Thursday, 23 February 2012

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Scientists create potent molecules aimed at treating muscular dystrophy

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 05:43 PM PST

While RNA is an appealing drug target, small molecules that can actually affect its function have rarely been found. But now scientists have for the first time designed a series of small molecules that act against an RNA defect directly responsible for the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy.

Phobia's effect on perception of feared object allows fear to persist

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 05:42 PM PST

The more afraid a person is of a spider, the bigger that individual perceives the spider to be, new research suggests.

For disaster debris arriving from Japan, radiation least of the concerns

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:37 AM PST

Later this year debris from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan should begin to wash up on US shores -- and one question many have asked is whether that will pose a radiation risk. The simple answer is, no.

Low levels of fallout from Fukushima, U.S. study finds

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:37 AM PST

Fallout from the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power facility in Japan was measured in minimal amounts in precipitation in the United States in about 20 percent of 167 sites sampled in a nationwide U.S. study.

Is there a general motivation center in the depths of the brain?

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:34 AM PST

Researchers have identified the part of the brain driving motivation during actions that combine physical and mental effort: the ventral striatum.

Faster way to catch cells: New microfluidic device could be used to diagnose and monitor cancer and other diseases

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:31 AM PST

Separating complex mixtures of cells, such as those found in a blood sample, can offer valuable information for diagnosing and treating disease. However, it may be necessary to search through billions of other cells to collect rare cells such as tumor cells, stem cells or fetal cells. Researchers have now demonstrated a new microfluidic device that can isolate target cells much faster than existing devices. Such technology could be used in applications such as point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine.

'Miracle material' graphene is thinnest known anti-corrosion coating

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:31 AM PST

New research has established the "miracle material" called graphene as the world's thinnest known coating for protecting metals against corrosion.

New way to tap largest remaining treasure trove of potential new antibiotics

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:29 AM PST

Scientists are reporting use of a new technology for sifting through the world's largest remaining pool of potential antibiotics to discover two new antibiotics that work against deadly resistant microbes, including the "superbugs" known as MRSA.

Birds sing louder amidst the noise and structures of the urban jungle

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:29 AM PST

Sparrows, blackbirds and the great tit are all birds known to sing at a higher pitch in urban environments. It was previously believed that these birds sang at higher frequencies in order to escape the lower frequencies noises of the urban environment. Now, researchers have discovered that besides noise, the physical structure of cities also plays a role in altering the birds' songs.

Researchers take a step forward in transplanting pig cells to regenerate human cartilage

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:27 AM PST

Researchers have recently studied the response of human NK cells against porcine chondrocytes. The results of the research indicate that these cells, characteristic of the innate immune system, play an important role in the rejection of xenotransplantation of porcine chondrocytes.

Exposure to micronutrients pre-pregnancy associated with gene modifications in offspring

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:27 AM PST

The offspring of women who were given micronutrient supplements (minerals needed in small quantities, such as iron, iodine and vitamin A) before they became pregnant had gene modifications at birth as well as when they were tested at nine months.

Heart beats to the rhythm of a circadian clock

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:25 AM PST

Sudden cardiac death -- catastrophic and unexpected fatal heart stoppage -- is more likely to occur shortly after waking in the morning and in the late night. In a new study, an international consortium of researchers explains the molecular linkage between the circadian clock and the deadly heart rhythms that lead to sudden death.

World of Warcraft boosts cognitive functioning in older adults

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:22 AM PST

For some older adults, the online video game World of Warcraft (WoW) may provide more than an opportunity for escapist adventure. Researchers have found that playing WoW boosted cognitive functioning for older adults – particularly those who had scored poorly on cognitive ability tests before playing the game.

How cancer cells change once they spread to distant organs

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:21 AM PST

Oncologists have known that in order for cancer cells to spread, they must transform themselves so they can detach from a tumor and spread to a distant organ. Now, scientists have revealed critical steps in what happens next -- how these cells reverse the process, morphing back into classical cancer that can now grow into a new tumor.

What can animals' survival instincts tell us about understanding human emotion?

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:21 AM PST

Can animals' survival instincts shed additional light on what we know about human emotion? Neuroscientists pose this question in outlining a pioneering theory, drawn from two decades of research, that could lead to a more comprehensive understanding of emotions in both humans and animals.

NASA's Spitzer finds solid buckyballs in space

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 08:45 AM PST

Astronomers using data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have, for the first time, discovered buckyballs in a solid form in space. Prior to this discovery, the microscopic carbon spheres had been found only in gas form in the cosmos.

Earth's clouds are getting lower, NASA satellite finds

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 08:43 AM PST

Earth's clouds got a little lower -- about one percent on average -- during the first decade of this century, finds a new NASA-funded university study based on NASA satellite data. The results have potential implications for future global climate.

From Bass Strait to the Indian Ocean: Tracking a current

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:42 AM PST

Deep-diving ocean "gliders" have revealed the journey of Bass Strait water from the Tasman Sea to the Indian Ocean.

Tiny, implantable medical device can propel itself through bloodstream

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:42 AM PST

For 50 years, scientists had searched for the secret to making tiny implantable devices that could travel through the bloodstream. Engineers have now demonstrated a wirelessly powered device that just may make the dream a reality.

New twist on nanowires: Technology can control composition and structure of these tiny wires as they grow

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:42 AM PST

Nanowires -- microscopic fibers that can be "grown" in the lab -- are a hot research topic today, with a variety of potential applications including light-emitting diodes and sensors. Now, researchers has found a way of precisely controlling the width and composition of these tiny strands as they grow, making it possible to grow complex structures that are optimally designed for particular applications.

Newly identified oral bacterium linked to heart disease and meningitis

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:39 AM PST

A novel bacterium, thought to be a common inhabitant of the oral cavity, has the potential to cause serious disease if it enters the bloodstream, according to a new study.

Observing single atoms during relaxation toward equilibrium

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:38 AM PST

Scientists have succeeded for the first time in simulating the dynamic behavior of strongly correlated individual atoms in solids. They were able to string atoms in so-called optical lattices and observe their dynamic behavior, which is determined by complex interactions with other atoms.

Fried food risks: Toxic aldehydes detected in reheated oil

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:35 AM PST

Researchers have been the first to discover the presence of certain aldehydes in food, which are believed to be related to some neurodegenerative diseases and some types of cancer. These toxic compounds can be found in some oils, such as sunflower oil, when heated at a suitable temperature for frying.

Off switch for pain? Chemists build light-controlled neural inhibitor

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:35 AM PST

Pain? Just turn it off! It may sound like science fiction, but researchers have now succeeded in inhibiting pain-sensitive neurons on demand, in the laboratory. The crucial element in their strategy is a chemical sensor that acts as a light-sensitive switch.

Fake drug sales are increasing on the Internet and turning up in legitimate supply chains, review finds

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:35 AM PST

Criminal gangs are increasingly using the internet to market life-threatening counterfeit medicines and some have even turned up in legitimate outlets such as pharmacies, according to a newly published review.

Recharge your cell phone with a touch? New nanotechnology converts body heat into power

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:29 AM PST

Never get stranded with a dead cell phone again. A promising new technology called Power Felt, a thermoelectric device that converts body heat into an electrical current, soon could create enough juice to make another call simply by touching it.

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Neuroscientists identify how the brain works to select what we (want to) see

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 06:26 PM PST

If you are looking for a particular object -- say a yellow pencil -- on a cluttered desk, how does your brain work to visually locate it? For the first time, neuroscientists have identified how different neural regions communicate to determine what to visually pay attention to and what to ignore. This finding is a major discovery for visual cognition and will guide future research into visual and attention deficit disorders.

Cocaine and the teen brain: New insights into addiction

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 06:26 PM PST

When first exposed to cocaine, the adolescent brain launches a strong defensive reaction designed to minimize the drug's effects, scientists have found. Now two new studies identify key genes that regulate this response and show that interfering with this reaction dramatically increases a mouse's sensitivity to cocaine.

Superbugs from space offer new source of power

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 06:26 PM PST

Scientists have created a "designer slime" that can double the electrical output of existing microbial fuel cells. Bacillus stratosphericus -- a microbe commonly found in high concentrations in the stratosphere orbiting Earth with the satellites -- is a key component of a new 'super' biofilm.

Caught in the act: Scientists discover microbes speciating

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 06:25 PM PST

Not that long ago in a hot spring in Kamchatka, Russia, two groups of genetically indistinguishable microbes decided to part ways. They began evolving into different species – despite the fact that they still encountered one another in their acidic, boiling habitat and even exchanged some genes from time to time, researchers report. This is the first example of what the researchers call sympatric speciation in a microorganism.

Stronger intestinal barrier may prevent cancer in the rest of the body, new study suggests

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 06:23 PM PST

Researchers have found that silencing a hormone receptor weakens the intestinal barrier, making the body more susceptible to cancer.

How good cholesterol turns bad

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 01:59 PM PST

Researchers have found new evidence to explain how cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mediates the transfer of cholesterol from "good" high density lipoproteins (HDLs) to "bad" low density lipoproteins (LDLs). These findings point the way to the design of safer, more effective next generation CETP inhibitors that could help prevent the development of heart disease.

Anticipation of stressful situations accelerates cellular aging

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 01:58 PM PST

The ability to anticipate future events allows us to plan and exert control over our lives, but it may also contribute to stress-related increased risk for the diseases of aging, according to a new study.

Technique creates piezoelectric ferroelectric nanostructures

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 01:58 PM PST

Researchers have developed a "soft template infiltration" technique for fabricating free-standing piezoelectrically active ferroelectric nanotubes and other nanostructures from PZT – a material that is attractive because of its large piezoelectric response.

Injectable gel could repair tissue damaged by heart attack

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 01:57 PM PST

Researchers have developed a new injectable hydrogel that could be an effective and safe treatment for tissue damage caused by heart attacks.

Gold coaxed into nanowires to allow inexpensive detection of poisonous industrial gases

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 12:15 PM PST

Researchers have coaxed gold into nanowires as a way of creating an inexpensive material for detecting poisonous gases found in natural gas.

Rare fungus kills endangered rattlesnakes in southern Illinois

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 12:15 PM PST

A small population of rattlesnakes that already is in decline in southern Illinois faces a new and unexpected threat in the form of a fungus rarely seen in the wild, researchers report. The finding matches reports of rattlesnake deaths in the northeast United States.

Cell energy sensor mechanism discovered

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 11:59 AM PST

Researchers have discovered more details about how an energy sensing "thermostat" protein determines whether cells will store or use their energy reserves. The researchers have shown that a chemical modification on the thermostat protein changes how it's controlled. Without the modification, cells use stored energy, and with it, they default to stockpiling resources. When cells don't properly allocate their energy supply, they can die off or become cancerous.

Fastest wind from stellar-mass black hole

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 11:58 AM PST

Astronomers have clocked the fastest wind yet discovered blowing off a disk around a stellar-mass black hole. This result has important implications for understanding how this type of black hole behaves.

Seven adult-sized humanoid robots together for first time in the U.S.

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 11:58 AM PST

Seven adult-sized humanoid robots took the stage during Drexel University's celebration of National Engineers Week in a first-of-its-kind assembly of robotic technology. Their presence -- together in one place -- is a unique event.

Origin of photosynthesis revealed: Genome analysis of 'living fossil' sheds light on the evolution of plants

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:54 AM PST

Evolutionary biologists have shed light on the early events leading to photosynthesis, the result of the sequencing of 70 million base pair nuclear genome of the one-celled alga Cyanophora. They consider this study the final piece of the puzzle to understand the origin of photosynthesis in eukaryotes.

Tohoku grim reminder of potential for Pacific Northwest North American megaquake

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:54 AM PST

The March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake is a grim reminder of the potential for another strong-motion mega-earthquake along the Pacific Northwest coast, geophysicists say.

Can consuming caffeine while breastfeeding harm your baby?

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:54 AM PST

Babies are not able to metabolize or excrete caffeine very well, so a breastfeeding mother's consumption of caffeine may lead to caffeine accumulation and symptoms such as wakefulness and irritability, according to an expert.

Plant toughness: Key to cracking biofuels?

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:52 AM PST

Along with photosynthesis, the plant cell wall is one of the features that most set plants apart from animals. A structural molecule called cellulose is necessary for the manufacture of these walls. Cellulose is synthesized in a semi-crystalline state that is essential for its function in the cell wall function, but the mechanisms controlling its crystallinity are poorly understood. New research reveals key information about this process.

Many young people don't know what constitutes sensible alcohol consumption

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:52 AM PST

A new study reveals that young people do not possess the knowledge or skills required to adhere to U.S. government guidelines for responsible alcohol consumption.

Rare element, tellurium, detected for the first time in ancient stars

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:51 AM PST

Researchers has detected the element tellurium for the first time in three ancient stars. Tellurium is rare on Earth.

Noninvasive method accurately and efficiently detects risk of Down syndrome, researchers say

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:51 AM PST

Using a noninvasive test on maternal blood that deploys a novel biochemical assay and a new algorithm for analysis, scientists can detect, with a high degree of accuracy, the risk that a fetus has the chromosomal abnormalities that cause Down syndrome and a genetic disorder known as Edwards syndrome. The new approach is more scalable than other recently developed genetic screening tests and has the potential to reduce unnecessary amniocentesis or CVS.

Is fructose being blamed unfairly for obesity epidemic?

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:50 AM PST

Is fructose being unfairly blamed for the obesity epidemic? Or do we just eat and drink too many calories? Researchers reviewed more than 40 published studies on whether the fructose molecule itself causes weight gain. In 31 "isocaloric" trials they reviewed, participants ate a similar number of calories, but one group ate pure fructose and the other ate non-fructose carbohydrates. The fructose group did not gain weight.

