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Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for November 12, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Detailed dark matter map yields clues to galaxy cluster growth- Fruit fly larvae detect light via body's network of photoreceptors
- 'Necropanspermia' suggested as a way of seeding life on Earth
- Learning to read is good for the brain
- New equation calculates cost of walking for first time
- Virus component helps improve gene expression without harming plant
- Key player in detoxification pathway isolated after decades of searching
- Catastrophic drought looms for capital city of Bolivia
- Novel cancer drug has potential, study reports
- Lensed galaxies
- Taking movies beyond Avatar -- for under $150 (w/ Video)
- Facebook may be poised to launch email service
- Cystic fibrosis gene typo is a double whammy
- Vaccine for urinary tract infections is one step closer
- Mathematical model of the life cycle of red blood cells may predict risk of anemia
Space & Earth news
Using bark to vacuum oil spills
Cleaning up oil spills is a time consuming, difficult process. But a novel approach developed at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) uses a new kind of vacuum cleaner that blows bark or other absorbent material onto oil spills, and then sucks the material up again. The vacuum cleaner is four times more efficient in cleaning up after oil accidents than conventional techniques.
Combating climate change by helping poorer countries
The effects of global climate change could be minimised by transferring ‘best available’ low carbon technologies from the rich to the poor nations, say researchers at the University of Bath.
Beijing to melt snow to address water shortage
Beijing will collect and melt snow this winter in a bid to quench the water shortage that has plagued the Chinese capital for years, state media reported Friday.
Saturn then and now: 30 years since Voyager visit
Ed Stone, project scientist for NASA's Voyager mission, remembers the first time he saw the kinks in one of Saturn's narrowest rings. It was the day the Voyager 1 spacecraft made its closest approach to the giant ringed planet, 30 years ago. Scientists were gathering in front of television monitors and in one another's offices every day during this heady period to pore over the bewildering images and other data streaming down to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
Light and dark in the Phoenix Lake
(PhysOrg.com) -- They say you can't judge a book by its cover but, with planets, first impressions do count. New images show where complex fault lines in Mars’ Phoenicis Lacus region have resulted in terrain with a distinctly contrasting appearance.
In 100 years, maple sap will flow a month earlier
As the climate warms this century, maple syrup production in the Northeast is expected to slightly decline by 2100, and the window for tapping trees will move earlier by about a month, reports a Cornell study.
Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Wednesday
The Leonid meteor shower best viewing this year will be in the two to three hours before dawn on Nov. 17 and 18, according to the editors of StarDate magazine.
Image: Ghostly spokes in the rings
Scientists first saw these somewhat wedge-shaped, transient clouds of tiny particles known as "spokes" in images from NASA's Voyager spacecraft.
Sun's magnetic building blocks revealed by SUNRISE
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Germany have now for the first time uncovered and characterized the smallest building blocks of the Sun’s magnetic field. In these tiny regions of only a few hundred kilometres in diameter the strength of the magnetic field exceeds the Earth’s magnetic field strength by a factor of approximately 3,000. Researchers from the MPS, the Kiepenheuer-Institut for Solar Physics and further partner institutions analyzed data gathered last year with the help of the solar observatory Sunrise. Until now, no other solar telescope was able to determine the exact properties of these structures.
Catastrophic drought looms for capital city of Bolivia
Catastrophic drought is on the near-term horizon for the capital city of Bolivia, according to new research into the historical ecology of the Andes.
Lensed galaxies
In 1915, Einstein amazed the world by predicting that the path of light could be bent by mass. As a consequence, light from a distant galaxy passing by an intervening galaxy en route to earth will be distorted. Just as a glass lens can deform the appearance of objects seen through it, so can the mass of the intervening galaxy can act as a "gravitational lens," distorting the image we would otherwise see into a more complex shape.
'Necropanspermia' suggested as a way of seeding life on Earth
(PhysOrg.com) -- Panspermia is a mechanism for spreading organic material throughout the galaxy, but the destructive effects of cosmic rays and ultraviolet light tend to mean most organisms would be destroyed or arrive on a new world broken and dead. Now Paul S. Wesson, a visiting researcher at the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics in Canada, suggests the information contained within damaged organic material could seed new life. He terms this process necropanspermia.
Detailed dark matter map yields clues to galaxy cluster growth
(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took advantage of a giant cosmic magnifying glass to create one of the sharpest and most detailed maps of dark matter in the universe. Dark matter is an invisible and unknown substance that makes up the bulk of the universe's mass.
