ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Fish shed light on human melanoma
• No Earth impact in 2040: NASA releases workshop data and findings on asteroid 2011 AG5
• Cancer's next magic bullet may be magic shotgun
• New surgery may reverse hand paralysis
• Bugs have key role in farming approach to storing CO2 emissions
• Data from NASA's Voyager 1 point to interstellar future
• Test of spare wheel puts NASA's Mars Odysse orbiter on path to recovery
• Dawn easing into its final science orbit
• First flight instrument delivered for James Webb Space Telescope
• Nanotechnology used to harness power of fireflies
• Knowledge of fractions and long division predicts long-term math success
• Genetic markers hope for new brain tumor treatments
• The boys are bad: Older male ants single out younger rivals for death squad
• More to facial perception than meets the eye
• Neutrons escaping to a parallel world?
• Active ingredient of cannabis has no effect on the progression of multiple sclerosis, study suggests
• Studying soil to predict the future of Earth's atmosphere
• Physicists predict success of movies at the box office based solely on advertising costs
• BPA exposure effects may last for generations
• Persistence is learned from fathers, study suggests
• Graphic warning labels improve smokers' recall of warning and health risks related to smoking
• Vitamin D with calcium shown to reduce mortality in elderly
• New solar active region spitting out flares
• Study suggests expanded concept of 'urban watershed'
• Unexpected discovery highlights new role for cell death regulator
• Amazon was not all manufactured landscape, scientist says
• Training people to inhibit movements can reduce risk-taking
• New report estimates nearly 18 million cancer survivors in the US by 2022

Fish shed light on human melanoma Posted: 15 Jun 2012 05:46 PM PDT Zebrafish, a transparent member of the minnow family, are providing insight into human melanoma – a form of skin cancer – that may lead to new or repurposed drug treatments, for skin and other cancers.

No Earth impact in 2040: NASA releases workshop data and findings on asteroid 2011 AG5 Posted: 15 Jun 2012 11:32 AM PDT Researchers anticipate that asteroid 2011 AG5, discovered in January 2011, will fly safely past and not impact Earth in 2040. Observations to date indicate there is a slight chance that AG5 could impact Earth in 2040. Experts are now confident that in the next four years, analysis of space and ground-based observations will show the likelihood of 2011 AG5 missing Earth to be greater than 99 percent.

Cancer's next magic bullet may be magic shotgun Posted: 15 Jun 2012 11:17 AM PDT A new approach to drug design promises to help identify future drugs to fight cancer and other diseases that will be more effective and have fewer side effects.

New surgery may reverse hand paralysis Posted: 15 Jun 2012 11:16 AM PDT A reconstructive neurosurgeon has pioneered a novel technique to restore hand function in patients with spinal cord injury. In a delicate four-hour procedure, he splices together tiny nerve endings, only one millimeter in width, to help restore hand mobility.

Bugs have key role in farming approach to storing CO2 emissions Posted: 15 Jun 2012 09:53 AM PDT Tiny microbes are at the heart of a novel agricultural technique to manage harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Data from NASA's Voyager 1 point to interstellar future Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:48 AM PDT Data from NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft indicate that the venerable deep-space explorer has encountered a region in space where the intensity of charged particles from beyond our solar system has markedly increased. Voyager scientists looking at this rapid rise draw closer to an inevitable but historic conclusion -- that humanity's first emissary to interstellar space is on the edge of our solar system.

Test of spare wheel puts NASA's Mars Odysse orbiter on path to recovery Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:46 AM PDT In a step toward returning NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter to full service, mission controllers have tested a spare reaction wheel on the spacecraft for potential use with two other reaction wheels in adjusting and maintaining the spacecraft's orientation.

Dawn easing into its final science orbit Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:44 AM PDT After successfully completing nearly five months scrutinizing the giant asteroid Vesta at its lowest orbit altitude, NASA's Dawn spacecraft will begin its final major science data-gathering phase at Vesta on June 15, at an average altitude of 420 miles (680 kilometers) above the surface.

First flight instrument delivered for James Webb Space Telescope Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:43 AM PDT The first of four instruments to fly aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) has been delivered to NASA. The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) will allow scientists to study cold and distant objects in greater detail than ever before.

Nanotechnology used to harness power of fireflies Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:41 AM PDT Scientists have found a new way to harness the natural light produced by fireflies using nanoscience. Their breakthrough produces a system that is 20 to 30 times more efficient than those produced during previous experiments.

