ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Fossil find puts a face on early primates
• Arsenic shows promise as cancer treatment, study finds
• Footloose glaciers crack up: New detailed observations of what happens when glaciers float on ocean surface
• Those who exercise when young have stronger bones when they grow old
• Supercharged proteins enter biology's forbidden zone
• Fast food chains have significantly decreased trans fats in cooking oils, study finds
• Blind mice can 'see' thanks to special retinal cells
• Major Alzheimer's risk gene causes alterations in shapes of brain protein deposits
• Toward room-temperature superconductors: Key advance in understanding 'pseudogap' phase in high-T_c superconductors
• Finding cancer 'cold spots' can help minimize radiotherapy side-effects
• Noninvasive probing of geological core samples
• New analysis may help clarify the role of craving in addiction
• Carbon sequestration: Steam process could remove carbon dioxide to regenerate amine capture materials
• Obesity harms women's memory and brain function, study finds
• Finding diamonds: Scientists' work improves odds
• Pigs provide clues on cystic fibrosis lung disease
• Moving polymers through pores
• Future HIV vaccines: If we build it, will they come?
• Bringing molecules into view: Record-breaking high-resolution optical technique resolves objects as small as 0.5 nanometers
• Early exposure to milk protein from cows increases allergy resistance later in life, study finds
• Risks of banned drug mephedrone revealed in new research
• Spanish gene expression data promise targeting of anti-angiogenesis treatment
• A simple quantum dynamics problem?
• Waterborne diseases could cost over $500 million annually in US
• Who's queen? Insulin signaling key to caste development in bees
• Severe vasculitis: After 40 years, researchers identify possible new treatment
• Tornado safety: What is the safest room in the house?
• Plavix may be treatment for dogs at risk of thromboembolic disease
• Opening the gate to the cell's recycling center
• Brain fitness program study reveals visual memory improvement in older adults
• Unravelling the mystery of massive star birth: All stars are born the same way
• High-risk prostate cancer associated with significantly lower bone mineral content loss
• Cashew seed extract an effective anti-diabetic, study shows
• Depressed men with ED at risk for cardiovascular problems
• Elusive ant queen pheromone tracked down
• Brain responses of obese individuals are more weakly linked to feelings of hunger
• Triceratops and Torsaurus were same dinosaur at different stages
• Water's unexpected role in blood pressure control
• Tea may contain more fluoride than once thought, research shows
• Medications found to cause long term cognitive impairment of aging brain, study finds
• Rainbow trapping in light pulses
• Consumers under-predict learning curve following initial experience with product
• Record-breaking X-ray blast briefly blinds space observatory
• Problematic blood clotting contributes to Alzheimer’s disease
• 'Cool' imagery lowers hot flashes through hypnotherapy
• Lifelong doubling in death risk for men who are obese at age 20, study finds
• New generation of biological scaffolds
• Lie detection: You can't hide your lyin' eyes

Fossil find puts a face on early primates Posted: 15 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT When paleontologist Iyad Zalmout went looking for fossil whales and dinosaurs in Saudi Arabia, he never expected to come face-to-face with a significant, early primate fossil.

Arsenic shows promise as cancer treatment, study finds Posted: 15 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Miss Marple notwithstanding, arsenic might not be many people's favorite chemical. But the notorious poison does have some medical applications. Specifically, a form called arsenic trioxide has been used as a therapy for a particular type of leukemia for more than 10 years. Now researchers have shown that it may be useful in treating a variety of other cancers.

Footloose glaciers crack up: New detailed observations of what happens when glaciers float on ocean surface Posted: 15 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Glaciers that lose their footing on the seafloor and begin floating behave very erratically, according to a new study. Floating glaciers produce larger icebergs than their grounded cousins and do so at unpredictable intervals, researchers find.

Those who exercise when young have stronger bones when they grow old Posted: 15 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT The positive effects of exercise while growing up seem to last longer than previously believed. New findings suggest that physical activity when young increases bone density and size, which may mean a reduced risk of osteoporosis later in life.

