Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 11, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Physicists 'uncollapse' a partially collapsed qubit- Bacteria may allow animals to send quick, voluminous messages
- Self-steering particles go with the flow
- New paradigm for solar cell construction demonstrated
- Researchers apply new technique to manipulate virus, make it a possible cancer treatment
- Levitating foam liquid under the spell of magnetic fields
- Green poison-dart frog varies mating call to suit situation
- Methane-munching microorganisms meddle with metals
- Physicists monitoring huge solar event (w/ Video)
- Old young stars
- Researchers make surfaces that are easier to cool under extreme heat
- Reef fossil find sets new age limit
- Pilbara home to 3.5 billion-year-old bacterial ecosystems
- Driverless, networked cars on Ann Arbor roads by 2021
- Fossil from the depths of the solar system
Space & Earth news
Russians take Olympic torch on historic spacewalk
Two cosmonauts took the Olympic torch—unlit—for a spacewalk Saturday in a historic showcasing of Russia's Sochi Winter Olympic Games in three months' time.
Tehran schools ordered shut over air pollution
Air pollution has forced Iranian authorities to close elementary schools and kindergartens in Tehran province for three days from Sunday, the state broadcaster said.
UN climate talks open amid 'sobering' typhoon
Nations launched a new round of talks Monday for a 2015 deal to cut Earth-warming greenhouse gas emissions in the aftermath of a deadly Philippines typhoon the UN's climate chief labelled "sobering".
Soil fertility risk to Australia's food supply
A call for a national plan to capture, recycle and make better use of scarce nutrients was made by a group of leading farmers and scientists today.
Image: NGC 6946, "the fireworks galaxy"
NGC 6946 is a medium-sized, face-on spiral galaxy about 22 million light years away from Earth. In the past century, eight supernovas have been observed to explode in the arms of this galaxy.
Communities should hit the 'pause button' following a disaster, expert says
One of the first steps people take toward rebuilding their communities after a flood, wildfire or other disaster may not be the right step, according to the director of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Typhoon Haiyan overshadows UN climate talks (Update)
The devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan cast a gloom over U.N. climate talks Monday as the envoy from the Philippines broke down in tears and announced he would fast until a "meaningful outcome is in sight."
Ecuador in new probe to see if climate change worsens El Nino
Think Galapagos and you think nature in its most pristine expression. But the destructive weather phenomenon called El Nino turns coral reefs there a sickly white and sea iguanas scrawny.
Frugal Mars mission launchpad for India in global space market
India's bid to become the first Asian nation to reach Mars sets a new benchmark for frugal interplanetary travel and puts it in a perfect position to grab more of the $300-billion global space market, experts say.
ESA: Satellite causes no damage after re-entry
The European Space Agency says one of its research satellites that had run out of fuel caused no known damage after re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.
Indian Mars mission suffers glitch but 'no setback'
India's Mars spacecraft suffered a brief engine failure Monday as scientists tried to move it into a higher orbit around Earth, but controllers denied any setback to the ambitious low-cost mission.
ExoMars lander module named Schiaparelli
The entry, descent and landing demonstrator module that will fly on the 2016 ExoMars mission has been named 'Schiaparelli' in honour of the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli, who famously mapped the Red Planet's surface features in the 19th century.
When the Sahara turned to sand
The Sahara wasn't always a desert. Trees and grasslands dominated the landscape from roughly 10,000 years ago to 5,000 years ago. Then, abruptly, the climate changed, and north Africa began to dry out.
Satellites packed like sardines
(Phys.org) —The complex task of placing all three Swarm satellites on their launch adapter is complete. This is another significant milestone in preparing ESA's latest Earth observation mission for liftoff, which is now set for 22 November.
Satellite hits Atlantic—but what about next one?
This time it splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean—but what about next time?
Comets play a role in the history of civilization
The sight of a bright comet has fascinated humankind through the ages. But what's behind such celestial spectacles? It's only in modern times that researchers have got wise to the phenomenon - by then, the comets already had a long career as harbingers of bad tidings or heavenly messengers.
Keep a lid on it: The controversy over Earth's oldest rocks
New evidence is shedding light on the processes that formed Earth's oldest rock and mineral record – processes that influenced the early evolution of life.
Expect increasingly violent cyclones, weather experts warn
Meteorologists have yet to formally link global warming to typhoons like the one that devastated the Philippines, but they expect increasingly extreme weather phenomena due to a rise in ocean temperatures.
Russians take Olympic torch on first-ever spacewalk
Two cosmonauts took the Olympic torch—unlit—for a spacewalk Saturday in a historic showcasing of Russia's Sochi Winter Olympic Games in three months' time.
Italy assures no risk of satellite debris on its territory
Italian officials assured residents Sunday the risk of debris from a defunct satellite falling on Italy overnight was now nil, scrubbing an earlier warning of "minimal" danger.
Ozone pact helped cool the planet, study reports
A slowdown in global warming that climate sceptics cite in favour of their cause was partly induced by one of the world's most successful environment treaties, a study said on Sunday.
ISS crew returns to Earth with Olympic torch (Update)
Three astronauts returned to Earth on Monday after a 166-day mission, bringing the Olympic torch back from the International Space Station after a historic space walk.
NASA to add legs to giant robonaut aboard the ISS
(Phys.org) —NASA has announced its intention to add legs to the Robonaut 2 (R2) robot currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), sometime next year. The move is part of a 50 year project (currently in year 17) by NASA to investigate the possibilities of using robots on space missions. Adding legs to R2 will increase its standing height to eight feet and its weight to 500 pounds.
Study finds climate link to atmospheric-river storms
(Phys.org) —A new NASA-led study of atmospheric-river storms from the Pacific Ocean may help scientists better predict major winter snowfalls that hit West Coast mountains and lead to heavy spring runoff and sometimes flooding.
