ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter explores the moon in 3-D
• Cutting-edge technology makes NASA's hurricane mission a reality
• River turtle species in Missouri still suffers from past harvesting, study finds
• Exercise does a body -- and a mind -- good
• Large donors are forcing the World Health Organization to reform, expert says
• Change in treatment regime for cryptococcal meningitis may be needed, study finds
• Chronic kidney disease a warning sign independent of hypertension or diabetes
• Pre-op steroids to prevent nausea do not significantly increase post-op bleeding in tonsillectomy, study finds
• Biologists uncover dynamic between biological clock and neuronal activity
• Disparity in breast cancer between black and white women can be eliminated by regular screening
• Understanding how salamanders grow new limbs provides insights into potential of human regenerative medicine
• Finding the statistical fingerprints of election thieves
• Population aging will have long-term implications for economy
• Improved communication could reduce STD epidemic among black teenagers
• New tool for CSI? Geographic software maps distinctive features inside bones
• Prison rehab tied to parole decisions
• Hotter might be better at energy-intensive data centers
• Oropharyngeal cancer patients with HPV have a more robust response to radiation therapy
• Lab encodes collagen: Program defines stable sequences for synthesis, could help fight disease, design drugs
• Isolating stem cells from brain tumors
• News consumption of political stories not enough to retain political knowledge
• Language use is simpler than previously thought, study suggests
• Into the mind of the common fruit fly
• Cost-efficient method developed for maximizing benefits from wine waste
• Scientists prevent heart failure in mice
• Making and breaking heterochromatin
• Species richness and genetic diversity do not go hand in hand in alpine plants
• Human brains develop wiring slowly, differing from chimpanzees
• High-tech tools created to study autism
• Best constraint on mass of photons, using observations of super-massive black holes
• Mechanism that leads to sporadic Parkinson's disease identified
• Cannabinoid may treat brain cancer
• Farthest ever view of the universe assembled by combining 10 years of NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs
• Starting to snore during pregnancy could indicate risk for high blood pressure
• Intuitive visual control provides faster robot operation
• Urban coyotes never stray: New study finds 100 percent monogamy
• Making it easier to make stem cells: Kinase inhibitors lower barrier to producing stem cells in lab
• Boosting natural marijuana-like brain chemicals treats fragile X syndrome symptoms
• Minority children at a higher risk for weight problems in both the US and England
• High oxygen levels after surgery linked to increased long-term risk of death
• A healthy bond: By improving pain treatment, therapy in dogs, research offers medical insight for humans
• Long-term study of cigarette and waterpipe tobacco smoking shows knowledge gap in perceived health risks
• Resveratrol may preserve pain-relieving effects of morphine
• Know how much you're texting while driving? Study says no
• Oscillating microscopic beads could be key to biolab on a chip
• New technique for identifying proteins secreted by cells
• Spirituality key to Chinese medicine success: Study explores why Chinese medicine has stood the test of time
• U.S. presidential candidates could get medieval with 'indirect aggression' debate tactics
• Cutting through the genomic thicket in search of disease variants
• Microfluidic device: Hundreds of biochemical analyses on a single chip
• Agriculture is the direct driver for worldwide deforestation
• Emotion detector enables design of tailor-made election campaigns
• Tumor cell growth does not follow a master plan
• Secrets in small blood vessels could reveal the risks of heart disease and diabetes
• Burying the hatchet in the laser lab
• Musical clues to the truth about female sleuths
• Fast algorithm extracts and compares document meaning
• When the 'fire brigade' arrives too late: Impaired protein degradation causes muscle diseases
• Going viral to kill zits: Scientists uncover virus with potential to stop pimples in their tracks
• Novel materials become multifunctional at ultimate quantum limit

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter explores the moon in 3-D Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:18 PM PDT Scientists using the camera aboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter are acquiring stereo images of the moon in high resolution (0.5 to 2 meters/pixel) that provide 3-D views of the surface from which high resolution topographic maps are made.

