Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for October 21, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Portable power source cleans water (w/ Video)- Researchers break speed barrier in solving important class of linear systems
- Younger brains are easier to rewire
- Engineered collision spills new Moon secrets (w/ Video)
- Isotope near 'doubly magic' tin-100 flouts conventional wisdom
- Scientists open electrical link to living cells
- Some leukemia patients may be able to safely stop treatment
- Obese father rats have unhealthy daughters
- Taking a second look at evidence for the 'varying' fine-structure constant
- Researchers develop first implanted device to treat balance disorder
- Malarial mosquitoes are evolving into new species, say researchers
- Light on silicon better than copper?
- Nightshades' mating habits strike uneasy evolutionary balance
- Chemists discover proton mechanism used by flu virus to infect cells
- Peripheral induction of Alzheimer's-like brain pathology in mice
Space & Earth news
$700,000 from Gates to help protect CA climate law
(AP) -- The campaign against Proposition 23 - the ballot initiative that would push back California's landmark global warming law - is getting another big financial boost from a high-tech billionaire.
Image: Crackling with solar flares
Fast-growing sunspot 1112 is crackling with solar flares.
After 500 years Bolivian silver mountain risks collapse
The mountain holding one of the world's greatest silver deposits is at risk of collapse after five centuries of exploitation, Bolivian officials say, calling for moves to save the historic site.
Changing seasons on Titan
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has sent back dreamy raw images of Saturn's moon Titan that show the appearance of clouds around the moon's midsection.
Life on earth could be transformed by NASA space technology
For years, NASA has been developing technology to establish long-duration human presence in space. As part of this ongoing effort, NASA developed a closed-loop system that recycles urine and gray water into drinking water. In addition, recent research suggests that it also may be used to generate and store energy, which would not only benefit space habitats and travel, but may have application on Earth as well.
Value-added sulfur scrubbing
Power plants that burn fossil fuels remain the main source of electricity generation across the globe. Modern power plants have scrubbers to remove sulfur compounds from their flue gases, which has helped reduce the problem of acid rain. Now, researchers in India have devised a way to convert the waste material produced by the scrubbing process into value-added products. They describe details in the International Journal of Environment and Pollution.
Satellite images reveal complexity of Alaska's Susitna Glacier
Like rivers of liquid water, glaciers flow downhill, with tributaries joining to form larger rivers. But where water rushes, ice crawls. As a result, glaciers gather dust and dirt, and bear long-lasting evidence of past movements.
Scientists pioneer wireless sensors to explore little known glacier phenomenon
Researchers at the University of Southampton are pioneering the use of wireless sensors to study a little-known phenomenon that affects the movement of glaciers.
Scientists detected surprising gases in Moon impact plume
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and its sophisticated suite of instruments have determined that hydrogen, mercury and other volatile substances are present in permanently shaded soils on the Moon, according to a paper published today in Science.
Cosmonaut food prices skyrocket due to inflation: official
The price of food rations on board the International Space Station (ISS) has increased by nearly 50 percent over the past year due to inflation, a Russian official said on Thursday.
Sea ice melting as Arctic temperature rises
(AP) -- The temperature is rising again in the Arctic, with the sea ice extent dropping to one of the lowest levels on record, climate scientists reported Thursday.
Radioactivity from groundwater will be filtered for decades by volcanic rocks at Western New York nuclear waste site
(PhysOrg.com) -- A massive treatment wall under construction this week at a Western New York nuclear waste cleanup site will stop radioactive contamination in its tracks for literally decades, according to University at Buffalo engineers who modeled and tested the wall's material.
Everglades show improvement in water quality
Researchers at the University of Florida Research and Education Centers and scientists at the South Florida Water Management District have published a report regarding the trends in water quality feeding into Everglades National Park. The report can be found in the September-October 2010 Journal of Environmental Quality, published by the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America.
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.
