ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Dinosaurs survived mass extinction by 700,000 years, fossil find suggests
• How fusion protein triggers cancer
• Touchscreens made of carbon
• Yearly mammograms from age 40 save 71 percent more lives, study shows
• Insects that deter predators produce fewer offspring
• High school biology teachers in U.S. reluctant to endorse evolution in class, study finds
• A mix of tiny gold and viral particles, and the DNA ties that bind them
• Stem cells show promise in repairing a child's heart
• New transistor for plastic electronics exhibits the best of both worlds
• Scientists link protein to the insulation of the nervous system's wiring
• New training instrument allows surgeon to feel grasp force in keyhole surgery
• Marriage is good for physical and mental health, study finds
• How bacteria keep ahead of vaccines and antibiotics
• Biomarkers of poor outcomes in preemies identified
• Membrane molecule keeps nerve impulses hopping
• New test better predicts breast cancer outcomes
• Nanowires exhibit giant piezoelectricity
• Weighing the costs of disaster
• Warming North Atlantic water tied to heating Arctic
• Protein related to aging holds breast cancer clues
• Production of plant pollen is regulated by several signalling pathways
• Newborn screening increases survival outcome for patients with severe combined immunodeficiency
• New computer tool for elderly and disabled
• Mother's happier when babies are six months old than when three years old, Norwegian study suggests
• Brain 'GPS' illuminated in migratory monarch butterflies
• Discovery could lead to new therapies for asthma, COPD
• Climatic fluctuations in last 2,500 years linked to social upheavals
• Origins of the pandemic: Lessons of H1N1
• Physics for financial markets
• Women in Congress outperform men on some measures, study finds
• Mass extinction linked to ancient climate change, new details reveal
• Bacteria possible cause of preterm births
• First large-scale, physics-based space weather model transitions into operation
• NSAID receptor responsible for olive oil's 'cough' and more
• NASA comet hunter spots its Valentine
• Men more likely to stick with girlfriends who sleep with other women than other men
• Modern humans reached Arabia earlier than thought, new artifacts suggest
• Early antibiotic use can lead to increased risk of childhood asthma, study suggests
• Fluorescent color of coral larvae predicts whether they'll settle or swim; Finding could help scientists monitor how corals adapt to global warming
• Secondhand smoke laws may reduce childhood ear infections, study suggests
• Graphene and 'spintronics' combo looks promising
• Denmark, Finland and Belgium have best democracies, experts say
• Potential 'cure' for type 1 diabetes?
• HIV causes rapid aging in key infection-fighting cells, study suggests
• New lab-on-chip advance uses low-cost, disposable paper strips
• Getting more anti-cancer medicine into the blood
• Agave fuels excitement as a bioenergy crop
• Eight percent of fans legally drunk after attending professional sports games, study finds

Dinosaurs survived mass extinction by 700,000 years, fossil find suggests Posted: 28 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST Researchers have determined that a fossilized dinosaur bone found in New Mexico confounds the long established paradigm that the age of dinosaurs ended between 65.5 and 66 million years ago.

How fusion protein triggers cancer Posted: 28 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST What happens when two proteins join together? In this case, they become like a power couple, where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The fusion protein API2-MALT1 joins with the enzyme NIK and cuts it in two, making NIK a renegade protein that fuels lymphoma.

Touchscreens made of carbon Posted: 28 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST Touchscreens are in – although the technology still has its price. The little screens contain rare and expensive elements. This is the reason why researchers are coming up with an alternative display made of low-priced renewable raw materials available all over the world. Researchers have now made prototype touchscreens that contain carbon nanotubes.

Yearly mammograms from age 40 save 71 percent more lives, study shows Posted: 28 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST A new study questions the controversial US Preventative Service Task Force recommendations for breast cancer screening, with data that shows starting at a younger age and screening more frequently will result in more lives saved.

Insects that deter predators produce fewer offspring Posted: 28 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST Insects that frequently use their defense mechanisms to deter predators could be reducing their lifespan and numbers of offspring, researchers have found.

