ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Dark matter may be lurking at heart of the sun
• 'Designer protein' opens new door in cancer research
• New diagnostic chip able to generate single-cell molecular 'fingerprints' for brain tumors
• Is your hemoglobin 'trending'? Routine blood tests may provide early warning for colorectal cancer
• Nemesis for oil spills: Bacterial technology may help clean up Gulf
• Memory-boosting drug may help cocaine addicts avoid relapse
• Generating energy from ocean waters off Hawaii
• Disrupted circadian rhythm may cause triglycerides to rise
• Chili peppers may come with blood pressure benefits
• Latest findings in CT radiation dose reduction efforts
• New inexpensive solar cell design
• Survey of coastal residents shows Gulf oil spill has significant impact on families
• Emotions help animals to make choices
• New drug target for immune diseases discovered
• NASA's hibernating Mars rover may not call home
• New estimates of the global population at risk of Plasmodium vivax malaria
• Molecules delivering drugs as they walk
• Human toll of violence in Central African Republic documented
• 'Virtual mates' reveal role of romance in parrot calls
• Fighting infections with blood clots
• High resolution stereo color imager selected for Mars mission
• Keeping patients 'in good hands'
• New tagging technique enhances view of living cells
• Pep talk to teens in the ER helped reduce violence, alcohol misuse, study finds
• Carnivorous mice spread deadly plague in prairie dog towns, study finds
• Purified blood stem cells improve success of bone marrow transplants in mice, study shows
• World’s most endangered otter 'rediscovered' in Malaysia
• Colitis patients diagnosed later in life tend to have better disease outcomes
• Top predators and biodiversity historically pressured in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
• Culture wires the brain: A cognitive neuroscience perspective
• No such thing as a free lunch for Venus flytraps
• Exercise and caloric restriction rejuvenate synapses in lab mice
• Deep, open ocean is vastly under-explored, study finds
• Smoking, nipple piercing are risk factors for developing breast abscesses, study finds
• Discovering life-bearing planets: Scientists take a step closer
• People reject popular opinions if they already hold opposing views, study finds
• Why are male spiders small while females are giant?
• Ketamine may relieve depression quickly for those with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder
• Miami at high risk of hurricane winds; Tampa low risk, new hurricane risk tool shows
• Pilot safety protocol could help dentists reduce errors
• Iron oxide nanoparticles becoming tools for brain tumor imaging and treatment
• Our brain can be taught to control cravings, new researcher finds
• Couch potatoes of the animal kingdom: Orangutans have extremely low rate of energy use
• Brain may age faster in people whose hearts pump less blood
• Behind the secrets of silk lie high-tech opportunities
• Viral infection predicts heart transplant loss in children
• Ice core drilling effort will help assess abrupt climate change risks
• All-over tan is a myth, study finds

Dark matter may be lurking at heart of the sun Posted: 04 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT A scientist in the UK believes dark matter is lurking at the center of the sun and cooling down its core temperature.

'Designer protein' opens new door in cancer research Posted: 04 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT A major breakthrough in how to target and destroy the most malignant and aggressive brain cancer cells has been made by researchers. Scientists have identified a way to target and destroy glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells without harming healthy cells. The finding allows for new possibilities in cancer research previously not known to be readily feasible.

New diagnostic chip able to generate single-cell molecular 'fingerprints' for brain tumors Posted: 04 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT Given the clinical need for improved in vitro molecular diagnostic technologies for brain tumor biopsies, the research team combined the advantages of microfluidics and microscopy-based cell imaging to develop the microfluidic image cytometry platform. The new platform provides multiparameter, single-cell signaling measurements (fingerprints) of brain tumor samples. The ability to measure these molecular fingerprints on small samples marks a new advance in molecular diagnostics that will enable predictive and personalized medicine.

Is your hemoglobin 'trending'? Routine blood tests may provide early warning for colorectal cancer Posted: 04 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT Paying close attention to routine blood test results can be an effective screening system for colon cancer which, when diagnosed early enough, can be treated effectively. A new study shows that most patients with colon cancer have a history of consistently declining hemoglobin levels up to four years before being diagnosed with the disease.

