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Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for September 23, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Coordination failure: Researchers provide insight into impacts of too much communication- Pair of aluminum atomic clocks reveal Einstein's relativity at a personal scale
- Scientists recreate extreme conditions deep in Earth's interior
- Researchers discover less expensive low-temperature catalyst for hydrogen purification
- Caltech researchers design a new nanomesh material
- Estimate of flowering plant species to be cut by 600,000
- Flashing glasses may help PTSD sufferers
- Molecular 'playbook' for halting heart failure risk factor uncovered
- Study shows latest government spill estimate right
- Groundwater depletion rate accelerating worldwide
- Florida panthers bound back thanks to Texas mates
- Mammograms have only 'modest' impact on breast cancer: study
- Taking a new look at old digs: Trampling animals may alter Stone Age sites
- Cilia revolution: Man-made, hair-like structures poised to change industry paradigms
- Shining starlight on the dark cocoons of star birth
Space & Earth news
Everglades restoration program making tangible progress after 10 years
A decade-long, multibillion dollar effort to restore the Florida Everglades has made tangible albeit slow progress, but additional projects need completion before substantial benefits are seen, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council. Challenges in achieving targets for both water quality and water flow have become more apparent, requiring further scientific analysis to determine the repercussions of trading off one for the other. Although important scientific advances have been made, continued decline of some aspects of the ecosystem, such as water quality and endangered snail kite populations, make it critical to accelerate ecological improvements.
NASA sees important cloud-top temperatures as Tropical Storm Malakas heads for Iwo To
NASA's Aqua satellite has peered into the cloud tops of Tropical Storm Malakas and derived just how cold they really are, giving an indication to forecasters of the strength of the storm.
Fears mount of massive Caribbean coral bleaching: study
Above-average temperatures this year could spark massive coral bleaching in the Caribbean basin region, experts with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned Wednesday after a major study.
Arctic soil study turns up surprising results
Across the globe, the diversity of plant and animal species generally increases from the North and South Poles towards the Equator but surprisingly that rule isn't true for soil bacteria, according to a new study by Queen's University biology professor Paul Grogan.
Relics from Scott's doomed Antarctic trip fetch 500,000 dlrs
Photographs, skis and other relics belonging to a scientist on Captain Scott's ill-fated Antarctic trip sold for 370,000 pounds (579,000 dollars, 434,000 euros), Christie's auctioneers said Thursday.
Synthetic life could aid space exploration
When packing for a manned mission to Mars or the Moon, the best thing to bring may not be food or fuel, but specially designed organisms that can create those things for you.
Help from sonar determines whether historic shipwreck poses oil pollution threat
Experts hope to use sonar images of a sunken ship off California's coast to determine whether the vessel is at risk of leaking oil. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) sent a robotic submersible down to the wreck of the S. S. Montebello last week in an effort to assess the condition of the ship. The Montebello was torpedoed by an Imperial Japanese submarine during World War II seven miles off the coast near Cambria. The vessel sits on the seafloor at a depth of approximately 275 meters (900 feet), presumably with its tanks full of Santa Maria crude oil.
GOES-13 sees tropical depression 15 form in the south-central Caribbean Sea
The fifteenth tropical depression of the Atlantic Ocean season has formed in the south-central Caribbean Sea, and the GOES-13 satellite captured its swirling mass of clouds and showers in a visible image today. Watches and warnings are already up for Central America.
Cassini gazes at veiled Titan
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft will swing high over Saturn's moon Titan on Friday, Sept. 24, taking a long, sustained look at the hazy moon. At closest approach, Cassini will fly within 8,175 kilometers (5,080 miles) above the hazy moon's surface. This flyby is the first in a series of high-altitude Titan flybys for Cassini over the next year and a half.
NASA satellites help see ups and downs ahead for Depression Lisa
Tropical Depression Lisa has had a struggle, and it appears that she's in for more of the same.
New map provides global view of health-sapping air pollution (w/ Video)
In many developing countries, the absence of surface-based air pollution sensors makes it difficult, and in some cases impossible, to get even a rough estimate of the abundance of a subcategory of airborne particles that epidemiologists suspect contributes to millions of premature deaths each year. The problematic particles, called fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter, about a tenth the fraction of human hair. These small particles can get past the body's normal defenses and penetrate deep into the lungs.