Cutting-edge technology makes NASA's hurricane mission a reality Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:17 PM PDT Cutting-edge NASA technology has made this year's NASA Hurricane mission a reality. NASA and other scientists are currently flying a suite of state-of-the-art, autonomously operated instruments that are gathering difficult-to-obtain measurements of wind speeds, precipitation, and cloud structures in and around tropical storms.

River turtle species in Missouri still suffers from past harvesting, study finds Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:17 PM PDT Researchers studying river turtles in Missouri found populations of the northern map turtle have not recovered from harvesting in the 1970s.

Exercise does a body -- and a mind -- good Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:14 PM PDT We've heard it time and time again: exercise is good for us. And it's not just good for physical health -- research shows that daily physical activity can also boost our mental health. But what actually explains the association between exercise and mental health? Is the link physiological? Psychological? Both? A new article explores whether certain psychosocial factors may help to explain the benefits of daily physical activity for adolescents' mental health.

Large donors are forcing the World Health Organization to reform, expert says Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:14 PM PDT The current practice of large donors is forcing the World Health Organization and the World Bank to reflect on how to reform to remain more appealing to the wider set of stakeholders and interests at play, according to a new article.

Change in treatment regime for cryptococcal meningitis may be needed, study finds Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:14 PM PDT The most cost-effective treatment for cryptococcal meningitis (a serious infection of the brain membranes, usually in people with AIDS or other immune system deficiencies) is different to that currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), warranting a review of policy, according to the findings of a new study.

Chronic kidney disease a warning sign independent of hypertension or diabetes Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:12 PM PDT New research finds the presence of chronic kidney disease itself can be a strong indicator of the risk of death and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) even in patients without hypertension or diabetes.

Pre-op steroids to prevent nausea do not significantly increase post-op bleeding in tonsillectomy, study finds Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:12 PM PDT Corticosteroids are often given to children undergoing tonsillectomy to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting; however, previous research has suggested that corticosteroids may increase the risk of hemorrhage during and after surgery. Researchers set to determine the effect of dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, on bleeding. They found that administration of the dexamethasone to children during a tonsillectomy was not associated with excessive, serious bleeding events following surgery compared to patients who received placebo.

Biologists uncover dynamic between biological clock and neuronal activity Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:12 PM PDT Biologists have uncovered one way that biological clocks control neuronal activity -- a discovery that sheds new light on sleep-wake cycles and offers potential new directions for research into therapies to address sleep disorders and jetlag.

Disparity in breast cancer between black and white women can be eliminated by regular screening Posted: 25 Sep 2012 12:33 PM PDT Regular mammography screening can help narrow the breast cancer gap between black and white women, according to a retrospective study.

Understanding how salamanders grow new limbs provides insights into potential of human regenerative medicine Posted: 25 Sep 2012 12:21 PM PDT By studying amphibians that can regenerate missing limbs, scientists have discovered that it isn't enough to activate genes that kick start the regenerative process. In fact, one of the first steps is to halt the activity of so-called jumping genes. In a new paper, researchers show that in the Mexican axolotl, jumping genes have to be shackled or they might move around in the genomes of cells in the tissue destined to become a new limb, and disrupt the process of regeneration.

Finding the statistical fingerprints of election thieves Posted: 25 Sep 2012 12:21 PM PDT Scientists examined voter data from a dozen recent elections around the world and found statistical evidence for election fraud in two of them.

Population aging will have long-term implications for economy Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:39 AM PDT The aging of the US population will have broad economic consequences for the country, particularly for federal programs that support the elderly, and its long-term effects on all generations will be mediated by how -- and how quickly -- the nation responds, says a new congressionally mandated report.

Improved communication could reduce STD epidemic among black teenagers Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:39 AM PDT Black urban teenagers from low-income families face a rate of sexually transmitted disease up to 10 times higher than their white counterparts, but recent studies have identified approaches to prevention programs that might reduce this problem.

New tool for CSI? Geographic software maps distinctive features inside bones Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:39 AM PDT A common type of geographic mapping software offers a new way to study human remains. In a new study, researchers describe how they used commercially available mapping software to identify features inside a human foot bone -- a new way to study human skeletal variation.

Prison rehab tied to parole decisions Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:39 AM PDT Parole board decisions can have a huge impact on whether or not prisoners are motivated to rehabilitate, according to a new study.

