Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for November 29, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Physicists propose search for fourth neutrino- Two-step technique makes graphene suitable for organic chemistry
- Making a light-harvesting antenna from scratch
- Research team finds new explanation for Cambrian explosion
- E. coli bacteria engineered to eat switchgrass and make transportation fuels
- Honey bee mystery protein is a freight train for health and lifespan
- Graphene earns its stripes: New nanoscale electronic state discovered on graphene sheets
- Body rebuilding: Researchers regenerate muscle in mice
- Gray matter in brain's control center linked to ability to process reward
- Google's maps go indoors with new mobile feature
- Facebook settles with FTC over deception charges
- Study questions cost-effectiveness of biofuels and their ability to cut fossil fuel use
- Study shows medical marijuana laws reduce traffic deaths
- How to decide who keeps the car: Tossing quantum coins moves closer to reality
- Imperfections may improve graphene sensors
Space & Earth news
Climate change now seen as a question of global security
Once viewed as an issue of interest only to greens or academics, the threat posed by climate change to security is now eyed with deepening concern by politicians and defence chiefs.
World temps maintain the heat of global warming
2011 is currently tied for the 10th hottest since records began in 1850 and Arctic sea ice has shrunk to record-low volumes this year, the U.N. weather office said Tuesday.
Shipping industry sees price on carbon emissions
The world shipping industry could accept a global levy on carbon emissions from merchant ships under a deal that would also channel proceeds to poor countries, according to an announcement at the UN climate talks on Tuesday.
Financing battle emerges at climate change talks
(AP) -- International climate negotiators were at odds Tuesday on how to raise billions of dollars to help poor countries cope with global warming. A major shipping group is willing to help, endorsing a proposal for a carbon tax on vessels carrying the world's trade.
UI engineers conduct residential soils study, one of few such US studies ever done
University of Iowa engineers have published their findings from a study of residential soils in the city of Cedar Rapids, making it one of only a few such U.S. urban soil studies ever conducted.
Past decade ties for world's hottest: UN agency
Thirteen of the warmest years recorded have occurred within the last decade and a half, the UN's World Meteorological Organisation said on Tuesday.
Los Alamos instrument to shine light on Mars habitability
With the successful launch of the Mars Science Laboratory on Saturday, Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers and scientists from the French space institute IRAP are poised to begin focusing the energy of a million light bulbs on the surface of the Red Planet to help determine whether Mars was or is habitable.
Mars 'Curiosity' has ORNL tech
The Curiosity rover that was launched toward Mars over the Thanksgiving holiday includes a significant contribution from ORNL and DOE. The mobile instrument platform, which is too large to rely on solar-powered batteries, contains a plutonium oxide-powered generator, as do all of NASA's deep-space probes such as Voyager and Cassini.
Life on alien planets may not require a large moon after all
Ever since a study conducted back in 1993, it has been proposed that in order for a planet to support more complex life, it would be most advantageous for that planet to have a large moon orbiting it, much like the Earth’s moon. Our moon helps to stabilize the Earth’s rotational axis against perturbations caused by the gravitational influence of Jupiter. Without that stabilizing force, there would be huge climate fluctuations caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis swinging between about 0 and 85 degrees.
New insight into climate change in the Pacific
A new report presents the most comprehensive scientific analysis to date of climate change in the Pacific region.
Incredible 'sideways' look at Mercury's limb
Wow -- just wow! Here’s a unique, jaw-dropping, and beautiful look at Mercury from the MESSENGER spacecraft, in a mosaic created from nine images taken by the Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS). The camera took a “sideways” or oblique view of Mercury’s limb, looking towards the horizon, providing a distinctive look at the rough terrain, ridges, craters and scarps of the Van Eyck Formation region, adjacent to the Caloris basin. Combining the images for a larger view not only provides a “you are there” feel, but it provides the science team with new ways to study Mercury’s geology.
Climate change stunting growth of century-old Antarctic moss shoots
One hundred years ago, two teams of explorers raced to be the first to reach the South Pole. Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911.
Walnut trees may not be able to withstand climate change
Warmer, drier summers and extreme weather events considered possible as the climate changes would be especially troublesome - possibly fatal - for walnut trees, according to research at Purdue University.
