ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Evolutionary surprise: Eight percent of human genetic material comes from a virus
• Old antidepressant offers promise in treating heart failure
• H1N1 virus spreads easily by plane
• 'Lorenzo's Oil' breakthrough: Newfound mechanism could prevent or treat deadly peroxisome diseases
• Airport full-body scanners expose passengers to less harmful radiation than most flights, experts say
• Mozart therapy: A sonata a day keeps the doctor away
• Fossil footprints give land vertebrates a much longer history
• Discovery opens door to new treatments for prostate, brain and skin cancers
• Biologists develop efficient genetic modification of human embryonic stem cells
• Research on rarely studied cell-receptor regions opens door to eliminating drugs' side effects
• Urologists use robot to shave time off vasectomy reversal, raise sperm counts
• Before or after birth, gene linked to mental health has different effects
• How Earth survived its birth: New simulation reveals planet migration prevents plunge into Sun
• Observation about how nervous system learns and encodes motion could improve stroke recovery
• Nitric oxide-releasing wrap for donor organs and cloth for therapeutic socks
• Childhood vaccine schedule updated
• Zircons and their message from the Earth’s mantle
• Scientists call for moratorium on issuance of mountaintop mining permits
• Warmer climate could stifle carbon uptake by trees, study finds
• Researcher links diabetic complication to nerve damage in bone marrow
• Eclipses yield first images of elusive iron line in the solar corona
• Increased presence, severity of coronary artery plaques in HIV-infected men
• Protein dynamics: Hidden, transient life of a protein between active states illuminated
• Liver donations from living donors increase 42 percent after educational intervention
• Quantum simulation of a relativistic particle
• Each pound at birth lowers risk of developing tuberculosis, study finds
• Unraveling kidney cancer: Mutations in the genome regulation machinery identified in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
• Sickle Cell Study Boosts Call For Improved Childhood Immunization Programs In Africa
• Interactive animations give science students a boost
• Race-based misdiagnosis still remains a health care problem
• Golden ratio discovered in quantum world: Hidden symmetry observed for the first time in solid state matter
• Genetic differences between lethal and treatable forms of leukemia discovered
• Iron Controls Patterns Of Nitrogen Fixation In The Atlantic
• Efficacy of flu vaccine drastically reduced for RA patients treated with rituximab
• Environmentalists and fishing community can both win, say experts
• No evidence to support psychological debriefing in schools, experts argue
• Polar bears changing habitat in response to sea ice conditions
• New mechanism underlying cocaine addiction discovered
• WISE Eye Spies First Glimpse of the Starry Sky
• Epigenetics: Protein linked to leukemia 'bookmarks' highly active genes during cell division
• Scientists' breakthrough in production of biofuels
• Setting the record straight on weight loss

Evolutionary surprise: Eight percent of human genetic material comes from a virus Posted: 08 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST About eight percent of human genetic material comes from a virus and not from our ancestors, according to a new study. The research shows that the genomes of humans and other mammals contain DNA derived from the insertion of bornaviruses, RNA viruses whose replication and transcription takes place in the nucleus.

Old antidepressant offers promise in treating heart failure Posted: 08 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Researchers have found in animal experiments that an antidepressant developed over 40 years ago can blunt and even reverse the muscle enlargement and weakened pumping function associated with heart failure.

H1N1 virus spreads easily by plane Posted: 08 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a novel mathematical model that predicts the spread of the H1N1 virus on long airplane flights could be significant, particularly if the infected individual travels in economy class.

'Lorenzo's Oil' breakthrough: Newfound mechanism could prevent or treat deadly peroxisome diseases Posted: 08 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Medical researchers have made a major breakthrough in understanding a group of deadly disorders that includes the disease made famous in the movie "Lorenzo's Oil."

Airport full-body scanners expose passengers to less harmful radiation than most flights, experts say Posted: 08 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Amid concerns regarding terrorists targeting airliners using weapons less detectable by traditional means, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is ramping up deployment of whole body scanners at security checkpoints in US airports. These systems produce anatomically accurate images of the body and can detect objects and substances concealed by clothing.

Mozart therapy: A sonata a day keeps the doctor away Posted: 08 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Researchers have found that pre-term infants exposed to thirty minutes of Mozart's music in one session, once per day expend less energy -- and therefore need fewer calories to grow rapidly -- than when they are not "listening" to the music.

Fossil footprints give land vertebrates a much longer history Posted: 08 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST The discovery of fossil footprints from early backboned land animals in Poland leads to the sensational conclusion that our ancestors left the water at least 18 million years earlier than previously thought.

Discovery opens door to new treatments for prostate, brain and skin cancers Posted: 08 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered a previously unsuspected link between two different genetic pathways which suppress the growth of cancer tumors. This breakthrough, they say, could lead to new treatments for some of the deadliest and most intractable forms of cancer; including prostate cancer, brain cancer and melanoma.