Dust models paint alien's view of the solar system (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- New supercomputer simulations tracking the interactions of thousands of dust grains show what the solar system might look like to alien astronomers searching for planets. The models also provide a glimpse of how this view might have changed as our planetary system matured.
Study shows latest government spill estimate right
After several missteps, the federal government finally got it right, accurately estimating how much oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, an independent scientific study found.
Groundwater depletion rate accelerating worldwide
In recent decades, the rate at which humans worldwide are pumping dry the vast underground stores of water that billions depend on has more than doubled, say scientists who have conducted an unusual, global assessment of groundwater use.
Shining starlight on the dark cocoons of star birth
(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers have discovered a new, cosmic phenomenon, termed "coreshine," which is revealing new information about how stars and planets come to be.
Solar storms can change directions, surprising forecasters
Solar storms don't always travel in a straight line. But once they start heading in our direction, they can accelerate rapidly, gathering steam for a harder hit on Earth's magnetic field.
Scientists recreate extreme conditions deep in Earth's interior
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of California, Berkeley, and Yale University scientists have recreated the tremendous pressures and high temperatures deep in the Earth to resolve a long-standing puzzle: why some seismic waves travel faster than others through the boundary between the solid mantle and fluid outer core.
Technology news
Netflix shares soar on Blockbuster bankruptcy reports
Shares in US video rental company Netflix soared on Wall Street on Wednesday on reports that rival Blockbuster was on the brink of declaring bankruptcy.
Thailand's bid for high-speed Internet stalled
(AP) -- Thailand's bid to catch up with neighboring countries on advanced telecommunications technology has stalled after a court Thursday ruled to suspend a bidding process for 3G licenses.
Netflix hires actors to pose as its Canada fans
(AP) -- Netflix Inc. tried to bring a touch of Hollywood to its Canada debut Wednesday only to wind up apologizing for a botched publicity stunt.
With the use of an open source platform, mobile internet crossing platform barriers
Living in a fast-changing world and always being on the go forces researchers to conceive, develop and bring to market advanced technologies. A case in point is the mobile internet which is growing faster than the blink of an eye. An EU-funded group of experts from mobile web research and industry have joined forces to create an open source (OS) platform and software components that will enable the cross-platform use of services and allow technologies to run on multiple screens.
U.S. scientist says, fostering innovation is key to energy's future
Every day, the United States sends $1 billion offshore to finance its appetite for fossil fuels, a situation recognized for decades as a threat to national security and energy independence.
Scientist receives grant to develop hydrogen-powered, solar-inspired nano-battery
There's a big buzz today over future nanostructure devices performing specialized jobs in everything from electronics to medicine. But what's still needed are unconventional ways to power these tiny machines.
Newspaper publishers want control over iPad subscriptions
Newspaper publishers must control subscription services offered on the iPad and other digital devices, top industry executives said Wednesday.
YouTube wins piracy case against Spanish TV
YouTube cannot be held responsible for screening images uploaded on its site, a Spanish court said on Thursday, throwing out a case brought by a local TV channel over alleged copyright infringement.
Twitter hack: Made in Japan?
(AP) -- This week's Twitter attack that caused a widespread headache for the micro-blogging service appears to have been triggered by a Japanese computer hacker who says he was only trying to help.
SAfrican students study math via cell phone
(AP) -- A South African think tank said Thursday they have lined up volunteers to tutor on a popular mobile phone platform after a nationwide teachers' strike left students unprepared for final exams.
Indian phone networks compliant on BlackBerry: report
Two leading Indian mobile providers have told the government they have upgraded their networks to allow law enforcers to monitor messages sent through BlackBerry smartphones, a report said Thursday.
Blockbuster files for bankruptcy
US video rental giant Blockbuster declared bankruptcy Thursday, falling victim to digital delivery of movies by Netflix and kiosk outlets such as Redbox.
Economics, not technology key to U.S. energy innovation: Steven Koonin
As a theoretical physicist by training, Steven E. Koonin PhD '75 might have been expected to focus his talk at MIT on Wednesday, Sept. 22, on the scientific and technological aspects of energy policy. But he made it clear right away that business and economics are the real keys to progress in the energy frontier.
