Space Season: Apr 12, 2011

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, April 12, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, April 12, 2011

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

Social wasps show how bigger brains provide complex cognition (April 12, 2011) -- Across many groups of animals, species with bigger brains often have better cognitive abilities. But it's been unclear whether overall brain size or the size of specific brain areas is the key. New findings by neurobiologists suggest that both patterns are important: bigger-bodied social wasps had larger brains and devoted up to three times more of their brain tissue to regions that coordinate social interactions, learning, memory and other complex behaviors. ... > full story

Oral drug for multiple sclerosis significantly reduces disease activity and slows disability, study suggests (April 12, 2011) -- The drug laquinimod reduced the number of relapses for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), in a large, long-term Phase III clinical study. ... > full story

Tissue engineers use new system to measure biomaterials, structures (April 12, 2011) -- As cells assemble into a donut shape and ascend a hydrogel cone, they do work and thereby reveal the total power involved in forming a three-dimensional structure. That measure not only could help tissue engineers understand their living building materials better, but could also add insight to the understanding of natural tissue formation. ... > full story

St. John's wort compound: Potential benefit of synthetic hypericin for recurrent brain tumors (April 12, 2011) -- Researchers have found that a synthetic version of hypericin, a compound naturally found in St. John's wort, may be a promising treatment for patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors. ... > full story

Treatments for gambling addiction (April 12, 2011) -- Scientists have found that a wide range of drugs can be effective for treating gambling addiction in the short term. ... > full story

Link between inflammation and pancreatic cancer discovered (April 12, 2011) -- Solving part of a medical mystery, researchers have established a link between molecules found in an inflamed pancreas and the early formation of pancreatic cancer -- a discovery that may help scientists identify new ways to detect, monitor and treat this deadly disease. ... > full story

High levels of vitamin D appear to lower risk of age-related macular degeneration in young women (April 12, 2011) -- High levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream appear to be associated with a decreased risk of developing early age-related macular degeneration among women younger than 75 years, according to a new study. ... > full story

Delhi air quality regulations improve respiratory health (April 12, 2011) -- Scientists have used remote sensing imagery to look directly at the effects of air quality on health. Researchers found that radical regulations to improve air quality in Delhi at the turn of the millennium had a positive impact on the health of the population, especially among low-income men. ... > full story

Light, chemistry, action: New technique to target skin cancers? (April 11, 2011) -- Targeted photodynamic therapy can completely eradicate some models of cancer, according to the new research. ... > full story

Blueberries may inhibit development of fat cells (April 11, 2011) -- The benefits of blueberry consumption have been demonstrated in several nutrition studies, more specifically the cardio-protective benefits derived from their high polyphenol content. Blueberries have shown potential to have a positive effect on everything from aging to metabolic syndrome. Researchers recently examined whether blueberries could play a role in reducing one of the world's greatest health challenges: obesity. ... > full story

Mechanism for esophageal cancer uncovered (April 11, 2011) -- A gene thought to be associated with cancer development can be a tumor suppressor gene in mice, researchers have discovered. Understanding which genes are involved in spreading cancer could lead to future therapies. ... > full story

Diesel-engine exhaust filter reduces harmful particles by 98 percent (April 11, 2011) -- A commercially available particle trap can filter microscopic pollutants in diesel-engine exhaust and prevent about 98 percent of them from reaching the air, according to new research. ... > full story

Sleep issues contribute to cognitive problems in childhood cancer survivors (April 11, 2011) -- Fatigue and sleep problems dramatically reduce the thinking and reasoning abilities of adults who survived childhood cancer, according to new research. Researchers hope the findings will lead to new strategies for improved neurocognitive functioning in this growing population. ... > full story

Is the wrist bone connected to heart risk? (April 11, 2011) -- Measuring the wrist bone may be a new way to identify which overweight children and adolescents face an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to new research. ... > full story

Biologists find another clue to the origins of degenerative diseases (April 11, 2011) -- A research team shows that cell death can also result from the process by which the cell repairs damage that occurs within a repeated CAG/CTG sequence. Their findings increase understanding of how diseases like Huntington's develop in humans. ... > full story

