ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Scientists film photons with electrons
• DNA sequencing used to attack lung cancer
• Pre-eruption earthquakes offer clues to volcano forecasters
• Lack of diversity in embryonic stem cell lines
• Cell phone records used to predict spread of malaria
• New 'golden ratios' for female facial beauty
• Heart cells on lab chip display 'nanosense' that guides behavior
• Lung cancer and melanoma laid bare
• Complex life of marsh birds: Coots foil nest invaders, reject impostors
• Synthetic platelets halve clotting time
• Climate change does not always lead to conflict
• Education: Learning styles debunked
• Bacteria used to power simple machines: Organisms turn microgears in suspended solution by swimming
• Better education associated with improved asthma
• World's rarest gorilla ready for its close-up
• Aggressive infection control protects cancer patients from acquiring H1N1 influenza
• Irrigation decreases, urbanization increases monsoon rains
• Should flowers be banned in hospitals?
• Earth's polar ice sheets vulnerable to even moderate global warming; New Orleans, much of southern Florida, expected to be permanently submerged
• Leprosy susceptibility genes identified; largest genome-wide association study of an infectious disease
• Trough deposits on Mars point to complex hydrologic past
• Molecular basis of colorectal cancer review points to key advances
• Zoning the ocean may help endangered whales to recover
• More effort needed to crack down on 'secret remedies', expert argues
• Close-up photos of dying star show our sun's fate
• Drug kills cells through novel mechanism
• Brain imaging shows kids' PTSD symptoms linked to poor hippocampus function
• The need for cardio-oncology: Treating cancer and protecting the heart
• Even at sublethal levels, pesticides may slow the recovery of wild salmon populations
• Psychotherapy offers obesity prevention for 'at risk' teenage girls
• Greenland glaciers: Water flowing beneath ice plays more complex role
• Enzyme behind effects of sleep deprivation discovered
• Nearly 100 new species described by California Academy of Sciences in 2009
• Analysis identifies biomarkers for diabetic kidney failure
• Thermochemical nanolithography now allows multiple chemicals on a chip
• How do we understand written language?
• DNA of Jesus-era shrouded man in Jerusalem reveals earliest case of leprosy
• Targeting brain cancer cell metabolism may provide new treatment
• World champion in automatic image and video search
• Toward a vaccine to improve immune system in newborns
• Record-breaking ultrasensitive spectrometer created
• Men think their dance moves improve with age
• Heart drugs show promise for fighting colon cancer
• New technique detects proteins that make us age
• ‘Sat nav’ jamming could help tackle asthma, blindness and clogged arteries
• Scientists' 3-D view of genes-at-work is paradigm shift in genetics
• For older adults, participating in social service activities can improve brain functions

Scientists film photons with electrons Posted: 17 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Newly invented techniques which allow the real-time, real-space visualization of fleeting changes in the structure of nanoscale matter -- have been used to image the evanescent electrical fields produced by the interaction of electrons and photons, and to track changes in atomic-scale structures.

DNA sequencing used to attack lung cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Aided by next-generation DNA sequencing technology, researchers have gained insights into how more than 60 carcinogens associated with cigarette smoke bind to and chemically modify human DNA, ultimately leading to cancer-causing genetic mutations.

Pre-eruption earthquakes offer clues to volcano forecasters Posted: 17 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Like an angry dog, a volcano growls before it bites, shaking the ground and getting "noisy" before erupting. This activity gives scientists an opportunity to study the tumult beneath a volcano and may help them improve the accuracy of eruption forecasts, according to seismologists.

Lack of diversity in embryonic stem cell lines Posted: 17 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST The most widely used human embryonic stem cell lines lack genetic diversity, a finding that raises social justice questions that must be addressed to ensure that all sectors of society benefit from stem cell advances, according to researchers.

Cell phone records used to predict spread of malaria Posted: 17 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Researchers at work on a malaria elimination study in Africa have become the first to predict the spread of the disease using cell phone records.

