ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Hot Southern Summer Threatens Coral With Massive Bleaching Event Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST A widespread and severe coral bleaching episode is predicted to cause immense damage to some of the world's most important marine environments over the next few months.

Single Letter In Human Genome Points To Risk For High Cholesterol Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Write out every letter in the human genome, one A, C, T or G per millimeter, and the text would be 1,800 miles long, roughly the distance from New York to Colorado. Now, in the search for genes that affect how humans synthesize, process and break down cholesterol, scientists have found a single letter among this expanse of code that is associated with elevated LDL cholesterol levels, one of the leading health concerns that has come to dominate the 21st century.

Scientists Pull Protein's Tail To Curtail Cancer Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST When researchers look inside human cancer cells for the whereabouts of an important tumor-suppressor, they often catch the protein playing hooky, lolling around in cellular broth instead of muscling its way out to the cells' membranes and foiling cancer growth.

Hope For Treating Kidney Cancer Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Kidney cancer is typically without symptoms until it has spread to other organs, when it is also the most difficult to treat.

Making Digital Maps More Current And Accurate Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST European researchers have designed an innovative new system to help keep motorists on the right track by constantly updating their digital maps and fixing anomalies and errors. Now the partners are mapping the best route to market.

Physical Disability Brings Marital Happiness Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST A new study finds that the onset of physical disability boosts marital happiness more often than not.

New Breeding Ground For Endangered Whales? High Numbers Of Right Whales Seen In Gulf Of Maine Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST A large number of North Atlantic right whales have been seen in the Gulf of Maine in recent days, leading right whale researchers to believe they have identified a wintering ground and potentially a breeding ground for this endangered species.

Impaired Energy Metabolism Linked With Initiation Of Plaques In Alzheimer's Brain Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have identified an initiating molecular mechanism in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study provides new information about generation of damaging amyloid beta (A-beta) plaques within the AD brain and underscores the importance of developing new preventative and disease-modifying therapies for AD, especially those aimed at interrupting pathological A-beta-production.

Car Key Jams Teen Drivers' Cell Phones Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers have developed an automobile ignition key that prevents teenagers from talking on cell phones or sending text messages while driving.

Novel Pathway Involved In Therapy-resistant Cancers Discovered Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have begun to unpick the complex mechanisms underpinning the development of drug resistant cancers. They have identified a novel target that may help to combat the growing problem of therapy resistant cancers and pave the way for innovative therapeutic approaches.

New Model For Nuclear Pore Complex Backed By Structural Study Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST In higher organisms, the genetic material is confined and protected in the cell nucleus. In order for a healthy cell to function, the DNA must send manufacturing orders through the double membrane of the nucleus and into the cell's cytoplasm, where the protein production factories are and where most cellular functions are carried out. The sole portals through which these instructions pass -- nuclear pore complexes -- have a say in what the orders are and how they are conveyed. But these conspicuously large structures have ironically proved all but inscrutable to researchers over the years.

Trying To Eat Less Becomes More Important To Fend Off Middle-Age Weight Gain Posted: 03 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Lots of experts disagree over the seemingly obvious notion of keeping weight off by trying to eat less -- a debate that centers on whether the practice backfires, leading to binging and weight gain.

Genetic Variation May Lead To Early Cardiovascular Disease Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Scientists have identified a variation in a particular gene that increases susceptibility to early coronary artery disease. For years, scientists have known that the devastating, early-onset form of the disease was inherited, but they knew little about the gene(s) responsible until now.

Teens Girls Smoke Now, Pay Later With Larger Waistlines As Adults Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Remember the cool girls, huddled together in high school restrooms, puffing their cigarettes? Well, here's consolation for the nerds in the crowd: Those teen smokers are more likely to experience obesity as adults, according to a new study from Finland.

Inherited Factors Play Important Role In Breast Cancer Progression According To New Study In Mice Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST New research in mice and five independent collections of human breast tumors has enabled scientists to confirm that genes for factors contributing to susceptibility for breast cancer metastasis can be inherited.

