Friday 22 June 2012

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


How stress can boost immune system

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 07:35 PM PDT

Scientist have tracked the trajectories of key immune cells in response to short-term stress and traced, in great detail, how hormones triggered by such stress enhance immune readiness. The study, conducted in rats, adds weight to evidence that immune responsiveness is heightened, rather than suppressed as many believe, by the so-called "fight-or-flight" response.

Preventing or better managing diabetes may prevent cognitive decline

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 04:59 PM PDT

Preventing diabetes or delaying its onset has been thought to stave off cognitive decline -- a connection strongly supported by the results of a nine-year study.

Dad's brains mean more to his son's success than his money: Study

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 04:59 PM PDT

Sons of fathers with high incomes tend to end up with higher than average incomes themselves, but new research shows that it's not just dad's money that helps a son on his way.

Proximity of new planets stuns even astronomers

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT

One is a rocky planet 1.5 times the size of Earth. The other is a gaseous world nearly four times Earth's size. Together they form a spectacular system in which two planets orbit closer to each other than any yet discovered.

Avian flu viruses which are transmissible between humans could evolve in nature

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 12:15 PM PDT

It might be possible for human-to-human airborne transmissible avian H5N1 influenza viruses to evolve in nature, new research has found.

Top predators key to extinctions as planet warms

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Global warming may cause more extinctions than predicted if scientists fail to account for interactions among species in their models, researchers argue in a new article.

Study of phase change materials could lead to better computer memory

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Memory devices for computers require a large collection of components that can switch between two states, which represent the ones and zeros of binary language. Engineers hope to make next-generation chips with materials that distinguish between these states by physically rearranging their atoms into different phases. Researchers have now provided new insight into how this phase change happens, which could help engineers make memory storage devices faster and more efficient.

Researchers tune the strain in graphene drumheads to create quantum dots

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Researchers have shown that they can tune the strain in graphene suspended like drumheads over microscopic holes in a substrate of silicon oxide using the tip of an advanced scanning probe microscope and a conducting plate below the substrate. Tuning the strain enabled the group to create areas in the graphene where electrons behaved as though they were confined to quantum dots.

Immune system molecule weaves cobweb-like nanonets to snag Salmonella, other intestinal microbes

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Scientists have found that human alpha-defensin 6 (HD6) -- a key component of the body's innate defense system -- binds to microbial surfaces and forms "nanonets" that surround, entangle and disable microbes, preventing bacteria from attaching to or invading intestinal cells.

Arctic climate more vulnerable than thought, maybe linked to Antarctic ice-sheet behavior

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 12:15 PM PDT

First analyses of the longest sediment core ever collected on land in the Arctic provide dramatic, "astonishing" documentation that intense warm intervals, warmer than scientists thought possible, occurred there over the past 2.8 million years. Further, these extreme inter-glacial warm periods correspond closely with times when parts of Antarctica were ice-free and also warm, suggesting strong inter-hemispheric climate connectivity. The Polar Regions are much more vulnerable to change than once believed, they add.

New cause of spinal muscular atrophy described

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 12:13 PM PDT

Scientists have discovered that a commonly held assumption is wrong and that a separate role of the SMN gene – still not completely elucidated -- is likely responsible for the disease's manifestations.

Could Mars have sustained life? Extensive water in Mars' interior

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 11:14 AM PDT

Until now, Earth was the only planet known to have vast reservoirs of water in its interior. Scientists analyzed the water content of two Martian meteorites and found that the amount of water in places of the Martian mantle is vastly larger than previous estimates and is similar to that of Earth's. The results affect our understanding about Martian geologic history, how water got to the Martian surface, and whether Mars could have sustained life.

Elephant seals help uncover slower-than-expected Antarctic melting

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 11:13 AM PDT

A team of scientists have drilled holes through an Antarctic ice shelf, the Fimbul Ice Shelf, to gather the first direct measurements regarding melting of the shelf's underside. A group of elephant seals, outfitted with sensors that measure salinity, temperature, and depth sensors added fundamental information to the scientists' data set, which led the researchers to conclude that parts of eastern Antarctica are melting at significantly lower rates than current models predict.

