Tuesday, 27 March 2012

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Does the brain 'remember' antidepressants? More proof for the power of placebo

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:10 PM PDT

Using a placebo pill appearing identical to the real thing, researchers have found that how the brain responds to antidepressant medication may be influenced by its remembering past antidepressant exposure.

Genetic risk and stressful early infancy join to increase risk for schizophrenia

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:09 PM PDT

Working with genetically engineered mice and the genomes of thousands of people with schizophrenia, researchers say they now better understand how both nature and nurture can affect one's risks for schizophrenia and abnormal brain development in general.

Expedition to undersea mountain yields new information about sub-seafloor structure

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:09 PM PDT

Scientists recently concluded an expedition aboard the research vessel JOIDES Resolution to learn more about Atlantis Massif, an undersea mountain, or seamount, that formed in a very different way than the majority of the seafloor in the oceans.

Geologists correct a 'rift' in Africa

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:09 PM PDT

The huge changes in the Earth's crust that influenced human evolution are being redefined, according to new research. The Great Rift Valley of East Africa -- the birthplace of the human species -- may have taken much longer to develop than previously believed.

A 24-karat gold key to unlock the immune system

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:09 PM PDT

Using nanoparticles made of pure gold, researchers have developed a new method of introducing chemical residues into the immune system, triggering immune cells to help the body fight infection. The breakthrough could lead to an increased understanding of viruses and bacteria, better drug delivery systems, and more effective medications and vaccinations.

Research: 'Buckliball' opens new avenue in design of foldable engineering structures

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:08 PM PDT

Inspired by a toy, the 'buckliball' -- a collapsible structure fabricated from a single piece of material -- represents a new class of 3-D, origami-like structures.

Smokers could be more prone to schizophrenia

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:08 PM PDT

Smoking alters the impact of a schizophrenia risk gene. Scientists have demonstrated that healthy people who carry this risk gene and smoke process acoustic stimuli in a similarly deficient way as patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, the impact is all the stronger the more the person smokes.

Unprecedented impact of Deepwater Horizon on deep ocean revealed

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:08 PM PDT

Scientists report "compelling evidence" that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has impacted deep-sea corals. Their study used underwater robots to investigate the corals and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography to determine precisely the source of petroleum hydrocarbons found.

Deep-ocean impact of the Deepwater Horizon explosion revealed

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:08 PM PDT

Scientists have discovered compelling evidence of the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea corals. The researchers used a wide range of underwater vehicles, including the research submarine Alvin, as well as comprehensive chemical-analysis techniques to determine precisely the source of the petroleum hydrocarbons they found on the corals.

Chronic stress spawns protein aggregates linked to Alzheimer's

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:08 PM PDT

Repeated stress triggers the production and accumulation of insoluble tau protein aggregates inside the brain cells of mice, say researchers.

Single antibody shrinks variety of human tumors transplanted into mice, study shows

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:08 PM PDT

Human tumors transplanted into laboratory mice disappeared or shrank when scientists treated the animals with a single antibody, according to a new study. The antibody works by masking a protein flag on cancer cells that protects them from macrophages and other cells in the immune system. The scientists achieved the findings with human breast, ovarian, colon, bladder, brain, liver and prostate cancer samples.

'Could my child have autism? ' Ten signs of possible autism-related delays in 6- to 12-month-old children

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:07 PM PDT

Though autism is often not diagnosed until the age of three, some children begin to show signs of developmental delay before they turn a year old. While not all infants and toddlers with delays will develop autism spectrum disorders, experts point to early detection of these signs as key to capitalizing on early diagnosis and intervention, which is believed to improve developmental outcomes.

New analysis could give cues about when to move infants from NICU

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:06 PM PDT

New analysis of premature infants' heartbeats and breathing could give cues about their readiness to leave the NICU.

