ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Monday, January 10, 2011
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Babies process language in a grown-up way (January 9, 2011) -- Combining the cutting-edge technologies of MRI and MEG, scientists show that babies just over a year old process words they hear with the same brain structures as adults, and in the same amount of time. Moreover, the researchers found that babies were not merely processing the words as sounds, but were capable of grasping their meaning. ... > full story
First drug to treat Fragile X? (January 9, 2011) -- The first drug to treat the underlying disorder instead of the symptoms of Fragile X, the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability, shows some promise, according to a new study. ... > full story
When it's cool, female butterflies chase males in sex role reversal (January 9, 2011) -- If you want to be surrounded by females on the prowl, it pays to be cool, at least if you are a male butterfly. In an unusual example of sex role reversals, females actively court males after being exposed to cool, dry temperatures as caterpillars, researchers report. Raised in the moist and warmer season as larvae, males take up the traditional roles of suitor, displaying their wing designs to females who do the choosing. ... > full story
Proteins need chaperones: Newly discovered processes in production of proteins described (January 9, 2011) -- Why does a chaperone sitting at the end of the ribosomal tunnel need to possess characteristics that can influence the chromatin structure in the nucleus? Scientists are now a step closer to answering this question. ... > full story
Edible insects produce smaller quantities of greenhouse gasses than cattle (January 9, 2011) -- Insects produce much smaller quantities of greenhouse gases per kilogram of meat than cattle and pigs. Insect meat could therefore form an alternative to more conventional types of meat. ... > full story
More than 3,000 survivors of the World Trade Center attacks experience long-term post-traumatic stress disorder (January 9, 2011) -- Nearly 10 years after the destruction of the World Trade Center towers there has been little research documenting the attacks' consequences among the survivors. Researchers have now found that of the 3,271 civilians who evacuated the Twin Towers, 95.6 percent of survivors reported at least one current post-traumatic stress symptom and 15 percent screened positive for PTSD, two to three years after the disaster. ... > full story
Origin of life on Earth: 'Natural' asymmetry of biological molecules may have come from space (January 7, 2011) -- Certain molecules do exist in two forms which are symmetrical mirror images of each other: they are known as chiral molecules. On Earth, the chiral molecules of life, especially amino acids and sugars, exist in only one form, either left-handed or right-handed. Why is it that life has initially chosen one form over the other? Now researchers have for the first time obtained an excess of left-handed molecules (and then an excess of right-handedones) under conditions that reproduce those found in interstellar space. This result therefore supports the hypothesis that the asymmetry of biological molecules on Earth has a cosmic origin. The researchers also suggest that the solar nebula formed in a region of massive stars. ... > full story
More evidence that malaria drug could help combat cancer, and that breaks from treatment could improve results (January 7, 2011) -- Scientists investigating the cancer-fighting properties of artesunate – a drug commonly used to treat malaria – have found early evidence that combining it with an existing cancer drug has the potential to make each drug more effective than when used alone. ... > full story
Packaging that knows when food is going bad (January 7, 2011) -- Packaging that alerts consumers to food which is starting to go bad is being developed by researchers in the UK. ... > full story
Potential new anti-cancer mechanism (January 7, 2011) -- Scientists have succeeded in decoding a potential new anti-cancer mechanism. The researchers discovered that normalizing abnormal tumor blood vessels through HRG (histidine-rich glycoprotein) prevents metastasis of tumor cells and enhances chemotherapy efficiency. ... > full story
What carbon cycle? College students lack scientific literacy, study finds (January 7, 2011) -- Most college students in the United States do not grasp the scientific basis of the carbon cycle -- an essential skill in understanding the causes and consequences of climate change, according to new research. ... > full story
Evidence lacking for widespread use of costly antipsychotic drugs, study suggests (January 7, 2011) -- Many prescriptions for the top-selling class of drugs, known as atypical antipsychotic medications, lack strong evidence that the drugs will actually help, a new study has found. Yet, drugs in this class may cause such serious effects as weight gain, diabetes and heart disease, and cost Americans billions of dollars. ... > full story
Scientists construct synthetic proteins that sustain life (January 7, 2011) -- In a groundbreaking achievement that could help scientists "build" new biological systems, Princeton University scientists have constructed for the first time artificial proteins that enable the growth of living cells. ... > full story
High dietary fat, cholesterol linked to increased risk of breast cancer (January 7, 2011) -- Elevated fat and cholesterol levels found in a typical American-style diet play an important role in the growth and spread of breast cancer, say researchers. ... > full story
Andromeda’s once and future stars (January 7, 2011) -- Two European Space Agency observatories have combined forces to show the Andromeda Galaxy in a new light. Herschel sees rings of star formation in this, the most detailed image of the Andromeda Galaxy ever taken at infrared wavelengths, and XMM-Newton shows dying stars shining X-rays into space. ... > full story
IVF breakthrough to hit the world market (January 7, 2011) -- An Australian reproductive biologist has achieved a major breakthrough in IVF technology that is expected to help millions of women around the world who have suffered previous miscarriages after IVF treatment. ... > full story
Health chip gives instant diagnoses (January 7, 2011) -- Soon, your family doctor will no longer have to send blood or cancer cell samples to the laboratory. A little chip will give her test results on the spot. ... > full story