Technology news
Viacom to sell Harmonix
Viacom Inc. said Thursday that it plans to sell Harmonix, developer of the "Rock Band" videogame, and is in talks with several potential buyers.
Yahoo! denies report it plans to slash 20 percent of staff
Yahoo! said Thursday that a report by a leading Silicon Valley technology blog that it is preparing to cut its staff by 20 percent is "misleading and inaccurate."
Boeing blames Dreamliner fire on faulty power panel
US aerospace giant Boeing blamed a fire aboard a test 787 Dreamliner plane on faulty power panels as the already-delayed program reeled from its latest setback.
Gloves come off when Chinese Web firms chase customers
In China's young Internet industry, competitors draw blood. When Binghao Cheng launched a social networking site two years ago, he named it Kaixin, or Happiness. But he didn't have the money to spare to buy the domain name "Kaixin." So he used Kaixin001, which was not already owned by someone else.
Intel raising dividend by 15 percent
(AP) -- Intel, the big chip maker, says it will raise its dividend by 15 percent and reaffirms that it is headed for its best year.
UW-Madison on the map for driving research with new simulator
There's only one place in Wisconsin where a driver can send text messages, speed or engage in other risky behaviors with no risk of an accident: the new University of Wisconsin-Madison Driving Simulation Laboratory.
Palin e-mail hacker sentenced to year in custody
(AP) -- A former University of Tennessee student who hacked into Sarah Palin's e-mail during the 2008 presidential campaign was sentenced Friday to a year and a day, with the judge recommending a halfway house instead of prison.
Newsweek, Daily Beast in old media, new media marriage
Newsweek, the venerable but struggling US magazine, and two-year-old news and blog site The Daily Beast joined forces on Friday in a marriage of print and pixels.
Shoppers whip out smart phones to streamline purchases
Standing before a display of heart-rate monitors at Sports Authority, Robert Dries of Brookfield, Wis., was ready to buy the one he'd heard about at his health club. But before making the purchase, he decided to pull out his Apple iPhone and check some reviews online.
WikiLeaks registers company in Iceland
Whistleblower WikiLeaks has registered in media-friendly Iceland its first known legal entity -- a business that so far has no office or activity, the website's spokesman said Friday.
Amazon.com to hire thousands to fill orders
(AP) -- Amazon.com Inc. said Friday it is hiring more than 15,500 people to fill temporary holiday jobs at shipping centers around the country, more than it hired last year.
S.African innovation fuels nuclear medicine safely
South Africa has uncovered a new way to power vital nuclear medical technologies without using weapons-grade uranium, which could ease global worries about nuclear arms trafficking.
Obama administration to target Internet privacy: report
The United States is preparing to boost efforts to police Internet privacy, with a push for new laws and a new office to manage the effort, the Wall Street Journal said Friday.
Rats to robots - brain's grid cells tell us how we navigate
(PhysOrg.com) -- Rats and robots can tell us how the brain maps out familiar environments and navigates in them, Queensland University of Technology robotics researchers have found.
'BacillaFilla' for concrete cracks
A bacteria that can knit together cracks in concrete structures by producing a special 'glue' has been developed by a team of students at Newcastle University.
Taking movies beyond Avatar -- for under $150 (w/ Video)
A new development in virtual cameras at the University of Abertay Dundee, UK, is developing the pioneering work of James Cameron's blockbuster Avatar using a Nintendo Wii-like motion controller – all for less than $150.
Facebook may be poised to launch email service
Facebook, rumored for some time to be planning its own email service, may finally be on the verge of doing so in a move that would send a shot across the bow of Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft.
Medicine & Health news
Having severe acne may increase suicide risk
Individuals who suffer from severe acne are at an increased risk of attempting suicide, according to a paper published in the British Medical Journal today.
EU in Kosovo probes organ trafficking
(AP) -- A European Union prosecutor has named seven people as suspects in an international organ trafficking network, according to the indictment obtained by The Associated Press.
Efforts to combat pneumonia among 15 high-burdened countries fall short of recommended targets
A Pneumonia Report Card released today by the International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) on behalf of the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia reveals where urgent efforts are needed to reach target levels of coverage for the life-saving interventions that can prevent, protect against and treat pneumonia in children.
