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Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for August 18, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Triple whammy triggered Samoa tsunami (Update 2)- Hidden star power revealed: Astronomers find ancient galaxy cluster still producing stars
- New gadget for water purification: a 'nano tea bag'
- Researchers 'stretch' a lackluster material into a possible electronics revolution
- Roller coaster superconductivity discovered
- How Much Mass Makes a Black Hole? Astronomers Challenge Current Theories
- Brain gene expression changes when honey bees go the distance
- Stem cell versatility could help tissue regeneration
- Surprise in genome structure linked to developmental diseases
- Ancient Chinese herbal recipe eases side effects of chemotherapy
- Evolution may have pushed humans toward greater risk for type 1 diabetes
- Titanium coating with protein 'flower bouquet' nanoclusters strengthens implant attachment
- Extreme darkness: Carbon nanotube forest covers NIST's ultra-dark detector
- Dwindling green pastures, not hunting, may have killed off the mammoth
- The rich have more money but the poor are rich in heart: study
Space & Earth news
Panel recommends support for Chile telescope
A new planned telescope facility in Chile known as CCAT, proposed and led by Cornell scientists, has received strong endorsement from a national panel charged with determining priorities in astronomy and astrophysics for the next decade. The panel of scientists, known as Astro2010, was appointed by the National Academy of Sciences in late 2008 and issued its report Aug. 13.
Forecasting the fate of fertilizer in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Reducing the runoff from plant nutrients that can eventually wash into the Chesapeake Bay could someday be as easy as checking the weather forecast, thanks in part to work by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
LISA gravitational-wave mission strongly endorsed by National Research Council
The National Research Council (NRC) has strongly recommended the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) as one of NASA's next two major space missions, to start in 2016 in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). LISA will study the universe in a manner different from any other space observatory, by observing gravitational waves. The recommendation was announced August 13 in a press conference at the Keck Center of the National Academies in Washington, D.C.
Does the shape of crude oil remnants impact rate of biodegradation?
Virginia Tech College of Engineering researchers have received a $60,000 one-year National Science Foundation grant to study how naturally occurring microbes can best be used to eat away remaining crude oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico. Their choice of weapon: Geometry.
Gulf surface cleaner, but questions lurk far below
(AP) -- Researchers are warning that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is a bigger mess than the government claims and that a lot of crude is lurking deep below the surface, some of it settling perhaps in a critical undersea canyon off the Florida Panhandle.
Warning system inadequate to prevent swimmers from getting sick at inland lakes
New research shows a clear link between increasing levels of E. coli bacteria in an inland Ohio lake and a greater risk that swimmers in the water will suffer a gastrointestinal illness.
Space station cooling normally after spacewalk fix
(AP) -- The International Space Station is operating normally again following a series of spacewalking repairs.
Feds: No timeline for completing Gulf relief well
(AP) -- The government's point man on the Gulf oil spill said Wednesday he is no longer giving a timeline for completing the final stages of plugging BP's runaway well.
New computer model advances climate change research
Scientists can now study climate change in far more detail with powerful new computer software released by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
NASA satellites see TD5's remnants still soaking Louisiana and Mississippi
Tropical Depression Five's remnants continue to linger over Louisiana and Mississippi, and NASA satellite data continues to capture its cloud temperatures and extent. The slow moving remnants and an associated tropical air mass are expected to creep across the Louisiana and Mississippi and into Arkansas for the next couple of days.
Astronaut muscles waste in space
Astronaut muscles waste away on long space flights reducing their capacity for physical work by more than 40%, according to research published online in the Journal of Physiology.
Sailing Among the Stars
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA launch will evaluate how a nanosatellite spacecraft and its payload performs.
New satellite data reveals true decline of world's mangrove forests
New satellite imagery has given scientists the most comprehensive and exact data on the distribution and decline of mangrove forests from across the world. The research, carried out by scientists from the U.S Geological Survey and NASA, is published in Global Ecology and Biogeography, and reveals forest distribution is 12.3% smaller than earlier estimates.
Triple whammy triggered Samoa tsunami (Update 2)
A tsunami that hit the Pacific islands of Samoa and Tonga last year was generated by three earthquakes unleashed by a seismic mechanism that has never been observed before, scientists said on Wednesday.
