ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Printable, electrically conductive gel with unprecedented electrical performance synthesized
• Sequencing of fetal genomes using only maternal blood sample
• Urban athletes show that for orangutans, it pays to sway
• A new particle has been discovered -- chances are, it is the Higgs boson
• Seabirds study shows plastic pollution reaching surprising levels off coast of Pacific Northwest
• Freezing all embryos in IVF with transfer in a later non-stimulated cycle may improve outcome
• Fertility preservation with cryopreservation of ovarian tissue: From experimental to mainstream
• Single embryo transfer reduces the risk of perinatal mortality in IVF
• Game, set and match to strawberries: The superfruit
• Development of antibiotic resistance more predictable than expected
• Humidity increases odor perception in terrestrial hermit crabs
• Toward an alternative for antibiotics to fight bacterial infections?
• Scientific study reveals that individuals cooperate according to their emotional state and their prior experiences
• Calcium carbonate templates for drug delivery
• Molecule changes magnetism and conductance
• No show stoppers for concentrating solar power
• Extreme weather conditions cost EU’s transport system at least €15 billion annually
• Voyage of discovery sights what could be the Higgs: Canadians key part of historical science breakthrough
• Search for Higgs boson at Large Hadron Collider reveals new particle
• Statement from CMS: Observation of a new particle with a mass of 125 GeV
• Latest results from ATLAS Higgs search
• CERN experiments observe particle consistent with long-sought Higgs boson
• New method knocks out stubborn electron problem
• How cooperation can trump competition in monkeys
• New drug prospect offers hope against hookworm infections
• Pre-industrial emissions still causing temperatures to rise
• Rate of community-onset MRSA infections appears to be on the decline
• Brazil has laws that protect against 'Big Food' and 'Big Snack'
• Potential food crisis with global warming, UK scientists warn
• Shrinking leaves point to climate change
• Heat wave especially dangerous for kids

Printable, electrically conductive gel with unprecedented electrical performance synthesized Posted: 04 Jul 2012 03:25 PM PDT Researchers have invented an electrically conductive gel that is quick and easy to make, can be patterned onto surfaces with an inkjet printer and demonstrates unprecedented electrical performance.

Sequencing of fetal genomes using only maternal blood sample Posted: 04 Jul 2012 03:21 PM PDT Researchers have for the first time sequenced the genome of an unborn baby using only a blood sample from the mother. The new technique hinges on the fact that pregnant women have DNA from both their cells and the cells of their fetus circulating freely in their blood.

Urban athletes show that for orangutans, it pays to sway Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:43 AM PDT Swaying trees is the way to go, if you are a primate crossing the jungle. Using human street athletes as stand-ins for orangutans, researchers have measured the energy required to navigate a forest using different strategies and found it pays to stay up in the trees.

A new particle has been discovered -- chances are, it is the Higgs boson Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:43 AM PDT The long and complicated journey to detect the Higgs boson, which started with one small step about 25 years ago, might finally have reached its goal. This was reported by LHC particle accelerator scientists today (July 4, 2012) at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, CERN, near Geneva. The Higgs boson is the final building block that has been missing from the "Standard Model," which describes the structure of matter in the universe. The Higgs boson combines two forces of nature and shows that they are, in fact, different aspects of a more fundamental force. The particle is also responsible for the existence of mass in the elementary particles.

Seabirds study shows plastic pollution reaching surprising levels off coast of Pacific Northwest Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:43 AM PDT Plastic pollution off the northwest coast of North America is reaching the level of the notoriously polluted North Sea, according to a new study.

Freezing all embryos in IVF with transfer in a later non-stimulated cycle may improve outcome Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:43 AM PDT There is growing interest in a "freeze-all" embryo policy in IVF. Such an approach, which cryopreserves all embryos generated in a stimulated IVF cycle for later transfer in a non-stimulated natural cycle, would avoid any of the adverse effects which ovarian stimulation might have on endometrial receptivity during the treatment cycle.

Fertility preservation with cryopreservation of ovarian tissue: From experimental to mainstream Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:43 AM PDT Although the first successful preservation of fertility from the freezing, thawing and grafting of ovarian tissue was reported eight years ago, the technique has remained experimental and confined to a few specialist centers. Now, with the announcement of a first pregnancy (and subsequent live birth) in Italy following the transplantation of ovarian tissue, there are indications that fertility preservation is moving into the mainstream of reproductive medicine and into a greater number of centers.

