Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for October 14, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Love takes up where pain leaves off, brain study shows- Mysterious pulsar with hidden powers discovered
- UC Riverside physicists pave the way for graphene-based spin computer
- Scientists suggest that cancer is purely man-made
- Study shows pigeons like to gamble
- Societies evolve slowly, just like biological species
- Paraplegics have been given new hope for walking (w/ Video)
- PiggyBac joins armory in fight against cancer
- Biologists find genetic explanation for evolutionary change: Location
- 'Incoherent excitations' govern key phase of superconductor behavior
- This little light of mine: Changing the color of single photons emitted by quantum dots
- New mini-sensor traces faint magnetic signature of human heartbeat
- Scientists find signals that make cell nucleus blow up like a balloon
- Researchers develop method for curbing growth of crystals that form kidney stones
- From handwritten CAPTCHAs to 'smart rooms,' tech solutions start with pattern recognition
Space & Earth news
A reinvention of agriculture is needed to meet global challenges
Des Moines, Iowa USA: World renowned scientists speaking at the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue have called for a radical transformation in the agriculture sector to cope with climate change, food security and to transition towards sustainability.
Probing deeper into oceans requires help from high tech equipment
Australian scientists are preparing to use the data from a new $22m array of high-tech equipment to help them probe deeper into the nation’s surrounding oceans.
Camera that saved Hubble leaves nest for good
The historic Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, developed and built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, left JPL Wednesday morning, Oct. 13, for points east. Known informally as "The Camera That Saved Hubble," the baby-grand-piano-sized camera was on temporary loan from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington.
New research results change the understanding of atmospheric aerosol properties and climate effects
Terrestrial vegetation and atmospheric photochemistry produce large amounts of fine particles in the atmosphere, thereby cooling Earth's climate. According to new research published in the Oct. 14 issue of Nature, the physical state of the fine particles produced by coniferous forests is solid, whereas previously scientists have assumed that these particles were liquid. The new findings have major implications for our understanding of particle formation processes, for the transformation of particles in the atmosphere and for their effects on climate.
Exposed rocks point to water on ancient Mars
A new discovery of hydrothermally altered carbonate-bearing rocks on Mars points toward habitable environments deep in the martian crust, a Planetary Science Institute researcher said.
Charcoal biofilter cleans up fertilizer waste gases
Removing the toxic and odorous emissions of ammonia from the industrial production of fertilizer is a costly and energy-intensive process. Now, researchers in Bangladesh have turned to microbes and inexpensive wood charcoal to create a biofilter that can extract the noxious gas from vented gases and so reduce pollution levels from factories in the developing world.
Large gaps found in public understanding of climate change
Sixty-three percent of Americans believe that global warming is happening, but many do not understand why, according to a national study conducted by researchers at Yale University.
Crew circles North Pole in one summer
A trimaran sailing boat circled the North Pole in a single summer season, a feat made possible by global warming and the melting of the Arctic ice cap, the boat's international crew said Thursday.
Code RED for biodiversity
While not an outright failure, a 2010 goal set by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for staunching the loss of the world's species fell far short of expectations for "The International Year of Biodiversity."
Astronomer leverages supercomputers to study black holes, galaxies
An Ohio State University astronomer is working to unlock some of the mysteries surrounding the formation of vast galaxies and the evolution of massive black holes with his own large constellation of silicon wafers.
NASA study of Haiti quake yields surprising results
(PhysOrg.com) -- The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that caused more than 200,000 casualties and devastated Haiti's economy in January resulted not from the Enriquillo fault, as previously believed, but from slip on multiple faults -- primarily a previously unknown, subsurface fault -- according to a study published online this week in Nature Geoscience.
Dead animals are Exhibit A in Gulf investigation
(AP) -- Dead birds are wrapped in foil or paper, then sealed in plastic bags to avoid cross contamination. Dolphin tissue samples and dead sea turtles are kept in locked freezers. Field notebooks are collected and secured.
