Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for August 26, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Creating light sources for nanochips- Ultralow-power memory uses orders of magnitude less power than other devices
- Microbes survive a year and a half in space
- Kepler mission discovers two planets transiting same star
- Use the common cold virus to target and disrupt cancer cells?
- Discovery could challenge established theory of the nucleus
- First super-massive black holes were born 'soon' after Big Bang (w/ Video)
- Robot with frog egg smell sensor (w/ Video)
- North American continent is a layer cake, scientists discover
- Scientists develop the first atomic view of key genetic processes (w/ Video)
- Thought-controlled computers on the way: Intel
- Sunlight spawns many binary and 'divorced' binary asteroids
- Japan develops 'touchable' 3D TV technology
- Smallest U-M logo demonstrates advanced display technology
- Unearthed 400-year-old document shows how Peruvian natives used numbers
Space & Earth news
Study predicts massive impact of drought tolerant maize in Africa
As climate change intensifies drought conditions in Africa and sparks fears of a new cycle of crippling food shortages, a study released today finds widespread adoption of recently developed drought-tolerant varieties of maize could boost harvests in 13 African countries by 10 to 34 percent and generate up to US$1.5 billion in benefits for producers and consumers.
Why are sunspots a source of radio emissions? Researcher explains more
Why sunspots are a strong source of radio emissions and what information those emissions carry will be the focus of an invited talk by NJIT Research Professor Jeongwoo Lee tomorrow at the International Astronomical Union Symposium on the Physics of Sun and Star Spots in Ventura, CA. The event numbers among the top gatherings in the U.S. for people studying sunspots and related phenomena.
New rules of engagement for older people and climate change
A new study by researchers at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) at the University of York calls for better engagement of older people on climate change issues.
ISS ship-tracker operating alongside Norwegian satellite
(PhysOrg.com) -- Nearing the end of its third month of continuous operation, the International Space Station's ship-tracking experiment has experienced a marked increase in data quality. Now it operates along with a dedicated satellite carrying the same receiver.
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer arrives at launch site
(PhysOrg.com) -- One of the most complex space scientific instruments ever built, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, escorted by astronauts who will fly with it on the Space Shuttle in February 2011.
What have engineers learned from Katrina?
Five years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, James N. Jensen, PhD, University at Buffalo professor of civil, structural and environmental engineering, says that probably the biggest lesson learned from that disaster was that municipalities and citizens now take orders to evacuate much more seriously.
Nine toxic chemicals join banned 'dirty dozen': UN agency
The UN said Thursday an insecticide used in farming and to treat woodworm, Lindane, was among nine highly toxic chemicals added to a "dirty dozen" of dangerous substances on an international red list.
Deep-sea images reveal colorful life off Indonesia
(AP) -- Scientists using cutting-edge technology to explore waters off Indonesia were wowed by colorful and diverse images of marine life on the ocean floor - including plate-sized sea spiders and flower-like sponges that appear to be carnivorous.
BP scraps plans to drill in Arctic due to Gulf spill: report
BP has scrapped plans to drill in the Arctic, where a new oil rush is expected, amid fears such a move would be "political madness" after the Gulf oil spill, Britain's Guardian daily said Thursday.
Measuring the universe
A unique antenna which could help unveil a new window on the universe by observing thousands of gravitational waves should be one of NASA's next space missions according to a group of leading US experts.
Coral off Puerto Rico's coast 'ideal case study' for Gulf oil spill's impact
Coral living off the coast of Puerto Rico may provide researchers valuable information about the potential impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Russian gas tanker forges Arctic passage to China
A Russian gas tanker is this month making a historic voyage across the famed Northeast passage as receding ice opens up an elusive trade route from Asia to the West sought for centuries by explorers.
Image: Hydrogen sulfide and dust plumes on Namibia's coast
Cloudless skies allowed a clear view of dust and hydrogen sulfide plumes along the coast of Namibia in early August 2010. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite captured this natural-color image on Aug. 10, 2010.
Relics from Scott's doomed Antarctic trip on sale
The skis and scientific instruments of a physicist who accompanied Captain Scott on his ill-fated trip to the Antarctic will be sold in London next month, Christie's auctioneers said Wednesday.
The mutating Mars hoax
It spreads, it mutates, it refuses to die. For the seventh year in a row, the Mars Hoax is infecting email boxes around the world. Passed from one reader to another, the message states that on August 27th Mars will approach Earth and swell to the size of a full Moon. "NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN," the email declares--always in caps.
Fuel treatments reduce wildfire severity, tree mortality in Washington forests
A study conducted by U.S. Forest Service and University of Washington (UW) scientists has found that fuel treatments—even of only a few acres—can reduce fire severity and protect older trees desirable for their timber, wildlife, and carbon-storage value. The finding is part of a three-year study of the 175,000-acre Tripod Fire and is published in the August issue of Canadian Journal of Forest Research.
Nutrient shift occurring in the Gulf of Maine could affect planktonic ecosystem
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Gulf of Maine waters are cooler, fresher and lower in nitrate than they were 30 years ago, causing a nutrient shift that has potential implications for the structure of the planktonic ecosystem, according to oceanographers at the University of Maine.
Scientist seeing clearly the effects of pyrocumulonimbus
Wildfires can wreak widespread havoc and devastation, affecting environmental assets lives, property and livelihoods. Meteorologist Mike Fromm of the Naval Research Laboratory, in collaboration with several national and international laboratories, is now discovering that changes in the frequency of occurrence and intensity of wildfires has substantial consequences for a variety of important problems including atmospheric change.
Scientists concerned about environmental impact of recycling of e-waste
(PhysOrg.com) -- Much of the world's electronic waste is being shipped to China for recycling and the cottage industry that has sprung up there to recover usable materials from computers, cell phones, televisions and other goods may be creating significant health and environmental hazards.
New view of tectonic plates
(PhysOrg.com) -- Computational scientists and geophysicists at the University of Texas at Austin and the California Institute of Technology have developed new computer algorithms that for the first time allow for the simultaneous modeling of the earth's Earth's mantle flow, large-scale tectonic plate motions, and the behavior of individual fault zones, to produce an unprecedented view of plate tectonics and the forces that drive it.
