ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Tuesday, May 25, 2010
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Comet dives into Sun: STEREO, SOHO spacecraft catch crash (May 25, 2010) -- Solar physicists have used STEREO data to track the path of a sun-grazing comet and have caught it crashing through the corona and chromosophere to evaporate in the photosphere. ... > full story
Brain injuries may result in trouble sleeping, study finds (May 25, 2010) -- People with brain injuries may produce low amounts of melatonin, which affects their sleep, according to a new study. ... > full story
First realistic simulation of DNA unfolding (May 25, 2010) -- The separation of the two DNA strands occurs in millionths of a second. Consequently, it is extremely difficult to study this phenomenon experimentally and researchers must rely on computational simulations. After four years of fine-tuning an effective physical model and massive use of the supercomputer Mare Nostrum, researchers have managed to produce the first realistic simulation of DNA opening at high resolution. ... > full story
Model demonstrates infectious cause of asthma (May 25, 2010) -- Scientists have developed an animal model that shows how an early childhood lung infection can cause asthma later in life. ... > full story
Nile delta natural gas potential is significant (May 25, 2010) -- An estimated 223 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas are in the Nile Delta Basin Province, located in the Eastern Mediterranean region. This is the first U.S. Geological Survey assessment of this basin to identify potentially extractable resources. ... > full story
Smoking cessation treatments work and are safe for people with severe mental illness (May 25, 2010) -- In a new study, researchers have determined that treatment for smoking dependence is as effective among people with severe mental illnesses as it is for the general population. Importantly, they also found that offering such treatments does not appear to cause deterioration in mental health. ... > full story
Tissue engineering technique yields potential biological substitute for dental implants (May 25, 2010) -- A pioneering tissue engineering technique can orchestrate stem cells to migrate to a 3-D scaffold infused with growth factor, holding the translational potential to yield an anatomically correct tooth in as soon as nine weeks once implanted. ... > full story
Anti-aging supplements may be best taken not too late in life (May 25, 2010) -- Researchers investigated the potential anti-aging benefits of a commercially available mixture marketed for relieving chronic fatigue and protecting against muscle aging. The findings in rats suggest anti-aging supplements made up of mixtures might be better than single compounds at preventing decline in physical function. ... > full story
Using remote sensing to track invasive trees (May 25, 2010) -- A team of agricultural scientists has refined remote sensing tools for identifying invasive Ashe juniper shrubs and trees in central Texas and nearby regions. These findings can help rangeland managers determine the extent and severity of Ashe juniper infestations and boost mitigation efforts. ... > full story
Frequent doctor visits help diabetics lower blood pressure more quickly (May 25, 2010) -- Frequent doctor visits helped diabetes patients lower their high blood pressure to normal quicker, according to a large study. ... > full story
Antibacterial silver nanoparticles are a blast (May 25, 2010) -- In a new article, researchers explain how blasting silver nitrate solution with an electron beam can generate nanoparticles that are more effective at killing all kinds of bacteria, including gram-negative species that are not harmed by conventional antibacterial agents. ... > full story
Obesity remains an economic issue, research finds (May 25, 2010) -- Nutrition researchers are asking: "Who buys what foods, why, where and for how much?" The answers might surprise you. Most studies have used distance to the nearest supermarket as the best predictor of whether people have good diets and better health. But new research finds that's not true. Driving further to save money on groceries is common. For that reason, physical proximity to a supermarket may not, by itself, assure a healthy diet. ... > full story
Ribbon at edge of our solar system: Will the Sun enter a million-degree cloud of interstellar gas? (May 24, 2010) -- Is the Sun going to enter a million-degree galactic cloud of interstellar gas soon? A U.S.-Polish team of scientists suggests that the ribbon of enhanced emissions of energetic neutral atoms, discovered last year by the NASA Small Explorer satellite IBEX, could be explained by a geometric effect due to the approach of the Sun to the boundary between the Local Cloud of interstellar gas and another cloud of a very hot gas called the Local Bubble. If this hypothesis is correct, IBEX is catching matter from a hot neighboring interstellar cloud, which the Sun might enter in a hundred years. ... > full story