When is a comet not a comet? Rosetta finds out
(PhysOrg.com) -- It was a case of celestial hit and run. Two asteroids, both in the wrong place at the wrong time. The result: one big trail of debris and a case of mistaken identity. Now, however, ESA’s comet-chaser Rosetta has unravelled the truth.
The many infrared 'personalities' of the Sculptor galaxy
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Sculptor galaxy is shown in different infrared hues, in this new mosaic from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE. The main picture is a composite of infrared light captured with all four of the space telescope's infrared detectors.
A river ran through it: Research shows nature and humans leaving indelible mark on rivers
Rivers and streams supply the lifeblood of ecosystems across the globe, providing water for drinking and irrigation for humans as well as a wide array of life forms in rivers and streams from single-celled organisms all the way up to the fish humans eat. But humans and nature itself are making it tough on rivers to continue in their central role to support fish species, according to new research by a team of scientists including one from Arizona State University.
Planet hunters no longer blinded by the light
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Arizona astronomers have developed a way to see faint planets previously hidden in their star's glare. The new mode enables scientists to search for planets closer to the star than has been previously possible.
Carbon dioxide controls Earth's temperature
(PhysOrg.com) -- Water vapor and clouds are the major contributors to Earth's greenhouse effect, but a new atmosphere-ocean climate modeling study shows that the planet's temperature ultimately depends on the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide.
Mysterious pulsar with hidden powers discovered
Dramatic flares and bursts of energy - activity previously thought reserved for only the strongest magnetized pulsars - has been observed emanating from a weakly magnetised, slowly rotating pulsar. The international team of astrophysicists who made the discovery believe that the source of the pulsar's power may be hidden deep within its surface.
Technology news
Sony further delays release of Gran Turismo 5
Japan's Sony will again delay the global release of the latest version of its popular "Gran Turismo" car-racing game, which was due out early next month, officials said Thursday.
Google urged to drop China name for disputed isles
Japan said on Thursday that Internet giant Google should drop from its map service the Chinese name for a disputed island chain at the centre of a bitter feud between Tokyo and Beijing.
Magnetic ceramics films for smaller transformers
Siemens is developing magnetic ceramic films so that the high-performance electronic circuits used in lighting systems and other such devices can be made smaller and much easier to manufacture. This type of circuit adapts the voltage, current, and frequency to the electrical consumer, for instance, a lamp.
World's most challenging terrain virtually tested by Buick
It's a technology that would captivate anyone who grew up on video games. What if you could create an exact digital replica of one of the world's most challenging roads and then drive virtual cars on it to see what happens?
Indian executive describes design innovations of Tata Nano
An executive of an Indian conglomerate credited a corporate culture that encourages innovation with the creation of the world’s cheapest everyday car, a fuel-efficient, $2,500 four-seater that the company plans to export to Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Restaurants could cut energy use in half, report says
Coffee shops and fast-food eateries could reduce their energy use more than 50 percent with ultra-efficient appliances, lights and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and other integrated design methods, according to a new report by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Yahoo shares rise on buyout talk
(AP) -- Investors are running up the price of Yahoo Inc. shares after a report saying AOL Inc. and a group of private equity firms may bid for the Web company.
Analysts: 3-D TV sales not as high as expected
(AP) -- Sales of 3-D TV sets have been weaker than expected this year, as 3-D content is lacking and overall TV sales in North America are slack, research firm DisplaySearch said.
Judge approves $100M Dell accord (Update)
(AP) -- A federal judge on Wednesday approved Dell Inc.'s $100 million settlement with the government of civil fraud charges.
Global PC sales slow in third quarter
Global personal computer sales slowed in the third quarter, notching up growth of just 7.6 percent, well below the previous quarter, technology research firm Gartner said Wednesday.
Oil boom possible but time is running out
Oil recovery using carbon dioxide could lead to a North Sea oil bonanza worth £150 billion ($240 billion) – but only if the current infrastructure is enhanced now, according to a new study published today by a world-leading energy expert.
