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Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for September 16, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Moon's craters give new clues to early solar system bombardment- AIDS virus lineage much older than previously thought
- Scientists report new insights into the moon's rich geologic complexity
- Extremophile microbes survive only on energy from formate oxidation
- Scientific understanding of T. rex revised by a decade of new research and discovery
- Researchers build Moon garden
- Introspection linked to more gray matter in brain: study
- Optical chip enables new approach to quantum computing
- 'Archeologists of the air' isolate pristine aerosol particles in the Amazon
- Researchers discover an unexpected twist in cancer metabolism
- UN scientists say ozone layer depletion has stopped
- Foraging for fat: Crafty crows use tools to fish for nutritious morsels
- Tiny foraminifera shells can help assess recovery after oil spill
- Scientists document fate of deep hydrocarbon plumes in Gulf oil spill
- Fast-track gene-ID method speeds rare disease search
Space & Earth news
Drought shrinks Amazon River to lowest level in 47 years
A severe drought parching northern Brazil this year has shrunk the mighty Amazon River -- the world's longest river -- to its lowest level in 47 years, officials said Wednesday.
Cyborgs needed to save species
As the growing global population continues to increase the burden on the Earth's natural resources, some historians and scientists think humans should prepare to colonize space. The problem is, we may have to alter human biology significantly to achieve that goal.
Harvard astronomers search for life's answers
If you gaze at the night sky and sometimes wonder, "What's out there?" you're not alone. Harvard scientists have asked the same question for centuries.
Seasonal pollution changes over India tracked by NASA
Data from the Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) instrument on NASA's Terra spacecraft have been used in a groundbreaking new university study that examines the concentration, distribution and composition of aerosol pollution over the Indian subcontinent. The study documents the region's very high levels of natural and human-produced pollutants, and uncovered surprising seasonal shifts in the source of the pollution.
NASA's 3-D look into Hurricane Igor's heavy rainfall
NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has provided a 3-D look at the power "under the hood" (of clouds) in powerful Category 4 Hurricane Igor as it heads toward Bermuda. In the meantime, Igor is creating dangerous surf in the eastern Atlantic, and it will affect the U.S. East coast later today. Igor is an extremely dangerous category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale today, Sept. 16, and he is expected to remain a large and powerful hurricane over the next several days.
Optimizing climate change reduction
Scientists at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology have taken a new approach on examining a proposal to fix the warming planet. So-called geoengineering ideas—large-scale projects to change the Earth's climate—have included erecting giant mirrors in space to reflect solar radiation, injecting aerosols of sulfate into the stratosphere making a global sunshade, and much more. Past modeling of the sulfate idea looked at how the stratospheric aerosols might affect Earth's climate and chemistry.
UN urges aviation sector to slash carbon emissions
UN climate chief Christiana Figueres urged the air transport industry on Thursday to press on with curbs on emissions, underlining that it held "critical keys" to tackling global warming.
Higher carbon dioxide levels used on crops, examined
Crops responded positively to future levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), but soil tillage practices had little effect on this response, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study.
First moon lander next step for ESA
Mission description: land autonomously with pinpoint precision near the Moon's south pole, a region full of dangerous boulders and high ridges. The aim of ESA's proposed precursor is to probe the moonscape's unknowns and test new technology to prepare for future human landings.
Exploration mission phase completed by NASA's lunar spacecraft
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, will complete the exploration phase of its mission on Sept. 16, after a number of successes that transformed our understanding of Earth's nearest neighbor.
Boeing inks deal to put tourists in space by 2015
US aerospace giant Boeing has forged an alliance with marketing firm Space Adventure to put tourists into low-level orbit in a futuristic capsule by early 2015.
NASA: Change of heart on new rocket that would reuse shuttle parts?
Dozens of Kennedy Space Center engineers and more at other NASA centers have been working quietly behind the scenes since August to design a new rocket made from parts of the space shuttle -- a project similar to one that an agency official only two years ago said defied the laws of physics.
The biggest crash on Earth: India slides under Tibet, but how?
During the collision of India with the Eurasian continent, the Indian plate is pushed about 500 kilometers under Tibet, reaching a depth of 250 kilometers. The result of this largest collision in the world is the world's highest mountain range, but the tsunami in the Indian Ocean from 2004 was also created by earthquakes generated by this collision.
