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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 13, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New carbon nanotube struructure aerographite is lightest material champ- Mechanical engineers develop an 'intelligent co-pilot' for cars
- Getting amped: Researchers develop instrument for exploring the cosmos and the quantum world
- Million-year storage solution is set in stone
- Magnetizing diagnostics: Magnetic Gram staining detects bacteria
- Synchrotrons help bring superconductors out of the cold
- New proteins to clear the airways in cystic fibrosis and COPD
- Questionnaire completed by parents may help identify one-year-olds at risk for autism
- Solar storm barreling toward Earth this weekend
- Mutation in gene IDH a possible target for AML treatment
- Gut microbes might reflect health, diet of older adults
- World's most sensitive dark matter detector set up
- Study finds scorpion venom able to heal bacterial infections in mice
- Researchers develop low-cost device to control computer with your eyes (w/ Video)
- Study sheds light on vulnerability of polar ice sheets to modestly warmer climate
Space & Earth news
Spacex completes Dragon design review
NASA partner Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has completed an important design review of the crewed version of its Dragon spacecraft. The concept baseline review presented NASA with the primary and secondary design elements of its Dragon capsule designed to carry astronauts into low Earth orbit, including the International Space Station.
July heat wave set records across Northeast
July's recent heat wave broke records for longevity and came close to all-time temperature in several major cities, says Jessica Rennells, a climatologist and extension support specialist at the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell.
Design for a long duration, deep space mission habitat
There are all sorts of details to take into consideration when traveling in deep space, such as where to go, what to do, and how to get back. Since starry-eyed dreamers often don’t take into account the practical realities of putting a human into such an environment, steely-eyed engineers are left to decide the gritty details of such a mission, such as how many pairs of socks are needed. Fortunately, NASA employs engineers who are both steely-eyed and starry-eyed, and their work has just produced an interesting report discussing the human side of deep-space exploration.
Latest from Mars: Massive polar ice cliffs, northern dunes, gullied craters
Several gorgeous images are in this week’s update from the HiRISE camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This lovely image shows the cliffs at the edges of huge ice sheet at the North Pole of Mars. These cliffs are about 800 meters (2,600 feet) high, and the ice sheet is several kilometers thick at its center. This is a great spot to look for ice avalanches that HiRISE has captured previously. The HiRISE team said that the slopes of these cliffs are almost vertical, plus dense networks of cracks cover the icy cliff faces making it easier for material to break free. The team regularly monitors sites like this to check for new blocks that have fallen. You can look for yourself to see if any avalanches have occurred since the last image was taken of this area, almost exactly one Martian year ago.
Arctic drilling: Groups challenge Shell oil spill response plans
In an effort to hold oil companies to a higher standard in the Arctic Ocean, a coalition of conservation groups announced Monday that they are suing to challenge the federal government's approval of oil spill cleanup plans for Shell Alaska's upcoming operations in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.
Flying thermometers
Some satellites carry instruments that provide measurements of the surface temperature of oceans and seas – like a thermometer in the sky. Scientists met recently to review data from new satellite missions and scientific progress in the field.
Caution needed with new greenhouse gas emission standards
Policy makers need to be cautious in setting new 'low-carbon' standards for greenhouse gas emissions for oil sands-derived fuels as well as fuels from conventional crude oils University of Calgary and University of Toronto researchers say in a paper published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Study sheds light on vulnerability of polar ice sheets to modestly warmer climate
(Phys.org) -- A new study by a University of Florida researcher finds that sea level peaked between 18 and 30 feet above current sea level during the last interglacial period approximately 125,000 years ago.
More Amazon extinctions looming unless action is taken: study
(Phys.org) -- Scientists in London are predicting that for many species it may take several generations after deforestation of the Amazonian rainforests in Brazil before they become extinct.
Hunting with fire appears to benefit Australia's small-mammal populations, researchers say
(Phys.org) -- When species start disappearing, it usually makes sense to blame it on the arrival of humans. But in the case of Western Australia's declining small-mammal populations, the opposite may be true.
Can astronomers detect exoplanet oceans?
Detecting water on the surface of exoplanets is becoming a high priority for researchers, as surface water is considered a requirement for habitability. New research examines whether or not the "glint" of light from a planet can be interpreted as evidence for surface oceans.
Solar storm barreling toward Earth this weekend
(AP) — A solar storm was due to arrive Saturday morning and last through Sunday, slamming into Earth's magnetic field. Scientists said it will be a minor event, and they have notified power grid operators, airlines and other potentially affected parties.