Nemesis for oil spills: Bacterial technology may help clean up Gulf Posted: 04 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT Researchers in Israel are using naturally occurring oil-munching bacteria, grown in the lab, to clean the hard-to-reach oil pockets that occur when oil mixes with sand and organic matter on beaches and forms a thin layer on the waterways.

Memory-boosting drug may help cocaine addicts avoid relapse Posted: 04 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT A memory-boosting medication paired with behavioral therapy might help addicts stay clean, according to new animal research. The study suggests D-cycloserine, previously used in the lab to treat fear and anxiety disorders, could help an addict resist drugs even when confronted with drug-related cues outside of rehab.

Generating energy from ocean waters off Hawaii Posted: 04 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers in Hawaii say that the Leeward side of Hawaiian Islands may be ideal for future ocean-based renewable energy plants based on a technology referred to as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion.

Disrupted circadian rhythm may cause triglycerides to rise Posted: 04 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT When the circadian rhythm gets thrown off, it could come with an unexpected side effect: high triglycerides. The discovery, based on studies in mice with a "broken clock," helps to explain the normal rise and fall in triglycerides, which happens at about the same time each day, according to researchers.

Chili peppers may come with blood pressure benefits Posted: 04 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT For those with high blood pressure, chili peppers might be just what the doctor ordered, according to a new study. While the active ingredient that gives the peppers their heat -- a compound known as capsaicin -- might set your mouth on fire, it also leads blood vessels to relax, the research in hypertensive rats shows.

Latest findings in CT radiation dose reduction efforts Posted: 04 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT In recent years, advances in CT scanner technology have made perfusion computed tomography imaging an important diagnostic tool for patients with suspected stroke. Now, researchers are working to reduce radiation dosages used to acquire perfusion and other CT images.

New inexpensive solar cell design Posted: 04 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT One of the most promising technologies for making inexpensive but reasonably efficient photovoltaic cells just got much cheaper. Scientists in Canada have shown that inexpensive nickel can work just as well as gold for one of the critical electrical contacts that gather the electrical current produced by colloidal quantum dot solar cells.

Survey of coastal residents shows Gulf oil spill has significant impact on families Posted: 04 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT As the acute phase of the Gulf oil spill transitions to a chronic phase, researchers have found evidence of significant impact of the disaster on the health, mental health, and economic fortunes of residents.

Emotions help animals to make choices Posted: 04 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT A new review of animal emotion suggests that, as in humans, emotions may tell animals about how dangerous or opportunity-laden their world is, and guide the choices that they make.

New drug target for immune diseases discovered Posted: 04 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have found a new mechanism that explains how certain immune cells are activated to create protective antibodies against infections or pathological antibodies such as those present in autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

NASA's hibernating Mars rover may not call home Posted: 04 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT NASA mission controllers have not heard from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit since March 22, and the rover is facing its toughest challenge yet -- trying to survive the harsh Martian winter.

New estimates of the global population at risk of Plasmodium vivax malaria Posted: 04 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT A new evidence-based global distribution map of Plasmodium vivax malaria is used to estimate that 2.85 billion people lived at risk of infection with this parasite in 2009.

Molecules delivering drugs as they walk Posted: 04 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT A new paper provides a theoretical model that compares the transport characteristics of straight- and branched-chain polymers in various channels -- work that could aid in the development of carrier molecules for delivering drugs at a controlled rate in the body.

Human toll of violence in Central African Republic documented Posted: 04 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT Human rights researchers have systematically canvassed nearly 2,000 households in the Central African Republic to document the devastating human impact of violence in the country. They present a stark picture of a population traumatized by decades of political strife, military coups and poverty.

'Virtual mates' reveal role of romance in parrot calls Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT Parrots are famed for their ability to mimic sounds and now researchers have used "virtual mates" to discover if female parrots judge male contact calls when deciding on a mate. The research challenges traditional understandings of the difference between birds "songs" and "calls."

