ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Student biology investigations streamed live from International Space Station
• LED lights used in plant growth experiments for deep space missions
• NASA's Global Hawk investigating atlantic Tropical Depression 14
• Fasting makes brain tumors more vulnerable to radiation therapy
• Gene linking cataracts and Alzheimer's disease identified
• 'Spin' in media reports of scientific articles
• Renal transplantation is best treatment option for improving quality of life in people with late-stage chronic kidney disease
• Protein linked to therapy resistance in breast cancer; possible new oncogene and future therapy target
• Scrub jays react to their dead, bird study shows: 'Funerals' can last for up to half an hour
• Millions of mild asthma patients may not need daily inhaled steroid therapy, benefiting instead from taking only when symptoms occur
• Technique using computed tomography associated with improved detection of lymph node metastasis in patients with melanoma
• Little difference in outcomes among strategies to adjust asthma therapy, research finds
• Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation not associated with lower risk of major cardiovascular disease events
• Sliding metals show fluidlike behavior, new clues to wear
• Powerful new method for finding therapeutic antibodies devised: Technique hones and expands the power of large numbers
• Texas frontier scientists who uncovered state’s fossil history had role in epic Bone Wars
• Planets can form in the galactic center
• Hearing impaired ears hear differently in noisy environments
• Body heat, fermentation drive new drug-delivery 'micropump'
• Length of yellow caution traffic lights could prevent accidents, researchers say
• Improved nanoparticles deliver drugs into brain
• Disaster is just a click away: Computer scientist, psychologist look at developing visual system to warn Internet users of safety risks
• When punters punt: Stock analysts use instinct when forecasting firms they don't know, study suggests
• Microbiologist patents process to improve biofuel production
• Vesta in Dawn's rear view mirror
• Extreme Life Forms Might be Able to Survive on Eccentric Exoplanets
• NASA Observations Point to 'Dry Ice' Snowfall on Mars
• Was Kepler's supernova unusually powerful?
• World’s first transformable historic organ can span centuries
• Scientists develop technique to decipher the dormant AIDS virus concealed in cells
• Molecular beacons light up stem cell transformation
• How genetics shape our addictions: Genes predict the brain's reaction to smoking
• Under the influence: Reminders of money impact consumer decision-making
• Want to encourage eco-friendly behavior? Give consumers a nudge (Don't tell them what to do)
• Eat dessert first? It might help you control your diet
• Trouble in paradise: Does nature worship harm the environment?
• At least 200,000 tons of oil and gas from Deepwater Horizon spill consumed by Gulf bacteria
• Report recommends cost-effective plan to strengthen U.S. defense against ballistic missile attacks
• What do saving money and losing weight have in common?
• Gene therapy technique for children with immune disorder improved
• Reconstructed 1918 influenza virus has yielded key insights, scientists say
• 'Facebook effect': Thousands registered as organ donors via Facebook, dwarfing other donation initiatives
• Why severely obese women have difficulty getting pregnant from IVF
• Inhaled pain relief in early labor is safe and effective, study suggests
• Active follow-up with telephone help can reduce deaths in chronic heart failure patients
• Interventions can reduce falls in people over 65 who live at home
• World's smallest fossil footprints: Small amphibian roamed Earth 315 million years ago
• Engineers built a supercomputer from 64 Raspberry Pi computers and Lego
• Invader of the invader: Tiny crustaceans found on red swamp crayfish
• Parents of babies with sickle cell trait are less likely to receive genetic counseling
• Puberty turned on by brain during deep sleep
• Who (and what) can you trust? How non-verbal cues can predict a person's (and a robot's) trustworthiness
• Ginkgo biloba doesn’t improve cognitive function in multiple sclerosis, research finds
• High-temperature superconductivity induced in a semiconductor with Scotch tape
• Pregnancy exposures determine risk of breast cancer in multiple generations of offspring
• Powerful tool to fight wildlife crime unveiled
• Stem cell researchers use gene therapy to restore immune systems in 'Bubble Boy' disease
• Droughts are pushing trees to the limit
• More accurate method for predicting hurricane activity
• Chain reaction in the human immune system trapped in crystals

Student biology investigations streamed live from International Space Station Posted: 11 Sep 2012 05:01 PM PDT Several young researchers were incredibly excited when the latest Japanese cargo ship arrived at the International Space Station, in late July. Along with the usual food, clothing, and science investigations, the spacecraft delivered the two global YouTube Space Lab winning entries.

