ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Space weather mystery solved: Link found between electrons trapped in space and upper atmosphere's diffuse aurora
• Gene therapy may be powerful new treatment for major depression
• The world is not flat: Exploring cells and tissues in three dimensions
• Burn injuries rapidly deplete vitamin E, study finds
• How batteries grow old: Researchers build facility to put hybrid car batteries to the test
• Magic tricks reveal surprising results about autism
• Microbes may consume far more oil-spill waste than earlier thought
• New tumor proteins may identify a range of cancers early
• New search method tracks down influential ideas: Computer scientists have developed a new way of tracing the origins and spread of ideas
• How parasites react to the mouse immune system may help to shape their control
• Black rice bran may help fight disease-related inflammation
• Professional athletes should drink more water, Spanish research finds
• Star, not so bright: Model explains evolution of unusual black hole binary system
• Potential therapeutic target across a range of cancer types discovered
• Philippines may have more unique bird species than thought, biologist says
• Elusive protein may lead the fight against inflammatory disease
• A forest of nanorods: Amazing nanostructures created by glancing-angle deposition
• Attention processing and perception may be involved in fetal alcohol-related learning difficulties
• Worst coral death strikes at Southeast Asia
• Mechanism that controls expression of protein involved in numerous cancers discovered
• Crash helmet with a useful smell
• Newborn hearing screening linked with improved developmental outcomes for hearing impaired children
• Climate change tipping points for populations, not just species: Survival, reproduction of thousands of arctic and alpine plants measured
• Researchers analyze student grief online after campus shootings
• Intricate, curving 3-D nanostructures created using capillary action forces
• Insulin sensitivity may explain link between obesity, memory problems
• Eating mostly whole grains, few refined grains linked to lower body fat
• Disease in rural China linked to polluted coal
• Measuring changes in rock: Research looks at effect of captured and stored carbon dioxide on minerals
• Docs not immune to drug marketing, study finds
• New mothers grow bigger brains within months of giving birth: Warmer feelings toward babies linked to bigger mid-brains
• New regulator of circadian clock identified: Dopamine study may have impact on activity and sleep rhythms in Parkinson's disease
• New sensor derived from frogs may help fight bacteria and save wildlife; Sensor uses frog peptides to test for drug and medical device contamination
• Proton therapy safe, effective for early-stage lung cancer patients, study finds
• Progress toward treating infections by silencing microbes' 'smart phones'
• Would you sleep on a chunk of ice? Building your 'experience resume'
• Desperate female spiders fight by different rules
• Harm reduction cigarettes can be more harmful than conventional brands, researchers report
• Small is beautiful in hydroelectric power plant design: Invention could enable renewable power generation at thousands of unused sites
• Anorexia nervosa may cause potentially serious eye damage, study suggests
• Biodegradable foam plastic substitute made from milk protein and clay
• Children's best friend: Dogs help autistic children adapt, study shows
• Most distant galaxy ever measured: Faint glow from when the universe was only 600 million years old
• New theory links depression to chronic brain inflammation
• Mounting research shows increased health risks from volcanic air pollution
• Devastating impact of spinal osteoporotic fractures revealed on World Osteoporosis Day
• The (Long) Weekend Warrior: Nine Moons, 62 Hours
• Alcohol increases reaction time and errors during decision making

Space weather mystery solved: Link found between electrons trapped in space and upper atmosphere's diffuse aurora Posted: 21 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT New research has settled decades of scientific debate about a puzzling aspect of space weather. Researchers have found the final link between electrons trapped in space and the glow of light from the upper atmosphere known as the diffuse aurora. The research promises to further understanding of space weather, with benefits for the satellite, power grid and aviation industries.

Gene therapy may be powerful new treatment for major depression Posted: 21 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT Researchers say animal and human data suggest gene therapy to the brain may be able to treat patients with major depression who do not respond to traditional drug treatment.

The world is not flat: Exploring cells and tissues in three dimensions Posted: 21 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed an innovative approach for studying cells in 3-D. They are examining the potential of such research to greatly expand science's understanding of disease onset and progression, particularly the responses of host cells to infectious pathogens. Such work provides fresh insight into the mechanisms of infectious disease and holds the potential for the design of novel or improved therapeutics, more accurate drug screening and improved evaluation of potential vaccine candidates.