Knowledge of fractions and long division predicts long-term math success Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:40 AM PDT From factory workers to Wall Street bankers, a reasonable proficiency in math is a crucial requirement for most well-paying jobs in a modern economy. Yet, over the past 30 years, mathematics achievement of US high school students has remained stagnant -- and significantly behind many other countries, including China, Japan, Finland, the Netherlands and Canada. A research team led by Carnegie Mellon University's Robert Siegler has identified a major source of the gap -- US students' inadequate knowledge of fractions and division.

Genetic markers hope for new brain tumor treatments Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:40 AM PDT Researchers have identified three sets of genetic markers that could potentially pave the way for new diagnostic tools for a deadly type of brain tumor that mainly targets children.

The boys are bad: Older male ants single out younger rivals for death squad Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:45 AM PDT Male Cardiocondyla obscurior ants are diphenic (either winged or wingless). New research demonstrates that the dominant wingless (ergatoid) male is able to identify potential rivals before they emerge from their pupae. Constant patrolling of the nest ensures that this male is able to bite or chemically tag rivals as soon as they emerge from their pupae. Chemically tagged ants are quickly destroyed by workers.

More to facial perception than meets the eye Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:43 AM PDT People make complex judgments about a person from looking at their face that are based on a range of factors beyond simply their race and gender, according to new findings.

Neutrons escaping to a parallel world? Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:43 AM PDT In a new paper, researchers hypothesize the existence of mirror particles to explain the anomalous loss of neutrons observed experimentally. The existence of such mirror matter had been suggested in various scientific contexts some time ago, including the search for suitable dark matter candidates.

Active ingredient of cannabis has no effect on the progression of multiple sclerosis, study suggests Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:39 AM PDT The first large non-commercial study to investigate whether the main active constituent of cannabis (tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) is effective in slowing the course of progressive multiple sclerosis shows that there is no evidence to suggest this; Although benefits were noted for those at the lower end of the disability scale.

Studying soil to predict the future of Earth's atmosphere Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:39 AM PDT Soil plays an important role in controlling the planet's atmospheric future according to new research. Researchers found that the interaction between plants and soils controls how ecosystems respond to rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Physicists predict success of movies at the box office based solely on advertising costs Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:37 AM PDT A group of Japanese scientists have surprised themselves by being able to predict the success or failure of blockbuster movies at the box office using a set of mathematical models. The researchers used the effects of advertising and word-of-mouth communication to create a model that turned out to be successful in predicting how each movie fared once it hit the silver screen. The only data the researchers needed to put into the model were the daily advertisement costs of 25 movies that appeared in Japanese cinemas.

BPA exposure effects may last for generations Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:35 AM PDT Exposure to low doses of Bisphenol A (BPA) during gestation had immediate and long-lasting, trans-generational effects on the brain and social behaviors in mice, according to a recent study.

Persistence is learned from fathers, study suggests Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:35 AM PDT A longitudinal study found that adolescents learn persistence through fathers who follow good parenting practices. As a result, these adolescents saw higher engagement in school and lower rates of delinquency.

Graphic warning labels improve smokers' recall of warning and health risks related to smoking Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:35 AM PDT In a first of its kind study in the U.S., researchers have shown that the addition of graphic warning labels on cigarette packaging can improve smokers' recall of the warning and health risks associated with smoking.

Vitamin D with calcium shown to reduce mortality in elderly Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:35 AM PDT A recent study suggests that vitamin D —- when taken with calcium —- can reduce the rate of mortality in seniors, therefore providing a possible means of increasing life expectancy.

New solar active region spitting out flares Posted: 14 Jun 2012 04:37 PM PDT An active region on the sun, numbered AR 1504, rotated into view over the left side of the sun on June 10, 2012. The region fired off two M-class flares and two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on June 13 and June 14, 2012.

Study suggests expanded concept of 'urban watershed' Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:27 PM PDT Within two decades, 60 percent of the world's population will live in cities, and coping with the resulting urban drinking water and sanitation issues will be one of the greatest challenges of this century. A new study presents a new conceptual framework that addresses characteristics of watersheds that are affected by urban land uses.

Unexpected discovery highlights new role for cell death regulator Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:27 PM PDT Scientists have already revealed the mechanism by which high alcohol intake can induce pancreatitis and its progression to pancreatic cancer. Now a new study reveals a hitherto unknown interaction between two well known molecules, which has important implications for our understanding of inflammation and cancer in the pancreas as well as other organs.