High school biology teachers in U.S. reluctant to endorse evolution in class, study finds Posted: 28 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST The majority of public high school biology teachers in the U.S. are not strong classroom advocates of evolutionary biology, despite 40 years of court cases that have ruled teaching creationism or intelligent design violates the Constitution, according to political scientists. A mandatory undergraduate course in evolutionary biology for prospective teachers, and frequent refresher courses for current teachers, may be part of the solution, they say.

A mix of tiny gold and viral particles, and the DNA ties that bind them Posted: 28 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST Scientists have created a diamond-like lattice composed of gold nanoparticles and viral particles, woven together and held in place by strands of DNA. The structure -- a distinctive mix of hard, metallic nanoparticles and organic viral pieces known as capsids, linked by the very stuff of life, DNA -- marks a remarkable step in scientists' ability to combine an assortment of materials to create infinitesimal devices.

Stem cells show promise in repairing a child's heart Posted: 28 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST A study shows promise that heart damage in children could be repaired by using stem cells from patient's own heart.

New transistor for plastic electronics exhibits the best of both worlds Posted: 28 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a transistor with excellent stability and performance for use on plastic electronics. In addition, it can be manufactured at relatively low temperatures in a regular atmosphere.

Scientists link protein to the insulation of the nervous system's wiring Posted: 28 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST Researchers have pinpointed a crucial function for a key player in the development of the nervous system. They found that this player -- a protein called Erk -- is necessary for nerve fibers to be wrapped with an insulating substance called myelin, which allows messages to be sent from the brain to the peripheral limbs and back again.

New training instrument allows surgeon to feel grasp force in keyhole surgery Posted: 28 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST The number of complications following keyhole surgery can be reduced by giving the surgeons a better feeling of how hard they are grasping the tissue with their operating instruments. This is made possible by designing the instrument in such a way that it sends tangible feedback signals to the handle held by the surgeon.

Marriage is good for physical and mental health, study finds Posted: 28 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST The "smug marrieds" may have good reason to feel pleased with themselves, as experts now confirm that long-term committed relationships are good for mental and physical health and this benefit increases over time.

How bacteria keep ahead of vaccines and antibiotics Posted: 28 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST A new study has used DNA sequencing to provide the first detailed genetic picture of an evolutionary war between Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria and the vaccines and antibiotics used against it over recent decades. By looking at the genomes of 240 samples, the scientists could precisely describe the recent evolution and success of a drug-resistant lineage of the bacteria. They suggests that their technique could improve infection control measures against bacterial diseases in the future.

Biomarkers of poor outcomes in preemies identified Posted: 28 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST Researchers have identified biomarkers of poor outcomes in preterm infants that may help identify new approaches to prevention.

Membrane molecule keeps nerve impulses hopping Posted: 28 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST New research describes a key molecular mechanism in nerve fibers that ensures the rapid conductance of nervous system impulses.

New test better predicts breast cancer outcomes Posted: 28 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered a gene signature that can accurately predict which breast cancer patients are at risk of relapse, thereby sparing those who are not from the burdens associated with unnecessary treatment.

Nanowires exhibit giant piezoelectricity Posted: 28 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST Researchers have reported that piezoelectricity in GaN and ZnO nanowires is enhanced by as much as two orders of magnitude as the diameter of the nanowires decrease.

Weighing the costs of disaster Posted: 28 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST Disasters -- both natural and humanmade -- can strike anywhere and they often hit without warning, so they can be difficult to prepare for. But what happens afterward? How do people cope following disasters? Researchers now review the psychological effects of disasters and why some individuals have a harder time recovering than do others.

Warming North Atlantic water tied to heating Arctic Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST The temperatures of North Atlantic Ocean water flowing north into the Arctic Ocean adjacent to Greenland -- the warmest water in at least 2,000 years -- are likely related to the amplification of global warming in the Arctic, says a new study.

Protein related to aging holds breast cancer clues Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST A new study shows how a deficiency in an aging-associated protein may set the stage for a common, age-associated type of breast cancer.

Production of plant pollen is regulated by several signalling pathways Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST Plants producing flower pollen must not leave anything to chance. The model plant thale cress (Arabidopsis), for instance, uses three signaling pathways in concert with partially overlapping functions. The yield becomes the greatest when all three processes are active; however, two are sufficient to form an acceptable quantity of flower pollen.