Burn injuries rapidly deplete vitamin E, study finds Posted: 21 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT Severe burn injuries in children have been shown to rapidly deplete the levels of vitamin E in their body's adipose, or fat tissues, a new clinical study has found. Stored levels of this important antioxidant were reduced more in a few weeks than might normally be possible in years.

How batteries grow old: Researchers build facility to put hybrid car batteries to the test Posted: 21 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT In a laboratory in Ohio, an ongoing experiment is looking at why batteries lose their ability to hold a charge as they age -- specifically lithium-ion batteries, which have generated a lot of buzz for their potential to power the electric cars of the future.

Magic tricks reveal surprising results about autism Posted: 21 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT Magicians rely on misdirection -- drawing attention to one place while they're carrying out their tricky business somewhere else. It seems like people with autism should be less susceptible to such social manipulation. But a new study finds that people with autism spectrum disorder are actually more likely to be taken in by the vanishing ball trick, where a magician pretends to throw a ball in the air but actually hides it in his hand.

Microbes may consume far more oil-spill waste than earlier thought Posted: 21 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT Microbes living at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico may consume far more of the gaseous waste from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill than previously thought, according to research carried out within 100 miles of the spill site.

New tumor proteins may identify a range of cancers early Posted: 21 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT A new study describes a novel cancer-specific protein that is present in a broad range of cancer types and at all stages of tumor development, from premalignant cells to metastatic tumor cells. If verified, the antigen could serve as a marker for the early detection and treatment of primary and metastatic tumors and provide a target for the development of anticancer therapies, including a cancer vaccine.

New search method tracks down influential ideas: Computer scientists have developed a new way of tracing the origins and spread of ideas Posted: 21 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT Princeton computer scientists have developed a new way of tracing the origins and spread of ideas, a technique that could make it easier to gauge the influence of notable scholarly papers, buzz-generating news stories and other information sources.

How parasites react to the mouse immune system may help to shape their control Posted: 21 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT How parasites use different life-history strategies to beat our immune systems may also provide insight into the control of diseases, such as elephantiasis and river blindness, which afflict some of the world's poorest communities in tropical Southeast Asia, Africa and Central America.

Black rice bran may help fight disease-related inflammation Posted: 21 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists are reporting evidence that black rice -- a little-known variety of the grain that is the staple food for one-third of the world population -- may help soothe the inflammation involved in allergies, asthma, and other diseases.

Professional athletes should drink more water, Spanish research finds Posted: 21 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT Top athletes must always perform to their maximum capacity, making them the most vulnerable to the effects of dehydration. Now, a new study conducted by researchers in Spain reveals that 91 percent of professional basketball, volleyball, handball and football players are dehydrated when they begin their training sessions.

Star, not so bright: Model explains evolution of unusual black hole binary system Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Astronomers have puzzled over the oddities of the X-ray binary system M33 X-7, but no one could explain all of its features. Now researchers have. They have produced a model of the system's evolutionary history that explains all of the system's observational characteristics: the tight orbit, the large masses of the star and black hole, the X-ray luminosity of the black hole and why its companion star is less luminous than one would expect.

Potential therapeutic target across a range of cancer types discovered Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have found a common link among several malignant tumor types in all grades of cancer. This breakthrough may ultimately provide a new diagnostic or therapeutic target to detect cancer early or stop tumor growth.

Philippines may have more unique bird species than thought, biologist says Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Recent research suggests that the Philippines, considered by biologists to be a "biodiversity hotspot," could have more unique species of birds than previously thought. If that proves to be the case, it could have important ramifications for conservation practices there.

Elusive protein may lead the fight against inflammatory disease Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified a protein that may be a key therapy for many inflammatory diseases, including those affecting premature babies. In a new study, they describe how a protein, interleukin 37, reacts when an inflammatory response is detected in the body.

A forest of nanorods: Amazing nanostructures created by glancing-angle deposition Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Just as landscape photographs shot in low-angle light dramatically accentuate subtle swales and mounds, depositing metal vapors at glancing angles turns a rough surface into amazing nanostructures with a vast range of potential properties.

Attention processing and perception may be involved in fetal alcohol-related learning difficulties Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Exposure to alcohol as a fetus has been shown to cause difficulties in memory and information processing in children. New findings indicate that visual perception, control of attention and demand processing may be involved in fetal alcohol-related learning problems. This information could potentially be used to help children affected with such difficulties.