Women's voices remain steady throughout the month; New study contradicts prior research suggesting hormonal status affects voice (April 11, 2011) -- Studies have suggested women's voices change at different times over the menstrual cycle, with the tone rising as ovulation approaches. A new study finds that changes in hormonal status have no significant impact on eight distinct voice parameters. ... > full story

Letting there be more mosquitoes may lead to fewer malaria deaths, say researchers (April 11, 2011) -- It may seem counter-intuitive at first but letting mosquitoes grow up and breed may be part of the solution to tackling the devastating impact of malaria. Researchers have used mathematical modeling to examine why conventional insecticides used against the insects that transmit the disease responsible for millions of deaths a year, can quickly become ineffective in areas of intensive use. Their answers may lead to unprecedented advances in malaria control. ... > full story

Vision loss in eye disease slowed using novel encapsulated cell therapy (April 11, 2011) -- A phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of a severe form of age-related macular degeneration called geographic atrophy (GA) has become the first study to show the benefit of a therapy to slow the progression of vision loss for this disease. The results highlight the benefit of the use of a neurotrophic factor to treat GA and provide hope to nearly one million Americans suffering from GA. ... > full story

New technique tracks viral infections, aids development of antiviral drugs (April 11, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a method to rapidly measure thousands of cells and quickly determine the presence of viruses. ... > full story

EPA's draft health assessment for formaldehyde needs improvement, experts say (April 11, 2011) -- A US Environmental Protection Agency draft assessment of the potential health effects associated with formaldehyde exposure needs substantial revision, experts say. ... > full story

Health halo effect: Don't judge a food by its organic label (April 11, 2011) -- Some organic foods shown to be surrounded by a "health halo" that is not based on science. Psychologists have long recognized that how we perceive a particular trait of a person can be influenced by how we perceive other traits of the same individual. An example of this would be judging an attractive person as intelligent, just because he or she is good-looking. A growing literature suggests that the halo effect may also apply to foods, and ultimately influence what and how much we eat. ... > full story

New mechanism for invasion of tumorous cells discovered (April 11, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism whereby tumor cells invade normal tissues, spreading cancer through various organs. ... > full story

What sea squirts can teach us about the heart (April 11, 2011) -- Scientists are working to develop better diagnostics and therapies to manage heart defects in newborns. An obscure filter-feeding sea animal holds the promise of helping them unravel the complex mechanisms underlying heart formation and develop new diagnostics for congenital heart defects. ... > full story

Anatomic differences found after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (April 11, 2011) -- Researchers have concluded that the anatomy of the pelvis following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is considerably different when compared to the anatomy of the pelvis following an open prostatectomy (OP). These findings, which are the first to ever compare pelvic anatomy following RARP and OP surgery, may have implications for patients requiring post-operative radiation. ... > full story

Experimental drug achieves unprecedented weight loss, clinical trial finds (April 11, 2011) -- An investigational combination of drugs already approved to treat obesity, migraine and epilepsy produced up to a 10 percent weight loss in obese individuals participating in a one-year clinical trial, according to researchers. ... > full story

Ozone reduces fungal spoilage of fruits and vegetables (April 11, 2011) -- Storing fruits and vegetables in ozone-enriched environments reduces spoilage. Scientists explain how ozone treatment could be a safe, effective replacement for pesticides as it leaves no residue on foods. ... > full story

Increased life expectancy discourages religious participation, research finds (April 11, 2011) -- Churches will continue to attract older congregations as increasing life expectancy encourages people to put off involvement in religion, according to new research. ... > full story

Accelerated lab evolution of biomolecules could yield new generation of medicines (April 11, 2011) -- Scientists have harnessed the prowess of fast-replicating bacterial viruses, also known as phages, to accelerate the evolution of biomolecules in the laboratory. The work could ultimately allow the tailoring of custom pharmaceuticals and research tools from lab-grown proteins, nucleic acids, and other such compounds. ... > full story

Flu helps spread pneumonia (April 11, 2011) -- Bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis are only able to spread when individuals are infected with flu, according to an expert. The work could have implications for the management of influenza pandemics and could help reduce incidence of pneumococcal infections in very young children, who are more susceptible to disease. ... > full story

