ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Good prospects for extraterrestrial life? Rocky planets 'are commonplace' in our galaxy
• Women who eat foods with high glycemic index may be at greater risk for heart disease
• Urged on by urchins: How sea lilies got their get-up-and-go
• New form of endoscopic scanning improves detection of precancerous condition, Barrett's esophagus
• Helicopter helps test radar for 2012 Mars landing
• Dance therapy improves seniors' gait, balance, researcher finds
• Lunar polar craters may be electrified, NASA calculations show
• Structure of inner-ear protein is key to both hearing and inherited deafness
• Gene may play key role in atherosclerosis and other diseases
• 'Smart' insulin molecule: Zinc-stapled insulin reduces insulin-related cancer risk
• Using fullerenes as a 'cushion' for nanoparticles
• Kindle e-reader motivates less-enthusiastic readers
• Einstein's theory fights off challengers
• Discovery could help diabetics and others with slow-to-heal wounds
• Earthquake in Chile causesd days to be longer, Austrian researchers find
• Immune molecules target swine- and avian-origin influenza
• Laser physics turned upside down: New way to generate tunable wavelengths using quantum-dot technology
• Sexually transmitted infections, HIV counseling inadequate in male teens, study finds
• Lessons from the pond: Clues from green algae on the origin of males and females
• Diet high in B vitamins lowers heart risks in Japanese study
• Texas doctors magnetically lengthen nine-year-old's leg as she grows
• Weight training-related injuries increasing
• Visualization of geographic patterns may predict spread of disease
• Initiation ceremonies don't build team spirit, study finds
• Supermassive black holes strip massive galaxies of star-forming gases
• High-altitude metabolism lets mice stay slim and healthy on a high-fat diet
• Knowing when poultry goes foul
• Scientists track variant of gene-regulating protein in embryonic stem cells
• Switch that enables Salmonella to sabotage host cells revealed
• ADHD linked to interaction of genetics and psychology
• DNA transferred between two fertilized eggs: Breakthrough offers hope of preventing mitochondrial diseases
• Lung virus taking its toll on young lives, study finds
• New detector counts photons with 99 percent efficiency
• Genetic signatures provide new direction in liver cancer
• From wimp to jock: Cell motor protein finding sheds light on brain malformation that kills infants
• Better training needed to curb 'fatism' within the health professions, study finds

Good prospects for extraterrestrial life? Rocky planets 'are commonplace' in our galaxy Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Astronomers have discovered compelling evidence that rocky planets are commonplace in our Galaxy. They surveyed white dwarfs, the compact remnants of stars that were once like our Sun, and found that many show signs of contamination by heavier elements and possibly even water, improving the prospects for extraterrestrial life.

Women who eat foods with high glycemic index may be at greater risk for heart disease Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Consuming carbohydrates with high glycemic index -- an indicator of how quickly a food affects blood glucose levels -- appears to be associated with the risk of coronary heart disease in women but not men, according to a new report.

Urged on by urchins: How sea lilies got their get-up-and-go Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Nature abounds with examples of evolutionary arms races. Certain marine snails, for example, evolved thick shells and spines to avoid be eaten, but crabs and fish foiled the snails by developing shell-crushing claws and jaws. Now, a study finds that sea urchins have been preying on marine animals known as crinoids for more than 200 million years and suggests that such interactions drove one type of crinoid -- the sea lily -- to develop the ability to escape by creeping along the ocean floor.

New form of endoscopic scanning improves detection of precancerous condition, Barrett's esophagus Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT A new endoscopic scanning technique has proven successful in the early detection of dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus and could help clinicians diagnose esophageal cancer at an earlier stage, when the condition is still treatable.

Helicopter helps test radar for 2012 Mars landing Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT This spring, engineers are testing a radar system that will serve during the next landing on Mars.

Dance therapy improves seniors' gait, balance, researcher finds Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT For seniors, dancing isn't just for fun; it also can be therapeutic. Two recent studies found that participation in dance-based therapy can improve balance and gait in older adults. Improved functionality among seniors can decrease their risk of falling and reduce costly injuries.

