ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Saturn propellers reflect solar system origins
• Antibody may help treat and prevent influenza outbreaks
• Better barriers can help levees withstand wave erosion
• Protein that predicts prognosis of leukemia patients may also be a therapeutic target
• Novel ion trap with optical fiber could link atoms and light in quantum networks
• Moms' favoritism tied to depression in adulthood
• Researchers use robot to determine how human strangers develop trust
• Honey bee venom may help design new treatments to alleviate muscular dystrophy, depression and dementia
• New spin on drug delivery: Chemical engineers discover an enhanced delivery method of DNA payloads into cells
• Severe angina poses three times the coronary artery disease risk for women than men
• Rain of giant gas clouds create active galactic nuclei: New research explains how galaxy centers light up
• Homicide and suicide rates among mentally ill on the decline, UK study finds
• Fireflies blink in synch to send a clear message
• Scientists use computer algorithms to develop seasonal flu vaccines
• Heavy metal rock set to take the stage
• Simple diagnostic tool predicts Type 2 diabetes in Southeast Asians
• New system helps locate car park spaces
• Marijuana derivative could be useful for pain treatment
• Wild cat found mimicking monkey calls; Predatory trickery documented for the first time in wild felids in Americas
• Neural stem cells attack glioblastoma cells
• Mathematical formula predicts clear favorite for the FIFA World Cup
• Study suggests link between scleroderma, cancer in certain patients
• Tiny clays curb big earthquakes
• What do you want to be when you grow up, Mr. Doctor?
• Origins of multicellularity: All in the family
• Early Alzheimer's identification method discovered
• Miniature energy harvesting technology could power wireless electronics
• Extremely obese children have 40 percent higher risk of reflux disease of esophagus, study finds
• Nematodes vanquish billion dollar pest
• Executives who take the fewest risks have the most negative emotions, Spanish study finds

Saturn propellers reflect solar system origins Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Scientists using NASA's Cassini spacecraft at Saturn have stalked a new class of moons in the rings of Saturn that create distinctive propeller-shaped gaps in ring material. It marks the first time scientists have been able to track the orbits of individual objects in a debris disk. The research gives scientists an opportunity to time-travel back into the history of our solar system to reveal clues about disks around other stars in our universe that are too far away to observe directly.

Antibody may help treat and prevent influenza outbreaks Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a monoclonal antibody that is effective against "avian" H5N1, seasonal H1N1 and the 2009 "swine" H1N1 influenza. Scientists have shown that this antibody potently prevents and treats the swine H1N1 influenza in mouse models of the disease.

Better barriers can help levees withstand wave erosion Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT A new barrier design could protect reservoir levees from the erosive forces of wind-driven waves, according new research. These findings could help lower the maintenance costs for constructed ponds in the lower Mississippi Delta where levee repairs can average $3 per foot -- and sometimes are needed just five years after a reservoir is built.

Protein that predicts prognosis of leukemia patients may also be a therapeutic target Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers at Whitehead Institute and Children's Hospital Boston have identified a protein, called Musashi 2, that is predictive of prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia patients. Diagnosed in an estimated 48,000 new patients annually, leukemia is blood cancer characterized by an overgrowth of certain blood cells. Musashi 2 and the cellular functions it affects could potentially represent therapeutic targets in certain types of leukemia.

Novel ion trap with optical fiber could link atoms and light in quantum networks Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Physicists have demonstrated an ion trap with a built-in optical fiber that collects light emitted by single ions, allowing quantum information stored in the ions to be measured. The advance could simplify quantum computer design and serve as a step toward swapping information between matter and light in future quantum networks.

Moms' favoritism tied to depression in adulthood Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Whether mom's golden child or her black sheep, siblings who sense that their mother consistently favors or rejects one child over others are more likely to show depressive symptoms as middle-aged adults, finds a new study.

Researchers use robot to determine how human strangers develop trust Posted: 10 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT What can a wide-eyed, talking robot teach us about trust? A lot, according to psychology professors who are conducting innovative research to determine how humans decide to trust strangers -- and if those decisions are accurate.

Honey bee venom may help design new treatments to alleviate muscular dystrophy, depression and dementia Posted: 10 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists researching a toxin extracted from the venom of the honey bee have used this to inform the design of new treatments to alleviate the symptoms of conditions such as muscular dystrophy, depression and dementia.

New spin on drug delivery: Chemical engineers discover an enhanced delivery method of DNA payloads into cells Posted: 10 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Chemical engineers have discovered how to "greatly enhance" the delivery of DNA payloads into cells. Lu's ultimate goal is to apply this technique to create genetically modified cells for cancer immunotherapy, stem cell therapy and tissue regeneration.

Severe angina poses three times the coronary artery disease risk for women than men Posted: 10 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Women who have the most serious form of angina are three times as likely to develop severe coronary artery disease (CAD) as men with the same condition, according to a new study.

Rain of giant gas clouds create active galactic nuclei: New research explains how galaxy centers light up Posted: 10 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Galaxies like our own were built billions of years ago from a deluge of giant clouds of gas, some of which continue to rain down. Now new calculations tie the rain of giant clouds of gas to active galactic nuclei, the extremely bright centers of some galaxies.

Homicide and suicide rates among mentally ill on the decline, UK study finds Posted: 10 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT People with mental health problems are committing fewer homicides while the number of suicides by mental health patients has also fallen, latest figures reveal; a previous rise in homicides by mentally ill people may have been the result of drug misuse, says the report.

