ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Monday, May 24, 2010
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Two peas in an irregular pod: How binary stars may form (May 24, 2010) -- Our sun may be an only child, but most of the stars in the galaxy are actually twins. The sibling stars circle around each other at varying distances, bound by the hands of gravity. How twin stars form is an ongoing question in astronomy. Do they start out like fraternal twins developing from two separate clouds, or "eggs"? Or do they begin life in one cloud that splits into two, like identical twins born from one egg? ... > full story
Gene network associated with vitamin A deficiency and lung birth defects (May 24, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered the mechanism responsible for the failure of the lungs to form as a result of vitamin A/retinoic acid (RA) deficiency. The study also shows that corrections to this network make it possible to prevent the lung defect in retinoic acid-deficient animals. ... > full story
Minnow with fangs, golden orb spider and carnivorous sponge make top 10 list of new species (May 24, 2010) -- The International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University and an international committee of taxonomists have announced the top 10 new species described in 2009. The top 10 new species list includes a carnivorous sponge, bug-eating slug, edible yam, stinkhorn fungus, golden orb spider, flat-faced frogfish, banded knifefish, minnow with fangs, deep-sea worm and charismatic plant that feeds on insects. ... > full story
Pistachios offer multiple benefits, study suggests (May 24, 2010) -- Pistachio nuts, eaten as part of a healthy diet, can increase the levels of antioxidants in the blood of adults with high cholesterol, according to nutritional scientists. ... > full story
Danger in the internet cafe? New computer security threat for wireless networks: Typhoid adware (May 24, 2010) -- There's a potential threat lurking in your internet café, say computer science researchers. It's called Typhoid adware and works in similar fashion to Typhoid Mary, the first identified healthy carrier of typhoid fever who spread the disease to dozens of people in the New York area in the early 1900s. ... > full story
Learning from experience? Multisensory tools create discerning wine lovers (May 24, 2010) -- Wine aficionados are better able to resist misleading advertising if they are provided with accurate sensory descriptors, according to a new study. ... > full story
Silica cages help anti-cancer antibodies kill tumors in mice (May 24, 2010) -- Packaging anti-cancer drugs into particles of chemically modified silica improve the drugs' ability to fight skin cancer in mice, according to new research. Results show the honeycombed particles can help anti-cancer antibodies prevent tumor growth and prolong the lives of mice. ... > full story
Patients at high risk of recurrences of heart disease: Breakthrough in prevention (May 24, 2010) -- Researchers have announced promising findings of a major clinical study study on VIA-2291 -- a recently developed medication that can effectively reduce inflammation, which can contribute to the formation and progression of atherosclerosis plaque and infarct. ... > full story
Geometry Drives Selection Date for 2011 Mars Launch (May 24, 2010) -- Planners of NASA's next Mars mission have selected a flight schedule that will use favorable positions for two currently orbiting NASA Mars orbiters to obtain maximum information during descent and landing. ... > full story
Systems biology helps explain hematopoiesis (May 24, 2010) -- After blood loss, large amounts of the hormone Epo flood the hematopoietic system in the bone marrow. Scientists have shown how a rapid turnover of Epo receptor molecules on hematopoietic cells ensures that these remain ready to react. Thus, our body can respond even to extreme increases of Epo levels with an adequate supply of red blood cells. ... > full story
Switch protein also influences the cytoskeleton (May 24, 2010) -- The protein Ras is known as the switch for cell division when it is activated. Mutations in Ras and its interaction partners can thus lead to the development of cancer. Researchers in Germany have now discovered another unexpected capability of Ras, namely that it, by interacting with another protein, controls the synthesis of the cytoskeleton responsible for the structure and stability of the cell. ... > full story
Air Force Prevention Program reduces suicide rates significantly, according to new data (May 24, 2010) -- The US Air Force Suicide Prevention Program has reduced suicide rates significantly since it was launched in 1996, according to a new study that examined almost three decades of data. ... > full story
Odd geometry of bacteria may provide new way to study Earth's oldest fossils (May 23, 2010) -- Deciphering the few clues about ancient bacterial life that are seen in these poorly preserved rocks has been difficult, but researchers may have found a way to glean new information from the fossils. Specifically, they have linked the even spacing between the thousands of tiny cones that dot the surfaces of stromatolite-forming microbial mats -- a pattern that also appears in cross-sectional slices of stromatolites that are 2.8 billion years old -- to photosynthesis. ... > full story
'Fountain of youth' steroids could protect against heart disease (May 23, 2010) -- A natural defense mechanism against heart disease could be switched on by steroids sold as health supplements, according to researchers. ... > full story
Female damselflies prefer 'hot' males (May 23, 2010) -- Researchers have found that female damselflies prefer hot males. Hot male damselflies, who have warmed their bodies in the sun, are more attractive to their female counterparts. ... > full story
Surgical options for female incontinence found to be effective but with different complications (May 23, 2010) -- Two popular procedures for female stress incontinence were found to be equivalent in efficacy but differed in side effects, according to new data. These surgical techniques, called mid urethral slings, are increasingly common for the treatment of stress incontinence or urine loss from physical activity such as coughing, sneezing or laughing. ... > full story
