Current Event Articles: ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Friday, July 23, 2010

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Friday, July 23, 2010

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Quantum mechanics not in jeopardy: Physicists confirm a decades-old key principle experimentally (July 23, 2010) -- When waves -- regardless of whether light or sound -- collide, they overlap creating interferences. Austrian and Canadian quantum physicists have now been able to rule out the existence of higher-order interferences experimentally and thereby confirmed an axiom in quantum physics: Born's rule. ... > full story

Salmonella contaminated pork may pose health risk for humans (July 23, 2010) -- German researchers have isolated a strain of Salmonella in pork that is closely related to the bacteria commonly found in chickens and linked to human food-borne illness. ... > full story

Biologists help save endangered pallid sturgeon (July 23, 2010) -- Fisheries researchers found one piece of a scientific puzzle that just may help save an endangered species from extinction. ... > full story

Protein important in diabetes may also play a key role in heart disease, other disorders (July 23, 2010) -- Studying a protein already known to play an important role in Type 2 diabetes and cancer, genomics researchers have discovered that it may have an even broader role in disease, particularly in other metabolic disorders and heart disease. In finding unsuspected links to other disease-related genes, the scientists may have identified future targets for drug treatments. ... > full story

Better control of reproduction in trout and salmon may be in aquaculture's future (July 23, 2010) -- Fast-growing farm-raised salmon and trout that are sterile can now be produced using a method developed by agricultural scientists. Blocking reproduction can enhance growth, and is important for fish being reared in situations where reproduction is undesirable. ... > full story

Warmer climate could increase release of carbon dioxide by inland lakes (July 23, 2010) -- Much organically bound carbon is deposited on inland lake bottoms. A portion remains in the sediment, sometimes for thousands of years, while the rest is largely broken down to carbon dioxide and methane, which are released into the atmosphere. Swedish researchers have shown that carbon retention by sediment is highly temperature-sensitive and that a warmer climate would result in increased carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. ... > full story

Cannibinoids offer novel treatment for pain in sickle cell disease, study suggests (July 23, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that cannibinoids offer a novel approach to ease the chronic and acute pain caused by sickle cell disease. ... > full story

Highest X-ray energy used to probe materials (July 23, 2010) -- Scientists for the first time have dived into the effect that an intense X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) has on materials. Using the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) facility at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, scientists probed nitrogen gas at X-ray energies of up to 8 keV (kiloelectronvolts), the highest X-ray energy ever used at an XFEL, to see how it behaved when the laser hit it. ... > full story

More than half of all ACL reconstructions could be avoided, Swedish study finds (July 23, 2010) -- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common injuries to the knee, primarily affecting young people who practise sport and often treated with surgical reconstruction. A research group from Sweden has now shown that 60 per cent of these operations could be avoided, without negatively affecting treatment outcomes. ... > full story

Bio-based compound provides substitute for important raw material in plastic products (July 23, 2010) -- Soft drink bottles and fleece blankets are set to become more environmentally friendly. A Dutch researcher has made a bio-based compound that can act as a substitute for one of the most important raw materials for plastic products. The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the new material a place in the top 12 of the most promising biological materials for the chemical industry. ... > full story

Inequalities in mortality in Britain today greater than those during 1930s economic depression, study finds (July 23, 2010) -- The level of inequalities in premature mortality between different areas of Britain has almost surpassed those seen shortly before the economic crash of 1929 and the economic depression of the 1930s, according to a new study. ... > full story

Could diabetes be in your bones? Link between metabolic disease, bone mass; Breakdown of bone keeps blood sugar in check (July 22, 2010) -- Our bones have much greater influence on the rest of our bodies than they are often given credit for, according to two new studies. Both studies offer new insights into the interplay between bone and blood sugar, based on signals sent via insulin and a bone-derived hormone known as osteocalcin. ... > full story

Smog might trigger cell death in the heart, study finds (July 22, 2010) -- An early study in rats provides the first direct indication that a major component of smog might trigger cell death in the heart, researchers report. ... > full story

Key compound of ozone destruction detected; Scientists disprove doubts in ozone hole chemistry (July 22, 2010) -- For the first time, scientists in Germany have successfully measured in the ozone layer the chlorine compound ClOOCl, which plays an important role in stratospheric ozone depletion. Doubts in the established models of polar ozone chemistry expressed by American researchers based on laboratory measurements are disproved by these new atmospheric observations. ... > full story

Early HAART during TB treatment boosts survival rate in people co-infected with HIV and TB, study finds (July 22, 2010) -- A clinical trial in Cambodia has found it possible to prolong the survival of untreated HIV-infected adults with very weak immune systems and newly diagnosed tuberculosis by starting anti-HIV therapy two weeks after beginning TB treatment, rather than waiting eight weeks, as has been standard. ... > full story