Hotter might be better at energy-intensive data centers Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:37 AM PDT New research examines the issue of temperature management in data centers, and suggests that allowing warmer temperatures than are normally recommended might be justifiable.

Oropharyngeal cancer patients with HPV have a more robust response to radiation therapy Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:37 AM PDT Cancer researchers have discovered significant differences in radiation-therapy response among patients with oropharyngeal cancer depending on whether they carry the human papillomavirus, a common sexually transmitted virus.

Lab encodes collagen: Program defines stable sequences for synthesis, could help fight disease, design drugs Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:37 AM PDT In a discovery with implications for drug design, tissue engineering and the treatment of disease, researchers have created a program to encode self-assembling collagen proteins.

Isolating stem cells from brain tumors Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:37 AM PDT A new video protocol details an assay to identify brain tumor initiating stem cells from primary brain tumors. Through flow cytometry, scientists separate stem cells from the rest of the tumor, allowing quick and efficient analysis of target cells. This approach has been effectively used to identify similar stem cells in leukemia patients.

News consumption of political stories not enough to retain political knowledge Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:37 AM PDT Researchers have found that adolescents who spend more time thinking and talking about the news with their peers and relatives tend to know more about political developments in the country.

Language use is simpler than previously thought, study suggests Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:35 AM PDT For more than 50 years, language scientists have assumed that sentence structure is fundamentally hierarchical, made up of small parts in turn made of smaller parts, like Russian nesting dolls. But a new study suggests language use is simpler than they had thought.

Into the mind of the common fruit fly Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:35 AM PDT Although a nuisance in every home, fruit flies have made surprising contributions to medical science. Now a researcher says that they may also hold the key to the cause of Alzheimer's disease.

Cost-efficient method developed for maximizing benefits from wine waste Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:35 AM PDT A new study shows that grape skin and seeds generated from winemaking -- known as wine pomace -- are a good source of antioxidant dietary fiber and can be used to fortify various food products such as yogurts and salad dressings with enhanced nutritional value and extended shelf-life.

Scientists prevent heart failure in mice Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:32 AM PDT Cardiac stress -- for example, a heart attack or high blood pressure -- frequently leads to pathological heart growth and subsequently to heart failure. Two tiny RNA molecules play a key role in this detrimental development in mice, as researchers have now discovered. When they inhibited one of those two specific molecules, they were able to protect the rodent against pathological heart growth and failure. With these findings, the scientists hope to be able to develop therapeutic approaches that can protect humans against heart failure.

Making and breaking heterochromatin Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:32 AM PDT To fit the two-meter long DNA molecule into a cell nucleus that is only a few thousandths of a millimetre in size, long sections of the DNA must be strongly compacted. Epigenetic marks maintain these sections, known as heterochromatin. Scientists have now discovered two further mechanisms necessary for the formation of heterochromatin.

Species richness and genetic diversity do not go hand in hand in alpine plants Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:32 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that a high level of species diversity in alpine plants does not necessarily go hand in hand with a high level of genetic diversity. This finding suggests that new future strategies are needed to protect biodiversity in the Alpine region.

Human brains develop wiring slowly, differing from chimpanzees Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:26 AM PDT Research comparing brain development in humans and our closest nonhuman primate relatives, chimpanzees, reveals how quickly myelin in the cerebral cortex grows, shedding light on the evolution of human cognitive development and the vulnerability of humans to psychiatric disorders. Myelin is the fatty insulation surrounding axon connections of the brain.

High-tech tools created to study autism Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:26 AM PDT Researchers have developed two new technological tools that automatically measure relevant behaviors of children, and promise to have significant impact on the understanding of behavioral disorders such as autism.

Best constraint on mass of photons, using observations of super-massive black holes Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:26 AM PDT A global team of scientists has determined the best constraint on the mass of photons so far, using observations of super-massive black holes. The researchers found a way to use astrophysical observations to test a fundamental aspect of the Standard Model -- namely, that photons have no mass -- better than anyone before.

