ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Discovery of essential genes for drug-resistant bacteria reveals new, high-value drug targets
• Feeling stressed by your job? Don’t blame your employer, study shows
• Study shows wildfires' positive and negative economic impacts
• NASA Mars rover Opportunity reveals geological mystery: Spherical objects unlike previously found 'blueberries'
• 'Memristors' based on transparent electronics offer technology of the future
• Probing matters of the heart: Stem cell differentiation study sheds light on genetic basis of heart disease
• BRCA mutations may be 'Achilles’ heel' for some metastatic breast cancers
• 'Smart bomb' investigational breast cancer regimen provides promising outcome for retired minister
• First planets found around sun-like stars in a cluster
• Healthy outlook leads to a healthy lifestyle, study suggests
• Gingko biloba does not improve cognition in multiple sclerosis patients, study finds
• Getting (drugs) under your skin: Using ultrasound waves, researchers boost skin's permeability to drugs
• X-rays reveal the self-defence mechanisms of bacteria
• Researchers find our inner reptile hearts
• Diabetes drug could help fight Alzheimer's disease, study reveals
• How common gene mutation affects kids with autism spectrum disorders
• Surgery has a more profound effect than anesthesia on brain pathology and cognition in Alzheimer's animal model
• Sleep researchers study value of preschool naps
• Reduced sea ice: Fewer consequences than anticipated?
• Majority of U.S. schools not ready for next pandemic, researchers say
• X-rays unravel mysterious degradation of Van Gogh painting: Protective varnish caused discoloration
• Obesity more common among rural residents than urban counterparts, study finds
• Pinball as a model for dealing with grief
• New test to crack down on athlete-cheating with drugs
• Second-hand smoking affects neurodevelopment in babies
• Disorder of neuronal circuits in autism is reversible, new study suggests
• Huntington’s gene mutation carriers learn faster
• Teamwork in the tropics: Pollinators and frugivores are less choosy at the equator
• Protein linked to hunger also implicated in alcoholism
• Roman military camp dating back to the conquest of Gaul throws light on a part of world history
• The risks of antibiotic resistance and consumption: learning with hands-on activities
• Low cost design makes ultrasound imaging affordable to the world
• UK model to better predict extreme winters in Europe
• Insulin: Charting the SH2 pool
• Children's intensive care units performing well despite low staffing levels
• Negative cross-resistance helps scientists outmaneuver herbicide-resistant weeds
• Water quality study shows need for testing at North Carolina migrant camps

Discovery of essential genes for drug-resistant bacteria reveals new, high-value drug targets Posted: 14 Sep 2012 04:16 PM PDT Biomedical scientists collaborating on translational research are reporting the discovery of a novel, and heretofore unrecognized, set of genes essential for the growth of potentially lethal, drug-resistant bacteria.

Feeling stressed by your job? Don’t blame your employer, study shows Posted: 14 Sep 2012 04:16 PM PDT Work stress, job satisfaction and health problems due to high stress have more to do with genes than you might think, according to new research.

Study shows wildfires' positive and negative economic impacts Posted: 14 Sep 2012 04:16 PM PDT Despite the disruptions they cause, large wildfires are a mixed economic bag for nearby communities, according to new research.

NASA Mars rover Opportunity reveals geological mystery: Spherical objects unlike previously found 'blueberries' Posted: 14 Sep 2012 12:40 PM PDT NASA's long-lived rover Opportunity has returned an image of the Martian surface that is puzzling researchers. Spherical objects concentrated at an outcrop Opportunity reached last week differ in several ways from iron-rich spherules nicknamed "blueberries" the rover found at its landing site in early 2004 and at many other locations to date.

'Memristors' based on transparent electronics offer technology of the future Posted: 14 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT Transparent electronics may find one of their newest applications as a next-generation replacement for some uses of non-volatile flash memory, a multi-billion dollar technology nearing its limit of small size and information storage capacity. The solution: memristors.

Probing matters of the heart: Stem cell differentiation study sheds light on genetic basis of heart disease Posted: 14 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT Biologists have outlined how the interaction of genes, proteins that bind DNA, and molecules that modify those genes and proteins, direct the development of stem cells into mature heart cells.

BRCA mutations may be 'Achilles’ heel' for some metastatic breast cancers Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT Recent research could reveal whether metastatic breast cancer patients with BRCA gene mutations are particularly responsive to a drug regimen that includes Veliparib, an investigational drug believed to hamper cancer cells.

'Smart bomb' investigational breast cancer regimen provides promising outcome for retired minister Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT A 66-year-old Houston woman's golf ball-sized breast tumor is now almost invisible to the naked eye after only four rounds of an investigational drug regimen.