Amazon was not all manufactured landscape, scientist says Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:28 AM PDT Population estimates for the Amazon basin just before Europeans arrived range from 2 to 10 million people. A new reconstruction of Amazonian prehistory suggests that large areas of western Amazonia were sparsely inhabited. This clashes with the belief that most of Amazonia, including forests far removed from major rivers, was heavily occupied and modified.

Training people to inhibit movements can reduce risk-taking Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:09 AM PDT People can train their brains to become less impulsive, resulting in less risk-taking during gambling. The research could pave the way for new treatments for people with addictions to gambling, drugs or alcohol as well as impulse-control disorders, such as ADHD.

New report estimates nearly 18 million cancer survivors in the US by 2022 Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:09 AM PDT The number of Americans with a history of cancer will grow to almost 18 million by 2022, according to a first-ever report by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Catching some rays: Organic solar cells make a leap forward
• Breast milk kills HIV and blocks its oral transmission in humanized mouse
• Seven of ten commuters using Capital Bikeshare forgo helmet use
• Virtual colonoscopy without laxative equals standard OC in identifying clinically significant polyps
• Six new stem cell lines now publicly available
• How aging normal cells fuel tumor growth and metastasis
• Hidden vitamin in milk yields remarkable health benefits
• A toothy grin or angry snarl makes it easy to stand out in a crowd: Visible teeth are key
• Soft drink consumption not the major contributor to childhood obesity, study says
• Uranium-series dating reveals Iberian paintings are Europe's oldest cave art
• Grasshoppers frightened by spiders affect whole ecosystem
• Environmental factors spread obesity, study shows
• Tense film scenes trigger brain activity
• Engineers perfecting carbon nanotubes for highly energy-efficient computing
• Atomic-resolution view of a receptor reveals how stomach bacterium avoids acid
• Lessons learned from the 'ethical odyssey' of an HIV trial
• Quirky fruit fly gene could point way to new cancer drugs
• Single-track sustainability 'solutions' threaten people and planet, experts say
• Fragile X gene's prevalence suggests broader health risk
• Link between metabolic disorders and Alzheimer's disease examined
• New action for ancient heart drug
• Two warmest winter months in Midwest, U.S. history may have connection
• Switchable nano magnets may revolutionize data storage: Magnetism of individual molecules switched
• Bodybuilding myth debunked: Growth-promoting hormones don't stimulate strength
• Warm climate -- cold Arctic?
• Gene may link diabetes and Alzheimer's
• Plant poison turns seed-eating mouse into seed spitter
• Optical displays from water and air
• Theory on metastasis goes beyond metaphor to mathematics
• Folic acid intake during early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of autism in offspring
• Mindful multitasking: Meditation first can calm stress, aid concentration
• Still capable of adapting: Genetic diversity of 'living fossil' coelacanths
• A trick of perspective: Chance alignment mimics a cosmic collision
• Aquarius, NASA's salt-mapping instrument, marks first birthday
• Cassini sees tropical lakes on Saturn's moon Titan
• Most older pedestrians are unable to cross the road in time
• Virtual sailing gives competitors the edge
• Genetic discovery will help fight diarrhea outbreaks
• Elemental and magnetic imaging using X-rays and a microscope
• Relocating LEDs from silicon to copper enhances efficiency
• Researchers 'heal' plasma-damaged semiconductor with treatment of hydrogen radicals
• Childhood obesity linked to math performance, researcher says
• Cougars are re-populating their historical range, new study confirms
• Could roseola virus be behind epilepsy? Childhood virus infection linked to prolonged seizures with fever
• Regenerated cells may restore vision after corneal dysfunction
• New discoveries with language learning robots
• Training character strengths makes you happy
• Pitcher plant uses rain drops to capture prey

Catching some rays: Organic solar cells make a leap forward Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:27 PM PDT Organic solar cells are becoming more efficient thanks to a new set of discoveries that alter their behaviors at the electronic level.

Breast milk kills HIV and blocks its oral transmission in humanized mouse Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:27 PM PDT Although breastfeeding is attributed to a significant number of HIV infections in infants, most breastfed babies are not infected with HIV, despite prolonged and repeated exposure. HIV researchers have been left with a conundrum: does breast milk transmit the virus or protect against it? New research explores this paradox in a humanized mouse model, demonstrating that breast milk has a strong virus killing effect and protects against oral transmission of HIV.

Seven of ten commuters using Capital Bikeshare forgo helmet use Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:27 PM PDT Cyclists in Washington, DC who use Capital Bikeshare for their daily commutes are much less likely to wear helmets than commuters on their own bikes. That is the finding from an observational study that compares the rate of helmet use of casual and commuting Bikeshare riders with private cyclists.

