Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for June 4, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Airborne wind turbines to generate power from high winds (w/ Video)- SpaceX launches rocket on test flight (Update)
- Wind-powered car goes down wind faster than the wind
- Gene related to aging plays role in stem cell differentiation
- Bok Globules
- Introducing the good food guide for cockroaches
- Researchers make blood poisoning breakthrough
- Research shows heat increases stability of thin-film coatings
- Amateur astronomer spots another Jupiter strike (w/ Video)
- Some Iowa cicadas make unexpected appearance four years ahead of schedule
- Status symbols of house sparrows: High testosterone darkens their bill
- On the deceleration behaviour of black holes
- Could life survive on Mars? Yes, microbiologist says
- Oyster Shells Tell Story
- Study of MicroRNA Helps Scientists Unlock Secrets of Immune Cells
Space & Earth news
Study Examines Competing Interests in Maine Forests' Future
(PhysOrg.com) -- In more than a decade of public debate about the future of Maine's forestlands, sustainability has been a linchpin, with stakeholders arguing that it be either reinvented or restored, depending on their view of human-nature relationships.
SpaceX rocket launch aborted at last second
(AP) -- A multimillionaire's rocket came within seconds of launching before the test flight was aborted at Cape Canaveral.
Hylas satellite on schedule for launch
(PhysOrg.com) -- The completion of important tests on the Hylas telecommunications satellite has brought it a step closer to launch late this year. Once the final tests are completed, Hylas will be ready to be shipped to Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana in August.
EPA tightens sulfur dioxide limits
(AP) -- Good news for asthmatics, children, the elderly and those who have breathing disorders.
Undersea oil plumes mean slow-motion death in Gulf: experts
US scientists have charted vast oil plumes from the gushing BP well beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, and warn that the impact of the "invisible" undersea oil may be felt for years.
EasyJet to test infrared ash detectors on planes
(AP) -- Low-cost airline easyJet PLC unveiled plans Friday to test infrared technology's ability to detect volcanic ash clouds and urged other airlines to help map the ash risk across Europe's skies.
Next Stop, Titan: Looking at the Land o' Lakes
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft will be eyeing the north polar region of Saturn's moon Titan this weekend, scanning the moon's land o' lakes.
Mars On Earth: Astrobiologists look for places here to practice for missions on other planets
Like the Earth, the other planets and moons in our solar system have their own characteristic local surface materials and weather conditions. Scientists wanting to get the most of space-probe visits to these remote places are developing a better understanding of their local parameters and are building appropriate detectors by visiting places on Earth similar to these astronomical bodies.
Scientists Produce 3-D Models of BP Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico Using Ranger Supercomputer
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin's Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) are using the Ranger supercomputer to produce 3-D simulations of the impact of BP's massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill on coastal areas.
US private rocket readies launch in key space step
The privately-owned American firm SpaceX readied Friday for the first test flight of its Falcon 9 rocket, seen as a key step in developing commercial launchers to put people into space.
Drilling into the unknown -- the first exploration of a sub-glacial Antarctic lake is a major step closer
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have located the ideal drill site for the first ever exploration of an Antarctic sub-glacial lake, a development that it likely to facilitate a revolution in climate-change research and which may lead to the discovery of life-forms cut off from the main line of evolution for millions of years.
Earth from Space: A smoke-free Iceland
(PhysOrg.com) -- This Envisat image features a smoke-free Iceland. Although the island has received a lot of attention in the past months for its volcanic activity, it is also home to numerous glaciers, lakes, lava and hot springs.
NASA satellites see monster Cyclone Phet slamming northeastern Oman today
NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission and Aqua satellites are keeping a close eye on Cyclone Phet, a monster cyclone in the Arabian Sea, now affecting coastal Oman. Cyclone Phet's winds and heavy rains reached Oman's east coast earlier today, June 3.
Climate change forces major vegetation shifts
(PhysOrg.com) -- Vegetation around the world is on the move, and climate change is the culprit, according to a new analysis of global vegetation shifts led by a University of California, Berkeley, ecologist in collaboration with researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Amateur astronomer spots another Jupiter strike (w/ Video)
Jupiter has gotten whacked again.
Yangtze River's ancient origins revealed
The Yangtze River in China is 40 million years older than was previously thought, according to new research.
