Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 11, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- 143 is largest number yet to be factored by a quantum algorithm- Quantum internet: Physicists build first elementary quantum network
- Research duo calculate possible number of WIMPs striking our bodies
- Hybrid copper-gold nanoparticles convert CO2
- Pigeons' navigation skill not down to iron-rich beak cells: study
- Satellite proposed to send solar power to Earth
- Transcription factors don't act like an 'on-off' switch, exhibit more complex binding behavior: study
- Tackle fungal forces to save crops, forests and endangered animals, scientists say
- Seed size is controlled by maternally produced small RNAs: research
- Duck-billed dinosaurs endured long, dark polar winters
- Astronomers solve the mystery of stellar 'superwind'
- Too little sleep, disrupted internal clock means higher risk of diabetes and obesity
- Ocean acidification linked to larval oyster failure
- Researchers identify Achilles heel of dengue virus, target for future vaccines
- Discovery reveals chromosomes organize into 'yarns'
Space & Earth news
Space Image: Shuttle carrier aircraft arrives at Kennedy
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft glides down the runway of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Drop test for Orion crew capsule's new parachutes
NASA successfully conducted a drop test of the Orion crew vehicle’s entry, descent and landing parachutes in preparation for the vehicle’s first orbital flight test, currently scheduled for 2014. Orion is the crew vehicle that NASA is building to bring astronauts to new destinations in space. It will be launched on the new rocket being built, the Space Launch System. Unlike the space shuttle, Orion will have emergency abort capability, and won’t be landing on a runway. Instead, the vehicle will splash down in the ocean, like the US capsules in the 1960’s and 70’s. NASA is working to make sure the crews will have a safe re-entry and landing, and the parachute tests help to ensure that.
A sea of challenges for the Mediterranean Sea
Cradle of great ancient civilizations, superhighway for trade and transport, treasure-trove of biodiversity, the Mediterranean -- the world's best known sea -- faces a sea of challenges in the 21st century, including climate change, pollution, tourism and overfishing. That's the topic of the cover story in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
India says EU tax a 'deal breaker' for climate talks
India's environment minister said Wednesday that a European Union scheme to tax airlines for carbon emissions was "a deal breaker" ahead of global climate change talks, a warning rejected by the EU.
Researchers foresee relatively quiet hurricane season
(Phys.org) -- Researchers at North Carolina State University aren’t looking for any surprises with the 2012 hurricane season – they believe that storm activity in the Atlantic basin will be in line with historic averages.
Will Russia rescue ExoMars?
After NASA was forced to back out the joint ExoMars mission with the European Space Agency due to budget constraints, ESA went looking for help with the planned multi-vehicle Mars mission. Now, reportedly the Head of Roscosmos Vladimir Popovkin met with Director General of the ESA, Jean-Jacques Dordain last week, and the two signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to make ExoMars a reality.
Climate change generates more Arctic tundra vegetation
Researchers in Finland have discovered that climate change has impacted various regions of the Arctic tundra by helping increase the levels of vegetation. Their data suggest that this rise could potentially speed up global warming. The Finnish Meteorological Institute researchers used satellite observations to assess how vegetation impacts snowmelt and, in turn, the terrestrial albedo (i.e. reflectivity) in the Arctic tundra regions. The team gathered the necessary information over a 16-year period during the March to June months.
Learn to dock ATV the astronaut way
Do you have what it takes to be an astronaut? ESA is making actual astronaut training available on your computer and tablet, so you can see for yourself.
Total can end North Sea gas leak 'by end of month'
French energy giant Total aims to plug the leak of potentially explosive gas from its stricken North Sea rig by the end of April, a senior executive told a Scottish newspaper on Wednesday.
New insights into when beach sand may become unsafe for digging and other contact
On warm days, the beach seems an ideal destination for family rest and relaxation. Who hasn't built a sand castle or been buried up to the neck in sand? However, that family fun has a dark side -- sand can harbor illness-causing microbes. Unfortunately, there are no guidelines for sand quality at recreational sites.