First planets found around sun-like stars in a cluster Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:34 AM PDT Astronomers have, for the first time, spotted planets orbiting sun-like stars in a crowded cluster of stars. The findings offer the best evidence yet that planets can sprout up in dense stellar environments. Although the newfound planets are not habitable, their skies would be starrier than what we see from Earth.

Healthy outlook leads to a healthy lifestyle, study suggests Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:32 AM PDT A 'can do' attitude is the key to a healthy lifestyle, economists have determined.

Gingko biloba does not improve cognition in multiple sclerosis patients, study finds Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:31 AM PDT Many people with multiple sclerosis for years have taken the natural supplement Gingko biloba, believing it helps them with cognitive problems associated with the disease. But the science now says otherwise. A new study says Gingko biloba does not improve cognitive performance in people with multiple sclerosis.

Getting (drugs) under your skin: Using ultrasound waves, researchers boost skin's permeability to drugs Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:31 AM PDT Using ultrasound waves, engineers have found a way to enhance the permeability of skin to drugs, making transdermal drug delivery more efficient.

X-rays reveal the self-defence mechanisms of bacteria Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:20 AM PDT A research group in Denmark has gained unique insight into how bacteria control the amount of toxin in their cells. The new findings can eventually lead to the development of novel forms of treatment for bacterial infections.

Researchers find our inner reptile hearts Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:20 AM PDT Researchers have finally succeeded in showing that the spongy tissue in reptile hearts is the forerunner of the complex hearts of both birds and mammals. The new knowledge provides a deeper understanding of the complex conductive tissue of the human heart, which is of key importance in many heart conditions.

Diabetes drug could help fight Alzheimer's disease, study reveals Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:15 AM PDT A drug designed for diabetes sufferers could have the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, a new study reveals.

How common gene mutation affects kids with autism spectrum disorders Posted: 14 Sep 2012 10:14 AM PDT In children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a common gene mutation has been found to impact the network of connections between different areas of the brain involved in social behavior, such as recognizing the emotions shown on people's faces.

Surgery has a more profound effect than anesthesia on brain pathology and cognition in Alzheimer's animal model Posted: 14 Sep 2012 09:38 AM PDT A syndrome called "post-operative cognitive decline" has been coined to refer to the commonly reported loss of cognitive abilities, usually in older adults, in the days to weeks after surgery. In fact, some patients time the onset of their Alzheimer's disease symptoms from a surgical procedure. Exactly how the trio of anesthesia, surgery, and dementia interact is clinically inconclusive, yet of great concern to patients, their families and physicians. A new study using a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease shows that surgery itself, rather than anesthesia, has the more profound impact on a dementia-vulnerable brain.

Sleep researchers study value of preschool naps Posted: 14 Sep 2012 09:38 AM PDT Parents may feel it's clear that missing a nap means their young children will be grumpy and out-of-sorts, but scientists who study sleep say almost nothing is known about how daytime sleep affects children's coping skills and learning. Now researchers hope to significantly advance knowledge about how napping and sleep affect memory, behavior and emotions in preschoolers.

Reduced sea ice: Fewer consequences than anticipated? Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:25 AM PDT Recent data show that we face a historical and dramatic decline in the Arctic summer sea ice extent. This has believed to be bad news for marine organisms living under the ice. But new research show that perhaps some of the species actually have adapted to minimal ice cover in summer. The scientists call their hypothesis the "Nemo hypothesis".

Majority of U.S. schools not ready for next pandemic, researchers say Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:20 AM PDT A new study finds many U.S. schools are not prepared for bioterrorism attacks, outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases or pandemics.

X-rays unravel mysterious degradation of Van Gogh painting: Protective varnish caused discoloration Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:09 AM PDT Synchrotron X-ray analysis has identified why parts of a Van Gogh painting changed color over time: a supposedly protective varnish applied after the master's death has made some bright yellow flowers turn to orange-grey. The origin is a degradation process at the interface between paint and varnish. After this discovery, conservators in many museums have to newly address the question of restoring Van Gogh paintings.

Obesity more common among rural residents than urban counterparts, study finds Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:09 AM PDT There may be two significant reasons why rural residents are more likely to be overweight: Cultural diet and physical isolation.

Pinball as a model for dealing with grief Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:07 AM PDT The process of grieving can be compared to the workings of a pinball machine, where mourners' movement between different stages of grief such as shock and depression may be unpredictable, according to new research.

New test to crack down on athlete-cheating with drugs Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:07 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new test to catch growth hormone drugs-cheats in sport. The test is based on the measurement of two proteins in the blood, insulin-like growth factor-I and the amino terminal pro-peptide of type III collagen. Both of these proteins, which act as markers of growth hormone use, increase in response to growth hormone.