Prolific NASA Mars orbiter passes big data milestone
(Phys.org) —NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has overhauled understanding of the Red Planet since 2006, has passed 200 terabits in the amount of science data returned. The data returned by the mission alone is more than three times the total data returned via NASA's Deep Space Network for all the other missions managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., over the past 10 years.
NASA peers into one of Earth's strongest storms ever
(Phys.org) —New satellite images just obtained from NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard NASA's Aqua spacecraft and the Indian Space Research Organization's OceanSAT-2 ocean wind scatterometer provide a glimpse into one of the most powerful storms ever recorded on Earth.
Curiosity performs warm reset
(Phys.org) —NASA's Mars rover Curiosity experienced an unexpected software reboot (also known as a warm reset) yesterday (11/7/13) during a communications pass as it was sending engineering and science data to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, for later downlinking to Earth. This computer reset occurred about four-and-half hours after new flight software had been temporarily loaded into the rover's memory. At the time the event occurred, Curiosity was in the middle of a scheduled, week-long flight software update and checkout activity.
Fossil from the depths of the solar system
(Phys.org) —ISON is approaching the Sun. An international observation campaign which involves ground-based telescopes, space probes and space telescopes has been running for some time and is already providing initial findings. The comet is now in the sights of the STEREO twin probes which monitor our Sun and how it affects the space weather from their orbits. The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Katlenburg-Lindau is also integrated into the scientific activities.
Pilbara home to 3.5 billion-year-old bacterial ecosystems
(Phys.org) —Evidence of complex microbial ecosystems dating back almost 3.5 billion years has been found in Western Australia's Pilbara region by an international team including UWA Research Assistant Professor David Wacey.
Old young stars
(Phys.org) —The early stages of a star's life are critical both for the star and for any future planets that might develop around it. The process of star formation, once thought to involve just the simple coalescence of material under the influence of gravity, actually entails a complex series of stages, with the youngest stars assembling circumstellar disks of material, possibly preplanetary in nature. In the current models, conservation of angular momentum during the collapse of cloud cores leads to the formation of these discs. The presence and evolution of these circumstellar discs is important both for the planets that form from them and for the star itself.
Physicists monitoring huge solar event (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —The sun's magnetic field is poised to reverse its polarity. The effects of the event, which occurs every 11 years, will ripple throughout the solar system and be closely monitored by Stanford solar physicists.
Mission to Mars moon could be a sample-return twofer, study says
The study helps to confirm the idea that the surface of Phobos contains tons of dust, soil, and rock blown off the Martian surface by large projectile impacts. Phobos' orbital path plows through occasional plumes of Martian debris, meaning the tiny moon has been gathering Martian castoffs for millions of years. That means a sample-return mission planned by the Russian space agency could sample two celestial bodies for the price of one.
Researchers find tie between global precipitation and global warming
The rain in Spain may lie mainly on the plain, but the location and intensity of that rain is changing not only in Spain but around the globe.
Feast and famine on the abyssal plain
Animals living on the abyssal plain, miles below the ocean surface, don't usually get much to eat. Their main source of food is "marine snow"—a slow drift of mucus, fecal pellets, and body parts—that sinks down from the surface waters. However, researchers have long been puzzled by the fact that, over the long term, the steady fall of marine snow cannot account for all the food consumed by animals and microbes living in the sediment. A new paper by MBARI researcher Ken Smith and his colleagues shows that population booms of algae or animals near the sea surface can sometimes result in huge pulses of organic material sinking to the deep seafloor. In a few weeks, such deep-sea "feasts" can deliver as much food to deep-sea animals as would normally arrive over years or even decades of typical marine snow.
Technology news
Invention lets companies choose greener cloud options
IBM inventors have patented a technique that enables cloud computing data center operators to dynamically redistribute workloads to lower-powered or underutilized systems, thereby minimizing the environmental footprint and impact of cloud services.
Green efficiency boost for water treatment plants
There are more than 65 000 waste water treatment plants in Europe, each providing an essential service to local populations. But by simply installing innovative new equipment, plants could cut energy use by up to 25 percent while increasing nutrient removal by up to 20 percent.
European project sets out to boost the wind energy sector by further improving the reliability of wind turbines
The WINDTRUST project kicked off in September 2013 with the objective of improving the competitiveness of the wind energy sector by developing and testing innovative components to further improve turbine reliability.
Israel's Teva to pay $718 million in Israeli taxes
Israel's Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. says it has reached an agreement with the country's tax authority to pay roughly $718 million to settle a series of claims against the drug maker.
Italy pledges to improve data privacy protection
The Italian government says it is taking steps to better protect the privacy of its citizens' data in the wake of revelations about the U.S. National Security Agency's surveillance work.
Film group backs antipiracy curriculum for schools
When it comes to learning about the evils of Internet piracy, Hollywood studios and the major music labels want kids to start young.
New BlackBerry leader's pay package released
New BlackBerry chairman and interim chief executive John Chen has a large pay package.
Hackers expose Asia's weak cyber defences
A rash of website hackings in the Asia-Pacific has exposed weak cyber defences which must be improved to help the region deal with more sophisticated and sinister threats, particularly from criminal organisations, analysts said.
A look at what next-next-gen games could offer
The next generation of gaming is nearly here, but what about the generation after that one?
Smartphones seen tripling to 5.6 billion by 2019
The number of smartphones is forecast to triple to 5.6 billion globally by 2019, accounting for more than 60 percent of cellphones.
The cathedral window in a new light
At the intersection of science and art: the Audiovisual Communications Laboratory has developped software to observe stained glass with a light and viewing angle that have been chosen to reveal unexpected details.
Amazon, US Postal Service will deliver on Sundays
Amazon says it is teaming up with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver packages on Sundays.