'Odd duck' Indonesia quake surprises scientists
(AP) -- The massive earthquake off Indonesia surprised scientists: Usually this type of jolt isn't this powerful.
Study shows adaptive capacity of reef corals to climate change may be widespread
A new study by scientists at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science suggests that many species of reef-building corals may be able to adapt to warming waters by relying on their closest aquatic partners - algae. The corals' ability to host a variety of algal types, each with different sensitivities to environmental stress, could offer a much-needed lifeline in the face of global climate change.
'Cosmic mirages' confirm accelerated cosmic expansion
(Phys.org) -- An international team of researchers led by Masamune Oguri at Kavli IPMU and Naohisa Inada at Nara National College of Technology conduced an unprecedented survey of gravitationally lensed quasars, and used it to measure the expansion history of the universe. The result provides strong evidence that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. There were several observations that suggested the accelerated cosmic expansion, including distant supernovae for which the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded. The team's result confirms the accelerated cosmic expansion using a completely different approach, which strengthens the case for dark energy. This result will be published in The Astronomical Journal.
NASA to fly atomic clock to improve space navigation
(Phys.org) -- When people think of space technologies, many think of high-tech solar panels, complex and powerful propulsion systems or sophisticated, electronic guidance systems. Another critical piece of spaceflight technology, however, is an ultra stable, highly accurate device for timing - essential to NASA's success on deep-space exploration missions.
Newfangled space-propulsion technology could help clean up Earth orbit
(Phys.org) -- Some of the most valuable “real estate” for humans isn’t on Earth at all but rather above the planet’s atmosphere, where all manner of human-made objects orbit. The problem is that those orbits are too crowded with dead satellites and debris, making new launches riskier.
Astronomers solve the mystery of stellar 'superwind'
Astronomers at the University of Manchester believe they have found the answer to the mystery of a powerful "superwind" which causes the death of stars.
Ocean acidification linked to larval oyster failure
Researchers at Oregon State University have definitively linked an increase in ocean acidification to the collapse of oyster seed production at a commercial oyster hatchery in Oregon, where larval growth had declined to a level considered by the owners to be "non-economically viable."
Astronomers identify 12-billion-year-old white dwarf stars
A University of Oklahoma assistant professor and colleagues have identified two white dwarf stars considered the oldest and closest known to man. Astronomers identified these 11- to 12-billion-year-old white dwarf stars only 100 light years away from Earth. These stars are the closest known examples of the oldest stars in the Universe forming soon after the Big Bang, according to the OU researcher.
Satellite proposed to send solar power to Earth
(Phys.org) -- Artemis Innovation Management Solutions has been given some seed money by NASA to look deeper into a project the company first proposed last summer; namely, building a satellite that could collect energy from the sun and beam it back down to Earth to add to the electrical grid. Building such a satellite has been bantered about for several decades by various groups and scientists, but until now, no one had come up with a design that would work given all the constraints of the time. But now, an idea proposed by longtime NASA engineer John Mankins, now with Artemis, has clearly created enough interest within NASA that some money to investigate the idea is being offered.
Technology news
Power factor correction: TDK's thyristor module for single-phase PFC
The TDK Corporation has extended its range of EPCOS thyristor modules for dynamic PFC. The new TSM-LC-I module now also allows single-phase PFC of networks with rated voltages from 230 to 525 V AC. Depending on the voltage, the new module is designed for reactive powers of between 10 and 22 kvar. 110 V AC versions are available upon request.
Controlling the cut: Engineers top the leader board
A high-tech, precision, water jet milling control system which could transform the manufacture of complex aerospace, optical and biomedical structures and devices is being developed by an international team of engineers led by The University of Nottingham.
Kutcher invests in flat fee tech startup Dwolla
(AP) -- Actor Ashton Kutcher is among the early investors in Dwolla, an Iowa tech startup that lets users transfer money or pay for things through their smartphones or online for a flat fee of 25 cents per transaction.
