ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Researchers assess effects of a world awash in nitrogen
• Chimpanzees in research: Statement on Institute of Medicine report by NIH Director Francis Collins
• Shared flavor compounds show up on US menus, rare in Asian cuisines
• How B cells may generate antibodies after vaccination
• Less knowledge, more power: Uninformed can be vital to democracy, study finds
• Discovery of a 'dark state' could mean a brighter future for solar energy
• Close family ties keep cheaters in check: Why almost all multicellular organisms begin life as a single cell
• Biofuel research boosted by discovery of how cyanobacteria make energy
• Tool detects patterns hidden in vast data sets
• Endorphin plays traffic cop to organs
• Shape, fit of reproductive organs evolve quickly and in concert, leaving size behind
• Acid rain poses a previously unrecognized threat to Great Lakes sugar maples
• Majority of B.C. women take prescription drugs during pregnancy, Canadian study shows
• Scientists find microbes in lava tube living in conditions like those on Mars
• Cancer from fetal exposure to carcinogens depends on dose, timing
• New study shows promise for preventing preterm births
• Scientists discover second-oldest gene mutation
• Blood test might predict how well a depressed patient responds to antidepressants
• 'Fantastic voyage' through the body, with precision control
• Second-guessing one's decisions leads to unhappiness, psychology researcher finds
• Report recommends stringent limits on use of chimpanzees in biomedical and behavioral research
• Researchers closer to understanding the evolution of sound production in fish
• Lead levels in drinking water spike when copper and lead pipes joined: Levels linked to galvanic corrosion, disinfectants, pH
• Oral bacteria enables breaking bond on blood vessels to allow invaders in
• Key genetic error found in family of blood cancers
• 'Smart Connector' could save millions in lost revenue
• A simple clip could increase quality of life for thousands of patients with a common heart problem
• Unwanted online sexual exposures decline for youth, new research finds
• What makes solo terrorists tick?
• Working to change bridge fabrication and inspection practices
• More clues in the hunt for the Higgs: Physicists unveil the largest amount of data ever presented for the Higgs search
• Pregnant women advised to stay cool for baby's sake
• 140 new species described by California Academy of Sciences in 2011
• Low iron levels in blood raises blood clot risk, new research suggests
• Computing: Improving security in the cloud
• Hide and seek signals for white blood cells
• Report on human subjects protection
• New light on medicinal benefits of plants
• From heterogeneous patient measurements towards earlier diagnosis in Alzheimer's disease
• How cells limit inflammation in lung injury
• Young star rebels against its parent cloud
• Walking skills program improves physical function following hip replacement surgery
• Global forests are overlooked as water suppliers, study shows
• Ultraviolet rays believed to prevent chickenpox spreading
• Research on solubility yields promise for pharmaceutical, other industries
• Less blood clot damage with extra treatment, research suggests
• New research could lead to enhanced MRI scans
• First low-mass star detected in globular cluster
• New genetic program converts static cells into mobile invasive cells
• Almost noiseless nanomechanical microwave amplifier
• Fungus-induced neurological disease: An underestimated risk for animals and humans?
• What determines the capacity of short-term memory?
• A galaxy blooming with new stars
• Scientists examine toxicity of medicinal plants in Peru

Researchers assess effects of a world awash in nitrogen Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:27 PM PST Humans are having an effect on Earth's ecosystems but it's not just the depletion of resources and the warming of the planet we are causing. Now you can add an over-abundance of nitrogen as another "footprint" humans are leaving behind. The only question is how large of an impact will be felt.

Chimpanzees in research: Statement on Institute of Medicine report by NIH Director Francis Collins Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:57 AM PST The following is a statement by NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins on the Institute of Medicine report addressing the scientific need for the use of chimpanzees in research.

Shared flavor compounds show up on US menus, rare in Asian cuisines Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:16 AM PST North Americans and Western Europeans love a good mix of alpha-terpineol, 4-methylpentanoic acid and ethyl propionate for dinner, flavor compounds shared in popular ingredients like tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and white wine. Authentic East Asian recipes, on the other hand, tend to avoid mixing ingredients with many shared flavor compounds, according to new research.

How B cells may generate antibodies after vaccination Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:16 AM PST Scientists have shown how immune cells, called B lymphocytes, are able to produce daughter cells that are not equal, a finding that might explain how lifelong antibodies are made after vaccination.

Less knowledge, more power: Uninformed can be vital to democracy, study finds Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:16 AM PST Uninformed individuals -- as in those with no prior knowledge or strong feelings on a situation's outcome -- can actually be vital to achieving a democratic consensus, according to new research. These individuals tend to side with and embolden the numerical majority and dilute the influence of powerful minority factions who would otherwise dominate everyone else.