IPad Impact: Tablets contribute to PC market pain
(AP) -- Few companies can disrupt an entire industry with a single product launch. But Apple Inc., whose history is filled with such game-changing moments, has done it again with its iPad tablet.
Report: AOL, buyout firms mulling bid for Yahoo
(AP) -- Yahoo Inc.'s inability to snap out of a financial funk may be about to turn the embattled Internet company into a takeover target for the second time in less than three years.
Homeland Security and spy agency to work together
(AP) -- Computer experts at the secretive National Security Agency are teaming up with the Homeland Security Department in an effort to strengthen the nation's defenses against cyber attacks.
UK police force publishes all incidents to Twitter
(AP) -- From stolen cars to suspicious smells, one of Britain's biggest police forces is posting every incident it deals with over 24 hours to micro-blogging site Twitter.
Cyberwars: Already underway with no Geneva Conventions to guide them
Cyber attacks of various sorts have been around for decades. The most recent, and very dangerous, escalation in the past few years has been marked by countries launching attacks against other nations, such as Stuxnet, the nuclear plant-disrupting worm the Iranians have blamed on Israel and the U.S., while others are pointing the finger at Russia.
Reports of e-mail's death have been greatly exaggerated
All the ballyhoo that social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook are diminishing our need for e-mail can be best summarized by paraphrasing Mark Twain: Reports of e-mail's death have been greatly exaggerated.
TED Talks take to iPad
Perspective-shifting TED Talks took to culture-changing iPads with the release Thursday of an application that lets the popular videos be viewed on Apple's hot tablet computers.
Video: 'Plastic Electronics'
New developments in plastic electronics potentially could change the quality of human life in a wide range of ways, according to Princeton engineering professor Yueh-Lin (Lynn) Loo.
AMD narrows loss, but spinoff weighs on chip maker
(AP) -- Advanced Micro Devices Inc. narrowed its third-quarter loss as the chip maker's remaining stake in factories it spun off last year dragged down the results.
New scanner aims to make liquids on planes safer
The latest airport security technology being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory could open the door for airline passengers to bring their soft drinks and full-size shampoo bottles on board again.
Faster websites, more reliable data
Today, visiting almost any major website -- checking your Facebook news feed, looking for books on Amazon, bidding for merchandise on eBay -- involves querying a database. But the databases that these sites maintain are enormous, and searching them anew every time a new user logs on would be painfully time consuming. To serve up data in a timely fashion, most big sites use a technique called caching. Their servers keep local copies of their most frequently accessed data, which they can send to users without searching the database.
New malware could steal users social media behavior and info: researchers
A new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers predicts that a new generation of malware (software written for malicious purposes like identity theft) could steal data on human behavior patterns, which is more dangerous than traditional, detectable attacks.
From handwritten CAPTCHAs to 'smart rooms,' tech solutions start with pattern recognition
Buy something online, enter your credit card number and mailing address. Simple. Then you come to the box with the CAPTCHA, the Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart. Here, the website attempts to confirm that you're a human, not some robot about to commit a cybercrime. You dutifully copy down the warped, watery-looking letters.
Facebook joins forces with Skype
Skype and Facebook joined forces Thursday to let users of the popular Internet communications service chat with their friends on the booming social network.
Google 3Q earns up 32 pct as online ads strong
Google Inc.'s third-quarter earnings climbed 32 percent to beat Wall Street's expectations as companies spent more to advertise to Web surfers.
Paraplegics have been given new hope for walking (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Berkeley Bionics unveiled eLEGS exoskeleton at a press conference on October 7 in San Francisco. Berkeley Bionics' CEO, Eythor Bender stated that their mission is to provide people with unprecedented mobility options.
Medicine & Health news
West Virginia school-based screening reveals significant high blood pressure rate
It's not easy to wrangle fifth graders from noisy school hallways to get their blood pressure checked. But with an age-adjusted death rate due to heart disease substantially above the national average, West Virginia has a good reason to try.