Toward a modular defense against hackers
(Phys.org) -- The FBI’s top cyber security officer gave a grim assessment last week of the nation’s ability to defend itself from hackers.
Augmented Reality technology becomes a tool for urban and construction planning
Mobile computing tools for urban and construction planning have developed dramatically over the past few years. Even by global standards, the progress made at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has been remarkable. Augmented Reality technology developed by VTT has enabled the placement of office and residential construction in the appropriate environment and the study of the overall concept on-site, even at the planning stage, for example on a smart phone display.
Verizon Wireless to charge for phone upgrades
Verizon Wireless, the country's largest cellphone company, says it will start charging $30 every time a subscriber wants to upgrade to a new phone.
Google tweaks Plus social network for ease of use
(AP) -- Google is tweaking its social network, Google Plus, to make it easier to use and to distinguish it from rival Facebook.
Nokia lowers profit outlook, shares nosedive
(AP) -- Nokia Corp. saw its share price plummet 14 percent on Wednesday after it warned that heavy competition will hit its first-quarter earnings, especially in developing markets, and that it expected no improvement in the second quarter.
Inventors limber up for Geneva showcase
A ultra-quick sock drier and a device to repel pesky bugs are among about 1,000 inventions being showcased at the 40th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva next week.
PC shipments up nearly 2 percent in 1st quarter
(AP) -- Research firm Gartner says the number of personal computers shipped worldwide rose more than expected in the first quarter but with disappointing results in some parts of the world.
Review: Warming up to photo-sharing app Instagram
(AP) -- I was skeptical, even horrified, when I first heard about the photo-sharing craze Instagram more than a year ago. As a journalist trained to reject alterations in words and pictures, I didn't get the concept of a social network built around modifying photos.
Apple out to kill widespread Macintosh virus
Apple said it is crafting a weapon to vanquish a Flashback virus from Macintosh computers and working to disrupt the command network being used by hackers behind the infections.
Microsoft counting down to the end of Windows XP
Microsoft is counting down the days until it is through with the Windows XP operating system for personal computers.
Hitachi unveils motor without 'rare earths'
Japanese high-tech firm Hitachi Wednesday unveiled an electric motor that does not use "rare earths", aiming to cut costs and reduce dependence on imports of the scarce minerals from China.
US sues Apple, publishers over e-book prices
(AP) -- The Justice Department and 15 states sued Apple Inc. and major book publishers Wednesday, alleging a conspiracy to raise the price of electronic books they said cost consumers more than $100 million in the past two years by adding $2 to $5 to the price of each e-book.
Medicine & Health news
New treatment trial for bipolar disorder
Applying mild electrical currents to the brain has been shown to be an effective treatment for depression. But could the treatment also benefit people with bipolar disorder?
A helping hand for prosthetics
An EU-funded project has developed an artificial hand that will revolutionise the lives of amputees. The so-called Smarthand has all the basic functions of its real counterpart including sensitivity and motor control.
From pen to paper to better healthcare
A digital pen equipped with a small camera that can automatically transfer patient information to a computer database will radically improve the way hospital staff care for their patients.
First US case since FDA-approval, new magnetic device for heartburn
On Monday, April 9, 2012, Santiago Horgan, MD, chief of minimally invasive surgery at UC San Diego Health System implanted the new FDA-approved LINX device in a 29-year old patient suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic digestive disease that can lead to severe inflammation, stricture, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer.
Researcher investigates parental influences on child nutrition
A child brings home a new recipe from school, or wants to talk to his parents about a nutrition lesson he or she learned in class that day.
Esophageal reflux disease proton pump inhibitor therapy impact upon sleep disturbance
The use of proton pump inhibitors improves the sleep and daytime quality of life for sufferers of gastroesophageal reflux disease, according to a systematic literature review in the April 2012 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Supreme Court misunderstanding on health overhaul?