LED lights used in plant growth experiments for deep space missions Posted: 11 Sep 2012 04:58 PM PDT What kind of food will astronauts eat and what is the best way to grow it during deep space exploration missions? A group of plant biologists is seeking the answers as it works on one of NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Habitation Projects at Kennedy Space Center's Space Life Sciences Laboratory.

NASA's Global Hawk investigating atlantic Tropical Depression 14 Posted: 11 Sep 2012 04:35 PM PDT NASA's Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) airborne mission sent an unmanned Global Hawk aircraft this morning to study newborn Tropical Depression 14 in the central Atlantic Ocean that seems primed for further development. The Global Hawk left NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va., this morning for a planned 26-hour flight to investigate the depression.

Fasting makes brain tumors more vulnerable to radiation therapy Posted: 11 Sep 2012 02:23 PM PDT A new study is the first to show that controlled fasting improves the effectiveness of radiation therapy in cancer treatments, extending life expectancy in mice with aggressive brain tumors.

Gene linking cataracts and Alzheimer's disease identified Posted: 11 Sep 2012 02:23 PM PDT In a recent study, researchers identified a gene linking age-related cataracts and Alzheimer's disease. The findings contribute to the growing body of evidence showing that these two diseases, both associated with increasing age, may share common etiologic factors.

'Spin' in media reports of scientific articles Posted: 11 Sep 2012 02:23 PM PDT Press releases and news stories reporting the results of randomized controlled trials often contain "spin" -- specific reporting strategies (intentional or unintentional) emphasizing the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment -- but such "spin" frequently comes from the abstract of the actual study published in a scientific journal, rather than being related to misinterpretation by the media, according to French researchers.

Renal transplantation is best treatment option for improving quality of life in people with late-stage chronic kidney disease Posted: 11 Sep 2012 02:23 PM PDT In people with late-stage chronic kidney disease, renal transplantation is the best treatment option to improve quality of life, but for those receiving dialysis, home-based automated peritoneal dialysis (in which fluids are infused into the abdominal cavity and can be done nightly at home) provides a better quality of life than continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (a type of dialysis performed continuously throughout the day), according to a study by Australian researchers.

Protein linked to therapy resistance in breast cancer; possible new oncogene and future therapy target Posted: 11 Sep 2012 01:20 PM PDT Researchers have identified the FAM83A protein as a possible new oncogene and linked it to therapy resistance in breast cancer. This discovery helps explain the clinical correlation between a high expression of FAM83A and a poor prognosis for breast cancer patients, and may also provide a new target for future therapies.

Scrub jays react to their dead, bird study shows: 'Funerals' can last for up to half an hour Posted: 11 Sep 2012 01:20 PM PDT Western scrub jays summon others to screech over the body of a dead jay, according to new research. The birds' cacophonous 'funerals' can last for up to half an hour.

Millions of mild asthma patients may not need daily inhaled steroid therapy, benefiting instead from taking only when symptoms occur Posted: 11 Sep 2012 01:20 PM PDT New research has shown that the millions of people who use corticosteroids prescribed daily to control mild asthma do no better than those who use them only when symptoms occur. The findings suggest a potential new treatment option that could change international standards of care, reduce patients' pharmacy costs, limit long-term exposure to corticosteroids and enable flexibility in managing the condition.

Technique using computed tomography associated with improved detection of lymph node metastasis in patients with melanoma Posted: 11 Sep 2012 01:14 PM PDT Preoperative 3-dimensional visualization of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) with a technique known as single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography was associated with a higher rate of detection of positive SLNs and a higher rate of disease-free survival among patients with melanoma, according to a new study.

Little difference in outcomes among strategies to adjust asthma therapy, research finds Posted: 11 Sep 2012 01:14 PM PDT Among adults with asthma controlled with low-dose inhaled corticosteroid therapy, the time to treatment failure was not significantly different among patients who received corticosteroid dose adjustment based on physician assessment, a biomarker, or symptom occurrence, according to a new study.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation not associated with lower risk of major cardiovascular disease events Posted: 11 Sep 2012 01:14 PM PDT In a study that included nearly 70,000 patients, supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was not associated with a lower risk of all-cause death, cardiac death, sudden death, heart attack, or stroke, according to an analysis of previous studies.

Sliding metals show fluidlike behavior, new clues to wear Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:19 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a swirling fluid-like behavior in a solid piece of metal sliding over another, providing new insights into the mechanisms of wear and generation of machined surfaces that could help improve the durability of metal parts.