Newborn screening increases survival outcome for patients with severe combined immunodeficiency Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) occurs in just one out of every 50,000 to 100,000 births in the United States, yet it is the most serious primary immunodeficiency disorder. A new study demonstrates that babies with SCID who are diagnosed at birth and receive a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, which is the transplantation of blood-forming stem cells, have significantly improved survival.

New computer tool for elderly and disabled Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST Disabled and elderly people could find it easier to navigate around town and city centers with a new hand-held computer being developed by a geographical information systems.

Mother's happier when babies are six months old than when three years old, Norwegian study suggests Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST The baby and toddler phase is not necessarily the happiest time in life for new mothers. Satisfaction with life and one's relationship can deteriorate for most new mothers. However, those who are satisfied with their relationship during pregnancy are most satisfied three years later. General satisfaction with life increased in the first months after birth and peaked when the child reached 6 months old.

Brain 'GPS' illuminated in migratory monarch butterflies Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST A new study takes a close look at the brain of the migratory monarch butterfly to better understand how these remarkable insects use an internal compass and skylight cues to navigate from eastern North America to Mexico each fall. The research provides key insights into how ambiguous sensory signals can be integrated in the brain to guide complex navigation.

Discovery could lead to new therapies for asthma, COPD Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST Researchers have proved that a single "master switch" enzyme, known as aldose reductase, is key in producing excess mucous that clogs the airways of people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Climatic fluctuations in last 2,500 years linked to social upheavals Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST Complete record of the Central European climate of the last 2,500 years reconstructed for the first time. It would seem that there are striking chronological parallels between significant variations of climate and major historical epochs, such as the Migration Period and the heyday of the Middle Ages.

Origins of the pandemic: Lessons of H1N1 Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST As H1N1 "swine flu" returns to the national headlines, a new research paper reveals the key lessons about the origins of the 2009 pandemic. The article reveals how the pandemic challenges the traditional understanding of "antigenic shift", given that the virus emerged from an existing influenza subtype.

Physics for financial markets Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST When regulating financial markets, physics may help. As a result of the financial crisis, many countries are trying to regulate their financial markets. Recently the heated debates about bonus taxes, a permanent levy on banks' balance sheets and a ban on short sales have taken another turn, with France's President Nicolas Sarkozy promoting a transaction tax. But are policy-makers doing the right thing? Or will they obstruct the self-regulating forces of the markets?

Women in Congress outperform men on some measures, study finds Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST Congresswomen consistently outperform their male counterparts on several measures of job performance, according to a new study. The study authors argue that because women face difficult odds in reaching Congress -- women account for fewer than one in six representatives -- the ones who succeed are more capable on average than their male colleagues.

Mass extinction linked to ancient climate change, new details reveal Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST About 450 million years ago, Earth suffered the second-largest mass extinction in its history -- the Late Ordovician mass extinction, during which more than 75 percent of marine species died. Exactly what caused this tremendous loss in biodiversity remains a mystery, but now scientists have discovered new details supporting the idea that the mass extinction was linked to a cooling climate.

Bacteria possible cause of preterm births Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST The type of bacteria that colonize the placenta during pregnancy could be associated with preterm birth and other developmental problems in newborns according to new research.

First large-scale, physics-based space weather model transitions into operation Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST The first large-scale, physics-based space weather prediction model is transitioning from research into operation.

NSAID receptor responsible for olive oil's 'cough' and more Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST Scientists report that two structurally unrelated anti-inflammatory compounds both activate the TRPA1 receptor. One, oleocanthal, is found in extra virgin olive oil while ibuprofen is an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The researchers also localized the TRPA1 receptor to the back of the throat, which is where the distinctive irritating sting from olive oil is felt. The findings may provide novel insights into anti-inflammatory pharmacology.

NASA comet hunter spots its Valentine Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST NASA's Stardust spacecraft has downlinked its first images of comet Tempel 1, the target of a flyby planned for Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. The images were taken on Jan. 18 and 19 from a distance of 26.3 million kilometers (16.3 million miles), and 25.4 million kilometers (15.8 million miles) respectively. On Feb. 14, Stardust will fly within about 200 kilometers (124 miles) of the comet's nucleus.

