ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Rocks on Mars may provide link to evidence of living organisms roughly 4 billion years ago
• Calcium supplements linked to increased risk of heart attack, study finds
• Audubon's first engraving of a bird discovered
• Resting brain activity associated with spontaneous fibromyalgia pain
• Black carbon implicated in global warming
• Most youth hockey injuries caused by accidents, not checking, study shows
• Brown dwarf found orbiting a young sun-like star
• Cell-of-origin for human prostate cancer identified for first time
• Fluorescent biosensor to aid in drug development
• Vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy for localized prostate cancer
• Chemicals are likely cause of feminization of fish present in two rivers in Alberta, Canada, researchers find
• Psychologists develop two potent new predictors of suicide risk
• Some trees 'farm' bacteria to help supply nutrients
• Key enzyme in DNA repair pathway identified
• Best hope for saving Arctic sea ice is cutting soot emissions, say researchers
• Kidney injury prevention may be possible: Watch for the warning signs
• Researchers study benefits of white button mushrooms
• Migrating birds can’t control themselves
• Graphene exhibits bizarre new behavior well suited to electronic devices
• New pathway to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases
• Protein complex reveals molecular mechanism of innate immune response
• Women in their 40s have lower mammographic tumor detectability, study finds
• Polarstern expedition: Autonomous underwater vehicle dives under the Arctic ice
• Reform of primary care could reduce diagnostic errors
• New biodegradable compound facilitates bone regeneration in cases of substantial loss
• Reforestation Projects Capture More Carbon Than Industrial Plantations, Reveals New Research
• Tools that assess bias in standardized tests are flawed
• Clinical trials can be improved by managing the learning curve
• Signs of reversal of Arctic cooling: Rapid temperature rise in the coldest region of mainland Europe
• Adolescent vision screenings may miss farsightedness and astigmatism
• Laboratory in microdrops: Credit card-size microflow system handles thousands of experiments
• One molecule, many more insulin-producing cells to treat diabetes
• Sensing wind speed with kites
• To make one happy, make one busy
• Accepted theory explaining frequent eruptions at Italy’s Stromboli volcano questioned
• Molecular mechanism triggering Parkinson's disease identified
• Good and bad in the hands of politicians
• Intensive chemotherapy may be harmful to most older patients with acute myeloid leukemia
• Super-rare 'elkhorn' coral found in Pacific
• No safe level: First study to show teenage binge drinkers harm abilities in later life
• Aging and longevity tied to specific brain region in mice
• New class of drugs for epileptic seizures?
• More frequent, more intense heat waves in store for New York, climate scientists predict
• Vitamin D deficiency linked to arterial stiffness in black teens
• RNA offers a safer way to reprogram cells
• Western diet link to ADHD, Australian study finds
• Swimmers at sub-tropical beaches show increased risk of illness, study suggests
• Mystery of healthy fat people: Why some obese people go on to become diabetic while others do not

Rocks on Mars may provide link to evidence of living organisms roughly 4 billion years ago Posted: 30 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new paper reveals groundbreaking research on the hydrothermal formation of Clay-Carbonate rocks in the Nili Fossae region of Mars. The findings may provide a link to evidence of living organisms on Mars, roughly 4 billion years ago in the Noachian period.

Calcium supplements linked to increased risk of heart attack, study finds Posted: 30 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Calcium supplements, commonly taken by older people for osteoporosis, are associated with an increased risk of a heart attack, a new study finds.

Audubon's first engraving of a bird discovered Posted: 30 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT In 1824, John James Audubon (1785-1851), the eminent American artist, created a drawing of a running grouse for use in the design for a New Jersey bank note. Although the artist mentions the drawing and the resulting engraved paper money in two separate diary entries, no one has ever been able to locate or identify such an illustration. Until now.

Resting brain activity associated with spontaneous fibromyalgia pain Posted: 30 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT A recent study provides the first direct evidence of linkage between elevated intrinsic (resting-state) brain connectivity and spontaneous pain intensity in patients with fibromyalgia. This research shows an interaction of multiple brain networks, offering greater understanding of how pain arises.

