ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• NASA puts Orion backup parachutes to the test
• Canadian experiment to track space radiation and its risks
• Armchair science: Bag and tag glowing galactic clouds
• Saturn mission: Cassini instrument learns new tricks
• Regular family meals together boost kids' fruit and vegetable intake
• Better stroke care, everywhere: Study boosts local hospitals' clotbuster use
• Discovery could eventually help diagnose and treat chronic pain
• Genetic defect causing fragile X-related disorders more common than thought
• Brain imaging insight into cannabis as a pain killer
• How songbirds learn to sing: Mathematical model explains how birds correct mistakes to say on key
• Low pH levels can eliminate harmful blooms of golden algae, one cause of massive fish kills
• On-demand synaptic electronics: Circuits that learn and forget
• Black piranha, megapiranha have most powerful bites of fish living or extinct, researcher finds
• Scientists create new approach to destroy disease-associated RNAs in cells
• Lifestyle changes linked to better outcomes after peripheral intervention
• Thirty-three new trapdoor spider species discovered in the American southwest
• Maya scholar debunks world-ending myth
• Chemical engineers working toward better batteries for transportation
• Engineers seek ways to convert methane into useful chemicals
• Heart calcium scan predictive of diabetes-related death from cardiovascular disease
• Is tomorrow the end?
• Biologists design method to monitor global bee decline
• What do leeches, limpets and worms have in common? Now, a sequenced genome
• Clays on Mars: More plentiful than expected
• Meteorite triggered scientific 'Gold Rush'
• Major source of evolutionary differences among species uncovered
• Peacock love songs lure eavesdropping females from afar
• Chromosome 'anchors' organize DNA during cell division: New role for telomeres in cellular growth may shed light on aging and age-related diseases
• Serendipity points to new potential target and therapy for melanoma
• New kind of magnetism discovered: Experiments demonstrate ‘quantum spin liquid'
• Traffic congestion can be alleviated throughout a metropolitan area by altering trips in specific neighborhoods, model shows
• Paths of photons are random -- but coordinated
• Stroke drug kills bacteria that cause ulcers and tuberculosis
• Small wasps to control a big pest?
• First ever 'atlas' of T cells in human body
• Genomic 'hotspots' offer clues to causes of autism, other disorders
• Clean air: New paints break down nitrogen oxides
• Scientists create nanoscale window to biological world
• Dragonflies have human-like 'selective attention'
• Maya expert weighs in on Dec. 21 apocalypse theories
• Steering stem cells to become two different building blocks for new blood vessels
• Effects of climate change on birds worsened by housing development
• Key gene for regenerating cells after heart attack
• Peel-and-stick solar panels: Decal-like application process allows thin, flexible solar panels to be applied to virtually any surface
• 'Easy does it' gets you further in electric vehicles
• Sibling squabbles can lead to depression, anxiety
• Removing protein 'garbage' in nerve cells may help control 2 neurodegenerative diseases
• Using novel genetic labs for faster detection of E. coli
• Neuroscience: The extraordinary ease of ordinal series
• Toddlers' language skills predict less anger by preschool
• Motivation, study habits -- not IQ -- determine growth in math achievement
• Supportive role models, coping lead to better health in poor teens
• Young offenders who work, don't attend school may be more antisocial
• Two problems in chemical catalysis solved
• Biological concrete for constructing 'living' building materials with lichens, mosses
• Silver sheds light on superconductor secrets
• Gene expression improves the definition of a breast cancer subtype
• New app provides solution when researching animal behaviour
• Sync to grow: Oscillation of gene activity may underlie how embryos grow in proportion
• Shedding light on Anderson localization

NASA puts Orion backup parachutes to the test Posted: 20 Dec 2012 06:31 PM PST NASA completed the latest in a series of parachute tests for its Orion spacecraft Thursday at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in southwestern Arizona, marking another step toward a first flight test in 2014. The test verified Orion can land safely even if one of its two drogue parachutes does not open during descent.

Canadian experiment to track space radiation and its risks Posted: 20 Dec 2012 06:29 PM PST Space can be a potentially hazardous environment to live and work in, especially when it comes to radiation. Originating from violent storms on the Sun and galactic cosmic rays produced in distant supernovae explosions, this natural radiation can pose a serious health risk for astronauts on long-duration space missions like those on the International Space Station (ISS). To prepare for future missions that may last for months or years, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), along with other space agencies around the world, have been stepping up research into radiation biology in recent years, recognizing that it deserves the highest priority.