Pyrocumulonimbus: Fire-Breathing dragon of the clouds
Pyrocumulonimbus is the fire-breathing dragon of clouds. A cumulonimbus without the "pyre" part is imposing enough -- a massive, anvil-shaped tower of power reaching five miles (8 km) high, hurling thunderbolts, wind and rain.
Coccolithophore blooms in the southwest Atlantic
A study led by Dr Stuart Painter of the National Oceanography Centre helps explain the formation of huge phytoplankton blooms off the southeast coast of South America during the austral summer (December-January). The region supports the highly productive Patagonian Shelf marine ecosystem, which includes a globally important fishery.
Plant-based plastics not necessarily greener than oil-based relatives
An analysis of plant and petroleum-derived plastics by University of Pittsburgh researchers suggests that biopolymers are not necessarily better for the environment than their petroleum-based relatives, according to a report in Environmental Science & Technology. The Pitt team found that while biopolymers are the more eco-friendly material, traditional plastics can be less environmentally taxing to produce.
Plants play larger role than thought in cleaning up air pollution
(PhysOrg.com) -- Vegetation plays an unexpectedly large role in cleansing the atmosphere, a new study finds. The research, led by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colo., uses observations, gene expression studies, and computer modeling to show that deciduous plants absorb about a third more of a common class of air-polluting chemicals than previously thought.
Watch construction of Nasa's new Mars rover live on the web
(PhysOrg.com) -- A newly installed webcam is giving the public an opportunity to watch technicians assemble and test the next NASA Mars rover, one of the most technologically challenging interplanetary missions ever designed.
Engineered collision spills new Moon secrets (w/ Video)
Scientists led by Brown University are offering the first detailed explanation of the crater formed when a NASA rocket slammed into the Moon last fall and information about the composition of the lunar soil at the poles that never has been sampled. The findings are published in a set of papers in Science stemming from the successful NASA mission, called LCROSS for Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite.
Technology news
Investor group seeking to buy Boston Globe from Times Co
A group of investors is seeking to buy The Boston Globe from its owner, The New York Times Co., which tried unsuccessfully to sell the struggling newspaper last year, the Globe reported Wednesday.
Netflix customer growth eclipses 3Q earnings miss
(AP) -- Netflix Inc.'s video subscription service won another horde of new fans in the third quarter, overshadowing a rare earnings shortfall.
Rumsfeld is back... this time, on Twitter
Ex-defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld no longer rules the Pentagon but he has launched a new operation, this time online and via Twitter.
Google: 244,000 Germans say 'no' to Street View
(AP) -- Internet giant Google says more than 244,000 Germans have asked that their homes be made unrecognizable in its Street View program, scheduled to launch in Germany next month.
iPhone subway performance goes viral on YouTube
A New York band's performance of one of their songs played entirely on iPhones in a subway car has become a smash hit on YouTube and won them legions of new fans.
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.
UN report: Internet users to surpass 2B in 2010
(AP) -- If the Internet were a country, it would be experiencing explosive population growth.
Court to Google: Tell NYer who posted about her
(AP) -- A business consultant who wants to know who's been anonymously disparaging and fixating on her online has gotten a court to force Google to tell her.
Internet address sex.com attracts 13-million-dollar bid
An offshore holding company is out to have its way with sex.com for 13 million dollars. Clover Holdings Limited, based on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, made the top offer for the hot Sex.com Internet domain name that Escom LLC is being forced to sell due to bankruptcy, according to court documents.
Japan's NTT Data to buy US IT firm: report
Japanese telecom giant NTT's data communications unit plans to buy US IT firm Keane for 1.2 billion dollars as a strong yen and good earnings back Japanese firms' acquisitions, a report said Thursday.
Japan's Toshiba almost trebles first-half earnings forecast
Japanese electronics giant Toshiba on Thursday almost trebled its profit projections for the first half, thanks to strong sales of semiconductors and liquid crystal displays.
