ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Tuesday, November 9, 2010
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Dangerous chemicals in food wrappers likely migrating to humans (November 9, 2010) -- Scientists have found that chemicals used to line junk food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags are migrating into food and being ingested by people where they are contributing to chemical contamination observed in blood. ... > full story
TB-drugome provides new targets for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery (November 9, 2010) -- Researchers have linked hundreds of federally approved drugs to more than 1,000 proteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), opening new avenues to repurpose these drugs to treat TB. ... > full story
The many faces of the shear Alfvén wave: 3-D movies are no longer just for Hollywood blockbusters (November 9, 2010) -- When physicists probe the mysteries of plasma, the fourth state of matter, they often discover phenomena of striking beauty. Much as when the Hubble Space Telescope sent back vivid images from space of ionized gas clouds (an interstellar plasma!), new 3-D images of shear Alfvén waves are delighting both scientists and a new generation of science enthusiasts. ... > full story
Low vitamin D while pregnant or breastfeeding may not be associated with multiple sclerosis relapse (November 9, 2010) -- A small study suggests women with multiple sclerosis have lower vitamin D levels during pregnancy and breastfeeding, according to a new study. However, these vitamin D levels were not associated with a greater risk of multiple sclerosis relapse after childbirth. ... > full story
Easy fabrication of non-reflecting and self-cleaning silicon and plastic surfaces (November 9, 2010) -- Scientists specializing in microfabrication and microfludics have developed a new and rapid method for fabrication of non-reflecting and self-cleaning surfaces. Surface properties are based on the nanostructured surface. ... > full story
Do not abandon new cigarette warning labels, experts urge (November 9, 2010) -- Health Canada's cancellation of plans to renew tobacco warning labels on cigarette packages may lead to increased smoking rates and smoking-related illnesses and deaths, experts say. ... > full story
Graphene gets a Teflon makeover (November 9, 2010) -- Scientists have created a new material which could replace or compete with Teflon in thousands of everyday applications. The researchers believe that fluorographene -- a flat, crystal version of Teflon and is mechanically as strong as graphene -- could be used as a thinner, lighter version of Teflon, and also find applications in electronics, such as for new types of LED devices. ... > full story
DHA improves memory and cognitive function in older adults, study suggests (November 9, 2010) -- Taking docosahexaenoic acid may improve memory and learning in older adults with mild cognitive impairments. This is promising news for many aging Americans who are searching for options to maintain memory and support overall cognitive health. ... > full story
Overweight children have eating patterns different from those of normal weight children, Norwegian study finds (November 9, 2010) -- Overweight children reported more frequent intake of healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, fish, brown bread and potatoes as well as low-energy cheese and yogurt compared with normal weight children, a Norwegian study has found. ... > full story
Common corneal condition associated with increased eye pressure (November 9, 2010) -- Corneal arcus, a condition in which a ring of lipids builds up around the cornea, appears common among middle-age and older adults and may be associated with elevated eye pressure, according to new study. ... > full story
Climate change: Regional differences in water reservoir glaciers (November 9, 2010) -- Glaciers of large mountain regions contribute, to some extent considerably, to the water supply of certain populated areas. However, a recent study has shown that there are important regional differences. ... > full story
Clinical research doesn't do enough to study sex and gender differences, analysis finds (November 9, 2010) -- Potential gender differences in clinical management are under-researched. A systematic analysis of the incorporation of sex and gender into research design has found that, although there has been a progressive improvement since the 90s, there exists a striking under-representation of research about gender differences in patient management. ... > full story
Were our tetrapod ancestors deaf? (November 8, 2010) -- Researchers have shown that the closest living relatives of the tetrapods -- the lungfish -- are insensitive to sound pressure but sensitive to vibrations. ... > full story
Fish oil component given up to 5 hours after stroke limits brain damage, study finds (November 8, 2010) -- A new study shows that a component of fish oil is a powerful therapeutic agent that can protect brain tissue in a model of stroke, even when treatment is delayed by five hours. These findings not only target a new stroke treatment approach, but also provide vital information about the length of the therapeutic window. ... > full story
Close-up of hidden galaxies with new cosmic zoom lenses (November 8, 2010) -- Astronomers have discovered a new way of locating a natural phenomenon that acts like a zoom lens and allows astronomers to peer at galaxies in the distant and early Universe. These results are from the very first data taken as part of the "Herschel-ATLAS" project, the largest imaging survey conducted so far with the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory. ... > full story
Statins fail to reduce colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women, study finds (November 8, 2010) -- The use of statins among a group of postmenopausal women did not reduce the risk for colorectal cancer, according to the results of a prospective analysis of data from the large population-based Women's Health Initiative. ... > full story