New 'golden ratios' for female facial beauty Posted: 17 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder but also in the relationship of the eyes and mouth of the beholden. The distance between a woman's eyes and the distance between her eyes and her mouth are key factors in determining how attractive she is to others, according to new psychology research.

Heart cells on lab chip display 'nanosense' that guides behavior Posted: 17 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Biomedical engineers have produced a laboratory chip with nanoscopic grooves and ridges capable of growing cardiac tissue that more closely resembles natural heart muscle.

Lung cancer and melanoma laid bare Posted: 17 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have generated the first comprehensive analysis of a malignant melanoma and a lung cancer genome. The results, which reveal essentially all the mutations in the genomes, will provide powerful insights into the biology of cancer and lay the foundation for understanding causation and improving prevention, detection and treatment. The ultimate aim will be to generate catalogs for thousands of individual cancer genomes, so that treatments can be directed in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

Complex life of marsh birds: Coots foil nest invaders, reject impostors Posted: 17 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST The American coot is a drab, seemingly unremarkable marsh bird common throughout North America. But its reproductive life is full of deception and violence. According to biologists, coots have evolved a remarkable set of cognitive abilities to thwart other coots that lay eggs in their neighbors' nests.

Synthetic platelets halve clotting time Posted: 17 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have developed synthetic platelets from biodegradable polymers. In animal models, the synthetics attach to natural platelets and stem bleeding faster than current treatments.

Climate change does not always lead to conflict Posted: 17 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Bronze age farmers adapted to drought. The climate change that took place in Mesopotamia around 2000 BC did not lead to war, but in fact led to the development of a new shared identity. Although increasing drought often leads to competition and conflict, there seems to be no evidence of this in northern Mesopotamia according to new research.

Education: Learning styles debunked Posted: 17 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Are you a verbal learner or a visual learner? Chances are, you've pegged yourself or your children as either one or the other and rely on study techniques that suit your individual learning needs. However, a new report finds no evidence for the learning styles hypothesis.

Bacteria used to power simple machines: Organisms turn microgears in suspended solution by swimming Posted: 17 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered that common bacteria can turn microgears when suspended in a solution, providing insights for design of bio-inspired dynamically adaptive materials for energy.

Better education associated with improved asthma Posted: 17 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Individuals with more education suffer less from asthma. Researchers have found that having less than 12 years of formal schooling is associated with worse asthma symptoms.

World's rarest gorilla ready for its close-up Posted: 17 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST The world's rarest -- and most camera shy -- great ape has finally been captured on professional video on a forested mountain in Cameroon.

Aggressive infection control protects cancer patients from acquiring H1N1 influenza Posted: 17 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Despite a 100-fold increase in H1N1 influenza cases in the Seattle area during spring 2009, an aggressive infection control program to protect immuno-compromised cancer patients and thorough screening measures resulted in no corresponding increase in H1N1 cases among the total patient population there.

Irrigation decreases, urbanization increases monsoon rains Posted: 17 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have shown man-made changes to the landscape have affected Indian monsoon rains, suggesting that land-use decisions play an important role in climate change.

Should flowers be banned in hospitals? Posted: 17 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Does flower water harbor potentially deadly bacteria? Do bedside blooms compete with patients for oxygen? Do bouquets pose a health and safety risk around medical equipment? These are some of the reasons given by many hospital wards in the UK to ban, or at least discourage, bedside bouquets. But is this anxiety justified, and what do patients feel about flower policies?

Earth's polar ice sheets vulnerable to even moderate global warming; New Orleans, much of southern Florida, expected to be permanently submerged Posted: 17 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST A new analysis of the geological record of the Earth's sea level employs a novel statistical approach that reveals the planet's polar ice sheets are vulnerable to large-scale melting even under moderate global warming scenarios. Such melting would lead to a large and relatively rapid rise in global sea level. According to the analysis, an additional 2 degrees of global warming could commit the planet to 6 to 9 meters (20 to 30 feet) of long-term sea level rise.