Asia, Europe face wait for Sony's Google TV
(AP) -- Sony plans to introduce its Web-surfing Google TV in Europe and Asia but customers may have to wait more than a year and even longer if they're in China, a senior executive said Thursday.
New early warning system for landslide prediction
A new type of sound sensor system has been developed to predict the likelihood of a landslide.
Nokia to cut 1,800 jobs as net profit euro529 million
(AP) -- Nokia Corp. is moving quickly to restructure its lagging smart phone business under new CEO Stephen Elop, announcing Thursday it will lay off 1,800 people even as third-quarter earnings bounced back from a year-ago loss.
AT&T adds record number of iPhones, posts tax gain
(AP) -- AT&T Inc. sold a record number of iPhones in the latest quarter, continuing to siphon subscribers from other wireless carriers in a tightening industry.
Offshore wind a 'mixed bag': University of Maryland study
Offshore wind power offers a feasible way for Maryland to help meet its renewable energy goals, but presents some economic and political hurdles, concludes a new study by the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Environmental Research (CIER).
Facebook, Amazon and Zynga backing social Internet ideas
Facebook, Amazon and Zynga said Thursday they have teamed with a top Silicon Valley venture capital firm to create a 250-million-dollar fund for entrepreneurs making the Internet more social.
Scientists examine energy trends of communications equipment
A team of scientists at Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs have examined the energy consumption trends of communications equipment in use today and determined that gains in energy efficiency are not keeping pace with traffic growth. One consequence is that energy is going to become an increasingly important problem for communication networks.
Amazon 3Q profit jumps 16 percent
(AP) -- More shoppers flocked to Amazon.com Inc.'s website during the third quarter, helping the online retailer's net income climb 16 percent and easily beat analyst expectations.
Facebook voyeurism a part of workplace life: report
Facebook fans tend to lurk instead of play when they tune into the social network while at their jobs, according to a report released Thursday by computer security firm Palo Alto Networks.
Tomorrow's Internet: 1,000 times faster
Imagine if all the data traversing the world right now -- on long distance networks and between and within computers and other hardware -- could be sent through a single fiber the width of a human hair.
Japan's rare earth minerals may run out by March: govt
Japan's stockpile of rare earth minerals could dry up by March or April without fresh imports from China, which has stopped shipping them, a senior Japanese government official said Thursday.
Google to bring ultra high-speed broadband to Stanford
Google announced plans on Thursday to test an ultra high-speed broadband network at Stanford University, where the Internet giant's co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin went to school.
Researchers break speed barrier in solving important class of linear systems
Computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have devised an innovative and elegantly concise algorithm that can efficiently solve systems of linear equations that are critical to such important computer applications as image processing, logistics and scheduling problems, and recommendation systems.
Portable power source cleans water (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- One of the challenges faced by millions of people around the world is access to clean drinking water. Additionally, during natural disasters, it can be difficult for stricken areas to have access to the power they need. One company, The Essential Element, hopes to provide what is needed with the help of Hydra, a portable device that is designed to purify water while powering a fuel cell that can be used to power communications devices and even offer fuel for a camp stove.
Medicine & Health news
Virtual colonoscopy option could improve colorectal cancer screening rates, patient survey suggests
Providing computed tomography colonography (CTC) -- otherwise known as virtual colonoscopy -- as an alternative to conventional colonoscopy could improve colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, according to a study in the November issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Virtual colonoscopy and teleradiology bring colorectal cancer screening to patients in rural areas
Computed tomography colonography (CTC) -- otherwise known as virtual colonoscopy -- is feasible in remote health centers where optimal colonoscopy is limited, according to a study in the November issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Forensic scientists use postmortem imaging-guided biopsy to determine natural causes of death
Researchers found that the combination of computed tomography (CT), postmortem CT angiography (CTA) and biopsy can serve as a minimally invasive option for determining natural causes of death such as cardiac arrest, according to a study in the November issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Telementoring may address need for surgical subspecialty expertise in remote locations
Telementoring may be an effective way for subspecialist surgeons to assist remotely located general surgeons in the care of patients in need of emergency subspecialty surgical procedures, according to new research findings published in the September issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
New program seeks to help city kids overcome obstacles to receiving mental health services
Research has shown that nearly 40 percent of youth in low-income communities exhibit significant mental health needs – needs which remain largely unaddressed due to a myriad of barriers, including system-level obstacles, such as waiting lists, stigma related to seeking mental health care, poverty, family stress and competing priorities.