Waves of responders deploy omics to track Deepwater Horizon cleanup microbes

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 11:13 AM PDT

In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico two years ago, a team of researchers found that marine microbial communities also played a role in the dispersal process.

Stopping and starting cancer cell cycle weakens and defeats multiple myeloma

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 11:13 AM PDT

Researchers have devised an innovative boxer-like strategy, based on the serial use of two anti-cancer drugs, to deliver a one-two punch to first weaken the defenses of multiple myeloma and then deliver the final knock-out punch to win the fight.

Astronomers spy two planets in tight quarters as they orbit a distant star

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 11:13 AM PDT

Astronomers have discovered a bigger version of Earth locked in an orbital tug-of-war with a much larger, Neptune-sized planet as they orbit very close to each other around the same star.

Parents -- not TV -- may determine whether kids are active or couch potatoes

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:07 AM PDT

Researchers at Oregon State University have confirmed what we knew all along -- children in this country are increasingly sedentary, spending too much time sitting and looking at electronic screens. But it's not necessarily because of the newest gee-whiz gadgets -- parents play a major factor in whether young children are on the move.

Common blood pressure drug linked to severe gastrointestinal problems

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:07 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered an association between a commonly prescribed blood pressure drug, Olmesartan, and severe gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and electrolyte abnormalities -- symptoms common among those who have celiac disease.

Lab-engineered kidney project reaches early milestone

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:07 AM PDT

Regenerative medicine researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have reached an early milestone in a long-term project that aims to build replacement kidneys in the lab to help solve the shortage of donor organs.

Focusing on water for Central Everglades essential to reversing whole ecosystem's continuing decline

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:07 AM PDT

Twelve years into a multibillion-dollar state and federal effort to save the Florida Everglades, little progress has been made in restoring the core of the ecosystem, says a new congressionally mandated report.

Racial and gender profiling can affect outcome of traffic stops

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:07 AM PDT

Racial profiling can involve an additional factor: Gender. A researcher is analyzing police actions during routine traffic stops to understand how race and gender are connected.

Nano-infused paint can detect strain

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:07 AM PDT

Nanotube-infused paint can reveal strain in materials by its fluorescence. The material holds promise for detecting strain in aircraft, bridges and buildings.

New anti-inflammatory drugs pinch off reactive oxygen species at the source

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:07 AM PDT

Scientists have identified a new type of anti-inflammatory compound that may be useful in treating a wide range of conditions, including neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. These compounds inhibit the enzyme Nox2, part of a family of enzymes responsible for producing reactive oxygen species.

Enzyme offers new therapeutic target for cancer drugs

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:06 AM PDT

Researchers have uncovered a new signal transduction pathway specifically devoted to the regulation of alternative RNA splicing, a process that allows a single gene to produce or code multiple types of protein variants. The discovery suggests the new pathway might be a fruitful target for new cancer drugs.

Genomics and African queens: Diversity within Ethiopian genomes reveals imprints of historical events

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:06 AM PDT

Researchers have started to unveil the genetic heritage of Ethiopian populations, who are among the most diverse in the world, and lie at the gateway from Africa. They found that the genomes of some Ethiopian populations bear striking similarities to those of populations in Israel and Syria, a potential genetic legacy of the Queen of Sheba and her companions.

Our microbes, ourselves: Billions of bacteria within, essential for immune function, are ours alone

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:06 AM PDT

Gut bacteria's key role in immunity is tuned to the host species, suggesting that the superabundant microbes lining our digestive tract are ultimately our evolutionary partners. This study, the first to demonstrate that microbes are specific to their host species, also sheds light on what's called the hygiene hypothesis.

New candidate drug stops cancer cells, regenerates nerve cells

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:06 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a small-molecule-inhibiting drug that in early laboratory cell tests stopped breast cancer cells from spreading and also promoted the growth of early nerve cells called neurites. The scientists named their lead drug candidate "Rhosin" and hope future testing shows it to be promising for the treatment of various cancers or nervous system damage.

Functional links between autism and genes explained

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:06 AM PDT

A pioneering report of genome-wide gene expression in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) finds genetic changes that help explain why one person has an ASD and another does not. The study, pinpoints ASD risk factors by comparing changes in gene expression with DNA mutation data in the same individuals. This innovative approach is likely to pave the way for future personalized medicine, not just for ASD but also for any disease with a genetic component.