Waste could help fuel low carbon energy and transport
In a time when society– and nature itself– are threatened by climate change, it seems fair to ask: Does recycling still matter? Two Swedish scientists say it does.
Sub-Saharan Africa still fastest growing mobile region
Sub-Saharan Africa is set to remain the world's fastest growing mobile market in the coming years, an industry report said Monday.
Flipboard expands into personal shopping catalogs
Personal magazine creator Flipboard is expanding into shopping catalogs just in time for the holiday shopping season.
Japan PM Abe rides around Tokyo in self-driving vehicles
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took a ride in several self-driving vehicles on the public roads in the capital on Saturday, showcasing the technology ahead of Tokyo Motor Show.
Ambri liquid metal battery: Prototype deployment set for 2014
(Phys.org) —November is a milestone month for Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) spinoff company Ambri, where a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on November 7 marked its new production facility. Ambri is targeting its liquid metal battery technology for use in the electricity grid. The company believes they have an electricity storage solution that will change the way electric grids are operated worldwide. Ambri's liquid metal battery technology breaks away from other storage options; each cell consists of three self-separating liquid layers, two metals and a salt, that float on top of each other based on density differences and immiscibility, said Ambri. The system operates at elevated temperature maintained by self-heating during charging and discharging.
New solar cell is more efficient, less costly
(Phys.org) —American innovators still have some cards to play when it comes to squeezing more efficiency and lower costs out of silicon, the workhorse of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules worldwide.
Driverless, networked cars on Ann Arbor roads by 2021
(Phys.org) —By 2021, Ann Arbor could become the first American city with a shared fleet of networked, driverless vehicles. That's the goal of the Mobility Transformation Center, a cross-campus University of Michigan initiative that also involves government and industry representatives.
FCC to hear presentation of new FCC Speed Test App for Android
(Phys.org) —Newly appointed head of the FCC, Tom Wheeler will be getting a briefing on what the agency calls the FCC Speed Test App for Android, this week—it's an app that once approved, developed and deployed will allow users of Android phones to monitor the upload and download speeds as well as latency times they are getting with their carrier. It would also provide a means for conveying results obtained to the FCC, where results nationwide can be analyzed to determine, Wheeler has said, whether Americans are getting what they pay for.
An intersection of math and biology: Clams and snails inspire robotic diggers and crawlers (w/ Video)
Engineering has always taken cues from biology. Natural organisms and systems have done well at evolving to perform tasks and achieve objectives within the limits set by nature and physics.
Apple, Samsung to face off in court again on patents
Apple and Samsung return to a California court this week for another round in the blockbuster patent trial between the two biggest smartphone makers.
Medicine & Health news
UN launches polio vaccination campaign in Mideast
The United Nations says a massive campaign to vaccinate children in the Middle East against polio has begun after the first cases in 14 years were confirmed in northeastern Syria last week.
New innovations in clinical science
A variety of recent studies highlight new and innovative research efforts that could help improve individuals' kidney health. Below are the findings of some of these studies, which are being presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
Soft drinks and sugar in the diet may have negative effects on the kidneys
Two new studies highlight the potential negative effects that soft drinks and sugar can have on kidney health. Results of these studies will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
Perceived discrimination and mistrust in health care lowers patients' quality of life
Perceived discrimination and mistrust in health care can negatively affect patients' quality of life, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
Preeclampsia during pregnancy may be linked with kidney failure risk
Preeclampsia during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of developing kidney failure, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
Acid levels in the diet could have profound effects on kidney health
Three new studies suggest that controlling dietary acid intake could help improve kidney health. Results of these studies will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
Young breast cancer patients with poorer financial status may experience delays in seeking care
Researchers who sought to determine why breast cancers are more deadly in young women found that only a minority of young women experience long delays between the time they detect a breast abnormality and the time they receive a diagnosis, but delays in seeking care are more common in women with fewer financial resources. The findings are published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
'Miracle' baby born in Philippine typhoon rubble
Emily Sagalis cried tears of joy after giving birth to a "miracle" girl in a typhoon-ravaged Philippine city, then named the baby after her mother who went missing in the storm.
Oman reports first death linked to MERS virus
Oman says officials are widening health checks following the country's first death blamed on a SARS-like virus that has been centered in neighboring Saudi Arabia.
Shire buys ViroPharma in $4.2 billion deal (Update)
The drugmaker Shire PLC plans to strengthen its rare disease treatment portfolio by spending $4.2 billion in cash to buy the biopharmaceutical company ViroPharma Inc.
Orthopaedic surgeon says anterolateral ligament not "new" but promising for ACL injuries
While anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery is a widely accepted and proven procedure, according to a renowned orthopaedic surgeon at Western University, there is still an unacceptably high re-injury rate in young patients returning to pivoting sports like basketball, volleyball and soccer.
Research results in big savings for cancer treatment
An intervention to counter the neurotoxic effects of a chemotherapy treatment for cancer has been withdrawn after research showed it was ineffective.
Making progress in biomaterial design and tissue validation
There have recently been several advancements in the world of biomaterial design and tissue validation thanks to the BIODESIGN consortium. Currently, a partnership of 19 research and clinical teams from academic centres, small biotech and large pharmaceutical companies is designing and developing state-of-the-art therapeutic approaches, with the aim to help treat traumatic damage and degenerative diseases in humans and alleviate patient suffering.
Could deceased heart attack victims expand donor pool?
Researchers from the U.K. suggest that using organs from donors after circulatory death (DCD) who also suffered a previous cardiac arrest out of the hospital environment could expand the pool of available livers for transplant. Results published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society, show that using organs from selected DCD donors with pre-hospital cardiac arrest had no significant impact on graft or transplant recipient survival compared to organs from donors experiencing other cardiovascular death.