WISE Captures the Unicorn's Rose
(PhysOrg.com) -- Unicorns and roses are usually the stuff of fairy tales, but a new cosmic image taken by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WISE) shows the Rosette nebula located within the constellation Monoceros, or the Unicorn.
Space detector prepares to scour universe for secrets (Update)
A huge physics detector that will scour outer space for clues to the origins of the universe began the first stage of its voyage to the International Space Station at Geneva airport on Wednesday.
Researchers find a 'great fizz' of carbon dioxide at the end of the last ice age
Imagine loosening the screw-top of a soda bottle and hearing the carbon dioxide begin to escape. Then imagine taking the cap off quickly, and seeing the beverage foam and fizz out of the bottle. Then, imagine the pressure equalizing and the beverage being ready to drink.
NASA's SOFIA will likely help solve mysteries about our galaxy
(PhysOrg.com) -- How were millions of young stars able to form at the center of our Milky Way galaxy in the presence of an enormous black hole with a mass 4 million times that of the sun? This and other important questions may be answered by the NASA mission SOFIA, which is scheduled to make its first scientific measurements in the next few months.
Distant star's sound waves reveal cycle similar to the Sun's
In a bid to unlock longstanding mysteries of the Sun, including the impacts on Earth of its 11-year cycle, an international team of scientists has successfully probed a distant star. By monitoring the star's sound waves, the team has observed a magnetic cycle analogous to the Sun's solar cycle.
Unusual feed supplement could ease greenhouse gassy cows
(PhysOrg.com) -- Cow belches, a major source of greenhouse gases, could be decreased by an unusual feed supplement developed by a Penn State dairy scientist.
Shrinking atmospheric layer linked to low levels of solar radiation
Large changes in the sun's energy output may drive unexpectedly dramatic fluctuations in Earth's outer atmosphere.
Large CO2 release speeds up ice age melting
Radiocarbon dating is used to determine the age of everything from ancient artifacts to prehistoric corals on the ocean bottom.
Microbes survive a year and a half in space
(PhysOrg.com) -- Bacteria collected from rocks taken from the cliffs at the tiny English fishing village of Beer in Devon, have survived on the outside surface of the International Space Station for 553 days. The bacteria, known as OU-20, resemble cyanobacteria called Gloeocapsa.
Sunlight spawns many binary and 'divorced' binary asteroids
(PhysOrg.com) -- The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter is often depicted as a dull zone of dead rocks with an occasional wayward speedster smashing through on its way toward the sun.
North American continent is a layer cake, scientists discover
(PhysOrg.com) -- The North American continent is not one thick, rigid slab, but a layer cake of ancient, 3 billion-year-old rock on top of much newer material probably less than 1 billion years old, according to a new study by seismologists at the University of California, Berkeley.
First super-massive black holes were born 'soon' after Big Bang (w/ Video)
Astronomers believe they have discovered the origin of our universe's first super-massive black holes, which formed some 13 billion years ago.
Kepler mission discovers two planets transiting same star
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered the first confirmed planetary system with more than one planet crossing in front of, or transiting, the same star.
Technology news
Epson Toyocom develops new absolute pressure sensor
Japanese Epson Toyocom Corp. today announced it has developed an extremely small absolute pressure sensor that provides excellent accuracy and resolution.
IBM and EU partner to enable digitization of historic European texts on massive scale
IBM and the EU have expanded their research collaboration, which now includes more than two-dozen national libraries, research institutes, universities, and companies across Europe to provide new technology that will enable highly-accurate digitization of rare and culturally significant historical texts on a massive scale.
Apple schedules music-themed event for Sept. 1
(AP) -- Apple is holding a music-themed event in San Francisco next Wednesday that could yield updated iPods or a new music streaming service.
Mass. student appeals ruling in song-sharing case
(AP) -- A Boston University graduate student is appealing a federal judgment that required him to pay $67,500 in damages for illegally downloading and sharing songs online.
Nanoscale materials for high-energy density lithium-ion batteries
(PhysOrg.com) -- NEI Corporation and the University of California, San Diego won a Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer contract from NASA to develop and implement high energy density cathode materials for lithium batteries. These lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries could be used in a variety of NASA projects - and in a wide range of transportation and consumer applications.
Analyzing audio-visual content
Filmmakers can identify faults during production with an automatic fault identification and quality assessment system for video sequences. Scientists are also presenting automatic classification for videos at the International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam.
Shape-shifting robot plane offers safer alternative for maritime rescue
Use of morphing flight control surfaces has enabled the development of a cost effective unmanned air-sea rescue plane that can operate in extreme weather conditions despite its light weight and small size. State-of-the-art avionics and cameras onboard the seaplane ensure a smooth flight for extended rescue and surveillance missions, while reducing risks to material and crews.
Best Buy expands game trade-in program to stores
(AP) -- Electronics retailer Best Buy Co. said Thursday it is offering store credit in exchange for used video games at nearly 600 of its stores, expanding an online trade-in program that has been in place for about a year.
Sony working on 3-D TVs that don't need glasses
(AP) -- Sony Corp. is working on 3-D televisions that don't need special glasses, joining a race with rival Toshiba Corp., but sees cost and technological hurdles to overcome before they can go on sale.
Facebook clinches top spot in India: research
Facebook has become the number one social networking site in India, toppling Google-owned Orkut in one of the few major markets the site had a leadership position, a survey showed Thursday.
Wired youth forget how to write in China and Japan
Like every Chinese child, Li Hanwei spent her schooldays memorising thousands of the intricate characters that make up the Chinese writing system.
Apple's 99-cent TV show idea is no game changer
(AP) -- Apple Inc.'s iTunes store may have revolutionized the music business, but its recent push to let people rent TV shows for 99 cents won't amount to a game changer for how people watch TV.
Source: Dell plans sweeter 3Par bid after HP trump
(AP) -- Dell Inc. is planning a second offer to try to keep data storage maker 3Par Inc. out of Hewlett-Packard Co.'s hands, according to a person familiar with the discussions.
