Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 8, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Physicists extend special relativity beyond the speed of light- Lithium in action: Advanced imaging method reveals fundamental reactions behind battery technology
- Fossil of ancient spider attack only one of its type ever discovered
- Researchers build most complex synthetic biology circuit yet
- Vast differences in Antarctic and Arctic polar ocean microbial communities reported
- Nobel prize to Briton, Japanese for stem cell work (Update 4)
- Disney's magical vision calls for 3-D printed optical elements (w/ Video)
- Giant black holes lurking in survey data
- Toyota's go-slow message on electric cars
- Adaptable button mushroom serves up genes critical to managing the planet's carbon stores
- Scientists discover gene 'bursting' plays key role in protein production
- Maternal depression and SRIs affect language development in babies
- Alzheimer drug shows some promise in mild disease (Update)
- Cyberattacks against US rising unchecked: study
- Low-level mercury exposure in pregnant women connected to ADHD risk in children
Space & Earth news
S. Korea labels chemical leak area 'disaster' zone
The South Korean government on Monday designated an area hit by a toxic chemical leak as a "special disaster" zone, after more than 3,000 people were treated for ailments ranging from nausea to chest pain.
Georgia's network of food hubs connect local farmers, markets
A recent University of Georgia survey of state food hubs found that Georgia is busy—through small groups of farmers—providing the large amounts of local produce needed to grow local markets.
Scientists battle harmful water toxins
University of Ulster scientists are collaborating with international research partners to develop a new 'clean' technology to destroy water toxins caused by harmful algal blooms.
Skydiver eyes record-breaking jump over NM
Experienced skydiver and extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner hopes to take the leap of his life on Tuesday, attempting the highest, fastest free fall in history.
Climate chemistry and the tropics
(Phys.org)—New models are being developed to predict how changing land use in the tropics could affect future climate, air quality and crop production.
Looking deeper into sea ice
(Phys.org)—This year, satellites saw the extent of Arctic sea ice hit a record low since measurements began in the 1970s. ESA's SMOS and CryoSat satellites are now taking a deeper look by measuring the volume of the sea-ice cover.
CubeSats launched from the space station
Five tiny CubeSats were deployed from the International Space Station on Thursday and astronaut Chris Hadfield called the image above "surreal" on Twitter. And rightly so, as they look like a cross between Star Wars training droids and mini Borg Cubes from Star Trek. The Cubesats measure about 10 centimeters (4 inches) on a side and each will conduct a range of scientific missions, ranging from Earth observation and photography to technology demonstrations to sending LED pulses in Morse Code (which should be visible from Earth) to test out a potential type of optical communication system.
Satellite sees giant 'fog ring' in U.S. Southwest
(Phys.org)—When you think of fog, you think of a blanket, but NOAA's GOES-14 satellite saw a ring of fog over the southwestern U.S. on Oct. 4.
The magnetic wakes of pulsar planets
Pulsars are among the most extreme stars in the universe: dense balls of matter which are heavier than the Sun, yet only a few tens of kilometers in diameter. They rotate rapidly (up to several hundred revolutions per second) and flash like lighthouse beacons—hence the name, which is short for pulsating star. And yet despite these exotic properties, pulsars are like our Sun in one way at least: two have been observed to be home to planetary systems.
Strong earthquake hits Maluku in eastern Indonesia
(AP)—A strong earthquake shook parts of eastern Indonesia on Monday, sending residents and hotel guests running out of their rooms, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
Austrian eyes record jump from edge of space in US
An Austrian daredevil is hoping to make an unprecedented leap from the edge of space Tuesday, setting records as he breaks the speed of sound in freefall in the skies above the US state of New Mexico.
SpaceX Dragon capsule launched to space station
A commercial cargo ship rocketed into orbit Sunday in pursuit of the International Space Station, the first of a dozen supply runs under a mega-contract with NASA.
Australia scientists tackle reef-killing starfish
An Australian research team said Monday they have found an effective way to kill the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish, which is devastating coral reefs across the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Study shows Atlantic Ocean influence on European summers
(Phys.org)—This year's dismal UK summer could be part of a run of poor summers caused by a major warming of the North Atlantic Ocean that occurred back in the 1990s.
