ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Zapping Titan-like atmosphere with UV rays creates life precursors
• Impulsive, weak-willed or just too much dopamine? Brain study highlights role of dopamine in impulsive behavior
• Putting muscle into birdsong: Wide range of pitch is due to vocal muscles more than air pressure
• Nitrate in beetroot juice lowers blood pressure, study finds
• Diamonds and the holy grail of quantum computing
• Olympic gold? A new effect of caffeine boosts performance
• Hunting weapon 10,000 years old found in melting ice patch
• How dietary supplement may block cancer cells
• Desert bats reveal the secret of their survival
• Understanding how folic acid might help heal brain and spinal cord injuries
• NASA instrument will identify clues to Martian past
• Venetian blinds can cause accidental strangulation
• 'Galactic archaeologists' find origin of Milky Way's ancient stars
• Mystery unraveled: How asbestos causes cancer
• Discovery of controlled swarm in bacteria: Could help design new strategies to increase sensitivity to antibiotics
• Treating depression with Omega-3: Encouraging results from largest clinical study
• Returning farmland to wilderness in Tanzania
• IVF linked to autism, Israeli study suggests
• Depressed mice could aid research on drug-resistant depression in humans
• Spinal cord stimulation may benefit Parkinson's patients
• Viral protein structure study offers HIV therapy hope
• Near-normal blood sugar target did not delay risk of organ damage in people with diabetes, study finds
• When two parts of the Earth's crust break apart, this does not always cause massive volcanic eruptions
• Smarter lunchrooms lead kids to eat more salad
• Arctic climate may be more sensitive to warming than thought, says new study
• Engineered antibodies directed against a promising therapeutic target on ovarian cancer cells
• Defective signaling pathway leads to vascular malformations in the brain
• Eye study finds two therapies slow diabetic eye disease progression
• Large medical center reduces cumulative radiation exposure and CT scans through imaging algorithm, study finds
• Scholar calls for a new legal, ethical framework for research with human tissue specimens
• Combination MMRV vaccine linked with two-fold risk of seizures, study finds
• Is this the perfect prawn?
• No link between diabetes drug rosiglitazone and increased rate of heart attack, study finds
• Science uncovers the hidden secrets of world-famous paintings
• Conscious choice of food can substantially mitigate climate change, research finds
• Despite countless changes, original HIV infection lurks within
• Alzheimer's imaging study identifies changes in brain's white matter
• Weight and children with developmental coordination disorder
• Delta bulrush plant could help ease oil spill crisis, botanist says
• Age doesn't necessarily affect decision-making, study shows
• Embryonic cell and adult pig islet transplants cure diabetes in rats
• Surprising find may yield new avenue of treatment for painful herniated discs
• Bees help to beat MRSA bugs
• Can too much HDL be harmful to women with type 1 diabetes?
• Earplug lets the message through
• Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may damage semen quality in sons

Zapping Titan-like atmosphere with UV rays creates life precursors Posted: 30 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT The first experimental evidence showing how atmospheric nitrogen can be incorporated into organic macromolecules is being reported by researchers. The finding indicates what organic molecules might be found on Titan, the moon of Saturn that scientists think is a model for the chemistry of pre-life Earth. Earth and Titan are the only known planetary-sized bodies that have thick, predominantly nitrogen atmospheres.

Impulsive, weak-willed or just too much dopamine? Brain study highlights role of dopamine in impulsive behavior Posted: 30 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT It's a common scenario: you're on a diet, determined to give up eating cakes, but as you pass the cake counter, all resolve disappears. Now, scientists have shed light on the brain processes that affect our will-power and make us act impulsively.

Putting muscle into birdsong: Wide range of pitch is due to vocal muscles more than air pressure Posted: 30 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT Female zebra finches don't sing but make one-note, low-pitch calls. Males sing over a wide range of frequencies. Scientists discovered how: The males' stronger vocal muscles, not the pressure of air flowing through their lungs, lets them sing from the B note above middle C all the way to a whistle beyond the high end of a piano keyboard.

