ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, November 26, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Pulsating star mystery solved in rare alignment of Cepheid variable and another star (November 26, 2010) -- By discovering the first double star where a pulsating Cepheid variable and another star pass in front of one another, an international team of astronomers has solved a decades-old mystery. The rare alignment of the orbits of the two stars in the double star system has allowed a measurement of the Cepheid mass with unprecedented accuracy. The new result shows that the prediction from stellar pulsation theory is spot on, while the prediction from stellar evolution theory is at odds with the new observations. ... > full story
New insight into the cause of common dementia (November 26, 2010) -- Researchers have found a clue as to how some people develop a form of dementia that affects the brain areas associated with personality, behavior and language. ... > full story
Promising new multiple sclerosis treatment under development (November 26, 2010) -- Successfully treating and reversing the effects of multiple sclerosis, or MS, may one day be possible using a drug originally developed to treat chronic pain, according to experts. ... > full story
High BMI in childhood linked to greater heart disease risk in adolescence (November 26, 2010) -- Children who have a high body mass index (BMI) between 9 and 12 years of age are more likely to have high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood insulin levels (all risk factors for developing heart disease) by the time they reach adolescence, according to a new study. ... > full story
Carbon emission reduction strategies may undermine tropical biodiversity conservation, conservationists warn (November 26, 2010) -- Conservationists have warned that carbon emission reduction strategies such as REDD may undermine, not enhance, long-term prospects for biodiversity conservation in the tropics. Their warning comes only days ahead of the Cancun COP 16 climate change talks. ... > full story
US death rate from congenital heart defects continues to decline (November 26, 2010) -- Deaths from congenital heart defects continue a decades-long decline in the United States. The rates of death were consistently higher among blacks compared to whites. ... > full story
Do 'traffic lights' in the brain direct our actions? Delayed inhibition between neurons identified as possible basis for decision making (November 26, 2010) -- In every waking minute, we have to make decisions -- sometimes within a split second. Neuroscientists in Germany have now discovered a possible explanation how the brain chooses between alternative options. The key lies in extremely fast changes in the communication between single nerve cells. ... > full story
How cannabis suppresses immune functions: Cannabis compounds found to trigger unique immune cells which promote cancer growth (November 26, 2010) -- Immunologists studying the effects of cannabis have discovered how smoking marijuana can trigger a suppression of the body's immune functions. The research reveals why cannabis users are more susceptible to certain types of cancers and infections. ... > full story
Understanding aging by studying reproduction (November 26, 2010) -- Do examples of rejuvenation exist in nature? Yes, during reproduction! For the first time, scientists have managed to visualize, in the model organism C. elegans, the sudden “rejuvenation” of oocytes just before fertilization. This work opens new avenues for understanding aging and the diseases that are associated with it. ... > full story
Proton-pump inhibitors and birth defects: Some reassurances, but more needed, warns epidemiologist (November 26, 2010) -- Despite the reassurances about the use of proton-pump inhibitors during pregnancy based on a new study, an epidemiologist believes that further studies are needed. ... > full story
When Belgium sneezes, the world catches a cold (November 26, 2010) -- As the Eurozone continues to wobble, a new analysis of countries' economic interconnectedness finds that some of the countries with the greatest potential to cause a global crash have surprisingly small gross domestic production. ... > full story
New guidance issued for first responders collecting suspected biothreat agents (November 26, 2010) -- The US National Institute of Standards and Technology and a coalition of federal, state and local agencies and other organizations have updated a standard and provided overall guidance and recommendations to help the nation's first responders and law enforcement agencies deal with collecting and managing samples of suspicious powders. ... > full story
How people perceive sour flavors: Proton current drives action potentials in taste cells (November 25, 2010) -- Tart cranberry sauce is part of Thanksgiving, and a new study reveals a surprising mechanism for how we perceive sourness: a proton current in taste cells. ... > full story
Using a patient's tumor to form vaccine: Dendritic cell vaccine induces immune responses in patients (November 25, 2010) -- A new process for creating a personalized vaccine may become a crucial tool in helping patients with colorectal cancer develop an immune response against their own tumors. This dendritic cell vaccine was used after surgical resection of metastatic tumors to try to prevent the growth of additional metastases. ... > full story
Jet-lagged and forgetful? It's no coincidence: Memory, learning problems persist long after periods of jet lag (November 25, 2010) -- Holiday travel can leave people cranky and tired, in part because of jet lag, the result of your body's internal clock being out of synch with your current time zone. For chronic travelers, it's more than a passing annoyance, however. A new study shows that chronic jet lag can cause long-term brain changes that lead to memory and learning problems for at least a month after return to a normal schedule. ... > full story
Ancient insects preferred warmer climates (November 25, 2010) -- For millions of years, insects and plants have coevolved -- leaf-eaters adapting to the modifications of their hosts and plants changing to protect themselves from herbivory. The abundance and diversity of both insects and plants have varied depending on changes in climate. However, abnormally high global temperatures have historically lead to a greater diversity and abundance of insects, separate from plant diversity and adaptations. ... > full story
