ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, November 5, 2010
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Volcanoes have shifted Asian rainfall (November 5, 2010) -- Scientists have shown that eruptions also affect rainfall over the Asian monsoon region, where seasonal storms water crops for nearly half of earth's population. Tree-ring researchers showed that big eruptions tend to dry up much of central Asia, but bring more rain to southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar -- the opposite of what many climate models predict. ... > full story
Armed antibody triggers remissions for Hodgkin's lymphoma (November 5, 2010) -- An antibody loaded with an anti-cancer agent produced complete or partial remissions in 38 percent of patients with relapsed or therapy-resistant Hodgkin lymphoma enrolled in a phase I clinical trial, researchers report. ... > full story
To punish or not to punish: Lessons from reef fish and saber-tooth blennies (November 5, 2010) -- Researchers have experimentally shown that some species of reef fish will enact punishment on the parasitic saber-tooth blennies that stealthily attack them from behind and take a bite, even though their behavior offers no immediate gain. The study shows that punishment ultimately serves all members of the reef fish species well. ... > full story
Recombination hotspot stacks the DNA deck in finding a new diabetes susceptibility gene (November 5, 2010) -- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is diagnosed in approximately 70,000 children worldwide per year. Genetics is recognized as playing a significant role in susceptibility to T1D, but outside a handful of genes, a clear understanding of the genetic architecture that underlies T1D has remained elusive. In a new study, scientists have identified a novel gene associated with diabetes in mice, revealing new clues about genomic mechanisms that could underlie T1D susceptibility. ... > full story
The Large Hadron Collider enters a new phase (November 5, 2010) -- Proton running for 2010 in the LHC at CERN came to a successful conclusion on November 4. Since the end of March, when the first collisions occurred at a total energy of 7 TeV, the machine and experiment teams have achieved all of their objectives for the first year of proton physics at this record energy and new ground has been explored. For the rest of the year the LHC is moving to a different phase of operation, in which lead ions will be accelerated and brought into collision in the machine for the first time. ... > full story
Teens of epileptic moms display poor school performance, study finds (November 5, 2010) -- A large population-based study revealed that multiple antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used by pregnant women to control seizures may cause poor school performance in their teenagers. Researchers confirmed that exposure to AEDs in utero may have a negative effect on neurodevelopment. ... > full story
Neutron stars may be too weak to power some gamma-ray bursts; Black holes may be power source (November 5, 2010) -- Long-duration gamma-ray bursts flash across the universe to signal the collapse of a massive star, but this collapsar model predicts either a neutron star or a black hole is left behind. New calculations of the energy released by gamma-ray bursts find it too large to be powered by a neutron star, even highly magnetized, spinning magnetars. Thus, astronomers conclude, the likely power source is a black hole. ... > full story
Single shot of morphine has long lasting effects on testosterone levels, study finds (November 5, 2010) -- A single injection of morphine to fight persistent pain in male rats is able to strongly reduce the hormone testosterone in the brain and plasma, according to a new article. ... > full story
Predictive power of dairy cattle methane models insufficient to provide sound environmental advice, study finds (November 5, 2010) -- Researchers have shown that current equations to predict methane production of cows are inaccurate. Sound mitigation options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of dairy farms require a significant improvement of current methane equations, according to the study. ... > full story
Combining radiation therapy, chemotherapy safely treats head and neck cancer patients, study finds (November 5, 2010) -- Stereotactic body radiotherapy, a radiation therapy procedure pioneered at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute that precisely delivers a large dose of radiation to tumors, may effectively control and treat head and neck cancers when combined with the chemotherapy Cetuximab, according to researchers. ... > full story
Grad student simulates 100 years of farming to measure agriculture's impact on land and water quality (November 5, 2010) -- A graduate student has used a detailed computer model to simulate, year-by-year, the effects of 100 years of farming on claypan soils. ... > full story