How Much Mass Makes a Black Hole? Astronomers Challenge Current Theories
(PhysOrg.com) -- Using ESO's Very Large Telescope, European astronomers have for the first time demonstrated that a magnetar -- an unusual type of neutron star -- was formed from a star with at least 40 times as much mass as the Sun. The result presents great challenges to current theories of how stars evolve, as a star as massive as this was expected to become a black hole, not a magnetar. This now raises a fundamental question: just how massive does a star really have to be to become a black hole?
Hidden star power revealed: Astronomers find ancient galaxy cluster still producing stars
(PhysOrg.com) -- Much like quiet, middle-aged baby boomers peacefully residing in some of the world's largest cities, families of some galaxies also have a hidden wild youth that they only now are revealing for the first time, according to research by astronomers at Texas A&M University.
Technology news
Israeli military confronts new foe: the Internet
(AP) -- The security obsessed Israeli military is confronting a new adversary - trying to control what its own soldiers post to the Internet.
Vestas cuts 2010 forecasts, shares plunge
Shares in Vestas slumped on Wednesday after the Danish wind power group cut this year's earnings and sales targets following a second quarter loss.
UALR Prof, students helping keep NASA's rovers from getting stuck
(PhysOrg.com) -- A paper co-authored by Dr. Cang Ye, associate professor in UALR's Department of Applied Science, and two UALR students won "Best Paper" at the 2010 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering International Conference on Mechantronics and Automation Aug. 4 to 7, in Xi'An, China, helping keep NASA's Rovers on the moon or Mars from getting stuck.
iPhone-maker rallies workers after China suicides
(AP) -- Young workers who normally spend their days assembling iPhones and other high-tech gadgets packed a stadium at their massive campus Wednesday, waving pompoms and shouting slogans at a rally to raise morale following a string of suicides at the company's heavily regimented factories.
Former outsourcing tycoon 'bailed' in big fraud case
The founder of Indian outsourcing firm Satyam, who has been accused of staging India's biggest corporate fraud, was granted bail on Wednesday in the southern city of Hyderabad.
Music royalty talks consider cell phone mandate
(AP) -- A proposed settlement to a long-running dispute over music royalties could include a federal mandate that all new cell phones and other wireless devices contain an FM radio tuner.
Accuser in HP case claimed work was cut
(AP) -- The woman whose sexual harassment allegations led to the ouster of former Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd claimed her work with the company dried up because she rebuffed Hurd's advances, a person close to the investigation told The Associated Press.
NYC woman to Google: Who's posting trash about me?
(AP) -- A business consultant wants a court to force YouTube and owner Google to unmask a cyber cipher who posted what she says are unauthorized videos of her and online comments that hurt her reputation.
S.Korea's KT Corp website jams on iPhone preorders
South Korea's KT Corp said tens of thousands of people jammed its website on Wednesday as it began to take preorders for Apple's iPhone 4.
Bing starts powering Yahoo! searches in US
Bing will start powering Internet searches at Yahoo! web pages in North America this week as the technology firms combine forces to take on Google.
Wind power plans for Taiwan-held islets near China
Taiwan's Penghu group of islands plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to expand their wind power capacities, an official said Wednesday.
Thailand blocks access to WikiLeaks website
Thai authorities have used their emergency powers to block domestic access to the WikiLeaks whistleblower website on security grounds, a government official said Wednesday.
Intel, Micron Sample 3-Bit-Per-Cell NAND Flash Memory on 25-Nanometer Process Technology
Intel and Micron Technology today announced the delivery of 3-bit-per-cell (3bpc) NAND flash memory on 25-nanometer process technology, producing the industry's highest capacity, smallest NAND device.
BlackBerry users eye alternatives as curbs loom
(AP) -- Udoay Ghosh sat sipping coffee before an early morning flight from Dubai International Airport, looking with affection at his two - yes, two - BlackBerry smart phones laid out in front of him.
German gov't considers 'Street View' concerns
(AP) -- The German government will consider new rules to address the privacy implications of Internet services such as Google's "Street View," and plans a meeting next month with the California-based company and others, officials said Wednesday.
WikiLeaks: Pentagon ready to discuss Afghan files
(AP) -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Wednesday the Pentagon has expressed willingness to discuss the online whistleblower's request for help in reviewing classified documents from the Afghan war and removing information that could harm civilians.
Online bargain broker Groupon enters Japan, Russia
(AP) -- Online coupon provider Groupon can cross two more countries off its global shopping list: Japan and Russia.
