ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Novel negative-index metamaterial bends light 'wrong' direction
• Substance in breast milk kills cancer cells, study suggests
• Potential for new cancer detection and therapy method described
• Non-smokers put on less weight, study suggests
• Rainfall linked to skewed sex ratios in African buffalo
• For children with hearing loss: The earlier the better for cochlear implants, study finds
• Brains, worms and computer chips have striking similarities
• Gene test shows who could benefit from statins to reduce colon cancer risk
• New strain of virulent airborne fungi, unique to Oregon, is set to spread
• Mammographic density and risk of breast cancer
• Heavy snowfall over Himalayas makes drought over India more likely
• Children who lose a parent to suicide more likely to die the same way, study finds
• World's smallest, lightest telemedicine microscope invented
• Antidepressants as treatment immediately following a stroke?
• Carbon dioxide emissions causing ocean acidification to progress at unprecedented rate
• Key step for regulating embryonic development discovered
• Biosensor chip enables high-sensitivity protein analysis for disease diagnosis
• Global biofuel drive raises risk of eviction for African farmers
• Experimental explanation of supercooling: Why water does not freeze in the clouds
• Risk of stroke associated with bypass surgery technique designed to prevent organ damage, study suggests
• Acidifying oceans dramatically stunt growth of already threatened shellfish, research finds
• Study: Better understanding of abnormalities that lead to chronic kidney disease in children
• Size affects structure of hollow nanoparticles
• Business affiliation could increase potential risk of farm-to-farm transmission of avian influenza
• Primate fossil more than 11 million years old discovered
• Dietary supplement speeds silver cyclists
• One molecule opens the door to new treatments for depression
• New evidence on co-prescribing for heart and stroke patients
• New defenses deployed against plant diseases
• Direct patient access to imaging test results could result in increased patient anxiety and physician overload
• Cat's Paw Nebula: Celestial cat's hidden secrets revealed
• New breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene identified
• A little less force: Making atomic force microscopy work for cells
• New gene involved in the development of liver cancer identified
• Computer model better than clinical judgment for diagnosing fever in young children
• Genetically engineered crops benefit many farmers, but the technology needs proper management to remain effective, report suggests
• Several different species of killer whales likely
• Ovarian cancer study offers vital clues for new therapies
• Breeding orchid species creates a new perfume
• Useful stroke trials left unpublished
• Concern over hearing loss from personal music players
• Perception: Skinny people aren't lazy but overweight people are
• Retracing the tracks of dinosaurs reveals ecosystem the size of a continent
• Physics strategy tested as solution for antibiotic resistance
• Solar energy: Cheaper solar concentrator with fewer photovoltaic cells
• British heroin substitute may be associated with wide-ranging sight problems
• UK may experience more cold winters
• Age dramatically delays recovery of the sense of taste

Novel negative-index metamaterial bends light 'wrong' direction Posted: 23 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have engineered a type of artificial optical material -- a metamaterial -- with a particular three-dimensional structure such that light exhibits a negative index of refraction upon entering the material. In other words, this material bends light in the "wrong" direction from what normally would be expected, irrespective of the angle of the approaching light. The uniquely versatile material could be used for more efficient light collection in solar cells.

Substance in breast milk kills cancer cells, study suggests Posted: 23 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT A substance found in breast milk can kill cancer cells, reveal a new study.

Potential for new cancer detection and therapy method described Posted: 23 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have described a potentially new early cancer detection and treatment method using nanoparticles. A new paper illustrates how engineered gold nanoparticles tied to a cancer-specific receptor could be targeted to tumor cells to treat prostate, breast or lung cancers in humans.

Non-smokers put on less weight, study suggests Posted: 23 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT A new study links nicotine poisoning with weight gain, and concludes that active smokers, not only those who stop, put on more weight than non-smokers. After four years of analysis, those who put on least weight were those who had never smoked.