Powerful new method for finding therapeutic antibodies devised: Technique hones and expands the power of large numbers Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:19 PM PDT Scientists have found a new technique that should greatly speed the discovery of medically and scientifically useful antibodies, immune system proteins that detect and destroy invaders such as bacteria and viruses.

Texas frontier scientists who uncovered state’s fossil history had role in epic Bone Wars Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:19 PM PDT In the late 1800s, furious fossil speculation across the American West escalated into a high-profile national feud. In a new study, vertebrate paleontologist Louis L. Jacobs expands knowledge of how the infamous Bone Wars touched Texas through two Lone Star scientists, geologist Robert T. Hill, the Father of Texas geology, and naturalist Jacob Boll. Jacobs' study taps 13 newly discovered historic letters archived at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, and a German ode translated into English.

Planets can form in the galactic center Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:19 PM PDT At first glance, the center of the Milky Way seems like a very inhospitable place to try to form a planet. Powerful gravitational forces from a supermassive black hole twist and warp the fabric of space itself. Yet new research by astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics shows that planets still can form in this cosmic maelstrom.

Hearing impaired ears hear differently in noisy environments Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:19 PM PDT The world continues to be a noisy place, and researchers have found that all that background chatter causes the ears of those with hearing impairments to work differently.

Body heat, fermentation drive new drug-delivery 'micropump' Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:19 PM PDT Researchers have created a new type of miniature pump activated by body heat that could be used in drug-delivery patches powered by fermentation.

Length of yellow caution traffic lights could prevent accidents, researchers say Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:18 PM PDT Researchers are studying drivers' behaviors as they approach yellow lights. Their goal is to determine signal times for intersections that are safer and still efficient.

Improved nanoparticles deliver drugs into brain Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:18 PM PDT The brain is a notoriously difficult organ to treat, but researchers report they are one step closer to having a drug-delivery system flexible enough to overcome some key challenges posed by brain cancer and perhaps other maladies affecting that organ.

Disaster is just a click away: Computer scientist, psychologist look at developing visual system to warn Internet users of safety risks Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:18 PM PDT Two professors are researching how to help computer users who have little to no computer experience improve their Web browsing safety without security-specific education. The goal is to keep users from making mistakes that could compromise their online security and to inform them when a security failure has happened.

When punters punt: Stock analysts use instinct when forecasting firms they don't know, study suggests Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:18 PM PDT When stock analysts aren't sure how to assess the earnings of a hard to value firm, they often just predict those earnings will follow the general trend of the market, according to new research.

Microbiologist patents process to improve biofuel production Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:18 PM PDT Biofuel production can be an expensive process that requires considerable fossil fuels, but a Missouri S&T microbiologist's patented process could reduce the cost and the reliance on fossil fuels, while streamlining the process.

Vesta in Dawn's rear view mirror Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:11 PM PDT NASA's Dawn mission is releasing two parting views of the giant asteroid Vesta, using images that were among the last taken by the spacecraft as it departed its companion for the last year.

Extreme Life Forms Might be Able to Survive on Eccentric Exoplanets Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:09 PM PDT Astronomers have discovered a veritable rogues' gallery of odd exoplanets -- from scorching hot worlds with molten surfaces to frigid ice balls. And while the hunt continues for the elusive "blue dot" -- a planet with roughly the same characteristics as Earth -- new research reveals that life might actually be able to survive on some of the many exoplanetary oddballs that exist.

NASA Observations Point to 'Dry Ice' Snowfall on Mars Posted: 11 Sep 2012 12:08 PM PDT NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter data have given scientists the clearest evidence yet of carbon-dioxide snowfalls on Mars. This reveals the only known example of carbon-dioxide snow falling anywhere in our solar system. Frozen carbon dioxide, better known as "dry ice," requires temperatures of about minus 193 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 125 Celsius), which is much colder than needed for freezing water. Carbon-dioxide snow reminds scientists that although some parts of Mars may look quite Earth-like, the Red Planet is very different.

Was Kepler's supernova unusually powerful? Posted: 11 Sep 2012 10:26 AM PDT A new analysis of Kepler's supernova suggests that the supernova explosion was not only more powerful, but might have also occurred at a greater distance, than previously thought.

World’s first transformable historic organ can span centuries Posted: 11 Sep 2012 10:26 AM PDT Cornell University's new baroque organ has become the world's first organ with multiple historic wind systems. The $2 million organ is the culmination of more than seven years of research, and more than two years of work by 21st-century craftsmen, who used authentic 17th- and early 18th-century methods to build the instrument.

