Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for June 23, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Learning more about phase transitions in small systems- In motor learning, it's actions, not intentions, that count
- Body temperatures of dinosaurs measured for the first time
- Self or non-self: Social amoeba rely on genetic 'lock and key' to identify kin
- When matter melts: Physicists map phase changes in quark-gluon plasma
- Chemists figure out how to synthesize compounds from resveratrol
- Even in fruit flies, enriched learning drives need for sleep
- How to keep lonely exoplanets snug -- just add dark matter
- Physicists observe 'campfire effect' in blinking nanorod semiconductors
- Solar wind samples give insight into birth of solar system
- Obese dieters' brain chemistry works against their weight-loss efforts
- New study shows poor imitators in the animal world may have the last laugh
- Review: 3-D silly, but EVO 3D smart overall
- Computational software provides rapid identification of disease-causing gene variations
- Google facing wide-ranging US antitrust probe
Space & Earth news
ESA's high-thrust engine takes next step
The new main engine to power Europe’s successor to its Ariane 5 space launcher was brought a step closer today when ESA signed a €60 million contract with a propulsion consortium at the Paris Air & Space Show.
UA to shape solar telescope mirror
(PhysOrg.com) -- When finished, the 4.2-meter mirror will be the largest telescope mirror ever pointed at the sun. Polished into a highly complex, asymmetric shape, it will be the centerpiece of the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope in Hawaii, allowing researchers to study the sun in unprecedented detail.
Landscape coefficients prove useful for urban water conservation efforts
Although water consumption and conservation are widely recognized as significant environmental concerns in the United States, most Americans are still unaware of the major impact of landscape irrigation on their regional water supplies. One startling example: a 2004 study of homeowners in College Station, Texas, estimated that more than 24 to 34 million gallons of excess water were used annually for landscape irrigation alone.
Dairy manure goes urban
When natural ecosystems are replaced by roads, homes, and commercial structures, soil is negatively impacted. Studies have shown that, among other issues, distressed urban soils are often significantly compacted, may have alkaline pH, and may contain low amounts of essential organic matter and nutrients. This altered soil is typically not conducive to healthy plant root growth and establishment, leading to challenges for urban landscapes and home gardens.
'Green curtains' block heat, save energy
A growing number of people are turning to nature to help them save electricity this summer, creating so-called green curtains of climbing plants.
Unfasten your seatbelts aboard the ZERO-G
What child has not dreamed of breaking free from gravity's chains and floating, weightless, above Earth's surface?
Cygnus X-1: Blue supergiant pairs with black hole
Discovered in 1964 during a rocket flight, Cygnus X-1 holds the record for being the strongest X-ray source seen from Earth. The blue supergiant star designated as HDE 226868 is just part of this high-mass X-ray binary system... the other is a black hole.
Ыatellite gets two tropical cyclones in one shot
The Northwestern Pacific Ocean is active with two tropical cyclones today, Tropical Storm Meari near the Philippines, and Tropical Depression Haima moving over China and now toward Vietnam. NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the region on June 22 and captured an infrared image of both storms in one image.
The flames of Betelgeuse: New image reveals vast nebula around famous supergiant star
(PhysOrg.com) -- Betelgeuse, a red supergiant in the constellation of Orion, is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It is also one of the biggest, being almost the size of the orbit of Jupiter — about four and half times the diameter of the Earth's orbit. The VLT image shows the surrounding nebula, which is much bigger than the supergiant itself, stretching 60 billion kilometres away from the star's surface — about 400 times the distance of the Earth from the Sun.
Solar wind samples give insight into birth of solar system
(PhysOrg.com) -- Two papers in this week's issue of Science report the first oxygen and nitrogen isotopic measurements of the Sun, demonstrating that they are verydifferent from the same elements on Earth. These results were the top two priorities of NASA's Genesis mission, which was the first spacecraft to return from beyond the Moon, crashing in the Utah desert in 2004 after its parachute failed to deploy during re-entry.
