Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for November 4, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Meta-flex: Your new brand for invisibility clothing- Breakthrough in cancer vaccine research
- To prevent inbreeding, flowering plants have evolved multiple genes, research reveals
- NASA Deep Impact spacecraft flies by small comet (Update)
- Electric cars get charged wirelessly in London (w/ Video)
- Electrical brain stimulation improves math skills
- Physicists produce black hole plasma in the lab
- Google's outlandish ventures go beyond Web
- Herschel's hidden talent: digging up magnified galaxies
- Obesity rate will reach at least 42 percent, say models of social contagion
- Gene identified for spread of deadly melanoma
- Small protein changes may make big difference in natural HIV control
- Study shows extreme form of pregnancy-related morning sickness could be genetic
- Discovery blocks cancer drug's toxic side effect
- Colonic navigation: Nanotechnology helps deliver drugs to intestinal target
Space & Earth news
California state water control board aims to improve water quality by partnering with IBM
A new application that enables iPhone users to help monitor water quality and alert authorities to problems, is now available in Apple’s App Store. The first state to partner with IBM to use this data to monitor the thousands of miles of creeks and streams in their jurisdiction is California’s State Water Control Board.
EVALSO: A new high-speed data link to Chilean observatories
Stretching 100 kilometers through Chile's harsh Atacama Desert, a newly inaugurated data cable is creating new opportunities at ESO's Paranal Observatory and the Observatorio Cerro Armazones. Connecting these facilities to the main Latin American scientific data backbone completes the last gap in the high-speed link between the observatories and Europe.
Grad student simulates 100 years of farming to measure agriculture's impact on land and water quality
Estimating the long-term impact of agriculture on land is tricky when you don't have much information about what a field was like before it was farmed. Some fields in Missouri started producing crops more than a century ago—long before anyone kept detailed records about the physical and chemical properties of the soil in a field.
Fiat, Toyota 'years ahead' of EU emissions targets: research
Italian and Japanese auto giants Fiat and Toyota are bang on course to smash through European Union carbon emissions targets years ahead of schedule, new analysis showed Thursday.
NASA spacecraft set to rendezvous with comet
Five years after a NASA spacecraft bombarded a comet, it will visit another one Thursday. This time, there won't be celestial fireworks.
Obama drops plan to limit global warming gases
(AP) -- Environmental groups and industry seem headed for another battle over regulation of greenhouse gases, as President Barack Obama said he will look for ways to control global warming pollution other than Congress placing a ceiling on it.
NASA satellite data confirm a stronger Tropical Storm Tomas, hurricane warnings up
NASA's infrared satellite imagery has confirmed that Tomas is intensifying as convection is strengthening and cloud tops within the system are getting colder.
Flood waning, Iceland volcano eruption less likely
(AP) -- Scientists say glacial flooding from Iceland's most active volcano has peaked, with no sign yet of an eruption.
FASTSAT microsatellite readied to share a ride
As the holiday season approaches, people are already planning ways to share with others, because sharing is always good. This is also true for NASA's Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite, or FASTSAT, which will share a ride to space with three other satellites on Nov. 19.
Netherlands stops Shell's CO2 storage project
The Dutch government said Thursday it will not allow oil giant Shell to store millions of tonnes of arbon dioxide in a depleted gas reservoir under a small town, upholding the fears of townspeople.
Rain delays space shuttle launch; now set for Fri.
(AP) -- NASA will try again Friday to send Discovery off on its final journey, after a series of postponements for the oldest and most traveled space shuttle.
Scientists to test if life on Mars could be related to life on Earth
Over the course of the Earth's history, about a billion tons of rocks have been exchanged between the Earth and Mars. Scientists think it's possible that one or more of those rocks might have contained tiny microbes that successfully made the journey from one planet to the other. In 2018, they plan to test this hypothesis by searching for Earthling-like DNA under Mars' surface.
Storms in Fla. delay space shuttle launch again
(AP) -- Storms prevented Discovery from blasting off on its final journey Thursday, the latest in a series of postponements for NASA's oldest and most traveled space shuttle.
Did Earth encounter pieces of an alien visitor last night?
