Space Season: Apr 7, 2011

Thursday, April 7, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, April 7, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Thursday, April 7, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Breast cancer patients' persistent fatigue is real, may actually speed up aging (April 7, 2011) -- The persistent fatigue that plagues one out of every three breast cancer survivors may be caused by one part of the autonomic nervous system running in overdrive, while the other part fails to slow it down. That imbalance of a natural system in the body appears linked to the tiredness and exhaustion that can burden cancer patients as much as a decade after their successful treatment. ... > full story

New discovery explains weight problems in Huntingon’s disease (April 7, 2011) -- Huntington’s disease has long been linked to jerky movements. Now, researchers have shown that the metabolism can also be seriously affected by the hereditary disease. The new laboratory findings provide hope of entirely new treatment methods. ... > full story

Body mass index in adolescence associated with early occurrence of diabetes and heart disease (April 7, 2011) -- A study of 37,000 teenagers found that diabetes risk is mainly associated with increased body mass index close to the time of diagnosis at early adulthood, while coronary heart disease risk is associated with elevated BMI both at adolescence and adulthood. ... > full story

Memory problems may be sign of stroke risk (April 7, 2011) -- People who have memory problems or other declines in their mental abilities may be at higher risk for stroke, according to a new study. ... > full story

Common dietary fat and intestinal microbes linked to heart disease (April 6, 2011) -- A new pathway has been discovered that links a common dietary lipid and intestinal microflora with an increased risk of heart disease. The study shows that people who eat a diet containing a common nutrient found in animal products (such as eggs, liver and other meats, cheese and other dairy products, fish, shellfish) are not predisposed to cardiovascular disease solely on their genetic make-up, but rather, how the micro-organisms that live in our digestive tracts metabolize a specific lipid -- phosphatidyl choline (also called lecithin). Lecithin and its metabolite, choline, are also found in many commercial baked goods, dietary supplements, and even children's vitamins. ... > full story

New prostate cancer test gives more accurate diagnosis (April 6, 2011) -- A new PSA test to screen for prostate cancer more accurately identified men with prostate cancer -- particularly the aggressive form of the disease -- and substantially reduced false positives compared to the two currently available commercial PSA tests, according to new research. The currently available screening tests result in a high number of false positives and lead to unnecessary biopsies and possible over-detection and over-treatment of indolent cancer that never would have caused suffering or death. ... > full story

Strawberries may slow precancerous growth in the esophagus, study suggests (April 6, 2011) -- Eating strawberries may be a way to help people at risk of esophageal cancer protect themselves from the disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

Instructors can reduce cheating by being clear, researcher says (April 6, 2011) -- A new study says that the reasons students give for cheating are rational, and that stricter punishments won't solve the problem. Instead, teachers should communicate clear standards and provide consistent enforcement to reduce instances of cheating. ... > full story

Human taste cells regenerate in a dish (April 6, 2011) -- Following years of futile attempts, new research demonstrates that living human taste cells can be maintained in culture for at least seven months. The findings provide scientists with a valuable tool to learn about the human sense of taste and how it functions in health and disease. This advance ultimately will assist efforts to prevent and treat taste loss or impairment due to infection, radiation, chemotherapy and chemical exposures. ... > full story

Hotspots of genetic rearrangement: Findings in mice could aid understanding of how mammals genetically adapt (April 6, 2011) -- Researchers have zoomed in on mouse chromosomes to map hotspots of genetic recombination -- sites where DNA breaks and reforms to shuffle genes. The findings have the potential to improve the detection of genes linked to disease and to help understand the root causes of genetic abnormalities. ... > full story

Healthy welders may be at increased risk for early brain damage (April 6, 2011) -- New research suggests that workers exposed to welding fumes may be at risk for developing brain damage in an area of the brain also affected in Parkinson's disease. ... > full story

Are infants creating historical footprints with their eyes? (April 6, 2011) -- Learning how babies communicate can teach us a lot about the development of human social interactions. Psychologists studying infants' interactions have now found that babies are not simply living in the moment. Instead, infants seem to have particular interests that create historical footprints reflected in the infants' visual engagement over time. ... > full story