Bok Globules
(PhysOrg.com) -- Bok globules are small interstellar clouds of very cold gas and dust that are so thick they are nearly totally opaque to visible light, although they can be studied with infrared and radio techniques. They were originally discovered as black splotches in front of dense fields of stars, and were even dubbed "holes in the heaven" because they appeared like holes in the stellar background.
SpaceX launches rocket on test flight (Update)
The privately-owned US firm SpaceX launched a rocket on its first test flight Friday, in what observers say is a milestone for the space industry and in the race to develop commercial carriers.
Technology news
Foxconn: latest employee death not work related
(AP) -- Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group, which has been shaken by a spate of worker suicides in China this year, said Friday another employee had died but denied it was work-related.
Some blocked websites now accessible in China
(AP) -- Some websites, including ones with pornography, that were previously blocked by China's Internet censors were accessible inside the country Friday, though reasons for the change were unclear.
Warner makes artists available for 'Tap Tap' game
(AP) -- Following the success of "Tap Tap Metallica," Warner Music Group Corp. is opening up its roster of artists to be featured on other versions of the popular play-along iPhone game.
Judge allows limits on Web coverage of Wis. sports
(AP) -- The Wisconsin school athletic association has the right to limit who carries games live on the Internet, a judge ruled Thursday.
Renault Tanger announces eco-friendly factory
The Renault factory at Tangiers in Morocco will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 98 percent and become the first car factory in the world to use renewable energy, a Moroccan minister said Friday.
RWE, Siemens unveil plans for giant Welsh wind farm
The German power company RWE and industrial group Siemens unveiled on Friday a joint venture to build a giant British offshore wind farm worth more than two billion euros (2.4 billion dollars).
Massive data theft leads investigators to India hackers, New York businessman
A massive data theft from the e-commerce company Digital River has led investigators to hackers in India and a 20-year-old in New York who allegedly tried to sell the information to a Colorado marketing firm for half a million dollars.
Stanford students' new electric car breaks the mold, not the bank (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- An electric car that's both fun to ride and easy to afford? Stanford graduate students have designed and built a vehicle that makes daily travel eco-friendly and fun. They hope the Weng will change the way people think about getting around town.
Microsoft shutters Bing shopping rebate program
(AP) -- Microsoft is shutting down a program that gave online shoppers rebates when they found items through Bing search.
EADS to unveil algae-powered aircraft
European aerospace giant EADS is poised to unveil a "hybrid" aircraft which runs on algae fuel, a world first, its technical director said on Friday.
Google to give private Wi-Fi data to European regulators
Google will begin handing over private data mistakenly gathered from wireless Internet connections to European regulations within the next two days, the Financial Times reported Friday.
Wind-powered car goes down wind faster than the wind
(PhysOrg.com) -- A wind-powered car has been clocked in the US traveling down wind faster than the wind. In a recent run at New Jerusalem in Tracy, California, the car reached a top speed of more than 2.85 times faster than the wind blowing at the time (13.5 mph) powered by the wind itself. The run should now settle the DWFTTW (down wind faster than the wind) debate that has been raging for some time on the Internet about whether or not such a feat was possible.
Airborne wind turbines to generate power from high winds (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Airborne wind turbines may soon be generating power from high-altitude winds to provide consistent, clean, cheap, and abundant energy for a power-hungry world.
Medicine & Health news
MS drugs scheme 'a costly failure' for the NHS
The multiple sclerosis risk sharing scheme is "a costly failure" and should not be continued, according to researchers in the British Medical Journal today.
Bangladesh kids who lose mother more likely to die
(AP) -- For children in Bangladesh, losing a mother - but not a father - can be deadly, a new study says.
Non-IV Administered Medication Just as Effective in Stopping Seizures
(PhysOrg.com) -- When seizures strike, the most immediate goal for caregivers is to get appropriate medication to the patient as quickly as possible to stop the seizing activity.
Fox Chase clinical trial tests first of its kind antibody
Patients with HER2-positive cancers can have dramatic responses to HER2-targeted drugs but eventually develop resistance to the agents. With that problem in mind, Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers are testing a novel type of antibody called MM-111 in patients with HER2-positive disease who have progressed on standard therapy.
How smarter school lunchrooms increase fruit sales
How many more apples can a school cafeteria sell if the fruit is displayed in an attractive basket and placed in a well-lit area?
Lovastatin: a new weapon against plague?