22 million women aged over 50 are affected by osteoporosis in the European Union
A recent report issued by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) estimates that more than 22 million women aged between 50-84 years in the European Union (EU) have osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women are at greatest risk of broken bones due to the hormonal changes that occur at menopause which result in rapid loss of bone mass.
Hormones impact stress, memories, and understanding social cues
Research released today demonstrates unexpected roles that sex hormones may play in the cognitive function of females, including memory and interpreting social cues. Additionally, a chemical identified in pregnant mice may provide insight into developmental disorders, such as schizophrenia. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
When care is omitted—new research on a taboo topic
Registered nurses in hospitals often lack the time for nursing care activities, such as comfort or talk with patients or educating patients and relatives. A study by the Institute of Nursing Sciences at the University of Basel shows that all European countries are affected, but variability in these and other important aspects of nursing care between and within countries was found. The results have been published in the journal "BMJ Quality & Safety".
Haiyan aid response must avoid tsunami mistakes: expert
The disaster response to typhoon Haiyan must avoid the mistakes made by aid organisations after the 2004 tsunami, RMIT University's Associate Professor Martin Mulligan says.
CWRU team building an MRI-guided robotic heart catheter
In a matter of years, a doctor may see real-time images of a patient's beating heart and steer a robotic catheter through its chambers using the push and pull of magnetic fields while the patient lies inside a magnetic resonance imager.
CWRU nursing school turns to alums as patient actors in novel training approach
Alumni from Case Western Reserve University School of Nursing switched roles from being nurses to patients with depression and substance abuse issues. They made the change to give Case Western Reserve University's student nurses some special training in communications.
@Toxicology in the Twittersphere: More than just 140 characters
A valuable role exists for the use of social media in medicine, new research has shown.
Nail gun injuries on the rise
Young males in the work environment are at greatest risk of sustaining a nail gun injury to their non-dominant hand, a new study has found.
Novartis sells blood transfusion test unit for $1.7 bn
Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis said Monday it would sell its blood transfusion diagnostics unit to the Spanish firm Grifols for $1.68 billion (1.25 billion euros), with analysts saying more divestments could lay in store.
Teens say 'slim cigs are cool' while government stalls on packaging
Slim-line cigarettes have been voted 'cute, classy and feminine' by 15 year olds who rate the slimmer brands as weaker and less harmful than 'smelly and disgusting' brown cigarettes, according to new research* to be published in the European Journal of Public Health this autumn, ahead of the Children and Families Bill being discussed in the House of Lords.
Doctors orders: A veteran of war and vascular surgery offers advice on health reform
A weary American soldier rests on one knee in a dusty foreign desert. The young man's massive backpack is overflowing with equipment and there are pouches strapped to his belt, tools attached to his boots, and gear affixed to his helmet.
Expanding primary care capacity by reducing inefficiency
Producing more healthcare providers is often touted as the principle solution to the looming shortage in the primary care workforce. A quicker and less costly approach to offset primary care physician shortages can occur with the workforce already in place, through efforts to reduce the widespread waste and inefficiency in the typical physician workday.
Transforming the physician workforce through competitive graduate education funding
Graduate Medical Education (GME) has fallen short in training physicians to meet changes in the U.S. population and health care delivery systems. But a new proposed funding mechanism coupled to a competitive peer-review process may be the best way to reform the process, according to an analysis and commentary in the November issue of Health Affairs.
Polio outbreak in Syria linked to Pakistan, WHO says
An outbreak of polio that has paralysed 13 children in war-torn Syria is linked to a strain of the virus from Pakistan, the World Health Organisation said Monday.
Studies pinpoint specific brain areas and mechanisms associated with depression and anxiety
Research released today reveals new mechanisms and areas of the brain associated with anxiety and depression, presenting possible targets to understand and treat these debilitating mental illnesses. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
The doctor will text you now: Post-ER follow-up that works
Diabetic patients treated in the emergency department who were enrolled in a program in which they received automated daily text messages improved their level of control over their diabetes and their medication adherence, according to a study published online today in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Trial to Examine Test Message Based mHealth in Emergency Department Patients with Diabetes (TExT-MED): A Randomized Controlled Trial").
Hospitals vary in monitoring and treatment of children with brain injury, reports study in Neurosurgery
Hospitals vary in management of children with traumatic brain injury—particularly in monitoring and preventing the harmful effects of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), according to a study in the November issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Aptiom approved to treat seizures
(HealthDay)—Aptiom (eslicarbazepine acetate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an add-on drug to help treat adults with partial epileptic seizures.
Kidney damage in first responders linked to 9/11
For the first time, researchers have linked high levels of inhaled particulate matter by first responders at Ground Zero to kidney damage. Researchers from the WTC-CHEST Program, a subset of the World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center for Excellence at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, presented their new findings at the 2013 American Society of Nephrology meeting on Nov. 9 during National Kidney Week.
Use of calcium-channel blocker and antibiotic associated with small increased risk of kidney injury
Among older adults taking a calcium-channel blocker, simultaneous use of the antibiotic clarithromycin, compared with azithromycin, was associated with a small but statistically significant greater 30-day risk of hospitalization with acute kidney injury, according to a study published by JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the American Society of Nephrology's Kidney Week 2013.
Investigational drug effective in treating iron deficiency in kidney disease patients on dialysis
Doctors at the North Shore-LIJ Health System on Saturday will present late-breaking data showing that an investigational drug Triferic is well tolerated and effective in treating iron deficiency in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis. This data will be presented at the American Society of Nephrology's Kidney Week 2013 in Atlanta, GA.
New clinical trials reveal insights on treating patients with kidney disease
Recently completed clinical trials highlight the potential of new therapies for individuals with kidney disease. Below are the findings of two of these studies, which are being presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
Saudi reports two new cases of MERS virus
Saudi Arabia has recorded two new cases of the MERS virus, the health ministry said on Saturday, a day after authorities in neighbouring Qatar reported one new case.
