ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• 'Zen' bats hit their target by not aiming at it
• Prion leaves lasting mark on memory
• Commercial fishing endangers dolphin populations, new study finds
• Scientists map out regulatory regions of genome, hot spots for diabetes genes
• New system provides hybrid electric autos with power to spare
• Couples who say 'we' do better at resolving conflicts
• 'Artificial pancreas' a step nearer for children with type 1 diabetes
• How sperm get a move on; discovery suggests new target for male contraception
• Madly mapping the universe
• Melatonin precursor stimulates growth factor circuits in brain
• Engineers aim to make air travel greener
• Haiti: International relief efforts remain fragmented, warn doctors
• Computers that use light instead of electricity? First germanium laser created
• Bacteria toxic to wound-treating maggots
• Study maps effects of acupuncture on the brain
• Growth factor gene shown to be key to cleft palate
• New material absorbs, conserves oil
• Novelty lures rats from cocaine-paired settings, hinting at new treatments for recovering addicts
• Dinosaur had vibrant colors, microscopic fossil clues reveal
• Vaccine to protect pregnant women from contracting malaria?
• It looks, feels and tastes like chicken, but it's made of soy
• Molecular 'firing squad' in mice triggered by overeating destroys metabolism
• Oceans reveal further impacts of climate change
• More smokers kick the habit with extended nicotine patch therapy
• Physicists kill cancer with 'nanobubbles'
• Molecular regulator that controls ability of sperm to reach and fertilize the egg identified
• Video of virus in action shows viruses can spread faster than thought possible
• Simple test can help predict and diagnose preeclampsia
• Nano imagining takes turn for the better: Photothermal technique provides new way to track nanoparticles
• Cocaine or ecstasy consumption during adolescence increases risk of addiction
• New Hubble maps of Pluto show surface changes
• Possible source of beta cell destruction that leads to Type 1 diabetes
• Seabed biodiversity of the Straits of Magellan and Drake Passage
• Novel surgery may help young trauma patients avoid total hip replacements
• Europe seeks alternatives to natural latex from Asia
• New method improves eating skills of dementia patients
• Ancient human teeth show that stress early in development can shorten life span
• Scientists ID a protein that splices and dices genes
• Fewer honey bee colonies and beekeepers throughout Europe
• Cell mechanism leading to diabetic blindness identified
• New simulation tool could shorten manufacturing design process
• Mandatory policy boosts influenza vaccination rate among health care workers
• Potential evolutionary role for same-sex attraction
• Genes of pregnant women and their fetuses can increase risk of preterm labor
• Enlisting a drug discovery technique in the battle against global warming
• Prolactin blocks oncogene associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer
• New computational tool for cancer treatment
• From music to sports: Autonomy fosters passion among kids

'Zen' bats hit their target by not aiming at it Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST New research shows Egyptian fruit bats find a target by NOT aiming their guiding sonar directly at it. Instead, they alternately point the sound beam to either side of the target. The new findings suggest that this strategy optimizes the bats' ability to pinpoint the location of a target, but also makes it harder for them to detect a target in the first place.

Prion leaves lasting mark on memory Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST Prions are a special class of proteins best known as the source for mad cow and other neurodegenerative diseases. Despite this negative reputation, a prion may also have important and very positive roles in brain function. The researchers suggest that a prion-like protein may participate in memory in higher eukaryotes, from sea slugs on up.

Commercial fishing endangers dolphin populations, new study finds Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST Extensive commercial fishing endangers dolphin populations in the Mediterranean, according to a new study by researchers in Israel.

Scientists map out regulatory regions of genome, hot spots for diabetes genes Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST Researchers have generated a complete map of the areas of the genome that control which genes are "turned on" or "off." The discovery, made in pancreatic islet cells, opens new avenues for understanding the genetic basis of type 2 diabetes and other common illnesses.

New system provides hybrid electric autos with power to spare Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST An advancement in hybrid electric vehicle technology is providing powerful benefits beyond transportation.

