ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Oxygen detected in atmosphere of Saturn's moon Dione: Discovery could mean ingredients for life are abundant on icy space bodies
• The future of plant science: A technology perspective
• Unexpected crustacean diversity discovered in northern freshwater ecosystems
• Important clue uncovered for the origins of a type of supernovae explosion
• When my eyes serve my stomach
• Gasoline worse than diesel when it comes to some types of air pollution
• Energy squeeze: Squeezing silicone polymers produces chemical energy but raises doubts about implant safety
• Helping protect vulnerable birds from impacts of climate change
• Atomic view of a histone chaperone
• Heart-powered pacemaker could one day eliminate battery-replacement surgery
• New computers respond to students' emotions, boredom
• World's best measurement of W boson mass points to Higgs mass and tests Standard Model
• Lifestyle choices made in your 20s can impact your heart health in your 40s
• Holding a mirror to brain changes in autism
• Cocoa may enhance skeletal muscle function
• Effects of environmental toxicants reach down through generations
• Solved: Mystery of the nanoscale crop circles
• Tortoise and the hare: New drug stops rushing cancer cells, slow and steady healthy cells unharmed
• R-loops break down gene silencing
• Protecting living fossil trees
• Nearby chimpanzee populations show much greater genetic diversity than distant human populations
• Artificial 'womb' unlocks secrets of early embryo development
• When one side does not know about the other one: Specialization and cooperation of the brain hemispheres
• Drugs: 'New' does not always mean 'better'
• Parkinson's disease stopped in animal model: Molecular 'tweezers' break up toxic aggregations of proteins
• Dark matter core, left behind from wreck between massive clusters of galaxies, defies explanation
• New high definition fiber tracking reveals damage caused by traumatic brain injury
• How the body senses a range of hot temperatures
• Fukushima one year on: poor planning hampered Fukushima response
• Pasta-shaped radio waves beamed across Venice
• Diabetes risk from sitting around
• A healthy teenager is a happy teenager
• Training can improve memory and increase brain activity in mild cognitive impairment
• Should we play hide-and-go-seek with our children's vegetables?
• New pathway found for regulation of blood vessel growth in cancer
• Breaking up isn't hard to do: The secret lives of corals on dark and stormy nights
• Molecule's role in cancer suggests new combination therapy

Oxygen detected in atmosphere of Saturn's moon Dione: Discovery could mean ingredients for life are abundant on icy space bodies Posted: 02 Mar 2012 06:02 PM PST An international research team has discovered molecular oxygen ions (O2+) in the upper-most atmosphere of Dione, one of the 62 known moons orbiting the ringed planet. The research was made possible via instruments aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

The future of plant science: A technology perspective Posted: 02 Mar 2012 05:18 PM PST Plant science is key to addressing the major challenges facing humanity in the 21st Century, according to experts. Researchers argue that the development of new technology is key to transforming plant biology in order to meet human needs.

Unexpected crustacean diversity discovered in northern freshwater ecosystems Posted: 02 Mar 2012 04:39 PM PST Freshwater ecosystems in northern regions are home to significantly more species of water fleas than traditionally thought, adding to evidence that regions with vanishing waters contain unique animal life.

Important clue uncovered for the origins of a type of supernovae explosion Posted: 02 Mar 2012 04:39 PM PST The origin of an important type of exploding stars -- Type Ia supernovae -- have now been discovered. Studying supernovae of this type helps researchers measure galaxy distances and can lead to important astronomical discoveries.

When my eyes serve my stomach Posted: 02 Mar 2012 04:39 PM PST Our senses aren't just delivering a strict view of what's going on in the world; they're affected by what's going on in our heads. A new study finds that hungry people see food-related words more clearly than people who've just eaten.

Gasoline worse than diesel when it comes to some types of air pollution Posted: 02 Mar 2012 04:39 PM PST The exhaust fumes from gasoline vehicles contribute more to the production of a specific type of air pollution-secondary organic aerosols -than those from diesel vehicles, according to a new study.

Energy squeeze: Squeezing silicone polymers produces chemical energy but raises doubts about implant safety Posted: 02 Mar 2012 04:39 PM PST Scientists turned to squeezed polymers and free radicals in a search for new energy sources. They found both promise and problems. The researchers demonstrated that radicals from compressed polymers generate significant amounts of energy that can power chemical reactions in water. They also discovered that a silicone polymer commonly used in medical implants releases a large quantity of harmful free radicals when the polymer is under only a moderate amount of pressure.