Black carbon implicated in global warming Posted: 30 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Increasing the ratio of black carbon to sulfate in the atmosphere increases climate warming, suggests a new study.

Most youth hockey injuries caused by accidents, not checking, study shows Posted: 30 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Hockey fans likely would assume that body-checking -- intentionally slamming an opponent against the boards -- causes the most injuries in youth ice hockey. But they would be wrong.

Brown dwarf found orbiting a young sun-like star Posted: 30 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Astronomers have imaged a very young brown dwarf, or failed star, in a tight orbit around a young nearby sun-like star. The discovery is expected to shed light on the early stages of solar system formation.

Cell-of-origin for human prostate cancer identified for first time Posted: 30 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have identified for the first time a cell-of-origin for human prostate cancer, a discovery that could result in better predictive and diagnostics tools and the development of new and more effective targeted treatments for the disease.

Fluorescent biosensor to aid in drug development Posted: 30 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new fluorescent biosensor that could aid in the development of an important class of drugs that target a crucial class of proteins called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs are popular drug targets because of the pivotal role they play in cells' communication circuits responsible for regulating functions critical to health, including circuits involved in heart and lung function, mood, cognition and memory, digestion and the inflammatory response.

Vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy for localized prostate cancer Posted: 30 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT NYU Langone Medical Center has begun a clinical trial offering vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy to patients with localized prostate cancer. This novel, minimally invasive procedure uses a light-activated drug to deliver light energy waves by way of laser fibers in order to destroy prostate cancer cells.

Chemicals are likely cause of feminization of fish present in two rivers in Alberta, Canada, researchers find Posted: 30 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Chemicals present in two rivers in southern Alberta are likely the cause of the feminization of fish, say researchers.

Psychologists develop two potent new predictors of suicide risk Posted: 30 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Two powerful new tests developed by psychologists show great promise in predicting patients' risk of attempting suicide. The work may help clinicians overcome their reliance on self-reporting by at-risk individuals, information that often proves misleading when suicidal patients wish to hide their intentions.

Some trees 'farm' bacteria to help supply nutrients Posted: 30 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Some trees growing in nutrient-poor forest soil may get what they need by cultivating specific root microbes to create compounds they require. These microbes are exceptionally efficient at turning inorganic minerals into nutrients that the trees can use.

Key enzyme in DNA repair pathway identified Posted: 30 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered an enzyme crucial to a type of DNA repair that also causes resistance to a class of cancer drugs most commonly used against ovarian cancer.

Best hope for saving Arctic sea ice is cutting soot emissions, say researchers Posted: 30 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Soot from the burning of fossil fuels and solid biofuels contributes far more to global warming than has been thought, according to a new study. But, unlike carbon dioxide, soot lingers only a few weeks in the atmosphere, so cutting emissions could have a significant and rapid impact on the climate. Controlling it may be the only option for saving the Arctic sea ice before it all melts.

Kidney injury prevention may be possible: Watch for the warning signs Posted: 30 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Reduced kidney function and protein in the urine place a person at risk for kidney injury, according to a new study. The results suggest that improved recognition of these warning signs could help reduce preventable forms of acute kidney injury.

Researchers study benefits of white button mushrooms Posted: 30 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have conducted an animal-model and cell-culture study showing that white button mushrooms enhanced the activity of critical cells in the body's immune system.

Migrating birds can’t control themselves Posted: 30 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT During the spring and fall migratory seasons, sparrows become significantly less capable of resisting temptation. Researchers investigated impulse control and sleep in white-crowned sparrows during migratory and non-migratory seasons. During migratory periods, the birds slept very little and became more impulsive, but sleep loss itself was not entirely to blame for their impulsivity.

Graphene exhibits bizarre new behavior well suited to electronic devices Posted: 29 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Graphene, a sheet of pure carbon, has been touted as a possible replacement for silicon-based semiconductors because of its useful electronic properties. Now, physicists have shown that graphene has another unique and amazing property that could make it even more suitable for future electronic devices. When contorted in a specific way it sprouts nanobubbles in which electrons behave as if they are moving in a strong magnetic field.

New pathway to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases Posted: 29 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have uncovered new clues about the cause of brain cell death in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases.