Scientists develop technique to decipher the dormant AIDS virus concealed in cells Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT Scientists have gotten us one step closer to understanding and overcoming one of the least-understood mechanisms of HIV infection -- by devising a method to precisely track the life cycle of individual cells infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Molecular beacons light up stem cell transformation Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT In a new study, researchers demonstrate a new tool for visually tracking in real-time the transformation of a living population of stem cells into cells of a specific tissue. The "molecular beacons," which could advance tissue engineering research, light up when certain genes are expressed and don't interfere with the development or operation of the stem cells.

How genetics shape our addictions: Genes predict the brain's reaction to smoking Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT Have you ever wondered why some people find it so much easier to stop smoking than others? New research shows that vulnerability to smoking addiction is shaped by our genes. A new study shows that people with genetically fast nicotine metabolism have a significantly greater brain response to smoking cues than those with slow nicotine metabolism.

Under the influence: Reminders of money impact consumer decision-making Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT When reminded of money (not cost), consumers are more likely to evaluate a new product based on its primary features or brand name, according to a new study.

Want to encourage eco-friendly behavior? Give consumers a nudge (Don't tell them what to do) Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT Consumers are more likely to change their behavior if they voluntarily commit to changing rather than being told what to do, according to a new study. So carefully nudge them along if you're trying to encourage more eco-friendly behavior.

Eat dessert first? It might help you control your diet Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT Consumers watching their diet should pay close attention to the amount of unhealthy foods they eat, but can relax when it comes to healthier options, according to a new study.

Trouble in paradise: Does nature worship harm the environment? Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT Consumers nurture romantic ideas of nature by engaging in practices that are often harmful to the environment, according to a new study. Could eco-friendly products provide a solution?

At least 200,000 tons of oil and gas from Deepwater Horizon spill consumed by Gulf bacteria Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT Researchers have found that, over a period of five months following the disastrous 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, naturally-occurring bacteria that exist in the Gulf of Mexico consumed and removed at least 200,000 tons of oil and natural gas that spewed into the deep Gulf from the ruptured well-head.

Report recommends cost-effective plan to strengthen U.S. defense against ballistic missile attacks Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT To more effectively defend against ballistic missile attacks, the United States should concentrate on defense systems that intercept enemy missiles in midcourse, a new report recommends.

What do saving money and losing weight have in common? Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT Consumers will pay more when they are given different options to pursue short-term goals, but will pay more for similar options when pursuing long-term goals, according to a new study.

Gene therapy technique for children with immune disorder improved Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT Researchers have enhanced agene therapy approach for children with adenosine deaminase-deficient severe combined immunodeficiency using chemotherapy as conditioning regimen. For the first time, investigators test two different viral vectors to transport normal genes into the young patients' bone marrow stem cells and two different treatment plans in preparation for receiving gene therapy and compare outcomes.

Reconstructed 1918 influenza virus has yielded key insights, scientists say Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT The genetic sequencing and reconstruction of the 1918 influenza virus that killed 50 million people worldwide have advanced scientists' understanding of influenza biology and yielded important information on how to prevent and control future pandemics, according to a new commentary.

'Facebook effect': Thousands registered as organ donors via Facebook, dwarfing other donation initiatives Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT When Facebook introduced a feature that enables people to register to become organ and tissue donors, thousands did so, dwarfing any previous donation initiative according to researchers.

Why severely obese women have difficulty getting pregnant from IVF Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:53 AM PDT One third of American women of childbearing age are battling obesity, a condition that affects their health and their chances of getting pregnant. Obese women often have poor reproductive outcomes, but the reasons why have not been clearly identified. Now, a novel study is the first to shed light on how body mass index might adversely affect egg quality in women.

Inhaled pain relief in early labor is safe and effective, study suggests Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT Inhaled pain relief appears to be effective in reducing pain intensity and in giving pain relief in the first stage of labour, say researchers. These conclusions came from a systematic review that drew data from twenty-six separate studies that involved a total of 2,959 women.

Active follow-up with telephone help can reduce deaths in chronic heart failure patients Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT Chronic heart failure (CHF) patients are less likely to have died a year after discharge if they are involved in a programme of active follow-up once they have returned home than patients given standard care, according to a new Cochrane systematic review. These patients were also less likely to need to go back into hospital in the six months that follow discharge.