Worst coral death strikes at Southeast Asia Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT International marine scientists say that a huge coral death which has struck Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean reefs over recent months has highlighted the urgency of controlling global carbon emissions. Many reefs are dead or dying across the Indian Ocean and into the Coral Triangle following a bleaching event that extends from the Seychelles in the west to Sulawesi and the Philippines in the east.

Mechanism that controls expression of protein involved in numerous cancers discovered Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new mechanism controlling the transmission of an abnormal signal at the origin of several cancers. In a new study, the team explains the recent discovery of a protein complex that controls the RAS/MAPK signalling pathway, responsible for some of the deadliest cancers, including pancreatic, colon and lung cancers, and melanomas.

Crash helmet with a useful smell Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT Cycle helmets are available in a wide range of types, including foldable models, models fitted with a flashing rear light or featuring an iPhone display. In future, they will start to smell distinctively if they need to be replaced. A new process causes odoriferous oils to exude from plastic materials if they are cracked.

Newborn hearing screening linked with improved developmental outcomes for hearing impaired children Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT Children with permanent hearing impairment who received hearing screening as newborns had better general and language developmental outcomes and quality of life at ages 3 to 5 years compared to newborns who received hearing screening through behavioral testing, according to a new study.

Climate change tipping points for populations, not just species: Survival, reproduction of thousands of arctic and alpine plants measured Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT As Earth's climate warms, species are expected to shift their geographical ranges away from the equator or to higher elevations. While scientists have documented such shifts for many plants and animals, the ranges of others seem stable. When species respond in different ways to the same amount of warming, it becomes more difficult for ecologists to predict future biological effects of climate change -- and to plan for these effects.

Researchers analyze student grief online after campus shootings Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT After the campus shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University, hundreds of affected students turned to social media websites to share their grief and search for solace. A new study of these students found that their online activities neither helped nor harmed their long-term psychological health. The study gives a first-of-its-kind portrait of student reactions to shootings on their campuses. It also documents the (online and off-line) activities they engaged in to memorialize and recover from these events.

Intricate, curving 3-D nanostructures created using capillary action forces Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT Twisting spires, concentric rings, and gracefully bending petals are a few of the new three-dimensional shapes that engineers can make from carbon nanotubes using a new manufacturing process.

Insulin sensitivity may explain link between obesity, memory problems Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT Because of impairments in their insulin sensitivity, obese individuals demonstrate different brain responses than their normal-weight peers while completing a challenging cognitive task, according to new research by psychologists.

Eating mostly whole grains, few refined grains linked to lower body fat Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT People who consume several servings of whole grains per day while limiting daily intake of refined grains appear to have less of a type of fat tissue thought to play a key role in triggering cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.

Disease in rural China linked to polluted coal Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT In remote, rural areas of southwestern China, villagers cook and dry their clothes by burning pieces of coal they pick up off the ground. This fuel releases a toxin that may be poisoning millions of people, according to an ongoing investigation by researchers in New York and China.

Measuring changes in rock: Research looks at effect of captured and stored carbon dioxide on minerals Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a way to study the effects of super-critical carbon dioxide on minerals commonly found in potential underground storage sites, helping to evaluate one strategy for minimizing the impacts of greenhouse gases on global warming.

Docs not immune to drug marketing, study finds Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT New findings show that pharmaceutical promotion may cause some doctors to prescribe more expensively, less appropriately and more often.

New mothers grow bigger brains within months of giving birth: Warmer feelings toward babies linked to bigger mid-brains Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT Motherhood may actually cause the brain to grow, not turn it into mush, as some have claimed. Exploratory research has found that the brains of new mothers bulked up in areas linked to motivation and behavior, and that mothers who gushed the most about their babies showed the greatest growth in key parts of the mid-brain.

New regulator of circadian clock identified: Dopamine study may have impact on activity and sleep rhythms in Parkinson's disease Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT Daily sleeping and eating patterns are critical to human well-being and health. Now, a new study has demonstrated how the brain chemical dopamine regulates these cycles by altering the activity of the "clock-protein" PER2. The findings may have implications for individuals with Parkinson's Disease with disrupted 24-hour rhythms of activity and sleep.

New sensor derived from frogs may help fight bacteria and save wildlife; Sensor uses frog peptides to test for drug and medical device contamination Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT Engineers have developed a sensor that may revolutionize how drugs and medical devices are tested for contamination, and in the process also help ensure the survival of two species of threatened animals.