University of Nevada, Reno demonstrates successful sludge-to-power research
Like the little engine that could, the University of Nevada, Reno experiment to transform wastewater sludge to electrical power is chugging along, dwarfed by the million-gallon tanks, pipes and pumps at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility where, ultimately, the plant's electrical power could be supplied on-site by the process University researchers are developing.
NY town enacts tough cell tower limits
(AP) -- A Long Island township has imposed restrictions on the placement of new cell towers that are among the toughest in the country, and one phone company says it effectively bans new construction.
Verizon CEO hints iPhone not coming soon
(AP) -- Comments from Verizon Communications Inc. CEO Ivan Seidenberg on Thursday left little room for the possibility of a Verizon version of the iPhone any time soon.
Solar dish research focused on future
Do you remember as a kid using a magnifying glass to generate intense heat to burn a leaf? Technology has come a long way since then, and the work of Western Engineering professor Kamran Siddiqui in the area of solar energy research is taking the use of this free energy resource to new levels.
A second day of technical troubles at Facebook
Some Facebook users were temporarily shut out of the social networking service on Thursday as the website was beset by technical troubles for the second day in a row.
Inaugural 'Deep Orange' car unveiled at motorsports event
Amidst the din of roaring race car engines, one vehicle stood out for its sound of silence. With an electric motor, the inaugural "Deep Orange" car — the first concept car created by graduate students at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research — didn't make a lot of noise. But it certainly made an impression.
AMD cuts 3Q guidance, blames weak consumer sales
(AP) -- Advanced Micro Devices Inc. has lowered its third-quarter outlook, supplying fresh evidence that consumers' penny-pinching on personal computers has led to a painful back-to-school shopping season for some technology companies.
Magnetic power offers energy-saving alternative
The Office of Naval Research has designed a system that controls electrical flow for lighting, a highly efficient platform that may spark a new era of power savings.
World's largest offshore wind farm opened in Kent
The world's largest offshore wind farm opened in Britain on Thursday, as part of the government's bid to reduce the carbon emissions that drive climate change.
FCC opens up unused TV signals for broadband
(AP) -- The Federal Communications Commission is opening up unused airwaves between television channels for wireless broadband networks that will be more powerful and can reach farther than today's Wi-Fi hotspots.
Robotic arm's big flaw: Patients say it's 'too easy'
One touch directs a robotic arm to grab objects in a new computer program designed to give people in wheelchairs more independence.
Medicine & Health news
Quality of care up at US hospitals, report says
(AP) -- A report says treatment has improved substantially at U.S. hospitals for several ailments including heart attacks, pneumonia and children's asthma.
Some families win under new health care provisions
(AP) -- The nation's new health care law adds consumer protections that kick in Thursday, forcing insurers to meet new requirements. Coverage for children with pre-existing conditions is guaranteed. Lifetime dollar caps are eliminated. And insurers can no longer cancel policies retroactively for frivolous reasons when people get very sick.
New TB vaccine enters clinical testing
At an international gathering of TB vaccine researchers in Tallinn today, the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation announced it will initiate a clinical trial of an investigational live recombinant tuberculosis vaccine to be led by researchers at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The announcement was made at the Second Global Forum on TB Vaccine Development.
70 percent of women likely to experience sexual problems after breast cancer
A new study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine looked at whether women were more likely to experience sexual problems after breast cancer. The results showed that 70% of women were facing sexual function problems approximately two years post diagnosis.
Clinical trial establishes catheter-based aortic valve replacement as new standard of care
One-year data from the PARTNER clinical trial, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrate that transcatheter aortic-valve implantation, compared with standard therapy, resulted in significantly lower rates of death among patients who cannot undergo surgery for aortic stenosis. The results will be presented tomorrow as a Late Breaking Trial at the 22nd annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium.
Psychotropic medication and youth in foster care report
The Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) today issued a landmark report from a multi-state study on psychotropic medication oversight in foster care. Led by Laurel K. Leslie, MD, MPH at Tufts CTSI, Christopher Bellonci, MD at Tufts Medical Center and Justeen Hyde, PhD at Cambridge Health Alliance, the study examined state policies and practices in 47 states, including Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia regarding the use of medication for treating behavioral and mental health problems in foster care children and adolescents ages 2 to 21 years.