Couples who say 'we' do better at resolving conflicts Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 PM PST People often complain about those seemingly smug married couples who constantly refer to themselves as "we." But a new study suggests that spouses who use "we-ness" language are better able to resolve conflicts than those who don't.

'Artificial pancreas' a step nearer for children with type 1 diabetes Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Scientists have made a significant step towards developing a so-called "artificial pancreas" system for managing type 1 diabetes in children. The team has developed and successfully tested a new algorithm, providing a stepping stone to home testing for the artificial pancreas.

How sperm get a move on; discovery suggests new target for male contraception Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Most of us probably think of sperm as rather active little cells, swimming with quick movements of their "tail" or flagella. But actually sperm's motility is in fact short lived. When in the male reproductive tract they have to rest easy, lest they wear themselves out prematurely and give up any chance of ever finding an egg.

Madly mapping the universe Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST It takes special software to map the universe from noisy data. Scientists have developed a code called MADmap to do just that for the cosmic microwave background, then posted it on the web for other interested sky mappers. Scientists probing the sky with the PACS instrument aboard the Herschel satellite have adapted MADmap to make spectacular images of the infrared universe.

Melatonin precursor stimulates growth factor circuits in brain Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST N-acetylserotonin, the immediate precursor to melatonin, activates the same growth circuits in the brain as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). The results have implications for how some antidepressants function and suggest that the molecules and pathways involved in mood regulation and circadian rhythms are intertwined.

Engineers aim to make air travel greener Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Carbon emissions from air travel could be reduced, thanks to a new collaboration between engineers in the UK and the aerospace industry. The million project will investigate new ways of using composite materials for wing panels in aircraft. The research will be using carbon fibres that are curved within flat plates to produce damage-tolerant, buckle-free structures.

Haiti: International relief efforts remain fragmented, warn doctors Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 PM PST Despite the frightening regularity of humanitarian disasters like the earthquake in Haiti, international responses remain fragmented and must be improved, argue a group of trauma surgeons.

Computers that use light instead of electricity? First germanium laser created Posted: 05 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated the first laser built from germanium that can emit wavelengths of light useful for optical communications. It's also the first germanium laser to operate at room temperature. Unlike the materials typically used in lasers, germanium is easy to incorporate into existing processes for manufacturing silicon chips. So the result could prove an important step toward computers that move data -- and maybe even perform calculations -- using light instead of electricity.

Bacteria toxic to wound-treating maggots Posted: 05 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST Bacteria that infect chronic wounds can be deadly to maggot "bio-surgeons" used to treat the lesions, show researchers. The findings could lead to more effective treatment of wounds and the development of novel antibiotics.

Study maps effects of acupuncture on the brain Posted: 05 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST New research about the effects of acupuncture on the brain may provide an understanding of the complex mechanisms of acupuncture and could lead to a wider acceptability of the treatment.

Growth factor gene shown to be key to cleft palate Posted: 05 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST Cleft palate has been linked to dozens of genes. During their investigation of one of these genes, researchers were surprised to find that cleft palate occurs both when the gene is more active and when it is less active than normal.

New material absorbs, conserves oil Posted: 05 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST Researchers make new material to clean up oil spills in factories or on the ocean, and conserve the oil.

Novelty lures rats from cocaine-paired settings, hinting at new treatments for recovering addicts Posted: 05 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST The brain's innate interest in the new and different may help trump the power of addictive drugs, according to new research. In controlled experiments, novelty drew cocaine-treated rats away from the place they got cocaine.

Dinosaur had vibrant colors, microscopic fossil clues reveal Posted: 05 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Deciphering microscopic clues hidden within fossils, scientists have uncovered the vibrant colors that adorned a feathered dinosaur extinct for 150 million years.

Vaccine to protect pregnant women from contracting malaria? Posted: 05 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Researchers have synthesized the entire protein that is responsible for life-threatening malaria in pregnant women and their unborn children. The protein known as VAR2CSA enables malaria parasites to accumulate in the placenta and can therefore potentially be used as the main component in a vaccine to trigger antibodies that protect pregnant women against malaria. The research team is now planning to test the efficacy of the protein-based vaccine on humans.