Promising new 'antigene' therapy
Antigene therapy is a promising new treatment strategy that uses a DNA-based drug to pinpoint light energy to a target gene shutting down its activity. A review article published online ahead of print in Oligonucleotides, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., details the possibilities and challenges for the clinical application of this novel photo-activated DNA modulating approach.
Chicago racial disparities in breast cancer mortality significantly higher than national average
Disparities in breast cancer mortality continue to be unacceptably high in Chicago and significantly larger than the national average according to new data released today at a rally sponsored by the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force. The Task Force also announced results of the first year of data collection by the Chicago Breast Cancer Quality Consortium, which found many hospitals in Chicago are not meeting accepted quality standards.
ER patients prefer ordering physicians discuss risks/benefits of CT with them before ordering exam
The majority of emergency department patients consider having their condition correctly diagnosed with computed tomography (CT) more important than any associated radiation risk. However, two-thirds of patients prefer their ordering physician discuss the risks and benefits of CT with them before ordering the imaging test, according to a study in the November issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (www.ajronline.org).
Study shows patient navigations improve mammography rates in minority women
A new research study conducted by Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) shows that patient navigation services significantly improve biennial mammography screening rates among inner city women. The results, published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, indicate the importance of patient navigation in reducing health disparities in vulnerable patient populations.
Studies show everolimus-eluting stent implantation reduces restenosis and repeat revasculariztion
Two new studies have determined that everolimus-eluting stent (EES) implantation reduced the incidence of restenosis and repeat revascularization in patients with calcified culprit lesions, and had fewer clinical events. Results show the rate of major cardiac adverse events in EES-treated patients with calcified lesions were higher than in those for noncalcified lesions, but remained lower than the results of previously reported stent studies. Details of both studies are published in the November issue of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Intervention, a peer-reviewed journal from The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.
Testing lifestyle changes to improve health for people with HIV infections
Between the demands of work, family and friends, many women find health takes a back seat. Women with HIV are no exception.
When should sinus problems be a concern?
(PhysOrg.com) -- The majority of sinus infections in adults tend to be viral, not bacterial, and will likely resolve in 10-14 days, says UC Health allergist Andrew Smith, MD.
Treating metabolic syndrome, undergoing carotid angioplasty
Treating metabolic syndrome and undergoing carotid angioplasty may prevent recurrent stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), according to revised American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines.
Lean on me: Social support is critical to dialysis patients' health
Dialysis patients with little social support from friends and family are more likely to ignore doctors' orders, experience a poorer quality of life, and die prematurely, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The results suggest strong social networks are important for maintaining dialysis patients' health.
Simple blood test helps predict chronic kidney disease
Measuring three biomarkers in a single blood sample may improve physicians' ability to identify patients at high risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Conventional, annual Pap smear cost-effective follow-up after cervical lesion treatment
A study of the options for reducing cancer incidence and mortality among women who have been treated for precancerous cervical lesions found that an annual conventional Pap smear is a cost effective strategy.
'Lubricin' molecule discovered to reduce cartilage wear
A team of researchers in North Carolina has discovered that lubricin, a synovial fluid glycoprotein, reduces wear to bone cartilage. This result, which has implications for the treatment of sufferers of osteoarthritis, will be presented today at the AVS 57th International Symposium & Exhibition, taking place this week at the Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico.