Unprecedented effort to seek, test and treat inmates with HIV
Twelve scientific teams in more than a dozen states will receive National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants to study effective ways to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS among people in the criminal justice system. The grants, announced today, will be awarded primarily by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), with additional support from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), all components of NIH. The research will take place over a five-year period.
Increased attention to women's health research has yielded gains on some important conditions, but progress lags on othe
A concerted effort to boost research on women's health over the last two decades has lessened the burden of disease and reduced deaths among women due to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and cervical cancer, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The effort has yielded less but still significant progress in reducing the effects of depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis on women, added the committee that wrote the report.
44 pct of gay, bisexual men with HIV don't know it
(AP) -- One in five sexually active gay and bisexual men has the AIDS virus, and nearly half of those don't know they are infected, a federal study of 21 U.S. cities shows.
Mentally handicapped Danes lobotomised until 1983: historian
Many mentally handicapped Danes, including children, were lobotomised between 1947 and 1983, and many died from the operation, a historian behind a soon-to-be-published book on the topic told Danish media Thursday.
DEA: Clean out your medicine cabinets Saturday
(AP) -- Tim Strain was a victim of prescription drugs, not an abuser. His girlfriend's mother gave the 18-year-old additional pain medication for a serious burn, producing a fatal drug interaction.
Increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages reduces disease, injury, crime and death rates
Increasing the costs to consumers of beer, wine, and hard liquor significantly reduces the rates of a wide range of alcohol-related deaths, diseases, injuries, and other problems, according to a new study published in today's online edition of the American Journal of Public Health and scheduled for inclusion in the November print edition. Researchers at the University of Florida (UF) report that public policies that increase the price of alcoholic beverages, such as increases in alcohol excise taxes, not only reduce drinking but also significantly reduce most of the negative and costly outcomes associated with alcohol.
Declining breast cancer incidence in Canada with declining HRT usage
Breast cancer incidence declined among postmenopausal women in Canada as their use of hormone therapy declined, according to a study published online September 23 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Physicians beware: Cholesterol counts in kidney disease patients
To understand the health effects of high cholesterol levels, doctors first need to assess malnutrition and inflammation status in their chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).
Discovery may pave way for new approaches to prevent infections in the womb
Researchers funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have established in mice the mechanism that detects and responds to the presence of bacteria in the womb - a discovery that opens up the possibility of new preventative treatments for diseases like pelvic inflammatory disease and Chlamydia.
New treatment for severe aortic stenosis shown to save lives, researchers say
Implantation of a new bioprosthetic-tissue valve into the hearts of patients who have severe aortic stenosis and are too sick or too old for open-heart surgery has been found to both save lives and improve the quality of those lives, according to a new multicenter study, to be published online at 2 p.m. Pacific time today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Largest genetic study of asthma points towards better treatments
An international study looking at DNA from over 26,000 people has identified several genetic variants that substantially increase susceptibility to asthma in the population. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, will help scientists to focus their efforts to develop better therapies for the illness.
Just 2 drinks slow reactions in older people
Blood alcohol levels below the current legal limit for driving have a significant negative effect on a person's dexterity. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Research Notes found that just two single vodka and orange drinks were enough to make senior volunteers struggle at an obstacle avoidance test while walking.
A drug against AIDS could be effective against the herpes virus
Scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona, Spain) have published a new study that demonstrates that raltegravir, the drug approved in 2007 for the treatment of AIDS that is sold by Merck under the name Isentress, cancels the function of an essential protein for the replication of one kind of herpes virus. This study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), is the first step towards the development of a drug against the entire herpesvirus family.
Anger amplifies clinical pain in women with and without fibromyalgia
Researchers from Utrecht University who studied the effect of negative emotions on pain perception in women with and without fibromyalgia found that anger and sadness amplified pain equally in both groups. Full findings are now online and will publish in the October print issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.
Could brain abnormalities cause antisocial behavior and drug abuse in boys?