Imaging with neutrons: Magnetic domains shown for the first time in 3-D (November 25, 2010) -- Although they exist in almost every magnetic material, you cannot see them: magnetic domains are microscopically small regions of uniform magnetization. Scientists have now developed a method by which they can image the full spatial structure of magnetic domains -- even deep within materials. ... > full story
Being a 'good sport' can be critical to maintaining lifelong physical activity (November 25, 2010) -- It's never fun riding the bench -- but could it also make you less likely to be physically active in the future? ... > full story
Massive galaxies formed when universe was young, new findings suggest (November 25, 2010) -- Scientists have found a number of very massive, highly luminous galaxies that existed almost 12 billion years ago when the universe was only about 1.5 billion years old. These findings appear to disagree with the latest predictions from models of galaxy formation and evolution. ... > full story
Restoring gene for cancer protein p53 slows spread of advanced tumors, biologists find (November 25, 2010) -- In a new study, cancer biologists show that restoring the protein p53's function in mice with lung cancer has no effect early in tumor development, but restoring the function later on could prevent more advanced tumors from spreading throughout the body. ... > full story
Short, on-chip light pulses will enable ultrafast data transfer within computers (November 25, 2010) -- Electrical engineers generated short, powerful light pulses on a chip -- an important step toward the optical interconnects that will likely replace the copper wires that carry information between chips within today's computers. Electrical engineers recently developed the first ultra compact, low power pulse compressor on a silicon chip to be described in the scientific literature. ... > full story
Breastfeeding while taking seizure drugs may not harm child's IQ, study suggests (November 25, 2010) -- There's good news for women with epilepsy. Breastfeeding your baby while taking your seizure medication may have no harmful effect on your child's IQ later on, according to a new study. ... > full story
The physics of coffee rings (November 25, 2010) -- Researchers have analyzed the stain patterns left behind by coffee droplets on a surface and have presented their "coffee ring" models. ... > full story
Haiti cholera outbreaks: Experts urge US to create emergency cholera vaccine stockpile for humanitarian use (November 25, 2010) -- In the wake of devastating cholera outbreaks in refugee camps in earthquake-wracked Haiti, a group of leading experts has urged the United States to create an emergency stockpile of cholera vaccines for future humanitarian use. ... > full story
New imaging technique accurately finds cancer cells, fast (November 25, 2010) -- The long, anxious wait for biopsy results could soon be over, thanks to a new tissue-imaging technique. Researchers have demonstrated the novel microscopy technique, called nonlinear interferometric vibrational imaging, on rat breast-cancer cells and tissues. It produced easy-to-read, color-coded images of tissue, outlining clear tumor boundaries, with more than 99 percent confidence -- in less than five minutes. ... > full story
How some melanoma tumors evade drug treatment: Critical gene involved in melanoma growth (November 25, 2010) -- Researchers have unearthed one of the key players behind drug resistance in melanoma. The findings point to a new potential drug target, and also lay the foundation for a generalized approach to identify the molecular underpinnings of drug resistance in many forms of cancer. ... > full story
Can cacti 'escape' underground in high temperatures? How a certain species will potentially handle global warming (November 25, 2010) -- In the scorching summer heat of the Chihuahuan Desert in southwest Texas, air temperatures can hover around 97°F (36°C) while at the surface of the soil temperatures can exceed 158°F (70°C). Encountering these extreme temperatures, plants must utilize creative methods to not only survive but thrive under these difficult and potentially lethal conditions. New research sheds light on how one desert resident, the cactus Ariocarpus fissuratus, copes with the effects of high temperatures. ... > full story
Combining aerobic and resistance training appears helpful for patients with diabetes (November 25, 2010) -- Performing a combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training was associated with improved glycemic levels among patients with type 2 diabetes, compared to patients who did not exercise, according to a new study. The level of improvement was not seen among patients who performed either aerobic exercise or resistance training alone. ... > full story
Optimizing large wind farms (November 25, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a model to calculate the optimal spacing of wind turbines for the very large wind farms of the future. ... > full story
People who donate to religions are more likely to punish selfish behaviour, new study finds (November 25, 2010) -- When subconsciously exposed to religious ideas and concepts, religious people are far more likely to actively punish those they believe are acting selfishly and unfairly, a new study has revealed. ... > full story
Stem cells from amniotic fluid: Reprogrammed amniotic fluid cells can generate all types of body cells (November 25, 2010) -- High hopes rest on stem cells: one day, they may be used to treat many diseases. To date, embryos are the main source of these cells, but this raises ethical problems. Scientists have now managed to convert amniotic fluid cells into pluripotent stem cells. These amniotic fluid-derived iPS cells are hardly distinguishable from embryonic stem cells. However, they "remember" where they came from. ... > full story
A cancer cell's beginning reconstructed in a test tube (November 25, 2010) -- Scientists recreate the very first step by which a normal cell transforms itself into a cancer cell. They have identified factors in the very first step of the process and reconstituted this first step in the test tube. ... > full story