Interventions can reduce falls in people over 65 who live at home Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT There is now strong evidence that some interventions can prevent falls in people over the age of 65 who are living in their own homes. However, the researchers who reached this conclusion say that care is needed when choosing interventions, as some have no effect.

World's smallest fossil footprints: Small amphibian roamed Earth 315 million years ago Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT A new set of fossil footprints discovered in Joggins, Nova Scotia, have been identified as the world's smallest known fossil vertebrate footprints. The footprints belonged to a small amphibian which would have roamed Earth 315 million years ago, a creature not unlike a salamander.

Engineers built a supercomputer from 64 Raspberry Pi computers and Lego Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT Computational engineers have built a supercomputer from 64 Raspberry Pi computers and Lego. The son of one of the professors (aged 6) provided specialist support on Lego and system testing.

Invader of the invader: Tiny crustaceans found on red swamp crayfish Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT The invader of the invader has been discovered for the first time in Europe. The small ostracod Ankylocythere sinuosa measures no more than half a millimeter in length and lives on other crayfish. And, Spanish scientists have discovered it for the first time in Europe. The finding suggests that it arrived along with the invader crayfish Procambarus clarkii some 30 years ago but it is still unknown whether it can invade other crustacean species or whether it benefits or damages the expansion of the already established red swamp crayfish.

Parents of babies with sickle cell trait are less likely to receive genetic counseling Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:49 AM PDT Parents of newborns with the sickle cell anemia trait were less likely to receive genetic counseling than parents whose babies are cystic fibrosis carriers, a new study shows.

Puberty turned on by brain during deep sleep Posted: 11 Sep 2012 09:48 AM PDT Slow-wave sleep, or 'deep sleep', is intimately involved in the complex control of the onset of puberty, according to a recent study.

Who (and what) can you trust? How non-verbal cues can predict a person's (and a robot's) trustworthiness Posted: 11 Sep 2012 08:30 AM PDT People face this predicament all the time -- can you determine a person's character in a single interaction? Can you judge whether someone you just met can be trusted when you have only a few minutes together? And if you can, how do you do it? Using a robot named Nexi, psychologists have figured out the answer.

Ginkgo biloba doesn’t improve cognitive function in multiple sclerosis, research finds Posted: 11 Sep 2012 08:30 AM PDT A new study has found that the herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba does not improve cognitive function in patients with multiple sclerosis. Cognitive impairment affects 40-60% of people with MS, most commonly affecting their processing speed, memory, and executive skills.

High-temperature superconductivity induced in a semiconductor with Scotch tape Posted: 11 Sep 2012 08:28 AM PDT An international team has developed a simple new technique using Scotch poster tape that has enabled them to induce high-temperature superconductivity in a semiconductor for the first time. The method paves the way for novel new devices that could be used in quantum computing and to improve energy efficiency.

Pregnancy exposures determine risk of breast cancer in multiple generations of offspring Posted: 11 Sep 2012 08:28 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated, in animals, that maternal exposure to a high-fat diet or excess estrogen during pregnancy can increase breast cancer risk in multiple generations of female offspring -- daughters, granddaughters and even great-granddaughters.

Powerful tool to fight wildlife crime unveiled Posted: 11 Sep 2012 08:16 AM PDT A free high-tech tool to combat the wildlife poaching crisis was offered to grassroots rangers by a consortium of conservation organizations.

Stem cell researchers use gene therapy to restore immune systems in 'Bubble Boy' disease Posted: 11 Sep 2012 08:16 AM PDT Stem cell researchers have found that a gene therapy regimen can safely restore immune systems to children with so-called "Bubble Boy" disease, a life threatening condition that if left untreated can be fatal within one to two years.

Droughts are pushing trees to the limit Posted: 11 Sep 2012 07:34 AM PDT Southwestern droughts made more severe by warming temperatures are pushing plants up against extremely stressful growing conditions, a new study has found, identifying an increasingly water-thirsty atmosphere as a key force that sucks moisture from plants, drying out the region as temperatures rise in the wake of climate change.

More accurate method for predicting hurricane activity Posted: 11 Sep 2012 07:34 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new method for forecasting seasonal hurricane activity that is 15 percent more accurate than previous techniques.

Chain reaction in the human immune system trapped in crystals Posted: 11 Sep 2012 07:34 AM PDT Medical researchers have revealed details of how a chain reaction in the human immune system starts. With these results, the researchers hope to promote the development of strategies aimed at alleviating suffering caused by unintentional activation of the immune system.

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