Antisocial boys who abuse drugs, break laws, and act recklessly are not just "bad" kids. Many of these boys may have malfunctioning brains, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Study reveals stress hormone impacts on alcohol recovery
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that high levels of a stress hormone in recovering alcoholics could increase the risk of relapse.
Number of fat people in US to grow, report says
(AP) -- Citizens of the world's richest countries are getting fatter and fatter and the United States is leading the charge, an organization of leading economies said Thursday in its first ever obesity forecast.
Vitamin C rapidly improves emotional state of acutely hospitalized patients, researchers say
Treatment with vitamin C rapidly improves the emotional state of acutely hospitalized patients, according to a study carried out by researchers at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital (JGH) and the affiliated Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (LDI).
New technique uncovers hidden insecticide resistance
A new technique pioneered at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is improving the detection and monitoring of insecticide resistance in field populations of an important malaria-carrying mosquito.
Imaging study provides new view of multiple sclerosis
Scientists have uncovered an alternative source for some of the damage associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), an incurable neuroinflammatory disorder. The research, published online by Cell Press on September 23rd in the journal Immunity, reveals a direct interaction between immune cells and neurons that plays a significant role in neuronal injury and may respond to therapeutic intervention.
Dangerous blood clots increased with newer antipsychotic drugs
Taking newer types of antipsychotic drugs could increase a person's risk of developing dangerous blood clots, according to a new University of Nottingham study published on bmj.com today.
Study finds high rate of c-sections after pelvic fractures
In research led by a Saint Louis University surgeon, investigators found that women who give birth after suffering pelvic fractures receive C-sections at more than double normal rates despite the fact that vaginal delivery after such injuries is possible. In addition, women reported lingering, yet often treatable, symptoms following their pelvic fracture injuries, from urinary complications to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Patients with cancer who stop hospice care boost health-care costs
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that the costs of care for patients with cancer who disenrolled from hospice were nearly five times higher than for patients who remained with hospice. Patients who disenroll from hospice are far more likely to use emergency department care and be hospitalized. The results are published in the October 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Can't live without it: The nicotine addiction
The first pull on a cigarette should send you into convulsions. The brain proteins that nicotine affects are nearly identical to a receptor protein on muscle cells that tells them to contract, but nicotine doesn't affect your muscles. "Muscle proteins couldn't be very sensitive to nicotine," says chemist Dennis Dougherty. "Because if they were, smoking would be intolerable -- every puff would activate every muscle in your body."
Living wills pose dangers in suicide patients, expert says
Legislation allowing individuals to decide in advance to refuse life-saving treatment presents serious risks in cases of attempted suicide, a leading psychiatrist has warned.
When it comes to childhood bullying, four key factors help with coping, study says
A new study from researchers at Macquarie University has identified four coping factors that can help children overcome victimisation and lessen the impact of bullying on their future happiness. The report concludes that helping children developing these characteristics can reduce depression, anxiety and behavioural problems when victimised by their peers.
Childhood asthma explained with gene mapping
An international research team, including researchers from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, has found six gene variants that can explain nearly 40 percent of all cases of asthma in children. The findings, presented in top-ranked New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), are based on a genetic survey of 10 365 asthmatics and 16 110 control subjects.
Black motorcyclists -- even in helmets -- more likely to die in crashes
African-American victims of motorcycle crashes were 1.5 times more likely to die from their injuries than similarly injured whites, even though many more of the African-American victims were wearing helmets at the time of injury, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers.
Team of researchers finds possible new genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease
Researchers have identified a gene that appears to increase a person's risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of the disease. The gene, abbreviated as MTHFD1L, is on chromosome six, and was identified in a genome-wide association study. Details are published September 23 in the journal PLoS Genetics.
Researchers find faster, less-intrusive way to identify transplant recipients' organ rejection
A simple, inexpensive blood test could soon help doctors halt organ rejection before it impairs transplanted hearts and kidneys.
Study backs new heart valve without cracking chest
(AP) -- Thousands of older Americans who need new heart valves but are too frail to survive the surgery might soon get a chance at an easier option - a way to thread in an artificial aortic valve without cracking their chests.
Name recall get a big shock
It's an experience shared by everyone: You run into someone you know, but his or her name escapes you. Now, Temple psychologist Ingrid Olson has found a way to improve the recall of proper names.