Rainfall linked to skewed sex ratios in African buffalo Posted: 23 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT An increased proportion of male African buffalo are born during the rainy season. Researchers collected data from over 200 calves and 3,000 fetuses, finding that rain likely exerts this effect by interaction with so-called sex ratio genes, which cause differences in number, quality or function of X- and Y-bearing sperm.

For children with hearing loss: The earlier the better for cochlear implants, study finds Posted: 23 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT Receiving a cochlear implant before 18 months of age dramatically improves a deaf child's ability to hear, understand and, eventually, speak, according to a multicenter study led by scientists at Johns Hopkins.

Brains, worms and computer chips have striking similarities Posted: 23 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered striking similarities between the human brain, the nervous system of a worm, and a computer chip. Using data that is largely in the public domain, including magnetic resonance imaging data from human brains, a map of the nematode's nervous system, and a standard computer chip, they examined how the elements in each system are networked together.

Gene test shows who could benefit from statins to reduce colon cancer risk Posted: 23 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT A genetic test can help determine in which patients cholesterol-lowering statin drugs might have the most benefit in also reducing the risk of colorectal cancer, a new study finds.

New strain of virulent airborne fungi, unique to Oregon, is set to spread Posted: 23 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT A newly discovered strain of an airborne fungus has caused several deaths in Oregon and seems poised to move into California and other adjacent areas, according to scientists.

Mammographic density and risk of breast cancer Posted: 23 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Women who have a breast density of 75 percent or higher on a mammogram have a risk of breast cancer that is four to five times greater than that of women with little or no density, making mammographic breast density one of the strongest biomarkers of breast cancer risk.

Heavy snowfall over Himalayas makes drought over India more likely Posted: 23 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have helped to explain why heavy snowfall over the Himalayas in winter and spring can lead to drought over India, especially in the early part of the summer monsoon.

Children who lose a parent to suicide more likely to die the same way, study finds Posted: 23 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Losing a parent to suicide makes children more likely to die by suicide themselves and increases their risk of developing a range of major psychiatric disorders, according to a study that is believed to be the largest one to date on the subject.

World's smallest, lightest telemedicine microscope invented Posted: 23 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have applied lensless imaging technology to create the world's smallest microscope. The microscope generates holographic, or 3-D, images of microparticles or cells by employing a light-emitting-diode to illuminate the objects and a digital sensor array to capture their images. Weighing in at only 46 grams, the self-contained imaging device is intended to be used in telemedicine networks in resource limited settings.

Antidepressants as treatment immediately following a stroke? Posted: 23 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT A study in rodents shows the growth of new neurons, also known as neurogenesis, lessens the severity of stroke and dramatically improves function following a stroke. The research suggests that drugs shown to promote neurogenesis in rodents could have benefits for human stroke victims and that those drugs -- which include antidepressants and mood stabilizers such as lithium -- may be suitable for study in human clinical trials.

Carbon dioxide emissions causing ocean acidification to progress at unprecedented rate Posted: 23 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT The changing chemistry of the world's oceans is a growing global problem, says the summary of a congressionally requested study.

Key step for regulating embryonic development discovered Posted: 23 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT The interplay of two proteins, SUMO and SNP2, influences epigenetic signaling that drives gene expression to form new tissues and organs as the embryo develops.

Biosensor chip enables high-sensitivity protein analysis for disease diagnosis Posted: 23 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT In the battle against cancer and other diseases, precise analysis of specific proteins can point the way toward targeted treatments. Scientists have developed a novel biosensor chip that not only recognizes proteins that are characteristic for specific diseases, but also can show changes due to disease or medication.

Global biofuel drive raises risk of eviction for African farmers Posted: 23 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT African farmers risk being forced from their lands by investors or government projects as global demand for biofuels encourages changes in crop cultivation.

