Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 28, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- You're far less in control of your brain than you think, study finds- Komaba Group reports sodium ion battery progress
- New method monitors semiconductor etching as it happens—with light
- Nanoparticles glow through thick layer of tissue
- Honey bees fight back against Varroa
- Update from Curiosity: Gale Crater might be drier than expected
- Study uncovers how molecular parasite replicates, spreads ability to cause disease
- Novel approach distinguishes cause-and-effect from misleading correlation
- High-Arctic heat tops 1,800-year high, says study
- Chemists find new way to create 'building blocks' for drugs
- Loop the loop, DNA style: One- or two-way transcription depends on gene loops
- Physicists confine electrons inside nano-pyramids
- Stalling science threatens every domain of modern life
- Immunologists find a molecule that puts the brakes on inflammation
- Researchers find multiple similarities between cancer cells and induced pluripotent stem cells
Space & Earth news
Active faults more accessible to geologists
The October GSA Today science paper introduces the "Active Tectonics of the Andes Database," which will provide more data to more geoscientists.
Ecologists to study freshwater sustainability across the Sun Belt
(Phys.org)—Researchers in the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology will work with colleagues from universities across the U.S. Sun Belt on a study of water sustainability in the face of climate change and population growth. The four-year project, to be led by North Carolina State University, is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Arizona State University and Florida International University also are participating in the study.
Protest shuts alpine transit route in Austria
A major alpine transit route through western Austria was partially shut to traffic on Friday, as part of a protest against excessive heavy transport and resulting pollution.
Time bomb: Military ordnance in Gulf poses threat to shipping, researchers says
Millions of pounds of unexploded bombs and other military ordnance that were dumped decades ago in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as off the coasts of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, could now pose serious threats to shipping lanes and the 4,000 oil and gas rigs in the Gulf, warns two Texas A&M University oceanographers.
Researchers test a fatigue management program which is successful at controlling space-age jetlag
Since the beginning of August, NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity, has been roaming all over the distant planet learning as much as it can about the Martian terrain. The mission control team back on Earth has also learned what it may be like on Mars by trying to live and work on a Martian day, which is about 40 minutes longer than an Earth day. This 'day' length causes havoc with the internal 24-hour body clock but researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have developed and tested a fatigue management program which is successful at controlling this space-age jetlag. The results of the study will be published electronically on September 28, 2012 and will be published in the October print issue of SLEEP.
Environmentalism is not about being rich or poor
Higher and lower incomes make little difference to people's concern about the natural environment, according to new research from the University of Bristol. A paper published today in the European Sociological Review shows that, rather than having more important things to worry about, poor people and poor countries prioritise protecting the environment as much as do richer people and richer countries.
During major interstate road closures, area air quality improves dramatically
(Phys.org)—Take the time to enjoy a deep breath next weekend when the 405 freeway closes for Carmageddon II. If it's anything like last year, the air quality is about to get amazing.
NASA Orion splashdown tests ensure safe landings for astronauts
(Phys.org)—The 18,000-pound test article that mimics the size and weight of NASA's Orion spacecraft crew module recently completed a final series of water impact tests in the Hydro Impact Basin at the agency's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.
The surface of Ganymede in pictures taken by amateur astronomer
(Phys.org)—Technology has radically changed the contributions that amateurs can make to the field of astronomy. Using a readily-available 'hobby' telescope, off-the-shelf camera and computer equipment, plus experienced observing skills, Emmanuel I. Kardasis of the Hellenic Amateur Astronomy Association has produced the first amateur albedo map of Jupiter's moon Ganymede. This demonstration has implications for the future role of amateur astronomers. The work will be presented at the European Planetary Science Congress in Madrid.
Fireworks in the early universe
Galaxies in the early universe grew fast by rapidly making new stars. Such prodigious star formation episodes, characterized by the intense radiation of the newborn stars, were often accompanied by fireworks in the form of energy bursts caused by the massive central black hole accretion in these galaxies. This discovery by a group of astronomers led by Peter Barthel of the Kapteyn Institute of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands is published today in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Cutting livestock greenhouse gases requires effort from rich and poor countries
(Phys.org)—Regulating livestock greenhouse gas emissions could shift livestock production to unregulated, less developed countries unless those poorer nations can be enticed to preserve their forested lands, according to a Purdue University economic study.
