The EDGE: ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Monday, June 25, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Monday, June 25, 2012

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Learn that tune while fast asleep: Stimulation during sleep can enhance skill learning (June 24, 2012) -- Want to nail that tune that you've practiced and practiced? Maybe you should take a nap with the same melody playing during your sleep, new provocative research suggests. The research grows out of exciting existing evidence that suggests that memories can be reactivated during sleep and storage of them can be strengthened in the process. ... > full story

Significant sea-level rise in a two-degree warmer world (June 24, 2012) -- Even if global warming is limited to two degrees Celsius, global mean sea level could continue to rise, reaching between 1.5 and four meters above present-day levels by the year 2300, with the best estimate being at 2.7 meters, according to a new study. However, emissions reductions that allow warming to drop below 1.5 degrees Celsius could limit the rise strongly. ... > full story

Climate change and the South Asian summer monsoon (June 24, 2012) -- The vagaries of South Asian summer monsoon rainfall impact the lives of more than one billion people. This review of the most recent research concludes that with continued rise in CO2 the region can expect generally more rainfall due to the expected increase in atmospheric moisture stemming from global warming, as well as more variability in rainfall. Regional projections for devastating droughts and floods, however, are still beyond the reach of current climate models. ... > full story

Boosting blood system protein complex protects against radiation toxicity (June 24, 2012) -- Boosting a protein pathway in the body's blood making system protects mice from otherwise fatal radiation poisoning. Scientists say their findings open the potential for new treatments against radiation toxicity during cancer treatment or environmental exposures -- such as in a nuclear explosion or accident. ... > full story

Brain structure helps guide behavior by anticipating changing demands (June 24, 2012) -- A structure deep within the brain, believed to play an important role in regulating conscious control of goal-directed behavior, helps to optimize behavioral responses by predicting how difficult upcoming tasks will be. ... > full story

Neurons that control overeating also drive appetite for cocaine (June 24, 2012) -- Researchers have zeroed in on a set of neurons in the part of the brain that controls hunger, and found that these neurons are not only associated with overeating, but also linked to non-food associated behaviors, like novelty-seeking and drug addiction. ... > full story

Discovery of material with amazing properties (June 24, 2012) -- Normally a material can be either magnetically or electrically polarized, but not both. Now researchers have studied a material that is simultaneously magnetically and electrically polarizable. This opens up new possibilities, for example, for sensors in technology of the future. ... > full story

Biodegradable artery graft will enhance bypass surgeries (June 24, 2012) -- With the development of a cell-free, biodegradable artery graft comes a potentially transformative change in coronary artery bypass surgeries: Within 90 days after surgery, the patient will have a regenerated artery with no trace of synthetic graft materials left in the body. ... > full story

Genome-wide analysis shows previously undetected abnormalities in parents of affected children (June 24, 2012) -- The use of genome-wide array analysis in parents whose children are suspected of having a genetic disease shows that the parents frequently also have previously undetected genetic abnormalities, a researcher said. Being aware of this is important to parents because it means that their risk of having another affected child is significantly increased. ... > full story

Gene mutations cause massive brain asymmetry (June 24, 2012) -- Scientists say de novo somatic mutations in a trio of genes that help regulate cell size and proliferation are likely culprits for causing hemimegalencephaly, though perhaps not the only ones. ... > full story

Blood-brain barrier building blocks forged from human stem cells (June 24, 2012) -- The blood-brain barrier may be poised to give up some of its secrets as researchers have created in the laboratory dish the cells that make up the brain’s protective barrier. The researchers describe transforming stem cells into endothelial cells with blood-brain barrier qualities. ... > full story

Lichen can survive in space: Space station research sheds light on origin of life; potential for better sunscreens (June 23, 2012) -- You can freeze it, thaw it, vacuum dry it and expose it to radiation, but still life survives. Research on the International Space Station is giving credibility to theories that life came from outer space -- as well as helping to create better sunscreens. ... > full story

Pasta made from green banana flour a tasty alternative for gluten-free diets (June 23, 2012) -- People with celiac disease struggle with limited food choices, as their condition makes them unable to tolerate gluten, found in wheat and other grains. Researchers have now developed a gluten-free pasta product from green banana flour, which tasters found more acceptable than regular whole wheat pasta. The product has less fat and is cheaper to produce than standard pastas. ... > full story

Predicting treatment response in central nervous system diseases: Simple way of avoiding dangerous side effects? (June 23, 2012) -- The commonly-used epilepsy drug, valproic acid (VPA), can have a highly beneficial effect on some babies born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the number one genetic killer during early infancy. But in about two-thirds of such cases it is either damaging or simply has no effect. Now, for the first time, researchers have found a way to identify which patients are likely to respond well to VPA prior to starting treatment. Their results have major implications, not just for SMA patients, but for other conditions treated with the drug such as migraine and epilepsy, and may even provide the conditions for turning VPA non-responders into responders, the researchers say. ... > full story

