ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Mars rover Curiosity maneuver prepares for drilling
• Cool, new views of Andromeda galaxy
• Climate change projected to alter Indiana bat maternity range
• Stable fisher population found in the Southern Sierra Nevada
• Injecting botox into stomach does not promote weight loss
• Skin, soft tissue infections succumb to blue light
• Heat Shock Proteins May Shed New Light on a Variety of Debilitating Diseases
• One-step test for mitochondrial diseases
• Cardiac disease linked to higher risk of mental impairment
• Hospital patient loads often at unsafe levels, physician survey says
• Bioinspired fibers change color when stretched
• Why are there redheads? Birds might hold the clues
• Artificial pancreas: The way of the future for treating type 1 diabetes
• Tooth development and weaning in chimpanzees not as closely related as once thought
• New look at cell membrane reveals surprising organization
• Shedding light on role of Amazon forests in global carbon cycle
• Slow-release 'jelly' delivers drugs better
• Genes behind aggressive endometrial cancer
• Neural mechanism underlying drug cravings
• Bugs in the atmosphere: Significant microorganism populations found in middle and upper troposphere
• Power helps you live the good life by bringing you closer to your true self
• When food 'porn' holds no allure: The science behind satiety
• Climate change impacts to U.S. coasts threaten public health, safety and economy, report finds
• One in, two out: Simulating more efficient solar cells
• Eating deep-fried food linked to increased risk of prostate cancer
• More severe flu seasons predicted due to climate change
• Islet transplant may slow progression of atherosclerosis
• Irrigation in California's Central Valley intensifies rainfall, storms across the Southwest
• Safeguards needed for tissue donors
• Majority of Americans support dozens of policies to strengthen U.S. gun laws
• Potential therapeutic target to treat autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy
• Clinical trials with nonblinded outcome assessors have high observer bias
• Glial cells assist in the repair of injured nerves
• Best friends influence when teenagers have first drink
• Discovering the missing 'LINC' to deafness
• Safer way to vaccinate? Polymer film that gradually releases DNA coding for viral proteins may beat traditional vaccines
• Berries may be healthful, but some health benefits of berries may not make it past your mouth
• Flu myths and legends: Five common flu misconceptions dispelled
• Groundwater depletion linked to climate change
• Scientists identify four mechanisms that contribute to gastric cancers
• Mysteries of spider silk strength unraveled
• Neuroscientists pinpoint location of fear memory in amygdala
• Fewer people adding salt at the table
• Progressive optics for side mirrors ends automobile blind spots without distorting view, experts say
• 'First time' may predict lifelong sexual satisfaction
• New technique sheds light on RNA
• Pandemic controversies: The global response to pandemic influenza must change
• Researchers break million-core supercomputer barrier
• DNA-repairing protein may be key to preventing recurrence of some cancers
• Genome sequence of 90 chickpea lines decoded
• Blood pressure, cholesterol most important indicators of heart disease risk in diabetics
• Dementia sufferers benefit from GPS
• Altering eye cells may one day restore vision
• Less invasive treatment is associated with improved survival in early stage breast cancer
• Scientists discover process that turns normal liver cells to cancer cells
• Nanophotonics enables new kind of optical spectrometer
• Guidelines for brain amyloid imaging in Alzheimer's
• Misconceptions about a popular pet treat
• Penicillin, not the pill, may have launched the sexual revolution
• Primates, too, can move in unison

Mars rover Curiosity maneuver prepares for drilling Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:44 PM PST NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has placed its drill onto a series of four locations on a Martian rock and pressed down on it with the rover's arm, in preparation for using the drill in coming days.

Cool, new views of Andromeda galaxy Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:41 PM PST Two new eye-catching views from the Herschel space observatory are fit for a princess. They show the elegant spiral galaxy Andromeda, named after the mythical Greek princess known for her beauty.

Climate change projected to alter Indiana bat maternity range Posted: 28 Jan 2013 04:12 PM PST Scientists have forecast profound changes over the next 50 years in the summer range of the endangered Indiana bat. Researchers now discuss the findings of one of the first studies designed to forecast the responses of a temperate zone bat species to climate change.

Stable fisher population found in the Southern Sierra Nevada Posted: 28 Jan 2013 04:12 PM PST After experiencing years of population decline on the West Coast, a recent study examining fisher populations found that -- at least in the southern Sierra Nevada -- the animal's numbers appear to be stable.