Twists and turns in interacting galaxies
(Phys.org)—Almost thirty years ago the Infrared Astronomy Satellite, IRAS, discovered that the universe contained many fabulously luminous galaxies, some of them more than a thousand times brighter than our own galaxy, but which are practically invisible at optical wavelengths. The reason for their optical dimness is that their bright light comes not from stars, which can be seen in the visible, but from dust that is warmed by bursts of star formation to temperatures of about 70 kelvin (about 200 degrees below zero Celsius) where infrared radiation predominates. Luminous galaxies not only shed light on how galaxies evolve and form stars, they act as lanterns that can be seen across cosmological distances, thereby helping scientists study the relatively early universe.
Environmentalist finds CO2 rises faster in good times than it falls in bad
(Phys.org)—Richard York, a researcher with the Department of Sociology and Environmental Studies Program at the University of Oregon, has found that a measured reduction in CO2 emissions during economic downturns is not on par with the increase in CO2 emissions that is apparent during boon times. York made this discovery after analyzing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of several nations during the period 1960 to 2008, and then comparing these values with the countries' corresponding annual measures of CO2 emissions. The results are published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
Giant black holes lurking in survey data
(Phys.org)—Scientists at the University of Cambridge have used cutting-edge infrared surveys of the sky to discover a new population of enormous, rapidly growing supermassive black holes in the early Universe. The black holes were previously undetected because they sit cocooned within thick layers of dust. The new study has shown however that they are emitting vast amounts of radiation through violent interactions with their host galaxies. The team publish their results in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Chasing clouds on Venus
(Phys.org)—Clouds regularly punctuate Earth's blue sky, but on Venus the clouds never part, for the planet is wrapped entirely in a 20 km-thick veil of carbon dioxide and sulphuric dioxide haze.
SpaceX launch good for NASA, not private firm
A private rocket successfully sent a capsule full of cargo zipping toward the International Space Station in a first of its kind delivery for NASA, but couldn't deliver on job No. 2: putting a commercial satellite into the correct orbit.
Vast differences in Antarctic and Arctic polar ocean microbial communities reported
(Phys.org)—An international team of scientists, including a University of Michigan graduate student, has demonstrated that a clear difference exists between the marine microbial communities in the Southern and Arctic oceans, contributing to a better understanding of the biodiversity of marine life at the poles.
Technology news
Tokyo Electron and imec to accelerate directed self-assembly (DSA) development
Imec and Tokyo Electron (TEL) announce that they will accelerate their Directed Self-Assembly (DSA) activities at imec's recent 300mm fab-compatible DSA process line. Over the past two years, both companies have been actively engaged in DSA development. Based on promising results achieved on imec's 300mm DSA process line, imec and TEL will now expand their focus to explore DSA as a cost-effective and manufacturing viable patterning technique for 2x and beyond technologies.
European interregional collaboration on thin-film PV
Imec and its partners in the Solliance initiative announce that they have launched, together with the Institute of Materials Research of the University of Hasselt (IMO), the Solar Flare Interreg Project. Solar Flare is co-funded by the European Union and the regional governments and supports regional projects in the Eindhoven-Leuven region that focus on the development of thin-film solar energy with higher efficiency and lower cost.
5 everyday technologies inspired by sci-fi
Sci-fi is more than just a popular genre of fiction. It can also give an amazingly accurate insight into the future.
Dish, Gannett reach agreement over TV fees
(AP)—Dish and Gannett say they have reached an agreement in a fee dispute that had threatened to leave more than 2 million Dish subscribers in 19 cities without access to local television stations owned by Gannett.
Microsoft, General Electric unite to improve health care data
In a downtown Bellevue, Wash., high-rise last week, the doors opened to a new health care joint venture formed by two of the world's largest companies: Microsoft and General Electric.
US panel: China tech giants pose security threat (Update)
(AP)—American companies should avoid sourcing network equipment from China's two leading technology firms because they pose a national security threat to the United States, the House Intelligence Committee warned Monday.
