ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Shining light around corners: Scientists explore new method for curving 'Airy' light beams
• Gut-residing bacteria trigger arthritis in genetically susceptible individuals
• Experimental Marburg vaccine prevents disease two days after infection
• New evidence that smokeless tobacco damages DNA and key enzymes
• Fuzzy logic predicts cell aging
• Illegal bushmeat trade rife in Europe, research finds
• Astronomers witness a star being born
• Why do certain diseases go into remission during pregnancy?
• New process is promising for hydrogen fuel cell cars
• Probiotic therapy cuts risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia in half for some in ICU, study finds
• Scientists watch as bacteria evolve heat resistance under stress: New details of evolutionary mechanism
• Brain study shows that the opinions of others matters
• Highly efficient solar cells could result from quantum dot research
• New complication seen in stem cell therapy: Stem cell recipient developed mysterious masses at injection sites
• Wild sharks, redfish harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Possible mechanism identified for how lithium treats bipolar disorder
• Action of modern drug demonstrates how two ancient human systems interact
• Body-image distortion predicts onset of unsafe weight-loss behaviors
• Gulf oil spill: Mississippi River hydrology may help reduce oil onshore
• Connection elucidated between obesity, salt sensitivity and high blood pressure
• Astronomers study Kuiper Belt object during stellar occultation
• Post-traumatic stress disorder: Serotonin system influences vulnerability and treatment
• It's in the bones: Human bone as a biological material for environmental monitoring
• In predominantly African-American communities, people of all races miss out on kidney care
• Malaria threat is as old as humanity, new research shows
• Sleeping sickness study offers insight into human cells
• Climate change threatens food supply of 60 million people in Asia
• Blueberry ameliorates hepatic fibrosis, study finds
• Maintaining privacy in a cloud: More secure environment for cloud computing
• Male desire to be strong and protect family key to preventing suicides, study finds
• Carbon dioxide is the missing link to past global climate changes
• Key enzyme in melanoma cell development identified
• 110-foot concrete bridge withstands 8.0 earthquake simulation
• From head to toe: Deep insights from whole body MRI
• Storing carbon dioxide deep underground in rock form
• Orphaned elderly serious casualty of African AIDS epidemic, study finds
• Brain comes hard-wired with working navigational neurons, rat study suggests
• Sense of direction in newborn rat brains is innate, scientists discover
• As the Sun awakens, NASA keeps a wary eye on space weather
• Dental pulp cells for stem cell banking
• Research will help submariners breathe more easily
• Puffing in public housing poses serious health risks to tenants, report says
• Signal like you mean it: Orangutan gestures carry specific intentional meanings, study finds
• Defects in immune system enzyme may increase risk of autoimmune disorders
• Astronomers focus on revealing hidden mysteries of the universe
• Biochemical pathway by which harmful molecule may raise Alzheimer's risk uncovered
• NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson continues Deepwater Horizon spill study mission
• Physical fitness may help reduce chronic disease risk in college students

Shining light around corners: Scientists explore new method for curving 'Airy' light beams Posted: 18 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated new ways to generate and control special beams of light called "Airy beams" in their laboratory, which may lead to the development of new technologies for drug manufacturers, the communications industry, the military and the police.

Gut-residing bacteria trigger arthritis in genetically susceptible individuals Posted: 18 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT Using a mouse model, researchers demonstrated a link between normally occurring bacteria in the gut and arthritis. The bacteria spur immune cells to release arthritis-causing "autoantibodies" into the blood.

Experimental Marburg vaccine prevents disease two days after infection Posted: 18 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT An experimental vaccine developed to prevent outbreaks of Marburg hemorrhagic fever continues to show promise in monkeys as an emergency treatment for accidental exposures to the virus that causes the disease. There is no licensed treatment for Marburg infection, which has a high fatality rate.

New evidence that smokeless tobacco damages DNA and key enzymes Posted: 18 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT Far from having adverse effects limited to the mouth, smokeless tobacco affects the normal function of a key family of enzymes found in almost every organ in the body, according to a new study. The enzymes play important roles in production of hormones; production of cholesterol and vitamin D; and help the body breakdown prescription drugs and potentially toxic substances. Smokeless tobacco also damages genetic material in the liver, kidney and lungs.