Experimental explanation of supercooling: Why water does not freeze in the clouds Posted: 23 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Supercooling, a state where liquids don't solidify even below their normal freezing point, still puzzles scientists today. An example of this phenomenon is found everyday in meteorology: clouds in high altitude are an accumulation of supercooled droplets of water below their freezing point. Scientists in France have now found an experimental explanation of the phenomenon of supercooling.

Risk of stroke associated with bypass surgery technique designed to prevent organ damage, study suggests Posted: 23 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT The standard practice of cooling and then rewarming a patient to prevent organ damage during cardiac bypass surgery may impair the body's mechanism that controls blood flow to the brain, potentially increasing the patient's risk of stroke, new research suggests.

Acidifying oceans dramatically stunt growth of already threatened shellfish, research finds Posted: 23 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT New research shows that global warming and its effects -- in particular, ocean acidification -- have descended upon shellfish reefs, particularly those formed by the Olympia oyster.

Study: Better understanding of abnormalities that lead to chronic kidney disease in children Posted: 23 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Kidney damage associated with chronic reflux is the fourth leading cause of chronic kidney disease and is the most common cause of severe hypertension in children. Doctors and researchers have developed a new mouse model of vesicoureteral reflux, a common childhood condition that can lead to chronic kidney disease in children.

Size affects structure of hollow nanoparticles Posted: 23 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT A new study shows that size plays a key role in determining the structure of certain hollow nanoparticles. The researchers focused on nickel nanoparticles, which have interesting magnetic and catalytic properties that may have applications in fields as diverse as energy production and nanoelectronics.

Business affiliation could increase potential risk of farm-to-farm transmission of avian influenza Posted: 23 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT A new study examines the potential influence that the business connections between broiler chicken growers may have on the transmission of avian influenza, H5N1. According to the study, the risk of between-farm transmission is significantly greater among farms within the same company group than it is between farms with different company affiliation.

Primate fossil more than 11 million years old discovered Posted: 22 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered in the rubbish dump in Spain a new species of Pliopithecus primate, considered an extinct family of primitive Catarrhini primates (or "Old World monkeys"). The fragments of jaw and molars found in this large site demonstrate that Pliopithecus canmatensis belongs to this group, which includes the first Catarrhini that dispersed from Africa to Eurasia.

Dietary supplement speeds silver cyclists Posted: 22 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Taking arginine supplements can improve the cycling ability of over-50s. Researchers tested a combination of the amino acid and an antioxidant in 16 cyclists, finding that it enhanced their anaerobic threshold -- the amount of work done before lactic acid begins to accumulate in the blood.

One molecule opens the door to new treatments for depression Posted: 22 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT There has been little progress in the way we treat depression and anxiety for over thirty years, but a recent study may open the door to new strategies. A new article explains how understanding the functioning of a molecule called MIF, or macrophage migration inhibitory factor, may change the way we treat depression.

New evidence on co-prescribing for heart and stroke patients Posted: 22 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT New research shows no risk in combining two commonly-prescribed treatments for patients at risk of heart attacks and strokes.

New defenses deployed against plant diseases Posted: 22 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have transferred broad spectrum resistance against some important plant diseases across different plant families. The breakthrough provides a new way to produce crops with sustainable resistance to economically important diseases.

Direct patient access to imaging test results could result in increased patient anxiety and physician overload Posted: 22 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Providing patients with direct access to their imaging test results could improve patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. However, physicians are concerned that it could lead to increased patient anxiety and unrealistic demands on physician time, according to a new study.

Cat's Paw Nebula: Celestial cat's hidden secrets revealed Posted: 22 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT The Cat's Paw Nebula, NGC 6334, is a huge stellar nursery, the birthplace of hundreds of massive stars. In a magnificent new ESO image, the glowing gas and dust clouds obscuring the view are penetrated by infrared light and some of the Cat's hidden young stars are revealed.

New breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene identified Posted: 22 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Medical researchers report evidence unambiguously implicating the gene RAD51C in susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer. This gene normally plays a role in DNA repair. By screening RAD51C in unrelated individuals from 1,100 German families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancers, the researchers identified six mutations that increase cancer risk.

