Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for June 8, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New class of stellar explosions discovered- Researchers solve membrane protein mystery
- Researchers discover 'superatoms' with magnetic shells
- How wet is water's surface? Some water molecules split the difference between gas and liquid
- Researchers predict material 'denser than diamond'
- Scientists create first genetically humanized mouse model for hepatitis C
- Tut, tut: Microbial growth in pharaoh's tomb suggests burial was a rush job
- Crucial molecule that involved in spread of breast cancer found
- Genes provide landmarks on the roadmap of autism
- Robots Playing Shuffleboard (w/ video)
- Next-generation Internet addresses tested
- Breast cancer drug pushes colon cancer cells to their death
- Ecology biased against non-native species?
- Stable temperatures boost biodiversity in tropical mountains
- Facebook under fire for photo tagging feature
Space & Earth news
REDD+ strategies lack plan for agriculture
The majority of countries participating in a major global effort to reduce greenhouse emissions caused by forest destruction cite agriculture as the main cause of deforestation, but very few provide details on how they would address the link between agriculture and forestry, according to a new analysis by experts probing the effect of climate change on food security.
Volcanic ash cloud disrupts South America flights
A vast cloud of ash spewing from a Chilean volcano disrupted air travel across much of South America, while heavy rains around the eruption site prompted fears of mudslides.
Greenpeace says Barbie is forest vandal
Greenpeace on Wednesday accused Mattel, the US maker of Barbie dolls, of contributing to the wanton destruction of carbon-rich Indonesian forests and habitats of endangered species like Sumatran tigers.
Reaching for the stars: It's alive out there! Scientists seek out the evidence
All around the world - from the deep gold mines of South Africa to the far-seeing telescopes in Chile's Atacama Desert, from the frigid glaciers of Antarctica to the halls of the world's best universities and research institutions - scientists are on a quest unlike anything we've seen before. Tens of thousands of researchers are involved in the effort, one which three years of reporting has convinced me will be - or certainly could be - the big idea of our era.
Flooding of farmland does not increase levels of potentially harmful flame retardants in milk
As millions of acres of farmland in the U.S. Midwest and South recover from Mississippi River flooding, scientists report that river flooding can increase levels of potentially harmful flame retardants in farm soils. But the higher levels apparently do not find their way into the milk produced by cows that graze on these lands, according to a study in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Study finds widespread stream biodiversity declines at low levels of urban development
A new study from biology researchers at Baylor University and the University of Maryland-Baltimore has found that there are consistent and widespread declines in stream biodiversity at lower levels of urban development more damaging than what was previously believed.
Audit: Hurdles remain for upcoming Mars mission
(AP) -- A new report says significant challenges remain before NASA can launch its next rover to Mars later this year.
NASA goes below the surface to understand salinity
(PhysOrg.com) -- When NASA's Aquarius mission launches this week, its radiometer instruments will take a "skin" reading of the oceans' salt content at the surface. From these data of salinity in the top 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) of the ocean surface, Aquarius will create weekly and monthly maps of ocean surface salinity all over the globe for at least three years. To better understand what's driving changes and fluctuations in salinity -- and how those changes relate to an acceleration of the global water cycle and climate change -- scientists will go deeper.
Mountain pine beetle activity may impact snow accumulation and melt
A new University of Colorado Boulder study indicates the infestation of trees by mountain pine beetles in the high country across the West could potentially trigger earlier snowmelt and increase water yields from snowpack that accumulates beneath affected trees.
Comet-chasing probe goes into hibernation in 10-year trek
A billion-euro (1.47-billion-dollar) space probe was placed in hibernation on Wednesday until 2014, when it will be woken for a deep-space rendezvous with a comet, the European Space Agency (ESA) said.
Rosetta's first glimpse of the comet
Three years before its arrival the camera system on board the space probe Rosetta renders the first images of its destination.
'Thermal pollution' in rivers not fully mediated by gravel augmentation
Although adding gravel to a river to replace lost sediments won't likely cool the whole river channel, it can create cool water refuges that protect fish from thermal pollution, according to a U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station study.
Tornado forecasting pushes scientific limits
Ernest Fawbush and Robert Miller made the first ever tornado forecast in March of 1948 using only paper, pencil, and a World War II-era radar -- but tornado forecasting has changed dramatically since that initial forecast 63 years ago.