Biologists develop efficient genetic modification of human embryonic stem cells Posted: 08 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Biologists have developed an efficient way to genetically modify human embryonic stem cells. Their approach, which uses bacterial artificial chromosomes to swap in defective copies of genes, will make possible the rapid development of stem cell lines that can both serve as models for human genetic diseases and as testbeds on which to screen potential treatments, they say.

Research on rarely studied cell-receptor regions opens door to eliminating drugs' side effects Posted: 08 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Researchers have taken an early step toward identifying a new approach to drug discovery that may eventually yield drugs with fewer side effects.

Urologists use robot to shave time off vasectomy reversal, raise sperm counts Posted: 08 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST In a comparison of robot-assisted vasectomy reversal and the microscope procedure that is widely used, scientists found robot-assisted surgery could reduce average surgery time by about 20 minutes. Despite the study's small sample size -- 27 patients -- physicians say it is promising, and requires more evaluation and longer follow-up of patients to yield more widely applicable results.

Before or after birth, gene linked to mental health has different effects Posted: 08 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Scientists have long eyed mutations in a gene known as DISC1 as a possible contributor to schizophrenia and mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder. Now, new research suggests that perturbing this gene during prenatal periods, postnatal periods or both may have different effects in mice, leading to separate types of brain alterations and behaviors with resemblance to schizophrenia or mood disorders.

How Earth survived its birth: New simulation reveals planet migration prevents plunge into Sun Posted: 08 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST New simulations show how planets form and maintain an orbit around a developing solar system. Until now, models plunged Earth-like objects into the stars they orbit.

Observation about how nervous system learns and encodes motion could improve stroke recovery Posted: 08 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Bioengineers have taken a small step toward improving physical recovery in stroke patients by showing that a key feature of how limb motion is encoded in the nervous system plays a crucial role in how new motor skills are learned. The study about the neural learning elements responsible for motor learning may help scientists design rehabilitation protocols in which motor adaptation occurs more readily, potentially allowing for a more rapid recovery.

Nitric oxide-releasing wrap for donor organs and cloth for therapeutic socks Posted: 08 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Scientists are reporting development of a first-of-its-kind cloth that releases nitric oxide gas -- an advance toward making therapeutic socks for people with diabetes and a wrap to help preserve organs harvested for transplantation.

Childhood vaccine schedule updated Posted: 08 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Updated guidelines for childhood and teen immunizations to include formal recommendations that children older than 6 months get the H1N1 influenza vaccine to guard against swine flu, and that combination vaccines are generally preferred over separate injections, says an pediatric infectious disease expert serving on the panel which drafted the updated schedule.

Zircons and their message from the Earth’s mantle Posted: 08 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Zircon is a mineral that exists in nature from colorless to reddish-brown, yellow, green or blue. Zircon may also be transparent making its visual appearance similar to a diamond. Zircon is a common accessory mineral in many rocks of the continental crust. Their chemical and physical durability allow this mineral to survive even under the pressure and temperature conditions of the Earth's upper mantle. These characteristics challenged a group of scientists to take a closer look on zircons from basaltic fields in north-eastern Bavaria. Their results show that these zircons were formed in the Earth mantle and were stored in this environment many million of years before they were delivered to the surface by basalt lava flows with which they are associated.

Scientists call for moratorium on issuance of mountaintop mining permits Posted: 08 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Based on a comprehensive analysis of the latest scientific findings, a group of the nation's leading environmental scientists are calling on the US EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers to stay all new mountaintop mining permits. They argue that peer-reviewed research unequivocally documents irreversible environmental impacts from this form of mining which also exposes local residents to a higher risk of serious health problems.

Warmer climate could stifle carbon uptake by trees, study finds Posted: 08 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Contrary to conventional belief, as the climate warms and growing seasons lengthen subalpine forests are likely to soak up less carbon dioxide, according to a new study.

Researcher links diabetic complication to nerve damage in bone marrow Posted: 08 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered a link between diabetes and bone marrow nerve damage that may help treat one of the disease's most common and potentially blindness-causing complications.

Eclipses yield first images of elusive iron line in the solar corona Posted: 08 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Solar physicists attempting to unlock the mysteries of the solar corona have found another piece of the puzzle by observing the sun's outer atmosphere during eclipses.

Increased presence, severity of coronary artery plaques in HIV-infected men Posted: 08 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST A new study has found that relatively young men with longstanding HIV infection and minimal cardiac risk factors had significantly more coronary atherosclerotic plaques -- some involving serious arterial blockage -- than did uninfected men with similar cardiovascular risk.

Protein dynamics: Hidden, transient life of a protein between active states illuminated Posted: 08 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Understanding the incredibly speedy atomic mechanisms at work when a protein transitions from one shape to another has been an elusive scientific goal for years, but an essential one for elucidating the full panoply of protein function. How do proteins transition, or interconvert, between distinct shapes without unfolding in the process? Until now, this question has been a hypothetical one, approached by computation only rather than experimentation.

Liver donations from living donors increase 42 percent after educational intervention Posted: 08 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST A recent study found that living donation increased 42 percent and the number of individuals who presented for donation evaluation increased 74 percent at centers in New York. The surge in live donation and donor evaluation occurred after additional education was provided to liver transplant candidates.

