ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Thursday, October 21, 2010
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Star, not so bright: Model explains evolution of unusual black hole binary system (October 21, 2010) -- Astronomers have puzzled over the oddities of the X-ray binary system M33 X-7, but no one could explain all of its features. Now researchers have. They have produced a model of the system's evolutionary history that explains all of the system's observational characteristics: the tight orbit, the large masses of the star and black hole, the X-ray luminosity of the black hole and why its companion star is less luminous than one would expect. ... > full story
Potential therapeutic target across a range of cancer types discovered (October 21, 2010) -- Researchers have found a common link among several malignant tumor types in all grades of cancer. This breakthrough may ultimately provide a new diagnostic or therapeutic target to detect cancer early or stop tumor growth. ... > full story
Philippines may have more unique bird species than thought, biologist says (October 21, 2010) -- Recent research suggests that the Philippines, considered by biologists to be a "biodiversity hotspot," could have more unique species of birds than previously thought. If that proves to be the case, it could have important ramifications for conservation practices there. ... > full story
Elusive protein may lead the fight against inflammatory disease (October 21, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a protein that may be a key therapy for many inflammatory diseases, including those affecting premature babies. In a new study, they describe how a protein, interleukin 37, reacts when an inflammatory response is detected in the body. ... > full story
A forest of nanorods: Amazing nanostructures created by glancing-angle deposition (October 21, 2010) -- Just as landscape photographs shot in low-angle light dramatically accentuate subtle swales and mounds, depositing metal vapors at glancing angles turns a rough surface into amazing nanostructures with a vast range of potential properties. ... > full story
Attention processing and perception may be involved in fetal alcohol-related learning difficulties (October 21, 2010) -- Exposure to alcohol as a fetus has been shown to cause difficulties in memory and information processing in children. New findings indicate that visual perception, control of attention and demand processing may be involved in fetal alcohol-related learning problems. This information could potentially be used to help children affected with such difficulties. ... > full story
Worst coral death strikes at Southeast Asia (October 21, 2010) -- International marine scientists say that a huge coral death which has struck Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean reefs over recent months has highlighted the urgency of controlling global carbon emissions. Many reefs are dead or dying across the Indian Ocean and into the Coral Triangle following a bleaching event that extends from the Seychelles in the west to Sulawesi and the Philippines in the east. ... > full story
Mechanism that controls expression of protein involved in numerous cancers discovered (October 21, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a new mechanism controlling the transmission of an abnormal signal at the origin of several cancers. In a new study, the team explains the recent discovery of a protein complex that controls the RAS/MAPK signalling pathway, responsible for some of the deadliest cancers, including pancreatic, colon and lung cancers, and melanomas. ... > full story
Crash helmet with a useful smell (October 21, 2010) -- Cycle helmets are available in a wide range of types, including foldable models, models fitted with a flashing rear light or featuring an iPhone display. In future, they will start to smell distinctively if they need to be replaced. A new process causes odoriferous oils to exude from plastic materials if they are cracked. ... > full story
Newborn hearing screening linked with improved developmental outcomes for hearing impaired children (October 21, 2010) -- Children with permanent hearing impairment who received hearing screening as newborns had better general and language developmental outcomes and quality of life at ages 3 to 5 years compared to newborns who received hearing screening through behavioral testing, according to a new study. ... > full story
Climate change tipping points for populations, not just species: Survival, reproduction of thousands of arctic and alpine plants measured (October 21, 2010) -- As Earth's climate warms, species are expected to shift their geographical ranges away from the equator or to higher elevations. While scientists have documented such shifts for many plants and animals, the ranges of others seem stable. When species respond in different ways to the same amount of warming, it becomes more difficult for ecologists to predict future biological effects of climate change -- and to plan for these effects. ... > full story