NIST to frame the Magna Carta
Fabrication specialists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are joining forces with conservators at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to protect and display a document that influenced our nation's foundation, the 1297 Magna Carta. Only four originals of the 1297 Magna Carta survive, and the one at the Archives is the only original on display in the United States.
Scots scientists create car biofuel from whisky by-products
Whisky lovers have another excuse to enjoy a dram -- scientists in Scotland on Tuesday unveiled a biofuel to help power cars developed from the by-products of the distillation process.
Cool! Researchers find way to use HVAC ducts for wireless monitoring technology
A new study by a team including a professor from North Carolina State University has found a way to implement wireless monitoring technology - with uses ranging from climate control to health and safety applications - by tapping into a building's heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) ducts. The finding could lead to significant time and cost savings for builders and building managers, since the systems can be put into place without the expense and effort of running wires throughout the buildings.
Gaming giants bet on 3D for next big boost
The global gaming industry is jumping on Hollywood's 3D bandwagon but the bet is risky as consumers appear reluctant to shell out for the necessary screens and glasses, insiders said Wednesday.
Medicine & Health news
Health care system delay may increase risk of death for heart patients receiving reperfusion therapy
For patients with a certain type of heart attack, delay in the time between first contact with emergency medical service to initiation of therapy such as balloon angioplasty is associated with an increased risk of death, according to a study in the August 18 issue of JAMA.
Researchers discover cause of immune system avoidance of certain pathogens
A special set of sugars found on some disease-causing pathogens helps those pathogens fight the body's natural defenses as well as vaccines, say two Iowa State University researchers.
Prevalence of hearing loss among US adolescents has increased significantly
Data from two nationally representative surveys indicates that the prevalence of hearing loss among U.S. adolescents increased by about 30 percent from 1988-1994 to 2005-2006, with 1 in 5 adolescents having hearing loss in 2005-2006, according to a study in the August 18 issue of JAMA.
Combined data for estimating insecticide-treated bed net coverage in Africa
In research published this week in PLoS Medicine Stephen Lim and colleagues (University of Washington) systematically estimate the changes in distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) across Africa between 2000 and 2008, and find that several countries have managed to scale up their ITN coverage from near zero to more than 60%.
Targeted disease campaigns can be detrimental to general health
Global initiatives to control specific diseases, such as polio or worm diseases, in low income countries not only do good. Sometimes they pull people and resources away from basic health care. Then the remedy may be worse than the disease. In an article in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, researchers from the Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) caution the international aid community for complacency.
Probabilistic modeling of verbal autopsy data is best for public health decision making
Computer-based probabilistic models that are used to interpret verbal autopsy data- information from interviews with family, friends and carers about deaths that are later interpreted into possible cause(s) of death- are as effective as physician reviews of the data for establishing cause of death, according to research by Peter Byass from Umeľ University, Sweden, and colleagues from Witwatersrand University, South Africa, that is published this week in PLoS Medicine.
Long-term sick could be identified 3 years prior to going on benefit
Individuals on long term incapacity benefit because of mental health problems could be identified by their GPs three years before they stop working, finds a research paper published on British Medical Journal.
Postnatal depression can be prevented by health visitors, says pioneering new study
The world's first ever analysis of data from a full scale clinical trial in adults shows that training Health Visitors to assess and psychologically support mothers after childbirth can prevent the development of depression over the following year.
Moderate drinking, especially wine, associated with better cognitive function
A large prospective study of 5033 men and women in the Tromsø Study in northern Norway has reported that moderate wine consumption is independently associated with better performance on cognitive tests. The subjects (average age 58 and free of stroke) were followed over 7 years during which they were tested with a range of cognitive function tests.
Kinesiology student gets microscopic view of finger through research
Jessica Hughes is seeing the human finger in a new light through her undergraduate research project. A recipient of Penn State's 2010 Undergraduate Discovery Summer Grant, Hughes has spent the summer studying the inner workings of one muscle in the index finger. Working alongside trained scientists, Hughes is getting experience with many new research techniques such as 3D computer modeling, ultrasound imaging, dissection and muscle cell isolation.
China anti-tobacco efforts failing, officials say
(AP) -- Efforts to curb tobacco use in the world's most populous nation have had no real impact and 301 million Chinese are still smoking, China's Center for Disease Control said in a report.