Mechanism that leads to sporadic Parkinson's disease identified Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Researchers have identified a mechanism that appears to underlie the common sporadic (non-familial) form of Parkinson's disease, the progressive movement disorder. The discovery highlights potential new therapeutic targets for Parkinson's and could lead to a blood test for the disease. The study was based mainly on analysis of human brain tissue.

Cannabinoid may treat brain cancer Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Researchers are evaluating the safety and tolerability of a synthetic cannabinoid called dexanabinol. Delivered as a weekly intravenous infusion, the drug is being tested in patients with all forms of brain cancer, both primary and metastatic.

Farthest ever view of the universe assembled by combining 10 years of NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Like photographers assembling a portfolio of best shots, astronomers have assembled a new, improved portrait of humankind's deepest-ever view of the universe. Called the eXtreme Deep Field, or XDF, the photo was assembled by combining 10 years of NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs taken of a patch of sky at the center of the original Hubble Ultra Deep Field. The XDF is a small fraction of the angular diameter of the full Moon.

Starting to snore during pregnancy could indicate risk for high blood pressure Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT A sleep-related breathing problem is associated with serious, expensive conditions like preeclampsia, gestational hypertension.

Intuitive visual control provides faster robot operation Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Using a novel method of integrating video technology and familiar control devices, a research team is developing a technique to simplify remote control of robotic devices.

Urban coyotes never stray: New study finds 100 percent monogamy Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Coyotes living in cities don't ever stray from their mates, according to a new study. The finding sheds light on why the North American cousin of the dog and wolf, which is originally native to deserts and plains, is thriving today in urban areas.

Making it easier to make stem cells: Kinase inhibitors lower barrier to producing stem cells in lab Posted: 25 Sep 2012 09:13 AM PDT Researchers have discovered several kinase inhibitors that, when added to skin cells, help generate many more induced pluripotent stem cells than the standard method. Kinase inhibitors are chemicals that hinder enzymes responsible for many aspects of cellular communication and survival. This new capability will likely speed up research in many fields, better enabling scientists to study human disease and develop new treatments.

Boosting natural marijuana-like brain chemicals treats fragile X syndrome symptoms Posted: 25 Sep 2012 09:13 AM PDT Scientists have found that increasing natural marijuana-like chemicals in the brain can help correct behavioral issues related to fragile X syndrome, the most common known genetic cause of autism.

Minority children at a higher risk for weight problems in both the US and England Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:49 AM PDT With ties to diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, childhood obesity in wealthy countries is certainly of growing concern to researchers. A new study explores the ties between childhood weight problems, socioeconomic status, and nationality and finds that race, ethnicity, and immigrant status are risk factors for weight problems among children in the US and England.

High oxygen levels after surgery linked to increased long-term risk of death Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:43 AM PDT Patients given high concentrations of inhaled oxygen during and after cancer surgery may be at higher long-term risk of death, according to a new report.

A healthy bond: By improving pain treatment, therapy in dogs, research offers medical insight for humans Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:43 AM PDT From the use of hot and cold packs to new forms of narcotics, a professor is studying ways to improve post-surgery pain treatment and osteoarthritis therapy in dogs. His research may help develop better ways to treat humans for various medical conditions.

Long-term study of cigarette and waterpipe tobacco smoking shows knowledge gap in perceived health risks Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:43 AM PDT People who smoke both cigarettes and waterpipes -- dual users -- lack sufficient knowledge about the risks of tobacco smoking and are at considerable risk for dependence and tobacco-related diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and stroke later in life, according to findings of a new study by Virginia Commonwealth University.

Resveratrol may preserve pain-relieving effects of morphine Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:43 AM PDT Resveratrol —- the same natural polyphenol found in red wine -— preserves the potent pain-relieving effect of morphine in rats that have developed morphine tolerance, suggests a new study.

Know how much you're texting while driving? Study says no Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:43 AM PDT Texting while driving is a serious threat to public safety, but a new study suggests that we might not be aware of our actions.

Oscillating microscopic beads could be key to biolab on a chip Posted: 25 Sep 2012 07:27 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to manipulate and measure magnetic particles without contact, potentially enabling multiple medical tests on a tiny device.