Researchers analyze student grief online after campus shootings (October 21, 2010) -- After the campus shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University, hundreds of affected students turned to social media websites to share their grief and search for solace. A new study of these students found that their online activities neither helped nor harmed their long-term psychological health. The study gives a first-of-its-kind portrait of student reactions to shootings on their campuses. It also documents the (online and off-line) activities they engaged in to memorialize and recover from these events. ... > full story
Intricate, curving 3-D nanostructures created using capillary action forces (October 20, 2010) -- Twisting spires, concentric rings, and gracefully bending petals are a few of the new three-dimensional shapes that engineers can make from carbon nanotubes using a new manufacturing process. ... > full story
Insulin sensitivity may explain link between obesity, memory problems (October 20, 2010) -- Because of impairments in their insulin sensitivity, obese individuals demonstrate different brain responses than their normal-weight peers while completing a challenging cognitive task, according to new research by psychologists. ... > full story
Eating mostly whole grains, few refined grains linked to lower body fat (October 20, 2010) -- People who consume several servings of whole grains per day while limiting daily intake of refined grains appear to have less of a type of fat tissue thought to play a key role in triggering cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Disease in rural China linked to polluted coal (October 20, 2010) -- In remote, rural areas of southwestern China, villagers cook and dry their clothes by burning pieces of coal they pick up off the ground. This fuel releases a toxin that may be poisoning millions of people, according to an ongoing investigation by researchers in New York and China. ... > full story
Measuring changes in rock: Research looks at effect of captured and stored carbon dioxide on minerals (October 20, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a way to study the effects of super-critical carbon dioxide on minerals commonly found in potential underground storage sites, helping to evaluate one strategy for minimizing the impacts of greenhouse gases on global warming. ... > full story
Docs not immune to drug marketing, study finds (October 20, 2010) -- New findings show that pharmaceutical promotion may cause some doctors to prescribe more expensively, less appropriately and more often. ... > full story
New mothers grow bigger brains within months of giving birth: Warmer feelings toward babies linked to bigger mid-brains (October 20, 2010) -- Motherhood may actually cause the brain to grow, not turn it into mush, as some have claimed. Exploratory research has found that the brains of new mothers bulked up in areas linked to motivation and behavior, and that mothers who gushed the most about their babies showed the greatest growth in key parts of the mid-brain. ... > full story
New regulator of circadian clock identified: Dopamine study may have impact on activity and sleep rhythms in Parkinson's disease (October 20, 2010) -- Daily sleeping and eating patterns are critical to human well-being and health. Now, a new study has demonstrated how the brain chemical dopamine regulates these cycles by altering the activity of the "clock-protein" PER2. The findings may have implications for individuals with Parkinson's Disease with disrupted 24-hour rhythms of activity and sleep. ... > full story
New sensor derived from frogs may help fight bacteria and save wildlife; Sensor uses frog peptides to test for drug and medical device contamination (October 20, 2010) -- Engineers have developed a sensor that may revolutionize how drugs and medical devices are tested for contamination, and in the process also help ensure the survival of two species of threatened animals. ... > full story
Proton therapy safe, effective for early-stage lung cancer patients, study finds (October 20, 2010) -- Proton beam therapy is safe and effective and may be superior to other conventional treatments for Stage I inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, according to a new study by researchers in Japan. ... > full story
Progress toward treating infections by silencing microbes' 'smart phones' (October 20, 2010) -- So disease-causing bacteria in the body finally have multiplied to the point where their numbers are large enough to cause illness. What's next? They get out their "smart phones" and whisper "Let's roll!" That's how a new review describes the substances -- "smart phones of the microbial world" -- that bacteria use to transmit chemical signals that launch infections and monitor their environment. The authors describe progress toward understanding and blocking this biochemical chitchat. ... > full story
Would you sleep on a chunk of ice? Building your 'experience resume' (October 20, 2010) -- If sleeping on a bed of ice or eating bacon-flavored ice cream doesn't sound too appealing, consider the tale you'll have to tell about it later. According to a new study, some people can't resist a chance to collect experiences. ... > full story