Men more likely to stick with girlfriends who sleep with other women than other men Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST Men are more than twice as likely to continue dating a girlfriend who has cheated on them with another woman than one who has cheated with another man.

Modern humans reached Arabia earlier than thought, new artifacts suggest Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST Artifacts unearthed in the United Arab Emirates date back 100,000 years and imply that modern humans first left Africa much earlier than researchers had expected, a new study reports. The timing and dispersal of modern humans out of Africa has been the source of long-standing debate, though most evidence has pointed to an exodus along the Mediterranean Sea or along the Arabian coast approximately 60,000 years ago.

Early antibiotic use can lead to increased risk of childhood asthma, study suggests Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST When babies are given antibiotics, their risk of developing asthma by age 6 may increase by 50 percent.

Fluorescent color of coral larvae predicts whether they'll settle or swim; Finding could help scientists monitor how corals adapt to global warming Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST Young staghorn coral that fluoresce redder are less likely to settle and develop into coral polyps than their greener peers, biologists have discovered.

Secondhand smoke laws may reduce childhood ear infections, study suggests Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST Researchers have found that a reduction in secondhand smoking in American homes was associated with fewer cases of otitis media, the scientific name for middle ear infection.

Graphene and 'spintronics' combo looks promising Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST A team of physicists in China has taken a big step toward the development of useful graphene spintronic devices.

Denmark, Finland and Belgium have best democracies, experts say Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST A new democracy barometer shows the development of the thirty best democracies in the world. Denmark, Finland and Belgium have the highest quality of democracy, whereas Great Britain, France, Poland, South Africa and Costa Rica the lowest. Moreover, the barometer shows no evidence of a crisis of democracy.

Potential 'cure' for type 1 diabetes? Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST Type 1 diabetes could be converted to an asymptomatic, non-insulin-dependent disorder by eliminating the actions of a specific hormone, new findings suggest.

HIV causes rapid aging in key infection-fighting cells, study suggests Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST A new study suggests that HIV pushes a specific subset of the CD4+ "helper" T-cell toward more rapid aging by as much as 20 to 30 years over a three-year period. These findings could partially explain why older HIV-positive people progress to AIDS more rapidly than younger ones. They could also explain why younger HIV-positive people develop illnesses more common to older people.

New lab-on-chip advance uses low-cost, disposable paper strips Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST Researchers have invented a technique that uses inexpensive paper to make "microfluidic" devices for rapid medical diagnostics and chemical analysis. The innovation represents a way to enhance commercially available diagnostic devices that use paper-strip assays.

Getting more anti-cancer medicine into the blood Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST Scientists are reporting successful application of the technology used in home devices to clean jewelry, dentures, and other items to make anticancer drugs like tamoxifen and paclitaxel dissolve more easily in body fluids, so they can better fight the disease. The process can make other poorly soluble materials more soluble, and has potential for improving the performance of dyes, paints, rust-proofing agents and other products.

Agave fuels excitement as a bioenergy crop Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST Agave, currently known for its use in the production of alcoholic beverages and fibers, thrives in semi-arid regions where it is less likely to conflict with food and feed production. Agave is a unique feedstock because of its high water use efficiency and ability to survive without water between rainfalls. Scientists found that in 14 independent studies, the yields of two Agave species greatly exceeded the yields of other biofuel feedstocks, such as corn, soybean, sorghum, and wheat.

