Current Event Articles: ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, July 1, 2010

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, July 1, 2010

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Unpeeling atoms and molecules from the inside out (July 1, 2010) -- The first published scientific results from the world's most powerful hard X-ray laser show its unique ability to control the behaviors of individual electrons within simple atoms and molecules by stripping them away, one by one -- in some cases creating hollow atoms. ... > full story

Genetic basis of alopecia areata -- one of most common causes of hair loss (July 1, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered eight genes that underpin alopecia areata, one of the most common causes of hair loss. Since many of the genes are also implicated in other autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes, this discovery may soon lead to new treatments for the 5.3 million Americans suffering from hair loss caused by alopecia areata. ... > full story

Warmer ecosystems could absorb less atmospheric carbon dioxide (July 1, 2010) -- A predicted rise in global temperature of 4 C by 2100 could lead to a 13 percent reduction in ecosystems' ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, new research suggests. ... > full story

Ongoing pregnancy rates from vitrified eggs as good as those from fresh, study shows (July 1, 2010) -- Embryos derived from oocytes (eggs) cryopreserved by the vitrification method are just as likely to produce an on-going pregnancy as those involving fresh oocytes. These research results will make egg donation both easier and safer in the future. ... > full story

New temperature table may help reduce heat-related deaths of children in closed cars (July 1, 2010) -- A team of researchers has developed an easy-to-use table of vehicle temperature changes that may help public officials and media remind the public about the deadly consequences of vehicle-related hyperthermia in children. ... > full story

Experiencing different cultures enhances creativity (July 1, 2010) -- Creativity can be enhanced by experiencing cultures different from one's own, according to a new study. ... > full story

'Balanced' ecosystems seen in organic agriculture better at controlling pests, research finds (July 1, 2010) -- There really is a balance of nature, but as accepted as that thought is, it has rarely been studied. Now, researchers have found that more balanced animal and plant communities typical of organic farms work better at fighting pests and growing a better plant. ... > full story

Key enzyme in fetal heart development also involved in adult heart disease, study shows (July 1, 2010) -- Scientists have identified for the first time an enzyme that plays vital roles in both fetal heart development and in causing cardiac hypertrophy -- an enlargement of the heart -- in adults. The discovery could be used in the future to try to develop new treatments for heart disease. ... > full story

Electrons are late starters: Contrary to previous assumptions, electrons are catapulted out of an atom during photoemission with a delay (July 1, 2010) -- When physicists search for new semiconductors for chips or lasers, they have been able to rely on sophisticated computer programs - until now. However, it is possible that the models these programs have used to predict the electronic properties of a material oversimplify reality. An international team has now determined this from measurements with extremely short laser pulses. The physicists have concluded from this that electrons which a laser pulse knock out of an atom are catapulted from the particle with a delay of several tens of attoseconds. One attosecond corresponds to a billionth of a billionth of a second. The assumption so far has been that, during photoemission, electrons immediately shoot out when the light pulse impinges on the material. The models with which quantum physicists describe the electronic properties of matter are also based on the electrons behaving in such a way. These models could therefore be too imprecise, at least as far as very accurate predictions are concerned. ... > full story

New non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids can improve quality of life (July 1, 2010) -- A new, effective, non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids can help women with this condition maintain their fertility. The outcome of two Phase II clinical trials of ulipristal acetate has significant implications for both infertility and general gynecology patients. ... > full story

Stability and utility of floating wind turbines shown in new study (July 1, 2010) -- While offshore wind turbines have already have been constructed as a renewable energy solution, they've traditionally been situated in shallow waters, where the tower extends directly into the seabed. Now a group of researchers in California has studied the feasibility of placing wind turbines on floating platforms. ... > full story

US plan to pay hospitals for performance could hurt those in less-advantaged areas, study says (July 1, 2010) -- The nationwide implementation of hospital pay-for-performance threatens to act as a "reverse Robin Hood," according to a new study. ... > full story