Protein thought to protect against oxidative stress also promotes clogging of arteries (April 11, 2011) -- Researchers have found that a protein that plays an important role in some antioxidant therapies may not be as effective due to additional mechanisms that cause it to promote atherosclerosis, or clogging of the arteries. ... > full story

Free software makes computer mouse easier for people with disabilities (April 11, 2011) -- As the population ages, more people are having trouble with motor control, but now scientists have invented two mouse cursors that make clicking targets a whole lot easier. ... > full story

Demystifying meditation: Brain imaging illustrates how meditation reduces pain (April 11, 2011) -- Meditation produces powerful pain-relieving effects in the brain, according to new research. For the study, healthy volunteers who had never meditated learned a meditation technique known as focused attention. Focused attention is a form of mindfulness meditation where people are taught to attend to the breath and let go of distracting thoughts and emotions. ... > full story

Drinking during pregnancy increases risk of premature birth, study finds (April 11, 2011) -- Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight. But there are conflicting reports about how much alcohol, if any, it is safe for a pregnant woman to drink. New research looked at the amounts of alcohol women drank during their early pregnancy and showed the effect this had on their babies. ... > full story

An earlier start on diagnosing breast, prostate cancers (April 11, 2011) -- Using biological samples taken from patients and state-of-the-art biochemical techniques, researchers are working to identify a variety of "biomarkers" that might provide earlier warnings of the presence of breast and prostate cancers. ... > full story

Women with false-positive mammograms report high anxiety and reduced quality of life (April 11, 2011) -- Doctors are calling for women to receive more information about the pitfalls of breast cancer screening, as well as the benefits, after some women who received false-positive results faced serious anxiety and reduced quality of life for at least a year. The study of 385 women found that the 233 with false-positive results - where the mammogram is abnormal but no cancer is present - had to undergo more diagnostic procedures than women with breast cancer before they were given the all clear. And women who had a tendency to be anxious fared much worse if they received a false-positive - estimated to happen in 60% of abnormal mammograms - than if they were actually diagnosed with breast cancer. ... > full story

Scientists develop 'universal' virus-free method to turn blood cells into 'beating' heart cells (April 11, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a simplified, cheaper, all-purpose method they say can be used by scientists around the globe to more safely turn blood cells into heart cells. The method is virus-free and produces heart cells that beat with nearly 100 percent efficiency, they claim. ... > full story

How marijuana affects the way the brain processes emotional information (April 11, 2011) -- Drugs like marijuana act on naturally occurring receptors in the brain called cannabinoid receptors. However, the mechanisms by which these drugs produce their sensory and mood altering effects within the brain are largely unknown. Researchers have now identified a critical brain pathway responsible for the effects of cannabinoid drugs on how the brain processes emotional information. ... > full story

Alarmingly high cardiovascular risk factors found in Mediterranean people (April 11, 2011) -- A study of 2,270 adults has challenged the long-held belief that people in the Mediterranean all enjoy more healthy diets and lifestyles, after discovering alarmingly high cardiovascular risk factors similar to those found in the UK and USA. The research also found strong links between low levels of education and increased risk. Just under 30% of the adults had three or more cardiovascular risk factors that could be modified by changes to their lifestyle or diet. ... > full story

How children cope with the aftermath of a hurricane (April 11, 2011) -- Living through a natural disaster is a traumatic experience for everyone, but especially for children. A new study indicates that some children who directly experience a devastating hurricane still show signs of post-traumatic stress almost two years after the event. The findings suggest that new models for intervention to help children after a natural disaster are needed. ... > full story

Immunization not linked to increased hospitalization for children with inherited disorder, study finds (April 11, 2011) -- Children with inborn errors of metabolism received vaccines on the same immunization schedule as did healthy infants, according new research. In addition, immunization was not associated with significant increases in emergency room visits or hospitalizations during the month following vaccination, researchers say. ... > full story

Bullying alters brain chemistry, leads to anxiety, mouse study finds (April 10, 2011) -- Being low mouse on the totem pole is tough on murine self-esteem. It turns out it has measurable effects on brain chemistry, too, according to recent experiments. Researchers found that mice that were bullied persistently by dominant males grew unusually nervous around new company, and that the change in behavior was accompanied by heightened sensitivity to vasopressin, a hormone involved in a variety of social behaviors. The findings suggest how bullying could contribute to long-term social anxiety at the molecular level. ... > full story

