ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Thursday, August 5, 2010
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For the first time ever, scientists watch an atom's electrons moving in real time (August 5, 2010) -- Scientists have used pulses of laser light measuring mere quintillionths of a second long to probe the motion of an atom's outermost electrons in real time. Their methods promises a broad new way to examine how atoms in physical, biological, and chemical systems bond with other atoms to form molecules or crystal structures, and how these bonds break and reform during chemical reactions. ... > full story
Genetic clue to chronic pain could lead to new treatments for the condition (August 5, 2010) -- Chronic pain is a serious medical problem, afflicting approximately 20 percent of adults. Some individuals are more susceptible than others, and the basis for this remains largely unknown. In a new study, researchers have identified a gene associated with susceptibility to chronic pain in humans, signaling a significant step toward better understanding and treating the condition. ... > full story
Missing Puma gene reveals cancer conundrum (August 5, 2010) -- Researchers in Australia have made a discovery that has upended scientists' understanding of programmed cell death and its role in tumor formation. The research team's discovery has implications for the understanding of how cancers develop and will inform the ongoing development of a new class of anti-cancer drugs called BH3 mimetics. ... > full story
First step to new therapy for chronic bowel disease (August 5, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that A20 protein plays an important protective role in diseases associated with chronic bowel inflammation. This makes A20 into a promising therapeutic target for the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. ... > full story
Habitat of elusive Northern squid documented (August 5, 2010) -- Squid and octopus play an important but often overlooked role as key prey in the Arctic marine food web. Large species such as narwhal, beluga and seals rely heavily on energy-rich squid. Until recently little was known about where these animals prefer to live, but a new study aims to shed light on the habitat preferences of these elusive creatures. ... > full story
Overcoming reading-comprehension difficulties in children: Training program can help (August 5, 2010) -- Effective reading requires recognizing words and also understanding what they mean. Between 7-10 percent of children have specific reading-comprehension difficulties. These children can read text aloud accurately but do not understand what they have just read. A new study identifies a training program which may help children overcome reading-comprehension difficulties. ... > full story
Genomic mapping study finds largest set of genes related to major risk factor for heart disease (August 5, 2010) -- Scanning the genomes of more than 100,000 people from all over the world, scientists report the largest set of genes discovered underlying high cholesterol and high triglycerides -- the major risk factors for coronary heart disease, the nation's number one killer. Taken together, the gene variants explain between a quarter and a third of the inherited portions of cholesterol and triglyceride measured in the blood. ... > full story
Metabolic pathway found in malaria parasites; possible drug targets (August 5, 2010) -- A newly described metabolic pathway used by malaria-causing parasites may help them survive inside human blood cells. The finding clarifies the picture of parasite metabolism and provides clues to potential weak points in the pathway that might be attacked with drugs. ... > full story
Biologists discover microRNAs that control function of blood stem cells (August 5, 2010) -- One key to fighting diseases such as leukemia and anemia is gaining an understanding of the genes and molecules that control the function of hematopoietic -- or blood -- stem cells, which provide the body with a constant supply of red and white blood cells and platelets. Biologists have taken a large step toward that end, with the discovery of a novel group of molecules that are found in high concentrations within hematopoietic stem cells and appear to regulate their production. ... > full story
Link between estrogen metabolism pathway and breast cancer risk discovered (August 5, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that DNA polymorphisms related to the production of estrogen play an important role in the development of hormone-sensitive breast and endometrial cancer. The knowledge gained may help develop better measures for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. ... > full story
Coccolithophore growth and calcification -- a possible role for iron (August 5, 2010) -- Lack of sufficient iron may be a significant factor in controlling massive blooms of Emiliania huxleyi, a globally important species of marine algae or phytoplankton, according to researchers. ... > full story
Depression is a risk factor and not an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, study suggests (August 5, 2010) -- Researchers have found that depressive symptoms show little change during the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that depression is truly a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and not just an early sign of the disease. ... > full story
Discovery of Saturn’s auroral heartbeat (August 4, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that Saturn's aurora, an ethereal ultraviolet glow which illuminates Saturn's upper atmosphere near the poles, pulses roughly once per Saturnian day. ... > full story
MicroRNA molecule increases number of blood stem cells, may help improve cancer treatment (August 4, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a new mechanism that controls the number of hematopoietic stem cells -- cells that give rise to all blood and immune system cells. The team identified a tiny RNA molecule that increases the number of these blood stem cells, an advance that may improve treatment of blood system cancers. ... > full story
Researchers drill through mile and a half of Greenland ice sheet in search of climate change insights (August 4, 2010) -- After years of concentrated effort, scientists from the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling project hit bedrock more than 8,300 feet below the surface of the Greenland ice sheet last week. The project has yielded ice core samples that may offer valuable insights into how the world can change during periods of abrupt warming. ... > full story