Supercharged proteins enter biology's forbidden zone Posted: 15 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists are reporting discovery of a way to help proteins such as the new generation of protein-based drugs -- sometimes heralded as tomorrow's potential "miracle cures" -- get past the biochemical "Entrance Forbidden" barrier that keeps them from entering cells and doing their work. The new technique represents a new use for an engineered form of green fluorescent protein, the topic of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Fast food chains have significantly decreased trans fats in cooking oils, study finds Posted: 15 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Five major fast food chains have significantly decreased trans fats in the oils they use to cook food, according to new research.

Blind mice can 'see' thanks to special retinal cells Posted: 15 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT A new study shows mice without rods and cones function can still see -- and not just light, but also patterns and images -- thanks to a third kind of photosensitive cell in the retina.

Major Alzheimer's risk gene causes alterations in shapes of brain protein deposits Posted: 15 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have used a newly discovered class of biomarkers to investigate the possibility that the shape of brain protein deposits is different in people with Alzheimer's who have the highest-risk gene type than in those with the condition who have a neutral risk gene type.

Toward room-temperature superconductors: Key advance in understanding 'pseudogap' phase in high-T<sub>c</sub> superconductors Posted: 15 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a fundamental difference in how electrons behave at the two distinct oxygen-atom sites in a copper-oxide superconductor. Understanding this broken symmetry in the non-superconducting pseudogap phase may lead to new approaches to understanding the pseudogap, long hypothesized as a key hurdle to achieving room-temperature superconductivity.

Finding cancer 'cold spots' can help minimize radiotherapy side-effects Posted: 15 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Fine-tuning radiotherapy to take into account which parts of a patient's tumor are growing fastest could improve control of cancer while subjecting patients to lower doses of radiation

Noninvasive probing of geological core samples Posted: 15 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Tools to measure a core sample's electrical anisotropy have been sadly lacking, according to a group of researchers. To solve this problem, they found inspiration in a type of logging technology currently used by the modern oil industry. They created a device capable of noninvasively measuring electrical conductivity.

New analysis may help clarify the role of craving in addiction Posted: 15 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Psychologists have shown that behavioral economic analysis may lead to an improved understanding of craving for alcohol and other drugs. This method of studying how craving alters the way a person values a drug is fairly new, but according to the study, it may well help assess cravings more accurately and contribute to identifying more effective ways to defeat addictions.

Carbon sequestration: Steam process could remove carbon dioxide to regenerate amine capture materials Posted: 15 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated a relatively simple regeneration technique that could utilize waste steam to remove carbon dioxide from solid amine materials used to capture the greenhouse gas from the flue gases of coal-burning facilities. This steam-stripping technique could produce concentrated carbon dioxide ready for sequestration -- while readying the amine materials for further use.

Obesity harms women's memory and brain function, study finds Posted: 15 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT The more an older woman weighs, the worse her memory, according to new research. The effect is more pronounced in women who carry excess weight around their hips, known as pear shapes, than women who carry it around their waists, called apple shapes. The study of post-menopausal women is the first in the US to link obesity to poorer memory in women and to identify the body shape connection.

Finding diamonds: Scientists' work improves odds Posted: 15 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT While prospectors and geologists have been successful in finding diamonds through diligent searching, one professor and his team's work could help improve the odds by focusing future searches in particular areas.

Pigs provide clues on cystic fibrosis lung disease Posted: 15 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Aided by a new experimental model, scientists are a step closer to understanding how cystic fibrosis (CF) causes lung disease in people with the condition. The findings could help improve treatments for lung disease, which causes most of the deaths and disability among people with CF.

Moving polymers through pores Posted: 15 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT The movement of long chain polymers through nanopores is a key part of many biological processes, including the transport of RNA, DNA, and proteins. New research offers an improved theoretical model for this type of motion.

Future HIV vaccines: If we build it, will they come? Posted: 15 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT On the eve of the world's biggest AIDS conference this month in Austria, a new research review shows many people wouldn't get inoculated against HIV even if a vaccine was developed.

Bringing molecules into view: Record-breaking high-resolution optical technique resolves objects as small as 0.5 nanometers Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a technique that enables the use of optical microscopy to image objects or the distance between them with resolutions as small as 0.5 nanometers -- one-half of one billionth of a meter, or an order of magnitude smaller than the previous best. This super-resolution technique has the potential to revolutionize biological imaging.