Fighting infections with blood clots Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT Clot formation within small blood vessels helps in the fight against pathogenic microbes, researchers in Germany have shown. At the molecular level, clot formation turns out to be intimately connected with the innate immune system, a finding that may open up new therapeutic possibilities.

High resolution stereo color imager selected for Mars mission Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT University of Arizona's High Resolution Stereo Color Imager was selected as one of five instruments for the first joint mission to Mars by NASA and the European Space Agency. HiSCI is designed to uncover interactions between the Red Planet's surface and atmosphere.

Keeping patients 'in good hands' Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT Hand therapy is one of the most vital treatment steps in recovery from hand injury surgery, according to a new review.

New tagging technique enhances view of living cells Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT A research team has developed a new technique to tag and image proteins within living mammalian cells, providing the clearest, most dynamic microscopic protein-protein interaction in cells ever viewed.

Pep talk to teens in the ER helped reduce violence, alcohol misuse, study finds Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT A brief, motivational talk in the emergency room reduced by half the chances that teenagers would experience peer violence or problems due to drinking, according to a new study.

Carnivorous mice spread deadly plague in prairie dog towns, study finds Posted: 03 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT Prairie dogs, once abundant in North America, have been decimated in recent decades by plague. Researchers may have solved the mystery of how the deadly disease is spread.

Purified blood stem cells improve success of bone marrow transplants in mice, study shows Posted: 03 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have challenged decades of accepted wisdom about bone marrow transplantation with a new study showing that mice receiving purified blood stem cells are less prone to complications than mice receiving stem cells plus purified T cells.

World’s most endangered otter 'rediscovered' in Malaysia Posted: 03 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT The world's most endangered otter species, known as the hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana), has been "rediscovered" in Deramakot Forest Reserve in Sabah, Malaysia, by a collaboration of German and Malaysian researchers.

Colitis patients diagnosed later in life tend to have better disease outcomes Posted: 03 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT Adults diagnosed with ulcerative colitis after age 50 are more likely to achieve remission from their symptoms than patients diagnosed at younger ages, even when those patients receive similar treatments, according to new research. The study is the first to look at patients whose colitis was treated with modern medications. Nearly 1 million US adults have ulcerative colitis.

Top predators and biodiversity historically pressured in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Posted: 03 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT The numbers of top-level predators in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, such as halibut and swordfish, have decreased significantly over what existed 100 years ago, according to a new NOAA report. The National Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series report describes fish populations in the sanctuary that are resilient, but have suffered declines in numbers and species diversity over time.

Culture wires the brain: A cognitive neuroscience perspective Posted: 03 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT Where you grow up can have a big impact on the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and even how your brain works. Researchers discuss ways in which brain structure and function may be influenced by culture.

No such thing as a free lunch for Venus flytraps Posted: 03 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT Charles Darwin described the Venus flytrap as "one of the most wonderful plants in the world." It's also one of the fastest as many an unfortunate insect taking a stroll across a leaf has discovered. But what powers this speed? A researcher in Slovakia has been studying the plants with the help of some specialized equipment and a few unlucky insects.

Exercise and caloric restriction rejuvenate synapses in lab mice Posted: 03 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have uncovered a mechanism through which caloric restriction and exercise delay some of the debilitating effects of aging by rejuvenating connections between nerves and the muscles that they control. The research begins to explain prior findings that exercise and restricted-calorie diets help to stave off the mental and physical degeneration of aging.

Deep, open ocean is vastly under-explored, study finds Posted: 03 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that the deep open ocean, by far the largest habitat for life on Earth, is currently the most under-explored area of the sea, and the one we know least about.

Smoking, nipple piercing are risk factors for developing breast abscesses, study finds Posted: 03 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT Women who smoke or pierce their nipples are more likely to develop a breast abscess, according to a new study. Researchers found the odds of developing primary breast abscess were six times higher in smokers than in nonsmokers, and smokers were 11 times more likely to develop subareolar abscess.