Sex, lies and pomegranate juice focus of US legal battle
If the claims are to be believed, pomegranate juice can change your life, preventing prostate and breast cancer, protecting against heart disease and even alleviating erectile dysfunction.
New epilepsy drugs give options, complicate decisions
A dozen new epilepsy drugs are giving doctors and patients more options, but making treatment decisions more complex, a Loyola epilepsy specialist reports in the journal Neurologic Clinics.
Researcher says 200,000 malaria deaths preventable annually
Professor Prabhat Jha of medicine and an international team of researchers from India, Canada and the U.K. say their new study shows the number of premature deaths from malaria in India has been vastly underestimated.
Pregnancy outcomes in overweight women improved with low-glycemic diet
Overweight and obese women following a low-glycemic-load diet during pregnancy are less likely to deliver early, have babies with larger head circumferences and show fewer cardiovascular risk factors than women on commonly prescribed low-fat diets, finds a randomized, controlled trial led by Children's Hospital Boston and performed in collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Adverse neighborhood conditions greatly aggravate mobility problems from diabetes
A study published earlier this year in the peer reviewed online journal BMC Public Health has found that residing in a neighborhood with adverse living conditions such as low air quality, loud traffic or industrial noise, or poorly maintained streets, sidewalks and yards, makes mobility problems much more likely in late middle-aged African Americans with diabetes.
Malaria research bites back
Scientists at The University of Nottingham and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute near Cambridge have pin-pointed the 72 molecular switches that control the three key stages in the life cycle of the malaria parasite and have discovered that over a third of these switches can be disrupted in some way.
Identifying a role for cellular CO2 sensor
UCD Conway researchers have found that carbon dioxide (CO2) is not only involved in climate change and a waste product of respiration in cells but also plays an active role in regulating the genes involved in inflammation and innate immunity. Their research findings were highlighted in the October 1st issue of The Journal of Immunology.
Researchers find better method to help mothers cope with child's cancer and related stress
Mothers who have children diagnosed with cancer now have a better approach to address and cope with stresses associated with their child's disease.
Future offenses cause more intense feelings than past actions, study finds
People feel worse about a transgression that will take place in the future than an identical one that occurred in the past, according to new research from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Teaching kids to work through trauma
A child who grows up in the midst of political conflict, such as war or terrorism, can exhibit severe emotional scars. But certain qualities, which psychologists call "resilience factors," can help overcome this adversity.
Study finds airbags reduce risk of kidney injury in car crashes
Occupants in motor vehicles with airbags are much less likely to suffer kidney or renal damage in a crash than are occupants in vehicles without airbags, according to a new study in the September Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
FDA warns of heart risk with HIV drug combination
(AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration is warning HIV patients not to combine two widely used antiviral drugs because they can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
Fatal crashes involving teen drivers drop (Update)
(AP) -- Far fewer people are dying in car crashes with teens at the wheel, but it's not because teenagers are driving more cautiously. Experts say laws are tougher, and cars and highways are safer.
Scientists uncover clues on inflammation in central nervous system
Scientists at Barrow Neurological Institute have recently made discoveries about a type of cell that may limit inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) – a finding that could have important implications in the treatment of brain disorders such as multiple sclerosis. The research, led by Barrow's Fu-Dong Shi, MD, PhD, was published in the August 2010 issue of The Journal of Experimental Medicine, and simultaneously highlighted in Nature.
Parent-only treatment may be equally effective for children who are obese
A study led by a researcher at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine indicates that parent-only treatments for childhood obesity work equally as well as plans that include parents and child, while at the same time more cost effective and potentially easier for families.
Lack of vitamin D: More evidence connected to breast, colon cancer
(PhysOrg.com) -- Two new vitamin D studies from the University of Rochester Medical Center suggest intriguing ties between a deficiency of D and breast and colon cancer, particularly among African Americans.