Technology news
Apple removes anti-Israel app from App Store
(AP) -- Apple Inc. says it has removed an application called "ThirdIntifada" from its App Store following complaints that it glorified violence against Israel.
Twins drop Facebook lawsuit detailed in hit movie
The Harvard University classmates of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg are ending the legal battle made famous by the Hollywood movie "The Social Network."
Calif. man admits role in theft of iPad addresses
(AP) -- A California man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to hack into computer servers and steal email addresses and personal information from iPad users.
Facebook names Netflix CEO to board
Facebook announced Thursday that it has named Reed Hastings, chairman and chief executive of US video giant Netflix, to the social network's board of directors.
Two Latvians indicted in US in 'scareware' scam
Two Latvians have been indicted and dozens of computers and servers seized in the United States and Europe in a crackdown on international cybercrime, the US Justice Department said Wednesday.
Ruling awaited in Kodak patent battle with Apple
(AP) -- After years of wading through a tide of red ink, Eastman Kodak Co. is nearing the end of a potentially lucrative patent fight with tech giants Apple and Research in Motion Ltd.
Biggest 2 Australian telcos join broadband rollout
(AP) -- Australia's two largest telecommunications companies signed lucrative deals with the government to join the rollout of a fiber optic national broadband network that will be among the world's fastest.
Report presents best policy options to reduce petroleum use
It will take more than tougher fuel economy standards for U.S. transportation to significantly cut its oil use over the next half century. It will likely require a combination of measures that foster consumer and supplier interest in vehicle fuel economy, alternative fuels, and a more efficient transportation system, says a new report from the National Research Council. Public interest in reducing the cost of securing the nation's energy supplies, curbing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), and improving transportation operations could motivate such varied actions.
American Express checks in with Foursquare
American Express and Foursquare announced a partnership on Thursday to provide discounts to AmEx cardholders who use the location-based service to "check in" from participating shops and restaurants.
British teen remanded in custody over hacking
A British teenager charged with attacking websites as part of an international hacking group was remanded in police custody by a court Thursday while he assists a police investigation.
Yahoo! board re-elected, Bartz comes under fire
Yahoo! chief executive Carol Bartz defended her turnaround efforts at the Internet pioneer Thursday and won the endorsement of the company's chairman and shareholders.
Harry Potter goes digital with e-books
Harry Potter creator JK Rowling on Thursday took her lucrative boy wizard into the digital age, revealing that his adventures will now be sold as e-books through a website that contains new material.
Viacom sues Cablevision over iPad video app
(AP) -- Viacom, the owner of MTV, Comedy Central and other television channels, is suing cable TV distributor Cablevision over an iPad app that Viacom says streams video of its channels without permission.
IMF identifies hacked computer files
The International Monetary Fund has identified the computer files hacked in a cyberattack and is the process of weighing their importance, and IMF spokesman said Thursday.
Oracle's profit tops Street, but worries surface
(AP) -- Oracle Corp.'s latest quarterly results Thursday underscore the critical role its software business plays despite its push to become a more well-rounded technology vendor by selling computer servers.
Advanced power grid slowly takes shape at NC research hub
It takes up enough space to cover a billiards table, but next year it will fit inside a backpack.
Web-based tablet apps challenging app-store offerings
An app war is brewing. Pressure to break the grip of app stores and the need for multiple versions of applications to run on the slew of devices out there are driving some companies, notably media outlets, to test tablet apps that essentially are websites.
Delay in Kodak patent case against Apple, RIM
(AP) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission is postponing its ruling on photography pioneer Eastman Kodak's patent dispute with tech giants Apple and Research in Motion.
Security concerns cast shadow over cloud's bright future
Chances are you've already got your head in the clouds. If Google has its way, you'll trust even more of your life to the digital cumulus.