Helping protect vulnerable birds from impacts of climate change Posted: 02 Mar 2012 04:39 PM PST Scientists have completed an innovative study of the effects of climate change on bird species of greatest concern. This novel study prioritizes which birds are most at risk and will help guide conservation measures in California. Endangered species and wetland birds are two highly vulnerable groups.

Atomic view of a histone chaperone Posted: 02 Mar 2012 04:38 PM PST Researchers have gained insights into the function of a member of a family of specialized proteins called histone chaperones. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, they have determined the 3-D structure and interactions of the histone chaperone Rtt106 down to the atomic details.

Heart-powered pacemaker could one day eliminate battery-replacement surgery Posted: 02 Mar 2012 04:37 PM PST A new power scheme for cardiac pacemakers turns to an unlikely source: vibrations from heartbeats themselves.

New computers respond to students' emotions, boredom Posted: 02 Mar 2012 10:25 AM PST Emotion-sensing computer software that models and responds to students' cognitive and emotional states -- including frustration and boredom -- has now been developed.

World's best measurement of W boson mass points to Higgs mass and tests Standard Model Posted: 02 Mar 2012 10:24 AM PST The latest measurement of the mass of the W boson from the Tevatron experiments. The new combined result is twice as precise as the previous world average, and places limits on the mass of the Higgs consistent with the limits from direct searches at the LHC and Tevatron.

Lifestyle choices made in your 20s can impact your heart health in your 40s Posted: 02 Mar 2012 10:24 AM PST Maintaining a healthy lifestyle from young adulthood into your 40s is strongly associated with low cardiovascular disease risk in middle age, according to a new study.

Holding a mirror to brain changes in autism Posted: 02 Mar 2012 10:23 AM PST Impaired social function is a cardinal symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).  One of the brain circuits that enable us to relate to other people is the "mirror neuron" system. This brain circuit is activated when we watch other people, and allows our brains to represent the actions of others, influencing our ability to learn new tasks and to understand the intentions and experiences of other people. This mirror neuron system is impaired in individuals with ASD and better understanding the neurobiology of this system could help in the development of new treatments.

Cocoa may enhance skeletal muscle function Posted: 02 Mar 2012 10:22 AM PST A small clinical trial found that patients with advanced heart failure and type 2 diabetes showed improved mitochondrial structure after three months of treatment with epicatechin-enriched cocoa. Epicatechin is a flavonoid found in dark chocolate.

Effects of environmental toxicants reach down through generations Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:18 AM PST Scientists have now demonstrated that a variety of environmental toxicants can have negative effects on not just an exposed animal but the next three generations of its offspring. The animal's DNA sequence remains unchanged, but the compounds change the way genes turn on and off -- the epigenetic effect, according to molecular biologists. The researchers saw females reaching puberty earlier, increased rates in the decay and death of sperm cells and lower numbers of ovarian follicles that later become eggs.

Solved: Mystery of the nanoscale crop circles Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:18 AM PST A useful alloy of gold and silicon, called a eutectic, melts at a far lower temperature than either of its components. Until now, however, its odd behavior on the nanoscale has confounded researchers. By analyzing peculiar "nanoscale crop circles" formed from ultra-thin layers of gold on silicon, scientists have discovered the eutectic alloy's unique properties, including its special promise for engineering and processing nanoscale materials.

Tortoise and the hare: New drug stops rushing cancer cells, slow and steady healthy cells unharmed Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:18 AM PST The American Cancer Society estimates that 44,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed this year and that 37,000 people will die from the disease. These are not strong odds. A new drug, rigosertib, allows pancreatic cancer cells to rush through replication -- and then stops them cold, killing them in in the middle of a step called M phase. Healthy cells that don't rush are unharmed.

R-loops break down gene silencing Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:17 AM PST Researchers have figured out how the human body keeps essential genes switched "on" and silences the vast stretches of genetic repeats and "junk" DNA.

Protecting living fossil trees Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:17 AM PST Scientists are working to protect living fossil trees in Fiji from the impact of climate change with cutting-edge DNA sequencing technology.

Nearby chimpanzee populations show much greater genetic diversity than distant human populations Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:17 AM PST Chimpanzee populations living in relatively close proximity are substantially more different genetically than humans living on different continents, according to a new study. The study suggests that genomics can provide a valuable new tool for use in chimpanzee conservation, with the potential to identify the population of origin of an individual chimpanzee or the provenance of a sample of bush meat.

Artificial 'womb' unlocks secrets of early embryo development Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:15 AM PST Pioneering work has helped reveal for the first time a vital process in the development of the early mammalian embryo.