Armchair science: Bag and tag glowing galactic clouds Posted: 20 Dec 2012 06:06 PM PST A new galactic game launches today that lets citizen scientists identify the glowing clouds where future stars will be born. The online experience, called Clouds, is a new addition to the Milky Way Project, where everyone can help astronomers to sort and measure our galaxy. Clouds features images and data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Herschel Space Observatory, a European Space Agency mission with important participation from NASA.

Saturn mission: Cassini instrument learns new tricks Posted: 20 Dec 2012 06:04 PM PST For seven years, a mini-fridge-sized instrument aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft reliably investigated weather patterns swirling around Saturn; the hydrocarbon composition of the surface of Saturn's moon Titan; the aerosol layers of Titan's haze; and dirt mixing with ice in Saturn's rings. But this year the instrument -- the visual and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIMS) -- has been testing out some new telescopic muscles.

Regular family meals together boost kids' fruit and vegetable intake Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:29 PM PST Regular family meals round a table boosts kids' fruit and vegetable intake, and make it easier for them to reach the recommended five portions a day, a new study indicates.

Better stroke care, everywhere: Study boosts local hospitals' clotbuster use Posted: 20 Dec 2012 04:57 PM PST From the moment a stroke occurs, patients must race against the clock to get treatment that can prevent lasting damage. Now, a new study shows the promise -- and the challenges -- of getting them state-of-the-art treatment safely at their local hospital, saving precious minutes.

Discovery could eventually help diagnose and treat chronic pain Posted: 20 Dec 2012 04:57 PM PST More than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. But treating and studying chronic pain is complex and presents many challenges. Scientists have long searched for a method to objectively measure pain and a new study advances that effort.

Genetic defect causing fragile X-related disorders more common than thought Posted: 20 Dec 2012 04:57 PM PST A single genetic defect on the X chromosome that can result in a wide array of conditions -- from learning and emotional difficulties to primary ovarian insufficiency in women and tremors in middle-aged men -- occurs at a much greater frequency than previously thought, new research has found.

Brain imaging insight into cannabis as a pain killer Posted: 20 Dec 2012 04:57 PM PST The pain relief offered by cannabis varies greatly between individuals, a brain imaging study suggests. The researchers found that an oral tablet of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, tended to make the experience of pain more bearable, rather than actually reduce the intensity of the pain.

How songbirds learn to sing: Mathematical model explains how birds correct mistakes to say on key Posted: 20 Dec 2012 02:18 PM PST Scientists studying how songbirds stay on key have developed a statistical explanation for why some things are harder for the brain to learn than others, building the first mathematical model that uses a bird's previous sensorimotor experience to predict its ability to learn. Their results show that adult birds correct small errors in their songs more rapidly and robustly than large errors.

Low pH levels can eliminate harmful blooms of golden algae, one cause of massive fish kills Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:17 PM PST Researchers are one step closer to understanding the algae that causes a substantial number of fish deaths in more than 18 states.

On-demand synaptic electronics: Circuits that learn and forget Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:14 PM PST Researchers in Japan and the US propose a nanoionic device with a range of neuromorphic and electrical multifunctions that may allow the fabrication of on-demand configurable circuits, analog memories and digital–neural fused networks in one device architecture.

Black piranha, megapiranha have most powerful bites of fish living or extinct, researcher finds Posted: 20 Dec 2012 01:07 PM PST The black piranha and the extinct giant piranha, or megapiranha, have the most powerful bites of carnivorous fishes, living or extinct, once body size is taken into account, researchers find. Their study highlights the piranhas' specialized jaw morphology, which allows them to attack and bite chunks out of much larger prey.

Scientists create new approach to destroy disease-associated RNAs in cells Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:46 PM PST Scientists have developed a new approach to alter the function of RNA in living cells by designing molecules that recognize and disable RNA targets. As a proof of principle, in the new study the team designed a molecule that disabled the RNA causing myotonic dystrophy.

Lifestyle changes linked to better outcomes after peripheral intervention Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:46 PM PST Heart-healthy habits help patients with PAD, but lifestyle changes and medical therapy are dramatically underused by patients and their doctors.

Thirty-three new trapdoor spider species discovered in the American southwest Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:46 PM PST A researcher reports the discovery of 33 new trapdoor spider species from the US. Most species are from California, a biodiversity hotspot, and represents the largest discovery of new animal species in the US in over a decade. New species bear the names of prominent individuals: Barack Obama, Edward Abbey, Bono, Dorothea Lange, Penn Jillette, and César Chávez; one is named for George Lucas' Star Wars creature, the Sarlacc.