Dormant Cancer Cells Rely On Cellular Self-cannibalization To Survive Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST A tumor-suppressing gene is a key to understanding, and perhaps killing, dormant ovarian cancer cells that persist after initial treatment only to reawaken later, researchers report. They found that expression of ARHI turns on autophagy, or self-eating, in ovarian cancer cells, which promotes their survival in a dormant state.

Scientists Identify New Congenital Neutropenia Syndrome And Causative Gene Mutation Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Scientists have discovered a new syndrome associated with severe congenital neutropenia, a rare disorder in which children lack sufficient infection-fighting white cells, and identified the genetic cause of the syndrome.

Molecular Imaging Enables Earlier, Individualized Treatment Of Thyroid Cancer Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST In a study to determine the diagnostic value of molecular imaging in nodal staging of patients with thyroid cancer, researchers were able for the first time to accurately distinguish between cancerous cells in regional lymph nodes and normal residual thyroid tissue directly after surgery.

Cause Of Glacial Earthquakes In Greenland Clarified Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Satellite observations during the past decade have shown dramatic changes in flow speed on year-to-year timescales at Greenland's outlet glaciers. Seismic events traced back to glaciers during the same time period have been interpreted to have resulted from calving events at the glacier terminus or surging events lubricated by subglacial meltwater.

Odd-looking Martian Craters Indicate Hidden Ice Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Surface features common in the northern and southern midlatitudes of Mars and known as lobate debris aprons and lineated valley fill are believed to have formed either as debris flows mobilized by pore ice or as debris-covered glaciers.

Speediest Sand Dunes Clocked From Space Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Monitoring the speeds of migrating dunes and the volumes of sand transported over time is important to understanding how arid landscapes respond to wind-driven changes.

Big Raindrops Favor Tornado Formation, Simulations Suggest Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST One of the largest sources of uncertainty in weather prediction involves how microscale structures influence larger-scale phenomena. For instance, previous studies have demonstrated that the structure, dynamics, and evolution of thunderstorms are very sensitive to cloud microphysical parameters.

Surprise Drop In Carbon Dioxide Absorbed By East/Japan Sea Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST The East/Japan Sea in the western North Pacific is ventilated from the surface to the bottom of the ocean over decades. Authors conclude that overturning circulation is weakening, slowing down the transport of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the surface to the interior of the East/Japan Sea.

Sea Rise Over Continental Shelves Significantly Affected Past Global Carbon Cycle Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; about 21,000 years ago) sea level has risen by 130 meters (430 feet), resulting in continental shelf submergence and a massive expansion of the surface area of shelf seas.

Peer Discussion Improves Student Performance With 'Clickers' Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST Across the University of Colorado at Boulder campus students are sharing answers, checking their responses to questions against those of their neighbors and making adjustments to those answers in hopes of earning a better grade.

Family History Of Prostate Cancer Does Not Affect Some Treatment Outcomes Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST In a first of its kind study, a first-degree family history of prostate cancer has no impact on the treatment outcomes of prostate cancer patients treated with brachytherapy, also called seed implants, and patients with this type of family history have clinical and pathologic characteristics similar to men with no family history at all, according to a study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.

Expectant Brains Help Predict Anxiety Treatment Success Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST A network of emotion-regulating brain regions implicated in the pathological worry that can grip patients with anxiety disorders may also be useful for predicting the benefits of treatment.

Aquaculture's Growth Seen As Continuing Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:00 PM PST An assessment concludes that despite well-publicized concerns about some harmful effects of aquaculture, the technique may, when practiced well, be no more harmful to biodiversity than other food production systems. Aquaculture production of aquatic animals now accounts for about a third of the total supply and will probably remain the most rapidly increasing food production system worldwide through 2025, according to the author.

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Six North American Sites Hold 12,900-year-old Nanodiamond-rich Soil Posted: 02 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Abundant tiny particles of diamond dust exist in sediments dating to 12,900 years ago at six North American sites, adding strong evidence for Earth's impact with a rare swarm of carbon-and-water-rich comets or carbonaceous chondrites, scientists report. The discoveries are consistent with theory of Clovis-age disruption by a cosmic event, according to researchers.

Common Oral Osteoporosis Drugs Linked To Serious Jaw Necrosis Posted: 02 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Clinical data links oral bisphosphonates to increased jaw necrosis. The study is among the first to acknowledge that even short-term use of common oral osteoporosis drugs may leave the jaw vulnerable to devastating necrosis. Fosomax is the most widely prescribed oral bisphosphonate.