Coffee drinking in your genes? Genetic variants in two genes linked with caffeine intake (April 6, 2011) -- Two genes in which variation affects intake of caffeine, the most widely consumed stimulant in the world, have been discovered. Researchers examined genetic variation across the entire genome of more than 47,000 individuals. ... > full story

New drug is effective against the most common form of skin cancer, expert says (April 6, 2011) -- A new drug is effective in preventing new basal cell carcinomas in patients with an inherited predisposition to the disease. These patients with basal cell nevus syndrome develop large numbers of basal cells, which can become locally invasive or metastatic, according to an expert. ... > full story

Obesity increases the risk of fetal and infant death, and the risk of complications after hysterectomy (April 6, 2011) -- Women who are obese during early pregnancy have a significantly increased risk of their baby dying before, during or up to one year after birth, according to new research. A second article shows that obesity increases the risk of complications, such as bleeding and infections, during and after a hysterectomy operation. ... > full story

Older age memory loss tied to stress hormone receptor in brain (April 6, 2011) -- Scientists have shed new light on how older people may lose their memory with a development that could aid research into treatments for age-related memory disorders. Many believe that stress is bad for our brains especially as we get older. Now researchers have shown how two receptors in older brains react to a stress hormone called cortisol, which has been linked to increasing forgetfulness as we age. ... > full story

On-off switch for key 'factor' in heart disease and cancer discovered (April 6, 2011) -- Scientists have identified a cellular "on-off" switch that may have implications for treating cardiovascular disease and cancer. ... > full story

Progesterone reduces rate of early preterm birth in at-risk women, study suggests (April 6, 2011) -- A new study has found that progesterone, a naturally occurring hormone, reduced the rate of preterm birth before the 33rd week of pregnancy by 45 percent among one category of at-risk women. The women in the study had a short cervix, which is known to increase the risk for preterm birth. The cervix is the part of the uterus that opens and shortens during labor. ... > full story

Better a sprint than a marathon: Brief intense exercise better than endurance training for preventing cardiovascular disease (April 6, 2011) -- Exercise is important for preventing cardiovascular disease, especially in children and adolescents, but is all exercise equally beneficial? New research reveals that high intensity exercise is more beneficial than traditional endurance training. ... > full story

Device drops blood pressure in patients with difficult-to-treat hypertension (April 6, 2011) -- A device designed to treat people with resistant hypertension helped lower blood pressure by 33 points, a substantial drop that would otherwise require patients to take an additional three or four drugs, on top of this subgroup's usual regimen of up to five drugs, to control their difficult-to-treat condition. ... > full story

One step closer to a diagnostic test for schizophrenia (April 6, 2011) -- Scientists in Finland have revealed metabolic abnormalities that are associated with schizophrenia. This may be an important step towards development of a clinical test of the disease. ... > full story

Off-label marketing of medicines in the US is rife but difficult to control, study finds (April 6, 2011) -- Despite U.S. Federal Drug Administration regulation of the approval and use of pharmaceutical products, "off-label" marketing of drugs (for purposes other than those for which the drug was approved) has occurred in all aspects of the US health care system. In a new study, researchers report that the most common alleged off-label marketing practices also appear to be the most difficult to control through external regulatory approaches. ... > full story

Link between chronic depression and accelerated immune cell aging (April 6, 2011) -- Certain cases of major depression are associated with premature aging of immune cells, which may make people more susceptible to other serious illness, according to findings from a new study. ... > full story

Nanopolymer shows promise for helping reduce cancer side effects (April 6, 2011) -- A biochemist has demonstrated a process using nanotechnology to better assess whether cancer drugs hit their targets, which may help reduce drug side effects. ... > full story

Diabetes treatment may also provide protection against endometrial cancer (April 6, 2011) -- New research has found that metformin, a drug treatment used to treat diabetes and also in women with polycystic vary syndrome (PCOS), may potentially provide protection against endometrial cancer. ... > full story