YouTube takes original programming venture abroad (Update)
(AP)—YouTube is extending its original programming initiative into Europe, with at least 60 new video channels from media companies including Britain's BBC, London-based FreemantleMedia and the Netherlands' Endemol.
Games play into Facebook's future
As investors agonize over Facebook's future, the online social network used by a seventh of the world's population isn't forgetting the importance of play.
45,000 feet: Future UAVs may fuel up in flight
Currently global military aviation relies on a key enabler – aerial refueling. Fighters, bombers, reconnaissance and transport aircraft use "flying gas stations" to go the extra mile. Increasingly, UAVs are conducting combat and ISR operations, but UAVs aren't designed to be refueled in flight. In 2007, DARPA teamed up with NASA to show that high-performance aircraft can easily perform automated refueling from conventional tankers, yet many unmanned aircraft can't match the speed, altitude and performance of the current tanker fleet. The 2007 demonstration also required a pilot on board to set conditions and monitor safety during autonomous refueling operations.
GM moves to bring computer technology in-house (Update)
(AP)—Now hiring in Detroit: Software developers and programmers.
US says will oppose major revisions of global telecom rules
The United States will oppose any major revision to 24-year-old global telecommunications regulations at an international conference in December, the head of the US delegation said Monday, insisting the Internet must remain free and open.
Salt power: Watt's next in rechargeable batteries?
Reza Shahbazian-Yassar thinks sodium might be the next big thing in rechargeable batteries.
Cyberattacks against US rising unchecked: study
The number of cyberattacks targeting US organizations has doubled over the past three years, leading to hefty losses, a study released Monday showed.
Toyota's go-slow message on electric cars
No automaker looking at the electric car market right now is going to read "full speed ahead" from what's happened so far. The Chevy Volt is outselling half the car models on the market, but many others, from the Nissan Leaf (poor hot weather performance, has resulted in buy-backs) to the Fisker Karma (bad reviews), are having trouble on the launch pad.
Hackers slay characters in 'Warcraft' online game
Hackers staged a surprise attack on the online role-playing game World of Warcraft and "killed" some virtual characters, the company operating the game said Monday.
Disney's magical vision calls for 3-D printed optical elements (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—Disney Research is serious about mixing science with play and pushing further into imaginative results with 3-D printing. A research paper, "Printed Optics: 3D Printing of Embedded Optical Elements for Interactive Devices," talks about explorations into 3-D printing with custom optical elements for interactive devices. As such, Disney Research is thinking toward a next-step in digital printing when one will print interactive objects on the fly. Authors of the paper, Karl D.D. Willis, Eric Brockmeyer, Scott E. Hudson, Ivan Poupyrev, are all focused on future printing techniques and applications.
Medicine & Health news
'Big visions' for solving environmental health issues
Many contaminants are easy for the public to spot, like emissions from the tailpipe of a car or the sludge from a massive oil spill washing up on the ocean's shores.
Mental illness and limited literacy
(Medical Xpress)—Approximately 47 percent of the U.S. population reads below an eighth-grade level, but the percentage is significantly greater among people using public mental-health services, according to Alisa Lincoln, an associate professor of sociology and health sciences at Northeastern University.
Researchers work to bridge the gap between Chinese and Western medicine
When it comes to minor complaints, chronic conditions and even fatal illnesses, we often turn to ginseng and other herbal remedies. That is why traditional Chinese medicine has become an integral part of our life. But how many of us really know the effectiveness of these Chinese medicines from various sources?
New research shows that GPs need to recognise occupational asthma
A new report published today in the scientific journal, Occupational Medicine, finds that many people who develop work related asthma are not correctly diagnosed by GPs. Work related factors cause one in ten cases of asthma in adults but an audit of patient records suggests that GPs do not recognise this in three quarters of patients.
'Treatment alliance' needed to save more children's lives from cancer
Experts are calling for an urgent change to approaches for treating and researching childhood cancers, to continue to save more children from the disease.