Drop in UK teenage smokers
(PhysOrg.com) -- The number of 16- and 17-year-old UK smokers has dropped since it became illegal to sell cigarettes to under-18s according to new UCL research published today in the journal Addiction.
Study to examine new treatment for West Nile virus
Neurological and infectious disease experts at Rush University Medical Center are testing a new drug therapy for the treatment of individuals with West Nile fever or suspected central nervous system infection due to the West Nile virus.
Pediatric urologist performs innovative procedure for girls with rare vaginal defects
A pediatric urologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center has pioneered a successful surgical procedure for young girls who have absent or malformed vaginas, a condition that affects about one in 4,000 females.
World's largest neurosurgical society launches the specialty's first comprehensive global journal
The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) representing more than 30,000 neurosurgeons, 114 individual societies and 100 nations has launched World Neurosurgery, the specialty's first publication acting as a global forum for not only high level peer reviewed, clinical and laboratory science, but also the social, political, economic, cultural and educational issues that affect research and care delivery regionally and from a global perspective.
Uniform, national measures should define HIV/AIDS care
To improve the quality of HIV care and treatment nationwide, 17 measures such as screening and prevention for infections and monitoring of antiretroviral therapy should be adopted uniformly, according a work group led by a Kaiser Permanente researcher.
Chronic health conditions common for stem cell transplant survivors
Although hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) cures many blood diseases, two-thirds of long-term survivors report at least one chronic health condition after the procedure, according to a recent study published online in Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology. Overall, these patients were three and a half times more likely to develop a severe or life-threatening health condition, such as cardiovascular, endocrine, or musculoskeletal problems, as well as new cancers, when compared with their cancer-free siblings.
Researchers Challenge Myth of the Well-Adjusted Asian American
(PhysOrg.com) -- Two University at Buffalo researchers are challenging the "myth of the well-adjusted Asian American," detailing how members of one of the country's fastest-growing ethnic groups face crucial disadvantages preventing them from receiving quality health care taken for granted by other, more culturally assimilated Americans.
Robots provide insight into human perception
Research using a robot designed to express human emotions has revealed unexpected insights into how our perception is affected by anthropomorphism, or giving human characteristics to non-human animals or things.
Early life influences risk for psychiatric disorders
For more than a century, clinical investigators have focused on early life as a source of adult psychopathology. Although the hypothesized mechanisms have evolved, a central notion remains: early life is a period of unique sensitivity during which experience confers enduring effects.
Social ill: Lack of close ties may increase heart disease risk
Women who live in neighborhoods lacking in close ties are more likely to have coronary artery calcification, a key marker for underlying heart disease, than those who live in more socially cohesive neighborhoods, according to a study led by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researcher Daniel Kim. Women who lived in the most economically deprived neighborhoods had more than double the odds of underlying heart disease.
Study shows gene's role in developing and maintaining cells key for a lifetime of memories
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators showed a gene named Prox1 is a key player in normal development of a brain structure crucial for learning and memory and remains active throughout life, nurturing the cells vital for making new memories.
Even modest weight gain can harm blood vessels, study
Mayo Clinic researchers found that healthy young people who put on as little as 9 pounds of fat, specifically in the abdomen, are at risk for developing endothelial cell dysfunction. Endothelial cells line the blood vessels and control the ability of the vessels to expand and contract.
Scientists find new twist on drug screening to treat common childhood cancer
A study led by scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) reveals a new method of identifying drugs to treat children suffering from fatal cancers for which an effective treatment has not been found. Rather than developing a new drug from scratch, which is a complicated and time-consuming process, they tried a different approach: in the lab, they tested existing drugs on cancer stem cells from young patients with neuroblastoma, one of the common cancers of infants and children. Cancer stem cells are the very cells that scientists suspect are responsible for relapses. The study is published in the August 18 advance online edition of EMBO Molecular Medicine.
Overweight American children and adolescents becoming fatter
Overweight American children and adolescents have become fatter over the last decade, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and National Institute on Aging (NIA). They examined adiposity shifts across socio-demographic groups over time and found U.S. children and adolescents had significantly increased adiposity measures such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and triceps skinfold thickness (TST). The increases in adiposity were more pronounced in some sex-ethnic groups such as black girls. In addition, these groups gained more abdominal fat over time, which was indicated by waist size and posed greater health risks than elevated BMI. Their results are featured in the August 2010 issue of the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity.