Stronger alcohol 'buzz' predicts future binge drinking problems (April 6, 2011) -- For some people, alcohol is a social lubricant. For others, it's an unpleasant downer. New research shows that a person's response to alcohol can predict their future drinking behavior, including their frequency of binge drinking and the risk of developing an alcohol-use disorder. ... > full story

Leptin restores fertility, may improve bone health in lean women; Treatment could help athletes, women with eating disorders (April 6, 2011) -- Women with extremely low body fat, including runners and dancers, as well as women with eating disorders, are prone to develop hypothalamic amenorrhea, a condition in which their menstrual periods cease, triggering such serious problems as infertility and osteoporosis. ... > full story

Scientists develop new technology for stroke rehabilitation (April 6, 2011) -- Devices which could be used to rehabilitate the arms and hands of people who have experienced a stroke have been developed by researchers in the UK. ... > full story

Can diabetes or lipid-lowering medications treat addiction? (April 6, 2011) -- Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are commonly prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes, while fibrates are prescribed to modulate lipid levels in patients to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. These drugs work by binding to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Another effect of TZDs and fibrates is to raise leptin levels, an effect that may reduce appetite. ... > full story

Mexican migrants to the US risk 'clinically significant' mental-health problems, study finds (April 6, 2011) -- Mexicans who migrate to the United States are far more likely to experience significant depression and anxiety than individuals who do not immigrate, a new study has found. ... > full story

Opioids now most prescribed class of medications in America (April 6, 2011) -- Two reports by addiction researchers show a drastic shift in prescribing patterns impacting the magnitude of opioid substance abuse in America. The reports recommend a comprehensive effort to reduce public health risks while improving patient care, including better training for prescribers, pain management treatment assessment, personal responsibility and public education. ... > full story

Genetic clues to major cause of kidney disease worldwide (April 6, 2011) -- For the first time, researchers have found five regions in the human genome that increase susceptibility to immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, a major cause of kidney failure worldwide -- systematically identifying those that point to a tendency for IgA nephropathy, or a protection against it. ... > full story

Hookah use widespread among college students; Study reveals mistaken perception of safety in potential gateway drug (April 6, 2011) -- Despite a growing number of cities instituting smoking bans across the country, hookah bars are cropping up everywhere -- from chic downtown cafes to locations near college campuses, where they've found a loyal customer base in young adults. A new study sheds light on the increasingly popular pastime, and the results are discouraging. ... > full story

Repulsion more important than cohesion in embryonic tissue separation (April 6, 2011) -- Until now, adherence was thought to be the principle force responsible for the separation of the ectoderm from the mesoderm in embryonic cells. But by using high resolution imaging, researchers have now discovered that, although embryonic cells of different types will temporarily adhere when they touch, they then invariably pull apart rather violently, suggesting that direct contact between two "foreign" cells triggers a "repulsive signal." ... > full story

Giving teachers bonuses for student achievement undermines student learning, study finds (April 6, 2011) -- Recent efforts to improve teacher performance by linking pay to student achievement have failed because such programs often rely on metrics that were never intended to help determine teacher pay. These systems make it easy for policymakers to obtain consistent measures of student and teacher performance, but the same testing regimes also make it easy for educators to game incentive systems by coaching students for exams rather than teaching them to master subject matter. ... > full story

Refusal skills help minority youths combat smoking, study finds (April 6, 2011) -- The ability to refuse smoking is related to non-smoking in minority youths, a new study shows. Effective strategies to combat youth smoking include teaching refusal skills and training for responding to family members' and friends' smoking. ... > full story

Chimp, bonobo study sheds light on the social brain (April 5, 2011) -- Why our two closest living primate relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, have widely different social traits, despite belonging to the same genus, has long been a puzzle. Now, a comparative analysis of their brains shows neuroanatomical differences that may be responsible for these behaviors, from the aggression more typical of chimpanzees to the social tolerance of bonobos. ... > full story

Modern targeted drug plus old malaria pill serve a one-two punch in advanced cancer patients (April 5, 2011) -- Researchers may have found a way to turn an adaptive cellular response into a liability for cancer cells, by treating a group of patients with several different types of advanced cancers with temsirolimus, a molecularly targeted cancer drug that blocks nutrient uptake, plus hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that inhibits autophagy. This regimen halted tumor growth in two-thirds of the patients. ... > full story

