ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, December 3, 2010
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'No fish left behind' approach leaves Earth with nowhere left to fish, study finds (December 3, 2010) -- Earth has run out of room to expand fisheries, according to a new study that charts the systematic expansion of industrialized fisheries. ... > full story
Scientists home in on chemicals needed to reprogram cells; Groundbreaking discovery moves field closer to therapeutic applications (December 3, 2010) -- Scientists have made a significant leap forward in the drive to find a way to safely reprogram mature human cells and turn them into stem cells, which can then change into other cell types, such as nerve, heart, and liver cells. The ability to transform fully mature adult cells such as skin cells into stem cells has potentially profound implications for treating many diseases. ... > full story
Researchers find mathematical patterns to forecast earthquakes (December 3, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have found patterns of behavior that occur before an earthquake on the Iberian peninsula. The team used clustering techniques to forecast medium-large seismic movements when certain circumstances coincide. ... > full story
Personalized diets for elderly after hospitalization decreases mortality rates, study finds (December 3, 2010) -- Intense, individually tailored dietary treatment for acutely hospitalized elderly has a significant impact on mortality, according to a new study by researchers in Israel. ... > full story
Three-dimensional chemistry demonstrated by grinding powder (December 3, 2010) -- During the normal grinding of powders in a mortar, the powders can enter into chemical reactions with each other. This phenomenon has been known for years but only now it has become possible to transform in this way three-dimensional clusters of certain chemical compounds into other, also three-dimensional, clusters. The spectacularly easy reaction was conducted by scientists in Poland. The discovery was brought about by the development of a new method of creation of unique compounds that are precursors of nano zinc oxide – a material used, in particular, in modern electronics. ... > full story
Stigma deters those with alcohol disorders from seeking treatment, study finds (December 3, 2010) -- Despite the existence of effective programs for treating alcohol dependencies and disorders, less than a quarter of people who are diagnosed actually seek treatment. In a recent study, researchers report that people diagnosed with alcoholism at some point in their lifetime were more than 60 percent less likely to seek treatment if they believed they would be stigmatized once their status is known. ... > full story
Breakthrough chip technology lights path to exascale computing: Optical signals connect chips together faster and with lower power (December 3, 2010) -- IBM scientists have unveiled a new chip technology that integrates electrical and optical devices on the same piece of silicon, enabling computer chips to communicate using pulses of light (instead of electrical signals), resulting in smaller, faster and more power-efficient chips than is possible with conventional technologies. ... > full story
Scientists discover mechanism that turns healthy cells into prostate cancer cells (December 3, 2010) -- A protein that is crucial for regulating the self-renewal of normal prostate stem cells, needed to repair injured cells or restore normal cells killed by hormone withdrawal therapy for cancer, also aids the transformation of healthy cells into prostate cancer cells, researchers have found. ... > full story
Scientists ratchet up understanding of cellular protein factory (December 3, 2010) -- Theoretical biologists are untangling a mystery related to ribosomes -- those enigmatic jumbles of molecules that are the protein factories of living cells. The research could aid in development of new antibiotics used to fight multidrug resistant superbugs such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections) found in many US hospitals. ... > full story
Scientists propose new international cancer effort akin to Human Genome Project (December 3, 2010) -- Scientists are proposing an international effort, on the scale of the Human Genome Project (HGP), to identify all the proteins present in cancer cells. HGP was the international scientific research project that identified and mapped all the genes in humans. Within a decade, they believe, results of the new effort could provide cancer patients with more effective treatments customized to their own biology. ... > full story
Natural reforestation in southern Pyrenees favours orchid (December 3, 2010) -- A 13-year study has been key to understanding how and why an orchid species (Cypripedium calceolus), which is endangered in some countries in Europe, is surviving and recovering in the Pyrenees. The results suggest that the abandonment of farming and grazing, which is enabling reforestation to take place, is benefiting this orchid. ... > full story
Relationship-strengthening class improves life for new families (December 3, 2010) -- Expectant parents who completed a brief relationship-strengthening class around the time their child was born showed lasting effects on each family member's well being and on the family's overall relationships, according to a recent study. ... > full story
New microscopy tracks molecules in live tissue at video rate; scientists push SRS microscopy to new levels of spatial, temporal precision (December 2, 2010) -- A novel type of biomedical imaging, made possible by new advances in microscopy, is so fast and sensitive it can capture "video" of blood cells squeezing through capillaries. The new technique makes possible label-free chemical movies, with streaming footage at the subcellular level, catching video of proteins, lipids, and water within cells. ... > full story
Soya beans could hold clue to treating fatal childhood disease (December 2, 2010) -- Scientists say a naturally occurring chemical found in soy could prove to be an effective new treatment for a fatal genetic disease that affects children. ... > full story