Drug-eluting stents confirmed safe, effective for long-term use
Researchers at the Rabin Medical Center in Israel have determined that the use of drug-eluting stents (DES) improves the long-term clinical outcome for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), commonly known as angioplasty. Results of this study appear in the September issue of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.
Smokers trying to give up -- don't stop thinking about cigarettes
Blocking thoughts of cigarettes helps reduce smokers' intake at first, but means they smoke more than usual when they stop suppressing, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Innovative imaging system may boost speed and accuracy in treatment of heart rhythm disorder
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore have developed a novel 3-D imaging approach that may improve the accuracy of treatment for ventricular tachycardia, a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat too fast. The new approach couples CT (computed tomography) images with conventional ablation techniques to eliminate erratic electrical circuits in the heart that produce arrhythmias. The results of a feasibility study have been published online in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, a journal of the American Heart Association.
Gender bender: Do gender knee implants provide better outcomes?
A gender-specific total knee prosthesis was developed to more closely match the anatomy of the female knee, aiming to be a better fit resulting in better outcomes for women. However, a recent study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) found that 85 women who received a gender-specific implant in one knee and a standard prosthesis in the other knee found no clinical benefits of the gender-specific knee.
Study explains why Alzheimer's drug is both safe and effective
Alzheimer's disease destroys brain cells and their connections (called synapses), causing memory loss and other cognitive problems that disrupt work, hobbies and daily life. Symptoms can be alleviated, in part, by the drug memantine (marketed in the United States as Namenda), which is currently FDA-approved to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease and was, in part, developed by Stuart A. Lipton, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Del E. Web Center for Neuroscience, Aging and Stem Cell Research at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham).
Potential HIV drug keeps virus out of cells
Following up a pioneering 2007 proof-of-concept study, a University of Utah biochemist and colleagues have developed a promising new anti-HIV drug candidate, PIE12-trimer, that prevents HIV from attacking human cells.
Sweden opens inquiry into suspect flu vaccine
Sweden's Medical Products Agency opened an inquiry Wednesday into vaccinations for swine flu made by British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, suspected of provoking narcolepsy.
Headaches in teens tied to overweight, smoking and lack of exercise
Teens who are overweight, get little exercise or who smoke may be more likely to have frequent headaches and migraines than teens with none of these factors, according to a study published in the August 18, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Study Shows that Women's Compassion for Others Benefits the Self
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Dalai Lama holds that compassion -- concern for the well-being of others -- leads to happiness. Now a new study has found that compassion may also have health benefits in the form of stress reduction for women.
For teens, early sex and media exposure not linked
The prevalence of sex in the mainstream media has led many researchers to study its effect on impressionable adolescents. Several published, peer-reviewed studies have indicated that there is a link between exposure to sex in the media and the early onset of sexual activity among teens. However, a study led by Temple psychologist Laurence Steinberg questions these findings.
Evolution may have pushed humans toward greater risk for type 1 diabetes
Gene variants associated with an increased risk for type-1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis may confer previously unknown benefits to their human carriers, say researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. As a result, the human race may have been evolving in the recent past to be more susceptible, rather than less, to some complex diseases, they conclude.
Novel diabetes hope comes from Chinese herbs
Emodin, a natural product that can be extracted from various Chinese herbs including Rheum palmatum and Polygonum cuspidatum, shows promise as an agent that could reduce the impact of type 2 diabetes. Findings published in this month's edition of the British Journal of Pharmacology show that giving emodin to mice with diet-induced obesity lowered blood glucose and serum insulin, improved insulin resistance and lead to more healthy levels of lipid in the blood. It also decreased body weight and reduced central fat mass.
Medicine may be key to cloning's future
The cloning of animals may have come from agriculture, but its real promise may be in the lucrative field of medicine rather than as food.
Why drunk drivers may get behind the wheel
A new study shows the impact of alcohol intoxication on reasoning and problem-solving abilities and may explain why some people feel they have recovered enough to drive after drinking. The research, led by Peter J. Snyder, PhD, vice president of research for Lifespan, is the first to explore how these cognitive abilities are impacted during both rising and declining blood alcohol concentrations, at matched blood alcohol level concentrations, and how self-evaluation of recovery differs from actual recovery from impairment.