Single embryo transfer reduces the risk of perinatal mortality in IVF Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:43 AM PDT A policy of single embryo transfer (SET) reduces the risk of perinatal mortality in infants born as a result of IVF and ICSI. The conclusion emerged from an analysis of more than 50,000 births recorded in the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Technology Database between 2004 and 2008, where the introduction of an SET policy has been associated with a reduction in overall perinatal mortality for IVF and ICSI babies.

Game, set and match to strawberries: The superfruit Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:41 AM PDT Strawberries, the traditional summer treat associated with Wimbledon could be serving up some unexpected health benefits.

Development of antibiotic resistance more predictable than expected Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:41 AM PDT Research has shown that the development of bacteria with resistance against the antibiotic cefotaxime occurs more often and more predictably than was previously assumed. Bacterial populations were found to have many mutations that increase resistance and therefore have a negative effect on public health. Moreover, the effects are such that it can be predicted that the development of bacterial strains with a resistance against cefotaxime will progress in a similar way in different patients from different locations.

Humidity increases odor perception in terrestrial hermit crabs Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:41 AM PDT Olfaction in land crabs is still in an early transitional stage between life in water and on land.

Toward an alternative for antibiotics to fight bacterial infections? Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:41 AM PDT Mice that do not produce the receptor protein NLRP6, are better protected against bacterial infections and can more easily remove bacteria from the body. Therapeutic drugs that neutralize NLRP6 could be a possible treatment option, in addition to the use of antibiotics, for fighting bacterial infections.

Scientific study reveals that individuals cooperate according to their emotional state and their prior experiences Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:40 AM PDT When deciding whether to cooperate with others, people do not act thinking of their own reward, as had been previously believed, but rather individuals are more influenced by their own mood at the time and by the number of individuals with whom they have cooperated before.

Calcium carbonate templates for drug delivery Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:40 AM PDT The fast and targeted delivery of drugs could soon be made easier. Microcontainers for medical substances can be produced in different sizes using calcium carbonate microspheres as templates, new research shows.

Molecule changes magnetism and conductance Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:40 AM PDT One bit of digital information stored on a hard disk currently consists of about 3 million magnetic atoms. Researchers have now developed a magnetic memory with one bit per molecule. By an electric pulse, the metal-organic molecule can be switched reliably between a conductive, magnetic state and a low-conductive, non-magnetic state.

No show stoppers for concentrating solar power Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:40 AM PDT Solar thermal power is largely unrestricted by materials availability. There are, however, some issues that the industry needs to look into soon, like replacing silver in mirrors.

Extreme weather conditions cost EU’s transport system at least €15 billion annually Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:40 AM PDT Extreme weather conditions cost EU's transport system at least €15 billion annually. Currently, the greatest costs incurred are from road accidents, with the associated material damage and psychological suffering.

Voyage of discovery sights what could be the Higgs: Canadians key part of historical science breakthrough Posted: 04 Jul 2012 08:57 AM PDT Early this morning (July 4, 2012), the ATLAS and CMS particle-physics experiments at the LHC accelerator at CERN presented their latest results in the hunt for the Higgs boson with thousands of viewers from around the world at a global press conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Both experiments observe a new particle in the mass region around 125-126 GeV consistent with the Higgs. Across Canada, hundreds have played critical roles in this breakthrough and are now celebrating.

Search for Higgs boson at Large Hadron Collider reveals new particle Posted: 04 Jul 2012 08:50 AM PDT Physicists on experiments at the Large Hadron Collider announced today (July 4, 2012) that they have observed a new particle. Whether the particle has the properties of the predicted Higgs boson remains to be seen.

Statement from CMS: Observation of a new particle with a mass of 125 GeV Posted: 04 Jul 2012 08:39 AM PDT Researchers with the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have presented their preliminary results on the search for the standard model (SM) Higgs boson. CMS observes an excess of events at a mass of approximately 125 GeV with a statistical significance of five standard deviations (5 sigma) above background expectations. The probability of the background alone fluctuating up by this amount or more is about one in three million. The evidence is strongest in the two final states with the best mass resolution: first the two-photon final state and second the final state with two pairs of charged leptons (electrons or muons). The scientists interpret this to be due to the production of a previously unobserved particle with a mass of around 125 GeV.