Toward a solution to nerve agent exposure: Chemist uses supercomputers to test reagents for new treatments (April 5, 2011) -- A chemist is harnessing the power of supercomputing systems to help develop a new drug that will regenerate a critical enzyme in the human body that "ages" after a person is exposed to deadly organophosphorus nerve agents. ... > full story

Protein found to be the link missing between HPV infection and cervical cancer development (April 5, 2011) -- Most women are infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer -- yet few develop the cancer. Now researchers believe they have found the missing link explaining why: activation of the beta-catenin oncogene. ... > full story

Vitamin A derivative can inhibit early forms of breast cancer, researchers show (April 5, 2011) -- A nutrient found in carrots and sweet potatoes may prove key to fighting breast cancer at early stages, according to a new study. ... > full story

Getting to the root of fatty liver disease (April 5, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a molecular switch that appears to be a common feature in the development of fatty liver disease. The discovery made in mice is consistent with data from human patients, suggesting that it may provide an underlying explanation for the development of fatty liver in people with obesity and metabolic syndrome. ... > full story

How materialistic advertising messages negatively shape the female body image, study finds (April 5, 2011) -- A new study is the first to examine the impact of materialistic messages and values -- the desire for financial success and an affluent lifestyle on women's feelings about their own body. ... > full story

Genomic signature in post-menopausal women may explain why pregnancy reduces breast cancer risk (April 5, 2011) -- Women who have children, particularly early in life, have a lower lifetime risk of breast cancer compared with women who do not. Now, researchers have identified a gene expression pattern in breast tissue that differs between post-menopausal women who had children and post-menopausal women who did not. The results will help scientists understand why pregnancy reduces breast cancer risk. ... > full story

Cellular feast or famine: How cells decide whether they have enough fat (April 5, 2011) -- Not all cholesterol is bad. Every cell requires it for growth -- they either have to get cholesterol somewhere or they die. In a new study, researchers found that a protein sensor known to balance cholesterol sources can also access a previously under-appreciated cellular fat storage depot. ... > full story

Students around the world report being addicted to media, study finds (April 5, 2011) -- College students around the world report that they are 'addicted' to media, describing in vivid terms their cravings, their anxieties and their depression when they have to abstain from using cell phones, social networking sites, mp3 player. ... > full story

New method delivers Alzheimer’s drug to the brain (April 5, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a new method for delivering complex drugs directly to the brain, a necessary step for treating diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Motor Neuron Disease and Muscular Dystrophy. ... > full story

Pedestrians injured by the windshield frame in car crashes (April 5, 2011) -- Pedestrian disability and fatality as a consequence of car crashes is a large global health problem. New research from Sweden now shows that upper-body collision with the car's lower windscreen is a common cause of severe injuries and deaths in adults, especially in those accidents where the head is struck. Children injured by cars are mostly hit by the hood. ... > full story

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ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, April 7, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, April 7, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Strong Indian crust thrust beneath the Tibetan Plateau, new study suggests (April 7, 2011) -- For many years, most scientists studying Tibet have thought that a very hot and very weak lower and middle crust underlies its plateau, flowing like a fluid. Now, scientists are questioning this long-held belief and proposing that an entirely different mechanism is at play. ... > full story

Treating newborn horses: A unique form of pediatrics (April 7, 2011) -- Like any other newborn, the neonatal horse can be a challenging patient. Its immune system is still under construction, its blood chemistry can vary wildly, and -- like most infants -- it wants to stay close to mom. ... > full story

Nano fitness: Helping enzymes stay active and keep in shape (April 6, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a new technique for boosting the stability of enzymes, making them useful under a much broader range of conditions. They confined lysozyme and other enzymes inside carefully engineered nanoscale holes, or nanopores. Instead of denaturing, these embedded enzymes mostly retained their 3-D structure and exhibited a significant increase in activity. ... > full story