Spiders enlisted in fight against woodworms: Could they also help control malaria?

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 09:55 AM PDT

Property owners who need to banish destructive woodworm could have an eight-legged alternative to chemical sprays that are potentially dangerous and only partially effective.  They could enlist the aid of very special spiders that will seek and devour the destructive grubs. And a further, exciting possibility is that malaria could be curtailed by the creatures.

The 'Truman Show' delusion: Life as a reality TV show

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 09:54 AM PDT

Over the last decade, millions of words have been written about the effect of 'Reality TV' on our cultural and social lives. Much less discussed are the possible interior ramifications such forms of broadcasting can have on our minds. A vital new investigation into this subject has just been published.

Giant Ibex lived in the Southern Pyrenees after the Ice Age

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 09:54 AM PDT

The sub-species of the Iberian mountain goat Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica became extinct in the year 2000 before its biological and phytogenetic characteristics could be explored in depth. A new study has shed light on their size, origin and post-Ice environmental conditions after discovering three skull fossils from between 4,000 and 7,000 years ago in the southwest of the Pyrenees.

DNA used to identify deceased along Texas-Mexico border

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 09:49 AM PDT

Baylor professor organizes a field school to a Texas border town to exhume bodies of those that died while crossing the border for the purpose of identification and repatriation to Mexico.

Protein may be key to psoriasis and wound care

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 09:49 AM PDT

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder in which skin cells proliferate out of control. For some hard-to-heal wounds, the problem is just the opposite: Restorative skin cells don't grow well or fast enough. Researchers now describe a molecule that may lead to new treatments for both problems.

Stagnating life expectancies in United States: Poorer U.S. citizens live five years less than the affluent

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 08:34 AM PDT

Despite modest gains in lifespan over the past century, the United States still trails many of the world's countries when it comes to life expectancy, and its poorest citizens live approximately five years less than more affluent persons, according to a new study.

Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' predictions feature uncertainty

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 08:34 AM PDT

Scientists are predicting that this year's Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone could range from a low of approximately 1,197 square miles to as much as 6,213 square miles. The wide range is the result of using two different forecast models. The forecast is based on Mississippi River nutrient inputs compiled annually by the US Geological Survey.

Graphene Research: Trapping light in a carbon net

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 08:33 AM PDT

Graphene, an ordered monolayer of carbon, is the thinnest substance known, and yet has extraordinary mechanical strength. A new study shows that its two-dimensional network of atoms can even trap light.

Misidentified and contaminated cell lines lead to faulty cancer science, experts say

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 07:20 AM PDT

Due to a high rate of contamination, misidentification and redundancy in widely available cell lines, researchers may be drawing faulty conclusions, experts say.

Tracking stem cells in the body

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 07:20 AM PDT

Researchers have developed new methods to track stem cells and further understanding of what happens to them after they have been in the body for a significant period of time.

A virtual look at the zebrafish brain

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 07:20 AM PDT

Scientists have long dreamed of being able to grasp the brain as a whole rather than just understanding the function of individual nerve cells. Researchers have now taken a big step toward making this dream a reality. The researchers developed microscopic imaging techniques and software for observing and comparing all of the genes of the zebrafish brain, and thus also the factors influencing its nerve cells, in a three-dimensional virtual model.

Drug study shows clubbers have little interest in new wave legal highs

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 07:20 AM PDT

Clubbers show little interest in the subsequent wave of legal highs that have become available since mephedrone was banned, according to a new study.

Darwin’s principles say cancer will always evolve to resist treatment

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 07:19 AM PDT

Cancer is subject to the evolutionary processes laid out by Charles Darwin in his concept of natural selection, experts say. Natural selection was the process identified by Darwin by which nature selects certain physical attributes, or phenotypes, to pass on to offspring to better "fit" the organism to the environment.

Microelectronics: Two at a time

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 07:18 AM PDT

A new design reduces the areal footprint of nanowire transistors by a factor of two. Scientists have now integrated two transistors onto a single vertical silicon nanowire, pushing the areal density limit of nanowire transistors even further.