Eight percent of fans legally drunk after attending professional sports games, study finds Posted: 27 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST A new study finds that blood alcohol content (BAC) levels can be measured using a breath tester on fans as they exit football and baseball events. And the results show that 60 percent of the fans had zero BAC, 40 percent had a positive BAC, and nearly 8 percent were legally drunk.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Ancient body clock discovered that helps keep all living things on time
• Household bugs: A risk to human health?
• World can be powered by alternative energy, using today's technology, in 20-40 years, experts say
• Key enzyme that affects radiation response identified
• Soap films help to solve mathematical problems
• Gender and hygiene: Could cleanliness be hurting girls?
• Natural growth factor enhances memory, prevents forgetting in rats
• Traffic noise increases the risk of having a stroke, study suggests
• Nervous system as a 3-D map: First complete map of special connections of nerve cells in zebrafish
• 3-D MRI helps kids with ACL tears: Surgery without harming the growth plate
• Hungry chicks have unique calls to their parents
• 'Difficult' patients more likely to experience worse symptoms
• 'Hidden plumbing' helps slow Greenland ice flow: Hotter summers may actually slow down flow of glaciers
• Mediator of blood pressure regulation in the liver identified; Pressor reflex triggered simply by drinking water
• How strong is the weak force? New measurement of the muon lifetime
• DMP1 protein inhibits angiogenesis, could lead to new treatments against cancer and other diseases
• Hardware, software advances help protect operating systems from attack
• Highly interactive training helps workers in dangerous jobs avoid deadly mistakes
• Chemists turn gold to purple -- on purpose: Color change confirms a new way to harvest energy from sunlight
• How pathogenic bacteria hide inside host cells
• NASA's new robotic lander prototype skates through integration and testing
• Molecular network influences development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Waterhemp rears its ugly head ... again
• Pay-for-performance does not improve patient health, finds UK hypertension study
• No leftovers for Tyrannosaurus rex: New evidence that T. rex was hunter, not scavanger
• Non-alcoholic energy drinks may pose 'high' health risks, experts argue
• An astronomer's field of dreams: New radio telescope array to harness power of more than 13,000 antennas
• Neuroscientists learn how channels fine-tune neuronal excitability
• Nanotech milling produces dramatic increase in thermoelectric performance of bulk semiconductor
• Eyewitnesses are not as reliable as one might believe
• Jupiter scar likely from Titanic-sized asteroid
• New way to prevent infections in dialysis patients
• Food-borne bacteria causes potentially fatal heart infection
• Shockable cardiac arrests are more common in public than home, study finds
• Fishy consequences of transplanting trout, salmon, whitefishes: Some fish do not respond well to relocation
• Eating poorly can make you blue: Trans-fats increase risk of depression, while olive oil helps avoid risk
• Most distant galaxy candidate yet seen: Hubble sees farther back in time than ever before
• New anti-HIV gene therapy makes T-cells resistant to HIV infection
• Discovery of a biochemical basis for broccoli's cancer-fighting ability
• Infiltrating cancer's recruitment center: How beneficial cells are subverted to support cancer growth
• Genetic archaeology finds parts of human genome more closely related to orangutans than chimps
• Sharing child caregiving may increase parental conflict, study finds
• Orangutan DNA more diverse than human's, remarkably stable through the ages
• Growth-factor-containing nanoparticles accelerate healing of chronic wounds
• First study of dispersants in Gulf spill suggests a prolonged deepwater fate
• Molecular mechanism links stress with predisposition for depression
• 'Undead' may influence biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions
• Centuries of sailors weren't wrong: Looking at the horizon stabilizes posture

Ancient body clock discovered that helps keep all living things on time Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST The mechanism that controls the internal 24-hour clock of all forms of life from human cells to algae has been identified by scientists.

Household bugs: A risk to human health? Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST Superbugs are not just a problem in hospitals but could be also coming from our animal farms. New research indicates insects could be responsible for spreading antibiotic resistant bacteria from pigs to humans.

World can be powered by alternative energy, using today's technology, in 20-40 years, experts say Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST A new study analyzing what is needed to convert the world's energy supplies to clean and sustainable sources says that it can be done with today's technology at costs roughly comparable to conventional energy. But converting will be a massive undertaking on the scale of the moon landings. What is needed most is the societal and political will to make it happen.

Key enzyme that affects radiation response identified Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST Cancer researchers have discovered that targeting an enzyme called uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase can sensitize diseased tissue to radiation and chemotherapy, which could mean fewer side effects for individuals with head and neck cancer.

Soap films help to solve mathematical problems Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST Soap bubbles and films have always fascinated children and adults, but they can also serve to solve complex mathematical calculations. This is shown by a study carried out by two professors who have succeeded in solving classic problems using just such an innovative procedure.

Gender and hygiene: Could cleanliness be hurting girls? Posted: 27 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST Little girls growing up in western society are expected to be neat and tidy -- "all ribbon and curls" -- and one researcher who studies science and gender differences thinks that emphasis may contribute to higher rates of certain diseases in adult women.