Is arm length the reason women need reading glasses sooner than men? (June 23, 2012) -- Studies have consistently reported that women require reading glasses or bifocal lenses earlier than men. According to a recent article, the gender difference is caused by factors other than focusing ability, such as arm length or preferred reading distance, which should be considered when prescribing readers or bifocals. ... > full story

Declining testosterone levels in men not part of normal aging (June 23, 2012) -- A new study finds that a drop in testosterone levels over time is more likely to result from a man’s behavioral and health changes than by aging. ... > full story

Long-term testosterone treatment for men results in reduced weight and waist size (June 23, 2012) -- In testosterone-deficient men, major weight loss was an added benefit of testosterone replacement therapy for most of the patients who participated in a new study. ... > full story

Mild thyroid dysfunction in early pregnancy linked to serious complications (June 23, 2012) -- Even moderate thyroid dysfunction during early pregnancy significantly increases the risk of serious complications, underscoring the need for universal screening in the first trimester, a new study finds. ... > full story

Bringing down the cost of microbial fuel cells (June 23, 2012) -- A new catalyst material could dramatically reduce the cost of producing microbial fuel cells. ... > full story

Zebrafish research shows how dietary fat regulates cholesterol absorption (June 23, 2012) -- New research suggests there may be a biological reason why fatty and cholesterol-rich foods, like buttery shrimp, fried eggs and burgers and fries are so appealing together. Researchers are using zebrafish to better understand the cellular mechanisms of cholesterol processing and have discovered a surprising link between dietary fat and cholesterol absorption. ... > full story

Another reason why dads and hopeful dads should quit smoking now (June 23, 2012) -- If your father smoked, your genes are likely damaged, and your odds for diseases increased. A new report shows that men who smoke before conception can damage the genes of their offspring. These inherited changes in DNA could render developing offspring susceptible to later diseases, providing evidence for quitting smoking before trying to conceive. ... > full story

'Trust' hormone oxytocin found at heart of rare genetic disorder (June 23, 2012) -- The hormone oxytocin -- often referred to as the "trust" hormone for its role in stimulating emotional responses -- plays an important role in Williams syndrome, according to a new study. ... > full story

Novel animal reservoir for group of tick-borne diseases discovered -- and it lives in your backyard (June 23, 2012) -- A new assay that uses mitochondrial DNA that mutates faster than nuclear DNA has allowed scientists to identify one of the major animal reservoirs for the ehlichioses, STARI and other tick-borne diseases in the southeastern United States. The animal turned out to be the eastern gray squirrel. ... > full story

Foundational concept of ecology tested: Purple loosestrife altered life in nearby ponds (June 23, 2012) -- How strong are the links in food webs? An experiment demonstrates that they're strong enough for a disturbance to propagate across four trophic levels and two ecosystems. The experiment demonstrates that invasive species such as purple loosestrife could have broad effects on surrounding plant and animal communities, many of them cryptic. ... > full story

Forgotten star cluster now found useful in studies of Sun and hunt for Earth-like planets (June 23, 2012) -- A loose group of stars, known for over 180 years but never before studied in detail, has been revealed to be an important new tool in the quest to understand the evolution of stars like the Sun, and in the search for planets like Earth. The star cluster holds great promise for use as a standard gauge in fundamental stellar astrophysics. ... > full story

Is your leaf left-handed? (June 23, 2012) -- The spiral pattern of leaf formation from the point of growth affects the developing leaf's exposure to the plant hormone auxin; This exposure leads to measurable left-right asymmetry in leaf development, in species previously assumed to have symmetric leaves. ... > full story

New technique allows simulation of noncrystalline materials (June 23, 2012) -- Scientists have found a new mathematical approach to simulating the electronic behavior of noncrystalline materials, which may eventually play an important part in new devices including solar cells, organic LED lights and printable, flexible electronic circuits. ... > full story

Rio+20 Summit: Earth observation for us and our planet (June 23, 2012) -- The Rio+20 summit on promoting jobs, clean energy and a more sustainable use of our planet's resources closed today after three days of talks. During the summit, the role of Earth observation in sustainable development was highlighted. ... > full story

Infection biology: The elusive third factor (June 22, 2012) -- Researchers have identified an enzyme that is involved in a modification pathway that is essential for bacterial pathogenicity. Because it shows no similarity to other known proteins, it may be an ideal target for development of novel antimicrobial drugs. ... > full story

Grb2 holds powerful molecular signaling pathway in check (June 22, 2012) -- Once considered merely a passive link between proteins that matter, Grb2 - pronounced "grab2" - actually lives up to its nickname with its controlling grip on an important cell signaling pathway, scientists report. ... > full story