Regional dialects are alive and well on Twitter: Slang terms like y'all, yinz, koo, coo and suttin predict location of tweet authors (January 7, 2011) -- Microbloggers may think they're interacting in one big Twitterverse, but computer science researchers find that regional slang and dialects are as evident in tweets as they are in everyday conversations. ... > full story
Lice DNA study shows humans first wore clothes 170,000 years ago (January 7, 2011) -- A new study following the evolution of lice shows modern humans started wearing clothes about 170,000 years ago, a technology which enabled them to successfully migrate out of Africa. ... > full story
Blood test for Alzheimer's disease? (January 7, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a novel technology that is able to detect the presence of immune molecules specific to Alzheimer's disease in patients' blood samples. While still preliminary, the findings offer clear proof that this breakthrough technology could be used in the development of biomarkers for a range of human diseases. ... > full story
Perception of our heartbeat influences our body image (January 7, 2011) -- A new study suggests that the way we experience the internal state of our body may also influence how we perceive our body from the outside, as for example in the mirror. ... > full story
Tomatoes found to contain nutrient which prevents vascular diseases (January 7, 2011) -- They are the most widely produced fruit in the world, and now scientists in Japan have discovered that tomatoes contain a nutrient which could tackle the onset of vascular diseases. The research reveals that an extracted compound, 9-oxo-octadecadienoic, has anti-dyslipidemic affects. ... > full story
Sulfur proves important in the formation of gold mines (January 7, 2011) -- Collaborating with an international research team, an economic geologist has discovered how gold-rich magma is produced, unveiling an all-important step in the formation of gold mines. Robert Linnen found sulfur enhances gold's solubility, and solubility is an important step in forming a gold deposit. The study could lead to a breakthrough in choosing geographic targets for gold exploration. ... > full story
Standing tall is key for success: 'Powerful postures' may trump title and rank (January 7, 2011) -- New research suggests that posture plays an important role in determining whether people act as though they are really in charge. The research finds that "posture expansiveness," or positioning oneself in a way that opens up the body and takes up space, activates a sense of power that produces behavioral changes in a person independent of their actual rank or hierarchical role in an organization. ... > full story
Gulf oil spill: Methane gas concentrations in Gulf of Mexico quickly returned to near-normal levels, surprising researchers (January 7, 2011) -- Calling the results "extremely surprising," researchers found that methane gas concentrations in the Gulf of Mexico have returned to near normal levels only months after a massive release occurred following the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. ... > full story
Stem cell discovery could lead to improved bone marrow transplants (January 7, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a key molecule for establishing blood stem cells in their niche within the bone marrow. The findings may lead to improvements in the safety and efficiency of bone marrow transplants. ... > full story
Co-management holds promise of sustainable fisheries worldwide (January 7, 2011) -- Encouraging new evidence suggests that the bulk of the world's fisheries -- including small-scale, often non-industrialized fisheries on which millions of people depend for food -- could be sustained using community-based co-management. ... > full story
Tablet splitting is a highly inaccurate and potentially dangerous practice, says drug study (January 7, 2011) -- Medical experts have issued a warning about the common practice of tablet splitting, after a study found that nearly a third of the split fragments deviated from recommended dosages by 15 percent or more. The study points out that the practice could have serious clinical consequences for tablets that have a narrow margin between therapeutic and toxic doses. And they are calling on manufacturers to produce greater dose options and liquid alternatives to make the practice unnecessary. ... > full story
Elevated rates of 'sarcoid-like' granulomatous pulmonary disease in World Trade Center responders (January 7, 2011) -- Researchers coordinating the largest clinical study to date of "sarcoid-like" granulomatous pulmonary disease in World Trade Center (WTC) responders have found that the rate of the condition was increased in this group as compared to the records of pre-9/11 FDNY personnel. ... > full story
Secondhand television exposure linked to eating disorders (January 7, 2011) -- The risk of eating disorders among Fijian schoolgirls increased when friends and classmates in their social network were exposed to mass media, independently of their own viewing or access to a television at home. ... > full story
Longstanding mystery of Sun's hot outer atmosphere solved (January 7, 2011) -- One of the most enduring mysteries in solar physics is why the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, is millions of degrees hotter than its surface. Now scientists believe they have discovered a major source of hot gas that replenishes the corona: jets of plasma shooting up from just above the Sun's surface. ... > full story
Routine blood test may identify people with pre-diabetes, cutting later treatment costs (January 7, 2011) -- A simpler form of testing individuals with risk factors for diabetes could improve diabetes prevention efforts by substantially increasing the number of individuals who complete testing and learn whether or not they are likely to develop diabetes, according to a new study. ... > full story
Pain therapy for piglets (January 7, 2011) -- Piglets of different age groups have a unique ability to break down and excrete painkillers, according to new research. Painkilling and anti-inflammatory effect of medicines studied work to varying degrees on piglets. ... > full story
