ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Scientists measure communication between stem cell-derived motor neurons and muscle cells
• Early spring means more bat girls
• Students more likely to be fit when physical education is mandatory
• Connected traffic system for emergency responders demonstrated
• Parents important in steering kids away from sedentary activities
• Largest known crocodile could swallow a human
• New technique could identify drugs that help fight broad range of viruses
• Are educators showing a 'positive bias' to minority students?
• Expensive hospital readmissions linked to health-care-associated infections
• Scientists identify prostate cancer stem cells among low-PSA cells
• Cell membrane is patterned like a patchwork quilt
• Scientists aim to kill lung tumors
• Ancient volcanic blast provides more evidence of water on early Mars
• Hubble to use moon as mirror to see Venus transit
• Building better asphalt with nanoclays
• Why Saturday’s 'supermoon' will be beautiful, but not super
• Less is more, for female cowbirds: Findings contradict sexual selection theory
• Light touch keeps a grip on delicate nanoparticles
• New muscular dystrophy treatment approach developed using human stem cells
• What is your dog thinking? Brain scans unleash canine secrets
• Protein signal is crucial for accurate control of insect size
• Using electrons to map nanoparticle atomic structures
• Beehive extract shows potential as prostate cancer treatment
• Nutrient supply after algal bloom determines the succession of the bacterial population
• Different recipes for success in the world of plants
• Gamma ray optics: a viable tool for a new branch of scientific discovery
• Life on mars? Mars Rover Opportunity finds some of the necessary conditions once existed
• Sifting through 'junk' to find colorectal cancer clues
• Key contribution to Melanesian blonde hair color discovered

Scientists measure communication between stem cell-derived motor neurons and muscle cells Posted: 04 May 2012 02:20 PM PDT Researchers have developed a novel system to measure the communication between stem cell-derived motor neurons and muscle cells in a Petri dish.

Early spring means more bat girls Posted: 04 May 2012 02:20 PM PDT A study on bats suggests that bats produce twice as many female babies as male ones in years when spring comes early.

Students more likely to be fit when physical education is mandatory Posted: 04 May 2012 02:20 PM PDT Fifth graders in California public school districts that comply with the state's mandatory physical education requirement are more likely to have better fitness levels than students in districts that don't comply, according to a new study.

Connected traffic system for emergency responders demonstrated Posted: 04 May 2012 02:20 PM PDT A prototype "smart drive" connected traffic system that can clear red light signals and warn of traffic tie-ups has been completed.

Parents important in steering kids away from sedentary activities Posted: 04 May 2012 02:19 PM PDT Parents can have a significant impact in steering young children away from too much time spent in sedentary pursuits.

Largest known crocodile could swallow a human Posted: 04 May 2012 02:19 PM PDT A crocodile large enough to swallow humans once lived in East Africa, according to new research. It may have exceeded 27 feet in length. By comparison, the largest recorded Nile crocodile was less than 21 feet, and most are much smaller.

New technique could identify drugs that help fight broad range of viruses Posted: 04 May 2012 02:19 PM PDT Results of a new study demonstrate the feasibility of a novel strategy in drug discovery: screening large numbers of existing drugs — often already approved for other uses — to see which ones activate genes that boost natural immunity.

Are educators showing a 'positive bias' to minority students? Posted: 04 May 2012 11:30 AM PDT A psychology professor's research indicates that public school teachers under-challenge minority students by providing them more positive feedback than they give to white students, for work of equal merit. The study involved 113 white middle school and high school teachers in two public school districts in the N.Y./N.J./Conn. tri-state area, one middle class and white, and the other more working class and racially mixed.

Expensive hospital readmissions linked to health-care-associated infections Posted: 04 May 2012 10:59 AM PDT New research finds a strong link between healthcare-associated infections and patient readmission after an initial hospital stay. The findings suggest that reducing such infections could help reduce readmissions, considered to be a major driver of unnecessary healthcare spending and increased patient morbidity and mortality.

Scientists identify prostate cancer stem cells among low-PSA cells Posted: 04 May 2012 10:59 AM PDT Prostate cancer cells that defy treatment and display heightened tumor-generating capacity can be identified by levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) expressed in the tumor cells, scientists have found.

