ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Segmentation is the secret behind the extraordinary diversification of animals
• Excessive intake of omega 6 and deficiencies in omega 3 induce obesity down the generations
• Bird flu: Preening spreads viruses in nature
• Weight loss may be associated with improvements in hot flushes in overweight and obese women
• Oceanographic linkages indicate an alternative route for eel larval drift to Europe
• Negative stereotypes shown to affect learning, not just performance, study finds
• Infectious prions can arise spontaneously in normal brain tissue, study shows
• Biological rationale for why intensive lupus treatment works
• For platinum catalysts, smaller may be better
• Seeing the forest and the trees reveals heart problems
• NASA satellite improves pollution monitoring
• Plentiful maternal affection in early infancy boosts adult coping skills, study finds
• Indonesia's puzzling Banda arc: New findings explain mystery behind geological development
• SIRT1 gene important for memory
• Delayed time zero in photoemission: New record in time measurement accuracy
• Preventing heart problems while keeping a cool head: Cause of flushing effect arising from cholesterol treatment with nicotinic acid
• Keeping trains on track: Early-warning hazard system for the world's railways
• Elder Care Puts Strain on Adult Parent-Child Relationship
• Converging weather patterns caused last winter's huge snows in U.S.
• Childhood cancer survivors may have abnormal long-term cardiac function
• Experiments narrow allowed mass range for Higgs boson
• Predicting drug responsiveness in cancer patients
• Arctic voyage illuminating ocean optics
• Our children aren't sleeping and we're medicating them, survey finds
• How monarch butterflies fly away home
• New compound improves obesity-related health complications
• What does your avatar say about you?
• Noninvasive MR imaging of blood vessel growth in tumors using nanosized contrast agents
• Position-based quantum cryptography: New method for securing location-sensitive data
• Certain epilepsy drugs may increase risk of suicide, study suggests
• Archaeologists discover biggest rat that ever lived: Weight of about 6 kilograms (over 13 lb)
• Missing link in cell mitosis discovered: The role of protein in controlling cell division unveiled
• Once bitten, twice shy: Temperature switch triggers aversive memory
• Meals as medicine: Anti-obesity effects of soy in rat model of menopause
• An alchemist’s dream: Lead-free electronics
• New links between cholesterol and depression in the elderly
• Largest particle accelerator 'rediscovers' fundamental subatomic particles
• Exposure to early evening sunlight in spring creates teenage night owls
• Dangers of untreated erectile dysfunction
• Storm elves and sprites recorded on video
• Children born after assisted reproduction at greater risk of congenital malformations, experts say

Segmentation is the secret behind the extraordinary diversification of animals Posted: 27 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Segmentation, the repetition of identical anatomical units, seems to be the secret behind the diversity and longevity of the largest and most common animal groups on Earth. Researchers have shown that this characteristic was inherited from a common segmented ancestor thought to have lived 600 million years ago and whose presence "changed the face of the world."

Excessive intake of omega 6 and deficiencies in omega 3 induce obesity down the generations Posted: 27 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Chronic excess of linoleic acid (omega 6), coupled with a deficiency in alpha-linoleic acid (omega 3), can increase obesity down the generations. Researchers exposed several generations of male and female adult and young mice to a "Western-like" diet of this type, and then assessed the consequences of such a lipid environment in the human diet.

Bird flu: Preening spreads viruses in nature Posted: 27 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Scientists discovered that the preen oil gland secretions, by which all aquatic birds make their feathers waterproof, support a natural mechanism that concentrates AIVs from water onto birds' bodies. Since waterbirds use to spread preen oil over their own (self-preening) or other birds' (allo-preening) plumage, it is easily understandable how these preening activities could facilitate the diffusion of the viruses in nature.

Weight loss may be associated with improvements in hot flushes in overweight and obese women Posted: 27 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Among overweight and obese women with bothersome hot flushes during menopause, an intensive weight loss intervention program may lead to improvements in flushing, according to a new study.

Oceanographic linkages indicate an alternative route for eel larval drift to Europe Posted: 27 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT European eel larvae are generally believed to initially follow a westerly drift route into the Gulf Stream, but new research results on bio-physical linkages in the Sargasso Sea point to a shorter route towards Europe.

Negative stereotypes shown to affect learning, not just performance, study finds Posted: 27 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT While the effect of negative performance stereotypes on test-taking and in other domains is well documented, a new study shows that the effects might also be seen further upstream than once thought, when the skills are learned, not just performed.

Infectious prions can arise spontaneously in normal brain tissue, study shows Posted: 27 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT In a startling new discovery, scientists have shown for the first time that abnormal prions, bits of infectious protein devoid of DNA or RNA that can cause fatal neurodegenerative disease, can suddenly erupt from healthy brain tissue.