Endotrophin links obesity to breast cancer progression
Fat cells (adipocytes) surround breast tumors and contribute to tumor growth by expressing factors that aid oncogenesis. Col6 is a protein that is highly expressed in adipocytes and its expression is further increased in both obesity and in breast cancer cells.
Health Canada's fast-tracked drug approvals can put public at risk
Drugs streamed into Health Canada's accelerated review process are more likely to be withdrawn from the market or earn a serious safety warning than those that undergo the standard review, according to a recent paper out of York University.
Novel one-step system for restoring voice in throat cancer patients
Patients who have lost their voice box through disease such as throat cancer may be able to speak immediately after a procedure to create a small opening at the throat. A novel system developed through an Engineering-in-Medicine project led by Dr Chui Chee Kiong, NUS Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Dr David Lau, Consultant Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Surgeon at Raffles Hospital, cuts down a two-week duration before patients can speak, to about 10 minutes after the initial procedure.
Every third child incorrectly restrained in cars, says European study
Car accidents are the main cause of serious injury and death among children in Norway. A new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health shows that 37 per cent of all children under 16 years are incorrectly restrained in the car. 23 per cent of children are so poorly restrained that a collision would have very serious consequences. The study results were presented at a seminar on traffic accidents in Oslo on 8th October.
New scanning technology aims to achieve quicker diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease
Groundbreaking research taking place at the University of York could lead to Alzheimer's disease being diagnosed in minutes using a simple brain scan.
Simple meditation shown to decrease symptoms of stress and depression
A simple form of mindful meditation can help breast cancer survivors stave off the symptoms of depression, new research suggests. But the potential benefits don't stop there.
Nearly half of children with autism wander or 'bolt' from safe places
A new study published today in the journal Pediatrics (Epub ahead of print) found that nearly half of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are reported to wander or "bolt," and more than half of these children go missing. Led by researchers from the Interactive Autism Network (IAN), the nation's largest online autism research initiative and a project of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, this study provides the most comprehensive estimate of elopement occurrence in a United States community-based sample of more than 1,200 children with ASD.
Gene variant linked with reduced lung cancer risk
A variant in a gene involved with inflammation and the immune response is linked with a decreased risk of lung cancer. That is the finding of an analysis published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The results add to the growing body of literature implicating these processes in the development of lung cancer.
Patient navigation leads to faster diagnosis for breast cancer, according to new study
Today researchers from The George Washington University published a study showing that breast cancer patients can reduce potentially dangerous delays in the identification of breast cancer with the assistance of patient navigation services. Patient navigation—a service that helps patients overcome barriers to getting health care, including setting up appointments, dealing with health insurance, and helping with fears about cancer—led to a nearly four-fold reduction in the time it took to diagnose a suspicious breast lump, the new study found.
Medicine prize kicks off Nobel week
The 2012 Nobel Prize season opens Monday with the award for medicine, marking the start of a week of announcements and speculation over who will collect the literature and peace prizes.
7 dead in spreading US meningitis outbreak
At least seven people have died and 91 have fallen ill in the United States in a worsening meningitis outbreak tied to a contaminated drug, updated figures showed Sunday.
Gender stereotypes and nature vs. nurture
Is gender difference a result of nature or nurture? Is neuroscience research being manipulated to support gender stereotypes? A debate at the Festival of Ideas will explore the issue later this month.
Online learning initiative reinventing medical school courses
(Medical Xpress)—Andrew Patterson, MD, associate professor of anesthesia, is convinced that the only way forward in medical education is what he calls a revolutionary path. No more of the old way—professors lecture, students listen.
I did my best work 50 years ago, says Nobel winner Gurdon (Update)
British scientist John Gurdon, awarded the Nobel Medicine Prize on Monday with Japan's Shinya Yamanaka for work in cell programming, said he was "immensely grateful and astonished."
Teacher tried to dissuade Nobel winner Gurdon from science
Veteran British scientist John Gurdon, who shared the Nobel Prize for medicine on Monday, is often described as the "godfather of cloning" for his work on stem cell research but was once told by his teacher not to pursue a career in science.