Second-hand smoking affects neurodevelopment in babies Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:06 AM PDT A new study shows that newborns that have been exposed to nicotine from both active and passive smoking mothers show poor physiological, sensory, motor and attention responses.

Disorder of neuronal circuits in autism is reversible, new study suggests Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:06 AM PDT People with autism suffer from a pervasive developmental disorder of the brain that becomes evident in early childhood. Medical researchers have identified a specific dysfunction in neuronal circuits that is caused by autism. They have also reversed these neuronal changes in an animal model. These findings are an important step in drug development for the treatment for autism.

Huntington’s gene mutation carriers learn faster Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:06 AM PDT People who bear the genetic mutation for Huntington's disease learn faster than healthy people. The more pronounced the mutation was, the more quickly they learned.

Teamwork in the tropics: Pollinators and frugivores are less choosy at the equator Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:06 AM PDT The bright crimson Andean cock-of-the-rock eats the fruits of over 100 plant species and disperses their seeds. It is in good company, since other seed-dispersing birds and pollinating insects in the tropics are also – contrary to prior doctrine – less specialized on individual plant species than their temperate counterparts.

Protein linked to hunger also implicated in alcoholism Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:06 AM PDT Researchers have found new links between a protein that controls our urge to eat and brain cells involved in the development of alcoholism. The discovery points to new possibilities for designing drugs to treat alcoholism and other addictions.

Roman military camp dating back to the conquest of Gaul throws light on a part of world history Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:06 AM PDT In the vicinity of Hermeskeil, a small town some 30 kilometers southeast of the city of Trier in the Hunsrueck region in the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, archaeologists have confirmed the location of the oldest Roman military fortification known in Germany to date. These findings shed new light on the Roman conquest of Gaul. The camp was presumably built during Julius Caesars' Gallic War in the late 50s B.C.

The risks of antibiotic resistance and consumption: learning with hands-on activities Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:06 AM PDT An innovative laboratory-based summer project -- Microbiology recipes: antibiotics a la carte -- addressing antibiotic resistance and natural antibiotics has been shown to be an effective strategy to increase high school students' awareness of antibiotic resistance and the relevance of rational antibiotic use. In contrast to traditional educational interventions, which mainly rely on large-scale information campaigns, this project's instructional design was devised to take advantage of the acknowledged benefits of laboratory work, by encouraging the participants' active engagement in their learning.

Low cost design makes ultrasound imaging affordable to the world Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:39 PM PDT An underwater sonar technology expert has invented the first ultra low-cost, portable ultrasound scanner that can be plugged into any computer with a USB port and could save the lives of hundreds of thousands of women and children around the world.

UK model to better predict extreme winters in Europe Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:36 PM PDT Severe UK winters, like the 'big freeze' of 2009/10, can now be better forecast months in advance using the Met Office's latest model, new research suggests.

Insulin: Charting the SH2 pool Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:36 PM PDT New research describes a large set of interactions (interactome) which maps the range of phosphotyrosine (pTyr)-dependent interactions with SH2 domains underlying insulin (Ins), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathways.

Children's intensive care units performing well despite low staffing levels Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:36 PM PDT Standards of care in children's intensive care units come under scrutiny in a new audit report.

Negative cross-resistance helps scientists outmaneuver herbicide-resistant weeds Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:34 PM PDT Kochia, a weed that is rapidly becoming more abundant across southern Canadian prairies and the Great Plains of the United States, can reduce crop yields by up to 60 percent. Fighting this weed has become difficult because more than 90 percent of kochia populations are now resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. The phenomenon of negative cross-resistance, however, may offer another path to defeating the spread of this weed.