Nothing To Sneeze At: Real-time Pollen Forecasts Posted: 02 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Researchers in Germany are reporting an advance toward development of technology that could make life easier for millions of people allergic to plant pollen. It could underpin the first automated, real-time systems for identifying specific kinds of allergy-inducing plant pollen circulating in the air.

Obesity Increases Lymphedema Risk For Breast Cancer Survivors Posted: 02 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Throughout the world, 10 million breast cancer survivors have a lifetime risk for developing lymphedema, a chronic condition that involves swelling of the limbs and impacts physical and psychosocial health. In a new study, researchers found that the risk of developing lymphedema is 40 percent to 60 percent higher in women with body mass index classified as overweight or obese compared to normal weight women. The researchers recommend increased health education for breast cancer survivors.

Structure Of New Botulism Nerve Toxin Subtype Revealed Posted: 02 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Scientists have determined the structure of a third subtype of botulinum neurotoxin -- a deadly toxin that causes the disease botulism, and is also used in cosmetic and therapeutic applications. The structure reveals a unique arrangement of the active components that may help explain why subtype E is faster-acting than others -- and may have implications for improving vaccines and/or therapeutic agents.

Ancient African Exodus Mostly Involved Men, Geneticists Find Posted: 02 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Modern humans left Africa over 60,000 years ago in a migration that many believe was responsible for nearly all of the human population that exist outside Africa today.

The Gold Standard: Nanoparticles Used To Make 3-D DNA Nanotubes Posted: 02 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists reveal for the first time the 3-D character of DNA nanotubules, rings and spirals, each a few hundred thousandths the diameter of a human hair. These DNA nanotubes and other synthetic nanostructures may soon find their way into a new generation of ultra-tiny electronic and biomedical innovations.

Toxicity Mechanism Identified For Parkinson's Disease Posted: 02 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Alpha-synuclein is the main component of Lewy bodies, the clumps of aggregated proteins that form in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients. The alpha-synuclein gene is mutated or triplicated in some cases of inherited Parkinson's. A process called chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) plays an important role in recycling of specific proteins in brain cells. Alpha-synuclein disrupts a key survival circuit in brain cells by interfering with CMA and the recycling of the protein MEF2D.

Spanish Droughts Over Past 500 Years Reconstructed Posted: 02 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have reconstructed the pattern of droughts in Spain between 1506 and 1900 on the basis of ceremonial records held at the Cathedral of Toledo, in order to observe how droughts have varied over the past 500 years. Short-term meteorological data and tree growth rings have also been used to supplement the records of ceremonies.

Weakened RNA Interference Reduces Survival In Ovarian Cancer Posted: 02 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Levels of two proteins in a woman's ovarian cancer are strongly associated with her likelihood of survival, a research team reports

European First As ALICE Achieves Energy Recovery At 11 Million Volts Posted: 02 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Scientists have successfully demonstrated energy recovery on the ALICE advanced particle accelerator design, potentially paving the way for new accelerators using a fraction of the energy required under conventional methods.

Doctors Not Properly Diagnosing Overweight And Obesity In Children Posted: 02 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Despite recent widespread media attention given to studies that have indicated one-third of American children have a weight problem, a new study shows just one-third of children who are overweight or obese actually receive that diagnosis by a pediatrician. The study also stresses that this failure to diagnose appears to mostly impact children who may most greatly benefit from early intervention.

New Park Protects Penguins And Other Marine Life In Argentina Posted: 31 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST A new coastal marine park has recently been signed into law by the Government of Argentina. The park protects half a million penguins along with several species of rare seabirds and the region's only population of South American fur seals. It is the first protected area in Argentina specifically designed to safeguard not only onshore breeding colonies but also areas of ocean where wildlife feed at sea.

New Winter Wheat Ready For Prime Time Posted: 31 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST Anton, a hard white winter wheat cultivar, is now available for production in the Northern Plains region as a source of high-quality flour for bread, noodles and other baked goods.

