ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Brown recluse spider: Range could expand in N. America with changing climate
• Organic and conventional farming methods compete to eliminate weed seeds in soil
• Jurassic spider from China is largest fossil specimen discovered
• Scotland's first marine reserve already producing benefits
• Why biggest stellar explosions often happen in tiniest galaxies: Ultraviolet probe sheds light on mystery
• Huge dry ice deposit on Mars: NASA orbiter reveals big changes in Red Planet's atmosphere
• New hope for treatment of painful adult shingles
• Genes causing antimalarial drug resistance identified
• Biologist illuminates how seedlings regulate growth
• Kidney disease coupled with heart disease common problem in elderly
• Kidney disease coupled with heart disease common problem in elderly
• Drug effective in treating kidney disease in diabetic patients, study suggests
• Fossil sirenians, related to today's manatees, give scientists new look at ancient climate
• Are dietary supplements working against you?
• Functioning synapse created using carbon nanotubes: Devices might be used in brain prostheses or synthetic brains
• Earth recovered from prehistoric global warming faster than previously thought
• 'Time machine' made to visually explore space and time in videos: Time-lapse GigaPans provide new way to access big data
• Scientists engineer nanoscale vaults to encapsulate 'nanodisks' for drug delivery
• Study in roundworm chromosomes may offer new clues to tumor genome development
• Data miners dig for corrosion resistance
• Early warning system for Alzheimer's disease
• Development in fog harvesting process may make water available to the world’s poor
• Scientists observe single gene activity in living cells in detail for first time
• A fracture in a person over 50 can be a sign of osteoporosis, yet many lack knowledge of disease
• Learning to tolerate our microbial self: Bacteria co-opt human immune cells for mutual benefit
• Ozone hole linked to climate change all the way to the equator
• Cheaper hydrogen fuel cells: Utility of non-precious-metal catalysts documented
• Severe obesity not seen to increase risk of depression in teens
• Course to help curb violent incidents on mental health wards
• Older workers are a unique resource
• Historic church's subterranean secrets revealed
• Photovoltaic systems boost the sales price of California homes
• Acupuncture relieves hot flashes from prostate cancer treatment, study suggests
• Simple fungus reveals clue to immune system protection
• Phase III trial finds no benefit from atrasentan added to chemo for advanced prostate cancer
• Meditation may help the brain 'turn down the volume' on distractions
• Parasite strategy offers insight to help tackle sleeping sickness
• Salmonella utilize multiple modes of infection: New mechanism that helps with invading host cells discovered
• Giant tortoises show rewilding can work
• Bacteria interrupted: Disabling coordinated behavior and virulence gene expression
• Cancer cell proliferation: A new ending to an old 'tail'
• Subset of self-destructive immune cells may selectively drive diabetes
• Critical role of placenta in brain development demonstrated
• Discovery identifies elaborate G-protein network in plants
• Lawn of native grasses beats traditional lawn for lushness, weed resistance
• New technique improves sensitivity of PCR pathogen detection
• Athletes at risk: New, inexpensive test for 'sudden death syndrome'
• EPO doping helps combat cerebral malaria
• Fat turns into soap in sewers, contributes to overflows
• Starting a new metabolic path: New technique will help metabolic engineering
• Worm studies shed light on human cancers
• RNA nanoparticles constructed to safely deliver long-lasting therapy to cells
• School burnout can be turned into educational engagement
• Evolution can cause a rapid reduction in genome size
• Happiest places have highest suicide rates, new research finds
• Antidepressants may not improve all symptoms of depression, researchers find
• Use of topical corticosteroids in children with eczema does not have negative side effects, study finds
• Prenatal pesticide exposure tied to lower IQ in children, study finds

Brown recluse spider: Range could expand in N. America with changing climate Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:22 PM PDT One of the most feared spiders in North America -- the brown recluse -- is the subject a new study that aims to predict its distribution and how that distribution may be affected by climate changes. Researchers believe that the range may expand northward, potentially invading previously unaffected regions. Newly influenced areas may include parts of Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Organic and conventional farming methods compete to eliminate weed seeds in soil Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:12 PM PDT Weeds are hard to kill; they seem to come back no matter what steps people take to eradicate them. One reason is because of the persistence of weed seeds in the soil. Organic farming and conventional farming systems both have their methods of taking on weed seeds, but does one show better results than the other?