Did Earth encounter pieces of an alien visitor last night? Apparently so! It appears tiny pieces of Comet Hartley 2 may have presented a spectacular and startling sky show across the country yesterday. NASA meteor experts had predicted it was a long shot, but the evenings of November 2nd and 3rd might display a meteor shower from dust which puffed off this visiting comet as it passed within twelve million miles of Earth. And indeed, the Center for Astrophysics has collected several sightings of bright meteors called fireballs, which result when comet dust burns up in Earth's atmosphere.
Herschel's hidden talent: digging up magnified galaxies
(PhysOrg.com) -- It turns out the Herschel Space Observatory has a trick up its sleeve. The telescope, a European Space Agency mission with important NASA contributions, has proven to be excellent at finding magnified, faraway galaxies. Like little kids probing patches of dirt for insects, astronomers can use these new cosmic magnifying lenses to study galaxies that are hidden in dust.
NASA Deep Impact spacecraft flies by small comet (Update)
A NASA spacecraft sped past a small comet Thursday, beaming pictures back to Earth that gave scientists a rare close-up view of its center. Mission controllers burst into applause upon seeing images from the flyby that revealed a peanut-shaped comet belching jets of poisonous gases.
Technology news
Facebook shrinks Web page fonts
Facebook set some users to squinting by shrinking text size on pages of the world's most popular online social networking service.
YouTube removes video sermons by radical cleric
(AP) -- YouTube has removed from its site videos featuring calls to holy war by an al-Qaida-linked Muslim cleric after pressure from British and U.S. officials.
Activision 3Q earnings more than triple
(AP) -- Continued strong demand for the latest "Call of Duty," "StarCraft" and "World of Warcraft" video games helped more than triple Activision Blizzard Inc.'s third-quarter net income and pushed overall results well above Wall Street's expectations.
AT&T sets up division to target health care
(AP) -- AT&T Inc., the country's largest telecommunications company, on Thursday said it is setting up a division to target the health care industry, hoping to have a significant seat at the table when industry adopts electronic medical records, doctor's visits by video-conferencing and wireless gadgets like remote glucose monitors.
Panasonic invests $30M in electric car maker Tesla
(AP) -- Panasonic Corp. is investing $30 million in Tesla Motors Inc., the U.S. maker of electric sports cars, eyeing expansion in the global market for green vehicles, both sides said Thursday.
PayPal patches hacker hole in iPhone application: report
PayPal has rushed out a patch for a flaw in its iPhone application that could let hackers access accounts at the online financial transactions service, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Cyber sleuths fight online crime in Singapore
If you've just become the victim of identity thieves or computer hackers, it's time to call in someone like Ali Fazeli.
Samsung aims to sell 1 mln Galaxy Tabs by year's end
South Korea's Samsung Electronics launched its tablet computer in the domestic market and said it aims to sell more than a million of the Galaxy Tabs worldwide by the end of this year.
Google joins British drive to boost technology sector
Google said Thursday it was setting up a new centre for development and training in London, the first of its kind in Europe, as part of government efforts to boost the British tech industry.
Time Warner Cable 3Q net income rises
(AP) -- Time Warner Cable Inc., the country's second-largest cable company, lost more cable-TV subscribers in the latest quarter than it ever has before, keeping the question alive of whether Internet video is finally starting to cut into the cable business.
Technological advancements reduce stress on driver, research shows
Ford Motor Company and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) New England University Transportation Center (NEUTC) today revealed results from a nine-month advanced research project that shows drivers are less stressed when using selected new technological advancements in the car. This study is an extension of an ongoing alliance between Ford and MIT to improve driver focus, wellness and safety through the integration of vehicle technology.
UK wants Olympic site to rival Silicon Valley
(AP) -- Britain's prime minister wants London's Olympic Park to rival California's Silicon Valley as a place where world leading technology companies can do business, and on Thursday outlined ambitious plans to lure investors and entrepreneurs to gritty east London.
Few Americans using location-based services: Pew study
Foursquare is one of the hottest tech startups around but few Americans are using it or similar location-based services, according to a report released on Thursday.