Microsoft finally fueling Yahoo's search engine
(AP) -- Microsoft Corp.'s technology is now processing all the search requests on Yahoo Inc.'s website in the U.S. and Canada, completing a long-awaited leap that creates a more formidable challenger to Google Inc. in the most lucrative part of the online advertising market.
Exclusive e-deal with Amazon is cut back
(AP) -- An exclusive e-book deal between Amazon.com and the agent for such Random House classics as "Invisible Man" and "Lolita" is no longer exclusive, and no longer a deal.
China's Tencent buys Google-backed social networking firm
Mainland Internet company Tencent Holdings has bought Google-backed Chinese social networking firm Comsenz for more than 60 million dollars, the companies and a media report said.
3PAR gives Dell 3 days to outbid HP buyout offer
Data storage firm 3PAR on Tuesday gave computer-making giant Dell three days to revise its acquisition offer after rival Hewlatt-Packard made a superior bid.
China's Alibaba buys US software developer Auctiva
The Hong Kong-listed arm of China's e-commerce firm Alibaba said Wednesday it had agreed to buy US software developer Auctiva for an undisclosed sum, accelerating a push into the world's biggest economy.
Target adds service to electronics offerings
(AP) -- Target is known for being cheap and chic. But now the retailer is making a big push to become known as a destination for electronics.
India allows telecom imports after 8-month ban
(AP) -- India has relaxed an eight-month ban on imports of telecommunication equipment, approving orders from China's ZTE and Huawei and Finland's Nokia Siemens Networks, executives said Wednesday, as security fears fade before an urgent need to roll out third-generation wireless infrastructure.
Where are you? A rundown of Facebook's Places
(AP) -- Services based on your location, such as Foursquare, are popular in the tech-centric bubbles of Silicon Valley and New York City. But for many people, these services remain odd - and potentially creepy - tools on your smart phone to let friends or even strangers know you just showed up to a restaurant, gym or the corner deli.
WikiLeaks releases CIA analysis, no bombshell revelations
WikiLeaks on Wednesday released a CIA memo analyzing the risks of terrorists operating from the United States, but the document offered no dramatic revelations of government secrets like the website's earlier leaks.
Cracks in computer defenses abound: IBM
IBM on Wednesday reported that the number of discovered cracks that hackers could exploit in computer software surged in the first half of the year.
India government warns on BlackBerry
India warned the makers of the BlackBerry Thursday its messaging services could be shut down if it failed to give security agencies access "in readable format" as a compliance deadline loomed.
3-D movies via Internet and satellite
Multiview video coding (MVC) is the new standard for 3-D movie compression. While reducing the data significantly, MVC allows at the same time providing full high-resolution quality. At the International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam from Sept. 10-14, 2010, researchers will showcase how 3-D movies can be transmitted via Internet and digital television channels such as via satellite.
RIM seeks broad industry-gov't talks on encryption
(AP) -- Research In Motion Ltd., the maker of the BlackBerry, said Thursday it is seeking to involve other technology companies in its talks with the Indian government, which wants access to the e-mails of BlackBerry users.
Government report: 4 cos. control wireless market
(AP) -- Consolidation over the past decade has left just four big carriers in control of 90 percent of the wireless market, making it harder for small and regional companies to compete, according to a government report released Thursday.
HP blasts back with new bid for 3Par, besting Dell
(AP) -- Hewlett-Packard Co. has again raised its bid for 3Par Inc. above an offer from rival Dell Inc., suggesting that the little-known data-storage maker could be worth more with one of the PC companies' marketing muscle behind it.
Government appeals ruling on FCC indecency rule
(AP) -- Federal regulators are appealing a recent court decision that struck down a 2004 government policy that says broadcasters can be fined for allowing even a single curse word on live television.
Intuit, Morphie to offer built-In credit card scanner for iPhone
Very soon, traveling merchants' use of traditional credit card terminals will be a thing of the past. Intuit, a business software specialist who provides a remote credit card service called Go Payment for professionals on the go, has teamed up with Morphie, an iPhone accessory maker, to create a new scanner accessory that will work with the iPhone via Intuit's Go Payment app without having to manually enter credit card information.
Japan high-tech toilet makers flush with success
In Japan, the global leader in high-tech toilet design, the latest restroom marvel should come with a health warning for hypochondriacs -- it doubles as a medical lab that can really spoil your day.
Germany to prevent Facebook checks
(AP) -- Ever thought twice about posting a party picture on Facebook, fearing it could someday hurt your chance at a dream job? A new German law is supposed to solve the problem by making it illegal for prospective employers to spy on applicants' private postings.
Electricity collected from the air could become the newest alternative energy source
Imagine devices that capture electricity from the air ― much like solar cells capture sunlight ― and using them to light a house or recharge an electric car. Imagine using similar panels on the rooftops of buildings to prevent lightning before it forms. Strange as it may sound, scientists already are in the early stages of developing such devices, according to a report presented today at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Google plugs free PC-to-phone calling into e-mail
(AP) -- Google is adding a new e-mail feature that may persuade more people to cut the cords on their landline phones.
Worst cyber attack on US military came via flash drive
The most serious cyber attack on the US military's networks came from a tainted flash drive in 2008, forcing the Pentagon to review its digital security, a top US defense official said Wednesday.
Seaswarm: MIT unveils robots capable of cleaning up oil spills (w/ Video)
The Deepwater Horizon debacle has once again illustrated the difficulties we face when it comes to mopping oil spills. However, MIT thinks that it has found an answer to the problem: Tiny robots that can assess the situation and then clean it up.
Google launches search page for real-time online posts
Google on Thursday further embraced the world of tweets, status updates, and on-the-fly posts with a website devoted to finding "real-time" content as it hits the Internet.
Japan develops 'touchable' 3D TV technology
A Japanese research team said Thursday it had developed the world's first 3D television system that allows users to touch, pinch or poke images floating in front of them.
Thought-controlled computers on the way: Intel
(PhysOrg.com) -- Computers controlled by the mind are going a step further with Intel's development of mind-controlled computers. Existing computers operated by brain power require the user to mentally move a cursor on the screen, but the new computers will be designed to directly read the words thought by the user.