Early exposure to milk protein from cows increases allergy resistance later in life, study finds Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT A researcher in Israel has found that babies who are fed cow milk protein early, in the form of infant formula, seem to be protected from developing an allergy to the same protein later in life.

Risks of banned drug mephedrone revealed in new research Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Pharmaceutical scientists have discovered that the recently reclassified drug mephedrone varies in quality so much that users could be at risk of overdosing. Six samples were tested, and although impurities levels were low, three samples revealed various particle size and crystalline form, which means that the drug is more likely to vary in its affect and safety on the user.

Spanish gene expression data promise targeting of anti-angiogenesis treatment Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Analyzing the expression of particular genes in lung cancers could soon allow researchers to identify groups of patients who are likely to benefit most from treatment with angiogenesis-inhibitor drugs.

A simple quantum dynamics problem? Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT New research provides the first real-time measurements of the time dependence of the individual steps of dissociation of a complex consisting of two rare gas atoms and a halogen molecule.

Waterborne diseases could cost over $500 million annually in US Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Hospitalizations for three common waterborne diseases cost the health care system as much as $539 million annually, according to new research.

Who's queen? Insulin signaling key to caste development in bees Posted: 14 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT What makes a bee grow up to be a queen? Scientists have long pondered this mystery. Now, researchers have fit a new piece into the puzzle of bee development -- a piece that also illuminates understanding about our own development and aging. The study shows that a key protein in the insulin signaling pathway plays a strong role in caste development among bees.

Severe vasculitis: After 40 years, researchers identify possible new treatment Posted: 14 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have made a major advance in treating people with a severe form of vasculitis, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, a rare but devastating disease of blood vessels. In a six-month study, a new treatment strategy provided the same benefits as the current standard of care used for more than 40 years but required less frequent treatments.

Tornado safety: What is the safest room in the house? Posted: 14 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT For 18 horrific hours on April 3, 1974, a cataclysmic group of tornados spun through and sacked 13 states and one Canadian province, ravaging some 900 square miles and killing 148 people. An iconic photo snapped afterwards speaks a thousand words: amid devastation, one thing remained intact: an interior bathroom of a single house, whose walls had not been connected to the rest of the house.

Plavix may be treatment for dogs at risk of thromboembolic disease Posted: 14 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT Companion animals that have a long-term need for anticoagulant drug therapies may soon find help in a top-selling antiplatelet drug marketed to humans: clopidogrel, commonly known by the trade-name Plavix. Researchers have found that clopidogrel may be a safe and effective treatment for dogs that need long-term anticoagulant therapy.

Opening the gate to the cell's recycling center Posted: 14 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT In cells, as in cities, disposing of garbage and recycling anything that can be reused is an essential service. In both city and cell, health problems can arise when the process breaks down.

Brain fitness program study reveals visual memory improvement in older adults Posted: 14 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT A commercial brain fitness program has been shown to improve memory in older adults, at least in the period soon after training. The findings are the first to show that practicing simple visual tasks can improve the accuracy of short-term, or "working" visual memory. The research is also one of the first to measure both mental performance and changes in neural activity caused by a cognitive training program.

Unravelling the mystery of massive star birth: All stars are born the same way Posted: 14 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Astronomers have obtained the first image of a dusty disc closely encircling a massive baby star, providing direct evidence that massive stars form in the same way as their smaller brethren.

High-risk prostate cancer associated with significantly lower bone mineral content loss Posted: 14 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Men with prostate cancer lose significantly less bone mineral content (BMC) as they age than men who are free of the disease. The findings are important because loss of BMC can play a key role in the development of fragile bones, fractures and osteoporosis.

Cashew seed extract an effective anti-diabetic, study shows Posted: 14 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Cashew seed extract shows promise as an effective anti-diabetic, according to a new study. The investigation analyzed the reputed health benefits of cashew tree products on diabetes, notably whether cashew extracts could improve the body's response to its own insulin.

Depressed men with ED at risk for cardiovascular problems Posted: 14 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT A new study finds that the presence of depressive symptoms in men with erectile dysfunction constitutes a risk factor for a major cardiovascular event.