Discovery of a 'dark state' could mean a brighter future for solar energy Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:16 AM PST The efficiency of conventional solar cells could be significantly increased, according to new research on the mechanisms of solar energy conversion.

Close family ties keep cheaters in check: Why almost all multicellular organisms begin life as a single cell Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:16 AM PST Any multicellular animal poses a special difficulty for the theory of evolution. Most of its cells will die without reproducing, and only a privileged few will pass their genes. Given the incentive for cheating, how is cooperation among the cells enforced? Evolutionary biologists suggest the answer is frequent population bottlenecks that restart populations from a single cell.

Biofuel research boosted by discovery of how cyanobacteria make energy Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:16 AM PST Research expected to help scientists to discover new ways of genetically engineering bacteria to manufacture biofuels overturns a generally accepted 44-year-old assumption about how certain kinds of bacteria make energy and synthesize cell materials. With this better understanding of how cyanobacteria make energy, it might be possible to genetically engineer a cyanobacterial strain to synthesize 1,3-butanediol -- an organic compound that is the precursor for making not only biofuels but also plastics.

Tool detects patterns hidden in vast data sets Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:16 AM PST Researchers have developed a tool that can tackle large data sets in a way that no other software program can. Part of a suite of statistical tools called MINE, it can tease out multiple patterns hidden in health information, statistics amassed from a season of major league baseball, data on the changing bacterial landscape of the gut, and more.

Endorphin plays traffic cop to organs Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:10 AM PST Spleen to the left, appendix to the right: In order for the body to sort itself out properly, two substances have to trigger a complex chain reaction, according to new research findings.

Shape, fit of reproductive organs evolve quickly and in concert, leaving size behind Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:59 AM PST Believed critical for determining which individuals can -- or cannot -- successfully reproduce with each other, genitalia not only figure prominently in the origin of new species, but are also typically the first type of trait to change as new species form. Today, new international research shows that as populations and species diversify, the exact shape and fit of genitalia steals the show over size.

Acid rain poses a previously unrecognized threat to Great Lakes sugar maples Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:59 AM PST The number of sugar maples in Upper Great Lakes forests is likely to decline in coming decades, according to ecologists, due to a previously unrecognized threat from a familiar enemy: Acid rain.

Majority of B.C. women take prescription drugs during pregnancy, Canadian study shows Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:59 AM PST Almost two-thirds of women in British Columbia filled at least one prescription at some point in their pregnancy, including drugs with potential risks, according to a new study.

Scientists find microbes in lava tube living in conditions like those on Mars Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:59 AM PST A team of scientists from Oregon has collected microbes from ice within a lava tube in the Cascade Mountains and found that they thrive in cold, Mars-like conditions. They have characteristics that would make the microbes capable of living in the subsurface of Mars and other planetary bodies.

Cancer from fetal exposure to carcinogens depends on dose, timing Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:59 AM PST The cancer-causing potential of fetal exposure to carcinogens can vary substantially, causing different types of problems much later in life depending on the stage of pregnancy when the fetus is exposed. The research sheds further light on the way in which toxic damage early in life can later manifest itself as cancer, due to "epigenetic" changes in cells.

New study shows promise for preventing preterm births Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:59 AM PST A new study has found that applying vaginal progesterone to women who are at a high risk of preterm birth significantly decreased the odds of a premature delivery.

Scientists discover second-oldest gene mutation Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:58 AM PST A new study has identified a gene mutation that researchers estimate dates back to 11,600 B.C., making it the second oldest human disease mutation known. The mutation was described in people of Arabic, Turkish and Jewish ancestry. It causes a rare, inherited vitamin B12 deficiency. The mutation originated in a single, prehistoric individual and was passed down to that individual's descendants. The discovery should permit reliable genetic diagnosis of suspected cases of Imerslund-Gräsbeck Syndrome.

Blood test might predict how well a depressed patient responds to antidepressants Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:58 AM PST Researchers are reporting what could become the first reliable method to predict whether an antidepressant will work on a depressed patient.

'Fantastic voyage' through the body, with precision control Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:58 AM PST Scientists have devised a method to guide endoscopic "capsules" on a more precise course through the small intestine to detect difficult-to-diagnose tumors or wounds, or allow for biopsies or drug delivery. The ability to manipulate the capsule, he says, will not only lead to better diagnosis capabilities, but a less invasive and quicker procedure as well.

Second-guessing one's decisions leads to unhappiness, psychology researcher finds Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:58 AM PST You're in search of a new coffee maker, and the simple quest becomes, well, an ordeal. After doing copious amounts of research and reading dozens of consumer reviews, you finally make a purchase, only to wonder: "Was this the right choice? Could I do better? What is the return policy?"