Proton therapy safe, effective for early-stage lung cancer patients, study finds Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT Proton beam therapy is safe and effective and may be superior to other conventional treatments for Stage I inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, according to a new study by researchers in Japan.

Progress toward treating infections by silencing microbes' 'smart phones' Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT So disease-causing bacteria in the body finally have multiplied to the point where their numbers are large enough to cause illness. What's next? They get out their "smart phones" and whisper "Let's roll!" That's how a new review describes the substances -- "smart phones of the microbial world" -- that bacteria use to transmit chemical signals that launch infections and monitor their environment. The authors describe progress toward understanding and blocking this biochemical chitchat.

Would you sleep on a chunk of ice? Building your 'experience resume' Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT If sleeping on a bed of ice or eating bacon-flavored ice cream doesn't sound too appealing, consider the tale you'll have to tell about it later. According to a new study, some people can't resist a chance to collect experiences.

Desperate female spiders fight by different rules Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT In most animals the bigger, better fighter usually wins. But a new study of the jumping spider Phidippus clarus suggests that size and skill aren't everything -- what matters for Phidippus females is how badly they want to win.

Harm reduction cigarettes can be more harmful than conventional brands, researchers report Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT Harm reduction cigarettes are often marketed as safer than conventional brands. But scientists have found that sidestream smoke from harm reduction cigarettes impairs growth of human embryonic stem cells more than sidestream smoke from a conventional brand. Their analyses show there is significant toxicity in harm reduction products, and that the reduction of carcinogens in harm reduction mainstream smoke does not necessarily reduce the toxicity of unfiltered sidestream smoke.

Small is beautiful in hydroelectric power plant design: Invention could enable renewable power generation at thousands of unused sites Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT Imagine a hydroelectric power plant barely visible above water that eases the passage of fish in both directions; so simple and cost-efficient that it makes economic sense in sites with a one- or two-meter drop in water height; that could therefore subsidize ecologically motivated dam modifications with local, renewable energy; and which could bring economical, ecological hydroelectric power to developing regions. Researchers at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen did, and developed it: the shaft power plant.

Anorexia nervosa may cause potentially serious eye damage, study suggests Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT The eating disorder anorexia nervosa may cause potentially serious eye damage, a new study suggests.

Biodegradable foam plastic substitute made from milk protein and clay Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT Amid ongoing concern about plastic waste accumulating in municipal landfills, and reliance on imported oil to make plastics, scientists are reporting development of a new ultra-light biodegradable foam plastic material made from two unlikely ingredients: The protein in milk and ordinary clay. The new substance could be used in furniture cushions, insulation, packaging, and other products, they report.

Children's best friend: Dogs help autistic children adapt, study shows Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT Dogs may not only be man's best friend, they may also have a special role in the lives of children with special needs. According to a new study, specifically trained service dogs can help reduce the anxiety and enhance the socialization skills of children with autism syndrome disorders. The findings may be a relatively simple solution to help affected children and their families cope with these challenging disorders.

Most distant galaxy ever measured: Faint glow from when the universe was only 600 million years old Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT A European team of astronomers using ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) has measured the distance to the most remote galaxy so far. By carefully analyzing the very faint glow of the galaxy they have found that they are seeing it when the universe was only about 600 million years old (a redshift of 8.6). These are the first confirmed observations of a galaxy whose light is clearing the opaque hydrogen fog that filled the cosmos at this early time.

New theory links depression to chronic brain inflammation Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT Chronic depression is an adaptive, reparative neurobiological process gone wrong, say researchers, positing in a new theory that the debilitating mental state originates from more ancient mechanisms used by the body to deal with physical injury, such as pain, tissue repair and convalescent behavior.

Mounting research shows increased health risks from volcanic air pollution Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano has been erupting since 1983. But, in March 2008, an additional eruption vent opened at the volcano's summit, resulting in triple the amount of sulfur dioxide gas emissions drifting to the local community of Ka'u, raising health concerns over the risks associated with exposure to "vog," volcanic air pollution.

Devastating impact of spinal osteoporotic fractures revealed on World Osteoporosis Day Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT A new report issued by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) for World Osteoporosis Day puts the spotlight on the severe impact of spinal fractures and calls on health professionals to recognize the signs of these fractures in their patients.

The (Long) Weekend Warrior: Nine Moons, 62 Hours Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT Taking a long-weekend road trip, NASA's Cassini spacecraft successfully glided near nine Saturnian moons, sending back a stream of raw images as mementos of its adrenaline-fueled expedition. The spacecraft sent back particularly intriguing images of the moons Dione and Rhea.

