Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 9, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Classical problem becomes undecidable in a quantum setting- Japan demo shows electricity entering EV through tires
- Physics team proposes a way to create an actual space-time crystal
- New chip captures power from multiple sources: light, heat and vibrations
- Researchers explain how dye-based nanotubes can help harvest light's energy
- New silk technology stabilizes vaccine and antibiotics so refrigeration is not needed
- Scientists say NASA's 'new arsenic form of life' was untrue
- Tiny bubbles snap carbon nanotubes like twigs
- Mozilla to freeze Thunderbird innovations
- New detector for rare cancer cells
- Polymer power: Triboelectric generator produces electricity by harnessing friction between surfaces
- Novel technique reveals unprecedented subatomic details of exotic ferroelectric nanomaterials
- Lipid helps cells find their way by keeping their 'antennae' up
- 'Molecular grenade': Drug from Mediterranean weed kills tumor cells in mice
- Flying along the Vela ridge
Space & Earth news
Laos vows to address Mekong dam fears
Laos has pledged to stall construction of a controversial multi-billion dollar dam on the Mekong river until all its neighbours' environmental concerns have been answered, state media said Friday.
Images in an instant: Suomi NPP begins direct broadcast
Real-time data that will be used in everything from weather forecasts to disaster response is now being beamed down to Earth from a cone-shaped appendage aboard the nation's newest Earth-observing satellite.
Guyana suspends gold, diamond mining permits
The South American country of Guyana said it had suspended the granting of new permits to mine for gold and diamonds in rivers because of concerns over widespread pollution.
Nigeria oil spill caused by sabotage, ENI says
Italian oil giant ENI said Sunday that "an act of sabotage" has caused a spill at one of its pipelines in Nigeria's Bayelsa state, as local leaders condemned the company for not reacting swiftly.
Rio bay fisherfolk in deadly feud over oil complex
Fisherman Alexandre Anderson vows that despite six attempts on his life he will keep fighting against the oil project he believes is threatening fishing in Rio's polluted Guanabara Bay.
Interdisciplinary research looks at whole-farm sustainability
Weeds, manure, slugs, cows and a vegetable oil-powered tractor are all part of a unique study being conducted in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
NASA measures aerosols from western fires
As Americans observed Independence Day, wildfires continued to burn across the western United States, including wildfires in Colorado and the Fontenelle Fire in Wyoming. Wildfire smoke affected large parts of the country, and aerosols were especially thick over the Midwest.
What is fracking? Public awareness of shale gas extraction is low
Public awareness of fracking – the method of extracting shale gas — is low, despite high levels of coverage of the controversial process in the media, a new study has found. And while people link fracking to earthquakes and water contamination, more than half of those questioned believe shale gas extraction should be allowed in the UK.
Europe clears the air
Satellite measurements show that nitrogen dioxide in the lower atmosphere over parts of Europe and the US has fallen over the past decade. More than 15 years of atmospheric observations have revealed trends in air quality.
Scientists join forces in call for action to save coral reefs
Like their warrior ancestors, leaders of many Pacific Island nations have been making efforts to safeguard their countries, this time by sounding an alarm as the impact of climate change becomes more apparent. Today their efforts received a big boost with the release of a Scientific Consensus Statement on Climate Change and Coral Reefs that is supported by over 2,400 scientists, showing the threats that reef corals are under across the globe and calling for governments worldwide to take steps to protect valuable coral reef ecosystems. The statement was drafted by a group of eminent scientists under the auspices of the Center for Ocean Solutions (COS) at Stanford University in California and was released at the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, Australia.
TRMM Satellite sees heavy rainfall in Tropical Storm Daniel's center
NASA's TRMM satellite revealed that Tropical Storm Daniel's most concentrated rainfall is occurring around the storm's center.
Price to save coral reefs is "one year of GDP growth"
(Phys.org) -- The cost of transforming the world’s energy systems to address rising carbon dioxide levels is little more than one-tenth of one per cent of growth in global gross domestic product per annum, according to a University of Queensland researcher.
Science official: Ocean acidity major reef threat
(AP) — Oceans' rising acid levels have emerged as one of the biggest threats to coral reefs, acting as the "osteoporosis of the sea" and threatening everything from food security to tourism to livelihoods, the head of a U.S. scientific agency said Monday.
American praised for getting Japan radiation data
(AP) — Japanese seeking information on radiation levels in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster are turning to a volunteer group founded in the U.S. that has created a detailed and constantly updated visual database online.
Further proof that rising temperatures lead to more algal blooms
Researchers from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have shown that for the Baltic ecosystem, further global warming could lead to the development of more blue-green algal blooms amid the onset of lower oxygen conditions.
The Sun blasts out an X1-Class solar flare
An active region on the Sun, AR1515, has been putting on quite a show over the last 8 days, sending out all sorts of solar flares. Scientists were sure the huge sunspot was building up to produce an X-class explosion, and they were right. At 23:08 UT on July 6, 2012 it unleashed an X1-class solar flare. The explosion hurled a coronal mass ejection into space, and scientists say the cloud appears to be heading south and away from Earth; however, there is the possibility of a glancing blow to our planet on July 8th or 9th. There could be some auroral activity today, July 7, from a previous batch of CME’s hurled from the same active region.
Climate in northern Europe reconstructed for the past 2,000 years
An international team that includes scientists from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has published a reconstruction of the climate in northern Europe over the last 2,000 years based on the information provided by tree-rings.
Supersonic freefall: What Felix Baumgartner's 37-km jump will be like
Sometime this summer, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner will leap from the edge of space, attempting to not only break the sound barrier with his body, but also break the record for the longest freefall. As no one has successfully jumped from this height before, it’s uncertain what the highest supersonic freefall in history will look or feel like. This animated video put out by the Red Bull Stratos team provides a sense of what to expect during the attempt.
Shell may be ready for the Arctic, but its oil spill barge isn't
A unique ice-class barge designed to clean up any oil spills that might result from Shell Alaska's upcoming operations in the Arctic Ocean has so far failed to acquire final U.S. Coast Guard certification. Engineers from the oil company say it's no longer appropriate to require them to meet the rigorous weather standards originally proposed.
