ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, June 27, 2008
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Phoenix Mars Lander Returns Treasure Trove For Science (June 27, 2008) -- NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander performed its first wet chemistry experiment on Martian soil flawlessly yesterday, returning a wealth of data that for Phoenix scientists was like winning the lottery. ... > full story
Seniors With Type 2 Diabetes May Experience Memory Declines Immediately After Eating Unhealthy Meal (June 27, 2008) -- Adults with type 2 diabetes who eat unhealthy, high-fat meals may experience memory declines immediately afterward, but this can be offset by taking antioxidant vitamins with the meal, according to new research from Baycrest. ... > full story
Mini Subs To Probe Odd Coral-like Growths In British Columbia, Canada, Lake (June 27, 2008) -- Strange coral-like growths at the bottom of Pavilion Lake in British Columbia have been out of the reach of scientists until now with the addition of new submersible technology. The growths might hold the key to life beyond Earth. ... > full story
Mechanism Explains Calcium Abnormalities In Alzheimer's Brain (June 27, 2008) -- A new study uncovers a mechanism that directly links mutations that cause early onset Alzheimer's disease with aberrant calcium signaling. The research, published by Cell Press in the June 26 issue of the journal Neuron, provides exciting molecular insights into the pathology of AD and may lead to new treatment strategies. ... > full story
Breakthrough In Plant Medicine Production (June 27, 2008) -- Researchers have succeeded in further unraveling and manipulating the glycosylation of proteins in plants. The scientists expect that this knowledge will allow plants to be applied more often in the production of therapeutic proteins, an important type of medicine. ... > full story
Researchers Study Hidden Homicide Trend (June 27, 2008) -- Gun-related homicide among young men rose sharply in the United States in recent years even though the nation's overall homicide rate remained flat, according to a new study. Between 1999 and 2005, homicide involving firearms increased 31 percent among black men ages 25 to 44 and 12 percent among white men of the same age. ... > full story
Morbid Thoughts Whet The Appetite (June 27, 2008) -- Can watching TV news or crime shows trigger overeating? According to new research, people who are thinking about their own deaths want to consume more. ... > full story
Toxic Key To Alzheimer’s Disease Memory Loss Identified (June 27, 2008) -- Using new scientific techniques, scientists have unlocked the cascade of molecular events that lead to Alzheimer's disease. The scientific findings published in Nature Medicine suggest a potential new target for the development of drug therapies to fight the irreversible and degenerative disease which affects some 29.8 million people worldwide. ... > full story
Dry Tortugas Show Positive Trends: Protected Area Slowly Rebounding (June 27, 2008) -- Thirty-eight research divers recently completed a successful 20-day biennial census to measure how the protected status of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Tortugas Ecological Reserve and Dry Tortugas National Park's Research Natural Area are helping the regional ecosystem rebound from decades of overfishing and environmental changes. ... > full story
Identification Of A Tumor Suppressor Gene Associated With Patient Outcome In Neuroblastoma (June 27, 2008) -- Expression of the CHD5 gene is frequently down-regulated in neuroblastomas, and patients whose tumors lacked CHD5 expression were more likely to have shorter event-free and overall survival compared with patients whose tumors expressed CHD5, according to a study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story
The Fight For The Best Quantum Bit (Qubit) (June 27, 2008) -- Scientists have come an important step closer to the quantum computer. "Our results give us, for the first time, the possibility to understand the interaction between just two electrons placed next to each other in a carbon nanotube. A groundbreaking discovery, which is fundamental for the creation of a quantum mechanical bit, a so-called quantum bit -- the cornerstone of a quantum computer," explains Henrik Jørgensen, who is one of the many researchers competing on an international level to be the first to make a quantum bit in a carbon nanotube. ... > full story
Disclosure Of Organ Transplant Risks: A Question Of When, Not If (June 27, 2008) -- Physicians and bioethicists are calling for a new, more standardized way for patients in need of organ transplants to be informed of the risks they face. If adopted, their policy recommendations could promote greater equity in how organs are allocated while restricting patients' abilities to "cherry-pick" the best organs. ... > full story
Climate Change May Challenge National Security, Classified Report Warns (June 26, 2008) -- The National Intelligence Council has completed a new classified assessment that explores how climate change could threaten US security in the next 20 years by causing political instability, mass movements of refugees, terrorism, or conflicts over water and other resources in specific countries. ... > full story
