ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Single Gene Lets Bacteria Jump From Host To Host Posted: 02 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST All life -- plants, animals, people -- depends on peaceful coexistence with a swarm of microbial life that performs vital services from helping to convert food to energy to protection from disease. Now, with the help of a squid that uses a luminescent bacterium to create a predator-fooling light organ and a fish that uses a different strain of the same species of bacteria like a flashlight to illuminate the dark nooks of the reefs where it lives, scientists have found that gaining a single gene is enough for the microbe to switch host animals.

Link Found Between Parkinson's Disease Genes And Manganese Poisoning Posted: 02 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST A connection between genetic and environmental causes of Parkinson's disease has been discovered by a research team. They found a genetic interaction between two Parkinson's disease genes (alpha-synuclein and PARK9) and determined that the PARK9 protein can protect cells from manganese poisoning, which is an environmental risk factor for a Parkinson's disease-like syndrome.

DNA Component Can Stimulate And Suppress Immune Response Posted: 02 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST A component of DNA that can both stimulate and suppress the immune system, depending on the dosage, may hold hope for treating cancer and infection.

Support Cells, Not Neurons, Lull The Brain To Sleep Posted: 02 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Brain cells called astrocytes help to cause the urge to sleep that comes with prolonged wakefulness, according to a new study in mice. The cells release adenosine, a chemical known to have sleep-inducing effects that are inhibited by caffeine.

Robot Mine Sweeper Gets Help From Clue Game Strategies Posted: 02 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST A newly developed mathematical model that figures out the best strategy to win the popular board game CLUE could some day help robot mine sweepers navigate strange surroundings to find hidden explosives. At the simplest level, both activities are governed by the same principles. A player, or robot, must move through an unknown space searching for clues.

Sometimes 100 Cents Feels Like It's Worth More Than A Dollar Posted: 02 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST We all know that $1 is equal to 100 cents. But a new study suggests that, in some situations, people may behave as if 100 cents actually has more value. That's because people may pay more attention to the size of the numbers involved than the actual economic value, according to the research.

Tigers 'Took The Silk Road' To Russia Posted: 02 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST DNA from an extinct sub-species of tiger has revealed that the ancestors of modern tigers migrated through the heart of China -- along what would later become known as 'the Silk Road' -- scientists report.

Pancreatic Tumor Growth Prevented In Mice By Inhibiting Key Protein Posted: 02 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers have identified a protein critical for the growth of pancreatic cancer. Blocking the expression of the protein slowed or prevented tumor growth in mice and made cultured cancer cells vulnerable to the conditions of low oxygen that occur in solid tumors.

Secretive Immune System Of Salmon Posted: 02 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered new aspects of the salmon immune system. His research looked at the immune cells in the gills of salmon and at immune responses to vaccination. A special type of tissue, rich in immune cells, was found in the gills, and new properties of immune cells that produce brown pigment were discovered.

Younger Women With Endometrial Cancer Can Safely Keep Ovaries, Avoid Early Menopause, Study Suggests Posted: 02 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST A new study shows no survival difference between premenopausal women with early-stage endometrial cancer whose ovaries were left intact during cancer surgery compared with those whose ovaries were surgically removed.

Computer Network Structure Alone Can Affect Outcomes, Relationships And Behavior Posted: 02 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have demonstrated in 81 separate experiments that computer network structure alone can affect outcomes, relationships and behavior.

Marching To The Beat Of The Same Drummer Improves Teamwork Posted: 02 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Armies train by marching in step. Citizens sing the National Anthem before sporting events. Why do we participate in these various synchronized activities? A new study suggests that when people engage in synchronous activity together, they become more likely to cooperate with other group members.

Ancient Turtle Migrated From Asia To America Over Tropical Arctic Posted: 02 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST In Arctic Canada, geologists have discovered a surprise fossil: a tropical, freshwater, Asian turtle. The find strongly suggests that animals migrated from Asia to North America not around Alaska, as once thought, but directly across a freshwater sea floating atop the warm, salty Arctic Ocean.

New Promise For Improved Breast Cancer Treatment Posted: 02 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have unveiled a new technology tool that analyzes breast cancer tumors to determine a patient's best treatment options. The tool can predict with more than 80 percent accuracy a patient's chance of recovering from breast cancer.

New Liquefaction Hazard Maps Of Santa Clara Valley, Northern California Posted: 02 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST New hazard maps for Northern California delineate the probability of earthquake-induced liquefaction, based on three scenarios: A magnitude 7.8 on the San Andreas Fault comparable to the 1906 event, a magnitude 6.7 on the Hayward Fault comparable to the 1868 event and a magnitude 6.9 on the Calavaras Fault.

Many Women Who Survived Childhood Cancer Do Not Undergo Recommended Breast Cancer Screening Posted: 02 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Despite recommendations and being at an increased risk of breast cancer, most young women who were treated with chest radiation for a childhood cancer do not undergo appropriate mammography screening, according to a new study.