Sounds of northern lights are born close to ground
For the first time, researchers at Aalto University in Finland have located where the sounds associated with the northern lights are created. The auroral sounds that have been described in folktales and by wilderness wanderers are formed about 70 meters above the ground level in the measured case.
Scientists create 'MRI' of the Sun's interior plasma motions
A team of scientists has created an "MRI" of the Sun's interior plasma motions, shedding light on how it transfers heat from its deep interior to its surface. The result, which appears in the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, upends our understanding of how heat is transported outwards by the Sun and challenges existing explanations of the formation of sunspots and magnetic field generation.
Rock stars: Geologists testing aquifer rocks as containers to permanently trap carbon dioxide
(Phys.org) -- Two Kansas State University geologists are part of a comprehensive statewide study on using rocks for long-term storage of carbon dioxide.
Hubble sees red giant blow a bubble
(Phys.org) -- Camelopardalis, or U Cam for short, is a star nearing the end of its life. As stars run low on fuel, they become unstable. Every few thousand years, U Cam coughs out a nearly spherical shell of gas as a layer of helium around its core begins to fuse. The gas ejected in the star’s latest eruption is clearly visible in this picture as a faint bubble of gas surrounding the star.
Flying along the Vela ridge
(Phys.org) -- A beautiful blue butterfly flutters towards a nest of warm dust and gas, above an intricate network of cool filaments in this image of the Vela C region by ESA’s Herschel space observatory.
Study finds winds played important role in keeping oil away from S. Fla.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in spring 2010 is the largest oil spill in the history of the United States, with more than 200 million gallons of crude oil released at about 1,500 m. depth off the Mississippi Delta in the Gulf of Mexico. At the time of the accident, the proximity of the intense Loop Current, flowing from the Yucatan Channel to the Florida Straits, raised major concerns that the oil at the surface of the ocean would be headed toward the South Florida and East Atlantic coastal areas. However, the dominant transport of oil and oil products was toward the Northern Gulf coastline, and no oil was observed to reach the Atlantic Ocean.
Corals on ocean-side of reef are most susceptible to recent warming: study
Marine scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have linked the decline in growth of Caribbean forereef corals — due to recent warming — to long-term trends in seawater temperature experienced by these corals located on the ocean-side of the reef. The research was conducted on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System in southern Belize.
Marcellus brine migration likely natural, not man-made: study
A Duke University study of well water in northeastern Pennsylvania suggests that naturally occurring pathways could have allowed salts and gases from the Marcellus shale formation deep underground to migrate up into shallow drinking water aquifers.
Technology news
Reactor at Bulgarian nuclear plant shut down
A 1,000-megawatt reactor at Bulgaria's Kozloduy nuclear plant was temporarily shut down early Saturday due to a turbogenerator problem, but no rise in radioactivity was recorded, a statement said.
'PowerCloth 1G': Utah researchers develop ultra-light, flexible and foldable solar panel fabric
Exotic Solar LLC, a Salt Lake City based renewable energy start-up company, announced that they have developed a technique to manufacture cheap, flexible and foldable solar panel fabric that can be integrated with our day to day attire to make them a power source. Their patent pending technique converts brittle and fragile solar cells into flexible solar panels.
DARPA investments in extreme hypersonics continue
DARPA’s research and development in stealth technology during the 1970s and 1980s led to the world’s most advanced radar-evading aircraft, providing strategic national security advantage to the United States. Today, that strategic advantage is threatened as other nations’ abilities in stealth and counter-stealth improve. Restoring that battle space advantage requires advanced speed, reach and range. Hypersonic technologies have the potential to provide the dominance once afforded by stealth to support a range of varied future national security missions.
Dutch research set to make electricity grids future-proof
The rise of renewable energy calls for smart electricity networks (smart grids) that can align energy supply and demand. Researchers at the Centre for Telematics and Information Technology (CTIT) at the University of Twente have developed an ICT-based management and control methodology that is able to do exactly this. Research carried out by mathematician Maurice Bosman shows that this method is effective and capable of making existing electricity grids future-proof. Bosman defended his thesis on 5 July at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.
Chinese factories shut amid lead poisoning fears
Twelve factories in eastern China were closed down after children living nearby were found to have high levels of lead in their blood, state press reported Monday.
Canadian nuclear technology company workers strike
(AP) — About 800 nuclear scientists, engineers and technologists at a Canadian nuclear technology company hit the picket lines after negotiators failed to reach a contract before the strike deadline.
UNH, Michigan Aerospace Corp to bring radiation detector to market
Scientists from the University of New Hampshire and the Michigan Aerospace Corporation have signed an exclusive option agreement to commercialize instrumentation originally developed at UNH's Space Science Center for space-based missions and now being re-engineered for homeland security purposes.
GoalRef: FIFA approves intelligent goal from Fraunhofer
Goal or no goal? In response to this question, world football association FIFA wants to use technical assistance in the future. In its meeting of Thursday, July 5, 2012 the International Football Association Board, the body which determines the laws of the game, approved both goal-line technologies GoalRef and Hawk-Eye.This approval is subject to a final installation test at each stadium before the systems can be used in "real" football matches, in accordance with the FIFA Quality Programme for GLT.
China's Alibaba says zero tolerance on graft
Top Chinese e-commerce operator Alibaba said Friday it would not tolerate corruption, after a senior manager was detained on suspicion of taking bribes in the latest graft scandal to hit the company.
Twitter beefs up search function
Twitter said Friday it was upgrading its search functions to include "autocomplete" and spelling correction features.
Phone app allows US users to film police activity
A US civil rights advocacy group has launched a free mobile phone application that allows users to record police activity discreetly, saying it will help boost police force accountability.
Apple faces new legal challenge in China
A Chinese technology firm has filed a legal challenge accusing US giant Apple of infringing its patented voice recognition software with its Siri function on the iPhone, the company said Saturday.
Japan Anonymous pick up litter to protest download laws
About 80 masked people, calling themselves allies of the global hacker group Anonymous, picked up litter in Tokyo Saturday in a novel protest against Japan's tougher laws against illegal downloads.