'Good cholesterol' nanoparticles seek and destroy cancer cells (April 10, 2011) -- High-density lipoprotein's hauls excess cholesterol to the liver for disposal, but new research suggests "good cholesterol" can also act as a special delivery vehicle of destruction for cancer. ... > full story

New highly efficient way to make reprogrammed stem cells (April 10, 2011) -- Researchers have devised a totally new and far more efficient way of generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), immature cells that are able to develop into several different types of cells or tissues in the body. The researchers used fibroblast cells, which are easily obtained from skin biopsies, and could be used to generate patient-specific iPSCs for drug screening and tissue regeneration. This method eliminates the use of transcription factors and increases efficiency 100-fold. ... > full story

Scientists to sequence DNA of cystic fibrosis superbug (April 10, 2011) -- Scientists in the UK are using the latest DNA sequencing technology to understand the diversity of a bacterium that causes severe lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients. ... > full story

Mum’s the word when it comes to children’s happiness (April 10, 2011) -- Young people's satisfaction with their family situation is clearly related to the quality of relationships with parents and especially their mother's happiness, according to a new study. ... > full story

Aspirin may lower the risk of pancreatic cancer (April 10, 2011) -- The use of aspirin at least once per month is associated with a significant decrease in pancreatic cancer risk, new research suggests. ... > full story

Nicotine does not promote lung cancer growth in mouse models, study finds (April 10, 2011) -- Nicotine at doses similar to those found in most nicotine replacements therapies did not increase lung cancer tumor incidence, frequency or size, according to results of a mouse study. ... > full story

People control thoughts better when they see their brain activity (April 10, 2011) -- Researchers find that real-time brain feedback significantly improves people's ability to control their thoughts and effectively "train their brains." The study is the world's first investigation of how real-time functional fMRI feedback from the brain region responsible for higher-order thoughts affects our ability to control these thoughts. ... > full story

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ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, April 12, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, April 12, 2011

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

New citrus variety is very sweet, juicy and low-seeded (April 12, 2011) -- Juicy. Extremely Sweet. Visually attractive. Easy to peel. Low seeded. These are the fine qualities that mark "KinnowLS," the latest citrus variety released by researchers at the University of California, Riverside. Large-sized for a mandarin, the fruit has an orange rind color. The rind is thin and extremely smooth. The 10-11 segments in each fruit are fleshy and deep orange in color. "KinnowLS" matures during February through April and does well in hot climates. ... > full story

Penguins that shun ice still lose big from a warming climate (April 11, 2011) -- Fluctuations in penguin populations in the Antarctic are linked more strongly to the availability of their primary food source than to changes in their habitats, according to a new study. This research indicates that species often considered likely "winners" of changing conditions, such as large-scale ice melting, may actually end up as the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. ... > full story

Squid and octopuses experience massive acoustic trauma from noise pollution in the oceans (April 11, 2011) -- Noise pollution has been shown to cause physical and behavioral changes in marine life, especially in dolphins and whales, which rely on sound for daily activities. Now a new study found that squid, octopus and cuttlefish exhibited massive acoustic trauma in the form of severe lesions in their auditory structures following exposure to low frequency sound. ... > full story

Fracking controversy: Using water, sand and chemicals to extract natural gas from shale (April 11, 2011) -- The turmoil in oil-producing nations is triggering turmoil at home, as rising oil prices force Americans to pay more at the pump. Meanwhile, there's a growing industry that's promising jobs and access to cheaper energy resources on American soil, but it's not without its controversy. ... > full story

Positioning enzymes with ease (April 11, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a superior method for immobilizing enzymes on surfaces, deftly controlling their orientation, improving their efficiency and rendering them more stable. ... > full story

Electric Yellowstone: Conductivity image hints supervolcano plume is bigger than thought (April 11, 2011) -- Geophysicists have made the first large-scale picture of the electrical conductivity of the gigantic underground plume of hot and partly molten rock that feeds the Yellowstone supervolcano. The image suggests the plume is even bigger than it appears in earlier images made with earthquake waves. ... > full story