Protein complex reveals molecular mechanism of innate immune response Posted: 29 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT A team of researchers at the RIKEN Plant Science Center and the Institute of Cancer Research has uncovered details of a protein complex governing innate immune response in plants and animals, with applications in the development of disease-resistant crops and treatment of human diseases.

Women in their 40s have lower mammographic tumor detectability, study finds Posted: 29 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT The reduced effectiveness of mammographic screening in women in their 40s is primarily due to lower detectability instead of faster tumor growth rate, according to a new study.

Polarstern expedition: Autonomous underwater vehicle dives under the Arctic ice Posted: 29 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association for the first time sent its Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) on an under-ice mission at about 79° North. The four-metre-long, torpedo shaped underwater vehicle was deployed from the research icebreaker Polarstern under heavy pack ice. The vehicle was subsequently recovered by helicopter.

Reform of primary care could reduce diagnostic errors Posted: 29 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Errors in diagnosis place a heavy financial burden on an already costly health-care system, and can be devastating for affected patients. Strengthening certain aspects of a new and evolving model of comprehensive and coordinated primary care could potentially address this highly relevant, but underemphasized safety concern, say health researchers.

New biodegradable compound facilitates bone regeneration in cases of substantial loss Posted: 29 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Bones have a capacity to regenerate themselves after suffering partial damage. However, it is really quite another thing when a serious break or tumor lesion occurs and the loss of tissue is substantial. Today these cases are treated with various kinds of grafts, but they have a number of disadvantages, such as rejection, contamination or limitations on donors. Researchers are developing a biodegradable porous support which will temporarily substitute for the damaged bone.

Reforestation Projects Capture More Carbon Than Industrial Plantations, Reveals New Research Posted: 29 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Australian scientists researching environmental restoration projects have found that the reforestation of damaged rainforests is more efficient at capturing carbon than controversial softwood monoculture plantations. The research challenges traditional views on the efficiency of industrial monoculture plantations.

Tools that assess bias in standardized tests are flawed Posted: 29 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Overturning more than 40 years of accepted practice, new research proves that the tools used to check tests of "general mental ability" for bias are themselves flawed. This key finding challenges reliance on such exams to make objective decisions for employment or academic admissions even in the face of well-documented gaps between mean scores of white and minority populations.

Clinical trials can be improved by managing the learning curve Posted: 29 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Researchers have looked for a learning curve phenomenon in the data record of a large, multi-site clinical trial. Their findings point to ways to improve the quality of future trials through better training and simulation exercises.

Signs of reversal of Arctic cooling: Rapid temperature rise in the coldest region of mainland Europe Posted: 29 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT Parts of the Arctic have cooled over the past century, but temperatures have been rising steeply since 1990, according to a summer temperature reconstruction for the past 400 years produced on the base of tree rings from regions beyond the Arctic Circle.

Adolescent vision screenings may miss farsightedness and astigmatism Posted: 29 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT Among adolescents, visual acuity tests appear to reliably detect vision problems caused by nearsightedness but not farsightedness or astigmatism, according to a new study.

Laboratory in microdrops: Credit card-size microflow system handles thousands of experiments Posted: 29 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT Tens of thousands of chemical and biochemical experiments may be conducted daily with the use of a microflow system of the size of a credit card, developed by scientists in Poland. The device has already been tested in research on the effectiveness of antibiotic mixtures.

One molecule, many more insulin-producing cells to treat diabetes Posted: 29 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT With a single stimulatory molecule, human insulin-producing beta cell replication can be sustained for at least four weeks in a mouse model of diabetes, according to new research. Scientists also found several cocktails of molecules that drive human beta cells to replicate, as well as important differences between mouse and human beta cells that could influence how these approaches are best used to treat diabetes.

Sensing wind speed with kites Posted: 29 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a way to use a kite itself to measure wind speed. The instrument consists of a 2-meter-long and 1-meter-wide Rokkaku-type kite.

To make one happy, make one busy Posted: 29 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT A new study found that people who have something to do, even something pointless, are happier than people who sit idly.