NASA eyes Karl, now a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico
NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites have been watching Karl's clouds and rainfall as he moved across Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico today, powering up into a hurricane.
GOES-13 sees a weaker Hurricane Julia in the 'tropical trio'
GOES-13 satellite imagery this morning showed the "tropical trio": Tropical Storm Karl over the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Igor in the central Atlantic, and a waning Hurricane Julia in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Julia has now lost her Category 4 Hurricane status, and is currently a Category 2 hurricane in the eastern Atlantic and weakening. Wind shear, cooler sea surface temperatures and warmer cloud top temperatures all spell a weaker Julia.
Next Iceland eruption will likely cause less havoc: experts
A new volcano eruption on Iceland could happen again soon, but will likely wreak less havoc than the one that caused massive airspace shutdowns earlier this year, experts said Thursday.
Water around massive young stars
Water is critical to human life, but also plays an important role in the life of stars and their planetary systems. As a gas, water helps to cool collapsing clouds of interstellar material so that they can form new stars.
Strong robotic arm extends from next Mars rover
(PhysOrg.com) -- Tests underway in a JPL clean room will refine the precision of movements by a robotic arm that can reach more than 7 feet in front of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover.
Cosmic ice sculptures: Dust pillars in the Carina Nebula
Enjoying a frozen treat on a hot summer day can leave a sticky mess as it melts in the Sun and deforms. In the cold vacuum of space, there is no edible ice cream, but there is radiation from massive stars that is carving away at cold molecular clouds, creating bizarre, fantasy-like structures.
Tiny foraminifera shells can help assess recovery after oil spill
(PhysOrg.com) -- Millimeter-size marine organisms called foraminifera have been used to monitor pollutants in marshes and oceans, and could help to assess recovery in the Gulf of Mexico following the three-month long Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Pacific chills with growing La Nina
(PhysOrg.com) -- The tropical Pacific Ocean has transitioned from last winter's El Nino conditions to a cool La Nina, as shown by new data about sea surface heights, collected by the U.S-French Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason-2 oceanography satellite.
Planck detects new supercluster of galaxies
Surveying the microwave sky, Planck has obtained its very first images of galaxy clusters, amongst the largest objects in the Universe, by means of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect, a characteristic signature they imprint on the Cosmic Microwave Background. Joining forces in a fruitful collaboration between ESA missions, XMM-Newton followed up Planck's detections and revealed that one of them is a previously unknown supercluster of galaxies.
3-D computer simulations help envision supernovae explosions (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- For scientists, supernovae are true superstars -- massive explosions of huge, dying stars that shine light on the shape and fate of the universe.
UN scientists say ozone layer depletion has stopped
The protective ozone layer in the earth's upper atmosphere has stopped thinning and should largely be restored by mid century thanks to a ban on harmful chemicals, UN scientists said on Thursday.
'Archeologists of the air' isolate pristine aerosol particles in the Amazon
Environmental engineers who might better be called "archeologists of the air" have, for the first time, isolated aerosol particles in near pristine pre-industrial conditions.
Scientists document fate of deep hydrocarbon plumes in Gulf oil spill
(PhysOrg.com) -- In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, a team of scientists led by UC Santa Barbara's David Valentine and Texas A&M University's John Kessler embarked on a research cruise with an urgent mission: determining the fate and impact of hydrocarbon gases escaping from a deep-water oil spill.
Five things about NASA's Mars Curiosity rover
(PhysOrg.com) -- Mars Science Laboratory, aka Curiosity, is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term program of robotic exploration of the Red Planet. The mission is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., in late 2011, and arrive at an intriguing region of Mars in August 2012.
Moon's craters give new clues to early solar system bombardment
Take a cursory look at the moon, and it can resemble a pockmarked golf ball. The dimples and divots on its surface are testament that our satellite has withstood a barrage of impacts from comets, asteroids and other space matter throughout much of its history. Because the geological record of that pummeling remains largely intact, scientists have leaned on the moon to reconstruct the chaotic early days of the inner solar system.
Scientists report new insights into the moon's rich geologic complexity
(PhysOrg.com) -- The moon is more geologically complex than previously thought, scientists report Sept. 17 in two papers published in the journal Science.