A double-satellite NASA-style view of the first tropical storm in eastern Pacific: Adrian
The first tropical depression in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is now the first tropical storm, and two satellites are providing NASA insights into its thunderstorms, rainfall, and intensity. NASA satellite data on newly born Tropical Storm Adrian shows high cloud tops and moderate rainfall, indications that the storm is getting stronger, triggering a tropical storm watch in Mexico.
NASA imagery sees a reawakening of system 98A in the Arabian Sea
System 98A has been bringing rains, gusty winds and churning up the surf along the Arabian Seacoast of west-central India for days, and NASA satellite imagery confirms that it is getting organized now that it has moved into open waters.
First images from the VLT Survey Telescope 268-megapixel camera
(PhysOrg.com) -- The VLT Survey Telescope (VST), the latest addition to ESO’s Paranal Observatory, has made its first release of impressive images of the southern sky. The VST is a state-of-the-art 2.6-meter telescope, with the huge 268-megapixel camera OmegaCAM at its heart, which is designed to map the sky both quickly and with very fine image quality. It is a visible-light telescope that perfectly complements ESO’s VISTA infrared survey telescope. New images of the Omega Nebula and the globular cluster Omega Centauri demonstrate the VST’s power.
Springtime at Mars' south pole
(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA's Mars Express celebrates eight years in space with a new view of ice in the southern polar region of Mars. The poles are closely linked to the planet’s climate and constantly change with the seasons. Their study is an important scientific objective of the mission.
Earth's soils are under threat, scientists warn in Nature
The planet's soils are under greater threat than ever before, at a time when we need to draw on their vital role to support life more than ever, warns an expert from the University of Sheffield today in the journal Nature.
New supernova remnant lights up
(PhysOrg.com) -- In 1987, light from an exploding star in a neighboring galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, reached Earth. Named Supernova 1987A, it was the closest supernova explosion witnessed in almost 400 years, allowing astronomers to study it in unprecedented detail as it evolves.
Audit: Mars mission faces hurdles before launch
(AP) -- NASA's next-generation rover to the surface of Mars, which is already overbudget and behind schedule, faces significant hurdles as it races to the launch pad for a November liftoff, an internal audit released Wednesday found.
Stable temperatures boost biodiversity in tropical mountains
We often think of rainforests and coral reefs as hotspots for biodiversity, but mountains are treasure troves for species too -- especially in the tropics, scientists say. But what drives montane biodiversity? The diversity of plants and animals in tropical mountain ranges may have something to do with the stable seasonal temperatures found in the tropics relative to higher latitudes, says a new study by scientists working at the US National Evolutionary Synthesis Center.
New class of stellar explosions discovered
They're bright and blue-and a bit strange. They're a new type of stellar explosion that was recently discovered by a team of astronomers led by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Among the most luminous in the cosmos, these new kinds of supernovae could help researchers better understand star formation, distant galaxies, and what the early universe might have been like.
Technology news
Bangladesh teenagers drive outsourcing growth
Like many teenagers, Abdullah Al Zahid spends most of his time holed up in his bedroom in his family's modest Dhaka apartment glued to his computer.
Hackers cause Sony major financial, reputational damage
Information security expert John D’Arcy, assistant professor of information technology management at the University of Notre Dame, says this week’s hacking attack on Sony Corp. is yet another example of the significant information security threat that affects almost all businesses.
High-tech remedy for urban planning headaches
Big cities everywhere grapple with similar issues: what is the best way to reduce urban sprawl, revitalize aging neighbourhoods and create more sustainable communities? Urban problems are complex for planners and often frustrating for residents who may feel their suggestions aren’t being heard.
Sharp to evaluate Eco House, aims to minimize energy consumption
Sharp Corporation has completed a Sharp Eco House at GREEN FRONT SAKAI in Osaka, Japan and in June 2011 began operation with the aim of realizing a house that emits "zero CO2 emissions." Sharp’s dual goals for the Eco House are to minimize power consumption and contribute to a comfortable living environment.
ARD Mediathek enhanced with new search functions
This May new and improved search capabilities were introduced on the ARD Mediathek portal. Visitors to the website can now target their searches for TV and radio content more specifically. Information can also be extracted directly from video footage. All thanks to software from Fraunhofer.