(AP) -- A possible misunderstanding about President Barack Obama's health care overhaul could cloud Supreme Court deliberations on its fate, leaving the impression that the law's insurance requirement is more onerous than it actually is.
Timing pregnancy an important health concern for women
A newly published article in the journal Nursing for Women's Health highlights the importance of a woman's ability to time her childbearing. The author asserts that contraception is a means of health promotion and women who work with their health care providers to ensure they are healthy prior to conceiving can minimize their risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
New research supports youth with mood and anxiety disorders
75% of mental illnesses emerge by age 25. Mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common conditions, yet there is little support for youth in this age group. A new study from Lawson Health Research Institute shows that may no longer be the case.
Occupational exposures put nurses at risk of miscarriage
(HealthDay) -- Nurses face an increased risk of spontaneous abortions during early pregnancy from occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs and sterilizing agents, according to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Smoking found to be a risk factor for Barrett's esophagus
(HealthDay) -- Cigarette smoking may be a modifiable risk factor for Barrett's esophagus, according to a study published in the April issue of Gastroenterology.
Majority of California's Medi-Cal caregivers live in or near poverty
The demand for caregivers is growing rapidly as California's population ages, but the majority of state's Medi-Cal caregivers earn poverty or near-poverty wages and have poor access to health care and food, a new study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research has found.
Adolescent expectations of early death predict young adult socioeconomic status
(Medical Xpress) -- Adolescents' expectations of an early death can predict their economic futures more than a decade later, according to a new study from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
Johns Hopkins cardiologists advocate statin use for primary prevention of heart disease in JAMA's first viewpoint featur
(Medical Xpress) -- Writing the first commentary for a new feature in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), called Viewpoint, Johns Hopkins cardiologists make the case for why a 55-year-old man with a 10 percent estimated risk of heart attack over the next 10 years should be offered statin medication. They were invited to debate a professor who argues against prescribing statins for “primary” prevention—for those who have not had a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack—even though they may be considered at “intermediate” risk because of elevated cholesterol or other factors. Readers are then invited to vote on which viewpoint they endorse.
Dementia cases to double by 2030: WHO
The number of people with dementia is expected to almost double to 65.7 million by 2030 as the world population ages, according to a World Health Organisation report published Wednesday.
Child obesity expert explains why epidemic isn't going away anytime soon
(Medical Xpress) -- Approximately 20 percent of adolescents in the U.S. today are obese or overweight. With the number of obese and overweight younger children close behind, this epidemic has lasting implications for the future.
Origin of chronic lymphatic leukaemia: lead discovered
Up until now the causes of the development of chronic lymphatic leukaemia, the most common form of cancer of the blood in Europe, have been unknown. At present a cure is not possible. A research group at the MedUni Vienna led by Christoph Steininger of the University Department of Internal Medicine I has now however discovered a lead on the origin of this disease. Says Steiniger: "This could influence the therapy approach taken in treating chronic lymphatic leukaemia."
Researcher explores the risk and rewards of stem cell products
The brave new world of stem cell research dangles the exciting potential for a host of leading-edge treatments that may one day help cure debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, maladies that today cannot be treated with modern medicine.
Studies on resistance against influenza
There is a connection between age and susceptibility to the influenza virus. It can't be explained by frailty in general, because it is not obvious that very small children and the very old are the biggest risk groups. In a study of the connection between age and the risk of suffering from the flu, Timpka and his colleagues show that the 2009 swine flu affected age groups 10-19 and 20-29 the worst.
White women make up bulk of assisted-living residents
(HealthDay) -- White women accounted for the majority of the 733,000 people in the United States who lived in state-regulated residential care facilities in 2010, according to a new federal report.