Industrialization weakens important carbon sink
Australian scientists have reconstructed the past six thousand years in estuary sedimentation records to look for changes in plant and algae abundance. Their findings, published in Global Change Biology, show an increase in microalgae relative to seagrass in the past 60 years. This shift could diminish the ability of estuaries, which are natural global carbon sinks, to mitigate climate change.
No landing date yet for Air Force's mystery craft
A secretive unmanned space plane is staying in orbit a little longer.
Lightning-made waves in Earth's atmosphere leak into space
At any given moment about 2,000 thunderstorms roll over Earth, producing some 50 flashes of lightning every second. Each lightning burst creates electromagnetic waves that begin to circle around Earth captured between Earth's surface and a boundary about 60 miles up. Some of the waves – if they have just the right wavelength – combine, increasing in strength, to create a repeating atmospheric heartbeat known as Schumann resonance. This resonance provides a useful tool to analyze Earth's weather, its electric environment, and to even help determine what types of atoms and molecules exist in Earth's atmosphere, but until now they have only ever been observed from below.
A black hole unmasked
Black holes are among the most amazing and bizarre predictions of Einstein's theory of gravity. A black hole is thought to be point-like in dimension, but it is surrounded by an imaginary surface, or "edge," of finite size (its "event horizon") within which anything that ventures becomes lost forever to the rest of the universe.
Indian Ocean cocktail party leaves trail of party hats behind
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have unexpectedly found traces of the supercontinent Gondwana in the Indian Ocean - in the process solving a mystery behind a large group of ocean 'mountains' known as seamounts, including Christmas Island.
Research team finds new explanation for Cambrian explosion
(PhysOrg.com) -- For hundreds of years, researchers from many branches of science have sought to explain the veritable explosion in diversity in animal organisms that started approximately 541 million years ago here on planet Earth. Known as the Cambrian period, it was the time, according to fossil evidence, when life evolved from simple one celled organisms, to creatures that had multiple cells with varied functions. Now, new evidence by a team of biologists, paleobiologists and ecologists suggests that the sudden explosion of new life forms may not have been so sudden after all. In their paper published in Science, the teams says that it appears likely that most of the new life forms that show up in fossil finds, were well on their way to development before the Cambrian period and that many of them, by their behaviors, may have helped pave the way for others.
Technology news
Facebook sidelines contested Merck profile page
Facebook will sideline a Merck page at the social network until a pair of US and German companies work out which one gets the online address, a source familiar with the matter told AFP.
Australian air safety bureau probes smoking iPhone
Australia's aviation safety watchdog said Tuesday it was investigating after an Apple iPhone apparently began glowing red and emitting smoke after a flight to Sydney last week.
Supercomputer seeks way to mimic mollusk shell
One of the first tasks for Warwick's new super computer is to use its monster megabytes to analyse the natural properties of the tiny mollusc shell.
'Fahrenheit 451' finally out as an e-book
(AP) -- At age 91, Ray Bradbury is making peace with the future he helped predict.
Taking the pulse of an iceberg -- scientists simulate laser imaging for NASA missions
Monitoring glaciers and ice sheets is complicated work. They move and change shape. They melt.
Guided rockets hit fast-moving boat targets in test
A weapon prototype developed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) successfully hit two high-speed boat targets during recent testing in Point Mugu, Calif.
Toyota taking orders in Japan for Prius plug-in
Toyota will begin taking orders Tuesday for the plug-in version of its hit Prius hybrid, announcing efficient mileage and a relatively affordable starting price of 3.2 million yen ($41,000), which comes down with green vehicle subsidies.
Facebook stock offer rumors renewed
The Internet on Monday buzzed anew with talk that Facebook is poised to go public after the Wall Street Journal reported the social networking giant could issue stock as early as April.
Twitter buys Android gadget security startup
A San Francisco startup specializing in security for smartphones and tablets powered by Android software said it had been bought by Twitter.
China solar industry rejects US anti-dumping probe
Chinese solar panel makers on Tuesday rejected an anti-dumping complaint filed in the US by competitor SolarWorld, saying it risked "seriously hindering the development of green energy."
Making collective wisdom wiser: Researcher develops methods to automatically optimize 'crowd-sourcing'
Many popular sites, such as Wikipedia and Tripadvisor, rely on public participation to gather information — a process known as crowd data sourcing. While this kind of collective intelligence is often valuable, it is also fallible, and policing such sites for inaccuracies and offensive material is a costly undertaking.
