ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Thursday, January 20, 2011
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Arctic sea-ice controls the release of mercury (January 20, 2011) -- Scientists have recently highlighted a new role that sea-ice plays in the mercury cycle in the Arctic. By blocking sunlight, sea-ice could influence the breakdown and transfer into the atmosphere of toxic forms of mercury present in the surface waters of the Arctic Ocean. These results suggest that climate plays a key role in the mercury cycle and that the release of mercury into the atmosphere could be accentuated by the melting of Arctic sea-ice. ... > full story
Celiac patients can eat hydrolyzed wheat flour, study finds (January 20, 2011) -- Baked goods made from hydrolyzed wheat flour are not toxic to celiac disease patients, according to new research. ... > full story
Molecular battle in cancer cells offers clues for treatment (January 20, 2011) -- Researchers investigating a genetic mutation in brain cancer and leukemia patients have discovered how one cancer metabolite battles another normal metabolite to contribute cancer development. Helping the "good guys" win that battle could yield new approaches for treatment. ... > full story
Novel antibiotic combinations fight resistance genes (January 20, 2011) -- The combination the antibiotic ceftazidime plus the compound NXL104 is active against bacterial pathogens containing genes that confer resistance to multiple carbapenems, according to new research. ... > full story
Scientists generate megawatt-class laser beams for US Navy's next-generation weapon system (January 20, 2011) -- Scientists have achieved a breakthrough with the Office of Naval Research's Free Electron Laser (FEL) program, demonstrating an injector capable of producing the electrons needed to generate megawatt-class laser beams for the US Navy's next-generation weapon system. ... > full story
End-of-life decisions take longer if patient hasn't shared wishes with family, study finds (January 20, 2011) -- Family caregivers who had not discussed life support measures with critically ill patients took nearly two weeks longer to decide to forgo further medical intervention than those who had prior conversations about the issues, according to researchers. ... > full story
Scientists view genome as it turns on and off inside cells (January 20, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new approach to decoding the vast information embedded in an organism's genome, while shedding light on exactly how cells interpret their genetic material to create RNA messages and launch new processes in the cell. ... > full story
Complete structure of HIV’s outer shell revealed (January 20, 2011) -- Scientists have determined the structure of the protein package that delivers the genetic material of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to human cells. ... > full story
Secrets of mysterious metal hotspots uncovered by new single molecule imaging technique (January 20, 2011) -- The secrets behind the mysterious nano-sized electromagnetic "hotspots" that appear on metal surfaces under a light are being revealed with the help of a BEAST. The results hold promise for solar energy and chemical sensing among other technologies. ... > full story
Staph vaccine shows promise in Phase I (January 20, 2011) -- A new experimental vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus has been shown to be well-tolerated, and to boost antibodies, according to new research. ... > full story
Converting 2-D photo into 3-D face for security applications and forensics (January 20, 2011) -- It is possible to construct a 3-D face from flat 2-D images, according to new research. The discovery could be used for biometrics in security applications or in forensic investigations. ... > full story
Predicting political hotspots: Professors' global model forecasts civil unrest against governments (January 20, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a model predicting which countries will likely experience an escalation in domestic political violence against their governments within the next five years. The model is currently five for five, most recently predicting Tunisia. ... > full story
Astronomers release the largest color image of the sky ever made (January 19, 2011) -- Astronomers have produced the largest-ever map of the sky. This survey has made it possible to build an image from which a source catalog of unprecedented quality covering a large fraction of the sky has been extracted in five colors (sky cover, depth and precision of luminosity measurements). This catalog, which contains around 470 million objects (galaxies, stars, quasars, etc.), is now being published. ... > full story
New CPR technique for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest increases survival by 53 percent (January 19, 2011) -- An alternative method of cardipulmonary resuscitation increases long-term survival of patients. The study determined that active compression-decompression cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with augmentation of negative intrathoracic pressure gave patients a better chance of survival. ... > full story
Mathematical model for moving bottlenecks in road traffic (January 19, 2011) -- Vehicular traffic flow has been tackled by mathematicians, engineers and physicists alike. Mathematical approaches to study traffic are usually based on the speed, density and flow of vehicles on roadways. Mathematicians now propose a mathematical model of vehicular traffic based on a moving bottleneck caused by a slow-moving vehicle within the flow of cars. ... > full story
Unlocking the secret(ase) of building neural circuits (January 19, 2011) -- Mutant presenilin is infamous for its role in the most aggressive form of Alzheimer's disease -- early-onset familial Alzheimer's -- which can strike people as early as their 30s. In their latest study, researchers uncovered presenilin's productive side: It helps embryonic motor neurons navigate the maze of chemical cues that pull, push and hem them in on their way to their proper targets. Without it, budding motor neurons misread their guidance signals and get stuck in the spinal cord. ... > full story