Well-tolerated radiotherapy provides longer life to patients with recurrent brain cancer (May 24, 2010) -- Patients who received hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for their recurrent brain cancers lived longer lives, according to researchers. ... > full story
Nine new species for Tasmania's disappearing handfish family (May 24, 2010) -- Nine new species of handfish have been described by Australian scientists in research that highlights an urgent need to better understand and protect the diversity of life in Australia's oceans. The review brings the family to 14 known species -- six found only in Tasmania and one known from only one specimen possibly collected in Tasmania by early European explorers, yet not recorded since. It also deepens concerns about declining populations of some handfishes. ... > full story
Most patients survive common thyroid cancer regardless of treatment (May 24, 2010) -- Individuals with papillary thyroid cancer that has not spread beyond the thyroid gland appear to have favorable outcomes regardless of whether they receive treatment within the first year after diagnosis, according to a new report. ... > full story
New method for producing 'libraries' of important carbohydrate molecules (May 24, 2010) -- A team of scientists has created a method for the rapid chemical synthesis of complex carbohydrates, and that method could dramatically change the availability of such molecules for research. ... > full story
Flexible treatment intervention associated with greater improvement in anxiety symptoms (May 24, 2010) -- An intervention in primary care settings that allowed a choice of cognitive behavior therapy, medication or both, along with computer-assisted treatment support for patients with common anxiety disorders, resulted in greater improvement in anxiety symptoms and functional disability compared to usual care, according to a new study. ... > full story
DNA sequence itself influences mutation rate, new research indicates (May 24, 2010) -- Genetic variation due to DNA mutation is a driving force of adaptation and evolution, as well as a contributing factor to disease. However, the mechanisms governing DNA mutation rate are not well understood. In a new study, researchers have identified intrinsic properties of DNA that influence mutation rate, shedding light on mechanisms involved in genome maintenance and potentially disease. ... > full story
Cancer-targeting virus delivered by IV is successful in treating advanced cancers, research finds (May 24, 2010) -- Intravenous delivery of a cancer-targeting virus is successful in destroying cancer cells that have spread throughout the body, according to new research. ... > full story
When it comes to security, think 'natural': Security organizations could be more effective if officials learn from nature (May 24, 2010) -- Security organizations could be more effective if officials learn from occurrences in the environment, researchers suggest in a new article. The authors are working with security and disaster management officials to help put some of their recommendations -- such as decentralizing forces and forming alliances -- into practice. ... > full story
Four biomarkers important in colerectal cancer treatment prognosis discovered (May 24, 2010) -- The science of microRNAs continues to generate new insights into cancer and disease treatment. New research shows that four specific miRNAs will help predict which patients are more likely to develop aggressive colorectal cancer and which are not. The findings also shed light on the genetics that result in worse colorectal cancer-treatment outcomes for African-Americans, compared with Caucasians. ... > full story
Intelligent therapies with virtual reality for the psychological treatment of patients suffering from fibromyalgia (May 24, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have developed a new therapy based on the use of mobile devices and virtual reality for the psychological treatment of patients suffering from fibromyalgia. ... > full story
It's the little things: Everyday gratitude as a booster shot for romantic relationships (May 24, 2010) -- Our busy lives sometimes feel like they are spinning out of control, and we lose track of the little things we can do to add meaning to our lives and make our loved ones feel appreciated. A new article in points the way to the methods of gratitude we can use to give a boost to our romantic relationships, and help us achieve and maintain satisfaction with our partners. ... > full story
Ultraviolet radiation not culprit killing amphibians, research shows (May 24, 2010) -- In nature, ultraviolet radiation from sunlight is not the amphibian killer scientists once suspected. Naturally occurring murky water and females who choose to lay their eggs in the shade keep embryos of one of the nation's most UV-sensitive amphibian species out of harm's way most of the time, new research shows. ... > full story