Low Childhood IQ Linked To Type Of Dementia (June 26, 2008) -- Children with lower IQs are more likely decades later to develop vascular dementia than children with high IQs, according to new research in Neurology. ... > full story
Sequencing The Cacao Genome To Safeguard Chocolate (June 26, 2008) -- During the past 15 years, the global cocoa industry has confronted a trio of devastating fungal diseases that cost growers an estimated 0 million in losses annually. Now scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Subtropical Horticultural Research Station (SHRS) in Miami, Fla., are developing productive cacao (Theobroma cacao) trees resistant to these diseases: witches' broom, frosty pod and black pod. ... > full story
Bedsharing And Bassinets: Two New Studies Assess The Risks (June 26, 2008) -- Even though more than 45 percent of infants between the ages of 0-2 months use bassinets, little is known about bassinet safety. In 2005, the American Academy of Pediatrics revised its recommendations for a safe infant sleep environment, suggesting a separate but nearby sleeping arrangement. Two studies soon to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics evaluate the frequency of bedsharing and the potential risk factors of bassinet use. ... > full story
Engineering Students’ Airplane Research Is Crystal Clear (June 26, 2008) -- Forget delays, lines and ticket costs -- for many people, flying isn't just an aggravation, it's an outright phobia. New research may make airplane passengers a little less fearful in the future. Young researchers have been focusing on ice clouds and crystals, which can contribute to plane crashes. Some crashes occur because ice crystals collect on a plane's wings as it passes through a cloud, causing the shape of the wing to change, reducing the lift force needed for flying. ... > full story
The High Cost Of Low Status: Feeling Powerless Leads To Expensive Purchases (June 26, 2008) -- Feeling powerless can trigger strong desires to purchase products that convey high status, according to new research. In a study that may explain why so many Americans who are deeply in debt still spend beyond their means, authors found that research subjects who were asked to recall times when someone else had power over them were willing to pay higher prices for status-symbol items. ... > full story
Computer Scientist Turns His Face Into A Remote Control That Speeds And Slows Video Playback (June 26, 2008) -- A computer science Ph.D. student can turn his face into a remote control that speeds and slows video playback. The proof-of-concept demonstration is part of a larger project to use automated facial expression recognition to make robots more effective teachers. ... > full story
Sonar System For The Blind (June 26, 2008) -- Animals use echolocation for hunting and navigation, but visually impaired humans also employ echolocation as part of their orienting repertoire while navigating the world. There are a few rare individuals who can echolocate very well without assistance. However, researchers at Boston University have developed a prototype device that can enhance auditory cues while navigating an environment. ... > full story
No Scent, No Sex For The Japanese Beetle (June 26, 2008) -- Having a good nose is essential to a Japanese beetle's survival. The beetle's sense of smell helps it avoid enemies and zero in on a mate. Meanwhile, the potential mate is programmed to release sex pheromones in exactly the right proportions. Like cheap perfume, there is such a thing as too much: Excessive pheromones can get the attention of a passing fly, leading her to the beetle. ... > full story
Multiple Regions Of Chromosome 8 Found To Be Associated With Different Cancers (June 26, 2008) -- A recently discovered, but not yet understood, section of chromosome 8, called 8q24, may contain at least five distinct regions that are associated with different cancers, according to a study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story
Looming Tropical Disaster Needs Urgent Action, According To New Report (June 26, 2008) -- A major review shows that the world is losing the battle over tropical habitat loss with potentially disastrous implications for biodiversity and human well-being. Tropical forests support more than 60% of all known species. But up to 15 million hectares of tropical rainforest are being lost every year and species are being lost at a rate of up to 10,000 times higher than would happen randomly without humans present. ... > full story
Are You A Different Person When You Speak A Different Language? (June 26, 2008) -- People who are bicultural and speak two languages may actually shift their personalities when they switch from one language to another, according to new research. ... > full story