Cybercrime networks impacted 1M computer users
(AP) -- Law enforcement officers in the U.S. and seven other nations have seized dozens of computers, servers and bank accounts in an international probe of cybercrime rings responsible for $74 million in losses to more than 1 million computer users, the FBI said Wednesday.
Smartphone app helps you find friends in a crowd
Can a smartphone app enable meaningful, face-to-face conversation? Engineers are trying to find out, with software that helps people locate their friends in a crowd – and make new friends who share similar interests.
Google facing wide-ranging US antitrust probe
The US Federal Trade Commission is poised to open a formal antitrust probe into whether Internet search giant Google has abused its dominance on the Web, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
'Orca ears' inspire researchers to develop ultrasensitive undersea microphone
For most people, listening to the ocean means contemplating the soothing sound of waves breaking gently on a sandy beach.
Amazon.com founder to make 10,000 year clock
(PhysOrg.com) -- Jeff Bezos the founder of Amazon.com has embarked on an interesting and unique project that, if all goes well, will last the test of time, a whole lot of time. He is looking to create a clock that is able to run for 10,000 years.
Medicine & Health news
Are the cigarette-loving Balkans lighting up less?
If the question was misunderstood by the waiter in a Bucharest restaurant, the irony wasn't lost on the customer who cringed after asking, "Do you have a smoke-free area?"
Immunity to the common cold virus: sex and age matter
Researchers in the UQ School of Medicine at Princess Alexandra Hospital have made an important discovery about how the immune system reacts to rhinoviruses, the viruses that usually cause the common cold.
Exercise interventions during, after pregnancy offer health benefits
Exercise interventions during and after pregnancy offer numerous health benefits to both mothers and their babies, particularly among women who are at high risk for gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Danielle Downs, an associate professor of kinesiology and obstetrics and gynecology at Penn State, was one of four speakers invited to discuss their studies related to pregnancy and postpartum interventions at a symposium during the 2011 Annual Meeting and Scientific Session of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM), held in April in Washington, D.C.
Helping deaf people to enjoy music again
Researchers from the University of Southampton are investigating how to help deaf people, who have received a cochlear implant, to get more enjoyment from music.
Community health worker interventions improve rates of US mammography screening
Education, referrals, support and other interventions by community health workers improve rates of screening mammography in the United States – especially in medical and urban settings and among women whose race and ethnicity is similar to that of the community health workers serving them.
Understanding the antiepileptic benefits of an Atkins-like diet
Some individuals with epilepsy fail to respond to treatment with conventional drugs but benefit from consuming a ketogenic diet — a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet similar to the more commonly known Atkins diet. A team of researchers, led by Detlev Boison, at the Legacy Research Institute, Portland, has now identified in mice the molecular mechanism responsible for the antiepileptic effects of the ketogenic diet.
'Good' cholesterol function as important as its levels
High levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) are associated with a decreased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) -- a disease of the major arterial blood vessels that is one of the major causes of heart attack and stroke. This suggests that therapeutics that increase HDL levels could be clinically useful.
Rutgers laboratory helped to create new HIV drug
Two decades after a Rutgers team began working with legendary drug developer Paul Janssen, founder of a Belgian subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson in an effort to create new and potent drugs to fight AIDS, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the second anti-HIV drug that came from this collaboration.
Arizona death may be linked to European E. coli
(AP) -- Health officials say the death of an Arizona resident who recently traveled to Germany may be linked to the food-poisoning outbreak in Europe.
Policies that promote healthy eating, activity and sleep are needed to curb obesity in infants, toddlers and preschooler
Limiting television and other media use, encouraging infants and young children in preschool and child care to spend more time in physically active play, and requiring child care providers to promote healthy sleeping practices are some of the actions needed to curb high rates of obesity among America's youngest children, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.
Outpatient treatment proves safe, effective for low-risk patients with pulmonary embolism
Outpatient care for certain low-risk patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) can be safely and effectively used in place of inpatient care, according to a randomized, multi-center study in 19 emergency departments. The findings, published June 23 online in the Lancet, support current practice guidelines that are rarely followed by physicians.