New method for preventing oxidative damage to cells: Findings could lead to enhanced health supplements, progress on Parkinson's (December 2, 2010) -- The discovery of a new method for preventing oxidation in the essential fatty acids of cell membranes could lead to a new class of more effective nutritional supplements and could potentially help combat neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and perhaps Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Number of HIV/AIDS cases in sub-Saharan Africa expected to greatly outpace resources (December 2, 2010) -- The number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to far outstrip available resources for treatment by the end of the decade, forcing African nations to make difficult choices about how to allocate inadequate supplies of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, says a new report. ... > full story
Online game drives genetic research (December 2, 2010) -- Playing online can mean more than killing time, thanks to a new game developed by a team of bioinformaticians. Now, players can contribute in a fun way to genetic research. ... > full story
Sleepless soldiers: Study suggests that military deployment affects sleep patterns (December 2, 2010) -- Deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan significantly influenced sleep quality and quantity in a population of 41,225 military service personnel. Participants who completed a follow-up survey during deployment were 28 percent more likely to report having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep than those who had not yet been deployed. The association between deployment status and sleep duration was no longer significant after adjustments for follow-up mental health conditions and combat exposure. ... > full story
Physicists create supernova in a jar (December 2, 2010) -- A team of physicists has mimicked a supernova -- an explosion of a star -- in miniature. In a certain type of supernova, the detonation starts with a flame ball buried deep inside a white dwarf. The flame ball is much lighter than its surroundings, so it rises rapidly making a plume topped with an accelerating smoke ring. In their experiment, the researchers created a smaller version of this process by triggering a special chemical reaction in a closed container that generates similar plumes and vortex rings. ... > full story
Cancer risk from medical radiation may have been overestimated (December 2, 2010) -- The risk of developing radiation-induced cancer from computed tomography may be lower than previously thought, according to a new study. ... > full story
Discovery could shrink dengue-spreading mosquito population (December 2, 2010) -- A team of entomologists has identified a microRNA in female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that when deactivated disrupts the mosquito's blood digestion and egg development -- a discovery that could help control the spread of not only dengue and yellow fever but potentially all vector-borne diseases. ... > full story
Tricyclic anti-depressants linked to increased risk of heart disease (December 2, 2010) -- Research that followed nearly 15,000 people in Scotland has shown that a class of older generation anti-depressant is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study showed that tricyclic anti-depressants were associated with a 35 percent increased risk of CVD, but that there was no increased risk with the newer anti-depressants such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). ... > full story
Governments worldwide censor web content: New study analyzes where, why and how access to the web is controlled (December 2, 2010) -- Where you live in the world largely determines how freely you can access the internet. The level of cyber censorship in different countries around the world is directly related to how authoritarian the governing regime is, according to a new comprehensive analysis of the geographical nature of Internet censorship. ... > full story
Propensity for one-night stands, uncommitted sex could be genetic, study suggests (December 2, 2010) -- So, he or she has cheated on you for the umpteenth time and their only excuse is: "I just can't help it." According to researchers, they may be right. The propensity for infidelity could very well be in their DNA. ... > full story
Genetic switch for determining gender identified; Gene linked to so-called 'intersex' families (December 2, 2010) -- An international team of researchers has identified a gene that appears to be an important switch in determining whether the biological program for the development of gender will go according to plan, or if, when mutated, will cause a glitch in the program. ... > full story
Major step toward first biological test for autism (December 2, 2010) -- Researchers have developed the best biologically based test for autism to date. ... > full story
Cassini returns images of bright jets at Saturn's moon Enceladus (December 2, 2010) -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft successfully dipped near the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus on Nov. 30. Though Cassini's closest approach took it to within about 48 kilometers (30 miles) of the moon's northern hemisphere, the spacecraft also captured shadowy images of the tortured south polar terrain and the brilliant jets that spray out from it. ... > full story
Botulinum toxin A creates muscle weakness and atrophy following long term use, study suggests (December 2, 2010) -- A new study found animals injected with Botulinum toxin A experienced muscle weakness and atrophy far from the site of injection. The research raises some important questions about the long-term therapeutic use of Botox. ... > full story
'Perfumery radar' brings order to odors (December 2, 2010) -- Scientists are announcing development and successful testing of the first "perfumery radar (PR)." It's not a new electronic gadget for homing in on the source of that Eau de Givenchy or Jungle Tiger in a crowded room. Rather, PR is a long-awaited new tool for bringing scientific order to the often arbitrary process of classifying the hundreds of odors that make-up perfumes. ... > full story
Reaching 100 years of age may be more about attitude and adaptation than health history, study finds (December 2, 2010) -- Researchers have provided new clues on surviving to be 100 years old, finding that how we feel about ourselves and our ability to adapt to an accumulation of challenging life experiences may be as or more important than health factors. ... > full story
