The EDGE: ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, August 22, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, August 22, 2012

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Lifelike, cost-effective robotic hand can disable IEDs (August 21, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a cost-effective robotic hand that can be used in disarming improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. ... > full story

NASA's Curiosity studies Mars surroundings, nears drive (August 21, 2012) -- NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has been investigating the Martian weather around it and the soil beneath it, as its controllers prepare for the car-size vehicle's first drive on Mars. ... > full story

Moving closer to extracting uranium from seawater (August 21, 2012) -- Fueling nuclear reactors with uranium harvested from the ocean could become more feasible because of a new material. ... > full story

A little music training goes a long way: Practicing music for only few years in childhood helps improve adult brain (August 21, 2012) -- A little music training in childhood goes a long way in improving how the brain functions in adulthood when it comes to listening and the complex processing of sound, according to a new study. The impact of music on the brain has been a hot topic in science in the past decade. Now researchers have directly examined what happens after children stop playing a musical instrument after only a few years. ... > full story

Heart calcium scan most effective in predicting risk of heart disease (August 21, 2012) -- Heart calcium scans are far superior to other assessment tools in predicting the development of cardiovascular disease in individuals currently classified at intermediate risk by their doctors, according to researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. ... > full story

Running marathons safe for older adults, study suggests (August 21, 2012) -- A study of adults >50 years old has found no lasting adverse effects from running marathons, similar to findings of adults aged 18-40. ... > full story

Historian examines animals' role in westward expansion (August 21, 2012) -- The story of westward expansion in the United States is often told from the perspective of the men and women who crossed the Great Plains in search of a better life in the west. But a historian is now bringing to light the role settlers’ animals played in the westward migration of the mid-1800s. ... > full story

Compounds shown to thwart stubborn pathogen's social propensity (August 21, 2012) -- Certain small molecule chemicals that can disrupt quorum sensing in A. baumanni have been identified, providing a glimmer of hope that the stubborn pathogen can be tamed. ... > full story

Low oxygen levels may decrease life-saving protein in spinal muscular atrophy (August 21, 2012) -- Investigators may have discovered a biological explanation for why low levels of oxygen advance spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) symptoms and why breathing treatments help SMA patients live longer. ... > full story

'Electronic nose' prototype developed: Device has applications in agriculture, industry, homeland security and the military (August 21, 2012) -- Research has led to the development of an "electronic nose" prototype that can detect small quantities of harmful airborne substances. ... > full story

Sanctuary chimps show high rates of drug-resistant staph (August 21, 2012) -- Chimpanzees from African sanctuaries carry drug-resistant, human-associated strains of the bacteria Staphlyococcus aureus, a pathogen the infected chimpanzees could spread to endangered wild ape populations if they were reintroduced to their natural habitat. The study was the first to apply the same modern sequencing technology of bacterial genomes used in hospitals to track the transmission of staph from humans to African wildlife. ... > full story

Many options, good outcomes, for early-stage follicular lymphoma (August 21, 2012) -- A new study challenges treatment guidelines for early stage follicular lymphoma, concluding that six different therapies can bring a remission, particularly if the patient is carefully examined and staged at diagnosis. ... > full story

Statin therapy associated with lower risk of pancreatitis (August 21, 2012) -- Although some studies have suggested that use of lipid-lowering therapies may increase the risk of pancreatitis, an analysis that involved pooling of data from previous studies and included more than 150,000 participants found that statin therapy was associated with a reduction in the risk of pancreatitis in patients with normal or mildly elevated triglyceride levels. ... > full story

New form of long-used food ingredient for 'anti-hunger' yogurts, smoothies (August 21, 2012) -- Promising results were recently reported from a proof-of-concept clinical trial of an “anti-hunger” ingredient for yogurt, fruit shakes, smoothies and other foods that would make people feel full longer and ease the craving to eat. Scientists described the ingredient as a new version of a food additive that has been in use for more than 50 years. ... > full story

Time flies when you're having goal-motivated fun (August 21, 2012) -- Though the seconds tick by at a regular pace, our experience of time is anything but uniform. When we're waiting in line, time seems to slow to a trickle. And when we're caught up in something completely engrossing, we lose sense of time altogether. But what about the idea that time flies when we're having fun? New research suggests that the familiar adage is true, with a caveat: time flies when we're have goal-motivated fun. ... > full story

Multiple factors, including climate change, led to collapse and depopulation of ancient Maya (August 21, 2012) -- A new analysis of complex interactions between humans and the environment preceding the 9th century collapse and abandonment of the Central Maya Lowlands in the Yucatan Peninsula points to a series of events -- some natural, like climate change; some human-made, including large-scale landscape alterations and shifts in trade routes -- that have lessons for contemporary decision-makers and sustainability scientists. ... > full story