Ocean floor sediments explain arid U.S. Southwest
(Phys.org)—Surface-dwelling algae adjust their biochemistry to surface temperatures. As they die and sink to the bottom, they build a sedimentary record of sea-surface temperature across millennia. Brown's work on surface temperatures, coupled with work from Texas A&M on rainfall and weather patterns, has helped chart the wetter, lake-filled geological history of the currently arid American West.
Report looks at impact of new energy development and exploration on wildlife
(Phys.org)—New technology, a desire to produce domestic energy, and concerns over climate change have spurred a rapid increase in oil and natural gas, bioenergy, wind, solar and geothermal energy production. These developments are putting novel pressures on terrestrial ecosystems, but the impacts to wildlife have largely been overlooked.
Scientist turn focus to Titan
(Phys.org)—Humanity has landed a rover on Mars. Now, say scientists, it's time to land a boat on Titan. This outlandish scenario could become reality, according to engineers presenting their proposals at the European Planetary Science Congress on 27 September.
NASA sees sun unleash a wide, but benign, CME
The sun erupted with a wide, Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME) on Sept. 27, 2012 at 10:25 p.m. EDT. CMEs are a phenomenon that can send billions of tons of solar particles into space that can reach Earth one to three days later, affecting electronic systems in satellites and on the ground. Experimental NASA research models estimate that the CME is traveling at around 700 miles per second and will reach Earth on Sept. 29.
NASA sees super Typhoon Jelawat Affecting Japan
Super Typhoon Jelawat is a large and powerful storm that has been bringing very rough seas to areas in the western North Pacific. NASA's Terra satellite passed over the monster storm and captured a visible image as it nears the big island of Japan.
Temperatures measured at Gale Crater higher than expected
(Phys.org)—Preliminary weather reports from the Curiosity's Remote Environment Monitoring Station (REMS) are showing some surprisingly mild temperatures during the day. Average daytime air temperatures have reached a peak of 6 degrees Celsius at 2pm local time. A Martian day – known as a Sol – is slightly longer than Earths at 24 hours and 39 minutes. Temperatures have risen above freezing during the day for more than half of the Martian Sols since REMS started recording data. Because Mars's atmosphere is much thinner than Earth's and its surface much drier, the effects of solar heating are much more pronounced. At night the air temperatures sink drastically, reaching a minimum of -70 degrees just before dawn.
Taking COCOA cryo
(Phys.org)—Testing of the James Webb Space Telescope's Center of Curvature Optical Assembly, or COCOA, recently was completed in the X-ray and Cryogenic Test Facility at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The optical assembly was operated in a vacuum at both room temperature and cryogenic—or deep cold—temperatures to certify its performance before it is used to test the performance of Webb's 21.3 foot primary mirror. COCOA's operation and performance must be verified alone before it can be used to test Webb under conditions that the observatory will experience in space.
High-Arctic heat tops 1,800-year high, says study
(Phys.org)—Summers on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard are now warmer than at any other time in the last 1,800 years, including during medieval times when parts of the northern hemisphere were as hot as, or hotter, than today, according to a new study in the journal Geology.
Update from Curiosity: Gale Crater might be drier than expected
(Phys.org)—Preliminary data from the Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory, presented at the European Planetary Science Conference on 28 September, indicate that the Gale Crater landing site might be drier than expected.
Technology news
Arrest of Google Brazil head stirs debate over Web
(AP)—The arrest of a top Google executive is reviving a debate about Brazilian laws that hold services such as YouTube responsible for the videos posted on them, making the country a hotbed of attempts to stifle digital content.
Calif. signs bills to boost social network privacy
(AP)—California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a pair of privacy bills making it illegal for employers and colleges to demand access to social media accounts.
Germany: Mosley takes on Google in privacy fight
(AP)—Former Formula One boss Max Mosley is suing Google, claiming the search engine is breaking German privacy laws by providing links to websites hosting a hidden-camera video of him at a sadomasochistic sex party.
New Renesas ultra-low power consumption MCUs to be used in variety of auto applications
Renesas Electronics Corporation today announced the RH850/F1x Series of 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) for automotive body applications as the first products to be released in the RH850 Family of automotive MCUs with on-chip flash memory employing the industry's most advanced 40 nanometer (nm) process.