'Brain-only' mutation causes epileptic brain size disorder
Scientists have discovered a mutation limited to brain tissue that causes hemimegalencephaly (HMG), a condition where one half of the brain is enlarged and dysfunctional, leading to intellectual disability and severe epilepsy. The research, published by Cell Press in the April 12 issue of Neuron, has broad significance as a potential model for other complex neuropsychiatric diseases that may also be caused by "brain-only" mutations.
Fragile X syndrome can be reversed in adult mouse brain
A recent study finds that a new compound reverses many of the major symptoms associated with Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited intellectual disability and a leading cause of autism. The paper, published by Cell Press in the April 12 issue of the journal Neuron, describes the exciting observation that the FXS correction can occur in adult mice, after the symptoms of the condition have already been established.
BMD loss occurs early in androgen deprivation therapy
(HealthDay) -- The highest average change in bone mineral density (BMD) occurs during early treatment of nonmetastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer in men receiving intermittent androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), according to research published online April 9 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Perception of breast cancer care differs from actual care quality
(HealthDay) -- The perception of care for women living in inner cities with newly diagnosed, early-stage breast cancer is dependent, in large part, on factors other than the actual quality of care provided, including the quality of the process of getting care, trust in the physician, and perceptions of racism, according to research published online April 9 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
STI screening improves with free, home-иased testing
(HealthDay) -- The availability of free and home-based screening tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is associated with a higher rate of screening completion, according to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Drugs ease depression in Parkinson's patients without worsening other symptoms
Today's anti-depressant medications can ease depression in Parkinson's patients without worsening other symptoms of the disease, according to a study published online in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Overweight moms with moderately high blood sugar raise health risk
Pregnant women who are overweight with moderately elevated blood sugar never set off any alarms for their physicians. The big concern was for women who were obese or who had gestational diabetes because those conditions are known to cause a host of health risks to the mom and baby.
Stress contributes to cognitive declines in women with breast cancer, researcher says
Women undergoing treatment for breast cancer can experience cognitive declines, such as decreased verbal fluency or loss of memory and attention. Often experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy, the declines have become known as "chemo brain." However, a health psychologist at the University of Missouri says "chemo brain" isn't always to blame.
Social ties have mixed impact on encouraging healthy behaviors in low-income areas
In low-income, minority communities, tight-knit social connections -- with family members, friends, and neighbors -- can lead people to eat healthy and be physically active, but in some cases it may actually be an obstacle to a healthy lifestyle, according to new research by investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard School of Public Health.
UCSF chancellor issues call-to-arms to patient advocates
In November 2011, a National Academy of Sciences committee issued a report calling for the creation of a "Google Maps"-like data network intended to revolutionize medical discovery, diagnosis and treatment. Today, the co-chair of that committee, UCSF Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH, is issuing a call-to-arms to patient advocates to help make that idea a reality.
Nonsurgical method to measure brain pressure shows promise
(HealthDay) -- A new nonsurgical method for monitoring brain pressure might help improve treatment of head injury patients, according to a new study.
Serious complication of gastrointestinal procedure can often be avoided with single dose medication
A study in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine shows a serious complication of ERCP, a procedure commonly used to diagnose and treat problems of the bile and pancreatic ducts, may be eliminated with a single dose medication.
Chemotherapy proves life-saving for some leukemia patients who fail induction therapy
An international study found that bone marrow transplants are not the best option for some young patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who fail to attain clinical remission after the initial weeks of intense chemotherapy known as induction therapy.
Data mining opens the door to predictive neuroscience
The discovery, using state-of-the-art informatics tools, increases the likelihood that it will be possible to predict much of the fundamental structure and function of the brain without having to measure every aspect of it. That in turn makes the Holy Grail of modelling the brain in silico -- the goal of the proposed Human Brain Project -- a more realistic, less Herculean, prospect.
Decision-making can and must be learned -- new test measures risk intelligence
(Medical Xpress) -- Tests exist for evaluating personality, intelligence and memory. However, up to now, it was not easily possible to find out how good someone is at making decisions in risky situations.