Cell membrane is patterned like a patchwork quilt Posted: 04 May 2012 10:58 AM PDT As the interface between the cell and its environment, the cell membrane, which consists of fats and proteins, fulfils a variety of vital functions. Scientists have performed the first comprehensive analysis of the molecular structure of this boundary layer, and revealed precisely how it is organized. In yeast cells, the entire membrane is made up of independent domains, each containing just one or a few protein types. If a protein is relocated to an inappropriate domain, it may even fail to function. The study shows that the membrane is a kind of patchwork quilt and should help scientists to gain a better understanding of basic cellular processes.

Scientists aim to kill lung tumors Posted: 04 May 2012 10:58 AM PDT Enzyme regulates the division of tumor cells and blood vessel growth in the cancer tissue.

Ancient volcanic blast provides more evidence of water on early Mars Posted: 04 May 2012 10:57 AM PDT Georgia Tech Assistant Professor Josef Dufek's new findings provide more evidence that early Mars was saturated with water and that its atmosphere was considerably thicker, at least 20 times more dense, than it is today.

Hubble to use moon as mirror to see Venus transit Posted: 04 May 2012 10:57 AM PDT NASA's Hubble Space Telescope will study Venus's atmosphere during an upcoming opportunity where Venus is passing in front of the Sun. Hubble cannot look at the Sun directly, so astronomers are planning to point the telescope at the Moon, using it as a mirror. The next time Venus will pass in front of the Sun will be in the year 2117.

Building better asphalt with nanoclays Posted: 04 May 2012 10:57 AM PDT Using nanotechnology, researchers are paving the way for brand-new asphalt blends to fight off cracks, rutting and potholes.

Why Saturday’s 'supermoon' will be beautiful, but not super Posted: 04 May 2012 10:57 AM PDT Yes, it will be marginally brighter and larger, but Saturday's so-called "supermoon" is not going to be noticeably different from the full moon of the month before or after. An astronomer explains that a "supermoon" typically happens once a year, when the moon's elliptical orbit comes closest to Earth during a full moon. But the nickname makes it sound like a much bigger deal than it actually is.

Less is more, for female cowbirds: Findings contradict sexual selection theory Posted: 04 May 2012 08:05 AM PDT More modest male displays attract the females when it comes to brown-headed cowbirds, contrary to sexual selection theory, according to new research. While sexual selection theory predicts that females should find more flamboyant displays the most sexually attractive, the opposite holds true for brown-headed cowbirds, a small songbird common in North America.

Light touch keeps a grip on delicate nanoparticles Posted: 04 May 2012 08:05 AM PDT Using a refined technique for trapping and manipulating nanoparticles, researchers have extended the trapped particles' useful life more than tenfold. This new approach, which one researcher likens to "attracting moths," promises to give experimenters the trapping time they need to build nanoscale structures and may open the way to working with nanoparticles inside biological cells without damaging the cells with intense laser light.

New muscular dystrophy treatment approach developed using human stem cells Posted: 04 May 2012 08:05 AM PDT Researchers have effectively treated muscular dystrophy in mice using human stem cells derived from a new process that -- for the first time -- makes the production of human muscle cells from stem cells efficient and effective.

What is your dog thinking? Brain scans unleash canine secrets Posted: 04 May 2012 08:05 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new methodology to scan the brains of alert dogs and explore the minds of the oldest domesticated species. The technique uses harmless functional magnetic resonance imaging, the same tool that is unlocking secrets of the human brain. The brain images of a fully awake, unrestrained dog, thought to be the first, opens up a door for understanding canine cognition and inter-species communication.

Protein signal is crucial for accurate control of insect size Posted: 04 May 2012 08:04 AM PDT Two independent groups of researchers have identified a hormone that is responsible for keeping the growth and development of insects on track. The results suggest that Dilp8 provides an important signal to slow body growth and delay insect development. This braking effect is an essential part of normal development since it allows sufficient time for tissues to form and the correct body size, proportions and symmetry to be achieved.

Using electrons to map nanoparticle atomic structures Posted: 04 May 2012 08:04 AM PDT Scientists have shown how a form of nanocrystallography can be carried out using a transmission electron microscope -- an instrument found in many chemistry and materials science laboratories.

Beehive extract shows potential as prostate cancer treatment Posted: 04 May 2012 08:04 AM PDT An over-the-counter natural remedy derived from honeybee hives arrests the growth of prostate cancer cells and tumors in mice, according to a new article. Researchers combined traditional cancer research methods with cutting-edge proteomics to find that CAPE arrests early-stage prostate cancer by shutting down the tumor cells' system for detecting sources of nutrition.