Deaths from anesthesia during childbirth plummet; Better monitoring, new techniques have reduced mortality rates (January 7, 2011) -- A new study shows the number of women dying from complications of anesthesia during childbirth have plummeted nearly 60 percent. ... > full story
Atlantic sturgeon recovery efforts may benefit from new study tracking oceanic migrations (January 7, 2011) -- A first-of-its-kind study that tracked the oceanic migrations of adult Atlantic sturgeon that were caught and tagged in the Hudson River discovered that these fish move vast distances in the Atlantic Ocean, traveling as far south as Georgia and as far north as Nova Scotia, Canada. The findings indicate that recovery of Atlantic sturgeon fisheries will need to address long-range oceanic threats to the species in addition to local measures closer to spawning grounds. ... > full story
Why some cancers become malignant and others don't (January 7, 2011) -- Cancer cells reproduce by dividing in two, but a molecule known as PML limits how many times this can happen, according to researchers. The team showed that malignant cancers have problems with this molecule, meaning that in its absence they can continue to grow and eventually spread to other organs. ... > full story
Solar research instrument 'fills the gap,' views sun's innermost corona (January 7, 2011) -- During a total eclipse of the sun, skywatchers are awed by the shimmering corona -- a faint glow that surrounds the sun like gossamer flower petals. The corona becomes visible only when the sun is blocked, which happens for just a few minutes during an eclipse. Now, an instrument on board NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory is giving unprecedented views of the innermost corona 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ... > full story
New method to quantify protein changes could advance study, treatment of various diseases including cancer (January 7, 2011) -- New research has yielded a novel method of analyzing and quantifying changes in proteins that result from a common chemical process. The findings could provide new insights into the effects of a highly destructive form of stress on proteins in various disease models, particularly cancer. ... > full story
Using cassava to address vitamin A deficiency (January 7, 2011) -- Cassava is an important food source in many poverty-stricken regions of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa, but the low levels of micronutrients in commercial varieties do little to address hidden hunger. New research shows that a single, naturally arising change in one gene leads to high provitamin A levels in cassava roots and opens the door to addressing vitamin A deficiency via biofortified cassava. ... > full story
Digital reminiscence systems: Life-logging assists dementia sufferers, research finds (January 7, 2011) -- Digital reminiscence systems could improve quality of life for people with mild dementia, according to new research. Dementia is on the increase, but for the sake of the quality of life of sufferers and their family and friends finding ways to allow the patient to remain in their own home and to live independently is an issue that must be addressed. At the same time, enabling independent living could also reduce the economic burden. ... > full story
Border collie comprehends over 1,000 object names as verbal referents (January 6, 2011) -- Researchers at Wofford College discovered that a border collie comprehends the names of over 1,000 objects, differentiating between names of objects and orders to fetch them. This research deepens the findings of researchers in Germany, who had discovered a dog that knew the names of a couple of hundred objects. Important questions were left open as to how far a dog could go, and whether the dog really understood that the object names were nouns and not commands to retrieve the object. ... > full story
Neural stem cells maintain high levels of reactive oxygen species, study finds (January 6, 2011) -- For years, the majority of research on reactive oxygen species (ROS) -- ions or very small molecules that include free radicals -- has focused on how they damage cell structure and their potential link to stroke, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses. However, researchers have shown for the first time that neural stem cells, the cells that give rise to neurons, maintain high levels of ROS to help regulate normal self-renewal and differentiation. ... > full story
Hidden literary references discovered in the Mona Lisa (January 6, 2011) -- The Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, incorporates images inspired by the Roman poet Horace and Florentine poet Petrarch, according to one expert. ... > full story
Carbon swap bank to beat climate change, Australian researchers propose (January 6, 2011) -- Australian researchers have suggested that nations should abandon the concept of carbon emissions trading in favor of a carbon swap bank that might lead to genuine reductions in the amount of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas entering the atmosphere and so provide a mechanism for reducing climate change. ... > full story
Is your convertible damaging your hearing? (January 6, 2011) -- Driving convertible cars with the top open at speeds exceeding 88.5 kilometres per hour (55 miles per hour) may put drivers at increased risk of noise-induced hearing loss, according to new research. ... > full story
Major advance in MRI allows much faster brain scans (January 6, 2011) -- Physicists and physicians have combined two new MRI techniques to reduce the time for a brain scan by a factor of 7 to 10. Faster functional and diffusion MRI scans will boost the national effort to map the brain's wiring, called the Human Connectome Project. ... > full story
Genetic abnormalities identified in pluripotent stem cell lines (January 6, 2011) -- A multinational team of researchers has documented specific genetic abnormalities that occur in human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell lines. The published findings highlight the need for frequent genomic monitoring of pluripotent stem cells to assure their stability and clinical safety. ... > full story
Telescope calibration may help explain mystery of universe's expansion (January 6, 2011) -- Is the expansion of the universe accelerating for some unknown reason? A telescope newly calibrated by scientists can be more certain of one day obtaining an accurate answer. ... > full story
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