Eating disorder behaviors and weight concerns are common in women over 50

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 04:09 AM PDT

Eating disorders are commonly seen as an issue faced by teenagers and young women, but a new study reveals that age is no barrier to disordered eating. In women aged 50 and over, 3.5 percent report binge eating, nearly eight percent report purging, and more than 70 percent are trying to lose weight. The study revealed that 62 percent of women claimed that their weight or shape negatively impacted on their life.

How cheetahs outpace greyhounds

Posted: 21 Jun 2012 04:09 AM PDT

Cheetahs are the high-performance sports cars of the animal kingdom, but how do they outstrip other elite athletes when using the same sprint technique? Biologists compared the performance of captive cheetahs and greyhounds and found that in addition to increasing their stride frequency, the cheetahs spend longer in contact with the ground, probably to protect their limbs from stress fractures at high speed.

How active is your child really?

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 06:32 PM PDT

Children younger than eight need to be targeted to make sure they lead more active lives to combat our obesity time-bomb, researchers say. Their new study reveals that children are not spending enough time being active and that girls are already becoming more sedentary than boys by the age of eight.

Drug combo can block mother-to-infant HIV transmission, study suggests

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 06:28 PM PDT

A two- or three-drug combination given within 48 hours of birth to infants born of HIV-positive mothers can reduce the risk of intrapartum HIV acquisition by about half, compared to AZT alone.

'Brain pacemaker' effective for years against Parkinson's disease

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 01:24 PM PDT

A "brain pacemaker" called deep brain stimulation remains an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease for at least three years.

Omega-3 lowers inflammation in overweight older adults

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 12:39 PM PDT

New research shows that omega-3 fatty acid supplements can lower inflammation in healthy, but overweight, middle-aged and older adults, suggesting that regular use of these supplements could help protect against and treat certain illnesses.

Thursday 21 June 2012

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Carcinogens linked to cancer stem cells, but spinach can help

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 06:32 PM PDT

Researchers for the first time have traced the actions of a known carcinogen in cooked meat to its complex biological effects on microRNA and cancer stem cells. They also found that spinach can help prevent some of the damage done by this carcinogen.

Turning down the dial: Ocean energy development with less sound

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 06:30 PM PDT

A new laboratory test can help limit the injuries fish receive from loud, underwater booms created during pile driving, the practice of pounding long, hollow steel piles into the ocean floor to erect structures such as tidal energy turbines.

Apple peel compound boosts brown fat, reduces obesity in mice

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 06:28 PM PDT

Obesity and its associated problems such as diabetes and fatty liver disease are increasingly common global health concerns. A new study shows that a natural substance found in apple peel can partially protect mice from obesity and some of its harmful effects.

Discovery increases understanding how bacteria spread

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 01:24 PM PDT

A researcher is moving closer to understanding how infection is caused by the spread of bacteria.

Scientists gain understanding of self-cleaning gecko foot hair

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 01:24 PM PDT

Wall-climbing robots, bioadhesives or other sticky substances can benefit greatly from a recent discovery about the self-cleaning and reuse abilities of a gecko. The sticky yet clean attribute of this discovery is the gecko toe pad and its ability to repeatedly attach and detach to a surface.

Children exposed to HIV in the womb at increased risk for hearing loss

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 12:40 PM PDT

Children exposed to HIV in the womb may be more likely to experience hearing loss by age 16 than are their unexposed peers.

Role of cellular protein demonstrated in regulation of binge eating

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 12:40 PM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated in experimental models that blocking the Sigma-1 receptor, a cellular protein, reduced binge eating and caused binge eaters to eat more slowly.

'Master molecule' may improve stem cell treatment of heart attacks

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 12:39 PM PDT

A single protein molecule may hold the key to turning cardiac stem cells into blood vessels or muscle tissue, a finding that may lead to better ways to treat heart attack patients.

Muscular dystrophy: MG53 protein is shown to repair cell and tissue damage

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 12:38 PM PDT

Throughout the lifecycle, injury to the body's cells occurs naturally, as well as through trauma. Cells have the ability to repair and regenerate themselves, but a defect in the repair process can lead to cardiovascular, neurological, muscular or pulmonary diseases. Recent discoveries of key genes that control cell repair have advanced the often painstaking search for ways to enhance the repair process. A new study reports that the protein MG53, previously shown to be the key initiator in the cell membrane repair process, has the potential to be used directly as a therapeutic approach to treating traumatic tissue damage.

