ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Catching some rays: Organic solar cells make a leap forward
• Breast milk kills HIV and blocks its oral transmission in humanized mouse
• Seven of ten commuters using Capital Bikeshare forgo helmet use
• Virtual colonoscopy without laxative equals standard OC in identifying clinically significant polyps
• Six new stem cell lines now publicly available
• How aging normal cells fuel tumor growth and metastasis
• Hidden vitamin in milk yields remarkable health benefits
• A toothy grin or angry snarl makes it easy to stand out in a crowd: Visible teeth are key
• Soft drink consumption not the major contributor to childhood obesity, study says
• Uranium-series dating reveals Iberian paintings are Europe's oldest cave art
• Grasshoppers frightened by spiders affect whole ecosystem
• Environmental factors spread obesity, study shows
• Tense film scenes trigger brain activity
• Engineers perfecting carbon nanotubes for highly energy-efficient computing
• Atomic-resolution view of a receptor reveals how stomach bacterium avoids acid
• Lessons learned from the 'ethical odyssey' of an HIV trial
• Quirky fruit fly gene could point way to new cancer drugs
• Single-track sustainability 'solutions' threaten people and planet, experts say
• Fragile X gene's prevalence suggests broader health risk
• Link between metabolic disorders and Alzheimer's disease examined
• New action for ancient heart drug
• Two warmest winter months in Midwest, U.S. history may have connection
• Switchable nano magnets may revolutionize data storage: Magnetism of individual molecules switched
• Bodybuilding myth debunked: Growth-promoting hormones don't stimulate strength
• Warm climate -- cold Arctic?
• Gene may link diabetes and Alzheimer's
• Plant poison turns seed-eating mouse into seed spitter
• Optical displays from water and air
• Theory on metastasis goes beyond metaphor to mathematics
• Folic acid intake during early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of autism in offspring
• Mindful multitasking: Meditation first can calm stress, aid concentration
• Still capable of adapting: Genetic diversity of 'living fossil' coelacanths
• A trick of perspective: Chance alignment mimics a cosmic collision
• Aquarius, NASA's salt-mapping instrument, marks first birthday
• Cassini sees tropical lakes on Saturn's moon Titan
• Most older pedestrians are unable to cross the road in time
• Virtual sailing gives competitors the edge
• Genetic discovery will help fight diarrhea outbreaks
• Elemental and magnetic imaging using X-rays and a microscope
• Relocating LEDs from silicon to copper enhances efficiency
• Researchers 'heal' plasma-damaged semiconductor with treatment of hydrogen radicals
• Childhood obesity linked to math performance, researcher says
• Cougars are re-populating their historical range, new study confirms
• Could roseola virus be behind epilepsy? Childhood virus infection linked to prolonged seizures with fever
• Regenerated cells may restore vision after corneal dysfunction
• New discoveries with language learning robots
• Training character strengths makes you happy
• Pitcher plant uses rain drops to capture prey

Catching some rays: Organic solar cells make a leap forward Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:27 PM PDT Organic solar cells are becoming more efficient thanks to a new set of discoveries that alter their behaviors at the electronic level.

Breast milk kills HIV and blocks its oral transmission in humanized mouse Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:27 PM PDT Although breastfeeding is attributed to a significant number of HIV infections in infants, most breastfed babies are not infected with HIV, despite prolonged and repeated exposure. HIV researchers have been left with a conundrum: does breast milk transmit the virus or protect against it? New research explores this paradox in a humanized mouse model, demonstrating that breast milk has a strong virus killing effect and protects against oral transmission of HIV.

Seven of ten commuters using Capital Bikeshare forgo helmet use Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:27 PM PDT Cyclists in Washington, DC who use Capital Bikeshare for their daily commutes are much less likely to wear helmets than commuters on their own bikes. That is the finding from an observational study that compares the rate of helmet use of casual and commuting Bikeshare riders with private cyclists.

Virtual colonoscopy without laxative equals standard OC in identifying clinically significant polyps Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:26 PM PDT Computed tomographic colonography (CTC), also known as virtual colonoscopy, administered without laxatives is as accurate as conventional colonoscopy in detecting clinically significant, potentially cancerous polyps, according to a new study.

Six new stem cell lines now publicly available Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:26 PM PDT Six new human embryonic stem cell lines have just been placed on the NIH registry, making the cells available for federally-funded research.