Medicine & Health news
Eating a sensible diet improves lung health, research shows
Steering clear of full-fat, fried, and processed foods is not just good for overall health, it could help prevent chronic lung conditions, a large UK study has revealed.
Can probiotics help ward off flu?
University of Reading researchers are recruiting volunteers for an important new study aiming to discover whether probiotics boost the immune system of older people.
IT can help CVD management
Robyn Whittaker from the University of Auckland and colleagues argue that information technology (IT)-based programs can improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) management and patient empowerment, but must be accompanied by supportive social and political environments and active patient and clinician engagement.
Better interventions are needed to reduce HIV risk among men who have sex with men
Although a cognitive-behavioral intervention to encourage men who have sex with men to reduce their substance use and sexual risk behavior (as both are linked) was partially successful, a similar reduction was achieved in comparison groups who did not receive the intervention suggesting that better methods for changing behaviors are needed. These are the findings of a paper by Gordon Mansergh from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia, USA, and colleagues and published in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Blood transfusions should not go ahead without informed consent
Two legal experts argue on bmj.com today that informed consent should be obtained from competent patients before blood transfusions takes place.
Research shows gender difference in energy compensation effect
The results of a new scientific study from Oxford Brookes University show that the consumption of caloric beverages has different affects on short-term total energy intake in men and women.
AIDS patients hurt by South African strike
(AP) -- Doctors and activists say AIDS patients aren't getting treated because of a nationwide strike in South Africa, the country with the highest incidence of the virus that causes AIDS.
Doctors' religious beliefs strongly influence end-of-life decisions
Atheist or agnostic doctors are almost twice as willing to take decisions that they think will hasten the end of a very sick patient's life as doctors who are deeply religious, suggests research published online in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Eggs from Iowa farms could come to table near you
(AP) -- The Iowa hens at the heart of a massive recall are still laying eggs that could end up on a table near you. And food safety experts say that's OK.
The Medical Minute: Parents and schools can team up to beat obesity
With the launch of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign this past February, now more than ever schools are being placed at the forefront of addressing the childhood obesity epidemic. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three children is considered obese or overweight, and the percentage of children who are overweight has tripled in the past 30 years.
Southampton to conduct UK's first cochlear implant operation to give sound in both ears
The UK's first operation to fit a single cochlear implant capable of giving sound in both ears takes place this Friday (27 August), thanks to the work of the South of England Cochlear Implant Centre (SOECIC), based at the University of Southampton.
Adherence to practice guidelines may reduce bleeding in cirrhosis patients
Compliance with practice guideline-recommended treatment for cirrhosis is associated with a reduction in first esophageal variceal hemorrhage (EVH; bleeding), according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute. Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver is permanently scarred or injured.
Common blood changes not independent predictor of adverse outcomes for kidney disease patients
Fluctuations in blood composition that often arise from commonly used therapies among kidney disease patients are not an independent predictor of adverse outcomes for European hemodialysis patients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The results suggest that although hemoglobin variability is common in kidney disease patients, it does not appear to increase their likelihood of dying early.
Congress calls egg company owners to testify
(AP) -- Food and Drug Administration officials says they have found positive samples of salmonella at the two Iowa farms involved in a massive egg recall.
Mexico beginning crackdown on antibiotic sales
(AP) -- Mexican authorities have begun enforcing tougher rules designed to ensure that people have a doctor's prescription to buy antibiotics.
Texas A&M research produces tools to study stallions' subfertility
Subfertility of breeding stallions — meaning the horses are less able to sire foals — is a well-recognized problem that has caused multi-million-dollar losses in the equine industry, experts say. Texas A&M researchers believe they are making progress in solving the problem by using an approach that might provide tools and resources necessary to study subfertility without causing stallions the angst of providing testicular samples for testing.
Researchers urge reclassification of traumatic brain injury as chronic disease
Traumatic brain injury, currently considered a singular event by the insurance industry and many health care providers, is instead the beginning of an ongoing process that impacts multiple organ systems and may cause or accelerate other diseases and disorders that can reduce life expectancy, according to research from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Lizard venom offers hope for Parkinson's disease patients
(PhysOrg.com) -- The saliva of a venomous lizard native to southwestern America and Mexico could provide a cure for patients with Parkinson's disease.
Salmonella find links 2 Iowa egg farms to recall
(AP) -- Food and Drug Administration officials say they have found positive samples of salmonella that link two Iowa farms to a massive egg recall.
Researchers create tests to assess down syndrome
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Arizona Cognitive Test Battery, designed by UA psychologists Lynn Nadel and Jamie Edgin, can quickly and easily assess the cognitive abilities of persons with Down syndrome. It gives clinicians and other researchers a tool to help determine the life trajectory of those with the genetic disorder as well as aid in the development of treatments.
Use of certain antiviral drugs during pregnancy not linked with higher risk of major birth defects
An analysis of data from Denmark finds no associated increased risk of major birth defects for mothers who were exposed during the first trimester of pregnancy to the antiviral drugs acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, often used to treat herpes simplex and herpes zoster infections, according to a study in the August 25 issue of JAMA.
More walking, cycling linked to healthier weights worldwide
Amble, stroll or pedal: it's all good. A new study provides evidence supporting a seemingly obvious -- but unproven -- link between walking- and cycling-friendly communities and lower levels of obesity.
Antiviral gene helps suppress jumping of AIDS viruses between host species
The human AIDS viruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2) originated as viruses of apes and monkeys, respectively, yet little is known about whether or how these invaders adapted to the new genetic "environment" encountered in humans. One group of host genes, collectively known as restriction factors, is thought to influence the ability of such viruses to move between different primate species. A study conducted by Andrea Kirmaier and Welkin Johnson of Harvard Medical School, together with Dr. Vanessa Hirsch of the National Institutes of Health, provides direct evidence in apes and monkeys of a restriction factor gene called TRIM5 acting as a genetic barrier to cross-species transmission of a primate immunodeficiency virus related to HIV-2. The findings will publish next week in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology.
A case for exercising
There is now another good reason to exercise. Besides burning calories, exercise restores the sensitivity of neurons involved in the control of satiety (feeling full), which in turn contributes to reduced food intake and consequently weight loss. This is the conclusion of a study led by Brazilian researchers at the University of Campinas, and the findings will be published next week in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology. This disclosure may bring hope to over 40% of the population that suffers from weight problems and obesity around the world.
