ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• 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.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Latest Science News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• A supercharged protein reduces damage from heart attack
• Planarian genes that control stem cell biology identified
• First evidence of hunting by prehistoric Ohioans (U.S.)
• Vitamin D shrinks fibroid tumors in rats
• Turning off small RNA: New tool designed for breaking the epigenetic code
• Clearer picture of how protein machine systems tweak gene expression
• Bacteria communicate by touch, new research suggests
• Sturdy Scandinavian conifers survived Ice Age
• Ocean acidification rate may be unprecedented, study says
• Generating power from salty water: Unique salt allows energy production to move inland
• How red blood cells get so big -- and the bad things that happen when they don't
• First computer model of how buds grow into leaves
• Antibodies are not required for immunity against some viruses
• How marijuana impairs memory
• Basic molecular 'wiring' of stem cells revealed
• Pioneering research reveals versatile bacterium's secrets
• Protein complex affects cells' ability to move, respond to external cues
• Cell and signaling pathway that regulates the placental blood stem cell niche identified
• Treating brain cancer with viral vector
• Nutrient found in dark meat of poultry, some seafood, may have cardiovascular benefits
• How anesthetic isoflurane induces Alzheimer's-like changes in mammalian brains
• What makes a robot fish attractive? Robot fish moves to the head of the school
• How does nearsightedness develop in children?
• In space and on Earth, why build it, when a robot can build it for you?
• Groundbreaking discovery on stem cell regulation
• Study of wildfire trends in Northwestern California shows no increase in severity over time
• Carbon dioxide catchers: New tools for identifying effective carbon capture technologies
• Fancy footwork and non-stick leg coating helps spiders not stick to their own webs
• Depression: An evolutionary byproduct of immune system?
• Leatherback turtle migration study identifies Pacific danger zones for endangered species
• Floor of oldest fossilized forest discovered: 385 million years old
• Alternative fuels expert plans coast-to-coast U.S. trip on 10 gallons of gas or less
• Promising approach to preventing Alzheimer's
• Bacteria tend leafcutter ants' gardens
• Understanding and treating the cognitive dysfunction of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease
• Beauty has a dark side: Morbid curiosity explained
• Two new extinct camel species discovered at Panama Canal excavation
• In what ways does lead damage the brain? It derails the brain's center for learning
• Nanofiber breakthrough holds promise for medicine and microprocessors
• Exotic material boosts electromagnetism safely

A supercharged protein reduces damage from heart attack Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:09 PM PST Researchers have tapped into the body's own repair system to protect heart cells after an attack. In the study mice were bred to make a supercharged version of the protein focal adhesion kinase, or FAK.

Planarian genes that control stem cell biology identified Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:09 PM PST Devising a novel method to identify potential genetic regulators in planarian stem cells, scientists have determined which of those genes affect the two main functions of stem cells.

First evidence of hunting by prehistoric Ohioans (U.S.) Posted: 01 Mar 2012 03:07 PM PST Cut marks found on Ice Age bones indicate that humans in Ohio hunted or scavenged earlier than previously known. A series of 41 incisions appear on an animal's left femur. Radiocarbon dating of the femur bone estimates its age to be between 13,435 to 13,738 years old. Microscopic analyses of the cut marks revealed that stone tools made the marks.

Vitamin D shrinks fibroid tumors in rats Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:37 AM PST Treatment with vitamin D reduced the size of uterine fibroids in laboratory rats predisposed to developing the benign tumors, reported researchers.

Turning off small RNA: New tool designed for breaking the epigenetic code Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:37 AM PST Scientists have known for years that minuscule strings of genetic material called small RNA are critically important to our genetic makeup, but finding out what they do hasn't been easy. Now scientists have developed a way to turn off small RNAs and find out just how important they can be.

Clearer picture of how protein machine systems tweak gene expression Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:37 AM PST Biologists have found that specific types of RNA polymerase enzymes, the molecular machines that convert DNA into RNA, can differ in function based on variation in the parts -- in this case protein subunits -- used to assemble those machines.

Bacteria communicate by touch, new research suggests Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:37 AM PST What if bacteria could talk to each other? What if they had a sense of touch? A new study suggests both, and theorizes that such cells may, in fact, need to communicate in order to perform certain functions.

Sturdy Scandinavian conifers survived Ice Age Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:37 AM PST Until now, it was presumed that the last glacial period denuded the Scandinavian landscape of trees until a gradual return of milder weather began and melted away the ice cover some 9,000 years ago. New research shows that some Scandinavian conifers survived the inhospitable ice age climate likely for several thousands of years.

Ocean acidification rate may be unprecedented, study says Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:37 AM PST The world's oceans may be turning acidic faster today from human carbon emissions than they did during four major extinctions in the last 300 million years, when natural pulses of carbon sent global temperatures soaring, says a new study. The study is the first of its kind to survey the geologic record for evidence of ocean acidification over this vast time period.