Glaxo pays 41 million to settle US drug quality matter
British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline said Thursday it is paying 41 million dollars to settle allegations of poor drug quality at a manufacturing plant in Puerto Rico.
A breath of fresh air for detecting vitamin B12 deficiency
Researchers have developed a new test to detect the levels of vitamin B12 using your breath, allowing for a cheaper, faster, and simpler diagnosis that could help to avoid the potentially fatal symptoms of B12 deficiency.
Drug use tied to fatal car crashes
It's well known that drunk driving can have fatal consequences, but a new study suggests that alcohol is not the only drug that’s a danger on the road.
Vitamin A deficiency does not affect onset of asthma
Vitamin A deficiency does not increase the risk of asthma, according to new research published online in the European Respiratory Journal.
Influenza vaccination during pregnancy protects newborns
Infants born to mothers who received the influenza (flu) vaccine while pregnant are nearly 50 percent less likely to be hospitalized for the flu than infants born to mothers who did not receive the vaccine while pregnant, according to a new collaborative study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and colleagues.
DNA scan yields insights into Germany's E. coli bug
A strain of E. coli bacteria blamed for killing dozens of people in Germany is a genetic mix whose ability to stick to intestinal walls may have made it so lethal, a study in The Lancet said on Wednesday.
Hong Kong confirms second scarlet fever death
Hong Kong health authorities on Thursday confirmed that a five-year-old boy had died from scarlet fever, the second death in the southern Chinese city as dozens of new cases were reported.
Mums are heading back to work sooner and it is stressing them out
(Medical Xpress) -- Sole parents and married mums are working more, leading to more time in childcare for their kids and decreases in the parents overall life and job satisfaction, according to news stats from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research.
A step toward controlling Huntington's disease?
Johns Hopkins researchers have identified a natural mechanism that might one day be used to block the expression of the mutated gene known to cause Huntington’s disease. Their experiments offer not an immediate cure, but a potential new approach to stopping or even preventing the development of this relentless neurodegenerative disorder.
Slow growth of childhood brain tumors explained
(Medical Xpress) -- Johns Hopkins researchers have found a likely explanation for the slow growth of the most common childhood brain tumor, pilocytic astrocytoma. Using tests on a new cell-based model of the tumor, they concluded that the initial process of tumor formation switches on a growth-braking tumor-suppressor gene, in a process similar to that seen in skin moles.
Study finds antidepressants may help in treating schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a complex and chronic mental disorder affecting more than 2 million people in the United States.
Application for iPhone may help monitor Parkinson's disease
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a novel iPhone application that may enable persons with Parkinson's disease and certain other neurological conditions to use the ubiquitous devices to collect data on hand and arm tremors and relay the results to medical personnel.
Chocolate milk gives athletes leg-up after exercise: study
(Medical Xpress) -- Not only does chocolate milk taste good, but two recent studies from The University of Texas at Austin show that it’s also the ideal post-workout recovery drink.
Medical students create free medical translation app, conquering language barriers to patient care
(Medical Xpress) -- What started as a 2 a.m. conversation over coffee – a commiseration, really – between two fourth-year medical students, ended with the development of a free mobile medical translation application with the potential to profoundly impact patient care worldwide.
Cautionary tale for people with diabetes: Dog consumed part of a sleeping patient's toe
In a case study that illustrates the need for people with diabetes to be cautious of foot injuries and to protect themselves from pets, a woman with numbness in her feet caused by diabetic neuropathy slept through a traumatic episode in which her Jack Russell terrier chewed off part of her slightly infected big toe, according to an article published in this month's issue of the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association.
Large numbers of birth defects seen near mountaintop mining operations
Birth defects are significantly more common in areas of mountaintop coal mining and are on the rise as the practice becomes more common, according to a study by researchers at Washington State University and West Virginia University.