Nutrient supply after algal bloom determines the succession of the bacterial population Posted: 04 May 2012 08:01 AM PDT Algal blooms can considerably interfere with summer holidays by the sea. In the coastal zone of temperate regions a spring algal bloom is not a sign of excessive nutrient input, but most of all a consequence of the more intense solar irradiation in spring. When algal blooms end, the algae die and their remnants constitute an important nutrient supply for the whole ecosystem. Researchers have examined an algal bloom in the North Sea and identified the microorganisms involved in the degradation of algal remnants. With their findings, the researchers discovered a solution for the so-called Plankton paradox: By specializing in different degradation processes, bacteria apparently occupy separate ecological niches in the sea.

Different recipes for success in the world of plants Posted: 04 May 2012 08:01 AM PDT In order to prevail against native plants, non-native plant species develop special strategies. These differ in part considerably from the propagation strategies of endemic plant species. These results are an argument in support of the view that the need to differentiate between native and non-native species in ecological systems remains, according to researchers.

Gamma ray optics: a viable tool for a new branch of scientific discovery Posted: 04 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT There has been a surprise discovery of 'significant' refraction of gamma rays which opens the door to nuclear photonics and the use of high energetic light beams to investigate the atomic nucleus.   Isotope specific gamma ray microscopes could remotely search for harmful nuclear materials or provide less destructive and more selective medical imaging.

Life on mars? Mars Rover Opportunity finds some of the necessary conditions once existed Posted: 04 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT Late last year, the NASA Mars Rover Opportunity found what appeared to be veins of gypsum when examining the edge of the crater dubbed "Endeavour." Gypsum is formed in water at a temperature lower than 60°C. Its presence on Mars indicates that conditions conducive to life have existed there at least temporarily. The rock of the crater edge is similar to suevite, a rock consisting partly of melted material which is typically found at meteor impact sites.

Sifting through 'junk' to find colorectal cancer clues Posted: 03 May 2012 01:20 PM PDT Analysis of non-coding "junk" DNA has identified switches capable of turning on or off genes associated with the very common cancer.

Key contribution to Melanesian blonde hair color discovered Posted: 03 May 2012 11:25 AM PDT Researchers studying pigmentation in the South Pacific have uncovered a key genetic contribution to hair color. The findings reveal a functional genetic variant which has led the islanders to have simultaneously the darkest skin pigmentation outside of Africa and the highest prevalence of blonde hair outside of Europe.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Paydirt at 8-year-old Mars rover's 'new landing site'
• Plant diversity is key to maintaining productive vegetation
• Ultrasound idea: Prototype bioreactor evaluates engineered tissue while creating it
• Lightning signature could help reveal the solar system's origins
• Fabrication method can affect the use of block copolymer thin films
• First light: Researchers develop new way to generate superluminal pulses
• Low oxygen levels could drive cancer growth, research suggests
• Environmental toxicants causing ovarian disease across generations
• Simulating reality: Less memory required on quantum computer than on classical computer, study shows
• Next-generation nanoelectronics: A decade of progress, coming advances
• 'Smart doorknobs' and gesture-controlled smartphones: Revolutionary technology enables objects to know your touch
• Rapid Sierra Nevada uplift tracked by scientists
• Thanks for the (computer) memory: More room for data in 'phase-change' material
• Early North Americans lived with extinct giant beasts, study shows
• Stable isotopes provide 'signature' for researchers to study animals
• Scientists core into California's Clear Lake to explore past climate change
• Fast, low-power, all-optical switch
• A needle in a haystack: How does a broken DNA molecule get repaired?
• Black hole caught in a feeding frenzy
• Life-size 3-D hologram-like telepods may revolutionize videoconferencing in the future
• Flying 3-D eye-bots
• Stalagmite research suggests Earth has two modes of responding to change
• Vacations from email decrease stress, increase concentration, researchers say
• Genetic pathway of rare facial malformation in children pinpointed
• Awake mental replay of past experiences critical for learning
• Majority of college-age kids get help from Mom and Dad
• Atomic-scale visualization of electron pairing in iron superconductors
• Biased evidence? Researchers challenge post-marketing drug trial practices
• Naturally blond hair in Solomon Islanders rooted in native gene
• Evolution of sex differences: Battles of sexes shown to spur adaptive sex differences
• Possible protective blood factors against type 2 diabetes identified
• First gene linked to missing spleen in newborns
• Rats recall past to make daily decisions
• Mars: Evidence of water flows at ancient impact crater endeavour
• Increasing speed of Greenland glaciers gives new insight for rising sea level
• Genetic pathway impacting the spread of cancer cells discovered
• Insect glands may illuminate human fertilization process
• How mitochondrial genes are passed from mother to child
• Double duty: Versatile immune cells play dual roles in human skin
• Aged hematopoietic stem cells rejuvenated to be functionally younger
• Waking chick embryos before they are born
• Extra gene drove instant leap in human brain evolution
• Scientists show how a gene duplication helped our brains become 'human'
• Dynamic changes in gene regulation in human stem cells revealed
• Stem cells poised to self-destruct for the good of the embryo
• Better housing conditions for zebrafish could improve research results
• New technique generates predictable complex, wavy shapes: May explain brain folds and be useful for drug delivery
• 'Battle of the sexes' offers evolutionary insights: Role of genital spines in reproductive success of fruit flies
• Earth history and evolution: Cypress tree distribution reflects the breakup of Pangaea
• Research explores the positives of bipolar disorder
• Presence of fetal cells in women lowers risk of breast cancer but raises risk of colon cancer
• Pleasure, pain and satisfied customers
• Regular jogging shows dramatic increase in life expectancy
• A fish a day keeps the doctor away?
• Mitigating disasters by hunting down Dragon Kings: Forecasting natural or economic disasters by identifying statistical anomalies
• Of Mice and Men: Characterization of a new autism gene
• Jealousy and envy at work are different in men and women
• Bacteria discovery could lead to antibiotics alternatives
• Four white dwarf stars caught in the act of consuming 'Earth-like' exoplanets
• Some women may be genetically predisposed to smoking-related hot flashes