More talk, less agreement: Risk discussion can hurt consensus-building on science/technology (November 5, 2010) -- When it comes to public issues pertaining to science and technology, "talking it out" doesn't seem to work. A new study shows that the more people discuss the risks and benefits associated with scientific endeavors, the more entrenched they become in their viewpoint -- and the less likely they are to see the merit of other viewpoints. ... > full story
For bats, all smooth, horizontal surfaces are water -- even when they look, smell and feel differently (November 4, 2010) -- For bats, any smooth, horizontal surface is water. That's true even if vision, olfaction or touch tells them it is actually a metal, plastic or wooden plate. Bats therefore rely more on their ears than on any other sensory system. This is due to how smooth surfaces reflect the echolocation calls of bats: they act just like mirrors. Scientists investigated this phenomenon in 15 different species from three big bat families and found that all tried to drink from smooth plates. In addition they found that this acoustic recognition of water is innate. ... > full story
Nerve cell activity drains stem cell pool in developing brain (November 4, 2010) -- As babies grow, their brain cells develop from a pool of stem cells -- some stem cells continuously divide, replenishing the pool, whereas others morph into mature functioning nerve cells. Now researchers have shown that as the newly formed nerve cells start firing electrical signals, this activity slows down stem cell division, emptying out the stem cell pool in favor of nerve cell formation. ... > full story
Discovery blocks cancer drug's toxic side effect (November 4, 2010) -- A debilitating side effect of a widely used but harshly potent treatment for colon cancer could be eliminated if a promising new laboratory discovery bears fruit. The pre-clinical finding relates to the drug CPT-11, or Irinotecan, a chemotherapeutic agent used against colon cancer and other solid malignancies. It is believed to be the first successful targeting of an enzyme in symbiotic bacteria found in the digestive system. ... > full story
Insufficient vitamin D levels in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients linked to cancer progression and death (November 4, 2010) -- Researchers have found a significant difference in cancer progression and death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients who had sufficient vitamin D levels in their blood compared to those who didn't. ... > full story
Developmental dynamics of the maize leaf transcriptome (November 4, 2010) -- How developing plants build and regulate their solar reactors is still poorly understood. How many genes are involved, and which are the most important? How are different cell types endowed with specific biochemical capacities? What signals fine-tune how much sugar is produced, and which bioproducts are generated? Complex and multifaceted questions such as these can be addressed using a new approach to measure gene expression using high throughput sequencing. ... > full story
A 'brand' new world: Attachment runs thicker than money (November 4, 2010) -- Can you forge an emotional bond with a brand so strong that, if forced to buy a competitor's product, you suffer separation anxiety? According to a new study the answer is yes. In fact, that bond can be strong enough that consumers are willing to sacrifice time, money, energy and reputation to maintain their attachment to that brand. ... > full story
Deep impact spacecraft successfully flies by comet Hartley 2 (November 4, 2010) -- The EPOXI mission successfully flew by comet Hartley 2 on Nov. 3, 2010, and the spacecraft has begun returning images. Hartley 2 is the fifth comet nucleus visited by any spacecraft and the second one visited by the Deep Impact spacecraft. ... > full story
Method keeps surgically-removed prostate tissue alive and 'working' for week (November 4, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a technique to keep normal and cancerous prostate tissue removed during surgery alive and functioning normally in the laboratory for up to a week. ... > full story
Eight new species discovered in Boliva national parks (November 4, 2010) -- Botanists have described eight new plant species collected in the Madidi National Park and surrounding areas located on the eastern slopes of the Andes in northern Bolivia. The new species are from several different genera and families. ... > full story
Beneficial effects of testosterone for frailty in older men are short-lived, study finds (November 4, 2010) -- The beneficial effects of six months of testosterone treatment on muscle mass, strength and quality of life in frail elderly men are not maintained at six months post-treatment, according to a new study. ... > full story
Built-in timer for improving accuracy of cost saving paper-strip medical tests (November 4, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting the development of a simple, built-in timer intended to improve the accuracy of paper tests and test strips for diagnosing diseases inexpensively at-home and elsewhere. ... > full story