China plans restructure of rare earths industry
(AP) -- China is giving its biggest, state-owned rare earths miner and producer a monopoly for the northern part of the country in reforms aimed at bringing the strategically important sector that's crucial to advanced manufacturing under tighter control.
China wind energy firms back subsidy move: report
China's wind energy turbine makers have said scrapping subsidies for the domestic sector will have little impact, even as US manufacturers hailed the move as a victory, state media reported Wednesday.
Foxconn cut from Hong Kong's benchmark index
Foxconn International, the world's biggest contract electronics supplier, has lost its blue-chip status after being dropped from Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (HSI), an HSI official said Wednesday.
Nintendo stock plunges amid doubts about new Wii
(AP) -- Nintendo stock plunged Wednesday in Tokyo amid doubts about the consumer appeal of the Wii U, the much ballyhooed successor to its hit Wii video game console.
MyCare -- the 'card' that could save your life
It looks like a credit card…it slips into a wallet or purse... but it could mean the difference between life and death in a medical emergency.
Temperature tracking device for packages may have climate metrology applications
(PhysOrg.com) -- National Institute of Standards and Technology researchers are working to reduce the uncertainty associated with climate-change measurements using a mobile temperature-sensing technology made for tracking delicate or perishable, high-value packages in transit. Developed by international shipper FedEx and tested with help from NIST, the device connects to cell phone networks to provide users with near real-time information on the package’s precise location, temperature, humidity, pressure, acceleration, elevation and exposure to light.
BinCam: We've bin watching you!
(PhysOrg.com) -- Computer scientists at Newcastle University have come up with a novel way of encouraging students to recycle – using a camera phone and Facebook.
Aircraft systems in the environmental chamber
How can air transport be made more environmentally compatible, economical and sustainable? The Fraunhofer flight test facility in Holzkirchen is soon to be expanded with the installation of a thermal test bench for aircraft systems, with the aim of achieving efficient energy management onboard.
Precise assembly of engines
In the automotive industry, combustion engines are still assembled mostly manually. Researchers from Fraunhofer are developing procedures and methods to automate assembly processes to continuously improve the quality of the engines. The use of the latest technologies helps to eliminate uncertainties during engine assembly.
British defence ministry faced 1,000 cyber attacks in a year
Foreign intelligence agencies and criminal organisations launched more than 1,000 cyber attacks on Britain's defence ministry last year, a minister has revealed.
Watchdogs urge completion of post-Fukushima checks
Nuclear regulatory agencies called on Wednesday for national watchdogs to complete post-Fukushima checks but stressed plant operators should not escape their "prime responsibility" for reactor safety.
NATO plans force to respond to cyber attacks
NATO wants to beef up its cyber defence capabilities with the creation of a special task force to detect and respond to Internet attacks, an alliance expert said Wednesday at a conference on cyber security here.
18-year-old star hacker arrested in Greece
Police in Greece have arrested an 18-year-old star hacker suspected of breaking into the website of crimefighting agency Interpol and a number of US state agencies, a senior officer said on Wednesday.
Apple surpasses HP as largest buyer of chips
(AP) -- Driven by the success of the iPhone and iPad, Apple Inc. has become the world's largest buyer of chips for computers and phones, a research firm said Wednesday.
Twitter automates link shrinking to cut characters
(AP) -- Twitter is offering to automatically shrink your links so they fit within the service's 140-character limit.
Apple CEO pitches expansion to Calif. city council
(AP) -- Its ubiquitous products have already invaded the tech marketplace, and now Apple Inc. is seeking a fitting new Northern California home: a spaceship-like structure that will house an estimated 12,000 employees.
More ads hit online TV as Web audiences grow
(AP) -- One of the rewards of watching TV online is not having to sit through as many commercials. Now the networks are chipping away at that little luxury.
Disasters unfold 'intelligently' on phone screens
(PhysOrg.com) -- For the first time, a computer scientist has developed a method of making smart phones able to show a disaster unfolding in real-time on phone screens.
CRISP presents self-repairing chip
(PhysOrg.com) -- Can defective chips be reused? An EU-funded team of scientists says they can.
Next-generation Internet addresses tested
A worldwide test was under way on Wednesday of the next generation of Internet addresses designed to replace the dwindling pool of 4.3 billion unique identifiers in the original system.
