Space Season: Apr 18, 2011

Monday, April 18, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, April 18, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Monday, April 18, 2011

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

Successful strategy developed to regenerate blood vessels (April 18, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a way to stimulate the formation of highly functional new blood vessels. Scientists have developed a strategy in which a biological factor, called fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9), is delivered at the same time that the body is making its own effort at forming new blood vessels in vulnerable or damaged tissue. ... > full story

Experimental drug inhibits cell signaling pathway and slows ovarian cancer growth (April 18, 2011) -- An experimental drug that blocks two points of a crucial cancer cell signaling pathway inhibits the growth of ovarian cancer cells and significantly increases survival in an ovarian cancer mouse model, a study has found. ... > full story

Non-cardiac surgery: Safe for patients with heart device, study finds (April 18, 2011) -- Non-cardiac surgery can be performed safely in patients with a heart device typically implanted into patients waiting for a transplant, according to a new study. ... > full story

Compassion, not sanctions, is best response to workplace anger (April 18, 2011) -- Challenging traditional views of workplace anger, a new article suggests that even intense emotional outbursts can prove beneficial if responded to with compassion. ... > full story

Safer treatment for millions suffering from trypanosome parasite infection (April 18, 2011) -- A safer and more effective treatment for 10 million people in developing countries who suffer from infections caused by trypanosome parasites could become a reality, thanks to new research. ... > full story

Introducing the world's first intubation robot (April 18, 2011) -- Researchers have introduced the first intubation robot operated by remote control. The robotic system may facilitate the intubation procedure and reduce some complications associated with airway management. ... > full story

Path to potential therapy for NF2, a rare tumor disorder (April 18, 2011) -- The proteins that provide cells with a sense of personal space could lead to a therapeutic target for neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), an inherited cancer disorder, according to researchers. Their findings could have profound implications for NF2 and related cancers, such as mesothelioma. ... > full story

Stroke survival among seniors better in sociable neighborhoods (April 18, 2011) -- Seniors living in closely-knit, supportive neighborhoods have significantly better stroke survival rates than others, regardless of other health or socioeconomic factors. For each single point increase in a neighborhood "cohesion" scoring system, survival increased 53 percent. Researchers found no differences in the incidence of strokes -- only in death rates -- and the benefits were not observed among African-Americans for reasons that remain unclear. ... > full story

Blood test could predict metastasis risk in melanoma, study finds (April 17, 2011) -- Scientists have identified a set of plasma biomarkers that could reasonably predict the risk of metastasis among patients with melanoma, according to new findings. ... > full story

Biochemist uses computer models to study protein involved with cancer, aging and chronic disease (April 17, 2011) -- Biochemists took a combined computational and experimental approach to understand how protein p21 functions as a versatile regulator of cell division. ... > full story

People know when first impressions are accurate (April 17, 2011) -- First impressions are important, and they usually contain a healthy dose both of accuracy and misperception. But do people know when their first impressions are correct? They do reasonably well, according to a new study. ... > full story

Key to personalized cancer medicine unlocked using tumor metabolism (April 17, 2011) -- Identifying gene mutations in cancer patients to predict clinical outcome has been the cornerstone of cancer research for nearly three decades, but now researchers have invented a new approach that instead links cancer cell metabolism with poor clinical outcome. This approach can now be applied to virtually any type of human cancer cell. ... > full story

Higher chronic cerebral venous insufficiency prevalence confirmed in MS, but meaning of findings remains unclear (April 17, 2011) -- A new study on the relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic cerebral venous insufficiency (CCSVI), a narrowing of the extracranial veins that restricts the normal outflow of blood from the brain, found that CCSVI may be a result of MS, not a cause. ... > full story

Inability to detect sarcasm, lies may be early sign of dementia, study shows (April 17, 2011) -- By asking a group of older adults to analyze videos of other people conversing -- some talking truthfully, some insincerely -- a group of scientists has determined which areas of the brain govern a person's ability to detect sarcasm and lies. ... > full story

Vegetarians may be at lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke (April 17, 2011) -- Vegetarians experience a 36 percent lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome than non-vegetarians, suggests new research. Because metabolic syndrome can be a precursor to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, the findings indicate vegetarians may be at lower risk of developing these conditions. ... > full story