Thinking and choosing in the brain: Researchers study over 300 lesion patients (August 21, 2012) -- The frontal lobes are the largest part of the human brain, and damage to this area can result in profound impairments in reasoning and decision making. Neuroscientists studied brain-lesion patients to map brain activity in the frontal lobes. Results showed that reasoning and behavioral control are dependent on different regions of the lobes than the areas called upon when making a decision. ... > full story

Study shows long-term effects of radiation in pediatric cancer patients (August 21, 2012) -- Of 15 patients who received TBI before age 3, many developed endocrine and metabolic problems including testicular malfunction (78 percent), restrictive pulmonary disease due to high levels of blood triglycerides (74 percent), and cataracts (78 percent). Likewise, 90 percent of patients showed abnormally low levels of growth hormone, and 71 percent were considerably under height. Additional late effects of TBI included kidney, liver, skeletal and cardiac malfunction -- and three of four patients whose IQ had been tested before TBI showed cognitive decline. ... > full story

New laboratory test assesses how DNA damage affects protein synthesis (August 21, 2012) -- In transcription genetic information from DNA is copied to messenger RNA for protein production. But anticancer drugs and environmental chemicals can sometimes interrupt this flow of genetic information by causing DNA modifications. Chemists have now developed a test to examine how such DNA modifications lead to aberrant transcription and ultimately a disruption in protein synthesis. The method can help explain how DNA damage arising from anticancer drugs and environmental chemicals leads to cancer development. ... > full story

New catalyst could improve production of glass alternatives (August 21, 2012) -- Chemists have identified a catalyst that could dramatically reduce the amount of waste made in the production of methyl methacrylate, a monomer used in the large-scale manufacturing of lightweight, shatter-resistant alternatives to glass such as Plexiglas. ... > full story

Time with parents is important for teens' well-being (August 21, 2012) -- Teenagers are famous for seeking independence from their parents, but research shows that many teens continue to spend time with their parents and that this shared time is important for teens' well-being, according to researchers. ... > full story

Researchers identified markers that predict progression of oral lesions to cancer (August 21, 2012) -- A group of molecular markers have been identified that can help clinicians determine which patients with low-grade oral premalignant lesions are at high risk for progression to oral cancer. ... > full story

Scientists identify protein that promotes cancers, heart disease; create substance to block its effects (August 21, 2012) -- Strong scientific evidence suggests that high levels of a blood protein called galectin-3 may increase the risk of heart attacks, cancer and other diseases, and help forecast the outcome of those diseases,. ... > full story

Public wave energy test facility begins operation in Oregon (August 21, 2012) -- One of the first public wave energy testing systems in the United States began operation this week off the Oregon coast near Newport, and will allow private industry or academic researchers to test new technology that may help advance this promising form of sustainable energy. ... > full story

Climate: Researchers examine clouds (from both sides now) and the structure of the atmosphere (August 21, 2012) -- At the northernmost point of the North American continent, researchers analyze environmental data to improve climate models and satellite pictures. ... > full story

Self-charging power cell converts and stores energy (August 21, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a self-charging power cell that directly converts mechanical energy to chemical energy, storing the power until it is released as electrical current. The development eliminates the need to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy for charging a battery. ... > full story

Brain's code for pronouncing vowels uncovered (August 21, 2012) -- Scientists have unraveled how our brain cells encode the pronunciation of individual vowels in speech. The discovery could lead to new technology that verbalizes the unspoken words of people paralyzed by injury or disease. ... > full story

Targeting sugars in quest for vaccine against HIV - the virus that causes AIDS (August 21, 2012) -- As a step toward designing the first effective anti-HIV vaccine, scientists are reporting new insights into how a family of rare, highly potent antibodies bind to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and neutralize it — stop it from infecting human cells. They recently described the antibodies, which were isolated from people infected with HIV and can neutralize a wide range of HIV strains. ... > full story

New cancer therapy using ultra-violet C (UVC) pulse flash irradiation (August 21, 2012) -- Medical scientists have announced the development of a new cancer therapy using ultra violet C (UVC) pulses of light. ... > full story

Footprints of cretaceous dinosaur found at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (August 21, 2012) -- About 110 million light years away, the bright, barred spiral galaxy NGC 3259 was just forming stars in dark bands of dust and gas. Here on the part of the Earth where NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center would eventually be built, a plant-eating dinosaur sensed predators nearby and quickened its pace, leaving a deep imprint in the Cretaceous mud. ... > full story

Older women may not benefit from radiotherapy after breast surgery (August 21, 2012) -- A radiation oncologist says in a new editorial that research exploring the impact of radiotherapy in older women with low risk of breast cancer recurrence has little effect on actual clinical decisions. ... > full story