Researchers build Moon garden
The Moon is not the most hospitable place for growing fruits and vegetables. The lack of atmosphere and natural water, extreme temperatures, and exposure to cosmic rays present some serious challenges for future inhabitants who want to pursue sustainable living on the Moon. With these challenges in mind, scientists have built a lunar greenhouse that is designed to grow plants such as potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes, and peppers under the Moon's extreme conditions.
Technology news
Panasonic to start commercial shipment of 32-nm generation system LSI
Panasonic Corporation has successfully developed a new mass-production technology for leading-edge 32-nm generation system LSIs, and is ready to ship system LSIs (model number: MN2WS0150) based on this technology from October 2010 for use in Blu-ray Disc players. This advanced technology enables system LSIs with higher performance and lower power consumption to be used for consumer electronics including digital TVs, Blu-ray Disc recorders and players.
Research aims to lighten load carried by soldiers
A University of California, Riverside Bourns College of Engineering professor and a team of researchers nationwide were recently awarded a five-year, $6.25 million grant to develop a greener, lighter-weight and longer-lasting power source for soldiers increasingly reliant on electronic devices.
Coming to a device near you: A safer, faster Internet
Like an aging bridge, the Internet is groaning under the weight of traffic that is growing by leaps and bounds and changing form under constant innovation.
Microsoft teams up with Japanese game studios
(AP) -- Microsoft Corp. kicked off the Tokyo Game Show Thursday by unveiling plans to help Japanese game makers - recently seen as insular and lagging overseas competitors - to aggressively pursue a bigger share of the global market.
Apple expected to launch iPad subscriptions for newspapers
Apple is expected to announce soon a new subscription plan for newspapers, which hope that tablets like the iPad will eventually provide a new source of profit as media companies struggle with declining print circulation and advertising revenue.
Hacker breaks into ATMs for good, not evil
I'd just bought Barnaby Jack a pint of Harp when it hit me: Shouldn't he be buying my beer? Jack, as you might know, is the good-guy hacker who figured out a way to digitally hijack ATMs and command them to spit out $20 bills. Not that he would ever do that to buy a columnist a beer -- or for any other reason, for that matter.
Motorola buys location-based software developer Aloqa
US telecom giant Motorola said Thursday it has acquired Aloqa GmbH, a developer of location-based programs for smartphone users.
Giants of Japanese media eye digital salvation
With huge circulations, loyal readers and a tireless reporting culture that runs around the clock, Japan's newspapers have defied many of the woes that have beset their western print peers.
Research in Motion posts 68 pct jump in 2Q profit
(AP) -- Research in Motion Ltd. said Thursday its second-quarter earnings jumped 68 percent as it added new BlackBerry subscribers.
3 ultra-efficient cars win $10M innovation award
(AP) -- An ultralight, gas-powered car that can get 102 miles per gallon is among the winners of the $10 million Automotive X Prize, a contest to develop highly efficient, production-ready vehicles.
Google pitching online music service to labels: Billboard
Internet search powerhouse Google is trying to put together an online music service that would take on Apple's market-ruling iTunes, according to a report at Billboard.com.
Tokyo event showcases fledgling 3-D gaming
(AP) -- The Tokyo Game Show has a lot of people wearing dark glasses this year, with the buzz turning 3-D at the annual event that brings together the latest offerings from game-machine and software makers.
Medicine & Health news
Intensive care diaries protect patients from PTSD
Some intensive care patients develop post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) after the trauma of a difficult hospital stay, and this is thought to be exacerbated by delusional or fragmentary memories of their time in the intensive care unit. Now researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Critical Care have found that if staff and close relatives make a diary for patients, featuring information about their stay and accompanied by photographs, PTSD rates can be significantly reduced.
Back to basics: Researcher takes a closer look at hormone secreted by fat cells
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researcher and clinician Edmond P. Wickham III, M.D., is examining how fat cells may directly contribute to health problems related to being overweight.
DomRep probes 16 baby deaths at public hospital
(AP) -- Health officials are investigating the recent deaths of 16 newborns in the capital's largest maternity hospital, hinting that unhygienic conditions are to blame.
Beating blood clots: Reducing your risk before hip replacement surgery
Risk factors for venous thromboembolism after total hip replacement (THR) surgery were identified in a new study published in the September 2010 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS). While the rate of thromboembolism has been significantly reduced through medication, understanding the risk factors could further reduce the likelihood of patients developing this potentially fatal complication.