An experimental study has revealed that lovastatin, a drug prescribed for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, protects animals against the deadly effects of plague. This infectious disease is on the upsurge in parts of the world. These results obtained by French scientists at the Unite de Recherche have been published in the journal PLoS ONE.
Latinas Delay Seeking Care, Even if Insured and Ill
Delays in seeking health care appear to be common for Latino women in upstate New York, a new study finds.
Supercentenarians
(PhysOrg.com) -- The quest for the modern day Methuselah. A team of researchers tracked down the oldest of the old - people living beyond their 110th birthday.
Hip exercises found effective at reducing, eliminating common knee pain in runners
A twice weekly hip strengthening regimen performed for six weeks proved surprisingly effective at reducing -- and in some cases eliminating -- knee pain referred to as patellofemoral pain (PFP) in female runners.
Link identified between lower IQ scores and attempted suicide in men
Low IQ scores in early adulthood are associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide in men, according to new research funded by the Wellcome Trust.
Low-dose HRT patches carry less risk of stroke than tablets
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) skin patches containing low doses of oestrogen carry less risk of stroke than oral therapy and may represent a safer alternative to tablets, suggests a study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Special care plan does not slow decline in patients with Alzheimer's
A special dementia care plan, involving regular assessments of patients with Alzheimer's disease in specialist memory clinics, does not slow functional decline compared with usual care, finds a study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Detecting tumors faster
(PhysOrg.com) -- To diagnose cancer reliably, doctors usually conduct a biopsy including tissue ana-lysis ? which is a time-consuming process. A microscopic image sensor, fitted in an endoscope, is being developed for in vivo cancer diagnosis, to speed up the detection of tumors.
Scientists seek former students in toxic MT town
(AP) -- Researchers have embarked on an ambitious study to track the health of thousands of high school graduates over a half century in a Montana town where a toxic mine has killed hundreds of people and made it the deadliest Superfund site in the nation.
Pregnancy is Prettier and 'Healthier' Without the Tan: Expert
(PhysOrg.com) -- Even though it's understood that ultraviolet light cannot penetrate the body to reach the womb, or the fetus, there are other factors directly related to tanning that can put both the mother and fetus at risk.
Probing Question: What does the SPF rating of sunscreen mean?
"Tanned skin is damaged skin." That's the dire message from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). We need a little sun exposure for vitamin D production, but too much sun increases the risk of skin cancer.
Free, open virtual laboratory for infectious diseases
(PhysOrg.com) -- Doctors around the world will soon have a powerful new tool at their disposal in the fight against HIV and other infectious diseases: a virtual laboratory that will help them match drugs to patients and make treatments more effective.
Practicing assertiveness skills on virtual-reality 'dates' may help women prevent sexual victimization
(PhysOrg.com) -- It's a stormy night when a young man offers a young college woman a ride home. First he makes friendly small-talk. But then he becomes sexually aggressive and angry. Can she get out of this situation without getting hurt?
Clinical Trial to Treat Brain Tumors with Electric Fields
(PhysOrg.com) -- The University of Illinois at Chicago is taking part in an international, multi-center study for patients newly diagnosed with the most common and aggressive type of brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM.
Researchers discover potential genetic factor in eating disorders
For the first time, scientists have discovered a possible biological culprit in the development of eating disorders during puberty: a type of estrogen called estradiol.
Stroke prevention study in children with sickle cell anemia, iron overload stopped early
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has stopped a clinical trial evaluating a new approach to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke in children with sickle cell anemia and iron overload because of evidence that the new treatment was unlikely to prove better than the existing treatment.
Relationships Can Lower Substance Use in Young People
A new study of young people in the two years after high school finds that those in romantic relationships are less likely than their peers to report heavy drinking and marijuana use.
Disabilities strike the middle-aged: Sedentary lifestyle, obesity among major reasons
Lucille Morris was in her mid-50s when she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Not long after, she began experiencing pain and numbness in her feet from neuropathy. Walking felt painful and wobbly.
McDonald's pulls cadmium-tainted 'Shrek' glasses
(AP) -- Cadmium has been discovered in the painted design on "Shrek"-themed drinking glasses being sold nationwide at McDonald's, forcing the burger giant to recall 12 million of the cheap U.S.-made collectibles while dramatically expanding contamination concerns about the toxic metal beyond imported children's jewelry.