Solar plane lands in Spain on way back home
A solar-powered plane landed in Spain Saturday on its way back home after breaking a record with the first intercontinental flight by an aircraft run on the sun's energy, organisers said.
Having trouble getting online? Call your provider
(AP) — Having trouble getting online? Some may find their smartphones working overtime because their computers couldn't seem to connect to the Internet on Monday morning.
Having trouble getting online? Ask your provider
(AP) — Having trouble connecting to the Internet? You may be one of thousands whose Internet shut down just after midnight because of malware that took over computers around the world more than a year ago.
LG Electronics eyeing 'OLED' TV
South Korea's LG Electronics, long overshadowed by Samsung Electronics, is confident it can outpace its bigger rival in the race to dominate the world's next-generation TV market.
Dutch student offers new insights into power-generating windows
On 5 July Jan Willem Wiegman graduated from TU Delft with his research into power-generating windows. The Applied Physics Master’s student calculated how much electricity can be generated using so-called luminescent solar concentrators. These are windows which have been fitted with a thin film of material that absorbs sunlight and directs it to narrow solar cells at the perimeter of the window. Wiegman shows the relationship between the colour of the material used and the maximum amount of power that can be generated. Such power-generating windows offer potential as a cheap source of solar energy. Wiegman’s research article, which he wrote together with his supervisor Erik van der Kolk, has been published in the journal Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.
Swarming drones could save lives at sea
(Phys.org) -- Inspired by the swarming patterns of animals in nature, a UNSW aerospace engineering PhD student is using biomimicry to improve the marine search and rescue capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
View from the Outside: Creating Pixar's La Luna
NASA takes a look behind the scenes of the Pixar's La Luna. This animated short tells the story of a young boy's introduction to his family's line of work on the Moon.
Internet doomsday virus appears to fizzle
The so-called Internet doomsday virus with the potential to black out tens of thousands of computers worldwide appeared to pose no major problems Monday in the first hours after a fix expired.
Tech revolution ends up in the toilet
It's one of the most critical pieces of technology in your home. And though most consumers don't think of their humble toilet as a tech product, researchers and engineers at global companies are racing to improve designs so toilets consume far less water.
East Midlands designed health sensor could be a lifesaver for miners
A chance discussion between a Professor at The University of Nottingham and the managing director of a Derby company has resulted in the development of a revolutionary new technology which could help save lives in the mining industry.
Startup to bring real-money bets to social games
Online social games could get a shot of real money with a new platform launched by a startup on Monday.
Japan reactor back to full power after shutdown
A nuclear reactor in western Japan began full operations on Monday, the first restart since the country shut down its atomic stations in the wake of last year's crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Swiss nuclear safety watchdog gives stations the all-clear
Switzerland's four nuclear power stations are fit to withstand a major earthquake and pose no threat to the population and the environment, inspectors said on Monday.
Malware deadline passes, very few knocked offline
(AP) — If you're reading this online, you're fine. The day that was supposed to see thousands of people knocked off the Internet has arrived, but only a few people were affected.
Yahoo, Facebook settle patent dispute, ad alliance (Update 4)
Facebook and Yahoo have agreed to settle a patent dispute, averting a potentially lengthy battle over the technology running two of the Internet's most popular destinations.
US court lifts Samsung phone ban, keeps tablet block
A US appeals court gave Samsung a temporary reprieve Friday on the sale of its Galaxy Nexus 7 smartphones while leaving intact a court ban on US sales of its tablet computers in a patent battle with Apple.
Facebook plans mobile ads based on app use: report
Social networking giant Facebook plans to engage in a new type of mobile advertising based on the apps used by consumers, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday on its website.
Apple loses British lawsuit over Samsung Galaxy Tab
South Korea's Samsung won a patent battle Monday against US rival Apple, with a British judge ruling that Samsung's Galaxy tablet was not "cool" enough to be confused with Apple's iPad.
Microsoft says Windows 8 release due in October
Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system will be available to consumers from late October as the software giant looks to update its platform for a variety of devices, the company said Monday.
Word Lens - augmented reality translation app - jumps platforms, is now on Android
(Phys.org) -- Tuna with hot sauce. Beach closed. Please use caution. Apple users of iOS devices, drawing envy with their cooler than cool apps, have since 2010 enjoyed Word Lens, an application that instantly provides a foreign language translation of a menu or road sign just by the user hovering the device’s camera over the foreign language content in realtime. Now Word Lens is offering its translation app for Android too. The Android app will do translations between English and Spanish, Italian, and French using just the video camera. The nice feature of the app is that network connectivity is not required.
Japan demo shows electricity entering EV through tires
(Phys.org) -- Electric vehicles' future continues to tease scientists to devise promising and practical ideas to keep these cars moving along the highways without having to pull over and wait for a battery recharge. Solutions for the so called “charging and range problem” took yet another twist this month when a Japanese university team demonstrated how electricity can be transmitted to a pair of tires through a four-inch-thick block of concrete, the type of concrete used on roads. The team took its demo to WTP (Wireless Technology Park) 2012, a trade show on wireless technologies, earlier this month in Yokohama.
Mozilla to freeze Thunderbird innovations
(Phys.org) -- Friday’s blog and news site revelations of an internal Mozilla email leading off with “Hello Mozillians” said there is to be a Mozilla Foundation announcement on Monday. The announcement is big. Mozilla is freezing further development of its popular and well-received email client, Thunderbird, which has over 20 million users. “We’ve been focusing efforts towards important web and mobile projects,” read the message from Jb Piacentino, Thunderbird Managing Director. The message noted that while Thunderbird is purely a desktop-only email client “We have come to the conclusion that continued innovation on Thunderbird is not the best use of our resources given our ambitious organizational goals.” The announcement on Monday is to carry details of Thunderbird’s proposed new “governance model.
New chip captures power from multiple sources: light, heat and vibrations
Researchers at MIT have taken a significant step toward battery-free monitoring systems — which could ultimately be used in biomedical devices, environmental sensors in remote locations and gauges in hard-to-reach spots, among other applications.