Protecting your children from the norovirus outbreak in school
A growing norovirus outbreak has made more 125 people sick at about two dozen schools in suburban Cook County. Noroviruses are highly contagious, and symptoms of illness include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Illnesses from noroviruses tend to come on suddenly and the victim may feel very sick. Most people recover within 1 to 2 days and should remain at home for 24 hours after symptoms have cleared.
Hospital certification program for cardiovascular, stroke care needed
The American Heart Association should develop a comprehensive hospital certification program with policies and evidence-based criteria for cardiovascular disease and stroke care in the United States, according to an American Heart Association Presidential Advisory published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Antonio Damasio probes the mind in his new book
Without consciousness - that is, a mind endowed with subjectivity - you would have no way of knowing who you are. -Antonio Damasio
Rapid, low-cost test for multi-drug resistant TB gains WHO endorsement
A rapid, low cost test for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) – including multi-drug resistance – has been endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for use in resource-poor settings.
Emergency polio campaign in 3 African nations
(AP) -- International aid groups said Thursday they're launching a mass polio immunization campaign in three Central African nations in response to a polio outbreak suspected in more than 100 deaths and deemed "unusual" because it targets adults more than children.
UN appeals for $164M to combat Haiti cholera
(AP) -- The United Nations asked for $164 million Friday to fight the cholera outbreak in Haiti that has already claimed 724 lives and is expected to continue spreading for up to a year.
Germany passes unpopular health system reforms
Germany's parliament Friday passed some unpopular reforms to the country's creaking health system that will increase the financial burden on patients in a bid to ease yawning healthcare deficits.
Specialized blood vessels jumpstart and sustain liver regeneration
The liver's unique ability among organs to regenerate itself has been little understood. Now Weill Cornell Medical College scientists have shed light on how the liver restores itself by demonstrating that endothelial cells -- the cells that form the lining of blood vessels -- play a key role.
Probing Question: How do schizophrenia and DID differ?
"What will I have for dinner? Is it going to rain later? I wonder what she meant by that."
Frito-Lay study forecasts changing snack preferences
(PhysOrg.com) -- Take a peek in your co-worker's desk, your child's backpack or your friend's glove compartment. Chances are you'll find a bag of chips, nuts or breakfast bars. Time-constrained Americans are snacking on popcorn, pretzels, nuts and the like more than ever before.
Pregnancy-related weight gain higher among low-Income minority women, study finds
A new study by the Yale School of Public Health finds that excessive weight gain during pregnancy and inadequate postpartum weight loss are particularly prevalent among low-income, ethnic minority women. The study appears online in the journal American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Tolerating foreign materials in food
An international team of molecular biologists led by RIKEN researchers (Japan) has unraveled key details of the molecular mechanism whereby the body’s immune system determines what to attack among the organisms and food taken into the mouth, and what to leave alone or tolerate. The researchers have shown the pivotal role of two proteins found on the surface of cells that stimulate the immune system into action, the dendritic antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The work may lead to new therapies for immune disorders, and to ways of boosting the effectiveness of oral vaccines.
Liquorice root may protect brain cells
A neuroscientist at the University of South Carolina is conducting research on a compound found in liquorice root that could prevent or slow down the cell death associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Ыcientists explore 1510 influenza pandemic and lessons learned
History's first recognized influenza pandemic originated in Asia and rapidly spread to other continents 500 years ago, in the summer of 1510. A new commentary by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, explores the 1510 pandemic and what we have learned since then about preventing, controlling and treating influenza.
No difference in nonsuicide mortality between 2 anti-psychotic drugs
The potential for harmful side effects associated with anti-psychotic medications for treating schizophrenia is a frustration for mental-health professionals who must balance this with the positive benefits of drugs. For example, the issue of the antipsychotic drug ziprasidone lengthening the QTc interval, a possible indicator of life-threatening heart arrhythmias, has demanded much attention among clinicians since the drug was introduced in 2001.
Sleep apnea linked to cognitive difficulties and deficits in gray matter
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may blame their daytime difficulties on simple sleepiness, but new research suggests that their brains may be to blame. Specifically, their cognitive challenges may be caused by structural deficits in gray matter, brought on by the intermittent oxygen deprivation that comes with OSA. The good news is that these deficits may be partially or fully reversible with early detection and treatment, according to Italian researchers.
'Naked' scanners at US airports may be dangerous: scientists
US scientists warned Friday that the full-body, graphic-image X-ray scanners that are being used to screen passengers and airline crews at airports around the country may be unsafe.