Genetic 'Parts' List Now Available for Key Part of the Mammalian Brain
(PhysOrg.com) -- A Johns Hopkins and Japanese research team has generated the first comprehensive genetic "parts" list of a mouse hypothalamus, an enigmatic region of the brain — roughly cherry-sized, in humans — that controls hunger, thirst, fatigue, body temperature, wake-sleep cycles and links the central nervous system to control of hormone levels.
Study of MicroRNA Helps Scientists Unlock Secrets of Immune Cells
(PhysOrg.com) -- With the rapid and continuous advances in biotechnology, scientists are better able to see inside the nucleus of a cell to unlock the secrets of its genetic material. However, what happens outside of the nucleus has, in many ways, remained a mystery.
Gene related to aging plays role in stem cell differentiation
A gene shown to play a role in the aging process appears to play a role in the regulation of the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, according to researchers from the Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the Department of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University.
Researchers make blood poisoning breakthrough
(PhysOrg.com) -- The lives of millions of people struck down by blood poisoning - or sepsis - could be saved after a team of researchers, including an expert from the University of Glasgow, made a medical breakthrough in how the condition is treated.
Biology news
New rust resistance genes added to common beans
New cultivars of common bean developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists could shore up the legume crop's defenses against the fungal disease common bean rust.
Auburn's EcoDogs sniffing out endangered species
(PhysOrg.com) -- These dogs seek out animals in the woods, but they aren't your typical hunting dogs. They have been trained to find endangered species so Auburn University researchers can document the location and number of the rare animals.
Agronomist: Monitor winter wheat crop for freeze damage
(PhysOrg.com) -- Winter wheat producers should carefully monitor their crops over the next week to assess possible damage from late frosts.
Coral transplantation the simple and cheap solution to reef restoration
It is a question asked by marine scientists from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Barrier Reef; how best to restore coral reefs and marine habitat once it has been damaged or even killed? Now research published in Restoration Ecology reveals how 'transplantation' may be a cheap and simple solution that can be used by conservation volunteers to repair damaged reefs.
Who are we sharing the planet with? Millions less species than previously thought
(PhysOrg.com) -- New calculations reveal that the number of species on Earth is likely to be in the order of several million rather than 10's of millions. The findings, from a University of Melbourne-led study, are based on a new method of estimating tropical insect species -- the largest and one of the most difficult groups on the planet to study -- having significant implications for conservation efforts.
Crocodiles ride ocean currents to travel the high seas
University of Queensland ecologists have unlocked the mystery of how salt-water crocodiles cross large stretches of the sea despite being poor swimmers - they like to surf.
Researchers Uncover Identity Of Spider Discovered By Darwin More Than A Century Ago
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at The George Washington University recently uncovered the identity of a spider that was originally found by Charles Darwin in Brazil more than a century and a half ago. Using notes taken by Darwin himself, the researchers uncovered the identity of the species, "Leucauge argyrobapta," and many aspects of the identity of the genus "Leucauge" that will now help taxonomists understand this complicated lineage of orb-weaving spiders to which this species belongs.
Could life survive on Mars? Yes, microbiologist says
Researchers at McGill's department of natural resources, the National Research Council of Canada, the University of Toronto and the SETI Institute have discovered that methane-eating bacteria survive in a highly unique spring located on Axel Heiberg Island in Canada's extreme North. Dr. Lyle Whyte, McGill University microbiologist explains that the Lost Hammer spring supports microbial life, that the spring is similar to possible past or present springs on Mars, and that therefore they too could support life.
Introducing the good food guide for cockroaches
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ever wondered how cockroaches seem to know the best place to grab a meal? New research at Queen Mary, University of London suggests that, just like humans, they share their local knowledge of the best food sources and follow 'recommendations' from others.
Some Iowa cicadas make unexpected appearance four years ahead of schedule
(PhysOrg.com) -- The 17-year cicadas found in central and southeast Iowa aren't supposed to come out until 2014, but a small percentage are emerging now, four years ahead of schedule. "These cicadas appeared in 1963, 1980, and 1997," said Donald Lewis, professor of entomology at Iowa State University. "They should not have appeared until 2014."
Status symbols of house sparrows: High testosterone darkens their bill
(PhysOrg.com) -- The size of the black breast bib - the badge - and bill colour of male House Sparrows change over the course of the year. Such ornaments usually signal quality and dominance of a male to his conspecifics and are correlated with his testosterone levels. These levels are generally higher before and during breeding season than for example during moult in autumn.
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