ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• NASA clears the runway for open source software
• Solar Dynamics Observatory helps measure magnetic fields on the sun's surface
• Planck space telescope warms up as planned
• Montana students pick winning names for moon craft
• Voyager instrument cooling after heater turned off
• Revisiting the 'Pillars of Creation'
• Impact of land use activity in the Amazon basin evaluated
• Unusual 'tulip' creature discovered
• Inventory lists 19,232 newly discovered species during latest count
• Computer simulations revealing how methane and hydrogen pack into gas hydrates could enlighten alternative fuel production and carbon dioxide storage
• Most distant dwarf galaxy detected
• Good intentions ease pain, add to pleasure
• Saving dogs with spinal cord injuries
• Novel gene mutations associated with bile duct cancer
• Ancient popcorn discovered in Peru
• Study maps destructive path from cigarette to emphysema
• Solving the mystery of an old diabetes drug that may reduce cancer risk
• Important gene-regulation proteins pinpointed by new method
• Taking another look at the roots of social psychology
• 'Women worse at math than men' explanation scientifically incorrect, experts say
• Which direction now? Just ask the north-facing map in your head
• Climate balancing: Sea-level rise vs. surface temperature change rates
• Faster-than-fast Fourier transform
• Breast cancer cells targeted, then burned, by gold-filled silicon wafers
• How drugs get those tongue-twisting generic names
• Hip fractures: Coexisting medical conditions increase treatment costs and lengthen hospitalization, study finds
• 'Miracle tree' substance produces clean drinking water inexpensively and sustainably
• First link between potentially toxic PFCs in office air and in office workers' blood
• Contact lenses provide extended pain relief to laser eye surgery patients
• Butterflies and birds unable to keep pace with climate change in Europe
• Lack of sleep makes your brain hungry
• Ulcer-causing bacteria baffled by mucus: Researchers discover impact of viscoelasticity on collective behavior of swimming microorganisms
• Extremely rare turtle is released into the wild
• Continuing uncertainties surround anti-influenza drug
• Effects of Tamiflu still uncertain, warn experts, as Roche continues to withhold key trial data, according to new report
• Transparency limits on transparent conducting oxides identified
• Enhancing cognition in older adults also changes personality
• Unhappy at work? The boss or the company may be to blame
• Does marriage really make people happier? Study finds few well-being advantages to marriage over cohabitation
• Scientists create novel RNA repair technology
• Polar growth at the bacterial scale reveals potential new targets for antibiotic therapy
• Mechanism by which newly approved melanoma drug accelerates secondary skin cancers uncovered
• New gene discovery unlocks mystery to epilepsy in infants
• Arctic plants face an uncertain future
• Anti-malaria drug synthesized with the help of oxygen and light

NASA clears the runway for open source software Posted: 18 Jan 2012 05:34 PM PST The NASA Open Government Initiative has launched a new website to expand the agency's open source software development. Open source development, which invites the public access to view and improve software source code, is transforming the way software is created, improved and used. NASA uses open source code to address project and mission needs, accelerate software development and maximize public awareness and impact of research.

Solar Dynamics Observatory helps measure magnetic fields on the sun's surface Posted: 18 Jan 2012 05:31 PM PST A subset of data that helps map out the sun's magnetic fields was recently released from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Observations that measure the strength and direction of magnetic fields on the solar surface -- known as vector magnetograms -- play a crucial role in understanding how those fields change over time and trigger giant eruptions off the surface of the sun such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

Planck space telescope warms up as planned Posted: 18 Jan 2012 05:12 PM PST The High Frequency Instrument aboard the Planck space telescope has completed its survey of the remnant light from the Big Bang explosion that created our universe. The sensor ran out of coolant on Jan. 14, as expected, ending its ability to detect this faint energy.

Montana students pick winning names for moon craft Posted: 18 Jan 2012 05:10 PM PST Twin NASA spacecraft that achieved orbit around the moon New Year's Eve and New Year's Day have new names, thanks to elementary students in Bozeman, Mont. Their winning entry, "Ebb and Flow," was selected as part of a nationwide school contest that began in October 2011.

Voyager instrument cooling after heater turned off Posted: 18 Jan 2012 05:08 PM PST In order to reduce power consumption, mission managers have turned off a heater on part of NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, dropping the temperature of its ultraviolet spectrometer instrument more than 23 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit). It is now operating at a temperature below minus 79 degrees Celsius (minus 110 degrees Fahrenheit), the coldest temperature that the instrument has ever endured. This heater shut-off is a step in the careful management of the diminishing electrical power so that the Voyager spacecraft can continue to collect and transmit data through 2025.