Fuzzy logic predicts cell aging Posted: 18 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT The process of aging disturbs a broad range of cellular mechanisms in a complex fashion and is not well understood. Computer models using fuzzy logic might help to unravel these complexities and predict how aging progresses in cells and organisms, according to a new study.

Illegal bushmeat trade rife in Europe, research finds Posted: 18 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT More than five tonnes of illegal bushmeat is being smuggled in personal luggage each week through one of Europe's busiest airports, reveals new research.

Astronomers witness a star being born Posted: 18 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT Astronomers have glimpsed what could be the youngest known star at the very moment it is being born. Not yet fully developed into a true star, the object is in the earliest stages of star formation and has just begun pulling in matter from a surrounding envelope of gas and dust.

Why do certain diseases go into remission during pregnancy? Posted: 18 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT During pregnancy, many women experience remission of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and uveitis. Now, scientists have identified a biological mechanism responsible for changes in the immune system that helps to explain the phenomenon.

New process is promising for hydrogen fuel cell cars Posted: 18 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new process for storing and generating hydrogen to run fuel cells in cars has been invented by chemical engineers.

Probiotic therapy cuts risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia in half for some in ICU, study finds Posted: 18 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT Daily use of probiotics reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients by almost half, according to new research.

Scientists watch as bacteria evolve heat resistance under stress: New details of evolutionary mechanism Posted: 18 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists in Germany report that high concentrations of the molecular "chaperone" proteins GroEL and GroES, intracellular machines for protein folding, play a critical role in increasing the maximum temperature at which E. coli bacteria can grow. Massively and permanently elevated levels of the GroE proteins were found in bacteria adapted for growth at 48.5 degrees C. The findings have implications for both fundamental evolutionary studies and biotechnology applications.

Brain study shows that the opinions of others matters Posted: 18 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT Simon Cowell may appear to relish arguing with his fellow judges when they disagree with him, but new research out today suggests that -- at least at a neuronal level -- he would find their agreement much more satisfying. Researchers have found that the 'reward' area of the brain is activated when people agree with our opinions.

Highly efficient solar cells could result from quantum dot research Posted: 18 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT Conventional solar cell efficiency could be increased from the current limit of 30 percent to more than 60 percent, suggests new research on semiconductor nanocrystals, or quantum dots.

New complication seen in stem cell therapy: Stem cell recipient developed mysterious masses at injection sites Posted: 18 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT Following stem cell therapy, an adult patient experienced a new and previously unrecognized complication, which required removal of one of the kidneys, according to a case report. The report suggests that stem cell therapy may cause patients to develop blood vessel and bone marrow masses, the long term effects of which are unknown.

Wild sharks, redfish harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria Posted: 18 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have found antibiotic-resistant bacteria in seven species of sharks and redfish captured in waters off Belize, Florida, Louisiana and Massachusetts. Most of these wild, free-swimming fish harbored several drug-resistant bacterial strains.

Possible mechanism identified for how lithium treats bipolar disorder Posted: 18 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT Lithium has been established for more than 50 years as one of the most effective treatments for manic depression, clinically termed bipolar disorder. However, scientists have never been entirely sure exactly why it is beneficial. Now, new research suggests a possible mechanism for why lithium works, opening the door for better understanding of the illness and potentially more effective treatments.

Action of modern drug demonstrates how two ancient human systems interact Posted: 18 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT The interaction of the drug compstatin with two ancient, co-evolved human systems points to new ways for reducing clotting during dialysis for end-stage kidney disease and multiple organ failure due to sepsis, a dangerous whole-body inflammatory response to infection.

Body-image distortion predicts onset of unsafe weight-loss behaviors Posted: 18 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT Normal weight and underweight teenage girls who falsely believe they are overweight are at significantly greater risk of succumbing to unnecessary and unsafe weight-loss behaviors than girls who can accurately assess their weight status, according to new research by an expert in eating disorders and body-image perception.

Gulf oil spill: Mississippi River hydrology may help reduce oil onshore Posted: 18 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT The Gulf of Mexico: what role will the Mississippi River play in oil washing ashore and into delta wetlands? One of the spill's greatest environmental threats is to Louisiana's wetlands, scientists believe.

Connection elucidated between obesity, salt sensitivity and high blood pressure Posted: 18 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT One way obese people become salt sensitive and hypertensive has been identified. Researchers have documented a chain of events in which excess inflammatory factors resulting from excess fat cause the body to retain more sodium and, consequently, more fluid and higher blood pressure.