Migraine sufferers have higher risk of dying from heart disease and stroke
Individuals who suffer from migraines with aura (temporary visual or sensory disturbances before or during a migraine headache) are at a higher risk of dying from heart disease or stroke, according to research published today in the British Medical Journal.
A moment on the lips, a year on the hips
A short period of excess food consumption can have long term effects on your body weight and fat storage even after the initial weight is lost. A study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Nutrition & Metabolism has found that a four-week episode of increased energy intake and decreased exercise can cause increased weight and fat mass more than two years later when compared to control individuals.
Exposure to low doses of BPA alters gene expression in the fetal mouse ovary
A study posted today (Wednesday, August 25) at the online site of the journal Biology of Reproduction reports that exposure of pregnant female mice to the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A may produce adverse reproductive consequences on gene expression in fetal ovaries as early as 12 hours after the mother has first been exposed to the chemical.
Researchers develop new laboratory cell lines to study treatment for ATC
To their deep dismay, researchers at Mayo Clinic discovered several years ago that laboratory samples of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) they were using to help them find new treatments for this lethal disease were probably some other kind of cancer.
Research heralds potential for early diagnosis of degenerative brain disorders
A team of American scientists claim that a new method of testing for neurological diseases could provide doctors with a rapid and non-invasively method of diagnosing degenerative disorders. The research, published in The journal of Comparative Neurology, reveals that Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) can distinguish between different disorders in patients, allowing earlier diagnosis.
Up to 1 in 4 patients report more physical problems a year after surgery than before
One in seven patients experience more pain, physical and emotional problems a year after surgery than before their operation and a quarter have less vitality. Those are the key findings of a research study of more than 400 patients published online by the British Journal of Surgery.
Liver cells created from patients' skin cells
(PhysOrg.com) -- By creating diseased liver cells from a small sample of human skin, scientists have for the first time shown that stem cells can be used to model a diverse range of inherited disorders. The University of Cambridge researchers' findings, which will hopefully lead to new treatments for those suffering from liver diseases, were published today in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Neuron-damaging mechanism discovered in mouse model of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
New research uncovers what may be a primary neuron-damaging insult that occurs in an inherited form of a devastating neurodegenerative disorder. The study, published by Cell Press in the August 26th issue of the journal Neuron, describes a critical mechanistic link between a mutant protein and disease pathogenesis in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Targeted drug leads to regression of metastatic melanoma with mutated BRAF gene
Use of an experimental targeted drug to treat metastatic melanoma tumors with a specific genetic signature was successful in more than 80 percent of patients in a phase 1 clinical trial. Results of the trial of PLX4032, an inhibitor of a protein called BRAF that is overactive in more than half of all melanomas, appear in the August 26 New England Journal of Medicine.
Grapefruit's bitter taste holds a sweet promise for diabetes therapy
Naringenin, an antioxidant derived from the bitter flavor of grapefruits and other citrus fruits, may cause the liver to break down fat while increasing insulin sensitivity, a process that naturally occurs during long periods of fasting.
Gene involved in Fuchs corneal dystrophy is found
A 13-member research team led by University of Oregon scientist Dr. Albert O. Edwards has found a gene likely responsible for Fuchs corneal dystrophy, an inheritable genetic disorder and leading cause of corneal transplant operations.
Mutation leading to kidney disease in Cypriot families is traced back to one ancestor more than 300 years ago
A study published Online First in The Lancet has identified a genetic mutation in the immune system which leads to chronic kidney disease in those affected. Furthermore, all the families affected so far are of Cypriot origin and the researchers believe this mutation represents a significant proportion of the kidney disease burden in Cyprus and in Cypriot families worldwide -- and that the mutation dates back to a single common ancestor at least 16 generations ago.
Banana plantain fibers could treat Crohn's disease
Crohn's is a condition that affects one in 800 people in the UK and causes chronic intestinal inflammation, leading to pain, bleeding and diarrhoea. Researchers are working with biotechnology company, Provexis, to test a new plantain based food product that could treat patients with the disease.
Tobacco industry may be using YouTube to market its products
Tobacco companies may be using web 2.0 media, such as YouTube, to market their products to young people, so getting round marketing restrictions for tobacco content in place elsewhere, suggests research published online in Tobacco Control.
BPA and testosterone levels: First evidence for small changes in men
An international group of researchers led by the Peninsula Medical School and the University of Exeter have for the first time identified changes in sex hormones associated with BPA exposure in men, in a large population study. The study results are published in the latest issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
Sad mothers have small babies
Clinical depression and anxiety during pregnancy results in smaller babies that are more likely to die in infancy, according to new research published in the open access journal BMC Public Health. The study, which focused on women living in rural Bangladesh, provides the first finding of its kind in a non-Western population. The research indicates that mental health issues are likely to be a primary contributor to infant mortality and poor child health, above poverty, malnutrition or low socio-economic status.
Spouses do not grow more alike, study finds
Contrary to popular belief, married couples do not become more similar over time, according to a team of researchers led by Michigan State University.
Scientists uncover new mechanism of memory formation
Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have discovered a mechanism that plays a critical role in the formation of long-term memory. The findings shed substantial new light on aspects of how memory is formed, and could lead to novel treatments for memory disorders.
Egg cooling would lessen salmonella illnesses, scientist says
While people across the country have been sickened by a recent outbreak of salmonella poisoning possibly linked to eggs from Iowa producers, a Purdue University food scientist believes the poultry industry could implement a rapid egg cooling technology to reduce future outbreaks.
Where the fat's at: Scientists create novel map of lipid locations in a single cell
In real estate, location is everything. The same might be said of lipids - those crucial cellular fats and oils that serve as building blocks for cells and as key energy sources for the body.
Vitamin D may treat and prevent allergic reaction to mold in cystic fibrosis patients
Vitamin D may be an effective therapy to treat and even prevent allergy to a common mold that can cause severe complications for patients with cystic fibrosis and asthma, according to researchers from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Louisiana State University School of Medicine.