Food-allergy fears drive overly restrictive diets, study suggests (November 4, 2010) -- Many children, especially those with eczema, are unnecessarily avoiding foods based on incomplete information about potential food-allergies, according to researchers. The food avoidance poses a nutritional risk for these children, and is often based primarily on data from blood tests known as serum immunoassays. Oral food challenges, a definitive test of food allergy, allowed 125 children to restore 325 foods to their diets. ... > full story
Electrical brain stimulation improves math skills, researchers show (November 4, 2010) -- By applying electrical current to the brain, researchers have shown that they could enhance a person's mathematical performance for up to six months without influencing their other cognitive functions. ... > full story
Gene identified for spread of deadly melanoma (November 4, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a gene linked to the spread of melanoma of the eye. Although more research is needed, the researchers say the discovery is an important step in understanding why some tumors spread and others don't. Metastasis is the most common cause of death in cancer patients. ... > full story
Polar bears can't eat geese into extinction (November 4, 2010) -- A new model shows that, even when polar bears come ashore earlier than in the past and have access to a new bounty in goose eggs, they cannot consume enough eggs to cause extinction in the birds because of trophic mismatch. ... > full story
Five-year results show keyhole bowel cancer surgery as safe and effective (November 4, 2010) -- Laparoscopic or "keyhole" surgery is a safe, effective way of removing bowel tumors and should be offered to all patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer, according to new research. ... > full story
Corn starch solution can help shape solid materials (November 4, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a method to shape solid materials using a corn starch solution. The process offers a potential technique for material cutting and manufacturing processes. ... > full story
Americans less healthy than English, but live as long or longer, study finds (November 4, 2010) -- Older Americans are less healthy than their English counterparts, but they live as long or even longer than their English peers, according to a new study. Researchers found that while Americans aged 55 to 64 have higher rates of chronic diseases than their peers in England, they died at about the same rate. And Americans age 65 and older -- while still sicker than their English peers -- had a lower death rate than similar people in England. ... > full story
Boa constrictors can have babies without mating, new evidence shows (November 4, 2010) -- In a finding that upends decades of scientific theory on reptile reproduction, researchers have discovered that female boa constrictors can squeeze out babies without mating. More strikingly, the finding shows that the babies produced from this asexual reproduction have attributes previously believed to be impossible. ... > full story
Specific changes in the brain associated with sleep deprivation described in new study (November 4, 2010) -- Researchers have published the most systematic study to date of the effects of sleep deprivation on gene expression in the brain. The findings have implications for improving the understanding and management of the adverse effects of sleep deprivation on brain function. ... > full story
How some plants spread their seeds: Ready, set, catapult (November 4, 2010) -- Catapults are often associated with a medieval means of destruction, but for some plants, they are an effective way to launch new life. Dispersing seeds greater distances by catapulting can provide selective advantages, including the establishment of populations in new environments and escape from certain threats. Researchers measured the mechanics involved in catapulting seeds for the ballistic disperser Cardamine parviflora. ... > full story
Intentional swallowing of foreign bodies and its impact on the cost of health care (November 4, 2010) -- A new study from Rhode Island Hospital found that 33 individuals were responsible for 305 cases of medical intervention to remove foreign bodies that were intentionally swallowed, resulting in more than million in estimated hospital costs. ... > full story
Organic onions, carrots and potatoes do not have higher levels of healthful antioxidants, study finds (November 4, 2010) -- With the demand for organically produced food increasing, scientists are reporting new evidence that organically grown onions, carrots, and potatoes generally do not have higher levels of healthful antioxidants and related substances than vegetables grown with traditional fertilizers and pesticides. ... > full story
Higher medication spending doesn't indicate better prescribing quality, study finds (November 4, 2010) -- Medicare patients in regions that spend the most on prescription medications are not necessarily getting better quality care, according to a new study of spending practices. The findings reveal great variation across the country in both drug spending and the rate of inappropriate prescriptions for the elderly. ... > full story
