ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Building organs block by block: Tissue engineers create a new way to assemble artificial tissues, using 'biological Legos'
• New concerns about radiation and breast cancer raised in study
• Recycling 'tiny trash' -- cigarette butts
• Persistence of melanoma explained through 'dynamic stemness'
• Chemists create DNA assembly line
• The joke is on us: A new interpretation of bared teeth in archaeological artifacts
• Aiming to cure deafness, scientists first to create functional inner-ear cells
• Potential new strategy for raising 'good' cholesterol levels: MicroRNA and host gene play key role
• Tiny sensors tucked into cell phones could map airborne toxins in real time
• How dangerous food-borne pathogen evades body's defenses
• Robin Hood's prison: Uncovering Nottingham's hidden medieval sandstone caves
• Changing thoughts key to battling even severe depression
• Water was present during birth of Earth, study of silver suggests
• Can Celebrex prevent cancer-causing colon polyps?
• Bioengineers say cellular workouts strengthen endothelial cells' grasp
• Rotavirus vaccine greatly reduces hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis in children. Study finds
• Mathematicians solve 140-year-old Boltzmann equation
• Frequent alcohol use linked to faster HIV disease progression
• Why a whiff of cats or rats is scary: Chemical signal from predators sparks fear in mice
• Certain laboratory technique allows rapid detection of eye pathogens
• New details of tuberculosis protein-cleaving machinery revealed
• Low oxygen levels prevent X chromosome inactivation in human embryonic stem cells
• Wine-making yeast shows promise for bioethanol production
• Children with epilepsy say their quality of life is better than their parents think
• Fossil find fills in picture of ancient marine life
• Cardiac procedure significantly reduces risk of Alzheimer's disease and stroke, researchers find
• Scientists investigate acoustics in Gulf of Mexico
• New hope for better treatment for rising esophageal and upper stomach cancer
• Gene discovery may lead to new varieties of soybean plants
• New forensics research will help identify remains of children
• Two proteins key for normal-sized brains: Findings could shed light on evolution of human head size
• New treatment method possible in cardiac surgery
• Easter Island discovery sends archaeologists back to drawing board
• New technology aids in prostate cancer treatment
• Engineers design power structures that help keep the lights on
• Investigating separate and joint effects of alcohol and tobacco on the nucleus accumbens
• Calcium in early life may prevent obesity later
• Sniff of local anesthetic in the dentist's chair could replace the needle
• Without this protein, embryonic development halts
• No-till farming improves soil stability, research finds
• It was brawn over beauty in human mating competition, anthropologist says
• As global temperatures rise, world's lizards are disappearing: 20 percent of all lizard species could be extinct by 2080

Building organs block by block: Tissue engineers create a new way to assemble artificial tissues, using 'biological Legos' Posted: 14 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Tissue engineering has long held promise for building new organs to replace damaged livers, blood vessels and other body parts. However, one major obstacle is getting cells grown in a lab dish to form 3-D shapes instead of flat layers. Researchers have now come up with a new way to overcome that challenge, by encapsulating living cells in cubes and arranging them into 3-D structures, just as a child would construct buildings out of blocks.

New concerns about radiation and breast cancer raised in study Posted: 14 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT A new study on human breast cells shows that even when radiation exposure does no direct genetic damage, it can alter the environment surrounding the cells so that future cells are more likely to become cancerous. This is further evidence for the treatment of cancer as a "systems biology" disease.

Recycling 'tiny trash' -- cigarette butts Posted: 14 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT A new study suggests expanding community recycling programs beyond newspapers, beverage containers, and other traditional trash to include an unlikely new potential treasure: Cigarette butts. Terming this tiny trash "one of the most ubiquitous forms of garbage in the world," the study describes discovery of a way to reuse the remains of cigarettes to prevent steel corrosion that costs oil producers millions of dollars annually.