Scientists find possible cause of movement defects in spinal muscular atrophy
(Medical Xpress) -- An abnormally low level of a protein in certain nerve cells is linked to movement problems that characterize the deadly childhood disorder spinal muscular atrophy, new research in animals suggests.
Distinct brain cells recognize novel sights
No matter what novel objects we come to behold, our brains effortlessly take us from an initial "What's that?" to "Oh, that old thing" after a few casual encounters. In research that helps shed light on the malleability of this recognition process, Brown University neuroscientists have teased apart the potentially different roles that two distinct cell types may play.
Research reveals development of the glial cell
A vast majority of cells in the brain are glial, yet our understanding of how they are generated, a process called gliogenesis, has remained enigmatic. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a novel transcripitonal cascade that controls these formative stages of gliogenesis and answered the longstanding question of how glial cells are generated from neural stem cells.
Too little sleep, disrupted internal clock means higher risk of diabetes and obesity
A study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) reinforces the finding that too little sleep or sleep patterns that are inconsistent with our body's "internal biological clock" may lead to increased risk of diabetes and obesity. This finding has been seen in short-term lab studies and when observing human subjects via epidemiological studies. However, unlike epidemiological studies, this new study provides support by examining humans in a controlled lab environment over a prolonged period, and altering the timing of sleep, mimicking shift work or recurrent jet lag.
Researchers identify Achilles heel of dengue virus, target for future vaccines
A team of scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Vanderbilt University have pinpointed the region on dengue virus that is neutralized in people who overcome infection with the deadly pathogen. The results challenge the current state of dengue vaccine research, which is based on studies in mice and targets a different region of the virus.
Discovery reveals chromosomes organize into 'yarns'
Chromosomes, the molecular basis of genetic heredity, remain enigmatic 130 years after their discovery in 1882 by Walther Flemming. New research published online in Nature by the team of Edith Heard, PhD, from the Curie Institute and Job Dekker, PhD, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), reveals a new layer in the complex organization of chromosomes. The scientists have shown that chromosomes fold in a series of contiguous "yarns" that harbor groups of genes and regulatory elements, bringing them in contact with each other and allowing them to work in a coordinated manner during development.
Do I look bigger with my finger on a trigger? Yes, study says
UCLA anthropologists asked hundreds of Americans to guess the size and muscularity of four men based solely on photographs of their hands holding a range of easily recognizable objects, including handguns.
Biology news
Global effort launched to save turtles from extinction
The Wildlife Conservation Society announced today a new strategy that draws on all of the resources and expertise across the institution – from its Zoos and Aquarium, Global Health Program, and Global Conservation Programs – to take direct responsibility for the continued survival of some of the world's most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles (collectively referred to as turtles).
Interest in gourmet fungi is mushrooming
With its large clumps of cascading white tendrils, the Hericium erinaceus looks less like a mushroom and more like a lion's mane (its nickname).
Rescuing endangered wild orchids from a man-made flood
You may have heard stories about emergency rescues of plants or animals from habitats facing imminent destruction. This is one of those stories, except that the scope of the rescue is unprecedented and the transplantation itself was -- and continues to be -- of great scientific significance.
Same samples, different analytical strategies, complementary inferences
(Phys.org) -- The results of two separate but complementary analyses on 400 samples of Hanford Site groundwater appeared together in the journal of the International Society for Microbial Ecology. The studies take different approaches, each providing unique insights that, when combined, result in a better understanding of what environmental forces affect the composition of microbial communities, and in turn, how those communities may influence the biogeochemistry of subsurface sediments.
FDA wants limits on antibiotics given to animals
(AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration called on drug companies Wednesday to help limit the use of antibiotics given to farm animals, a decades-old practice that scientists say has contributed to a surge in dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria.