Natural growth factor enhances memory, prevents forgetting in rats Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST A naturally occurring growth factor significantly boosted retention and prevented forgetting of a fear memory when injected into rats' memory circuitry during time-limited windows when memories become fragile and changeable. In a new study, animals treated with insulin-like growth factor excelled at remembering to avoid a location where they had previously experienced a mild shock. The researchers say IGF-II could become a potential drug target for enhancing memory.

Traffic noise increases the risk of having a stroke, study suggests Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST Exposure to noise from road traffic can increase the risk of stroke, particularly in those aged 65 years and over, according to a new study. The study found that for every 10 decibels more noise the risk of having a stroke increased by 14 percent among the 51,485 study participants.

Nervous system as a 3-D map: First complete map of special connections of nerve cells in zebrafish Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST Researchers have succeeded in creating the first complete map of all axons which use dopamine as a messenger in a vertebrate, namely in the model organism zebrafish.

3-D MRI helps kids with ACL tears: Surgery without harming the growth plate Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST New technology has made it possible for surgeons to reconstruct anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in young athletes without disturbing the growth plate.

Hungry chicks have unique calls to their parents Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST It can be hard to get noticed when you're a little chick in a big colony, but new research reveals that baby birds in need of a feed have individual ways of letting their parents know.

'Difficult' patients more likely to experience worse symptoms Posted: 27 Jan 2011 05:00 AM PST 'Difficult' patient-clinician encounters have a negative impact on patients' health outcomes in the short-term, according to a new study. Nearly 18 percent of patients are perceived as difficult by their physicians and are less likely to trust or be satisfied with their doctor. Importantly, these patients are also more likely to report worse symptoms two weeks after the consultation.

'Hidden plumbing' helps slow Greenland ice flow: Hotter summers may actually slow down flow of glaciers Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST Hotter summers may not be as catastrophic for the Greenland ice sheet as previously feared and may actually slow down the flow of glaciers, according to new research.

Mediator of blood pressure regulation in the liver identified; Pressor reflex triggered simply by drinking water Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST For 60 years, scientists have puzzled over the possibility of a hepatic osmoreceptor that influences blood pressure regulation. Now, researchers in Germany have discovered a new group of sensory neurons in the mouse liver which mediates the regulation of blood pressure and metabolism. This peripheral control center outside of the brain is triggered simply by drinking water and leads to an elevation of blood pressure in sick and elderly people.

How strong is the weak force? New measurement of the muon lifetime Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST A new measurement of the muon lifetime - the most precise determination of any lifetime - provides a high-accuracy value for a crucial parameter determining the strength of weak nuclear force.

DMP1 protein inhibits angiogenesis, could lead to new treatments against cancer and other diseases Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST Researchers in Belgium have demonstrated that the DMP1 protein has previously unsuspected anti-angiogenic activities which could be used for the development of new treatments against cancer, but also against diseases in which angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) plays a major role, such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis or diabetic retinopathy.

Hardware, software advances help protect operating systems from attack Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST The operating system (OS) is the backbone of your computer. If the OS is compromised, attackers can take over your computer -- or crash it. Now researchers have developed an efficient system that utilizes hardware and software to restore an OS if it is attacked.

Highly interactive training helps workers in dangerous jobs avoid deadly mistakes Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:00 AM PST Hands-on safety training for workers in highly hazardous jobs is most effective at improving safe work behavior, according to psychologists who analyzed close to 40 years of research. However, less engaging training can be just as effective in preparing workers to avoid accidents when jobs are less dangerous.

Chemists turn gold to purple -- on purpose: Color change confirms a new way to harvest energy from sunlight Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST Chemists suspected that a common protein could potentially react with sunlight and harvest its energy -- similar to what chlorophyll does during photosynthesis.

How pathogenic bacteria hide inside host cells Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST A new study into Staphylococcus aureus, the bacterium which is responsible for severe chronic infections worldwide, reveals how the bacteria have developed a strategy of hiding within host cells to escape the immune system as well as many antibacterial treatments. The research demonstrates how 'phenotype switching' enables bacteria to adapt to their environmental conditions, lie dormant inside host cells and become a reservoir for relapsing infections.