Technology news
Ubisoft taking blockbuster 'Assassin's Creed' to big screen
Videogame firm Ubisoft is moving into the film business with an adaptation of its blockbuster title "Assassin's Creed" -- sidestepping the Hollywood movie machine by producing the film itself.
US social media account in China disappears
(AP) — A widely read microblog written by the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai and known for its sometimes tongue-in-cheek comments about China's social and political issues was inaccessible Friday.
Czechs launch first auction of 4G mobile frequencies
The Czech telecommunications watchdog CTU has launched its first auction of fourth generation mobile telephony frequencies, with a fourth mobile operator likely to enter the market, its website said on Friday.
Faster simulation -- award for new method
Computer simulations have become an indispensable part of the modern design process. Standard finite element technology, however, requires designers to carry out a time-consuming and often error-prone mesh generation step that transfers the computer-aided design (CAD) model into the simulation model.
Chinese industrialist behind Hawker Beechcraft bid
(AP) — In Beijing, Shenzong Cheng is known as the "Helicopter King of China," an industrialist who's been quietly building a small empire in aviation manufacturing.
Slovak teen risks prison for pirating movies on Internet
An 18-year-old Slovak is facing up to five years behind bars for posting links sharing pirated movie downloads on the Internet, police in the capital Bratislava said in a statement Friday.
San Francisco sours on Apple computers
San Francisco city officials on Thursday said that they have soured on Apple computers due to the Macintosh maker's decision to bail out of a program to promote making electronics earth friendly.
Cyber war on Iran has only just begun
A US cyber war against Iran's nuclear program may have only just begun and could escalate with explosions triggered by digital sabotage, experts say.
US retail sales of video games fell for 7th month
(AP) — A new report says U.S. retail sales of video-game hardware, software and accessories fell for a seventh consecutive month.
Rice researchers see the big picture: Visualization lab allows interaction with scientific data on 200-inch 3-D screen
Rice University scientists and students have a new way to see the big picture. The NSF-funded DAVinCI visualization wall at Rice’s Chevron Visualization Laboratory enables scientists to boost data into three dimensions to probe details in ways that were not possible until now.
Idaho researcher building used nuclear fuel sensor
Much of the 6,200 metric tons of used nuclear fuel generated by U.S. power plants over the last 40 years is stored safely in giant stainless steel casks. Darryl Butt, a Boise State University professor, is part of a team researching whether it can be stored that way for at least 60 more.
Man arrested in UK over alleged computer hacking
(AP) — British police investigating media wrongdoing say they have arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of computer hacking.
Nuclear weapons' surprising contribution to climate science
Nuclear weapons testing may at first glance appear to have little connection with climate change research. But key Cold War research laboratories and the science used to track radioactivity and model nuclear bomb blasts have today been repurposed by climate scientists. The full story appears in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Microsoft to launch its own angel fund
Microsoft has launched an investment fund looking to give startups the cash to originate "game-changing ideas" in the tech sector.
After Facebook freeze, IPO market starts to thaw
(AP) — With new public stock offerings for guitar maker Fender and travel booking website Kayak on deck next week, there are signs demand is starting to grow for IPOs after a five-week freeze triggered by a steep decline in financial markets and exacerbated by Facebook's rocky May 18 debut.
LG Display to pay $380 mn to settle US lawsuit
LG Display, one of the world's largest flat screen makers, said Friday it had agreed to pay $380 million to settle a US case over alleged price-fixing in the liquid crystal display market.
Apple rejoins green tech program after spat
Apple said Friday it was rejoining a program to certify its products as environmentally friendly after a controversy that could have dented sales of its popular gadgets.
Researchers develop low-cost device to control computer with your eyes (w/ Video)
Millions of people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries or amputees could soon interact with their computers and surroundings using just their eyes, thanks to a new device that costs less than £40.
Mechanical engineers develop an 'intelligent co-pilot' for cars
Barrels and cones dot an open field in Saline, Mich., forming an obstacle course for a modified vehicle. A driver remotely steers the vehicle through the course from a nearby location as a researcher looks on. Occasionally, the researcher instructs the driver to keep the wheel straight — a trajectory that appears to put the vehicle on a collision course with a barrel. Despite the driver’s actions, the vehicle steers itself around the obstacle, transitioning control back to the driver once the danger has passed.