An advance for a newborn vaccine approach (April 17, 2011) -- Infectious disease is a huge cause of death globally, and is a particular threat to newborns whose immune systems respond poorly to most vaccines. A new approach using an adjuvant (an agent to stimulate the immune system) along with the vaccine, shows promise in a study of blood from Gambian infants. ... > full story

Why does brain development diverge from normal in autism spectrum disorders? (April 17, 2011) -- Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder on the autism spectrum, is marked by relatively normal development in infancy followed by a loss of loss of cognitive, social and language skills starting at 12 to 18 months of age. What hasn't been clear is why children start out developing normally, only to become progressively abnormal. New research helps unravel what's going on. ... > full story

Neurological basis for embarrassment described (April 16, 2011) -- Recording people belting out an old Motown tune and then asking them to listen to their own singing without the accompanying music seems like an unusually cruel form of punishment. But for a team of scientists, this exact Karaoke experiment has revealed what part of the brain is essential for embarrassment. ... > full story

MRI may help detect Alzheimer's at early stage, study suggests (April 16, 2011) -- New research suggests that magnetic resonance imaging could help detect Alzheimer's disease at an early stage, before irreversible damage has occurred. ... > full story

Vitamin D may help reduce heart risk in African-Americans (April 16, 2011) -- New research indicates that supplementation with the "sunshine vitamin" may be particularly beneficial for overweight African-American adults, a population at increased risk for both CVD and vitamin D deficiency. ... > full story

Stigma weighs heavily on obese people, contributing to greater health problems (April 16, 2011) -- The discrimination that obese people feel, whether it is poor service at a restaurant or being treated differently in the workplace, may have a direct impact on their physical health, according to new research. ... > full story

Therapeutically promising new findings for combating hypertension and cardiovascular disease (April 16, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a promising new avenue they strongly believe can be further developed to treat hypertension and cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

Non-lethal way of switching off essential genes in mice perfected (April 16, 2011) -- Switching off an essential gene to study its function is problematic because shutting off its activity permanently will kill the organism before the gene's function can be determined. Researchers have overcome this problem by using RNAi technology to temporarily turn off any essential gene in adult mice and then turn it back on before the change kills the animals. ... > full story

Combined use of three markers for kidney disease may help predict risk of kidney failure, death (April 16, 2011) -- Combining the chronic kidney disease markers of creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio with the biomarker cystatin C was associated with improved prediction of end-stage kidney disease and all-cause death, according to a new study. ... > full story

Doctors lax in monitoring potentially addicting drugs, study suggests (April 16, 2011) -- Few primary care physicians pay adequate attention to patients taking prescription opioid drugs -- despite the potential for abuse, addiction and overdose, according to a new study. The study found lax monitoring even of patients at high risk for opioid misuse, such as those with a history of drug abuse or dependence. ... > full story

Africa the birthplace of human language, analysis suggests (April 15, 2011) -- A new study by a New Zealand researcher provides strong evidence for Africa as the birthplace of human language. An analysis of languages from around the world suggests that, like our genes, human speech originated -- just once -- in sub-Saharan Africa. The research studied the phonemes, or the perceptually distinct units of sound that differentiate words, used in 504 human languages today and found that the number of phonemes is highest in Africa and decreases with increasing distance from Africa. ... > full story

'Thunder' protein regulates memory formation (April 15, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered in mice a molecular wrecking ball that powers the demolition phase of a cycle that occurs at synapses -- those specialized connections between nerve cells in the brain -- and whose activity appears critical for both limiting and enhancing learning and memory. ... > full story

Whole-exome sequencing of skin cancer completed: Most comprehensive view of melanoma's genetic landscape (April 15, 2011) -- Researchers have made the first systematic survey of the landscape of the melanoma genome, the DNA code of the deadliest form of skin cancer. The researchers have made surprising new discoveries using whole-exome sequencing, an approach that decodes the 1-2 percent of the genome that contains protein-coding genes. ... > full story