Large number of public wells in U.S. have potentially harmful contaminants in source water, study finds (May 23, 2010) -- More than 20 percent of untreated water samples from 932 public wells across the nation contained at least one contaminant at levels of potential health concern, according to a new study. The study focused primarily on source (untreated) water collected from public wells before treatment or blending rather than the finished (treated) drinking water that water utilities deliver to their customers. ... > full story
Homeless adults have significant unmet health care needs, study finds (May 23, 2010) -- The vast majority of homeless adults surveyed in a national study had trouble accessing at least one type of needed health care service in the preceding year, according to new research that may be the first broad-based national study of factors related to unmet health needs among homeless people. ... > full story
New analysis reveals clearer picture of brain’s language areas (May 23, 2010) -- Language is a defining aspect of what makes us human. Although some brain regions are known to be associated with language, neuroscientists have had a surprisingly difficult time using brain imaging technology to understand exactly what these 'language areas' are doing. Neuroscientists now report on a new method to analyze brain imaging data -- one that may paint a clearer picture of how our brain produces and understands language. ... > full story
Quickly evolving bacteria could improve digestive health (May 23, 2010) -- When the forces of evolution took over an experimental strain of bacteria, it derailed an experiment that researchers thought they were conducting, but led to something much more profound instead. The researchers used a colony of mice raised in a large plastic bubble, called an isolator, that was completely sterile, lacking even a single bacterium. They introduced a single type of bacteria into the mouse colony, but it mutated quickly into different types, making new bacteria that were hardier inside of the mice than the original bacterium was. ... > full story
Why do Earth’s storm tracks differ from those of Jupiter? (May 23, 2010) -- Computer simulations show that both ocean dynamics, such as the Gulf Stream, and mountain ranges influence the pattern of storm tracks on Earth. This also explains why Earth's storm tracks are so different from those on the gas giant Jupiter. ... > full story
Simple electronic gadget could speed up HIV/AIDS diagnostics (May 23, 2010) -- A relatively simple electronic gadget could speed up HIV/AIDS diagnostics and improve accuracy particularly in parts of the world with very limited access to health-care workers. ... > full story
Supramolecular architecture explains the incredible strength of fibrin blood clots (May 23, 2010) -- A new study unlocks the previously unknown structural features that underlie the incredible elastic resilience of fibrin, the main protein in blood clots. The research provides insight into how the molecular architecture of a fibrin network contributes to its resilience and may help to explain what causes the failure of a clot, which can lead to a stroke or heart attack. ... > full story
The fear of falling (May 23, 2010) -- One in four people over the age of 70 suffers from gait disturbance. To prevent falls, specific treatment should be given. In a new study, researchers in Germany describe methods of differential diagnosis and therapy. ... > full story
Synthetic biomaterials mimic cellular membranes: Use in nanomedicine, drug delivery (May 23, 2010) -- An international collaboration led by chemists and engineers has prepared a library of synthetic biomaterials that mimic cellular membranes and that show promise in targeted delivery of cancer drugs, gene therapy, proteins, imaging and diagnostic agents and cosmetics safely to the body in the emerging field called nanomedicine. ... > full story
Gene therapy may be effective in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (May 23, 2010) -- Gene therapy has been shown to have positive effects in rat models of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia. ... > full story
Schooling fish offer new ideas for wind farming (May 23, 2010) -- The quest to derive energy from wind may soon be getting some help from a fluid-dynamics expert -- and a school of fish. ... > full story
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation reduces muscle atrophy in COPD, researchers find (May 23, 2010) -- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may reduce muscle atrophy in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to Canadian researchers. ... > full story
Enabling video systems to react intelligently to content (May 23, 2010) -- Highly sophisticated video-content analysis now makes possible fast and reliable diagnosis of pulmonary embolisms, automatically detects threatening situations in surveillance scenarios and can provide more enjoyable and customized home entertainment. The systems achieve this by reacting not only to the contents of the data but also to the context. Commercial applications are already developing across Europe. ... > full story
Arizona's smoking ban reduced hospital visits (May 23, 2010) -- Since the 2007 state law that bans smoking in public venues took effect, admissions for ailments related to secondhand smoke have declined by as much as 33 percent. ... > full story
Invention regulates nerve cells electronically (May 22, 2010) -- A major step toward being able to regulate nerve cells externally with the help of electronics has been taken by researchers in Sweden. The breakthrough is based on an ion transistor of plastic that can transport ions and charged biomolecules and thereby address and regulate cells. ... > full story
Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to breast cancer (May 22, 2010) -- A study in mice reveals that prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, like bisphenol-A (BPA) and diethylstilbestrol (DES), may program a fetus for life. Therefore, adult women who were exposed prenatally to BPA or DES could be at increased risk of breast cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story
