beaches (October 8, 2010) -- A team of researchers studying the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on northern Gulf of Mexico beaches say areas just offshore from some of Florida's most heavily oiled beaches appear to be free of visible oil contamination in the sediments. ... > full story
Study disproves link between genetic variant, risk of coronary artery disease (October 8, 2010) -- A genetic marker touted as a predictor of coronary artery disease is no such thing, according to a new study. The study analyzed the data from more than 17,000 patients with cardiovascular disease and 40,000 others to assess whether carrying a particular variant of the KIF6 gene indicated a greater risk for coronary artery disease -- a disease characterized by a buildup of cholesterol plaque in the walls of the arteries of the heart. ... > full story
Elusive intermediary: Newly discovered protein may help improve crop yields, solar cells (October 8, 2010) -- Plants use specialized protein complexes to collect the light that drives photosynthesis. Researchers in Germany have now identified a protein that is necessary for the assembly of one such complex. The discovery could lead to improved crop yields and might even form the basis for new types of solar cells. ... > full story
Self-injury behavior not recognized in many youths with eating disorders (October 8, 2010) -- An alarming number of adolescents already battling eating disorders are also intentionally cutting themselves, and health-care providers may be failing to diagnose many instances of such self-injury, according to a new study. ... > full story
Too much of a good thing: Human activities overload ecosystems with nitrogen (October 8, 2010) -- Humans are overloading ecosystems with nitrogen through the burning of fossil fuels and an increase in nitrogen-producing industrial and agricultural activities, according to a new study. While nitrogen is an element that is essential to life, it is an environmental scourge at high levels. ... > full story
How immune system B-cells react to very different substances (October 8, 2010) -- In order to track down pathogens and render them harmless, the immune system must be able to recognize myriad different foreign substances and react to them. Scientists have discovered how the immune system's B-cells can be activated by numerous substances from our environment. The receptor molecules on the surface of the B-cells are only activated when the receptor subunits separate following the binding of foreign substances. These findings turn the previous understanding of how B-cell receptors are activated on its head and may contribute to the development of new vaccination strategies and treatments for B-cell tumors. ... > full story
New tool in the fight against tuberculosis: Algorithm enables cell-scale simulations (October 8, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a way to harness prodigious quantities of genomic and metabolic data by developing an algorithm that automatically integrates both data sets. The model, called probabilistic regulation of metabolism, enables researchers to perturb a regulatory gene or metabolic process and see how that affects the entire network. Although the researchers studied tuberculosis, the method holds promise for reconstructing network models for any organism with appropriate genomic data. ... > full story
Novel reference material to standardize gene therapy applications (October 8, 2010) -- The introduction of a new, fully characterized viral vector for use as reference material to help standardize gene therapy protocols in research applications and human clinical trials is described in a new article. ... > full story
Structure of plastic solar cells impedes their efficiency (October 8, 2010) -- Scientists have found that the low rate of energy conversion in all-polymer solar-cell technology is caused by the structure of the solar cells themselves. ... > full story
Consistent evidence: Speed cameras do reduce injuries and deaths, Australian study finds (October 8, 2010) -- Placing speed cameras on roads reduces the number of road traffic injuries and deaths, concludes a team of researchers from Australia. ... > full story
Hubble astronomers uncover an overheated early universe (October 7, 2010) -- If you think global warming is bad, 11 billion years ago the entire universe underwent, well, universal warming. The consequence was that fierce blasts of radiation from voracious black holes stunted the growth of some small galaxies for a stretch of 500 million years. Astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) to identify an era, from 11.7 to 11.3 billion years ago, when the universe burned off a fog of primeval helium. This heated intergalactic gas was inhibited from gravitationally collapsing to form new generations of stars in some small galaxies. ... > full story
Large waist size linked to higher diabetes rates among Americans compared to English (October 7, 2010) -- Providing more evidence about the risks of having a fat midsection, an international research team has found that a higher rate of diabetes seen among adult Americans when compared to peers in England is explained primarily by a larger waist size rather than conventional risk factors such as obesity. ... > full story
Real price of each pack of cigarettes is nearly 0, Spanish study finds (October 7, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain estimate that each pack of cigarettes really costs €107 (9) for men and €75 (5) for women, when premature death is taken into account. These figures confirm previous studies, and are of key importance in the cost-benefit analysis of smoking-prevention policies. ... > full story
Osteoporosis drug may help women with kidney disease, researchers find (October 7, 2010) -- The osteoporosis drug raloxifene may be useful in treating kidney disease in women, suggests a new study. ... > full story