Jurassic spider from China is largest fossil specimen discovered Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:07 PM PDT With a leg span of more than five inches, a recently named Jurassic period spider from China is the largest fossil specimen discovered, and one that has modern relatives in tropical climates today.

Scotland's first marine reserve already producing benefits Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:53 PM PDT Scotland's first fully protected marine reserve, and only the second in the UK, is already providing commercial and conservation benefits, according to new research.

Why biggest stellar explosions often happen in tiniest galaxies: Ultraviolet probe sheds light on mystery Posted: 21 Apr 2011 04:05 PM PDT Astronomers using NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer may be closer to knowing why some of the most massive stellar explosions ever observed occur in the tiniest of galaxies.

Huge dry ice deposit on Mars: NASA orbiter reveals big changes in Red Planet's atmosphere Posted: 21 Apr 2011 04:04 PM PDT NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has discovered the total amount of atmosphere on Mars changes dramatically as the tilt of the planet's axis varies. This process can affect the stability of liquid water, if it exists on the Martian surface, and increase the frequency and severity of Martian dust storms. Researchers using the orbiter's ground-penetrating radar identified a large, buried deposit of frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice, at the Red Planet's south pole. The scientists suspect that much of this carbon dioxide enters the planet's atmosphere and swells the atmosphere's mass when Mars' tilt increases.

New hope for treatment of painful adult shingles Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a compound with the potential to be more effective than existing agents in treating the very painful blisters known as shingles -- a condition that affects up to 30 percent of Americans, mostly elderly, and for which no specific treatment exists.

Genes causing antimalarial drug resistance identified Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT Using a pair of powerful genome-search techniques, researchers have identified several genes that may be implicated in the malaria parasite's notorious ability to rapidly evade drug treatments.

Biologist illuminates how seedlings regulate growth Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT All kinds of organisms, from plants to people, regulate growth via networks of proteins that add on and lop off phosphate molecules. Scientists can now explain key steps that allow seedlings to make it past the surface of the soil.

Kidney disease coupled with heart disease common problem in elderly Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT Patients on peritoneal dialysis typically have a higher early survival rate than patients on hemodialysis (HD). New data suggest that this difference may be explained by a higher risk of early deaths among patients undergoing HD with central venous catheters, according to a new study.

Kidney disease coupled with heart disease common problem in elderly Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT Chronic kidney disease is common and linked with heart disease in the very elderly, according to a new study.

Drug effective in treating kidney disease in diabetic patients, study suggests Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT Researchers have published promising results of a clinical study using an experimental anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory drug called pirfenidone to treat patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Fossil sirenians, related to today's manatees, give scientists new look at ancient climate Posted: 21 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT What tales they tell of their former lives, these old bones of sirenians, relatives of today's dugongs and manatees. And now, geologists have found, they tell of the waters in which they swam. While researching the evolutionary ecology of ancient sirenians -- commonly known as sea cows -- scientists unexpectedly stumbled across data that could change the view of climate during the Eocene Epoch, some 50 million years ago.

Are dietary supplements working against you? Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:19 PM PDT Do you belong to the one-half of the population that frequently uses dietary supplements with the hope that it might be good for you?

Functioning synapse created using carbon nanotubes: Devices might be used in brain prostheses or synthetic brains Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:19 PM PDT Engineering researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the use of nanotechnologies for the construction of a synthetic brain. They have built a carbon nanotube synapse circuit whose behavior in tests reproduces the function of a neuron, the building block of the brain.

