ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Thursday, July 22, 2010
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Climate change causes larger, more plentiful marmots, study shows; Implications for many creatures that hibernate (July 22, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that changes in seasonal timing can increase body weight and population size simultaneously in a species -- findings likely to have implications for a host of other creatures, especially those that hibernate. ... > full story
Muscular heart failure patients may have a better chance at survival, study suggests (July 22, 2010) -- Heart failure patients with more muscle have the potential to increase their length of life, new research has found. ... > full story
Students design early labor detector aimed to prevent premature births (July 22, 2010) -- A team of graduate students and their faculty adviser have invented a system to pick up very early signs that a woman is going into labor too soon. ... > full story
HIV vaccines may induce HIV antibodies in trial participants, can cause false-positive test result (July 22, 2010) -- During trials of preventive HIV vaccines, trial participants may develop HIV-related antibody responses that could lead to a positive HIV test by routine antibody detection methods (called vaccine-induced seropositivity/reactivity [VISP]), and the potential for false-positive test results and an incorrect HIV diagnosis, according to a new study. ... > full story
Video game processors help lower CT scan radiation (July 22, 2010) -- A new approach to processing X-ray data could lower by a factor of ten or more the amount of radiation patients receive during cone beam CT scans, researchers report. ... > full story
Marriage patterns drive fertility decline (July 22, 2010) -- Researchers have applied an evolutionary "use it or lose it" principle when studying past marriage patterns, to show that marriage can influence the evolution of age-patterns of fertility. ... > full story
What causes hybrid vigor? Researchers find genetic 'noise' caused by surprising variation in gene activity (July 22, 2010) -- Plant scientists have provided a new solution to an old debate on why species hybrids can be more vigorous than their parents. The researchers found a type of genetic "noise" caused by a surprising degree of variation in gene activity even for highly similar traits in closely related species. They found that when species hybridize, some of the variation in gene activity may be canceled out, leading to greater vigor. ... > full story
Valproic acid shown to halt vision loss in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (July 22, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a potential new therapeutic link between valproic acid and retinitis pigmentosa, which could have tremendous benefits for patients suffering from the disease. ... > full story
Nanoribbons for graphene transistors: Materials for tomorrow's nanoelectronics (July 22, 2010) -- Scientists have managed for the first time to grow graphene ribbons that are just a few nanometers wide using a simple surface-based chemical method. Graphene ribbons are considered to be "hot candidates" for future electronics applications as their properties can be adjusted through width and edge shape. ... > full story
Studies gauge techniques for measuring breast density -- a predictor of cancer (July 22, 2010) -- Two new studies have tested three different methods for accurately measuring breast density -- the relative portion of tissue to fat in a woman's breasts and a strong indicator of breast cancer risk. ... > full story
Military greenhouse gas emissions: EPA should recognize environmental impact of protecting foreign oil, researchers urge (July 22, 2010) -- US military operations to protect oil imports coming from the Middle East are creating larger amounts of greenhouse gas emissions than once thought, new research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows. ... > full story
New code of conduct for researchers (July 22, 2010) -- A new European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity has been presented by the European Science Foundation at the World Conference on Research Integrity. The code addresses good practice and bad conduct in science, offering a basis for trust and integrity across national borders. ... > full story
Cometary impact on Neptune: Herschel data point to collision about two centuries ago (July 21, 2010) -- A comet may have hit the planet Neptune about two centuries ago. This is indicated by the distribution of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of the gas giant that researchers have now studied. The scientists analyzed data taken by the research satellite Herschel, that has been orbiting the Sun in a distance of approximately 1.5 million kilometers since May 2009. ... > full story
First stages of tissue production in human embryonic stem cells isolated (July 21, 2010) -- Scientists have described a population of cells that mark the very first stage of differentiation of human embryonic stem cells as they enter a developmental pathway that leads to production of blood, heart muscle, blood vessels and bone. ... > full story
Need for protection against ticks that carry Lyme disease confirmed by new research (July 21, 2010) -- Research on the population of black-legged ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease from host animals to humans, reinforces that it is important to take preventative measures when spending time outdoors. ... > full story
New genomics-based approach to understand origin of cancer subgroups (July 21, 2010) -- Scientists have long recognized that cancers may look the same under the microscope, but carry different mutations, respond differently to treatment and result in vastly different outcomes for patients. Now researchers have developed a new approach that uses genomic information from different species to understand the biology that drives the formation of these different cancer subtypes. ... > full story
Stormwater model to inform regulators on future development projects (July 21, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a computer model that will accurately predict stormwater pollution impacts from proposed real-estate developments -- allowing regulators to make informed decisions about which development projects can be approved without endangering water quality. The model could serve as a blueprint for similar efforts across the United States. ... > full story