Protein injection shows promise in lowering elevated triglycerides
Injecting a protein that helps break down triglycerides may someday help treat an inherited form of high triglycerides, according to a new study in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, an American Heart Association journal.
Cholesterol-lowering drug shrinks enlarged prostates in hamster model
A cholesterol-lowering drug reduced the enlarged prostates of hamsters to the same extent as a drug commonly used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), report researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and their colleagues in the October issue of the Journal of Urology. Together, the drugs worked even better.
Spain holds siesta championship
What is billed as Spain's first national siesta championship is under way in Madrid to find the best napper and help revive the tradition of taking a snooze after lunch.
Risk gene for severe heart disease discovered
Research led by Klaus Stark and Christian Hengstenberg of the University of Regensburg identified a common variant of the cardiovascular heat shock protein gene, HSPB7, which was found to increase risk for dilated cardiomyopathy by almost 50%. Their paper appears on October 28 in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.
Cholera epidemic in quake-hit Haiti, 135 dead
A cholera epidemic in northern Haiti has claimed 135 lives and infected 1,500 people over the last few days, Claude Surena, president of the Haitian Medical Association, said Thursday.
New tumor proteins may identify a range of cancers early
A new study led by Ohio State University cancer researchers describes a novel cancer-specific protein that is present in a broad range of cancer types and at all stages of tumor development, from premalignant cells to metastatic tumor cells.
One step closer in finding treatment for amyloidosis
University College London scientists funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) have devised a new approach to treatment of amyloidosis, according to new research published yesterday in Nature.
Too many sisters affect male sexuality
Growing up with lots of sisters makes a man less sexy. For rats, anyway. A new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that the sex ratio of a male rat's family when he's growing up influences both his own sexual behavior and how female rats respond to him.
Study details molecular structure of major cell signaling pathway
Scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have reported the exact molecular structure and mechanisms of a major cell signaling pathway that serves a broad range of functions in humans.
Putting a bull's-eye on the flu: Detailing influenza's structure for drug targeting (w/ Video)
Beating the flu is already tough, but it has become even harder in recent years – the influenza A virus has mutated so that two antiviral drugs don't slow it down anymore.
Peripheral induction of Alzheimer's-like brain pathology in mice
Pathological protein deposits linked to Alzheimer's disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy can be triggered not only by the administration of pathogenic misfolded protein fragments directly into the brain but also by peripheral administration outside the brain. This is shown in a new study done by researchers at the Hertie Institute of Clinical Brain Research (HIH, University Hospital Tübingen, University of Tübingen) and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), to be published in Science on October 21, 2010.
Stanford study links cancer to loss of protein that hooks skin cells together
In a study to be published online Oct. 21 in PLoS Genetics, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have implicated the lack of a protein important in hooking our skin cells together in the most common variety of skin cancer. Depletion of this protein, called Perp, could be an early indicator of skin cancer development, and could be useful for staging and establishing prognoses.
Researchers develop first implanted device to treat balance disorder
A University of Washington Medical Center patient on Thursday, Oct. 21, will be the world's first recipient of a device that aims to quell the disabling vertigo associated with Meniere's disease.
Obese father rats have unhealthy daughters
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study in rats has found the female pups of obese males may be more likely to develop symptoms of diabetes later in life. The condition is not a case of genetic inheritance, but appears to be epigenetic inheritance, in which the chemical markers that affect how genes are expressed are inherited by the offspring. The expression of genes can be altered by conditions created by lifestyle choices such as bad diet leading to obesity.
Some leukemia patients may be able to safely stop treatment
(PhysOrg.com) -- New medical trials suggest some chronic leukemia patients who are in complete remission may be cured by the standard drug used to treat the condition and can safely discontinue its use.
Younger brains are easier to rewire
About a decade ago, scientists studying the brains of blind people made a surprising discovery: A brain region normally devoted to processing images had been rewired to interpret tactile information, such as input from the fingertips as they trace Braille letters. Subsequent experiments revealed a similar phenomenon in other brain regions. However, these studies didn’t answer the question of whether the brain can rewire itself at any time, or only very early in life.