It looks, feels and tastes like chicken, but it's made of soy Posted: 05 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Sure, some delicacies might taste just like chicken, but they usually feel and look much different. Soy meat alternatives, such as the soy burger, have become more popular recently, with increased sales of eight percent from 2007 to 2008. Now, scientists have created a soy substitute for chicken that is much like the real thing. The new soy chicken also has health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and maintaining healthy bones.

Molecular 'firing squad' in mice triggered by overeating destroys metabolism Posted: 05 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST Overeating in mice triggers a molecule once considered to be only involved in detecting and fighting viruses to also destroy normal metabolism, leading to insulin resistance and setting the stage for diabetes.

Oceans reveal further impacts of climate change Posted: 05 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST The increasing acidity of the world's oceans -- and that acidity's growing threat to marine species -- are definitive proof that the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is causing climate change is also negatively affecting the marine environment.

More smokers kick the habit with extended nicotine patch therapy Posted: 05 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST New research may help more smokers keep their New Year's resolution by helping them quit smoking. Extended use of a nicotine patch -- 24 weeks versus the standard eight weeks recommended by manufacturers -- boosts the number of smokers who maintain their cigarette abstinence and helps more of those who backslide into the habit while wearing the patch, according to a new study.

Physicists kill cancer with 'nanobubbles' Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered a way to use lasers and nanoparticles to identify and treat individual diseased cells with tiny vapor "nanobubbles." In a new study, the scientists described how to use the method to explode nanobubbles and kill cancer cells. In laboratory tests, they showed they could tune these nanobubbles for "theranostics," a combined approach that melds diagnosis and treatment into a single procedure.

Molecular regulator that controls ability of sperm to reach and fertilize the egg identified Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Researchers have identified an elusive molecular regulator that controls the ability of human sperm to reach and fertilize the egg, a finding that has implications on both treating male infertility and preventing pregnancy.

Video of virus in action shows viruses can spread faster than thought possible Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST New video footage of a virus infecting cells is challenging what researchers have long believed about how viruses spread, suggesting that scientists may be able to create new drugs to tackle some viruses.

Simple test can help predict and diagnose preeclampsia Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a simple urine test to rapidly predict and diagnose preeclampsia, a common, but serious hypertensive complication of pregnancy.

Nano imagining takes turn for the better: Photothermal technique provides new way to track nanoparticles Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Scientists researching how nanomaterials align have found a way to use gold nanorods as orientation sensors by combining their plasmonic properties with polarization imaging techniques.

Cocaine or ecstasy consumption during adolescence increases risk of addiction Posted: 05 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST Exposure to ecstasy or cocaine during adolescence increases the "reinforcing effects" that make people vulnerable to developing an addiction. This is the main conclusion of a research team that has shown for the first time how these changes persist into adulthood.

New Hubble maps of Pluto show surface changes Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST NASA has released the most detailed set of images ever taken of the distant dwarf planet Pluto. The images taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope show an icy and dark molasses-colored, mottled world that is undergoing seasonal changes in its surface color and brightness.

Possible source of beta cell destruction that leads to Type 1 diabetes Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Doctors have been studying the role of the enzyme 12-Lipoxygenase (12-LO) in the development of Type 1 diabetes. They hope that targeting this enzyme will hold the key to reversing the disease.

Seabed biodiversity of the Straits of Magellan and Drake Passage Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST A study of animals visible to the naked eye and living in and on the seabed -- the "macrobenthos" -- of the Straits of Magellan and Drake Passage will help scientists understand the biodiversity, biogeography and ecology of the Magellanic region.

Novel surgery may help young trauma patients avoid total hip replacements Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST A novel surgery using transplanted bone and cartilage may help young patients avoid a hip replacement after a specific traumatic injury to the hip joint, according to a new study.