Facebook under fire for photo tagging feature
Facebook is coming under fire for a feature that uses facial recognition software to allow members to tag pictures of their friends on the social network.
Medicine & Health news
Dangerous heat leaves kids at risk for dehydration
The National Weather Service is predicting heat indexes to be well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Add kids playing outside and outdoor summer activities in full swing to the dangerous heat and you’ve got a hazardous combination.
What to do with bisphenol A: Ban it, restrict it, leave it alone?
Despite years of scientific studies, reports, lawsuits, congressional inquiries, claims and counterclaims, the question of whether bisphenol A (BPA) poses health threats to people lacks a definitive answer, according to a package of articles on the controversial substance in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS's weekly newsmagazine.
Treating children's eye infections without surgery
Researchers from Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, R.I., report that medical management may be preferred over surgery for children with orbital cellulitis, an acute infection of the tissues surrounding the eye. They have determined the criteria for surgical intervention should be dependent upon the size of a subperiosteal abscess (SPA). The research is published in the journal Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and is now available online in advance of print.
Scale helps to measure the utility of genetic counseling in tackling fear of cancer
When a person has a family history of cancer, their worry about developing the disease may lead to them refusing to have preventive tests. Advice from genetic counselling units reduces their anxiety but, until now, nobody knew how much. Now, a scientific team has validated the 'Escala de Preocupación por el Cáncer - EPC' (equivalent of the Cancer Worry Scale), the first of its kind in the Spanish language, in order to evaluate it.
A four-dimensional view of breast cancer treatment
Dr. Joe Gray, director of the Oregon Health & Science University Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, addressed a capacity crowd at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory Auditorium at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on April 18 regarding his research involving a systems approach to breast cancer. Gray was at PNNL as part of the ongoing Frontiers in Biological Sciences Seminar series, which features academic, government, and industrial leaders who discuss novel ideas and scientific advances in biological sciences.
Research identifies how cancer cells cheat death
Research led by David Litchfield of The University of Western Ontario has identified how biochemical pathways can be "rewired" in cancer cells to allow these cells to ignore signals that should normally trigger their death. It's one way that cancer cells may become resistant to therapy. The findings are now published in Science Signaling.
Noted science historian Elof Carlson traces how the idea of mutation has changed in 6 generations
Today, most scientists use the term "mutation" to describe a change in an individual gene -- more precisely a minute alteration of its DNA. But the term has also achieved a powerful presence in popular culture, to describe a process by which individuals gain exceptional, often malign, characteristics.
UAB first in US with cell-processing workstation
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has taken a significant step toward making sophisticated cell therapy a part of patient care with its acquisition of the first cell-processing workstation (CPWS) from SANYO North America Corporation (SANYO) in the United States.
Immediate use of an IUD following abortion more likely to prevent unintended pregnancies
Women who receive a contraceptive known as an intrauterine device or IUD immediately following a first trimester abortion experience few complications and are less likely to have an unintended pregnancy than those who delay getting an IUD by several weeks, according to a new study at Oregon Health & Science University.
Circulating levels of a lung protein found to be 'strongly predictive' of cardiovascular disease
A blood protein known as surfactant protein-D (SP-D), which is mainly synthesised in the lungs, has been described as "a good predictor" of cardiovascular disease following a large study in North America. Reporting the study online today in the European Heart Journal, the investigators said that circulating SP-D levels were clearly associated with CVD and total mortality in patients with angiographically diagnosed coronary artery disease independent of other well established risk factors (such as age, smoking, cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels).
Bone cancer, from the lab to the clinic
A new study into osteosarcoma - cancer of the bone - will use advances in genomic research and analysis to identify new genes that give rise to the condition and to create personalised blood tests for children and young adults with the condition. The study is funded by Skeletal Action Cancer Trust, SCAT.
Cost of AIDS drugs to keep falling: experts
The cost of drugs used to keep AIDS at bay will keep falling because of the huge demand from millions of sufferers desperate for the lifeline, experts said at the United Nations on Tuesday.
Bio-prospectors probe Australian Aboriginal lore
When Aboriginal elder John Watson was bitten by a crocodile while fishing in the remote Australian Kimberley region, there was no doctor he could call, no medical kit on hand to stem the blood.