Water quality study shows need for testing at North Carolina migrant camps Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:34 PM PDT The drinking water at one-third of migrant farmworker camps in eastern North Carolina failed to meet state quality standards, according to a new study.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Foraging baboons are picky punters: Baboon foraging choices depend on their habitat and social status
• Scientists use prosthetic device to restore and improve impaired decision-making ability in animals
• Neural implant recovers ability to make decisions, monkey study shows
• Should I marry him? If you're having doubts, don't ignore them, psychology study suggests
• How deadly Marburg virus silences immune system: Breakthrough findings point to targets for drugs and vaccines
• Looking at you: Face genes identified; Five genes have been found to determine human facial shapes
• No evidence that black cohosh relieves menopause symptoms
• Surviving without ice: Arctic crustaceans use currents, deep-water migration to survive sea ice melts
• Keeping mom and baby together after delivery beneficial
• Stress breaks loops that hold short-term memory together
• Kidney Society describes ways to eliminate wasteful tests and procedures
• Up and running: Just hours after launch, Radiation Belt Storm Probes takes first science steps
• Sounds of space: New 'chorus' recording by Radiation Belt Storm Probes' EMFISIS instrument
• Nanoengineers can print 3-D microstructures in mere seconds
• Home sweet lab: Computerized house to generate as much energy as it uses
• 'Mini' stroke can cause major disability, may warrant clot-busters
• Children of immigrants are coming out ahead of their peers, U.S. study finds
• Doctors who perform abortions are compelled by conscience, just like those who refuse
• Researchers develop rapid method to measure carbon footprints
• Warmer temperatures make new USDA plant zone map obsolete
• 'Smart growth' strategies curb car use, greenhouse gas emissions, study suggests
• Honestly? Just sign here -- first; Signature placement curbs cheating, study shows
• Kids with food allergies can fall through the cracks
• Do SAT scores help or hurt in decisions about who will do well in college?
• Long menopause allows killer whales to care for adult sons
• How early social deprivation impairs long-term cognitive function
• New analysis tells how world eradicated deadliest cattle plague
• Genes render some rice species sterile: System of three genes prevents hybrid rice from reproducing, new study shows
• Do it yourself and save: Making equipment for the lab, in the lab
• How fast can ice sheets respond to climate change?
• Researchers look to alien soils for heat shield
• Boiling water without bubbles: Researchers engineer special surface, allowing water to boil without producing bubbles
• Chemists develop nose-like array to 'smell' cancer
• Daily disinfection of isolation rooms reduces contamination of healthcare workers' hands
• Snakes minus birds equals more spiders for Guam: Ecologists look for effects of bird loss caused by invasive brown treesnake
• Exercise may protect against future emotional stress, study shows
• Mutation breaks HIV's resistance to drugs
• Scientists use sound waves to levitate liquids, improve pharmaceuticals
• Study of giant viruses shakes up tree of life
• Laser-powered 'needle' promises pain-free injections
• Lack of oxygen in cancer cells leads to growth and metastasis
• Parental divorce linked to stroke in males
• Immune system compensates for 'leaky gut' in inflammatory bowel disease susceptibility
• Geneticists verify cholesterol-cancer link
• Missing pieces of DNA structure is a red flag for deadly skin cancer
• Scientists map the genomic blueprint of the heart
• Natural killer T-cells in fat tissue guard against obesity, study finds
• Fruit flies reveal new evolutionary link for studying human health: How they control body temperature through circadian rhythm
• Two studies could lead to new personalized therapies for lung cancer patients
• Cloned receptor paves way for new breast and prostate cancer treatment
• Under-twisted DNA origami delivers cancer drugs to tumors
• Devastating red alga discovered creeping north to maine
• 'Siloed' agencies hindered in efforts to fight animal-to-human diseases, analysis finds
• Tracking stem cell reprogramming: Biologists reveal genes key to development of pluripotency, in single cells
• In lung cancer, smokers have 10 times more genetic damage than never-smokers
• Neural stem cells regenerate axons in severe spinal cord injury; functional recovery in rats
• Study explains decrease in insulin-producing beta cells in diabetes
• Computer program can identify rough sketches
• Cell death mystery yields new suspect for cancer drug development
• Analysis estimates effective PrEP dosing

Foraging baboons are picky punters: Baboon foraging choices depend on their habitat and social status Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:39 PM PDT Baboons choose which tree to find food in and who to take foraging, just like humans decide where to shop and who to go shopping with.

Scientists use prosthetic device to restore and improve impaired decision-making ability in animals Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:39 PM PDT Imagine a prosthetic device capable of restoring decision-making in people who have reduced capacity due to brain disease or injury. While this may sound like science fiction, researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have proven for the first time that it is possible in non-human primates, and believe that one day it will be possible in people.

Neural implant recovers ability to make decisions, monkey study shows Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:36 PM PDT Researchers have taken a key step towards recovering specific brain functions in sufferers of brain disease and injuries by successfully restoring the decision-making processes in monkeys. By placing a neural device onto the front part of the monkeys' brains, the researchers were able to recover, and even improve, the monkeys' ability to make decisions when their normal cognitive functioning was disrupted.

Should I marry him? If you're having doubts, don't ignore them, psychology study suggests Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:33 PM PDT In the first scientific study to test whether doubts about getting married are more likely to lead to an unhappy marriage and divorce, UCLA psychologists report that when women have doubts before their wedding, those doubts are often a warning sign of trouble if they go ahead with the marriage. The study demonstrates that pre-wedding uncertainty, especially among women, predicts higher divorce rates and less marital satisfaction years later.