Alcohol increases reaction time and errors during decision making Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT There has been an abundance of research on the effects of alcohol on the brain, but many questions regarding how alcohol impairs the built-in control systems are still unknown. A new study explores that subject in detail and found that certain brain regions involved in error processing are affected more by alcohol than others.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Why the leopard got its spots
• First direct evidence that response to alcohol depends on genes: Dopamine receptor deficiency leads to significant brain changes in response to drinking
• McSleepy meets DaVinci: Doctors conduct first-ever all-robotic surgery and anesthesia
• Early pregnancy in spring linked to child's susceptibility to food allergies, Finnish study suggests
• Batteries smaller than a grain of salt
• To be good, sometimes leaders need to be a little bad; Study examines 'dark side' personality traits and leadership
• See no shape, touch no shape, hear a shape? New way of 'seeing' the world
• Hormone therapy use by postmenopausal women may increase incidence of more advanced breast cancer
• Recycling pacemakers may alleviate burden of heart disease across the globe
• Vitamin D deficiency linked to lung transplant rejection, research finds
• Improved antibiotic coatings: Research aims to make medical devices safer by preventing biofilms
• Heavy alcohol use suggests a change in normal cognitive development in adolescents
• Old bees' memory fades; Mirrors recall of humans and other mammals
• Gene variant may protect against alcoholism
• More than 200 new snails of the same genus described in a single study
• Prostate cancer patients treated with robotic-assisted surgery can expect low recurrence of cancer
• Long distance, top secret messages: Critical component of quantum communication device may enable cryptography
• Video games can be highly effective training tools, study shows: Employees learn more, forget less, master more skills
• One-way Martian colonization missions: Proposal would cut costs dramatically, ensure long-term commitment
• Genetic predisposition to certain skin cancers may be associated with vitamin D deficiency
• Protein highways keep tissues organized
• Fructose intolerance common in children with functional abdominal pain; Low-fructose diet is an effective treatment, study finds
• Study of tiny magnets may advance their use in microelectronics
• People are better at strategic reasoning than was thought, research shows
• Don't blame dairy cows for (greenhouse) gas emissions, new study shows
• Parkinson's disease insights: Damage to control circuits in the brain responsible for habits
• Bioelectrical signals turn stem cells' progeny cancerous; Newly discovered 'instructor cells' can deliver deadly directions
• Study reveals superior sedation method for children
• Making the Internet faster
• 'Drivel' on Facebook more valuable than we think
• Sniffing out shoe bombs: A new and simple sensor for explosive chemicals
• Gene activity in the brain depends on genetic background: Implications for individual differences in drug safety and efficacy
• Rotten experiments help to create picture of our early ancestors
• Prostate cancer patients are at increased risk of precancerous colon polyps
• 'Virtual satellite dish' thanks to lots of simple processors working together
• Friends share personal details to strengthen relationships in United States, but not in Japan, study finds
• Drought may threaten much of globe within decades, analysis predicts
• Inhaling nitric oxide eases pain crises in sickle cell patients, researchers find
• New biological sensor detects and analyses DNA sequences
• Osteoporosis drug builds bone in patients with gum disease
• The hair brush that reads your mind
• Psychiatric illnesses before surgery associated with modest increased risk of death afterward, study finds
• Astronomers find weird, warm spot on an exoplanet
• Vitamin B12 may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease
• Genomic comparison of ocean microbes reveals East-West divide in populations
• Analysis indicates a third H1N1 pandemic wave unlikely in 2010
• Plastic monitors itself
• Scientists closer to grasping how the brain's 'hearing center' spurs responses to sound

Why the leopard got its spots Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT Why do leopards have rosette-shaped markings but tigers have stripes? Rudyard Kipling suggested that it was because the leopard moved to an environment "full of trees and bushes and stripy, speckly, patchy-blatchy shadows," but is there any truth in this just-so story?

First direct evidence that response to alcohol depends on genes: Dopamine receptor deficiency leads to significant brain changes in response to drinking Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT A study in mice provides the first experimental evidence to directly support the idea that genetic differences make some individuals more susceptible to the addictive effects of alcohol and other drugs.