Music insider shatters model of digital distribution
The music industry may be bellyaching about how tough times are as revenue continues to sink like a rock for traditional music companies, but don't tell that to Jeff Price.
Cable subscribers flee, but is Internet to blame?
(AP) -- Cable companies have been losing TV subscribers at an ever faster rate in the last few months, and satellite TV isn't picking up the slack.
1.5-million-dollar verdict in US music piracy case
A US jury has ordered a Minnesota woman to pay 1.5 million dollars for illegally downloading 24 songs in a high-profile digital piracy case.
Web coupons likely to alter holiday shopping landscape
As shoppers get ready for another tough holiday season, more will be using coupons - but not your mother's old-school, cut-on-the-dotted-line version.
Chatbot auto-tweets replies to climate change arguments
(PhysOrg.com) -- A software developer has created a "chatbot" program for Twitter to automatically detect set phrases associated with arguments put forward by those skeptical of anthropogenic global warming, and to send automated replies of set phrases debunking their arguments.
Europe tests cyber defences against hackers (Update)
European computer guards battled Thursday against a simulated attempt by hackers to bring down critical Internet services in the first pan-continental test of cyber defences.
Google's outlandish ventures go beyond Web
With mountains of cash and some of the world's smartest engineers, Google Inc. has always set aside research and development dollars for futuristic ventures that appear to have little in common with its core business of Internet search.
Electric cars get charged wirelessly in London (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- HaloIPT has recently demonstrated wireless charging of electric vehicles in London using their inductive power transfer technology. The company fitted Citroen electric cars with receiver pads on the underside of the car, allowing the batteries to be charged wirelessly.
Medicine & Health news
Teens of epileptic moms display poor school performance
A large population-based study revealed that multiple antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used by pregnant women to control seizures may cause poor school performance in their teenagers. The research team from Karolinska University Hospital and the University of Lund in Sweden confirmed that exposure to AEDs in utero may have a negative effect on neurodevelopment. Their findings now appear online in Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy.
Experts issue recommendations for treatment of post-bariatric surgery patients
Today, The Endocrine Society released a new clinical practice guideline for the nutritional and endocrine management of adults after bariatric surgery, including those with diabetes mellitus. The guideline features a series of evidence-based clinical recommendations developed by an expert task force. The guideline is published in the November 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), a publication of The Endocrine Society.
5-year results show keyhole bowel cancer surgery is safe and effective
Laparoscopic or 'keyhole' surgery is a safe, effective way of removing bowel tumours and should be offered to all patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer, according to researchers from the University of Leeds.
Plantar fasciitis? Stretching seems to do the trick
According to a new study from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), patients with acute plantar fasciitis who perform manual plantar fasciitis stretching exercises, as opposed to shockwave therapy, had superior results and higher patient satisfaction.
Village ravaged by cancer in Turkey's Cappadocia
(AP) -- The caves, rock houses and fantastical stone formations in Turkey's Cappadocia draw tourists from around the world. Nestled among the natural wonders, however, lies a village where the earth is believed to deliver death rather than rewards.
X-rays offer first detailed look at hotspots for calcium-related disease
Calcium regulates many critical processes within the body, including muscle contraction, the heartbeat, and the release of hormones. But too much calcium can be a bad thing. In excess, it can lead to a host of diseases, such as severe muscle weakness, a fatal reaction to anesthesia or sudden cardiac death.
Global food safety: Keeping food safe from farm to table
Food safety problems can arise at any of multiple stages of food production, and illnesses that result from them are frequently not detected or reported, according to a new report from the American Academy of Microbiology.
Lasofoxifene reduces breast cancer risk in postmenopausal osteoporotic women
Lasofoxifene statistically reduced the overall risk of breast cancer, as well as ER positive invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with low bone density, according to a study published online in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Health registry could transform chronic kidney disease care
A registry of health care information on patients with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) could help physicians improve care for affected individuals, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The results suggest that officials could use such a registry to develop a national surveillance system to identify and track various aspects of CKD.
We've come a long way, researchers: How a decade of research is helping lupus patients
Today, individuals with lupus nephritis benefit from better treatments than a decade ago, according to a review appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The article suggests that patients with the disease can now live full lives without suffering from many treatment-related side effects that plagued them in the past. In the future, patients will likely experience additional benefits from treatment strategies currently being explored in clinical trials.