Earth recovered from prehistoric global warming faster than previously thought Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:19 PM PDT Earth may be able to recover from rising carbon dioxide emissions faster than previously thought, according to evidence from a prehistoric event. When faced with high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and rising temperatures 56 million years ago, Earth increased its ability to pull carbon from the air. This led to a recovery that was quicker than anticipated by many models of the carbon cycle.

'Time machine' made to visually explore space and time in videos: Time-lapse GigaPans provide new way to access big data Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:19 PM PDT Researchers have leveraged the latest browser technology to create GigaPan Time Machine, a system that enables viewers to explore gigapixel-scale, high-resolution videos and image sequences by panning or zooming in and out of the images while simultaneously moving back and forth through time.

Scientists engineer nanoscale vaults to encapsulate 'nanodisks' for drug delivery Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT The first steps toward the development of the vault nanoparticle into a versatile and effective DDS are reported in this paper. The ability to encapsulate therapeutic compounds into the vault is a critical and fundamental obstacle in their development for small-molecule drug delivery. Recombinant vaults are engineered to encapsulate the highly insoluble and toxic hydrophobic compound all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) using a vault-binding lipoprotein complex that forms a lipid bilayer nanodisk.

Study in roundworm chromosomes may offer new clues to tumor genome development Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT A "promiscuous DNA replication process" may be responsible for large-scale genome duplications in developing tumors, according to new research. These findings challenge the long-standing, currently accepted model.

Data miners dig for corrosion resistance Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT A better understanding of corrosion resistance may be possible using a data-mining tool. This tool may also aid research in other areas where massive amounts of information exist.

Early warning system for Alzheimer's disease Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT Scientists are developing a technique based on a new discovery which could pave the way towards detecting Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages -- and could help to develop urgently-needed treatments. The technique uses the ratio of detected fluorescence signals to indicate that clusters of peptide associated with the disease are beginning to gather and to have an impact on the brain.

Development in fog harvesting process may make water available to the world’s poor Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT An engineer and aspiring entrepreneur works on fog harvesting, the deployment of devices that, like the beetle, attract water droplets and corral the runoff. This way, poor villagers could collect clean water near their homes, instead of spending hours carrying water from distant wells or streams.

Scientists observe single gene activity in living cells in detail for first time Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT Researchers have for the first time observed the activity of a single gene in living cells. In an unprecedented study, scientists were able to follow, in real time, the process of gene transcription, which occurs when a gene converts its DNA information into molecules of messenger RNA that go on to make the protein coded by the gene.

A fracture in a person over 50 can be a sign of osteoporosis, yet many lack knowledge of disease Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT A fracture in a person over the age of 50 can be a sign of osteoporosis, yet some patient populations have little knowledge of the disease.

Learning to tolerate our microbial self: Bacteria co-opt human immune cells for mutual benefit Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT The human gut is filled with 100 trillion symbiotic bacteria which we blissfully live with, although they have many features similar to infectious bacteria we react against. What decides whether we ignore -- or fight? In the case of a common "friendly" gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, researchers have discovered the surprising answer: The decision is not made by us, but by the bacteria, which co-opt cells of the immune system for our benefit ... and theirs.

Ozone hole linked to climate change all the way to the equator Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT The ozone hole, which is located over the South Pole, has affected the entire circulation of the Southern Hemisphere all the way to the equator, according to new research. This is the first time that ozone depletion, an upper atmospheric phenomenon confined to the polar regions, has been linked to climate change from the Pole to the equator.

Cheaper hydrogen fuel cells: Utility of non-precious-metal catalysts documented Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT Scientists have developed a way to avoid the use of expensive platinum in hydrogen fuel cells, the environmentally friendly devices that might replace current power sources in everything from personal data devices to automobiles. Scientists have developed a platinum-free catalyst for use in the cathode of a hydrogen fuel cell.