Report says Facebook seeks $10 billion in IPO
(AP) -- Facebook might finally be laying down the groundwork for a highly anticipated initial public offering, long expected to take place sometime after April 2012.
British Library puts 19th C newspapers online
(AP) -- The newspaper coverage was troubling: London's huge international showcase was beset by planning problems, local opposition and labor woes - and the transport was a mess.
Cybercrime against businesses 'explodes'
More than one in three companies say that in 2011 they have been victims of fraud, a report said on Tuesday, with reports of cybercrime targeting businesses around the world skyrocketing.
RIM tests new server for its BlackBerry, and competitors
Canadian manufacturer Research In Motion unveiled on Tuesday a new server for its BlackBerry smartphone that also supports competitors' smartphones and tablets.
AT&T in last-minute bid to save T-Mobile deal: report
Telecom giant AT&T is making a last-minute bid to save its $39-billion (29-billion-euro) purchase of T-Mobile from being slapped down by US regulators, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
Minneapolis as a tech center? Start-ups say yes
Ten of the top 20 most visited websites are based in California, with the remainder in New York, Washington and Georgia.
Piracy vs. an open Internet
To avoid the reach of U.S. copyright laws, numerous online pirates have set up shop in countries less willing or able to enforce intellectual property rights. Policymakers agree that these "rogue" sites pose a real problem for U.S. artists and rights holders who aren't getting paid for the rampant distribution of their music, movies and other creative works. The question is how to help them. Lawmakers keep offering proposals, but they don't seem to be getting any closer to the right answer.
'Cyber Monday' sizzles with US online shopping
US shoppers were on pace to drive "Cyber Monday" sales to a new record high as people flocked the Internet to snap up deals offered by online retailers.
Programming language can't be copyrighted: EU court
A computer programming language cannot be protected by copyright, the adviser to the EU's top court said on Tuesday in an opinion that could affect the competitive IT industry.
Study questions cost-effectiveness of biofuels and their ability to cut fossil fuel use
A new study by economists at Oregon State University questions the cost-effectiveness of biofuels and says they would barely reduce fossil fuel use and would likely increase greenhouse gas emissions.
Google's maps go indoors with new mobile feature
Google's next frontier in digital mapping will span the world's shopping malls and airports.
Facebook settles with FTC over deception charges
Facebook is settling with the Federal Trade Commission over charges it deceived consumers with its privacy settings to get people to share more personal information than they originally agreed to.
Medicine & Health news
Surveillance is sufficient for women following molar pregnancy: study
Six months following molar pregnancies, women who have high (although decreasing) human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) concentrations can be treated with chemotherapy. A study published Online First by The Lancet shows that since these hCG levels will spontaneously fall in most cases, a surveillance-only policy is appropriate and would avoid unnecessary exposure to chemotherapy and its side-effects. The Article is by Professor Michael J Seckl, Charing Cross Hospital at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK, and colleagues.
Virtual childbirth simulator improves safety of high-risk deliveries
Newly developed computer software combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a fetus may help physicians better assess a woman's potential for a difficult childbirth. Results of a study using the new software were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
New study supports mammography screening at 40
Women in their 40s with no family history of breast cancer are just as likely to develop invasive breast cancer as are women with a family history of the disease, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). These findings indicate that women in this age group would benefit from annual screening mammography.
New technology gives patients control of medical image sharing
Patients at three major medical institutions can control the sharing of their medical images and reports with their doctors and medical providers. The RSNA Image Share network was demonstrated today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). By facilitating access to imaging exams for patients and physicians, the network potentially reduces unnecessary examinations, minimizes patient radiation exposure and enables better informed medical decisions.
No more free infant formula at RI hospitals
(AP) -- New mothers in Rhode Island will no longer leave the hospital with a free goody bag of infant formula.
Slovakia doctors threaten to leave over low pay
(AP) -- Slovakia has declared a state of emergency in more than a dozen hospitals to ensure that health care is not compromised after thousands of doctors resigned from public hospitals over low pay.
