ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, October 15, 2010
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Gene's location on chromosome plays big role in shaping how an organism's traits evolve (October 15, 2010) -- A gene's location on a chromosome plays a significant role in shaping how an organism's traits vary and evolve, according to new findings by genome biologists. Their research suggests that evolution is less a function of what a physical trait is and more a result of where the genes that affect that trait reside in the genome. ... > full story
Biomarker shows potential for early diagnosis of lung cancer (October 15, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated that a biomarker called TCF21 may be used to develop a potential screening test for early-stage lung cancer. ... > full story
New system for locating and capturing satellites in space (October 15, 2010) -- Scientists in Spain have developed a new system for docking and capturing space satellites based on robotics and computer vision technology to autonomously guide a space vehicle to dock and capture the satellites. ... > full story
Links between XMRV and human disease studied (October 15, 2010) -- New evidence supports a possible link between Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus and prostate cancer but not other links involving chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV infection, or hepatitis C virus infection. ... > full story
'Incoherent excitations' govern key phase of superconductor behavior (October 15, 2010) -- Physicists have found that high-temperature superconductivity in copper oxides is linked to what they term "incoherent excitations" -- a discovery that sheds light on the electronic response of these materials before they become superconducting. ... > full story
Four kinds of compulsive gamblers identified (October 15, 2010) -- Disorganized and emotionally unstable, poorly adapted, suffering from alcohol problems, impulsive, or with a "globally adapted" personality. These are the features of the four diagnosed types of compulsive gamblers identified by researchers in Spain. According to the scientific team, only one of these four shows signs of a significant pathology. ... > full story
Temperature rhythms keep body clocks in sync (October 15, 2010) -- Researchers have found that fluctuations in internal body temperature regulate the body's circadian rhythm, the 24-hour cycle that controls metabolism, sleep and other bodily functions. ... > full story
Anti-vomiting drug could prevent thousands of hospitalizations, save millions of dollars (October 15, 2010) -- An economic analysis concludes that routinely giving ondansetron to children with gastroenteritis-induced vomiting would prevent thousands of hospitalizations and save millions of dollars each year. ... > full story
Coniferous forests: New research changes understanding of atmospheric aerosol properties and climate effects (October 15, 2010) -- Terrestrial vegetation and atmospheric photochemistry produce large amounts of fine particles in the atmosphere, thereby cooling Earth's climate. According to new research, the physical state of the fine particles produced by coniferous forests is solid, whereas previously scientists have assumed that these particles were liquid. The new findings have major implications for our understanding of particle formation processes, for the transformation of particles in the atmosphere and for their effects on climate. ... > full story
Preeclampsia advances: Researchers animal model and potential lab test for diagnosing the disease in people (October 15, 2010) -- Preeclampsia, a sudden-onset and sometimes fatal prenatal disease, may strike up to 8 percent of pregnant women worldwide. Researchers have now developed a dependable pregnancy-specific animal model for laboratory testing and may have a predictive test that would allow early intervention. The studies are reported in the American Journal of Pathology. ... > full story
Charcoal biofilter cleans up fertilizer waste gases (October 15, 2010) -- Removing the toxic and odorous emissions of ammonia from the industrial production of fertilizer is a costly and energy-intensive process. Now, researchers in Bangladesh have turned to microbes and inexpensive wood charcoal to create a biofilter that can extract the noxious gas from vented gases and so reduce pollution levels from factories in the developing world. ... > full story
The kids are all right: Few negative associations with moms' return to work after having children, review finds (October 15, 2010) -- Children whose mothers return to work before their offspring turn 3 are no more likely to have academic or behavioral problems than kids whose mothers stay at home, according to a review of 50 years of research. ... > full story
Nature and humans leaving indelible mark on rivers, harming the intricate food webs they support (October 14, 2010) -- Rivers and streams supply the lifeblood of ecosystems across the globe, providing water for drinking and irrigation for humans as well as a wide array of life forms in rivers and streams from single-celled organisms all the way up to the fish humans eat. But humans and nature itself are making it tough on rivers to continue in their central role to support fish species, according to new research. ... > full story
Immune protein linked to abnormal brain development; May provide clues to schizophrenia and autism (October 14, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that exposing fetal neurons to higher than normal levels of a common immune protein leads to abnormal brain development in mice. The finding may provide new insights into factors contributing to human neurological disorders like schizophrenia and autism. ... > full story
Astronomer leverages supercomputers to study black holes, galaxies (October 14, 2010) -- Astronomer Stelios Kazantzidis leveraged the powerful resources of the Ohio Supercomputer Center to simulate and study several cosmological phenomena. His recent investigations revealed that supermassive black holes don't necessarily grow in relation to the mass of their host-galaxies when the galaxies merge, and small "disky dwarf" galaxies -- loaded with dark-matter -- often lose mass to their larger neighbor-galaxies and evolve from disk-shaped to spheroid. ... > full story