Persistence of melanoma explained through 'dynamic stemness' Posted: 14 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists offer a new explanation for the tenacity of melanoma cells, one of the reasons why melanoma remains the deadliest form of skin cancer. The concept of the "dynamic stemness" of melanoma can explain why melanoma cells behave like both conventional tumor cells and cancer stem cells. Their findings reveal the unique biology of melanoma, and suggest that melanoma requires a new therapeutic approach.

Chemists create DNA assembly line Posted: 14 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Chemists have created a DNA assembly line that has the potential to create novel materials efficiently on the nanoscale.

The joke is on us: A new interpretation of bared teeth in archaeological artifacts Posted: 14 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Bared teeth are a prominent and eye-catching feature on many historical and archaeological artifacts, and are commonly interpreted as representing death, aggression and the shamanic trance. But a new study argues that the bared-teeth motif often expresses something a bit less sinister: the smile.

Aiming to cure deafness, scientists first to create functional inner-ear cells Posted: 14 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT After ten years of effort, researchers say they have found a way to coax embryonic stem cells as well as reprogrammed adult cells to develop into sensory cells that normally reside in the mammalian inner ear. Those mechanosensitive sensory hair cells are the linchpin of hearing and balance.

Potential new strategy for raising 'good' cholesterol levels: MicroRNA and host gene play key role Posted: 14 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified tiny segments of RNA that may play an important role in the body's regulation of cholesterol and lipids. Their study found that the miR-33 familyof microRNAs suppress a protein known to be important for generation of HDL -- the "good cholesterol" that transports lipids to the liver for disposal -- and for the removal of cholesterol from peripheral tissues, including cells that form atherosclerotic plaques.

Tiny sensors tucked into cell phones could map airborne toxins in real time Posted: 14 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT A tiny silicon chip that works a bit like a nose may one day detect dangerous airborne chemicals and alert emergency responders through the cell phone network. If embedded in many cell phones, its developers say, the new type of sensor could map the location and extent of hazards like gas leaks or the deliberate release of a toxin.

How dangerous food-borne pathogen evades body's defenses Posted: 14 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have pushed into place another piece of the puzzle of how Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous food-borne pathogen, slips through the intestine's defenses and causes disease.

Robin Hood's prison: Uncovering Nottingham's hidden medieval sandstone caves Posted: 14 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT The very latest laser technology combined with old fashioned pedal power is being used to provide a unique insight into the layout of Nottingham's sandstone caves -- where the city's renowned medieval ale was brewed and, where legend has it, the country's most famous outlaw Robin Hood was imprisoned.

Changing thoughts key to battling even severe depression Posted: 14 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Moderate to severely depressed clients showed greater improvement in cognitive therapy when therapists emphasized changing how they think rather than how they behave, new research has found.

Water was present during birth of Earth, study of silver suggests Posted: 14 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Tiny variations in the isotopic composition of silver in meteorites and Earth rocks are helping scientists put together a timetable of how our planet was assembled beginning 4.568 billion years ago. The new study indicates that water and other key volatiles may have been present in at least some of Earth's original building blocks, rather than acquired later from comets, as some scientists have suggested.

Can Celebrex prevent cancer-causing colon polyps? Posted: 14 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers are testing whether celecoxib, known by its brand name Celebrex, can help prevent the growth of precancerous polyps that form in the colon, rectum and small intestine of children with an inheritable genetic disease called familial adenomatous polyposis.

Bioengineers say cellular workouts strengthen endothelial cells' grasp Posted: 14 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Bioengineers have demonstrated that the cells that line blood vessels respond to mechanical forces -- the microscopic tugging and pulling on cellular structures -- by reinforcing and growing their connections, thus creating stronger adhesive interactions between neighboring cells.

Rotavirus vaccine greatly reduces hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis in children. Study finds Posted: 14 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Vaccinating infants against rotavirus, a leading cause of severe diarrhea and dehydration among babies and young children, was associated with a dramatic decline in US hospitalization rates for acute gastroenteritis, according to a new study.

