Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for October 22, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Virgin spaceship gets new runway (Update 2)- The physics of how wet animals dry themselves (w/ Video)
- Space telescopes reveal previously unknown brilliant X-ray explosion in our Milky Way galaxy
- Going nature one better: Researchers learn biology's secrets for making tough, resilient materials
- The fuel of evolution: A new hypothesis about how complex life emerged on Earth
- China launches own version of Google Earth
- Researchers develop more reliable, less expensive synthetic graft material
- IBM inventors create warning system to accurately analyze, assess and predict natural disasters
- X-Ray observations of an extrasolar planetary system
- Researchers discover origin of immune cells in the brain
- Researchers identify factor boosting leukemia's aggressiveness
- Three major networks block Google TV
- Genetics work could lead to advances in fertility for women
- Scorpion has welcome sting for heart bypass patients
- Swine flu variant linked to fatal cases might have disabled the clearing mechanism of lungs
Space & Earth news
Subaru telescope photographed 103P/Hartley
Scientists used Suprime-Cam at Subaru Telescope to catch the comet 103P/Hartley after long shut down of the telescope.
Falkland islands radar study impacts climate research
Physicists and engineers at the University of Leicester and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have installed a radar system on the Falkland Islands to monitor the upper atmosphere activity which creates the 'Southern Lights'.
US envoy: Climate deal still possible in Mexico
(AP) -- A global agreement to curb carbon emissions is possible at an upcoming U.N. climate conference but hinges on the efforts and political will of countries, the U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern said Friday in Beijing.
Green Carbon Center takes all-inclusive view of energy
Rice University has created a Green Carbon Center to bring the benefits offered by oil, gas, coal, wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and other energy sources together in a way that will not only help ensure the world's energy future but also provide a means to recycle carbon dioxide into useful products.
Green zone: After two years, did all her eco-friendly projects pay off?
It started with gray water, then escalated to chickens, composting toilets and rain barrels. I'm talking about the two years I've spent transforming my humble California bungalow into a test case for sustainable living -- an experience that's cost me hundreds of hours of my time and thousands of dollars, an endeavor that has tested the limits of not only my checkbook but also my sanity -- and my DIY skills.
Chinese smelter found leaking thallium into river
A major state-owned industrial conglomerate in China said Friday it had been ordered to stop production at one of its smelters after it was found to be leaking highly toxic thallium into a river.
Energy saving lamp is eco-winner
In a new study, EMPA researchers have investigated the ecobalances of various household light sources. In doing so not only did they take into account energy consumption, but also the manufacture and disposal processes. They also evaluated usage with different electrical power mixes. The clear winner is the compact fluorescent lamp, commonly known as the energy saving lamp.
Investigating potentially hidden damages in the Gulf of Mexico
Chuck Fisher, Penn State professor of biology, is familiar with the Gulf of Mexico, and more specifically with the unique and rarely seen world miles below the surface. Following the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig disaster that resulted in a massive oil spill there, concerns arose about the potential for long term damage to the sea floor and it's inhabitants.
French, Spanish cities win Europe's green capital award
The northern Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, whose entire population lives a stone's throw from a green space, has won the European Green Capital award for 2012.
NASA astronaut checks in to Foursquare from space
A NASA astronaut on Friday used the popular location-sharing service Foursquare to "check in" from space.
Mathematical model may result in better environment measures for the Baltic
Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea has clear negative effects, such as dead bottoms and massive blooms of cyanobacteria. But high plankton production can also have positive effects on acidification. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have shown that it is possible to work out the aggregate effects of various environmental measures.
NASA releases report about Australia balloon mishap
(PhysOrg.com) -- A NASA panel that investigated the unsuccessful April 28 launch of a scientific balloon from Alice Springs, Australia, has released its report.
Gulf corals in oil spill zone appear healthy
(AP) -- Just 20 miles north of where BP's blown-out well spewed millions of gallons of oil into the sea, life appears bountiful despite initial fears that crude could have wiped out many of these delicate deepwater habitats.
Climate change dictated by the ocean
(PhysOrg.com) -- The influence of the world’s oceans over carbon dioxide levels and climate change is better understood thanks to researchers from the University of Canberra and The Australian National University.
Mars meteorite controversy continues
The most illustrious meteorite in history continues to inspire heated debate. Does it carry microbial fossils from Mars or are its strange features just the product of some unique geochemistry? After almost 20 years, dueling papers are still coming out, and the opposing parties are no closer to a resolution.