Seeing rice with X-rays may improve crop yields (April 6, 2011) -- Most people experience X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanners when they are evaluated for a suspected tumor or blood clot. Now rice plants have becoe the patients in a novel use of CT scanners as part of an agriculture study to increase rice yield. ... > full story

Birds must choose between mating and migrating (April 6, 2011) -- Sex or nice weather. That's the agonizing choice some birds face, according to a new study. Researchers discovered that for some male birds traveling to areas with lighter rainfall comes at the cost of attracting a female when they return home. ... > full story

Climate change is making our environment 'bluer' (April 6, 2011) -- The "color" of our environment is becoming "bluer," a change that could have important implications for animals' risk of becoming extinct, ecologists have found. In a major study, researchers examined how quickly or slowly animal populations and their environment change over time, something ecologists describe using "spectral color." ... > full story

Third dimension of specific cell cultivation (April 6, 2011) -- Researchers have succeeded in cultivating cells in specific locations on 3-D structures. The fascinating thing is that the cells are offered small "holds" in the micrometer range on the scaffold, to which they can adhere. Adhesion is possible only on these holds, not on the remaining structure. For the first time, cell adhesion and, hence, cell shape are influenced precisely in three dimensions. ... > full story

Microbe responsible for methane from landfills identified (April 6, 2011) -- Researchers have long known that landfills produce methane, but had a hard time figuring out why -- since landfills do not start out as a friendly environment for the organisms that produce methane. New research shows that one species of microbe is paving the way for other methane producers. ... > full story

Did dinosaurs have lice? Researchers say it's possible (April 6, 2011) -- A new study louses up a popular theory of animal evolution and opens up the possibility that dinosaurs were early -- perhaps even the first -- animal hosts of lice. ... > full story

Where will the debris from Japan's tsunami drift in the ocean? (April 6, 2011) -- The huge tsunami triggered by the 9.0 Tohoku earthquake destroyed coastal towns near Sendai in Japan, washing such things as houses and cars into the ocean. Based on a model derived from past trajectories of drifting buoys, projections of where this debris might head over the next five to six years have been made. ... > full story

Active electromagnetic suspension system can increase ride quality of cars by 60 percent (April 6, 2011) -- Researchers in the Netherlands have developed an active electromagnetic suspension system that can increase the ride quality of cars by 60 percent. Cars fitted with this suspension system are also safer because they no longer roll (sway) in corners. The system is developed in partnership with the Swedish company SKF, and is being demonstrated next week at the AutoRAI auto show in Amsterdam. ... > full story

Electron microscopy: New type of genetic tag illuminates life in never-before-seen detail (April 6, 2011) -- By modifying a protein from a plant that is much favored by science, researchers have created a new type of genetic tag visible under an electron microscope, illuminating life in never-before-seen detail. ... > full story

Addressing the nuclear waste issue with common algae (April 6, 2011) -- Researchers have an enhanced understanding of a common freshwater alga and its remarkable ability to remove strontium from water. Insight into this mechanism ultimately could help scientists design methods to remove radioactive strontium from existing nuclear waste. They are the first to show quantitatively how Closterium moniliferum sequesters strontium (in the form of barium-strontium-sulfate crystals) and to use this to think about a practical sequestration system for nuclear waste that maximizes strontium removal. ... > full story

Dead midges reveal living conditions of fish (April 6, 2011) -- Microscopic remains of dead Phantom midge larvae may explain a few hundred years of history of the living conditions of fish, acidification and fish death in Swedish lakes. Researchers have developed a method of using lake-bottom sediments to show when and how fish life disappeared from acidified lakes -- invaluable knowledge for lake restorations in acidified regions. ... > full story

Cost-effective manure management, thanks to computer-simulated farms (April 5, 2011) -- Scientists have used computer-simulated farms with the support of field research to compare the environmental impact and economic efficacy of using alternative manure application methods in farming systems. ... > full story

Economics, physics are roadblocks for mass-scale algae biodiesel production, study finds (April 5, 2011) -- Companies looking to engineer an eco-friendly diesel fuel have more red lights in their path. According to researchers, making petroleum diesel completely green would not only bend the laws of physics, it would cost too much green. ... > full story