Mathematicians solve 140-year-old Boltzmann equation Posted: 14 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Mathematicians have found solutions to a 140-year-old, 7-dimensional equation that were not known to exist for more than a century despite its widespread use in modeling the behavior of gases.

Frequent alcohol use linked to faster HIV disease progression Posted: 14 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT HIV disease tends to progress at a faster rate in infected individuals who consume two or more alcoholic drinks a day, according to a new study.

Why a whiff of cats or rats is scary: Chemical signal from predators sparks fear in mice Posted: 14 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have found a specific chemical compound secreted by many predators that makes mice behave fearfully. The research helps scientists better understand animal behavior, and may eventually lead to new insights into how sensory information is processed in human brains.

Certain laboratory technique allows rapid detection of eye pathogens Posted: 14 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT A laboratory technique using real-time polymerase chain reaction that copies DNA segments may allow clinicians to accurately identify pathogens infecting the cornea more quickly than standard methods, according to a new study.

New details of tuberculosis protein-cleaving machinery revealed Posted: 14 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Scientists looking for new ways to fight tuberculosis (TB) have their sights set on a structure essential to the bacterium's survival. Disabling this structure could kill the microbes in the infected host and thwart TB infections. In a new study, scientists describe new features of how this structure, known as a proteasome, is put together and how it works. These details could assist researchers working to develop anti-TB drugs.

Low oxygen levels prevent X chromosome inactivation in human embryonic stem cells Posted: 14 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Oxygen levels in the lab can permanently alter human embryonic stem cells, inducing X chromosome inactivation in female cells. Deriving and maintaining human ES cells at physiologic levels of oxygen can prevent X chromosome inactivation, according to new research. High levels of oxygen can make the human ES cells less pluripotent -- the trait for which ES cells are most valued. This indicates that the current methods of isolation and maintenance are suboptimal.

Wine-making yeast shows promise for bioethanol production Posted: 14 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified a gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that might be important for ethanol production from plant material, providing insights into the bioethanol alternative to fossil fuels. Combining new high-throughput genome sequencing technology with traditional genetic methods, this study highlights the previously unknown potential of natural S. cerevisiae strains to convert five-carbon sugars into ethanol.

Children with epilepsy say their quality of life is better than their parents think Posted: 14 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers found that children with epilepsy say their quality of life is comparable to that of their healthy siblings. The parents of these children, though, say just the opposite. They rate their children with epilepsy as having a substantially worse quality of life than their other, healthy children.

Fossil find fills in picture of ancient marine life Posted: 13 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Paleontologists have discovered a rich array of exceptionally preserved fossils of marine animals that lived between 480 million and 472 million years ago, during the early part of a period known as the Ordovician. The specimens are the oldest yet discovered soft-bodied fossils from the Ordovician, a period marked by intense biodiversification, and greatly expand our understanding of the animal life that existed at a crucial point in evolutionary history.

Cardiac procedure significantly reduces risk of Alzheimer's disease and stroke, researchers find Posted: 13 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT New findings reveal treatment of the most common heart rhythm disorder that affects more than two million Americans significantly reduces the risk of stroke, mortality, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Scientists investigate acoustics in Gulf of Mexico Posted: 13 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Scientists from the Naval Research Laboratory recently completed an investigation of the acoustic properties of the deep seafloor in the Gulf of Mexico.

New hope for better treatment for rising esophageal and upper stomach cancer Posted: 13 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Poor diet, too much alcohol, smoking and increasing obesity could be leading to an epidemic of esophageal and upper stomach cancer, according to a leading UK team of specialists.

Gene discovery may lead to new varieties of soybean plants Posted: 13 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Just months after the soybean genome was sequenced, a scientist has discovered a long-sought gene that controls the plant's main stem growth and could lead to the creation of new types of soybean plants that will allow producers to incorporate desired characteristics into their local varieties.

