ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Thursday, June 7, 2012
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Cassini plasma spectrometer turns off (June 6, 2012) -- The Cassini plasma spectrometer instrument (CAPS) aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft was turned off between Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2, when a circuit breaker tripped off after the instrument experienced some unexpected voltage shifts. ... > full story
Dawn mission video shows Vesta's coat of many colors (June 6, 2012) -- A new video from NASA's Dawn mission reveals the dappled, variegated surface of the giant asteroid Vesta. The animation drapes high-resolution false color images over a 3-D model of the Vesta terrain constructed from Dawn's observations. This visualization enables a detailed view of the variation in the material properties of Vesta in the context of its topography. ... > full story
New drug found effective against rare form of basal cell skin cancer (June 6, 2012) -- A clinical study has demonstrated that a new drug, a targeted molecular therapy called vismodegib (trade name Erivedge™), can dramatically shrink basal cell skin cancers and prevent the formation of new ones, in patients with basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) according to a phase II clinical study. ... > full story
Ecologists call for preservation of planet's remaining biological diversity (June 6, 2012) -- Twenty years after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 17 ecologists are calling for renewed international efforts to curb the loss of Earth's biological diversity. The loss is compromising nature's ability to provide goods and services essential for human well-being, the scientists say. ... > full story
Stress may delay brain development in early years (June 6, 2012) -- Stress may affect brain development in children, altering growth of a specific piece of the brain and abilities associated with it, according to new research. ... > full story
Why hot, humid air triggers symptoms in patients with mild asthma (June 6, 2012) -- Patients who inhaled an asthma drug before breathing in hot, humid air were able to prevent airway constriction that volunteers without asthma did not experience in the same environment. ... > full story
Variations in sex steroid gene expression can predict aggressive behaviors, bird study shows (June 6, 2012) -- A biologist has shown that natural variation in measures of the brain's ability to process steroid hormones predicts functional variation in aggressive behavior. The new work has found strong and significant relationships between aggressive behavior in free-living birds and the abundance of messenger RNA in behaviorally relevant brain areas for three major sex steroid processing molecules: androgen receptor, estrogen receptor and aromatase. ... > full story
Today's climate more sensitive to carbon dioxide than in past 12 million years (June 6, 2012) -- Until now, studies of Earth's climate have documented a strong correlation between global climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide; that is, during warm periods, high concentrations of CO2 persist, while colder times correspond to relatively low levels. ... > full story
Photosynthesis: A new way of looking at photosystem II (June 6, 2012) -- Using ultrafast, intensely bright pulses of X-rays scientists have obtained the first ever images at room temperature of photosystem II, a protein complex critical for photosynthesis and future artificial photosynthetic systems. ... > full story
Sensors detect contaminants in water in low concentrations (June 6, 2012) -- Many organic contaminants in the air and in drinking water need to be detected at very low-level concentrations. New research could be beneficial in detecting those contaminants. ... > full story
Study links PTSD to hidden head injuries suffered in combat (June 6, 2012) -- Even when brain injury is so subtle that it can only be detected by an ultra-sensitive imaging test, the injury might predispose soldiers in combat to post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a new study. ... > full story
Three types of fetal cells can migrate into maternal organs during pregnancy: Some mothers literally carry pieces of their children in their bodies (June 6, 2012) -- A pregnant woman's blood stream contains not only her own cells, but a small number of her child's, as well, and some of them remain in her internal organs long after the baby is born. Understanding the origin and identity of these cells is vital to understanding their potential effects on a mother's long-term health. ... > full story
Brain cell activity imbalance may account for seizure susceptibility in angelman syndrome (June 6, 2012) -- Scientists may have pinpointed an underlying cause of the seizures that affect 90 percent of people with Angelman syndrome (AS), a neurodevelopmental disorder. ... > full story
HIV drug may slow down metastatic breast cancer (June 6, 2012) -- The HIV drugs known as CCR5 antagonists may also help prevent aggressive breast cancers from metastasizing, researchers say. ... > full story
Sexual orientation fluctuation correlated to alcohol misuse (June 6, 2012) -- Many young adults explore and define their sexual identity in college, but that process can be stressful and lead to risky behaviors. In a new study, students whose sexual self-definition didn't fall into exclusively heterosexual or homosexual categories tended to misuse alcohol more frequently than people who had a firmly defined sexual orientation for a particular gender, according to new research. ... > full story
The power of suggestion: What we expect influences our behavior, for better or worse (June 6, 2012) -- A lucky rabbit foot. A glass of wine. A pill. What do these things all have in common? Their effects -- whether we do well on a test, whether we mingle at the cocktail party, whether we feel better -- all depend on the power of suggestion. ... > full story
Baby's genome deciphered prenatally from parents' lab tests (June 6, 2012) -- Maternal blood sampled at 18 weeks into a pregnancy and a paternal saliva specimen contained enough information for scientists to map the fetus' whole genome. Fetal DNA is in a pregnant women's bloodstream starting a few weeks after conception. Scientists assessed many and more subtle variations in the fetus' genome, down to a one-letter change in the DNA code, compared to current tests that screen for only a few major genetic errors. ... > full story