Nanoparticles' journey from lungs into body chronicled: Insights into pulmonary drug delivery, air pollution control (November 8, 2010) -- Using a novel, real-time imaging system, scientists have tracked a group of near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticles from the airspaces of the lungs, into the body and out again, providing a description of the characteristics and behavior of these minute particles which could be used in developing therapeutic agents to treat pulmonary disease, as well as offering a greater understanding of the health effects of air pollution. ... > full story
Greater food insecurity from recession poses increased risk to low income individuals with diabetes (November 8, 2010) -- The economic recession impacts many aspects of our lives including an increase incidence of food insecurity. For diseases like diabetes, in which nutrition and menu planning play a key role in treatment, food insecurity can be devastating. Researchers explore how technology advancement in the form of telemedicine can provide cost-effective ways to treat those with diabetes experiencing food insecurity. ... > full story
World's oldest ground-edge implement discovered in northern Australia (November 8, 2010) -- The oldest ground-edge stone tool in the world has been discovered in northern Australia, dating to 35,000 years ago. ... > full story
Potential target for therapy for patients with a deadly prostate cancer (November 8, 2010) -- A monoclonal antibody targeting a well known cell surface protein inhibited prostate cancer growth and metastasis in an aggressive form of the disease that did not respond to hormone therapy, according to a new study. ... > full story
King crab distributions limited by temperature in the Southern Ocean (November 8, 2010) -- Invasions of voracious predatory crabs due to global warming could threaten the unique continental-shelf ecosystems of Antarctica, according to newly published findings. ... > full story
Vapor rub relieves cold symptoms for children, helps them sleep better, study suggests (November 8, 2010) -- Applying a vapor rub is effective for treating children with night-time cough and congestion and improves sleep for children with cold symptoms, according to new research. ... > full story
Taming thermonuclear plasma with a snowflake (November 8, 2010) -- Physicists are one step closer to solving one of the grand challenges of magnetic fusion research -- how to reduce the effect that the hot plasma has on fusion machine walls (or how to tame the plasma-material interface). ... > full story
Bilingualism delays onset of Alzheimer's symptoms, study finds (November 8, 2010) -- Scientists have found more dramatic evidence that speaking two languages can help delay the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms by as much as five years. ... > full story
Simulating black hole radiation with lasers: Lasers produce the first Hawking radiation ever detected (November 8, 2010) -- Hawking radiation from black holes is very dim, and unlikely to be detected any time soon. Now researchers have created a laboratory experiment that produces detectable Hawking radiation with a laser. ... > full story
Low blood levels of vitamin D linked to chubbier kids, faster weight gain (November 8, 2010) -- Kids who are deficient in vitamin D accumulated fat around the waist and gained weight more rapidly than kids who got enough vitamin D, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Infants' hemodynamic responses to happy and angry facial expressions (November 8, 2010) -- Scientists found that the hemispheric differences in the temporal area overlying superior temporal sulcus when processing positive (happy) and negative (angry) facial expressions in infants. ... > full story
Solar-powered device affordable, reliable tool to measure blood pressure (November 8, 2010) -- A new solar powered, automated blood pressure monitoring device was equally accurate as the standard device that measures systolic blood pressure. The device was favored by health professionals and patients when tested in Africa. The new device eliminates the need for batteries, which are expensive and scarce in low economic settings. ... > full story
Beetles offer effective weed control, but native vegetation hard to re-establish (November 8, 2010) -- With the help of the weed-eating flea beetle, researchers significantly reduced infestations of a non-native plant, leafy spurge, on Montana rangeland. The good news is that this biological method of weed control worked effectively over the course of a 9-year study. The bad news is that rather than native plants returning to flourish in the absence of leafy spurge, other non-native species became dominant in its place. ... > full story
Psychologists identify influence of social interaction on sensitivity to physical pain (November 8, 2010) -- Psychologists have shown that the nature of a social interaction has the ability to influence an individual's sensitivity to physical pain. The discovery could have significant clinical implications for doctor-patient relationships and the general well-being of an individual on a daily basis. ... > full story
'Altruism gene' associated with higher willingness to donate, researchers find (November 8, 2010) -- Do you like to do good things for other people? If so, your genes might be responsible for this. According to a new study, a minute change in a particular gene is associated with a significantly higher willingness to donate. People with this change gave twice as much money on average to a charitable cause as did other study subjects. ... > full story
Prolonged maternal separation increases breast cancer risk in neonatal mice (November 8, 2010) -- Young mice that experienced the psychosocial stress of prolonged separation from their mothers had a higher incidence and faster onset of breast tumors compared with young mice who did not experience this stressful life event. Specifically, neonatal mice separated from their mothers for a prolonged period of time developed mammary tumors twice as fast as mice that experienced short or no maternal separation. ... > full story