System that controls sleep may be same for most mammals (June 30, 2010) -- In a novel mathematical model that reproduces sleep patterns for multiple species, an international team of researchers has demonstrated that the neural circuitry that controls the sleep/wake cycle in humans may also control the sleep patterns of 17 different mammalian species. ... > full story

Cheap, simple, noninvasive blood test may replace invasive diagnostic techniques in early pregnancy (June 30, 2010) -- Researchers in the Netherlands believe they are on the verge of developing a simple, prenatal blood test that would be able to detect accurately chromosomal abnormalities in the developing fetus. At present, the only reliable way to do this is through amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, both of which are invasive and carry the risk of triggering a miscarriage. ... > full story

Voyager 2 at 12,000 days: The super-marathon continues (June 30, 2010) -- NASA's plucky Voyager 2 spacecraft has hit a long-haul operations milestone June 28 -- operating continuously for 12,000 days. For nearly 33 years, the venerable spacecraft has been returning data about the giant outer planets, and the characteristics and interaction of solar wind between and beyond the planets. Among its many findings, Voyager 2 discovered Neptune's Great Dark Spot and its 450-meter-per-second (1,000-mph) winds. ... > full story

Chromosomal variations found in early passage female embryonic stem cells (June 30, 2010) -- Scientists have uncovered that variations in X chromosome inactivation take place in very early passages of female human embryonic stem cells lines, information that will play an important role in ensuring the safety of cells grown for therapeutic use and a discovery that also may have implications in the development of cancer. ... > full story

Researchers work to prevent neurological diseases (June 30, 2010) -- Many diseases of brain function, such as epilepsy and schizophrenia, are caused by problems in how neurons communicate with each other. Researchers are analyzing these commands and connections in an attempt to prevent those diseases. ... > full story

Drivers mistakenly believe winter is most dangerous travel time, survey shows (June 30, 2010) -- Most Americans interviewed in a national poll believe winter is the most dangerous time for driving, but the truth is that summer is the most dangerous time with 4th of July weekend being the deadliest. ... > full story

More proof that new planet and star are moving together (June 30, 2010) -- A planet about eight times the mass of Jupiter has been confirmed to orbit a sun-like star that's some 300 times farther from its own star than Earth is from its sun. The newly confirmed planet is the least massive planet known to orbit at such a great distance from its host star. ... > full story

Cancer drug shows promise for treating a wide range of inflammatory diseases (June 30, 2010) -- Those looking for a new treatment for a range of inflammatory diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and lupus may need to look no further than a drug already available for treating cancer. Japanese scientists have used mice to show that bortezomib induces cell death only in harmful (active and proliferating) T cells, leaving the rest unharmed. ... > full story

Feast and famine: MRI reveals secrets of animal anatomy (June 30, 2010) -- Scientists have used Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI to reveal, for the first time noninvasively, how a snake adapts its internal organs in preparation for a big meal and during digestion, until it has disappeared completely. The images could be valuable supplements to traditional textbook sketches, diminishing the need for invasive research and dissections. ... > full story

Key mechanism links virgin olive oil to protection against breast cancer (June 30, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have discovered a key mechanism by which virgin olive oil, in contrast to other vegetable oils, protects the body against breast cancer. ... > full story

Climate change scientists turn up the heat in Alaska (June 30, 2010) -- Scientists are planning a large-scale, long-term ecosystem experiment to test the effects of global warming on the icy layers of arctic permafrost. ... > full story

Is your left hand more motivated than your right hand? (June 30, 2010) -- Motivation doesn't have to be conscious; your brain can decide how much it wants something without input from your conscious mind. Now a new study shows that both halves of your brain don't even have to agree. Motivation can happen in one side of the brain at a time. ... > full story