Study shows a single shot of morphine has long lasting effects on testosterone levels
A single injection of morphine to fight persistent pain in male rats is able to strongly reduce the hormone testosterone in the brain and plasma, according to a new paper published in Molecular Pain. The study, led by Anna Maria Aloisi, M.D., of the Department of Physiology – Section of Neuroscience and Applied Physiology at the University of Siena, Italy, Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, University of Siena, and the Human Health Foundation in Spoleto, Italy, showed that opioids had "long lasting genomic effects in body areas which contribute to strong central and peripheral testosterone levels" including the brain, the liver and the testis.
Americans less healthy than English, but live as long or longer, study finds
Older Americans are less healthy than their English counterparts, but they live as long or even longer than their English peers, according to a new study by researchers from the RAND Corporation and the Institute for Fiscal Studies in London.
New biomarker may help diagnose ectopic pregnancies
Researchers may have identified a promising novel diagnostic biomarker for ectopic pregnancy, according to a study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). In the western world, deaths from ectopic pregnancy are not common but in the developing world one in ten women who are admitted with an ectopic pregnancy die.
Beneficial effects of testosterone for frailty in older men are short-lived
The beneficial effects of six months of testosterone treatment on muscle mass, strength and quality of life in frail elderly men are not maintained at six months post-treatment, according to a study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Potential for stroke victims to dramatically regain mobility
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a discovery with the potential to drastically improve the lives of stroke and head injury victims, University of Otago and UCLA researchers have come up with a drug therapy which could unlock paralysed arms and legs, restoring mobility by up to half.
Insufficient vitamin D levels in CLL patients linked to cancer progression and death
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have found a significant difference in cancer progression and death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients who had sufficient vitamin D levels in their blood compared to those who didn't.
New hope for hard-to-treat heart patients with balloon angioplasty
In some heart patients, coronary arteries become so clogged that they are difficult or impossible to reopen with conventional balloon angioplasties.
80.5% of hospital patients are at high risk for sleep apnea, study finds
Eighty-one percent of hospital patients are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, a Loyola University Health System study has found.
Study: CT scans modestly cut lung cancer deaths
(AP) -- A special type of CT scan can detect lung cancer early enough to save some lives, the National Cancer Institute announced Thursday - the first evidence that a screening test may help fight the nation's top cancer killer.
Burning pain and itching governed by same nerve cells
We all know how hard it is not to scratch when we have an itch. But how can an itch be alleviated? In a new study published today in the prestigious journal Neuron, researchers at Uppsala University present the surprising finding that the same nerve cells that are active when we experience heat pain are also associated with itching.
Genetic deletion discovered as risk factor for autism and schizophrenia
Researchers have identified the deletion of a genomic region on chromosome 17 as a significant risk factor for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia. A mutation of one of the genes in the deleted interval already is a known cause of renal cysts and diabetes syndrome (RCAD).
Helical CT scans reduce lung cancer mortality by 20% compared to chest X-rays
In a major new study announced today by the National Cancer Institute, researchers including Brown University biostatistian Constantine Gatsonis and his colleagues found that screening for lung cancer using helical CT scanning reduced lung cancer deaths by 20 percent compared to using chest X-rays.
Study identifies motor neurone disease biomarker
A study funded by the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, in collaboration with the Medical Research Council (MRC), has identified a common signature of nerve damage in the brains of MND patients.
Wyoming, W. Va. lead in chewing tobacco use
(AP) -- Wyoming tops the nation in chewing tobacco use, with nearly 1 in 6 adult men in that state using the product.
Timing is everything in combination therapy for osteoporosis
The adult human skeleton undergoes constant remodeling, with new bone forming at sites that have been broken down by a precise process called resorption. During remodeling, skeletal stem cells are recruited to resorption sites and directed to differentiate into bone-forming cells. Osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weak and fragile bones, develops when there is an imbalance in the remodeling process and more bone is lost than replaced. Now, new research published by Cell Press in the November issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell uncovers a mechanism that may guide development of better strategies for treatment osteoporosis.