Gardening in space with HydroTropi (January 19, 2011) -- Plants are fundamental to life on Earth, converting light and carbon dioxide into food and oxygen. Plant growth may be an important part of human survival in exploring space, as well. Gardening in space has been part of the International Space Station from the beginning -- whether peas grown in the Lada greenhouse or experiments in the Biomass Production System. The space station offers unique opportunities to study plant growth and gravity, something that cannot be done on Earth. ... > full story
Health-care systems not using best evidence in decision-making, expert argues (January 19, 2011) -- Health-care systems around the world are failing to use evidence obtained through research when making decisions, causing inefficiencies and reduced quantity and quality of life, according to an expert in the field of "knowledge translation." ... > full story
Robotic ghost knifefish is 'born' (January 19, 2011) -- Researchers have created a robotic fish that can move from swimming forward and backward to swimming vertically almost instantaneously by using a sophisticated, ribbon-like fin. The robot -- created after observing and creating computer simulations of the black ghost knifefish of the Amazon River Basin -- could pave the way for nimble robots that could perform underwater recovery operations or long-term monitoring of coral reefs. ... > full story
Possible new treatment for severe 2009 H1N1 infection (January 19, 2011) -- Convalescent plasma therapy -- using plasma from patients who have recovered from an infection to treat those with the same infection -- has been used to treat multiple diseases. However, the efficacy of this treatment in patients with severe 2009 H1N1 influenza is unknown. A new study suggests that convalescent plasma may reduce the death rate in patients severely ill with this type of influenza. ... > full story
Partner galaxies wildly different in new WISE image (January 19, 2011) -- NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer has captured a new view of two companion galaxies -- a somewhat tranquil spiral beauty and its rambunctious partner blazing with smoky star formation. ... > full story
Atlas of an organism: Gene expression in developing mouse embryo (January 19, 2011) -- While every cell of an organism contains the same genes only a proportion are expressed in any tissue at a given stage in development. Knowing the extent of gene transcription is valuable and a team of European researchers has generated an atlas of gene expression for the developing mouse embryo. This will be a powerful resource to determine co-expression of genes and to identify functional associations between genes relevant to development and disease. ... > full story
Killer paper for next-generation food packaging (January 19, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development and successful lab tests of "killer paper," a material intended for use as a new food packaging material that helps preserve foods by fighting the bacteria that cause spoilage. The paper contains a coating of silver nanoparticles, which are powerful anti-bacterial agents. ... > full story
Girls who are bullied are at risk for substance use through depression (January 19, 2011) -- Bullying is a serious problem among adolescents. Parents need to know the signs of bullying and related issues, such as depression and substance abuse. ... > full story
More asteroids could have made life's ingredients (January 19, 2011) -- A wider range of asteroids were capable of creating the kind of amino acids used by life on Earth, according to new NASA research. ... > full story
Birth control pills do not cause weight gain, new research suggests (January 19, 2011) -- The commonly held belief that oral contraceptives cause weight gain appears to be false, new research suggests. ... > full story
Giant crayfish species discovered right under researchers' noses (January 19, 2011) -- Two aquatic biologists have proven that you don't have to travel to exotic locales to search for unusual new species. They discovered a distinctive species of crayfish in Tennessee and Alabama that is at least twice the size of its competitors. Its closest genetic relative, once thought to be the only species in its genus and discovered in 1884 about 130 miles away in Kentucky, can grow almost as big as a lobster. ... > full story
Roundworm unlocks pancreatic cancer pathway (January 19, 2011) -- Scientists took a step back to a simpler organism -- a common roundworm -- and made a discovery about how the Ras oncogene chooses a signaling pathway and how the consequences of that choice play out in cellular development -- a key issue in cancer, which is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth. ... > full story
Advance could speed use of genetic material RNA in nanotechnology (January 19, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting an advance in overcoming a major barrier to the use of the genetic material RNA in nanotechnology -- the field that involves building machines thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair and now is dominated by its cousin, DNA. Their findings could speed the use of RNA nanotechnology for treating disease. ... > full story
Risks, consequences of video game addiction identified in new study (January 19, 2011) -- A new study by an international research team has found further evidence that video game "addiction" exists globally and that greater amounts of gaming, lower social competence and greater impulsiveness were risk factors for becoming pathological gamers. The two-year longitudinal study of 3,034 third through eighth grade students in Singapore also found that some serious problems -- including depression, anxiety, social phobias and lower school performance -- seemed to be outcomes of their pathological play. ... > full story
New reactor paves the way for efficiently producing fuel from sunlight (January 19, 2011) -- Using a common metal most famously found in self-cleaning ovens, Sossina Haile hopes to change our energy future. The metal is cerium oxide -- or ceria -- and it is the centerpiece of a promising new technology developed by Haile and her colleagues that concentrates solar energy and uses it to efficiently convert carbon dioxide and water into fuels. ... > full story
Antioxidants may improve chances of conceiving in male subfertility (January 19, 2011) -- Antioxidant supplements may benefit couples who have difficulty conceiving naturally, according to a new systematic review. The review provides evidence from a small number of trials that suggest the partners of men who take antioxidants are more likely to become pregnant. ... > full story
