ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Self-assembled DNA Scaffolding Used To Build Tiny Circuit Boards
• DNA-coated Nanotubes Help Kill Tumors Without Harm To Surrounding Tissue
• Capping Two-faced 'Janus' Nanoparticle Gives Engineers Complete Control
• Altered Micriobiome Prevalent In Diseased Esophagus
• New Light-emitting Biomaterial Could Improve Tumor Imaging, Study Shows
• Smokers' Tongues Fail Taste Test
• Research Reveals Major Insight Into Evolution Of Life On Earth
• Anti-aging Gene Linked To High Blood Pressure
• Pinhead-size Worms + Robot = New Antibiotics
• Variation In Prostate Stem Cell Antigen Gene Raises Bladder Cancer Risk
• New Zealand's Subduction Zones: To Shake The Earth Just Add Water
• Nonprofit Nursing Homes Provide Better Care, Major Study Finds
• Echoes Of The Birth Of The Universe: New Limits On Big Bang's Gravitational Waves
• Severe Sleep Apnea Tied To Increased Risk Of Death
• Ultimate Long Distance Communication: Talking To Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
• HIV Integrase Inhibitor Effective For Patients Beginning Antiretroviral Treatment, Study Suggests
• Specialists Are Better At Avoiding Predators
• No Comfort In Comfort Foods During Tough Economic Times, Study Finds
• Galaxies Demand A Stellar Recount
• Key Factor That Stimulates Brain Cancer Cells To Spread Identified
• Scientists Help Explain Effects Of Ancient Chinese Herbal Formulas On Heart Health
• PET Can Help Guide Treatment Decisions For A Common Pediatric Cancer
• Computer Scientists Scale 'Layer 2' Data Center Networks To 100,000 Ports And Beyond
• New National Study Finds Increase In Physical Education Class-related Injuries
• Scientists Create First Three-dimensional Global Map Of Electrical Conductivity In Earth's Mantle
• Mutation In Renin Gene Linked To Inherited Kidney Disease
• Pitcher Plants' Red Colors Don't Attract Prey
• Benefits From Upper Airway Surgery For Sleep Apnea Found To Equal CPAP
• Disease Risks When Moving Wildlife To New Areas: Endangered Laysan Duck Cautionary Tale
• Long-term Health And Social Outcomes For Neuroblastoma Survivors
• Satellites Unlock Secret To Northern India's Vanishing Water
• Low-dose Estrogen Shown Safe And Effective For Metastatic Breast Cancer
• First Ever Use In Europe Of An Insect To Fight Invasive Plant Species
• Race Has Role In Incidence, Survival Of Rare Brain Tumor
• Sun, Sea And Sickness: Better Technology Aims To Improve Healthcare On Travel
• A Dog's Life: Relationships Between Dogs, Owners Fall Into Three Categories
• Migratory Birds Not Picky About Their Rest Stops, Study Finds
• How Meningitis Bacteria Attack The Brain
• Whole Grain Cereals, Popcorn Rich In Antioxidants, Not Just Fiber, New Research Concludes
• Scientists Decoding Genomic Sequences Of H1N1 Using Isolates From Outbreak In Argentina
• Nitrogen Fixation And Phytoplankton Blooms In The Southwest Indian Ocean
• Renewable Energies Will Benefit US Workers' Health, Expert Predicts
• Secrets Of Ulcer-causing Bacteria: Clever Biochemical Strategy Enables Bacteria To Move Freely And Colonize Host
• Quick And Accurate Way Of Diagnosing Endometriosis
• How Mercury Becomes Toxic In The Environment
• Study Examines Adverse Events Associated With Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
• Scientists' Strategic Reading Of Research Enhanced By Digital Tools
• Low-income Kids Report First Sexual Intercourse At 12 Years Of Age In New National Study

Self-assembled DNA Scaffolding Used To Build Tiny Circuit Boards Posted: 20 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new technique to orient and position self-assembled DNA shapes and patterns -- or "DNA origami" -- on surfaces that are compatible with today's semiconductor manufacturing equipment. These precisely positioned DNA nanostructures, each no more than one one-thousandth the width of a human hair, can serve as scaffolds or miniature circuit boards for the precise assembly of computer-chip components.

DNA-coated Nanotubes Help Kill Tumors Without Harm To Surrounding Tissue Posted: 20 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have destroyed prostate cancer tumors in mice by injecting them with specially-coated, minuscule carbon tubes and then superheating the tubes with a brief zap of a laser.

Capping Two-faced 'Janus' Nanoparticle Gives Engineers Complete Control Posted: 20 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Engineers say they can for the first time control all the degrees of a nanoparticle's motion, opening up broad possibilities for nanotechnology and device applications.