Maya scholar debunks world-ending myth Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:38 PM PST As we hurtle toward the end of 2012, the conversation about a certain date with roots in an ancient Maya calendar has reached a fever pitch. Dec. 21, 2012, has taken over popular culture this year: It's been the subject of movies, books and news shows. The date and its supposed prophecy that the world will come to an end has been the subject of water cooler conversations and international media attention. But the truth regarding the date, according to renowned Maya scholar David Stuart, is that the day is indeed meaningful -- but not in the way you might think.

Chemical engineers working toward better batteries for transportation Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:35 PM PST Chemical engineers are researching how to make better, cheaper and lighter batteries for the transportation sector.

Engineers seek ways to convert methane into useful chemicals Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:35 PM PST With natural gas production rising, engineers and scientists are seeking ways to convert methane into useful chemicals. A new study suggests a pathway.

Heart calcium scan predictive of diabetes-related death from cardiovascular disease Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:35 PM PST People with Type 2 diabetes have two to four times the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to people without the disease. The best way for doctors to predict which diabetes patients are at the greatest risk for heart disease is to use a coronary artery calcium (CAC) test in addition to the most commonly used assessment tool, according to researchers.

Is tomorrow the end? Posted: 20 Dec 2012 12:35 PM PST End-of-the-world predictions are common in human history, but believers in the Mayan Doomsday claim don't understand the Mayan calendar system, an anthropologist says.

Biologists design method to monitor global bee decline Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:42 AM PST A new study has found that a global network of bee traps may form an early warning system alerting scientists to dangers threatening the world's food system and economies.

What do leeches, limpets and worms have in common? Now, a sequenced genome Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:42 AM PST A team of biologists report in this week's Nature the genome sequences of three organisms that represent more than one-quarter of marine species, including clams, octopuses and the segmented worms, including earthworms. The leech, limpet and polychaete worm all descended from animals that split off more than 500 million years ago and have evolved since, most still utilizing an old larval form, the trochophore – a tiny ciliated free-swimming phase that looks nothing like the adult.

Clays on Mars: More plentiful than expected Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:42 AM PST A new study indicates that clay minerals, rocks that usually form when water is present for long periods of time, cover a larger portion of Mars than previously thought.

Meteorite triggered scientific 'Gold Rush' Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:41 AM PST A meteorite that exploded as a fireball over California's Sierra foothills this past spring was among the fastest, rarest meteorites known to have hit the Earth, and it traveled a highly eccentric orbital route to get here.

Major source of evolutionary differences among species uncovered Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:41 AM PST Researchers have uncovered a genetic basis for fundamental differences between humans and other vertebrates that could also help explain why humans are susceptible to diseases not found in other species.

Peacock love songs lure eavesdropping females from afar Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:41 AM PST The distinctive call that male peacocks make right before mating poses a puzzle for scientists. For one, he's already got the girl. What's more, the calls could alert potential predators that an easy meal is near. In a new study, researchers found that the love sounds made by amorous peacocks drew eavesdropping females from afar. Announcing the fact that he's getting a girl could help a male attract additional mates, the researchers say.

Chromosome 'anchors' organize DNA during cell division: New role for telomeres in cellular growth may shed light on aging and age-related diseases Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:41 AM PST For humans to grow and to replace and heal damaged tissues, the body's cells must continually reproduce, a process known as "cell division," by which one cell becomes two, two become four, and so on. A key question of biomedical research is how chromosomes, which are duplicated during cell division so that each daughter cell receives an exact copy of a person's genome, are arranged during this process.

Serendipity points to new potential target and therapy for melanoma Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:39 AM PST A new study describes a new target and potential treatment for melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. MicroRNA can decide which genes in a cell's DNA are expressed and which stay silent. Melanoma tends to lack microRNA-26a, which makes the gene SODD go silent.

New kind of magnetism discovered: Experiments demonstrate ‘quantum spin liquid' Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:37 AM PST Following up on earlier theoretical predictions, researchers have now demonstrated experimentally the existence of a fundamentally new kind of magnetic behavior, adding to the two previously known states of magnetism. The experiments demonstrate "quantum spin liquid," which could have applications in new computer memory storage.