Asymmetry may provide clue to superconductivity

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:33 AM PDT

Physicists are reporting intriguing new details regarding the quirky electronic properties of high-temperature superconductors (HTS). They discovered an asymmetric electronic order that extends into the superconducting temperature range in a recently discovered iron-based HTS. The asymmetric feature also bears a striking resemblance to the "pseudogap" order found in copper-based HTSs.

What motivates generosity? Researchers study Muslims and Catholics

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:32 AM PDT

Generosity is accepted and encouraged as a practice, but the reasons behind the behavior are not well understood. Researchers are exploring what motivates people to be generous and how religion influences their actions.

Structure of RNAi complex now crystal clear

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:32 AM PDT

Researchers have determined and analyzed the crystal structure of a yeast Argonaute protein bound to RNA, which plays a key role in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway that silences genes.

Researchers estimate ice content of crater at moon's south pole

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:11 AM PDT

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft has returned data that indicate ice may make up as much as 22 percent of the surface material in a crater located on the moon's south pole. The team of NASA and university scientists using laser light from LRO's laser altimeter examined the floor of Shackleton crater. They found the crater's floor is brighter than those of other nearby craters, which is consistent with the presence of small amounts of ice. This information will help researchers understand crater formation and study other uncharted areas of the moon.

Trouble on the horizon for genetically modified crops?

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT

Pests are adapting to genetically modified crops in unexpected ways, including dominant resistance not previously observed in the lab, researchers have discovered. The findings underscore the importance of closely monitoring and countering pest resistance to biotech crops.

Healthy muscle mass linked to healthy bones, but there are gender differences

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT

A new study looked at skeletal muscle mass and bone health across the life span and discovered distinct differences in how muscle affects the two layers of bone in men and women.

Soon after the Big Bang, heavier elements emerge: Tin-100, a doubly magic nucleus

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT

A few minutes after the Big Bang the universe contained no other elements than hydrogen and helium. Physicists have now succeeded in producing tin-100, a very unstable yet important element for understanding the formation of heavier elements.

New drugs, new ways to target androgens in prostate cancer therapy

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT

Prostate cancer cells require androgens including testosterone to grow. A recent review describes new classes of drugs that target androgens in novel ways, providing alternatives to the traditional methods that frequently carry high side effects.

Respect matters more than money for happiness in life

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT

New research suggests that overall happiness in life is more related to how much you are respected and admired by those around you, not to the status that comes from how much money you have stashed in your bank account.

Online weight loss programs that feature successful dieters may help

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT

A Web-based program featuring successful strategies of others who have lost weight may be an effective strategy for weight loss, according to researchers.

All things big and small: The brain's discerning taste for size

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT

The brain organizes objects based on their physical size, with a specific region of the brain reserved for recognizing large objects and another reserved for small objects, according to a new article. These findings could have major implications for fields like robotics, and could lead to a greater understanding of how the brain organizes and maps information.

Graphene is a tunable plasmonic medium

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT

With a beam of infrared light, scientists have sent ripples of electrons along the surface of graphene and demonstrated that they can control the length and height of these oscillations, called plasmons, using a simple electrical circuit. This is the first time anyone has observed plasmons on graphene, sheets of carbon just one atom thick, and an important step toward using plasmons to process and transmit information in spaces too tight to use light.

Chemical analysis of pottery reveals first dairying in Saharan Africa nearly 7,000 years ago

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:31 AM PDT

The first unequivocal evidence that humans in prehistoric Saharan Africa used cattle for their milk nearly 7,000 years ago is described in new research.

Megapixel camera? Try gigapixel

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:31 AM PDT

By synchronizing 98 tiny cameras in a single device, electrical engineers have developed a prototype camera that can create images with unprecedented detail. The camera's resolution is five times better than 20/20 human vision over a 120 degree horizontal field. The new camera has the potential to capture up to 50 gigapixels of data, which is 50,000 megapixels. By comparison, most consumer cameras are capable of taking photographs with sizes ranging from 8 to 40 megapixels.