Marfan, a 'look-alike' disorder, or neither? Researchers offer simple list of signs for early detection (August 4, 2010) -- Researchers have compiled what they believe are reliable lists of tell-tale physical signs to help doctors recognize children with Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes. Timely and early diagnosis of both genetic disorders can mean the difference between life and death, but some of the most common physical features are also found in people with neither of the syndromes, which can cause confusion. ... > full story
Genes from sweet pepper arm banana against deadly wilt disease (August 4, 2010) -- In a major breakthrough, crop scientists have successfully transferred genes from green pepper to bananas that enable the crop to resist the Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW), one of the most devastating disease of banana in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The researchers are now about to start confined field trials in Uganda. ... > full story
Combat veterans face more lifelong socioeconomic challenges, sociologist finds (August 4, 2010) -- From the many images sent home from foreign battlefields over the last several decades, Americans have viewed the plight of their country's combat-weary veterans as stark and often iconic scenes that seem somehow frozen in time. But recent research suggests that, for many US veterans, combat is a defining experience that often sets the trajectory of the balance of their lives. ... > full story
Ancient blob-like creature of the deep revealed by scientists (August 4, 2010) -- A unique blob-like creature that lived in the ocean approximately 425 million years ago is revealed in a 3D computer model. The model is helping researchers to understand what primitive species on early Earth looked like and how they might have evolved into the types of creatures that are on Earth today. ... > full story
More detailed picture of asthma may yield dramatically improved treatment (August 4, 2010) -- Using highly parallel proteomic scans and advanced bioinformatics, researchers have identified distinct asthma subtypes -- information that could lead to far more effective treatments. ... > full story
Preserving sperm vital to saving 'snot otter' salamanders (August 4, 2010) -- The hellbender salamander -- known affectionately as a snot otter or devil dog -- is one of America's unique giant salamander species. For unexplained reasons, most hellbender populations have rapidly declined as very little reproduction has occurred in recent decades. Working with researchers from the Nashville Zoo and Antwerp Zoo in Belgium, veterinarians are helping develop conservation techniques to sample and freeze the sperm from some of the last surviving salamanders. ... > full story
Does higher body weight protect women from one type of glaucoma? (August 4, 2010) -- Maintaining a healthy body weight is important for avoiding many diseases, but a new study finds that for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), one of the most common age-related eye diseases, the picture may be more complex. ... > full story
Cells use water in nano-rotors to power energy conversion (August 4, 2010) -- Researchers have provided the first atomic-level glimpse of the proton-driven motor from a major group of ATP synthases, enzymes that are central to cellular energy conversion. ... > full story
Study details autism's heavy toll beyond childhood on marriages (August 4, 2010) -- The parents of grown children with autism are more likely to divorce than couples with typically developing children, according to new data from a large longitudinal study of families of adolescents and adults with autism. ... > full story
Thought-controlled prosthetic limb system to be tested on human subjects (August 4, 2010) -- Researchers will soon be testing the Modular Prosthetic Limb (MPL) system on human subjects, using a brain-controlled interface. Scientists and engineers developed the underlying technology under an ambitious four-year U.S. government-funded effort to create a prosthetic arm that would by far eclipse the World War II era hook-and-cable device used by most amputees. The program has already produced two complex prototypes, each advancing the art of upper-arm prosthetics. ... > full story
Gum inflammation linked to Alzheimer's disease (August 4, 2010) -- Dental researchers have found the first long-term evidence that periodontal disease may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's disease in healthy individuals as well as in those who already are cognitively impaired. The study offers fresh evidence that gum inflammation may contribute to brain inflammation, neurodegeneration, and Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Green laser pointer hazard: High infrared power levels found in some green lasers (August 4, 2010) -- Green laser pointers have become a popular consumer item, delivering light that's brighter to the eye than red lasers, but stories have circulated on the Web about the potential hazards of inexpensive models. Now, scientists have found that in some cases green laser pointers emit high levels of invisible and potentially dangerous infrared light. ... > full story
Study may improve screening and treatment of people with severe myopia (August 4, 2010) -- Severe myopia (nearsightedness) can lead to other, more serious eye disorders in some people. Ophthalmologists are interested in understanding the factors that make some patients more susceptible to these disorders and related vision loss. Researchers in Japan studied severely myopic patients over time, and found that in 40 percent of them a condition known as myopic maculopathy became significantly worse. ... > full story
Physicists develop model that pushes limits of quantum theory, relativity (August 4, 2010) -- Physicists recently developed a new theoretical model to explain how the Pauli exclusion principle can be violated and how, under certain rare conditions, more than one electron can simultaneously occupy the same quantum state. Their model may help explain how matter behaves at the edges of black holes and contribute to the ongoing scientific quest for a unified theory of quantum gravity. ... > full story
Brain study shows that thinking about God reduces distress -- but only for believers (August 4, 2010) -- Thinking about God may make you less upset about making errors, according to a new study. ... > full story