Medicine & Health news
Zebrafish provide insights into causes and treatment of human diseases
Zebrafish, popular as aquarium fish, now have an important place in research labs as a model organism for studying human diseases.
Retailers sue Pfizer, charge generic Lipitor delay
(AP) — Five large U.S. drug and grocery chains are suing Pfizer Inc. and a second drugmaker, alleging they conspired to delay sales of cheap generic versions of the blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor.
Philippines on alert for mystery Cambodian disease
The Philippines has stepped up screening of airport arrivals to prevent the entry of a mysterious disease that has killed 60 children in Cambodia, the health secretary said Saturday.
New optimism about stemming spread of AIDS virus
(AP) — An AIDS-free generation: It seems an audacious goal, considering how the HIV epidemic still is raging around the world.
Tell Your Dog You're Pregnant: a guide to baby and pet bonding
A husband and wife vet science team has developed a guide to help parents introduce their new baby to the family pet.
Olympic effort adapting to life after elite sport, new study finds
While some Olympic athletes excel in their transition into life beyond elite sport others are experiencing problems like disorientation, depression and self-doubt, a new study from The University of Queensland has found.
Does loud music wreck your hearing?
(Medical Xpress) -- Loud music damages your hearing — a warning that we're used to taking as fact. But surprisingly, little research has actually been done into how sustained exposure to loud music affects our hearing in the long term, and the results we do have are far from conclusive.
Loyola surgeons remove extremely rare tumor from 9-year-old girl
(Medical Xpress) -- Loyola University Medical Center surgeons have successfully removed an extremely rare pancreatic tumor from a patient who was only 9 years old.
78 TB cases at Tokyo elderly care hospital: report
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government said Monday 78 patients and staff at an elderly care center had contracted tuberculosis (TB), including three people who died, a report said.
Recovery from pediatric brain injury a lifelong process, experts say
In the last ten years, a new understanding of pediatric brain injury and recovery has emerged. Professionals now understand that recovery may be a lifelong process for the child's entire circle of family, friends, and healthcare providers. The latest efforts to advance medical and rehabilitative services to move children from medical care and rehabilitation to community reintegration are discussed by the leading experts in a recently published special issue of NeuroRehabilitation.
High-level commission finds an epidemic of bad laws is stifling the global AIDS response
Punitive laws and human rights abuses are costing lives, wasting money and stifling the global AIDS response, according to a report by the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, an independent body of global leaders and experts. The Commission report, "HIV and the Law: Risks, Rights and Health," finds evidence that governments in every region of the world have wasted the potential of legal systems in the fight against HIV. The report also concludes that laws based on evidence and human rights strengthen the global AIDS response - these laws exist and must be brought to scale urgently.
U.S. high schools lax in preventing dating abuse: study
(HealthDay) -- Although dating violence is a recognized problem for U.S. teens, a majority of high school counselors say their school provides no training or guidelines for dealing with abusive romantic relationships, a new study finds.
US health insurer WellPoint buys Amerigroup
US health insurer WellPoint is buying Amerigroup, a manager of publicly funded health programs, for about $4.9 billion, the companies said Monday.
Millions of diabetics could die of tuberculosis
A third of the world's human population is infected with a dormant tuberculosis bacteria, primarily people living in developing countries. The bacteria presents a lifelong TB risk. Recent research out of the University of Copenhagen demonstrates that the risk of tuberculosis breaking out is four times as likely if a person also suffers from diabetes. Meanwhile, as a diabetic, a person is five times as likely to die during tuberculosis treatment. The growing number of diabetics in Asia and Africa increases the likelihood that more people will succumb to and die from tuberculosis in the future.
Decreasing cancer risk associated with inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is caused by chronic inflammation , which leads to damage of the intestinal epithelium.
Canada's Bill C-31 to change immigration act could severely affect mental health of refugees
The Canadian government's proposed Bill C-31 to change the country's immigration act could have serious negative impacts on the mental health of refugees, states a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
15 top medical organizations agree on hormone therapy use
After 10 years of debate regarding the risks and benefits of hormone therapy, 15 top medical organizations have come together to issue a statement of agreement regarding the benefits of hormone therapy for symptomatic menopausal women. It was July 9, 2002, when the controversial, highly publicized Women's Health Initiative (WHI) published its assessment of hormone therapy for the prevention of chronic disease and concluded that risks exceeded benefits. The new joint statement, prepared by The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and The Endocrine Society, concludes that hormone therapy is still an acceptable treatment for menopausal symptoms. This statement has been endorsed by 12 other leading organizations in women's health.
UCLA study to determine if copper surfaces can reduce hospital-acquired infections
Hospital-acquired infections are a huge public health burden, and hospital environments play a key role in harboring potentially deadly bacteria such as E. coli, C. difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Researchers offer new approach to track former prisoners' access to community HIV care
A new monitoring approach developed by researchers from The Miriam Hospital could close a major gap by providing the ability to track whether HIV-positive prisoners are getting the community-based HIV care they need once they are released.
PEPFAR HIV/AIDS programs linked to uptick in babies born at health facilities in sub-saharan Africa
While HIV programs provide lifesaving care and treatment to millions of people in lower-income countries, there have been concerns that as these programs expand, they divert investments from other health priorities such as maternal health. Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health assessed the effect of HIV programs supported by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) on access to maternal health care in sub-Saharan Africa for women who are not infected with HIV. The findings show that, in fact, PEPFAR-funded, HIV-related projects were linked to more deliveries in health facilities. Encouraging more women to deliver in a health facility is essential to reduce maternal and newborn mortality globally. The study is published in the July edition of the journal Health Affairs, a theme issue about the impact of PEPFAR.
Fertility drug usage and cancer risk
Women using fertility drugs who did not conceive a 10-plus week pregnancy were at a statistically significant reduced risk of breast cancer compared to nonusers; however, women using the drugs who conceived a 10-plus week pregnancy had a statistically significant increased risk of breast cancer compared to unsuccessfully treated women, but a comparable risk to nonusers, according to a study published July 6 in the Journal of The National Cancer Institute.