Paydirt at 8-year-old Mars rover's 'new landing site' Posted: 03 May 2012 06:33 PM PDT A report details discoveries Opportunity made in its first four months at the rim of Endeavour Crater, including key findings reported at a geophysics conference in late 2011. Opportunity completed its original three-month mission on Mars eight years ago. It reached Endeavour last summer, three years after the rover's science team chose Endeavour as a long-term destination. This crater is about 4 billion years old and 14 miles (22 kilometers) in diameter.

Plant diversity is key to maintaining productive vegetation Posted: 03 May 2012 05:05 PM PDT Vegetation, such as a patch of prairie or a forest stand, is more productive in the long run when more plant species are present, results of a new study show.

Ultrasound idea: Prototype bioreactor evaluates engineered tissue while creating it Posted: 03 May 2012 04:42 PM PDT Researchers have developed a prototype bioreactor that both stimulates and evaluates tissue as it grows, mimicking natural processes while eliminating the need to stop periodically to cut up samples for analysis.

Lightning signature could help reveal the solar system's origins Posted: 03 May 2012 04:42 PM PDT Every second, lightning flashes some 50 times on Earth. Together these discharges coalesce and get stronger, creating electromagnetic waves circling around Earth, to create a beating pulse between the ground and the lower ionosphere, about 60 miles up in the atmosphere. This electromagnetic signature, known as Schumann Resonance, had only been observed from Earth's surface until, in 2011, scientists discovered they could also detect it using NASA's Vector Electric Field Instrument (VEFI) aboard the U.S. Air Force's Communications/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS) satellite. In a new paper, researchers describe how this new technique could be used to study other planets in the solar system as well, and even shed light on how the solar system formed.

Fabrication method can affect the use of block copolymer thin films Posted: 03 May 2012 04:42 PM PDT Thin polymer films can have different properties depending on the method by which they are made. The results suggest that deeper work is necessary to explore the best way of creating these films, which are used in applications ranging from high-tech mirrors to organic electronic devices.

First light: Researchers develop new way to generate superluminal pulses Posted: 03 May 2012 04:42 PM PDT Researchers have developed a novel way of producing light pulses that are "superluminal" -- in some sense they travel faster than the speed of light. The new method could be used to improve the timing of communications signals and to investigate the propagation of quantum correlations.

Low oxygen levels could drive cancer growth, research suggests Posted: 03 May 2012 04:42 PM PDT Low oxygen levels in cells may be a primary cause of uncontrollable tumor growth in some cancers, according to a new study. The authors' findings run counter to widely accepted beliefs that genetic mutations are responsible for cancer growth.