Scientists find genetic clues about pain insensitivity
A baby who rarely cries is many parents' idea of a "happy" baby. Ashlyn Blocker was that kind of baby.
Stem cell versatility could help tissue regeneration
Scientists have reprogrammed stem cells from a key organ in the immune system in a development that could have implications for tissue regeneration.
Surprise in genome structure linked to developmental diseases
A team of researchers from Whitehead Institute, MIT, University of Colorado, and University of Massachusetts have discovered that each cell type in our bodies has a unique genome structure, which is due to a newly discovered mechanism that controls our genes. The protein complexes that generate this genome structure play a pivotal role in regulating gene transcription and cell state, and have been implicated in multiple developmental diseases.
Ancient Chinese herbal recipe eases side effects of chemotherapy
A combination of Chinese herbs in use for more than 1,800 years reduced the gastrointestinal side effects of chemotherapy in mice, while actually enhancing the effects of the cancer treatment, Yale University researchers report.
Titanium coating with protein 'flower bouquet' nanoclusters strengthens implant attachment
Researchers have developed an improved coating technique that could strengthen the connection between titanium joint-replacement implants and a patients' own bone. The stronger connection -- created by manipulating signals the body's own cells use to encourage growth -- could allow the implants to last longer.
Brain connections break down as we age
It's unavoidable: breakdowns in brain connections slow down our physical response times as we age, a new study suggests.
New gadget for water purification: a 'nano tea bag'
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists in South Africa have come up with a novel way of purifying water on a small scale using a sachet rather like a tea bag, but instead of imparting flavor to the water, the bag absorbs toxins, filters out and kills bacteria, and cleans the water.
Biology news
Are there too many stem cell journals?
Are there too many stem cell research journals? This question has been posed by Drs. Paul Sanberg and Cesar Borlongan of the Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair at the University of South Florida. Their article appears in the current issue of Stem Cell Reviews and Reports.
Cloned beef traced to Wisconsin cow
Mark Rueth's Holstein cow Paradise had just been crowned supreme champion of the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis., in 2000 when a biotechnology company salesman approached him ringside and offered a cut-rate deal to clone Paradise so she could "live forever," and make his farm more profitable.
Bacteria shown to 'smell' ammonia
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study provides the first evidence that bacteria respond to odors, which according to one of the researchers may be the earliest evolutionary example of olfaction.
US researchers create frozen coral 'bank' to protect species
US scientists have created the first bank of frozen coral cells, intended to preserve endangered coral species in Hawaii and protect their diversity.
Bees warm up with a drink, too
When we venture out on a cool morning, nothing energises our body like a nice warm drink and new research reveals that bees also use the same idea when they're feeling cold.
How corals fight back
Australian researchers are a step closer to understanding the rapid decline of our coral reefs, thanks to a breakthrough study linking coral immunity with its susceptibility to bleaching and disease.
Can clonal plants live forever?
Despite the many cosmetic products, surgical treatments, food supplements, and drugs designed specifically to reverse the biological effects of aging in humans, long-lived aspen clones aren't so lucky. Researchers at the University of British Columbia have shown that as long-lived male aspen clones age, their sexual performance declines.
Fossil reveals 48-million-year history of zombie ants
A 48-million-year-old fossilised leaf has revealed the oldest known evidence of a macabre part of nature - parasites taking control of their hosts to turn them into zombies.
Researchers discover new mechanism behind cellular energy conversion
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have enhanced our understanding of the mechanism by which cells achieve energy conversion, the process in which food is converted into the energy required by cells. This groundbreaking research helps scientists gain atomic-level insight into how organisms synthesize their major form of chemical energy. The researchers' findings were published in the August issue of PLoS Biology.
Brain gene expression changes when honey bees go the distance
Tricking honey bees into thinking they have traveled long distance to find food alters gene expression in their brains, researchers report this month. Their study, in the journal Genes, Brain and Behavior, is the first to identify distance-responsive genes.
Discovery may aid search for anti-aging drugs
A team of University of Michigan scientists has found that suppressing a newly discovered gene lengthens the lifespan of roundworms. Scientists who study aging have long known that significantly restricting food intake makes animals live longer. But the goal is to find less drastic ways to achieve the same effect in humans someday. The U-M results offer promising early evidence that scientists may succeed at finding targets for drugs that someday could allow people to live longer, healthier lives.
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