ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Monday, November 29, 2010
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Shrouded burst of stars: Spitzer reveals a buried explosion sparked by a galactic train wreck (November 29, 2010) -- Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have found a stunning burst of star formation that beams out as much infrared light as an entire galaxy. The collision of two spiral galaxies has triggered this explosion, which is cloaked by dust that renders its stars nearly invisible in other wavelengths of light. ... > full story
Potential new target for treating triple negative breast cancer identified (November 29, 2010) -- Scientists believe they may have found a new target for treating triple negative breast cancer -- one of the more difficult breast cancers to treat successfully and for which there is no targeted therapy at present. New research shows that TNBC cells respond to compounds that disrupt the signaling processes of another receptor, EGFR, high levels of which are expressed in TNBC. ... > full story
Crown suggests Queen Arsinoë II ruled ancient Egypt as female pharaoh (November 29, 2010) -- A unique queen's crown with ancient symbols combined with a new method of studying status in Egyptian reliefs forms the basis for a re-interpretation of historical developments in Egypt in the period following the death of Alexander the Great. A researcher from Sweden argues that Queen Arsinoë II ruled ancient Egypt as a female pharaoh, predating Cleopatra by 200 years. ... > full story
Scientists learn more about how kidneys fail and how new drugs may intervene (November 29, 2010) -- Scientists are learning more about how protein gets in the urine when the kidneys begin to fail and how a new drug blocks it. ... > full story
To be or not to be a pair: Giant molecules in a quantum superposition (November 29, 2010) -- In human relationships, the question of being a couple or not has a yes-or-no answer: either one is a couple or not. Quantum physics offers an interesting alternative. There, the couples are pairs of atoms that are held together by binding forces to form molecules. Quantum mechanics allows another loophole: a superpostion of free and bound state, where the two atoms are bound and free at the same time. Although this is impossible in our classical world, it is a well known property for quantum mechanical states. Such superpositions have now been observed for weakly bound ultralong-range molecules. ... > full story
Tobacco: Out of sight, out of mind? (November 29, 2010) -- Putting tobacco out of sight in shops can change the attitude of young people to smoking, while not hitting retailers in the pocket, researchers have discovered. ... > full story
Koala bears may be the 'pickiest' marsupials around (November 29, 2010) -- Koalas may be the pickiest marsupials around: They evolved to feed almost exclusively on the leaves of Eucalyptus trees, and they are highly selective when it comes to which species and even which individual trees they visit. When the furry leaf-eater settles on a particular tree, it relies on a number of factors, including taste, to make its selection. ... > full story
Brain tissue loss in people with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (November 29, 2010) -- People with Alzheimer's disease exhibit striking structural changes in the caudate nucleus, a brain structure typically associated with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, a new study has found. ... > full story
Iron compounds synthesized to combat tuberculosis (November 29, 2010) -- Researchers have synthesized two iron compounds that inhibit the in vitro growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. Due their low level of toxicity in mammal cells, the compounds could be used in the future as therapeutic agents and hospital disinfectants. ... > full story
Era of personalized oncology: New strategies for cancer drug development urgently needed, experts say (November 29, 2010) -- Millions of cancer patients worldwide may soon be able to receive more effective, personalized treatments for their disease, thanks to developments in the understanding of cancer biology, experts say. ... > full story
Reference database to identify origin of elephant ivory (November 29, 2010) -- A reference database has been established for the identification of the origin of elephant ivory. ... > full story
Earth and space science missions have fewer risks if conducted by a single government agency, report finds (November 29, 2010) -- Earth and space science missions developed and implemented by federal agencies in collaboration typically result in additional complexity and cost and increased risks from divided responsibilities and accountability, says a new report from the National Research Council. ... > full story
Dogs have bigger brains than cats because they are more sociable, research finds (November 28, 2010) -- Over millions of years dogs have developed bigger brains than cats because highly social species of mammals need more brain power than solitary animals, according to a new study. ... > full story
Cholesterol drug shows benefits for kidney patients, study suggests (November 28, 2010) -- A combination drug that lowers levels of 'bad' cholesterol in the blood can benefit people with chronic kidney disease and is safe, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Why are we getting fatter? Seeking a mysterious culprit (November 28, 2010) -- Researchers suggest there are multiple, still undiscovered causes for obesity, based observations of weight gain in controlled groups of animals that has no single explanation, such as diet or activity level. ... > full story
Danger of cancerous tissue development in chromosomal abnormalities (November 28, 2010) -- New research arouses a cautionary warning in the growing field of the development of stem cells as a means for future treatment of patients through replacement of diseased or damaged tissues by using the patient’s own stem cells. The research indicates a possible danger of cancerous tissue development in the use of such cells. ... > full story