Research reveals roles for exercise and diet in aging, depression
New studies released today underscore the potential impact of healthy lifestyle choices in treating depression, the effects of aging, and learning. The research focused on the effects of mind/body awareness, exercise, and diet, and was presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Saudi MERS toll reaches 53 as Oman records first death (Update)
Saudi Arabia announced another fatality from the MERS virus on Sunday, taking its toll to 53, as neighbouring Oman recorded its first death from the respiratory disease.
New evidence on the biological basis of highly impulsive and aggressive behaviors
Physical and chemical changes in the brain during development can potentially play a role in some delinquent and deviant behaviors, according to research released today. Studies looking at the underlying mechanisms that influence our ability to exercise self-control were presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Research reveals new understanding, warning signs, and potential treatments for multiple sclerosis
Scientists are gaining a new level of understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS) that may lead to new treatments and approaches to controlling the chronic disease, according to new research released today at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Brainstem abnormalities found in 'SIDS' infants, in both safe and unsafe sleep environments
Investigators at Boston Children's Hospital report that infants dying suddenly and unexpectedly, in both safe and unsafe sleep environments, have underlying brainstem abnormalities and are not all normal prior to death.
Multiple birth pregnancies can cost nearly 20 times more than singleton pregnancies
Multiple pregnancies are a major public health concern in the United States and the rest of the world due to the significantly higher health risks for both mothers and infants, as well as the impact on healthcare costs. Investigators analyzed and compared the cost of multiple versus single-birth pregnancies and found that pregnancies with delivery of twins cost about five times more than singletons, and pregnancies with delivery of triplets or more cost nearly 20 times as much. They call for strategies to reduce this burden. Their findings are published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Transcription factor may protect against hepatic injury caused by hepatitis C and alcohol
New data suggest that the transcription factor FOXO3 may protect against alcohol-induced liver injury. Researchers determined that alcohol given to mice deficient in FOXO3 caused severe liver injury resembling human alcoholic hepatitis. Further they found that although hepatitis C virus (HCV) and alcohol independently activated FOXO3, in combination they suppressed FOXO3, reduced expression of cytoprotective genes, and worsened liver injury. The results are published in The American Journal of Pathology.
Experts examine success of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating older veterans' depression
Researchers have found significant and equivalent reductions in depressive symptoms for both older and younger veterans undergoing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for depression (CBT-D), according to an article published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences on November 11.
Teen night owls likely to perform worse academically, emotionally
(Medical Xpress)—Teenagers who go to bed late during the school year are more prone to academic and emotional difficulties in the long run, compared to their earlier-to-bed counterparts, according to a new study from UC Berkeley.
Discovery sheds light on how changes in lungs can hurt the heart
A team of UW-Madison researchers has discovered important biomechanical changes in human arteries that could increase understanding of how pulmonary hypertension leads to heart failure.
Lead exposure dooms some Wisconsin kids to struggle in school
Two studies funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Program paint a grim reality for Wisconsin children exposed to lead before age 3.
Herbal shisha a potential health hazard, study says
(Medical Xpress)—Just because something is marketed as herbal doesn't make it healthy—especially when it comes to smoking shisha, which can contain toxic metals, tar and other carcinogenic compounds sometimes on par with cigarettes, warn researchers from the University of Alberta.
Predicting cancer's next move
Research led by Broad senior associate member Levi Garraway and published this week in Nature offers a new approach to studying drug resistance in cancer. The approach helped them identify which biological pathways could be enabling melanoma to circumvent available anti-cancer treatments. Targeting the output of these pathways for treatment could potentially hinder the course of this often-fatal disease.
Methylation linked to metabolic disease
(Medical Xpress)—In the first in-depth analysis of DNA methylation in fat, a process that affects the regulation of genes, researchers have linked regions of methylation to metabolic traits such as high body mass index (BMI) and obesity.
Molecular interplay explains many immunodeficiencies
Australian scientists have described an exquisitely balanced interplay of four molecules that trigger and govern antibody production in immune cells. As well as being an important basic science discovery, it helps explain why people with mutations in any one of the associated genes cannot fight infection effectively, and develop rare and crippling immunodeficiency disorders.
You want fries with that? Don't go there
A new Dartmouth neuroimaging study suggests chronic dieters overeat when the regions of their brain that balance impulsive behavior and self-control become disrupted, decreasing their capacity to resist temptation.
Understanding immune system memory—in a roundabout way
While the principle of immune memory has been known for decades, the exact molecular mechanisms underpinning it have remained a mystery. Australian scientists have now unraveled part of that mystery, identifying the role of a gene called STAT3, which acts as a kind of roundabout, directing chemical messenger molecules to various destinations.
Researcher focuses on the repair of spinal cords
A spinal cord injury can be a devastating condition, often resulting in life-long disability and a range of secondary complications.
Prosthetic hands viewed as eerie by the public, new study shows
Members of the public would prefer to look at human hands or robotic hands rather than prosthetic hands which they view as eerie, a new study by The University of Manchester has shown.
Teen athletes at risk for medication misuse
Teen athletes derive many positive benefits from participating in sports, but their increased risk of sports-related injuries may also heighten their risk for medication misuse and abuse, especially for boys, finds a recent study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
New cause found for muscle-weakening disease myasthenia gravis
An antibody to a protein critical to enabling the brain to talk to muscles has been identified as a cause of myasthenia gravis, researchers report.
When your body needs calories, you are more inclined to help the poor
Imagine that you have not eaten anything for the past few hours. It is almost lunch time, and you are getting hungry. You receive an email. It is a survey asking about your political position regarding the welfare state. You answer the questions quickly and head off to lunch. Now imagine a different scenario. You have just come back from lunch. You are feeling full, as you sit down in front of your computer. You receive the same email. You answer the survey quickly and then get back to work. Do you think your answers in these two scenarios would be the same – or different?