Fire Under Arctic Ice: Volcanoes Have Been Blowing Their Tops In The Deep Ocean (June 26, 2008) -- Researchers have uncovered evidence of explosive volcanic eruptions deep beneath the ice-covered surface of the Arctic Ocean. Such violent eruptions of splintered, fragmented rock -- known as pyroclastic deposits -- were not thought possible at great ocean depths because of the intense weight and pressure of water and because of the composition of seafloor magma and rock. The evidence of violent eruptions on Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic defies assumptions about seafloor pressure and volcanism. ... > full story
Nerve Cells Derived From Stem Cells And Transplanted Into Mice May Lead To Improved Brain Treatments (June 26, 2008) -- Scientists have genetically programmed embryonic stem cells to become nerve cells when transplanted into the brain, according to a new study. The research, an important step toward developing new treatments for stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurological conditions showed that mice afflicted by stroke showed therapeutic improvement following transplantation of these cells. None of the mice formed tumors, a major setback in prior attempts at stem cell transplantation. ... > full story
Umbilical Cord Blood Cell Transplants May Help ALS Patients (June 26, 2008) -- Researchers transplanted human umbilical cord blood cells into mouse models with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to determine which of three dose strength levels -- low, moderate and high -- delayed symptom progression and increased lifespan. Moderate strength doses of HUCB cells proved most effective and may have provided a neuroprotective effect for motor neurons through active involvement of the cells in modulating the host immune inflammatory system response. ... > full story
NSAID Use Not Associated With Reduction In Melanoma Risk (June 26, 2008) -- The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is not associated with a reduction in the risk of melanoma, according to the results of a large cohort study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story
One Step Closer To Green Chemistry And Improved Pharmaceuticals (June 26, 2008) -- The end of dangerous chemical compounds in our homes? Cheap and environment friendly production of biofuel? Efficient design of medicines against cancer, Alzheimer's and AIDS? The solution to these challenges has come one step closer after researchers have solved an important piece of the puzzle behind how proteins are shaped. ... > full story
High Rates, Rising Costs Of Alcohol And Drug Disorders In Hospitalized Patients Shown (June 26, 2008) -- Fourteen percent of patients admitted to the hospital have alcohol/drug abuse and addiction disorders, costs for which have risen sharply in recent years, according to a new study. ... > full story
Destruction Of Greenhouse Gases Over Tropical Atlantic May Ease Global Warming (June 26, 2008) -- Large amounts of ozone are being destroyed in the lower atmosphere over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The significance is that ozone in the lower atmosphere acts as a greenhouse gas and its destruction also leads to the removal of the third most abundant greenhouse gas -- methane. It should lead to improved climate predictions. ... > full story
Ovarian Cancer's Specific Scent Detected By Dogs (June 26, 2008) -- New research explored whether ovarian cancer has a scent different from other cancers and whether working dogs could be taught to distinguish it in its different stages. Ovarian cancer has a high mortality rate, primarily due to late diagnosis. Researchers found that early-stage and low grade ovarian cancers emit the same scent as advanced tumors. ... > full story
Salutary Pizza Spice: Oregano Helps Against Inflammations (June 26, 2008) -- Oregano doesn't only give a pizza its typical taste. Researchers have discovered that this spice also contains a substance which, amongst other qualities, appears to help cure inflammations. The researchers administered its active ingredient -- known as beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP) - to mice with inflamed paws. In seven out of ten cases there was a subsequent improvement in the symptoms. E-BCP might possibly be of use against disorders such as osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis. ... > full story
Intestinal Proteins May Be Effective Anti-Tumor Antigens (June 26, 2008) -- Mice immunized with an intestinal protein developed fewer lung and liver metastases following injection with colon cancer cells than unvaccinated animals, according to a study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story
Silicon Photonic Crystals Key To Optical Cloaking, Researchers Say (June 26, 2008) -- In computer simulations, researchers at the University of Illinois have demonstrated an approximate cloaking effect created by concentric rings of silicon photonic crystals. The mathematical proof brings scientists a step closer to a practical solution for optical cloaking. ... > full story