Million-year storage solution is set in stone
(Phys.org) -- A sapphire hard disk can last one million years and resolve a problem worrying archaeologists. Thursday, Patrick Charton of the French nuclear waste management agency ANDRA, presented a way out of data storage problems, an information-engraved sapphire disk using platinum. The disk is being called the ultimate, if not ultimately unaffordable, HDD. The disk was announced at this week’s Euroscience Open Forum, a pan-European event drawing researchers, as a way to provide information for future archaeologists.
Medicine & Health news
Osteoarthritis risk not diminished in double bundle ACL surgeries
Osteoarthritis progression is not more likely in patients who have undergone single-bundle ACL reconstruction, says researchers presenting their work today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in Baltimore.
Common athletic hip disorder increases chances for sports hernia, study suggests
A sports hernia is a common cause of groin pain in athletes, however until lately little has been known as to why they occur. Researchers presenting their study today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in Baltimore suggest that a type of hip condition (Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI) might be a contributing cause.
Obese kids as bright as thinner peers
Obesity is not to blame for poor educational performance, according to early findings from research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). In a study that combines statistical methods with genetic information, researchers dispel the false idea that being overweight has damaging educational consequences.
Twenty percent of US women were uninsured in 2010, up from 15 percent in 2000
Twenty percent of U.S. women (18.7 million) ages 19-64 were uninsured in 2010, up from 15 percent (12.8 million) in 2000, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report on women's health care. An additional 16.7 million women were underinsured in 2010, compared with 10.3 million in 2003. The report estimates that once fully implemented, the Affordable Care Act will cover nearly all women, reducing the uninsured rate among women from 20 percent to 8 percent.
More abortion restrictions anticipated in US state
(AP) — The owner of Mississippi's only abortion clinic said Thursday she expected legislators to keep trying to put new restrictions on the facility and the procedure, regardless of how a federal judge rules in a fight over a new state law.
English hospitals can improve their performance
NHS hospitals have substantial scope to improve their efficiency by adopting best practice, according to research published today by Professor Andrew Street and colleagues at the Centre for Health Economics (CHE) at the University of York.
West Nile virus infections reported in Athens suburb
Five cases of West Nile virus have been reported since early July in a seaside suburb of Athens, the Greek centre for disease control and prevention (Keelpno) said Friday.
Randomized trial finds counseling program reduces youth violence, improves school engagement
A new study by the University of Chicago Crime Lab, in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools and local nonprofits Youth Guidance and World Sport Chicago, provides rigorous scientific evidence that a violence reduction program succeeded in creating a sizable decline in violent crime arrests among youth who participated in group counseling and mentoring.
Childhood trauma linked to adult smoking for girls
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can stay with us for life. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy explains how these events can be tied up with adult smoking patterns, especially for women, and suggests that treatment and strategies to stop smoking need to take into account the psychological effects of childhood trauma.
Vitamin D deficiency and poorer lung function in asthmatic children treated with steroids
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with poorer lung function in asthmatic children treated with inhaled corticosteroids, according to a new study from researchers in Boston.
Keep a food journal, don't skip meals and avoid going out to lunch if you want to lose weight
Women who want to lose weight should faithfully keep a food journal, and avoid skipping meals and eating in restaurants – especially at lunch – suggests new research from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
ACL reconstruction technique improves outcomes in pediatric patients
A new study demonstrates the superiority of a specific technique to perform anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in children. In recent years, the number of ACL surgeries in pediatric athletes has skyrocketed.
Fat studies conference challenges supersize stereotypes
Cat Pause proudly describes herself as "fat", can live with euphemisms like "curvy", "chunky" or "chubby", but baulks at what she believes are value-laden labels such as "overweight" or "obese".
Giving time can give you time
(Medical Xpress) -- Many people these days feel a sense of “time famine”—never having enough minutes and hours to do everything. We all know that our objective amount of time can’t be increased (there are only 24 hours in a day), but a new study suggests that volunteering our limited time—giving it away— may actually increase our sense of unhurried leisure.
Saliva, pupil size differences in autism show system in overdrive
(Medical Xpress) -- University of Kansas researchers have found larger resting pupil size and lower levels of a salivary enzyme associated with the neurotransmitter norepinephrine in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Drug's 'double hit' overcomes leukaemia resistance
A drug that uses a unique ‘double hit’ to kill leukaemia cells could be a potential new treatment for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. The research, majority funded by Cancer Research UK, is published this week in Leukaemia.