Benefits of bariatric surgery for sleep apnoea negligible, researchers find
(Medical Xpress)—Although bariatric surgery results in greater weight loss than conventional measures, new research shows this does not translate into significantly greater improvement in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
New drug shrinks brain tumours in melanoma patients
(Medical Xpress)—Australian researchers have given hope to patients with advanced melanoma by showing that a new drug targeting a common mutation in melanoma successfully shrank tumours that had spread to the brain.
Training computers to understand the human brain
Understanding how the human brain categorizes information through signs and language is a key part of developing computers that can 'think' and 'see' in the same way as humans. Hiroyuki Akama at the Graduate School of Decision Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, together with co-workers in Yokohama, the USA, Italy and the UK, have completed a study using fMRI datasets to train a computer to predict the semantic category of an image originally viewed by five different people.
A taste for olive oil could provide insight into its anti-inflammatory properties
(Medical Xpress)—Deakin University researchers are investigating the anti-inflammatory properties of virgin olive oil to see if it as the potential to protect against the inflammation involved in muscle wasting conditions such as muscular dystrophy.
Study finds most children eat four times the daily salt limit
(Medical Xpress)— Deakin University study has found seven in ten children are eating more than the recommended upper limit of salt each day, putting their health at serious risk.
Ageing linked to cancer
Ageing is an unavoidable part of life, and it is often accompanied by a number of age-related illnesses. One of the biggest diseases associated with ageing is cancer, which as a result is often referred to as a 'disease of ageing'. As well as being of significant concern to individuals, ageing also represents a major concern to healthcare providers and society as a whole. However, while ageing is unavoidable, the diseases associated with old age need not be. And that's what the researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) are trying to accomplish.
Self-tracking may become key element of personalized medicine
(Medical Xpress)—A steady stream of new apps and devices that can be synced to ever-more sophisticated mobile phones is flowing into consumers' hands, and this technology is revolutionizing the practice of self-tracking, in which individuals measure and collect personal data to improve their heath.
New research a step closer to male contraceptive pill
(Medical Xpress)—New insights into sperms' swimming skills shed light on male infertility, which affects one in 20 men, and could provide a new avenue to the development of a male contraceptive pill.
Use of fresh red blood cells for transfusions for premature infants does not improve outcomes
Among premature, very low-birth-weight infants requiring a transfusion, use of fresh red blood cells (RBCs) compared with standard RBC transfusion practice did not improve clinical outcomes that included rates of complications or death, according to a study in the October 10 issue of JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks) Annual Meeting.
UnitedHealth plans overseas growth with $4.9B deal (Update)
UnitedHealth Group Inc. will spend about $4.9 billion to buy a majority stake in Brazilian health benefits and care provider Amil Participacoes SA, as the largest U.S. health insurer leaps into an international market it says is primed for growth.
Modest Nobel laureate says Japan deserves his prize
Japanese stem cell pioneer Shinya Yamanaka responded modestly after winning the Nobel prize for medicine Monday, saying his country really deserves the award.
A new field of developmental neuroscience changes our understanding of the early years of human life
By the time our children reach kindergarten their learning and developmental patterns are already taking shape, as is a trajectory for their future health. Now, for the first time, scientists have amassed a large collection of research that looks "under the skin", to examine how and why experiences interact with biology starting before birth to affect a life course.
Moving from high-poverty to low-poverty neighborhoods appears beneficial for some adolescent girls
Although some girls benefited from a program that moved families from high-poverty areas to low-poverty areas, boys and adolescents from families with preexisting health-related vulnerabilities did not appear to experience mental health benefits, according to a report published Online First by Archives of General Psychiatry, a JAMA Network publication.
Study finds decline in HIV deaths for most men, women by race/ethnicity, education
Overall death rates due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection declined over time between 1993 and 2007 for most men and women by race/ethnicity and educational levels, with the largest absolute decreases for nonwhites, but rates remain high among blacks, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Steroid-related meningitis cases now total 91, CDC says
(HealthDay)—The number of meningitis cases linked to apparently contaminated steroid injections has risen to 91 in nine states, and the number of deaths remains at seven, U.S. health officials reported Sunday.