Generating power from salty water: Unique salt allows energy production to move inland Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:37 AM PST Production of energy from the difference between salt water and fresh water is most convenient near the oceans, but now, using an ammonium bicarbonate salt solution, researchers can combine bacterial degradation of waste water with energy extracted from the salt-water fresh-water gradient to produce power anywhere.

How red blood cells get so big -- and the bad things that happen when they don't Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:34 AM PST Researchers have discovered how megakaryocytes -- giant blood cells that produce wound-healing platelets -- manage to grow 10 to 15 times larger than other blood cells. The findings also hint at how a malfunction in this process may cause a form of leukemia.

First computer model of how buds grow into leaves Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:34 AM PST Leaves come in all shapes and sizes. Scientists have discovered the simple rules that control leaf shape during growth. Using this "recipe," they have developed the first computer model able to accurately emulate leaf growth from a bud.

Antibodies are not required for immunity against some viruses Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:34 AM PST A new study turns the well established theory that antibodies are required for antiviral immunity upside down and reveals that an unexpected partnership between the specific and non-specific divisions of the immune system is critical for fighting some types of viral infections. The research may lead to a new understanding of the best way to help protect those exposed to potentially lethal viruses, such as the rabies virus.

How marijuana impairs memory Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:34 AM PST A major downside of the medical use of marijuana is the drug's ill effects on working memory, the ability to transiently hold and process information for reasoning, comprehension and learning. Researchers provide new insight into the source of those memory lapses. The answer comes as quite a surprise: Marijuana's major psychoactive ingredient (THC) impairs memory independently of its direct effects on neurons.

Basic molecular 'wiring' of stem cells revealed Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:34 AM PST Scientists have created the first ever blueprint of how stem cells are wired to respond to the external signaling molecules to which they are constantly exposed. The finding, which reconciles years of conflicting results from labs across the world, gives scientists the ability to precisely control the development, or differentiation, of stem cells into specific cell types.

Pioneering research reveals versatile bacterium's secrets Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:33 AM PST Ground-breaking research will help to make one of the most versatile of bacteria even more useful to society and the environment. Though it lives naturally in the soil, the bacterium Bacillus subtilis is widely used as a model laboratory organism. It is also used as a 'cell factory' to produce vitamins for the food industry and, in biotechnology, to produce enzymes such as those used in washing powders.

Protein complex affects cells' ability to move, respond to external cues Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:33 AM PST Scientists have explained for the first time how a long-studied protein complex affects cell migration and how external cues affect cell's ability to migrate.

Cell and signaling pathway that regulates the placental blood stem cell niche identified Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:33 AM PST Stem cell researchers have discovered a critical placental niche cell and signaling pathway that prevent blood precursors from premature differentiation in the placenta, a process necessary for ensuring proper blood supply for an individual's lifetime.

Treating brain cancer with viral vector Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:29 AM PST Surgeons are now starting to treat patients with recurrent brain cancer by directly injecting an investigational viral vector into their tumor.

Nutrient found in dark meat of poultry, some seafood, may have cardiovascular benefits Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:33 AM PST A nutrient found in the dark meat of poultry may provide protection against coronary heart disease in women with high cholesterol, according to a new study.

How anesthetic isoflurane induces Alzheimer's-like changes in mammalian brains Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:33 AM PST The association of the inhaled anesthetic isoflurane with Alzheimer's-disease-like changes in mammalian brains may by caused by the drug's effects on mitochondria, the structures in which most cellular energy is produced.

What makes a robot fish attractive? Robot fish moves to the head of the school Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:33 AM PST Probing the largely unexplored question of what characteristics make a leader among schooling fish, researchers have discovered that by mimicking nature, a robotic fish can transform into a leader of live ones. In early experiments aimed at understanding how a robot could potentially lead wildlife from danger, the researchers were intrigued to find that their biomimetic robotic fish could not only infiltrate and be accepted by the swimmers, but actually assume a leadership role.

How does nearsightedness develop in children? Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:32 AM PST Myopia (nearsightedness) develops in children when the lens stops compensating for continued growth of the eye, according to a new study.

In space and on Earth, why build it, when a robot can build it for you? Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:32 AM PST Like something straight out of "Star Wars," armies of robots could nimbly be crawling up towers and skyscrapers to make repairs in the not-so-distant future, so humans don't have to.

Groundbreaking discovery on stem cell regulation Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:39 AM PST Scientists have for the first time, identified that precise regulation of polyamine levels is critical for embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal -- the ability of ESCs to divide indefinitely -- and directed differentiation. This paper is crucial for better understanding of ESC regulation.

Study of wildfire trends in Northwestern California shows no increase in severity over time Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:39 AM PST Even though wildfires have increased in size over time, they haven't necessarily grown in severity nor had corresponding negative impacts to the ecosystem, according to a recent study.