Altered Micriobiome Prevalent In Diseased Esophagus Posted: 20 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Gastroesophageal reflux diseases, or GERD, affects about 10 million people in the United States, yet the cause and an unexpected increase in its prevalence over the last three decades remains unexplainable.

New Light-emitting Biomaterial Could Improve Tumor Imaging, Study Shows Posted: 20 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT A new material -- an oxygen nanosensor that couples a light-emitting dye with a biopolymer -- simplifies the imaging of oxygen-deficient regions of tumors. Such tumors are associated with increased cancer aggressiveness and are particularly difficult to treat.

Smokers' Tongues Fail Taste Test Posted: 20 Aug 2009 11:00 AM PDT Smokers have fewer and flatter taste buds. A study of the tongues of 62 Greek soldiers, has demonstrated how cigarettes deaden the ability to taste.

Research Reveals Major Insight Into Evolution Of Life On Earth Posted: 20 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT Humans might not be walking on Earth today if not for the ancient fusing of two microscopic, single-celled organisms called prokaryotes, new research has found. By comparing proteins present in more than 3000 different prokaryotes, a molecular biologist shows that two major classes of relatively simple microbes fused together more than 2.5 billion years ago. The research reveals a new pathway for the evolution of life on Earth.

Anti-aging Gene Linked To High Blood Pressure Posted: 20 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have shown the first link between a newly discovered anti-aging gene and high blood pressure. The results offer new clues on how we age and how we might live longer.

Pinhead-size Worms + Robot = New Antibiotics Posted: 20 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT In an advance that could help ease the antibiotic drought, scientists are describing successful use of a test that enlists pinhead-sized worms in efforts to discover badly needed new antibiotics.

Variation In Prostate Stem Cell Antigen Gene Raises Bladder Cancer Risk Posted: 20 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have pinpointed a specific gene variation that causes increased risk of urinary bladder cancer, according to new research.

New Zealand's Subduction Zones: To Shake The Earth Just Add Water Posted: 20 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT New Zealand is the site of one of the world's youngest subduction zones, where the Pacific Plate of Earth's crust dives beneath the Australian Plate. Now, a study shows how water deep underground helps the subduction zone mature and paves the way for it to generate powerful earthquakes.

Nonprofit Nursing Homes Provide Better Care, Major Study Finds Posted: 20 Aug 2009 08:00 AM PDT A major new statistical review of 82 individual research studies has revealed that nonprofit nursing homes deliver, on average, higher quality care than for-profit nursing homes. The authors' meta-analysis shows that nonprofit facilities delivered higher quality care than for-profit facilities for two of the four most frequently reported quality measures: more or higher quality staffing and less prevalence of pressure ulcers, sometimes called bedsores.

Echoes Of The Birth Of The Universe: New Limits On Big Bang's Gravitational Waves Posted: 20 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT An investigation by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration has significantly advanced our understanding the early evolution of the universe. Analysis of data taken from 2005 to 2007 has set the most stringent limits yet on the amount of gravitational waves that could have come from the Big Bang in the gravitational wave frequency band where LIGO can observe. The data put new constraints on the details of how the universe looked in its earliest moments.

Severe Sleep Apnea Tied To Increased Risk Of Death Posted: 20 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of death from any cause in middle-aged adults, especially men, according to new results from a landmark study. The new findings provide the strongest evidence to date of a link between increased risk of death and sleep apnea, a common disorder in which the upper airway is intermittently narrowed during sleep, causing breathing to be difficult or completely blocked.

Ultimate Long Distance Communication: Talking To Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Posted: 20 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Anyone who's vacationed in the mountains or lived on a farm knows that it's hard to get good internet access or a strong cell phone signal in a remote area. Communicating across great distances has always been a challenge. So when NASA engineers designed the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), they knew it would need an extraordinary communications system.

HIV Integrase Inhibitor Effective For Patients Beginning Antiretroviral Treatment, Study Suggests Posted: 20 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT A member of a new class of antiretroviral drugs is safe and effective for patients beginning treatment against HIV, according to researchers who have completed a two-year multisite phase III clinical trial comparing it with standard antiretroviral drugs.

Specialists Are Better At Avoiding Predators Posted: 20 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT Insect herbivore species often specialize on the host plants that they eat, evolving adaptations to use a plant's unique set of resources. However, specialization doesn't come without costs.

No Comfort In Comfort Foods During Tough Economic Times, Study Finds Posted: 20 Aug 2009 05:00 AM PDT When times are tough and people are in a state of upheaval, it is expected that they might take refuge in "comfort foods" such as Grandma's fried chicken or a Sonic milkshake? Not so, says one marketing expert.