Psychology professor studies structural basis for autism disorders
There is still much that is unknown about autism spectrum disorders, but a University of Nevada, Reno psychologist has added to the body of knowledge that researchers around the world are compiling to try to demystify, prevent and treat the mysterious condition.
Expensive immunotherapy shows no advantage over placebo for recurrent miscarriage patients
(PhysOrg.com) -- The University of Chicago Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Program (RPL) recently completed a comprehensive study examining the use of immunotherapy to help couples that had experienced recurrent miscarriages for unexplained reasons achieve a successful pregnancy.
Supplement produces a 'striking' endurance boost
Research from the University of Exeter has revealed taking a dietary supplement to boost nitric oxide in the body can significantly boost stamina during high-intensity exercise.
US hospitals making only modest gains in adoption of electronic health records
Transforming the U.S. health care system from paper-based to electronic-based may improve health care quality and reduce costs, but a new study by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) suggests that goal is far off. The adoption of basic or comprehensive electronic health records (EHR) by U.S. hospitals increased modestly from 8.7% in 2008 to 11.9% in 2009, but only 2% of hospitals met the federal "meaningful use" standard needed to qualify for government financial incentives.
Study sheds light on how the brain shifts between sleep/awake states under anesthesia
Despite the fact that an estimated 25 million patients per year in the U.S. undergo surgeries using general anesthesia, scientists have only been able to hypothesize exactly how anesthetics interact with the central nervous system. They previously thought that the processes of "going under" and waking up from anesthesia affected the brain in the same way.
Macrophages: The 'defense' cells that help throughout the body
The term "macrophage" conjures images of a hungry white blood cell gobbling invading bacteria. However, macrophages do much more than that: Not only do they act as antimicrobial warriors, they also play critical roles in immune regulation and wound-healing. They can respond to a variety of cellular signals and change their physiology in response to local cues.
Attention, couch potatoes! Walking boosts brain connectivity, function
A group of "professional couch potatoes," as one researcher described them, has proven that even moderate exercise - in this case walking at one's own pace for 40 minutes three times a week - can enhance the connectivity of important brain circuits, combat declines in brain function associated with aging and increase performance on cognitive tasks.
Light, circadian rhythms affect vast range of physiological, behavioral functions
A new study of the genetic basis of circadian rhythms - the biological responses related to daily light exposure - has found that a few minutes of light exposure in a fungus directly affects a huge range of its biological functions, everything from reproduction to coloring and DNA repair.
Secondhand smoke may provoke inflammatory response in lungs
Second-hand smoke is associated with a number of diseases and conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and emphysema. It is an irritant to lung tissue and blood vessels, but the processes through which the body reacts to second-hand smoke comprise a mystery scientists are only beginning to unravel. Researchers at the University of Colorado-Denver are currently studying how second-hand smoke affects the lungs of rats, and so far it appears that second-hand smoke triggers a complex inflammatory response.
Victimized children involved with disasters more likely to have mental health issues
A new national study not only has confirmed that children who have been exposed to disasters from earthquakes to fires are more prone to emotional problems, but many of those children may already have been experiencing maltreatment, domestic abuse or peer violence that could exacerbate those issues.
Experimental treatments for cocaine addiction may prevent relapse
Doctors have used the drug disulfiram to help patients stay sober for several decades. It interferes with the body's ability to metabolize alcohol, giving a fierce hangover to someone who consumes even a small amount of alcohol.
Vitamin A increases the presence of the HIV virus in breast milk
Vitamin A and beta-carotene supplements are unsafe for HIV-positive women who breastfeed because they may boost the excretion of HIV in breast milk---thereby increasing the chances of transmitting the infection to the child, a pair of new studies suggest.
Our best and worst moments occur within social relationships, research shows
(PhysOrg.com) -- In the first study of its kind, researchers have found compelling evidence that our best and worst experiences in life are likely to involve not individual accomplishments, but interaction with other people and the fulfillment of an urge for social connection.
Probing Question: What is a lucid dream?
Have you ever had a dream that just didn't feel like a dream -- where, like Alice in Wonderland, you had trouble telling fiction from reality? Perhaps you even felt like you had control over what was happening, as if you were directing a film produced entirely in your imagination. If so, you most likely experienced what sleep scientists like Edward Bixler call a "lucid dream."
Cholesterol screening isn't just for the older crowd
For 20-somethings, does scheduling an appointment for a well-exam or a cholesterol screening even register on your radar? A new study says that maybe it should.
Researchers closer to development of drug to prevent deadly immune response
Researchers have isolated a molecule, small enough to be used as a drug, that can shut down a dysfunctional immune response that causes deadly hemorrhagic shock, results in delayed death of heart attack patients, promotes rejection of transplanted organs and destroys joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a paper published in Molecular Immunology.
Fluoride in water prevents adult tooth loss
Children drinking water with added fluoride helps dental health in adulthood decades later, a new study finds.
NETs catch platelets and induce clots, linking inflammation with thrombosis
(PhysOrg.com) -- Neutrophils are the innate immune system's 'first responders,' fighting infection in several distinct ways. These white blood cells can engulf foreign particles via phagocytosis, or they may release antimicrobial compounds, including granular proteins. Neutrophils are also known to sacrifice themselves, extruding their nuclear contents as a sticky antimicrobial web called a neutrophil extracellular trap, or NET.
Major moral decisions use general-purpose brain circuits to manage uncertainty
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at Harvard University have found that humans can make difficult moral decisions using the same brain circuits as those used in more mundane choices related to money and food.
Freeze or run? Not that simple: Scientists discover neural switch that controls fear
Fear can make you run, it can make you fight, and it can glue you to the spot. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo, Italy and GlaxoSmithKline in Verona, Italy, have identified not only the part of the brain but the specific type of neurons that determine how mice react to a frightening stimulus. In a study published today in Neuron, they combined pharmaceutical and genetic approaches with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in mice. Their findings show that deciding whether or not to freeze to fear is a more complex task for our brains than we realised.