Scientists re-sequence six corn varieties, find some genes missing (November 28, 2010) -- Researchers recently re-sequenced and compared six elite inbred corn lines, including the parents of the most productive commercial hybrids in China and found entire genes that were missing from one line to another. ... > full story
Sensory stimulation protects against brain damage caused by stroke (November 28, 2010) -- Mild sensory stimulation given soon after the first symptoms of a stroke can prevent a large area of the brain from becoming damaged, a new animal study shows. If applicable to humans, these findings could potentially help protect vulnerable brain tissue in patients with stroke. ... > full story
Same face may look male or female, depending on where it appears in a person's field of view (November 28, 2010) -- Neuroscientists have made the surprising discovery that the brain sees some faces as male when they appear in one area of a person's field of view, but female when they appear in a different location. ... > full story
Fatal blood clot genetic risk identified (November 28, 2010) -- Researchers can now better identifying people at risk of developing potentially fatal blood clots that can lead to heart attack. ... > full story
Molecular switch controls neuronal migration in the developing brain (November 28, 2010) -- Researchers have identified key components of a signaling pathway that controls the departure of neurons from the brain niche where they form and allows these cells to start migrating to their final destination. ... > full story
A decade of refinements in transplantation improves long-term survival of blood cancers (November 28, 2010) -- A decade of refinements in marrow and stem cell transplantation to treat blood cancers significantly reduced the risk of treatment-related complications and death, according to new research. ... > full story
Quartz crystal microbalances enable new microscale analytic technique (November 28, 2010) -- A new chemical analysis technique uses the shifting ultrasonic pitch of a small quartz crystal to test the purity of only a few micrograms of material. ... > full story
Pre-injury exercise may mitigate the effects of traumatic brain injury in mice (November 28, 2010) -- Being physically fit before a traumatic brain injury (TBI) might improve recovery, preliminary findings suggest. After TBI, mice bred for running behavior exhibited smaller brain lesions and engaged in more extensive post-injury activity than did mice that had been sedentary before the injury. ... > full story
Cassini back to normal, ready for Enceladus (November 28, 2010) -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft resumed normal operations Nov. 24. All science instruments have been turned back on, the spacecraft is properly configured and Cassini is in good health. Mission managers expect to get a full stream of data during next week's flyby of the Saturnian moon Enceladus. ... > full story
NASA's savory sea salt sensor to get cooked, chilled (November 28, 2010) -- A team of scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., is flying down to Brazil to "cook" a salty NASA instrument that's sure to spice up studies of Earth's climate after its launch late next spring. ... > full story
Whale sharks use geometry to avoid sinking (November 27, 2010) -- They are the largest fish species in the ocean, but the majestic gliding motion of the whale shark is, scientists argue, an astonishing feat of mathematics and energy conservation. Marine scientists now reveal how these massive sharks use geometry to enhance their natural negative buoyancy and stay afloat. ... > full story
Diabetes drug could work against Alzheimer's, animal study suggests (November 27, 2010) -- The diabetes drug metformin has an effect against one of the main causes of the Alzheimer's disease, according to new research in animal models. ... > full story
Large Hadron Collider experiments bring new insight into primordial universe (November 27, 2010) -- After less than three weeks of heavy-ion running, the three experiments studying lead ion collisions at CERN's Large Hadron Collider have already brought new insight into matter as it would have existed in the very first instants of the Universe’s life. ... > full story
Reliable culture of human embryonic stem cells (November 27, 2010) -- Human embryonic stem cells have enormous potential for use in pharmaceutical development and therapeutics; however, to realize this potential there is a requirement for simple and reproducible cell culture methods that provide adequate numbers of cells of suitable quality. ... > full story
Oldest salt mine known to date located in Azerbaijan (November 27, 2010) -- Archeologists have recently shown that the Duzdagi salt deposits, situated in the Araxes Valley in Azerbaijan, were already being exploited from the second half of the 5th millennium BC. This is the most ancient exploitation of rock salt attested to date. And, to the researchers' surprise, intensive salt production was carried out in this mine at least as early as 3500 BC. ... > full story
Being faced with gender stereotypes makes women less likely to take financial risks (November 27, 2010) -- Last year Nicholas Kristof declared in his New York Times column what banks need to fix their problems: Not just a bailout, but also "women, women, and women." Women are generally thought to be less willing to take risks than men, so he speculated that banks could balance out risky men by employing more women. Stereotypes like this about women actually influence how women make financial decisions, according to a new study. ... > full story
Sewage water bacteria: 'Missing link' in early evolution of life on Earth? (November 27, 2010) -- A common group of bacteria found in acid bogs and sewage treatment plants has provided scientists with evidence of a 'missing link' in one of the most important steps in the evolution of life on Earth -- the emergence of cells with a nucleus containing DNA (eukaryotic cells). ... > full story