McSleepy meets DaVinci: Doctors conduct first-ever all-robotic surgery and anesthesia Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT In a world first, a completely robotic surgery and anesthesia has been performed at the McGill University Health Centre. The DaVinci surgical robot, which lets surgeons work from remote locations, was put to work this summer, whereas the anesthesia robot, nicknamed McSleepy, has been providing automated anesthesia since 2008. The two combined to perform the first all-robotic surgery on a prostatectomy patient at the Montreal General Hospital.

Early pregnancy in spring linked to child's susceptibility to food allergies, Finnish study suggests Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT A child's likelihood of developing food allergies can be traced back to the season during which he or she completes their first three months of life in the womb, new research from Finland suggests.

Batteries smaller than a grain of salt Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT Researchers in California are aiming to create some of the tiniest batteries on Earth, the largest of which would be no bigger than a grain of sand. These tiny energy storage devices could one day be used to power the electronics and mechanical components of tiny micro- to nano-scale devices.

To be good, sometimes leaders need to be a little bad; Study examines 'dark side' personality traits and leadership Posted: 20 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new study has found that when it comes to leading, some negative personality traits aren't such a bad thing.

See no shape, touch no shape, hear a shape? New way of 'seeing' the world Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that our brains have the ability to determine the shape of an object simply by processing specially-coded sounds, without any visual or tactile input.

Hormone therapy use by postmenopausal women may increase incidence of more advanced breast cancer Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT Follow-up of about 11 years of participants in the Women's Health Initiative finds that among postmenopausal women, use of estrogen plus progestin is associated with an increased incidence of breast cancers that are more advanced, and with a higher risk of deaths attributable to breast cancer, according to a new study.

Recycling pacemakers may alleviate burden of heart disease across the globe Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT Millions worldwide die each year because they can't afford a pacemaker. But what if patients in the United States could donate their pacemaker to someone in need? In a new article, experts examine the legality and logistics of collecting pacemakers, after they are removed for burial or cremation, for sterilization and reuse across the globe.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to lung transplant rejection, research finds Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a significant increase in lung transplant rejection, according to new research.

Improved antibiotic coatings: Research aims to make medical devices safer by preventing biofilms Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT A research group in Australia is working on techniques to permanently bind antibacterial coatings to medical devices by binding them to a polymer layer.

Heavy alcohol use suggests a change in normal cognitive development in adolescents Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:00 AM PDT Adolescence and puberty is a period of significant development in the brain. New findings indicate that excessive alcohol use selectively damages the frontal lobe, which is responsible for the development of social skills and judgment. This indicates that severe alcohol abuse may damage brain function, and the normal course of neural development in adolescents.

Old bees' memory fades; Mirrors recall of humans and other mammals Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Humans aren't the only ones whose memory fades with age. Scientists examined how aging impacts the ability of honey bees to find their way home. While bees are typically impressive navigators, able to wend their way home through complex landscapes after visits to flowers far removed from their nests, aging impairs the bees' ability to extinguish the memory of an unsuitable nest site even after the colony has settled in a new home.

Gene variant may protect against alcoholism Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a gene variant that may protect against alcoholism. The variant, in a gene called CYP2E1, is associated with a person's response to alcohol. For the 10 to 20 percent of people that possess this variant, those first few drinks leave them feeling more inebriated than the rest of the human population, who harbor a different version of the gene.

More than 200 new snails of the same genus described in a single study Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Two world experts in micro mollusks have made an unprecedented description in a scientific publication of a combined total of 209 snail species. Commissioned by the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, the study was unveiled in September in the French capital, and it covers the most new species from a single genus of any study to date.

Prostate cancer patients treated with robotic-assisted surgery can expect low recurrence of cancer Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT A first-ever, long-term study of patients who underwent robot-assisted surgery to remove their cancerous prostates found that nearly 87 percent of them had no recurrence of the disease after five years.

Long distance, top secret messages: Critical component of quantum communication device may enable cryptography Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT When the military needs to send the key to encrypted data across the world, it can't necessarily rely on today's communication lines, where the message could be covertly intercepted. But physicists are developing a new, more secure way to send such information across far distances, using existing cables and the laws of quantum mechanics.

Video games can be highly effective training tools, study shows: Employees learn more, forget less, master more skills Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Long derided as mere entertainment, new research now shows that organizations using video games to train employees end up with smarter, more motivated workers who learn more and forget less.

One-way Martian colonization missions: Proposal would cut costs dramatically, ensure long-term commitment Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT Would you sign on for a one-way flight to Mars? It's a question that gives pause to even a physicist and cosmologist who argue for precisely such a one-way manned mission to Mars in a new article.