Traffic congestion can be alleviated throughout a metropolitan area by altering trips in specific neighborhoods, model shows Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:37 AM PST A new study shows that traffic congestion can be alleviated throughout a metropolitan area by altering the trips of drivers in specific neighborhoods.

Paths of photons are random -- but coordinated Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:37 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated that photons (light particles) emitted from light sources embedded in a complex and disordered structure are able to mutually coordinate their paths through the medium. This is a consequence of the photons' wave properties, which give rise to the interaction between different possible routes.

Stroke drug kills bacteria that cause ulcers and tuberculosis Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:37 AM PST A drug for ischemic strokes may also treat tuberculosis and ulcers. New research shows the compound, ebselen, to inhibit the thioredoxin reductase system in bacteria, including Helicobacter pylori and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Small wasps to control a big pest? Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:36 AM PST Five species of parasitic wasps have been found associated with the vector of the Pine Wood Nematode. As this sanitary problem has been present for over a decade, new methods to control it are needed, besides trapping the insect and cutting and destroying infested trees. These five species may be candidates for bio-control programs in the future, along with others presented in a systematic key.

First ever 'atlas' of T cells in human body Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:36 AM PST By analyzing tissues harvested from organ donors, researchers have created the first ever "atlas" of immune cells in the human body. Their results provide a unique view of the distribution and function of T lymphocytes in healthy individuals. In addition, the findings represent a major step toward development of new strategies for creating vaccines and immunotherapies.

Genomic 'hotspots' offer clues to causes of autism, other disorders Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:35 AM PST Scientists have discovered that "random" mutations in the genome are not quite so random after all. Their study shows that the DNA sequence in some regions of the human genome is quite volatile and can mutate ten times more frequently than the rest of the genome.

Clean air: New paints break down nitrogen oxides Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:34 AM PST Surfaces with photo-catalytic characteristics clean the air off nitrogen oxides and other health-endangering substances. Using a new test procedure, researchers can find out how the coatings behave during a long-term test.

Scientists create nanoscale window to biological world Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:33 AM PST Researchers have invented a way to directly image biological structures at their most fundamental level and in their natural habitats.

Dragonflies have human-like 'selective attention' Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:32 AM PST In a discovery that may prove important for cognitive science, our understanding of nature and applications for robot vision, researchers have found evidence that the dragonfly is capable of higher-level thought processes when hunting its prey.

Maya expert weighs in on Dec. 21 apocalypse theories Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:31 AM PST Rusty Barrett, an expert on Mayan culture, weighed in on how the Mayan calendar works, discussed his research with the Mayan population, and shared his observations of the Maya's reactions to the idea that the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012.

Steering stem cells to become two different building blocks for new blood vessels Posted: 20 Dec 2012 11:31 AM PST Growing new blood vessels in the lab is a tough challenge, but an engineering team has solved a major stumbling block: how to prod stem cells to become two different types of tissue that are needed to build tiny networks of veins and arteries.

Effects of climate change on birds worsened by housing development Posted: 20 Dec 2012 07:19 AM PST Although climate change may alter the distributions of many species, changes in land use may compound these effects. Now, a new study suggests that the effects of future housing development may be as great or greater than those of climate change for many bird species. In fact, some species projected to expand their distributions with climate change may actually lose ground when future development is brought into the picture.

Key gene for regenerating cells after heart attack Posted: 20 Dec 2012 07:19 AM PST Researchers have pinpointed a molecular mechanism needed to unleash the heart's ability to regenerate, a critical step toward developing eventual therapies for damage suffered following a heart attack.

Peel-and-stick solar panels: Decal-like application process allows thin, flexible solar panels to be applied to virtually any surface Posted: 20 Dec 2012 07:19 AM PST Decal-like application process allows thin, flexible solar panels to be applied to virtually any surface from business cards to roofs to window panes. Process is the first to use existing processes and materials pointing to potential commercial viability.

'Easy does it' gets you further in electric vehicles Posted: 20 Dec 2012 07:18 AM PST Drivers of gas and diesel cars are usually aware that driving at high speed, harsh acceleration and hard braking all contribute to lowering their fuel economy. Scientists can readily explain in terms of the thermodynamics of the internal combustion engine why driving such a car more smoothly and at gentler speeds will increase significantly the distance that might be traveled on a single tank of fuel. But, what about electric vehicles (EVs)?