Desperate female spiders fight by different rules (October 20, 2010) -- In most animals the bigger, better fighter usually wins. But a new study of the jumping spider Phidippus clarus suggests that size and skill aren't everything -- what matters for Phidippus females is how badly they want to win. ... > full story
Harm reduction cigarettes can be more harmful than conventional brands, researchers report (October 20, 2010) -- Harm reduction cigarettes are often marketed as safer than conventional brands. But scientists have found that sidestream smoke from harm reduction cigarettes impairs growth of human embryonic stem cells more than sidestream smoke from a conventional brand. Their analyses show there is significant toxicity in harm reduction products, and that the reduction of carcinogens in harm reduction mainstream smoke does not necessarily reduce the toxicity of unfiltered sidestream smoke. ... > full story
Small is beautiful in hydroelectric power plant design: Invention could enable renewable power generation at thousands of unused sites (October 20, 2010) -- Imagine a hydroelectric power plant barely visible above water that eases the passage of fish in both directions; so simple and cost-efficient that it makes economic sense in sites with a one- or two-meter drop in water height; that could therefore subsidize ecologically motivated dam modifications with local, renewable energy; and which could bring economical, ecological hydroelectric power to developing regions. Researchers at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen did, and developed it: the shaft power plant. ... > full story
Anorexia nervosa may cause potentially serious eye damage, study suggests (October 20, 2010) -- The eating disorder anorexia nervosa may cause potentially serious eye damage, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Biodegradable foam plastic substitute made from milk protein and clay (October 20, 2010) -- Amid ongoing concern about plastic waste accumulating in municipal landfills, and reliance on imported oil to make plastics, scientists are reporting development of a new ultra-light biodegradable foam plastic material made from two unlikely ingredients: The protein in milk and ordinary clay. The new substance could be used in furniture cushions, insulation, packaging, and other products, they report. ... > full story
Children's best friend: Dogs help autistic children adapt, study shows (October 20, 2010) -- Dogs may not only be man's best friend, they may also have a special role in the lives of children with special needs. According to a new study, specifically trained service dogs can help reduce the anxiety and enhance the socialization skills of children with autism syndrome disorders. The findings may be a relatively simple solution to help affected children and their families cope with these challenging disorders. ... > full story
Most distant galaxy ever measured: Faint glow from when the universe was only 600 million years old (October 20, 2010) -- A European team of astronomers using ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) has measured the distance to the most remote galaxy so far. By carefully analyzing the very faint glow of the galaxy they have found that they are seeing it when the universe was only about 600 million years old (a redshift of 8.6). These are the first confirmed observations of a galaxy whose light is clearing the opaque hydrogen fog that filled the cosmos at this early time. ... > full story
New theory links depression to chronic brain inflammation (October 20, 2010) -- Chronic depression is an adaptive, reparative neurobiological process gone wrong, say researchers, positing in a new theory that the debilitating mental state originates from more ancient mechanisms used by the body to deal with physical injury, such as pain, tissue repair and convalescent behavior. ... > full story
Mounting research shows increased health risks from volcanic air pollution (October 20, 2010) -- Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano has been erupting since 1983. But, in March 2008, an additional eruption vent opened at the volcano's summit, resulting in triple the amount of sulfur dioxide gas emissions drifting to the local community of Ka'u, raising health concerns over the risks associated with exposure to "vog," volcanic air pollution. ... > full story
Devastating impact of spinal osteoporotic fractures revealed on World Osteoporosis Day (October 20, 2010) -- A new report issued by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) for World Osteoporosis Day puts the spotlight on the severe impact of spinal fractures and calls on health professionals to recognize the signs of these fractures in their patients. ... > full story
The (Long) Weekend Warrior: Nine Moons, 62 Hours (October 20, 2010) -- Taking a long-weekend road trip, NASA's Cassini spacecraft successfully glided near nine Saturnian moons, sending back a stream of raw images as mementos of its adrenaline-fueled expedition. The spacecraft sent back particularly intriguing images of the moons Dione and Rhea. ... > full story