New forensics research will help identify remains of children Posted: 13 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT New research is now giving forensic scientists a tool that can be used to help identify the remains of children, and may contribute to resolving missing-persons cases, among other uses. Identifying skeletal remains can be a key step in solving crimes, but traditionally it has been exceptionally difficult to identify the skeletal remains of children.

Two proteins key for normal-sized brains: Findings could shed light on evolution of human head size Posted: 13 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT In work that may one day correct or prevent genetic conditions tied to smaller-than-normal brains and shed light on the evolution of human head size, researchers analyzed the interaction of two proteins key to brain development.

New treatment method possible in cardiac surgery Posted: 13 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT A clinical trial conducted in Sweden has found that an element in human blood, fibrinogen, is likely more vital to the blood's clotting ability in connection with heart surgery than previously considered. If the patients also receive a dose of fibrinogen prior to the procedure, this reduces the risk of hemorrhage during and after surgery. These results may open the door to new strategies in reducing bleeding complications in cardiac surgery.

Easter Island discovery sends archaeologists back to drawing board Posted: 13 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Archaeologists have disproved the fifty-year-old theory underpinning our understanding of how the famous stone statues were moved around Easter Island. New fieldwork has shown the remote Pacific island's ancient road system was primarily ceremonial and not solely built for transportation of the figures.

New technology aids in prostate cancer treatment Posted: 13 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new way of performing lab tests that could improve the way doctors manage prostate cancer treatment. It will allow them to identify with unprecedented accuracy losses of a gene called PTEN that is associated with an aggressive group of prostate cancers.

Engineers design power structures that help keep the lights on Posted: 13 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Engineers are developing new and improved poles to carry electricity across the countryside. They say the new structures -- which can bend and deflect an extreme load -- would be cheaper, easier to install, more secure and more resistant to cascading failures. That means better electrical service for everybody.

Investigating separate and joint effects of alcohol and tobacco on the nucleus accumbens Posted: 13 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT The brain's nucleus accumbens (NAC) is a core region of the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system. The mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system plays an important role in addiction. New findings show distinct gene expression patterns for alcoholics, smokers and smoking alcoholics in the NAC.

Calcium in early life may prevent obesity later Posted: 13 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT Not getting enough calcium in the earliest days of life could have a more profound, lifelong impact on bone health and perhaps even obesity than previously thought.

Sniff of local anesthetic in the dentist's chair could replace the needle Posted: 13 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT Modern dentistry has eliminated much of the "ouch" from getting a shot of local anesthetic. Now a new discovery may replace the needle used to give local anesthetic in the dentist's chair for many procedures. The discovery could lead to a new generation of intranasal drugs for noninvasive treatment for dental pain, migraine, and other conditions.

Without this protein, embryonic development halts Posted: 13 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT Researchers studying the common genetic disorder chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome have identified key proteins that act together to regulate early embryonic development. One protein is essential to life; in animal studies, embryos without the protein do not survive past the first few days of gestation. While not currently affecting treatments for the disease, the findings shed light on the biological events that give rise to chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome, which often includes congenital heart defects.

No-till farming improves soil stability, research finds Posted: 13 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT A new study across the central Great Plains on the effects of more than 19 years of various tillage practices shows that no-till makes soil much more stable than plowed soil.

It was brawn over beauty in human mating competition, anthropologist says Posted: 13 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT Male physical competition, not attraction, was central in winning mates among human ancestors, according to an anthropologist in a new study.

As global temperatures rise, world's lizards are disappearing: 20 percent of all lizard species could be extinct by 2080 Posted: 13 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT After decades of surveying Sceloporus lizard populations in Mexico, an international research team has found that rising temperatures have driven 12 percent of the country's lizard populations to extinction. An extinction model based on this discovery also forecasts a grim future for these ecologically important critters, predicting that a full 20 percent of all lizard species could be extinct by the year 2080.

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