ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Electronic 'nose' can predict pleasantness of novel odors
• Scientists isolate portion of virus that causes pink eye
• Classic Maya history is embedded in commoners' homes
• Potential target for treatment of obesity-related diseases identified
• Breakthrough for babies born with severe cleft palates after experiments at ISIS
• Materialistic people liked less by peers than 'experiential' people
• Source of zodiac glow identified
• Drug shared by addicts seems to protect against HIV brain dementia
• Sequence is scaffold to study sleeping sickness
• Personalized medicine for cancer patients in a new technology era
• New teaching tools aid visually impaired students in learning math
• Slumber aids could improve intensive care outcomes
• 'Black Box' plankton found to have huge role in ocean carbon fixation
• Molecular discovery points to new therapies for brain tumors
• Solar power in Ontario could produce almost as much power as all U.S. nuclear reactors, studies find
• New procedure aims to save vision of children with eye cancer
• Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog's site fidelity may lead to further decline
• Banning trans fats would save lives, say doctors
• Rock of ages: Clues about Mars evolution revealed
• Many patients don't know they had minor stroke, need emergency care
• Plant pathogen genetically tailors attacks to each part of host
• New studies reveal that age-related nerve decline is associated with inflammation, differs by gender
• Pinning down a proton
• Driving ban for epileptics? Assessing patients' abilities
• 'Missing' heat may affect future climate change
• Cataloguing cancer codes: International Cancer Genome Consortium plans to sequence 25,000 cancer genomes
• Mitochondria: New functions of mitochondrial fusion uncovered
• Growth curve analyses of Finnish population shed light on the genetic regulation of growth in height
• Grid technology comes to the iPhone and Sony PlayStation 3
• Childhood obesity interventions must begin early, experts say
• Stalagmite reveals carbon footprint of early Native Americans
• Decoding tumor genomes reveals clues to spread of deadly breast cancer
• Saturn's moon Enceladus leaves plasma bubbles in its wake
• Oral bacteria linked to intrauterine infections and pre-term birth
• Energy conservation in south could save billions, create jobs, study finds
• Quantity may determine quality when choosing romantic partners
• Calorie restriction leads scientists to molecular pathways that slow aging, improve health
• New gene associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease
• Treat acne with coconut oil and nano-bombs
• Aerosols: New tool against tuberculosis?
• Recent earthquake activity is not unusual, scientists say
• Geography of human disease: Environment has much to do with surrounding pathogens
• Iceland eruption: New satellite image of volcanic ash cloud
• Gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy can be repaired, research shows
• Slobbery kisses from 'man's best friend' aid cancer research
• Primary cilia formation provides insight into genetic diseases
• Bio-inspired computer networks self-organise and learn
• Playing a video game before bedtime has only a mild effect on adolescent sleep

Electronic 'nose' can predict pleasantness of novel odors Posted: 16 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have 'trained' an electronic system to be able to predict the pleasantness of novel odors, just like a human would perceive them. The researchers argue that the perception of an odor's pleasantness is innately hard-wired to its molecular structure, and it is only within specific contexts that personal or cultural differences are made apparent.

Scientists isolate portion of virus that causes pink eye Posted: 16 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Viral keratoconjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a common, uncomfortable and highly contagious condition. But now, relief may be in sight with a new understanding of how the eye reacts to this virus. Researchers used a novel model to determine what part of the virus is responsible for inflammation in pink eye.

Classic Maya history is embedded in commoners' homes Posted: 16 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT They were illiterate farmers, builders and servants, but Maya commoners found a way to record their own history -- by burying it within their homes. A new study of the objects embedded in the floors of homes occupied more than 1,000 years ago in central Belize begins to decode their story.

Potential target for treatment of obesity-related diseases identified Posted: 16 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have identified a specific gene as potential new target for treating obesity-related diseases. Two recent research studies examined the role of a gene called STAT4 in the development of type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related cardiovascular diseases.