Leprosy susceptibility genes identified; largest genome-wide association study of an infectious disease Posted: 17 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST In the first genome-wide association study of leprosy and the largest on an infectious disease, scientists in Singapore and China identified seven genes that increase an individual's susceptibility to leprosy.

Trough deposits on Mars point to complex hydrologic past Posted: 17 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST Variations in composition of light-toned deposits in troughs on Mars suggest a diversity of water-related processes, based on analysis of observations by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Molecular basis of colorectal cancer review points to key advances Posted: 17 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST As researchers and clinicians fervently look for causes and cures for colorectal cancer, a review of the molecular basis of the disease points to key advances.

Zoning the ocean may help endangered whales to recover Posted: 17 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST Marine scientists have proposed a new method to identify priority areas for whale conservation, based on feeding behavior and human activity.

More effort needed to crack down on 'secret remedies', expert argues Posted: 17 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST The medical establishment and politicians must do more to crack down on alternative medicine, argues one leading scientist.

Close-up photos of dying star show our sun's fate Posted: 16 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST About 550 light-years from Earth, a star like our Sun is writhing in its death throes. Chi Cygni has swollen in size to become a red giant star so large that it would swallow every planet out to Mars in our solar system. Moreover, it has begun to pulse dramatically in and out, beating like a giant heart. New close-up photos of the surface of this distant star show its throbbing motions in unprecedented detail.

Drug kills cells through novel mechanism Posted: 16 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered that the drug hydroxyurea kills bacteria by inducing them to produce molecules toxic to themselves -- a conclusion that raises the possibility of finding new antibiotics that use similar mechanisms.

Brain imaging shows kids' PTSD symptoms linked to poor hippocampus function Posted: 16 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Psychological trauma leaves a trail of damage in a child's brain, say scientists. Their new study gives the first direct evidence that children with symptoms of post-traumatic stress suffer poor function of the hippocampus, a brain structure that stores and retrieves memories. The research helps explain why traumatized children behave as they do and could improve treatments for these kids.

The need for cardio-oncology: Treating cancer and protecting the heart Posted: 16 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Cardiologists and oncologists must work together in an attempt to avoid or prevent adverse cardiovascular effects in patients from certain chemotherapies, especially for those who may be at a higher risk for such effects, according to a new review.

Even at sublethal levels, pesticides may slow the recovery of wild salmon populations Posted: 16 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Biologists determined that short-term, seasonal exposure to pesticides in rivers and basins may limit the growth and size of wild salmon populations. In addition to the widespread deterioration of salmon habitats, these findings suggest that exposure to commonly used pesticides may further inhibit the recovery of threatened or endangered populations.

Psychotherapy offers obesity prevention for 'at risk' teenage girls Posted: 16 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Scientists have piloted psychotherapy treatment to prevent excessive weight gain in teenager girls deemed "at risk" of obesity.

Greenland glaciers: Water flowing beneath ice plays more complex role Posted: 16 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists who study the melting of Greenland's glaciers are discovering that water flowing beneath the ice plays a much more complex role than they previously imagined. Researchers previously thought that meltwater simply lubricated ice against the bedrock, speeding the flow of glaciers out to sea.

Enzyme behind effects of sleep deprivation discovered Posted: 16 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered the enzyme behind effects of sleep deprivation. There is hope for those who miss one night too many or whose children keep them up at night. The unwelcome effects of a bad night's sleep - forgetfulness, impaired mental performance - can be dealt with by reducing the concentration of an enzyme in the brain.

Nearly 100 new species described by California Academy of Sciences in 2009 Posted: 16 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST In 2009, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences added 94 new relatives to our family tree. The new species include 65 arthropods, 14 plants, eight fishes, five sea slugs, one coral and one fossil mammal.