South African daffodils may be a future treatment for depression (June 22, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered that plant compounds from a South African flower may in time be used to treat diseases originating in the brain – including depression. A number of these substances have now been tested in a laboratory model of the blood-brain barrier. ... > full story

Stonehenge was monument marking unification of Britain (June 22, 2012) -- After 10 years of archaeological investigations, researchers have concluded that Stonehenge was built as a monument to unify the peoples of Britain, after a long period of conflict and regional difference between eastern and western Britain. ... > full story

First paternity study of southern right whales finds local fathers most successful (June 22, 2012) -- The first paternity study of southern right whales has found a surprisingly high level of local breeding success for males, scientists say, which is good news for the overall genetic diversity of the species, but could create risk for local populations through in-breeding. ... > full story

Information flow in the brain is not a 'one-way street' (June 22, 2012) -- Neuroscientists have discovered a new principle of information flow in nerve cells. ... > full story

New approach to diagnosing and treating dementia (June 22, 2012) -- Some dementia patients show symptoms of a malfunctioning immune system. New research shows that immune reactions against the body's own nerve cells can be the cause of advanced dementia and an appropriate immune suppressive therapy can develop with significant effectiveness. ... > full story

Reward the second best, ignore the best (June 22, 2012) -- New research suggests reasons why the richest should pay more tax; why rewarding the top performers leads to recurrent crises and scandals; and why we should resist the temptation to learn from and imitate the most successful. ... > full story

The blue blood of the emperor scorpion X-rayed (June 22, 2012) -- Biologists have successfully crystallized the hemocyanin of the emperor scorpion to shed new light on the structure and active site of the giant oxygen transport protein. ... > full story

Birds can recognize people's faces and know their voices (June 22, 2012) -- New research suggests that some birds may know who their human friends are, as they are able to recognize people’s faces and differentiate between human voices. ... > full story

Put a cork in it: Research details quiet composite material (June 22, 2012) -- Cork, known for such low-tech applications as wine bottle stoppers and bulletin boards, now shows promise as the core material in composites used in high-tech automotive, aircraft and energy applications. ... > full story

Most commonly mutated gene in cancer may have a role in stroke (June 22, 2012) -- The gene p53 is the most commonly mutated gene in cancer. p53 is dubbed the “guardian of the genome” because it blocks cells with damaged DNA from propagating and eventually becoming cancerous. However, new research uncovers a novel role for p53 beyond cancer in the development of ischemic stroke. The research team identified an unexpected critical function of p53 in activating necrosis, an irreversible form of tissue death, triggered during oxidative stress and ischemia. ... > full story

Parents' work-life stress hinders healthy eating (June 22, 2012) -- These days many parents are working harder than ever to support their families, and as a result, nutrition in the home suffers, according to a new study. ... > full story

Pregnant women should avoid alcohol during pregnancy, experts say (June 22, 2012) -- Experts disagree with a series of new studies from Denmark that suggest consumption of up to 8 alcoholic drinks a week or occasional binge drinking during pregnancy is generally safe for the developing baby. ... > full story

How stress can boost immune system (June 21, 2012) -- Scientist have tracked the trajectories of key immune cells in response to short-term stress and traced, in great detail, how hormones triggered by such stress enhance immune readiness. The study, conducted in rats, adds weight to evidence that immune responsiveness is heightened, rather than suppressed as many believe, by the so-called "fight-or-flight" response. ... > full story

The biology of tumor-derived microvesicles (June 21, 2012) -- A new article discusses the biology of tumor-derived microvesicles and their clinical application as circulating biomarkers. Microvesicles are membrane-bound sacs released by tumor cells and can be detected in the body fluids of cancer patients. ... > full story

Preventing or better managing diabetes may prevent cognitive decline (June 21, 2012) -- Preventing diabetes or delaying its onset has been thought to stave off cognitive decline -- a connection strongly supported by the results of a nine-year study. ... > full story

From the mouths of monkeys: Swab technique spots tuberculosis in non-human primates (June 21, 2012) -- A new technique detected the first published evidence of tuberculosis pathogens in the mouths of macaques living near people in six Asian countries. The method analyses mouth swabs from monkeys to check for tuberculosis DNA. The findings raise the question of interspecies transmission, but the origin of these infections is uncertain. However, the risk of spread to people appears minimal. The test could help protect the health of the world's primate populations. ... > full story

Dad's brains mean more to his son's success than his money: Study (June 21, 2012) -- Sons of fathers with high incomes tend to end up with higher than average incomes themselves, but new research shows that it's not just dad's money that helps a son on his way. ... > full story

Greater Los Angeles to heat up an average 4 to 5 degrees by mid-century (June 21, 2012) -- A new study shows climate change will cause temperatures in the Los Angeles region to rise an average of 4-5 degrees by midcentury, tripling the number of extremely hot days in downtown L.A., and quadrupling them in the valleys and high elevations. ... > full story