Sony ties up with Olympus, takes 11 percent stake (Update)
(AP)—Sony is expanding its sprawling electronics to movies business empire with a new venture—looking inside the human body.
Facebook's Zuckerberg to visit Russia, meet PM: official
The founder of the social network Facebook Mark Zuckerberg is to visit Russia next week and hold talks on innovation with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the government said on Friday.
'Smartware' clothing could signal impending epileptic seizures
Researchers and engineers at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom have developed intelligent self-repairing clothing and sensors that can emit warnings that an epileptic seizure is going to start.
Crown Castle buys rights to T-Mobile towers
(AP)—Crown Castle International says it has agreed to buy the rights to about 7,200 T-Mobile towers for $2.4 billion in cash.
Daily-deals companies tweak models as novelty fades
Investors have turned skeptical on Groupon, growth has slowed, and hundreds of would-be competitors have disappeared from the crowded daily-deal landscape, but that doesn't mean a fadeout to the era of the discounted restaurant meal or manicure.
Kodak plans to end consumer inkjet printer sales
Kodak said Friday that it plans to stop selling consumer inkjet printers and will eliminate 200 more jobs than previously projected as it requested more time to submit its framework for emerging from bankruptcy protection.
Obama blocks Chinese purchase of US wind farms
(AP)—Citing national security risks, President Barack Obama on Friday blocked a Chinese company from owning four wind farm projects in northern Oregon near a Navy base where the U.S. military flies unmanned drones and electronic-warfare planes on training missions.
Nissan offers Leaf discounts to spur sales
Nissan is offering cheap leases and big discounts on the Leaf because of slow U.S. sales of the all-electric car.
Google blocks video after losing Brazil court battle
Google has blocked a YouTube video that allegedly slanders a mayoral candidate in Brazil after losing a court battle that saw its local head of operations briefly arrested.
US banks hit by more than a week of cyberattacks
(AP)—U.S. banks have been buffeted by more than week of powerful cyberattacks whose perpetrators remain unknown.
Apple CEO on maps: 'Extremely sorry' (Update 2)
Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company is "extremely sorry" for the frustration its Maps application has caused and it's doing everything it can to make it better. In the meantime, he recommended that people use competing map applications to get around.
Who's watching? 3-D TV is no hit with US viewers
Phil Orlins knows everything about producing TV in three dimensions. The ESPN producer has captured the undulating greens of Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia and the flying motor bikes of the X-Games for ESPN's 3-D channel. But he can only guess how well his shows resonate with viewers. That's because 3-D audiences are so small they can't be measured by Nielsen's rating system.
Researcher says flaw in Android creates phone risk
A security researcher says cell phones equipped with Google's Android operating system are at risk of being disabled or wiped clean of their data, including contacts, music, and photos.
Komaba Group reports sodium ion battery progress
(Phys.org)—Scientists with a common goal, to figure out an alternative to the lithium ion battery, the main power source of choice, are not giving up. The quarrel is not with the lithium ion battery's performance but in its high price and looming scarcity. The objective is to be able to offer a realistic alternative to lithium ion batteries for energy storage. Numerous recipes are coming out of labs as research efforts continue. The latest team to make news in this effort is from Japan, which relies on imports for its entire supply of the rare metal lithium. The news-makers are a research group at the Tokyo University of Science, led by Associate Professor Shinichi Komaba. They have confirmed they are making progress with their focus on sodium ion batteries as a li-ion alternative.
Medicine & Health news
Helicopter heroes save lives
The benefits and cost effectiveness of helicopter transport for severely injured patients is of continued debate. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Critical Care shows that for severe blunt trauma, patients transported by helicopter had a lower risk of death, compared to those transported by road.
Gout guidelines arm patients and physicians with tools to fight painful disease
Gout is one of the most common forms of inflammatory arthritis, affecting nearly 4% of adult Americans. Newly approved guidelines that educate patients in effective methods to prevent gout attacks and provide physicians with recommended therapies for long-term management of this painful disease are published in Arthritis Care & Research, a peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
Effective HIV care benefited all HIV patients, regardless of demographics and behavioral risk
Improved treatment options, a multi-pronged treatment model, and federal funding from the Ryan White Program have helped an inner city Baltimore clinic improve outcomes for HIV patients across all groups, including those most often hardest hit by the disease. Published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, the results from the 15-year analysis of patients at a clinic serving a primarily poor, African-American patient population with high rates of injection drug use demonstrate what state-of-the-art HIV care can achieve, given appropriate support.