How deadly Marburg virus silences immune system: Breakthrough findings point to targets for drugs and vaccines Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:33 PM PDT Scientists have determined the structure of a critical protein from the Marburg virus, a close cousin of Ebola virus. These viruses cause similar diseases and are some of the deadliest pathogens on the planet, each killing up to 90 percent of those infected.

Looking at you: Face genes identified; Five genes have been found to determine human facial shapes Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:33 PM PDT Five genes have been found to determine human facial shapes, researchers report.

No evidence that black cohosh relieves menopause symptoms Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:30 PM PDT Although many women coping with hot flashes and other distressing symptoms of menopause have turned to black cohosh supplements as a treatment alternative, a new review finds no evidence that the herb is effective.

Surviving without ice: Arctic crustaceans use currents, deep-water migration to survive sea ice melts Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:30 PM PDT With sea ice in the Arctic melting to record lows in summer months, marine animals living there face dramatic changes to their environment. Yet some crustaceans, previously thought to spend their entire lives on the underside of sea ice, were recently discovered to migrate deep underwater and follow ocean currents back to colder areas when ice disappears.

Keeping mom and baby together after delivery beneficial Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:30 PM PDT "Rooming in," keeping mother and her newborn in the same room 24/7 to encourage breastfeeding, does support the practice, at least in the short term, finds a new review in The Cochrane Library.

Stress breaks loops that hold short-term memory together Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:30 PM PDT Stress has long been pegged as the enemy of attention, disrupting focus and doing substantial damage to working memory -- the short-term juggling of information that allows us to do all the little things that make us productive. By watching individual neurons at work, a group of psychologists has revealed just how stress can addle the mind, as well as how neurons in the brain's prefrontal cortex help "remember" information in the first place.

Kidney Society describes ways to eliminate wasteful tests and procedures Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:30 PM PDT Earlier this year, the American Society of Nephrology joined other groups in a campaign to help health care professionals and patients avoid wasteful and sometimes harmful medical interventions. A new article outlines the ASN's top five recommendations for the campaign and the rationale behind them. Following these recommendations would lower costs and lead to better care for patients with kidney disease.

Up and running: Just hours after launch, Radiation Belt Storm Probes takes first science steps Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:12 PM PDT While the RBSP teams at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station celebrated a job well done following the 4:05 a.m. EDT launch of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes on Thursday, Aug. 30, another group of RBSP engineers and scientists celebrated at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. But for many of those at APL's Mission Operations Center (MOC) that morning, their job on the RBSP mission was about to get very busy.

Sounds of space: New 'chorus' recording by Radiation Belt Storm Probes' EMFISIS instrument Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:07 PM PDT Researchers from the Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) team at the University of Iowa have released a new recording of an intriguing and well-known phenomenon known as "chorus," made on Sept. 5, 2012.

Nanoengineers can print 3-D microstructures in mere seconds Posted: 13 Sep 2012 01:27 PM PDT A novel technology can fabricate, in mere seconds, microscale three dimensional (3-D) structures out of soft, biocompatible hydrogels. The technology could lead to the ability to print biological tissues for regenerative medicine. Chen is able to print tissues that mimic nature's fine-grained details, including blood vessels, which are essential for distributing nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.

Home sweet lab: Computerized house to generate as much energy as it uses Posted: 13 Sep 2012 01:27 PM PDT The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has unveiled a new laboratory designed to demonstrate that a typical-looking suburban home for a family of four can generate as much energy as it uses in a year.

'Mini' stroke can cause major disability, may warrant clot-busters Posted: 13 Sep 2012 01:24 PM PDT A transient ischemic attack, TIA or a "mini stroke," can lead to serious disability, but is frequently deemed by doctors too mild to treat, according to a new study.

Children of immigrants are coming out ahead of their peers, U.S. study finds Posted: 13 Sep 2012 01:24 PM PDT Children of immigrants are outperforming children whose family trees have deeper roots in the United States, learning more in school and then making smoother transitions into adulthood, according to sociologists.

Doctors who perform abortions are compelled by conscience, just like those who refuse Posted: 13 Sep 2012 01:24 PM PDT Exercising conscience in healthcare is usually defined as refusing to provide contested services, like abortion. But in an article to be published Sept. 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine, a University of Michigan faculty member says doctors can be "conscientious" providers of abortion.

Researchers develop rapid method to measure carbon footprints Posted: 13 Sep 2012 12:11 PM PDT Researchers have developed new software that can rapidly calculate the carbon footprints of thousands of products simultaneously, a process that up to now has been time consuming and expensive. The methodology should help companies to accurately label products, and to design ways to reduce their environmental impacts.