Latest results from ATLAS Higgs search Posted: 04 Jul 2012 08:28 AM PDT On July 4, 2012, the ATLAS experiment presented a preview of its updated results on the search for the Higgs Boson. The results were shown at a seminar held jointly at CERN and via video link at ICHEP, the International Conference for High Energy Physics in Melbourne, Australia, where detailed analyses will be presented later this week. At CERN, preliminary results were presented to scientists on site and via webcast to their colleagues located in hundreds of institutions around the world.

CERN experiments observe particle consistent with long-sought Higgs boson Posted: 04 Jul 2012 08:22 AM PDT Physicists with the the ATLAS and CMS experiments have presented their latest preliminary results in the search for the long-sought Higgs particle. Both experiments observe a new particle in the mass region around 125-126 GeV.

New method knocks out stubborn electron problem Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:18 PM PDT A newly published article eliminates one of the top unsolved theoretical problems in chemical physics as ranked by the National Research Council in 1995. Scientists now can more accurately predict the dynamic behavior of electrons in atoms and molecules in chemical reactions that govern a wide range of phenomena, including the fuel efficiency of combustion engines and the depletion of the atmospheric ozone.

How cooperation can trump competition in monkeys Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:18 PM PDT Being the top dog -- or, in this case, the top gelada monkey -- is even better if the alpha male is willing to concede at times to subordinates, according to a new study. Alpha male geladas who allowed subordinate competitors into their group had a longer tenure as leader, resulting in an average of three more offspring each during their lifetimes.

New drug prospect offers hope against hookworm infections Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:18 PM PDT A drug candidate that is nearing clinical trials against a Latin American parasite is showing additional promise as a cure for hookworm, one of the most widespread and insidious parasites afflicting developing nations.

Pre-industrial emissions still causing temperatures to rise Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:17 PM PDT When evaluating the historic contributions made by different countries to the greenhouse gasses found in Earth's atmosphere, calculations generally go back no further than the year 1840. New research shows that carbon dioxide contributions from the pre-industrial era still have an impact on our climate today.

Rate of community-onset MRSA infections appears to be on the decline Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:17 PM PDT In analysis that included more than 9 million US Department of Defense nonactive and active duty personnel, the rates of both community-onset and hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia decreased from 2005 to 2010, while the proportion of community-onset skin and soft tissue infections due to MRSA has more recently declined, according to a new study.

Brazil has laws that protect against 'Big Food' and 'Big Snack' Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:17 PM PDT Under pressure from civil society organizations, the Brazilian government has introduced legislation to protect and improve its traditional food system, standing in contrast to the governments of many industrialized countries that have partly surrendered their prime duty to protect public health to transnational food companies, argue nutrition and public health experts.

Potential food crisis with global warming, UK scientists warn Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:15 PM PDT UK consumers could face dramatically reduced food choices in the future unless much more is done to cut greenhouse gas emissions, a hard-hitting report warns. Food which families now take for granted, such as meat and fresh vegetables, could become too expensive for many if global temperatures rise in line with the current trends and reach 4°C within the lifetime of many people.

Shrinking leaves point to climate change Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:15 PM PDT Rcent climate change is causing leaves of some Australian plants to narrow in size.