Butterfly wings' 'art of blackness' could boost production of green fuels

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:06 PM PDT

Butterfly wings may rank among the most delicate structures in nature, but they have given researchers powerful inspiration for new technology that doubles production of hydrogen gas — a green fuel of the future — from water and sunlight.

Tiny reader makes fast, cheap DNA sequencing feasible

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:06 PM PDT

Researchers have devised a nanoscale sensor to electronically read the sequence of a single DNA molecule, a technique that is fast and inexpensive and could make DNA sequencing widely available.

Two drugs already on the market show promise against tuberculosis

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 01:05 PM PDT

A two-drug combination is one of the most promising advances in decades for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) — a disease that kills 2 million people annually — a scientist has reported. The treatment, which combines two medications already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), delivers a knockout punch to forms of TB that shrug off other antibiotics.

Cassini to make closest pass yet over Enceladus south pole

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 12:28 PM PDT

NASA's Cassini spacecraft is preparing to make its lowest pass yet over the south polar region of Saturn's moon Enceladus, where icy particles and water vapor spray out in glittering jets. The closest approach, at an altitude of about 46 miles (74 kilometers), will occur around 11:30 a.m. PDT (2:30 p.m. EDT) on March 27.

Slime mold mimics Canadian highway network

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:36 AM PDT

A researcher placed rolled oats on a map of Canada, covering the major urban areas. One urban area held the slime mold. The slime mold reached out for the food, creating thin tubes that eventually formed a network mirroring the Canadian highway system.

Some Gulf dolphins severely ill after Gulf oil spill

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:36 AM PDT

Bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, are showing signs of severe ill health, according to marine mammal biologists. Barataria Bay, located in the northern Gulf of Mexico, received heavy and prolonged exposure to oil during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Lowering LDL, the earlier the better

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:36 AM PDT

Coronary atherosclerosis – a hardening of the arteries due to a build-up of fat and cholesterol – can lead to heart attacks and other forms of coronary heart disease (CHD). Lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, reduces the risk of CHD, and researchers found that lowering LDL beginning early in life resulted in a three-fold greater reduction in the risk of CHD than treatment with a statin started later in life.

Computer system identifies liars

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:35 AM PDT

Computer scientists are exploring whether machines can read the visual cues that give away deceit. Results so far are promising: In a study of 40 videotaped conversations, an automated system that analyzed eye movements correctly identified whether interview subjects were lying or telling the truth 82.5 percent of the time.

New synthetic biology technique boosts microbial production of diesel fuel

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:35 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a "dynamic sensor-regulator system" that can detect metabolic changes in microbes during the production of fatty acid-based fuels or chemicals and control the expression of genes affecting that production. The result in one demonstration was a threefold increase in the microbial production of biodiesel from glucose.

To drive infections, a hijacking virus mimics a cell's signaling system

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:35 AM PDT

New biological research reveals how an invading virus hijacks a cell's workings by imitating a signaling marker to defeat the body's defenses. By manipulating cell signals, the virus destroys a defensive protein designed to inhibit it. This finding, from studies in human cell cultures, may represent a broader targeting strategy used by other viruses, and may lay the scientific groundwork for developing more effective treatments for infectious diseases.

New 'thermal' approach to invisibility cloaking hides heat to enhance technology

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:35 AM PDT

In a new approach to invisibility cloaking, a team of French researchers has proposed isolating or cloaking objects from sources of heat -- essentially "thermal cloaking." This method taps into some of the same principles as optical cloaking and may lead to novel ways to control heat in electronics and, on an even larger scale, might someday prove useful for spacecraft and solar technologies.

Early-life exposure to secondhand smoke affects girls more than boys, new study suggests

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:35 AM PDT

The negative health effects of early-life exposure to secondhand smoke appear to impact girls more than boys -- particularly those with early-life allergic sensitization, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Hammerhead shark double whammy

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:28 AM PDT

A new look-alike species may muddy the water for an endangered hammerhead.