Virtual colonoscopy without laxative equals standard OC in identifying clinically significant polyps Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:26 PM PDT Computed tomographic colonography (CTC), also known as virtual colonoscopy, administered without laxatives is as accurate as conventional colonoscopy in detecting clinically significant, potentially cancerous polyps, according to a new study.

Six new stem cell lines now publicly available Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:26 PM PDT Six new human embryonic stem cell lines have just been placed on the NIH registry, making the cells available for federally-funded research.

How aging normal cells fuel tumor growth and metastasis Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:25 PM PDT Researchers have shown that senescence (aging cells which lose their ability to divide) and autophagy (self-eating or self-cannibalism) in the surrounding normal cells of a tumor are essentially two sides of the same coin, acting as "food" to fuel cancer cell growth and metastasis.

Hidden vitamin in milk yields remarkable health benefits Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:25 PM PDT A novel form of vitamin B3 found in milk in small quantities produces remarkable health benefits in mice when high doses are administered, according to a new study.

A toothy grin or angry snarl makes it easy to stand out in a crowd: Visible teeth are key Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:25 PM PDT Scientists have found new evidence that people spot a face in the crowd more quickly when teeth are visible — whether smiling or grimacing — than a face with a particular facial expression. The new findings counters the long held "face-in -the-crowd" effect that suggests only angry looking faces are detected more readily in a crowd.

Soft drink consumption not the major contributor to childhood obesity, study says Posted: 14 Jun 2012 12:22 PM PDT Most children and youth who consume soft drinks and other sweetened beverages, such as fruit punch and lemonade, are not at any higher risk for obesity than their peers who drink healthy beverages, says a new study.

Uranium-series dating reveals Iberian paintings are Europe's oldest cave art Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:28 AM PDT Paleolithic paintings in El Castillo cave in Northern Spain date back at least 40,800 years -- making them Europe's oldest known cave art, according to new research. Scientists found that the practice of cave art in Europe began up to 10,000 years earlier than previously thought, indicating the paintings were created either by the first anatomically modern humans in Europe or, perhaps, by Neanderthals.

Grasshoppers frightened by spiders affect whole ecosystem Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:27 AM PDT Grasshoppers 'stressed' by spiders affect the productivity of our soil. A grasshopper who is in fear of an attacker, such as a spider, will enter a situation of stress and will consume a greater quantity of carbohydrate-rich plants -- similar to humans under stress who might eat more sweets.

Environmental factors spread obesity, study shows Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:12 AM PDT A new study of the spatial patterns of the spread of obesity suggests America's bulging waistlines may have more to do with collective behavior than genetics or individual choices. The team found correlations between the epidemic's geography and food marketing and distribution patterns.

Tense film scenes trigger brain activity Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:12 AM PDT Visual and auditory stimuli that elicit high levels of engagement and emotional response can be linked to reliable patterns of brain activity, a team of researchers reports. Their findings could lead to new ways for producers of films, television programs and commercials to predict what kinds of scenes their audiences will respond to.

Engineers perfecting carbon nanotubes for highly energy-efficient computing Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:12 AM PDT Carbon nanotubes represent a significant departure from traditional silicon technologies and offer a promising path to solving the challenge of energy efficiency in computer circuits, but they aren't without challenges. Now, engineers have found ways around the challenges to produce the first full-wafer digital logic structures based on carbon nanotubes.

Atomic-resolution view of a receptor reveals how stomach bacterium avoids acid Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:12 AM PDT Scientists have discovered how the bacterium Helicobacter pylori navigates through the acidic stomach, opening up new possibilities to inactivate its disease-causing ability without using current strategies that often fail or are discontinued because of side effects.

Lessons learned from the 'ethical odyssey' of an HIV trial Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT HIV Prevention Trials Network 052 established that antiretroviral treatment in people who are HIV positive decreases the likelihood of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners. It serves as a case study of ethical challenges faced at every stage of the research trial process.

Quirky fruit fly gene could point way to new cancer drugs Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT Researchers are taking advantage of a quirk in the evolution of fruit fly genes to help develop new weapons against cancer.

Single-track sustainability 'solutions' threaten people and planet, experts say Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT The targets, indicators and approaches being used to pursue progress towards sustainable development at Rio+20 are counter-productive, say scientists in a new paper. Three renowned sustainability institutes argue that global and grassroots innovations must be connected to avoid breaching planetary boundaries and reversing progress on poverty reduction.