Warmer temperatures make new USDA plant zone map obsolete Posted: 13 Sep 2012 12:11 PM PDT Gardeners and landscapers may want to rethink their fall tree plantings. Warming temperatures have already made the US Department of Agriculture's new cold-weather planting guidelines obsolete, according to Dr. Nir Krakauer, assistant professor of civil engineering in The City College of New York. He developed a new method to map cold-weather zones and overhauled the USDA's latest plant zone map.

'Smart growth' strategies curb car use, greenhouse gas emissions, study suggests Posted: 13 Sep 2012 12:11 PM PDT Smart growth approaches to urban planning could substantially reduce the number of miles that residents drive in a year, according to new research. The study found that a 10 percent increase in a city's smart growth features -- including housing density, jobs per capita and public transit infrastructure -- leads to a 20 percent decrease in the number of vehicle miles traveled per household, per year.

Honestly? Just sign here -- first; Signature placement curbs cheating, study shows Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:14 AM PDT Tax collectors and insurance agencies trying to boost honest reporting could improve compliance simply by asking people to sign their forms at the beginning instead of at the end. That's because attesting to the truthfulness of the information before a form is filled out tends to activate people's moral sense, making it harder for them to fudge their numbers after, says a new paper.

Kids with food allergies can fall through the cracks Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:14 AM PDT More can be done to properly manage the care of American children with food allergies, especially when it comes to diagnostic testing and recognizing non-visual symptoms of severe allergic reactions, according to a new study.

Do SAT scores help or hurt in decisions about who will do well in college? Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:14 AM PDT Every year, nervous high school juniors and seniors sit down and take the SAT. Their SAT scores will take on considerable importance over subsequent months, as college admissions teams choose incoming freshman classes. Some critics have argued that the SAT is biased against students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and new research puts that claim to the test. Findings suggest that the SAT may not be as biased as some people believe.

Long menopause allows killer whales to care for adult sons Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:14 AM PDT Scientists have found the answer to why female killer whales have the longest menopause of any non-human species -- to care for their adult sons. The research shows that, for a male over 30, the death of his mother means an almost 14-fold-increase in the likelihood of his death within the following year.

How early social deprivation impairs long-term cognitive function Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:14 AM PDT Children who suffer severe neglect have cognitive impairments as adults. A new study shows for the first time how functional impairments arise: Social isolation during early life prevents brain's white matter cells from maturing and producing myelin, the fatty "insulation" on nerve fibers, for transmitting long-distance messages in the brain. The study also identifies a molecular pathway involved, showing it is disrupted by social isolation.

New analysis tells how world eradicated deadliest cattle plague Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:14 AM PDT A new analysis traces the recent global eradication of the deadliest of cattle diseases, crediting not only the development of a new, heat-resistant vaccine, but also the insight of local African herders, who guided scientists in deciding which animals to immunize and when.

Genes render some rice species sterile: System of three genes prevents hybrid rice from reproducing, new study shows Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:14 AM PDT Researchers have identified a set of three genes that are responsible for hybrid sterility in rice, or the inability of many hybrid rice species to pass their genes on to the next generation. These findings inform a model that suggests how such hybrid sterility is maintained across rice species, and they may lead to the genetic improvement of rice as a food stock.

Do it yourself and save: Making equipment for the lab, in the lab Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:11 AM PDT The open-source revolution is driving down the cost of doing science by letting researchers to make their own lab equipment.

How fast can ice sheets respond to climate change? Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:11 AM PDT A new Arctic study is helping to unravel an important mystery surrounding climate change: How quickly glaciers can melt and grow in response to shifts in temperature. According to the new research, glaciers on Canada's Baffin Island expanded rapidly during a brief cold snap about 8,200 years ago. The discovery adds to a growing body of evidence showing that ice sheets reacted rapidly in the past to cooling or warming, raising concerns that they could do so again as Earth heats up.

Researchers look to alien soils for heat shield Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:04 AM PDT An important test is coming up next week to see whether a heat shield made from the soil of the moon, Mars or an asteroid will stand up to the searing demands of a plunge through Earth's atmosphere. At stake is the possibility that future spacecraft could leave Earth without carrying a heavy heat shield and instead make one on the surface of another world and ride it home safely. The weight savings opens new possibilities ranging from using smaller rockets to carrying many more supplies on an exploration mission.