Automated variation measure indicates risk of breast cancer
(HealthDay) -- A variation measure, estimated from an automated algorithm of the grayscale variation within a mammogram, correlates with the risk of breast cancer as strongly or more so than percent density (PD), according to a study published online July 3 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Early intensive diabetes therapy preserves beta-cell function
(HealthDay) -- Early, intensive therapy for type 2 diabetes with either insulin plus metformin or triple oral therapy preserves β-cell function for at least 3.5 years, according to a study published in the July issue of Diabetes Care.
Antibodies from rabbits improve survival and relapse outcomes of leukemia and myelodysplasia
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center's Bone Marrow Transplant Program have demonstrated that the use of antibodies derived from rabbits can improve the survival and relapse outcomes of leukemia and myelodysplasia patients receiving a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor.
Scientists develop mouse model that could lead to new therapies for liver cancer
Researchers have created the first mouse model demonstrating the role of a cancer promoting gene, Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1), in hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver cancer. The mouse model represents a critical step in understanding the molecular mechanisms of liver cancer progression and could lead to novel therapies for the disease.
Killer disease in Cambodia stumps experts
It's not bird flu or SARS, and nor does it appear to be contagious, but little more is known about a mysterious disease that has killed dozens of Cambodian children, some within 24 hours of being hospitalised.
Correlates of diabetic foot complications identified
(HealthDay) -- For patients with diabetes, increased poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) immunoreactivity, reduced abundance of type 1 procollagen, and impaired skin structure correlate with foot complications, according to a study published online June 29 in Diabetes Care.
Sentinel node biopsy safe for vulvar squamous cell cancer
(HealthDay) -- For women with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva, sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy may be safely used in place of inguinal femoral lymphadenectomy, according to research published online July 2 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Gastrointestinal perforation rare in rheumatoid arthritis
(HealthDay) -- Gastrointestinal (GI) perforation is a rare but serious condition that affects patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), most frequently in the lower GI tract, according to a study published online June 21 in Arthritis Care & Research.
Keep infants out of sun and heat, experts warn
(HealthDay) -- Because infants are so much smaller than adults and lack the ability to sweat, heat and sun exposure pose specific risks for babies, experts say.
Ovarian transplants may preserve fertility in young cancer survivors
(HealthDay) -- Ovarian grafts -- frozen ovarian tissue that is thawed and transplanted back into a woman's body -- can help cancer survivors preserve their fertility, according to a small, new study.
Girls' mathematics performance more likely to suffer than boys' as a result of mathematics anxiety
If a train is travelling a distance of 55 miles at 150mph, how long will it take to reach its destination? If the thought of having to answer this question makes you apprehensive, then you may have mathematics anxiety. A new study published today in BioMed Central's open access journal Behavioral and Brain Functions reports that a number of school-age children suffer from mathematics anxiety and, although both genders' performance is likely to be affected as a result, girls' maths performance is more likely to suffer than boys'.
Overweight? There's a vaccine for that
New vaccines promote weight loss. A new study, published in BioMed Central's open access journal, Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, assesses the effectiveness of two somatostatin vaccinations, JH17 and JH18, in reducing weight gain and increasing weight loss in mice.
HPV vaccine reduces infection, even in unvaccinated
The HPV vaccine not only has resulted in a decrease in human papillomavirus infection in immunized teens but also in teens who were not immunized.
'Mad cow disease' in cattle can spread widely in ANS before detectable in CNS
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or "mad cow disease") is a fatal disease in cattle that causes portions of the brain to turn sponge-like. This transmissible disease is caused by the propagation of a misfolded form of protein known as a prion, rather than by a bacterium or virus. The average time from infection to signs of illness is about 60 months. Little is known about the pathogenesis of BSE in the early incubation period. Previous research has reported that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) becomes affected by the disease only after the central nervous system (CNS) has been infected. In a new study published online in the August issue of The American Journal of Pathology, researchers found that the ANS can show signs of infection prior to involvement of the CNS.
Cambodian deaths tied to common child illness (Update)
(AP) — A deadly form of a common childhood illness has been linked to the mysterious child deaths in Cambodia that sparked alarm after a cause could not immediately be determined, health officials said Monday.
Madagascar battles surge in TB cases
After enduring six months of pain that grew so intense she could no longer work, Perline Razanadravao finally decided to go with her equally sick baby to see a doctor.
Dogs may protect babies from some infections: study
Babies who spend time around pet dogs have fewer ear infections and respiratory ailments than those whose homes are animal-free, said a study released on Monday.
Smoking on footpaths increases hazardous air pollutants
(Medical Xpress) -- A study by the University of Otago, Wellington has found that smoking on city street footpaths increases the amount of dangerous fine particulates in city air.
Speedy intervention may stop PTSD before it begins
(Medical Xpress) -- For the first time, a behavioral intervention delivered to patients within hours of a traumatic event appears to be effective at reducing posttraumatic stress reactions (PTSR).
For cardiac stenting procedures, wrist access offers cost saving benefits over groin access, study shows
(Medical Xpress) -- In the United States, radial artery (wrist) catheterization is performed in the minority of diagnostic angiograms and cardiac stenting procedures despite the benefits it offers to patients in terms of reduced complications and faster mobility after the procedure. Now, new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington Medical Center, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, indicates that radial access may offer a significant cost savings benefit to hospitals. The findings are published online first in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
'Sex-testing' regulations flawed and should be withdrawn: experts
Researchers at King’s College London say ‘sex-testing’ policies introduced for athletes in time for the London Olympic Games this summer are significantly flawed and should be withdrawn. They say singling out hyperandrogenism in women from all other biological anomalies could discriminate against women who may not meet traditional notions of femininity and distort the scientific evidence on the relationship between testosterone, sex and athletic performance.
Quicker diagnosis, better treatment hoped for autistic children through robot technology
(Medical Xpress) -- Zeno doesn’t make judgments. He has empathetic eyes in a beautiful hazel hue. His lifelike skin is called Frubber and allows his face to smile, frown and look inquisitive.
Speeding up Huntington's research
(Medical Xpress) -- Human brain cells showing aspects of Huntington’s Disease have been developed, opening up new research pathways for treating the fatal disorder.