Environmental toxicants causing ovarian disease across generations Posted: 03 May 2012 04:42 PM PDT Researchers have found that ovarian disease can result from exposures to a wide range of environmental chemicals and be inherited by future generations. Reproductive biologists looked at how a fungicide, pesticide, plastic, dioxin and hydrocarbon mixtures affected a gestating rat's progeny for multiple generations. They saw subsequent generations inherit ovarian disease by "epigenetic transgenerational inheritance."

Simulating reality: Less memory required on quantum computer than on classical computer, study shows Posted: 03 May 2012 01:31 PM PDT Simulations of reality would require less memory on a quantum computer than on a classical computer, new research has shown. The study demonstrates a new way in which computers based on quantum physics could beat the performance of classical computers.

Next-generation nanoelectronics: A decade of progress, coming advances Posted: 03 May 2012 01:20 PM PDT Nano-electromechanical switch technology could change the future of electronics. In two recent articles, researchers have explored the progress and future applications of the burgeoning technology.

'Smart doorknobs' and gesture-controlled smartphones: Revolutionary technology enables objects to know your touch Posted: 03 May 2012 01:20 PM PDT A doorknob that knows whether to lock or unlock based on how it is grasped, a smartphone that silences itself if the user holds a finger to her lips and a chair that adjusts room lighting based on recognizing if a user is reclining or leaning forward are among the many possible applications of Touché, a new sensing technique.

Rapid Sierra Nevada uplift tracked by scientists Posted: 03 May 2012 01:20 PM PDT From the highest peak in the continental United States, Mt. Whitney at 14,000 feet in elevation, to the 10,000-foot-peaks near Lake Tahoe, scientific evidence shows the entire Sierra Nevada mountain range is rising at the relatively fast rate of 1 to 2 millimeters every year.

Thanks for the (computer) memory: More room for data in 'phase-change' material Posted: 03 May 2012 12:40 PM PDT Engineers have discovered previously unknown properties of a common computer memory material, paving the way for new memory drives, movie discs and computer systems that absorb data more quickly, last longer and allow far more capacity than current data storage media.

Early North Americans lived with extinct giant beasts, study shows Posted: 03 May 2012 12:39 PM PDT A new study that determined the age of skeletal remains provides evidence humans reached the Western Hemisphere during the last ice age and lived alongside giant extinct mammals. The study addresses the century-long debate among scientists about whether human and mammal remains found at Vero Beach in the early 1900s date to the same time period. Using rare earth element analysis to measure the concentration of naturally occurring metals absorbed during fossilization, researchers show modern humans in North America co-existed with large extinct mammals about 13,000 years ago, including mammoths, mastodons and giant ground sloths.

Stable isotopes provide 'signature' for researchers to study animals Posted: 03 May 2012 12:39 PM PDT Researchers have many tools available in studying and observing mammals. One is quite small—the stable isotope. Exploring ecological questions through analysis of stable isotopes is a rapidly developing area of research.

Scientists core into California's Clear Lake to explore past climate change Posted: 03 May 2012 11:27 AM PDT One of the oldest lakes in the world, Clear Lake in northern California has deep sediments that contain a record of the climate and local plants and animals going back perhaps 500,000 years. Scientists are drilling cores from the sediments to explore 130,000 years of this history and fine-tune models for predicting the fate of today's flora and fauna in the face of global warming and pressure from a growing human population.

Fast, low-power, all-optical switch Posted: 03 May 2012 11:27 AM PDT A new solid-state device uses one beam of light to switch another beam of light from one direction to another. It uses one-fifth the power -- only 90 atto-joules -- than the previous all-optical switch.

A needle in a haystack: How does a broken DNA molecule get repaired? Posted: 03 May 2012 11:26 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a key element in the mechanism of DNA repair. Using a smart new dual-molecule technique, the group has now found out how the DNA molecule is able to perform this search and recognition process in such an efficient way.

Black hole caught in a feeding frenzy Posted: 03 May 2012 11:26 AM PDT When it comes to scary things in the universe, it's hard to get much scarier than supermassive black holes. These gigantic, invisible menaces lurk in the centers of galaxies, hungrily vacuuming up everything within reach -- or so we think. But the truth is more benign. Supermassive black holes snack infrequently, making the recent discovery of a black hole in the act of feeding all the more exciting to astronomers.