Astronomers study Kuiper Belt object during stellar occultation Posted: 18 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT Until now, astronomers have used telescopes to find Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs), moon-sized bodies, and obtain their spectra to determine what types of ices are on their surface. They have also used thermal-imaging techniques to get a rough idea of the size of KBOs, but other details have been difficult to glean. While astronomers think there are about 70,000 KBOs that are larger than 100 kilometers in diameter, the objects' relatively small size and location make it hard to study them in detail. One method that has been has been proposed for studying KBOs is to observe one as it passes briefly in front of a bright star; such events, known as stellar occultations, have yielded useful information about other planets in the solar system.

Post-traumatic stress disorder: Serotonin system influences vulnerability and treatment Posted: 18 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT There is a great deal of interest in factors that contribute to the vulnerability to developing post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. One factor that appears to contribute to the heritable vulnerability to PTSD is a variation in the gene that codes for the serotonin transporter, also known as the serotonin uptake site.

It's in the bones: Human bone as a biological material for environmental monitoring Posted: 18 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT Exposure to chemical pollutants is of growing concern to regulators, health workers, and environmentalist groups alike. Now, researchers in the US and Russia have demonstrated that samples of human bone can act as a biological marker for dozens of metals and toxic elements across the periodic table. They describe details in a study published in the International Journal of Environment and Health.

In predominantly African-American communities, people of all races miss out on kidney care Posted: 18 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT Regardless of race, fewer people see a kidney specialist before starting dialysis if they live in predominantly black communities, according to a new study. The results highlight the importance of understanding why patients in predominantly African-American areas are less likely to receive kidney-related care while their kidney function is clearly declining.

Malaria threat is as old as humanity, new research shows Posted: 17 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT New research shows that malaria is tens of thousands of years older than previously thought. This has the potential to inform new control strategies for the disease. Using DNA techniques scientists have found that the potentially deadly tropical disease evolved alongside anatomically modern humans and moved with our ancestors as they migrated out of Africa around 60-80,000 years ago.

Sleeping sickness study offers insight into human cells Posted: 17 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT Fresh discoveries about the parasite that causes sleeping sickness could lead to new avenues of research into treatments for the disease.

Climate change threatens food supply of 60 million people in Asia Posted: 17 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT Climate change will drastically reduce the discharge of snow and ice meltwater in a region of the Himalayas, threatening the food security of more than 60 million people in Asia in the coming decades, according to new research in Science. The Indus and Brahmaputra basins are expected to be the most adversely affected, while in the Yellow River basin the availability of irrigation water will actually increase.

Blueberry ameliorates hepatic fibrosis, study finds Posted: 17 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT A research team from China examined the effect of blueberry on hepatic fibrosis and detoxification enzyme systems in rats. The results demonstrated that blueberry has a therapeutic effect on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis by reducing hepatocyte injury and lipid peroxidation.

Maintaining privacy in a cloud: More secure environment for cloud computing Posted: 17 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT Scientists are seeking solutions for maintaining privacy in a cloud, or an Internet-based computing environment where all resources are offered on demand.

Male desire to be strong and protect family key to preventing suicides, study finds Posted: 17 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT Masculine ideals of strength coupled with strong family ties can help men combat depression and overcome thoughts of suicide, according to new research.

Carbon dioxide is the missing link to past global climate changes Posted: 17 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT Carbon dioxide is the missing ingredient in explaining the advent of Ice Ages in the Northern Hemisphere and why those cold epochs have caused changes in the tropics for the past 2.7 million years. Scientists analyzed ocean sediment cores and found a definitive link between the Ice Ages and ocean surface temperatures in the tropics. They believe carbon dioxide explains the link.

Key enzyme in melanoma cell development identified Posted: 17 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a mechanism by which an enzyme regulates gene expression and growth in melanoma cells, a finding that could someday lead to more effective drugs to attack cancers and make them more treatable.

110-foot concrete bridge withstands 8.0 earthquake simulation Posted: 17 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT After a succession of eight separate earthquake simulations, a 110-foot long, 200-ton concrete bridge model withstood a powerful jolting, three times the acceleration of the disastrous 1994 magnitude 6.9 Northridge, California earthquake, and survived in good condition.