Rare genetic disorder provides unique insight into Parkinson's disease
Massachusetts General Hospital investigators appear to have found the mechanism behind a previously reported link between the rare genetic condition Gaucher disease and the common neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's disease. In a report to appear in the July 8 issue of Cell and receiving early online release, they describe how disruption of the molecular pathway that causes Gaucher disease leads to the toxic neuronal deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein (α-syn) found in Parkinson's and related disorders. In addition, rising α-syn levels further inhibit the Gaucher's-associated pathway, leading to even more α-syn deposition, a finding that indicates therapies targeting this pathway may be a new option for patients with Parkinson's disease.
Ghrelin likely involved in why we choose 'comfort foods' when stressed
We are one step closer to deciphering why some stressed people indulge in chocolate, mashed potatoes, ice cream and other high-calorie, high-fat comfort foods.
Genetic testing in epilepsy -- it takes more than one gene
Imagine two flat screen televisions tuned to the same channel and sitting side-by-side. From a distance, their pictures are virtually the same, however up close, you can see subtle variations in the pixels – one blurred here, another dropped out there.
Who goes there? Novel complex senses viral infection
Double-stranded (ds) RNA viruses are a diverse group of viruses that include rotaviruses, a common cause of gastroenteritis. The ability of the immune system to detect and destroy viruses is critical for human health and survival. Now, a study published by Cell Press in the June 23rd issue of the journal Immunity identifies a novel sensor that is necessary to activate the immune response to viral infection. The research enhances our understanding of the complex and overlapping mechanisms our immune cells use to thwart infection.
No state lawsuits on generic drugs: US Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court narrowly ruled on Thursday that people may not sue generic drug makers under state laws if they believe a generic drug label failed to adequately warn of side effects.
New study identifies new potential approaches to treat myelofibrosis
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study conducted by a team of researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) sheds light on a possible new approach to treat the bone marrow disease known as myelofibrosis by inhibiting an enzyme that connects extracellular fibers. The study, published online in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, was conducted under the direction of Katya Ravid, PhD, professor of medicine and biochemistry and director of the Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research at BUSM.
Space research gives birth to new ultrasound tools for health care in orbit, on Earth
The remoteness and resource limitations of spaceflight pose a serious challenge to astronaut health care. One solution is ultrasound.
Report: Fight fat even in toddlers, preschoolers
(AP) -- A food pyramid just for the under-2 set? Contrary to popular belief, children don't usually outgrow their baby fat - and a new report urges steps to help prevent babies, toddlers and preschoolers from getting too pudgy too soon.
Long-term inhaled corticosteroid use increases fracture risk in lung disease patients
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use inhaled corticosteroids to improve breathing for more than six months have a 27 percent increased risk of bone fractures, new Johns Hopkins-led research suggests.
Hereditary colon cancer syndrome marked by abnormally dense blood vessel growth in mouth
A team led by Johns Hopkins researchers has found that a hereditary colon cancer syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), is associated with abnormally dense blood vessel growth in the skin lining the mouth.
To fix diabetic nerve damage, blood vessels and support cells may be the real targets of treatment
Blood vessels and supporting cells appear to be pivotal partners in repairing nerves ravaged by diabetic neuropathy, and nurturing their partnership with nerve cells might make the difference between success and failure in experimental efforts to regrow damaged nerves, Johns Hopkins researchers report in a new study.
'Motivational' interviews reduce depression, increase survival after stroke
Patients who received several sessions of a "motivational interview" early after a stroke had normal mood, fewer instances of depression and greater survival rates at one year compared to patients who received standard stroke care, according to new research reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Model of a migraine indicates increased neuronal excitability as a possible cause
Familial hemiplegic migraine is a rare and severe subtype of migraine with aura, an unusual sensory experience preceding the migraine attack. Researchers from the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan, and CNR Institute of Neuroscience in Pisa, Italy, have developed a mouse model of Familial Hemiplegic Migraine type 2 (FHM2) and used it to investigate the migraine's cause. The study will be published on June 23rd in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.