Fragile X gene's prevalence suggests broader health risk Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT The first US population prevalence study of mutations in the gene that causes fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual disability, suggests the mutation in the gene -- and its associated health risks -- may be more common than previously believed.

Link between metabolic disorders and Alzheimer's disease examined Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT No effective treatments are currently available for the prevention or cure of Alzheimer's disease, the most frequent form of dementia in the elderly. Increasingly, scientists are looking toward other risk factors to identify preventive and therapeutic strategies. Much attention recently has focused on the metabolic syndrom, with a strong and growing body of research suggesting that metabolic disorders and obesity may play a role in the development of dementia.

New action for ancient heart drug Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:11 AM PDT Researchers have revealed that digoxin, the active ingredient in the poisonous plant Foxglove, can enhance the body's own protective mechanism against high blood pressure and heart failure.

Two warmest winter months in Midwest, U.S. history may have connection Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:10 AM PDT This past March was the second warmest winter month ever recorded in the Midwest, with temperatures 15 degrees above average. The only other winter month that was warmer was December of 1889, during which temperatures were 18 degrees above average. Now, researchers may have discovered why the weather patterns during these two winter months, separated by 123 years, were so similar. The answer could help scientists develop more accurate weather prediction models.

Switchable nano magnets may revolutionize data storage: Magnetism of individual molecules switched Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:10 AM PDT Using individual molecules instead of electronic or magnetic memory cells would revolutionize data storage technology, as molecular memories could be thousand-fold smaller. Scientists have now taken a big step toward developing such molecular data storage.

Bodybuilding myth debunked: Growth-promoting hormones don't stimulate strength Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:09 AM PDT New research reveals exercise-related testosterone and growth hormone do not play an influential role in building muscle after weightlifting, despite conventional wisdom suggesting otherwise. The findings indicate that bodybuilders who look to manipulate those hormones through exercise routines are wasting their time.

Warm climate -- cold Arctic? Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:09 AM PDT The Eemian interglacial period that began some 125,000 years ago is often used as a model for contemporary climate change. Scientists have presented evidence that the Eemian differed in essential details from modern climatic conditions.

Gene may link diabetes and Alzheimer's Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:09 AM PDT In recent years it became clear that people with diabetes face an ominous prospect -- a far greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Now researchers have shed light on one reason why. Biologists have discovered that a single gene forms a common link between the two diseases.

Plant poison turns seed-eating mouse into seed spitter Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:09 AM PDT In Israel's Negev Desert, a plant called sweet mignonette or taily weed uses a toxic "mustard oil bomb" to make the spiny mouse spit out the plant's seeds when eating the fruit. Thus, the plant has turned a seed-eating rodent into a seed spreader that helps the plant reproduce, says a new study.

Optical displays from water and air Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:08 AM PDT For many years, scientists have been pursuing ways to mimic the perplexing capability of the lotus leaf to repel water. Lotus leaves hate water so much that droplets effortlessly roll off the surface, keeping it clean from dirt. Now an international team of researchers have come up with an entirely new concept of writing and displaying information on surfaces using simply water.  They exploit the unique way a trapped layer of air behaves on a lotus-inspired dual-structured water-repelling surface immersed under water.

Theory on metastasis goes beyond metaphor to mathematics Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:06 AM PDT A unifying theory on the causes of cancer metastases has been proposed. Using the metaphorical hypothesis of "seed" and "soil" -- that cancer is the seed and the soil is the site of metastasis -- researchers fault the metaphor's utility by saying that just how the seeds are "sown" in the soil is still a big question to which there have been no metaphorical or practical answers.

Folic acid intake during early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of autism in offspring Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:41 AM PDT Women who consume the recommended daily dosage of folic acid, the synthetic form of folate or vitamin B-9, during the first month of pregnancy may have a reduced risk of having a child with autism.

Mindful multitasking: Meditation first can calm stress, aid concentration Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:41 AM PDT Need to do some serious multitasking? Some training in meditation beforehand could make the work smoother and less stressful, new research shows.

Still capable of adapting: Genetic diversity of 'living fossil' coelacanths Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:41 AM PDT The morphology of coelacanths has not fundamentally changed since the Devonian age, that is, for about 400 million years. Nevertheless, these animals known as living fossils are able to genetically adapt to their environment.