Severe asthma more prevalent than thought, related to pronounced nasal symptoms (November 27, 2010) -- People with multi-symptom asthma more often have night-time awakenings due to asthma-symptoms, a sign of severe asthma. Researchers have shown that asthma with multiple symptoms is more highly prevalent than previously suggested, comprising 20- 25% of all asthmatics. ... > full story
Finger-trap tension stabilizes cells' chromosome-separating machinery (November 27, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered an amazingly simple way that cells stabilize their machinery for forcing apart chromosomes. ... > full story
Epilepsy: Women need specific treatment, experts say (November 27, 2010) -- Doctors treating female epilepsy patients have to take account of the specific hormonal situation in women. Such an approach can often reduce the limitations imposed by the disease, according to experts. ... > full story
A new electromagnetism can be simulated through a quantum simulator (November 27, 2010) -- A quantum simulator is a variant of a quantum computer that allows us to outperform classical computers in the understanding of complex quantum systems. ... > full story
Elderly to outnumber children by 2050 in most parts of world (November 27, 2010) -- In just a few decades, there will be more elderly people than children in most parts of the world (with the exception of Africa). Media reports on the world's aging population tend to focus on pensions and care for the elderly. But other changes could be just as important. What will happen to family life, for example? And what will the relationship between the generations be like when so many of us live longer and have fewer children? ... > full story
Size of mammals exploded after dinosaur extinction, researchers confirm (November 26, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated that the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago made way for mammals to get bigger -- about a thousand times bigger than they had been, as well as confirming the dramatic growth in mammalian size after the dinosaurs. The study also showed that the ecosystem is able to reset itself relatively quickly. ... > full story
Growth-factor gel shows promise as hearing-loss treatment (November 26, 2010) -- A new treatment has been developed for sudden sensorineural hearing loss, a condition that causes deafness in 40,000 Americans each year, usually in early middle-age. Researchers describe the positive results of a preliminary trial of insulin-like growth factor 1, applied as a topical gel. ... > full story
Female fish -- and humans? -- lose interest when their male loses a slugfest (November 26, 2010) -- If you see your special someone lose a competition, your subconscious may start whispering, "He's a loser," even as you insist your love is unaffected, according to researchers studying African cichlid fish. When female cichlids saw a favored suitor lose a fight with another male, the females showed marked changes in relatively primitive parts of their brains. Humans have those same primitive brain areas, suggesting we may subconsciously react in much the same way. ... > full story
Weather affects children's injury rate: Each 5-degree temperature rise boosts kids' hospital admissions for serious injury by 10 percent (November 26, 2010) -- Every 5 degree Celsius rise in maximum temperature pushes up the rate of hospital admissions for serious injuries among children, reveals one of the largest studies of its kind. ... > full story
Erythromycin A produced in E. coli for first time: Biosynthetic breakthrough paves way for other pharmaceuticals (November 26, 2010) -- For the first time, researchers have made the antibiotic erythromycin A, and two variants, using E. coli as the production host. This is a cost-effective way to make erythromycin A and new drugs to combat antibiotic resistant pathogens. The E. coli host also offers next-generation engineering opportunities for other products with complex biosynthetic pathways. ... > full story
Tightwads and spendthrifts: A Black Friday tradition (November 26, 2010) -- Every year about this time, on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that traditionally begins the holiday shopping season, early-morning consumers stand in long lines eager to purchase some sought after prize. From the outside, it looks as if these holiday shoppers can't wait to plunk down their cash, but researchers say consumers often behave differently than they would ideally like to behave. ... > full story
A high-yield biomass alternative to petroleum for industrial chemicals (November 26, 2010) -- Chemical engineers report that they have developed a way to produce high-volume chemical feedstocks including benzene, toluene, xylenes and olefins from pyrolytic bio-oils, the cheapest liquid fuels available today derived from biomass. The new process could reduce or eliminate industry's reliance on fossil fuels to make industrial chemicals worth an estimated 0 billion annually. ... > full story
More protein, less refined starch important for dieting, large study shows (November 26, 2010) -- If you want to lose weight or avoid gaining weight, you should cut down on finely refined starch calories such as white bread and white rice and instead eat a diet that is high in proteins with more lean meat, low-fat dairy products and beans, large scale study suggests. ... > full story
New tool detects Ebola, Marburg quickly, easily (November 26, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a simple diagnostic tool that can quickly identify dangerous viruses like Ebola and Marburg. The biosensor, which is the size of a quarter and can detect viruses in a blood sample, could be used in developing nations, airports and other places where natural or man-made outbreaks could erupt. ... > full story
No link between mold growth and development of asthma and allergy, Scandinavian study finds (November 26, 2010) -- A recent study in Norway shows that there is no link between mold-spore concentrations in the indoor air and development of asthma and allergy among children. ... > full story
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