Accepted theory explaining frequent eruptions at Italy’s Stromboli volcano questioned Posted: 29 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT One volcano that volcanologists believe they understand fairly well is Italy's Stromboli, which has been erupting every five to 20 minutes for thousands of years, spewing fountains of ash and magma several meters into the sky. For several decades, scientists have pretty much used one theory to explain what is causing huge amounts of gas to erupt so frequently: swimming-pool-sized bubbles that travel through a few hundred meters of molten magma before popping at the surface. But they may be wrong, according to new research.

Molecular mechanism triggering Parkinson's disease identified Posted: 29 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have identified a molecular pathway responsible for the death of key nerve cells whose loss causes Parkinson's disease. This discovery not only may explain how a genetic mutation linked to Parkinson's causes the cells' death, but could also open the door to new therapeutic approaches for the malady.

Good and bad in the hands of politicians Posted: 29 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Politicians' gestures can reveal their thoughts, according to a new study. In laboratory tests, right- and left-handers associate positive ideas like honesty and intelligence with their dominant side of space and negative ideas with their non-dominant side. To find out whether people link 'good' with 'dominant' beyond the laboratory, researchers examined spontaneous gestures during positive and negative speech in the final debates of the most recent US presidential elections.

Intensive chemotherapy may be harmful to most older patients with acute myeloid leukemia Posted: 29 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT The prognosis for nearly three-quarters of elderly patients on intensive chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia is poor, with a median survival of less than six months, according to a new study.

Super-rare 'elkhorn' coral found in Pacific Posted: 29 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT An Australian scientist has discovered what could be the world's rarest coral in the remote North Pacific Ocean. The unique Pacific elkhorn coral was found while conducting underwater surveys of Arno atoll in the Marshall Islands.

No safe level: First study to show teenage binge drinkers harm abilities in later life Posted: 29 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Researchers in the UK have demonstrated a link between teenage binge drinking and damage to prospective memory.

Aging and longevity tied to specific brain region in mice Posted: 29 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT The protein SIRT1 in the brain is tied into a mechanism that allows animals to survive when food is scarce, according to a new study. The research suggests that SIRT1 may be involved with the life span-increasing effect of low-calorie diets, they report.

New class of drugs for epileptic seizures? Posted: 29 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT A chemical compound that boosts the action of a molecule normally produced in the brain may provide the starting point for a new line of therapies for the treatment of epileptic seizures, according to a new study.

More frequent, more intense heat waves in store for New York, climate scientists predict Posted: 29 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Heat waves like those that baked the Northeast in July are likely to be more frequent and more intense in the future, with their effects amplified in densely built urban environments like Manhattan, according to climate scientists.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to arterial stiffness in black teens Posted: 29 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Vitamin D deficiency is associated with arterial stiffness, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, in black teens, according to a new study. Black teens taking vitamin D supplementation of 2,000 international units per day had a decrease in central arterial stiffness.

RNA offers a safer way to reprogram cells Posted: 29 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT For the first time, researchers have shown that they can deliver those same reprogramming genes using RNA, the genetic material that normally ferries instructions from DNA to the cell's protein-making machinery. This method could prove much safer than DNA-based reprogramming, say the researchers. The new technique could revert cells to an immature state that can develop into any cell type.

Western diet link to ADHD, Australian study finds Posted: 29 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT A new study from Australia shows an association between ADHD and a "Western-style" diet in adolescents. The study examined the dietary patterns of 1800 adolescents from the long-term Raine Study and classified diets into 'Healthy' or 'Western' patterns.

Swimmers at sub-tropical beaches show increased risk of illness, study suggests Posted: 29 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT Swimmers at sub-tropical beaches face an increased risk of illness, according to new research. Scientists examined the risk of illness that beachgoers face when exposed to recreational marine water at sub-tropical beaches with no known source of pollution or contamination.

Mystery of healthy fat people: Why some obese people go on to become diabetic while others do not Posted: 29 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT It is common to find obese people – even morbidly obese people – who are healthier than their condition would normally allow. Working with subjects with a body mass index of about 56, a team of researchers investigated the inflammatory and insulin signaling pathways in the patients' visceral adipose tissue.

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