Alcohol consumption may protect against risk of Alzheimer's disease, particularly in female nonsmokers, study finds (May 24, 2010) -- Knowledge regarding environmental factors influencing the risk of Alzheimer's disease is surprisingly scarce, despite substantial research in this area. In particular, the roles of smoking and alcohol consumption still remain controversial. A new study suggests a protective effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of Alzheimer's disease, particularly in women who do not smoke. ... > full story
Invention could aid Mars probes' search for life (May 24, 2010) -- The next generation of Mars rovers could have smaller, cheaper, more robust and more sensitive life-detecting instruments, thanks to an advance in mass spectrometry that will make it easier to direct ions along specified paths. Equipment based on the technology could make the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer -- part of the 2018 ExoMars mission -- a better life-detecting tool. ... > full story
Routine breast cancer biopsy might predict lymph node cancer spread (May 24, 2010) -- Predicting breast cancer spread from a sentinel lymph node removed during surgery is a hit or miss affair, say researchers: there are still many false negatives, which means the node, when analyzed under a microscope, appears clean of cancer cells, but metastasis can still occur in the patient. The sentinel node is the first lymph node in the axilla that cancer spreads to. ... > full story
How grazing lands influence greenhouse gas (May 24, 2010) -- Scientists estimated net global warming potential for three grazing management systems located in central North Dakota. The results indicate that grazing lands are strong sinks of soil organic carbon and minor sinks of methane, but small to moderate sources of nitrous oxide. ... > full story
More than 3,500 pediatric injuries related to crutches, walkers and wheelchairs each year in the US, study finds (May 24, 2010) -- Children and adolescents with an injury or disability may use mobility aids such as crutches, walkers and wheelchairs to help them move around more easily. However, use of these aids has been associated with risk for injury. A new study found that more than 63,000 pediatric mobility aid-related injuries were treated in United States emergency departments from 1991-2008, and the annual number of cases increased 23 percent during the 19-year study period. ... > full story
Regular violent eruptions from interacting pair of stars (May 24, 2010) -- Astronomers have spotted violent eruptions from an interacting pair of stars that orbit around each other every 25 minutes. Unusually, these outbursts take place at regular and predictable intervals, erupting every two months. The new observations were made using the fully robotic Liverpool Telescope sited in the Canary Islands and the orbiting Swift observatory. ... > full story
'Stress' protein could halt aging process, say scientists (May 24, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that a protein which responds to stress can halt the degeneration of muscle mass caused during the body's aging process. ... > full story
3-D model of blood flow by supercomputer predicts heart attacks (May 24, 2010) -- Researchers in Switzerland have developed a flowing 3-D model of the cardiovascular system that should allow for predictions of certain heart diseases before they become dangerous. ... > full story
Lung cancer: Biopsy-based study tilts field toward personalized treatment (May 24, 2010) -- The first lung cancer clinical trial to guide targeted therapies to patients based on molecular signatures in tumor biopsies is a step toward personalized care and more effective, efficient clinical trials for new drugs, study leaders report. ... > full story
'Printing' pills to order: Research to create safer, faster-acting medicines (May 24, 2010) -- A collaboration in the UK is looking at 'printing' pills to order, to create safer and faster-acting medicines. The research is set to revolutionize a process which has remained unchanged for over a thousand years. ... > full story
Early detection of Parkinson's disease by voice analysis (May 24, 2010) -- A new technique assisting in early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease has been developed. It involves analysis of voice and articulation. ... > full story
Semiconductor manufacturing technique holds promise for solar energy (May 24, 2010) -- Thanks to a new semiconductor manufacturing method, the future of solar energy just got brighter. Researchers have developed a more efficient, lower-cost method of manufacturing compound semiconductors such as gallium arsenide for many electronic device applications, including solar cells. The group deposits multiple layers of the material on a single wafer, creating a layered stack of gallium arsenide thin films, then transfers one layer at a time to another substrate -- glass, plastic or silicon. ... > full story