Odd corn plant provides insight into how corn makes hormones (April 11, 2011) -- It's a corn plant only a geneticist could love. Its ears -- if it makes them at all -- resemble small, chubby, lime-green caterpillars, not exactly something you want to dig your teeth into. To top it off, the corn plant stands only about three feet tall, at full maturity, and has few leaves. By using a positional cloning technique and molecular markers, scientists were able to pinpoint the absent gene in this plant, which they named vanishing tassel2 or vt2. The gene encodes an enzyme, called tryptophan aminotransferase, important for making auxin, an important growth hormone in plants. ... > full story

Big picture of how interferon-induced genes launch antiviral defenses revealed (April 11, 2011) -- For the first time, scientists have carried out a comprehensive, systematic evaluation of the antiviral activity of interferon-induced factors. The findings are a first step toward unraveling how these naturally occurring molecules work to inhibit viruses. ... > full story

West Antarctic warming triggered by warmer sea surface in tropical Pacific (April 11, 2011) -- New research shows that rising sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean drive atmospheric circulation that has caused some of the largest shifts in Antarctic climate in recent decades. ... > full story

Ancient corals provide insight on the future of Caribbean reefs (April 11, 2011) -- Climate change is already widely recognized to be negatively affecting coral reef ecosystems around the world, yet the long-term effects are difficult to predict. Scientists are now using the geologic record of Caribbean corals to understand how reef ecosystems might respond to climate change expected for this century. ... > full story

New genetic study helps solve Darwin's mystery about ancient evolution of flowering plants (April 11, 2011) -- The evolution and diversification of the more than 300,000 living species of flowering plants may have been "jump started" much earlier than previously calculated, according to a new study. The study provides a wealth of new genetic data and is expected to change the way biologists view the family trees of plants in general and flowering plants in particular. ... > full story

Virtual reality lab focuses on conservation (April 11, 2011) -- Timber! Cutting down a tree in a virtual forest can bring new ideas of conservation crashing down on you If a tree falls in a virtual reality forest, will anyone hear an environmental message? They will, as long as they were the ones who cut down the make-believe redwood. Cutting down a virtual redwood with a virtual chainsaw may lead you to save trees by recycling more paper. That finding is an example of how real-world behavior can be changed by immersing people in virtual reality environments. ... > full story

Are invasive plants a threat to native biodiversity? It depends on the spatial scale (April 11, 2011) -- The phrase "invasive plant species" typically evokes negative images such as broad swaths of kudzu smothered trees along the highway or purple loosestrife taking over wetlands and clogging waterways -- and as such, invasive plants are largely viewed as major threats to native biodiversity. However, research has shown both that invasive species may be one of the most important threats to biodiversity and that plant invasions are rarely the cause for native species extinctions. How can these conflicting pieces of evidence be reconciled? ... > full story

Excessive nitrogen harms the economy and environment: First Europe-wide assessment published (April 11, 2011) -- A major new study finds that nitrogen pollution is costing each person in Europe around 150-740 Euros a year. The first European Nitrogen Assessment (ENA), carried out by 200 experts from 21 countries and 89 organizations, has been launched at a conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. The study estimates that the annual cost of damage caused by nitrogen across Europe is 70-320 billion Euros, more than double the extra income gained from using nitrogen fertilizers in European agriculture. ... > full story

Avalanche risk: Monitoring system warns of slippery slopes (April 10, 2011) -- As a consequence of climatic changes, the number of avalanche threats has been increasing in the Alps and other alpine regions, with fatal consequences for people and infrastructures. Continuous monitoring of every endangered area has been lacking until now due to high costs. Geological researchers have now developed an inexpensive system, which with the help of several technologies can continuously monitor slopes, assess changes, and provide early warnings to communities potentially affected by landslides. ... > full story

Ancient fossils hold clues for predicting future climate change (April 10, 2011) -- The study of fossilized mollusks dating back more than 3.5 million years has enabled geoscientists to construct an ancient climate record that holds clues regarding the long-term effects of Earth's current levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, a key contributor to global climate change. ... > full story