Nitrate in beetroot juice lowers blood pressure, study finds Posted: 30 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT The nitrate content of beetroot juice is the underlying cause of its blood pressure lowering benefits, research reveals. A new study finds that blood pressure was lowered within 24 hours in people who took nitrate tablets, and people who drank beetroot juice.

Diamonds and the holy grail of quantum computing Posted: 30 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT Most candidate systems for quantum computing work only at very low temperatures. Now a team of researchers from China may have a warmer solution. The team is exploring the capabilities of diamond nitrogen vacancy materials.

Olympic gold? A new effect of caffeine boosts performance Posted: 30 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT UK scientists show for the first time that high doses of caffeine directly increase muscle power and endurance during sub-maximal activities, which in humans ranges from everyday activities to running a marathon. With no current regulations in place, the scientists believe their findings may have implications for the use of caffeine in sport to improve performance.

Hunting weapon 10,000 years old found in melting ice patch Posted: 30 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT A researcher has discovered a 10,000-year-old atlatl dart that had melted out of an ice patch in the Rocky Mountains. Climate change has increased global temperatures and accelerated melting of permanent ice fields, exposing organic materials that have long been entombed in the ice.

How dietary supplement may block cancer cells Posted: 30 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new study shows how a substance produced when eating broccoli and Brussels sprouts can block the proliferation of cancer cells. Earlier evidence indicates that the substance indole-3-carbinol may have anticancer effects and other health benefits. The new study discovered that I3C causes the destruction of another molecule, called Cdc25A, which is essential for cell division and proliferation, and in this way blocks breast cancer cell growth.

Desert bats reveal the secret of their survival Posted: 30 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT Desert bats reduce water loss by changing the make-up of their skin, allowing them to thrive in some of the world's most inhospitable environments. This is surprising given the anatomy of bats and the energy they expend in flight and may provide significant insight into how bats might respond to a future changing climate.

Understanding how folic acid might help heal brain and spinal cord injuries Posted: 30 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT Babies born to women who do not consume enough folic acid are at high risk of developing neural tube defects. This is the reason underlying the recommendation that women who are pregnant take a folic acid supplement. New research using rodents now suggests how folic acid might also help promote healing in injured brain and spinal cord.

NASA instrument will identify clues to Martian past Posted: 30 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT NASA's Curiosity rover, coming together for a late 2011 launch to Mars, has a newly installed component: a key onboard X-ray instrument for helping the mission achieve its goals. Researchers will use Curiosity in an intriguing area of Mars to search for modern or ancient habitable environments, including any that may have also been favorable for preserving clues about life and environment.

Venetian blinds can cause accidental strangulation Posted: 30 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT A pediatrician is calling for Venetian blinds to be redesigned to safeguard babies and toddlers from accidentally being strangled to death by the looped cords.

'Galactic archaeologists' find origin of Milky Way's ancient stars Posted: 30 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT Many of the Milky Way's ancient stars are remnants of other smaller galaxies torn apart by violent galactic collisions around five billion years ago, according to researchers.

Mystery unraveled: How asbestos causes cancer Posted: 30 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT More than 20 million people in the US, and many more worldwide, who have been exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma, a malignant cancer of the membranes that cover the lungs and abdomen that is resistant to current therapies. Moreover, asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer among smokers. For the past 40 years researchers have tried to understand why asbestos causes cancer.

Discovery of controlled swarm in bacteria: Could help design new strategies to increase sensitivity to antibiotics Posted: 30 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have described one of the mechanisms in which pathogenic bacteria populations control the way they spread over the surface of the organs they infect and stop when they detect the presence of an antibiotic, only to resume again when the effect wears off. The star of this process is the RecA protein, which significantly increases its concentration at the start of the bacteria DNA repair mechanism.

Treating depression with Omega-3: Encouraging results from largest clinical study Posted: 30 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT The use of Omega-3 supplements is effective among patients with major depression who do not have anxiety disorders, according to a recent clinical study -- the largest ever conducted assessing Omega-3's efficacy in treating major depression.