Suspected vomiting virus sickens 4,000 German kids
(AP)—German health authorities say at least 4,000 children have fallen ill with vomiting and diarrhea after eating food from school canteens and daycare centers.
FDA warning public of risks of online pharmacies
The Food and Drug Administration is warning the public that most Internet pharmacies are fraudulent, selling drugs that likely are counterfeit and could harm or even kill people.
Packing plant linked to tainted beef ordered shut
(AP)—The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Friday that it has temporarily shut a meatpacking plant linked to contaminated beef products that have been distributed across Canada and the United States.
Buenos Aires passes law allowing abortions
Buenos Aires approved a law early Friday authorizing unrestricted abortions in cases of rape or when the mother's life is in danger.
Insulin sensitivity lower in adults born preterm
(HealthDay)—Middle-aged adults who were born preterm, even moderately preterm (32 to 36 weeks' gestation), are less insulin sensitive compared with adults who were born at term, according to research published in the October issue of Diabetes.
Arterial stiffness inversely tied to plasma adiponectin levels
(HealthDay)—Arterial stiffness is inversely related to plasma adiponectin levels in young, normotensive patients with type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online Sept. 21 in Diabetes Care.
Myogenes identified for spondyloarthritis synovitis
(HealthDay)—There are disease-specific and inflammation-independent stromal alterations in spondyloarthritis (SpA) synovitis, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Flu season's approaching so roll up your sleeve
(HealthDay)—The only thing predictable about the flu is its unpredictability, U.S. health officials said Thursday, as they urged virtually all Americans to get vaccinated for the coming season.
Follow-up lacking for babies after hepatitis B vaccination: CDC
(HealthDay)—Many U.S. babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis B do not receive recommended follow-up testing after vaccination, a new study finds.
Hospital observation units could save billions in health costs, study says
(HealthDay)—Wider use of hospital observation units could save the U.S. health care system billions of dollars a year, a new study indicates.
Over 65s at increased risk of developing dementia with benzodiazepine
Patients over the age of 65 who begin taking benzodiazepine (a popular drug used to treat anxiety and insomnia) are at an approximately 50% increased risk of developing dementia within 15 years compared to never-users, a study published today on BMJ website suggests.
Progesterone test can predict viability of pregnancy
Measuring progesterone levels in women with pain or bleeding during early pregnancy is a useful way to help discriminate between a viable and a non-viable pregnancy, finds a study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Physical activity interventions for children have 'little impact'
Physical activity interventions for children have small impact on overall activity levels and consequently the body fat and mass of children, a study published in the British Medical Journal today suggests.
Study highlights the burden of epilepsy in the developing world
The burden of epilepsy in poorer parts of the world could be readily alleviated by reducing the preventable causes and improving access to treatment, according to a review article published today in the Lancet.
Making headway on beta-blockers and sleep
Over 20 million people in the United States take beta-blockers, a medication commonly prescribed for cardiovascular issues, anxiety, hypertension and more. Many of these same people also have trouble sleeping, a side effect possibly related to the fact that these medications suppress night-time melatonin production. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have found that melatonin supplementation significantly improved sleep in hypertensive patients taking beta-blockers.
Eating cherries lowers risk of gout attacks by 35%
A new study found that patients with gout who consumed cherries over a two-day period showed a 35% lower risk of gout attacks compared to those who did not eat the fruit. Findings from this case-crossover study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), also suggest that risk of gout flares was 75% lower when cherry intake was combined with the uric-acid reducing drug, allopurinol, than in periods without exposure to cherries or treatment.
Animals suspected in spread of new virus (Update)
Britain's Health Protection Agency has published an early genetic sequence of the new respiratory virus related to SARS that shows it is most closely linked to bat viruses, and scientists say camels, sheep or goats might end up being implicated too.
Indian state in grip of a drug epidemic
On a muggy evening in the north Indian city of Amritsar, Sunil Sharma prepares for another heroin hit in a decrepit, abandoned building.
Eliminating invasive cervical cancer possible, researchers report
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the University of South Florida and The Ohio State University have published a paper in the September issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention that provides an overview on preventing invasive cervical cancer.
The true costs of cancer in Europe revealed
New studies that reveal for the first time the real economic and human costs of caring for cancer patients in Europe will be presented during the ESMO 2012 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology in Vienna.
New mystery virus not easily transmitted: WHO
A new mysterious respiratory virus that has killed at least one person and left another in critical condition does not appear very contagious, the World Health Organisation said Friday.
Study finds new molecular pathways involved with autoimmune diseases, potential implications for therapies
Teamwork between a pair of transcription factors may be responsible for regulating the functioning of Th17 cells, which when found in excessive amounts are believed to play a major role in many autoimmune diseases, according to a study published last week in the journal Science by a national team of researchers.
Using robots to help children with autism
(Medical Xpress)—Her name is Charlie, and the purple bows sitting on top of her head are the prettiest thing about her. But her looks are not what matter – which is good because she's green. Charlie is a robot designed by University of South Carolina's College of Engineering and Computing doctoral student, Laura Boccanfuso. She hopes Charlie, short for Child Centered Adaptive Robot for Learning Environments, will help children with autism improve their communication skills and interactions with others.
Patients citing 'high blood pressure' more than doubled the chance of getting new medication
(Medical Xpress)—A patient who cites hypertension as a reason for a doctor's visit is more than twice as likely to be prescribed a new medicine than a patient who doesn't speak up, according to a recent study by researchers at UCSF and UCLA.
Too much of a good thing? How drinking too much water can kill
Drinking enough water is very important during long periods of physical activity or recreational pursuits. But there are rare instances when too much fluid intake can be harmful, and even lead to death.
Investigational brain cancer vaccine to be tested: Peptide vaccine targets cancer survival protein
(Medical Xpress)—A new clinical research study at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) will test a first-of-its-kind cancer "vaccine" that may prove effective against many forms of solid-tumor cancers. The vaccine, to be investigated in a trial involving patients with brain cancer, generates an immune response that appears to put the target molecule, the cancer survival protein survivin, into a bind it can't escape.
Patent issued for technology that improves eyesight dramatically
(Medical Xpress)—A U.S. patent has been issued to the University of Rochester for technology that has boosted the eyesight of tens of thousands of people around the world to unprecedented levels and reduced the need for patients to undergo repeat surgeries.
New study identifies large gaps in lifetime earnings of specialist and primary-care physicians
A national study has found that earnings over the course of the careers of primary-care physicians averaged as much as $2.8 million less than the earnings of their specialist colleagues, potentially making primary care a less attractive choice for medical school graduates and exacerbating the already significant shortage of medical generalists.
Study: One-fifth of spine surgery patients develop PTSD symptoms
Nearly 20 percent of people who underwent low back fusion surgery developed post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms associated with that surgery, according to a recent Oregon Health & Science University study published in the journal Spine.
Investigating cancer-fighting properties of cannabis-related chemical
(Medical Xpress)—Chemicals similar to those found in cannabis form the basis of a new drug that is being trialled in UK cancer patients for the first time. The trial – funded by Newcastle University spin-out company e-Therapeutics plc, who also manufacture the drug – will investigate its potential for treating patients with a variety of solid tumours.
Infections of West Nile virus could set U.S. record
This year, infections with West Nile virus are on pace to be one of the worst years yet. Scientists speculate, but cannot yet prove, that the surge in infections may be attributable to warm spring temperatures across much of the country, which allowed the mosquitoes that spread the virus to begin breeding early.
Ageing and the city: Chronic diseases more prevalent in city-dwellers than country counterparts
Ageing Australian city-dwellers are more likely to suffer from non-infectious chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, arthritis, cancer and asthma than their rural counterparts, according to new research from the University of Sydney.
What makes surgeons happy?
(Medical Xpress)—Lack of control over operating rooms and other resources as well as a lack of work-life balance are among the main reasons general surgeons may be dissatisfied with their jobs, a new study has found.
Pediatric kidney disease tied to abnormal carotid arteries
(HealthDay)—Ultrasound measurements of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) are significantly elevated among children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared with healthy controls, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Study ties early menopause to heart attack, stroke
Women who experience early menopause are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than women whose menopause occurs at a later age, according to a new study by Melissa Wellons, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine in the Vanderbilt Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Study points to potential for improvement in the care, quality of life of epilepsy patients
(Medical Xpress)—Routine screening for psychiatric, cognitive and social problems could enhance the quality of care and quality of life for children and adults with epilepsy, according to a study by UC Irvine neurologist Dr. Jack Lin and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Amedeo Avogadro University in Italy.
Study reveals wide discrepancy in multidrug surveillance among intensive care units
Screening practices for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in intensive care units (ICUs) vary widely from hospital to hospital, according to a new study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Exposure to herbicide may increase risk of rare disorder, study finds
A common herbicide used in the United States may be linked to an increased risk of a congenital abnormality of the nasal cavity known as choanal atresia, say researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and other Texas institutions.
For new mom with aphasia, 'giving up was not an option'
(HealthDay)—At 25, Rachel Eagly had a one-week-old son and a vicious headache. But she never would have guessed that the headache signaled a major stroke that would temporarily seize her ability to speak and also change her future for the better.
New treatments may help restore speech lost to aphasia
(HealthDay)—Most people know the frustration of having a word on the "tip of your tongue" that they simply can't remember. But that passing nuisance can be an everyday occurrence for someone with aphasia, a communication disorder caused by a stroke or other brain damage that impairs the ability to process language.
Cognitive herapy over the phone as effective as face-to-face, new study finds
A new study reveals that cognitive therapy over the phone is just as effective as meeting face-to-face. The research was published today, 28 September, in the journal PLoS ONE.
First study of clonal evolution in Maxillary Sinus Carcinoma
Knowing how tumors evolve can lead to new treatments that could help prevent cancer from recurring, according to a study published today by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare.
Major genetic discovery explains 10 percent of aortic valve disease
Researchers at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center and University of Montreal have identified genetic origins in 10% of an important form of congenital heart diseases by studying the genetic variability within families.
Immunologists find a molecule that puts the brakes on inflammation
(Medical Xpress)—We couldn't live without our immune systems, always tuned to detect and eradicate invading pathogens and particles. But sometimes the immune response goes overboard, triggering autoimmune diseases like lupus, asthma or inflammatory bowel disease.
Researchers find multiple similarities between cancer cells and induced pluripotent stem cells
(Medical Xpress)—UC Davis investigators have found new evidence that a promising type of stem cell now being considered for a variety of disease therapies is very similar to the type of cells that give rise to cancer. The findings suggest that although the cells—known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)—show substantial promise as a source of replacement cells and tissues to treat injuries, disease and chronic conditions, scientists and physicians must move cautiously with any clinical use because iPSCs could also cause malignant cancer.
You're far less in control of your brain than you think, study finds
You've probably never given much thought to the fact that picking up your cup of morning coffee presents your brain with a set of complex decisions. You need to decide how to aim your hand, grasp the handle and raise the cup to your mouth, all without spilling the contents on your lap.
Biology news
Smoking Indonesian orangutan gives birth
An orangutan famous for puffing on cigarettes gave birth this week at an Indonesian zoo, an official said on Friday, in a rare event giving a boon to the critically endangered species.
Code of practice on kangaroo killing 'inadequately enforced'
Weaknesses in the enforcement of standards for the humane killing of kangaroos have been identified in a new report by THINKK, the UTS-based think tank for kangaroos.
Within reach of Australia: Rabies is now present only 350 kilometres from northern Australia
Rabies is now present only 350 kilometres from northern Australia, closer than the distance from Sydney to Dubbo.
An old insect pest reemerges in organic orchards
The apple flea weevil, a sporadic insect pest in the early 1900s, has reemerged as a severe pest in organic apple orchards in Michigan, where outbreak population levels have been observed since 2008, and damage has resulted in up to 90% losses for apple growers.
Tadpole shrimp a new pest of rice in the midsouthern United States
Tadpole shrimp are pests of rice production systems in California and have recently been found impacting Missouri and Arkansas rice fields. The shrimp feed on rice seedlings and uproot them during foraging, and their foraging behavior causes water to become muddy, which reduces light penetration to submerged seedlings and delays the development of the rice plant.
Philippines expands probe into 'blood' ivory
Philippine authorities said Friday they had launched a nationwide investigation into Catholic devotees collecting religious figures made of "blood" ivory smuggled from Africa.
Big science: Local funding supports open access sequencing of the Puerto Rican Parrot genome
The critically endangered Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) is the only surviving parrot species native to the United States. A genomic sequencing project, funded by community donations, has published today, in BioMed Central and BGI's open access journal GigaScience, the first sequence of A. vittata, the first of the large Neotropical Amazona birds to be studied at the genomic level.
India leopards at risk of decimation, study finds
India's leopard population is at risk of being decimated as a result of rampant poaching fuelled by a thriving black market for its skins, a study by animal conservationists said on Friday.
Presence of invasive insect in Senegal confirmed
(Phys.org)—A Virginia Tech-managed research program, the Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Program, has confirmed the presence of Tuta absoluta in Senegal, the first confirmation of the insect's presence in that country.
Scientists examine fall migratory pathways and habits of whimbrels
As they traveled from the east coast of Canada to the northern shore of South America, Akpik, Mackenzie, Pingo and Taglu stunned researchers and the global conservation community by flying some 2,500 miles out to sea, through the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, a migration route that has never before been documented.
Analysis of bacterial genes may help ID cause of dog brain disease, researchers say
(Phys.org)—By analyzing the genes of bacteria, University of Florida researchers have moved a step closer to pinpointing how two brain disorders common in small-breed dogs occur.
Honey bees fight back against Varroa
The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a major contributor to the recent mysterious death of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Biology finds that specific proteins, released by damaged larvae and in the antennae of adult honey bees, can drive hygienic behavior of the adults and promote the removal of infected larvae from the hive.
Carson's Silent Spring turns 50
(Phys.org)—Silent Spring, by marine biologist Rachel Carson, was first published 50 years ago this month, and two Perspective articles in the Ecology section of the journal Science examine the legacy of this book, which inspired the environmental movement we have today.
Biologists discover why one species of fruit fly is dependent on a single cactus species
(Phys.org)—Researchers studying Drosophila pachea, a species of fruit fly that lives only in the Sonoran desert, have discovered why it is that the fly is wholly dependent on a single cactus species. It's due, they write in their paper published in the journal Science, to a mutation in a gene in a protein necessary for growth from larvae to adult, which allows the fly to convert a substance other than cholesterol to 7-dehydrocholesterol.
Predatory bacterial crowdsourcing
(Phys.org)—Move forward. High-five your neighbor. Turn around. Repeat.
Corals have evolved four lifestyles, study says
(Phys.org)—A new study by Simon Fraser University researchers will help scientists better understand and manage coral reef diversity by simplifying how to categorize coral species based on aspects of growth and reproduction.
Research suggests that evolution sometimes meant becoming simpler, not more complex
(Phys.org)—The view that animals have become more complex over time could be a thing of the past, according to the latest research.
Novel approach distinguishes cause-and-effect from misleading correlation
(Phys.org)—Is fishing alone responsible for stock collapses, or are there other dominant factors? Determining the causes driving changes in complex networks such as ecosystems is especially challenging. Until recently, scientists had a limited toolbox for detecting causation. Often they would correlate two variables and suggest it implied causation. Yet as long ago as 1710, Irish philosopher Bishop Berkeley remarked "correlation does not imply causation."
Study uncovers how molecular parasite replicates, spreads ability to cause disease
(Phys.org)—An international team of researchers has uncovered how a molecular parasite responsible for playing a role in antibiotic-resistant disease, such as MRSA, can replicate and spread ability to cause disease, according to a new study published online this week in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Loop the loop, DNA style: One- or two-way transcription depends on gene loops
(Phys.org)—In certain toy racecar tracks, sneaky players can flip a switch, trapping their opponents' vehicles in a loop of track. Cells employ a less subtle approach: they change the track's layout. In a study published online today in Science, scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and Oxford University discovered that, by forming or undoing gene loops, cells manipulate the path of the transcription machinery – which reads out instructions from DNA – controlling whether it moves along the genetic material in one direction or two.
Marine plants can flee to avoid predators, researchers say
Scientists at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography have made the first observation of a predator avoidance behavior by a species of phytoplankton, a microscopic marine plant. Susanne Menden-Deuer, associate professor of oceanography, and doctoral student Elizabeth Harvey made the unexpected observation while studying the interactions between phytoplankton and zooplankton.
White shark diets vary with age and among individuals
White sharks, the largest predatory sharks in the ocean, are thought of as apex predators that feed primarily on seals and sea lions. But a new study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, shows surprising variability in the dietary preferences of individual sharks.
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