Zapping Titan-like atmosphere with UV rays creates life precursors (June 30, 2010) -- The first experimental evidence showing how atmospheric nitrogen can be incorporated into organic macromolecules is being reported by researchers. The finding indicates what organic molecules might be found on Titan, the moon of Saturn that scientists think is a model for the chemistry of pre-life Earth. Earth and Titan are the only known planetary-sized bodies that have thick, predominantly nitrogen atmospheres. ... > full story

Impulsive, weak-willed or just too much dopamine? Brain study highlights role of dopamine in impulsive behavior (June 30, 2010) -- It's a common scenario: you're on a diet, determined to give up eating cakes, but as you pass the cake counter, all resolve disappears. Now, scientists have shed light on the brain processes that affect our will-power and make us act impulsively. ... > full story

Putting muscle into birdsong: Wide range of pitch is due to vocal muscles more than air pressure (June 30, 2010) -- Female zebra finches don't sing but make one-note, low-pitch calls. Males sing over a wide range of frequencies. Scientists discovered how: The males' stronger vocal muscles, not the pressure of air flowing through their lungs, lets them sing from the B note above middle C all the way to a whistle beyond the high end of a piano keyboard. ... > full story

Nitrate in beetroot juice lowers blood pressure, study finds (June 30, 2010) -- The nitrate content of beetroot juice is the underlying cause of its blood pressure lowering benefits, research reveals. A new study finds that blood pressure was lowered within 24 hours in people who took nitrate tablets, and people who drank beetroot juice. ... > full story

Diamonds and the holy grail of quantum computing (June 30, 2010) -- Most candidate systems for quantum computing work only at very low temperatures. Now a team of researchers from China may have a warmer solution. The team is exploring the capabilities of diamond nitrogen vacancy materials. ... > full story

Olympic gold? A new effect of caffeine boosts performance (June 30, 2010) -- UK scientists show for the first time that high doses of caffeine directly increase muscle power and endurance during sub-maximal activities, which in humans ranges from everyday activities to running a marathon. With no current regulations in place, the scientists believe their findings may have implications for the use of caffeine in sport to improve performance. ... > full story

Hunting weapon 10,000 years old found in melting ice patch (June 30, 2010) -- A researcher has discovered a 10,000-year-old atlatl dart that had melted out of an ice patch in the Rocky Mountains. Climate change has increased global temperatures and accelerated melting of permanent ice fields, exposing organic materials that have long been entombed in the ice. ... > full story

How dietary supplement may block cancer cells (June 30, 2010) -- A new study shows how a substance produced when eating broccoli and Brussels sprouts can block the proliferation of cancer cells. Earlier evidence indicates that the substance indole-3-carbinol may have anticancer effects and other health benefits. The new study discovered that I3C causes the destruction of another molecule, called Cdc25A, which is essential for cell division and proliferation, and in this way blocks breast cancer cell growth. ... > full story

Desert bats reveal the secret of their survival (June 30, 2010) -- Desert bats reduce water loss by changing the make-up of their skin, allowing them to thrive in some of the world's most inhospitable environments. This is surprising given the anatomy of bats and the energy they expend in flight and may provide significant insight into how bats might respond to a future changing climate. ... > full story

Understanding how folic acid might help heal brain and spinal cord injuries (June 30, 2010) -- Babies born to women who do not consume enough folic acid are at high risk of developing neural tube defects. This is the reason underlying the recommendation that women who are pregnant take a folic acid supplement. New research using rodents now suggests how folic acid might also help promote healing in injured brain and spinal cord. ... > full story

NASA instrument will identify clues to Martian past (June 30, 2010) -- NASA's Curiosity rover, coming together for a late 2011 launch to Mars, has a newly installed component: a key onboard X-ray instrument for helping the mission achieve its goals. Researchers will use Curiosity in an intriguing area of Mars to search for modern or ancient habitable environments, including any that may have also been favorable for preserving clues about life and environment. ... > full story