Boiling water without bubbles: Researchers engineer special surface, allowing water to boil without producing bubbles Posted: 13 Sep 2012 10:29 AM PDT Every cook knows that boiling water bubbles, right? New research turns that notion on its head. Scientists have shown how a specially engineered coated surface can create a stable vapor cushion between the surface and a hot liquid and eliminate the bubbles that are created during boiling.

Chemists develop nose-like array to 'smell' cancer Posted: 13 Sep 2012 10:23 AM PDT In the fight against cancer, knowing the enemy's identity is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, especially in metastatic cancers that spread between organs and tissues. Now chemists have developed a rapid, sensitive way to detect microscopic levels of many metastatic cell types in living tissue.

Daily disinfection of isolation rooms reduces contamination of healthcare workers' hands Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:36 AM PDT New research demonstrates that daily cleaning of high-touch surfaces in isolation rooms of patients with Clostridium difficile or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus significantly reduces the rate of the pathogens on the hands of healthcare personnel. The findings underscore the importance of environmental cleaning for reducing the spread of difficult to treat infections.

Snakes minus birds equals more spiders for Guam: Ecologists look for effects of bird loss caused by invasive brown treesnake Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:36 AM PDT Ecologists have found as many as 40 times more spiders in Guam's remote jungle than are found on nearby islands. The booming spider population is likely due to the destruction of the island's forest birds, including those that eat insects, by the invasive brown treesnake. The large-scale cross-island comparison uncovered a larger effect of birds on spiders than had been predicted from small-scale experiments.

Exercise may protect against future emotional stress, study shows Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:36 AM PDT Moderate exercise may help people cope with anxiety and stress for an extended period of time post-workout, according to a study by kinesiology researchers.

Mutation breaks HIV's resistance to drugs Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:35 AM PDT The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can contain dozens of different mutations, called polymorphisms. In a recent study an international team of researchers found that one of those mutations, called 172K, made certain forms of the virus more susceptible to treatment. Soon, doctors will be able to use this knowledge to improve the drug regiment they prescribe to HIV-infected individuals.

Scientists use sound waves to levitate liquids, improve pharmaceuticals Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:35 AM PDT Scientists have been using an "acoustic levitator" to find new ways to achieve containerless drug processing.

Study of giant viruses shakes up tree of life Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:35 AM PDT A new study of giant viruses supports the idea that viruses are ancient living organisms and not inanimate molecular remnants run amok, as some scientists have argued. The study reshapes the universal family tree, adding a fourth major branch to the three that most scientists agree represent the fundamental domains of life.

Laser-powered 'needle' promises pain-free injections Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:35 AM PDT From flu shots to immunizations, needle injections are among the least popular staples of medical care. A new laser-based system that blasts microscopic jets of drugs into the skin could soon make getting a shot as painless as being hit with a puff of air. The system uses a laser to propel a tiny, precise stream of medicine with just the right amount of force.

Lack of oxygen in cancer cells leads to growth and metastasis Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:35 AM PDT The proteins HIF-1a and CD24 have both been implicated in the aggressive characteristics of hypoxic cancers. A new study shows that HIF-1a drives CD24 overexpression, and that CD24 then drives aggressive tumor features.

Parental divorce linked to stroke in males Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:35 AM PDT Men with divorced parents are significantly more likely to suffer a stroke than men from intact families, shows a new study. The study shows that adult men who had experienced parental divorce before they turned 18 are three times more likely to suffer a stroke than men whose parents did not divorce. Women from divorced families did not have a higher risk of stroke than women from intact families.

Immune system compensates for 'leaky gut' in inflammatory bowel disease susceptibility Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:35 AM PDT New research could clarify how inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), conditions that include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are triggered and develop. Scientists have shown how the immune system can compensate for a 'leaky gut' and prevent disease in mice that are susceptible to intestinal inflammation. These findings could explain why some individuals who are susceptible to developing IBD do or do not get the disease.

Geneticists verify cholesterol-cancer link Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:32 AM PDT Scientists have discovered new genetic evidence linking cholesterol and cancer, raising the possibility that cholesterol medications could be useful in the future for cancer prevention or to augment existing cancer treatment. The data support several recent population-based studies that suggest individuals who take cholesterol-lowering drugs may have a reduced risk of cancer, and, conversely that individuals with the highest levels of cholesterol seem to have an elevated risk of cancer.

Missing pieces of DNA structure is a red flag for deadly skin cancer Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:32 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new biomarker for melanoma. The findings offer novel opportunities for skin cancer diagnostics, treatment and prevention.

Scientists map the genomic blueprint of the heart Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:32 AM PDT Scientists have revealed the precise order and timing of hundreds of genetic "switches" required to construct a fully functional heart from embryonic heart cells -- providing new clues into the genetic basis for some forms of congenital heart disease.