Imbalanced diet and inadequate exercise may underlie asthma in children
Even children of a healthy weight who have an imbalanced metabolism due to poor diet or exercise may be at increased risk of asthma, according to new research, which challenges the widespread assumption that obesity itself is a risk factor for asthma.
Vaccinations are high, but measles shots decline
(AP) -- Health officials say vaccination rates for toddlers remain high, but they are concerned about an overall drop in measles vaccinations.
Amoeba blamed in 2 more organ transplant deaths
(AP) -- U.S. health officials say two Arizona organ transplant recipients died of an infection from a microscopic parasite they got from their organ donor.
Significant weight-loss from surgery decreases risk for cardiovascular disease in women
Significant weight loss not only improves daily life of morbidly obese woman but also decreases the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, many people can not lose weight or can not maintain weight loss without help. Bariatric surgery is emerging as a valuable procedure to help morbidly obese individuals lose weight, as studies have shown; it can improve many health profiles and lower mortality.
Scientists seek to improve heart attack recovery
Scientists at the University of Connecticut Health Center are using stem cell technology to replenish damaged cells that result from a heart attack.
Research looks at cooling off hot flashes
If you've ever watched a woman go from perfectly calm, cool and collected one minute to uncomfortable, red-faced and fanning herself frantically the next, then you've likely witnessed a hot flash. Now imagine having to experience one or dozens of these episodes a day -- from mild to severe -- with limited options for long-term relief.
Most common 'moderate' activity in US? Preparing a meal
Only a tiny fraction of Americans heed the advice to take part in moderate or vigorous activity to keep weight down and stay healthy, and when they do, they're likely to do something a little self-defeating: prepare food.
Placebo successful in treating women with sexual dysfunction
A new study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reveals that women with low sexual arousal experienced clinically significant symptom changes after taking a placebo.
Depression and heart disease combo more lethal than either one alone
The combination of depression and heart disease seems to be far more lethal than having either one of these conditions in isolation, suggests research published online in Heart.
Even very low dose of regular aspirin wards off bowel cancer
Even the lowest possible dose of aspirin (75 mg) can ward off bowel cancer, if taken regularly, finds research published online in the journal Gut.
Teens with acne twice as likely to contemplate suicide
Teenage girls with severe acne are twice as likely to think about committing suicide, and boys three times as likely, compared with counterparts with clear skin, a study published on Thursday says.
High levels of cholesterol said better for longevity
The Japan Society for Lipid Nutrition has drawn up new guidelines stating that high cholesterol levels are better for living longer, defying conventional wisdom.
Novel target for existing drug may improve success of radiation therapy
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered a new drug target that could improve the effectiveness of radiation for hard-to-treat cancers.
Why the craving for cocaine won't go away
People who have used cocaine run a great risk of becoming addicted, even after long drug-free periods. Now researchers at Linköping University and their colleagues can point to a specific molecule in the brain as a possible target for treatment to prevent relapses.
Discovery of new genes involved in the parasitism of cells by the tubercle bacillus
A European-Asian collaboration of scientists have identified ten virulence genes of the tubercle bacillus. The inactivation of these genes lessens the pathogenic effects of the bacillus. This discovery, published in the journal PLoS Pathogens, will make it possible in particular to propose original therapeutic strategies and to test novel anti-tuberculosis vaccine candidates. In order to obtain these results in only two weeks, the researchers developed a new screening technique. This innovative, rapid and efficient method could be easily transposed to other intracellular pathogens.
High deductible likely chosen by the healthy, educated
Healthier people are more likely to select a high-deductible health plan over a conventional plan, according to data from several employers that first offered the option in 2006. Participants choosing one of the new plans were eligible for contributions to a tax-free health savings account (HSA).
Discovery of key pathway interaction may lead to therapies that aid brain growth and repair
Researchers at Children's National Medical Center have discovered that the two major types of signaling pathways activated during brain cell development -- the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway and the Notch pathway -- operate together to determine how many and which types of brain cells are created during growth and repair in developing and adult brains. This knowledge may help scientists design new ways to induce the brain to repair itself when these signals are interrupted, and indicate a need for further research to determine whether disruptions of these pathways in early brain development could lead to common neurodevelopmental disorders such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, and intellectual disabilities.