World's reef fishes tussling with human overpopulation (April 5, 2011) -- Coral reefs provide a range of critical goods and services to humanity -- everything from nutrient cycling to food production to coast protection to economic revenues through tourism, according to researchers. Yet, they say, the complex nature and large-scale distribution of coral reefs is challenging scientists to understand if this natural ecosystem will continue working to deliver goods and services given the ongoing loss of biodiversity in coral reefs. ... > full story

History of nuclear power needs to be addressed, expert says (April 5, 2011) -- The long-standing conflicts over nuclear power and the risks of radiation exposure are nothing new -- in fact, the debate over the damaged Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant in Japan are similar to arguments happening between scientists, governmental agencies and the public since 1945, according to an expert on the history of science. ... > full story

Scientists find new type of mineral in historic meteorite (April 5, 2011) -- Researchers have found a new mineral named "Wassonite" in one of the most historically significant meteorites recovered in Antarctica in December 1969. ... > full story

Rare alpine insect may disappear with glaciers (April 5, 2011) -- Loss of glaciers and snowpack due to climate warming in alpine regions is putting pressure on a rare aquatic insect -- the meltwater stonefly, according to a new study. ... > full story

Record depletion of Arctic ozone layer causing increased UV radiation in Scandinavia (April 5, 2011) -- Over the past few days, ozone-depleted air masses have extended from the north pole to southern Scandinavia, leading to higher than normal levels of ultraviolet radiation during sunny days in southern Finland. These air masses will move east over the next few days, covering parts of Russia and perhaps extend as far south as the Chinese/Russian border. Such excursions of ozone-depleted air may also occur over Central Europe and could reach as far south as the Mediterranean. Researchers say that the current situation in the Arctic ozone layer is unparalleled. ... > full story

Air France wreckage located nearly 2.5 miles below surface of Atlantic Ocean (April 5, 2011) -- A search team has located the wreckage of Air France Flight 447 some 3,900 meters, or nearly 2.5 miles, below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean off Brazil's northeastern coast. ... > full story

Facial structures of men and women have become more similar over time (April 5, 2011) -- New research shows that they really don't make women like they used to, at least in Spain. The study, which examined hundreds of Spanish and Portuguese skulls spanning four centuries, shows that differences in the craniofacial features of men and women have become less pronounced. ... > full story

Mangroves among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics; Coastal trees key to lowering greenhouse gases (April 5, 2011) -- Coastal mangrove forests store more carbon than almost any other forest on Earth, according to a study conducted by a team of US Forest Service and university scientists. ... > full story

Ancient enzymes: Protein adaptation shows that life on early Earth lived in a hot, acidic environment (April 5, 2011) -- A new study reveals that a group of ancient enzymes adapted to substantial changes in ocean temperature and acidity during the last four billion years, providing evidence that life on Early Earth evolved from a much hotter, more acidic environment to the cooler, less acidic global environment that exists today. ... > full story

When African animals hit the hay: Fossil teeth show who ate what and when as grasses emerged (April 5, 2011) -- Fossil teeth of African animals show that during the past 10 million years, different plant-eating critters began grazing on grass at different times as many switched from a salad-bar diet of tree leaves and shrubs, a new study has found ... > full story

Oxygen sensor invention could benefit fisheries to breweries (April 5, 2011) -- Monitoring oxygen levels in water has applications for oil spills, fish farming, brewing beer and more -- and a researcher is poised to help supply that need. The concept of oxygen sensors isn't new. The challenge, however, has been manufacturing one that can withstand fluctuations in temperature, salinity, carbon dioxide, phosphates and biological wastes. Physicist Ruby Ghosh was able to overcome those obstacles as well as build one that provides real-time data and is relatively inexpensive. ... > full story

Caterpillars aren't so bird-brained after all: Clever behavioral strategies help them outwit predators (April 5, 2011) -- Caterpillars that masquerade as twigs to avoid becoming a bird's dinner are actually using clever behavioral strategies to outwit their predators, according to a new study. ... > full story