Genetic data related to sodium-regulating hormone may help explain hypertension risk (October 14, 2010) -- New research points to the existence of a gene on chromosome 5 that influences how much aldosterone is produced -- which may be excessive in African-descended populations. ... > full story
New malware could steal users social media behavior and info, researchers warn (October 14, 2010) -- Researchers in Israel are warning against malware threats that extract personal information about relationships in a real-world social network, as well as characteristic information about individuals in the network. Using mathematical models, based on actual mobile network data, the researchers demonstrated that malware attacks could be adapted to follow human behavior on social networks. ... > full story
Psychological first aid for survivors of disaster (October 14, 2010) -- Even as we breathe a sigh of relief watching the rescue of 33 miners trapped in a Chilean mine for more than two months, there is recognition that their recovery from this traumatic experience involves more than just their physical health. But research on the psychological effects of disasters indicates that the risk varies among individuals and, further, that the most common psychological interventions currently in use may actually be harmful in some instances. ... > full story
Need a study break to refresh? Maybe not, say researchers (October 14, 2010) -- It could happen to students cramming for exams, people working long hours or just about anyone burning the candle at both ends: Something tells you to take a break. Watch some TV. Have a candy bar. Goof off, tune out for a bit and come back to the task at hand when you're feeling better. After all, you're physically exhausted. But a new study suggests the urge to refresh (or just procrastinate) is -- well -- all in your head. ... > full story
Early success with laser that destroys tumors with heat (October 14, 2010) -- Physicians at Mayo Clinic's Florida campus are among the first in the nation to use a technique known as MRI-guided laser ablation to heat up and destroy kidney and liver tumors. So far, five patients have been successfully treated -- meaning no visible tumors remained after the procedure. ... > full story
Inner workings of potent cancer drug derived from evergreen tree (October 14, 2010) -- A potent drug derived from an evergreen tree may soon save the lives of some patients with the deadliest form of breast cancer. ... > full story
Method curbs growth of crystals that form kidney stones (October 14, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a method for curbing the growth of crystals that form cystine kidney stones. Their findings may offer a pathway to a new method for the prevention of kidney stones. ... > full story
Scientists perfect making molecular nanowires (October 14, 2010) -- Scientists have perfected a new technique that allows them to make molecular nanowires out of thin strips of ring-shaped molecules known as discotic liquid crystals (DLCs). The findings could be an important step in the development of next generation electronic devices, such as light-harvesting cells and low-cost biosensors that could be used to test water quality in developing countries. ... > full story
Yoga can counteract fibromyalgia, study suggests (October 14, 2010) -- Yoga exercises may have the power to combat the chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia -- a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain. ... > full story
I want to see what you see: Babies treat 'social robots' as sentient beings (October 14, 2010) -- Babies are curious about nearly everything, and they're especially interested in what their adult companions are doing. Researchers are studying how infants use social interactions to learn. But what makes something social for a baby? In the new issue of Neural Networks, the researchers report that babies who watched a robot interact socially with people were more willing to learn from the robot than babies who did not see the interactions. ... > full story
Waist circumference, not BMI, is best predictor of future cardiovascular risk in children, study finds (October 14, 2010) -- A new long-term study suggests that waist circumference, rather than the commonly used body mass index measure, is the best clinical measure to predict a child's risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life. ... > full story
Researcher find fats galore in human plasma (October 14, 2010) -- Human blood is famously fraught with fats; now scientists have a specific idea of just how numerous and diverse these lipids actually are. A research team has created the first "lipidome" of human plasma, identifying and quantifying almost 600 distinct fat species circulating in human blood. ... > full story
Hemostatic powder stops bleeding ulcers, study suggests (October 14, 2010) -- A new material similar to that used by the US military to treat traumatic injuries is showing promise as the next novel treatment for bleeding ulcers, a condition that commonly affects up to 15 percent of adults, according to new research. ... > full story
Large gaps found in public understanding of climate change (October 14, 2010) -- Sixty-three percent of Americans believe that global warming is happening, but many do not understand why, according to a new national study. ... > full story
Cyberwars: Already underway with no Geneva Conventions to guide them (October 14, 2010) -- Cyber attacks of various sorts have been around for decades. The most recent, and very dangerous, escalation in the past few years has been marked by countries launching attacks against other nations, such as Stuxnet, the nuclear plant-disrupting worm the Iranians have blamed on Israel and the US, while others are pointing the finger at Russia. ... > full story
Ghosts of the future: First giant structures of the universe hold 800 trillion suns (October 14, 2010) -- Astronomers using the South Pole Telescope report that they have discovered the most massive galaxy cluster yet seen at a distance of seven billion light-years. The cluster (designated SPT-CL J0546-5345) weighs in at around 800 trillion suns, and holds hundreds of galaxies. ... > full story
Why arsenic can be deadly, yet also function as theapeutic against disease (October 14, 2010) -- Scientists have solved an important mystery about why an arsenic compound, arsenite, can kill us, and yet function as an effective therapeutic agent against disease and infections. Scientists discovered that arsenite, a common water contaminant worldwide, affects a protein folding machine in yeast, called TCP, also present in humans. The findings open doors to developing safer therapeutic alternatives to arsenite-based medicines, and may allow researchers to counter arsenite poisoning. ... > full story