Neuronal transport granules: Single occupancy vehicles

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:25 AM PDT

Protein precursors destined for the spiny extensions of neurons travel single file, according to a new study.

New way to treat chronic pain, suggested by study

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:25 AM PDT

Gene that encodes crucial pain receptor may be the key to individualizing therapy for a major health problem.

Smiling through the tears: Study shows how tearjerkers make people happier

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 10:25 AM PDT

People enjoy watching tragedy movies like "Titanic" because they deliver what may seem to be an unlikely benefit: tragedies actually make people happier in the short-term.

Rapid rise in blood pressure before midlife may cause irreversible heart damage

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:39 AM PDT

The current "watch-and-wait" approach to high blood pressure readings in younger people may set patients on a course for irreversible heart damage, according to new research.

New class of platelet blockers proves effective in phase III trial, study suggests

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:38 AM PDT

Adding vorapaxar, an investigational platelet blocker, to standard antiplatelet therapy significantly reduces the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with known atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of the arteries, according to new research.

Sleeping too much or too little can be bad for your heart

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:38 AM PDT

Getting too little sleep – or even too much – appears to spell trouble for the heart. New data reveal that adults who get less than six hours of sleep a night are at significantly greater risk of stroke, heart attack and congestive heart failure. Even those who reportedly sleep more than eight hours a night have a higher prevalence of heart problems, namely chest pain (angina) and coronary artery disease, a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.

Compound in soy products may help lower blood pressure

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:37 AM PDT

Soy-based food products have taken grocery store shelves by storm, and the benefits of soy are steadily beginning to emerge. Eating foods that contain isoflavones – a key compound in soy milk, tofu, green tea and even peanuts – every day may help young adults lower their blood pressure.

Low LDL cholesterol is related to cancer risk

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:37 AM PDT

Low LDL cholesterol in patients with no history of taking cholesterol-lowering drugs predates cancer risk by decades, suggesting there may be some underlying mechanism affecting both cancer and low LDL cholesterol that requires further examination, according to new research.

Pregnancy increases risk of heart attack

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:37 AM PDT

Heart attacks during pregnancy tend to be more severe, lead to more complications, and also occur for different reasons than commonly seen in the non-pregnant general population, suggesting that, in some cases, the standard approach to managing this condition may not always be best, according to new research.

Snacking on raisins may offer a heart-healthy way to lower blood pressure

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:33 AM PDT

If you have slightly higher than normal blood pressure – known as prehypertension – consider eating a handful of raisins. New data suggest that, among individuals with mild increases in blood pressure, the routine consumption of raisins (three times a day) may significantly lower blood pressure.

Using Twitter to predict financial markets

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:33 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a model that uses data from Twitter to help predict the traded volume and value of a stock the following day.

Drugs with fewest side-effects for treating irritable bowel syndrome identified, study suggests

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:33 AM PDT

Researchers have determined that two prevalent drug therapies -- rifaximin and lubiprostone -- offer some of the best options for treating irritable bowel syndrome, a widespread disorder that affects up to one in five Americans. The findings are based on an analysis of more than two dozen large-scale clinical trials.

Aspirin: High or low dose following heart attack?

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:31 AM PDT

New research reports that there is no significant difference between high versus low dose aspirin in the prevention of recurring cardiovascular events in patients who suffer from acute coronary syndromes, which are characterized by symptoms related to obstruction in coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart.

Ticagrelor effective at reducing first, as well as recurrent and overall cardiovascular events

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:31 AM PDT

New research shows that the use of ticagrelor not only reduces the time to a first cardiovascular event (the metric used in most trials) but also significantly reduces the time to a second cardiovascular event or death, and reduces total events including cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke, ischemic events and urgent revascularization.

Saving habitat key to songbird's survival

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:31 AM PDT

The golden-winged warbler – already long gone from Ohio – is disappearing from regions across the United States. The population of this little, gray songbird with bright yellow patches on its wings and head has been in precipitous decline since 1966. And, as of yet, it remains unprotected by the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Growth in the womb and early infancy predicts bone size and strength in childhood

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:30 AM PDT

Researchers have presented evidence that early growth predicts the size, mineralization, shape and strength of the hip bone in childhood.