Saudi says first camel tests positive for MERS virus (Update)
The Saudi government said Monday that a camel has tested positive for MERS, the first case of an animal infected with the coronavirus that has killed 64 people worldwide.
Study confirms vitamin D importance for older men
The largest study of ageing men in Australia has revealed low vitamin D as an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in older males.
'Spotlight' drug detects lingering cancer cells
(Medical Xpress)—When a tumor is surgically removed, there's always a chance the cancer will return. Even the tiniest bit of malignancy left behind creates a pathway for the disease to recur—often within a couple of months.
Study finds key link responsible for colon cancer initiation and metastasis
Chronic inflammation has long been known as a key risk factor for cancer—-particularly colon cancer—-but the exact mechanisms of how inflammation heightens the immune response, and ultimately influences the initiation and progression of cancer have remained elusive. It is well established that anti-inflammatory drugs, like aspirin, reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
Obesity among risk factors for delayed lactation in women with gestational diabetes
Pre-pregnancy obesity and older maternal age are among the risk factors for delayed lactation for women with gestational diabetes mellitus, according to a Kaiser Permanente study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Some 'healthy' vegetable oils may actually increase risk of heart disease
Some vegetable oils that claim to be healthy may actually increase the risk of heart disease, and Health Canada should reconsider cholesterol-lowering claims on food labelling, states an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Study shows moms may pass effects of stress to offspring via vaginal bacteria and placenta
Pregnant women may transmit the damaging effects of stress to their unborn child by way of the bacteria in their vagina and through the placenta, suggest new findings from two animal studies presented by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
Sons of cocaine-using fathers may resist addiction to drug, study suggests
A father's cocaine use may make his sons less sensitive to the drug and thereby more likely to resist addictive behaviors, suggests new findings from an animal study presented by Penn Medicine researchers at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
Domestic violence more common among orthopedic trauma patients than surgeons think
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 30 percent of women in North and South America experience intimate partner violence during their lifetimes. In North America, domestic violence also is the most common cause of non-fatal injuries among women, often resulting in broken bones.
First genetic mutations linked to atopic dermatitis identified in African-American children
Two specific genetic variations in people of African descent are responsible for persistent atopic dermatitis (AD), an itchy, inflammatory form of the skin disorder eczema. A new report by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that loss-of-function mutations to Filaggrin-2 (FLG2), a gene that creates a protein responsible for retaining moisture and protecting the skin from environmental irritants, were associated with atopic dermatitis in African American children. The study, the first report to deduce the mechanism responsible for the persistent form of the condition in African American children, was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Nurture impacts nature: Experiences leave genetic mark on brain, behavior
New human and animal research released today demonstrates how experiences impact genes that influence behavior and health. Today's studies, presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health, provide new insights into how experience might produce long-term brain changes in behaviors like drug addiction and memory formation.
Uninsured face hurdles choosing health insurance
The new federal health-care law gives millions of Americans access to medical insurance. However, choosing the right coverage—a daunting task for most people—could be even more difficult for those who have never had health insurance, according to a new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Researchers discover that the body clock may influence morning peak in adverse cardiovascular events
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in both men and women, and most adverse cardiovascular events tend to happen in the morning. In new findings published in the November issue of Blood, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Oregon Health & Science University have discovered that the internal body clock may contribute to the morning peak in heart attacks and ischemic strokes.
Putting Lupus in permanent remission
Northwestern Medicine scientists have successfully tested a nontoxic therapy that suppresses Lupus in blood samples of people with the autoimmune disease.
ASN: Bardoxolone methyl no benefit in T2DM, stage 4 CKD
(HealthDay)—Bardoxolone methyl does not reduce the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and stage 4 chronic kidney disease, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in the New England Journal of Medicine. This research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology (Kidney Week), held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Atlanta.
Post-op prophylactic heparin poses very low bleed risk
(HealthDay)—The risk of hemorrhage seems to be very low when prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is initiated 24 to 36 hours after degenerative spine surgery but the associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk is considerable, according to research published in the Nov. 1 issue of Spine.
Estrogen after menopause may blunt stress' effects on memory
(HealthDay)—Estrogen therapy after menopause may help reduce the memory problems associated with stress in some older women, a small new study suggests.
Fewer ER visits for kids after cold medicine restrictions
(HealthDay)— Restrictions placed on cough and cold medicines may be working, with fewer young children ending up in the ER because of bad side effects tied to the drugs, new research shows.
Teens may have less impulse control when faced with danger
(HealthDay)—Teens react more impulsively to danger than children or adults, which might explain why they're more likely to be involved in crimes, according to a new study.
Study probes heroin addiction's effect on the brain
(HealthDay)—Long-term heroin use changes how genes are activated in the brain, which leads to changes in brain function, according to a new study.
APNewsBreak: Military suicides drop; unclear why (Update)
Suicides across the U.S. military have dropped by more than 22 percent this year, defense officials said, amid an array of new programs targeting what the Defense Department calls an epidemic that took more service members' lives last year than the war in Afghanistan did during that same period.
Device may help doctors diagnose lethal heart rhythm in womb
A promising technology may enable doctors to diagnose and possibly treat in utero a common cause of stillbirth and sudden death in infants, according to research published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Obese older women at higher risk for death, disease, disability before age 85
Obesity and a bigger waist size in older women are associated with a higher risk of death, major chronic disease and mobility disability before the age of 85, according to a study published by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Overweight, obese are risks for heart disease regardless of metabolic syndrome
Being overweight or obese are risk factors for myocardial infarction (heart attack) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) regardless of whether individuals also have the cluster of cardiovascular risk factors known as metabolic syndrome, which includes high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar, according to a study published by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Study examines amyloid deposition in patients with traumatic brain injury
Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) had increased deposits of β-Amyloid (Aβ) plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer Disease (AD), in some areas of their brains in a study by Young T. Hong, Ph.D., of the University of Cambridge, England, and colleagues.