Children of older women appear vulnerable to the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (July 21, 2010) -- The presence and severity of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are influenced by factors beyond alcohol consumption, such as maternal age. New findings have shown that the damaging effects of maternal binge drinking during pregnancy on attention are greater among children born to older drinking mothers. ... > full story
Finding frugal aliens: 'Benford beacons' concept could refocus search for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life (July 21, 2010) -- By looking at the point-of-view of ET civilizations sending beacons, an astrophysicist and microwave-expert brother advocate new approach for SETI to find signals of intelligent alien life. ... > full story
Engineered stem cells may limit heart attack damage, improve function (July 21, 2010) -- Implanting tiny plastic scaffolds seeded with genetically engineered stem cells reduced organ damage and led to better cardiac function after a heart attack, according to new research. ... > full story
CSI at the service of cellulose synthesis: Plant researchers identify protein involved in formation of cellulose (July 21, 2010) -- Grains, vegetables and fruit taste delicious and are important sources of energy. However, humans cannot digest the main component of plants - the cellulose in the cell wall. Even in ruminants, animals that can metabolize cellulose, the digestibility of the cell wall plays a crucial role in feed utilization. Scientists are therefore looking for ways of increasing the digestibility of animal feed, and of utilizing plant cell walls to generate energy. To do this they must first understand how plant cells develop their cell walls from cellulose and identify the genes and proteins involved. Scientists have now discovered a hitherto unknown protein required for cellulose production. ... > full story
Sepsis and septic shock more common than heart attacks or pulmonary blood clots after general surgery, study finds (July 21, 2010) -- Sepsis and septic shock appear to be more common than heart attacks or pulmonary blood clots among patients having general surgery, and the death rate for patients with septic shock is approximately 34 percent within 30 days of operation, according to a new study. ... > full story
International law failing to protect coral reefs and tropical fish, experts argue (July 21, 2010) -- International law has failed to protect coral reefs and tropical fish from being decimated by a growing collectors market, but US reforms can lead the way towards making the trade more responsible, ecologically sustainable and humane, according to a group of 18 experts. ... > full story
Afraid of a broken heart? Feeling insecure in relationships may predispose people to later cardiovascular problems, says research (July 21, 2010) -- People who feel insecure about their attachments to others might be at higher risk for cardiovascular problems than those who feel secure in their relationships, according to a new study. ... > full story
Primitive frogs do a belly flop: Study shows that frogs evolved jumping before they refined landing (July 21, 2010) -- Sometimes divers, to their own painful dismay, do belly flops. But did you ever see a frog belly flop? That's just what primitive living frogs do, according to a new study looking at the evolution of frog jumping and landing. They found that frogs became proficient at jumping before they perfected landing. This evolutionary split, characterized by an inability to rapidly rotate the limbs forward during flight in order to land front legs first, might also explain why primitive frogs' back legs are out-of-phase with one another when they swim. ... > full story
Do cleaning products cause breast cancer? (July 21, 2010) -- Women who report greater use of cleaning products may be at higher breast cancer risk than those who say they use them sparingly. Researchers asked more than 1500 women about their cleaning product usage and found that women who reported using more air fresheners and products for mold and mildew control had a higher incidence of breast cancer. ... > full story
New methodology improves winter climate forecasting (July 21, 2010) -- It's hot out right now, but new research will help us know what to expect when the weather turns cold. Researchers have developed a new methodology that improves the accuracy of winter precipitation and temperature forecasts. The tool should be valuable for government and utility officials, since it provides key information for use in predicting energy consumption and water availability. ... > full story
Trauma patients undergoing emergency operations may receive transfusions of their own blood (July 21, 2010) -- Transfusion with a trauma patient's own blood may offer a cost-effective alternative to transfusion with blood from another individual as a resuscitation method during surgery, according to a new study. ... > full story
Poplar tree protein can be used to shrink memory elements and increase computer memory density (July 21, 2010) -- Scientists in Israel have succeeded in showing how it is possible to greatly expand the memory capacity of future computers through the use of memory units based on silica nanoparticles combined with protein molecules obtained from the poplar tree. ... > full story
Nasal zinc gels may be associated with loss of sense of smell, study finds (July 21, 2010) -- An evaluation of 25 patients and a review of reports of clinical, biological and experimental data suggest that over-the-counter, homeopathic nasal zinc therapies may be associated with a reduced sense of smell, according to a new study. ... > full story
Stars just got bigger: A 300-solar-mass star uncovered (July 21, 2010) -- Using a combination of instruments on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope, astronomers have discovered the most massive stars to date, one weighing at birth more than 300 times the mass of the Sun, or twice as much as the currently accepted limit of 150 solar masses. The existence of these monsters — millions of times more luminous than the Sun, losing weight through very powerful winds — may provide an answer to the question “how massive can stars be?” ... > full story