Novel compounds for fighting against parasitic diseases (April 5, 2011) -- Parasites of the Trypanosomatidae family cause a number of serious human diseases. Researchers have now published the identification of novel anti-parasitic compounds targeting an enzyme unique to the parasites. These compounds are promising for the development of drugs with fewer side-effects than current medical treatments. ... > full story

Food safety study of beef 'trim' leads to ongoing research collaboration (April 5, 2011) -- Burgers, meat loaf and other lean ground beef favorites may be made from "trim," the meat that's left over after steaks and roasts have been carved from a side of beef. A study conducted several years ago to ensure that imported beef trim is safe to eat has led to an ongoing collaboration between US Department of Agriculture scientists who conducted the research and colleagues from Uruguay, which exports this in-demand beef. ... > full story

Declining rainfall is a major influence for migrating birds (April 4, 2011) -- Instinct and the annual increase of daylight hours have long been thought to be the triggers for birds to begin their spring migration. Scientists, however, have now found that that may not be the case. Researchers have focused on how warming trends in temperate breeding areas disrupt the sensitive ecology of migratory birds. This new research shows that changes in rainfall on the tropical wintering grounds could be equally disruptive. ... > full story

Chemists produce first high-resolution RNA 'nano square' (April 4, 2011) -- Chemists have produced the first high resolution structure of a nano-scale square made from ribonucleic acid, or RNA. ... > full story

'In-depth' radar: Seeing what lies beneath the surface (April 4, 2011) -- Where do the water pipes and electric cables lie? Could valuable cultural artefacts be hidden here? And how high is the salt concentration on the road today? A georadar can reveal what lies below the surface, providing information that can be extremely useful to industry. A Norwegian researcher wants to evaluate how georadar could be utilized. ... > full story

Algae that live inside the cells of salamanders are the first known vertebrate endosymbionts (April 4, 2011) -- A species of algae long known to associate with spotted salamanders has been discovered to live inside the cells of developing embryos, say scientists from the US and Canada. This is the first known example of a eukaryotic algae living stably inside the cells of any vertebrate. ... > full story

Leatherback sea turtle nests increasing in Florida (April 4, 2011) -- The number of endangered leatherback sea turtle nests at 68 beaches in Florida has increased by 10.2 percent a year since 1979, according to a new study. ... > full story

Formaldehyde: Poison could have set the stage for the origins of life (April 4, 2011) -- Formaldehyde, a poison and a common molecule throughout the universe, is likely the source of the solar system's organic carbon solids -- abundant in both comets and asteroids. Scientists have long speculated about the how organic, or carbon-containing, material became a part of the solar system's fabric. New research shows that these complex organic solids were likely made from formaldehyde in the primitive solar system. ... > full story

High dose of oxygen enhances natural cancer treatment, researchers find (April 4, 2011) -- An environment of pure oxygen at three-and-a-half times normal air pressure adds significantly to the effectiveness of a natural compound already shown to kill cancerous cells, according to new research. ... > full story

New role for cilia protein in mitosis (April 4, 2011) -- Researchers have described a previously unknown role for the cilia protein IFT88 in mitosis, the process by which a dividing cell separates its chromosomes containing the cell's DNA into two identical sets of new daughter cells. This newly discovered function for IFT88 suggests a possible alternative or contributory cause for cilia-related diseases such as primary ciliary dyskinesia, and polycystic kidney disease. ... > full story

Tree growth and fecundity affected more by climate change than previously thought (April 4, 2011) -- An 18-year study of 27,000 individual trees finds that tree growth and fecundity -- the ability to produce viable seeds -- are more sensitive to climate change than previously thought. ... > full story

NASA airborne radar set to image Hawaiian volcano (April 4, 2011) -- The Kilauea volcano that recently erupted on the Big Island of Hawaii will be the target for a NASA study to help scientists better understand processes occurring under Earth's surface. ... > full story

Sleeping through danger: The dormouse approach to survival (April 4, 2011) -- Amid the general rejoicing over the first signs of spring, spare a thought for the humble dormouse, which is about to embark on the most dangerous period of its life. This is the surprising finding of a long-term study of dormouse survival rates in five different countries in Europe. ... > full story