Physical health problems bring mental health problems, demand for services
People who experience a serious physical health event are three times as likely to subsequently see a health care provider for mental health services and medication, according to a new study in Health Services Research. In addition, people who view a health event as severe have greater use of mental health services.
Frankincense as a medicine: Pharmacists clarify the anti-inflammatory impact of boswellic acids
Since the ancient world the aromatic fragrance of burning Boswellia resin has been part of many religious ceremonies. But frankincense can do much more: The resin from the trunk of Boswellia trees contains anti-inflammatory substances. Pharmacists of University Jena were now able to show where exactly the boswellic acids - which are responsible for the impact of the ingredients of the Boswellia resin - actually interfere in the process of inflammation.
Wound care meta-review draws firm conclusions from Cochrane published studies
Robust evidence exists for some wound care interventions, but there are still gaps in current knowledge requiring international consensus and further high-level clinical evidence, according to a paper published online by BJS, the British Journal of Surgery.
Can sounds trick the brain into perceiving your body differently?
(Medical Xpress) -- Have you ever found yourself paying attention to the sound of your footsteps when walking down a quiet corridor? Or perhaps you enjoy creating rhythmic patterns by tapping on a surface? Almost every bodily movement we make generates an impact sound and a team of academics have been studying whether the perception of the physical dimensions of our body can be challenged by spatially altering the ‘action’ sounds we make.
America's poorly-educated spend less time-off with family or friends, study finds
Despite having more leisure time overall, stressed-out Americans report having less 'quality time' to enjoy themselves, particularly those with little or no education.
Lower iron levels seen in newborns of obese mothers
A growing number of studies imply that children born to obese mothers face health problems stemming from the womb.
Handlebar level can affect sexual health of female cyclists
A new study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine reveals that handlebar position is associated with changes in genital sensation in female cyclists.
Pediatric tumors traced to stem cells in developing brain
Stem cells that come from a specific part of the developing brain help fuel the growth of brain tumors caused by an inherited condition, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report.
Higher risk of urinary tract infections for uncircumcised boys
Uncircumcised boys are at higher risk of urinary tract infection, regardless of whether the urethra is visible, found a new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Better treatment for brain cancer revealed by new molecular insights
Nearly a third of adults with the most common type of brain cancer develop recurrent, invasive tumors after being treated with a drug called bevacizumab. The molecular underpinnings behind these detrimental effects have now been published in the July issue of Cancer Cell. The findings reveal a new treatment strategy that could reduce tumor invasiveness and improve survival in these drug-resistant patients.
Researchers find new target deep within cancer cells
Investigators reporting in the July issue of the journal Cancer Cell have found that blocking a fundamental process deep within cancer cells can selectively kill them and spare normal cells.
Technique spots disease using immune cell DNA
When a person is sick, there is a tell-tale sign in their blood: a different mix of the various types of immune cells called leukocytes. A group of scientists at several institutions including Brown University has discovered a way to determine that mix from the DNA in archival or fresh blood samples, potentially providing a practical new technology not only for medical research but also for clinical diagnosis and treatment monitoring of ailments including some cancers.
Vertebroplasty reportedly provides better pain relief and function
An analysis of published data in the medical literature has found that vertebroplasty can provide more pain relief and better function for patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures than nonoperative treatments. Vertebroplasty, a medical procedure for reducing pain caused by this type of fracture, involves the injection of an acrylic cement into the body of the fractured vertebrae for stabilization.
Cell differentiation as a novel strategy for the treatment of an aggressive type of skin cancer
Skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a subtype of very aggressive skin cancers that usually develops in sunexposed body regions, but can also affect a large number of organs such as the bladder, esophagus, lungs etc. However, little is known about the biology of these cells, which consequently makes difficult the generation of new specific therapies; actually, the standard treatments are based on surgery and subsequent radiotherapy.
Iron supplements can reduce fatigue in nonanemic women
Iron supplementation reduced fatigue by almost 50% in women who are low in iron but not anemic, according to the results of a clinical trial published July 9 in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Turning off key piece of genetic coding eliminates toxic effect of statins
In research funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association and published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, Saint Louis University investigator Ángel Baldán, Ph.D., found that the microRNA miR-33 plays a key role in regulating bile metabolism. Further, the research suggests that, in an animal model, the manipulation of this microRNA can improve the liver toxicity that can be caused by statins.
Recession's bite: Nearly 4 million Californians struggled to put food on table during downturn
An estimated 3.8 million California adults — particularly those in households with children, as well as low-income Latinos — could not afford to put adequate food on the table during the recent recession, according to a new policy brief by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Rating films with smoking 'R' will cut smoking onset by teens
New research from Norris Cotton Cancer Center estimates, for the first time, the impact of an R rating for movie smoking. James Sargent, MD, co-director of the Cancer Control Research Program at Norris Cotton Cancer Center, emphasizes that an R rating for any film showing smoking could substantially reduce smoking onset in U.S. adolescents -- an effect size similar to making all parents maximally authoritative in their parenting, Sargent says.
Investing in karma by doing good deeds
applying for jobs, waiting for medical test results – there comes a point when you just have to sit back and hope for the best. But that doesn't mean we always behave that way. New research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggests that even when an outcome is out of our control we often act as though we can still get on the good side of fate by doing good deeds.
Cuba scrambles to fight rare cholera outbreak
(AP) — Authorities in eastern Cuba are in full prevention mode to contain a rare cholera outbreak amid fears that it may have spread to the capital, distributing chlorine and water purification drops and quarantining hospital patients with diarrhea until they are checked for the disease.
Classification rule IDs four risk groups in scoliosis progression
(HealthDay) -- The risk of curvature progression in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) can be based on initial angle of curvature, age, menarcheal status, and height, according to a study published online June 25 in The Spine Journal.
Prenatal caffeine intake not linked to children's behavior
(HealthDay) -- Maternal prenatal caffeine intake is not associated with behavior problems in young children, according to a study published online July 9 in Pediatrics.