Nanoparticles plus adult stem cells demolish plaque, study finds (July 21, 2010) -- A technique that combines nanotechnology with adult stem cells appears to destroy atherosclerotic plaque and rejuvenate the arteries, according to a new study. ... > full story
Where the wild veggies are: Cultivated cucumber and melon originated in Asia and Australia (July 21, 2010) -- Cucumbers and melons are familiar items on our market stands. Botanists have now shown that both plants originated in Asia. The cucumber traces its ancestry to the slopes of the Himalayas, but, surprisingly, the closest living wild relative of the melon is found in Australia. ... > full story
Natural substance NT-020 aids aging brains in rats, study finds (July 21, 2010) -- Researchers found that a combination of nutrients called NT-020 promoted adult neural stem cell proliferation in aged rats and boosted their memory and spatial navigation performance. They tested two groups of aged laboratory rats; one group received NT-020 and a control group did not. In the NT-020 treated group, neurogenesis increased and researchers concluded that the NT-020 treated group had fewer activated inflammatory brain cells and an increase in stem cells. ... > full story
Flower organ's cells make random decisions that determine size (July 21, 2010) -- The sepals of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana -- commonly known as the mouse-eared cress -- are characterized by an outer layer of cells that vary widely in their sizes, and are distributed in equally varied patterns and proportions. Scientists have long wondered how the plant regulates cell division to create these patterns. Melding time-lapse imaging and computer modeling, a team of scientists has provided a somewhat unexpected answer to this question. ... > full story
Why does everything look gray when you feel blue? (July 21, 2010) -- Regardless of culture, language, era, or individual artist, the arts consistently depict depression using darkness. Scientific findings now lend empirical support to this representation of depression that everything looks gray when you feel blue. Researchers had previously shown that people with depression have difficulty detecting black-and-white contrast differences. ... > full story
Cassini sees moon building giant snowballs in Saturn ring (July 21, 2010) -- While orbiting Saturn for the last six years, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has kept a close eye on the collisions and disturbances in the gas giant's rings. They provide the only nearby natural laboratory for scientists to see the processes that must have occurred in our early solar system, as planets and moons coalesced out of disks of debris. ... > full story
Bone cells' branches sense stimulation, when to make new bone (July 21, 2010) -- Research of bone cells shows, for the first time, the part of the cells that sense mechanical stimulation and signal the release of bone-growth factors. ... > full story
By 'putting a ring on it,' microparticles can be captured (July 21, 2010) -- To trap and hold tiny microparticles, engineers have "put a ring on it," using a silicon-based circular resonator to confine particles stably for up to several minutes. The advance could one day lead to the ability to direct, deliver, and store nanoparticles and biomolecules on all-optical chips. ... > full story
Children have a negative impact on physical activity among individuals with heart disease, study finds (July 21, 2010) -- A study conducted at the Montreal Heart Institute has shown unexpectedly that living with children is linked to a reduction in physical activity. Carried out with 756 participants, the study assessed the impact of social networks on exercise, revealing that people with heart disease who live with children exercise less than those people who do not live with children. ... > full story
Nanotechnology: Scientists construct molecular 'knots' (July 21, 2010) -- Scientists have constructed molecular "knots" with dimensions of around two nanometers -- around 30,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. ... > full story
Getting angry can help negotiations in some cultures, hurt it in others (July 21, 2010) -- Getting angry might help you get your way if you're negotiating with European-Americans, but watch out -- in negotiations with East Asians, getting angry may actually hurt your cause. That's the conclusion of a new study on how people from different cultures react to anger in negotiations. ... > full story
Drilling down to the nanometer depths of leaves for biofuels (July 21, 2010) -- By imaging the cell walls of a zinnia leaf down to the nanometer scale, energy researchers have a better idea about how to turn plants into biofuels. A team has used four different imaging techniques to systematically drill down deep into the cells of Zinnia elegans. ... > full story
New way to target viruses could make antiviral drugs more effective (July 21, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a new way to target viruses which could increase the effectiveness of antiviral drugs. Instead of attacking the virus itself, the method developed at the University of Edinburgh alters the conditions which viruses need to survive and multiply. ... > full story
Expedition to Mid-Cayman Rise identifies unusual variety of deep sea vents (July 21, 2010) -- The first expedition to search for deep-sea hydrothermal vents along the Mid-Cayman Rise has turned up three distinct types of hydrothermal venting, report marine biologists. The work was conducted to search extreme environments for geologic, biologic, and chemical clues to the origins and evolution of life. ... > full story
New genetic marker of ovarian cancer risk discovered (July 21, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a genetic marker that can help predict the risk of developing ovarian cancer, a hard to detect and often deadly form of cancer. ... > full story
Video camera will show Mars rover's touchdown (July 21, 2010) -- A downward-pointing camera on the front-left side of NASA's Curiosity rover will give adventure fans worldwide an unprecedented sense of riding a spacecraft to a landing on Mars. ... > full story
Practice makes perfect? Consumers overestimate their ability to learn prior to purchase (July 21, 2010) -- Consumers give up on using products because they underestimate their learning abilities, according to a new study. ... > full story
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