Carbon dioxide catchers: New tools for identifying effective carbon capture technologies Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:39 AM PST Using techniques from drug discovery, and state-of-the-art advances in mathematics, computational algorithms and supercomputing, researchers have developed a tool for identifying the most efficient porous materials for CO2.

Fancy footwork and non-stick leg coating helps spiders not stick to their own webs Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:38 AM PST Researchers asked why spiders do not stick to their own sticky webs. Repeating old, widely quoted but poorly documented studies with modern equipment and techniques, they discovered that spiders' legs are protected by a covering of branching hairs and by a non-stick chemical coating and that they modify their behavior to avoid getting stuck.

Depression: An evolutionary byproduct of immune system? Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:37 AM PST Depression is common enough -- afflicting one in ten adults in the United States -- that it seems the possibility of depression must be "hard-wired" into our brains. This has led biologists to propose several theories to account for how depression, or behaviors linked to it, can somehow offer an evolutionary advantage. Some previous proposals for the role of depression in evolution have focused on how it affects behavior in a social context. A pair of psychiatrists addresses this puzzle in a different way, tying together depression and resistance to infection. They propose that genetic variations that promote depression arose during evolution because they helped our ancestors fight infection.

Leatherback turtle migration study identifies Pacific danger zones for endangered species Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:37 AM PST The majestic leatherback turtle is the largest sea turtle in the world, growing to more than 6 feet in length. It is also one of the most threatened. A major new study of migration patterns has identified high-use areas -- potential danger zones -- in the Pacific Ocean for this critically endangered species. This new understanding could help inform decisions about fishing practices to help reduce further deaths of this fragile species.

Floor of oldest fossilized forest discovered: 385 million years old Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:27 AM PST The floor of the world's oldest forest has been unearthed. Scientists are now piecing together a view of this ancient site, dating back about 385 million years ago, which could shed new light on the role of modern-day forests and their impact on climate change.

Alternative fuels expert plans coast-to-coast U.S. trip on 10 gallons of gas or less Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:27 AM PST An alternative fuels expert firmly believes he can go coast-to-coast on l0 gallons of gasoline or less. His attempts will be March 3-8, 2012, and in 2013.

Promising approach to preventing Alzheimer's Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:27 AM PST As scientists struggle to find an effective way to prevent Alzheimer's disease, researchers may have found a new approach to interrupting the process that leads to the devastating disease.

Bacteria tend leafcutter ants' gardens Posted: 01 Mar 2012 05:41 AM PST New research points to two important roles for bacteria that live in the underground fungal gardens of leafcutter ants: they help decompose leaves that ants bring to the gardens and play a major role in turning those leaves into nutrients for both ants and the fungi. The findings could help researchers studying fungal enzymes to convert plants into biofuel.

Understanding and treating the cognitive dysfunction of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease Posted: 01 Mar 2012 05:35 AM PST Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic disorder in live born children arising as a consequence of a chromosomal abnormality. It occurs as a result of having three copies of chromosome 21, instead of the usual two. It causes substantial physical and behavioral abnormalities, including life-long cognitive dysfunction that can range from mild to severe but which further deteriorates as individuals with DS age.

Beauty has a dark side: Morbid curiosity explained Posted: 01 Mar 2012 05:34 AM PST What draws us to the darker side? What compels us to look whenever we pass a grisly accident on the highway and drives us to watch horror movies and television coverage of disasters? A professor and a lifelong student of the macabre, set out to discover the source of people's attraction to the morbid, drawing on the perspectives of biologists, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers, theologians and artists.

Two new extinct camel species discovered at Panama Canal excavation Posted: 29 Feb 2012 09:11 AM PST The discovery of two new extinct camel species sheds new light on the history of the tropics, a region containing more than half the world's biodiversity and some of its most important ecosystems.

In what ways does lead damage the brain? It derails the brain's center for learning Posted: 29 Feb 2012 07:51 AM PST Exposure to lead wreaks havoc in the brain, with consequences that include lower IQ and reduced potential for learning. But the precise mechanism by which lead alters nerve cells in the brain has largely remained unknown. New research has used high-powered fluorescent microscopy and other advanced techniques to painstakingly chart the varied ways lead inflicts its damage.

Nanofiber breakthrough holds promise for medicine and microprocessors Posted: 29 Feb 2012 07:51 AM PST A new method for creating nanofibers made of proteins promises to greatly improve drug delivery methods, aid in regenerating human tissue, and pave the way to an organic method of building nanofibers for tiny, powerful microprocessors. Researchers have discovered how to make nanofibers using the COMP protein found in human cartilage. By adding different metal ions, researchers found the fibers would absorb or release drug molecules.

Exotic material boosts electromagnetism safely Posted: 29 Feb 2012 07:51 AM PST Using exotic man-made materials, scientists believe they can greatly enhance the forces of electromagnetism, one of the four fundamental forces of nature, without harming living beings or damaging electrical equipment.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Latest Science News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610