Revisiting the 'Pillars of Creation' Posted: 18 Jan 2012 05:06 PM PST In 1995, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took an iconic image of the Eagle nebula, dubbed the "Pillars of Creation," highlighting its finger-like pillars where new stars are thought to be forming. Now, the Herschel Space Observatory has a new, expansive view of the region captured in longer-wavelength infrared light.

Impact of land use activity in the Amazon basin evaluated Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:37 PM PST Portions of the Amazon basin are experiencing a transition in energy and water cycles. Evidence suggests that the Amazon may also be transitioning from a net carbon sink to a net source. This research shows that although the Amazon is resilient to individual disturbances, such as drought, multiple disturbances override this, increasing the vulnerability of forest ecosystems to degradation. This review provides a framework for understanding the associations between natural variability and drivers of change.

Unusual 'tulip' creature discovered Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:36 PM PST A bizarre creature that lived in the ocean more than 500 million years ago has emerged from the famous Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale in the Canadian Rockies. Officially named Siphusauctum gregarium, fossils reveal a tulip-shaped creature that is about the length of a dinner knife (approximately 20 centimeters or eight inches) and has a unique filter feeding system.

Inventory lists 19,232 newly discovered species during latest count Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:32 PM PST More than half of the 19,232 species newly known to science in 2009, the most recent calendar year of compilation, were insects – 9,738 or 50.6 percent – according to the 2011 State of Observed Species.

Computer simulations revealing how methane and hydrogen pack into gas hydrates could enlighten alternative fuel production and carbon dioxide storage Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:32 PM PST For some time, researchers have explored flammable ice for low-carbon or alternative fuel or as a place to store carbon dioxide. Now, a computer analysis of the ice and gas compound, known as a gas hydrate, reveals key details of its structure. The results show that hydrates can hold hydrogen at an optimal capacity of 5 weight-percent, a value that meets the goal of a U.S. Department of Energy standard and makes gas hydrates practical and affordable.

Most distant dwarf galaxy detected Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:51 PM PST Scientists have long struggled to detect the dim dwarf galaxies that orbit our own galaxy. So it came as a surprise on Jan. 18 when a team of astronomers using Keck II telescope's adaptive optics has announced the discovery of a dwarf galaxy halfway across the universe.

Good intentions ease pain, add to pleasure Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:51 PM PST A nurse's tender loving care really does ease the pain of a medical procedure, and grandma's cookies really do taste better, if we perceive them to be made with love -- suggests newly published research. The findings have many real-world applications, including in medicine, relationships, parenting and business.

Saving dogs with spinal cord injuries Posted: 18 Jan 2012 12:53 PM PST Dogs with spinal cord injuries may soon benefit from an experimental drug currently being tested by researchers — work that they hope will one day help people with similar injuries.

Novel gene mutations associated with bile duct cancer Posted: 18 Jan 2012 11:36 AM PST Investigators have identified a new genetic signature associated with bile duct cancer, a usually deadly tumor for which effective treatment currently is limited.

Ancient popcorn discovered in Peru Posted: 18 Jan 2012 11:36 AM PST People living along the coast of Peru were eating popcorn 1,000 years earlier than previously reported and before ceramic pottery was used there, according to a new article.

Study maps destructive path from cigarette to emphysema Posted: 18 Jan 2012 11:36 AM PST Scientists described the track the toxic smoke takes through the tissues and how they accomplish their destructive work.

Solving the mystery of an old diabetes drug that may reduce cancer risk Posted: 18 Jan 2012 10:23 AM PST Researchers now report on how the diabetes drug metformin potentially reduces cancer risk.

Important gene-regulation proteins pinpointed by new method Posted: 18 Jan 2012 10:23 AM PST A novel technique precisely pinpoints the location of proteins that read and regulate chromosomes. The order of these proteins determines whether a brain cell, a liver cell, or a cancer cell is formed. Until now, it has been exceedingly difficult to determine exactly where such proteins bind to the chromosome, and therefore how they work. The new technique has the potential to take high-resolution snapshots of proteins as they regulate or miss-regulate an entire genome.

Taking another look at the roots of social psychology Posted: 18 Jan 2012 09:31 AM PST Psychology textbooks have made the same historical mistake over and over. Now the inaccuracy is pointed out in a new article.