Tagged lice help researchers study social interactions of shy brown mouse lemurs

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:29 AM PDT

It can be difficult to uncover the behavior of small, shy, nocturnal primates like the brown mouse lemur, especially in the dense rainforests of Madagascar where this lemur lives. New research shows that the social interactions of brown mouse lemurs can be monitored by mapping the transfer of tagged lice.

Skaters' brains: Specialized training of complex motor skills may induce sports-specific structural changes in cerebellum

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:29 AM PDT

Specialized training of complex motor skills may induce sports-specific structural changes in the human brain.

Bone marrow stem cells can improve heart function, study suggests

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:25 AM PDT

Physicians have found that stem cells derived from heart failure patients' own bone marrow and injected into their hearts improved the function of the left ventricle, the heart's pumping chamber. Researchers also found that certain types of the stem cells were associated with the largest improvement and warrant further study.

European Neandertals were on the verge of extinction long before humans showed up

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:25 AM PDT

Western Europe has long been held to be the "cradle" of Neandertal evolution since many of the earliest discoveries were from sites in this region. But when Neandertals started disappearing around 30,000 years ago, anthropologists figured that climactic factors or competition from modern humans were the likely causes. Intriguingly, new research suggests that Western European Neandertals were on the verge of extinction long before modern humans showed up.

'Noodle gels' or 'spaghetti highways' could become tools of regenerative medicine

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:24 AM PDT

Medicine's recipe for keeping older people active and functioning in their homes and workplaces — and healing younger people injured in catastrophic accidents — may include "noodle gels" and other lab-made invisible filaments that resemble uncooked spaghetti with nanoscale dimensions, a scientist has said.

J. Craig Venter describes biofuels, vaccines and foods from made-to-order microbes

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:24 AM PDT

Just as authors often read numerous books before starting their own, scientists are using decades of knowledge from sequencing the genetic codes of thousands of living things to start writing new volumes in the library of life. J. Craig Venter, one of the most renowned of those scientists, recently described construction of the first synthetic cell and many new applications of this work.

NASA flight tests new ADS-B device on Ikhana UAS

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 07:33 AM PDT

NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center flew its Ikhana MQ-9 unmanned aircraft with an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, device, for the first time on March 15. It was the first time an unmanned aircraft as large as Ikhana -- with a 66-foot wingspan, a takeoff weight of more than 10,000 pounds, and a cruising altitude of 40,000 feet -- has flown while equipped with ADS-B. ADS-B is an aircraft tracking technology that all planes operating in certain U.S. airspace must adopt by January 2020 to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

James Cameron makes first ever successful solo dive to Mariana Trench -- ocean's deepest point

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 06:12 AM PDT

Filmmaker James Cameron descended 35,756 feet (6.77 miles/10.89 km) to reach the "Challenger Deep," the ocean's deepest point located in the Mariana Trench, in his specially designed submersible DEEPSEA CHALLENGER. The attempt was part of DEEPSEA CHALLENGE, a joint scientific expedition by Cameron, National Geographic and Rolex to conduct deep-ocean research and exploration. Cameron is the only individual ever to complete the dive in a solo vehicle and the first person since 1960 to reach the very bottom of the world in a manned submersible.

Inner weapons against allergies: Gut bacteria control allergic diseases, study suggests

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 02:32 PM PDT

Researchers have found that commensal bacteria in humans might play an important role in influencing and controlling allergic inflammation. The study suggest that therapeutic targeting of immune cell responses to resident gut bacteria may be beneficial in treating allergic diseases.

Single molecules in a quantum movie

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 02:32 PM PDT

The quantum physics of massive particles has intrigued physicists for more than 80 years, since it predicts that even complex particles can exhibit wave-like behavior – in conflict with our everyday ideas of what is real or local.