Insomnia linked to hypertension (June 6, 2012) -- People with insomnia may now have one more thing to keep them up at night: an increased likelihood of developing hypertension, according to a new study. ... > full story
This is your brain on no self-control (June 6, 2012) -- MRI images show what the brain looks like when you do something you know you shouldn’t. ... > full story
Role of fungus in digestive disorders explored (June 6, 2012) -- Researchers say their examination of the fungi in the intestines suggests an important link between these microbes and inflammatory diseases such as ulcerative colitis. In the new study researchers identified and characterized the large community of fungi inhabiting the large intestine in a model of the disease. ... > full story
Gut immune cells keep beneficial microbes in their place (June 6, 2012) -- Resident immune cells in intestinal tissues of healthy humans, mice, and non-human primates are critical in limiting the location of commensal bacteria. If the cells are depleted commensal bacteria move to peripheral tissues and promote inflammation. The bacteria were all members of a group called Alcaligenes, indicating a selective pathway to contain commensal bacteria. ... > full story
To quit smoking, try eating more veggies and fruits (June 6, 2012) -- Eating more fruits and vegetables may help you quit smoking and stay tobacco-free for longer, according to a new study. It is the first longitudinal study on the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and smoking cessation. ... > full story
First photos ever of jaguars in Colombian oil palm plantation (June 6, 2012) -- Camera traps recently produced the first photographic evidence of wild jaguars with cubs in an oil palm plantation in Colombia. These rare photos confirm that in some cases, jaguars are willing to move through oil palm. Importantly, the photos come from a small plantation adjacent to a protected area with some indigenous habitat present - perhaps the best case scenario for fostering jaguar use of palm oil tracts. ... > full story
Arctic ice melt is setting stage for severe winters (June 6, 2012) -- A dramatic melt-off of Arctic sea ice due to climate change is hitting closer to home than millions of Americans might think – triggering a domino effect leading to increased odds of severe winter weather outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere's middle latitudes, according to new research. ... > full story
New technique for detecting mold contamination in homes and other buildings (June 6, 2012) -- With mold contamination of homes an ongoing concern – and a special threat to the 2.5 million foreclosed houses in the US, shuttered with little ventilation – scientists are reporting a new method to detect and identify low levels of airborne mold. The report describes a simple, fast method that could provide an early indication of potential contamination. ... > full story
New secrets from 'Bay of the Pirates' warship that sunk 2,300 years ago (June 6, 2012) -- A new study puts some finishing touches on the 2,300-year history of the beak-like weapon that an ancient warship used to ram enemy ships in the First Punic War, the conflict between ancient Rome and Carthage. The report also identifies a major threat that conservators must address in preserving this archaeological treasure for future generations. ... > full story
1 million billion billion billion billion billion billion: Number of undiscovered drugs (June 6, 2012) -- A new voyage into "chemical space" – occupied not by stars and planets but substances that could become useful in everyday life – has concluded that scientists have synthesized barely one tenth of one percent of potential medicines. The report estimates that the actual number of these so-called "small molecules" could be one novemdecillion (that's one with 60 zeroes), more than some estimates of the number of stars in the universe. ... > full story
Evidence of impending tipping point for Earth (June 6, 2012) -- A group of 22 scientists worldwide argue that the Earth is frighteningly close to a tipping point that would send the globe irreversibly into a state that could spell disaster for humans. The group note that human pressures and climate change can irreversibly change local ecosystems. The fear is that Earth faces planet-wide change that will disrupt global animal and plant communities as well as water and food supplies. ... > full story
The real culprit behind hardened arteries? Stem cells, says landmark study (June 6, 2012) -- Vascular diseases are actually a type of stem cell disease, according to a new study. The discovery challenges a long-standing belief that smooth muscle cells contribute to clogged blood vessels, and could revolutionize research into therapies for heart attacks and strokes, which account for one in three deaths in the United States. ... > full story
Video games may be helpful in treating 'Lazy eye' in adults (June 6, 2012) -- Suppose someone told you that researchers had discovered that a major cause of vision loss is treatable, and that the most promising new treatment is—playing video games? It may sound far-fetched, but those are the conclusions of a new article. ... > full story
Appalachian teens can quit sugary drinks with peer, community influence (June 6, 2012) -- Convincing people to reduce sugared drink consumption may not need the type of ban recently proposed in New York City. Rather, peer pressure may work better. A new study shows that a peer- and community-driven education approach successfully encouraged Appalachian high school students to reduce their intake of sugared drinks. ... > full story
Warming climate sees tundra turn to forest (June 6, 2012) -- In just a few decades shrubs in the Arctic tundra have turned into trees as a result of the warming Arctic climate, creating patches of forest which, if replicated across the tundra, would significantly accelerate global warming. ... > full story
Statistical model attempting to estimate level of alcohol consumption that is 'optimal' for health (June 6, 2012) -- Scientists have carried out a complex analysis in an attempt to determine the "optimal" level of alcohol consumption that is associated with the lowest rates of chronic disease in the UK. They conclude that the intake of about one-half of a typical drink per day would result in the healthiest outcomes, and the authors conclude that the recommended alcohol intake for the UK should be reduced from the current advised level of drinking. ... > full story