Acai counteracts oxidative stress, lengthens lifespan in fruit flies (August 21, 2012) -- Scientists found that a commercially available acai berry product can lengthen the lives of fruit flies, when the flies' lives are made short through additional oxidative stress. Under certain conditions (a simple sugar diet) acai supplementation could triple flies' lifespans, from eight to 24 days. Acai could also counteract the neurotoxic effects of the herbicide paraquat on the flies. ... > full story

Sleep improves memory in people with Parkinson's disease (August 21, 2012) -- People with Parkinson's disease performed markedly better on a test of working memory after a night's sleep, and sleep disorders can interfere with that benefit, researchers have shown. ... > full story

Forest razing by ancient Maya worsened droughts, says study (August 21, 2012) -- Prolonged drought is thought to have played a role in the collapse of the Classic Maya empire, but a recent study adds a new twist: The Maya may have made the droughts worse by clearing away forests for cities and crops, making a naturally drying climate drier. ... > full story

New species: No ordinary forget-me-nots (August 21, 2012) -- Two new species of forget-me-nots were discovered in the mountains of New Zealand. One of the species is known from the entrance of a few small caves at the base of limestone bluffs and the other from a single site in the forest. Both species are extremely rare and their conservation status is rated Nationally Critical. ... > full story

Flood risk ranking reveals vulnerable cities (August 21, 2012) -- A new study of nine coastal cities around the world suggests that Shanghai is most vulnerable to serious flooding. European cities top the leader board for their resilience. ... > full story

Stem cells can become anything, but not without this protein (August 21, 2012) -- In a finding that could be important to the use of all kinds of stem cells in treating disease, scientists have discovered the crucial role of a protein called Mof in preserving the 'stem-ness' of stem cells, and priming them to become specialized cells in mice. It plays a key role in the "epigenetics" of stem cells -- that is, helping stem cells read and use their DNA. ... > full story

Key component of cell division identified (August 21, 2012) -- A new study highlights the protein Nek9 as a decisive factor in cell division, a fundamental process for both the development of an organism and tissue maintenance. Nek9 is shown to be required for a cell to be able to divide the chromosomes into two identical groups in order to ensure efficient and accurate cell division. ... > full story

Dawn of humanity illuminated – 50 years after the Leakeys (August 21, 2012) -- The first systematic, multidisciplinary results to come out of research conducted on the edge of the Serengeti at the rich palaeoanthropological site in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania since that produced by Louis and Mary Leakey's team, have recently been published. ... > full story

New technology to transform blood processing (August 21, 2012) -- A pioneering surgical blood salvage technology is set to transform the way major surgery is carried out by reducing blood loss in patients. ... > full story

Viruses with integrated gene switch (August 21, 2012) -- Scientists have developed "RNA switches" which allow them to specifically turn on and off genes in viruses. This will help to enhance regulation of gene therapy and viral therapy of cancer. ... > full story

Dont get mad, get creative: Social rejection can fuel imaginative thinking, study shows (August 21, 2012) -- It’s not just in movies where nerds get their revenge. Social rejection can inspire imaginative thinking, particularly in individuals with a strong sense of their own independence. ... > full story

The science of motor control can bring back a smile for those with muscle dysfunction (August 21, 2012) -- A child’s smile is something we take for granted. But muscle dysfunction can turn a simple expression of joy into a challenge. Surface electromyography provides a noninvasive method of sensing muscle activity that can be used for muscle rehabilitation -— and to bring a smile to a child’s face. ... > full story

Halo of neutrinos alters physics of exploding stars (August 21, 2012) -- Sparse halos of neutrinos within the hearts of exploding stars exert a previously unrecognized influence on the physics of the explosion and may alter which elements can be forged by these violent events. ... > full story

Intense bursts of star formation drive fierce galactic winds (August 21, 2012) -- Fierce galactic winds powered by an intense burst of star formation may blow gas right out of massive galaxies, shutting down their ability to make new stars. ... > full story

Marine species at risk unless drastic protection policies put in place (August 21, 2012) -- Many marine species will be harmed or won't survive if the levels of carbon dioxide continue to increase. Current protection policies and management practices are unlikely to be enough to save them. Unconventional, non-passive methods to conserve marine ecosystems need to be considered if various marine species are to survive. ... > full story

World's sea life is 'facing major shock', marine scientists warn (August 21, 2012) -- Life in the world's oceans faces far greater change and risk of large-scale extinctions than at any previous time in human history, a team of the world's leading marine scientists has warned. The researchers have compared events which drove massive extinctions of sea life in the past with what is observed to be taking place in the seas and oceans globally today. ... > full story

Sun's plasma loops recreated in the lab to help understand solar physics (August 21, 2012) -- In orbit around Earth is a wide range of satellites that we rely on for everything from television feeds to GPS navigation. Although these spacecraft soar high above storms on Earth, they are still vulnerable to weather from the sun. Large solar flares can cause widespread damage, which is why researchers are working to learn more about the possible precursors to solar flares called plasma loops by recreating them in the lab. ... > full story