Sibling squabbles can lead to depression, anxiety Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:04 AM PST Holiday presents will soon be under the tree for millions of adolescents. With those gifts may come sibling squabbles over violations of personal space, such as unwanted borrowing of a fashionable clothing item, or arguments over fairness, such as whose turn it is to play a new video game. Those squabbles represent two specific types of sibling conflict that can have different effects on a youth's emotional health, according to a multi-year study by a psychologist.

Removing protein 'garbage' in nerve cells may help control 2 neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:04 AM PST A group of neuroscientists say they have new evidence that challenges scientific dogma involving two fatal neurodegenerative diseases -- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia -- and, in the process, have uncovered a possible therapeutic target as a novel strategy to treat both disorders.

Using novel genetic labs for faster detection of E. coli Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:04 AM PST Pina Fratamico is on the quest to find the easiest and fastest way to test for harmful Escherichia coli in ground beef. In a new article, she explores using a next-generation real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system to discover specific gene targets that indicate the presence of dangerous foodborne pathogens. The results show that assays performed using this PCR system are rapid, sensitive, and reliable.

Neuroscience: The extraordinary ease of ordinal series Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:04 AM PST Familiar categories whose members appear in orderly sequences are processed differently than others in the brain, according to new research.

Toddlers' language skills predict less anger by preschool Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:04 AM PST Toddlers with more developed language skills are better able to manage frustration and less likely to express anger by the time they're in preschool. That's the conclusion of a longitudinal study looking at 120 predominantly white children from families above poverty but below middle income from the time they were 18 months to 48 months.

Motivation, study habits -- not IQ -- determine growth in math achievement Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:04 AM PST It's not how smart students are but how motivated they are and how they study that determines their growth in math achievement. That's the main finding of a study that looks at six annual waves of data from a German longitudinal study assessing math ability in 3,520 students in grades five to 10. Students who felt competent; were intrinsically motivated; and avoided rote learning showed more growth in math achievement than those who didn't.

Supportive role models, coping lead to better health in poor teens Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:04 AM PST While low socioeconomic status is often a strong determinant of chronic disease, new research shows that low-income teenagers who have supportive role models and who use adaptive coping strategies have lower levels of interleukin-6, a marker for cardiovascular risk. The researchers collected data on 163 socioeconomically diverse, healthy Canadian adolescents using interviews, questionnaires, and blood samples. Coping strategies and role models were found to be associated with inflammatory marker interleukin-6 only in low-income teenagers.

Young offenders who work, don't attend school may be more antisocial Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:04 AM PST Until now, little has been known about the effects of school-year employment for at-risk youth. This study examined employment, school attendance, and antisocial behavior in 1,350 serious juvenile offenders ages 14-17 over a five year period. Youths who worked long hours and didn't attend school regularly were at the greatest risk for antisocial behavior, followed by youths who worked long hours and didn't go to school at all.

Two problems in chemical catalysis solved Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:03 AM PST Researchers in Finland have solved two acute problems in chemical catalysis.

Biological concrete for constructing 'living' building materials with lichens, mosses Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:03 AM PST It is a material that improves thermal comfort in buildings and helps to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Silver sheds light on superconductor secrets Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:03 AM PST By doping a bismuth-based layered material with silver, Chinese scientists demonstrated that superconductivity is intrinsic to the new material rather than stemming from its impurities.

Gene expression improves the definition of a breast cancer subtype Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:03 AM PST Gene expression in breast cancer provides valuable biological information for better determining the diagnosis, treatment, risk of relapse and survival rate. However, the most common form of characterizing breast cancer is by histopathological techniques. A new study focused on hormone-sensitive breast tumours known as luminals. The study compared data on tumours obtained by gene expression with histopathological data and proposes a new definition which improves the current classification of these tumours in routine clinical practice.

New app provides solution when researching animal behaviour Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:01 AM PST A primatologist has developed an app that allows accurate logging of animal behaviour for scientific research.

Sync to grow: Oscillation of gene activity may underlie how embryos grow in proportion Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:01 AM PST Researchers are one step closer to understanding how embryos develop and grow while always keeping the same proportions between their various parts. Their findings, published today in Nature, reveal that scaling of the future vertebrae in a mouse embryo is controlled by how the expression of some specific genes oscillates, in a coordinated way, between neighboring cells.

Shedding light on Anderson localization Posted: 20 Dec 2012 05:01 AM PST Waves do not spread in a disordered medium if there is less than one wavelength between two defects. Physicists have now proved Nobel Prize winner Philip W. Anderson's theory directly for the first time using the diffusion of light in a cloudy medium.

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