Life-size 3-D hologram-like telepods may revolutionize videoconferencing in the future Posted: 03 May 2012 11:26 AM PDT Imagine a Star Trek-like human-scale 3-D videoconferencing pod that allows people in different locations to video conference as if they are standing in front of each other. "Why Skype when you can talk to a life-size 3-D holographic image of another person?" says one of the inventors.

Flying 3-D eye-bots Posted: 03 May 2012 11:26 AM PDT They can be deployed as additional surveillance resources during major events, or as high-resolution 3-D street imaging systems. Intelligent swarms of aerial drones are a universally useful tool for police, crisis managers and urban planners. Special 3-D sensors ensure flawless aerobatics and prevent collisions.

Stalagmite research suggests Earth has two modes of responding to change Posted: 03 May 2012 11:26 AM PDT By analyzing stalagmites, a team of researchers has determined that the climate signature in the tropics through four glacial cycles looks different in some ways and similar in others when compared to the climate signature at high latitudes. The results suggest that Earth's climate system might have two modes of responding to significant changes.

Vacations from email decrease stress, increase concentration, researchers say Posted: 03 May 2012 11:26 AM PDT Being cut off from work email significantly reduces stress and allows employees to focus far better, according to a new study.

Genetic pathway of rare facial malformation in children pinpointed Posted: 03 May 2012 11:26 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a pair of defective genes that cause a rare congenital malformation syndrome that can make it impossible for the child to breathe or eat properly without reparative surgery.

Awake mental replay of past experiences critical for learning Posted: 03 May 2012 11:26 AM PDT Awake mental replay of past experiences is essential for making informed choices, suggests a study in rats. Without it, the animals' memory-based decision-making faltered. Scientists blocked learning from, and acting on, past experience by selectively suppressing replay -- encoded as split-second bursts of neuronal activity in the memory hubs of rats performing a maze task. Similar patterns of brain activity have been detected in humans during similar situations.

Majority of college-age kids get help from Mom and Dad Posted: 03 May 2012 11:25 AM PDT More than 60 percent of young adults between the ages of 19 and 22 received some financial help from mom and dad, according to a new study. The average amount they received -- including help with college tuition, rent, and transportation -- was roughly $7,500 a year.

Atomic-scale visualization of electron pairing in iron superconductors Posted: 03 May 2012 11:25 AM PDT By measuring how strongly electrons are bound together to form Cooper pairs in an iron-based superconductor, scientists provide direct evidence supporting theories in which magnetism holds the key to this material's ability to carry current with no resistance.

Biased evidence? Researchers challenge post-marketing drug trial practices Posted: 03 May 2012 11:25 AM PDT Bioethicists argue that current research ethics frameworks do not flag drug trials that, while not putting patients at risk, produce biased evidence. As an example, they point to phase IV research -- when pharmaceutical companies test drugs and devices that have been approved for marketing.

Naturally blond hair in Solomon Islanders rooted in native gene Posted: 03 May 2012 11:25 AM PDT The common occurrence of blond hair among the dark-skinned indigenous people of the Solomon Islands is due to a homegrown genetic variant distinct from the gene that leads to blond hair in Europeans, according to a new study.

Evolution of sex differences: Battles of sexes shown to spur adaptive sex differences Posted: 03 May 2012 11:25 AM PDT Male water striders benefit by mating frequently, females by mating infrequently: both have developed traits to give them the upper hand. The researchers modified a gene involved in the development of antennae in male water striders and found that as the antennae became more elaborate, mating success increased. The study is unusual in that it describes a direct linkage between known forces of selection, evolutionary change morphology, and its underlying genetic basis.

Possible protective blood factors against type 2 diabetes identified Posted: 03 May 2012 11:24 AM PDT Researchers have shown that levels of certain related proteins found in blood are associated with a greatly reduced risk for developing type 2 diabetes up to a decade or more later. The findings could open a new front in the war against diabetes.

First gene linked to missing spleen in newborns Posted: 03 May 2012 11:24 AM PDT New discovery of a genetic mutation in congenital asplenia may lead to genetic prenatal screening in patients with the rare, but deadly, disorder.