Myocarditis can attack hearts without warning
James "Jimmy" Armstrong hadn't missed a "Mac" in 28 years. At 44, he's one of the youngest "goats" in the Chicago Yacht Club. Sailors receive the designation of "goat" once they've completed 20 or more "Macs", the 333-mile boat race from Chicago to Mackinac, Mich. Armstrong has sailed the race every year since he was 16. But, he wasn't among the sailors this past July. Instead, he was in intensive care awaiting heart transplant following a harrowing experience spurred by severe case of myocarditis—a little-known condition causing inflammation of the heart muscle.
New equation calculates cost of walking for first time
Why do tall people burn less energy per kilogram when walking than shorter ones do, and how much energy does walking require? These are basic questions that doctors, trainers, fitness buffs and weight-watchers would all like to have answered, and now researchers from Texas have derived a fundamental equation to calculate how much energy walkers use, based simply on height and weight, which has direct applications across all walks of life.
Vaccine for urinary tract infections is one step closer
Urinary tract infections are a painful, recurring problem for millions of women. They are also getting more dangerous as bacteria develop resistance to the most common treatments.
Novel cancer drug has potential, study reports
(PhysOrg.com) -- Monthly injections of the drug in breast cancer patients whose disease had spread to the bone helped reduce pain and prevent complications with less toxicity than current treatments.
Learning to read is good for the brain
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study from researchers in Europe has found literacy improves brain function even in people who learn to read as adults.
Biology news
New genetic marker makes fruit fly a better model for brain development and diseases
Belgian researchers have improved the fruit fly as model for studying the connections between brain cells. The researchers developed a specific marker for a part of the fly's nerve cell which had previously been difficult to distinguish. Their discovery will not only contribute to gaining a better insight into brain development but also makes the fruit fly into a better model system for studying brain development and brain disorders.
Bed bugs in Iowa are more plentiful, but can be avoided with care: entomologist
(PhysOrg.com) -- The number of cases of bed bugs in Iowa is increasing, but taking a few precautions can help avoid them, according to an Iowa State University entomologist studying the problem.
Thousands of turtles captured in Madagascar despite ban
New research has revealed up to 16,000 endangered turtles are being caught each year by villagers in just one region of Madagascar, despite a government ban.
How diving leatherback turtles regulate buoyancy
Virtually nothing is known about leatherback turtle diving strategies, but on Nov. 12, 2010, an international team of UK and US based scientists publish their discovery that leatherbacks regulate their buoyancy by varying the amount of air they inhale before they dive. Fitting nesting leatherbacks with triaxial accelerometers, temperature and pressure gauges, the team were able to make the first detailed recordings of leatherback turtle diving behavior.
Fertility or powdery mildew resistance?
Powdery mildew is a fungus that infects both crop and ornamental plants. Each year, powdery mildew and other plant pathogens cause immense crop loss. Despite decades of intense research, little is known of the plant molecules that allow fungal hyphae to invade the host's epidermal cells. A European research group lead by Ueli Grossniklaus, a plant geneticist at the University of Zurich, now published a study in Science shedding a new light on mildew susceptibility in plants and its surprising link to reproduction.
Revealing a missing link
When it comes to genes, it’s definitely possible to have too much of a good thing. Accordingly, mammalian females have a mechanism that randomly inactivates one of the two X sex chromosomes within each somatic cell nucleus, ensuring that X-linked genes are represented to the same extent as in their single-X-bearing male counterparts.
Mutant mosquitoes fight dengue in Cayman Islands
Scientists have released genetically modified mosquitoes in an experiment to fight dengue fever in the Cayman Islands, British experts said Thursday.
Birds of a feather may not always flock together
(PhysOrg.com) -- DNA mutation rates are the deciding factor in the battle of the birds, which sees songbird species disproportionately outnumbering other bird orders, according to research from The Australian National University.
Virus component helps improve gene expression without harming plant
(PhysOrg.com) -- A virus that normally deforms or kills plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants isn't all bad: A gene within the virus has been found useful for allowing foreign genes to be introduced into a plant without harmful effects, according to Texas AgriLife Research scientists.
Fruit fly larvae detect light via body's network of photoreceptors
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research in the U.S. has discovered that fruit fly larvae have a series of photoreceptors covering the body that can detect light even when their primitive "eyes" are covered or removed.
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