An alternative to antibiotics
Antibiotics are among the greatest achievements of medical science. But lately the former multi-purpose weapon fails in the battle against infectious diseases. Bacteria are increasingly developing resistance to antibiotics. Researchers have now found a therapeutic equivalent which could replace penicillin and related phamaceuticals.
Demographic factors linked to mental health in black men
Demographic factors significantly affect mental health concerns among black men, according to a study by the University of Michigan and University of Southern California that provides the first-ever national estimates of several mental disorders for black men.
Adjuvant combo shows potential for universal influenza vaccine
Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered how to prime a second arm of the immune system to potentially boost influenza vaccine effectiveness. A combination of two adjuvants, chemicals used to boost the effectiveness of some vaccines, induced CD8, or killer, T cells to join antibodies in response to influenza infection. Since the killer T cells targeted a highly conserved protein that does not change from year to year, the adjuvant strategy suggests potential for a universal flu vaccine.
Stop on red! The effects of color may lie deep in evolution...
(Medical Xpress) -- Almost universally, red means stop. Red means danger. Red means hot. And analyzing the results in the 2004 Olympics, researchers have found that red also means dominance. Athletes wearing red prevailed more often than those wearing blue, especially in hand-to-hand sports like wrestling.
New device offers revolutionary treatment for difficult-to-Treat brain aneurysms
Physicians at Rush University Medical Center are offering a new and effective treatment to patients suffering from complex brain aneurysms. The recently FDA-approved technology called the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED gives doctors the ability for the very first time to treat some of the most complex and dangerous brain aneurysms using minimally invasive techniques. The treatment is focused on reconstruction or remodeling of the weak blood vessel harboring the brain aneurysm.
Learn to pay attention
(Medical Xpress) -- A new scientific theory on what we learn to pay attention to and what we learn to ignore could turn 30 years of research on its head.
Drugs being developed to tackle CJD could also help block Alzheimer's, research shows
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists funded by the Medical Research Council UK (MRC) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) have identified two antibodies which could help block the onset of Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
Creating precursor liver cells from stem cells
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists from the Departments of Biology & Biochemistry and Pharmacy & Pharmacology have discovered a new way to create precursor liver cells from stem cells, with the potential to impact on the testing of new medicines.
Active social, spiritual and physical life helps prevent health decline in seniors
Small, healthy lifestyle changes and involvement in meaningful activities—going beyond just diet and exercise—are critical to healthy aging, according to a new USC study.
AIDS virus may accelerate aging, scientists say
Heart attacks out of the blue, bottom-scraping testosterone levels, nerve damage and bone-withering osteoporosis are not regarded as the normal fate of a man in his 40s or early 50s. Stuart Smith did not expect to have to deal with any of these maladies, let alone all of them.
Thirty years of AIDS: A timeline of the epidemic
Thirty years into the fight against HIV/AIDS, UCSF has helped change the course of this deadly disease, which has claimed the lives of 33 million people worldwide. This timeline covers the highlights over the past three decades at UCSF, in the nation and around the world.
Dieters duped by food names according to study
What’s in a name? Plenty, according to a University of South Carolina study in the Journal of Consumer Research that found that dieters eager to make good food choices are more at risk of being misled by food names than non-dieters
Progress in tissue engineering to repair joint damage in osteoarthritis
Medical scientists now have "clear" evidence that the damaged cartilage tissue in osteoarthritis and other painful joint disorders can be encouraged to regrow and regenerate, and are developing tissue engineering technology that could help millions of patients with those disorders. That's the conclusion of a new analysis of almost 100 scientific studies on the topic, published in ACS's journal Molecular Pharmaceutics.
Researchers say patient gender may influence nuclear stress test referrals
New research from cardiologists at Rhode Island and The Miriam hospitals suggests a possible gender disparity in how patients are referred for nuclear stress tests, an imaging technique that measures blood flow to the heart muscle both at rest and during periods of stress, such as exercise.
Childhood trauma linked to higher rates of mental health problems
New research has shown that children's risk for learning and behavior problems and obesity rises in correlation to their level of trauma exposure, says the psychiatrist at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital who oversaw the study. The findings could encourage physicians to consider diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder rather than attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which has similar symptoms to PTSD but very different treatment.