Study identifies new genetic risk factor for Lou Gehrig's disease
An international study led by biologists and neuroscientists from the University of Pennsylvania has identified a new genetic risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Seeing the world with new eyes: Biosynthetic corneas restore vision in humans
A new study from researchers in Canada and Sweden has shown that biosynthetic corneas can help regenerate and repair damaged eye tissue and improve vision in humans. The results, from an early phase clinical trial with 10 patients, are published in the August 25th, 2010 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes linked to plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease
People with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes appear to be at an increased risk of developing plaques in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to new research published in the August 25, 2010, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Infants can remember emotional events: study
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study led by a University of Toronto Scarborough psychologist shows that human infants can remember unusual emotional events.
Scientists find first link in humans between memory and nerve cell production
Production of new nerve cells in the human brain is linked to learning and memory, according to a new study from the University of Florida. The research is the first to show such a link in humans. The findings, published online and in an upcoming print issue of the journal Brain, provide clues about processes involved in age- and health-related memory loss and reveal potential cellular targets for drug therapy.
Autism and schizophrenia: Scientists measure gene mutation rate
An international study led by University of Montreal scientists suggests family history may not be a good predictor of the presence of mutations predisposing to autism or schizophrenia.
Team finds a genetic rarity: A mutation that restores health
Errors in the copying of genes during cell division can cause numerous diseases, including cancer. Yale School of Medicine scientists, however, have unraveled the secrets of a much more rare phenomenon with potential therapeutic implications - disease-causing genes that show a high frequency of self-repair.
Neuroscientists: Two heads are better than one -- with the right partner
In the new age of coalition governments, the question of whether two heads are better than one is more relevant than ever. A study published today in the journal Science, neuroscientists from UCL (University College London) and Aarhus University, Denmark, shows that two heads can be better than one - but only if you have the right partner.
Healthy ears hear the first sound, ignoring the echoes
Voices carry, reflect off objects and create echoes. Most people rarely hear the echoes; instead they only process the first sound received. For the hard of hearing, though, being in an acoustically challenging room can be a problem. For them, echoes carry. Ever listen to a lecture recorded in a large room?
Analysis of Ashkenazi Jewish genomes reveals diversity, history
Through genomic analysis, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have shown that the Ashkenazi Jewish population is genetically more diverse than people of European descent, despite previous assumptions that Ashkenazi Jews have been an isolated population. In addition, analyses of disease-related genes of higher prevalence in the Ashkenazi Jewish population indicate that only a minority of traits show signs of positive selection, suggesting that most have arisen through random genetic drift.
Study: Men more likely to cheat on higher-earning women
(PhysOrg.com) -- Men who make less money than their female partners are more likely to be unfaithful, according to a new study.
Use the common cold virus to target and disrupt cancer cells?
A novel mechanism used by adenovirus to sidestep the cell's suicide program, could go a long way to explain how tumor suppressor genes are silenced in tumor cells and pave the way for a new type of targeted cancer therapy, report researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in the Aug. 26, 2010 issue of Nature.
Biology news
Controlling insects in stored grain
(PhysOrg.com) -- Aeration -- blowing ambient air through grain storage bins -- has been used for decades to maintain the quality of grain by keeping it cool, as well as to manage stored insect pests. But few recent studies have examined whether it's better to direct air from above or below as a means of using temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or below to control insects.
A dog's life -- physiotherapy for arthritic pets
Animals with osteoarthritis are generally offered the same types of physiotherapy as humans, although most of the methods have not been directly tested on animals. Recent work performed at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna addresses this deficit and shows that relatively simple measures such as walking uphill or over low obstacles can significantly help the bending of dogs' joints and thus mitigate the suffering caused by arthritis.
Zoological Society: Commercial road would disrupt world's greatest migration
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) are requesting that the Government of Tanzania reconsider the proposed construction of a commercial road through the world's best known wildlife sanctuary—Serengeti National Park—and recommend that alternative routes be used that can meet the transportation needs of the region without disrupting the greatest remaining migration of large land animals in the world.
Hyperspectral imaging speeds detection of Campylobacter
A type of high-tech imaging can be used to distinguish the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter from other microorganisms as quickly as 24 hours after a sample is placed on solid media in a Petri dish, according to a study published by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
Co-products and cornstalk residue can cut cow feed costs by a dollar a day
University of Illinois researchers recently discovered that feeding co-products and cornstalk residue in the winter can save cow-calf producers up to $1 per day per cow as compared to feeding hay.
Commercial trap for wasps, hornets and yellowjackets 'baited' with new technology
Forget the ants marching one by one--yellowjackets are the real party-crashers when it comes to spoiling picnics, outdoor barbeques and other summer fun where cold beverages and meat are present.
Facebook campaign to save Canadian bears caught in drug bust
An international campaign with the help of social networking site Facebook hopes to save the lives of some 14 black bears used to guard an illegal marijuana farm in western Canada.
Obama administration to appeal stemcell research ruling
The US Justice Department said Tuesday it will appeal as early as this week a judge's decision to block federal funding for stemcell research.
Wild porcupines under threat due to illegal hunting
Wild porcupine might be a tasty treat in countries around the world, but populations of the spiky rodent are coming under threat in Vietnam due to illegal hunting.
A novel method for collecting dolphin DNA
Scientists at Georgetown University, the National Aquarium and the University of Queensland are the first to extract DNA from dolphin blow (breath exhalations). The researchers found that blow-sampling, which involves collecting exhalations from the blowholes of whales, dolphins and porpoises, could be developed as a less invasive method for DNA collection. Their findings are explained in the Aug. 25 edition of the online journal PLoS ONE in an article titled "Thar She Blows! A Novel Method for DNA Collection from Cetacean Blow."
Black rice rivals pricey blueberries as source of healthful antioxidants
Health conscious consumers who hesitate at the price of fresh blueberries and blackberries, fruits renowned for high levels of healthful antioxidants, now have an economical alternative, scientists reported today at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). It is black rice, one variety of which got the moniker "Forbidden Rice" in ancient China because nobles commandeered every grain for themselves and forbade the common people from eating it.
On organic coffee farm, complex interactions keep pests under control
(PhysOrg.com) -- Proponents of organic farming often speak of nature's balance in ways that sound almost spiritual, prompting criticism that their views are unscientific and naďve. At the other end of the spectrum are those who see farms as battlefields where insect pests and plant diseases must be vanquished with the magic bullets of modern agriculture: pesticides, fungicides and the like.