Elusive ant queen pheromone tracked down Posted: 14 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Much like humans, social insects such as ants and bees behave differently when their mother is not around. Workers are thought to perceive the presence of their mother queen using her unique pheromones. New research in ants has tracked down the elusive queen pheromone for the first time and revealed that workers are capable of developing ovaries in preparation for laying eggs in absence of pheromones.

Brain responses of obese individuals are more weakly linked to feelings of hunger Posted: 14 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Feelings of hunger have less influence on how the brain responds to the smell and taste of food in overweight than healthy weight individuals,

Triceratops and Torsaurus were same dinosaur at different stages Posted: 14 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Triceratops and Torosaurus were the same dinosaur at different stages of growth, according to new research. Since the late 1800s, scientists have believed that Triceratops and Torosaurus were two different types of dinosaurs. Triceratops had a three-horned skull with a rather short frill, whereas Torosaurus had a much bigger frill with two large holes through it.

Water's unexpected role in blood pressure control Posted: 14 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have shown that ordinary water -- without any additives -- does more than just quench thirst. It has some other unexpected, physiological effects. It increases the activity of the sympathetic -- fight or flight -- nervous system, which raises alertness, blood pressure and energy expenditure.

Tea may contain more fluoride than once thought, research shows Posted: 14 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Black tea, a Southern staple and the world's most consumed beverage, may contain higher concentrations of fluoride than previously thought, which could pose problems for the heaviest tea drinkers, researchers say.

Medications found to cause long term cognitive impairment of aging brain, study finds Posted: 14 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Drugs commonly taken for a variety of common medical conditions including insomnia, allergies, or incontinence negatively affect the brain causing long term cognitive impairment in older African-Americans, according to a new study which reported that taking one anticholinergic significantly increased an individual's risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and taking two of these drugs doubled this risk.

Rainbow trapping in light pulses Posted: 14 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Scientists in China have shown how a rather wide spectrum of light -- a rainbow of radiation -- can be trapped in a single structure. They propose to do this by sending the light rays into a self-similar-structured dielectric waveguide -- essentially a light pipe with a cladding of many layers.

Consumers under-predict learning curve following initial experience with product Posted: 14 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT A new study found that consumers often quit using products that would be beneficial for them in the long run because they experience a short period of pessimism during their initial encounter with skill-based products as varied as knitting needles and mobile devices.

Record-breaking X-ray blast briefly blinds space observatory Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT A blast of the brightest X-rays ever detected from beyond our Milky Way galaxy's neighborhood temporarily blinded the X-ray eye on NASA's Swift space observatory earlier this summer, astronomers now report. The X-rays traveled through space for 5-billion years before slamming into and overwhelming Swift's X-ray Telescope. The blinding blast is by far the brightest light source ever seen in X-ray wavelengths at cosmological distances.

Problematic blood clotting contributes to Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT Alzheimer's disease has long been studied primarily as a disease of neurons. But researchers have now shown how the disease may be damaging the brain by choking off blood flow. Scientists have revealed that amyloid-beta, which builds up around brain cells in Alzheimer's patients, interacts with a common blood clotting agent to increase clotting in the arteries that feed the brain. Such activity could cut off blood flow to neurons, suffocating them over time.

'Cool' imagery lowers hot flashes through hypnotherapy Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT With an estimated 85 percent of women experiencing hot flashes as they approach menopause, researchers are concentrating on finding effective treatments that do not include hormonal or other pharmaceutical therapies. Now, a new study has shown that women who specifically pictured images associated with coolness during hypnotherapy had a dramatic decrease in hot flashes.

Lifelong doubling in death risk for men who are obese at age 20, study finds Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT A study tracking more than 5,000 military conscripts from the age of 20 until up to the age of 80 found the chance of dying early increased by 10 percent for each BMI point above the threshold for a healthy weight and that this persisted throughout life, with the obese dying about eight years earlier than the non-obese.

New generation of biological scaffolds Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists in the UK are conducting research into how biological scaffolding can pave the way for off- the-shelf tissue transplants.

Lie detection: You can't hide your lyin' eyes Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT Shifty eyes long have been thought to signify a person's problem telling the truth. Now a group of researchers are taking that old adage to a new level. Educational psychologists are using eye-tracking technology to pioneer a promising alternative to the polygraph for lie detection.

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