Brazil says it has AIDS under control
Brazil said Monday its AIDS epidemic was under control, with a 0.61 percent cut in new cases between 2009 and 2010, although a rise among young homosexuals was a cause for concern.
UIC researchers test effects of vitamin D on asthma severity
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago are recruiting volunteers with asthma for a study of whether taking vitamin D can make asthma medication more effective.
Tackling malnutrition in older patients on the wards
Experts led by Newcastle University are designing and building a system aimed at combating malnutrition in older people in hospitals.
Italy: 3 brothers suffer heart attacks on same day
Three Sicilian brothers had heart attacks on the same day which killed two of them, while the third was saved because was visiting his mother in hospital, the Corriere della Sera daily said Tuesday.
Melbourne to host major AIDS forum
Melbourne in Australia will host a major conference on HIV and AIDS in 2014, the International AIDS Society (IAS) said on Tuesday.
Gluten-free holiday strategies minimize stress
Holidays and food go hand-in-hand. If you follow a gluten-free lifestyle or will be with someone who does, the holiday season can present challenges.
Mobile clinics, home visits of little benefit to children with asthma who need care the most
A new Johns Hopkins Children's Center study of Baltimore City children with asthma shows that two programs designed to improve disease outcomes among those who may be affected the worst fall short of expectations.
Ontario, Canada: Youth smoking at all-time low; teen binge drinking, driving after cannabis use remain concerns
Fewer Ontario teens are smoking cigarettes than ever before -- good news that is tempered by continuing concerns around binge drinking, and driving while under the influence of cannabis, according to the 2011 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey released today by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The survey, which included 9,288 students across Ontario in grades 7 to 12, is the longest running student survey in Canada.
Low staffing and poor quality of care at nation's for-profit nursing homes
The nation's largest for-profit nursing homes deliver significantly lower quality of care because they typically have fewer staff nurses than non-profit and government-owned nursing homes.
Use of opioid painkillers for abdominal pain has more than doubled
Across U.S. outpatient clinics between 1997 and 2008, opioid prescriptions for chronic abdominal pain more than doubled, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.
An earlier diagnosis to avoid kidney transplants
An analytical technique using high brilliance infrared light produced by the SOLEIL synchrotron has been developed by teams from the CNRS, Paris Sud University, Tenon Hospital in Paris, and the Stoke-on-Trent Cancer Centre (GB) to study the calcification present in the kidneys of patients with renal failure. The results show that it is now possible to identify different types of calcification, some of which are specific to diseases that can be treated. If this information is obtained early, the patients concerned can be treated on time and avoid kidney loss and an eventual kidney transplant.
Researchers validate preclinical effectiveness of TB drug target
In research at SRI International, scientists evaluating new drug targets against tuberculosis (TB) recently validated the preclinical effectiveness of a target that could rapidly eliminate infections and potentially shorten treatment time. The new drug target is a protein called DNA gyrase B, found in bacteria that cause TB infections.
Pfizer maneuvers to protect Lipitor from generics
(AP) -- Lipitor is so valuable that its maker, Pfizer Inc., is practically paying people to keep taking the blockbuster cholesterol medicine after generic competition hits the U.S. market this week.
Environment and diet leave their prints on the heart
A University of Cambridge study, which set out to investigate DNA methylation in the human heart and the 'missing link' between our lifestyle and our health, has now mapped the link in detail across the entire human genome.
'Heading' a soccer ball could lead to brain injury
Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study the effects of soccer 'heading,' researchers have found that players who head the ball with high frequency have brain abnormalities similar to those found in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Results of their study were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Growth hormone increases bone formation in obese women
In a new study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), growth hormone replacement for six months was found to increase bone formation in abdominally obese women.
How unchecked alarms can spark autoimmune disease
(Medical Xpress) -- One in five Americans suffers from autoimmune disease, in which the immune system goes off-track and attacks the body's own cells. Cornell researchers have identified a signaling mechanism in immune-system cells that may contribute to this mistake, opening the door for possible new therapies for autoimmune diseases such as lupus and arthritis.
Childhood adversities contribute to bullying behaviors
(Medical Xpress) -- An accumulation of childhood adversities increases the likelihood that one becomes a bully, a new study found.
Study offers new insight for preventing fear relapse after trauma
(Medical Xpress) -- In a new study, University of Michigan researchers identified brain circuits in rats that are responsible for the return of fear after it has been suppressed behaviorally.