Malaria parasite caught red-handed invading blood cells (January 19, 2011) -- Scientists using new image and cell technologies have for the first time caught malaria parasites in the act of invading red blood cells. The researchers achieved this long-held aim using a combination of electron, light and super resolution microscopy. ... > full story
Eating more fruit and vegetables is linked to a lower risk of dying from ischemic heart disease (January 19, 2011) -- A new study investigating the links between diet and disease has found that people who consume more fruit and vegetables have a lower risk of dying from ischemic heart disease -- the most common form of heart disease and one of the leading causes of death in Europe. ... > full story
Researcher warns of health risks with carbon nanotubes (January 19, 2011) -- Carbon nanotubes, which are extremely small fibers used in many new light and strong materials, may present health risks if inhaled, in the worst case leading to cancer, according to new research. ... > full story
Students are more likely to retake the SAT if their score ends with '90' (January 19, 2011) -- High school students are more likely to retake the SAT if they score just below a round number, such as 1290, than if they score just above it. That's the conclusion of a new study that found that round numbers are strong motivators. ... > full story
Close-knit pairs of supermassive black holes discovered in merging galaxies (January 19, 2011) -- Astronomers have discovered 16 close-knit pairs of supermassive black holes in merging galaxies. These black-hole pairs, also called binaries, are about a hundred to a thousand times closer together than most that have been observed before, providing astronomers a glimpse into how these behemoths and their host galaxies merge -- a crucial part of understanding the evolution of the universe. ... > full story
Antioxidants might cause fertility problems in females, scientists discover (January 19, 2011) -- Antioxidants are sold over the counter everywhere. They're added to food, drink and face cream. But new research has revealed a possible unexpected side effect of antioxidants: They might cause fertility problems in females. ... > full story
In scientific first, researchers visualize naturally occurring mRNA (January 19, 2011) -- In a technique that could eventually shed light on how gene expression influences human disease, scientists have for the first time ever successfully visualized single molecules of naturally occurring messenger RNA transcribed in living mammalian cells. ... > full story
New way of predicting dominant seasonal flu strain (January 19, 2011) -- Scientists have found a way to predict rapidly whether a new strain of the influenza virus should be included in the annual seasonal flu vaccine. While it sometimes takes new flu strains up to three years to become dominant worldwide, the new method can predict whether they will become dominant as little as two weeks after the strain's genetic sequence first appears in the publicly available GenBank database. ... > full story
Mountain ranges may act as 'safe haven' for species facing climate change (January 19, 2011) -- Swiss researchers studying the projected effects of climate change on alpine plant species have discovered that mountain ranges may represent a "safer" place to live during changing climate conditions. The research finds that the habitat diversity of mountain ranges offer species "refuge habitats" which may be important for conservation. ... > full story
When video games get problematic so do smoking, drug use and aggression (January 19, 2011) -- A new study on gaming and health in adolescents found some significant gender differences linked to gaming as well as important health risks associated with problematic gaming. The study is among the first and largest to examine possible health links to gaming and problematic gaming in a community sample of adolescents. ... > full story
Are sharks color blind? (January 19, 2011) -- Sharks are unable to distinguish colors, even though their close relatives rays and chimaeras have some color vision, according to new research by scientists in Australia. Their study shows that although the eyes of sharks function over a wide range of light levels, they only have a single long-wavelength-sensitive cone type in the retina and therefore are potentially totally color blind. ... > full story
Does long-term cell phone use lead to brain tumors? (January 19, 2011) -- Research suggests that long-term exposure to microwaves from cellular phones may lead to an increased risk of brain tumors. Although debate continues, independent studies with long-term follow-up strongly suggest an increased risk of brain tumors related to the use of cellular or cordless phones. ... > full story
New leads in the case against drug-resistant biofilms (January 19, 2011) -- Films of bacteria that form around foreign materials in the body can be very difficult to defeat with drugs, but biologists have now identified a couple proteins that play a key role in building these "biofilms." This pair could prove to be a very important target for developing new antibiotics to fight infections. ... > full story
Prostate cancer treatment linked to higher rate of colon cancer, study finds (January 19, 2011) -- Men treated with hormone-based therapy for prostate cancer faced a 30 percent to 40 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer, compared to patients who did not receive this treatment, according to a new study. ... > full story
Forget the sunscreen: Water fleas in mountain ponds can handle UV rays (January 19, 2011) -- Some tiny crustaceans living in clear-water alpine ponds high in Washington state's Olympic Mountains have learned how to cope with the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays without sunblock -- and with very little natural pigmentation to protect them. In fact, in laboratory tests these water fleas, about the size of fruit flies, withstood UV rays much better than the same species of flea taken from a pond less than a mile away, where the water was murkier and thus offered protection. ... > full story
Appetite-related chemical also affects drug-seeking: Hungry rats more resistant to drug relapse in absence of chemical signal (January 19, 2011) -- A behavioral study of food-deprived rats shows that the animals were less likely to return to heroin-seeking habits when given a compound that blocks specific brain receptors. ... > full story
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