Across The Americas, Squash And Gourd Bees Are Superb Pollinators Posted: 31 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST Acorn squash and other winter squashes at your local supermarket likely got their start months ago, when their colorful blossoms were pollinated by hardworking bees.

New Sugarcane Cultivars Developed For Sand Soils Of South Florida Posted: 31 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST Two new sugarcane cultivars specifically developed for Florida's sand soils have been developed.

Antioxidants Offer Pain Relief In Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis Posted: 31 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST Antioxidant supplementation was found to be effective in relieving pain and reducing levels of oxidative stress in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

MRSA Pre-screening Effective In Reducing Otolaryngic Surgical Infection Rates Posted: 31 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST Pre-operative screening of patients for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus may be an effective way to reduce infection rates following otolaryngic surgeries, according to new research.

Arousal Frequency In Heart Failure Found To Be Unique Sleep Problem Posted: 31 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST Frequent arousals from sleep that occur in heart failure patients with central sleep apnea (CSA) may reflect the presence of another underlying arousal disorder rather than being a defensive mechanism to terminate apneas. Findings show that factors other than central sleep apnea may contribute to poor sleep quality in heart-failure patients.

Societal, Economic Burden Of Insomnia Is High Posted: 31 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST The indirect costs of untreated insomnia are significantly greater than the direct costs associated with its treatment. The study estimates that the total annual cost of insomnia in the province of Quebec is 6.5 billion Canadian dollars, representing about one percent of the province's $228.5 billion in gross domestic product for 2002. The largest proportions of all insomnia-related expenses are attributed to lost job productivity, absences from work and alcohol used as a sleep aid.

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Longstanding Theory Of Origin Of Species In Oceans Challenged Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST New evidence uncovered by oceanographers challenges one of the most long-standing theories about how species evolve in the oceans. Researchers propose that it was the climate, and its role in determining the availability of favorable oceanic habitat, that restricted the distribution of the species they studied rather than the presence of physical ocean barriers. In this new view, plankton are freely dispersed throughout the ocean but local conditions determine whether or not the species can 'take hold' and thrive.

Potential Therapy For Congenital Muscular Dystrophy Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Current research suggests laminin, a protein that helps cells stick together, may lead to enhanced muscle repair in muscular dystrophy.

Religion May Have Evolved Because Of Its Ability To Help People Exercise Self-control Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Psychologists reveal that religion facilitates the exercise of self-control and attainment of long-term goals. A psychology professor has found a strong correlation between religion and self-control, or self-regulation. He explains that religious people may have at their disposal a set of unique resources that makes them better suited to adhering to long term goals.

How Chromosomes Meet In The Dark: Switch That Turns On X Chromosome Matchmaking Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST A research group lead by scientists at the University of Warwick has discovered the trigger that pulls together X chromosomes in female cells at a crucial stage of embryo development. This is an important mechanism as the binding together of too many of too few of a particular chromosome can cause a number of medical conditions such as Down Syndrome.

Crystallographers Use Computers To Find New Superconductor Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST New calculations predict that germanium hydride will be superconducting at relatively high temperatures, but will be easier to process than the high-temperature superconductors known up to now.

Weakness In Internet Security Uncovered Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 PM PST Independent security researchers have found a weakness in the Internet digital certificate infrastructure that allows attackers to forge certificates that are fully trusted by all commonly used web browsers.

Four Years After Tsunami, Coral Reefs Recovering Posted: 01 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Scientists have reported a rapid recovery of coral reefs in areas of Indonesia, following the tsunami that devastated coastal regions throughout the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004.

Grape-seed Extract Kills Laboratory Leukemia Cells, Proving Value Of Natural Compounds Posted: 01 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST An extract from grape seeds forces laboratory leukemia cells to commit cell suicide. Researchers found that within 24 hours, 76 percent of leukemia cells had died after being exposed to the extract.

Killer Mice Bring Albatross Population Closer To Extinction Posted: 01 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST The critically endangered Tristan albatross has suffered its worst breeding season ever. The number of chicks making it through to fledging has decreased rapidly, and it is now five times lower than it should be because introduced predatory mice are eating the chicks alive on Gough island -- the bird's only home and a South Atlantic territory of the United Kingdom.