New insect birth control strategy zaps cotton pests (November 8, 2010) -- Combining genetically engineered cotton plants that kill caterpillars with the controlled release of sterile moths from airplanes has produced a new and highly successful approach to dramatically reducing pesticide use and pest damage, scientists show. The first large-scale effort of its kind has virtually rid Arizona of one the world's most damaging cotton pests, the pink bollworm. ... > full story
Fat cells reach their limit and trigger changes linked to type 2 diabetes (November 8, 2010) -- Scientists have found that the fat cells and tissues of morbidly obese people and animals can reach a limit in their ability to store fat appropriately. Beyond this limit several biological processes conspire to prevent further expansion of fat tissue and in the process may trigger other health problems. ... > full story
Computer program recognizes human emotions from conversation analysis (November 8, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have developed a computer program capable of human emotion recognition from automated voice analysis. The software has also been used to program robots participating in the world robot soccer league (RoboCupSoccer). ... > full story
Childhood stroke study identifies the contraceptive pill and smoking as risk factors (November 8, 2010) -- Researchers are calling for clear guidelines on childhood stroke after a study found wide variations in time lag to diagnosis, investigation and treatment. They found that risk factors included the combined effects of oral contraceptives plus smoking or anaemia and that having a stroke had a significant effect on most of the children’s everyday lives and performance and impacted on the whole family. ... > full story
Scientists turn skin cells directly into blood cells, bypassing middle pluripotent step (November 8, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered how to make human blood from adult human skin. The discovery could mean that in the foreseeable future people needing blood for surgery, cancer treatment or treatment of other blood conditions like anemia will be able to have blood created from a patch of their own skin to provide transfusions. ... > full story
Basic understanding of cell division reshaped (November 8, 2010) -- By tracking the flow of information in a cell preparing to split, scientists have identified a protein mechanism that coordinates and regulates the dynamics of shape change necessary for division of a single cell into two daughter cells. ... > full story
Autism study reveals how genetic changes rewire the brain (November 8, 2010) -- Using a blend of brain imaging and genetic detective work, scientists have illustrated how genetic variants rewire the brain. The discovery offers the crucial missing physical evidence that links altered genes to modified brain function and learning. ... > full story
Studying the metabolome of smokers, researchers find early signs of damage (November 8, 2010) -- Examining the blood "metabolomics" profile of smokers immediately after they had a cigarette revealed activation of pathways involved in cell death, inflammation, and other forms of systemic damage, say researchers. ... > full story
Fire fuels flowers success (November 8, 2010) -- The high incidence of fire during the Cretaceous Period, 120 to 65 million years ago, was responsible for the spread of the earliest flowering plants, new research suggests. ... > full story
Tai Chi relieves arthritis pain, improves reach, balance, well-being, study suggests (November 8, 2010) -- A new study found that there are significant benefits of Tai Chi for individuals with all types of arthritis, including fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. ... > full story
Spontaneous GMOs in nature: Researchers show how a genetically modified plant can come about (November 8, 2010) -- Genetically modified plants can come about by natural means. A research group in Sweden has now described the details of such an event among higher plants. It is likely that the gene transfer was mediated by a parasite or a pathogen. ... > full story
Understanding diabetes at the molecular level (November 8, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a key step in metabolic pathways linked to diabetes and cancer. ... > full story
Burning pain and itching governed by same nerve cells (November 8, 2010) -- We all know how hard it is not to scratch when we have an itch. But how can an itch be alleviated? Researchers now present the surprising finding that the same nerve cells that are active when we experience heat pain are also associated with itching. ... > full story
How physical environment influences stem cell development (November 8, 2010) -- Recent research reveals how physical qualities -- and not only chemical ones – may have an influence in determining how adult stem cells from the bone marrow develop into differentiated ones. The finding represents an important step in understanding the mechanisms that direct and regulate the specialization of stem cells from their undefined state. ... > full story
How oscillators -- common electronic components -- get in sync or fall out of sync (November 8, 2010) -- Understanding conditions that cause oscillators to fall in or out of synchronization is necessary to achieve the optimal functioning of oscillator networks that underlie many technologies. The transition from synchronization to desynchronization is the subject of a new investigation by a team of Japanese scientists. ... > full story
Fingers detect typos even when conscious brain doesn't (November 8, 2010) -- Expert typists are able to zoom across the keyboard without ever thinking about which fingers are pressing the keys. New research reveals that this skill is managed by an autopilot, one that is able to catch errors that can fool our conscious brain. ... > full story
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