ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Sunday, April 10, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Sunday, April 10, 2011

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Newly merged black hole eagerly shreds stars (April 9, 2011) -- A galaxy's core is a busy place, crowded with stars swarming around an enormous black hole. When galaxies collide, it gets even messier as the two black holes spiral toward each other, merging to make an even bigger gravitational monster. Once it is created, the monster goes on a rampage. The merger kicks the black hole into surrounding stars. There it finds a hearty meal, shredding and swallowing stars at a rapid clip. ... > full story

Blood biomarker associated with prevalence, severity of Alzheimer's, but not risk of development (April 9, 2011) -- Higher levels in blood of the protein clusterin, also known as apolipoprotein J, are significantly associated with the prevalence and severity of Alzheimer's disease, but not with the risk of onset of new disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

New genetic technique probes the cause of skin cell differentiation in mammals (April 9, 2011) -- A tremendous amount of genetics research has been done in flies and tiny worms, in part because scientists have good tools for tweaking these creatures' DNA. Now, by adapting a powerful method of RNA interference for use in mice, researchers have identified key pathways that cause skin cells to differentiate, eventually forming the flexible but protective outer casing of the body. The work illustrates the potential for performing relatively fast and complex genetic studies in a fellow mammal, and also provides a deeper understanding of cell differentiation in early development. ... > full story

Guidance molecules: New therapy shows novel therapeutic approach to fighting inflammation (April 9, 2011) -- Researchers in Germany have succeeded in finding a new therapeutic approach to certain inflammatory reactions of the body. The approach focuses on guidance molecules, which reduce the body's own immune system to the required level and prevent excessive and damaging inflammation. Possible applications include therapies for inflammation, such as blood poisoning, but also in chronic inflammation and immunological inflammations such as rheumatoid arthritis and organ rejection. ... > full story

Fighting malaria with African plant extracts (April 9, 2011) -- Plants used in traditional African medicine may have an effect on the malaria parasite as well as the mosquitoes that spread the disease. A Norwegian pilot project is now indexing and testing these plants. ... > full story

Frequent shopping prolongs life, study suggests (April 9, 2011) -- A spot of regular 'retail therapy' really does seem to help people live longer, suggests new research. Frequent shopping among the elderly may not always be about buying things, but about seeking companionship or taking exercise, which is easier to do than more formal exercise that usually requires motivation. ... > full story

'Naked' penguins baffle experts (April 9, 2011) -- Researchers are grappling with a wildlife mystery: why are some penguin chicks losing their feathers? The appearance of "naked" penguins -- afflicted with what is known as feather-loss disorder -- in penguin colonies on both sides of the South Atlantic in recent years has scientists puzzled as to what could be causing the condition. ... > full story

New drug shrinks cancer in animals, study shows (April 9, 2011) -- A new study showed in animal studies that new cancer drug compounds they developed shrank tumors, with few side effects. ... > full story

E. coli enzyme must move to function (April 9, 2011) -- Slight oscillations lasting just milliseconds have a huge impact on an enzyme's function, according to a new study. Blocking these movements, without changing the enzyme's overall structure or any of its other properties, renders the enzyme defective in carrying out chemical reactions. ... > full story

New clinical trial approach reduces time and costs of many studies (April 9, 2011) -- Doctors are testing a new kind of clinical trial that's not only less costly but guides doctors to switch to the best treatment even before the trial is completed. The new approach -- called a point-of-care clinical trial -- is an alternative to expensive, lengthy, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials to compare drugs and procedures that are already in regular use. ... > full story

Test moves U.S. Navy a step closer to lasers for ship self-defense (April 9, 2011) -- U.S. Navy researchers have successfully tested a solid-state, high-energy laser from a surface ship, which disabled a small target vessel. ... > full story

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts: Cookies or careers? (April 9, 2011) -- New research analyzing boy scout and girl scout manuals finds that -- despite positive aspects -- scouts are being fed stereotypical ideas about femininity and masculinity. ... > full story

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