New computer switches handle heat that renders transistors useless; Work takes a page from Victorian inventor (October 7, 2010) -- Researchers have built electromechanical switches to replace transistors in high-heat computing. ... > full story
Childhood adversity may lead to unhealthy stress response in adult life (October 7, 2010) -- A study has detected a correlation between childhood adversity and exaggerated inflammatory response to stress among seemingly healthy people. It may shed light on risk for depression, other illnesses later in life. ... > full story
Volcanoes wiped out Neanderthals, new study suggests (October 7, 2010) -- New research suggests that climate change following massive volcanic eruptions drove Neanderthals to extinction and cleared the way for modern humans to thrive in Europe and Asia. ... > full story
Bacteria to blame in asthma attacks in children, research suggests (October 7, 2010) -- Doctors have long known that viral infections can bring about asthma attacks and the shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing associated with them. But while viral infections cannot be treated, scientists have discovered that treatable bacterial infections can also cause asthma attacks. The discovery could revolutionize treatment. ... > full story
Surprise: Two wheels safer than four in off-road riding and racing, study finds (October 7, 2010) -- In research that may surprise off-road riding enthusiasts and safety experts, researchers have found that crashes involving ATVs -- four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles -- are significantly more dangerous than crashes involving two-wheeled off-road motorcycles, such as those used in extreme sports like Motocross. ... > full story
Research identifies the herbal supplements that are effective in treating anxiety (October 7, 2010) -- A systematic review of research into the use of nutritional supplements for the treatment of anxiety disorders has found strong evidence for the use of extracts of passionflower or kava and combinations of L-lysine and L-arginine. Researcherspooled the results of 24 studies involving a total of more than 2000 participants, showing that some nutritional and herbal supplements can be effective, without the risk of serious side effects. ... > full story
Norwegian researchers at forefront of oil spill modelling after Deepwater Horizon accident (October 7, 2010) -- What has happened to the 4.9. million barrels of crude oil that were discharged in the Deepwater Horizon accident? Has it dissolved in the water masses? Has it accumulated in the ocean depths? Among those seeking answers are Norwegian researchers at the forefront of modelling oil behaviour in water masses. One commonly used tactic for managing spilled oil is to apply large amounts of chemical dispersants. Norwegian researchers have provided expertise in the modelling and use of dispersants in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico accident. ... > full story
Neural responses indicate our willingness to help (October 7, 2010) -- Witnessing a person from our own group or an outsider suffer pain causes neural responses in two very different regions of the brain. And, the specific region activated reveals whether or not we will help the person in need. Researchers studied the brain responses of soccer fans and now have neurobiological evidence for why we are most willing to help members of our own group. ... > full story
Water discovered on second asteroid, may be even more common (October 7, 2010) -- Water ice on asteroids may be more common than expected, according to a new study. ... > full story
Mechanism for changing adult cells into stem-like cells discovered (October 7, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that so-called "grim-reaper" caspase genes are the gatekeepers that can open the door to allow differentiated adult cells to regress to undifferentiated iPSCs. ... > full story
Crop failures set to increase under climate change (October 7, 2010) -- Large-scale crop failures like the one that caused the recent Russian wheat crisis are likely to become more common under climate change due to an increased frequency of extreme weather events, a new study shows. ... > full story
New drug blocks morphine's effects on breathing -- but not on pain (October 7, 2010) -- A new drug called repinotan blocks the respiratory depressant effects of morphine-like opioid drugs -- without altering their potent pain-relieving effects, according to a new study. ... > full story
Bacteria keep tabs on state of oil field (October 7, 2010) -- The ups and downs of the bacteria in an oil field provide a useful source of information for keeping tabs on the state of the oil field itself. In theory, this process known as 'biomonitoring' can increase the yield from an oil field. ... > full story
Americans' life expectancy gains continues to fall behind -- but don't blame obesity, smoking, traffic fatalities, and homicide (October 7, 2010) -- The United States continues to lag behind other nations when it comes to gains in life expectancy, and commonly cited causes for our poor performance -- obesity, smoking, traffic fatalities, and homicide -- are not to blame, according to a new report. ... > full story
Rare Japanese plant has largest genome known to science (October 7, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that Paris japonica, a striking rare native of Japan, has the largest genome of them all -- bigger than the human genome and even larger than the previous record holder -- the marbled lungfish. ... > full story
Air pollution linked to breast cancer, study suggests (October 7, 2010) -- Air pollution has already been linked to a range of health problems. Now, a ground-breaking new study suggests pollution from traffic may put women at risk for another deadly disease. The study links the risk of breast cancer -- the second leading cause of death from cancer in women -- to traffic-related air pollution. ... > full story