Low-dose exposure to chemical warfare agent may result in long-term heart damage
New research found that the pattern of heart dysfunction with sarin exposure in mice resembles that seen in humans. Sarin is a chemical warfare agent belonging to class of compounds called organophosphates — the basis for insecticides, herbicides and nerve agents. As an inhibitor of the nervous system enzyme acetylcholinesterase, sarin can cause convulsions, stoppage of breathing and death.
NIH studies influence revision of WHO guidelines for treating HIV-infected women, infants
Two studies appearing in the October 14, 2010 New England Journal of Medicine and funded by the National Institutes of Health helped influence the World Health Organization (WHO) to change its guidelines this year for the treatment of HIV infection in certain women and children. The recently updated guidelines affect HIV-infected women who receive a single dose of the antiretroviral drug nevirapine to prevent HIV transmission to their babies, and infants who receive a single dose of nevirapine to prevent acquiring the virus from their HIV-infected mothers but nevertheless become infected. The studies demonstrated that in both cases, the single dose of nevirapine used to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV can hamper the drug's effectiveness if it is also used later as part of a regimen to treat these same individuals.
Smell, close your eyes, remember: chefs teach kids to taste
Chef Frederic Simonin dangles a fragrant green bunch of dill in front of a classroom of schoolkids in a multi-ethnic corner of Paris: "And what about this? Any idea what it is?"
Overseas nurses feel their skills are underused and they aren't valued or respected
Many overseas nurses have negative experiences of living and working in the UK, particularly when it comes to feeling personally valued and professionally respected, according to the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
New research helps clinicians predict treatment outcomes for children with OCD
New research from the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center may help clinicians better predict how a child with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) will respond to some of the most commonly used treatment approaches. The findings, published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, could help guide important clinical decisions about the best intervention for children with this often debilitating anxiety disorder.
Not all doctors follow cancer screening guidelines
Only one-fifth of primary care physicians in the US follow practice guidelines for colorectal cancer screening for all the tests they recommend, according to Dr. Robin Yabroff from the National Cancer Institute and her colleagues. About 40 percent followed guidelines for some of the tests they recommended and the remaining 40 percent did not follow guidelines for any of the screening tests they recommended. Furthermore, their analysis1 of physician screening recommendations for colorectal cancer shows that many clinicians either overuse or underuse screening. Their findings appear online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, published by Springer.
CR Magazine sheds light on the burden of cancer on the streets
An article published in the Ffall 2010 issue of CR, the AACR's magazine for cancer survivors and their families and caregivers, details the immense challenges faced by those who suffer with cancer and lack the necessary resources for proper treatment and care — the homeless.
Anti-vomiting drug could prevent thousands of hospitalizations, save millions of dollars
Two years ago, a study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers found that an anti-vomiting drug called ondansetron helps reduce vomiting, the need for intravenous fluids and hospital admissions in children with acute gastroenteritis.
FDA warns 8 companies marketing miracle cures
(AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration has warned eight companies to stop marketing miracle cures that claim to treat everything from autism to Parkinson's disease by flushing toxic metals from the body.
Genetic data related to sodium-regulating hormone may help explain hypertension risk
New research points to the existence of a gene on chromosome 5 that influences how much aldosterone is produced — which may be excessive in African-descended populations.
FDA admits mistake in approving knee device
(AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration says it made a mistake in approving a controversial knee implant against the advice of its scientific reviewers.
1 in 22 blacks will get HIV, CDC report says
(AP) -- Health officials estimate that 1 in 22 black Americans will be diagnosed with the AIDS virus in their lifetime - more than twice the risk for Hispanics and eight times that of whites.
Flexing their muscles helps kidney disease patients live longer
Kidney disease patients are healthier and live longer if they've beefed up their muscles, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The results suggest that patients may benefit from pumping iron or taking medications to boost their lean body mass.