A little less force: Making atomic force microscopy work for cells Posted: 22 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed a nanowire-based imaging technique by which atomic force microscopy could be used to study biological cells and other soft materials in their natural, liquid environment without tearing apart or deforming the samples. This could provide scientists with the long coveted non-destructive means of dynamically probing soft matter.

New gene involved in the development of liver cancer identified Posted: 22 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new tumor-promoting gene that may play a key role in the development of liver cancer. Levels of the gene's expression are significantly higher in more than 90 percent of patients with the disease compared to their healthy counterparts.

Computer model better than clinical judgment for diagnosing fever in young children Posted: 22 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT A computerized diagnostic model outperforms clinical judgment for the diagnosis of fever in young children, and may improve early treatment, a new study finds.

Genetically engineered crops benefit many farmers, but the technology needs proper management to remain effective, report suggests Posted: 22 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT Many US farmers who grow genetically engineered crops are realizing substantial economic and environmental benefits -- such as lower production costs, fewer pest problems, reduced use of pesticides, and better yields -- compared with conventional crops, says a new report.

Several different species of killer whales likely Posted: 22 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Scientists report finding strong genetic evidence supporting the theory there are several species of killer whales (Orcinus orca, also known as orcas) throughout the world's oceans.

Ovarian cancer study offers vital clues for new therapies Posted: 22 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have taken a major step forward in the understanding of ovarian cancer, which could improve treatment for patients with the condition.

Breeding orchid species creates a new perfume Posted: 22 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Some orchids mimic the scent of a female insect in order to attract males for pollination. Researchers have found that breeding two of these orchid species to generate a novel hybrid resulted in a new scent. This new odor had no effect on normal solitary bees from the area but was highly attractive to another species of wild bee that never visited any of the parent orchid species.

Useful stroke trials left unpublished Posted: 22 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT An investigation into unpublished stroke research data has revealed that 19.6 percent of completed clinical trials, which could potentially influence patient care, are not published in full. Researchers describe how these unpublished studies included more than 16,000 participants and tested 89 different interventions.

Concern over hearing loss from personal music players Posted: 22 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT Young people who listen to personal music players for several hours a day at high volume could be putting their hearing at risk, warns an expert in a new editorial.

Perception: Skinny people aren't lazy but overweight people are Posted: 22 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT A new study shows that when a thin person is seen laying down watching television, people assume they're resting. But when people see an overweight person relaxing, it's automatically assumed they're lazy and unmotivated.

Retracing the tracks of dinosaurs reveals ecosystem the size of a continent Posted: 22 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have uncovered the first evidence that a warm and moderate climate allowed dinosaurs to expand into one massive homogenous community across North America.

Physics strategy tested as solution for antibiotic resistance Posted: 22 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT A biologist proposes to use a physics strategy called resonant activation to nudge dormant bacteria cells into a stage where they will be sensitive to antibiotics.

Solar energy: Cheaper solar concentrator with fewer photovoltaic cells Posted: 22 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT A new solar concentrator design from an electrical engineering Ph.D. student could lead to solar concentrators that are less expensive and require fewer photovoltaic cells than existing solar concentrators.

British heroin substitute may be associated with wide-ranging sight problems Posted: 22 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Children born to mothers prescribed the heroin substitute methadone during pregnancy may be at risk of wide-ranging sight problems, indicates a small study.

UK may experience more cold winters Posted: 22 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT New research suggests the UK may experience more cold winters in future when the Sun is at a lower level of activity. The amount of radiation emitted by the Sun varies naturally over time and over centuries.

Age dramatically delays recovery of the sense of taste Posted: 22 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT Age dramatically delays the time if takes to recover the sense of taste following a significant nerve injury researchers report. When old rats received nerve injuries similar to ones that can occur in ear or dental surgery, their taste buds took essentially twice as long to recover function as their younger counterparts.

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