Heat wave especially dangerous for kids Posted: 03 Jul 2012 05:05 PM PDT Extreme heat continues to plague the nation with many areas seeing record temperatures. Though everyone needs to take precautions when it comes to dangerous heat, it's especially important to watch your kids. Children are at a greater risk than adults of sustaining a heat injury.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Study sheds light on pregnancy complications and overturns common belief
• Natural plant protein converted into drug-delivery vehicles
• New animal model may lead to treatments for common liver disease
• Diving shrews: Heat before you leap
• Following the genomic pathways to stop the spread of cancer
• Adventures in microgravity: Students experiment in simulated space-flight conditions
• Quantum computing, no cooling required: Room-temperature quantum bits store data for nearly two seconds
• Getting married or having a child makes you less satisfied at work, new research shows
• True nature of staff motivation more complex than surveys reveal
• Epigenetics alters genes in rheumatoid arthritis
• Bees can 'turn back time,' reverse brain aging
• Researchers moving towards ending threat of West Nile virus
• First photo of shadow of single atom
• Controversy clarified: Why two insulators together can transport electricity
• Why current strategies for fighting obesity are not working
• Social bats pay a price: Fungal disease, white-nose syndrome ... extinction?
• Feel-good glass for windows
• Exposure to violence has long-term stress effects among adolescents
• Adult stem cells from bone marrow: Cell replacement/tissue repair potential in adult bone marrow stem cells in animal model
• Increase in track-related injuries found among youth in the United States
• Bugs inspire better X-rays: Nanostructures modeled like moth eyes may boost medical imaging
• Motion sensors detect horse lameness earlier than veterinarians
• How cellular pathways converge to regulate food intake and body weight
• Genetic 911: Cells' emergency systems revealed
• Some diabetes drugs may increase risk of bladder cancer
• New class of unconventional superconductors
• New insights into power-generating windows
• Giraffes are living proof that cells' pressure matters
• Thumbs down on fireworks, warns trauma expert
• US Healthcare: ACA young adult mandate had big impact on extending health-care coverage, experts say
• Pakistan's national mammal makes comeback
• Obesity, larger waist size associated with better outcomes in heart failure patients
• West coast of North America experiencing decreasing trends in salmon spawning
• Young rapidly spinning star flaunts its X-ray spots in McNeil's Nebula
• Parents less likely to develop colds
• Researchers closer to understanding how proteins regulate immune system
• Global warming favors proliferation of toxic cyanobacteria
• Strength in numbers: Physicists identify new quantum state allowing three -- but not two -- atoms to stick together
• Cosmic skyrocket: Geyser of hot gas flowing from a newborn star
• One step closer to robotic refueling demonstrations on space station
• Hidden portals in Earth's magnetic field
• NASA unveils Orion capsule during ceremony
• The 'Flame' burns bright in new WISE image
• Fireworks over Mars: The Spirit of 76 pyrotechnics
• Fish learn to cope in a high carbon dioxide world, new study suggests
• Novel vaccine for strain of foot-and-mouth disease
• Feathered saurians: Downy dinosaur discovered
• Rising plasma offers clues to sun storms
• Ibuprofen improves bone repair after surgery or a fracture, study suggests
• Social bats pay a price with new fungal disease: Study determines which bats are headed for extinction
• Amniotic fluid yields alternatives to embryonic stem cells
• Two species fused to give rise to plant pest a few hundred years ago
• Molecular clues to link between childhood maltreatment and later suicide
• Childhood adversity increases risk for depression and chronic inflammation
• Five or more cups of coffee a day reduce the chance of IVF success by around 50 percent
• Why smoking is 'BAD' for the Fallopian tube, and increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy
• A high intake of certain dietary fats associated with lower live birth rates in IVF
• Organic tomatoes contain higher levels of antioxidants than conventional tomatoes, study suggests
• Searching for an ancient syphilis DNA in newborns
• The big sleep: How do you anesthetize a hippopotamus?

Study sheds light on pregnancy complications and overturns common belief Posted: 03 Jul 2012 05:05 PM PDT Women who have a specific type of antibody that interferes with blood vessel function are at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes and that other antibodies in the same family thought to cause pregnancy complications do not put women at risk, new research shows.

Natural plant protein converted into drug-delivery vehicles Posted: 03 Jul 2012 05:05 PM PDT Finding biocompatible carriers that can get drugs to their targets in the body involves significant challenges. Researchers have now shown a new approach for making vesicles and fine-tuning their shapes. By starting with a protein that is found in sunflower seeds, they used genetic engineering to make a variety of protein molecules that assemble into vesicles and other useful structures.

New animal model may lead to treatments for common liver disease Posted: 03 Jul 2012 04:01 PM PDT Scientists have developed the laboratory opossum as a new animal model to study the most common liver disease in the nation -- afflicting up to 15 million Americans -- and for which there is no cure.

Diving shrews: Heat before you leap Posted: 03 Jul 2012 04:01 PM PDT How does the world's smallest mammalian diver survive icy waters to catch its prey? A recent study of American water shrews has surprised researchers by showing that the animals rapidly elevate body temperature immediately before diving into cold water.

Following the genomic pathways to stop the spread of cancer Posted: 03 Jul 2012 03:58 PM PDT Researchers say the new way to treat cancers in the post-genomic era will involve drug discoveries based on specific pathways.