Breakthrough for babies born with severe cleft palates after experiments at ISIS Posted: 16 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists working on a treatment for babies born with cleft palates have made a promising breakthrough and the first clinical trials are planned for early next year. Clefts are the most common birth defect in Britain, with one in every 700 babies affected; currently in severe cases radical surgery is required to correct the problem, and in addition future complications can occur as the child grows into an adult.

Materialistic people liked less by peers than 'experiential' people Posted: 16 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT People who pursue happiness through material possessions are liked less by their peers than people who pursue happiness through life experiences, according to a new study.

Source of zodiac glow identified Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT The eerie glow that straddles the night time zodiac in the eastern sky is no longer a mystery. First explained by Joshua Childrey in 1661 as sunlight scattered in our direction by dust particles in the solar system, the source of that dust was long debated. David Nesvorny and Peter Jenniskens put the stake in asteroids. More than 85 percent of the dust, they conclude, originated from Jupiter Family comets, not asteroids.

Drug shared by addicts seems to protect against HIV brain dementia Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT To their surprise, researchers have discovered that morphine (a derivate of the opium poppy that is similar to heroin) protects rat neurons against HIV toxicity -- a finding they say might help in the design of new neuroprotective therapies for patients with the infection.

Sequence is scaffold to study sleeping sickness Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have published the genome sequence for T. b. gambiense -- the strain of Trypanosoma brucei responsible for almost all cases of sleeping sickness in humans. A remarkable level of similarity with the previously sequenced bovine infecting strain suggests the sequences provide a foundation for studies into how these parasites cause disease. The team found no genetic cause for T. b. gambiense's human infectivity, but suggest new avenues for future studies to understand the disease.

Personalized medicine for cancer patients in a new technology era Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT A paper authored by over 200 members of the International Cancer Genome Consortium describes the beginnings of a Brave New World: a new era of personalized medicine for cancer patients. Formed in 2008, the consortium brings together leading cancer researchers from around the world, working together to catalog the genetic changes of the 50 most common cancers -- 500 genomes from each cancer type -- and make the results freely available on the Internet.

New teaching tools aid visually impaired students in learning math Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Mastering mathematics can be daunting for many children, but researchers have found that children with visual impairments face disproportionate challenges learning math, and by the time they reach the college level, they are significantly under-represented in science, technology, mathematics and engineering disciplines.

Slumber aids could improve intensive care outcomes Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Eye masks and earplugs could help hospital patients get a better night's sleep. Researchers investigated their effect on sleep quality in a simulated intensive care environment.

'Black Box' plankton found to have huge role in ocean carbon fixation Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Scientists in the UK have opened "the black box" of eukaryotic phytoplankton and discovered that they actually account for almost half the ocean's carbon fixation by phytoplankton.

Molecular discovery points to new therapies for brain tumors Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT A class of brain tumor that tends to emerge in younger patients but is less aggressive than others can be identified by examining DNA methylation of a specific set of genes, scientists report.

Solar power in Ontario could produce almost as much power as all U.S. nuclear reactors, studies find Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Solar power in southeastern Ontario has the potential to produce almost the same amount of power as all the nuclear reactors in the United States, according to two new studies.

New procedure aims to save vision of children with eye cancer Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT An ophthalmologist is implanting radioactive discs in the eyes of children with a rare cancer in an attempt to save their vision and eyes. The treatment for the rare childhood eye cancer, called retinoblastoma, involves implanting a small disc, or plaque, which stays in the eye for three days before a second surgery to remove it.

Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog's site fidelity may lead to further decline Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT No longer found in 90 percent of its previously occupied habitat, the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog is further threatened by cumulative impacts of a changing climate, introduced non-native trout and site fidelity habits, hampering the breeding success of this imperiled frog. New research underscores the need to incorporate the site fidelity habits of this frog when designing restoration strategies for its continued existence.

Banning trans fats would save lives, say doctors Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Banning trans fats from all foods in the UK would prevent thousands of heart attacks and deaths every year, and would be a simple way to protect the public and save lives, say two senior doctors.