Report recommends stringent limits on use of chimpanzees in biomedical and behavioral research Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:58 AM PST Given that chimpanzees are so closely related to humans and share similar behavioral traits, the U.S. National Institutes of Health should allow their use as subjects in biomedical research only under stringent conditions, including the absence of any other suitable model and inability to ethically perform the research on people, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

Researchers closer to understanding the evolution of sound production in fish Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:58 AM PST Researchers studying sound production in perch-like fishes have discovered a link between two unrelated lineages of fishes, taking researchers a step closer to understanding the evolution of one of the fastest muscles in vertebrates.

Lead levels in drinking water spike when copper and lead pipes joined: Levels linked to galvanic corrosion, disinfectants, pH Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:35 AM PST Lead pipes once used routinely in municipal water distribution systems are a well-recognized source of dangerous lead contamination, but new research suggests that the partial replacement of these pipes can make the problem worse. The research shows that joining old lead pipes with new copper lines using brass fittings spurs galvanic corrosion that can dramatically increase the amount of lead released into drinking water supplies.

Oral bacteria enables breaking bond on blood vessels to allow invaders in Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:35 AM PST A common oral bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum, acts like a key to open a door in human blood vessels and leads the way for it and other bacteria like Escherichia coli to invade the body through the blood and make people sick, according to dental researchers.

Key genetic error found in family of blood cancers Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:35 AM PST Scientists have uncovered a critical genetic mutation in some patients with myelodysplastic syndromes -- a group of blood cancers that can progress to a fatal form of leukemia.

'Smart Connector' could save millions in lost revenue Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:35 AM PST Researchers have developed the Smart Connector, a new sensor that once installed in the connecting units of coaxial cables can provide information about equipment damage and pinpoint the exact location through self-diagnosing technologies -- some of the most advanced in the field today.

A simple clip could increase quality of life for thousands of patients with a common heart problem Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:35 AM PST The interventional cardiology team recently conducted the first clinical procedure in Canada using the MitraClip system, which is designed to treat patients suffering from mitral valve failure, a very common heart defect that affects an estimated one out five people to various extents starting at the age of 55.

Unwanted online sexual exposures decline for youth, new research finds Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:35 AM PST A new study finds declines in two kinds of youth Internet sexual encounters of great concern to parents: Unwanted sexual solicitations and unwanted exposure to pornography. The researchers suspect that greater public awareness may have been, in part, what has helped.

What makes solo terrorists tick? Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:35 AM PST The double terrorist attack in Norway last July, which claimed 77 lives, has moved violent acts committed by single individuals up the political, media and now research agendas. Known as "lone wolf terrorism," these acts are carried out independently of established terrorist organizations.

Working to change bridge fabrication and inspection practices Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:32 AM PST Civil and environmental engineers are concerned about the size of bridges, especially when it relates to how materials will perform in structures where failures might lead to catastrophes. As today's engineers investigate the rebuilding of much of the infrastructure, they are using much improved materials and analysis tools.

More clues in the hunt for the Higgs: Physicists unveil the largest amount of data ever presented for the Higgs search Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:56 AM PST Physicists have announced that the Large Hadron Collider has produced yet more tantalizing hints for the existence of the Higgs boson. The European Center for Nuclear Research in Geneva, the international team of thousands of scientists, unveiled for the first time all the data taken over the last year from the two main detectors at the LHC. The results represent the largest amount of data ever presented for the Higgs search.

Pregnant women advised to stay cool for baby's sake Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:56 AM PST Medical researchers have found a link between increases in temperature and the incidence of stillbirth and shorter pregnancies.

140 new species described by California Academy of Sciences in 2011 Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:56 AM PST In 2011, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences added 140 new relatives to our family tree. The new species include 72 arthropods, 31 sea slugs, 13 fishes, 11 plants, nine sponges, three corals, and one reptile. They were described by more than a dozen Academy scientists along with several dozen international collaborators.

Low iron levels in blood raises blood clot risk, new research suggests Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:54 AM PST People with low levels of iron in the blood have a higher risk of dangerous blood clots, according to new research.

Computing: Improving security in the cloud Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:54 AM PST New encryption research may lead to improved data security, even for operations performed on remote servers.

Hide and seek signals for white blood cells Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:54 AM PST Scientists reveal how certain white blood cells find hidden chemical signals that allow them to exit the bloodstream.

Report on human subjects protection Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:54 AM PST The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues has issued its report concerning U.S. federally sponsored research involving human volunteers, concluding that current rules and regulations provide adequate safeguards to mitigate risk.

New light on medicinal benefits of plants Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:52 AM PST Scientists are about to make publicly available all the data they have so far on the genetic blueprint of medicinal plants and what beneficial properties are encoded.

