ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Regenerating damaged tissues: Bioscaffolds promote growth of joints in rabbits
• 'Sea urchin'-shaped nanostructures grown in the lab
• Tuberculosis advance: Existing drugs can potentially target the disease's ability to spread
• New theory of why midcontinent faults produce earthquakes
• Mechanism uncovered behind Salmonella virulence and drug susceptibility
• Memory's master switch: Molecular power behind memory discovered
• Ultra-strong interaction between light and matter realized: One more step on the path to quantum computers
• Next generation sequencing establishes genetic link between two rare diseases
• Most panda habitat is outside nature reserves, according to joint US-China research
• Red blood cells have a tiny but effective protector -- microRNA
• Key step in body's ability to make red blood cells discovered
• Missing Puma gene reveals cancer conundrum

Regenerating damaged tissues: Bioscaffolds promote growth of joints in rabbits Posted: 01 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT A team of researchers has successfully regenerated rabbit joints using a cutting-edge process to form the joint inside the body, or in vivo. Regenerative in vivo procedures are performed by stimulating previously irreparable organs or tissues to heal themselves. In this study, bioscaffolds, or three-dimensional structures made of biocompatible and biodegradable materials in the shape of the tissue, were infused with a protein to promote growth of the rabbit joint.

'Sea urchin'-shaped nanostructures grown in the lab Posted: 01 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in growing sea-urchin shaped nanostructures from minute balls of polystyrene beads using a simple electrochemical process. The spines of the sea urchin consist of zinc oxide nanowires. The structured surface should help increasing the efficiency of photovoltaic devices.

Tuberculosis advance: Existing drugs can potentially target the disease's ability to spread Posted: 01 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Often causing no symptoms in carriers of the disease, worldwide tuberculosis infects eight to ten million people every year, kills two million, and it is highly contagious as it is spread through coughing and sneezing. Now, researchers in Canada have found that existing drugs can potentially target the disease's ability to spread.

New theory of why midcontinent faults produce earthquakes Posted: 01 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT A new theory may solve the mystery of why the New Madrid fault, which lies in the middle of the continent and not along a tectonic plate boundary, produces large earthquakes such as the ones that shook the eastern United States in 1811 and 1812.

Mechanism uncovered behind Salmonella virulence and drug susceptibility Posted: 01 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism in Salmonella that affects is virulence and its susceptibility to antibiotics. The mechanism changes the bacteria's production of proteins in a previously unheard of manner. It allows Salmonella to selectively change its levels of certain proteins to respond to inhospitable conditions. Although the mechanism had not been recognized before, scientists found evidence of a similar mechanism in all five kingdoms of life. The mechanism appears to have been conserved throughout the course of evolution.

Memory's master switch: Molecular power behind memory discovered Posted: 01 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT A new study describes GABA, a natural molecule that occurs in the brain, which could be the main factor in regulating how many new memories we can generate. The understanding of these mechanisms might lead to the development of new memory enhancers and new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Ultra-strong interaction between light and matter realized: One more step on the path to quantum computers Posted: 01 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers around the world are working on the development of quantum computers that will be vastly superior to present-day computers. The strong coupling of quantum bits with light quanta plays a pivotal role. Researchers have now realized an extremely strong interaction between light and matter that may represent a first step in this direction.

Next generation sequencing establishes genetic link between two rare diseases Posted: 01 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have successfully used "next generation sequencing" to identify mutations that may cause a rare and mysterious genetic disorder. The research demonstrates that sequencing an affected individual's entire "exome"; that is, all of the genes that carry instructions for producing proteins, can reveal critical genes that when mutant, cause inherited disorders.

Most panda habitat is outside nature reserves, according to joint US-China research Posted: 01 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT Though much effort and many resources have been expended to protect the endangered giant panda, research by an international team of scientists shows that much suitable panda habitat is outside the nature reserves and areas where the panda is reported to live.

Red blood cells have a tiny but effective protector -- microRNA Posted: 30 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Pediatric researchers have discovered a new biological pathway in which small segments of RNA, called microRNA, help protect red blood cells from injury caused by chemicals called free radicals. The microRNA seems to have only a modest role when red blood cells experience normal conditions, but steps into action when the cells are threatened by oxidant stress. The study illustrates how microRNA fine-tunes gene activity.

Key step in body's ability to make red blood cells discovered Posted: 30 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Researchers have uncovered a key step in the creation of new red blood cells in an animal study. They found that a tiny fragment of ribonucleic acid (RNA), a chemical cousin of DNA, prompts stem cells to mature into red blood cells. The researchers also created an artificial RNA inhibitor to block this process.

Missing Puma gene reveals cancer conundrum Posted: 30 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Researchers in Australia have made a discovery that has upended scientists' understanding of programmed cell death and its role in tumor formation. The research team's discovery has implications for the understanding of how cancers develop and will inform the ongoing development of a new class of anti-cancer drugs called BH3 mimetics.

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