Severe obesity not seen to increase risk of depression in teens Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:23 AM PDT According to a new study, severely obese adolescents are no more likely to be depressed than normal weight peers. The study did find that white adolescents may be somewhat more vulnerable to psychological effects of obesity.

Course to help curb violent incidents on mental health wards Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:03 AM PDT A leading mental health specialist has developed a new course to help qualified nurses deal more effectively with people who are very distressed and disturbed.

Older workers are a unique resource Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:03 AM PDT New research has found that older workers are a valuable asset, but are increasingly being squeezed by family pressures.

Historic church's subterranean secrets revealed Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:03 AM PDT Researchers have carried out a full scientific survey of an historic churchyard widely believed to be the site of the crowning of at least two Anglo-Saxon kings. The team used an earth resistance meter to survey a graveyard at the site where possibly as many as seven kings were crowned, during the 10th Century, including Athelstan, the first king of a unified England in 925, and Ethelred the Unready in 978-9.

Photovoltaic systems boost the sales price of California homes Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:24 AM PDT New research finds strong evidence that homes with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sell for a premium over homes without solar systems. The research is the first to empirically explore the existence and magnitude of residential PV sales price impacts across a large number of homes and over a wide geographic area.

Acupuncture relieves hot flashes from prostate cancer treatment, study suggests Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:24 AM PDT Acupuncture provides long-lasting relief to hot flashes, heart palpitations and anxiety due to side effects of the hormone given to counteract testosterone, the hormone that induces prostate cancer, according to a new study.

Simple fungus reveals clue to immune system protection Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT A discovery about how a single-celled fungus survives in low-oxygen settings may someday help humans whose immune systems are compromised by organ transplants or AIDS.

Phase III trial finds no benefit from atrasentan added to chemo for advanced prostate cancer Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT The SWOG trial S0421 closed early based on interim finding that atrasentan added to docetaxel and prednisone did not confer additional survival benefit to patients with advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Meditation may help the brain 'turn down the volume' on distractions Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT The positive effects of mindfulness meditation on pain and working memory may result from an improved ability to regulate a crucial brain wave called the alpha rhythm. This rhythm is thought to "turn down the volume" on distracting information, which suggests that a key value of meditation may be helping the brain deal with an often overstimulating world.

Parasite strategy offers insight to help tackle sleeping sickness Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT Fresh insight into the survival strategy of the parasite that causes sleeping sickness could help inform new treatments for the disease.

Salmonella utilize multiple modes of infection: New mechanism that helps with invading host cells discovered Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new, hitherto unknown mechanism of Salmonella invasion into gut cells: In this entry mode, the bacteria exploit the muscle power of cells to be pulled into the host cell cytoplasm. Thus, the strategies Salmonella use to infect cells are more complex than previously thought.

Giant tortoises show rewilding can work Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT Exotic species can be used to restore important functions in ecosystems that were lost following the extinction of key species, according to a new study of giant tortoises on a small island in the Indian Ocean.

Bacteria interrupted: Disabling coordinated behavior and virulence gene expression Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT New research reveals a strategy for disrupting the ability of bacteria to communicate and coordinate the expression of virulence factors. The study may lead to the development of new antibacterial therapeutics.

Cancer cell proliferation: A new ending to an old 'tail' Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT In stark contrast to normal cells, which only divide a finite number of times before they enter into a permanent state of growth arrest or simply die, cancer cells never cease to proliferate. Now, scientists have uncovered an important clue to one of the mechanisms underlying cancer cell immortality.

Subset of self-destructive immune cells may selectively drive diabetes Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT New research identifies a distinctive population of immune cells that may play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. The research sheds new light on the pathogenesis of diabetes and may lead to the development of new more selective therapeutic strategies for diabetes and other autoimmune diseases of the accessory organs of the digestive system.

Critical role of placenta in brain development demonstrated Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT New research shows for the first time that the human placenta plays an active role in synthesizing serotonin, paving the way to new treatment strategies that could mitigate health impacts such as cardiovascular disease and mental illness.