Evidence For Protective Effect Of Fish Oil Not Conclusive Posted: 01 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Fish oil protects against deaths from heart problems, but doesn't provide a clear benefit in heart rhythm problems, according a new study.

Structure Of Virulent Pathogen Revealed Posted: 01 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Like high-profile politicians, pathogenic bacteria dispatch advance teams to make way for their arrival. But these bacterial agents don't just secure a safe passage, as a Secret Service detail might do. Rather they are teams of molecules that bacteria inject into cells they want to colonize, sent to hijack their hosts' biochemistry to serve their master's microbial needs. These molecules -- called virulence factors -- co-opt essential cell functions including the reproduction cycle and cell structure assembly, suppressing the cells' defenses against bacterial invasion and causing disease.

Errors Involving Medications Common In Outpatient Cancer Treatment Posted: 01 Jan 2009 11:00 AM PST Seven percent of adults and 19 percent of children taking chemotherapy drugs in outpatient clinics or at home were given the wrong dose or experienced other mistakes involving their medications, according to a new study.

How The Spider Spun Its Web: ‘Missing Link’ In Spider Evolution Discovered Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST New interpretations of fossils have revealed an ancient missing link between today's spiders and their long-extinct ancestors. The research by scientists at the University of Kansas and Virginia's Hampden-Sydney College may help explain how spiders came to weave webs.

Type 1 Diabetes: Pancreatic Cell Transplants Engineered To Evade Immune Response Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST In a finding that could significantly influence the way type 1 diabetes is treated, researchers have developed a technique for transplanting insulin-producing pancreatic cells that causes only a minimal immune response in recipients.

Link To Severe Staph Infections Found Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers recently described studies that support the link between the severity of community-acquired antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections and the Panton Valentine leukocidin.

Quadrantid Meteor Shower Expected 2nd-3rd January, 2009 Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST This year the Quadrantid meteor shower reaches its sharp peak of activity around midday on 3rd January in the UK (early morning in the US) . From the UK the best time to see them is in the last part of the night, before dawn on the morning of the 3rd, when perhaps a few tens of meteors will be visible each hour.

Epileptics In Stressful Jobs Can Handle The Pressure, Study Suggests Posted: 01 Jan 2009 05:00 AM PST Subject to sudden unexpected seizures, epileptics are often a subject of discrimination in the workforce. Many employers are hesitant to hire epileptics, fearing that stressful workplace situations might bring on an attack. But a new study suggests these fears are groundless. Researchers find epileptics in stressful jobs can handle the pressure.

The Culture Of Medicine Posted: 30 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST Everybody is familiar with the stereotypes of medical education from the student perspective: grueling hours, little recognition, and even less glory. A new study pulls back the curtain on the dominant environment of academic medicine from the perspective of faculty, the providers of medical education in medical schools. The study raises questions about how the prevailing culture of academic medicine shapes the delivery of health care.

New Breeding Ground For Endangered Whales? High Numbers Of Right Whales Seen In Gulf Of Maine Posted: 30 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST A large number of North Atlantic right whales have been seen in the Gulf of Maine in recent days, leading right whale researchers to believe they have identified a wintering ground and potentially a breeding ground for this endangered species.

Smokers With Stroke In Family 6 Times More Likely To Have Stroke Too Posted: 30 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST A new study shows that people who are smokers and have a family history of brain aneurysm appear to be significantly more likely to suffer a stroke from a brain aneurysm themselves.

Fewer Deaths With Preventive Antibiotic Use Posted: 30 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST Administering antibiotics as a preventive measure to patients in intensive care units increases their chances of survival. This has emerged from a study involving nearly six thousand Dutch patients in thirteen hospitals.

New Visualization Techniques Yield Star Formation Insights: Gravity Plays Larger Role Than Thought Posted: 30 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST New computer visualization technology developed by the Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing has helped astrophysicists understand that gravity plays a larger role than previously thought in deep space's vast, star-forming molecular clouds.

Bright Lights, Not-so-big Pupils Posted: 30 Dec 2008 09:00 PM PST Neuroscientists have worked out how some newly discovered light sensors in the eye detect light and communicate with the brain.

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