How aging normal cells fuel tumor growth and metastasis Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:25 PM PDT Researchers have shown that senescence (aging cells which lose their ability to divide) and autophagy (self-eating or self-cannibalism) in the surrounding normal cells of a tumor are essentially two sides of the same coin, acting as "food" to fuel cancer cell growth and metastasis.

Hidden vitamin in milk yields remarkable health benefits Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:25 PM PDT A novel form of vitamin B3 found in milk in small quantities produces remarkable health benefits in mice when high doses are administered, according to a new study.

A toothy grin or angry snarl makes it easy to stand out in a crowd: Visible teeth are key Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:25 PM PDT Scientists have found new evidence that people spot a face in the crowd more quickly when teeth are visible — whether smiling or grimacing — than a face with a particular facial expression. The new findings counters the long held "face-in -the-crowd" effect that suggests only angry looking faces are detected more readily in a crowd.

Soft drink consumption not the major contributor to childhood obesity, study says Posted: 14 Jun 2012 12:22 PM PDT Most children and youth who consume soft drinks and other sweetened beverages, such as fruit punch and lemonade, are not at any higher risk for obesity than their peers who drink healthy beverages, says a new study.

Uranium-series dating reveals Iberian paintings are Europe's oldest cave art Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:28 AM PDT Paleolithic paintings in El Castillo cave in Northern Spain date back at least 40,800 years -- making them Europe's oldest known cave art, according to new research. Scientists found that the practice of cave art in Europe began up to 10,000 years earlier than previously thought, indicating the paintings were created either by the first anatomically modern humans in Europe or, perhaps, by Neanderthals.

Grasshoppers frightened by spiders affect whole ecosystem Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:27 AM PDT Grasshoppers 'stressed' by spiders affect the productivity of our soil. A grasshopper who is in fear of an attacker, such as a spider, will enter a situation of stress and will consume a greater quantity of carbohydrate-rich plants -- similar to humans under stress who might eat more sweets.

Environmental factors spread obesity, study shows Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:12 AM PDT A new study of the spatial patterns of the spread of obesity suggests America's bulging waistlines may have more to do with collective behavior than genetics or individual choices. The team found correlations between the epidemic's geography and food marketing and distribution patterns.

Tense film scenes trigger brain activity Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:12 AM PDT Visual and auditory stimuli that elicit high levels of engagement and emotional response can be linked to reliable patterns of brain activity, a team of researchers reports. Their findings could lead to new ways for producers of films, television programs and commercials to predict what kinds of scenes their audiences will respond to.

Engineers perfecting carbon nanotubes for highly energy-efficient computing Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:12 AM PDT Carbon nanotubes represent a significant departure from traditional silicon technologies and offer a promising path to solving the challenge of energy efficiency in computer circuits, but they aren't without challenges. Now, engineers have found ways around the challenges to produce the first full-wafer digital logic structures based on carbon nanotubes.

Atomic-resolution view of a receptor reveals how stomach bacterium avoids acid Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:12 AM PDT Scientists have discovered how the bacterium Helicobacter pylori navigates through the acidic stomach, opening up new possibilities to inactivate its disease-causing ability without using current strategies that often fail or are discontinued because of side effects.

Lessons learned from the 'ethical odyssey' of an HIV trial Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT HIV Prevention Trials Network 052 established that antiretroviral treatment in people who are HIV positive decreases the likelihood of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners. It serves as a case study of ethical challenges faced at every stage of the research trial process.

Quirky fruit fly gene could point way to new cancer drugs Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT Researchers are taking advantage of a quirk in the evolution of fruit fly genes to help develop new weapons against cancer.

Single-track sustainability 'solutions' threaten people and planet, experts say Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT The targets, indicators and approaches being used to pursue progress towards sustainable development at Rio+20 are counter-productive, say scientists in a new paper. Three renowned sustainability institutes argue that global and grassroots innovations must be connected to avoid breaching planetary boundaries and reversing progress on poverty reduction.

Fragile X gene's prevalence suggests broader health risk Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT The first US population prevalence study of mutations in the gene that causes fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual disability, suggests the mutation in the gene -- and its associated health risks -- may be more common than previously believed.