Anxiety, depression common in adults with arthritis
(HealthDay) -- Anxiety and depression are both common among U.S. adults with arthritis, with anxiety found more often than depression, according to a study published in the July issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Similar presentation for bladder outlet obstructions
(HealthDay) -- Women with dysfunctional voiding (DV) and primary bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) have similar clinical presentation, with poorer emptying for those with PBNO, according to a study published in the July issue of Urology.
Drug-eluting stents after angioplasty have little relation to patients' probable benefit: study
A new study finds that the use of drug-eluting stents after angioplasty bears little relationship to patients' predicted risk of restenosis (reblockage) of the treated coronary artery, the situation the devices are designed to prevent. In an Archives of Internal Medicine paper receiving early online publication, a multi-institutional research team reports that the devices are used in treating more than 70 percent of patients at low risk of restenosis. Since patients receiving these stents need to take costly anticlotting medications for at least a year – medicines that also have clinical risks – the benefits of drug-eluting stents may not outweigh the risks, inconvenience and costs of the devices for those patients. In addition, the authors note, reducing unnecessary usage of drug-eluting stents could significantly cut U.S. health costs.
Generic drugs key to US overseas HIV relief: researchers
The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPfAR) began in 2003 with good intentions, but it was not until the U.S. government's massive overseas public health campaign adopted generic drugs that it became a success, according to a new article by Brown University researchers in the July issue of the journal Health Affairs. Nearly a decade later, expanding the availability of generics remains urgent, especially as doctors in the field encounter resistance to first-line treatment regimens.
Cranberry products associated with prevention of urinary tract infections
Use of cranberry-containing products appears to be associated with prevention of urinary tract infections in some individuals, according to a study that reviewed the available medical literature and was published by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Study examines quality of life factors at end of life for patients with cancer
Better quality of life at the end of life for patients with advanced cancer was associated with avoiding hospitalizations and the intensive care unit, worrying less, praying or meditating, being visited by a pastor in a hospital or clinic, and having a therapeutic alliance with their physician, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Use of drug-eluting stents varies widely; Modestly correlated with coronary artery restenosis risk
A study based on more than 1.5 million percutaneous coronary intervention procedures (such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement to open narrowed coronary arteries) suggests that the use of drug-eluting stents varies widely among U.S. physicians, and is only modestly correlated with the patient's risk of coronary artery restenosis (renarrowing), according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.
Study suggests poorer outcomes for patients with stroke hospitalized on weekends
A study of patients with stroke admitted to English National Health Service public hospitals suggests that patients who were hospitalized on weekends were less likely to receive urgent treatments and had worse outcomes, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Neurology.
Study suggests new screening method for sudden death in athletes
A new study suggests that echocardiography be included as part of screenings to help identify student athletes with heart problems that could lead to sudden death.
Keeping the flu away: Synthetic protein EP67 helps kick-start the immune system
San Diego State University researchers at the Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center may have found the secret to helping the immune system fight off the flu before it gets you sick.
Above-normal weight alone does not increase the short-term risk of death: study
An evaluation of national data by UC Davis researchers has found that extra weight is not necessarily linked with a higher risk of death.
Transcription factor Lyl-1 critical in producing early T-cell progenitors
A transcription factor called Lyl-1 is necessary for production of the earliest cells that can become T-cells, critical cells born in the thymus that coordinate the immune response to cancer or infections, said a consortium of researchers led by those from Baylor College of Medicine in a report in the journal Nature Immunology.
DNA from cystic fibrosis patients with and without chronic infections points to unsuspected mutation
(Medical Xpress) -- Comparing the DNA from patients at the best and worst extremes of a health condition can reveal genes for resistance and susceptibly. This approach discovered rare variations in the DCTN4 gene among cystic fibrosis patients most prone to early, chronic airway infections.
What happens when we sunburn: Researchers describe inflammatory mechanism for first time
The biological mechanism of sunburn – the reddish, painful, protective immune response from ultraviolet (UV) radiation – is a consequence of RNA damage to skin cells, report researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and elsewhere in the July 8, 2012 Advance Online Publication of Nature Medicine.
Scientists find molecule in immune system that could help treat dangerous skin cancer
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have made a groundbreaking discovery that will shape the future of melanoma therapy. The team, led by Thomas S. Kupper, MD, chair of the BWH Department of Dermatology, and Rahul Purwar, PhD, found that high expression of a cell-signaling molecule, known as interleukin-9, in immune cells inhibits melanoma growth.
New gene transfer strategy shows promise for limb girdle and other muscular dystrophies
The challenge of treating patients with genetic disorders in which a single mutated gene is simply too large to be replaced using traditional gene therapy techniques may soon be a thing of the past. A Nationwide Children's Hospital study describes a new gene therapy approach capable of delivering full-length versions of large genes and improving skeletal muscle function. The strategy may hold new hope for treating dysferlinopathies and other muscular dystrophies.
Researcher discovers epigenetic links in cell-fate decisions of adult stem cells
(Medical Xpress) -- The ability to control whether certain stem cells ultimately become bone cells holds great promise for regenerative medicine and potential therapies aimed at treating metabolic bone diseases.
Changing environment affects stress level in mice
(Medical Xpress) -- The negative impact of stress on health is widely documented. So is the importance of reducing stress in one’s life. But a new animal study is the first to model stress reduction and its biological effects in rodents as they are placed in various caging environments, according to a recent study led by UCSF researchers.
Researchers discover gene defect for new syndrome
Research teams from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Paris, France have discovered a gene defect linked to a cluster of systemic complications, including life-threatening thoracic aortic disease and intracranial aneurysms. The new syndrome is similar, but distinct from known syndromes such as Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndrome.
New evidence for link between obesity and circle of friends
A Loyola study of high school students provides new evidence that a person's circle of friends may influence his or her weight.
Long-term hormone treatment increases synapses in rat prefrontal cortex
A new study of aged female rats found that long-term treatment with estrogen and a synthetic progesterone known as MPA increased levels of a protein marker of synapses in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region known to suffer significant losses in aging.
Regulation by proteins outside cancer cells points to potential new drug target
Protein interactions outside breast cancer cells can send signals to the cancer cells to permanently stop proliferating, a new study showed in the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio.