Lunar polar craters may be electrified, NASA calculations show Posted: 17 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT As the solar wind flows over natural obstructions on the moon, it may charge polar lunar craters to hundreds of volts, according to new calculations by NASA's Lunar Science Institute team.

Structure of inner-ear protein is key to both hearing and inherited deafness Posted: 17 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Using a combination of crystallization and physics-based simulations, researchers defined the structure of a protein, cadherin-23, that helps mediate our perception of sound. Their findings show the protein to be a rigid structure whose strength results from calcium ions binding within it. However, mutations that interfere with calcium-ion binding undermine the protein's firm structure and make it less resilient. This provides a possible explanation for certain forms of inherited deafness.

Gene may play key role in atherosclerosis and other diseases Posted: 17 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new study suggests that a gene called HuR plays a critical role in inducing and mediating an inflammatory response in cells experiencing mechanical and chemical stresses. The finding may lead to new treatments for diseases associated with inflammation, such as atherosclerosis.

'Smart' insulin molecule: Zinc-stapled insulin reduces insulin-related cancer risk Posted: 17 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have invented a "smart" insulin protein molecule that binds considerably less to cancer receptors and self-assembles under the skin. To provide a slow-release form of insulin, the analog self-assembles under the skin by means of "stapling" itself via bridging zinc ions.

Using fullerenes as a 'cushion' for nanoparticles Posted: 17 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Nanoparticles are recognized as promising building blocks for future applications, however their fixation on surfaces or in a matrix is everything else than a simple task. Now physicists have observed that a double layer of spherical C60 carbon-molecules, called fullerenes, is an ideal substrate for these microscopic particles. Their results are an important step towards the application of tailor-made nanosystems.

Kindle e-reader motivates less-enthusiastic readers Posted: 17 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT A professor is finding that electronic readers allow children to interact with texts in ways they don't interact with the printed word.

Einstein's theory fights off challengers Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Two new and independent studies have put Einstein's General Theory of Relativity to the test like never before. These results, made using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, show Einstein's theory is still the best game in town.

Discovery could help diabetics and others with slow-to-heal wounds Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT A discovery about the wound-healing process could lead to better treatments for diabetics and other patients who have wounds that are slow to heal.

Earthquake in Chile causesd days to be longer, Austrian researchers find Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Since the earthquake in Chile in February 2010, researchers in Austria have been helping measure Earth on a global scale. First results indicate that the rotational speed of Earth has become marginally slower and days have become longer by 0.3 microseconds.

Immune molecules target swine- and avian-origin influenza Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Immune molecules known as antibodies that protect against influenza virus infection target the highly variable influenza protein HA. It is thought the antibodies generated by an individual's immune system protect against only a few closely related influenza viruses. However, new research indicates that some individuals vaccinated with seasonal influenza vaccine produce antibodies that can target the forms of HA used by the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus and the recent swine-origin pandemic H1N1 influenza virus.

Laser physics turned upside down: New way to generate tunable wavelengths using quantum-dot technology Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Physicists in Germany have developed a new method for generating tunable wavelengths, as well as more easily switching back and forth between two wavelengths, employing quantum-dot lasers. The finding could have a number of applications in biomedicine and nanosurgery.

Sexually transmitted infections, HIV counseling inadequate in male teens, study finds Posted: 17 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Despite national guidelines aimed at improving sexual health services for teenagers, most sexually active boys -- even those who report high-risk sexual behaviors -- still get too little counseling about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections during their visits to the doctor, according to a new study.

Lessons from the pond: Clues from green algae on the origin of males and females Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT A multicellular green alga, Volvox carteri, may have finally unlocked the secrets behind the evolution of different sexes. Scientists have shown that the genetic region that determines sex in Volvox has changed dramatically relative to that of the closely related unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Diet high in B vitamins lowers heart risks in Japanese study Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT In a large study in Japan, women who reported eating more foods containing the B vitamins folate and B-6 were less likely to die from stroke and heart disease. Japanese men reporting diets high in these B vitamins were less likely to die of heart failure.

Texas doctors magnetically lengthen nine-year-old's leg as she grows Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Nine-year-old Morgan LaRue is the first cancer patient in Texas to benefit from a groundbreaking procedure that will magnetically lengthen her leg, sparing her the possibility of up to 10 future surgeries as her body grows.