New blood test for newborns to detect allergy risk (May 24, 2010) -- A simple blood test can now predict whether newborn babies are at high risk of developing allergies as they grow older. ... > full story
Small RNA controls a bacterium's social life (May 24, 2010) -- For the first time, biologists have directly shown how spontaneous mutation of a small RNA (sRNA) regulatory molecule can provide an evolutionary advantage. The scientists also identify the sRNA as a key regulator of social behavior in Myxococcus xanthus, a soil bacterium widely studied for its ability to cooperatively construct fruiting bodies that house stress-resistant spores when food runs out. ... > full story
Uncovering lithium's mode of action (May 24, 2010) -- Though it has been prescribed for over 50 years to treat bipolar disorder, there are still many questions regarding exactly how lithium works. Researchers have provided solid evidence that lithium reduces brain inflammation by adjusting the metabolism of the health-protective omega-3 fatty acid called DHA. ... > full story
Decoding our network communities (May 24, 2010) -- A new way of finding community structure within networks -- anything from social networks such as Facebook, to power grids, political voting networks, and protein interaction networks in biology -- could help us understand how people are connected and how connections change over time. The new technique aims to be more realistic than conventional approaches, which only capture one type of connection or a network at only one moment in time. ... > full story
Game theoretic machine learning methods can help explain long periods of conflict (May 24, 2010) -- Researchers have developed new machine learning methods to study conflict. The new method, which they call Inductive Game Theory, has been applied to a time series of fights gathered from detailed observations of an animal society model system. ... > full story
Small mammals -- and rest of food chain -- at greater risk from global warming than thought, research finds (May 24, 2010) -- Small-mammal communities got knocked seriously askew about 12,000 years ago by the last episode of global warming. Environmental disruptions let highly adaptable species thrive while others lost population and range. The current warming may push some species to extinction, destabilizing the food chains and ecosystems of which they are a vital part. ... > full story
Scientists make important step toward stopping plaque-like formations in Huntington's disease (May 24, 2010) -- Researchers describe a laboratory test that allows scientists to evaluate large numbers of fruit fly genes for a possible role in the formation of plaque-like protein aggregates within cells. Those genes often have counterparts in humans, which might then be manipulated to stop or slow the formation of plaque-like protein aggregates, the hallmark of Huntington's and other neurodegenerative diseases. ... > full story
Physicists develop a quantum interface between light and atoms (May 24, 2010) -- Physicists in Germany have developed a quantum interface which connects light particles and atoms. The interface is based on an ultra-thin glass fiber and is suitable for the transmission of quantum information. This is an essential prerequisite for quantum communication which shall be used for secure data transmission via quantum cryptography. ... > full story
Immune evasion common in many viruses, bacteria and parasites is uncommon in M. tuberculosis (May 24, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that the strategy of "immune evasion" common to many viruses, bacteria and parasites, is uncommon to M. tuberculosis where the antigens remain strikingly unchanged and homogeneous. The study suggests that M. tuberculosis antigens do not mutate because they hope to be recognized by the body's immune system -- perhaps because the host immune mechanism that leads to the typical lung destruction and cough can contribute to the spread of the disease. This finding has the potential to change the direction of vaccine research and could result in a new focus on different targets of immune response to the bacteria. ... > full story
Organic solids in soil may speed up bacterial breathing (May 24, 2010) -- The "mineral-breathing" bacteria found in many oxygen-free environments may be "carbon-breathing" as well. Oxygen-free, or anaerobic, environments contain microbes sometimes described as "mineral-breathing" because they use iron oxides and other minerals in the same way we use oxygen. According to a new study, this bacterial respiration may be accelerated by solid organic compounds in the soil. ... > full story
Patients have misconceptions and high levels of anxiety about general anesthesia (May 24, 2010) -- Eighty-five percent of patients who took part in a survey shortly after day surgery said that they had been anxious about receiving a general anesthetic. The top three concerns that made patients very anxious were the thought of not waking up, dying while asleep and waking up during surgery. ... > full story
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