ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• First-ever blueprint of 'minimal cell' is more complex than expected
• New cause for Alzheimer's disease?
• Overcoming barriers for organic electronics
• MRSA on the rise in hospital outpatients, new study finds; Seven-fold increase in potentially lethal superbug
• Exposure to both traffic, indoor pollutants puts some kids at higher risk for asthma later
• Auditory illusion: How our brains can fill in the gaps to create continuous sound
• Stem cells heal lungs of newborn animals: May lead to new treatments for lungs of premature babies
• New device enables early detection of cancerous skin tumors
• Intensive land management leaves Europe without carbon sinks
• New tool for helping pediatric heart surgery
• RFID Chips: Intelligence inside metal components
• Hospital report cards do not appear to result in significant improvements
• Oceans absorbing carbon dioxide more slowly, scientist finds
• Molecule discovered that makes obese people develop diabetes
• Time of day matters to thirsty trees
• Marker of oxidative stress predicts heart disease outcomes
• Predicting the effectiveness of metal catalysts
• Search engines are source of learning
• Penguins and sea lions help produce new atlas
• Discovery leads to effective treatment of painful skin condition
• New nano color sorters from molecular foundry
• Need for emergency airway surgery for hard-to-intubate patients reduced
• Technique finds gene regulatory sites without knowledge of regulators
• Some patients diagnosed with HIV experience improved outlook on life
• First 'genetic map' of Han Chinese may aid search for disease susceptibility genes
• Control of blood clotting by platelets described; provides medical promise
• Fish food fight: Fish don't eat trees after all, says new study
• Invention will help speed development of drug treatments for heart failure
• Aquatic bacteria: Possible markers for monitoring Arctic climate change
• Competitive, trade-friendly nations weather volatile crop yields best
• Mammalian system for controlling bone remodelling also regulates fever
• Scientists identify two molecules that affect brain plasticity in mice
• Houses of the rising sun: Research sheds new light on Ancient Greeks
• Moderate-to-heavy exercise may reduce risk of stroke for men
• New discovery may lead to heartier, high-yielding plants
• When good companies do bad things
• Cassini captures ghostly dance of Saturn's northern lights
• Implant-based cancer vaccine is first to eliminate tumors in mice
• California's ancient kelp forest
• First effective medical therapy for rare stomach disorder
• Look Ma, no mercury in fillings!
• Emulating Western lifestyles: Consumption and carbon footprints in less industrialized countries

First-ever blueprint of 'minimal cell' is more complex than expected Posted: 27 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST What are the bare essentials of life, the indispensable ingredients required to produce a cell that can survive on its own? Can we describe the molecular anatomy of a cell, and understand how an entire organism functions as a system? Researchers are providing the first comprehensive picture of a minimal cell, based on an extensive quantitative study of the biology of the bacterium that causes atypical pneumonia. The study uncovers fascinating novelties relevant to bacterial biology and shows that even the simplest of cells is more complex than expected.

New cause for Alzheimer's disease? Posted: 27 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered that a precursor to nerve growth factor (pro-NGF) may play a pathogenic role in Alzheimer's disease.

Overcoming barriers for organic electronics Posted: 27 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Electronic devices can't work well unless all of the transistors, or switches, within them allow electrical current to flow easily when they are turned on. Engineers have now determined why some transistors made of organic crystals don't perform well, yielding ideas about how to make them work better.

MRSA on the rise in hospital outpatients, new study finds; Seven-fold increase in potentially lethal superbug Posted: 27 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST The community-associated strain of the deadly superbug MRSA -- an infection-causing bacteria resistant to most common antibiotics -- poses a far greater health threat than previously known and is making its way into hospitals, according to a new study.

Exposure to both traffic, indoor pollutants puts some kids at higher risk for asthma later Posted: 27 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST New research presents strong evidence that the "synergistic" effect of early-life exposure to both outdoor traffic-related pollution and indoor endotoxin causes more harm to developing lungs than one or the other exposure alone.

Auditory illusion: How our brains can fill in the gaps to create continuous sound Posted: 27 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST It is relatively common for listeners to "hear" sounds that are not really there. In fact, it is the brain's ability to reconstruct fragmented sounds that allows us to successfully carry on a conversation in a noisy room.

Stem cells heal lungs of newborn animals: May lead to new treatments for lungs of premature babies Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have demonstrated that stem cells protect and repair the lungs of newborn rats. The study finds that rats treated with stem cells ran twice as far, and had better survival rates. Currently, there is no treatment for the lungs of babies born too early. Scientists predict these results will lead to a new treatment for these babies within three years.