Biological rationale for why intensive lupus treatment works Posted: 27 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered the biological rationale for why large doses of corticosteroids given repeatedly over several weeks may help individuals with lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects more than one million people in the US.

For platinum catalysts, smaller may be better Posted: 27 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have studied platinum catalysts at the atomic scale under actual industrial reaction conditions and discovered why nanoparticle clusters of platinum potentially can out-perform the single crystals of platinum now used in fuel cells and catalytic converters.

Seeing the forest and the trees reveals heart problems Posted: 27 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT A statistical analysis of publicly available heart rate data using three classification tools -- Random Forests, Logistic Model Tree and Neural Network -- could lead to a rapid and precise way to diagnose heart problems, according to new research.

NASA satellite improves pollution monitoring Posted: 27 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT NASA scientists use satellite precipitation data to improve water pollution monitoring models.

Plentiful maternal affection in early infancy boosts adult coping skills, study finds Posted: 27 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Moms who shower their infants with affection equip them to cope well with life stressors as adults, new research finds.

Indonesia's puzzling Banda arc: New findings explain mystery behind geological development Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT The Banda arc -- a gigantic 1,000km long, 180-degree curve in eastern Indonesia -- has puzzled geologists for many years, with much debate and controversy surrounding its complex origin and evolution. A solution to this enigma, resolving many of the previous problems, has finally been found.

SIRT1 gene important for memory Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT A protein implicated in many biological processes also may play a role in memory, according to a new study.

Delayed time zero in photoemission: New record in time measurement accuracy Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Physicists have discovered a time delay when using light pulses to emit electrons from atoms. Until now, it has been assumed that the electrons start moving out of the atom immediately after the impact of the photons. This delay is the shortest time interval measured to date.

Preventing heart problems while keeping a cool head: Cause of flushing effect arising from cholesterol treatment with nicotinic acid Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Cholesterol influences the health of our hearts and blood vessels. Conventional treatment attempts to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, in the blood plasma. The opposite approach, which involves increasing the concentration of "good" HDL cholesterol using nicotinic acid, has proven unpopular among patients up to now. The reason for this is that treatment with nicotinic acid has an unpleasant but harmless side-effect: the drug makes patients turn quite red in the face. Scientists have now discovered the mechanism behind this effect, which is known as flushing. This will enable the development of flush inhibitors and thereby the more effective prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Keeping trains on track: Early-warning hazard system for the world's railways Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers are collecting high-tech sensing data from satellites, airplanes, magnetic and soil sensors, and unmanned aircraft to devise a solution that will provide a reliable early-warning system for train operators.

Elder Care Puts Strain on Adult Parent-Child Relationship Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Relationships between elder and younger members of a family can be strained and positive and negative in nature, even when affection is shared. A new study finds that long-term caretaking duties puts further strain on adult parent-child relationships.

Converging weather patterns caused last winter's huge snows in U.S. Posted: 26 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT The memory of last winter's blizzards may be fading in this summer's searing heat, but scientists studying them have detected a perfect storm of converging weather patterns that had little relation to climate change. The extraordinarily cold, snowy weather that hit parts of the US East Coast and Europe was the result of a collision of two periodic weather patterns in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, a new study finds.

Childhood cancer survivors may have abnormal long-term cardiac function Posted: 26 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT Childhood cancer survival is associated with increased risk of long-term abnormalities in cardiac function, according to a new study.

Experiments narrow allowed mass range for Higgs boson Posted: 26 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT New constraints on the elusive Higgs particle are more stringent than ever before. Scientists of the CDF and DZero collider experiments at the US Department of Energy's Fermilab have revealed their latest Higgs search results, which rule out a significant fraction of the allowed mass range established by earlier experiments.

Predicting drug responsiveness in cancer patients Posted: 26 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT Drugs that target the protein mTOR are used to treat several forms of cancer, but not all patients respond to the treatment. Now, a team of researchers has identified a way to help predict which patients will respond to such drugs.

Arctic voyage illuminating ocean optics Posted: 26 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT During NASA's ICESCAPE voyage to the Arctic, scientists have been looking at the phytoplankton in the Arctic's Chukchi Sea -- how many, how big and at what depths they are found. But there are other ways of looking at these small life forms.

Our children aren't sleeping and we're medicating them, survey finds Posted: 26 Jul 2010 08:00 PM PDT A new survey of child psychiatrists indicates that insomnia is a major problem among children in mental health treatment and at least a quarter of these patients are given sleep medication. The results of the survey suggests that management of insomnia in this population is a common practice, although the clinical approach varies widely.