Link between metabolic disorders and Alzheimer's disease examined Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT No effective treatments are currently available for the prevention or cure of Alzheimer's disease, the most frequent form of dementia in the elderly. Increasingly, scientists are looking toward other risk factors to identify preventive and therapeutic strategies. Much attention recently has focused on the metabolic syndrom, with a strong and growing body of research suggesting that metabolic disorders and obesity may play a role in the development of dementia.

New action for ancient heart drug Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT Researchers have revealed that digoxin, the active ingredient in the poisonous plant Foxglove, can enhance the body's own protective mechanism against high blood pressure and heart failure.

Two warmest winter months in Midwest, U.S. history may have connection Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:10 AM PDT This past March was the second warmest winter month ever recorded in the Midwest, with temperatures 15 degrees above average. The only other winter month that was warmer was December of 1889, during which temperatures were 18 degrees above average. Now, researchers may have discovered why the weather patterns during these two winter months, separated by 123 years, were so similar. The answer could help scientists develop more accurate weather prediction models.

Switchable nano magnets may revolutionize data storage: Magnetism of individual molecules switched Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:10 AM PDT Using individual molecules instead of electronic or magnetic memory cells would revolutionize data storage technology, as molecular memories could be thousand-fold smaller. Scientists have now taken a big step toward developing such molecular data storage.

Bodybuilding myth debunked: Growth-promoting hormones don't stimulate strength Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:09 AM PDT New research reveals exercise-related testosterone and growth hormone do not play an influential role in building muscle after weightlifting, despite conventional wisdom suggesting otherwise. The findings indicate that bodybuilders who look to manipulate those hormones through exercise routines are wasting their time.

Warm climate -- cold Arctic? Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:09 AM PDT The Eemian interglacial period that began some 125,000 years ago is often used as a model for contemporary climate change. Scientists have presented evidence that the Eemian differed in essential details from modern climatic conditions.

Gene may link diabetes and Alzheimer's Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:09 AM PDT In recent years it became clear that people with diabetes face an ominous prospect -- a far greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Now researchers have shed light on one reason why. Biologists have discovered that a single gene forms a common link between the two diseases.

Plant poison turns seed-eating mouse into seed spitter Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:09 AM PDT In Israel's Negev Desert, a plant called sweet mignonette or taily weed uses a toxic "mustard oil bomb" to make the spiny mouse spit out the plant's seeds when eating the fruit. Thus, the plant has turned a seed-eating rodent into a seed spreader that helps the plant reproduce, says a new study.

Optical displays from water and air Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:08 AM PDT For many years, scientists have been pursuing ways to mimic the perplexing capability of the lotus leaf to repel water. Lotus leaves hate water so much that droplets effortlessly roll off the surface, keeping it clean from dirt. Now an international team of researchers have come up with an entirely new concept of writing and displaying information on surfaces using simply water.  They exploit the unique way a trapped layer of air behaves on a lotus-inspired dual-structured water-repelling surface immersed under water.

Theory on metastasis goes beyond metaphor to mathematics Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:06 AM PDT A unifying theory on the causes of cancer metastases has been proposed. Using the metaphorical hypothesis of "seed" and "soil" -- that cancer is the seed and the soil is the site of metastasis -- researchers fault the metaphor's utility by saying that just how the seeds are "sown" in the soil is still a big question to which there have been no metaphorical or practical answers.

Folic acid intake during early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of autism in offspring Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:41 AM PDT Women who consume the recommended daily dosage of folic acid, the synthetic form of folate or vitamin B-9, during the first month of pregnancy may have a reduced risk of having a child with autism.

Mindful multitasking: Meditation first can calm stress, aid concentration Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:41 AM PDT Need to do some serious multitasking? Some training in meditation beforehand could make the work smoother and less stressful, new research shows.

Still capable of adapting: Genetic diversity of 'living fossil' coelacanths Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:41 AM PDT The morphology of coelacanths has not fundamentally changed since the Devonian age, that is, for about 400 million years. Nevertheless, these animals known as living fossils are able to genetically adapt to their environment.

A trick of perspective: Chance alignment mimics a cosmic collision Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:39 AM PDT The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has produced a highly detailed image of a pair of overlapping galaxies called NGC 3314. While the two galaxies look as if they are in the midst of a collision, this is in fact a trick of perspective: the two just happen to appear in the same direction from our vantage point.