Childhood eczema and hay fever leads to adult allergic asthma, study finds (April 15, 2011) -- Children who have eczema, particularly when occurring with hay fever, are nine times more likely to develop allergic asthma in their 40s, a new study reveals. ... > full story

Long-term users of ecstasy risk structural brain damage, study suggests (April 15, 2011) -- Long term users of the popular recreational drug ecstasy risk structural brain damage, suggests preliminary research. ... > full story

How DNA changes: Newly revealed process has implications for understanding cancers, psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases (April 15, 2011) -- Using human kidney cells and brain tissue from adult mice, scientists have uncovered the sequence of steps that makes normally stable DNA undergo the crucial chemical changes implicated in cancers, psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The process may also be involved in learning and memory, the researchers say. ... > full story

Parents' 'um's' and 'uh's' help toddlers learn new words, cognitive scientists find (April 15, 2011) -- A team of cognitive scientists has good news for parents who are worried that they are setting a bad example for their children when they say "um" and "uh." A new study shows that toddlers actually use their parents' stumbles and hesitations (technically referred to as disfluencies) to help them learn language more efficiently. ... > full story

Heart needs work after heart attack: New study challenges the notion that the heart must rest (April 15, 2011) -- A new study shows that for best results in stable patients after heart attack, early exercise as well as prolonged exercise is the key to the best outcomes. The study found that stable patients who have suffered heart attacks get more benefits for heart performance when starting an exercise program one week after the heart attack, than waiting a month or longer to begin rehabilitation. ... > full story

Stronger regulations of in vitro fertilization may save lives, new study finds (April 15, 2011) -- Couples struggling with infertility often use assisted reproductive technologies, like in vitro fertilization (IVF), to get pregnant. This can increase the risk of multiple pregnancies, which are often caused by transferring more than one embryo. Twins and triplets are likely to be born prematurely, and, as a result, many have medical complications. A new study finds a major decrease in risk, as well as cost, if single embryo transfers are mandated for IVF. ... > full story

US meat and poultry is widely contaminated with drug-resistant Staph bacteria, study finds (April 15, 2011) -- Drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria linked to a wide range of human diseases, are present in meat and poultry from US grocery stores at unexpectedly high rates, according to a new study. ... > full story

Patients' own cells yield new insights into the biology of schizophrenia (April 15, 2011) -- After a century of studying the causes of schizophrenia -- the most persistent disabling condition among adults -- the cause of the disorder remains unknown. Now induced pluripotent stem cells generated from schizophrenic patients have brought researchers a step closer to a fundamental understanding of the biological underpinnings of the disease. ... > full story

Illusion can halve the pain of osteoarthritis, scientists say (April 15, 2011) -- A serendipitous discovery by academics has shown that a simple illusion can significantly reduce -- and in some cases even temporarily eradicate -- arthritic pain in the hand. ... > full story

Rising star of brain found to regulate circadian rhythms (April 15, 2011) -- The circadian system that controls sleep patterns is regulated by glial brain cells called astrocytes, according to a new study. Neuroscientists found that disruption of astrocyte function in fruit flies led to altered daily rhythms, an indication that these cells contribute to the control of circadian behavior. These results provide, for the first time, a tractable genetic model to study the role of astrocytes in circadian rhythms and sleep disorders. ... > full story

Tourette syndrome: Non-drug therapy to reduce tics; Study shows the neurophysiological impacts of psychotherapy (April 15, 2011) -- The use of cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat tics in Tourette syndrome may be as effective as and even superior to medication in certain cases. According to a new study, it was observed that therapy has an effect not only on tics, behavior and thoughts, but also on brain activity. ... > full story

Genes that control 'aging' steroid identified (April 15, 2011) -- Eight genes which control levels of the main steroid produced by the adrenal gland, believed to play a role in aging and longevity, have now been uncovered. ... > full story

Antibody response may lead to narrowed arteries and organ rejection (April 15, 2011) -- Kidney transplant recipients who develop antibodies in response to receiving new organs can develop accelerated arteriosclerosis, or narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidney, according to a new study. The results indicate that arteriosclerosis resulting from such donor-specific antibodies may play an important role in organ rejection following transplantation. ... > full story