Complementary Medicines Can Help Mild Depression And Premenstrual Syndrome, But Report Warns Not All Products Are Harmless (June 26, 2008) -- Many people use "alternative" or complementary products because they see them as a more gentle form of medicine. Not all dietary supplements and 'alternative' products are harmless though; a new report urges consumers to be more critical of health claims. ... > full story
Cocoa Genome To Be Sequenced: May Benefit Millions Of Farmers, Help Sustain World's Chocolate Supply (June 26, 2008) -- Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mars Inc., and IBM have announced a plan to sequence and analyze the entire cocoa genome. Sequencing the cocoa genome is a significant scientific step that may allow more directed breeding of cocoa plants and perhaps even enhance the quality of cocoa, the key ingredient in chocolate. ... > full story
Laser Surgery Probe Targets Individual Cancer Cells (June 26, 2008) -- Mechanical engineers have developed a laser "microscalpel" that destroys a single cell while leaving nearby cells intact, which could improve the precision of surgeries for cancer, epilepsy and other diseases. ... > full story
Food Scientists Confirm Commercial Product Effectively Kills Bacteria In Vegetable Washwater (June 26, 2008) -- Research conducted by food science faculty at the University of Idaho and Washington State University indicate that a commercially available fruit and vegetable wash, when used in a food-manufacturing setting, can dramatically decrease the number of disease-causing organisms in produce-processing washwater. That could reduce by manyfold the potential for cross-contamination within the water by such "gram-negative" bacteria as Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. ... > full story
Different Type Of Colon Cancer Vaccine Reduces Disease Spread, Scientists Show (June 26, 2008) -- Taking advantage of the fact that the intestines have a separate immune system from the rest of the body, scientists have found a way to immunize mice against the development of metastasis. They have shown that mice immunized with an intestinal protein developed fewer lung and liver metastases after injection with colon cancer cells than did controls. The work may portend the development of a different kind of cancer vaccine that may help prevent recurrence. ... > full story
Diversity Among Bird Populations Found To Reduce Threat Of West Nile Virus (June 26, 2008) -- A biologist and undergraduate student have discovered that what's good for an area's bird population is also good for people living nearby. ... > full story
Women Have Not Adapted To Casual Sex, Research Shows (June 26, 2008) -- The sexual and feminist revolutions were supposed to free women to enjoy casual sex just as men always had. The negative feelings reported by women after one-night stands suggest that they are not well adapted to fleeting sexual encounters. ... > full story
Evidence Of Massive Asteroid Impact On Mars Supported By Computer Simulations (June 26, 2008) -- The dramatic differences between the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars have puzzled scientists for 30 years. One of the proposed explanations -- a massive asteroid impact -- now has strong support from computer simulations carried out by two groups of researchers. ... > full story
Second Genetic Risk Factor For Late-onset Alzheimer's Disease Found (June 26, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered the second, strong genetic risk factor for developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease, according to a new report in the June 27 issue of the journal Cell. ... > full story
New Invention Effectively Kills Foodborne Pathogens In Minutes (June 26, 2008) -- Researchers have developed an effective technology for reducing contamination of dangerous bacteria on food. The new antimicrobial wash rapidly kills Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 on foods ranging from fragile lettuce to tomatoes, fruits, poultry products and meats. It is made from inexpensive and readily available ingredients that are recognized as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration. ... > full story
New Glaucoma Procedure Aims To Prevent Further Eye Damage (June 26, 2008) -- Patients with glaucoma have a new treatment option known as the Trabectome. The minimally invasive procedure, which is available at Mayo Clinic and takes about 20 minutes, is designed to decrease pressure within the eye and stabilize the vision. ... > full story
Idle Computers Offer Hope To Solve Cancer's Mysteries Through Grid Computing Project (June 26, 2008) -- A biomedical engineering professor is using a concept called "grid computing" to allow the average person to donate idle computer time in a global effort to fight cancer. ... > full story
It's Email, But At A Snail's Pace (June 26, 2008) -- Bournemouth University researchers are using live snails to send emails as part of a 'slow art' project aimed at encouraging people to explore notions of time. ... > full story
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Why It Matters: From a meeting of the American Headache Society comes news that spells relief for many: a portable electronic device that "zaps" migraine pain away. 