Cardiac imaging breakthrough developed at the University of Western Ontario
Cardiologists and surgeons may soon have a new tool to improve outcomes for patients requiring pacemakers, bypass surgery or angioplasties. Research led by Dr. James White and his colleagues at The University of Western Ontario has led to a new imaging technique, which provides a single, 3D high-resolution image of the heart revealing both its vasculature and the presence of scar tissue within the muscle. This novel imaging was performed using a 3-Tesla MRI at Western's Robarts Research Institute. The findings are published on-line in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging.
Asthma and cavities both common in kids but not linked
There is no apparent link between asthma and tooth decay, according to a study published in the September 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
Fat stem cells safe for breast reconstruction when cancer is dormant: study
Fat-derived stem cells can be safely used to aid reconstruction of breast tissue after mastectomy as long as there is no evidence of active cancer, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Their findings are available in Tissue Engineering Part A.
How does Prozac act? By acting on the microRNA
The adaptation mechanisms of the neurons to antidepressants has, until now, remained enigmatic. Research, published this week by teams of Odile Kellermann and of Jean-Marie Launay (Inserm, Paris), sheds new light on the mechanisms of action of these drugs which have been used for more than 30 years and are heavily consumed.
A scientific breakthrough could be the first step in a better treatment for leukemia patients
A discovery made by Dr. Tarik Moroy, President and Scientific Director and Director of the Hematopoiesis and Cancer research unit at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), and his team was recently published in Blood, the official journal of the American Society of Hematology. The researchers found that a protein can regulate certain characteristics of blood stem cells, which could lead to a better treatment for leukemia patients. Dr. Cyrus Khandanpour, medical doctor and postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Moroy's laboratory, is the study's first author.
Calif. whooping cough: 9 dead, infections on rise
(AP) -- State health officials say California's whooping cough epidemic is on track to break a 55-year record, with just over 4,000 infections and nine deaths this year.
Researcher discovers new 'anti-pathogenic' drugs to treat MRSA
Menachem Shoham, PhD, associate professor and researcher in the department of biochemistry at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, has identified new anti-pathogenic drugs that, without killing the bacteria, render Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) harmless by preventing the production of toxins that cause disease.
Got statins? UF cardiologists recommend new use for old drug
Cardiologists at the University of Florida are pointing to a new use for an old therapy. Giving patients cholesterol-lowering statins before surgery and other invasive procedures can halve the risk of heart attacks, deaths and other complications, they report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Increased brain protein levels linked to Alzheimer's
(PhysOrg.com) -- Elevated levels of a growth protein in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients is linked to impaired neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons are generated, say researchers at the University of California, San Diego in today's edition of the Journal of Neuroscience.
Engineered version of HIV is used to cure genetic blood disorder
For the second time, researchers have used the HIV virus in gene therapy to cure a severe genetic disease, this time the blood disorder beta-thalassemia, which causes life-threatening anemia.
Stress accelerates breast cancer progression in mice: study
Chronic stress acts as a sort of fertilizer that feeds breast cancer progression, significantly accelerating the spread of disease in animal models, researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have found.
Infants' peripheral vision blurry
Our eyes are windows to the world, but what is the visual experience of infants? We know that infant vision tends to be blurrier than adults'. Now researchers from UC Davis, UC Berkeley and Stanford University have discovered that they also have much poorer peripheral vision.
Alzheimer's drug boosts perceptual learning in healthy adults
Research on a drug commonly prescribed to Alzheimer's disease patients is helping neuroscientists at the University of California, Berkeley, better understand perceptual learning in healthy adults.
Disease transmission model says media coverage cuts infection rate and pandemic extent
At the first sign of a disease pandemic, public health officials should begin strongly communicating about the extent of the outbreak and the steps that can be taken by the public to avoid infection. That's the recommendation of two mathematical biologists who have modified the most widely used infectious disease transmission model to account for the impact of news media coverage.
Researchers discover an unexpected twist in cancer metabolism
In a paper appearing in the Sept. 16 online edition of Science, Matthew Vander Heiden assistant professor of biology and member of the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT and researchers at Harvard University report a previously unknown element of cancer cells' peculiar metabolism. They found that cells can trigger an alternative biochemical pathway that speeds up their metabolism and diverts the byproducts to construct new cells.
Fast-track gene-ID method speeds rare disease search
A University of Michigan-led research team has identified a gene responsible in some families for a devastating inherited kidney disorder, thanks to a new, faster method of genetic analysis not available even two years ago. The success offers hope that scientists can speed the painstaking search for the genes responsible for many rare diseases and test drugs to treat them.