Mammal-like crocodile fossil found in East Africa, scientists report (August 4, 2010) -- Fossils of an ancient crocodile with mammal-like teeth have been discovered in the Rukwa Rift Basin of Tanzania, scientists report. The unusual creature is changing the picture of animal life at 100 million years ago in what is now sub-Saharan Africa. ... > full story
Sperm may be harmed by exposure to BPA, study suggests (August 4, 2010) -- In one of the first human studies of its kind, researchers have found that urinary concentrations of the controversial chemical Bisphenol A, or BPA, may be related to decreased sperm quality and sperm concentration. ... > full story
Fluorescent probe for oral cancer (August 4, 2010) -- The probe stimulates molecules in the patient's tissues with a laser. Some of these molecules naturally respond by re-emitting fluorescent light. The device rapidly detects and analyzes this light using a process called "time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy." By using sensitive measurements of the change in fluorescence over time, surgeons can see the tumor margins even as they are cutting the tissue. ... > full story
Revascularization in elderly seniors may help survival rates after heart attack (August 4, 2010) -- Revascularization procedures in very elderly patients after heart attacks may be responsible for improved survival rates after one year, a new study finds. ... > full story
Brain size determines whether fish are hunters or slackers (August 4, 2010) -- Whether a fish likes to hunt down its food or wait for dinner to arrive is linked to the composition of its brain. ... > full story
Americans take more risks when they drive the nation's rural highways, new study says (August 4, 2010) -- While Americans are much more likely to die on rural highways than urban freeways, a new survey found that they feel much more relaxed and prone to risk-taking on rural highways. ... > full story
Dark matter may be lurking at heart of the sun (August 4, 2010) -- A scientist in the UK believes dark matter is lurking at the center of the sun and cooling down its core temperature. ... > full story
'Designer protein' opens new door in cancer research (August 4, 2010) -- A major breakthrough in how to target and destroy the most malignant and aggressive brain cancer cells has been made by researchers. Scientists have identified a way to target and destroy glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells without harming healthy cells. The finding allows for new possibilities in cancer research previously not known to be readily feasible. ... > full story
New diagnostic chip able to generate single-cell molecular 'fingerprints' for brain tumors (August 4, 2010) -- Given the clinical need for improved in vitro molecular diagnostic technologies for brain tumor biopsies, the research team combined the advantages of microfluidics and microscopy-based cell imaging to develop the microfluidic image cytometry platform. The new platform provides multiparameter, single-cell signaling measurements (fingerprints) of brain tumor samples. The ability to measure these molecular fingerprints on small samples marks a new advance in molecular diagnostics that will enable predictive and personalized medicine. ... > full story
Is your hemoglobin 'trending'? Routine blood tests may provide early warning for colorectal cancer (August 4, 2010) -- Paying close attention to routine blood test results can be an effective screening system for colon cancer which, when diagnosed early enough, can be treated effectively. A new study shows that most patients with colon cancer have a history of consistently declining hemoglobin levels up to four years before being diagnosed with the disease. ... > full story
Nemesis for oil spills: Bacterial technology may help clean up Gulf (August 4, 2010) -- Researchers in Israel are using naturally occurring oil-munching bacteria, grown in the lab, to clean the hard-to-reach oil pockets that occur when oil mixes with sand and organic matter on beaches and forms a thin layer on the waterways. ... > full story
Memory-boosting drug may help cocaine addicts avoid relapse (August 4, 2010) -- A memory-boosting medication paired with behavioral therapy might help addicts stay clean, according to new animal research. The study suggests D-cycloserine, previously used in the lab to treat fear and anxiety disorders, could help an addict resist drugs even when confronted with drug-related cues outside of rehab. ... > full story
Generating energy from ocean waters off Hawaii (August 4, 2010) -- Researchers in Hawaii say that the Leeward side of Hawaiian Islands may be ideal for future ocean-based renewable energy plants based on a technology referred to as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. ... > full story
Disrupted circadian rhythm may cause triglycerides to rise (August 4, 2010) -- When the circadian rhythm gets thrown off, it could come with an unexpected side effect: high triglycerides. The discovery, based on studies in mice with a "broken clock," helps to explain the normal rise and fall in triglycerides, which happens at about the same time each day, according to researchers. ... > full story
Chili peppers may come with blood pressure benefits (August 4, 2010) -- For those with high blood pressure, chili peppers might be just what the doctor ordered, according to a new study. While the active ingredient that gives the peppers their heat -- a compound known as capsaicin -- might set your mouth on fire, it also leads blood vessels to relax, the research in hypertensive rats shows. ... > full story
Latest findings in CT radiation dose reduction efforts (August 4, 2010) -- In recent years, advances in CT scanner technology have made perfusion computed tomography imaging an important diagnostic tool for patients with suspected stroke. Now, researchers are working to reduce radiation dosages used to acquire perfusion and other CT images. ... > full story
New inexpensive solar cell design (August 4, 2010) -- One of the most promising technologies for making inexpensive but reasonably efficient photovoltaic cells just got much cheaper. Scientists in Canada have shown that inexpensive nickel can work just as well as gold for one of the critical electrical contacts that gather the electrical current produced by colloidal quantum dot solar cells. ... > full story
Survey of coastal residents shows Gulf oil spill has significant impact on families (August 4, 2010) -- As the acute phase of the Gulf oil spill transitions to a chronic phase, researchers have found evidence of significant impact of the disaster on the health, mental health, and economic fortunes of residents. ... > full story
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