Enzyme in saliva shapes how we sense food texture
Creamy. Gritty. Crunchy. Slimy. Oral texture perception is a major factor contributing to each person's food preferences. Now, a new study from the Monell Center reports that individuals' perception of starch texture is shaped by variability in the activity of an oral enzyme known as salivary amylase.
Yoga alleviates pain and improves function in fibromyalgia patients
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating condition affecting 11 million individuals in the US alone. FM carries an annual direct cost for care of more than $20 billion and drug therapies are generally only 30% effective in relieving symptoms and 20% effective in improving function. Standard care currently includes medications accompanied by exercise and coping skills approaches. In a study published in the November issue of Pain, researchers report patients participating in a "Yoga of Awareness" program showed significantly greater improvement in FM symptoms and functioning compared to patients on a standard FM care program.
Study warns that over-the-counter weight-reducing products can cause harm and may even kill
The desire for a quick-fix for obesity fuels a lucrative market in so-called natural remedies. But a study of medical records in Hong Kong revealed 66 cases where people were suspected to have been poisoned by a "natural" slimming therapy. In eight cases the people became severely ill, and in one case the person died. The study is published today in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
WHO: 1 billion suffer from hidden tropical disease
(AP) -- The World Health Organization estimated Thursday that 1 billion of the world's poorest people suffer from neglected tropical diseases such as dengue, rabies and leprosy that remain concentrated in remote rural areas and urban slums despite being mostly eradicated from large areas of the world.
Key to blood-brain barrier opens way for treating Alzheimer's and stroke
While the blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain from harmful chemicals occurring naturally in the blood, it also obstructs the transport of drugs to the brain. In an article in Nature scientists at Karolinska Institutet now present a potential solution to the problem. The key to the BBB is a cell-type in the blood vessel walls called pericytes, and the researchers hope that their findings will one day contribute to new therapies for diseases like Alzheimer's and stroke.
Four kinds of compulsive gamblers identified
Disorganised and emotionally unstable, poorly adapted, suffering from alcohol problems, impulsive, or with a "globally adapted" personality. These are the features of the four diagnosed types of compulsive gamblers identified by researchers at the University Hospital of Bellvitge (IDIBELL) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). According to the scientific team, only one of these four shows signs of a significant pathology.
Satisfying job leads to better mental health
(PhysOrg.com) -- If you want to have good mental health, it’s not enough to just have a job, you should also have a job that satisfies you, according to new research from The Australian National University.
Chilean miners: A long road back to 'normal'
As the Chilean miners emerged Wednesday from their dark cave in protective sunglasses, they were swept into the arms of family and friends. Reports indicate that they have discussed the media frenzy into which they will walk and have agreed to share the money they receive for telling their stories equally; but after 69 days underground, what will it be like for them to return to their normal lives when the euphoria dies down?
Psychological first aid for survivors of disaster
Even as we breathe a sigh of relief watching the rescue of 33 miners trapped in a Chilean mine for more than two months, there is recognition that their recovery from this traumatic experience involves more than just their physical health. Survivors of disasters are at significant risk for such problems as post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. But research on the psychological effects of disasters indicates that the risk varies among individuals and, further, that the most common psychological interventions currently in use are at best ineffective and at worst may actually be harmful in some instances. Fortunately, there is strong scientific evidence pointing to the effectiveness of other psychological interventions for disaster survivors.
FDA may limit anemia drug use for kidney disease
(AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration is considering new restrictions on widely used anemia drugs that appear to double the risk of stroke in patients with kidney disease.
Biomarker shows potential for early diagnosis of lung cancer
A collaboration between physicians and scientists at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center has demonstrated that a biomarker called TCF21 may be used to develop a potential screening test for early-stage lung cancer.
Study links immune protein to abnormal brain development
UCLA scientists have discovered that exposing fetal neurons to higher than normal levels of a common immune protein leads to abnormal brain development in mice.