Choosing words wisely when talking to patients about their weight
(Medical Xpress) -- The language that health care providers use when discussing their patients’ body weight can reinforce stigma, reduce motivation for weight loss, and potentially lead to avoidance of future medical appointments, according to a study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale.
Coordinating cancer care remains a challenge
People with cancer often receive fragmented and uncoordinated care, as their treatments frequently require help from multiple clinicians. However, a new review by The Cochrane Library finds no evidence that three main strategies designed to improve coordination of cancer care are effective.
WHO worried about cholera spike in south Somalia
(AP) — The World Health Organization says it is concerned about an increasing number of cholera cases in a southern Somali town controlled by militants.
CDC: babesiosis risk in northeast/upper midwest travel
(HealthDay) -- Adults and children are vulnerable to a host of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases in many Midwestern, Northeastern, and Southwestern states, according to two reports published in the July 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.
People born in the fall more likely to survive to 100
(HealthDay) -- People born in the fall, from September to November, are significantly more likely to reach 100 years of age compared with those born in March, according to a study published in the Journal of Aging Research.
Active surveillance cost-effective for prostate cancer
(HealthDay) -- In a theoretical cohort of 120,000 men, selecting active surveillance for prostate cancer results in considerable cost savings at five and 10 years of follow-up, compared with immediate treatment, according to a study published in the July issue of Cancer.
Annual report on U.S. kids' health a mixed bag
(HealthDay) -- Infant mortality, preterm births and teen births have dropped across the United States as have violent crime and victimization among children, U.S. health officials reported Friday.
Canada to appeal ruling on assisted suicide
(AP) — Canada's justice minister says the federal government will appeal a British Columbia Supreme Court ruling that said federal laws banning doctor-assisted suicide are unconstitutional.
Chemo combo promising for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
(HealthDay) -- The combination of temozolomide and bevacizumab seems to benefit patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), according to a study published online July 9 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Hypertrophy common in older patients with port-wine stains
(HealthDay) -- Hypertrophy is present in the majority of patients with port-wine stains (PWS) who are over the age of 50 years, according to a study published online July 2 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Vaginal dilation outcomes equivalent to vaginoplasty
(HealthDay) -- Long-term psychosexual outcomes for patients undergoing vaginal dilation are at least equivalent to those undergoing vaginoplasty, according to a study published in the July issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Schizophrenia in movies: don't believe everything you see
(HealthDay) -- Movies often stereotype people with schizophrenia as being violent and unpredictable, says a researcher who claims Hollywood dispenses misinformation about symptoms, causes and treatment of this mental illness.
Chemicals in personal care products may increase risk of diabetes in women
A study lead by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) shows an association between increased concentrations of phthalates in the body and an increased risk of diabetes in women. Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals that are commonly found in personal care products such as moisturizers, nail polishes, soaps, hair sprays and perfumes. They are also used in adhesives, electronics, toys and a variety of other products. This finding is published in the July 13, 2012 online edition of Environmental Health Perspectives
Psychologists discover links between angry thoughts and displaced aggression in male gang affiliates
(Medical Xpress) -- Research conducted among pupils in three London schools has shown that male street gang affiliates who engage in angry rumination (i.e. think continuously about provoking or negative events and situations) have the greatest tendency towards displaced aggression against innocent others.
Copper's previously unknown exit strategy
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists have long known that the body rids itself of excess copper and various other minerals by collecting them in the liver and excreting them through the liver’s bile. However, a new study led by Johns Hopkins researchers and published June 22 in PLoS One suggests that when this route is impaired there’s another exit route just for copper: A molecule sequesters only that mineral and routes it from the body through urine.
New proteins to clear the airways in cystic fibrosis and COPD
University of North Carolina scientists have uncovered a new strategy that may one day help people with cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder better clear the thick and sticky mucus that clogs their lungs and leads to life-threatening infections. In a new report appearing online in The FASEB Journal, researchers show that the "SPLUNC1" protein and its derivative peptides may be able to help thin this thick mucus by affecting the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Not only does this research have implications for cystic fibrosis and COPD, but it also enhances the understanding of hypertension due to the role it also plays in controlling blood pressure.
Questionnaire completed by parents may help identify one-year-olds at risk for autism
A new study by University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers found that 31 percent of children identified as at risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at 12 months received a confirmed diagnosis of ASD by age 3 years.
Mutation in gene IDH a possible target for AML treatment
Many patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) share a mutation in a gene called IDH. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published this week in the journal Leukemia & Lymphoma shows that this IDH mutation may be the first domino in a chain that leads to a more aggressive form of the disease.