How humans predict other's decisions

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:31 AM PDT

Researchers have uncovered two brain signals in the human prefrontal cortex involved in how humans predict the decisions of other people. Their results suggest that the two signals, each located in distinct prefrontal circuits, strike a balance between expected and observed rewards and choices, enabling humans to predict the actions of people with different values than their own.

Taming light with graphene

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:30 AM PDT

Scientists have visualized the trapping and confinement of light on graphene, making a sheet of carbon atoms the most promising candidate for optical information processing on the nano-scale, optical detection, and ultrafast optoelectronics.

Poor role models: Children say two-thirds of parents do 'almost no physical activity'

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:30 AM PDT

Children who said their parents do almost no physical activity have a 50 per cent greater risk of being unfit than children with more physically active parents, according to new research.

Molecule thought cancer foe actually helps thyroid tumors grow

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:29 AM PDT

A molecule widely believed to fight many forms of cancer actually helps deadly thyroid tumors grow, and cancer therapies now being tested in humans might boost the activity of this newly revealed bad guy, researchers say.

Scientists identify protein required to regrow injured nerves in limbs

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:29 AM PDT

A protein required to regrow injured peripheral nerves has been identified. The finding, in mice, has implications for improving recovery after nerve injury in the extremities. It also opens new avenues of investigation toward triggering nerve regeneration in the central nervous system, notorious for its inability to heal.

Proposed drug may reverse Huntington's disease symptoms: Single treatment gives long-term improvement in animals

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:29 AM PDT

With a single drug treatment, researchers can silence the mutated gene responsible for Huntington's disease, slowing and partially reversing progression of the fatal neurodegenerative disorder in animal models.

Melting sea ice threatens emperor penguins

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 08:33 AM PDT

At nearly four feet tall, the Emperor penguin is Antarctica's largest sea bird -- and thanks to films like "March of the Penguins" and "Happy Feet," it's also one of the continent's most iconic. If global temperatures continue to rise, however, the Emperor penguins in Terre Adélie, in East Antarctica may eventually disappear, according to a new study.

Preserved frogs hold clues to deadly pathogen

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 08:32 AM PDT

A graduate student has developed a novel means for charting the history of a pathogen deadly to amphibians worldwide.

Gold nanoparticles capable of 'unzipping' DNA

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 08:32 AM PDT

Gold nanoparticles with a slight positive charge work collectively to unravel DNA's double helix. This finding has ramifications for gene therapy research and the emerging field of DNA-based electronics.

Nano-pesticides: Solution or threat for a cleaner and greener agriculture?

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 08:32 AM PDT

Research is urgently needed to evaluate the risks and benefits of nano-pesticides to human and environmental health. Scientists recently performed an extensive analysis of this emerging field of research. The study presents the current scientific state of art on nano-pesticides and identifies direction priorities for future research.

Stars, jets and batteries: Multi-faceted magnetic phenomenon confirmed in the laboratory for the first time

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 08:32 AM PDT

Magnetic instabilities play a crucial role in the emergence of black holes and other cosmic phenomena. The confirmation of such a magnetic instability – the Tayler instability – was successfully achieved for the first time. The findings should be able to facilitate construction of large liquid-metal batteries, which are under discussion as cheap storage facilities for renewable energy.

Earliest record of mating fossil vertebrates: Nine pairs of fossilized turtles died while mating 47 million years ago

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 08:31 AM PDT

The fossil record consists mostly of the fragmentary remains of ancient animals and plants. But some finds can provide spectacular insights into the life and environment of ancient organisms. Scientists have just discovered nine pairs of fossilized turtles that perished in the act of mating.

Health check for European streams

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 08:31 AM PDT

In a unique field experiment, ten research groups from nine different countries have studied the ecological status of 100 streams across Europe. This was the first study to make extensive use of leaf-litter breakdown as an assessment method.

Surgery 'Reanimates' smile in patients with facial paralysis

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 08:30 AM PDT

A surgical technique using a muscle flap from the thigh restores facial motion —- and the ability to smile —- in patients with facial nerve paralysis resulting from neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), reports a new study.

What's your name again? Lack of interest, not brain's ability, may be why we forget

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 08:30 AM PDT

We've all been there: Meeting someone new and seconds later forgetting his or her name. According to an expert, it's not necessarily your brain that determines how well we remember names, but rather our level of interest.