NASA's new robotic lander prototype skates through integration and testing Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST NASA engineers successfully integrated and completed system testing on a new robotic lander recently. The lander prototype will aid NASA's development of a new generation of small, smart, versatile landers for airless bodies such as the moon and asteroids. The lander's design is based on cutting-edge technology, which allows precision landing in high-risk, but high-priority areas, enabling NASA to achieve scientific and exploration goals in previously unexplored locations.

Molecular network influences development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST The three most common chromosome changes seen in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) disrupt a molecular network that includes several important genes and strongly influence the outcome of the disease. The study provides important new information about how CLL develops and could improve CLL diagnose, and it identifies new molecular targets for the development of new treatments.

Waterhemp rears its ugly head ... again Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST Waterhemp has done it again. Researchers have just confirmed that waterhemp is the first weed to evolve resistance to HPPD-inhibiting herbicides.

Pay-for-performance does not improve patient health, finds UK hypertension study Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 PM PST A large UK-based study involving nearly 500,000 patients and spanning seven years found that in cases of hypertension, patient health did not improve under a pay-for-performance program.

No leftovers for Tyrannosaurus rex: New evidence that T. rex was hunter, not scavanger Posted: 26 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST Tyrannosaurus rex hunted like a lion, rather than regularly scavenging like a hyena, new research reveals. The findings end a long-running debate about the hunting behavior of this awesome predator.

Non-alcoholic energy drinks may pose 'high' health risks, experts argue Posted: 26 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST Highly-caffeinated energy drinks -- even those without alcohol -- may pose a significant threat to individuals and public health, say researchers. In a new commentary, they recommend health providers educate patients, voluntary disclosures by manufacturers and new federal labeling requirements.

An astronomer's field of dreams: New radio telescope array to harness power of more than 13,000 antennas Posted: 26 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST An innovative new radio telescope array under construction in central New Mexico will eventually harness the power of more than 13,000 antennas and provide a fresh eye to the sky. The antennas, which resemble droopy ceiling fans, form the Long Wavelength Array, designed to survey the sky from horizon to horizon over a wide range of frequencies.

Neuroscientists learn how channels fine-tune neuronal excitability Posted: 26 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST Scientists have discovered a new mechanism that nerve cells (neurons) use to fine-tune their electrical output. The discovery provides new insights about how the activity of the nervous system is regulated at the cellular level

Nanotech milling produces dramatic increase in thermoelectric performance of bulk semiconductor Posted: 26 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST Researchers report achieving thermoelectric performance gains in a bulk semiconductor material, which could pave the way for harvesting power from a range of heat sources -- from the sun to car exhaust systems.

Eyewitnesses are not as reliable as one might believe Posted: 26 Jan 2011 08:00 PM PST Eyewitnesses play a key role in police investigations. But how likely is it that they remember correctly? Today the police place far too much emphasis on eyewitness accounts, according to experts.

Jupiter scar likely from Titanic-sized asteroid Posted: 26 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST A hurtling asteroid about the size of the Titanic caused the scar that appeared in Jupiter's atmosphere on July 19, 2009, according to new research.

New way to prevent infections in dialysis patients Posted: 26 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered that a drug used to treat dialysis catheter malfunction in kidney dialysis patients may now also help prevent both malfunction as well as infections.

Food-borne bacteria causes potentially fatal heart infection Posted: 26 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST Researchers have found that particular strains of a food-borne bacteria are able to invade the heart, leading to serious and difficult to treat heart infections.

Shockable cardiac arrests are more common in public than home, study finds Posted: 26 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST Cardiac arrests that can be treated by electric stimulation, also known as shockable arrests, were found at a higher frequency in public settings than in the home, according to a new study.

Fishy consequences of transplanting trout, salmon, whitefishes: Some fish do not respond well to relocation Posted: 26 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST Not all trout are created equal. Those swimming up the streams of the United States might resemble their cousins from Canada, yet their genetic makeup is regionally affected and has an impact on how they reproduce, grow and react to environmental stressors.

Eating poorly can make you blue: Trans-fats increase risk of depression, while olive oil helps avoid risk Posted: 26 Jan 2011 05:00 PM PST Researchers have shown that trans-fats increase the risk of depression, and that olive oil helps avoid this risk.