Robotic cats, a kitten mummy and a major UK vet gathering
A possible new feline disease identified by veterinarians in Scotland leaves cats walking like robots. Meanwhile thousands of years and miles apart, new research sheds light on cats bred to become mummies in Egyptian antiquity. Ahead of the small animal veterinary world converging for the UK's largest ever veterinary event, the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS), published by SAGE, highlights these two fascinating studies among a range of papers all aiming to advance feline acumen and clinical know-how.
New technology tracks sparrow migration for first time from California to Alaska
Using tiny tags to track a bird's location, biologists from PRBO Conservation Science (PRBO) have unlocked the mystery of where Golden-crowned Sparrows, which overwinter in California, go to breed in the spring. Published this week in the journal PLoS ONE, the study reveals for the first time the exact migration route of this small songbird to its breeding sites in coastal Alaska.
Ant queens lay more eggs as they age
Ant queens get better at laying eggs as they get older, researchers report in the Apr. 11 issue of the open access journal PLoS ONE. Furthermore, this high egg-laying rate did not shorten the queens' life spans, as would have been expected based on many other organisms.
Exotic manure is sure to lure the dung connoisseur
Although the preference of dung beetles for specific types and conditions of dung has been given substantial attention, little has been done to investigate their preference for dung from exotic mammals found on game farms or rewilding projects.
Bats save energy by drawing in wings on upstroke: study
(Phys.org) -- Bat wings are like hands: meaty, bony and full of joints. A new Brown University study finds that bats take advantage of their flexibility by folding in their wings on the upstroke to save inertial energy. The research suggests that engineers looking at flapping flight should account for wing mass and consider a folding design.
Teamwork made Man brainier, say scientists
Learning to work in teams may explain why humans evolved a bigger brain, according to a new study published on Wednesday.
Genome-scale model of cyanobacterium developed
(Phys.org) -- In an important step toward engineering bacteria to produce biofuel, scientists have developed one of the first global models for the nitrogen-fixing photosynthetic cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142 (see sidebar).
Researchers convert skin and umbilical cord cells directly into nerve cell
Until recently, the production of pluripotent "multipurpose" stem cells from skin cells was considered to be the ultimate new development. In the meantime, it has become possible to directly convert cells of the body into one another – without the time-consuming detour via a pluripotent intermediate stage. However, this method has so far been rather inefficient. Scientists from the Bonn Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology have now developed the method to the point that it can be used for biomedical applications. The scientists are presenting their results in the journal Nature Methods.
Transcription factors don't act like an 'on-off' switch, exhibit more complex binding behavior: study
Anyone who's tried a weekend home improvement project knows that to do a job right, you've got to have the right tools. For cells, these "tools" are proteins encoded by genes. The right genes for the job are turned on only in the specific cells where they are needed. And every cell in your body has a specific job to do. Cells in your pancreas have to produce insulin, while cells in the retina of your eye must be able to sense light and color. Like using the wrong tool for the job, if the wrong genes are turned on in a cell, it can cause a real mess. Worse, in some cases it can cause serious disease like cancer.
Tackle fungal forces to save crops, forests and endangered animals, scientists say
More than 600 million people could be fed each year by halting the spread of fungal diseases in the world's five most important crops, according to research published today in the journal Nature.
Seed size is controlled by maternally produced small RNAs: research
Seed size is controlled by small RNA molecules inherited from a plant's mother, a discovery from scientists at The University of Texas at Austin that has implications for agriculture and understanding plant evolution.
Researchers find antibiotic-resistant bacteria deep in one of the largest, unspoiled underground caves
McMaster University and University of Akron researchers are leading the way in understanding the origins of antibiotic resistance, a global challenge that is creating a serious threat to the treatment of infectious diseases.
Ecologists explore new explanation for plant productivity
(Phys.org) -- Current ecological thought suggests the more diverse a plant community is, the more productive it is. But scientists don’t fully understand why this is so.
Pigeons' navigation skill not down to iron-rich beak cells: study
The theory that pigeons' famous skill at navigation is down to iron-rich nerve cells in their beaks has been disproved by a new study published in Nature.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://www.physorg.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment