The EDGE: ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, September 6, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, September 6, 2012

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Wetter Arctic could influence climate change, study finds (September 5, 2012) -- Increased precipitation and river discharge in the Arctic has the potential to speed climate change, according to the results of a new study. ... > full story

NASA's 'Mighty Eagle' robotic prototype lander aces major exam (September 5, 2012) -- Completing this round of flight test objectives, the "Mighty Eagle," a NASA robotic prototype lander, flew to an altitude of 100 feet and descended gently to a controlled landing during a successful free flight Sept. 5 at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. ... > full story

Cheers, Voyager: 35 years of exploration (September 5, 2012) -- What would a birthday party be without cake, music and toasts? Thirty-five years ago today, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft launched on its mission of exploration. It is now the most distant human-made object and the second-longest operating spacecraft. (Voyager 2 is the longest.) NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., which manages the Voyager spacecraft, held a celebration Sept. 5. ... > full story

HIF gene mutation found in tumor cells offers new clues about cancer metabolism (September 5, 2012) -- For the first time, a mutation in HIF2 alpha, a specific group of genes known as transcription factors that is involved in red blood cell production and cell metabolism, has been identified in cancer tumor cells. ... > full story

Alternatives to Medicare's fee-for-service payment system examined (September 5, 2012) -- For years policymakers have attempted to replace Medicare's fee-for-service payment system with approaches that pay one price for an aggregation of services. The intent has been to reward providers for offering needed care in the most appropriate and cost-effective manner. But many of these programs have known pitfalls, according to a new article. ... > full story

Call for a new approach to fighting tuberculosis (September 5, 2012) -- Each year, nearly two million people die from tuberculosis -- a treatable disease that has been brought under control in the United States, but continues to ravage other parts of the world. This health inequity should prompt a complete rethinking of the way tuberculosis is fought on a global level, experts argue. ... > full story

Fathers who sleep closer to children have lower testosterone levels (September 5, 2012) -- Closer sleeping proximity between fathers and children is associated with a greater decrease in the father's testosterone level, with possible implications for parenting behavior. ... > full story

Albatross 'dynamic soaring' achieved by repeated curve-altitude oscillation (September 5, 2012) -- Albatrosses leverage the energy of the wind to fly with essentially no mechanical cost to themselves, very rarely flapping their wings, and new work offers insight into how exactly they accomplish this feat. ... > full story

Best strategy to defeat HIV in South Africa: Study challenges World Health Organization's approach (September 5, 2012) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) is about to embark on a new strategy to prevent AIDS in South Africa, a country thought to have more people with HIV/AIDS than any other country in the world. Using mathematical modeling, the WHO predicts this strategy could completely eliminate HIV in South Africa within a decade. Alas, researchers at UCLA respectively disagree, suggesting the WHO has left out key considerations. Their own model suggests a different approach. ... > full story

Picky penguins: Does mate choice depend on genes that help resist disease? (September 5, 2012) -- Magellanic penguins have a high level of variation in genes associated with the ability to fight infectious disease, but a recent study found that the mechanism the penguins use to ensure that diversity is far from black and white. A recent study tested whether the significant diversity in the Major Histocompatibility Complex genome region observed in these birds is attributable to mate choice or genetic selection based on disease exposure. ... > full story

NFL players may be at higher risk of death from Alzheimer’s and ALS, research shows (September 5, 2012) -- New research shows that professional football players may be at a higher risk of death from diseases that damage the cells in the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease and ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), compared to the general U.S. population. ... > full story

Space shuttle Atlantis' new home tops out (September 5, 2012) -- The new home for space shuttle Atlantis was topped out Wednesday with its highest beam in a milestone ceremony marking the continuing construction of a 90,000-square-foot exhibit hall at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. ... > full story

NASA mission to study magnetic explosions passes major review (September 5, 2012) -- On August 31, 2012, NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission proved it was ready for its next steps by passing what's called a Systems Integration Review (SIR), which deems a mission ready to integrate instruments onto the spacecraft. ... > full story

Dawn has departed the giant asteroid Vesta (September 5, 2012) -- Mission controllers received confirmation today that NASA's Dawn spacecraft has escaped from the gentle gravitational grip of the giant asteroid Vesta. Dawn is now officially on its way to its second destination, the dwarf planet Ceres. ... > full story

NASA to explore link between sea saltiness, climate (September 5, 2012) -- A NASA-sponsored expedition is set to sail to the North Atlantic's saltiest spot to get a detailed, 3-D picture of how salt content fluctuates in the ocean's upper layers and how these variations are related to shifts in rainfall patterns around the planet. ... > full story

Social exclusion on the playground: Study looks at why kids say 'you can’t play!' (September 5, 2012) -- Being the last one picked for the team, getting left out of the clique of cool girls, having no one to sit with at lunch. For children, social exclusion can impact everything from emotional well being to academic achievements. ... > full story

Major advances in understanding the regulation and organization of the human genome (September 5, 2012) -- The National Human Genome Research Institute today announced the results of a five-year international study of the regulation and organization of the human genome. The project is named ENCODE, which stands for the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements. In conjunction with the release of those results, the Journal of Biological Chemistry has published a series of reviews that focus on several aspects of the findings. ... > full story

Dinosaur die out might have been second of two closely timed extinctions (September 5, 2012) -- New research indicates that shortly before an asteroid impact spelled doom for the dinosaurs, a separate extinction triggered by volcanic eruptions killed life on the ocean floor. ... > full story

Computational method for pinpointing genetic factors that cause disease (September 5, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a computational method of identifying "causal" genetic variants that lead to particular diseases, with wide application for genome-wide association studies. ... > full story

Concussions can happen in all kids, not just athletes (September 5, 2012) -- The gridiron is back in action. From little leagues to professional teams, football frenzy has begun, and with it, concerns about concussions. But it's not just jarring tackles that can lead to concussions in kids. According to doctors, there are many ways kids are exposed to concussion risks. ... > full story

Exceptional upward mobility in the US is a myth, international studies show (September 5, 2012) -- The rhetoric is relentless: America is a place of unparalleled opportunity, where hard work and determination can propel a child out of humble beginnings into the White House, or at least a mansion on a hill. But the reality is very different, according to a researcher who is studying inequality across generations around the world. ... > full story

LEDs winning light race to save energy, the environment (September 5, 2012) -- Light-emitting diode light bulbs, also known as LEDs, are more environmentally friendly than compact fluorescent and incandescent lights, new research shows. LEDs' environmental edge is expected to grow substantially as technology and manufacturing methods improve by 2017. ... > full story

Seeing the birth of the universe in an atom of hydrogen: Radio waves used to uncover oldest galaxies yet (September 5, 2012) -- Astronomers are using radio telescopes to find radio waves emitted by hydrogen atoms, which were abundant in the early days of the universe. This new field of research, called "21-centimeter cosmology," opens the way to learning more about the universe's oldest galaxies. ... > full story

Animal study finds anti-HIV vaginal ring can prevent virus transmission (September 5, 2012) -- Scientists have found that a vaginal ring releasing an anti-HIV drug can prevent the transmission of SHIV in macaques. This study provides the first efficacy data on the delivery of a microbicide from a vaginal ring, and indicates strong potential for the success of such rings in women. Microbicides are compounds that can be applied inside the vagina or rectum to protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. ... > full story

Carbon sequestration on U. S. rangelands offers promise, but not profit (September 5, 2012) -- Nearly 239 million hectares of land in the United States are devoted to pastures and rangeland. Worldwide, rangelands cover about 3.6 billion hectares. Harnessing the potential for carbon sequestration from these lands could have a global impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. ... > full story

Genome-wide scan maps mutations in deadly lung cancers; reveals embryonic gene link (September 5, 2012) -- Scientists have completed a comprehensive map of genetic mutations linked to an aggressive and lethal type of lung cancer. Among the errors found in small cell lung cancers, scientists found an alteration in a gene called SOX2 associated with early embryonic development. ... > full story

Mouse study suggests sleep problems may be early Alzheimer's sign (September 5, 2012) -- Sleep disruptions may be among the earliest indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, scientists report. ... > full story

First holistic view of how human genome actually works: ENCODE study produces massive data set (September 5, 2012) -- The Human Genome Project produced an almost complete order of the 3 billion pairs of chemical letters in the DNA that embodies the human genetic code -- but little about the way this blueprint works. Now, after a multi-year concerted effort by more than 440 researchers in 32 labs around the world, a more dynamic picture gives the first holistic view of how the human genome actually does its job. ... > full story

New PTSD diagnosis criteria examined (September 5, 2012) -- Proposed changes to the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder will not substantially affect the number of people who meet criteria for the disorder, according to new research. ... > full story

How a high-fat diet and estrogen loss leads women to store more abdominal fat than men (September 5, 2012) -- A high-fat diet triggers chemical reactions in female mice that could explain why women are more likely than men to gain fat in the abdomen after eating excess saturated fat, new research suggests. The study also sheds light on why women gain fat following menopause. ... > full story

Study in mice discovers injection of heat-generating cells reduces belly fat (September 5, 2012) -- The injection of a tiny capsule containing heat-generating cells into the abdomens of mice led those animals to burn abdominal fat and initially lose about 20 percent of belly fat after 80 days of treatment. ... > full story

Teens tell different tales about themselves depending on gender (September 5, 2012) -- During adolescence, the stories young people tell about themselves reflects their development of a personal identity and sense of self, and those autobiographical narratives vary depending on the teens' gender, according to psychologists. ... > full story

Gender equality influences how people choose their partners (September 5, 2012) -- Men and women clearly have different strategies for picking sexual partners, but the reason why differences exist is less clear. The classic explanation for these differences has been that men's and women's brains have evolved to make certain choices, but a new study suggests that evolution is only part of the answer. ... > full story

How ocean energy impacts life in the deep sea: Results will help scientists understand what to expect under future climate change (September 5, 2012) -- A new study of deep-sea species worldwide examines how gradients in food and temperature in the deep sea's dark, frigid waters affect the creatures that live there. Similar studies have been conducted in the shallow oceans, but our understanding of the impact of food and temperature on life in the deep sea -- the Earth's largest and most remote ecosystem -- is more limited. The results will help scientists understand what to expect under future climate change. ... > full story