X-Ray observations of an extrasolar planetary system
(PhysOrg.com) -- The majority of extra-solar planets (about 278 of them) are more massive than Jupiter. About 20% of this majority group orbit their stars at a distances of less than one-tenth of an astronomical unit (one AU is the average distance of the Earth from the sun, and in our solar system Mercury is four-tenths of an AU from the sun).
Virgin spaceship gets new runway (Update 2)
The world's first commercial passenger spaceship moved a step closer to deployment Friday as tycoon Richard Branson unveiled a new runway at a remote New Mexico spaceport.
Space telescopes reveal previously unknown brilliant X-ray explosion in our Milky Way galaxy
Astronomers in Japan, using an X-ray detector on the International Space Station, and at Penn State University, using NASA's Swift space observatory, are announcing the discovery of an object newly emitting X-rays, which previously had been hidden inside our Milky Way galaxy in the constellation Centaurus.
Technology news
Netflix suffers big outage as stock hits new peak
(AP) -- It was a great day to be a Netflix shareholder, but not a good one to be a Netflix subscriber hoping to watch a movie through the company's service.
Hewlett-Packard to create 2,000 jobs in Bulgaria
US computer giant Hewlett-Packard said Friday it planned to create 2,000 new jobs in Bulgaria with the construction of a new development and support centre.
Baidu's 3Q profit more than doubles, shares rise
(AP) -- Baidu Inc., which operates China's leading search engine, said Friday its third-quarter net profit more than doubled and revenue jumped 76 percent as online advertising surged.
US launches renewable energy initiative
The United States launched a renewable energy initiative to boost biofuel production to create jobs, lessen the effects of climate change and wean the country off oil imports, an official said.
Obama meets Apple supremo Steve Jobs
US President Barack Obama met Apple chief executive Steve Jobs in the San Francisco area Thursday and discussed education and technology's role in the economy, the White House said.
Wipro posts 9.7 percent profit rise, below forecast
India's third-biggest software firm Wipro reported Friday a lower-than-forecast 9.7 percent rise in quarterly net profit, blaming a higher rupee and wage costs for the disappointing earnings.
Useful lessons in ventilation provided by insects' mounds
While some power companies scour the globe for steady winds to drive giant turbines, a biologist is turning to lowly termites and their lofty mounds to understand how to harness far more common intermittent breezes, seeking ideas that could drive nature-inspired building systems whose “sloshing” air movement could provide ventilation and cooling.
WikiLeaks promises 'major announcement' Saturday in Europe
The WikiLeaks website has promised a "major announcement" in Europe on Saturday, in a message on its Twitter feed, amid speculation it will release thousands of secret documents about the Iraq war.
News Corp. abandons digital newsstand project: WSJ
News Corp. has dropped a digital newsstand project that was part of an ambitious plan by the Rupert Murdoch-owned company to help publishers charge for content online, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
Google tightening privacy leash on employees
(AP) -- Google is promising to monitor its employees more closely to make sure they don't intrude on people's privacy while the company collects and stores information about its users.
Square lets gizmos read credit cards
The father of Twitter has hatched a start-up that he hopes does for financial transactions what Twitter did for communication.
China launches own version of Google Earth
China has launched an official online mapping service as US Internet giant Google continues to hold out on applying for a licence to provide a similar service in the country, state media said Friday.
Invisible helmet for the hair-consious cyclists (w/ Video)
The latest accessory for cyclists comes in the form of an inflatable airbag -- for the head. A Stockholm-based industrial duo by the names of Terese Alstin and Anna Haupt have developed a solution for those struggling with the choice between having good hair or playing it safe while bike-riding: The invisible helmut, deemed "Hovding."
IBM inventors create warning system to accurately analyze, assess and predict natural disasters
IBM inventors have developed a patented natural disaster warning system, which uses analytics to improve the effectiveness and timeliness of post-event rescue efforts in cities and other locations where efficient emergency response is essential following a natural disaster. It also offers a means to accurately predict the location and timing of subsequent catastrophic events, which will further aid evacuation efforts.
Three major networks block Google TV
The three major broadcast networks, uneasy about viewers bypassing cable and satellite providers -- and the networks' own websites -- to watch their TV shows, have begun blocking a new service from Google Inc. that is designed to make it easy for people to watch programming online.