Rats recall past to make daily decisions Posted: 03 May 2012 11:24 AM PDT Scientists have identified patterns of brain activity in the rat brain that play a role in the formation and recall of memories and decision-making. The discovery, which builds on the team's previous findings, offers a path for studying learning, decision-making and post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Mars: Evidence of water flows at ancient impact crater endeavour Posted: 03 May 2012 11:24 AM PDT Evidence of ancient water at a Martian crater is the latest in a long series of discoveries by a surprisingly long-lived Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. The latest discovery was made at the rim of the Endeavour Crater, a large ancient impact crater on Mars measuring 14 miles in diameter.

Increasing speed of Greenland glaciers gives new insight for rising sea level Posted: 03 May 2012 11:24 AM PDT Changes in the speed that ice travels in more than 200 outlet glaciers indicates that Greenland's contribution to rising sea level in the 21st century might be significantly less than the upper limits some scientists thought possible, a new study shows.

Genetic pathway impacting the spread of cancer cells discovered Posted: 03 May 2012 09:58 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new genetic pathway influencing the spread of cancer cells. According to new results, a hormone called transforming growth factor beta is impacting the regulation of cell division. The discovery of this mechanism could lead to new avenues for treatment.

Insect glands may illuminate human fertilization process Posted: 03 May 2012 09:58 AM PDT Insect glands are responsible for producing a host of secretions that allow bees to sting and ants to lay down trails. New research focuses on secretions from glands in the reproductive tract that help sperm survive and guide the sperm on the trip to fertilize an egg. The gene that controls the development of these glands in fruit flies provides important information about gland development in all insects, as well as potential clues to similar human reproductive glands.

How mitochondrial genes are passed from mother to child Posted: 03 May 2012 09:58 AM PDT This finding helps answer some long-standing questions about how mitochondria-linked gene mutations are inherited. Gene mutations in cell mitochondria can cause several diseases, including forms of cancer, diabetes, infertility and neurodegenerative diseases. With this new information, we now better understand how and when these mutations are passed to children to improve diagnosis and prevention.

Double duty: Versatile immune cells play dual roles in human skin Posted: 03 May 2012 09:58 AM PDT A new study helps to resolve an ongoing controversy about whether Langerhans cells (LCs) in human skin function to suppress the immune response and promote tolerance to normal human skin and its "friendly" microbial flora or mobilize a lethal attack against harmful foreign invaders. The research reveals that, depending on the situation, these versatile immune cells can perform either function.

Aged hematopoietic stem cells rejuvenated to be functionally younger Posted: 03 May 2012 09:58 AM PDT Researchers have rejuvenated aged hematopoietic stem cells to be functionally younger, offering intriguing clues into how medicine might one day fend off some of the ailments of old age. The study brings new perspective to what has been a life science controversy -- countering what used to be broad consensus that the aging of hematopoietic stem cells was locked in by nature and not reversible by therapeutic intervention.

Waking chick embryos before they are born Posted: 03 May 2012 09:58 AM PDT Under some conditions, the brains of embryonic chicks appear to be awake well before those chicks are ready to hatch out of their eggs. That's according to an imaging study in which researchers woke chick embryos inside their eggs by playing loud, meaningful sounds to them. Playing meaningless sounds to the embryos wasn't enough to rouse their brains.

Extra gene drove instant leap in human brain evolution Posted: 03 May 2012 09:58 AM PDT A partial, duplicate copy of a gene appears to be responsible for the critical features of the human brain that distinguish us from our closest primate kin. The momentous gene duplication event occurred about two or three million years ago, at a critical transition in the evolution of the human lineage, according to a pair of new studies.

Scientists show how a gene duplication helped our brains become 'human' Posted: 03 May 2012 09:57 AM PDT Scientists have shown that an extra copy of a brain-development gene, which appeared in our ancestors' genomes about 2.4 million years ago, allowed maturing neurons to migrate farther and develop more connections.

Dynamic changes in gene regulation in human stem cells revealed Posted: 03 May 2012 09:57 AM PDT A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and the University of California (UC) San Diego has discovered a new type of dynamic change in human stem cells.

Stem cells poised to self-destruct for the good of the embryo Posted: 03 May 2012 09:56 AM PDT Embryonic stem cells are primed to kill themselves if damage to their DNA makes them a threat to the developing embryo. Researchers can reveal how they do it.

Better housing conditions for zebrafish could improve research results Posted: 03 May 2012 09:05 AM PDT Zebrafish behavior and the reliability of scientific results could be impacted if the environment zebrafish live in is altered, according to scientists.