Data mining made faster: New method eases analysis of 'multidimensional' information (July 22, 2010) -- To many big companies, you aren't just a customer, but are described by multiple "dimensions" of information within a computer database. Now, a computer scientist has devised a new method for simpler, faster "data mining," or extracting and analyzing massive amounts of such data. ... > full story

Once a delinquent, always a delinquent? Not necessarily (July 22, 2010) -- Children who come in conflict with the law early on in life do not necessarily become long-term criminals thereafter, according to a child delinquency study by researchers in Germany. ... > full story

Hyperfast star was booted from Milky Way (July 22, 2010) -- A hundred million years ago, a triple-star system was traveling through the bustling center of our Milky Way galaxy when it made a life-changing misstep. The trio wandered too close to the galaxy's giant black hole, which captured one of the stars and hurled the other two out of the Milky Way. Adding to the stellar game of musical chairs, the two outbound stars merged to form a super-hot, blue star. ... > full story

Cutting fat and calories can lower cancer risk in dogs and people (July 22, 2010) -- As many as 1 out of 3 cancer deaths in both humans and dogs could be prevented by reducing Omega-6 fatty acids and cutting calories, according to new research. ... > full story

Extreme archaeology: Divers plumb the mysteries of sacred Maya pools (July 22, 2010) -- Steering clear of crocodiles and navigating around massive submerged trees, a team of divers began mapping some of the 25 freshwater pools of Cara Blanca, Belize, which were important to the ancient Maya. In three weeks this May, the divers found fossilized animal remains, bits of pottery and -- in the largest pool explored -- an enormous underwater cave. The dives will continue later this summer. ... > full story

African ancestry linked to high-risk breast cancer, study finds (July 22, 2010) -- A new study finds that African ancestry is linked to triple-negative breast cancer, a more aggressive type of cancer that has fewer treatment options. ... > full story

Climate uncertainties tied to economies of US states: California, Pacific Northwest and Colorado achieve positive net impacts; other states languish (July 22, 2010) -- A climate-change study that models the near-term effects of declining rainfall in each of the 48 US continental states makes clear the economic toll that could occur unless an appropriate amount of initial investment -- a kind of upfront insurance payment -- is made to forestall much larger economic problems down the road. ... > full story

Customers less tolerant of employee rudeness than incompetence (July 22, 2010) -- Rude behavior among employees can negatively affect consumer perceptions -- even when the incivility isn't directed at the customer. ... > full story

Caterpillars crawl like none other: Unique means of animal locomotion has implications for robotics, human biomechanics (July 22, 2010) -- Biologists studying caterpillars have reported a unique "two-body" system of locomotion that has not previously been reported in any animal. The gut of the crawling caterpillar moves forward independently and in advance of the surrounding body wall and legs, not with them. This novel system may contribute to the caterpillars' extraordinary freedom of movement and provide insight for the design of soft-bodied robots. ... > full story

Gene linked to aging also linked to Alzheimer's (July 22, 2010) -- Biologists report that they have discovered the first link between the amyloid plaques that form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and a gene previously implicated in the aging process, SIRT1. ... > full story

Wacky weather could squeeze Florida's citrus season (July 22, 2010) -- Citrus growers, beware. Florida winters are getting more extreme, causing plants to flower later and potentially shrinking the growing seasons for some of the state's most vital crops. ... > full story

Vitamins needed to help celiacs stave off bone disease, researchers find (July 22, 2010) -- Children with celiac disease need to include certain must-have vitamins in their diets to stave off weak bones and osteoporosis, say researchers. ... > full story

Oil devastation found at major Gulf breeding site (July 22, 2010) -- Scientists working in the Gulf have documented what may be the worst oil spill devastation of a major bird colony so far. ... > full story

Genetic link to children’s emotional problems precipitated by bullying (July 22, 2010) -- Bullying victimization is common among children of school age, although its consequences are often anything but benign. The recent death of a Massachusetts teen by suicide prompted state lawmakers to pass one of the most far-reaching anti-bullying laws within the U.S. Whether such legislative actions result in measurable decreases in physical or emotional distress among school peers remains to be seen, but a team of researchers have discovered a genetic variation that moderates whether victims of bullying will go on to develop emotional problems. ... > full story

Now you see it, now you don't: An infrared invisibility cloak made of glass (July 22, 2010) -- From Star Trek's Romulans, who could cloak their spaceships, to Harry Potter's magical garment, the power to turn someone or something invisible has intrigued mankind. Now one researcher is doing it for real. She has found ways to use magnetic resonance to capture rays of visible light and route them around objects, rendering those objects invisible to the human eye. ... > full story

Toxic trio identified as the basis of celiac disease (July 22, 2010) -- Scientists have identified the three protein fragments that make gluten -- the main protein in wheat, rye and barley -- toxic to people with celiac disease. ... > full story