A trick of perspective: Chance alignment mimics a cosmic collision Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:39 AM PDT The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has produced a highly detailed image of a pair of overlapping galaxies called NGC 3314. While the two galaxies look as if they are in the midst of a collision, this is in fact a trick of perspective: the two just happen to appear in the same direction from our vantage point.

Aquarius, NASA's salt-mapping instrument, marks first birthday Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:54 AM PDT Aquarius, NASA's pioneering instrument to measure ocean surface salinity from orbit, launched a year ago (on June 10, 2011) aboard the Argentine Space Agency's Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas (SAC-D) observatory. Designed to advance our understanding of what changes in the saltiness of the ocean's top layer say about the water cycle and variations in climate, the mission has had a busy first year.

Cassini sees tropical lakes on Saturn's moon Titan Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:35 AM PDT NASA's Cassini spacecraft has spied long-standing methane lakes, or puddles, in the "tropics" of Saturn's moon Titan. One of the tropical lakes appears to be about half the size of Utah's Great Salt Lake, with a depth of at least 3 feet (1 meter). The result, which is a new analysis of Cassini data, is unexpected because models had assumed the long-standing bodies of liquid would only exist at the poles.

Most older pedestrians are unable to cross the road in time Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:27 AM PDT Researchers have compared the walking speed of the older population in the UK with the speed required to use a pedestrian crossing. It found that the mean walking speed of participants in the Health Survey for England was 0.9 meters per second for older men and 0.8 meters per second for older women, which is much below the speed required to use a pedestrian crossing in the UK.

Virtual sailing gives competitors the edge Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:27 AM PDT Scientists have shown how virtual simulation can be used to accurately predict how a yacht will behave during a race.

Genetic discovery will help fight diarrhea outbreaks Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:27 AM PDT Researchers have discovered unexpectedly large genetic differences between two similar species of the pathogenic Cryptosporidium parasite.

Elemental and magnetic imaging using X-rays and a microscope Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:27 AM PDT A team of researchers has developed a new microscope that can image the elemental and magnetic properties of a wide range of energy-important materials that are used in devices such as solar cells and solid-state lighting.

Relocating LEDs from silicon to copper enhances efficiency Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT Chinese researchers have succeeded in transferring gallium nitride (GaN) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) grown on a layer of silicon to a layer of copper. In comparison with LEDs on silicon substrates, the light output of LEDs on copper was enhanced by 122 percent.

Researchers 'heal' plasma-damaged semiconductor with treatment of hydrogen radicals Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT Researchers have developed and tested a new way to heal defects in gallium nitride (GaN), a highly promising material for a wide range of optical and high-power electronic devices.

Childhood obesity linked to math performance, researcher says Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT Children's weight is associated with their math performance, a new study shows. When compared with children who were never obese, boys and girls whose obesity persisted from the start of kindergarten through fifth grade performed worse on the math tests, starting in first grade. Their lower performance continued through fifth grade.

Cougars are re-populating their historical range, new study confirms Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT American mountain lions, or cougars, are re-emerging in areas of the United States, reversing 100 years of decline. The evidence raises new conservation questions, such as how humans can live alongside the returning predators.

Could roseola virus be behind epilepsy? Childhood virus infection linked to prolonged seizures with fever Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT New research shows that human herpesviruses (HHV)-6B and HHV-7, commonly know as roseola virus), account for one third of febrile status epilepticus cases. Results suggest that HHV-6B may be involved in the development of epilepsy and further research is urgently needed.

Regenerated cells may restore vision after corneal dysfunction Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:26 AM PDT Efforts to treat disorders of the corneal endothelium, a single cell layer on the inner surface of the cornea, with regenerative techniques have been less effective. Now, a group of scientists has developed a method that enhances the adhesion of injected corneal endothelial cells, allowing for successful corneal transplantation to repair pathological dysfunctions.

New discoveries with language learning robots Posted: 14 Jun 2012 04:49 AM PDT Robots can develop basic language skills through interaction with a human, according to new results.

Training character strengths makes you happy Posted: 14 Jun 2012 04:49 AM PDT Anyone who trains character strengths increases their sense of wellbeing, a large-scale study conducted by a team of psychologists from the University of Zurich has concluded. It proved for the first time that this kind of training works. The largest impact was evident in training the strengths "curiosity", "gratitude", "optimism", "humor" and "enthusiasm".

Pitcher plant uses rain drops to capture prey Posted: 13 Jun 2012 03:40 PM PDT During heavy rain, the lid of Nepenthes gracilis pitchers acts like a springboard, catapulting insects that seek shelter on its underside directly into the fluid-filled pitcher, new research has found.

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