Targeting top 911 callers can trim cost, improve patient care (April 15, 2011) -- Repeated unnecessary 911 calls are a common drain on the personnel and finances of emergency medical services, but a pilot program that identified Baltimore City's top 911 callers and coupled them with a case worker has succeeded in drastically cutting the number of such calls while helping callers get proper care. ... > full story

Evolution points to genes involved in birth timing: New gene may increase risk for preterm birth (April 15, 2011) -- Evolutionary changes that make us uniquely human -- such as our large heads and narrow pelvises -- may have "pushed" human birth timing earlier and can be used to identify genes associated with preterm birth, a new study suggests. Variations in the follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene may increase a woman's risk for delivering her infant prematurely, researchers say. ... > full story

Studies of marine animals aim to help prevent rejection of transplanted organs (April 15, 2011) -- Studies of the small sea squirt may ultimately help solve the problem of rejection of organ and bone marrow transplants in humans, according to scientists. ... > full story

Novel therapy improves immune function in teen with rare disease (April 15, 2011) -- In a novel approach that works around the gene defect in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, an inherited immune deficiency disorder, researchers used an alternative cell signaling pathway to significantly improve immune function in a 13-year-old boy with the disease. The study provides a proof-of-principle that immunotherapy, which harnesses elements of the body's immune system, may be used to treat this rare but often deadly disorder. ... > full story

Diet plus exercise is more effective for weight loss than either method alone (April 15, 2011) -- When it comes to losing weight and body fat, diet and exercise are most effective when done together as compared to either strategy alone, according to new research. ... > full story

Enzyme crucial to DNA replication may provide potent anti-cancer drug target (April 15, 2011) -- An enzyme essential for DNA replication and repair in humans works in a way that might be exploited as anti-cancer therapy, say researchers. ... > full story

Sensor determines if packaged meat has spoiled (April 15, 2011) -- When it comes to packaged fish or meat, it is nearly impossible to distinguish between fresh goods and their inedible counterparts. Researchers have now developed a sensor film that can be integrated into the package itself, where it takes over the role of quality control. And if the food has spoiled, it changes color to announce the fact. ... > full story

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ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Monday, April 18, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Monday, April 18, 2011

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

Ocean front is energetic contributor to mixing, data shows (April 18, 2011) -- Wind blowing on the ocean is a crucial factor mixing carbon dioxide into the ocean depths and keeping it from going back into the atmosphere. For more than two decades scientists have suspected there's another -- possibly substantial -- source of energy for mixing that's generated where cold, heavy water collides with warm, light water. However, there's never been a way to get enough measurements of such a "front" to prove this -- until now. ... > full story

Miniature sensors to measure the ocean (April 18, 2011) -- The first miniature sensors designed to measure saltiness and temperature across the world's oceans are being put in use on an ambitious expedition. ... > full story

Hydrocarbons deep within Earth: New computational study reveals how (April 17, 2011) -- A new computational study reveals how hydrocarbons may be formed from methane in deep Earth at extreme pressures and temperatures. The thermodynamic and kinetic properties of hydrocarbons at high pressures and temperature are important for understanding carbon reservoirs and fluxes in Earth. ... > full story

Invasive mussels causing massive ecological changes in Great Lake (April 17, 2011) -- The ongoing spread of non-native mussels in the Great Lakes has caused "massive, ecosystem-wide changes" throughout lakes Michigan and Huron, two of the planet's largest freshwater lakes, according to a new study. ... > full story

Earth's dust and plankton from space: New views from Envisat satellite (April 17, 2011) -- Europe's Envisat satellite has captured a new view of dust and sand from the Algerian Sahara Desert, located in northern Africa, blowing west across the Atlantic Ocean. ... > full story

Long-sought fossil mammal with transitional middle ear (April 17, 2011) -- A new, complete fossil turns what's known about the evolution of early mammals on its ear. The specimen shows the bones associated with hearing in mammals -- the malleus, incus and ectotympanic -- decoupled from the lower jaw, as had been predicted, but were held in place by an ossified cartilage that rested in a groove on the lower jaw. ... > full story

GPS data used to model effects of tidal loads on Earth's surface (April 17, 2011) -- Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology is helping researchers find their way to a more complete understanding of Earth's interior structure. ... > full story