Introspection linked to more gray matter in brain: study
A specific region of the brain appears to be larger in individuals who are good at turning their thoughts inward and reflecting upon their decisions, according to new research published in the journal Science. This act of introspection -- or "thinking about your thinking" -- is a key aspect of human consciousness, though scientists have noted plenty of variation in peoples' abilities to introspect.
AIDS virus lineage much older than previously thought
An ancestor of HIV that infects monkeys is thousands of years older than previously thought, suggesting that HIV, which causes AIDS, is not likely to stop killing humans anytime soon, finds a study by University of Arizona and Tulane University researchers.
Biology news
Global project underway to preserve yam biodiversity
Farmers and crop scientists worldwide are engaged in an ambitious new effort to add 3,000 yam samples to international genebanks with the aim of saving the diversity of a crop that is consumed by 60 million people on a daily basis in Africa alone, according to an announcement today from the Global Crop Diversity Trust.
Technology to screen for synbio abuses lags
Amid growing concern that synthetic life sciences pose biosecurity and biosafety risks, scrutiny is increasing into the burgeoning DNA sequence trade. Research published today in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists looks at the necessity of a global regulator for DNA trade, and the significant barriers to creating one.
Fish schools and krill swarms take on common shape
When fish or tiny, shrimp-like krill get together, it appears they follow the same set of "rules." According to a new study published online on September 16th in Current Biology, shoals of fish and swarms of krill hang out in groups that take on the same overall shape; it's not a simple sphere, a cylinder, or ovoid, but something more akin to an irregular crystal, the researchers say.
Bacteria identified that may lead to inflammatory bowel disease in certain individuals
Certain bacteria that inhabit the intestine provide the environmental trigger that initiates and perpetuates chronic intestinal inflammation in individuals who are genetically susceptible to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a study led by Harvard School of Public Health researchers has found.
Night lights affect songbirds' mating life
In today's increasingly urbanized world, the lights in many places are always on, and according to a report published online on September 16 in of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, that's having a real impact on the mating life of forest-breeding songbirds.
Lawmakers: protect embryonic stem cell research
(AP) -- Sen. Arlen Specter said Thursday that Congress should "get busy" on giving legal stature to the federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research to avoid giving a final say on the issue to a conservative Supreme Court.
Sex differences determined not simply by gender
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at Imperial College London have uncovered an inherent difference in the way the genes of males or females can be "switched off" or silenced in the body's developing immune system. This finding will have a significant impact on the way researchers approach diseases that have a disproportionate effect on one sex over the other, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis, which all occur more frequently in women than men.
Genome breakthrough for cancer-hit Tasmanian Devils
Australian scientists said on Thursday they had made a breakthrough in the fight to save the cancer-hit Tasmanian devil by mapping the species' genome for the first time.
Toward resolving Darwin's 'abominable mystery'
What, in nature, drives the incredible diversity of flowers? This question has sparked debate since Darwin described flower diversification as an 'abominable mystery.' The answer has become a lot clearer, according to scientists at the University of Calgary whose research on the subject is published today in the on-line edition of the journal Ecology Letters.
'Warrior worms' discovered in snails; Scientists see possible biomedical applications
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have discovered a caste of genetically identical "warrior worms" -- members of a parasitic fluke species that invades the California horn snail. The findings are reported in the early online version of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Foraging for fat: Crafty crows use tools to fish for nutritious morsels
Researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Exeter have used CSI-style analysis to reveal the huge benefits conferred on New Caledonian crows through tool use. Their results give hard evidence of the huge evolutionary advantage that can be gained by tool use -- giving an insight into the importance of tool use in survival.
Scientists decode genomes of sexually precocious fruit flies
(PhysOrg.com) -- UC Irvine researchers have deciphered how lowly fruit flies bred to rapidly develop and reproduce actually evolve over time. The findings, reported in the Sept. 15 online issue of Nature, contradict the long-held belief that sexual beings evolve the same way simpler organisms do and could fundamentally alter the direction of genetic research for new pharmaceuticals and other products.
Extremophile microbes survive only on energy from formate oxidation
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study published in this week's issue of Nature reports the discovery of "extremophile" microbes living only on the energy produced by formate reactions in deep ocean vents.
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