Hormone curbs depressive-like symptoms in stressed mice
A hormone with anti-diabetic properties also reduces depression-like symptoms in mice, researchers from the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio reported today.
Study shows training improves recognition of quickly presented objects
So far it has seemed an irreparable limitation of human perception that we strain to perceive things in the very rapid succession of, say, less than half a second. Psychologists call this deficit "attentional blink." We'll notice that first car spinning out in our path, but maybe not register the one immediately beyond it. It turns out, we can learn to do better after all. In a new study researchers now based at Brown University overcame the blink with just a little bit of training that was never been tried before.
'Molecular grenade': Drug from Mediterranean weed kills tumor cells in mice
Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, working with Danish researchers, have developed a novel anticancer drug designed to travel -- undetected by normal cells -- through the bloodstream until activated by specific cancer proteins. The drug, made from a weedlike plant, has been shown to destroy cancers and their direct blood supplies, acting like a "molecular grenade," and sparing healthy blood vessels and tissues.
New detector for rare cancer cells
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers in the US have developed a new detector for measuring rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in samples of whole blood.
New silk technology stabilizes vaccine and antibiotics so refrigeration is not needed
Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have developed a new silk-based stabilizer that, in the laboratory, kept some vaccines and antibiotics stable up to temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This provides a new avenue toward eliminating the need to keep some vaccines and antibiotics refrigerated, which could save billions of dollars every year and increase accessibility to third world populations.
Biology news
Whaling meeting ends with mixed results
(AP) — The International Whaling Commission ended its annual meeting on Friday amid dissatisfaction from a variety of members, including Japan, which sought permission for coastal communities to carry out small-scale whaling.
Horse owners urged to guard against pigeon fever
Experts are cautioning horse owners to be on the lookout for pigeon fever, a bacterial illness that causes abscesses typically in the pectoral region of horses, but in other anatomical sites as well.
Facing modern forest management challenges: mitigation, adaptation
Whether you can see the forest for the trees, the big picture of woodlands in the eastern United States shows a besieged ecosystem, according to an expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
Salt-tolerant chickpea project to boost crop production
Researchers at The University of Western Australia, in collaboration with research partners overseas, have identified which lines of chickpea grow better in moderately salty soil.
India floods kill threatened rhinos
Devastating floods in northeast India have killed around 600 animals in the region's largest wildlife park, including more than a dozen threatened one-horned rhinos, officials said Monday.
Herring can give us even more food
Herring is one of the most common table fish in the entire world, but large parts of the catch is being used for fish feed. "From an environmental perspective, it is better if the herring is used for food for humans," says Chalmers researcher Sofia Marmon. She has succeeded in extracting fish proteins from herring, which can be used for new foodstuffs. In addition, the dioxin content decreases.
Bacterial gene 'therapy' to combat cholera
Cholera is an extremely virulent intestinal infection caused by ingestion of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae). EU researchers elucidated the molecular mechanisms behind expression of virulence genes with important implications for new therapies.
Sustainability of rice landscapes in South East Asia threatened
During a meeting in Banaue, The Philippines, scientists from 21 research institutions from Germany, Vietnam, The Philippines, Thailand, UK, Bulgaria and Spain raised several concerns on the future of the rice ecosystems in South East Asia. The meeting was organized within the framework of the international project LEGATO that deals with the multiple risks for rice ecosystems arising from various aspects of global change.
Sea urchins could contain the genetic key to curing some diseases
(Phys.org) -- The purple sea urchin could help develop cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer, scientists at the University of St Andrews have discovered.
Study reveals good news about the GI of rice
(Phys.org) -- Research analyzing 235 types of rice from around the world has found its glycemic index (GI) varies from one type of rice to another with most varieties scoring a low to medium GI.
Study shows that additional methionine improves efficiency in heifers
An extra dose of certain amino acids can help cows better use dietary protein or the nutrients they consume, according to a new study published by Agricultural Research Service scientists at the Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory (LARRL) in Miles City.
Bacteria a potential threat to nuclear waste repositories
By interacting with the radioactive waste and the materials used to contain it, underground microorganisms may affect the safety of nuclear waste repositories, for better or for worse.
Researchers discover how bacteria sense salt stress
A team of scientists led by Assistant Professor Ganesh S Anand and Professor Linda J. Kenney from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) and the Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) has discovered how bacteria respond to salts in their environment and the ways in which salts can alter the behaviour of specialised salt sensor bacterial proteins.
Baby beluga's rescue marks a hopeful milestone
The two Alaskan fishermen had stopped to examine a bald eagle when they noticed something sleek and gray in the Bristol Bay surf: a baby whale in the shallows, faintly whistling and clicking.
A new species of wirerush from the wetlands in northern New Zealand
The northern part of the North Island of New Zealand is marked at approximately 38° S latitude by a distinct ecological boundary known as the "kauri line". This region forms the southern distributional limit of many plants and is the warmest part of New Zealand. A number of endemic plants are found there. Ecologists have recently discovered a new species of wirerush from peatlands north of the "kauri line".
Wiring bats for neuroscience research
Mysterious creatures that thrive in the dark, bats have long been associated with witchcraft, vampires, and black magic. But according to Dr. Yossi Yovel of Tel Aviv University's Department of Zoology at Tel Aviv University, we have much to learn from these highly intelligent winged mammals. Now he is developing the world's first bat colony born and raised in captivity to unlock the secrets of behavior and cognition, including social hierarchy and structure, communication abilities, and memory.
30% of fish stocks overexploited: UN agency
Almost 30 percent of fish stocks monitored by the UN's food agency are overexploited, undermining the crucial role sustainable fisheries play in providing food and jobs for millions, a report said Monday.
Lipid helps cells find their way by keeping their 'antennae' up
A lipid that helps lotion soften the skin also helps cells find and stay in the right location in the body by ensuring they keep their "antennae" up, scientists report.
Scientists say NASA's 'new arsenic form of life' was untrue
Two new scientific papers have disproved a controversial claim made by NASA-funded scientists in 2010 that a new form of bacterial life had been discovered that could thrive on arsenic.
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