ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Monday, November 22, 2010
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Evolutionary arms race between plant-eating insects and host plants illuminated (November 22, 2010) -- A newly identified relationship between a fly and a weedy mustard-type plant promises to answer many long-standing questions surrounding the evolutionary arms race between plant-eating insects and their host plants. ... > full story
Protein in the urine: A warning sign for cognitive decline (November 22, 2010) -- Two new studies show a link between protein in the urine on cognitive decline. ... > full story
Enhancing the efficiency of wind turbines (November 22, 2010) -- New ideas for enhancing the efficiency of wind turbines have been developed. These include a new type intelligent system for turbines operating under many different wind conditions and a way to reduce drag on turbine blades by covering them with tiny grooves. ... > full story
Rett syndrome mobilizes jumping genes in the brain (November 22, 2010) -- With few exceptions, jumping genes-restless bits of DNA that can move freely about the genome-are forced to stay put. In patients with Rett syndrome, however, a mutation in the MeCP2 gene mobilizes so-called L1 retrotransposons in brain cells, reshuffling their genomes and possibly contributing to the symptoms of the disease when they find their way into active genes, report researchers. ... > full story
Getting bubbles out of fuel pumps (November 22, 2010) -- When vapor bubbles form and collapse in fluids moving swiftly over steel objects such as those inside fuel pumps, they can damage them. Now researchers detail the results of the first detailed experiments aimed at preventing cavitation damage in jet fuel pumps, which are essential components in modern aircraft. ... > full story
Racial profiling to limit terror attacks is fundamentally flawed, expert says (November 22, 2010) -- Stop using racial profiling, says an expert who claims that as well as being politically and ethically questionable, racial profiling does no better in helping law enforcement officials in their task of catching terrorists than standard uniform random sampling techniques. ... > full story
Global carbon dioxide emissions may reach record levels in 2010 (November 22, 2010) -- Global carbon dioxide emissions -- the main contributor to global warming -- show no sign of abating and may reach record levels in 2010, according to a new study. ... > full story
Paleovirology expanded: Non-retroviral virus fragments found in animal genomes (November 22, 2010) -- Understanding the evolution of life-threatening viruses like influenza, Ebola and dengue fever, could help us to minimize their impact. New research points the way to a fossil record of viruses that have insinuated themselves into the genomes of insects and other animals, providing clues about their evolutionary history. ... > full story
Sticky snack for elephant-shrews (November 22, 2010) -- Long-nosed Cape rock elephant-shrews are fond of sticky treats, according to new research. Investigations show for the first time that the elephant-shrew, Elephantulus edwardii, licks the nectar of the flowers and pollinates the Pagoda lily. ... > full story
Process leading to protein diversity in cells important for proper neuron firing (November 22, 2010) -- Researchers have documented a novel form of splicing in the cytoplasm of a nerve cell, which dictates a special form of a potassium channel protein in the outer membrane. The channel protein is found in the dendrites of hippocampus cells. Diseases such as epilepsy that are based on electrical misfiring in the brain could be targets of manipulation of the type splicing of splicing studied. ... > full story
Improving ammonia synthesis could have major implications for agriculture and energy (November 22, 2010) -- Scientists are working on ways to improve the efficiency of the ammonia synthesis process. With between 3-5 percent of the world's natural gas used to create artificial fertilizers, the new research could have major implications for both the agricultural and energy sectors. ... > full story
Your view of personal goals can affect your relationships (November 22, 2010) -- How you think about your goals -- whether it's to improve yourself or to do better than others -- can affect whether you reach those goals. Different kinds of goals can also have distinct effects on your relationships with people around you, according to new research. ... > full story
'Binocular rivalry' deciphered: Key brain mechanism behind conscious visual perception (November 21, 2010) -- With his coat billowing behind him and his right eye tightly closed, Captain Blackbeard watches the endless sea with his telescope. Suddenly the sea disappears as the pirate opens his right eye. The only thing he sees is his hand holding the telescope. And then, a moment later, the sea is back again. What happened was a change in perception. Our brain usually combines the two slightly divergent images of our eyes into a single consistent perception. However, if the visual information does not match, only one image is seen at a time. This phenomenon is called "binocular rivalry". Researchers have now used this phenomenon to decipher a key mechanism of the brain functions that contributes to conscious visual perception. ... > full story
Discovery in how HIV thwarts the body's natural defense opens up new target for drug therapies (November 21, 2010) -- Researchers have solved a 20-year puzzle: why natural killer cells fail to protect the body against HIV. The discovery opens up a new target for drug therapies. ... > full story
Painless needles? Self-adminstered skin patches for vaccines under development (November 21, 2010) -- Scientists are developing painless 'needles' self-administration of flu vaccine using patches containing tiny microneedles that dissolve into the skin. ... > full story
Genetics determine winter vitamin D status (November 21, 2010) -- During the winter, vitamin D status is governed mainly by genetic factors. Conversely, non-genetic factors are most important during the summer. Future studies designed to better understand what these factors are will be especially useful as public health experts continue to explore ways to increase vitamin D status in different populations living under varying environmental and dietary situations. ... > full story