From head to toe: Deep insights from whole body MRI Posted: 17 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT Thanks to technical progress, there are now new areas in which whole body magnetic resonance imaging can be used. In a new study, researchers present a review of possible uses, together with the limits of this radiation-free diagnostic procedure.

Storing carbon dioxide deep underground in rock form Posted: 17 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT As carbon dioxide continues to burgeon in the atmosphere causing the Earth's climate to warm, scientists are trying to find ways to remove the excess gas from the atmosphere and store it where it can cause no trouble. Researchers in Iceland have been studying the possibility of sequestration of CO2 in basalt.

Orphaned elderly serious casualty of African AIDS epidemic, study finds Posted: 17 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT The rise in AIDS death rates in sub-Saharan Africa has led to a burgeoning new category of neglected individuals -- nearly a million orphaned elderly, or older adults living alone without the benefit of any caregivers, researchers have found.

Brain comes hard-wired with working navigational neurons, rat study suggests Posted: 17 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT Are we born with an innate sense of direction, or is it learned? Research from Norway suggests that the brain comes hard-wired with working navigational neurons. While these neurons -- head direction cells, place cells and grid cells -- mature over time, they appear to function in rodents as soon as they make their first exploratory steps outside the nest.

Sense of direction in newborn rat brains is innate, scientists discover Posted: 17 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT Sense of direction is represented in the brains of newborn rats before they have explored their environment, according to new research by scientists in the UK.

As the Sun awakens, NASA keeps a wary eye on space weather Posted: 17 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT Earth and space are about to come into contact in a way that's new to human history. To make preparations, authorities in Washington, DC recently held a meeting on space weather with leading experts in the field.

Dental pulp cells for stem cell banking Posted: 17 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT Defined sets of factors can reprogram human cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. However, many types of human cells are not easily accessible to minimally invasive procedures. Researchers have now report that dental pulp cells are an optimal source of iPS cells, since they are easily obtained from extracted teeth and can be expanded under simple culture conditions.

Research will help submariners breathe more easily Posted: 17 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT Engineers in the UK and US are teaming up to develop a chemical-free way of removing carbon dioxide from the air inside deep sea human habitats.

Puffing in public housing poses serious health risks to tenants, report says Posted: 17 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT In an effort to protect children from harmful tobacco smoke exposure, health and medical professionals are pushing for a ban on smoking in public housing.

Signal like you mean it: Orangutan gestures carry specific intentional meanings, study finds Posted: 17 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT Great ape gestures have intentional meaning and are made with the expectation of specific behavioral responses, according to researchers. The study of meaning in animal communication takes a significant step forward with the authors' new systematic approach to assessing intentional meaning in the gestural communication of non-humans, applied here to a group of orangutan gestures.

Defects in immune system enzyme may increase risk of autoimmune disorders Posted: 17 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have found that rare variants in the gene coding an enzyme that controls the activity of a key immune cell occur more frequently in individuals with autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Their report identifies a pathway that could be a therapeutic target and may present a model for future investigations of the role of rare gene variants in common disorders.

Astronomers focus on revealing hidden mysteries of the universe Posted: 17 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT Secrets of the universe are to be revealed as a new telescope equipped with the world's most powerful digital camera begins its observations of the night sky. The Pan-STARRS sky survey telescope - known as PS1 - will enable scientists to better understand the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, the material that is thought to account for much of the mass of the universe but has never been proven to exist.

Biochemical pathway by which harmful molecule may raise Alzheimer's risk uncovered Posted: 17 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT A molecule implicated in Alzheimer's disease interferes with brain cells by making them unable to "recycle" the surface receptors that respond to incoming signals, researchers have found.

NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson continues Deepwater Horizon spill study mission Posted: 17 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson departed Galveston, Texas, June 15 to continue research on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill's impact on the Gulf of Mexico. During the three-week mission, the research vessel will use sophisticated acoustic and water chemistry monitoring instruments to detect and map submerged oil in coastal areas and in the deep water surrounding the BP well head.

Physical fitness may help reduce chronic disease risk in college students Posted: 17 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT Staying in shape may bolster the metabolic profiles of first-year college students, even in those with higher than desirable body fat percentages. In an epidemiological study, researchers found an association between physical fitness, body fat percentage and certain metabolic risk factors that are precursors to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes

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