Galaxies Demand A Stellar Recount Posted: 20 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT For decades, astronomers have gone about their business of studying the cosmos with the assumption that stars of certain sizes form in certain quantities. Like grocery stores selling melons alone, and blueberries in bags of dozens or more, the universe was thought to create stars in specific bundles. In other words, the proportion of small to big stars was thought to be fixed. This belief, based on years of research, has been tipped on its side with new data from NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer.

Key Factor That Stimulates Brain Cancer Cells To Spread Identified Posted: 20 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have found that the activity of a protein in brain cells helps stimulate the spread of an aggressive brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In a move toward therapy, the researchers showed that a small designer protein can block this activity and reduce the spreading of GBM cells grown in the laboratory.

Scientists Help Explain Effects Of Ancient Chinese Herbal Formulas On Heart Health Posted: 20 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT New research suggests that ancient Chinese herbal formulas used primarily for cardiovascular indications including heart disease may produce large amounts of artery-widening nitric oxide.

PET Can Help Guide Treatment Decisions For A Common Pediatric Cancer Posted: 20 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT A new study shows that positron emission tomography is an important tool for depicting the extent of neuroblastoma in some patients, particularly for those in the early stages of the disease.

Computer Scientists Scale 'Layer 2' Data Center Networks To 100,000 Ports And Beyond Posted: 20 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT Computer scientists have created software that they hope will lead to data centers that logically function as single, plug-and-play networks that will scale to the massive scale of modern data center networks. The software system -- PortLand -- is a fault-tolerant, layer 2 data center network fabric capable of scaling to 100,000 nodes and beyond.

New National Study Finds Increase In Physical Education Class-related Injuries Posted: 20 Aug 2009 02:00 AM PDT The number of physical education-related injuries to elementary, middle and high school students in the United States increased 150 percent between 1997 and 2007.

Scientists Create First Three-dimensional Global Map Of Electrical Conductivity In Earth's Mantle Posted: 19 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT As tags on household appliances warn, water conducts electricity extremely well. Now, scientists have found that enhanced electrical conductivity in parts of Earth's mantle may signal the presence of water far below our planet's surface.

Mutation In Renin Gene Linked To Inherited Kidney Disease Posted: 19 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT A mutation in a gene that helps regulate high blood pressure is a cause of inherited kidney disease, according to a new study.

Pitcher Plants' Red Colors Don't Attract Prey Posted: 19 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Pitcher plants have distinctive adaptations for living in nutrient-poor soils: These carnivorous plants produce a pitcher-shaped structure with a pool of water in it. When insects investigate, they slide into the pitcher and meet a watery demise. The plant then dissolves the insect and uses it for food.

Benefits From Upper Airway Surgery For Sleep Apnea Found To Equal CPAP Posted: 19 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Adults who struggle with CPAP treatment for obstructive sleep apnea should be considered candidates for reconstructive surgery on the upper airway, because it holds the same quality-of-life benefits but with more permanence.

Disease Risks When Moving Wildlife To New Areas: Endangered Laysan Duck Cautionary Tale Posted: 19 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Laysan ducks, one of the world's most endangered waterfowl, are native to only the Hawaiian archipelago. For 150 years, Laysan ducks were restricted to an estimated 4 square kilometers of land on Laysan Island in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In 2004 and 2005, in an effort to rebuild the population, biologists released 42 Laysan ducks on Midway Atoll, located one day's boat ride from Laysan.

Long-term Health And Social Outcomes For Neuroblastoma Survivors Posted: 19 Aug 2009 11:00 PM PDT Survivors of the childhood cancer neuroblastoma are eight times more likely to have chronic health conditions, less likely to be married, and more likely to have lower incomes than their siblings, according to a new study.

Satellites Unlock Secret To Northern India's Vanishing Water Posted: 19 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Using satellite data, hydrologists have found that groundwater beneath northern India has been receding by as much as 1 foot per year over the past decade -- and they believe human consumption is almost entirely to blame.

Low-dose Estrogen Shown Safe And Effective For Metastatic Breast Cancer Posted: 19 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT When estrogen-lowering drugs no longer control metastatic breast cancer, the opposite strategy might work. Raising estrogen levels benefited 30 percent of women whose metastatic breast cancer no longer responded to standard antiestrogen treatment, according to new research.

First Ever Use In Europe Of An Insect To Fight Invasive Plant Species Posted: 19 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have paved the way for the first ever use in Europe of an insect (biocontrol) to combat an invasive plant species in Britain. Biologists have established that the Japanese Knotweed in Britain was one the biggest females in the world -- a clone of cuttings brought into Britain in the 1850s. Costs of controlling it in Britain have been put at £1.5 billion.