New device enables early detection of cancerous skin tumors Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers are developing a new device that detects cancerous skin tumors, including melanomas that aren't visible to the naked eye. The OSPI instrument (Optical Spectro-Polarimetric Imaging) revealed new textures of lesions that have never been seen before. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons typically diagnose skin tumors by their appearance with the naked eye and only rarely using a dermatoscope -- a magnifying tool that allows tumors to be examined in detail.

Intensive land management leaves Europe without carbon sinks Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST A new calculation of Europe's greenhouse gas balance shows that emissions of methane and nitrous oxide tip the balance and eliminate Europe's terrestrial sink of greenhouse gases.

New tool for helping pediatric heart surgery Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST A team of researchers has developed a way to simulate blood flow on the computer to optimize surgical designs. It is the basis of a new tool that may help surgeons plan for a life-saving operation called the "Fontan" surgery, which is performed on babies born with severe congenital heart defects.

RFID Chips: Intelligence inside metal components Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Up to now, extreme production temperatures made it impossible to equip metallic components with RFID chips during the operating process. Researchers present a variation on a process that makes the non-destructive integration of radio chips a reality.

Hospital report cards do not appear to result in significant improvements Posted: 27 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST An analysis of quality of cardiac care following the public release of data on measures of care at hospitals in Ontario, Canada, did not result in significant system-wide improvement in hospitals' performance on most quality of care indicators, according to a new study.

Oceans absorbing carbon dioxide more slowly, scientist finds Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST The world's oceans are absorbing less carbon dioxide, a geophysicist has found after pooling data taken over the past 50 years. With the oceans currently absorbing over 40 percent of the CO2 emitted by human activity, this could quicken the pace of climate change, according to the study.

Molecule discovered that makes obese people develop diabetes Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Many people who are overweight or obese develop insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes at some stage in their lives. Scientists have now discovered that obese people have large amounts of the molecule CXCL5, produced by certain cells in fatty tissue.

Time of day matters to thirsty trees Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST The time of day matters to forest trees dealing with drought, according to a new article.

Marker of oxidative stress predicts heart disease outcomes Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers have identified a substance in the blood that may be useful in predicting an individual's risk for heart disease. The substance is cystine, an oxidized form of the amino acid cysteine and an indirect measure of oxidative stress. In a study of more than 1,200 people undergoing cardiac imaging because of suspected heart disease, people with high levels of cystine in the blood were twice as likely to have a heart attack or die over the next few years.

Predicting the effectiveness of metal catalysts Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Catalysis is a process that is widely used in industry to synthesize molecules or materials. However, determining catalytic mechanisms is a major challenge for modern chemistry. Researchers have now used numerical simulation methods to show how the selectivity of reaction mechanisms at the surface of a metal catalyst can be understood far more simply.

Search engines are source of learning Posted: 27 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Search engine use is not just part of our daily routines; it is also becoming part of our learning process, according to researchers.

Penguins and sea lions help produce new atlas Posted: 26 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Recording hundreds of thousands of individual uplinks from satellite transmitters fitted on penguins, albatrosses, sea lions, and other marine animals, conservation scientists have released the first-ever atlas of the Patagonian Sea -- a globally important but poorly understood South American marine ecosystem.

Discovery leads to effective treatment of painful skin condition Posted: 26 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered a remarkable treatment for a rare, yet debilitating, skin condition.

New nano color sorters from molecular foundry Posted: 26 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Researchers have created bowtie-shaped antennae that function as the first tunable nano color sorters, able to capture, filter and steer light at the nanoscale.

Need for emergency airway surgery for hard-to-intubate patients reduced Posted: 26 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Be prepared, that old Boy Scout motto, is being applied with great success to operating room patients whose anatomy may make it difficult for physicians to help them breathe during surgery, researchers report in a new study.

Technique finds gene regulatory sites without knowledge of regulators Posted: 26 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST A new statistical technique allows scientists to scan a genome for specific gene-regulatory regions without requiring prior knowledge of the relevant transcription factors. The technique has been experimentally validated in both the mouse genome and the fruit fly genome.

Some patients diagnosed with HIV experience improved outlook on life Posted: 26 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST A new study reaffirms that some patients with HIV experience an improved quality of life following their diagnosis.

First 'genetic map' of Han Chinese may aid search for disease susceptibility genes Posted: 26 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST The first genetic historical map of the Han Chinese, the largest ethnic population in the world, as they migrated from south to north over evolutionary time.

Control of blood clotting by platelets described; provides medical promise Posted: 26 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Cell fragments called platelets are essential to promote blood clotting. Researchers have now discovered novel molecular interactions at the surface of platelets that control blood clotting.