Bacteria make thrift a habit, researchers find
(PhysOrg.com) -- In these lean times, smart consumers refuse to pay a lot for throwaway items, but will shell out a little more for products that can be used again and again. The same is true of bacteria and other microbes, researchers at the University of Michigan have learned.
Canada's lost salmon found
Sockeye salmon, which mysteriously vanished last year prompting a government inquiry, are expected to return to Canada's Fraser River this month in numbers not seen since 1913, officials said Wednesday.
Evolution writ small: Study measures physical effects of evolution at molecular scale
A unique experiment at Rice University that forces bacteria into a head-to-head competition for evolutionary dominance has yielded new insights about the way Darwinian selection plays out at the molecular level. An exacting new analysis of the experiment has revealed precisely how specific genetic mutations impart a physical edge in the competition for survival.
Stress protein Hsp12 provides a cellular survival mechanism never seen before
Despite clear evidence that Hsp12 -- a so-called heat shock or stress protein -- helps cells survive life-threatening conditions, how it works was an open question until now. The surprising answer is revealed in the Aug. 27 issue of Molecular Cell, where German researchers explain how they discovered the function of Hsp12, a protective mechanism unlike any previously observed. Unfolded within the cell's aqueous cytosol, Hsp12 folds into helical structures to stabilize the cell membrane.
Lethal backfire: Green odor with fatal consequences for voracious caterpillars
During field studies, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology discovered that the oral secretions of tobacco hornworm larvae contain a particular substance that promptly alters a green leaf volatile in tobacco leaves into an odor attractant signal. With this signal, called (E)-2-hexenal, they unintentionally lure their own enemies: carnivorous bugs. These bugs start their piercing attacks not only against freshly hatched caterpillar babies; they also devour eggs laid by the female moths.
No lounge for local lizards as living room vanishes
A new ecological network is urgently needed in Northern Ireland to ensure the continued survival of its precious lizard population, according to researchers at Queen's University Belfast.
Ants found to use multiple antibiotics as weed killers
Scientists at the University of East Anglia, have shown that fungus-farming ants are using multiple antibiotics as weed killers to maintain their fungus gardens.
Ant colonies shed light on metabolism
Ants are usually regarded as the unwanted guests at a picnic. But a recent study of California seed harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex californicus) examining their metabolic rate in relation to colony size may lead to a better appreciation for the social, six-legged insects, whose colonies researchers say provide a theoretical framework for understanding cellular networks.
Progress on vaccine for 'Ich,' bane of fish farms and home aquarium hobbyists
Tests of the potential vaccine against "Ich" -- the dreaded "white-spot" disease that plagues fish in commercial fish farms, public aquariums, pet fish retail outlets, and home aquariums -- are raising hopes for finally controlling the disease, scientists reported today at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
UF discovers house flies carrying five new illness-causing bacteria
Everyone knows that house flies aren't welcome around food. But University of Florida scientists have discovered five new reasons why.
Researchers discover how west nile virus survives in mosquitoes
(PhysOrg.com) -- West Nile virus tricks mosquitoes into producing a particular protein complex that allows it to survive and be transmitted, Yale researchers report in the Sept. 3 issue of the journal Cell.
Whale sharks may produce many litters from one mating, paternity test shows
How do female whale sharks meet their perfect mates and go on to produce offspring? While little is known about the reproductive behavior of these ocean-roaming giants, a newly published analysis led by University of Illinois at Chicago biologist Jennifer Schmidt reveals new details about the mating habits of this elusive, difficult-to-study fish.
Snow crabs found clustered around methane vents at bottom of Sea of Japan
Large clusters of a type of snow crab called benizuwaigani have been discovered around methane vents at the bottom of the Sea of Japan, but scientists are not quite sure why.
Sex more likely for female flies with promise of food
(PhysOrg.com) -- Female fruit flies will have sex more frequently if they think there is more food around, and a new study led by Oxford University has explained how this happens.
Scientists discover how chemical repellants trip up insects
Fire up the citronella-scented tiki torches, and slather on the DEET: Everybody knows these simple precautions repel insects, notably mosquitoes, whose bites not only itch and irritate, but also transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, malaria and dengue.
Scientists say natural selection alone can explain eusociality
Scientists at Harvard University have sketched a new map of the "evolutionary labyrinth" species must traverse to reach eusociality, the rare but spectacularly successful social structure where individuals cooperate to raise offspring.
Growing drought-tolerant crops inching forward
A collaborative team of scientists led by researchers at The Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, has used the tools of structural biology to understand how a synthetic chemical mimics abscisic acid (ABA), a key stress hormone that helps plants cope with adverse environmental conditions such as drought. The results are published online in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology in advance of print publication later.
Amazing discovery in Borneo: Tiny, new, pea-sized frog is old world's smallest
The smallest frog in the Old World (Asia, Africa and Europe) and one of the world's tiniest was discovered inside and around pitcher plants in the heath forests of the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. The pea-sized amphibian is a species of microhylid, which, as the name suggests, is composed of miniature frogs under 15 millimeters.
Scientists sequence genomes of two ant species for the first time
Scientists have finally sequenced the entire genome of an ant, actually two very different species of ant, and the insights gleaned from their genetic blueprints are already yielding tantalizing clues to the extraordinary social behavior of ants.
Researchers discover novel mechanism protecting plants against freezing
New ground broken by Michigan State University biochemists helps explain how plants protect themselves from freezing temperatures and could lead to discoveries related to plant tolerance for drought and other extreme conditions.
Octopus mimics flatfish and flaunts it (w/ Video)
Paul the Octopus—the eight-legged oracle who made international headlines with his amazingly accurate football forecasting—isn't the only talented cephalopod in the sea. The Indonesian mimic octopus, which can impersonate flatfish and sea snakes to dupe potential predators, may well give Paul a run for his money when it comes to "see-worthy" skills.
Fat serves as cells' built-in pH sensor: research
A specific type of fat present in cell membranes also serves as a cellular pH sensor, a team of University of British Columbia researchers has discovered.
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