Returning farmland to wilderness in Tanzania Posted: 30 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT The Swiss wanted to rear cattle in Tanzania and in so doing completely disturbed the ecosystem: the example of the Mkwaja Ranch shows how dependent agriculture is on a functioning ecosystem. And what a serious effect its encroachment can have on a sensitive balance.

IVF linked to autism, Israeli study suggests Posted: 30 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists in Israel have reported a strong link between IVF and mild to moderate cases of autism. In their study, 10.5% of 461 children diagnosed with a disorder on the autism spectrum were conceived using IVF, a significantly higher number than the 3.5% autism rate in the general Israeli population.

Depressed mice could aid research on drug-resistant depression in humans Posted: 30 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT New research shows that a unique strain of laboratory mice has behavioral, hormonal, and neurochemical characteristics that are similar to those of human patients with drug-resistant forms of depression. The mice -- which have a defect in a gene -- are expected to be useful as a new model organism in the effort to develop more effective medications for specific forms of depression.

Spinal cord stimulation may benefit Parkinson's patients Posted: 30 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT Spinal cord stimulation may be able to modulate Parkinson's disease symptoms, recent research suggests.

Viral protein structure study offers HIV therapy hope Posted: 30 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT A new research project is helping further the understanding of HIV viral protein structure which could lead to new molecular medicines.

Near-normal blood sugar target did not delay risk of organ damage in people with diabetes, study finds Posted: 30 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT In people with longstanding type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for heart attack and stroke, lowering blood sugar to near-normal levels did not delay the combined risk of diabetic damage to kidneys, eyes, or nerves, but did delay several other signs of diabetic damage, a study has found. The intensive glucose treatment was compared with standard glucose control.

When two parts of the Earth's crust break apart, this does not always cause massive volcanic eruptions Posted: 30 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT New research reveals that when two parts of the Earth's crust break apart, this does not always cause massive volcanic eruptions. The study explains why some parts of the world saw massive volcanic eruptions millions of years ago and others did not.

Smarter lunchrooms lead kids to eat more salad Posted: 30 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT In a year-long study in an upstate New York middle school, researchers examined the effect of moving the salad bar to a more prominent location in the cafeteria. Results show that sales of certain salad bar items increased by 250-300 percent.

Arctic climate may be more sensitive to warming than thought, says new study Posted: 29 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT A new study shows the Arctic climate system may be more sensitive to greenhouse warming than previously thought, and that current levels of Earth's atmospheric carbon dioxide may be high enough to bring about significant, irreversible shifts in Arctic ecosystems.

Engineered antibodies directed against a promising therapeutic target on ovarian cancer cells Posted: 29 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT Stealthy and stubborn, ovarian cancer is a particularly vexing malignancy, difficult to diagnose in early stages and difficult to treat once it progresses further. However, research is now focusing on one of the most promising new approaches to dealing with the disease -- using engineered antibodies to target tumor cells while leaving healthy cells intact.

Defective signaling pathway leads to vascular malformations in the brain Posted: 29 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT A disrupted signaling pathway in endothelial cells, which line the insides of blood vessels, leads to cavernomas, vascular malformations in the brain which are often dangerous. Researchers have found the cause of one of the most common human malformations and point out that cavernomas might be treated by drugs which inhibit vascular growth.

Eye study finds two therapies slow diabetic eye disease progression Posted: 29 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT In high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes, researchers have found that two therapies may slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in working-age Americans.

Large medical center reduces cumulative radiation exposure and CT scans through imaging algorithm, study finds Posted: 29 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT A large, academic medical center implemented an imaging algorithm that allowed radiologists to successfully reduce the cumulative radiation exposure and number of computed tomography (CT) angiography and CT perfusion studies performed on patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages (a form of stroke), according to a new study.

Scholar calls for a new legal, ethical framework for research with human tissue specimens Posted: 29 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT A bioethics expert says a new legal and ethical framework needs to be placed around the donation and banking of human biological material, one that would more clearly define the terms of the material's use -- and address donor expectations before research begins.