Lessons from Deepwater Horizon oil spill (November 21, 2010) -- In the 24-hour news cycle era, the Deepwater Horizon oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico already feels like an event from yesteryear, an event that had its 15 minutes of news domination during the summer of 2010 then made room for the next big story once the wellhead was capped. But though gulf residents fear that they will be forgotten as cleanup crews pack up and leave, the inquiry into the oil leak is only beginning on scientific fronts. ... > full story
Online undergrads learn well without strong class bond, study finds (November 21, 2010) -- No cohesion, community spirit, trust or interaction? No problem. Online college students said they felt less connected and had a smaller sense of classroom community than those who took the same classes in person, but that didn't keep them from performing just as well as their in-person counterparts. ... > full story
WISE image reveals strange specimen in starry sea: Dying star surrounded by fluorescing gas, unusual rings (November 21, 2010) -- A new image from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer shows what looks like a glowing jellyfish floating at the bottom of a dark, speckled sea. In reality, this critter belongs to the cosmos -- it's a dying star surrounded by fluorescing gas and two very unusual rings. ... > full story
Aged, damaged hearts yield stem cells that could treat heart failure, research suggests (November 21, 2010) -- Ample and viable cardiac stem cells can be isolated from elderly and sick patients with heart disease and diabetes, new research suggests. It may be possible to treat heart failure patients with their own stem cells. An unrelated study notes that an aging heart can generate new cells at a substantial rate. ... > full story
Cement-like creation could help the environment (November 21, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a cement-like substance that could help with stormwater management while potentially keeping millions of plastic bottles out of landfills. ... > full story
Identification codes inserted into mouse embryos (November 21, 2010) -- Researchers have developed an identification system for oocytes and embryos in which each can be individually tagged using silicone barcodes. Researchers are now working to perfect the system and soon will test it with human oocytes and embryos. ... > full story
Molecular structure of dopamine receptor discovered (November 21, 2010) -- Scientists have solved the structure of one of the receptors that responds to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Although dopamine transmission is essential to normal brain functioning, the biological assembly of the molecules involved in this crucial neuronal interplay had not been known -- until now. ... > full story
Hold the phone: Prolonged cell use can trigger allergic reaction, as can body piercing, tattoos and cosmetics (November 21, 2010) -- Chatting endlessly on your cell phone can lead to an allergic reaction to the nickel in your phone, according to allergists. From cosmetics to jewelry, body piercings to tattoos, allergies can lurk in unlikely places, allergists say. ... > full story
Researchers train bacteria to convert bio-wastes into plastic (November 21, 2010) -- Researchers have 'trained' bacteria to convert all the main sugars in vegetable, fruit and garden waste efficiently into high-quality environmentally friendly products such as bioplastics. ... > full story
COPD could be a problem with autoimmunity (November 21, 2010) -- Moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be an auto-immunity problem, according to researchers who studied the presence of auto-antibodies in patients with COPD and compared them to levels of control subjects. They found that a significant number of patients with COPD had significant levels of auto-antibodies circulating in their blood, about 5 to 10 times the level in controls. ... > full story
Understanding the vulnerable northern bottlenose whale (November 21, 2010) -- The northern bottlenose whale is a strange creature. They have a long, stout body with a bulbous forehead -- called a "melon" -- and a short, tube-like snout. Hunted for centuries for their oil (and until the 1970s for dog food), there may be only 160 of these gentle giants in the population found off Nova Scotia. ... > full story
Rare mutations linked with catastrophic aortic aneurysms (November 21, 2010) -- Scientists have begun to unravel the genetic basis of deadly thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAAD). The research identifies rare TAAD-associated mutations in genes that regulate the function of smooth muscle in the walls of large blood vessels. The finding may lead to the development of a screening procedure that could assess disease risk. ... > full story
Conductor paths for marvelous light (November 21, 2010) -- Organic light-emitting diodes are seen as the basis for a new generation of lamps: Large-area lamps that can be randomly shaped and flexibly integrated into interior design. But the "illuminated glass" is still very expensive. Researchers want to optimize the lamps of the future and reduce the price by a new manufacturing process. ... > full story
Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to death, atherosclerosis in veterans, research finds (November 21, 2010) -- Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have more than double the risk of death from any causes and a higher risk of cardiovascular death compared to veterans without the syndrome, according to new research. Greater calcium buildup in the arteries among those with PTSD may be the reason for the greater risk of death. PTSD may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and veterans who suffer from it should receive early evaluation and aggressive treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. ... > full story
Hubble captures new star birth in an ancient galaxy (November 20, 2010) -- Elliptical galaxies were once thought to be aging star cities whose star-making heyday was billions of years ago. But new observations with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope are helping to show that elliptical galaxies still have some youthful vigor left, thanks to encounters with smaller galaxies. ... > full story
Gene links to anorexia identified: Largest genetic study of the eating disorder detects common and rare variants (November 20, 2010) -- Scientists have identified both common and rare gene variants associated with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. In the largest genetic study of this psychiatric disorder, the researchers found intriguing clues to genes they are subjecting to further investigation, including genes active in neuronal signaling and in shaping interconnections among brain cells. ... > full story