Genetic predisposition to certain skin cancers may be associated with vitamin D deficiency Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT Patients with basal cell nevus syndrome, which predisposes them to develop non-melanoma skin cancers, appear to be at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency if they take steps to protect themselves from sunlight, according to a new study.

Protein highways keep tissues organized Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT Precise regulation of tissue architecture is critical for organ function. Single cells build up a tissue by communicating with their environment and with other cells, thereby receiving instructions on whether to divide, change shape or migrate. Researchers have now identified a mechanism by which skin cells organize their interior architecture as a response to signals from their surroundings.

Fructose intolerance common in children with functional abdominal pain; Low-fructose diet is an effective treatment, study finds Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT Fructose intolerance, or fructose malabsorption, is common in children with recurrent or functional abdominal pain, but the condition can be effectively managed with a low-fructose diet, according to the results of a new study. Over half of patients who are fructose intolerant are able to maintain a low-fructose diet and are able to notice an immediate improvement in their symptoms.

Study of tiny magnets may advance their use in microelectronics Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers in China have announced progress in understanding the single-molecule magnet, which combines the classical macroscale properties of a magnet with the quantum properties of a nanoscale entity.

People are better at strategic reasoning than was thought, research shows Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 PM PDT When we make decisions based on what we think someone else will do, we must use reason to infer the other's next move -- or next three or more moves -- to know what we must do. This so-called recursive reasoning ability in humans has been thought to be somewhat limited. But now, in new research, it appears that people can engage in much higher levels of recursive reasoning than was previously thought.

Don't blame dairy cows for (greenhouse) gas emissions, new study shows Posted: 19 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT Forget all the tacky jokes about cow flatulence causing climate change. A new study reports that the dairy industry is responsible for only about 2.0 percent of all US greenhouse gas emissions.

Parkinson's disease insights: Damage to control circuits in the brain responsible for habits Posted: 19 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT New research into Parkinson's disease suggests that many of the problems suffered by patients -- difficulties in initiating actions, slow labored movements and tremors -- can be understood in terms of damage to control circuits in the brain responsible for habits.

Bioelectrical signals turn stem cells' progeny cancerous; Newly discovered 'instructor cells' can deliver deadly directions Posted: 19 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT Biologists have found that a change in membrane voltage in newly identified "instructor cells" can cause stem cells' descendants to trigger melanoma-like growth in pigment cells a considerable distance away. This metastatic transformation is due to changes in serotonin transport. Discovery of this novel bioelectric signal and cell type could help prevent and treat diseases like cancer and vitiligo as well as birth defects.

Study reveals superior sedation method for children Posted: 19 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT Procedural sedation and analgesia is an essential element of care for children requiring painful procedures in the emergency department. New research provides evidence that when compared to ketamine alone, patients who receive a combination of ketamine and propofol have a slightly faster recovery time and suffer from less severe side effects.

Making the Internet faster Posted: 19 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT Weaknesses in the architecture behind the Internet mean that surfing can sometimes lead to slow speeds and a tiresome wait for a video to load. Redeveloping the whole architecture of the Internet is an option recently discussed even by Internet pioneers. However, a group of European engineers decided to go the opposite way and to monitor traffic and tailor services to meet demand.

'Drivel' on Facebook more valuable than we think Posted: 19 Oct 2010 08:00 PM PDT Superficial contacts on Facebook, apparently unnecessary comments, and banal status updates may be more worthwhile than we think. A new report predicts the new social media will ultimately lead to more individual entrepreneurs.

Sniffing out shoe bombs: A new and simple sensor for explosive chemicals Posted: 19 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT Chemists have developed a simple sensor to detect an explosive used in shoe bombs. It could lead to inexpensive, easy-to-use devices for luggage and passenger screening at airports and elsewhere. The detector uses a printed array, smaller than a postage stamp, of pigments that change color in the presence of TATP.

Gene activity in the brain depends on genetic background: Implications for individual differences in drug safety and efficacy Posted: 19 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have found that the same genes have different activity patterns in the brain in individuals with different genetic backgrounds. These findings may help to explain individual differences in the effectiveness and side-effect profiles of therapeutic drugs and thus have implications for personalized medicine.

Rotten experiments help to create picture of our early ancestors Posted: 19 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT An innovative experiment that involved studying rotting fish has helped to create a clearer picture of what our early ancestors would have looked like. The scientists wanted to examine the decaying process in order to understand the decomposition of soft-body parts in fish. This in turn will help them reconstruct an image of creatures that existed 500 million years ago.