'Women worse at math than men' explanation scientifically incorrect, experts say Posted: 18 Jan 2012 09:31 AM PST Researchers have conducted a review that casts doubt on the accuracy of a popular theory that attempted to explain why there are more men than women in top levels of mathematical fields. The researchers found that numerous studies claiming that the stereotype, "men are better at math" – believed to undermine women's math performance – had major methodological flaws, utilized improper statistical techniques, and many studies had no scientific evidence of this stereotype.

Which direction now? Just ask the north-facing map in your head Posted: 18 Jan 2012 09:30 AM PST You're driving from work to pick up your kids at school. The drive is familiar; you've done it almost every day for years. But how do you know in which direction the school is from your home? Landmarks? The sun? Animal instinct?

Climate balancing: Sea-level rise vs. surface temperature change rates Posted: 18 Jan 2012 09:30 AM PST Engineering our way out of global climate warming may not be as easy as simply reducing the incoming solar energy, according to a climate scientists. Designing the approach to control both sea level rise and rates of surface air temperature changes requires a balancing act to accommodate the diverging needs of different locations.

Faster-than-fast Fourier transform Posted: 18 Jan 2012 09:30 AM PST Researchers have developed a new algorithm that, in a large range of practically important cases, improves on the fast Fourier transform. Under some circumstances, the improvement can be dramatic -- a tenfold increase in speed. The new algorithm could be particularly useful for image compression, enabling, say, smartphones to wirelessly transmit large video files without draining their batteries or consuming their monthly bandwidth allotments.

Breast cancer cells targeted, then burned, by gold-filled silicon wafers Posted: 18 Jan 2012 09:28 AM PST By shining infrared light on specially designed, gold-filled silicon wafers, scientists have successfully targeted and burned breast cancer cells. If the technology is shown to work in human clinical trials, it could provide patients a non-invasive alternative to surgical ablation, and could be used in conjunction with traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, to make those treatments more effective.

How drugs get those tongue-twisting generic names Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:20 AM PST Oseltamivir. Esomeprazole. Trastuzumab. Where do drugs get those odd-sounding generic names? The answers are in a new article that explains the logic behind the tongue-twisters.

Hip fractures: Coexisting medical conditions increase treatment costs and lengthen hospitalization, study finds Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:20 AM PST More than 250,000 hip fractures occur every year in the U.S., often resulting in hospitalization, surgery, nursing-home admission, long-term disability, and/or extended periods of rehabilitation. Independent existing medical conditions (otherwise known as comorbidities) significantly increase the treatment cost and length of hospitalization for older adults who have sustained a hip fracture, according to a new study.

'Miracle tree' substance produces clean drinking water inexpensively and sustainably Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:20 AM PST A natural substance obtained from seeds of the "miracle tree" could purify and clarify water inexpensively and sustainably in the developing world, where more than 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, scientists report.

First link between potentially toxic PFCs in office air and in office workers' blood Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:20 AM PST In a first-of-its-kind study, scientists are reporting that the indoor air in offices is an important source of worker exposure to potentially toxic substances released by carpeting, furniture, paint and other items. Their report documents a link between levels of these so-called polyfluorinated compounds in office air and in the blood of workers.

Contact lenses provide extended pain relief to laser eye surgery patients Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:20 AM PST Scientists are reporting development of contact lenses that could provide a continuous supply of anesthetic medication to the eyes of patients who undergo laser eye surgery -- an advance that could relieve patients of the burden of repeatedly placing drops of medicine into their eyes every few hours for several days.

Butterflies and birds unable to keep pace with climate change in Europe Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:17 AM PST Butterflies and birds are no longer able to keep up with climate change. Compared with 20 years ago, butterflies are now 135 kilometers behind the shifting climate zones and birds more than 200 kilometers, according to findings of a new study.

Lack of sleep makes your brain hungry Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:17 AM PST New research shows that a specific brain region that contributes to a person's appetite sensation is more activated in response to food images after one night of sleep loss than after one night of normal sleep. Poor sleep habits can therefore affect people's risk of becoming overweight in the long run.

Ulcer-causing bacteria baffled by mucus: Researchers discover impact of viscoelasticity on collective behavior of swimming microorganisms Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:17 AM PST A new study demonstrates how introducing certain polymers—like those found in human mucus and saliva—into an aquatic environment makes it significantly more difficult for ulcer-causing bacteria and other microorganisms to coordinate.