New technique generates predictable complex, wavy shapes: May explain brain folds and be useful for drug delivery Posted: 03 May 2012 09:01 AM PDT A new technique predictably generates complex, wavy shapes and may help improve drug delivery and explain natural patterns from brain folds to bell peppers.

'Battle of the sexes' offers evolutionary insights: Role of genital spines in reproductive success of fruit flies Posted: 03 May 2012 09:01 AM PDT The phrase "battle of the sexes" is taking on new meaning in research that has implications for our understanding of evolution. In a new paper, scientists examine the role of genital spines in the reproductive success of a species of fruit fly. Their investigation identifies the specific type of advantage these spines bestow in the competition to reproduce.

Earth history and evolution: Cypress tree distribution reflects the breakup of Pangaea Posted: 03 May 2012 09:01 AM PDT In classical mythology, the cypress tree is associated with death, the underworld and eternity. Indeed, the family to which cypresses belong, is an ancient lineage of conifers, and a new study of their evolution affords a unique insight into a turbulent era in the Earth's history.

Research explores the positives of bipolar disorder Posted: 03 May 2012 08:59 AM PDT The problems of living with bipolar disorder have been well documented, but a new study has captured the views of those who also report highly-valued, positive experiences of living with the condition.

Presence of fetal cells in women lowers risk of breast cancer but raises risk of colon cancer Posted: 03 May 2012 08:58 AM PDT For the first time, scientists have found what could be a causative link between the concentration of circulating Y-chromosome fetal cells in women who gave birth to children of either sex and their risk of later developing breast cancer and colon cancer. The findings show that the presence of fetal cells is a double-edged sword: Women with the lowest concentration of fetal cells were 70 percent less likely to have breast cancer, while women with the highest concentration of fetal cells had a four-fold increased risk for colon cancer when compared with healthy controls.

Pleasure, pain and satisfied customers Posted: 03 May 2012 07:47 AM PDT A marketing researcher puts a spin on the expression "you can't please everyone."

Regular jogging shows dramatic increase in life expectancy Posted: 03 May 2012 07:43 AM PDT Undertaking regular jogging increases the life expectancy of men by 6.2 years and women by 5.6 years, reveals the latest data.  Reviewing the evidence of whether jogging is healthy or hazardous, researchers said that  between one and two-and-a-half hours of jogging  per week at a "slow or average" pace delivers  optimum benefits for longevity.

A fish a day keeps the doctor away? Posted: 03 May 2012 07:43 AM PDT Most people, whether healthy or having cardiovascular disease (CVD), would benefit from regular consumption of oily fish, concluded experts at a conference.  While eating whole fish undoubtedly offers the optimum approach for increasing omega-3 intakes in both primary and secondary prevention, delegates heard, supplements have a major role to play in increasing omega-3 intakes for people who do not like fish.

Mitigating disasters by hunting down Dragon Kings: Forecasting natural or economic disasters by identifying statistical anomalies Posted: 03 May 2012 07:43 AM PDT Professional Dragon King hunters are exploring the ways in which natural or economic disasters can be predicted by identifying statistical anomalies.

Of Mice and Men: Characterization of a new autism gene Posted: 03 May 2012 07:43 AM PDT Malfunctioning single proteins can cause disruptions in neuronal junctions leading to autistic forms of behavior. A new study comes to this conclusion after examining genetically altered mice.

Jealousy and envy at work are different in men and women Posted: 03 May 2012 07:41 AM PDT In a work environment, sexual competition affects women more than men, new research suggests. However, a rival's social skills provoke jealousy and professional envy equally in both sexes.

Bacteria discovery could lead to antibiotics alternatives Posted: 03 May 2012 07:41 AM PDT Scientists have discovered an Achilles heel within our cells that bacteria are able to exploit to cause and spread infection.

Four white dwarf stars caught in the act of consuming 'Earth-like' exoplanets Posted: 03 May 2012 07:41 AM PDT Astrophysicists have pinpointed four white dwarfs surrounded by dust from shattered planetary bodies which once bore striking similarities to the composition of Earth.

Some women may be genetically predisposed to smoking-related hot flashes Posted: 03 May 2012 07:34 AM PDT Women who smoke and carry specific variations in the genes that impact their metabolism are at higher risk of developing hot flashes in comparison with smokers who do not carry these gene variants, according to a recent study.

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