Rock of ages: Clues about Mars evolution revealed Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Through the study of a popular Martian meteorite's age, researchers have made significant discoveries about the timeline of volcanic activity on Mars. Their data showed that the true age of the famous Martian meteorite ALH84001 is about 400 million years younger than earlier age estimates.

Many patients don't know they had minor stroke, need emergency care Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT As many as 70 percent of patients were unaware they suffered a minor stroke and almost one-third of patients delayed seeking medical attention for more than 24 hours, according to a British study. Patients showed an overall lack of awareness about how to identify symptoms of minor stroke regardless of their age, gender, education and socioeconomic status. Researchers suggest more public awareness campaigns are needed.

Plant pathogen genetically tailors attacks to each part of host Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Corn smut, a fungus that infects maize, can target its attack by choosing which of its genes to activate in order to maximize the effectiveness of its onslaught. This is the first time such tissue-specific targeting has been found in a pathogen.

New studies reveal that age-related nerve decline is associated with inflammation, differs by gender Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT New research investigating neurological decline in a population of "super healthy" elderly subjects found that the decline in neurological function of the peripheral nervous system attributed to aging may be related to metabolic factors, such as blood sugar levels, even if these factors are within the normal range.

Pinning down a proton Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed a new method for describing the binding of protons and neutrons within nuclei. This method may improve scientists' ability to predict and understand astrophysical reactions within stars.

Driving ban for epileptics? Assessing patients' abilities Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Physicians treating patients with epilepsy are in a difficult legal situation when they have to assess their patients' ability to drive.

'Missing' heat may affect future climate change Posted: 15 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Current observational tools cannot account for roughly half of the heat that is believed to have built up on Earth in recent years, according to a new article. Scientists warn in the new study that satellite sensors, ocean floats, and other instruments are inadequate to track this "missing" heat, which may be building up in the deep oceans or elsewhere in the climate system.

Cataloguing cancer codes: International Cancer Genome Consortium plans to sequence 25,000 cancer genomes Posted: 15 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT One of the most ambitious biomedical research efforts since the Human Genome Project, the International Cancer Genome Consortium has set out its plan to decode the genomes from 25,000 cancer samples and create a resource of freely available data.

Mitochondria: New functions of mitochondrial fusion uncovered Posted: 15 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT A typical human cell contains hundreds of mitochondria -- energy-producing organelles -- that continually fuse and divide. Relatively little is known, however, about why mitochondria undergo this behavior. Now, scientists have taken steps toward a fuller understanding of this process by revealing just what happens to the organelle, its DNA (mtDNA), and its energy-producing ability when mitochondrial fusion fails.

Growth curve analyses of Finnish population shed light on the genetic regulation of growth in height Posted: 15 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers in Finland have shown that a gene called LIN28B strongly influences height growth from birth to adulthood in a complex and sex-specific manner.

Grid technology comes to the iPhone and Sony PlayStation 3 Posted: 15 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Enabling Grids for E-sciencE (EGEE) is the world's largest multi-disciplinary computing grid, supporting the research of thousands of scientists and bringing together to the processing power of hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide. The grid and the software that glues it all together, known as middleware, is designed to run on a widely diverse range of computers. Now, a team from Ireland has adapted the grid software gLite to run on the Play Station 3. An Italian group has been able to use the iPhone to access grid enabled digital repositories.

Childhood obesity interventions must begin early, experts say Posted: 15 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT To be a truly comprehensive and successful anti-obesity program, First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign must include interventions that target pregnant women, infants, and pre-school-age children, experts say.

Stalagmite reveals carbon footprint of early Native Americans Posted: 15 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT A new study suggests that early Native Americans left a bigger carbon footprint than previously thought, providing more evidence that humans impacted global climate long before the modern industrial era.