Adventures in microgravity: Students experiment in simulated space-flight conditions Posted: 03 Jul 2012 03:58 PM PDT Six students spent a week in June conducting airborne research in low gravity under the guidance of scientists and engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Quantum computing, no cooling required: Room-temperature quantum bits store data for nearly two seconds Posted: 03 Jul 2012 03:19 PM PDT Using a pair of impurities in ultra-pure, laboratory-grown diamonds, researchers have created room-temperature quantum bits, and store information in them for nearly two seconds -- an increase of nearly six orders of magnitude over the lifespan of earlier systems. The work is a critical first step in the eventual construction of a functional quantum computer, as well as a host of other potential applications.

Getting married or having a child makes you less satisfied at work, new research shows Posted: 03 Jul 2012 03:19 PM PDT Major life events such as marriage or the birth of a first child have a detrimental effect on job satisfaction, according to a new study.

True nature of staff motivation more complex than surveys reveal Posted: 03 Jul 2012 03:19 PM PDT High levels of staff engagement could actually be damaging for organizations if overly simplistic staff surveys mask the type of engagement at play within an organization, according to new research.

Epigenetics alters genes in rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 03 Jul 2012 02:25 PM PDT Researchers have investigated a mechanism usually implicated in cancer and in fetal development, called DNA methylation, in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. They found that epigenetic changes due to methylation play a key role in altering genes that could potentially contribute to inflammation and joint damage.

Bees can 'turn back time,' reverse brain aging Posted: 03 Jul 2012 02:25 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that older honey bees effectively reverse brain aging when they take on nest responsibilities typically handled by much younger bees. While current research on human age-related dementia focuses on potential new drug treatments, researchers say these findings suggest that social interventions may be used to slow or treat age-related dementia.

Researchers moving towards ending threat of West Nile virus Posted: 03 Jul 2012 02:25 PM PDT Mosquitoes are buzzing once again, and with that comes the threat of West Nile virus. Scientists are making every effort to put an end to this potentially serious infection.

First photo of shadow of single atom Posted: 03 Jul 2012 02:25 PM PDT Scientists have captured the first image of the shadow of a single atom. They trapped single atomic ions of the element ytterbium and exposed them to a specific frequency of light. Under this light the atom's shadow was cast onto a detector, and a digital camera was then able to capture the image.

Controversy clarified: Why two insulators together can transport electricity Posted: 03 Jul 2012 02:25 PM PDT In 2004, researchers discovered something amazing: If the two materials, SrTiO3 and LaAlO3, both of which are electrical insulators, are joined together, a thin, electrically conducting region is formed at their interface. Over the subsequent three years, a number of hypotheses were proposed to explain this effect, which has led to controversy ever since.

Why current strategies for fighting obesity are not working Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:27 PM PDT As the United States confronts the growing epidemic of obesity among children and adults, a team of obesity researchers concludes that what the nation needs is a new battle plan -- one that replaces the emphasis on widespread food restriction and weight loss with an emphasis on helping people achieve "energy balance" at a healthy body weight.

Social bats pay a price: Fungal disease, white-nose syndrome ... extinction? Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:27 PM PDT The effect on bat populations of a deadly fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome may depend on how gregarious the bats are during hibernation, scientists have discovered.

Feel-good glass for windows Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:26 PM PDT Daylight acts on our body clock and stimulates the brain. Researchers have made use of this knowledge and developed a coating for panes of glass that lets through more light. Above all, it promotes the passage through the glass of those wavelengths of light that govern our hormonal balance.

Exposure to violence has long-term stress effects among adolescents Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:26 PM PDT Children who are exposed to community violence continue to exhibit a physical stress response up to a year after the exposure, suggesting that exposure to violence may have long-term negative health consequences, according to new research.

Adult stem cells from bone marrow: Cell replacement/tissue repair potential in adult bone marrow stem cells in animal model Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:26 PM PDT Researchers report promising results from using adult stem cells from bone marrow in mice to help create tissue cells of other organs, such as the heart, brain and pancreas -- a scientific step they hope may lead to potential new ways to replace cells lost in diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.