Race Has Role In Incidence, Survival Of Rare Brain Tumor Posted: 19 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT The incidence of a rare and deadly tumor called primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is two times higher in black Americans, ages 20 to 49, than in white Americans, according to a new study.

Sun, Sea And Sickness: Better Technology Aims To Improve Healthcare On Travel Posted: 19 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Europeans love to travel, but hate getting sick while away. Help is at hand with better technology and cross-border administration that make the 'sun, sea and sickness' formula sound less dreadful.

A Dog's Life: Relationships Between Dogs, Owners Fall Into Three Categories Posted: 19 Aug 2009 08:00 PM PDT Some dogs are revered or pampered, with fancy clothes and loads of affection; others work for a living. An Indiana researcher reports that relationships between dogs and their owners generally fall into three distinct categories, with some bestowing more canine benefits than others.

Migratory Birds Not Picky About Their Rest Stops, Study Finds Posted: 19 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT If a lush, protected forest with a winding stream is considered luxury accommodation for a migratory bird, a new study shows that those birds would be just as happy with the equivalent of a cheap roadside motel.

How Meningitis Bacteria Attack The Brain Posted: 19 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT A specific protein on the surface of a common bacterial pathogen allows the bacteria to leave the bloodstream and enter the brain, initiating the deadly infection known as meningitis. The new finding may guide development of improved vaccines to protect those most vulnerable, including young infants and the elderly.

Whole Grain Cereals, Popcorn Rich In Antioxidants, Not Just Fiber, New Research Concludes Posted: 19 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT In a first-of-its kind study, scientists reported that snack foods like popcorn and many popular breakfast cereals contain surprisingly large amounts of healthful antioxidant substances called polyphenols.

Scientists Decoding Genomic Sequences Of H1N1 Using Isolates From Outbreak In Argentina Posted: 19 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers are working to decode the complete genomic sequences of influenza pandemic 2009 virus from patients with severe respiratory disease.

Nitrogen Fixation And Phytoplankton Blooms In The Southwest Indian Ocean Posted: 19 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT New observations help understand the massive blooms of microscopic marine algae -- phytoplankton -- in the seas around Madagascar and its effect on the biogeochemistry of the southwest Indian Ocean.

Renewable Energies Will Benefit US Workers' Health, Expert Predicts Posted: 19 Aug 2009 05:00 PM PDT Expansion of renewable energies should appreciably improve the health status of the 700,000 US workers employed in the energy sector, according to one expert.

Secrets Of Ulcer-causing Bacteria: Clever Biochemical Strategy Enables Bacteria To Move Freely And Colonize Host Posted: 19 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT A team of researchers recently made a discovery that changes a long held paradigm about how bacteria move through soft gels. They showed that the bacterium that causes human stomach ulcers uses a clever biochemical strategy to alter the physical properties of its environment, allowing it to move and survive and further colonize its host.

Quick And Accurate Way Of Diagnosing Endometriosis Posted: 19 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT A quick and accurate test for endometriosis that does not require surgery has been developed by researchers from Australia, Jordan and Belgium, according to new research. The test involves testing a biopsy sample taken from the endometrium for the presence of nerve fibers. It is nearly 100 percent accurate.

How Mercury Becomes Toxic In The Environment Posted: 19 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT Naturally occurring organic matter in water and sediment appears to play a key role in helping microbes convert tiny particles of mercury in the environment into a form that is dangerous to most living creatures.

Study Examines Adverse Events Associated With Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Posted: 19 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT An analysis of the adverse events reported following distribution of quadrivalent human papillomavirus recombinant vaccine since 2006 indicates that adverse event rates were consistent with pre-licensing data and expected background rates of other vaccines, with the exception of a higher proportion of reports of fainting and blood clots, according to a new study.

Scientists' Strategic Reading Of Research Enhanced By Digital Tools Posted: 19 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT The revolution in scientific publishing that has been promised since the 1980s is finally about to take place, according to two University of Illinois experts in information science. As techniques originally designed to organize and share scientific data are integrated into scientific publishing, scientists' long-standing practice of reading "strategically" will be dramatically enhanced, they say.

Low-income Kids Report First Sexual Intercourse At 12 Years Of Age In New National Study Posted: 19 Aug 2009 02:00 PM PDT A new study of nearly 1,000 low-income families in three major cities found that one in four children between the ages of 11 and 16 reported having sex, with their first sexual intercourse occurring at the average age of 12.77.

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