Biology news
Efforts underway to rescue vulnerable bananas, giant swamp taro, other Pacific Island crops
Hoping to save the vulnerable varieties of bananas painted by the artist Paul Gauguin, rare coconuts, and 1,000 other unique varieties of staple fruit and vegetable crops across the Pacific, crop specialists from nine islands have launched a major effort to preserve the indigenous diversity of foods that are deemed critical to combating diet-related health problems.
Egg meets sperm: The female side of the story
Researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have been able to describe the 3D structure of a complete egg receptor that binds sperm at the beginning of fertilization. The results, published in the journal Cell, will lead to better understanding of infertility and may enable entirely new types of contraceptives.
Tigers could be extinct within 12 years: WWF
Tigers could become extinct within 12 years but a top level meeting in Russia next month could help reverse the decline, nature conservation body WWF said on Thursday.
S.Africa using GPS microchips to stop rhino poaching
South African rangers on Thursday announced a plan to implant GPS devices in the horns of rhinos in a new effort to combat rampant poaching.
Designing PEAT to capture, share and analyse protein data
University College Dublin researchers led by Conway Fellow, Dr. Jens Erik Nielsen have created a novel application that not only facilitates the analysis of experimental data generated in the course of a research project but also ensures that this valuable data is available for future use. The team described the application in an article published recently in the journal, Nucleic Acids Research.
Researcher prompted by summer swims probes unusual intelligence
If you were an octopus, would you view the world from eight different points of view? Nine?
Researchers investigate marine mammal behavior and responses to sound
(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of researchers recently completed a two-month research project off the Southern California coast, part of a collaboration to study marine mammal behavior and responses to sounds in the ocean.
Modeling study identifies characteristics of high elk-use areas in western Oregon, Washington
The availability of highly nutritious forage is one of four factors linked to the presence of elk populations in western Oregon and Washington, according to a modeling study recently completed by scientists from the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station. Findings from the two-year study will be used to update land management planning for the ecologically and economically important ungulate in the region.
Biologists use fruit flies to reveal secrets of how anthrax kills
Two groups of researchers at UC San Diego have found an explanation for a longstanding mystery of how two very different toxins from anthrax bacteria work together to disrupt essential cell functions during infection with this potential bioterrorism threat.
Poor start in life need not spell doom in adulthood
Does the environment encountered early in life have permanent and predictable long-term effects in adulthood? Such effects have been reported in numerous organisms, including humans.
Nightshades' mating habits strike uneasy evolutionary balance
Most flowering plants, equipped with both male and female sex organs, can fertilize themselves and procreate without the aid of a mate. But this may only present a short-term adaptive benefit, according to a team of researchers led by two University of Illinois at Chicago biologists, who report that long-term evolutionary survival of a species favors flowers that welcome pollen from another plant.
Scary chupacabras monster is as much victim as villain
As Halloween approaches, tales of monsters and creepy crawlies abound. Among the most fearsome is the legendary beast known as the chupacabras.
Scientists open electrical link to living cells
The Terminator. The Borg. The Six Million Dollar Man. Science fiction is ripe with biological beings armed with artificial capabilities. In reality, however, the clunky connections between living and non-living worlds often lack a clear channel for communication. Now, scientists with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have designed an electrical link to living cells engineered to shuttle electrons across a cell's membrane to an external acceptor along a well-defined path. This direct channel could yield cells that can read and respond to electronic signals, electronics capable of self-replication and repair, or efficiently transfer sunlight into electricity.
Malarial mosquitoes are evolving into new species, say researchers
Two strains of the type of mosquito responsible for the majority of malaria transmission in Africa have evolved such substantial genetic differences that they are becoming different species, according to researchers behind two new studies published today in the journal Science.
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