China prepares for big entry into vaccine market
(AP) -- The world should get ready for a new Made in China product - vaccines.
Norovirus found in majority of British oysters: study
Three-quarters of British-grown oysters contain norovirus, a bug which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, according to new research published on Tuesday by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Cancer drug 'scalpers' corner US market
Pssst. Wanna buy some chemo drugs? A new trend in pharmaceutical sales has raised concerns over ethics and patient safety, as companies buy up critical cancer drugs in short supply and attempt to resell them at huge markups.
Doctor-patient relationship influences patient engagement
Patients who feel that their physicians treat them with respect and fairness, communicate well and engage with them outside of the office setting are more active in their own health care, finds a new study published in the journal Health Services Research.
A vaccination against social prejudice
Evolutionary psychologists suspect that prejudice is rooted in survival: Our distant ancestors had to avoid outsiders who might have carried disease. Research still shows that when people feel vulnerable to illness, they exhibit more bias toward stigmatized groups. But a new study in Psychological Science, a journal published by the Association for Psychological Science suggests there might be a modern way to break that link.
New thinking required on wildlife disease
A University of Adelaide scientist says much more could be done to predict the likelihood and spread of serious disease - such as tuberculosis (TB) or foot-and-mouth disease - in Australian wildlife and commercial stock.
Researchers find supplementary benefits in innovative probiotic study
A study conducted by ALES researchers designed to increase fertility rates in dairy cows has yielded even greater results than researchers had originally hoped for.
High blood pressure, anemia put children with sickle cell disease at risk for silent strokes
A team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Vanderbilt University and elsewhere have demonstrated that high blood pressure and anemia together put children with sickle cell disease (SCD) at serious danger for symptomless or so-called "silent" strokes, although either condition alone also signaled high risk.
Polarized filter may reduce unnecessary cervical biopsies and surgeries
The same filtered light that enables sunglasses to reduce glare may improve a physician's ability to detect early signs of cervical cancer, reducing unnecessary biopsies and surgery.
Seeking to be the 'perfect parent' not always good for new moms and dads
Parents of newborns show poorer adjustment to their new role if they believe society expects them to be "perfect" moms and dads, a new study shows.
Study: Kindergarten friendships matter, especially for boys
High-quality friendships in kindergarten may mean that boys will have fewer behavior problems and better social skills in first and third grades, said Nancy McElwain, a University of Illinois associate professor of human development and co-author of a study published in a recent issue of Infant and Child Development.
Is there a central brain area for hearing melodies and speech cues? Still an open question
Previous studies have suggested a particular hotspot in the brain might be responsible for perceiving pitch, but auditory neuroscientists are still debating whether this "pitch center" actually exists. A review article discusses a recent study claiming that this pitch center may not exist after all, or may not be located where previous research has suggested.
Tools for predicting diabetes exist but are not used, research shows
New research from Queen Mary, University of London suggests that many cases of diabetes could be prevented by making use of existing prediction tools.
Language test as a smartphone app
Dok or dog – which of these is a real word, and which is not? Researchers use lexical decision tasks like this to find out what happens in the brain when people read words. Up to now, such experiments were carried out in the language laboratories of institutes and universities, where the participants sat in front of a computer monitor and indicated whether the sequence of letters presented on a screen made sense or not by pressing "yes" and "no" buttons. As part of an international research project, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, have liberated this traditional test from the confines of their research laboratory. Since December of last year, they offer the lexical decision task as an app in seven languages, which can be downloaded onto smartphones. As a result, in just four months' time they have collected the volume of data it would normally take them three years to obtain.
Stress response predictor in police officers may indicate those at high risk for PTSD
Stress-related disorders are often linked to people working in the line of fire. In a study led by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center in collaboration with the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco, police recruits were assessed during academy training before critical incident exposure and provided salivary cortisol at first awakening and after 30 minutes. Police academy recruits who showed the greatest rise in the stress hormone cortisol after waking up were more likely to show acute stress symptoms in response to trauma years later as police officers.