Bacterial genome may hold answers to mercury mystery (April 10, 2011) -- A newly sequenced bacterial genome could contain clues as to how microorganisms produce a highly toxic form of mercury. Methylmercury, a potent human neurotoxin, appears in the environment when certain naturally occurring bacteria transform inorganic mercury into its more toxic cousin. Few bacterial species are capable of this conversion, and exactly how the transformation takes place has been a matter of debate for decades. ... > full story

Giant batteries for green power (April 10, 2011) -- In the future, the growing amounts of solar and wind energy will need to be stored for dark or low-wind periods. One solution is redox flow batteries that can supply current for up to 2000 households. Scientists are now working on these fluid batteries of the future. ... > full story

Scientists have new measure for species threat (April 10, 2011) -- A new index has been developed to help conservationists better understand how close species are to extinction. ... > full story

New insights into predator/prey relationships (April 10, 2011) -- Predator/prey relationships are much more complex than originally thought, according to new research. ... > 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

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

'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

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

Dopamine controls formation of new brain cells, salamander study shows (April 8, 2011) -- A study of the salamander brain has led researchers to discover a hitherto unknown function of the neurotransmitter dopamine. In a new study, they show how in acting as a kind of switch for stem cells, dopamine controls the formation of new neurons in the adult brain. Their findings may one day contribute to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's. ... > full story

Japan earthquake caused a displacement of about two meters (April 8, 2011) -- Researchers have estimated the ground deformation suffered in the area of Sendai, Japan, as a consequence of the earthquake of March 11 and its aftershocks, based on radar observations acquired by the Envisat satellite of the European Space Agency. According to this estimate, obtained over an area of approximately 300 x 100 km around the city of Sendai, the terrain has suffered a co-seismic deformation -- permanent deformation of Earth's surface -- associated with the earthquake of up to 1.69 m. ... > full story

Entomologists propose pesticide-free method to increase egg production (April 8, 2011) -- With the Easter holiday season coming up soon, egg consumption is expected to rise temporarily. But parasites such as fowl mites that commonly infest hens can reduce egg production by five percent or more. Entomologists argue that the chicken body louse, also a poultry parasite, can be used to effectively eradicate the mites if egg-producing commercial farms follow a simple, green strategy involving an odd twist on biological control. ... > full story

For NASA's Aquarius, quest for salt a global endeavor (April 8, 2011) -- With more than a few stamps on its passport, NASA's Aquarius instrument on the Argentinian Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas (SAC)-D spacecraft will soon embark on its space mission to "taste" Earth's salty ocean. ... > full story

Nature helps to solve a sticky problem: Beetle foot pads may inspire novel artificial adhesives (April 8, 2011) -- The arrays of fine adhesive hairs or 'setae' on the foot pads of many insects, lizards and spiders give them the ability to climb almost any natural surface. Researchers have found that the different forces required to peel away these adhesive hairs from surfaces are what allows beetles to adhere to diverse surfaces, thereby reducing the risk of detachment. Their study provides the first adhesive force measurements from single microscopic setae in a live animal. ... > full story

Atherosclerotic plaques form during a late and limited time period in life, atom bomb residues reveal (April 8, 2011) -- In a new study performed in humans, researchers from Sweden have determined the age of atherosclerotic plaques by taking advantage of carbon-14 residues in the atmosphere, prevailing after the extensive atomic bomb tests in the 1950s and 60s. The findings suggest that in most people plaque formation occurs during a relatively short and late time period in life of 3-5 years. ... > full story

Simple chemical cocktail shows first promise for limb re-growth in mammals (April 8, 2011) -- Move over, newts and salamanders. The mouse may join you as the only animal that can re-grow their own severed limbs. Researchers are reporting that a simple chemical cocktail can coax mouse muscle fibers to become the kinds of cells found in the first stages of a regenerating limb. Their study is the first demonstration that mammal muscle can be turned into the biological raw material for a new limb. ... > full story

Caffeine and diabetes: Helpful or harmful? (April 8, 2011) -- A growing body of research suggests that caffeine disrupts glucose metabolism and may contribute to the development and poor control of type 2 diabetes, a major public health problem. A review article examines the latest evidence, contradicting earlier studies suggesting a protective effect of caffeine. ... > full story

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