Gesture-based computing on the cheap: Multicolored gloves making Minority Report-style interfaces more accessible (May 22, 2010) -- Ever since Steven Spielberg's 2002 sci-fi movie Minority Report, in which a black-clad Tom Cruise stands in front of a transparent screen manipulating a host of video images simply by waving his hands, the idea of gesture-based computer interfaces has captured the imagination of technophiles. Researchers have now developed a system that could make gestural interfaces much more practical. Aside from a standard webcam, like those found in many new computers, the system uses only a single piece of hardware: a multicolored Lycra glove that could be manufactured for about a dollar. ... > full story
Exercise may keep cancer patients healthier during, after treatment (May 22, 2010) -- Breast and prostate cancer patients who regularly exercise during and after cancer treatment report having a better quality of life and being less fatigued, according to researchers. ... > full story
Breaking the logjam: Improving data download from outer space (May 22, 2010) -- Space satellites that detect nuclear events and environmental gasses face a data logjam because their increasingly powerful sensors produce more information than their bandwidth can easily transmit. Experiments at the International Space Station indicate that sending more complex computer chips into space to pre-reduce the large data stream sent Earthbound could be the answer. But how well would the latest, most sensitive computing electronics fare in the harsh environment of outer space? ... > full story
Meaner than fiction: Reality TV high on aggression, study shows (May 22, 2010) -- Researchers looked at five reality shows and five non-reality shows and found 52 acts of aggression per hour on reality TV compared to 33 per hour for the non-reality programs. ... > full story
Better way to detect food allergies (May 22, 2010) -- A chemical engineer believes he has a better way to diagnose such allergies. His new technology can analyze individual immune cells taken from patients, allowing for precise measurement of the cells' response to allergens such as milk and peanuts. ... > full story
Increased cancer risk of people with type 2 diabetes, large study finds (May 22, 2010) -- Scientists in Germany have published the largest study worldwide on the combined risk of diabetes and cancer. People affected by type 2 diabetes have an elevated risk of 24 of the types of cancer studied. The effect is most evident for liver cancer and pancreatic cancer. By contrast, people with diabetes have a significantly lower rate of prostate cancer. ... > full story
Cassini heading to Saturn's Titan after tagging Enceladus (May 22, 2010) -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft is on its way to a flyby of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, after capturing some stunning images of Enceladus. One view shows the hazy outline of Titan behind Saturn's rings, with the dark curve of Enceladus at the bottom. ... > full story
Kidney weight matters when it comes to transplantation (May 22, 2010) -- Receiving an organ low in weight in relation to the recipient's body weight increases kidney transplant recipients risk of complications and transplant failure, according to a new study. The results suggest that compatibility between a donated kidney's weight and the weight of the recipient could improve the success of transplantation. ... > full story
New England losing forest cover -- scholars call for accelerated conservation (May 22, 2010) -- New England forests are at a turning point. A new study reports that, following almost 200 years of natural reforestation, forest cover is declining in all six New England states. The authors of the report call for conserving 70 percent of New England as forestland, a target that they say is critical to protecting vital natural benefits that would be costly, and in some cases impossible, to replace. ... > full story
Mistakes can explain 'cooperative' behavior (May 22, 2010) -- How people behave in economic games, where they can choose to be selfish or cooperative, can be explained more easily by 'mistakes' than wanting others to succeed. ... > full story
Ocean stored significant warming over last 16 years, study finds (May 22, 2010) -- The upper layer of the world's ocean has warmed since 1993, indicating a strong climate change signal, according to a new study. The energy stored is enough to power nearly 500 100-watt light bulbs per each of the roughly 6.7 billion people on the planet. ... > full story
New path for novel Alzheimer's therapies (May 22, 2010) -- Researchers have found a new Alzheimer's-related mechanism that could give rise to the development of new therapies against this disease. ... > full story
NASA's Mars rovers set surface longevity record (May 22, 2010) -- NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Project will pass a historic Martian longevity record on May 20. The Opportunity rover will surpass the duration record set by NASA's Viking 1 Lander of six years and 116 days operating on the surface of Mars. The effects of favorable weather on the red planet could also help the rovers generate more power. ... > full story
Better prognosis for children born with severe acute asphyxia (May 22, 2010) -- The prognosis for children born with severe acute asphyxia has improved in recent years owing to new clinical procedures and better diagnostics, according to new research from Sweden. By measuring levels of lactic acid in the blood during childbirth and the brain activity of the newborn afterwards, doctors can make a much more reliable assessment of the risk of serious brain damage. ... > full story
Low-cost, ultra-fast DNA sequencing brings diagnostic use closer (May 22, 2010) -- Researchers show the viability of a novel, more efficient method to sequence DNA using nanopores. By doing it fast and inexpensively, this method brings routine use of DNA sequencing in medical diagnostics closer to reality. ... > full story
Nationwide smoking ban would help reduce heart attack admissions, slash costs (May 22, 2010) -- A nationwide smoking ban would save more than million and significantly reduce hospitalizations for heart attack, according to a new study. ... > full story
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