Problem-solving education reduces parental stress after child autism diagnosis
A cognitive-behavioral intervention known as problem-solving education (PSE) may help reduce parental stress and depressive symptoms immediately after their child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study by Emily Feinberg, CPNP, Sc.D., of Boston University School of Public Health, and colleagues.
New research finds high tungsten levels double stroke risk
High levels of tungsten in the body could double the risk of suffering a stroke, a new study published in the open access journal PLOS ONE has found.
Study is the first to show higher dietary acid load increases risk of diabetes
A study of more than 60 000 women has shown that higher overall acidity of the diet, regardless of the individual foods making up that diet, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. The study, the first large prospective study to demonstrate these findings, is published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), and is by Dr Guy Fagherazzi and Dr Françoise Clavel-Chapelon, Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, INSERM, Paris, France, and colleagues.
Swine flu pandemic media pundits with pharma links more likely to talk up risks and promote drugs
Academics with links to the pharmaceutical industry were more likely to talk up the risks of the 2009-10 swine flu pandemic in the media and promote the use of drugs than those without these ties, finds research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Protein illustrates muscle damage
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a protein that is only detectable after muscle damage, and it may serve as a way to measure injury.
Bad seed or little angel? Book says babies both
Are we naturally good or naturally evil? Cognitive scientist Paul Bloom argues in a new book that we're both.
Genetic variation increases risk of kidney disease progression in African-Americans
New research provides direct evidence that genetic variations in some African Americans with chronic kidney disease contribute to a more rapid decline in kidney function compared with white Americans. The research, led by investigators from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University, may help explain, in part, why even after accounting for differences in socioeconomic background, end-stage kidney disease is twice as prevalent among blacks as whites. Results are published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Simple dot test may help gauge the progression of dopamine loss in Parkinson's disease
A pilot study by a multi-disciplinary team of investigators at Georgetown University suggests that a simple dot test could help doctors gauge the extent of dopamine loss in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Their study is being presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
How sleep aids visual task learning
As any indignant teacher would scold, students must be awake to learn. But what science is showing with increasing sophistication is how the brain uses sleep for learning as well. At the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego Nov. 10, 2013, Brown University researchers will discuss new research describing the neural mechanism by which the sleeping brain locks in learning of a visual task.
Cause of genetic disorder found in 'dark matter' of DNA
For the first time, scientists have used new technology which analyses the whole genome to find the cause of a genetic disease in what was previously referred to as "junk DNA". Pancreatic agenesis results in babies being born without a pancreas, leaving them with a lifetime of diabetes and problems digesting food. In a breakthrough for genetic research, teams led by the University of Exeter Medical School and Imperial College London found that the condition is most commonly caused by mutations in a newly identified gene regulatory element in a remote part of the genome, which can now be explored thanks to advances in genetic sequencing.
Contribution of coding variants to psoriasis much smaller than thought
Coding variants in immune disease-related genes play only a small part in the overall genetic risk for psoriasis, according to a new study led by Anhui Medical University and BGI. This conclusion is strongly supported by their investigation on the contribution of functional coding variants to psoriasis in 21,309 Chinese individuals. In such a large-scale investigation, researchers only discovered two independent low-frequency variants with moderate effect on disease risk. The latest study was published online in Nature Genetics.
Scientists offers way to disrupt fibrosis
A team of scientists that includes Saint Louis University researchers has identified a new way to intervene in the molecular and cellular cascade that causes fibrosis – a condition where the body's natural process of forming scars for wound healing goes into overdrive and causes diseases. The findings, published Nov. 10 in the advance online issue of Nature Medicine, demonstrate a potential novel therapeutic approach to treat fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and liver fibrosis.
Racial difference in blood clotting warrants a closer look at heart attack medications
Thomas Jefferson University researchers have discovered that the formation of blood clots follows a different molecular route in African Americans versus European Americans, providing a new understanding of the effects of race on heart disease. The finding could one day help doctors provide more individualized treatment of heart disease and other blood-clot-related illnesses, according to research publishing online November 10th in Nature Medicine.
Surprises in hunt for environmental links to breast cancer
A decade-long research effort to uncover the environmental causes of breast cancer by studying both lab animals and a group of healthy US girls has turned up some surprises, scientists say.
Exercise during pregnancy gives newborn brain development a head start
As little as 20 minutes of moderate exercise three times per week during pregnancy enhances the newborn child's brain development, according to researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine children's hospital. This head-start could have an impact on the child's entire life.
Gun use in PG-13 movies has more than tripled since 1985
The amount of gun violence shown in PG-13 films has more than tripled since 1985, the year the rating was introduced.
Discovery may lead to new treatments for allergic diseases
(Medical Xpress)—A collaboration among researchers in Israel and the United States has resulted in the discovery of a new pathway that has broad implications for treating allergic diseases – particularly eosinophil-associated disorders.
Different brain regions process different types of fear
(Medical Xpress)—What do bullies and sex have in common? Based on work by scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo, Italy, it seems that the same part of the brain reacts to both. In a study published today in Nature Neuroscience, the researchers found that – at least in mice – different types of fear are processed by different groups of neurons, even if the animals act out those fears in the same way. The findings could have implications for addressing phobias and panic attacks in humans.
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease linked to fungus
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at Rutgers and Emory universities have discovered that a compound often emitted by mold may be linked to symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
SIGNAL found to enhance survival of new brain cells
A specialized type of brain cell that tamps down stem cell activity ironically, perhaps, encourages the survival of the stem cells' progeny, Johns Hopkins researchers report. Understanding how these new brain cells "decide" whether to live or die and how to behave is of special interest because changes in their activity are linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, mental illness and aging.