Successful blueprints are recycled by evolution, study suggests (April 17, 2011) -- A new study finds evidence that the different cell types that make up organs have arisen only once during the course of evolution. The programs to develop these cells have been passed on ever since. ... > full story

Recipe for radioactive compounds aids nuclear waste and fuel storage pools studies (April 17, 2011) -- Easy-to-follow recipes for radioactive compounds like those found in nuclear fuel storage pools, liquid waste containment areas and other contaminated aqueous environments have been developed by researchers. ... > full story

Toward a 'green grid' for delivering solar and wind-based electricity (April 17, 2011) -- After years of neglect, scientists and policy makers are focusing more attention on developing technologies needed to make the so-called "green grid" possible, according to a new article. That's the much-needed future electrical grid, an interconnected network for delivering solar and wind-based electricity from suppliers to consumers. ... > full story

Online calculator allows households to track carbon footprint (April 16, 2011) -- A new analysis of the carbon footprints of households around the U.S. shows that consumers need different strategies in different cities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. An online "carbon calculator" helps consumers decide how to change their lifestyles for the maximum reduction in their footprints. ... > full story

Dietary yeast extracts tested as alternative to antibiotics in poultry (April 16, 2011) -- A dietary yeast extract could be an effective alternative to antibiotics for poultry producers, according to a new study. Microbiologists have been studying the effects of yeast extract as an immune stimulant and alternative to antibiotics in conventional turkeys. Non-pharmaceutical remedies and preventatives are particularly needed for organic poultry production. ... > full story

Forest byproducts, shells may be key to removing radioactive contaminants from drinking water (April 15, 2011) -- A combination of forest byproducts and crustacean shells may be the key to removing radioactive materials from drinking water, researchers have found. ... > full story

The eyes have it: Dinosaurs hunted by night (April 15, 2011) -- The movie Jurassic Park got one thing right: those velociraptors hunted by night while the big plant-eaters browsed around the clock, according to a new study of the eyes of fossil animals. ... > full story

Humpback whale songs spread eastward like the latest pop tune (April 15, 2011) -- Humpback whales have their own version of the hit single, according to a new study. At any given time within a population, male humpbacks all sing the same mating tune. But the pattern of the song changes over time, with the new and apparently catchy versions of the song spreading repeatedly across the ocean, almost always traveling from west to east. ... > full story

Pig stem cell transplants: The key to future research into retina treatment (April 15, 2011) -- Scientists studying the role of stem cells in repairing damaged retina tissue have found that pigs represent an effective proxy species to research treatments for humans. The study demonstrates how stem cells can be isolated and transplanted between pigs, overcoming a key barrier to the research. ... > full story

Changes in 'good' fatty acid concentration of inner organs might be largely independent of diet (April 15, 2011) -- We are all encouraged to eat polyunsaturated fatty acids, as these are "good for us". The (relative) levels of particular classes of polyunsaturated fatty acids have been associated with a plethora of human illnesses. New research suggests that changes in fatty acid concentration of inner organs might be largely independent from diet composition. ... > full story

DNA nanoforms: Miniature architectural forms -- some no larger than viruses -- constructed through DNA origami (April 14, 2011) -- Miniature architectural forms -- some no larger than viruses -- have been constructed through a revolutionary technique known as DNA origami. Now, scientists have expanded the capability of this method to construct arbitrary, two and three-dimensional shapes, mimicking those commonly found in nature. ... > full story

Recent census in war-torn DR Congo finds gorillas have survived, even increased (April 14, 2011) -- A census team has announced some encouraging news from a region plagued by warfare and insecurity: a small population of Grauer's gorillas has not only survived, but also increased since the last census. ... > full story

Europe's wildlife under threat from nitrogen, study warns (April 14, 2011) -- A new international study warns that nitrogen pollution, resulting from industry and agriculture, is putting wildlife in Europe’s at risk. More than 60 per cent of the EU’s most important wildlife sites receive aerial nitrogen pollution inputs above sustainable levels. ... > full story