Transparent conductive material could lead to power-generating windows (November 4, 2010) -- Scientists have fabricated transparent thin films capable of absorbing light and generating electric charge over a relatively large area. The material could be used to develop transparent solar panels or even windows that absorb solar energy to generate electricity. ... > full story
Asthma drug prevents spread of breast cancer, study finds (November 4, 2010) -- A drug commonly used in Japan and Korea to treat asthma has been found to stop the spread of breast cancer cells traditionally resistant to chemotherapy, according to a new study. ... > full story
Plight of farmland birds: Poorer, less 'brainy' fare worse, study shows (November 4, 2010) -- Farmland birds that are poorer parents and less "brainy" are faring worse than other farmland bird species, a new study has found. ... > full story
Multifocal contact lenses may reduce vision for night driving (November 4, 2010) -- A new study suggests that older adults who wear multifocal contact lenses to correct problems with near vision, a very common condition that increases with age, may have greater difficulty driving at night than their counterparts who wear glasses. Age-related problems with near vision, medically termed presbyopia, usually occurs after the age of 40 and results in the inability to focus on objects up close. ... > full story
Electrons get confused: Researchers may have observed the fastest melting of all time (November 4, 2010) -- Scientists have observed exotic behavior from beryllium oxide (BeO) when they bombarded it with high-speed heavy ions: after being shot in this way, the electrons in the BeO appeared "confused", and seemed to completely forget the material properties of their environment. The researchers' measurements show changes in the electronic structure that can be explained by extremely rapid melting around the firing line of the heavy ions. ... > full story
Investigation raises concerns about the post-approval surveillance of medical devices (November 4, 2010) -- A British Medical Journal investigation raises concerns about the ability of the US Food and Drug Administration to monitor the ongoing safety of medical devices through post-approval surveillance. ... > full story
Stone Age humans needed more brain power to make big leap in tool design (November 4, 2010) -- Stone Age humans were only able to develop relatively advanced tools after their brains evolved a greater capacity for complex thought, according to a new study that investigates why it took early humans almost two million years to move from razor-sharp stones to a hand-held stone axe. ... > full story
Successful aging in the Amish: Researchers discover new genetic factors (November 4, 2010) -- Avoiding disease, maintaining physical and cognitive function, and continuing social engagement in late life are considered to be key factors associated with what some gerontologists call "successful aging." While conducting studies of Amish families in Indiana and Ohio, a group of researchers began to notice that a significant number of people over age 80 in these communities demonstrated the three main factors associated with successful aging. ... > full story
What will Webb see? Supercomputer models yield sneak previews (November 4, 2010) -- As scientists and engineers work to make NASA's James Webb Space Telescope a reality, they find themselves wondering what new sights the largest space-based observatory ever constructed will reveal. With Webb, astronomers aim to catch planets in the making and identify the universe's first stars and galaxies, yet these are things no telescope -- not even Hubble -- has ever shown them before. ... > full story
Parental infertility and cerebral palsy in children born spontaneously or after IVF/ICSI (November 4, 2010) -- Doctors have known for some time that children born after some fertility treatments are at increased risk of cerebral palsy. However, it was not known whether this risk was due to the treatment itself, the higher frequency of preterm or multiple births, or a mechanism associated with couples' underlying infertility. Now, new research indicates that underlying infertility is not the main reason for the increased risk seen in IVF/ICSI children. ... > full story
How continents thin: New model helps locate oil and gas resources (November 4, 2010) -- Scientists have revealed a new model that explains how continents thin as well as helping to more accurately predict the location of hydrocarbons such as oil and gas. ... > full story
Study finds links between high schoolers' hopes, educational attainment (November 4, 2010) -- It turns out that the high school guidance counselor was right. Students who have high aspirations and put thought into their futures during their high school years tend to reach higher levels of educational attainment, according to a recent study. ... > full story
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