Aquarius, NASA's salt-mapping instrument, marks first birthday Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:54 AM PDT Aquarius, NASA's pioneering instrument to measure ocean surface salinity from orbit, launched a year ago (on June 10, 2011) aboard the Argentine Space Agency's Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas (SAC-D) observatory. Designed to advance our understanding of what changes in the saltiness of the ocean's top layer say about the water cycle and variations in climate, the mission has had a busy first year.

Cassini sees tropical lakes on Saturn's moon Titan Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:35 AM PDT NASA's Cassini spacecraft has spied long-standing methane lakes, or puddles, in the "tropics" of Saturn's moon Titan. One of the tropical lakes appears to be about half the size of Utah's Great Salt Lake, with a depth of at least 3 feet (1 meter). The result, which is a new analysis of Cassini data, is unexpected because models had assumed the long-standing bodies of liquid would only exist at the poles.

Most older pedestrians are unable to cross the road in time Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:27 AM PDT Researchers have compared the walking speed of the older population in the UK with the speed required to use a pedestrian crossing. It found that the mean walking speed of participants in the Health Survey for England was 0.9 meters per second for older men and 0.8 meters per second for older women, which is much below the speed required to use a pedestrian crossing in the UK.

Virtual sailing gives competitors the edge Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:27 AM PDT Scientists have shown how virtual simulation can be used to accurately predict how a yacht will behave during a race.

Genetic discovery will help fight diarrhea outbreaks Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:27 AM PDT Researchers have discovered unexpectedly large genetic differences between two similar species of the pathogenic Cryptosporidium parasite.

Elemental and magnetic imaging using X-rays and a microscope Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:27 AM PDT A team of researchers has developed a new microscope that can image the elemental and magnetic properties of a wide range of energy-important materials that are used in devices such as solar cells and solid-state lighting.

Relocating LEDs from silicon to copper enhances efficiency Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT Chinese researchers have succeeded in transferring gallium nitride (GaN) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) grown on a layer of silicon to a layer of copper. In comparison with LEDs on silicon substrates, the light output of LEDs on copper was enhanced by 122 percent.

Researchers 'heal' plasma-damaged semiconductor with treatment of hydrogen radicals Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT Researchers have developed and tested a new way to heal defects in gallium nitride (GaN), a highly promising material for a wide range of optical and high-power electronic devices.

Childhood obesity linked to math performance, researcher says Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT Children's weight is associated with their math performance, a new study shows. When compared with children who were never obese, boys and girls whose obesity persisted from the start of kindergarten through fifth grade performed worse on the math tests, starting in first grade. Their lower performance continued through fifth grade.

Cougars are re-populating their historical range, new study confirms Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT American mountain lions, or cougars, are re-emerging in areas of the United States, reversing 100 years of decline. The evidence raises new conservation questions, such as how humans can live alongside the returning predators.

Could roseola virus be behind epilepsy? Childhood virus infection linked to prolonged seizures with fever Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT New research shows that human herpesviruses (HHV)-6B and HHV-7, commonly know as roseola virus), account for one third of febrile status epilepticus cases. Results suggest that HHV-6B may be involved in the development of epilepsy and further research is urgently needed.

Regenerated cells may restore vision after corneal dysfunction Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT Efforts to treat disorders of the corneal endothelium, a single cell layer on the inner surface of the cornea, with regenerative techniques have been less effective. Now, a group of scientists has developed a method that enhances the adhesion of injected corneal endothelial cells, allowing for successful corneal transplantation to repair pathological dysfunctions.

New discoveries with language learning robots Posted: 14 Jun 2012 04:49 AM PDT Robots can develop basic language skills through interaction with a human, according to new results.

Training character strengths makes you happy Posted: 14 Jun 2012 04:49 AM PDT Anyone who trains character strengths increases their sense of wellbeing, a large-scale study conducted by a team of psychologists from the University of Zurich has concluded. It proved for the first time that this kind of training works. The largest impact was evident in training the strengths "curiosity", "gratitude", "optimism", "humor" and "enthusiasm".

Pitcher plant uses rain drops to capture prey Posted: 13 Jun 2012 03:40 PM PDT During heavy rain, the lid of Nepenthes gracilis pitchers acts like a springboard, catapulting insects that seek shelter on its underside directly into the fluid-filled pitcher, new research has found.

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