Gut microbes might reflect health, diet of older adults
(HealthDay) -- The health of elderly people appears closely linked with their diet and the type of microorganisms living in their gut, suggesting that what you eat may affect how well you age, according to new research.
Biology news
Researcher will push emerging field of biodiversity informatics in Africa
The term “biodiversity informatics” may not set the average person’s heart aflutter. Yet, this emerging field is revolutionizing conservation efforts, public health and agriculture in parts of the world. Now, a researcher at the University of Kansas is ready to bring comprehensive training in biodiversity informatics to students and scientists across Africa.
100K Genome Project takes aim at foodborne diseases
An ambitious effort to sequence the genomes of 100,000 infectious microorganisms and speed diagnosis of foodborne illnesses has been launched by the University of California, Davis, Agilent Technologies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Researchers urge rethink of 'Monty Roberts' horse training method
(Phys.org) -- Aspects of a horse training method made famous by Monty Roberts, author of the The Man Who Listens to Horses, have been called into question by research at the University of Sydney.
Scaled-back NBAF and NBAF as designed are options that could meet critical US lab needs
It is "imperative" that the U.S. build a large-animal biocontainment laboratory to protect animal and public health, says a new report by the National Research Council. Two options that could meet long-term needs include the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) facility as currently designed, or a scaled-back version tied to a distributed laboratory network. Until such a facility opens that is authorized to work with highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center located off Long Island should remain in operation to address ongoing needs. The report concludes that there are important drawbacks for the U.S., should it rely solely on international laboratories to meet large animal Biosafety Level 4 needs in the long term.
1,500 aquarium fish, corals seized at Manila pier
Philippine authorities seized some 1,500 live aquarium fish and about 150 live pieces of brain coral at a Manila pier Friday just before they were to be shipped to Japan.
High levels of iron in water may hurt dairy products
(Phys.org) -- Cows are thirsty and with good reason — they need to drink nearly 30 gallons of water a day to produce milk and stay healthy. That water needs to be high quality because much of the ingested water becomes milk, which is 87 percent water. But high levels of minerals in water due to shortages can be problematic for cows.
Seeking a splice for better rice
Every organism produces a staggering variety of molecules, each with its own particular biological function. Complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors determines the production levels for each compound. By deciphering these factors, plant geneticists can use the information to derive organisms with useful properties, such as crops that are more resistant to pathogens.
Making live cell microscopy affordable
Researchers in Japan have developed a low-intensity light source that allows cell biologists to visualize and handle live cells without destroying them during prolonged exposure. In addition to laying the foundation for new cell manipulations, the development will make advanced biology requiring fluorescence microscopy accessible to underfunded laboratories. Led by Teruhiko Wakayama from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, the researchers developed an adapter, equipped with a halogen lamp, for a conventional microscope.
Salt cress genome yields new clues to salt tolerance
An international team, led by Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, and BGI, the world's largest genomics organization, has completed the genomic sequence and analysis of salt cress (Thellungiella salsuginea), a wild salt-tolerant plant. The salt cress genome serves as a useful tool for exploring mechanisms of adaptive evolution and sheds new lights on understanding the genetic characteristics underlying plant abiotic stress tolerance. The study was published online in PNAS.
500 penguins found dead on Brazil beaches
More than 500 penguins have been found dead on beaches of Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state, authorities said Friday.
How to make global fisheries worth five times more: study
Rebuilding global fisheries would make them five times more valuable while improving ecology, according to a new University of British Columbia study, published today in the online journal PLoS ONE.
Alaskan researchers find evidence of genetic change in salmon in response to warming climate
(Phys.org) -- Because the gradual increase in temperatures worldwide is still relatively new, researchers have had difficulty in finding examples of genetic changes in organisms that are adapting to the warmer temperatures. Instead they have seen examples of phenotypic plasticity, which is where animals make adaptive changes based on existing conditions that are not brought about by genetic changes. Now though, for the first time, researchers in Alaska have found evidence of genetic changes in pink salmon that have come about over the past few decades as the fish have been migrating upstream earlier than they used to. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes how they found a genetic marker for late spawning fish diminishing over time as water temperatures increased.
Poisons on public lands put wildlife at risk
Rat poison used on illegal marijuana farms may be sickening and killing the fisher, a rare forest carnivore that makes its home in some of the most remote areas of California, according to a team of researchers led by University of California, Davis, veterinary scientists.
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