Step forward in effort to regenerate damaged nerves

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:50 AM PST

Scientists have taken a step forward toward the goal of repairing nerves in such patients more effectively. In a new study, researchers report that a surprising set of cells may hold potential for nerve transplants.

Does depression contribute to the aging process?

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:48 AM PST

Stress has numerous detrimental effects on the human body. Many of these effects are acutely felt by the sufferer, but many more go "unseen," one of which is shortening of telomere length.

Molecular basis of touch sensation: Researchers identify new function of a well-known gene

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:48 AM PST

A gene known to control lens development in mice and humans is also crucial for the development of neurons responsible for mechanosensory function, as neurobiologists have now discovered. They found that in mice in which they had removed the c-Maf gene in the nerve cells, touch sensation is impaired. This similarly applies to human carriers of a mutant c-Maf gene.

Irish mammals under serious threat from 'invasional meltdown'

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:48 AM PST

Some of Ireland's oldest inhabitants are facing serious threat and possible extinction because of foreign species, according to researchers.

Ant colonies remember rivals' odor and compete like sports fans

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:48 AM PST

A new study has shown that weaver ants share a collective memory for the odor of ants in rival nests, and use the information to identify them and compete, similar to how sports fans know each other instantly by their unique colors.

Gases drawn into smog particles stay there

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:48 AM PST

Airborne gases get sucked into stubborn smog particles from which they cannot escape, according to new findings. These finding could explain why air pollution models underestimate organic aerosols.

Scientists unlock evolutionary secret of blood vessels

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:48 AM PST

Scientists have shed light on how vertebrates evolved closed circulation systems designed to more effectively carry blood to organs and tissues.

Brain makes call on which ear is used for cell phone

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:47 AM PST

A new study finds a strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used to listen to a cell phone, with more than 70 percent of participants holding their cell phone up to the ear on the same side as their dominant hand.

Evolution of staph 'superbug' traced between humans and livestock

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:47 AM PST

A strain of the potentially deadly antibiotic-resistant bacterium known as MRSA has jumped from livestock to humans, according to a new study.

Tadpoles adjust buoyancy to adapt to different environments

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:47 AM PST

Survival and reproduction of many aquatic and semi-aquatic animals can depend upon how well they float. Tadpoles use various strategies to attain buoyancy, depending upon their stage of development and location in still or turbulent waters. Researchers have taken a closer look at the developing frog's strategies to achieve buoyancy.

Implantable, wireless sensors share secrets of healing tissues

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 09:47 AM PST

A new implantable sensor can wirelessly transmit data from the site of a recent orthopedic surgery. Inexpensive to make and highly reliable, this new sensor holds the promise of more accurate, more cost-effective, and less invasive post-surgery monitoring and diagnosis.

Iconic marine mammals are 'swimming in sick seas' of terrestrial pathogens

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 07:41 AM PST

Parasites and pathogens infecting humans, pets and farm animals are increasingly being detected in marine mammals such as sea otters, porpoises, harbor seals and killer whales along the Pacific coast of the US and Canada, and better surveillance is required to monitor public health implications, according to a panel of scientific experts from Canada and the United States.

Robotic dinosaurs on the way for next-gen paleontology

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 07:40 AM PST

Researchers are bringing the latest technological advancements in 3-D printing to the study of ancient life. Using scale models of real fossils, for the first time, they will be able to test hypotheses about how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals moved and lived in their environments.

Over-reactive parenting linked to negative emotions and problem behavior in toddlers

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 07:39 AM PST

Researchers have found that parents of young children who anger easily and overreact are more likely to have toddlers who act out and become upset easily.

Environmental pollutant level during pregnancy linked with grown daughters who are overweight

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 07:37 AM PST

The levels of the environmental pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that mothers had in their blood during pregnancy increased the risk of obesity in their daughters at 20 years of age.

Hubble reveals a new class of extrasolar planet

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 07:37 AM PST

Observations by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have come up with a new class of planet, a waterworld enshrouded by a thick, steamy atmosphere. It's smaller than Uranus but larger than Earth.

Eat and let die: Insect feeds on toxic plants for protection from predators

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 06:02 AM PST

Certain insects, such as the African variegated grasshopper or the cinnabar moth, native in Europe and Asia, feed on toxic plants in order to protect themselves from predators.

Taking Earth's pulse: Scientists unveil a new economic and environmental index

Posted: 20 Feb 2012 11:26 AM PST

A growing world population, mixed with the threat of climate change and mounting financial problems, has prompted researchers to measure the overall "health" of 152 countries around the world.