Analysis identifies biomarkers for diabetic kidney failure Posted: 16 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST Researchers using a DNA analysis tool have identified genetic markers that could help treat chronic kidney disease among diabetics.

Thermochemical nanolithography now allows multiple chemicals on a chip Posted: 16 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists have developed a nanolithographic technique that can produce high-resolution patterns of at least three different chemicals on a single chip at writing speeds of up to one millimeter per second. The nanopatterns can be designed with any shape and are stable enough to be stored for weeks and used elsewhere.

How do we understand written language? Posted: 16 Dec 2009 08:00 PM PST How do we know that certain combinations of letters have certain meanings? Reading and spelling are complex processes, involving several different areas of the brain, but researchers have now identified a specific part of the brain -- named the left fusiform gyrus -- which is necessary for normal, rapid understanding of the meaning of written text as well as correct word spelling.

DNA of Jesus-era shrouded man in Jerusalem reveals earliest case of leprosy Posted: 16 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST The DNA of a first-century shrouded man found in a tomb on the edge of the Old City of Jerusalem has revealed the earliest proven case of leprosy.

Targeting brain cancer cell metabolism may provide new treatment Posted: 16 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST Inhibiting fatty acid synthesis in brain cancer cells may offer a new option to treat about 50 percent of deadly glioblastomas that are driven by amplified signaling of the epidermal growth factor receptor, according to a first-of-its-kind study.

World champion in automatic image and video search Posted: 16 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST How do you find an image or video on the Internet or YouTube without a text description? Researchers have developed software that can find objects and concepts automatically in images and video clips.

Toward a vaccine to improve immune system in newborns Posted: 16 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST As soon as babies are born, they are susceptible to diseases and infections, such as jaundice and e-coli. For up to a month, their immune systems aren't adequately developed to fight diseases. Although these infections are often minor, they can lead to serious problems if left untreated. To help strengthen newborns' immune systems, researchers have pinpointed a group of depleted white blood cells, which might lead to an immune-strengthening vaccine.

Record-breaking ultrasensitive spectrometer created Posted: 16 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST A spectroscope with unrivaled performance, able to identify tiny amounts of trace gases in real time, has now been developed. Scientists designed an instrument based on two femtosecond laser frequency combs. This is a major step forward both for fundamental research and for many applied fields.

Men think their dance moves improve with age Posted: 16 Dec 2009 05:00 PM PST Men may shuffle on to the dance floor this Christmas, but once there, they will be impressed by their moves, according to new research.

Heart drugs show promise for fighting colon cancer Posted: 16 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Scientists in Sweden are reporting for the first time that a group of drugs used to treat heart failure shows promise for fighting colon cancer. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, with more than 150,000 cases diagnosed in the US each year.

New technique detects proteins that make us age Posted: 16 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Chemists and biologists have developed a new technique that could be used to diagnose and develop treatments for age-related conditions like Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and cancer.

‘Sat nav’ jamming could help tackle asthma, blindness and clogged arteries Posted: 16 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Researchers are aiming to tackle diseases that affect millions -- such as asthma, blindness and clogged arteries -- by jamming 'sat nav'-like signals that drive the body to damage itself.

Scientists' 3-D view of genes-at-work is paradigm shift in genetics Posted: 16 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST New research has revealed for the first time that genes work together by huddling in clusters inside the nucleus -- the information center of a cell. These findings represent a paradigm shift in our understanding of how the genome is spatially organized in relation to gene expression. It marks the first step towards a 'virtual nucleus', a dynamic tool simulating interactions in the nucleus, which could revolutionize computer-based drug design.

For older adults, participating in social service activities can improve brain functions Posted: 16 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Volunteer service, such as tutoring children, can help older adults delay or reverse declining brain function, according to a new study. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the researchers found that seniors participating in a youth mentoring program made gains in key brain regions that support cognitive abilities important to planning and organizing one's daily life.

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