Decoding tumor genomes reveals clues to spread of deadly breast cancer Posted: 15 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Using powerful DNA sequencing technology to decode the genomes of cancer patients, scientists are getting an unprecedented look at the genetic basis of a highly lethal breast cancer that disproportionately affects younger women and those who are African-American.

Saturn's moon Enceladus leaves plasma bubbles in its wake Posted: 15 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Observations of how Saturn's moon Enceladus interacts with its environment show it leaves a complex pattern of ripples and bubbles in its wake.

Oral bacteria linked to intrauterine infections and pre-term birth Posted: 15 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Bacteria in the mouths of pregnant women can contribute to pre-term birth, according to researchers.

Energy conservation in south could save billions, create jobs, study finds Posted: 15 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Energy-efficiency measures in the southern US could save consumers $41 billion on their energy bills, open 380,000 new jobs, and save 8.6 billion gallons of water by 2020, according to a new study. The study concludes that investing $200 billion in energy efficiency programs by 2030 could return $448 billion in savings.

Quantity may determine quality when choosing romantic partners Posted: 15 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT At bigger speed-dating events, with 24 or more dates, both male and female choosers were more likely to decide based on attributes that could be judged quickly, such as their dates' height, and whether they were underweight, normal weight or overweight.

Calorie restriction leads scientists to molecular pathways that slow aging, improve health Posted: 15 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Organisms from yeast to rodents to humans all benefit from cutting calories. In less complex organisms, restricting calories can double or even triple lifespan. But researchers report that they are less interested in calorie restriction for longer life than for its ability to promote good health throughout life.

New gene associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 15 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified a gene that appears to increase a person's risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of Alzheimer's disease. The gene, abbreviated MTHFD1L, is located on chromosome six.

Treat acne with coconut oil and nano-bombs Posted: 15 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT A natural product found in both coconut oil and human breast milk -- lauric acid -- shines as a possible new acne treatment, thanks to a bioengineering graduate student. The student developed a "smart delivery system" capable of delivering lauric-acid-filled nano-scale bombs directly to skin-dwelling bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) that cause common acne.

Aerosols: New tool against tuberculosis? Posted: 15 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed a new strategy for treating tuberculosis using dry powder aerosols that could be delivered with an inhaler.

Recent earthquake activity is not unusual, scientists say Posted: 15 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT China's tragic magnitude 6.9 earthquake on April 13 and the recent devastating earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Mexico, and elsewhere have many wondering if this earthquake activity is unusual.

Geography of human disease: Environment has much to do with surrounding pathogens Posted: 15 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT A new study finds that your environment has lots to do with the numbers of human diseases that surround you. But take heart: Spending more money on health care and disease prevention can mitigate the commonness of those diseases.

Iceland eruption: New satellite image of volcanic ash cloud Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT A vast cloud of volcanic ash has been sweeping across parts of northern Europe from the eruption of a volcano in Iceland. The European Space Agency's Envisat satellite has imaged the ash cloud, showing for example the extent over the UK, more than 1,000 kilometers away.

Gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy can be repaired, research shows Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have found that it is possible to repair the defective gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Slobbery kisses from 'man's best friend' aid cancer research Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Fido's wet licks might hold more than love. They could provide the DNA keys to findings new treatments for rare cancers and other diseases in both dogs and human patients.

Primary cilia formation provides insight into genetic diseases Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have identified a network of genes that initiate and manage cilia formation. Although scientists have known about cilia for decades, only recently have they discovered their role in disease.

Bio-inspired computer networks self-organise and learn Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Powerful computers made up of physically separate modules, self-organising networks, and computing inspired by biological systems are three hot research topics coming together in one European project.

Playing a video game before bedtime has only a mild effect on adolescent sleep Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT After playing "Call of Duty 4" it took adolescents a median of 7.5 minutes to fall asleep, which was only slightly longer than the three minutes it took them to fall asleep after watching "March of the Penguins" on DVD. No participants fell asleep while playing the video game, while about one-third of them fell asleep while watching the DVD. Playing the video game was associated with a small increase in cognitive alertness.

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