From heterogeneous patient measurements towards earlier diagnosis in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:52 AM PST Medical researchers have developed a decision support tool for objective diagnostics of Alzheimer's disease. The tool compares measurements of a patient to measurements of other persons available in large databases and provides a simple index about the severity of the disease. The project has shown that the tool improves the accuracy of diagnosis and clinicians' confidence about their decision, making earlier diagnosis possible.

How cells limit inflammation in lung injury Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:52 AM PST Researchers have found in an animal model of acute lung injury a molecular mechanism that allows cells of the immune system to reduce tissue damage from inflammation.

Young star rebels against its parent cloud Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:52 AM PST Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 has captured this image of a giant cloud of hydrogen gas illuminated by a bright young star. The image shows how violent the end stages of the star-formation process can be, with the young object shaking up its stellar nursery.

Walking skills program improves physical function following hip replacement surgery Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:52 AM PST Researchers in Norway report that patients who receive walking skills training following total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis show improved physical function. The physical therapy program displayed a positive effect on walking distance and stair climbing which continued 12 months following hip replacement surgery.

Global forests are overlooked as water suppliers, study shows Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:49 AM PST The forests of the world supply a significant amount of moisture that creates rain. A new study reveals how this important contribution of forests to the hydrologic cycle is often overlooked in water resource policy, such as that of the EU.

Ultraviolet rays believed to prevent chickenpox spreading Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:49 AM PST Ultraviolet rays help prevent the spread of chickenpox, meaning people in milder climates are more at risk of catching the disease, according to new research. The discovery could lead to new ways of preventing chickenpox and its more severe relative, shingles.

Research on solubility yields promise for pharmaceutical, other industries Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:49 AM PST A method for increasing solubility (the ability of one substance to dissolve into another), developed by a graduate student has yielded promising commercial benefits for industry, particularly in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and agriculture.

Less blood clot damage with extra treatment, research suggests Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:49 AM PST Pain, swelling, itching, eczema and venous ulcers are characteristic signs of post-thrombotic syndrome, a condition developed by roughly half the patients who have experienced serious deep vein thrombosis, or blood clots in the leg. It has been demonstrated for the first time that a treatment to dissolve blood clots prevented such complications in a substantial number of patients. The treatment is called catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy.

New research could lead to enhanced MRI scans Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:49 AM PST New research could lead to enhanced MRI scans, producing brighter and more precise images, and potentially allowing the detection of cancerous cells before they cause health problems.

First low-mass star detected in globular cluster Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:48 AM PST Even the most powerful high-tech telescopes are barely able to record remote low-mass and thus faint stars. Astrophysicists have now detected a low-mass star in globular cluster M22 for the first time through microlensing. The result indicates that the overall mass of globular clusters might well be explained without enigmatic dark matter.

New genetic program converts static cells into mobile invasive cells Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:48 AM PST Researchers have identified the gene GATA 6 as responsible for epithelial cells -which group together and are static- losing adhesion and moving towards a new site. This process, which is common to developing organisms, is very similar to one that occurs in metastasis, when tumor cells escape from the original tumor and invade new tissue.

Almost noiseless nanomechanical microwave amplifier Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:48 AM PST Physicists have shown how a nanomechanical oscillator can be used for detection and amplification of feeble radio waves or microwaves. A measurement using such a tiny device, resembling a miniaturized guitar string, can be performed with the least possible disturbance.

Fungus-induced neurological disease: An underestimated risk for animals and humans? Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:48 AM PST The mold fungus Penicillium crustosum occurs relatively frequently in food and animal fodder stored in temperate conditions. This mold produces powerful neurotoxins, for example penitrem A, which causes symptoms that are difficult to distinguish from those of other neurological diseases. Penitrem A is capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier and new research has unveiled the mechanisms behind the neurological effects of the toxin.

What determines the capacity of short-term memory? Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:48 AM PST Short-term memory plays a crucial role in how our consciousness operates. Several years ago a hypothesis has been formulated, according to which capacity of short-term memory depends in a special way on two cycles of brain electric activity. Scientists have now demonstrated this experimentally for the first time.

A galaxy blooming with new stars Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:48 AM PST The VLT Survey Telescope (VST) has captured the beauty of the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 253. The new portrait is probably the most detailed wide-field view of this object and its surroundings ever taken.

Scientists examine toxicity of medicinal plants in Peru Posted: 14 Dec 2011 02:15 PM PST Many developing countries rely on traditional medicine as an accessible and affordable treatment option for human maladies. However, until now, scientific data has not existed to evaluate the potential toxicity of medicinal plant species in Peru. Scientists are now using brine shrimp to determine the toxicity of 341 Northern Peruvian plant species commonly ingested in traditional medicine.

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