How monarch butterflies fly away home Posted: 26 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Some North American monarchs born in the Midwest and Great Lakes fly directly west over the Appalachians and settle along the eastern seaboard. This finding is the first proof of longitudinal migration and solves the long-standing mystery of why monarchs always show up later on the east coast compared to the interior. The study also suggests conservation efforts must target the Great Lakes region.

New compound improves obesity-related health complications Posted: 26 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT An experimental compound appears to improve metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity, according to a preliminary study.

What does your avatar say about you? Posted: 26 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Old or young, beautiful or sinister - the choices are endless when designing an avatar or a virtual alter ego. In the end, do people choose one that is really different from themselves? Usually not, according to new research that shows in most cases, avatars reflect the personality of their creators. The study has implications for real-life companies who would like to reach both the virtual and real-world markets.

Noninvasive MR imaging of blood vessel growth in tumors using nanosized contrast agents Posted: 26 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have incorporated nanotechnology, material science, and the clinical imaging modality MRI, to create a nanosized probe capable of noninvasively visualizing and quantifying the blood vessel growth in tumors in a preclinical model. Studies in cell and preclinical animal models showed increase uptake of vascular targeted-nanoprobes over non-targeted nanoprobes.

Position-based quantum cryptography: New method for securing location-sensitive data Posted: 26 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT Computer scientists have proved that cryptography, the practice and study of hiding information, based solely on location is possible by using quantum mechanics. This allows one to encrypt and decrypt data without pre-sharing any cryptographic keys that can be used to lock and unlock sensitive information. The idea behind location-based cryptography is that only a recipient at a precise geographic location can receive an encrypted message.

Certain epilepsy drugs may increase risk of suicide, study suggests Posted: 26 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT While the Food and Drug Administration requires a warning of an increased risk of suicide for all epilepsy drugs, a new study shows that only certain drugs may increase the risk.

Archaeologists discover biggest rat that ever lived: Weight of about 6 kilograms (over 13 lb) Posted: 26 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Archaeological research in East Timor has unearthed the bones of the biggest rat that ever lived, with a body weight around six kilograms. Today's biggest rats weigh around two kilograms and live in rainforests in the Philippines and New Guinea.

Missing link in cell mitosis discovered: The role of protein in controlling cell division unveiled Posted: 26 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT A major discovery promises to revolutionize the way scientists think about key aspects of cellular lifecycle and offers a new avenue for cancer researchers to explore in their quest to one day slow down the progression of cancer.

Once bitten, twice shy: Temperature switch triggers aversive memory Posted: 26 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Neurobiologists can now activate specific nerve cells to study the association between sensations and negative experiences.

Meals as medicine: Anti-obesity effects of soy in rat model of menopause Posted: 26 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT A diet rich in soy prevents weight gain in post-menopausal female rats, according to new research.

An alchemist’s dream: Lead-free electronics Posted: 26 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT It's been said that the typical mobile phone contains roughly half of all elements found on the Periodic Table. One of the most problematic substances used in phones and other electronics is lead. But making lead-free electronics has proved problematic – until now. Researchers have now developed a method that enables the industrial production of a substance that can be used to replace lead in many electronic applications.

New links between cholesterol and depression in the elderly Posted: 26 Jul 2010 02:00 PM PDT Most people know that high cholesterol levels place them at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. Prior research has shown that particular types of strokes contribute to one's risk for depression, and that abnormal blood lipid levels can increase the risk of depression in the elderly. However, new findings by French researchers suggest the link between increased cholesterol and depression may be complicated.

Largest particle accelerator 'rediscovers' fundamental subatomic particles Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT The world's largest particle accelerator -- Europe's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) -- has yielded its first measurements of fundamental subatomic particles, so far confirming physicists' Standard Model but also paving the way to future discoveries that may offer new insights into the forces that govern the universe.

Exposure to early evening sunlight in spring creates teenage night owls Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT In the spring, later sunset and extended daylight exposure delay bedtimes in teenagers, according to new research.

Dangers of untreated erectile dysfunction Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT New research has found that up to six million European men fail to seek help for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) which could result in underlying cardiovascular disease going undetected.

Storm elves and sprites recorded on video Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT A team of Spanish researchers has made a high-speed recording of elves and sprites in storms, fleeting and luminous electric phenomena produced in the upper layers of the atmosphere.

Children born after assisted reproduction at greater risk of congenital malformations, experts say Posted: 26 Jul 2010 11:00 AM PDT Couples considering undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment should be informed about the increased risk of congenital malformation posed by the use of ART, experts say.

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