The implications of disease coexistence
In order to better counsel patients, it is key for clinicians of different disciplines to be aware of, and diagnose, the 'overlap syndrome' between two medical disorders - ALS and FTD - since it significantly affects patient survival. In her new study, Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, from the University of California San Francisco in the US, also highlights that from a research perspective, identifying the syndrome early is an opportunity to study damaged nerve cells and understand more about the early stages of both ALS and FTD. Her work is published in Springer's Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, in a special issue entitled Frontotemporal Dementias, which contains 56 studies on this topic.
Study: No decline in running economy for older runners
Runners over the age of 60 are the fastest-growing group in the sport. A new study from the University of New Hampshire suggests that their running can remain fast as they age, too.
Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder in women linked to history of rape, child abuse
A Florida State University clinical psychologist has identified factors that could cause some women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to have chronic, persistent symptoms while others recover naturally over time.
Gene acts as a brake on breast cancer progression
New research out of McGill University's Goodman Cancer Research Centre provides compelling new evidence that a gene known as 14-3-3σ plays a critical role in halting breast cancer initiation and progression. The study, led by the Dept. of Biochemistry's William J. Muller, will be published online today in the journal Cancer Discovery.
Many Americans with HIV go untreated: study
Nearly three quarters of the 1.2 million Americans with HIV do not have their infection under control, raising the risk of death from AIDS and transmission to others, said a US study on Tuesday.
Study demonstrates a connection between a common chemical and Parkinson's disease
A University of Kentucky faculty member is a contributing author on a new study demonstrating a connection between a common solvent chemical and Parkinson's disease. Dr. Franca Cambi of the UK Kentucky Neuroscience Institute collaborated with researchers from across the U.S. on a paper recently published in the Annals of Neurology. The novel study looked at a cohort of human twins wherein one twin had been occupationally exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) and other chemicals believed to be linked to development of Parkinson's.
Everolimus prolongs progression-free survival for patients with neuroendocrine tumors
Combination treatment with everolimus, an inhibitor of the mammalian target rapamycin (mTOR), and octreotide has shown to improve progression-free survival for patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors and a history of carcinoid syndrome, according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Crash experts find car seats protect overweight kids, too
Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Injury Research and Prevention studied nearly 1,000 1- to 8-year-old children involved in crashes and found no evidence of increased injury risk for children across a broad weight range. All of the children included in the study were properly restrained in the correct child safety seat or booster seat for their height and weight. The research also suggests that the current range of child safety seats and booster seats available today sufficiently accommodates a broad spectrum of children's body sizes, including children with higher weights. The results are published online in the December issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Presumed consent not answer to solving organ shortage in US, researchers say
Removing organs for transplant unless person explicitly opts out of donation before death not best way to address scarcity, raises sticky ethical questions.
New brain vaccine aims to turn fatal disease into chronic illness
When U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with a glioblastoma of the brain in May 2009, doctors understood there was little chance he could survive it. He died that August.
Bacterial genes tell the tale of an outbreak's evolution
Researchers at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Children’s Hospital Boston have retraced the evolution of an unusual bacterial infection as it spread among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients by sequencing scores of samples collected during the outbreak, since contained. A significant achievement in genetic pathology, the work also suggests a new way to recognize adaptive mutations — to see evolution as it happens — and sheds light on how our bodies resist infection.
Breakthrough in the battle against malaria
An international team of scientists has announced a breakthrough in the fight against malaria, paving the way for the development of new drugs to treat the deadly disease.
Body rebuilding: Researchers regenerate muscle in mice
A team of scientists from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and CellThera, a private company located in WPI's Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center, have regenerated functional muscle tissue in mice, opening the door for a new clinical therapy to treat people who suffer major muscle trauma.
Gray matter in brain's control center linked to ability to process reward
The more gray matter you have in the decision-making, thought-processing part of your brain, the better your ability to evaluate rewards and consequences. That may seem like an obvious conclusion, but a new study conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory is the first to show this link between structure and function in healthy people — and the impairment of both structure and function in people addicted to cocaine. The study appears in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.
Researcher creates neurons that light up as they fire
In a scientific first that potentially could shed new light on how signals travel in the brain, how learning alters neural pathways, and might lead to speedier drug development, scientists at Harvard have created genetically-altered neurons that light up as they fire.
Study shows medical marijuana laws reduce traffic deaths
A groundbreaking new study shows that laws legalizing medical marijuana have resulted in a nearly nine percent drop in traffic deaths and a five percent reduction in beer sales.