The cellular root of colorectal cancers?
Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have found a marker called ABCB5 that both tags a small proportion of cells within colorectal cancers and fuels resistance in those cells to standard treatments. The results indicate that eliminating ABCB5-expressing cells is crucial for successful colorectal cancer treatment, while adding to the growing body of evidence for a theory of cancer growth called the cancer stem cell hypothesis.
New system for repairing abdominal aortic aneurysms
(Medical Xpress) -- When Dr. Ross Milner repaired Lydia Strebing's life-threatening abdominal aortic aneurysm, she was astonished at how easy it was.
Goodbye cold sores
Herpes infections on the lips, in the eyes or on the nose are painful, long-lasting and unpleasant. A new 3D herpes infection model brings hope: active ingredients and new treatments can be reliably tested with this model. Animal tests could soon be a thing of the past.
Seniors abused during childhood face increased risk of sleep troubles
Suffering from parental abuse as a child increases a person's chances of having poor sleep quality in old age, according to a research article in the current issue of the Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological and Social Sciences (Volume 66B, Number 3).
Study finds shingles may be related to elevated risk of multiple sclerosis
Taiwanese investigators have found that there can be a significantly higher risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) occurring in the year following a shingles, or herpes zoster, attack. The findings, which support a long-held view on how MS may develop, are published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases and now available online.
Researchers discover potential cause of chronic painful skin
A new study may explain why only 50% of patients experiencing chronic nerve pain achieve even partial relief from existing therapeutics. The study, published in the June 6 online version of the international research journal PAIN, reveals that certain types of chronic pain may be caused by signals from the skin itself, rather than damage to nerves within the skin, as previously thought.
Moderate to intense exercise may protect the brain
Older people who regularly exercise at a moderate to intense level may be less likely to develop the small brain lesions, sometimes referred to as "silent strokes," that are the first sign of cerebrovascular disease, according to a new study published in the June 8, 2011, online issue of Neurology.
Autism study validates importance of spontaneous causal mutations and sheds new light on gender skew
A clinically extensive and mathematically powerful study of 1000 families with one autistic child and one unaffected sibling has validated a controversial theory of autism's complex genetic causation. The study for the first time estimates the minimum number of locations in the human genome -- 250 to 300 -- where gene copy number variation (CNV) can give rise to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It also sheds new light on the long observed but little understood "gender bias" of autism, an illness that typically manifests by age 3 and affects about four times more boys than girls.
Connection discovered between the nervous system and the vascular system
Dr. Frédéric Charron, researcher at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), and his team have shown for the first time that a key molecule of the vascular system directs axons during the formation of neural circuits. This connection between the nervous system and the vascular system could be a good starting point for the development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The discovery will be published tomorrow by Neuron.
Researchers advocate national strategic approach to therapeutic cancer vaccines
Vaccines that save lives by preventing disease have been around for centuries. Now, new vaccines that treat cancer are being developed, but how they will be combined with existing treatments is not clear.
Lack of relationships, education top list of common American regrets
we've all had a few. Although too many regrets can interfere with life and mental health, a healthy amount of regret can motivate us to improve our lives, say researchers Mike Morrison of the University of Illinois and Neal Roese of Northwestern University in the current issue of Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Pfizer will stop selling poultry-pumping drug: US
The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will voluntarily suspend US sales of a poultry-pumping additive after studies showed it can leave traces of arsenic in chicken livers, the US government said on Wednesday.
New 3-D tumor model: Step toward speeding cancer drug research
A team of scientists has developed a way to coax tumor cells in the lab to grow into 3-D spheres. Their discovery takes advantage of an earlier technique of producing spherical cavities in a common polymer and promises more accurate tests of new cancer therapies.
Lifelong gap in health between rich and poor set by age 20
Canadians who are less educated and have a lower income start out less healthy than their wealthier and better-educated compatriots, and remain so over the course of their lives.
Cucumbers draw new attention in E. coli outbreak
(AP) -- Cucumbers were back on the radar of German health authorities Wednesday as the possible cause of an E. coli outbreak in Europe that has killed at least 26 people and sickened over 2,700 others.
Eating a high-fat diet may rapidly injure brain cells that control body weight
Obesity among people who eat a high-fat diet may involve injury to neurons, or nerve cells, in a key part of the brain that controls body weight, according to the authors of a new animal study. The results will be presented Tuesday at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston.