Alcohol increases reaction time and errors during decision making (October 20, 2010) -- There has been an abundance of research on the effects of alcohol on the brain, but many questions regarding how alcohol impairs the built-in control systems are still unknown. A new study explores that subject in detail and found that certain brain regions involved in error processing are affected more by alcohol than others. ... > full story
Why the leopard got its spots (October 20, 2010) -- Why do leopards have rosette-shaped markings but tigers have stripes? Rudyard Kipling suggested that it was because the leopard moved to an environment "full of trees and bushes and stripy, speckly, patchy-blatchy shadows," but is there any truth in this just-so story? ... > full story
First direct evidence that response to alcohol depends on genes: Dopamine receptor deficiency leads to significant brain changes in response to drinking (October 20, 2010) -- A study in mice provides the first experimental evidence to directly support the idea that genetic differences make some individuals more susceptible to the addictive effects of alcohol and other drugs. ... > full story
McSleepy meets DaVinci: Doctors conduct first-ever all-robotic surgery and anesthesia (October 20, 2010) -- In a world first, a completely robotic surgery and anesthesia has been performed at the McGill University Health Centre. The DaVinci surgical robot, which lets surgeons work from remote locations, was put to work this summer, whereas the anesthesia robot, nicknamed McSleepy, has been providing automated anesthesia since 2008. The two combined to perform the first all-robotic surgery on a prostatectomy patient at the Montreal General Hospital. ... > full story
Early pregnancy in spring linked to child's susceptibility to food allergies, Finnish study suggests (October 20, 2010) -- A child's likelihood of developing food allergies can be traced back to the season during which he or she completes their first three months of life in the womb, new research from Finland suggests. ... > full story
Batteries smaller than a grain of salt (October 20, 2010) -- Researchers in California are aiming to create some of the tiniest batteries on Earth, the largest of which would be no bigger than a grain of sand. These tiny energy storage devices could one day be used to power the electronics and mechanical components of tiny micro- to nano-scale devices. ... > full story
To be good, sometimes leaders need to be a little bad; Study examines 'dark side' personality traits and leadership (October 20, 2010) -- A new study has found that when it comes to leading, some negative personality traits aren't such a bad thing. ... > full story
See no shape, touch no shape, hear a shape? New way of 'seeing' the world (October 20, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that our brains have the ability to determine the shape of an object simply by processing specially-coded sounds, without any visual or tactile input. ... > full story
Hormone therapy use by postmenopausal women may increase incidence of more advanced breast cancer (October 20, 2010) -- Follow-up of about 11 years of participants in the Women's Health Initiative finds that among postmenopausal women, use of estrogen plus progestin is associated with an increased incidence of breast cancers that are more advanced, and with a higher risk of deaths attributable to breast cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story
Recycling pacemakers may alleviate burden of heart disease across the globe (October 20, 2010) -- Millions worldwide die each year because they can't afford a pacemaker. But what if patients in the United States could donate their pacemaker to someone in need? In a new article, experts examine the legality and logistics of collecting pacemakers, after they are removed for burial or cremation, for sterilization and reuse across the globe. ... > full story
Vitamin D deficiency linked to lung transplant rejection, research finds (October 20, 2010) -- Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a significant increase in lung transplant rejection, according to new research. ... > full story
Improved antibiotic coatings: Research aims to make medical devices safer by preventing biofilms (October 20, 2010) -- A research group in Australia is working on techniques to permanently bind antibacterial coatings to medical devices by binding them to a polymer layer. ... > full story
Heavy alcohol use suggests a change in normal cognitive development in adolescents (October 20, 2010) -- Adolescence and puberty is a period of significant development in the brain. New findings indicate that excessive alcohol use selectively damages the frontal lobe, which is responsible for the development of social skills and judgment. This indicates that severe alcohol abuse may damage brain function, and the normal course of neural development in adolescents. ... > full story
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