Increase in track-related injuries found among youth in the United States Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:26 PM PDT With the 2012 summer Olympic games about to take place in London, children everywhere are looking forward to watching their sports idols and role models take center stage. While the Olympics may inspire some to try a new sport, such as track, parents should be aware that this participation does not come without risk of injury.

Bugs inspire better X-rays: Nanostructures modeled like moth eyes may boost medical imaging Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:26 PM PDT Using the compound eyes of the humble moth as their inspiration, physicists have developed new nanoscale materials that could someday reduce the radiation dosages received by patients getting X-rayed, while improving the resolution of the resulting images.

Motion sensors detect horse lameness earlier than veterinarians Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:26 PM PDT Equine veterinarians have developed a way to detect lameness using a motion detection system called the "Lameness Locator." Now, researchers have found that the Lameness Locator can detect lameness earlier than veterinarians using the traditional method of a subjective eye test.

How cellular pathways converge to regulate food intake and body weight Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:17 PM PDT In the complex chain of molecular events that underlie eating behaviors and body weight, the AMPK enzyme has proven to be a critical link. New research further elucidates AMPK's role, and could yield new treatment strategies for both metabolic diseases and cancers.

Genetic 911: Cells' emergency systems revealed Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:17 PM PDT Toxic chemicals wreak havoc on cells, damaging DNA and other critical molecules. A new study reveals how a molecular emergency-response system shifts the cell into damage-control mode and helps it survive such attacks by rapidly producing proteins that counteract the harm.

Some diabetes drugs may increase risk of bladder cancer Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:17 PM PDT An increased risk of bladder cancer is linked to the use of pioglitazone, a medication commonly used to treat Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

New class of unconventional superconductors Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:15 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a new class of exotic unconventional superconductors. When a superconductor is cooled below its 'critical temperature', the fluid of electrons, which is responsible for the conduction of electricity through the material, undergoes a radical re-organization. The electrons form 'Cooper pairs' and these Cooper pairs condense into a single, collective quantum state, which means they all behave as a single entity. This allows the manifestation of quantum-mechanical effects, which are normally confined to the world of sub-microscopic particles, on a scale that is visible to the naked eye.

New insights into power-generating windows Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:15 PM PDT Researchers have calculated how much electricity can be generated using power-generating windows, so-called luminescent solar concentrators. These are windows which have been fitted with a thin film of material that absorbs sunlight and directs it to narrow solar cells at the perimeter of the window. New research shows the relationship between the color of the material used and the maximum amount of power that can be generated. Such power-generating windows offer potential as a cheap source of solar energy.

Giraffes are living proof that cells' pressure matters Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:15 PM PDT A model that describes dividing cells within human tissues from the perspective of physicists could help further the understanding of cancer growth. Physicists have explored the relative impact of the mechanical pressure induced by dividing cells in biological tissues. This approach complements traditional studies on genetic and biochemical signalling mechanisms to explain experimental observations of how biological tissues evolve.

Thumbs down on fireworks, warns trauma expert Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:15 PM PDT Thumb and finger loss account for 32 percent of all reported injuries due to fireworks - imagining not being able to text for life is more potent than personal safety to today's generation, says a trauma surgeon.

US Healthcare: ACA young adult mandate had big impact on extending health-care coverage, experts say Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:15 PM PDT The number of young adults age 19 to 25 who are covered by their parents' employer-provided health insurance policies increased dramatically with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, according to a new study.

Pakistan's national mammal makes comeback Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:14 PM PDT The markhor – a majestic wild goat species – is making a remarkable comeback in Pakistan due to conservation efforts.

Obesity, larger waist size associated with better outcomes in heart failure patients Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:14 PM PDT A slim waist and normal weight are usually associated with better health outcomes, but that's not always the case with heart failure patients, according to a new study. Researchers found that in both men and women with advanced heart failure, obesity — as indicated by a high body mass index (BMI) — and a higher waist circumference were factors that put them at significantly less risk for adverse outcomes.

West coast of North America experiencing decreasing trends in salmon spawning Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:29 AM PDT The number of adult sockeye salmon produced per spawner has been decreasing over the last decade or more along the western coast of North America, from Washington state up through British Columbia and southeast Alaska.