West and Central African lions are genetically different from those in East and southern Africa (April 4, 2011) -- New findings of genetic research on lions reveals a remarkable difference between lions in West and Central Africa and lions in East and southern Africa. ... > full story

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ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, April 7, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, April 7, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Two dying stars to be reborn as one (April 7, 2011) -- White dwarfs are dead stars that pack a Sun's-worth of matter into an Earth-sized ball. Astronomers have just discovered an amazing pair of white dwarfs whirling around each other once every 39 minutes. This is the shortest-period pair of white dwarfs now known. Moreover, in a few million years they will collide and merge to create a single star. ... > full story

Micro aircraft improves avionic systems and sensors (April 7, 2011) -- Myriad sensors and systems provide modern aircraft with data for flight control. But a bird's eye perspective is also of great benefit when measuring pollutants, searching for missing persons and even in archaeological research. Postgraduate students have now developed an unmanned aerial vehicle that can be deployed for many such tasks. It has just successfully completed its maiden flight. ... > full story

Tungsten may not be the best shot for making 'green' bullets (April 7, 2011) -- With efforts underway to ban lead-based ammunition as a potential health and environmental hazard, scientists are reporting new evidence that a prime alternative material for bullets -- tungsten -- may not be a good substitute. The report found that tungsten accumulates in major structures of the immune system in animals. ... > full story

Off the hook: Who gets phished and why (April 7, 2011) -- Communication researchers have found that if you receive a lot of email, habitually respond to a good portion of it, maintain a lot of online relationships and conduct a large number of transactions online, you are more susceptible to email phishing expeditions than those who limit their online activity. ... > full story

Taming carbon nanotubes (April 7, 2011) -- Carbon nanotubes have many attractive properties, and their structure and areas of application can be compared with those of graphene, the material for whose discovery the most recent Nobel Prize was awarded. In order to be able to exploit these properties, however, it is necessary to have full control of the manufacturing process. Scientists are now closing in on the answer. ... > full story

Shopping online, privacy, data protection and third-party tracking (April 7, 2011) -- In the wake of yet another e-commerce data breach in which the names and email addresses of millions of online shoppers and credit card users have been accessed illegally, researchers in the US suggest that privacy discussions, and ultimately legislation must urgently focus on the expanding roles of third-parties handling pervasive online customer profiles. ... > full story

Improving high-speed optical data transfer by employing ideas from TV antennas (April 6, 2011) -- Standard TV antennas receive signals carried by electromagnetic waves with frequencies in the MHz range and convert them into pulses of electric currents in the connected cables. The antenna connects two very different length scales: the carrier wavelength, ranging from centimeters to meters, and the size of the wiring, typically on the millimeter scale. Now, physicists have successfully applied this radiofrequency antenna concept to the optical wavelength range. ... > full story

NASA's Spitzer discovers time-delayed jets around young star (April 6, 2011) -- Astronomers have discovered that two symmetrical jets shooting away from opposite sides of a blossoming star are experiencing a time delay: knots of gas and dust from one jet blast off four-and-a-half years later than identical knots from the other jet. The finding, which required the infrared vision of NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, is helping astronomers understand how jets are produced around forming stars, including those resembling our sun when it was young. ... > full story

The 'molecular octopus': A little brother of 'Schroedinger’s cat' (April 6, 2011) -- For the first time, the quantum behavior of molecules consisting of more than 400 atoms was demonstrated by scientists. The research also sheds new light on an important aspect of the famous thought experiment known as "Schroedinger's cat". ... > full story

Renewal of a life and physical sciences research program at NASA could facilitate longer, farther human space missions (April 6, 2011) -- By elevating its life and physical sciences research program, NASA could achieve the biological understanding and technical breakthroughs needed to allow humans to be sent deeper into space, according to a new report. ... > full story

Frozen comet's watery past: Discovery challenges paradigm of comets as 'dirty snowballs' frozen in time (April 6, 2011) -- Scientists have found convincing evidence for the presence of liquid water in a comet, shattering the current paradigm that comets never get warm enough to melt the ice that makes up the bulk of their material. ... > full story

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