Cooking tips to possibly lessen risk of arsenic in rice
Last month rice lovers got some bitter news. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Consumer Reports released studies showing "worrisome" levels of cancer-causing arsenic in many popular rices and rice products.
New triggers for weight gain: Researchers focus on air pollution, sleep deprivation
As obesity rates soar worldwide, the antidote may seem obvious: Eat less! Move more! But the common-sense approach hasn't been terribly effective, prompting some scientists to question the simplicity of the formula.
Language learning makes the brain grow
(Medical Xpress)—At the Swedish Armed Forces Interpreter Academy, young recruits learn a new language at a very fast pace. By measuring their brains before and after the language training, a group of researchers have had an almost unique opportunity to observe what happens to the brain when we learn a new language in a short period of time.
Steroid-related meningitis cases rise to 105
(AP)—Health officials say the number of people sickened by a deadly meningitis outbreak has now reached 105 cases.
Pre-op factors predict post-gastric op glycemic response
(HealthDay)—The glycemic response to gastric bypass surgery can be predicted in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes by three preoperative factors, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in Diabetes Care.
CT use up for children with abdominal pain seen in ER
(HealthDay)—The use of CT scans on children being brought to emergency rooms with abdominal pain has skyrocketed, new research reveals.
Terminally ill young adults ID items important to their care
(HealthDay)—Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with life-threatening illness want to be able to choose and record specific information for their end-of-life care, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Pediatrics.
US meningitis outbreak: 13,000 got steroid shots
(AP)—As many as 13,000 people received steroid shots suspected in a national meningitis outbreak, health officials said Monday. But it's not clear how many are in danger.
Inheritance of mitochondrial disease determined when mother is still an embryo
(Medical Xpress)—The risk of a child to inherit mitochondrial diseases - i. e. malfunction in what is usually referred to as the power plants of the cell - is largely decided when the future mother herself is still an embryo. This according to a novel study by scientists at Karolinska Institutet and the Max Planck Institute in Germany, which is published in the journal Nature Genetics.
Bitter taste receptors regulate the upper respiratory defense system, research shows
A new study from a team of researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the Monell Chemical Senses Center, and the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, reveals that a person's ability to taste certain bitter flavors is directly related to their ability to fight off upper respiratory tract infections, specifically chronic sinus infections. The new research is published in the latest edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Study identifies biological mechanism that plays key role in early-onset dementia
Using animal models, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered how a protein deficiency may be linked to frontotemporal dementia (FTD)—a form of early-onset dementia that is similar to Alzheimer's disease. These results lay the foundation for therapies that one day may benefit those who suffer from this and related diseases that wreak havoc on the brain.
Cell reprogramming: much promise, many hurdles
Research in reprogrammed cells, which on Monday earned the 2012 Nobel Prize, has been hailed as a new dawn for regenerative medicine but remains troubled by several clouds.
Maternal depression and SRIs affect language development in babies
Maternal depression and a common class of antidepressants can alter a crucial period of language development in babies, according to a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia, Harvard University and the Child & Family Research Institute (CFRI) at BC Children's Hospital.
Low-level mercury exposure in pregnant women connected to ADHD risk in children
A study of children in the New Bedford, Mass., area suggests that low-level prenatal mercury exposure may be associated with a greater risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related behaviors and that fish consumption during pregnancy may be associated with a lower risk of these behaviors, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Can eating tomatoes lower the risk of stroke?
Eating tomatoes and tomato-based foods is associated with a lower risk of stroke, according to new research published in the October 9, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Study links deletion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to major depression, anxiety, and obesity
McGill researchers have identified a small region in the genome that conclusively plays a role in the development of psychiatric disease and obesity. The key lies in the genomic deletion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, a nervous system growth factor that plays a critical role in brain development.
Alzheimer drug shows some promise in mild disease (Update)
Combined results from two studies of an experimental Alzheimer's drug suggest it might modestly slow mental decline, especially in patients with mild disease.