US restricts, EU bans controversial diabetes pill (Update)
(AP) -- European regulators ordered the diabetes drug Avandia off the market and the Food and Drug Administration placed stringent restrictions on its use in the United States, saying heart attack risks associated with the former blockbuster are too great a safety concern to continue its use for most people.
Current decisions shape your future preferences
Psychologists have known for a long time that after you make a choice, you adjust your opinion to think better of the thing you chose. Now a new study has found that this is true even if you don't know the options that you're choosing between.
Acute pain is eased with the touch of a hand
There may be a very good reason that people naturally clutch their hand after receiving an injury. A new report published online on September 23 in Current Biology shows that self-touch offers significant relief for acute pain under experimental conditions. The researchers suggest that the relief comes from a change in the brain's representation of the rest of the body.
Researchers discover new signaling pathway that controls cell development and cancer
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered a new cell signaling pathway that controls cell growth and development, a pathway that, when defective, helps promote the formation of several major forms of human cancer, including lymphoma and leukemia.
Molecular 'playbook' for halting heart failure risk factor uncovered
Like a well-crafted football play designed to block the opposing team's offensive drive to the end zone, the body constantly executes complex 'plays' or sequences of events to initiate, or block, different actions or functions.
Mammograms have only 'modest' impact on breast cancer: study
Mammograms have only a "modest" impact on reducing breast cancer deaths, according to a study published Thursday that added to a growing debate on the effectiveness of the routine screening.
Flashing glasses may help PTSD sufferers
(PhysOrg.com) -- Psychologists in the UK propose using spectacles with flashing lights at each side to identify people likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and possibly to treat them.
Biology news
56 pilot whales die after stranding on NZ beach
(AP) -- Only 24 of several dozen pilot whales stranded on a remote northern New Zealand beach survived a stormy first night ashore despite rescuers' desperate efforts to save them, officials said Thursday.
Elderly Malaysian rhino enlisted in breeding attempt
Malaysian wildlife officials on Borneo island said Thursday they will try to artificially inseminate an elderly female rhinoceros in a bid to revive one of the world's most endangered species.
Wheat researchers combine forces to battle major disease
Wheat streak mosaic virus is the most prevalent disease in the southwestern wheat producing region of the U.S., according to a Texas AgriLife Research scientist.
Why are there no hyenas in Europe?
A team from the National Museum of Natural Sciences (CSIC) has analysed the impact of climate change on spotted hyena survival in Europe over 10,000 years ago. These changes played an important role, but the scientists say studies are still needed to look at the influence of human expansion and changes in herbivorous fauna on the definitive extinction of this species across the continent.
More predators doesn't equal more danger for urban bird nest
While birds living in urban areas face more predators than do those in rural areas, that doesn't mean urban birds face more danger from nest robbers.
Cancer-associated long non-coding RNA regulates pre-mRNA splicing
Researchers report this month that MALAT1, a long non-coding RNA that is implicated in certain cancers, regulates pre-mRNA splicing - a critical step in the earliest stage of protein production. Their study appears in the journal Molecular Cell.
City living helped humans evolve immunity to TB
New research has found that a genetic variant which reduces the chance of contracting diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy is more prevalent in populations with long histories of urban living.
Genetic switch underlies noisy cell division
(PhysOrg.com) -- While scientists have spent the past 40 years describing the intricate series of events that occur when one mammalian cell divides into two, they still haven't agreed on how the process begins.
Researchers identify structure that allows bacteria to resist drugs
A research team led by Edward Yu of Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory has discovered the crystal structures of pumps that remove heavy metal toxins from bacteria, making them resistant to antibiotics.
Florida panthers bound back thanks to Texas mates
In the quest to save the endangered Florida panther, their Texas cousins were the cat's meow. Wildlife biologists moved eight female panthers from Texas - close relatives yet genetically distinct - into south Florida 15 years ago in hopes of boosting reproduction, and the immigration paid off.
Estimate of flowering plant species to be cut by 600,000
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists from the UK, US and elsewhere have been carrying out a comprehensive assessment of flowering plants and adjusting the estimate of their total number. The new estimate is that there are about 400,000 flowering plant species, with over 600,000 to be deleted from the list as duplicate names.
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