A hidden architecture: Researchers use novel methods to uncover gene mutations for common diseases

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 02:31 PM PDT

Human geneticists have debated whether the genetic risk of the most common medical conditions derive from many rare mutations or common differences throughout the genome that modestly influence risk. A new study addresses this.

Shorter telomeres linked to poor cardiovascular outcomes

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 07:28 AM PDT

It is typical for telomeres to shorten as cells divide and chromosomes replicate over time. Now a new study suggest a strong link between telomere shortening and poor cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Monday, 26 March 2012

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Extreme weather of last decade part of larger pattern linked to global warming

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 02:32 PM PDT

The past decade has been one of unprecedented weather extremes. Scientists now argue that the high incidence of extremes is not merely accidental. From the many single events a pattern emerges. At least for extreme rainfall and heat waves the link with human-caused global warming is clear, the scientists show in a new analysis of scientific evidence.

Genetics of flu susceptibility: Why the flu is life-threatening for some, and quite mild for others

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 02:31 PM PDT

A genetic finding could help explain why influenza becomes a life-threatening disease to some people while it has only mild effects in others. New research has identified for the first time a human gene that influences how we respond to influenza infection.

Materials Inspired by Mother Nature: One-Pound Boat That Could Float 1,000 Pounds

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 02:30 PM PDT

Combining the secrets that enable water striders to walk on water and give wood its lightness and strength yielded an amazing material so buoyant that, in everyday terms, a boat made from 1 pound of it could carry five kitchen refrigerators, about 1,000 pounds. It is one of the lightest solid substances in the world.

Popcorn: The snack with even higher antioxidants levels than fruits and vegetables

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 02:30 PM PDT

Popcorn's reputation as a snack food that's actually good for health popped up a few notches today as scientists reported that it contains more of the healthful antioxidant substances called "polyphenols" than fruits and vegetables.

Scientists identify novel pathway for T-cell activation in leprosy

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 02:30 PM PDT

Scientists have pinpointed a new mechanism that potently activates T-cells to fight leprosy. Specifically, the team studied how immune cells located at the site of infection, called dendritic cells, become more specialized to fight leprosy. Dendritic cells deliver key information about an invading pathogen that helps activate the T-cells in launching a more effective attack. The finding may have applications in combating other infectious diseases and cancer.

A double ring ceremony prepares telomerase RNA to wed its protein partner

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 02:30 PM PDT

Few molecules are more interesting than DNA—except of course RNA. After two decades of research, that "other macromolecule" is no longer considered a mere messenger between glamorous DNA and protein-synthesizing machines. We now know that RNA has been leading a secret life, regulating gene expression and partnering with proteins to form catalytic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes.

Incontinence 20 years after child birth three times more common after vaginal delivery

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 07:26 AM PDT

Women are nearly three times more likely to experience urinary incontinence for more than 10 years following a vaginal delivery rather than a caesarean section, finds new research.

High blood sugar lowers chances of surviving a heart attack

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 07:26 AM PDT

Patients with high blood sugar run an increased risk of dying if they have a heart attack, and diabetics are less likely to survive in-hospital cardiac arrest than non-diabetics, reveals new research.

The body's bacteria affect intestinal blood vessel formation

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 07:26 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism which helps intestinal bacteria to affect the formation of blood vessels. The results may provide future treatments of intestinal diseases and obesity.

Brushing teeth: New 'massage method' quadruples protection against tooth decay, study suggests

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 07:26 AM PDT

Do you really want to avoid cavities in your teeth? Try massaging them with a high-fluoride toothpaste after lunch. "Rubbing toothpaste onto your teeth increases the fluoride protection by 400%," says experts.

Diabetes drug can prevent heart disease, new study suggests

Posted: 25 Mar 2012 07:26 AM PDT

The widely used diabetes medicine metformin can have protective effects on the heart, reveals a new study.