The kids are all right: Few negative associations with moms' return to work after having children
Children whose mothers return to work before their offspring turn 3 are no more likely to have academic or behavioral problems than kids whose mothers stay at home, according to a review of 50 years of research.
In childhood obesity, gene variants raise risk
A new study by pediatric researchers has added to the evidence that genes have a strong influence on childhood obesity.
Mayo Clinic finds early success with laser that destroys tumors with heat
Physicians at Mayo Clinic's Florida campus are among the first in the nation to use a technique known as MRI-guided laser ablation to heat up and destroy kidney and liver tumors. So far, five patients have been successfully treated — meaning no visible tumors remained after the procedure.
Study: Waist circumference, not BMI, is best predictor of future cardiovascular risk in children
A new long-term study published by researchers at the University of Georgia, the Menzies Research Institute in Hobart, Australia and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia suggests that waist circumference, rather than the commonly used body mass index measure, is the best clinical measure to predict a child's risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life.
Scientists discover inner workings of potent cancer drug
A potent drug derived from an evergreen tree may soon save the lives of some patients with the deadliest form of breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer will claim approximately 40,000 lives in the U.S. this year.
Researchers report advances vs. preeclampsia, including potential prediction
In as many as 8 percent of pregnancies worldwide, women who seem fine for months develop preeclampsia, a serious complication causing symptoms including high blood pressure, severe swelling, and problems with placental development. The untreatable and unpredictable condition, with no known cause, often requires premature delivery, and can sometimes kill the mother and the fetus.
Push and pull get eyes to work together
Researchers appear to have found a better way to correct sensory eye dominance, a condition in which an imbalance between the eyes compromises fine depth perception. The key is a push-pull training method in which the weak eye is made to work while vision in the strong eye is actively suppressed, according to a report published online on October 14 in Current Biology.
Researcher find fats galore in human plasma
Human blood is famously fraught with fats; now researchers have a specific idea of just how numerous and diverse these lipids actually are. A national research team, led by scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, has created the first "lipidome" of human plasma, identifying and quantifying almost 600 distinct fat species circulating in human blood.
Need a study break to refresh? Maybe not, say researchers
It could happen to students cramming for exams, people working long hours or just about anyone burning the candle at both ends: Something tells you to take a break. Watch some TV. Have a candy bar. Goof off, tune out for a bit and come back to the task at hand when you're feeling better. After all, you're physically exhausted.
First TB vaccine booster unveiled by Seattle scientists
Seattle scientists have developed a tuberculosis vaccine that may boost the effectiveness of the only existing vaccine, extending immunity against the disease.
Young children are especially trusting of things they're told
Little kids believe the darnedest things. For example, that a fat man in a red suit flies through the air on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. A new study on three-year-olds, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that they aren't just generally trusting. They're particularly trusting of things people say to them.
Low beta blocker dose can put patients at risk for subsequent heart attacks
For nearly 40 years a class of drugs known as beta blockers have been proven to increase patients' survival prospects following a heart attack by decreasing the cardiac workload and oxygen demand on the heart. In a breakthrough study released in the American Heart Journal, Northwestern Medicine cardiologist Jeffrey J. Goldberger found the majority of patients are frequently not receiving a large enough dose of these drugs, which can put their recovery from heart attacks and overall health into peril.
Molecular switch controls melanin production, may allow true sunless tanning
Discovery of a molecular switch that turns off the natural process of skin pigmentation may lead to a novel way of protecting the skin – activating the tanning process without exposure to cancer-causing UV radiation. In their report in the journal Genes & Development, researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cutaneous Biology Research Center (CBRC) describe how blocking the action of this switch – an enzyme called PDE-4D3 – in the skin of mice led to a significant increase in melanin production.
Insight gained into age-related hearing loss
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have gained insight into how different types of age-related hearing loss may occur in humans. The discovery could eventually help physicians develop drugs to combat progressive hearing loss. Their paper is published on October 14 in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.