Will psych majors make the big bucks?
A new crop of college graduates have just landed on the job market. Right now they're probably just hoping to get any job, if at all. However, for psychology majors, the salary outlook in both the short and long term is particularly poor, according to a new study which will be published in an upcoming issue of Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Swine flu spread was much wider than first thought, scientists say
The swine flu outbreak of winter 2009-2010 was much more widespread than was previously realised, research suggests.
Once blamed for aging, ROS molecules may actually extend life
(Medical Xpress) -- In a new study, Yale University researchers have identified a pathway by which reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecules, which are usually implicated in the aging process due to their damage to DNA, can also act as cellular signaling molecules that extend lifespan. The study, which provides insights into the underlying mechanisms of the ROS signaling process, is published in the June issue of Cell Metabolism.
Researchers discover many genetic keys needed to unlock autism
Hundreds of small genetic variations are associated with autism spectrum disorders, including an area of DNA that may be a key to understanding why humans are social animals, according to a multi-site collaborative study led by researchers at Yale University.
Crucial molecule that involved in spread of breast cancer found
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have identified a key player in the spread of breast cancer. The findings, published today in the online edition of Nature, identify a critical molecule that helps cancer spread beyond the primary tumor. The research highlights a potential new strategy against metastatic disease. The study's senior author is Jeffrey Pollard, Ph.D., professor of developmental and molecular biology and of obstetrics & gynecology and women's health at Einstein. He also holds the Louis Goldstein Swan Chair in Women's Cancer Research and is the deputy director of the Albert Einstein Cancer Center.
Scientists create first genetically humanized mouse model for hepatitis C
Scientists at Rockefeller University and The Scripps Research Institute have developed the first genetically humanized mouse model for hepatitis C, an achievement that will enable researchers to test molecules that block entry of the hepatitis C virus into cells as well as potential vaccine candidates. The finding is reported in the June 9 issue of the journal Nature.
Breast cancer drug pushes colon cancer cells to their death
A new treatment for colon cancer that combines a chemotherapy agent approved to treat breast cancer and a cancer-fighting antibody is ready for clinical trials, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
Genes provide landmarks on the roadmap of autism
Many roads can lead to the same place, often crossing over one another and sometimes passing the same landmarks.
Cardiac cells might help fix heart attack damage
(AP) -- Scientists say they've found cells in the hearts of mice that can make new muscle after a heart attack, raising hopes that doctors can one day help the human heart repair itself.
Researchers solve membrane protein mystery
A University of Wisconsin-Madison research team has solved a 25-year mystery that may lead to better treatments for people with learning deficits and mental retardation.
Biology news
Center opens to protect rare turtle in Cambodia
(AP) -- An extremely rare soft-shell turtle species has a new, protected home in Cambodia.
What Darwin didn't know
University of Utah anthropologist Alan R. Rogers has written an evolution book that fills in pieces that were missing from Darwin's argument.
Remote Antarctic island is 'richer in biodiversity than the Galapagos'
Antarctica's remote South Georgia Island boasts 90 percent of the world's fur seals, half of the world's elephant seals, is navigated by vast populations of blue whales, sperm whales and killer whales, and has beaches that can be packed shoulder-to-shoulder with nesting penguins. In total, it contains nearly 1,500 recorded species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
Mutations: When benefits level off
Beneficial mutations within a bacterial population accumulate during evolution, but performance tends to reach a plateau. Consequently, theoretical evolutionary models need to take into account a "braking effect" in expected benefits on the survival and the reproduction of organisms. This phenomenon (known as negative epistasis) has, for the first time, been demonstrated experimentally by a French-American collaboration, including a team from CNRS. The results are published in Science on 3 June 2011.
The same type of forest is good for both birds and people
Birds and people both enjoy urban woodlands that have been cleared to just the right degree. This is the conclusion of scientists at the University of Gothenburg who have carried out large-scale field experiments in urban woodlands in south-western Sweden.