Weak evidence for word-order universals: Language not as 'innate' as thought? (April 14, 2011) -- About 6,000 languages are spoken today worldwide. How this wealth of expression developed, however, largely remains a mystery. A group of researchers in the Netherlands has now found that word-orders in languages from different language families evolve differently. This contradicts the common understanding that word-order develops in accordance with a set of universal rules, applicable to all languages. Researchers have concluded that languages do not primarily follow innate rules of language processing in the brain. Rather, sentence structure is determined by the historical context in which a language develops. ... > full story

First 3-D topographic map of early Maya city 'Head of Stone' delineates ancient buildings (April 14, 2011) -- Archaeologists have made the first three-dimensional topographic map of the early Maya city "Head of Stone" in Guatemala's Central Lakes region, adding new perspective to the site and its ancient buildings and architectural patterns. Called Holtun in Maya, the never-before-excavated city includes a triadic pyramid, astronomical observatory, ritual ball court, plazas and residential mounds for elites and commoners, say archaeologists. ... > full story

Climate change from black carbon depends on altitude (April 14, 2011) -- Scientists have known for decades that black carbon aerosols add to global warming. These airborne particles made of sooty carbon are believed to be among the largest human-made contributors to global warming because they absorb solar radiation and heat the atmosphere. New research quantifies how black carbon's impact on climate depends on its altitude in the atmosphere. ... > full story

Polluted air leads to disease by promoting widespread inflammation (April 14, 2011) -- Chronic inhalation of polluted air appears to activate a protein that triggers the release of white blood cells, setting off events that lead to widespread inflammation, according to new research in an animal model. This finding narrows the gap in researchers' understanding of how prolonged exposure to pollution can increase the risk for cardiovascular problems and other diseases. ... > full story

Algae could replace 17 percent of US oil imports, study finds (April 14, 2011) -- A new study shows that 17 percent of the United States' imported oil for transportation could be replaced by biofuel made from algae. Researchers also determined that the water needed to grow that algae could be substantially reduced by cultivating it in the nation's sunniest and most humid regions. ... > full story

Crystal 'eyes' let simple mollusks called chitons see predators (April 14, 2011) -- Using eyes made of a calcium carbonate crystal, a simple mollusk may have evolved enough vision to spot potential predators, scientists say. ... > full story

Filtering out pesticides with genetically modified bacteria (April 14, 2011) -- Genetically modified bacteria could be used in air filters to extract pesticide vapors from polluted air, new research shows. ... > full story

Keeping beer fresh longer (April 14, 2011) -- Researchers are reporting discovery of a scientific basis for extending the shelf life of beer so that it stays fresh and tastes good longer. For the first time, they identified the main substances that cause the bitter, harsh aftertaste of aged beer and suggest that preventing the formation of these substances could help extend its freshness. ... > full story

Espresso makers: Coffee in capsules contains more furan than the rest (April 14, 2011) -- Coffee made in espresso makers, above all that made from capsules, contains more furan -- a toxic, carcinogenic compound -- than that made in traditional drip coffee makers, although the levels are still within safe health limits. ... > full story

Experimental treatment for COPD in development (April 14, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a non-steroid based strategy for improving the lung's innate immune defense and decreasing inflammation that can be a problem for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a study, researchers targeted the Nrf2 pathway using sulforaphane, an ingredient that is present in broccoli in a precursor form, to enhance the Nrf2 pathway in the lung that mediates the uptake of bacteria. ... > full story

Loch fossils show life harnessed sun and sex early on (April 14, 2011) -- Remote lochs along the west coast of Scotland are turning up new evidence about the origins of life on land. A team of scientists exploring rocks around Loch Torridon have discovered the remarkably preserved remains of organisms that once lived on the bottom of ancient lake beds as long as a billion years ago. ... > full story

Ocean drilling deep into the Pacific crust (April 14, 2011) -- From April 13 to June 3, an international team is setting off for the East Pacific to carry out an ocean drilling campaign off the coast of Costa Rica. The expedition's goal is to drill down for the first time next to a superfast-spreading mid-ocean ridge, to reach the gabbro that lies around 2 km beneath the ocean floor. Obtaining samples of these magmatic rocks, which result from slower cooling than the basalts found on the ocean floor, will enable scientists to better understand the structure of the crust and test models for its formation in the specific context of fast-spreading ridges. ... > full story