When one side does not know about the other one: Specialization and cooperation of the brain hemispheres Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:15 AM PST Whenever we are doing something, one of our brain hemispheres is more active than the other one. However, some tasks are only solvable with both sides working together. Researchers are investigating, how such specializations and co-operations arise. Based on a pigeon-model, they are showing for the first time in an experimental way, that the ability to combine complex impressions from both hemispheres, depends on environmental factors in the embryonic stage.

Drugs: 'New' does not always mean 'better' Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:15 AM PST Cases in which a newly approved drug is more effective than the cheaper alternatives already available are the exceptions rather than the rule.

Parkinson's disease stopped in animal model: Molecular 'tweezers' break up toxic aggregations of proteins Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:14 AM PST Researchers have used specific molecular "tweezers" they developed to break-up aggregates of toxic proteins that are thought to cause Parkinson's disease. For the first time, they stopped progression of the disease in a living animal model.

Dark matter core, left behind from wreck between massive clusters of galaxies, defies explanation Posted: 02 Mar 2012 07:14 AM PST Astronomers using data from NASA's Hubble Telescope have observed what appears to be a clump of dark matter left behind from a wreck between massive clusters of galaxies. The result could challenge current theories about dark matter that predict galaxies should be anchored to the invisible substance even during the shock of a collision.

New high definition fiber tracking reveals damage caused by traumatic brain injury Posted: 02 Mar 2012 05:32 AM PST A powerful new imaging technique called High Definition Fiber Tracking will allow doctors to clearly see for the first time neural connections broken by traumatic brain injury and other disorders, much like X-rays show a fractured bone, according to researchers. HDFT could provide an objective way of identifying brain injury, predicting outcome and planning rehabilitation.

How the body senses a range of hot temperatures Posted: 02 Mar 2012 05:32 AM PST The winter sun feels welcome, but not so a summer sunburn. Research over the past 20 years has shown that proteins on the surface of nerve cells enable the body to sense several different temperatures.

Fukushima one year on: poor planning hampered Fukushima response Posted: 02 Mar 2012 05:30 AM PST One year after  an earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on March 11, 2011, an independent investigation panel has highlighted the country's failures in disaster planning and crisis management for the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The article shows that agencies were thoroughly unprepared for the cascading nuclear disaster, following a tsunami that should have been anticipated.

Pasta-shaped radio waves beamed across Venice Posted: 02 Mar 2012 05:30 AM PST A group of Italian and Swedish researchers appears to have solved the problem of radio congestion by cleverly twisting radio waves into the shape of fusilli pasta, allowing a potentially infinite number of channels to be broadcast and received.

Diabetes risk from sitting around Posted: 02 Mar 2012 05:29 AM PST A new study has found that women who stay seated for long periods of time every day are more prone to developing type 2 diabetes, but that a similar link wasn't found in men.

A healthy teenager is a happy teenager Posted: 02 Mar 2012 05:29 AM PST Teenagers who turn their backs on a healthy lifestyle and turn to drink, cigarettes and junk food are significantly unhappier than their healthier peers. New research also shows that 12-13 is a catalyst age when young people turn away from the healthy habits of their younger years and start to get involved in risky behaviors.

Training can improve memory and increase brain activity in mild cognitive impairment Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:09 PM PST If someone has trouble remembering where the car keys or the cheese grater are, new research shows that a memory training strategy can help. Memory training can even re-engage the hippocampus, part of the brain critical for memory formation, the results suggest. The techniques used in the study were shown to work in people with mild cognitive impairment.

Should we play hide-and-go-seek with our children's vegetables? Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:09 PM PST Pass the peas please! How often do we hear our children say this? According to a recent survey of adolescents, only 21 percent of our children eat the recommended five or more fruits and vegetables per day. So not very many children are asking their parents to "pass the peas," and parents are resorting to other methods to get their children to eat their vegetables.

New pathway found for regulation of blood vessel growth in cancer Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:38 AM PST Researchers have identified a new function for a gene that normally prevents the development of cancer. Scientists had known that the gene, which encodes a protein called p14 ARF, works inside the cell to control proliferation and division. A team has discovered that p14 ARF also regulates tumor-induced angiogenesis, the process by which growing cancers attract new blood vessels.

Breaking up isn't hard to do: The secret lives of corals on dark and stormy nights Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:34 AM PST Forming a unique part of the animal kingdom, corals have built the only living entity visible from space: the Great Barrier Reef. Scientists have recently discovered a previously unknown reproductive strategy in corals, adding another dimension to our understanding of their complex life cycles.

Molecule's role in cancer suggests new combination therapy Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:33 AM PST Researchers have found that a molecule found at elevated levels in cancer cells seems to protect them from the "cell-suicide" that is usually triggered by chemotherapy or radiation.

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