Natural killer T-cells in fat tissue guard against obesity, study finds Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:32 AM PDT Invariant natural killer T-cells (iNKT) are a unique subset of immune cells that are known to influence inflammatory responses. Now, a scientific team has found that iNKT cells play a protective role in guarding against obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

Fruit flies reveal new evolutionary link for studying human health: How they control body temperature through circadian rhythm Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:32 AM PDT New research reveals that fruit flies and mammals may share a surprising evolutionary link in how they control body temperature through circadian rhythm, unlocking new ways to study the insects as models of human development and disease. The study reports that similar to people, Drosophila fruit flies have a genetically driven internal clock. This circadian clock prompts the insects to seek out warmer or cooler external temperatures.

Two studies could lead to new personalized therapies for lung cancer patients Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:32 AM PDT Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and is associated with very low survival rates. Two new genome-sequencing studies have uncovered novel genes involved in the deadly disease, as well as striking differences in mutations found in patients with and without a history of smoking. The findings could pave the way for personalized therapies that boost survival rates.

Cloned receptor paves way for new breast and prostate cancer treatment Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:29 AM PDT Researchers have cloned a T-cell receptor that binds to an antigen associated with prostate cancer and breast cancer. T cells that have been genetically equipped with this T-cell receptor have the ability to specifically kill prostate and breast cancer cells.

Under-twisted DNA origami delivers cancer drugs to tumors Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:29 AM PDT Scientists in Sweden describe in a new study how so-called DNA origami can enhance the effect of certain cytostatics used in the treatment of cancer. With the aid of modern nanotechnology, scientists can target drugs direct to the tumor while leaving surrounding healthy tissue untouched.

Devastating red alga discovered creeping north to maine Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:28 AM PDT The shores of Appledore Island, Maine -- just six miles from the New Hampshire coast -- are being invaded by an aggressive red algae that can foul popular tourist beaches and damage vital local fisheries, according to researchers.

'Siloed' agencies hindered in efforts to fight animal-to-human diseases, analysis finds Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:28 AM PDT The "siloed" structure of U.S. health agencies is hindering efforts to spot and combat animal-to-human afflictions, such as West Nile Virus, New York University sociologist Colin Jerolmack has concluded after conducting an organizational analysis of their operations.

Tracking stem cell reprogramming: Biologists reveal genes key to development of pluripotency, in single cells Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:28 AM PDT Several years ago, biologists discovered that regular body cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells -- cells with the ability to become any other type of cell. Such cells hold great promise for treating many human diseases. These induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are usually created by genetically modifying cells to overexpress four genes that make them revert to an immature, embryonic state. However, the procedure works in only a small percentage of cells. Now, new genetic markers identified by researchers at MIT and the Whitehead Institute could help make that process more efficient, allowing scientists to predict which treated cells will successfully become pluripotent.

In lung cancer, smokers have 10 times more genetic damage than never-smokers Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:28 AM PDT Lung cancer patients with a history of smoking have 10 times more genetic mutations in their tumors than those with the disease who have never smoked, according to a new study.

Neural stem cells regenerate axons in severe spinal cord injury; functional recovery in rats Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:28 AM PDT A a new study, researchers were able to regenerate "an astonishing degree" of axonal growth at the site of severe spinal cord injury in rats. Their research revealed that early stage neurons have the ability to survive and extend axons to form new, functional neuronal relays across an injury site in the adult central nervous system (CNS).

Study explains decrease in insulin-producing beta cells in diabetes Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:28 AM PDT Scientists generally think that reduced insulin production by the pancreas, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, is due to the death of the organ's beta cells. However, a new study shows that beta cells do not die but instead revert to a more fundamental, undifferentiated cell type. The findings suggest that strategies to prevent beta cells from de-differentiating, or to coax them to re-differentiate, might improve glucose balance in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Computer program can identify rough sketches Posted: 13 Sep 2012 07:50 AM PDT Computer scientists have developed a new program that can recognize rough sketches in real time, something that up to now had been very difficult for computers to do. To make the program work, the researchers used 20,000 real sketches to teach the program how humans actually sketch objects.

Cell death mystery yields new suspect for cancer drug development Posted: 13 Sep 2012 07:50 AM PDT A mysterious form of cell death, coded in proteins and enzymes, led to a discovery by researchers uncovering a prime suspect for new cancer drug development.

Analysis estimates effective PrEP dosing Posted: 13 Sep 2012 07:50 AM PDT Several large clinical trials have demonstrated that a daily oral dose of one or two antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV infection can prevent infection in an approach known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. The level of protection, however, depends on taking the drugs regularly.

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