Food-allergy fears drive overly restrictive diets
Many children, especially those with eczema, are unnecessarily avoiding foods based on incomplete information about potential food-allergies, according to researchers at National Jewish Health. The food avoidance poses a nutritional risk for these children, and is often based primarily on data from blood tests known as serum immunoassays.
Would convenient access to affordable fresh produce improve eating habits?
Drop that doughnut. In a study called "Good to Go," funded by a nearly $3.4 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, health researchers at Brown University will test whether setting up a low-priced, fresh produce market within workplaces will motivate higher employee fruit and vegetable consumption.
Human-specific evolution in battling bugs and building babies
Although human and chimpanzee immune systems have many identical components, this is not the case for the family of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) controlling white blood cells known as natural killer (NK) cells.
New study shows science should trump politics in salt debate, editorial says
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study showing that sodium consumption in the United States has remained unchanged for more than 40 years provides further evidence that federal efforts to reduce salt intake are both futile and unnecessary, three health researchers argue in the November issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
New 3-D model of RNA 'core domain' of enzyme telomerase may offer clues to cancer, aging
(PhysOrg.com) -- Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains the DNA at the ends of our chromosomes, known as telomeres. In the absence of telomerase activity, every time our cells divide, our telomeres get shorter. This is part of the natural aging process, as most cells in the human body do not have much active telomerase. Eventually, these DNA-containing telomeres, which act as protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, become so short that the cells die.
Scientists find nerve cell activity drains stem cell pool in developing brain
For Immediate Release – As babies grow, their brain cells develop from a pool of stem cells—some stem cells continuously divide, replenishing the pool, whereas others morph into mature functioning nerve cells. Now researchers at The Scripps Research Institute have shown that as the newly formed nerve cells start firing electrical signals, this activity slows down stem cell division, emptying out the stem cell pool in favor of nerve cell formation.
Hard work improves the taste of food, study shows
It's commonly accepted that we appreciate something more if we have to work hard to get it, and a Johns Hopkins University study bears that out, at least when it comes to food.
Gene identified for spread of deadly melanoma
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a gene linked to the spread of eye melanoma.
Small protein changes may make big difference in natural HIV control
Tiny variants in a protein that alerts the immune system to the presence of infection may underlie the rare ability of some individuals to control HIV infection without the need for medications. In a report that will appear in Science and is receiving early online release, an international research team led by investigators from the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MIT and Harvard and from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard describe finding that differences in five amino acids in a protein called HLA-B are associated with whether or not HIV-infected individuals can control viral levels with their immune system only.
Discovery blocks cancer drug's toxic side effect
A debilitating side effect of a widely used but harshly potent treatment for colon cancer could be eliminated if a promising new laboratory discovery bears fruit.
The mind uses syntax to interpret actions
Most people are familiar with the concept that sentences have syntax. A verb, a subject, and an object come together in predictable patterns. But actions have syntax, too; when we watch someone else do something, we assemble their actions to mean something, according to a new study published in Psychological Science.
Study shows extreme form of pregnancy-related morning sickness could be genetic
(PhysOrg.com) -- Approximately 60,000 pregnant women are hospitalized each year due to hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), an extreme form of nausea and vomiting that endangers their lives and often forces them to reluctantly terminate their pregnancies.
Obesity rate will reach at least 42 percent, say models of social contagion
Researchers at Harvard University say America's obesity epidemic won't plateau until at least 42 percent of adults are obese, an estimate derived by applying mathematical modeling to 40 years of Framingham Heart Study data.
Electrical brain stimulation improves math skills
By applying electrical current to the brain, researchers reporting online on November 4 in Current Biology, have shown that they could enhance a person's mathematical performance for up to 6 months without influencing their other cognitive functions. The findings may lead to treatments for the estimated 20 percent of the population with moderate to severe numerical disabilities (for example, dyscalculia) and for those who lose their skill with numbers as a result of stroke or degenerative disease, according to the researchers.
Breakthrough in cancer vaccine research
Researchers at the University of Cambridge hope to revolutionise cancer therapy after discovering one of the reasons why many previous attempts to harness the immune system to treat cancerous tumours have failed.