Quantum simulation of a relativistic particle Posted: 07 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Researchers have used a calcium ion to simulate a relativistic quantum particle, demonstrating a phenomenon that has not been directly observable so far: the Zitterbewegung.

Each pound at birth lowers risk of developing tuberculosis, study finds Posted: 07 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Just one more pound may help a newborn avoid tuberculosis later in life. Researchers looked at how much protection additional birth weight added against developing the disease years later. They found that every 1.1 pounds of birth weight decreases the risk of developing tuberculosis later by 46 percent among identical twins.

Unraveling kidney cancer: Mutations in the genome regulation machinery identified in clear cell renal cell carcinoma Posted: 07 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Scientists have searched for mutations in more than 100 kidney cancer samples, the largest number of samples from a single tumor type to be sequenced to date. They looked for mutations in 3,544 genes to investigate the complexity within this cancer type, which is typically associated with mutations in a gene called VHL. Despite this prevalent genetic signature, the team revealed substantial genetic heterogeneity, suggesting that a complex machinery contributes to the development of cancer.

Sickle Cell Study Boosts Call For Improved Childhood Immunization Programs In Africa Posted: 07 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Children in Africa with sickle cell anemia are dying unnecessarily from bacterial infections, suggests the largest study of its kind. The study has prompted calls for all children in Africa to receive vaccinations against the most common bacterial infections.

Interactive animations give science students a boost Posted: 07 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST For a generation of students raised and nurtured at the computer keyboard, it seems like a no-brainer that computer-assisted learning would have a prominent role in the college science classroom. But many difficult scientific concepts are still conveyed through dry lectures or ponderous texts. But that could change if science professors take a cue from a new study on the use of interactive animations in the college science classroom.

Race-based misdiagnosis still remains a health care problem Posted: 07 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Black men are over-diagnosed with schizophrenia at least five times higher than any other group -- a trend that dates back to the 1960s, according to new research.

Golden ratio discovered in quantum world: Hidden symmetry observed for the first time in solid state matter Posted: 07 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST Researchers have for the first time observed a nanoscale symmetry hidden in solid state matter. They have measured the signatures of a symmetry showing the same attributes as the golden ratio famous from art and architecture.

Genetic differences between lethal and treatable forms of leukemia discovered Posted: 07 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST A tumor's genetic profile is often useful when diagnosing and deciding on treatment for certain cancers, but inexplicably, genetically similar leukemias in different patients do not always respond well to the same therapy. Researchers believe they may have discovered what distinguishes these patients by evaluating the "epigenetic" differences between patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Iron Controls Patterns Of Nitrogen Fixation In The Atlantic Posted: 07 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST Scientists have discovered that interactions between iron supply, transported through the atmosphere from deserts, and large-scale oceanic circulation control the availability of a crucial nutrient, nitrogen, in the Atlantic. Their findings have potentially important implications for understanding global climate, both past and future.

Efficacy of flu vaccine drastically reduced for RA patients treated with rituximab Posted: 07 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are partially protected by the influenza vaccine 6-10 months after treatment with rituximab. Researchers determined that while the flu vaccine is safe, it is ineffective for RA patients in the first six months following rituximab treatment.

Environmentalists and fishing community can both win, say experts Posted: 07 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST You can conserve fish and eat them too, according to a fisheries economist.

No evidence to support psychological debriefing in schools, experts argue Posted: 07 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST There is no evidence to support psychological debriefing in schools after traumatic events such as violence, suicides and accidental death, which runs counter to current practice in some Canadian school jurisdictions, according to a group of experts.

Polar bears changing habitat in response to sea ice conditions Posted: 07 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST An analysis of 27 years of data shows that polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea region are occurring more frequently on land and in open water than on ice during the fall.

New mechanism underlying cocaine addiction discovered Posted: 07 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST Researchers have identified a key epigenetic mechanism in the brain that helps explain cocaine's addictiveness.

WISE Eye Spies First Glimpse of the Starry Sky Posted: 07 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has captured its first look at the starry sky that it will soon begin surveying in infrared light.

Epigenetics: Protein linked to leukemia 'bookmarks' highly active genes during cell division Posted: 07 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST Scientists have discovered how some epigenetic instructions get stably transferred from one generation of cells to the next. They report that newly formed cells learn which genes need to become highly active right away thanks to a helpful protein that "bookmarks" these genes during the division of their parent cell.

Scientists' breakthrough in production of biofuels Posted: 07 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST Scientists have developed an innovative device which will make the production of alternative biofuels more energy efficient.

Setting the record straight on weight loss Posted: 07 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST It's time to set the record straight. The only reliable way to lose weight is to eat less or exercise more. Preferably both. So why bother to state the obvious? Because a body of scientific literature has arisen over recent years, suggesting that fat oxidation -- burning the fats we eat as opposed to the carbohydrates -- is enough to promote fat loss. It isn't, according to new research.

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