Medicine & Health news
ESHRE publishes new PGD guidelines
The four guidelines include one outlining the organisation of a PGD centre and three relating to the methods used: amplification-based testing, fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH)-based testing and polar body/embryo biopsy.
Childhood cancer survivors face long-term risk of GI complications, study finds
People treated for cancer when they were children have a higher-than-average risk of gastrointestinal problems – some mild, some quite severe – in the years following treatment, according to a study to be presented at the 42nd Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) in Boston on Sunday, Oct. 24. Investigators at Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center and their colleagues say their findings suggest that childhood cancer survivors and their physicians should be especially aware of the increased likelihood of gastrointestinal troubles and factor them into plans for monitoring survivors' health.
Five-day breast cancer treatment now available
UC Davis Cancer Center now offers a new generation of radiation therapy that transforms a woman's breast cancer radiation treatment experience.
Combining stem-cell and gene-therapy techniques to tackle a deadly blood disease
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a three-year, $3.9 million grant to Children's Hospital Boston researchers and their colleagues to develop a therapy to treat Fanconi anemia, a fatal genetic blood disease.
Rapid rise in Medicaid expenditures for autism spectrum disorder treatment
Autism was described as early as 1940, but a marked increase in the prevalence for the broader class of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) during the past decade highlights the demand for treatment of affected individuals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the prevalence of ASD was one in 110 children in 2006 and increased at an average annual rate of 57% between 2002 and 2006. The rising prevalence has heightened concern about the financial impact of treating ASDs in the private and public health care systems.[1]
Parents experience difficulty with consent process in pediatric cancer trials
Compared with adult cancer patients, parents of children with cancer were more likely to be dissatisfied with the informed consent process for participating in clinical trials, according to a study from Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center. The findings will be presented at the 42nd Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) in Boston on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Studies: Pneumonia is misdiagnosed on patient readmissions
Patients were misdiagnosed with pneumonia at an alarming rate when they were readmitted to the hospital shortly after a previous hospitalization for the same illness, according to two Henry Ford Hospital companion studies.
New approaches to skin cancer prevention
The annual "Euromelanoma Day" campaign is designed to prevent skin cancer among the general public. While there has been considerable interest, it has proved difficult to reach out to some of the at-risk groups. As such, new ways of encouraging these people to go to a dermatologist are being introduced, reveals research from the University of Gothenburg presented at the dermatologist conference in Sweden.
Austrian man with robotic arm dies after crash
(AP) -- An Austrian man who was the first in Europe to wear an innovative high-tech artificial arm has died after the car he was driving veered off the road and crashed into a tree.
Discovery may help scientists boost broccoli's cancer-fighting power
A University of Illinois study has shown for the first time that sulforaphane, the powerful cancer-fighting agent in broccoli, can be released from its parent compound by bacteria in the lower gut and absorbed into the body.
Positive social traits trump bad health habits
Many studies have documented the dangers of the traditional negative physical risk factors on health – excessive smoking, drinking and being overweight. But far less research has focused on less-tangible, positive influences -- the protective role of psychological and social supports.
Reckless betting, losing caused by gamblers' winning streaks
"Know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em" is an adage that doesn't seem to apply to gamblers who are winning big, according to research conducted at the University of Notre Dame.
Tracking neuronal activity in the living brain
Refinements to a fluorescent calcium ion indicator give scientists a powerful tool for tracking neuronal activity in the living brain
Personalized treatment may help some liver cancer patients
A more personalized treatment for people with a type of metastatic liver cancer --hepatocellular carcinoma -- may be possible by targeting the protein c-Met, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the number three cause of cancer deaths in the world.
Number of diabetic Americans could triple by 2050
(AP) -- Federal officials estimate that as many as 1 in 3 U.S. adults could have diabetes by the year 2050.
Horror disease hits Uganda
(AP) -- A disease whose progression and symptoms seem straight out of a horror movie but which can be treated has killed at least 20 Ugandans and sickened more than 20,000 in just two months.
70-year-olds smarter than they used to be
Today's 70-year-olds do far better in intelligence tests than their predecessors. It has also become more difficult to detect dementia in its early stages, though forgetfulness is still an early symptom, reveals new research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, based on the H70 study.
Succimer found ineffective for removing mercury
Succimer, a drug used for treating lead poisoning, does not effectively remove mercury from the body, according to research supported by the National Institutes of Health. Some families have turned to succimer as an alternative therapy for treating autism.