Biology news
Pollen research not be sniffed at
Pollen may annoy allergy sufferers in springtime but, viewed under the microscope, a pollen grain is a thing of beauty. Amazing images and facts about pollen are part of an exhibition at CSIRO Discovery in Canberra beginning this week to coincide with Floriade.
Tall fescue helps protect peach trees from nematodes
Planting tall fescue grass as a ground cover in peach orchards helps protect peach trees from nematodes that attack tree roots, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
Antibiotics in swine feed encourage gene exchange
A study to be published in the online journal mBio on November 29 shows that adding antibiotics to swine feed causes microorganisms in the guts of these animals to start sharing genes that could spread antibiotic resistance.
Bison on Konza Prairie fuel experiments to restore prairie ecosystem
The presence of bison at Konza Prairie Biological Station may seem iconic, a tribute to America's past when such herds roamed the range.
Sunlight in tropical forest driving force behind ecological niches of tree species
Not water, but sunlight is the main factor in determining the growth of the hundreds of tree species in tropical forests. The variation in physiological characteristics between tree species explains how the various species fit into their ecological niches, thereby contributing to diversity in tropical forests. This is the conclusion drawn by researchers from Wageningen University, part of Wageningen UR, and their colleagues from Utrecht University in a publication in the scientific journal PNAS.
New findings about unwanted fungal growth on dry-cured meat products
The growth of yeast and mold fungus often poses a threat to the quality of dry-cured meat and is a problem facing producers all over the world. Fungal growth can lead to bad quality products, increased production costs and health issues in consumers.
Banana crop abundance linked to length of day
New research has found bananas are photoperiod responsive, overruling the widely accepted belief that temperature is the key variable in banana development.
Shedding light on the 'dark matter' of the genome
Most of the time, Stefano Torriani is a plant pathologist. His most recent research project revolved around the fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola where he analyzed a special class of genes that encode cell wall degrading enzymes. A virulent fungus relies heavily on these enzymes when attacking a plant. But while investigating these genes, Torriani came across something odd; one gene came in different sizes in different individuals.
Going to the dogs: University's newest patent for improving canine health
Make no bones about it, a discovery by a Kansas State University research team could mean a longer and healthier life for man's best friend.
Honey bee mystery protein is a freight train for health and lifespan
Why are bee colonies worldwide suffering mysterious deaths? A unique study describes a single bee protein that can promote bee health and solve a major economic challenge.
Researchers uncover new function for cell master regulator
(PhysOrg.com) -- TORC1 is a master regulator in cells, playing a key role in such diverse processes as gene expression and protein synthesis. While previous studies have described the role that TORC1 plays in these processes, a new Cornell study has discovered yet another process where the molecule is a central player: It maintains the composition of proteins in a cell's plasma membrane, the organelle that defines the outer surface of the cell.
Breakthrough: 'Global warming gene'
Scientists at the University of Bristol, along with their colleagues in Minnesota and at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, have recently published exciting new research in the journal PNAS, which increases our knowledge about the way in which rising temperatures affect plant growth.
Study finds pigeons use bodies to turn rather than wing force
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a rather surprising turn of events, it appears pigeons use their body to make sharp turns, rather than stronger wing strokes when flying. This bit of news comes from Ivo Ros of Harvard University and his colleagues who have been studying the bird’s flight skills with high speed cameras. They have published their results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Genetic buzzer-beater genes may save fish
Two distinct populations of rainbow trout -- one in Alaska, the other in Idaho -- share a genetic trait that could have huge implications for fisheries conservation and management, an eight-member research team reports.
'Look at that!' -- ravens use gestures, too
Pointing and holding up objects in order to attract attention has so far only been observed in humans and our closest living relatives, the great apes. Simone Pika from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology and Thomas Bugnyar from the University of Vienna, however, now provide the first evidence that ravens (Corvus corax) also use so called deictic gestures in order to test the interest of a potential partner or to strengthen an already existing bond.
E. coli bacteria engineered to eat switchgrass and make transportation fuels
A milestone has been reached on the road to developing advanced biofuels that can replace gasoline, diesel and jet fuels with a domestically-produced clean, green, renewable alternative.
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