Orangutans count on stats for survival (November 20, 2010) -- Orangutans threatened with extinction could be brought back from the brink with help from an Australian statistician, who is part of a study to guide efforts for saving the Indonesian primate. ... > full story
Personalized medicine: Tumor analysis reveals new opportunities for existing cancer drugs (November 20, 2010) -- Targeted cancer therapies such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), gefitinib (Iressa) and erlotinib (Tarceva) could be used to treat a wider range of cancers than previously thought, according to new research. ... > full story
Microorganisms in the ground don’t slack off in winter (November 20, 2010) -- It is known that soil microorganisms can maintain some activity during the cold winter months. Scientist have now shown that the microorganisms in frozen soils are much more viable than previously anticipated and also has large potential for growth. ... > full story
Physicists demonstrate a four-fold quantum memory (November 20, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated quantum entanglement for a quantum state stored in four spatially distinct atomic memories. ... > full story
Designing more effective anti-HIV antibodies (November 20, 2010) -- Although people infected with HIV produce many antibodies against the protein encapsulating the virus, most of these antibodies are strangely ineffective at fighting the disease. A new study suggests why some of the most common of these antibodies don't work: they target the protein in a form it takes after the virus has already invaded the cell, when it's too late, report researchers. ... > full story
Cholesterol-lowering statins boost bacteria-killing cells (November 20, 2010) -- Widely prescribed for their cholesterol-lowering properties, recent clinical research indicates that statins can produce a second, significant health benefit: lowering the risk of severe bacterial infections such as pneumonia and sepsis. Scientists now describe how statins activate the bacterial killing properties of white blood cells. ... > full story
Reports claiming amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by head trauma lacks scientific validation, review finds (November 20, 2010) -- A recent study suggesting that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be attributed to "repetitive head trauma experienced in collision sports" lacks scientific epidemiological evidence to support this claim. In a review of the 12-patient study, several experts specializing in motor neuron diseases challenge the findings as entirely pathological and without clinical merit. ... > full story
Mathematical problems recast as physics questions, provide new tools for old quandaries (November 20, 2010) -- A scientist with an interdisciplinary bent has taken two well-known problems in mathematics and reformulated them as a physics question, offering new tools to solve challenges relevant to a host of subjects ranging from improving data compression to detecting gravitational waves. ... > full story
Graphic images influence intentions to quit smoking (November 20, 2010) -- Marketing researchers surveyed more than 500 U.S. and Canadian smokers and found that the highly graphic images of the negative consequences of smoking have the greatest impact on smokers' intentions to quit. The most graphic images, such as those showing severe mouth diseases, including disfigured, blackened and cancerous tissue, evoked fear about the consequences of smoking and thus influenced consumer intentions to quit. ... > full story
In fending off diseases, plants and animals are much the same, research shows (November 20, 2010) -- Contrary to long-held beliefs, plants and animals have developed remarkably similar mechanisms for detecting microbial invasions. This holds promise for the future treatment of infectious diseases in humans. ... > full story
New target identified for stopping tumors developing their own blood supply (November 20, 2010) -- Researchers have found that a newly developed drug, which is aimed at a particular receptor involved in the development of blood vessels that sustain tumor growth, is active in patients with advanced cancers and, in some cases, has halted the progress of the disease. The drug targets a different molecular pathway to other anti-angiogenesis drugs and may provide a new option to treat cancer. ... > full story
Faster water flow means greater diversity of invertebrate marine life (November 20, 2010) -- On the rocks just beneath the tides, the faster the water is moving in an area, the greater the variety of invertebrate creatures that will live there. Understanding that water flow is a strong predictor of diversity could be a huge boon to efforts to manage coastal ecosystems. ... > full story
Combination therapy improves survival time for patients with advanced liver cancer (November 20, 2010) -- Treatment of inoperable advanced liver cancer with the agent doxorubicin (routinely used to treat this condition) in addition to the agent sorafenib resulted in greater overall survival and progression-free survival, compared to patients who received treatment with doxorubicin alone, according to a new study. ... > full story
Detroit's urban farms could provide a majority of produce for local residents (November 20, 2010) -- Transforming vacant urban lots into farms and community gardens could provide Detroit residents with a majority of their fruits and vegetables. As city officials ponder proposals for urban farms, a new study indicates that a combination of urban farms, community gardens, storage facilities and hoop houses -- greenhouses used to extend the growing season -- could supply local residents with more than 75 percent of their vegetables and more than 40 percent of their fruits. ... > full story
New approach finds success in teaching youth with autism (November 20, 2010) -- Researchers are developing an effective social competence curriculum to help autistic children. ... > full story
Busy microbial world discovered in deepest ocean crust ever explored (November 19, 2010) -- The first study to ever explore biological activity in the deepest layer of ocean crust has found bacteria with a remarkable range of capabilities, including eating hydrocarbons and natural gas, and "fixing" or storing carbon. ... > full story
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