Telaprevir: Added benefit in certain patients with hepatitis C (September 5, 2012) -- The new drug telaprevir offers advantages in various groups of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection of genotype 1. The available studies provide proof, indications or "hints" of an added benefit. However, not only the probability but also the extent of added benefit varies, according to a new assessment. ... > full story

Children exposed to two phthalates have elevated risk of asthma-related airway inflammation (September 5, 2012) -- Children exposed to diethyl phthalate and butylbenzyl phthalate -- phthalate chemicals commonly found in personal care and plastic products -- have elevated risk of asthma-related airway inflammation, according to researchers. ... > full story

Millions of DNA switches that power human genome's operating system are discovered (September 5, 2012) -- Genes make up only 2 percent of the human genome and are easy to spot, but the on/off switches controlling those genes were encrypted within the remaining 98 percent of the genome. Without these switches, called regulatory DNA, genes are inert. Scientists created detailed maps of the locations of regulatory DNA within hundreds of different kinds of living cells. They also compiled a dictionary of the instructions written within regulatory DNA. ... > full story

In massive genome analysis ENCODE data suggests 'gene' redefinition (September 5, 2012) -- As part of a huge collaborative effort called ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements), a research team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has analyzed all the RNA messages, called transcripts, produced within human cells. They show that three-quarters of the genome is capable of being transcribed, indicating that nearly all of our genome is dynamic and active. This raises exciting new possibilities for research into complex genetic diseases. ... > full story

Loss of tropical forests reduces rain (September 5, 2012) -- Deforestation can have a significant effect on tropical rainfall, new research confirms. The findings have potentially devastating impacts for people living in and near the Amazon and Congo forests. Continued destruction of these forests would reduce rain across the Amazon basin by up to a fifth (21 percent) in the dry season by 2050. ... > full story

Mapping a genetic world beyond genes (September 5, 2012) -- Most of the DNA alterations that are tied to disease do not alter protein-coding genes, but rather the "switches" that control them. Characterizing these switches is one of many goals of the ENCODE project -- a sweeping, international effort to create a compendium of all of the working parts of the human genome that have not been well studied or well understood. The function of the vast majority of the human genome has remained largely unknown, but the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project, launched in 2003, set out to change that. ... > full story

Researchers unlock disease information hidden in genome's control circuitry (September 5, 2012) -- Researchers have determined that the majority of genetic changes associated with more than 400 common diseases and clinical traits affect the genome's regulatory circuitry. These are the regions of DNA that contain instructions dictating when and where genes are switched on or off. Most of these changes affect circuits that are active during early human development, when body tissues are most vulnerable. ... > full story

ENCODE Project publishes new genomic insights in special issue of Genome Research (September 5, 2012) -- Genome Research publishes a special issue dedicated to The ENCODE (ENCyclopedia Of DNA Elements) Project, whose goal is to characterize all functional elements in the human genome. ... > full story

Tough gel stretches to 21 times its length, recoils, and heals itself: Biocompatible material much tougher than cartilage (September 5, 2012) -- A team of experts in mechanics, materials science, and tissue engineering has created an extremely stretchy and tough gel that may pave the way to replacing damaged cartilage in human joints. Called a hydrogel, because its main ingredient is water, the new material is a hybrid of two weak gels that combine to create something much stronger. Not only can this new gel stretch to 21 times its original length, but it is also exceptionally tough, self-healing, and biocompatible -- a valuable collection of attributes that opens up new opportunities in medicine and tissue engineering. ... > full story

Understanding the human genome: ENCODE at BioMed Central (September 5, 2012) -- The completion of the human genome project in 2003 was an immeasurably important milestone, but (like an book written in code) left many biologists wondering what the sequence might actually mean. Consequently, the focus of human genomics that year began the transition from generating sequence -- to annotating the functional elements, hidden within the human genome's 3.2 billion As, Cs, Gs and Ts. With this goal in mind the ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) consortium was formed. ... > full story

List of Asian species at conservation crossroads released by Wildlife Conservation Society (September 5, 2012) -- The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) today released a list of Asian species that are at a conservation crossroads calling for governments to take immediate action with The Three Rs Approach: Recognition, Responsibility, Recovery. ... > full story

Decoding the Black Death: Anthropologist finds clues in medieval skeletons (September 5, 2012) -- Researchers have been studying medieval skeletons at the Museum of London since 2003, each year unlocking more clues to the mystery that surrounds the Black Death. ... > full story

Quantum teleportation goes the distance: Record-breaking distance of 143 kilometers through free space (September 5, 2012) -- An international research team has achieved quantum teleportation over a record-breaking distance of 143 kilometers through free space. ... > full story

When do we lie? When we're short on time and long on reasons (September 5, 2012) -- Almost all of us have been tempted to lie at some point, whether about our GPA, our annual income, or our age. But what makes us actually do it? In a new study, psychological scientists discover that time pressure and available justifications both influence dishonest behavior. ... > full story

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