Life built with toxic chemical: First known microbe on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using arsenic (December 2, 2010) -- NASA-funded astrobiology research has changed the fundamental knowledge about what comprises all known life on Earth. Researchers conducting tests in the harsh environment of Mono Lake in California have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in its cell components. ... > full story
Perinatal bisphenol-A exposure may affect fertility (December 2, 2010) -- A ubiquitous environmental chemical may impair female reproductive capacity, according to a new study. Fertility decreased over time in female mice that had been exposed during fetal and neonatal development to doses of bisphenol-A that were comparable to human environmental levels. ... > full story
Effects of El Nino land South Pacific reef fish in hot water (December 2, 2010) -- Unseasonal warm temperatures caused by El Niño have a profound effect on the fish populations of coral reefs in the South Pacific, scientists have found. ... > full story
Recurrent miscarriage raises heart attack risk fivefold in later life, study finds (December 2, 2010) -- Recurrent miscarriage increases a woman's chance of having a heart attack fivefold in later life, new research indicates. ... > full story
Declining energy quality could be root cause of current recession, expert suggests (December 2, 2010) -- An overlooked cause of the economic recession in the US is a decade long decline in the quality of the nation's energy supply, according to an energy expert. Using a new measure of energy quality, energy intensity ratio (EIR), he shows the worst recessions of the past 65 years were preceded by declines in EIR. ... > full story
Loud snoring and insomnia symptoms predict the development of the metabolic syndrome (December 2, 2010) -- A new study finds that loud snoring and two common insomnia symptoms -- difficulty falling asleep and unrefreshing sleep -- each significantly predicted the development of the metabolic syndrome. The study emphasizes the importance of screening for common sleep complaints in routine clinical practice. ... > full story
Longevity breakthrough: Scientists 'activate' life extension in worm, discover mitochondria's metabolic state controls life span (December 2, 2010) -- If you think life's too short, then you're not alone. Scientists set out to find what it would take to live a very long life and they made important discoveries that bring longer life spans much closer to reality. A new study describes how scientists "activated" life extension in the roundworm C. elegans, and in the process, discovered a new metabolic state correlating with long life. ... > full story
Ideal body mass index identified in new study; Overweight and obesity associated with increased risk of death (December 2, 2010) -- A study looking at deaths from any cause found that a body mass index between 20.0 and 24.9 is associated with the lowest risk of death in healthy non-smoking adults. Investigators also provided precise estimates of the increased risk of death among people who are overweight and obese. Previous studies that examined the risks from being overweight were inconclusive, with some reporting only modestly increased risks of death and others showing a reduced risk. ... > full story
Hurricanes and other swirling natural phenomena explained (December 2, 2010) -- Scientists can use cylinders as small as teapots to study the mechanisms involved in powerful hurricanes and other swirling natural phenomena. ... > full story
Long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to dementia (December 2, 2010) -- Long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to the development of dementia, new research suggests. ... > full story
Can engineered bugs help generate biofuels? (December 2, 2010) -- The versatile organism Lactococcus lactis, the workhorse bacterium that helps turn milk into cheese, may also be valuable in the understanding of how microbes turn the organic compound cellulose into biofuels. New research suggests the bacterium can be engineered to transform plant material into biofuels or other chemicals. ... > full story
GPS not working? A shoe radar may help you find your way (December 2, 2010) -- The prevalence of global positioning system (GPS) devices in everything from cars to cell phones has almost made getting lost a thing of the past. But what do you do when your GPS isn't working? Researchers have developed a shoe-embedded radar system that may help you find your way. ... > full story
New psychology theory enables computers to mimic human creativity (December 2, 2010) -- A mathematical model based on psychology theory allows computers to mimic human creative problem-solving, and provides a new roadmap to architects of artificial intelligence. ... > full story
Gene duplication detected in depression; Finding points to disruptions in brain signaling networks (December 2, 2010) -- A large genetic study of people with major depression has found that a duplicated region of DNA on chromosome 5 predisposes people to the disorder. The gene involved plays an important role in the development of nerve cells, adding to evidence that disruptions in neurotransmission networks form a biological basis for depression. ... > full story
Water resources played important role in patterns of human settlement (December 2, 2010) -- Once lost in the mists of time, the colonial hydrology of the northeastern United States has been reconstructed by a team of geoscientists, biological scientists and social scientists. ... > full story
Plant clock gene also works in human cells (December 2, 2010) -- A gene that controls part of the "tick tock" in a plant's circadian clock has been identified. And not only is the plant gene very similar to one in humans, but the human gene can work in plant cells -- and vice versa. ... > full story
Project pioneers use of silicon-germanium for space electronics applications (December 2, 2010) -- An innovative project has developed a novel approach to space electronics that could change how space vehicles and instruments are designed. The new capabilities are based on silicon-germanium technology. ... > full story
Inflammatory bowel disease can cause post traumatic stress, say doctors (December 2, 2010) -- The inflammatory bowel disorder Crohn's disease produces its own variant of post traumatic stress, new research indicates. ... > full story
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