Sunday, 25 March 2012

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Half of species found by 'great plant hunters'

Posted: 24 Mar 2012 12:03 PM PDT

More than 50% of the world's plant species have been discovered by 2% of plant collectors, scientists have found. With an estimated 15-30% of the world's flowering plants yet to be discovered, finding and recording new plant species is vital to our understanding of global biodiversity.

Brain size may determine whether you are good at keeping friends

Posted: 24 Mar 2012 11:55 AM PDT

Researchers are suggesting that there is a link between the number of friends you have and the size of the region of the brain -- known as the orbital prefrontal cortex -- that is found just above the eyes. A new study shows that this brain region is bigger in people who have a larger number of friendships.

Laser hints at how universe got its magnetism

Posted: 24 Mar 2012 11:49 AM PDT

Scientists have used a laser to create magnetic fields similar to those thought to be involved in the formation of the first galaxies; findings that could help to solve the riddle of how the universe got its magnetism.

Treatment of ischemic heart failure with bone marrow cells does not show improvement for certain heart function measures

Posted: 24 Mar 2012 08:53 AM PDT

Use of a patient's bone marrow cells for treating chronic ischemic heart failure did not result in improvement on most measures of heart function, according to a new study.

Embryonic stem cells shift metabolism in cancer-like way upon implanting in uterus

Posted: 23 Mar 2012 05:55 PM PDT

When an embryo implants in the uterus, the low-oxygen environment provokes some of its cells to shift to a sugar-busting metabolism. In cancer cells, the same shift releases fuel and materials for rapid tumor growth and division. In the embryo, the shift prepares for dramatic growth and formation of layers that later become organs. The researchers also saw a mitochondrial downshift linked to aging and disease controlling normal embryonic development. It may protect cells that later become eggs or sperm from oxidant damage.

Magnetic field researchers target 100-tesla goal

Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:40 AM PDT

Researchers have met the grand challenge of producing magnetic fields in excess of 100 tesla while conducting six different experiments.

Home alone: Depression highest for those living alone

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 09:12 PM PDT

The number of people living on their own has doubled, over the last three decades, to one in three in the UK and US. New research shows that the risk of depression, measured by people taking antidepressants, is almost 80% higher for those living alone compared to people living in any kind of social or family group. For women a third of this risk was attributable to sociodemographic factors, such as lack of education and low income. For men the biggest contributing factors included poor job climate, lack of support at the work place or in their private lives, and heavy drinking.

One year later, rehabilitated golden eagle's path revealed

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 02:36 PM PDT

A rare golden eagle rehabilitated and released last year in Massachusetts spent the summer around the Quebec/Labrador border, then returned to the New York/Connecticut area where it was originally found, new data has revealed.

Beta cell stress could trigger the development of type 1 diabetes

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 12:15 PM PDT

In type 1 diabetes (T1D), pancreatic beta cells die from a misguided autoimmune attack, but how and why that happens is still unclear. Now, scientists have found that a specific type of cellular stress takes place in pancreatic beta cells before the onset of T1D, and that this stress response in the beta cell may in fact help ignite the autoimmune attack.

Getting the dirt on immunity: Scientists show evidence for hygiene hypothesis

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 11:21 AM PDT

Medical professionals have suggested that the hygiene hypothesis explains the global increase of allergic and autoimmune diseases in urban settings. However, neither biologic support nor a mechanistic basis for the hypothesis has been directly demonstrated. Until now.

Brown liquor and solar cells to provide sustainable electricity

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 11:21 AM PDT

A breakthrough for inexpensive electricity from solar cells, and a massive investment in wind power, will mean a need to store energy in an intelligent way. According to new research batteries of biological waste products from pulp mills could provide the solution.

A new shortcut for stem cell programming

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 10:15 AM PDT

Scientists have succeeded in directly generating brain stem cells from the connective tissue cells of mice.