Combination MMRV vaccine linked with two-fold risk of seizures, study finds Posted: 29 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT The combination vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox is associated with double the risk of febrile seizures for 1- to 2-year-old children compared with same-day administration of the separate vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella and the varicella vaccine for chicken pox. Funded by the US Centers for Disease Control, the study analyzed 459,000 children 1 to 2 years old from numerous health systems across the US receiving their first dose of measles-containing vaccine.

Is this the perfect prawn? Posted: 29 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT After 10 years of careful breeding and research, scientists have developed what could be the world's most perfect prawn.

No link between diabetes drug rosiglitazone and increased rate of heart attack, study finds Posted: 29 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT The diabetes drug rosiglitazone has been under intense scrutiny since a 2007 study linked the drug's use with increased risk of heart attack and death from heart disease. Now, in a post-trial analysis of results from an international clinical trial of diabetes patients with cardiovascular disease, researchers at several major centers across the country report no increased rate of heart attack or death in patients taking the drug.

Science uncovers the hidden secrets of world-famous paintings Posted: 29 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT The hidden secrets of some of the world's most famous paintings have been revealed, thanks to a partnership between the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the National Gallery.

Conscious choice of food can substantially mitigate climate change, research finds Posted: 29 Jun 2010 08:00 PM PDT Reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products and improving agricultural practices could decrease global greenhouse gas emissions substantially. By 2055 the emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from agriculture could be cut by more than eighty percent, researchers have found in a new modeling study.

Despite countless changes, original HIV infection lurks within Posted: 29 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have been surprised to learn that, despite thousands of changes that viruses like HIV undergo in rapid fashion to evade the body's immune system, the original version that caused the infection is still present in the body months later.

Alzheimer's imaging study identifies changes in brain's white matter Posted: 29 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have used MRI to detect deterioration of white matter tracts in the brains of older adults at high risk for Alzheimer's disease. Data suggest that changes in white matter connections may be among the earliest brain changes in Alzheimer's disease, which may prove important for early detection by noninvasive imaging.

Weight and children with developmental coordination disorder Posted: 29 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT Children with developmental coordination disorder are at greater risk of being overweight or obese, according to a new study.

Delta bulrush plant could help ease oil spill crisis, botanist says Posted: 29 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT A botanist who first profiled and named the delta bulrush says the plant has natural properties that could help reduce the impact of the Gulf oil spill on the Mississippi delta.

Age doesn't necessarily affect decision-making, study shows Posted: 29 Jun 2010 05:00 PM PDT Many people believe that getting older means losing a mental edge, leading to poor decision-making. But a new study shows that when it comes to making intuitive decisions -- using your "gut instincts" -- older adults fare as well as their juniors. The study found that education plays a key role as well.

Embryonic cell and adult pig islet transplants cure diabetes in rats Posted: 29 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT In a step toward curing diabetes in humans, scientists have alleviated the disease in rats using transplants from both embryonic and adult pigs.

Surprising find may yield new avenue of treatment for painful herniated discs Posted: 29 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT An immune cell known to cause chronic inflammation in autoimmune disorders has been identified as a possible culprit in low back pain associated with herniated discs, according to doctors.

Bees help to beat MRSA bugs Posted: 29 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT Bees could have a key role to play in urgently needed new treatments to fight the virulent MRSA bug, according new research from Scotland.

Can too much HDL be harmful to women with type 1 diabetes? Posted: 29 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT Elevated blood levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol, typically thought to protect against heart disease, may do the opposite in women with type 1 diabetes, according to new research.

Earplug lets the message through Posted: 29 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT An earplug with a built-in computer that allows speech to pass but shuts out unwanted and hazardous noise will make life easier in noisy environments.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may damage semen quality in sons Posted: 29 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT Mothers who drink alcohol while they are pregnant may be damaging the fertility of their future sons, according to new research.

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