Gulf oil dispersants unlikely to be endocrine disruptors and have relatively low cell toxicity, tests find (July 22, 2010) -- Government scientists are reporting that eight of the most commonly used oil dispersants used to fight oil spills, such as the massive episode in the Gulf of Mexico, appear unlikely to act as endocrine disruptors -- hormone-like substances that can interfere with reproduction, development, and other biological processes. The tested dispersants also had a relatively low potential for cytotoxicity (cell death), with JD-2000 and SAF-RON GOLD showing the least potential. ... > full story

Genetic mismatch keeps yeast species distinct (July 22, 2010) -- How species form and what keeps them distinct from each other, even though they can interbreed, is a key question in evolution. Researchers have recently identified genes in three closely related yeast species that cause sterility, increasing our understanding of how species can remain distinct. ... > full story

Engineering researchers simplify process to make world's tiniest wires (July 22, 2010) -- Surface tension isn't a very powerful force, but it matters for small things -- water bugs, paint, and, it turns out, nanowires. ... > full story

'Runaway' development implicated in loss of function of the aging brain (July 22, 2010) -- The brain undergoes rapid growth and development in the early years of life and then degenerates as we progress into old age, yet little is known about the biological processes that distinguish brain development and aging. In a new study, researchers have identified a gene regulatory link between changes in the young and aging brain, describing "runaway" development as a potentially significant factor in age-related loss of function. ... > full story

Evidence of water in lunar rocks: Water on moon may be widespread, similar to Earth's (July 22, 2010) -- That dry, dusty moon overhead? Seems it isn't quite as dry as it's long been thought to be. Although you won't find oceans, lakes, or even a shallow puddle on its surface, a team of geologists has found structurally bound hydroxyl groups (i.e., water) in a mineral in a lunar rock returned to Earth by the Apollo program. ... > full story

Novel anti-diabetes mechanism uncovered: Findings could lead to next generation of improved therapies (July 22, 2010) -- Scientists have uncovered a novel mechanism that dramatically increases insulin sensitivity and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

Recreational pool disinfectants linked to health problems (July 22, 2010) -- Splashing around in a swimming pool on a hot summer day may not be as safe as you think. A recent study links the application of disinfectants in recreational pools to previously published adverse health outcomes such as asthma and bladder cancer. ... > full story

Quitting smoking may minimize harmful bacteria and replenish healthy bacteria (July 22, 2010) -- Patients with chronic gum disease who quit smoking in addition to undergoing nonsurgical therapy not only demonstrated a lower abundance of harmful oral pathogens, but also an increase in health-associated bacteria. ... > full story

Nanotech coatings produce 20 times more electricity from sewage (July 22, 2010) -- Engineers have made a significant advance toward producing electricity from sewage, by the use of new coatings on the anodes of microbial electrochemical cells that increased the electricity production about 20 times. The findings bring the researchers one step closer to technology that could clean biowaste at the same time it produces useful levels of electricity -- a promising new innovation in wastewater treatment and renewable energy. ... > full story

Brain scans may help guide career choice (July 22, 2010) -- General aptitude tests and specific mental ability tests are important tools for vocational guidance. Researchers are now asking whether performance on such tests is based on differences in brain structure, and if so, can brain scans be helpful in choosing a career? In a first step, researchers have investigated how well eight tests used in vocational guidance correlate to gray matter in areas throughout the brain. ... > full story

Black hole jerked around twice (July 22, 2010) -- Scientists have found evidence that a giant black hole has been jerked around twice, causing its spin axis to point in a different direction from before. This discovery, made with new data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, might explain several mysterious-looking objects found throughout the Universe. ... > full story

Stem cells for eating and sex pinpointed (July 22, 2010) -- New research has identified the stem cells that generate three critical classes of nerve cells -- olfactory receptors, vomeronasal and gonadotropin releasing hormone neurons -- that are responsible for enabling animals and humans, to eat, interact socially and reproduce. ... > full story

Quantum entanglement in photosynthesis and evolution (July 22, 2010) -- Recently, academic debate has been swirling around the existence of unusual quantum mechanical effects in the most ubiquitous of phenomena, including photosynthesis, the process by which organisms convert light into chemical energy. In a new paper, these ideas are put to the test. ... > full story

Subtle thyroid problem triples the risk of placental separation in birth, study finds (July 22, 2010) -- Pregnant women with antibodies that can indicate early thyroid disease are three times as likely to have placental separation during labor, researchers have found in a study of more than 17,000 women. ... > full story

Temperature constancy appears key to tropical biodiversity (July 22, 2010) -- The tropics owe their stunning biodiversity to consistent year-round temperatures, not higher temperatures or more sunlight, according to a novel survey of insect diversity at different latitudes and at different points in the planet's history. The finding may finally answer a question that has dogged scientists for centuries. ... > full story

Summer reading is key to maintaining or improving students' reading skills (July 22, 2010) -- Researchers have completed a three-year study showing a significantly higher level of reading achievement in students who received books for summer reading at home. ... > full story

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

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