Have you heard? Nearly 15 percent of work email is gossip (June 6, 2012) -- According to some estimates, the average corporate email user sends 112 emails every day. About one out of every seven of those messages, says a new study, can be called gossip. ... > full story
Complex world of gut microbes fine-tune body weight (June 6, 2012) -- Gut microbes have a significant effect on nutrient absorption and energy regulation. The composition of microbial communities is shown to vary with age, body weight, and variety of food ingested; as well as in response to bariatric surgery for obesity, use of antibiotics and many other factors. Based on current findings, the authors suggest that therapeutic modification of the gut microbiome may offer an attractive approach to future treatment of nutrition-related maladies, including obesity and a range of serious health consequences linked to under-nutrition. ... > full story
New technique to give us better understanding of human tissues (June 6, 2012) -- Researchers have demonstrated that a relatively new microscopy technique can be used to improve our understanding of human tissues and other biomedical materials. The study focused specifically on eye tissues, which are damaged by scarring in diabetic patients. ... > full story
Piracy at sea: Maritime piracy, violence and the international response (June 6, 2012) -- Researchers in Hong Kong have analyzed the incidence of maritime piracy during the last decade and have developed a way to predict whether or not a particular vessel, with a specific cargo, shipping in a given patch of water is likely to be a target for piracy and what degree of violence might be involved. ... > full story
First complete sequencing of pear genome (June 6, 2012) -- Scientists have announced the first complete sequencing of pear genome. Pear (Pyrus spp.) is one of the major and oldest cultivated fruit trees in the temperate regions, which is likely to have originated during the Tertiary period (65-55 million years ago) in southwestern China. It is genetically diverse with more than 5,000 cultivars and accessions present all over the world that could be divided into two major groups, the European or "Occidental" pears and the Asiatic or "Oriental" pears. ... > full story
How plants make cocaine (June 6, 2012) -- Cocaine is one of the most commonly used (and abused) plant-derived drugs in the world, but we have almost no modern information on how plants produce this complex alkaloid. Researchers have just discovered a key reaction in cocaine formation in the coca plant from South America, and identified the responsible enzyme. This enzyme was shown to belong to the aldo-keto-reductase protein family revealing some exciting new insights into the evolution of cocaine biosynthesis. ... > full story
Legendary lost city of Ciudad Blanca may have been found with airborne LiDAR (June 6, 2012) -- Archaeologists have used airborne laser mapping to unveil archaeological ruins in a Honduran rainforest. An initial analysis of the LiDAR survey has identified ruins that could be those of Ciudad Blanca or other long-hidden sites. ... > full story
Gasification may convert mesquite and juniper wood to a usable bioenergy (June 6, 2012) -- Biomass gasification is being considered as a possible technology for converting at least 10 million acres of Texas brush into biofuel, according to a rangeland ecologist. ... > full story
Geoengineering could disrupt rainfall patterns (June 6, 2012) -- A geoengineering solution to climate change could lead to significant rainfall reduction in Europe and North America, a team of European scientists concludes. The researchers studied how models of the Earth in a warm, CO2-rich world respond to an artificial reduction in the amount of sunlight reaching the planet's surface. ... > full story
A quick, cheap, accurate test for gluten intolerance (June 6, 2012) -- Coeliac disease affects millions of people worldwide, but many sufferers are not aware they have the condition or may have been misdiagnosed with other illnesses. A pioneering new test should soon be available in hospitals, offering an accurate, quick, cost-effective diagnosis and monitoring solution. ... > full story
Alzheimer plaques in 3D (June 6, 2012) -- Swiss researchers have succeeded in generating detailed three-dimensional images of the spatial distribution of amyloid plaques in the brains of mice afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. These plaques are accumulations of small pieces of protein in the brain and are a typical characteristic of Alzheimer’s. The new technique used in the investigations provides an extremely precise research tool for a better understanding of the disease. ... > full story
Artificial noses as diseases busters (June 6, 2012) -- Artificial noses have, until now, been used to detect diseases such as urinary tract infection, Helicobacter pylori, tuberculosis, ear, nose and throat conditions and even lung cancer. They have also been clinically tested for use in continuous monitoring of different disease stages. ... > full story
Key to controlling toxicity of Huntington's disease protein may be cell contents (June 6, 2012) -- New research proposes novel therapeutic targets for treating Huntington’s disease. A new study found the toxic effects of the huntingtin protein on cells may not be driven exclusively by the length of the protein’s expansion, but also by which other proteins are present in the cell. ... > full story
Calorie-restricted diet keeps heart young (June 6, 2012) -- People who restrict their caloric intake in an effort to live longer have hearts that function more like those in people who are 20 years younger. Researchers have found that a key measure of the heart’s ability to adapt to physical activity, stress and other factors, doesn’t decline nearly as rapidly in people who have significantly restricted their caloric intake. ... > full story
Seizure-freedom reported in 68% of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients (June 6, 2012) -- A 25-year follow-up study reveals that 68% of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) became seizure-free, with nearly 30% no longer needing antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. ... > full story
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