Europe seeks alternatives to natural latex from Asia Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST Some natural latexes are the main ingredient in the extraction of natural rubber, an indispensable raw material for all kinds of industries and essential for the manufacture of surgical gloves, condoms or tyres. All the latex used in Europe is imported, extracted fundamentally from the the Hevea brasiliensis tree. The largest producers in the world are Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, three Asian countries that have practically the worldwide monopoly of this resource. In order to find alternatives to this commercial dependence and promote the cultivation of latex-producing plant species in the European Union, a research project is being undertaken in which 12 technological centres, universities and companies related to this matter are taking part.

New method improves eating skills of dementia patients Posted: 05 Feb 2010 02:00 AM PST New research has shown for the first time that it is possible to improve the eating skills and nutritional status of older people with dementia.

Ancient human teeth show that stress early in development can shorten life span Posted: 04 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Ancient human teeth are telling secrets that may relate to modern-day health: Some stressful events that occurred early in development are linked to shorter lifespans. "Prehistoric remains are providing strong, physical evidence that people who acquired tooth enamel defects while in the womb or early childhood tended to die earlier, even if they survived to adulthood," says anthropologist George Armelagos, who recently published the first summary of prehistoric evidence for the Barker hypothesis.

Scientists ID a protein that splices and dices genes Posted: 04 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered that the protein MRG15, which previously had been known to affect cell growth and aging, also directs the gene-splicing machinery. As people or animals age, this machinery can go awry, producing nonsense proteins. The finding thus has potential implications for therapies to treat both cancer and aging.

Fewer honey bee colonies and beekeepers throughout Europe Posted: 04 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST The number of bee colonies in Central Europe has decreased over recent decades. In fact, the number of beekeepers has been declining in the whole of Europe since 1985.

Cell mechanism leading to diabetic blindness identified Posted: 04 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Scientists have long known that high blood sugar levels from diabetes damage blood vessels in the eye, but they didn't know why or how. Now a Michigan State University scientist has discovered the process that causes retinal cells to die, which could lead to new treatments that halt the damage.

New simulation tool could shorten manufacturing design process Posted: 04 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST Researchers have demonstrated they were able to speed up SystemC based simulation by factors of 30 to 100 times that of previous performances. SystemC is often used to shorten manufacturing design cycles to improve the time it takes to bring a product to the marketplace.

Mandatory policy boosts influenza vaccination rate among health care workers Posted: 04 Feb 2010 11:00 PM PST A mandatory influenza vaccination policy improves immunization rates among health care workers, according to a recent study of a large health care organization.

Potential evolutionary role for same-sex attraction Posted: 04 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Male homosexuality doesn't make complete sense from an evolutionary point of view. One possible explanation is what evolutionary psychologists call the "kin selection hypothesis." What that means is that homosexuality may convey an indirect benefit by enhancing the survival prospects of close relatives.

Genes of pregnant women and their fetuses can increase risk of preterm labor Posted: 04 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST New evidence that genetics play a significant role in some premature births may help explain why a woman can do everything right and still give birth too soon. Researchers have identified DNA variants in mothers and fetuses that appear to increase the risk for preterm labor and delivery.

Enlisting a drug discovery technique in the battle against global warming Posted: 04 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Scientists in Texas are reporting that a technique used in the search for new drugs could also be used in the quest to discover new, environmentally friendly materials for fighting global warming. Such materials could be used to capture the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from industrial smokestacks and other fixed sources before it enters the biosphere.

Prolactin blocks oncogene associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer Posted: 04 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Researchers have found a mechanism by which a hormone responsible for milk production blocks an oncogene that makes breast cancer more aggressive.

New computational tool for cancer treatment Posted: 04 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Researchers have developed an approach for creating new IDO inhibitors by computer-assisted structure-based drug design.

From music to sports: Autonomy fosters passion among kids Posted: 04 Feb 2010 08:00 PM PST Parents take heed: children and young adults are more likely to pursue sports, music or other pastimes when given an opportunity to nurture their own passion. According to a new study, parental control can predict whether a child develops a harmonious or obsessive passion for a hobby.

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