Vultures use face flushing technique for instant status updates (October 7, 2010) -- Tech savvy humans who use social media sites to instantly update their "statuses" may be behaving like vultures who use "face flushing" as a visible way of instantly updating their own status when interacting with peers and rivals. Research reveals how the ability to rapidly change skin color is a key form of interaction for vultures, especially for displays of dominance. ... > full story
Number of synapses shown to vary between night and day, zebrafish study finds (October 7, 2010) -- With the help of tiny, see-through fish, researchers are homing in on what happens in the brain while you sleep. In a new study, they show how the circadian clock and sleep affect the scope of neuron-to-neuron connections in a particular region of the brain, and they identified a gene that appears to regulate the number of these connections, called synapses. ... > full story
Fish near coal-fired power plants have lower levels of mercury (October 7, 2010) -- Fish located near coal-fired power plants have lower levels of mercury than fish that live much further away. The surprising finding appears to be linked to high levels of another chemical, selenium, found near such facilities, which unfortunately poses problems of its own. ... > full story
Light drinking during pregnancy: Harmful to child's behavioral or intellectual development? (October 7, 2010) -- Light drinking during pregnancy does not harm a young child's behavioral or intellectual development, a new study in the UK suggests. In fact, researchers found that children born to light drinkers (consuming 1 to 2 drinks per week) were 30 percent less likely to have behavioral problems than children whose mothers did not drink during pregnancy. ... > full story
Greatest warming is in the north, but biggest impact on life is in the tropics, new research shows (October 7, 2010) -- New research adds to growing evidence that, even though the temperature increase associated with a warming climate has been smaller in the tropics, the impact of warming on life could be much greater there than in colder climates. ... > full story
T cell discovery shows promise for Type 1 diabetes treatment (October 7, 2010) -- Scientists have identified the role of a type of T cell in type 1 diabetes that may lead to new treatment options for young patients. ... > full story
Volcano fuels massive phytoplankton bloom (October 7, 2010) -- New study shows that 2008 volcano in North Pacific fueled largest phytoplankton bloom in the region since satellite measurements began in 1997. This study has important implications for proposals to seed the oceans with iron to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. ... > full story
Surgeons expand the use of scar-free surgical technique to more patients (October 7, 2010) -- A team of surgeons who have pioneered scar-free gallbladder removal are offering the procedure to all suitable patients and extending this new type of surgical procedure to other operations in the abdomen. ... > full story
Quantum computing research edges toward practicality (October 7, 2010) -- Physicists have taken an important step to the ultimate construction of a quantum computer. ... > full story
Nature’s sights and sounds -- but not cityscapes and noise -- ease spinal pain during bone marrow extractions (October 7, 2010) -- As the song says, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, and now researchers have found that the sights and sounds of chirping birds, ribbiting frogs and water trickling downstream can ease the substantial pain of bone marrow extraction in one of five people who must endure it. ... > full story
Long-extinct passenger pigeon finds a place in the family tree (October 7, 2010) -- With bits of DNA extracted from century-old museum specimens, researchers have found a place for the extinct passenger pigeon in the family tree of pigeons and doves, identifying for the first time this unique bird's closest living avian relatives. ... > full story
New findings pull back curtain on relationship between iron and Alzheimer's disease (October 7, 2010) -- Researchers say they have determined how iron contributes to the production of brain-destroying plaques found in Alzheimer's patients. ... > full story
Hormone acting as 'molecular glue' could boost plant immune systems (October 7, 2010) -- The discovery of a hormone acting like molecular glue could hold a key to bolstering plant immune systems and understanding how plants cope with environmental stress. ... > full story
Immune system linked with accumulation of toxic tau protein (October 7, 2010) -- Cells that help to protect the central nervous system may also contribute to pathological changes in the brain. New research provides mechanistic insight into a link between the immune system and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease that are associated with abnormal accumulation of tau protein. ... > full story
BLADE software eliminates 'drive-by downloads' from malicious websites (October 7, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a new tool that eliminates drive-by download threats. BLADE is browser-independent and when tested, it blocked all drive-by malware installation attempts from more than 1,900 malicious websites, produced no false positives and required minimal resources from the computer. ... > full story
Drug that helps adults addicted to opioid drugs also relieves withdrawal symptoms in newborns (October 7, 2010) -- Researchers have tested a semi-synthetic opioid they say has the potential to improve the treatment of these newborns, which could save hundreds of millions in health care costs annually if future tests continue to show benefit. ... > full story
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