Competition between brain cells spurs memory circuit development
Scientists at the University of Michigan Health System have for the first time demonstrated how memory circuits in the brain refine themselves in a living organism through two distinct types of competition between cells.
Researchers suggest new way of looking at what causes sepsis
Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital have put forward a new theory as to what causes sepsis, an often fatal condition that occurs when infection spreads throughout the body.
In search of the memory molecule, a key protein complex discovered
Have a tough time remembering where you put your keys, learning a new language or recalling names at a cocktail party? New research from the Lisman Laboratory at Brandeis University points to a molecule that is central to the process by which memories are stored in the brain. A paper published in the June 22 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience describes the new findings.
Obese dieters' brain chemistry works against their weight-loss efforts
If you've been trying to lose weight and suspect your body's working against you, you may be right, according to a University of Illinois study published in Obesity.
Computational software provides rapid identification of disease-causing gene variations
Scientists from the University of Utah and Omicia, Inc., a privately held company developing tools to interpret personal genome sequences, today announced the publication in Genome Research of a new software tool called VAAST, the Variant Annotation, Analysis and Selection Tool, a probabilistic disease-causing mutation finder for individual human genomes.
Sleep switch found in fruit flies
Rather than count sheep, drink warm milk or listen to soothing music, many insomniacs probably wish for a switch they could flick to put themselves to sleep.
Even in fruit flies, enriched learning drives need for sleep
Just like human teenagers, fruit flies that spend a day buzzing around the "fly mall" with their companions need more sleep. That's because the environment makes their brain circuits grow dense new synapses and they need sleep to dial back the energy needs of their stimulated brains, according to a new study by UW- Madison sleep researchers.
In motor learning, it's actions, not intentions, that count
Albert Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Practicing the same task repetitively, though, tends to be the default procedure when trying to learn a new motor skill.
Biology news
Gyrfalcons make icebergs home
Back in World War II there was a clever idea to use icebergs as floating aircraft carriers, but now we know birds of prey got there first.
Lowering the color of crystals in sugar factories
Like diamonds, sugar crystals ideally are very pure and low in color. Now studies led by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) chemist Gillian Eggleston have provided a better understanding of the source of undesirable color in factory sugar.
New and old threats to soybean production
University of Illinois researchers identified the top pathogens, pests and weeds affecting soybean production in a recent article in Food Security. Soybean aphid, soybean rust, soybean cyst nematode, Sclerotina stem rot and the exotic pathogen, red leaf blotch, were featured as some of the top biotic constraints that may affect soybean production now and in the future.
Discards ban 'will boost fisheries', says new research
Banning fisheries discards in the North Sea will promote fish stock recovery and increase fishermen's incomes, according to new research by scientists at the University of York.
Movements of thousands of loggerhead turtles 'predictable'
Satellite tracking technology has revealed in detail for the very first time the annual movements of thousands of loggerhead turtles that live off the east coast of the US.
Efforts to spear invasive lionfish not likely to curb population, researchers say
(PhysOrg.com) -- Lionfish are causing problems for native fish populations in Florida’s coastal waters, such as grouper and snapper, prompting efforts to try and curb populations of the invasive species.
Tropical Birds Return to Harvested Rainforest Areas in Brazil
(PhysOrg.com) -- Bird species in rainforest fragments in Brazil that were isolated by deforestation disappeared then reappeared over a quarter-century, according to research results published today in the journal PLoS (Public Library of Science) ONE.
New research shows organic farming benefits insect biodiversity, pollination of wild plants
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research just published by ecologists at Trinity College Dublin, has shown that organic farming benefits insect biodiversity, insect-flower interactions and pollination of wild plants.
Qld fruit fly scientists in race against time
Parts of Australia's fruit and vegetable industry are under threat, with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) scientists racing to find new ways to control a major horticultural pest before chemical treatments are restricted.