Weight training-related injuries increasing Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT The popularity of weight training has grown over the past decade. A new study has found that the number of injuries from weight training has increased as well. The study found that more than 970,000 weight training-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments between 1990 and 2007, increasing nearly 50 percent during the 18-year study period.

Visualization of geographic patterns may predict spread of disease Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Disease statistics buried within patient records or detailed in newspaper clippings can be sorted and organized to depict geographic patterns, allowing the discovery of trends that were previously overlooked, according to a geographer.

Initiation ceremonies don't build team spirit, study finds Posted: 16 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Team building activities in sport are carried out for tradition's sake and don't help players to bond, according to results of a new study.

Supermassive black holes strip massive galaxies of star-forming gases Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Black holes have long been beloved of science fiction writers for their destructive capabilities and peculiar ability to warp space time. A new study reveals the awesome power of supermassive black holes -- the ability to strip massive galaxies of the cool gases required to form new stars, leaving aging red giants to splutter out of existence with no stars to replace them.

High-altitude metabolism lets mice stay slim and healthy on a high-fat diet Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Mice that are missing a protein involved in the response to low oxygen stay lean and healthy, even on a high-fat diet, a new study has found. While their normal littermates gain weight, develop fatty livers and become resistant to insulin, just like overweight humans do, the mutant mice suffered none of these ill effects.

Knowing when poultry goes foul Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Mom's trusty nose may be good, but now researchers have gone her one better by designing an instrument that quickly and precisely sniffs trace amounts of chemical compounds that indicate poultry spoilage without damaging the product itself.

Scientists track variant of gene-regulating protein in embryonic stem cells Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT The journey from embryonic stem cell to a fully developed liver, heart or muscle cell requires not only the right genes, but genes that are turned on and off at the right time -- a job that is handled in part by DNA-packaging proteins known as histones. But it turns out that not all histones are created equally. New research shows that minute variations between histones play an important role in determining how and when genes are read.

Switch that enables Salmonella to sabotage host cells revealed Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT A new switch that enables Salmonella bacteria to sabotage host cells is revealed in a new study. Researchers say that the discovery could ultimately lead to drugs that interfere with the switch in order to combat Salmonella and possibly other bacterial infections. In humans, Salmonella causes diseases ranging from gastroenteritis to typhoid fever.

ADHD linked to interaction of genetics and psychology Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT ADHD may be caused by alterations in the serotonin neurotransmission system combined with a tendency to experience psychosocial distress. Researchers found that ADHD behaviors in children and adolescents were associated with interactions between low and high serotonin activity and self-blame in relation to inter-parental conflict.

DNA transferred between two fertilized eggs: Breakthrough offers hope of preventing mitochondrial diseases Posted: 16 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists in the UK have developed a pioneering technique which enables them for the first time to successfully transfer DNA between two human eggs. The technique has the potential to help prevent the transmission of serious inherited disorders known as mitochondrial diseases.

Lung virus taking its toll on young lives, study finds Posted: 16 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT A common virus that causes wheezing and pneumonia claims the lives of up to 200,000 children worldwide each year, a study has found.

New detector counts photons with 99 percent efficiency Posted: 16 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have developed the world's most efficient single photon detector, which is able to count individual particles of light traveling through fiber optic cables with roughly 99 percent efficiency. The scientists' efforts could bring improvements to secure electronic communication, advanced quantum computation and the measurement of optical power.

Genetic signatures provide new direction in liver cancer Posted: 16 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have identified a genomic portrait able to predict recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma, the fifth most common cancer in men.

From wimp to jock: Cell motor protein finding sheds light on brain malformation that kills infants Posted: 16 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT New research has uncovered how a "wimpy" protein motor works with two other proteins to gain the strength necessary to move nerve cells and components inside them. The findings shed light on brain development and provide clues to a rare brain disorder that often kills babies within months of birth.

Better training needed to curb 'fatism' within the health professions, study finds Posted: 16 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Prejudice towards obese people is rife among trainee health professionals, but can be modified, new research has found.

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