Death -- not just life -- important link in marine ecosystems (April 13, 2011) -- Tiny crustaceans called copepods rule the world, at least when it comes to oceans and estuaries. The most numerous multi-cellular organisms in the seas, copepods are an important link between phytoplankton and fish in marine food webs. ... > full story

Giant fire-bellied toad's brain brims with powerful germ-fighters (April 13, 2011) -- Frog and toad skins already are renowned as cornucopias of hundreds of germ-fighting substances. Now a new report reveals that the toad brains also may contain an abundance of antibacterial and antiviral substances that could inspire a new generation of medicines. ... > full story

Birds inherited strong sense of smell from dinosaurs (April 13, 2011) -- Birds are known more for their senses of vision and hearing than smell, but new research suggests that millions of years ago, the winged critters also boasted a better sense for scents. ... > full story

Natural gas from shale contributes to global warming, researchers find (April 13, 2011) -- Natural gas extracted from shale formations has a greater greenhouse gas footprint -- in the form of methane emissions -- than conventional gas, oil and coal over a 20 year period. This calls into question the logic of its use as a climate-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, according to researchers. ... > full story

Device proves solar cell potential of high bandgap inorganic nanowire arrays (April 13, 2011) -- Proving a theoretical concept for improving the light absorption capabilities of a class of semiconductor materials long-considered impractical for solar energy collection, a team of researchers has successfully fabricated and tested an array of "quantum coaxial cables" -- nanowires structured from inorganic materials that can be fabricated cost-effectively to produce a durable and efficient solar cell. ... > full story

New species of dinosaur bridges gap in dinosaur family tree (April 13, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a fossilized dinosaur skull and neck vertebrae that not only reveal a new species, but also an evolutionary link between two groups of dinosaurs. The new species, Daemonosaurus chauliodus, was discovered at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. ... > full story

Eco-friendly treatment for blue jeans offers alternative to controversial 'sandblasting' (April 13, 2011) -- Blue denim jeans are one of the most popular and iconic fashion items in the world; now a study reveals a cheaper, more efficient and eco-friendly method for treating dyed denim. The process of 'surface activation' used to wash-down the denim following dyeing could also offer an alternative to the dangerous, and internationally banned, sandblasting technique. ... > full story

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ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Monday, April 18, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Monday, April 18, 2011

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

The heat is on: Zeroing in on energy consumption of ice makers (April 18, 2011) -- In tests of four different types of new refrigerators, researchers found that ice makers increased rated energy consumption by 12 to 20 percent. About three-fourths of that additional energy cost is due to the electric heaters used to release the ice bits from the molds. ... > full story

Celestial fireworks from dying stars (April 18, 2011) -- A new image of the nebula NGC 3582 shows giant loops of gas bearing a striking resemblance to solar prominences. These loops are thought to have been ejected by dying stars, but new stars are also being born within this stellar nursery. These energetic youngsters emit intense ultraviolet radiation that makes the gas in the nebula glow, producing a fiery display. ... > full story

Best-ever look at pulsars: LOFAR takes the pulse of the radio sky (April 17, 2011) -- A powerful new telescope is allowing an international team of scientists to have their "best-ever look" at pulsars -- rapidly rotating neutron stars created when massive stars die. ... > full story

New elastic material changes color in UV light (April 16, 2011) -- Researchers have created a range of soft, elastic gels that change color when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light -- and change back when the UV light is removed or the material is heated up. ... > full story

Solar activity heats up: Sunspots finally return (April 16, 2011) -- As 2011 unfolds, sunspots have returned and they are crackling with activity. On February 15 and again on March 9, Earth orbiting satellites detected a pair of "X-class" solar flares -- the most powerful kind of X-ray flare. ... > full story

Novel ionic liquid batteries (April 15, 2011) -- Limits imposed by using corrosive electrolytes often result in severe restrictions to battery geometry and the need for special corrosive-resistant battery containers. The use of reactive ionic liquids in non-aqueous cells replace the more hazardous highly alkaline electrolytes. ... > full story

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