Gene identified that prevents stem cells from turning cancerous
Stem cells, the prodigious precursors of all the tissues in our body, can make almost anything, given the right circumstances. Including, unfortunately, cancer. Now research from Rockefeller University shows that having too many stem cells, or stem cells that live for too long, can increase the odds of developing cancer. By identifying a mechanism that regulates programmed cell death in precursor cells for blood, or hematopoietic stem cells, the work is the first to connect the death of such cells to a later susceptibility to tumors in mice. It also provides evidence of the potentially carcinogenic downside to stem cell treatments, and suggests that nature has sought to balance stem cells' regenerative power against their potentially lethal potency.
Breaking ball too good to be true (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Curveballs curve and fastballs go really fast, but new research suggests that no pitcher can make a curveball "break" or a fastball "rise."
IVF births result in taller children: NZ study
Children born using in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) are likely to be taller than their naturally conceived counterparts, New Zealand researchers have found.
I want to see what you see: Babies treat 'social robots' as sentient beings
Babies are curious about nearly everything, and they're especially interested in what their adult companions are doing. Touch your tummy, they'll touch their own tummies. Wave your hands in the air, they'll wave their own hands. Turn your head to look at a toy, they'll follow your eyes to see what's so exciting.
Scientists make cancer breakthrough in the way anti-cancer drugs are tested
Scientists at the University of East Anglia have made an important breakthrough in the way anti-cancer drugs are tested.
PiggyBac joins armory in fight against cancer
Researchers have developed a genetic tool in mice to speed the discovery of novel genes involved in cancer. The system – called PiggyBac – has already been used by the team to identify novel candidate cancer-causing genes.
Temperature rhythms keep body clocks in sync, researchers find
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that fluctuations in internal body temperature regulate the body's circadian rhythm, the 24-hour cycle that controls metabolism, sleep and other bodily functions.
Practice tests improve memory, researchers say
Although most people assume that tests are a way to evaluate learning, a wealth of research has shown that testing can actually improve learning, according to two researchers from Kent State University. Dr. Katherine Rawson, associate professor in Kent State's Department of Psychology, and former Kent State graduate student Mary Pyc publish their research findings in the Oct. 15, 2010, issue of the journal Science.
Love takes up where pain leaves off, brain study shows
(PhysOrg.com) -- Intense, passionate feelings of love can provide amazingly effective pain relief, similar to painkillers or such illicit drugs as cocaine, according to a new Stanford University School of Medicine study.
Scientists suggest that cancer is purely man-made
(PhysOrg.com) -- Cancer is a modern, man-made disease caused by environmental factors such as pollution and diet, a study by University of Manchester scientists has strongly suggested.
Biology news
Scientists prepare for confined field trials of life-saving drought-tolerant transgenic maize
Crop specialists in Kenya and Uganda have laid the groundwork for confined field trials to commence later this year for new varieties of maize genetically modified to survive recurrent droughts that threaten over 300 million Africans for whom maize is life, according to a speech given today by the head of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) at the World Food Prize Symposium.
Questions fuel 'Ask A Biologist' website success
The Arizona State University online children's science portal, "Ask A Biologist," provides the backdrop for an editor's pick in the Oct. 12 online edition of Public Library of Science (PLoS).
Bell collars on cats reduces the number of native birds caught and killed, research suggests
If domestic cats wore bell collars in urban areas the numbers of native birds caught and killed could be reduced by as much as half, a new University of Otago study shows.
Researchers to sequence genome of flowering plants' ancient living relative
University of Florida researchers are part of a nationwide team preparing to open a door into better understanding plant evolution by sequencing the genome of the single living sister species to all other flowering plants.