Biology news
Pennycress could go from nuisance weed to new source of biofuel
A common roadside plant could have the right stuff to become a new source of biofuel, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) studies.
Pigs reveal secrets: New research shines light on Quebec industry
Which are the best pieces of pork, what their texture is, how moist they are – the secrets pigs keep from even the most skilled butchers – are about to be revealed, thanks to a sophisticated new technique that has been developed by McGill University researchers in conjunction with Agriculture Canada and the pork industry.
New ribbon worm named after UCSB scientist
In the world of biology, having a new species named after you is considered one of the greatest honors for a scientist. Just ask Armand Kuris, professor of zoology in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at UC Santa Barbara.
Researchers unlock the secret of bacteria's immune system
A team of Université Laval and Danisco researchers has just unlocked the secret of bacteria's immune system. The details of the discovery, which may eventually make it possible to prevent certain bacteria from developing resistance to antibiotics, are presented in today's issue of the scientific journal Nature.
No easy solution to genetic 'battle of the sexes'
A new study published today shows a genetic 'battle of the sexes' could be much harder to resolve and even more important to evolution than previously thought.
8 new species discovered in Boliva national parks
Botanists at the Missouri Botanical Garden have described eight new plant species collected in the Madidi National Park and surrounding areas located on the eastern slopes of the Andes in northern Bolivia. The new species are from several different genera and families and are published in a recent edition of the Missouri Botanical Garden journal Novon.
Polar bears can't eat geese into extinction
As the Arctic warms, a new cache of resources -- snow goose eggs -- may help sustain the polar bear population for the foreseeable future. In a new study published in an early online edition of Oikos, researchers affiliated with the Museum show that even large numbers of hungry bears repeatedly raiding nests over many years would have a difficult time eliminating all of the geese because of a mismatch in the timing of bear arrival on shore and goose egg incubation.
One-third of world's sharks, skates and rays face extinction
They call it the "Jaws" effect. Inspired by the 1975 movie about a great white shark that terrorized a tourist town, legions of fishermen piled into boats and killed thousands of the ocean predators in shark fishing tournaments.
Scientists show universality in the brain evolution
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have uncovered a self-organizing biological principle in the brains of three very different, genetically diverse mammals -- but in all three they found the same mathematically precise "pinwheel" organization and orientation of neurons.
Long-term lake study suggests ecological mechanism may control destructive crayfish
(PhysOrg.com) -- Just a few years ago, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's research station in Boulder Junction, Wis., were growing sick of a crustacean delicacy - the rusty crayfish. Roughly 90,000 of the animals had been caught during an intensive trapping program at the nearby Sparkling Lake.
To punish or not to punish: Lessons from reef fish and saber-tooth blennies
Researchers have experimentally shown that some species of reef fish will enact punishment on the parasitic saber-tooth blennies that stealthily attack them from behind and take a bite, even though their behavior offers no immediate gain. The study, published online on November 4 in Current Biology, shows that punishment ultimately serves all members of the reef fish species well.
Researchers implicate wayward DNA-repair enzyme in Friedreich's ataxia
Scripps Research Institute scientists have taken a step closer to understanding the cause of Friedreich's ataxia, a debilitating neurological condition that affects tens of thousands of people worldwide, and so far has no cure.
Fly stem cells on diet: Scientists discovered how stem cells respond to nutrient availability
A study by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies revealed that stem cells can sense a decrease in available nutrients and respond by retaining only a small pool of active stem cells for tissue maintenance. When, or if, favorable conditions return, stem cell numbers multiply to accommodate increased demands on the tissue.
Ants compete, recruit to identify best colony (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Professor Stephen Pratt studies how small ant colonies pick a new nest when theirs is destroyed or is no longer viable, and has found that the "brain" of the colony is distributed throughout the group of workers.
To prevent inbreeding, flowering plants have evolved multiple genes, research reveals
A research team led by Teh-hui Kao, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State University, in collaboration with a team lead by Professor Seiji Takayama at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology in Japan, has discovered a large suite of genes in the petunia plant that acts to prevent it from breeding with itself or with its close relatives, and to promote breeding with unrelated individuals.
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