Researchers apply new technique to manipulate virus, make it a possible cancer treatment
(Medical Xpress)—Purdue University researchers successfully eliminated the native infection preferences of a Sindbis virus engineered to target and kill cancer cells, a milestone in the manipulation of this promising viral vector.
Biology news
NJ biologists remove arrow from deer's head
Wildlife officials have removed an arrow from a young deer's head and released the animal back into the New Jersey woods.
Insects can support livestock production
The use of insects as an alternative source of protein in animal feed is becoming more globally appealing. However, EU law currently prohibits including protein derived from insects in animal feed - with the exception of feed intended for fish or shellfish.
Low levels of blood calcium in dairy cows may affect cow health and productivity, study finds
The health of dairy cows after giving birth plays a big factor in the quantity and quality of the milk the cows produce. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that subclinical hypocalcemia, which is the condition of having low levels of calcium in the blood and occurs in many cows after giving birth, is related to higher levels of fat in the liver. John Middleton, a professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, says these higher levels of fat are often precursors to future health problems in cows.
Call for Atlantic tuna quotas to be retained
A leading environmental group on Monday called on authorities to keep tough fishing quotas on Atlantic tuna when governments meet next week to set industry rules.
Sea turtle deaths alarm Central America
Hundreds of sea turtles are washing up dead on the beaches of Central America and scientists don't know why.
'Saving our fish' needs more than a ban on discarding
Banning the practice of throwing unmarketable or over-quota fish back into the sea is just one of the measures needed to deliver sustainable fisheries according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).
By studying animal behaviour, we gain an insight into our own
In the field of animal behaviour, there is one topic that is almost guaranteed to get your study in the popular press: showing how an animal behaves just like humans. This can be solving problems, using tools, acting pessimistically when feeling down, or taking care of their grandchildren. People love stories of seemingly clever animals.
Vet med scientists find better, safer treatments for hoof disease in cattle
(Phys.org) —For almost 40 years, digital dermatitis has plagued cattle throughout the world. Also called heel warts, these painful hoof lesions limit the amount of time cows can stand and feed, which can hinder animal welfare and food production. The disease can be found on almost every beef and dairy farm in North America, so it has a significant economic impact on those industries in the United States.
Researchers identify plants that could be mined for metals
(Phys.org) —Mount Kinabalu is well known to climbers and adventurers all over the world – now a University of Queensland researcher is putting the Borneo mountain region on the map for trees that contain some of the world's highest concentrations of nickel.
Toxic tiger moth: Researchers study evolutionary arms race in Arizona desert
(Phys.org) —A battle for evolutionary dominance is raging in Arizona. Nick Dowdy, a graduate student at Wake Forest, spent his summer seeing which contender, the tiger moth or the bat, is prevailing.
Single-cell genome sequencing gets better
Researchers led by bioengineers at the University of California, San Diego have generated the most complete genome sequences from single E. coli cells and individual neurons from the human brain. The breakthrough comes from a new single-cell genome sequencing technique that confines genome amplification to fluid-filled wells with a volume of just 12 nanoliters.
Un-junking junk DNA
A study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine shines a new light on molecular tools our cells use to govern regulated gene expression. The study was published on line in advance of print November 10 in the journal Nature Structural and Molecular Biology.
Fast-mutating DNA sequences shape early development
What does it mean to be human? According to scientists the key lies, ultimately, in the billions of lines of genetic code that comprise the human genome. The problem, however, has been deciphering that code. But now, researchers at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered how the activation of specific stretches of DNA control the development of uniquely human characteristics—and tell an intriguing story about the evolution of our species.
Methane-munching microorganisms meddle with metals
On the continental margins, where the seafloor drops hundreds of meters below the water's surface, low temperatures and high pressure lock methane inside ice crystals. Called methane hydrates, these crystals are a potential energy source, but they are also a potential source of global warming if massive amounts of methane were released during an earthquake or by rising ocean temperatures.
Green poison-dart frog varies mating call to suit situation
In the eyes of a female poison-dart frog, a red male isn't much brighter than a green one. This does not however mean that the mating behavior of the green and red variants of the same species of frog is exactly the same. A study in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, led by Beatriz Willink of the Universidad de Costa Rica in Costa Rica, sheds light on these findings.
Nothing to see here
(Phys.org) —"Blend in" appears to be the mantra for male Bahamas mosquitofish that live near predators. After all, fish with brighter, more colorful fins or patches are more conspicuous – and standing out with predators around could be a death sentence. So these fish evolve duller colors under the threat of predation, to try and hide in the watery background.
Mathematical analysis helps untangle bacterial chromosomes
When an E. coli cell divides, it must replicate its circular chromosome and pull the resulting circles apart to take up residence in two new cells. It sounds easy enough—like a magician's trick with rings—but actually involves a complicated process of unknotting and unlinking of tangled DNA.
Errant gliding proteins yield long-sought insight
In order to react effectively to changes in the surroundings, bacteria must be able to quickly turn specific genes on or off. Although the overall mechanisms behind gene regulation have long been known, the fine details have eluded scientists for decades. Researchers at Uppsala University can now provide a picture of how proteins regulate genetic expression at the atomic level.
Research team elucidates evolution of bitter taste sensitivity
It's no coincidence that the expression "to leave a bitter taste in one's mouth" has a double meaning; people often have strong negative reactions to bitter substances, which, though found in healthful foods like vegetables, can also signify toxicity. For this reason, the ability to sense bitterness likely played an important role in human evolution.
Bacteria may allow animals to send quick, voluminous messages
Twitter clips human thoughts to a mere 140 characters. Animals' scent posts may be equally as short, relatively speaking, yet they convey an encyclopedia of information about the animals that left them.
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