Most distant galaxy candidate yet seen: Hubble sees farther back in time than ever before Posted: 26 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST Astronomers have pushed NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to it limits by finding what they believe to be the most distant object ever seen in the universe -- at a distance of 13.2 billion light years, some 3% of the age of universe. This places the object roughly 150 million light years more distant than the previous record holder. The observations provide the best insights yet into the birth of the first stars and galaxies and the evolution of the universe.

New anti-HIV gene therapy makes T-cells resistant to HIV infection Posted: 26 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST An innovative genetic strategy for rendering T-cells resistant to HIV infection without affecting their normal growth and activity is described in a new research paper.

Discovery of a biochemical basis for broccoli's cancer-fighting ability Posted: 26 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST Scientists are reporting discovery of a potential biochemical basis for the apparent cancer-fighting ability of broccoli and its veggie cousins. They found for the first time that certain substances in the vegetables appear to target and block a defective gene associated with cancer.

Infiltrating cancer's recruitment center: How beneficial cells are subverted to support cancer growth Posted: 26 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST Scientists have shown for the first time that the fibroblasts can be "recruited" to support inflammation and stimulate tumor growth. The researchers hope their work will lead to better cancer drugs, and to a deeper understanding of the long-suspected link between inflammation and cancer.

Genetic archaeology finds parts of human genome more closely related to orangutans than chimps Posted: 26 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST In a new study, in coordination with the publication of the orangutan genome sequence, scientists have presented the surprising finding that although orangutans and humans are more distantly related, some regions of our genomes are more alike than those of our closest living relative, the chimpanzee.

Sharing child caregiving may increase parental conflict, study finds Posted: 26 Jan 2011 02:00 PM PST Parents who share caregiving for their preschool children may experience more conflict than those in which the mother is the primary caregiver, according to a new study. Results showed that couples had a stronger, more supportive co-parenting relationship when the father spent more time playing with their child. But when the father participated more in caregiving, like preparing meals for the child or giving baths, the couples were more likely to display less supportive and more undermining co-parenting behavior toward each other.

Orangutan DNA more diverse than human's, remarkably stable through the ages Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST An international team of scientists has decoded the DNA of a Sumatran orangutan. With this genome as a reference, the scientists then sequenced the genomes of five additional Sumatran and five Bornean orangutans, they report in the journal Nature. The research reveals intriguing clues about the evolution of great apes, including humans, and showcases the immense genetic diversity across and within Sumatran and Bornean orangutans.

Growth-factor-containing nanoparticles accelerate healing of chronic wounds Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a novel system for delivery of growth factors to chronic wounds such as pressure sores and diabetic foot ulcers. The team fabricated nanospheres containing keratinocyte growth factor fused with elastin-like peptides. When suspended in a fibrin gel, the nanoparticles improved the healing of deep skin wounds in diabetic mice.

First study of dispersants in Gulf spill suggests a prolonged deepwater fate Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST To combat last year's Deepwater Horizon oil spill, nearly 800,000 gallons of chemical dispersant were injected directly into the oil and gas flow coming out of the wellhead nearly one mile deep in the Gulf of Mexico. Now, chemists report that a major component of the dispersant itself was contained within an oil-gas-laden plume in the deep ocean and had still not degraded some three months after it was applied.

Molecular mechanism links stress with predisposition for depression Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST A new study provides insight into how stress impacts the brain and may help to explain why some individuals are predisposed to depression when they experience chronic stress. The research reveals complex molecular mechanisms associated with chronic stress and may help to guide new treatment strategies for depression.

'Undead' may influence biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST Dormant microbes are less like zombies and more like hibernating bears. What isn't known, however, is how large numbers of dormant microorganisms affect the natural environments when they act as microbial seed banks. A new review examines the cellular mechanisms that allow microbes to hibernate and addresses the implications they can have on larger ecosystems such as soil, oceans, lakes and the human body.

Centuries of sailors weren't wrong: Looking at the horizon stabilizes posture Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:00 AM PST Everybody who has been aboard a ship has heard the advice: if you feel unsteady, look at the horizon. For a new study, researchers measured how much people sway on land and at sea and found there's truth in that advice; people aboard a ship are steadier if they fix their eyes on the horizon.

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