Young rapidly spinning star flaunts its X-ray spots in McNeil's Nebula Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:29 AM PDT X-ray observations have revealed something curious about the young star that illuminates McNeil's Nebula, a glowing jewel of cosmic dust in the Orion constellation: The object is a protostar rotating once a day, or 30 times faster than the sun. The stellar baby also has distinct birthmarks -- two X-ray-emitting spots, where gas flows from a surrounding disk, fueling the infant star.

Parents less likely to develop colds Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:28 AM PDT There is no question that being a parent is, at times, challenging both physically and mentally. However knowledge of the actual affect parenthood has on health has been inconsistent at best, until now. New research led shows that being a parent influences health in a positive way. The research provides the first evidence that, when exposed to a common cold virus, parents are 52 percent less likely to develop a cold than non-parents.

Researchers closer to understanding how proteins regulate immune system Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:28 AM PDT Researchers have revealed how white blood cells move to infection or inflammation in the body; findings which could help lead to developing drug therapies for immune system disorders.

Global warming favors proliferation of toxic cyanobacteria Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:26 AM PDT Cyanobacterial populations, primitive aquatic microorganisms, are frequently-encountered in water bodies especially in summer. Their numbers have increased in recent decades and scientists suspect that global warming may be behind the phenomenon, and are particularly concerned by the increase in toxic cyanobacteria, which affect human and animal health.

Strength in numbers: Physicists identify new quantum state allowing three -- but not two -- atoms to stick together Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:25 AM PDT A recent quantum mechanics study has discovered a new bound state in atoms that may help scientists better understand matter and its composition. The yet-unnamed bound state, which the physicists simply refer to as "our state" in their study, applies to three identical atoms loosely bound together -- a behavior called three-body bound states in quantum mechanics. In this state, three atoms can stick together in a group but two cannot. Additionally, in some cases, the three atoms can stick together even when any two are trying to repel each other and break the connection.

Cosmic skyrocket: Geyser of hot gas flowing from a newborn star Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:25 AM PDT Resembling a Fourth of July skyrocket, Herbig-Haro 110 is a geyser of hot gas from a newborn star that splashes up against and ricochets from the dense core of a cloud of molecular hydrogen.

One step closer to robotic refueling demonstrations on space station Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:14 AM PDT NASA completed another successful round of Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) operations on the International Space Station with the Canadian Dextre robot and RRM tools, leaving the RRM module poised for the highly-anticipated refueling demonstration scheduled for late summer 2012.

Hidden portals in Earth's magnetic field Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:05 AM PDT A favorite theme of science fiction is "the portal" -- an extraordinary opening in space or time that connects travelers to distant realms. A good portal is a shortcut, a guide, a door into the unknown. If only they actually existed. It turns out that they do, sort of, and a researcher has figured out how to find them.

NASA unveils Orion capsule during ceremony Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:03 AM PDT The Orion capsule that will make the first flight test into space was celebrated Monday morning as the cornerstone of a new era of exploration for America's space program. The spacecraft's aluminum-alloy crew pressure module arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, June 29, where it will be built up into a fully functioning spacecraft ahead of a test flight slated for 2014.

The 'Flame' burns bright in new WISE image Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:58 AM PDT A new image from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, shows the candle-like Flame nebula lighting up a cavern of dust. The Flame nebula is part of the Orion complex, a turbulent star-forming area located near the constellation's star-studded belt.

Fireworks over Mars: The Spirit of 76 pyrotechnics Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:55 AM PDT One month and a day after celebrating its independence with fireworks exhibitions throughout the country, America will carry its penchant for awe-inspiring aerial pyrotechnic displays to the skies of another world. Some pyrotechnics will be as small as the energy released by a box of matches. One packs the same oomph as a stick of TNT. Whether they be large or small, on the evening of August 5th (Pacific time), all 76 must work on cue as NASA's next Mars rover, Curiosity, carried by the Mars Science Laboratory, streaks through the Red Planet's atmosphere on its way to a landing at Gale Crater.

Fish learn to cope in a high carbon dioxide world, new study suggests Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:41 AM PDT Some coral reef fish may be better prepared to cope with rising carbon dioxide in the world's oceans -- thanks to their parents. Encouraging new findings show that some fish may be less vulnerable to high CO2 and an acidifying ocean than previously feared.

Novel vaccine for strain of foot-and-mouth disease Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:41 AM PDT Agricultural researchers have developed a novel vaccine for one of the seven strains of foot-and-mouth disease, paving the way for the development of the others.