Discovering lost salmon at sea
Where Atlantic salmon feed in the ocean has been a long-standing mystery, but new research led by the University of Southampton shows that marine location can be recovered from the chemistry of fish scales. Surprisingly, salmon from different British rivers migrate to feed in separate places, and may respond differently to environmental change.
Mechanism for stress-induced epigenetic inheritance uncovered in new study
Researchers at RIKEN have uncovered a mechanism by which the effects of stress in the fly species Drosophila are inherited epigenetically over many generations through changes to the structure of chromatin, the material that makes up the cell nucleus. Published in the journal Cell, the results highlight the role of the transcription factor dATF-2 in chromatin assembly, marking a major advance in our understanding of non-Mendelian inheritance.
Leftover embryonic cells connect gastric reflux and cancer
The ultimate source of some cancers is embryonic cells. Research published in the June 24th Cell, a Cell Press publication, traces the precursor of deadly esophageal cancers to leftover embryonic cells found in all adults.
Modern fish communities live fast and die young
Fish communities in the 21st Century live fast and die young. That's the main finding of a recent study by researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society who compared fish recently caught in coastal Kenya with the bones of fish contained in ancient Swahili refuse heaps in order to understand how to rebuild the current fisheries.
Study of phytoremediation benefits of 86 indoor plants published
Formaldehyde is a major contaminant of indoor air, originating from particle board, carpet, window coverings, paper products, tobacco smoke, and other sources. Indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde can contribute to allergies, asthma, headaches, and a condition known as ''sick building syndrome". The concern is widespread; a 2002 report from the World Health Organization estimated that undesirable indoor volatiles represent a serious health problem that is responsible for more than 1.6 million deaths per year and 2.7% of the global burden of disease.
Birds' eye view is far more colorful than our own
The brilliant colors of birds have inspired poets and nature lovers, but researchers at Yale University and the University of Cambridge say these existing hues represent only a fraction of what birds are capable of seeing.
Birds 'flap run' instead if flying over obstacles to save energy
Why don't you ever see baby pigeons? For the same reason you don't see many chicks: they can't fly. It can take months for their partially developed wings and flight muscles to become airworthy, and by then the youngsters are almost fullygrown. However, long before their maiden flight, pigeon chicks probably put their developing wings to use, flapping as they run up steep branches.
Gorillas, unlike humans, gorge protein yet stay slim
(PhysOrg.com) -- A Massey University scientist's study on how wild gorillas in Uganda stay healthy by gorging on protein has highlighted fundamental differences in the way eating habits of various species evolve.
Scientists uncover an unhealthy herds hypothesis
Biologists worldwide subscribe to the healthy herds hypothesis, the idea that predators can keep packs of prey healthy by removing the weak and the sick. This reduces the chance disease will wipe out the whole herd, but could it be that predators can also make prey populations more susceptible to other predators or even parasites? Biologists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered at least one animal whose defenses against a predator make it a good target for one opportunistic parasite. The research appears online in the journal Functional Ecology.
New study shows poor imitators in the animal world may have the last laugh
(PhysOrg.com) -- In what at first might seem to be a deficit, being a lousy imitator of another species to avoid being eaten, Czech Republic arachnologist Stano Pekar, shows that the opposite might be true. In a paper he and his team have published on The American Naturalist, he describes how a species of spider that looks sort of like an ant, winds up being less liable to be eaten than are other spiders that are much better imitators.
Model helps pinpoint cyanobacterial genes that capture the sun's energy
A new computer model of blue-green algae can predict which of the organism's genes are central to capturing energy from sunlight and other critical processes.
Self or non-self: Social amoeba rely on genetic 'lock and key' to identify kin
The ability to identify self and non-self enables cells in more sophisticated animals to ward off invading infections, but it is critical to even simpler organisms such as the social amoebae Dictyostelium discoideum.
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