Confusion can be beneficial for learning

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 07:32 AM PDT

Most of us assume that confidence and certainty are preferred over uncertainty and bewilderment when it comes to learning complex information. But a new study shows that confusion when learning can be beneficial if it is properly induced, effectively regulated and ultimately resolved.

Understanding of spinal muscular atrophy improved with use of stem cells

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 07:10 AM PDT

Scientists have pioneered research on how motor-neuron cell-death occurs in patients with spinal muscular atrophy, offering an important clue in identifying potential medicines to treat this leading genetic cause of death in infants and toddlers.

Solar nanowire array may increase percentage of sun's frequencies available for energy conversion

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 07:10 AM PDT

Using a nanowire substrate to anchor advanced photovoltaic materials, researchers are able to alleviate strains between materials that otherwise would shorten life spans for photovoltaic products.

Sorghum should be in the biofuel crop mix, experts say

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 07:09 AM PDT

Sweet and biomass sorghum would meet the need for next-generation biofuels to be environmentally sustainable, easily adopted by producers and take advantage of existing agricultural infrastructure.

New clue to unexplained excited delirium deaths

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 07:08 AM PDT

Research sheds light on unexpected deaths that may be caused by an abnormal cardiac condition called Long QT Syndrome, compounded by a situation of Excited Delirium (ExD) Syndrome.

Very Large Telescope takes a close look at the War and Peace Nebula

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 05:31 AM PDT

ESO's Very Large Telescope has taken the most detailed image so far of a spectacular part of the stellar nursery called the War and Peace Nebula. The view shows many hot young stars, glowing clouds of gas and weird dust formations sculpted by ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds.

Why the vibrant city of Palmyra was located in the middle of what is now the Syrian Desert

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 05:31 AM PDT

Norwegian archaeologists have solved one of the great puzzles of the Roman Empire: Why was the vibrant city of Palmyra located in the middle of the Syrian Desert?

Risk factors for heart attack remain low seven years after gastric bypass

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 04:37 AM PDT

Total cholesterol, triglycerides and C-reactive protein levels are among 11 risk factors for heart attack that remained greatly reduced up to seven years after gastric bypass surgery, according to a new study.

Restoring streamside forests helps songbirds survive the winter in California's Central Valley

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:02 PM PDT

Restoring floodplain forests in the Central Valley of California helps songbirds survive through the winter, a finding previously substantiated only for summer nesting birds.

Assessing Olympic terrorism threats

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:01 PM PDT

Experts say that the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London in July and August represent a potential terrorist threat as the successor to the late Osama bin Laden and a medical doctor himself, struggles to regain "face" amongst extremists opposing the West.

Does background noise make consumers buy more innovative products?

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:00 PM PDT

Moderate background noise enhances creativity and makes consumers more likely to buy new and innovative products, according to a new study.

Retail therapy: Shopping to cope with future challenges

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:00 PM PDT

Consumers often shop to cope with stressful situations but they are much more selective when it comes to shopping as a way to cope with future challenges, according to a new study.

Noisy environments make young songbirds shuffle their tunes: Baby songbirds shape their species' playlist

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:59 PM PDT

iPod owners aren't the only ones who frequently shuffle their favorite tunes. Baby songbirds do it, too, a new study shows.

Resveratrol may be natural exercise performance enhancer

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:59 PM PDT

A natural compound found in some fruits, nuts and red wine may enhance exercise training and performance, demonstrates newly published medical research.

Low/moderate drinking in early pregnancy has no adverse effects on children aged five, study suggests

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:59 PM PDT

Low and moderate weekly alcohol consumption in early pregnancy is not associated with adverse neuropsychological effects in children aged five, suggests a series of new articles. However, high levels of alcohol per week were linked with a lower attention span among five year olds.

Mother goats do not forget their kids

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:59 PM PDT

Mother goats remember the calls of their kids for up to 11-17 months, scientists have found.

Eat less meat and farm efficiently to tackle climate change

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:59 PM PDT

We need to eat less meat and recycle our waste to re-balance the global carbon cycle and reduce our risk of dangerous levels of climate change. New research shows that if today's meat-eating habits continue, the predicted rise in the global population could spell ecological disaster. But changes in our lifestyle and our farming could make space for growing crops for bioenergy and carbon storage.