Feathered saurians: Downy dinosaur discovered Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:41 AM PDT The new fossil find from the chalk beds of the Franconian Jura evokes associations with a pet cemetery, for the young predatory dinosaur reveals clear traces of fluffy plumage. It also poses an intriguing question: were all dinosaurs dressed in down?

Rising plasma offers clues to sun storms Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:41 AM PDT Researchers use Doppler tracking to see, for the first time, loops of 1,800,000-degree Fahrenheit plasma flowing up from the sun at more than 12 miles per second.

Ibuprofen improves bone repair after surgery or a fracture, study suggests Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:41 AM PDT An in vitro study has demonstrated that a therapeutic dose of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen improves bone repair.

Social bats pay a price with new fungal disease: Study determines which bats are headed for extinction Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:40 AM PDT The impact on bat populations of a deadly fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome may depend on how gregarious the bats are during hibernation. Species that hibernate in dense clusters even as their populations get smaller will continue to transmit the disease at a high rate, dooming them to continued decline, according to a new study.

Amniotic fluid yields alternatives to embryonic stem cells Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:37 AM PDT Stem cells found in amniotic fluid can be transformed into a more versatile state similar to embryonic stem cells, according to a new study. Scientists have succeeded in reprogramming amniotic fluid cells without having to introduce extra genes. The findings raise the possibility that stem cells derived from donated amniotic fluid could be stored in banks and used for therapies and in research, providing a viable alternative to the limited embryonic stem cells currently available.

Two species fused to give rise to plant pest a few hundred years ago Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:37 AM PDT A fungal species native to Iran which attacks grasses is the result of natural hybridization that occurred just a few hundred years ago.

Molecular clues to link between childhood maltreatment and later suicide Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:37 AM PDT Exposure to childhood maltreatment increases the risk for most psychiatric disorders as well as many negative consequences of these conditions. A new study provides important insight into one of the most extreme outcomes, suicide.

Childhood adversity increases risk for depression and chronic inflammation Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:37 AM PDT When a person injures their knee, it becomes inflamed. When a person has a cold, their throat becomes inflamed. This type of inflammation is the body's natural and protective response to injury. Interestingly, there is growing evidence that a similar process happens when a person experiences psychological trauma. Unfortunately, this type of inflammation can be destructive.

Five or more cups of coffee a day reduce the chance of IVF success by around 50 percent Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:06 AM PDT Women who drink five or more cups of coffee a day severely reduce their chance of success from IVF treatment. Indeed, Danish investigators who followed up almost 4000 IVF and ICSI patients described the adverse impact as "comparable to the detrimental effect of smoking."

Why smoking is 'BAD' for the Fallopian tube, and increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:06 AM PDT Cigarette smoke reduces the production of a Fallopian tube gene known as "BAD", which helps explain the link between smoking and ectopic pregnancy.

A high intake of certain dietary fats associated with lower live birth rates in IVF Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:06 AM PDT Women with a higher intake of dietary saturated fats have fewer mature oocytes available for collection in IVF, according to results of a new study. The study investigated the effect of dietary fat (classified as total, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, omega 6, omega 3 and trans) on a range of preclinical and clinical outcomes in women having IVF.

Organic tomatoes contain higher levels of antioxidants than conventional tomatoes, study suggests Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:06 AM PDT Organic tomatoes contain higher levels of phenolic compounds than conventional tomatoes, according to new research. Phenolic compounds are organic molecules found in many vegetables with demonstrated human health benefits.

Searching for an ancient syphilis DNA in newborns Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:06 AM PDT The ancient bones of newborns are very useful to recover the ancient DNA of the bacteria causing syphilis, the Treponema pallidum pallidum. Scientists were able to obtain the genetic material from the bacteria in more than one individual, in what is considered to be the oldest case known to date. Several previous attempts had only achieved to yield this material in one occasion and from only one individual.

The big sleep: How do you anesthetize a hippopotamus? Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:06 AM PDT It may rank fairly low in most lists of pressing problems to be solved but an increasing number of zoos and wildlife collections as well as gamekeepers nevertheless need to come up with an answer:  How do you anaesthetize a hippopotamus? Difficulties are posed not only by the undesirability of approaching waking animals but also by hippos' unique skin morphology and by the animals' sensitivity to standard anesthetic methods. A new procedure has now been described.

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