Fireflies blink in synch to send a clear message Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT For decades, scientists have speculated about why some fireflies exhibit synchronous flashing, in which large groups produce rhythmic, repeated flashes in unison -- sometimes lighting up a whole forest at once. Now, the first experiments on the function of this phenomenon suggest that synchronous flashing preserves female fireflies' recognition of suitable mates.

Scientists use computer algorithms to develop seasonal flu vaccines Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Computer scientists have developed a rapid and effective approach to produce vaccines for new strains of influenza viruses. The researchers hope to develop the new technology and provide an efficient method to confront the threat of seasonal epidemics.

Heavy metal rock set to take the stage Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT On its way to a 2014 rendezvous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft, with NASA instruments aboard, will fly past asteroid Lutetia this Saturday, July 10. The instruments aboard Rosetta will record the first close-up image of a metal asteroid. They will also make measurements to help scientists derive the mass of the object, understand the properties of the asteroid's surface crust, record the solar wind in the vicinity and look for evidence of an atmosphere.

Simple diagnostic tool predicts Type 2 diabetes in Southeast Asians Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Australian and Vietnamese researchers have estimated the current prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Vietnam, and have developed a simple tool for identifying individuals at high risk. Often triggered by sedentary lifestyles and high-fat or high-sugar diets, diabetes is a condition where the body becomes less able to make and use insulin, a hormone that reduces sugar in the blood by moving it into cells for energy use.

New system helps locate car park spaces Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers in Spain have developed a system to locate unoccupied car spaces on the street and guide users to the nearest available space. The system has been named XALOC and is based on new positioning technology offering more precision in urban areas than GPS technology.

Marijuana derivative could be useful for pain treatment Posted: 10 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT A new compound similar to the active component of marijuana (cannabis) might provide effective pain relief without the mental and physical side effects of cannabis, according to a new study.

Wild cat found mimicking monkey calls; Predatory trickery documented for the first time in wild felids in Americas Posted: 09 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT In a fascinating example of vocal mimicry, researchers have documented a wild cat species imitating the call of its intended victim: a small, squirrel-sized monkey known as a pied tamarin. This is the first recorded instance of a wild cat species in the Americas mimicking the calls of its prey.

Neural stem cells attack glioblastoma cells Posted: 09 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Scientists in Germany have demonstrated how the brain's own stem cells and precursor cells control the growth of glioblastomas. Of all brain tumors, glioblastomas are among the most common and most aggressive. They have now shown in cell culture and mouse model experiments just how the body's own protective mechanism they identified in an earlier study, actually works.

Mathematical formula predicts clear favorite for the FIFA World Cup Posted: 09 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT A sophisticated new analysis of team tactics predicts a Spanish win in Sunday's FIFA World Cup final and also shows why England were beaten by Germany.

Study suggests link between scleroderma, cancer in certain patients Posted: 09 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Patients with a certain type of scleroderma may get cancer and scleroderma simultaneously, researchers have found, suggesting that in some diseases, autoimmunity and cancer may be linked.

Tiny clays curb big earthquakes Posted: 09 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT California's San Andreas fault is notorious for repeatedly generating major earthquakes and for being on the brink of producing the next "big one" in a heavily populated area. But the famously violent fault also has quieter sections, where rocks easily slide against each other without giving rise to damaging quakes.

What do you want to be when you grow up, Mr. Doctor? Posted: 09 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT New research in Names: A Journal of Onomastics has found that people's names can influence the type of career they take.

Origins of multicellularity: All in the family Posted: 09 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT One of the most pivotal steps in evolution -- the transition from unicellular to multicellular organisms -- may not have required as much retooling as commonly believed, scientists have found. A comparison of the genomes of the multicellular algae Volvox carteri and its closest unicellular relative Chlamydomonas reinhardtii revealed that multicellular organisms may have been able to build their more complex molecular machinery largely from the same list of parts that was already available to their unicellular ancestors.

Early Alzheimer's identification method discovered Posted: 09 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Abnormal brain images combined with examination of the composition of the fluid that surrounds the spine may offer the earliest signs identifying healthy older adults at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, well before cognitive problems emerge, a new study has found.

Miniature energy harvesting technology could power wireless electronics Posted: 09 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Newly published research focuses on miniature energy harvesting technologies that could potentially power wireless electronics, portable devices, stretchable electronics, and implantable biosensors.

Extremely obese children have 40 percent higher risk of reflux disease of esophagus, study finds Posted: 09 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT A study of 690,000 children found extremely obese children have a 40 percent higher risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease and moderately obese children have a 30 percent higher risk of GERD compared to normal weight children. This large population-based study establishes an association between obesity and GERD in children, an association previously reported in adults. GERD leads to chronic respiratory conditions, and increased risk for esophageal cancer, the nation's fastest growing cancer.

Nematodes vanquish billion dollar pest Posted: 09 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Diabrotica virgifera virgifera beetle larvae (known as western corn rootworm) wreak havoc on maize, causing an estimated $1 billion of damage every year to US agriculture. Knowing that Heterorhabditis bacteriophora nematodes kill the pest, researchers in Switzerland have successfully improved the nematode's response to a chemical, (E)-beta-caryophyllene, released by damaged maize roots, to attract the nematodes directly to the pest in a bid to produce an environmentally safe pesticide.

Executives who take the fewest risks have the most negative emotions, Spanish study finds Posted: 09 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have studied the influence of emotional traits of the character in directors of Spanish banks and savings banks when making strategic decisions. The study concludes that executives who display the most negative emotions have less of a tendency to take risks.

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