Fish food fight: Fish don't eat trees after all, says new study Posted: 26 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Recent theories suggesting that half of fishes' food comes from from land-based ecosystems may not hold water. Experiments show that algae, not land-based matter, is needed to build healthy and fertile aquatic organisms.

Invention will help speed development of drug treatments for heart failure Posted: 26 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST New research has led to the invention of technology to more rapidly identify compounds for the treatment of heart failure.

Aquatic bacteria: Possible markers for monitoring Arctic climate change Posted: 26 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST New research on bacterial communities throughout six large Arctic river ecosystems reveals predictable temporal patterns, suggesting that scientists could use these communities as markers for monitoring climate change in the polar regions. The study shows that bacterial communities in the six rivers shifted synchronously over time, correlating with seasonal shifts in hydrology and biogeochemistry.

Competitive, trade-friendly nations weather volatile crop yields best Posted: 26 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Richer nations with competitive crop production and few trade barriers would fare the best if climate change, weather events or other factors cause yields of grain and oilseed crops to become more volatile, a new study has found.

Mammalian system for controlling bone remodelling also regulates fever Posted: 26 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Mammals have evolved a complex system for controlling bone remodeling. Babies require calcium for healthy bones and they obtain it from their mother's milk. Nursing mothers release calcium from their bones. Surprisingly, however, the same system also plays a key part in the control of fever and of female body temperature.

Scientists identify two molecules that affect brain plasticity in mice Posted: 26 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers have identified a set of molecular brakes that stabilize the developing brain's circuitry. Moreover, experimentally removing those brakes in mice enhanced the animals' performance in a test of visual learning, suggesting a long-term path to therapeutic application.

Houses of the rising sun: Research sheds new light on Ancient Greeks Posted: 26 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST New research has identified scores of Sicilian temples built to face the rising Sun, shedding light on the practices of the Ancient Greeks.

Moderate-to-heavy exercise may reduce risk of stroke for men Posted: 26 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Men who regularly take part in moderate-to-heavy intensity exercise such as jogging, tennis or swimming may be less likely to have a stroke than people who get no exercise or only light exercise, such as walking, golfing, or bowling, according to a new study.

New discovery may lead to heartier, high-yielding plants Posted: 26 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Scientists have shown how a family of genes (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase, or ACS genes), in the weed Arabidopsis thaliana, are responsible for production of ethylene. This gas affects many aspects of plant development, and this information, which will be applicable to other plants, lays the foundation for future genetic manipulation that could make plants disease resistant, able to survive and thrive in difficult terrain, and increase yields.

When good companies do bad things Posted: 26 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST The more prominent and financially successful a corporation becomes, the more likely it is to break the law, according to a new study that challenges previous research.

Cassini captures ghostly dance of Saturn's northern lights Posted: 26 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST In the first video showing the auroras above the northern latitudes of Saturn, Cassini has spotted the tallest known "northern lights" in the solar system, flickering in shape and brightness high above the ringed planet.

Implant-based cancer vaccine is first to eliminate tumors in mice Posted: 26 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST A cancer vaccine carried into the body on a carefully engineered, fingernail-sized implant is the first to successfully eliminate tumors in mammals. The new approach, pioneered by bioengineers and immunologists, uses plastic disks impregnated with tumor-specific antigens and implanted under the skin to reprogram the mammalian immune system to attack tumors.

California's ancient kelp forest Posted: 26 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST The kelp forests off southern California are considered to be some of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, yet a new study indicates that today's kelp beds are less extensive and lush than those in the recent past.

First effective medical therapy for rare stomach disorder Posted: 26 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST A drug used to treat colorectal cancer also can reverse a rare stomach disorder and should be considered first-line therapy for the disease, researchers report. The targeted cancer drug cetuximab, brand name Erbitux, relieved symptoms of severe Ménétrier's disease in seven patients who completed a one-month course of treatment. Four of them showed near-complete remission, the researchers report.

Look Ma, no mercury in fillings! Posted: 26 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Tooth enamel is hardest material in the human body because it's made almost entirely of minerals. As tough as it may be, however, enamel can be broken down by bacteria, forming cavities and eventually destroying the tooth. That's why dentists repair cavities by filling them with a material to replace the lost enamel. The most common such restorative is a material invented in the 19th-century known as amalgam -- the classic silver-black fillings many people have.

Emulating Western lifestyles: Consumption and carbon footprints in less industrialized countries Posted: 26 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST In recent decades, a new global middle class has exploded, with a total population exceeding one billion people. A new study explores the consumption attitudes of some of these members of the "new class."

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