Venetian blinds can cause accidental strangulation (June 30, 2010) -- A pediatrician is calling for Venetian blinds to be redesigned to safeguard babies and toddlers from accidentally being strangled to death by the looped cords. ... > full story

'Galactic archaeologists' find origin of Milky Way's ancient stars (June 30, 2010) -- Many of the Milky Way's ancient stars are remnants of other smaller galaxies torn apart by violent galactic collisions around five billion years ago, according to researchers. ... > full story

Mystery unraveled: How asbestos causes cancer (June 30, 2010) -- More than 20 million people in the US, and many more worldwide, who have been exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma, a malignant cancer of the membranes that cover the lungs and abdomen that is resistant to current therapies. Moreover, asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer among smokers. For the past 40 years researchers have tried to understand why asbestos causes cancer. ... > full story

Discovery of controlled swarm in bacteria: Could help design new strategies to increase sensitivity to antibiotics (June 30, 2010) -- Researchers have described one of the mechanisms in which pathogenic bacteria populations control the way they spread over the surface of the organs they infect and stop when they detect the presence of an antibiotic, only to resume again when the effect wears off. The star of this process is the RecA protein, which significantly increases its concentration at the start of the bacteria DNA repair mechanism. ... > full story

Treating depression with Omega-3: Encouraging results from largest clinical study (June 30, 2010) -- The use of Omega-3 supplements is effective among patients with major depression who do not have anxiety disorders, according to a recent clinical study -- the largest ever conducted assessing Omega-3's efficacy in treating major depression. ... > full story

Returning farmland to wilderness in Tanzania (June 30, 2010) -- The Swiss wanted to rear cattle in Tanzania and in so doing completely disturbed the ecosystem: the example of the Mkwaja Ranch shows how dependent agriculture is on a functioning ecosystem. And what a serious effect its encroachment can have on a sensitive balance. ... > full story

IVF linked to autism, Israeli study suggests (June 30, 2010) -- Scientists in Israel have reported a strong link between IVF and mild to moderate cases of autism. In their study, 10.5% of 461 children diagnosed with a disorder on the autism spectrum were conceived using IVF, a significantly higher number than the 3.5% autism rate in the general Israeli population. ... > full story

Depressed mice could aid research on drug-resistant depression in humans (June 30, 2010) -- New research shows that a unique strain of laboratory mice has behavioral, hormonal, and neurochemical characteristics that are similar to those of human patients with drug-resistant forms of depression. The mice -- which have a defect in a gene -- are expected to be useful as a new model organism in the effort to develop more effective medications for specific forms of depression. ... > full story

Spinal cord stimulation may benefit Parkinson's patients (June 30, 2010) -- Spinal cord stimulation may be able to modulate Parkinson's disease symptoms, recent research suggests. ... > full story

Viral protein structure study offers HIV therapy hope (June 30, 2010) -- A new research project is helping further the understanding of HIV viral protein structure which could lead to new molecular medicines. ... > full story

Near-normal blood sugar target did not delay risk of organ damage in people with diabetes, study finds (June 30, 2010) -- In people with longstanding type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for heart attack and stroke, lowering blood sugar to near-normal levels did not delay the combined risk of diabetic damage to kidneys, eyes, or nerves, but did delay several other signs of diabetic damage, a study has found. The intensive glucose treatment was compared with standard glucose control. ... > full story

When two parts of the Earth's crust break apart, this does not always cause massive volcanic eruptions (June 30, 2010) -- New research reveals that when two parts of the Earth's crust break apart, this does not always cause massive volcanic eruptions. The study explains why some parts of the world saw massive volcanic eruptions millions of years ago and others did not. ... > full story

Smarter lunchrooms lead kids to eat more salad (June 30, 2010) -- In a year-long study in an upstate New York middle school, researchers examined the effect of moving the salad bar to a more prominent location in the cafeteria. Results show that sales of certain salad bar items increased by 250-300 percent. ... > full story

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