Extremely rare turtle is released into the wild Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:17 AM PST Biologists have successfully released a Southern River terrapin (Batagur affinis) – one of the most endangered turtles on Earth – into the Sre Ambel River in Cambodia.

Continuing uncertainties surround anti-influenza drug Posted: 18 Jan 2012 08:10 AM PST Incomplete availability of data has hampered a thorough assessment of the evidence for using the anti-influenza drug oseltamivir, a Cochrane Review has found. However, after piecing together information from over 16,000 pages of clinical trial data and documents used in the process of licensing oseltamivir (Tamiflu) by national authorities, a team of researchers has raised critical questions about how well the drug works and about its reported safety profile.

Effects of Tamiflu still uncertain, warn experts, as Roche continues to withhold key trial data, according to new report Posted: 18 Jan 2012 07:15 AM PST Two years after pharmaceutical giant Roche promised the British Medical Journal it would release key Tamiflu trial data for independent scrutiny, the safety and effectiveness of this anti-influenza drug remains uncertain, warn experts. A new report by the Cochrane Collaboration says Roche's refusal to provide full access to all its data leaves critical questions about how well the drug works unresolved.

Transparency limits on transparent conducting oxides identified Posted: 18 Jan 2012 07:15 AM PST Computational materials researchers have used cutting-edge calculations to determine fundamental optical transparency limits in conducting oxide material tin oxide.

Enhancing cognition in older adults also changes personality Posted: 18 Jan 2012 07:15 AM PST A program designed to boost cognition in older adults also increased their openness to new experiences, researchers report, demonstrating for the first time that a non-drug intervention in older adults can change a personality trait once thought to be fixed throughout the lifespan.

Unhappy at work? The boss or the company may be to blame Posted: 18 Jan 2012 07:13 AM PST If our psychological needs at work are met, we are more likely to be happy. If you are unhappy at work, it could be partly due to your boss' management style, according to a new study. Both over-controlling managers who use threats as a way to motivate employees, and organizations that do not appear to value individuals' contributions, frustrate our basic needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness (how we relate to others). This, in turn, is likely to have a negative impact on our well-being at work.

Does marriage really make people happier? Study finds few well-being advantages to marriage over cohabitation Posted: 18 Jan 2012 07:13 AM PST Married couples experience few advantages for psychological well-being, health, or social ties compared to unmarried couples who live together, according to a new study. While both marriage and cohabitation provide benefits over being single, these reduce over time following a honeymoon period.

Scientists create novel RNA repair technology Posted: 17 Jan 2012 04:15 PM PST Scientists have identified a compound that can help repair a specific type of defect in RNA, a type of genetic material. The methods in the new study could accelerate the development of therapeutics to treat a variety of incurable diseases such as Huntington's disease, Spinocerebellar ataxia, and Kennedy disease.

Polar growth at the bacterial scale reveals potential new targets for antibiotic therapy Posted: 17 Jan 2012 04:14 PM PST Microbiologists have identified a new bacterial growth process -- one that occurs at a single end or pole of the cell instead of uniform, dispersed growth along the long axis of the cell -- that could have implications in the development of new antibacterial strategies.

Mechanism by which newly approved melanoma drug accelerates secondary skin cancers uncovered Posted: 17 Jan 2012 04:14 PM PST Patients with metastatic melanoma taking the recently approved drug vemurafenib (Zelboraf®) responded well to the twice daily pill, but some of them developed a different, secondary skin cancer. Now, researchers have elucidated the mechanism by which vemurafenib excels at fighting melanoma but also allows for the development of skin squamous cell carcinomas.

New gene discovery unlocks mystery to epilepsy in infants Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:54 AM PST Researchers have come a step closer to unlocking a mystery that causes epileptic seizures in babies. Benign familial infantile epilepsy has been recognized for some time as infantile seizures, without fever, that run in families but the cause has so far eluded researchers. However, clinical researchers have now discovered a gene.

Arctic plants face an uncertain future Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:37 AM PST New research shows that a warmer climate will have quite different consequences for plant species in the Arctic. While most species are expected to lose part of their current habitat, the genetic consequences will differ markedly among species. The research results will have major impact on future conservation efforts.

Anti-malaria drug synthesized with the help of oxygen and light Posted: 17 Jan 2012 11:37 AM PST In the future it should be possible to produce the best anti-malaria drug, artemisinin, more economically and in sufficient volumes for all patients.

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