Spice of life: Variety is also good for hares (November 25, 2010) -- Since 1871, when Charles Darwin wrote The Descent of Man, it has been widely accepted that "Variability is the necessary basis for the action of selection." Variability is associated with the ability to adapt, which is clearly beneficial at a species level. But there is increasing evidence that genetic variability may also give rise to advantages at the level of the individual. ... > full story
Cellular mechanisms leading to immune response in airway epithelium (November 25, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated that commensal species of the genus Neisseriae are low inducers of human airway epithelial cell responses as compared to the pathogenic species. ... > full story
Scientists crack materials mystery in vanadium dioxide (November 25, 2010) -- A systematic study of phase changes in vanadium dioxide has solved a mystery that has puzzled scientists for decades. ... > full story
City of Vancouver sets transportation records during 2010 Winter Games (November 25, 2010) -- Vancouver residents and visitors set records for sustainable travel during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, more than doubling the number of trips typically taken by public transit, biking or walking, according to a new study completed for the City of Vancouver. ... > full story
Polar bears unlikely to survive in warmer world, biologists say (November 24, 2010) -- Polar bears are not likely to survive in a warmer world, biologists report. As polar bears lose habitat due to global warming, these biologists say, they will be forced southward in search of alternative sources of food, where they will increasingly come into competition with grizzly bears. ... > full story
Drug resistance mechanisms identified in most common form of melanoma (November 24, 2010) -- Researchers have found that melanoma patients whose cancers are caused by mutation of the BRAF gene become resistant to a promising targeted treatment through another genetic mutation or the overexpression of a cell surface protein, both driving survival of the cancer and accounting for relapse. The study could result in the development of new targeted therapies to fight resistance once the patient stops responding and the cancer begins to grow again. ... > full story
Self-assembly of nano-rotors (November 24, 2010) -- Scientists have managed to direct the self-assembly of rod-shaped molecules into rotors only few nanometers in size. The tiny systems serve the study of forces that act on molecules on surfaces and in cage-like structures. ... > full story
Late-preterm babies at greater risk for problems later in childhood, study finds (November 24, 2010) -- Late-preterm babies -- those born between 34 and 36 weeks -- are at an increased risk for cognitive and emotional problems, regardless of maternal IQ or demographics, according to new research. ... > full story
How pathogens hijack host plants (November 24, 2010) -- Infestation by bacteria and other pathogens result in global crop losses of over 0 billion annually. A research team has developed a novel trick for identifying how pathogens hijack plant nutrients to take over the organism. They discovered a novel family of pores that transport sugar out of the plant. Bacteria and fungi hijack the pores to access the plant sugar for food. ... > full story
Gene linked to ADHD allows memory task to be interrupted by brain regions tied to daydreaming (November 24, 2010) -- Neuroscientists say brain scans show that a gene nominally linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder leads to increased interference by brain regions associated with mind wandering during mental tasks. ... > full story
Physicists create new source of light: Bose-Einstein condensate 'super-photons' (November 24, 2010) -- Physicists in Germany have developed a completely new source of light, a so-called Bose-Einstein condensate consisting of photons. Until recently, expert had thought this impossible. This method may potentially be suitable for designing novel light sources resembling lasers that work in the X-ray range. Among other applications, they might allow building more powerful computer chips. The scientists are reporting on their discovery in the upcoming issue of the journal Nature. ... > full story
An answer to a longstanding question: How HIV infection kills T cells (November 24, 2010) -- Researchers appear to have an explanation for a longstanding question in HIV biology: how it is that the virus kills so many CD4 T cells, despite the fact that most of them appear to be "bystander" cells that are themselves not productively infected? That loss of CD4 T cells marks the progression from HIV infection to full-blown AIDS, explain the researchers who report their findings in studies of human tonsils and spleens. ... > full story
Sensory detection and discrimination: Neural basis of rapid brain adaptation revealed (November 24, 2010) -- Researchers have determined the biological basis of your brain's ability to quickly switch from detecting an object moving in your direction to determining what the object is: neurons located at the beginning of the brain's sensory information pathway changing their level of simultaneous firing. ... > full story
Less invasive method for determining stage of lung cancer shows benefits (November 24, 2010) -- A comparison of two strategies to determine the stage of suspected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) finds that the less invasive method is more effective at identifying a type of lung cancer that has spread, and may result in a reduction of unnecessary surgical procedures and associated adverse effects for certain patients. ... > full story
Software allows interactive tabletop displays on web (November 24, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a new type of software that enables people to use large visual displays and touch screens interactively over the Internet for business and homeland security applications. ... > full story
Retirement reduces tiredness and depression, study finds (November 24, 2010) -- Retirement leads to a substantial reduction in mental and physical fatigue and depressive symptoms, finds a new study. However, the research also concludes that retirement does not change the risk of major chronic illnesses such as respiratory disease, diabetes and heart disease. ... > full story
Copyright 1995-2010 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
|
 To update/change your profile click here  |