Structure Of Enzyme Against Chemical Warfare Agents Determined Posted: 02 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST The enzyme DFPase is able to rapidly and efficiently detoxify chemical warfare agents such as Sarin, which was used in the Tokyo subway attacks in 1995. A detailed understanding of the mechanism by which the enzyme catalyzes chemical reactions is necessary for efforts aiming to improve its properties as a decontaminant. Its structure, which is closely related to its function, has now been determined by neutron diffraction.

Government Services For Young People At Risk Of Drugs Misuse May Be Doing More Harm Than Good Posted: 02 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Current government programs aimed at reducing drug and alcohol use among young people may be ineffective and may even be doing more harm than good, according to a new article.

Genetic Blueprint Of Sorghum -- Key Food And Biofuels Crop -- Completed Posted: 01 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Scientists have completed the sequence and analysis of the complete genome of sorghum, a major food and fodder plant with high potential as a bioenergy crop. The genome data will aid scientists in optimizing sorghum and other crops not only for food and fodder use, but also for biofuels production.

Key To Pre-eclampsia May Be Found In Misfolded Proteins In Urine Posted: 01 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Clues to the cause of pre-eclampsia, a common, but serious hypertension complication of pregnancy that has puzzled doctors and researchers for decades, point to proteins that misfold and aggregate, according to researchers.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids: Make Them Part Of Heart-healthy Eating, New Recommendations Say Posted: 01 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST The American Heart Association recommends that people consume at least 5 percent to 10 percent of calories from omega-6 fatty acids. It's recommended that the omega-6 comes from foods, not supplements. Replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fatty acids may lower the risk for heart disease. Higher intakes of omega-6 may improve insulin resistance, reduce diabetes risk and lower blood pressure.

Biomarkers As A Guide To Therapy In Heart Failure Patients Posted: 01 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST A randomized trial suggests that, while using BNP as a marker to guide therapy is not associated with any improvement in all-cause outcome over conventional symptom-guided therapy, there is indeed a benefit in hospital-free survival in heart failure patients under the age of 75.

Novel Technology Could Produce Biofuel For Around $2.49US A Gallon Posted: 01 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST A novel technology for synthesizing chemicals from plant material could produce liquid fuel for just over €0.50 a liter, $2.49US a gallon, say German scientists. But only if the infrastructure is set up in the right way.

What's A Little Mold? Why Consumers Have Different Freshness Standards At Home Posted: 01 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST Why is it acceptable for someone who would never purchase "expired" milk at the store to pour "expired" milk into a cup of coffee at breakfast? A new study explores the reasons consumers are more likely to consume products that are past their expiration dates if they are in their refrigerators than if they are in a store.

New Class Of Non-protein Coding Genes In Mammals With Key Functions Uncovered Posted: 31 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Researchers have uncovered a vast new class of previously unrecognized mammalian genes that do not encode proteins, but instead function as long RNA molecules, and seem to play critical roles in both health and disease, including cancer, immune signaling and stem cell biology.

Search For More Effective Tuberculosis Drugs Posted: 31 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Scientists in India have created a compound that stops tuberculosis by hitting four of the bacterium's crucial metabolic pathways at the same time, weakening and ultimately destroying the pathogen. While this compound is not ready for use in humans, researchers have said it is a step toward a single drug that targets multiple pathways, which could save time and money over the current multi-drug treatment for TB.

New Bird Species: New Species Of Babbler Discovered In China Posted: 31 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST A new species of babbler has been described from Guangxi province in south-west China close to the border with Vietnam. Named Nonggang Babbler Stachyris nonggangensis, after the reserve at which it was discovered, this new species is closely related to Sooty Babbler S. herberti but is larger and has white crescent patches behind the ear coverts and dark spots on the upper breast and throat.

Drippy Faucets Offer Lesson In Physics Posted: 31 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST To Peter Taborek, a drippy faucet is a physics experiment. Taborek uses high-speed video to capture the motion of drops and bubbles coming apart. Knowing the details of this "pinch-off" process is important when designing inkjet printers, because ink must form a single droplet without trailing liquid.

Global Scientists Draw Attention To Threat Of Ocean Acidification Posted: 31 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST More than 150 leading marine scientists from 26 countries are calling for immediate action by policy-makers to sharply reduce carbon dioxide emissions so as to avoid widespread and severe damage to marine ecosystems from ocean acidification.

Genetic Link Found Between Sleep Disorders And Depression In Young Children Posted: 31 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST A new study has used twin data to examine the longitudinal link between sleep problems and depression. Results of this study demonstrate that sleep problems predict later depression; the converse association was not found. These findings are consistent with the theory that early treatment of sleep problems may protect children from the development of depression.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Latest Science News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Inbox too full? Subscribe to the feed version of ScienceDaily: Latest Science News in a feed reader.
If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News, c/o Google, 20 W Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610