Discovering life-bearing planets: Scientists take a step closer Posted: 03 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT The discovery of new life-bearing planets is a step closer as the result of a new space mission. Known as PLATO (Planetary Transits and Oscillations of Stars), the mission is designed to seek out planets far beyond earth's solar system, orbiting stars in the Milky Way Galaxy.

People reject popular opinions if they already hold opposing views, study finds Posted: 03 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT What would happen if you developed a strong opinion on an issue, and later found that the majority of people disagreed with you? You might think that such a revelation would encourage you to rethink your beliefs. But a new study suggests people often react just the opposite: people grow more confident in some beliefs when they find out later that a majority of people disagree with them.

Why are male spiders small while females are giant? Posted: 03 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT 'Bridging', an unusual mode of getting around frequently used by vegetation-inhabiting spiders to cross large gaps, may partly explain the tendency for male spiders to be much smaller than females. Researchers studied bridging, in which spiders use the wind to carry a strand of web to their destination and then clamber upside down along the resulting bridge, finding that small size was associated with a greater ability to carry out the maneuver.

Ketamine may relieve depression quickly for those with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder Posted: 03 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT A single intravenous dose of the anesthetic agent ketamine appears to reduce symptoms of depression within 40 minutes among those with bipolar disorder who have not responded to other treatments.

Miami at high risk of hurricane winds; Tampa low risk, new hurricane risk tool shows Posted: 03 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT Bad news, Miami. Of all Florida's major population centers, the city is the most vulnerable to strong hurricane winds, according to researchers who developed a new tool to estimate the frequency of extreme hurricane winds at a particular location.

Pilot safety protocol could help dentists reduce errors Posted: 03 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT Pilots and dentists have more in common than one might think: Both jobs are highly technical and require teamwork. Both are subject to human error where small, individual mistakes may lead to catastrophe if not addressed early.

Iron oxide nanoparticles becoming tools for brain tumor imaging and treatment Posted: 03 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT Tiny particles of iron oxide could become tools for simultaneous tumor imaging and treatment, because of their magnetic properties and toxic effects against brain cancer cells. In mice, researchers have demonstrated how these particles can deliver antibodies to implanted brain tumors, while enhancing tumor visibility via magnetic resonance imaging.

Our brain can be taught to control cravings, new researcher finds Posted: 03 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT Standard therapeutic techniques decrease cravings of cigarette smokers by regulating activity in two separate but related areas of the brain, a new study shows.

Couch potatoes of the animal kingdom: Orangutans have extremely low rate of energy use Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Pass the chips and hand over the remote. In a study involving the first-ever daily energy expenditure measurements in apes, researchers have determined that orangutans living in a large indoor/outdoor habitat used less energy, relative to body mass, than nearly any eutherian mammal ever measured, including sedentary humans.

Brain may age faster in people whose hearts pump less blood Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Keep your heart healthy and you may slow down the aging of your brain, according to a new study.

Behind the secrets of silk lie high-tech opportunities Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Tougher than a bullet-proof vest yet synonymous with beauty and luxury, silks spun by worms and spiders are a masterpiece of nature whose properties have yet to be fully replicated in the laboratory. But scientists have begun to unravel the secrets of silk. Biomedical engineers report that silk-based materials have been transformed from commodity textile to a growing web of high tech applications.

Viral infection predicts heart transplant loss in children Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists report that viral infection of the heart is a predictor of heart transplant failure in young children and adolescents, although it can be detected by screening for viral genes and treated to improve organ survival. The study suggests a therapeutic strategy for overcoming one of the major challenges facing young heart transplant recipients -- that of organ failure caused by viral infection.

Ice core drilling effort will help assess abrupt climate change risks Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT An international science team that is working on the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling project hit bedrock July 27 after two summers of work, drilling down more than 1.5 miles in an effort to help assess the risks of abrupt future climate change on Earth.

All-over tan is a myth, study finds Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT An even all-over tan may be unattainable as some body areas are more resistant to tanning than others, a study has found.

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