New study IDs proteins regulating water retention in salt-sensitive hypertension
Research conducted by scientists at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans has found that two proteins in the brain act as valves to turn the hormone that regulates water retention in the body on and off. Their findings may lead to advances in treatment for diseases like high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and cirrhosis of the liver. The research is published in the November 1, 2010 issue of Endocrinology.
How H1N1 differs from other viruses as a respiratory illness
The 2009/2010 Influenza A (H1N1) is one of several viruses responsible for respiratory-related infections. A new study from Rhode Island Hospital examined patients with viruses and found distinguishing characteristics of the H1N1 virus in how it affects respiratory illness. Their findings will be presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America to be held in Vancouver, Canada on Friday, Oct. 22.
A mother's suicide, more than a father's, predicts her offspring's likelihood of attempting suicide
In the life of a child or adolescent, a parent's sudden death is an event so psychologically devastating, it's hard to imagine it could get any worse. But when that sudden death is self-inflicted, the psychological fallout definitely does mount, possibly compounded by the effects of genes and a parent's behavior in the years leading up to his or her suicide.
Exhausted? Feeling really tired can threaten your health
For many of us, exhaustion is a fact of life. But for the rich and famous, it seems acute weariness can be so debilitating that it requires hospitalization and, in the case of Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director Riccardo Muti, a monthlong rest along Italy's Adriatic coast.
Low-dose aspirin slashes colon cancer risk - study
Low doses of aspirin, taken daily and over the long term, cut cases of colorectal cancer by a quarter and the death toll from this disease by a third, according to a study published online on Friday by The Lancet.
How much people smoke and who gets lung cancer gene-influenced
Your DNA influences how much you smoke and whether you will develop lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to an international team of researchers led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Swine flu variant linked to fatal cases might have disabled the clearing mechanism of lungs
(PhysOrg.com) -- A variant of last year's pandemic influenza linked to fatal cases carried a mutation that enabled it to infect a different subset of cells lining the airway, according to new research. The study, due to be published next week in the Journal of Virology, suggests that the mutant virus could have impaired the lungs' ability to clear out germs. The researchers behind the study, from Imperial College London, the Medical Research Council National Institute for Medical Research and the University of Marburg said the findings highlight the potential for deadlier strains of flu to emerge and spread.
Scorpion has welcome sting for heart bypass patients
A toxin found in the venom of the Central American bark scorpion (Centruroides margaritatus) could hold the key to reducing heart bypass failures, according to research from the University of Leeds.
Researchers discover origin of immune cells in the brain
Mount Sinai researchers have discovered that microglia, the immune cells that reside in the brain, have a unique origin and are formed shortly after conception. It was previously thought that microglia originated at the same time as macrophages, which are other immune cells that are thought to develop at birth. This groundbreaking discovery has the potential to lead to future treatments of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The study is published online October 21 in Science Express.
Researchers identify factor boosting leukemia's aggressiveness
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells survive and thrive not just by their own innate wiles, but by also acquiring aid and support from host cells in their surrounding environment. In a paper published online this week in The Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, an international team of researchers led by cancer specialists at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and the Moores UCSD Cancer Center identify a particular relationship that can promote notably aggressive leukemias and lymphomas.
Biology news
Get off Chuck's back!
(PhysOrg.com) -- If Charles Darwin were alive today, he would be shaking his head and asking, "Why is everybody always picking on me?"
Vaccines could help what's ailing fish
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are developing vaccines to help protect healthy farm-raised catfish against key diseases.
Thousands of baby spiders released in British countryside
Thousands of baby spiders bred in a kitchen will be released into the British countryside this week in a bid to revive an endangered species, a government biodiversity agency said Friday.
Wild cats roam the Tucson Mountains
(PhysOrg.com) -- For the first time, mountain lions and bobcats have been photographed as part of an in-depth monitoring study in the Tucson Mountains, a small island of habitat facing increasing segregation from surrounding natural areas because of urban sprawl and road construction.
Genetics work could lead to advances in fertility for women
Princeton scientists have identified genes responsible for controlling reproductive life span in worms and found they may control genes regulating similar functions in humans.
SFU seeds discovery of mutant gene in chromosomes
Simon Fraser University molecular biologists have discovered a gene whose job is to ensure that chromosomes are correctly distributed during the formation of eggs and sperm in mammals, including humans.
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