New technique for identifying proteins secreted by cells Posted: 25 Sep 2012 07:27 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new technique to identify the proteins secreted by a cell. The new approach should help researchers collect precise data on cell biology, which is critical in fields ranging from zoology to cancer research.

Spirituality key to Chinese medicine success: Study explores why Chinese medicine has stood the test of time Posted: 25 Sep 2012 07:25 AM PDT Are the longevity and vitality of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due to its holistic approach? Indeed, Chinese medicine is not simply about treating illness, but rather about taking care of the whole person -- body, mind, and spirit. According to an analysis of TCM's origins and development, traditional Chinese medicine is profoundly influenced by Chinese philosophy and religion. To date, modern science has been unable to explain the mechanisms behind TCM's effects.

U.S. presidential candidates could get medieval with 'indirect aggression' debate tactics Posted: 25 Sep 2012 07:25 AM PDT As Barack Obama and Mitt Romney prepare to square off in a series of presidential debates, the candidates and their running mates could go medieval on their opponents by using a rhetorical technique that dates back to Nordic and Germanic legends of the Middle Ages, says a scholar of medieval literature.

Cutting through the genomic thicket in search of disease variants Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:18 AM PDT Scientists and clinicians have turned to computer tools that sift meaningful genomic variants from the glut of mutations they face. Using a new tool researchers can now improve the accuracy of their analysis.

Microfluidic device: Hundreds of biochemical analyses on a single chip Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:18 AM PDT Thanks to an innovative microfluidic device, 768 biochemical interactions (e.g., between DNA and transcription factors) can be monitored at the same time.

Agriculture is the direct driver for worldwide deforestation Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:16 AM PDT A new synthesis on drivers of deforestation and forest degradation was published during the Bangkok climate change negotiations. The report stresses the importance of knowing what drives deforestation and forest degradation, in order to be able to design and monitor effective REDD+ policies to halt it.

Emotion detector enables design of tailor-made election campaigns Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:16 AM PDT Messages, attires, gestures, themes or melodies that are liked by the public are some of the aspects that guarantee the success of a political party. Researchers are now helping to define such feelings thanks to Sentient, a "feelings detector". This device issues reports on the positive or negative perception of some people to the stimuli of their environment.  Thus, Sentient provide campaign managers with the necessary information to determine, adjust or even enhance the elements influencing voters' intentions.

Tumor cell growth does not follow a master plan Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT Scientists may have explained a yet unknown regulatory network that controls the growth of tumor cells. Understanding such networks is an important task in molecular tumor biology in order to decode the relationships between the determinants defining which molecules are produced and in what quantities, in both normal and tumor cells.

Secrets in small blood vessels could reveal the risks of heart disease and diabetes Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT Researchers have embarked on a unique study that will shed new light on the risk of heart disease and diabetes in later life.

Burying the hatchet in the laser lab Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT Experts have been heavily discussing why exactly electrically insulating materials insulate as they do. Based on different mechanisms, a classification scheme for insulators has been in use since the 1960s -- a theoretical one. However, it has been yet impossible to distinctly classify all insulators due to a lack of suitable experimental approaches. A team of physicists has now developed a new method to distinguish different insulators unambiguously.

Musical clues to the truth about female sleuths Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT By analyzing the soundtracks of 1940s film noir thrillers, a musicologist can track changing attitudes to women -- moving away from the classic femme fatale and love interest to the independent female sleuth and action heroine.

Fast algorithm extracts and compares document meaning Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT A computer program could compare two documents and work spot the differences in their meaning using a fast semantic algorithm developed by information scientists in Poland.

When the 'fire brigade' arrives too late: Impaired protein degradation causes muscle diseases Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT New insights into certain muscle diseases, the filaminopathies have just been reported.

Going viral to kill zits: Scientists uncover virus with potential to stop pimples in their tracks Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:13 AM PDT Watch out, acne. Doctors soon may have a new weapon against zits: a harmless virus living on our skin that naturally seeks out and kills the bacteria that cause pimples.

Novel materials become multifunctional at ultimate quantum limit Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:13 AM PDT Physicists have examined the lower limits of novel materials called complex oxides and discovered that unlike conventional semiconductors the materials not only conduct electricity, but also develop unusual magnetic properties.

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