Watermelon lowers blood pressure, study finds (October 14, 2010) -- No matter how you slice it, watermelon has a lot going for it -- sweet, low calorie, high fiber, nutrient rich -- and now, there's more. Evidence from a pilot study led by food scientists suggests that watermelon can be an effective natural weapon against prehypertension, a precursor to cardiovascular disease. ... > full story
Low-dose exposure to chemical warfare agent may result in long-term heart damage (October 14, 2010) -- New research found that the pattern of heart dysfunction with sarin exposure in mice resembles that seen in humans. Sarin is a chemical warfare agent belonging to class of compounds called organophosphates -- the basis for insecticides, herbicides and nerve agents. ... > full story
Electrified nano filter promises to cut costs for clean drinking water (October 14, 2010) -- With almost one billion people lacking access to clean, safe drinking water, scientists are reporting development and successful initial tests of an inexpensive new filtering technology that kills up to 98 percent of disease-causing bacteria in water in seconds without clogging. ... > full story
Young teens who play sports feel healthier and happier about life (October 14, 2010) -- Taking part in sports is good all round for young teens: physically, socially, and mentally, according to a new study. New research shows that middle-school teenagers who are physically active and play on sports teams are more satisfied with their life and feel healthier. ... > full story
Love takes up where pain leaves off, brain study shows (October 14, 2010) -- Intense, passionate feelings of love can provide amazingly effective pain relief, similar to painkillers or such illicit drugs as cocaine, according to a new study. ... > full story
Mechanism uncovered for major genetic risk factor of Alzheimer's disease (October 14, 2010) -- Scientists have made new insights into how apoE4 might be involved. In a new study, researchers report that apoE4-dependent learning and memory deficits are caused by loss of a specific type of neuron in the learning and memory center of the brain. ... > full story
Breaking ball too good to be true: Illusion behind batters' perceptions of 'breaking' curveballs and 'rising' fastballs (October 14, 2010) -- Curveballs curve gradually, but the perception by some hitters of a sharp "break" or other abrupt change in a curveball's trajectory can be explained as a visual illusion, according to a new study. ... > full story
Protein sets stage for exchanges of DNA code in eggs and sperm (October 14, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a regulatory protein that influences where genetic material gets swapped between maternal and paternal chromosomes during the process of creating eggs and sperm. The findings shed light on the roots of chromosomal errors and gene diversity. ... > full story
Quantum physics: Flavors of entanglement (October 14, 2010) -- The entanglement of quantum objects can take surprising forms. Quantum physicists in Austria have investigated several flavors of entanglement in four trapped ions. Their study promotes further developments towards quantum computing and a deeper understanding of the foundations of quantum mechanics. ... > full story
Walk much? It may protect your memory down the road (October 14, 2010) -- New research suggests that walking at least six miles per week may protect brain size and in turn, preserve memory in old age, according to a new study. ... > full story
Galaxy growth spurts explained: Young galaxies can grow by sucking in cool gas (October 14, 2010) -- New observations from ESO's Very Large Telescope have, for the first time, provided direct evidence that young galaxies can grow by sucking in the cool gas around them and using it as fuel for the formation of many new stars. In the first few billion years after the Big Bang the mass of a typical galaxy increased dramatically and understanding why this happened is one of the hottest problems in modern astrophysics. ... > full story
Soft drink could enhance effects of an anti-cancer drug (October 14, 2010) -- Experiments with an artificial stomach suggest that a popular lemon-lime soft drink could play an unexpected role in improving the effectiveness of an oral anti-cancer drug. The experiments produced evidence that patients will absorb more of the unnamed drug, tested in Phase 1 in clinical trials, when taken with "flat" or degassed Sprite. ... > full story
Better marker for breast cancer may reduce need for second surgeries (October 14, 2010) -- A new material could help surgeons more accurately locate breast cancers, reduce the need for second surgeries and minimize pre-surgical discomfort for patients. Microscopic gas-filled spheres of silica, a porous glass, can mark the location of early-stage tumors to show their position using ultrasound imaging in the operating room. ... > full story
Antibiotic appears safe for stroke patients and good companion for tPA, study suggests (October 14, 2010) -- An antibiotic appears to be a safe treatment for stroke and a good companion therapy for tPA, the clot buster that is currently the only FDA-approved drug therapy, researchers report. A safety study in 60 stroke patients in Georgia, Kentucky and Oregon found the drug well tolerated even at three-and-one-half times the dose currently used for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, according to new research. ... > full story
Insecticides from genetically modified corn found in adjacent streams (October 14, 2010) -- Aquatic ecologists report that streams throughout the Midwestern Corn Belt are receiving insecticidal proteins that originate from adjacent genetically modified crops. The protein enters streams through runoff and when corn leaves, stalks, and plant parts are washed into stream channels. ... > full story
'Selfless' genes attract mates, psychologists find (October 14, 2010) -- There is genetic evidence that selfless or altruistic behavior may have evolved because it was one of the qualities our ancestors looked for in a mate, psychologists in the UK report. ... > full story
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