Metabolic models make remediation more manageable
(PhysOrg.com) -- In efforts to reduce contamination at a former uranium mill tailings site, Dr. Krishna Mahadevan is developing genome-scale models to determine why certain bacteria reduce uranium better than others. The University of Toronto professor is part of a scientific team studying the Department of Energy's Integrated Field-Scale Subsurface Research Challenge site in Rifle, Colorado. He collaborates with Dr. Derek Lovley at the University of Massachusetts and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists Dr. Timothy Scheibe and Dr. Philip Long.
The future of stem cell applications challenging, bright
An article in the current issue of Technology & Innovation, Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors reports on the bright future and enormous need for stem cell therapeutics that may offer hope for those suffering from debilitating and deadly diseases.
Research suggests 'conservation through cultivation' may save ginseng
(PhysOrg.com) -- American ginseng has been collected from Pennsylvania forestlands for more than 250 years, but Penn State researcher Eric Burkhart was astonished by how little was known about the industry focused on the gathering of a wild herb.
New fishing hook reduces shark catch
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have developed a new type of fishing hook to reduce the number of sharks accidently caught from commercial fishing. The special hook, called SMART Hook (Selective Magnetic and Repellent-Treated Hook), combines two shark repellent technologies--magnetism and shark repellent metals--into standard fishing hooks.
Dangerous toxin discovered in critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from NOAA have discovered a potent and highly-debilitating toxin in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, a first-of-its-kind chemical finding that is now prompting investigations of other marine mammals in the state.
Competition between females leads to infanticide in some primates
An international team of scientists, with Spanish participation, has shed light on cannibalism and infanticide carried out by primates, documenting these acts for the first time in the moustached tamarin (Saguinus mystax). The mothers, which cannot raise their infants without help from male group members, commit infanticide in order to prevent the subsequent death of their offspring if they are stressed and in competition with other females.
Is root grafting a positive, cooperative behavior in trees?
Trees are often viewed as individuals that compete with one another for access to limited resources. But could trees in stressed environments actually benefit from positive, facultative interactions? The authors of a new paper suggest that might be the case for certain tree species—and that it may take the form of root grafting.
Female rhino born in Uganda, first in 30 years
A rhinoceros in Uganda's only rhino sanctuary has given birth to the first female calf born in the country in three decades, the director of the conservancy said Wednesday.
Saving wildlife with forensic genetics
Wildlife face many threats with spreading urbanization, including habitat loss and inbreeding when populations become fragmented and isolated. It doesn't help that there is a billion-dollar international industry dedicated to the illegal trafficking of wild animals or wild animal parts.
'Laughing' insects among new Philippine species
Laughing cicadas and small "cat sharks" are among scores of species believed new to science discovered by US and Filipino researchers in waters and islands of the Philippines, the team said Wednesday.
Study shows climate may heavily influence plague development
(PhysOrg.com) -- An international team of scientists has undertaken a study, the results of which have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, to better understand the link between climate conditions and the disease known as plague. Their results indicate that the amount of rain an area receives over a given time can greatly affect the spread of the disease.
Professor develops mobile app to identify plant species
(PhysOrg.com) -- Not every child can dream up a smartphone application and see it come to life. But that’s what happened when 8-year-old William Belhumeur suggested his father make an app that identifies plants using visual recognition technology.
Researcher shows fishing has reduced salmon size in Alaska
(PhysOrg.com) -- Neala Kendall, a graduate student from the University of Washington in Seattle, after studying cannery data on sockeye salmon harvested from Bristol Bay in Alaska, has discovered that the length of the average sockeye caught there, has been dropping for the past half century.
Researchers parse the origins of hematopoietic stem cells
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a gene and a novel signaling pathway, both critical for making the first hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in developing vertebrate embryos. The discovery has implications for developing stem cell-based therapies for diseases like leukemia and congenital blood disorders.
Ecology biased against non-native species?
The recent field of invasion biology faces a new challenge as 19 eminent ecologists issue a call to "end the bias against non-native species" in the journal Nature.
Can evolution outpace climate change?
Animals and plants may not be able to evolve their way out of the threat posed by climate change, according to a UC Davis study of a tiny seashore animal. The work was published today (June 8) in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
How cells' sensing hairs are made
Body cells detect signals that control their behavior through tiny hairs on the cell surface called cilia. Serious diseases and disorders can result when these cilia do not work properly. New research from UC Davis published this week in the journal Nature Cell Biology provides new insights into how these cilia are assembled.
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