Prostate cancer patients are at increased risk of precancerous colon polyps Posted: 19 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT Men with prostate cancer should be especially diligent about having routine screening colonoscopies, results of a new study by gastroenterologists indicate.

'Virtual satellite dish' thanks to lots of simple processors working together Posted: 19 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT Satellite TV without having to set up a receiver dish. Digital radio on your mobile phone without your batteries quickly running flat. The advanced calculations needed for these future applications are made possible by a microchip with relatively simple processors that can interact and communicate flexibly.

Friends share personal details to strengthen relationships in United States, but not in Japan, study finds Posted: 19 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT In the United States, friends often share intimate details of their lives and problems. However, such self-disclosure is much less common in Japan. A new study by an American researcher living in Japan finds that this may be because of the different social systems in the two countries, and in particular the extent to which there are opportunities to make new friends.

Drought may threaten much of globe within decades, analysis predicts Posted: 19 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT The United States and many other heavily populated countries face a growing threat of severe and prolonged drought. The analysis concludes that warming temperatures associated with climate change will likely create increasingly dry conditions across much of the globe in the next 30 years, possibly reaching a scale in some regions by the end of the century that has rarely, if ever, been observed in modern times.

Inhaling nitric oxide eases pain crises in sickle cell patients, researchers find Posted: 19 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT Inhaling nitric oxide appears to safely and effectively reduce pain crises in adults with sickle cell disease, researchers report. A study of 18 patients in Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit showed that the nine inhaling nitric oxide for four hours had better pain control than those receiving only the standard self-administered morphine.

New biological sensor detects and analyses DNA sequences Posted: 19 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT Researchers in Spain have created a new DNA-based biological sensor that has potential applications in the field of genetic diagnostics. The sensors are able to use logical rules to autonomously run logical inference processes on genetic input signals and reach accurate diagnoses.

Osteoporosis drug builds bone in patients with gum disease Posted: 19 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT A drug marketed to grow bone in osteoporosis patients also works to heal bone wounds in gum disease patients, a new study suggests.

The hair brush that reads your mind Posted: 19 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT One of the main techniques for measuring and monitoring mental activity, called functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), can often be impaired because a person's hair gets in the way. But now, thanks to a team of researchers, a novel device called a "brush optrode" is providing increased sensitivity with fiber tips designed to thread through hair to enhance scalp contact.

Psychiatric illnesses before surgery associated with modest increased risk of death afterward, study finds Posted: 19 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT Individuals with co-occurring psychiatric illnesses, especially anxiety and depression, appear to have an increased risk of death within 30 days of surgery, according to a new study.

Astronomers find weird, warm spot on an exoplanet Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT Observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope reveal a distant planet with a warm spot in the wrong place. The gas-giant planet, named upsilon Andromedae b, orbits tightly around its star, with one face perpetually boiling under the star's heat. It belongs to a class of planets termed hot Jupiters, so called for their scorching temperatures and large, gaseous constitutions.

Vitamin B12 may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT A new study shows that vitamin B12 may protect against Alzheimer's disease, adding more evidence to the scientific debate about whether the vitamin is effective in reducing the risk of memory loss.

Genomic comparison of ocean microbes reveals East-West divide in populations Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT Much as an anthropologist can study populations of people to learn about their physical attributes, their environs and social structures, some marine microbiologists read the genome of microbes to glean information about the microbes themselves, their environments and lifestyles.

Analysis indicates a third H1N1 pandemic wave unlikely in 2010 Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT Analysis of H1N1 antibody levels (seroprotection rates) after the 2009 pandemic suggest that a third wave is unlikely in 2010, although adults over age 50, particularly those with chronic conditions, should be immunized for the fall flu season, states a research article.

Plastic monitors itself Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT A new polymer-metal material that has sensory properties makes it possible to produce plastic component parts that monitor themselves. This material can be combined with various others and used in a variety of different ways.

Scientists closer to grasping how the brain's 'hearing center' spurs responses to sound Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT Just as we visually map a room by spatially identifying the objects in it, we map our aural world based on the frequencies of sounds. The neurons within the brain's auditory cortex are organized into modules that each respond to sounds within a specific frequency band. But how responses actually emanate from this complex network of neurons is still a mystery. Scientists have come closer to unraveling this puzzle.

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