Discovery identifies elaborate G-protein network in plants Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT The most elaborate heterotrimeric G-protein network known to date in the plant kingdom has just been identified.

Lawn of native grasses beats traditional lawn for lushness, weed resistance Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT A lawn of regionally native grasses would take less resources to maintain while providing as lush a carpet as a common turfgrass used in the South, according to a new study.

New technique improves sensitivity of PCR pathogen detection Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT A new procedure can improve polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods of detecting plant disease organisms.

Athletes at risk: New, inexpensive test for 'sudden death syndrome' Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT A cardiologist has developed a new, inexpensive test for "sudden death syndrome" that's already being used by doctors in America -- and it can be done at the patient's bedside.

EPO doping helps combat cerebral malaria Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT Researchers have now discovered that EPO, the doping drug known from professional cycling, can significantly reduce cerebral malaria related deaths.

Fat turns into soap in sewers, contributes to overflows Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT Researchers have discovered how fat, oil and grease can create hardened deposits in sewer lines: it turns into soap! The hardened deposits, which can look like stalactites, contribute to sewer overflows.

Starting a new metabolic path: New technique will help metabolic engineering Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:11 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated a new technique that speeds up and improves the identification and quantification of proteins within a cell or micoorganism. Called "targeted proteomics," the new technique is expected to be an important new tool for the fields of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.

Worm studies shed light on human cancers Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:11 AM PDT Research in the worm is shedding light on a protein associated with a number of different human cancers, and may point to a highly targeted way to treat them.

RNA nanoparticles constructed to safely deliver long-lasting therapy to cells Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:11 AM PDT Though RNA is viewed as a promising tool in nanotherapy, the difficulties of producing stable and long-lasting therapeutic RNA have posed challenges to research. A biomedical engineering professor has detailed the successful production of large RNA nanoparticles from smaller RNA segments. The nanoparticles had a half life of between five and 10 hours in animal models and targeted cancer cells in vivo to release therapeutics.

School burnout can be turned into educational engagement Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:26 AM PDT One fourth of all young people experience a form of school engagement on a weekly basis. Vocational students experience engagement to a greater degree than upper secondary school students; upper secondary students have a rate of about 20 per cent, while the corresponding rate for vocational students was as much as one third. Girls are more enthusiastic about school than boys.

Evolution can cause a rapid reduction in genome size Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:26 AM PDT It would appear reasonable to assume that two closely related plant species would have similar genetic blueprints. However, scientists have now decoded, for the first time, the entire genome of the lyre-leaved rock cress (Arabidopsis lyrata), a close relative of the thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), the model plant used by geneticists. They discovered that the genome of the lyre-leaved rock cress is fifty percent bigger than that of the thale cress. Moreover, these changes arose over a very short period in evolutionary terms.

Happiest places have highest suicide rates, new research finds Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:26 AM PDT The happiest countries and happiest U.S. states tend to have the highest suicide rates, according to new research. The research confirmed a little known and seemingly puzzling fact: many happy countries have unusually high rates of suicide.

Antidepressants may not improve all symptoms of depression, researchers find Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:25 AM PDT Even people who show a clear treatment response with antidepressant medications continue to experience symptoms like insomnia, sadness and decreased concentration, researchers have found after analyzing data from the largest study on the treatment of depression.

Use of topical corticosteroids in children with eczema does not have negative side effects, study finds Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:25 AM PDT A new study reveals that routine, long-term use of topical corticosteroids for treating children with eczema does not cause any significant, negative side effects.

Prenatal pesticide exposure tied to lower IQ in children, study finds Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:25 AM PDT A new study has found that prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides -- widely used on food crops -- is related to lower intelligence scores in children. Every tenfold increase in measures of organophosphates detected during a mother's pregnancy corresponded to a 5.5 point drop in overall IQ scores in children at age 7, the researchers found.

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