Nobel prize to Briton, Japanese for stem cell work (Update 4)
Two scientists from different generations won the Nobel Prize in medicine Monday for the groundbreaking discovery that cells in the body can be reprogrammed into completely different kinds, work that reflects the mechanism behind cloning and offers an alternative to using embryonic stem cells.
Biology news
Colostrum health benefits for dairy calves not affected by cold storage, study finds
Fresh, refrigerated or frozen, colostrum still is the best thing dairy owners can feed newborn calves, according to a joint study by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the University of Florida.
Biodiversity meeting begins with funding plea
A major UN meeting designed to safeguard the world's natural resources began Monday with appeals to ensure that biodiversity does not become a victim of the global financial crisis.
Super-microbes engineered to solve world environmental problems
Environmental problems, such as depleting natural resources, highlight the need to establish a renewable chemical industry. Metabolic engineering enhances the production of chemicals made by microbes in so-called "cell factories". Next Monday, world class scientist Professor Sang Yup Lee of KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) will explain how metabolic engineering could lead to the development of solutions to these environmental problems.
Genetic diversity: The hidden face of biodiversity
Will future conservation policies have to take account of the genetic diversity within each species ? A large-scale study into plants found at high altitude throughout the Alps and the Carpathians, has enabled an international team of 15 laboratories to show that environments where genetic diversity of species is the highest are not necessarily those with the greatest number of species. The results, published on 25 September 2012 in Ecology Letters, open up new perspectives regarding strategies for the protection of biodiversity.
Following a bird's life at sea
Studying land-based birds is tough enough, but studying seabirds that spend much of their time over, on, or under water presents a new set of challenges.
Butterflies for your phone
Fluttering onto a smartphone near you soon, a field guide to the butterflies of Northern California, created by UC Davis students.
Yoda purpurata, others: Three new species of deep sea acorn worms named
They may not be green but they do live in an ocean far, far away, and now they share the same moniker as the diminutive Jedi master in the Star Wars blockbusters.
Study finds nearly 50% of retail firewood infested with insects
A new study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology reports that live insects were found in 47% of firewood bundles purchased from big box stores, gas stations and grocery stores in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Scientists reclassify eukaryotic microorganisms
One of the biggest scientific challenges is the classification of the natural world, especially the protists, which are eukaryotic microorganisms. While the classification proposed by Sina Adl et al. (2005) was conservative enough to help keep erroneous or premature groupings at bay, an international team of researchers has revised the classification, incorporating latest advances in the use of phylogenomic-scale phylogenetic analyses and increased taxon sampling. The goal? To shed fresh light on the current state of protist diversity and categorisation, and of undiscovered species. The reclassification was presented in the Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology.
Scientists discover gene 'bursting' plays key role in protein production
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have mapped the precise frequency by which genes get turned on across the human genome, providing new insight into the most fundamental of cellular processes—and revealing new clues as to what happens when this process goes awry.
Adaptable button mushroom serves up genes critical to managing the planet's carbon stores
The button mushroom occupies a prominent place in our diet and in the grocery store where it boasts a tasty multibillion-dollar niche, while in nature, Agaricus bisporus is known to decay leaf matter on the forest floor. Now, owing to an international collaboration of two dozen institutions led by the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI), the full repertoire of A. bisporus genes has been determined.
Insects show how DNA mistakes become evolutionary innovation
One of the more difficult aspects of evolution for some people to swallow is the notion that random copying errors in DNA can add up to anything useful.
Some plants in arid regions benefit from climate change, study finds
(Phys.org)—Dryland ecosystems cover 41% of the Earth's land surface. These ecosystems are highly vulnerable to global environmental change and desertification. But climate change seems to have a positive impact on some plants. A study involving the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock has come to this conclusion.
Researchers build most complex synthetic biology circuit yet
Using genes as interchangeable parts, synthetic biologists design cellular circuits that can perform new functions, such as sensing environmental conditions. However, the complexity that can be achieved in such circuits has been limited by a critical bottleneck: the difficulty in assembling genetic components that don't interfere with each other.
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