Genetic blueprint of bacteria causing Lyme disease unraveled
Benjamin Luft, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Stony Brook University Medical Center, and a team of medical researchers have determined the genetic blueprint of 13 strains of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The finding is crucial to advancing research on Lyme disease, the most frequent tick-borne infection in North America and Europe, and may lead to better diagnostics and a vaccine. Dr. Luft presented the research results at an October 11 meeting in Washington, D.C., at the Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences. The study is reported in the early online edition of the Journal of Bacteriology.
Is anxiety contagious? Surprising research finds common stress levels in social groups
(PhysOrg.com) -- Anxiety, or the reaction to a perceived danger, is a response that differs from one animal or human to another -- or so scientists thought. Now researchers at Tel Aviv University are challenging what we know about stress, and their study has implications for helping clinicians better treat victims of terrorism or natural disasters.
Biologists identify influence of environment on sexual vs. asexual reproduction
Evolutionary biologists at the University of Toronto have found that environment plays a key role in determining whether a species opts for sexual over asexual reproduction.
Of worms and women: Common causes for reproductive decline with age
In worms as in women, fertility declines at a rate that far exceeds the onset of other aging signs. And now a new report in the October 15th issue of Cell, a Cell Press publication, suggests that worms' and humans' biological clocks may wind down over time for similar underlying reasons.
The risks and benefits of using poplars for biofuels
A potential solution for global energy demands is the use of Poplar, a fast-growing tree with high yields, for biofuels. To get the most out of Poplar plantations, varieties that are the best fit for the conditions—ones with disease resistance or higher yields, for example—are desired. But do these plantations of new, non-native (exotic) species impact nearby native populations of Poplar? In particular, is the genetic makeup of the native populations being altered by interactions with the exotic species?
Shark smell myth found fishy
Everyone knows that sharks have an amazing sense of smell. Toss a chunk of salmon into the shark tank at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, and you can see it in action.
Researchers show how cells open 'doors' to release neurotransmitters
Like opening a door to exit a room, cells in the body open up their outer membranes to release such chemicals as neurotransmitters and other hormones.
'Bigfoot of ants' found (again)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Stop the presses: Bigfoot was spotted in Cary! It's probably not the Bigfoot you know, that 8-foot-tall beast also known as Sasquatch. Instead, it's the Bigfoot of ants, a species of ant so rarely seen that it makes blue moons seem common.
Unsung hero: Researchers produce high-res model of Ndc80 in action
(PhysOrg.com) -- Unless you are in a field of study related to cell biology, you most likely have never heard of Ndc80. Yet this protein complex is essential to mitosis, the process by which a living cell separates its chromosomes and distributes them equally between its two daughter cells. Now, through a combination of cryo-electron microscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction, a team of researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California Berkeley have produced a subnanometer resolution model of human Ndc80 that reveals how this unsung hero carries out its essential tasks.
Orchid tricks hoverflies: Eastern marsh helleborine mimics aphid alarm pheromones to attract pollinators
Even Darwin was a self-admitted orchid lover. Dictionaries describe orchids as exotic ornamentals. Indeed, these plants – more than 30000 different species are thought to exist – are exotic due their extraordinary and diverse flower morphology. However, they are also exotic from a point of view other than beauty: as crafty imposters in order to achieve reproduction and to make sure that their ovaries are pollinated. Orchids depend on the assistance of pollinators, and like many other flowering plants, attract insects.
Scientists find signals that make cell nucleus blow up like a balloon
Size matters when it comes to the nucleus of a cell, and now scientists have discovered the signals that control how big the nucleus gets.
Biologists find genetic explanation for evolutionary change: Location
A gene's location on a chromosome plays a significant role in shaping how an organism's traits vary and evolve, according to findings by genome biologists at New York University's Center for Genomic and Systems Biology and Princeton University's Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics. Their research, which appears in the latest issue of the journal Science, suggests that evolution is less a function of what a physical trait is and more a result of where the genes that affect that trait reside in the genome.
Study shows pigeons like to gamble
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study of pigeons shows that, like human gamblers, they love to gamble on the off chance they will win big rather than taking a smaller, but more certain payout.
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