Injecting botox into stomach does not promote weight loss Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:34 PM PST Despite conflicting data in support of the practice, some overweight Americans looking for an easy fix have turned to gastric botox injections to help them lose weight. Medical researchers have published a definitive study finding that Botox doesn't promote weight loss.

Skin, soft tissue infections succumb to blue light Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:34 PM PST Blue light can selectively eradicate Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections of the skin and soft tissues, while preserving the outermost layer of skin, according to a proof-of-principle study.

Heat Shock Proteins May Shed New Light on a Variety of Debilitating Diseases Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST Researchers, in a finding that runs counter to conventional wisdom, have discovered for the first time that a gene thought to express a protein in all cells that come under stress is instead expressed only in specific cell types.

One-step test for mitochondrial diseases Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST A scientific team has expanded next-generation sequencing to create an off-the-shelf tool that does simultaneous whole-exome analysis of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. The test will aid genetic diagnosis of these complex disorders.

Cardiac disease linked to higher risk of mental impairment Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST Cardiac disease is associated with increased risk of mild cognitive impairment such as problems with language, thinking and judgment -- particularly among women with heart disease, a new study shows.

Hospital patient loads often at unsafe levels, physician survey says Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST In the United States, more than one-quarter of hospital-based general practitioners who take over for patients' primary care doctors to manage inpatient care say their average patient load exceeds safe levels multiple times per month, according to a new study. Moreover, the study found that one in five of these physicians, known as hospitalists, reports that their workload puts patients at risk for serious complications, or even death.

Bioinspired fibers change color when stretched Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST Materials scientists have invented a new fiber that changes color when stretched. Based on the "bastard hogberry" plant, the new fiber could lend itself to the creation of smart fabrics that visibly react to heat or pressure.

Why are there redheads? Birds might hold the clues Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST Biologists examined the survival rates and chestnut feather coloration of barn swallows and other species of birds, to unearth factors favoring the evolution of pheomelanin in spite of its costs. They found that under conditions of low stress, birds with larger amounts of pheomelanin survived better, suggesting the pigment may serve a beneficial role.

Artificial pancreas: The way of the future for treating type 1 diabetes Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST Researchers have conducted a trial comparing a dual-hormone artificial pancreas with conventional diabetes treatment using an insulin pump and showed improved glucose levels and lower risks of hypoglycemia. Their results can have a great impact on the treatment of type 1 diabetes by accelerating the development of the external artificial pancreas.

Tooth development and weaning in chimpanzees not as closely related as once thought Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST Using a first-of-its-kind method, scientists have used digital photographs to show that, after the eruption of their first molar tooth, many juvenile chimps continue to nurse as much, if not more, than they had in the past. The research challenges earlier studies that linked juvenile chimps' tooth development with their weaning as a rough proxy for understanding similar developmental landmarks in the evolution of early humans.

New look at cell membrane reveals surprising organization Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST A look directly at the cell membrane is changing our understanding of its organization. Using a completely new approach to imaging cell membranes, a new study has revealed surprising relationships among membrane molecules. Sphingolipids are thought to form small microdomains in the membrane, but the new technique showed that they cluster together to form much larger patches, and are not as cholesterol dependent as expected.

Shedding light on role of Amazon forests in global carbon cycle Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST Scientists have devised an analytical method that combines satellite images, simulation modeling and painstaking fieldwork to help researchers detect forest mortality patterns and trends. This new tool will enhance understanding of the role of forests in carbon sequestration and the impact of climate change on such disturbances.

Slow-release 'jelly' delivers drugs better Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST Biomedical engineers have developed a new delivery system that overcomes the shortcomings of a promising class of peptide drugs -- very small proteins -- for treating diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

Genes behind aggressive endometrial cancer Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST In a major breakthrough for uterine serous carcinoma (USC) -- a chemo-resistant, aggressive form of endometrial cancer, researchers have defined the genetic landscape of USC tumors, findings that point to new treatment opportunities.

Neural mechanism underlying drug cravings Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST Addiction may result from abnormal brain circuitry in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls decision-making. Researchers report that the lateral and orbital regions of the frontal cortex interact during the response to a drug-related cue and that aberrant interaction between the two frontal regions may underlie addiction.

Bugs in the atmosphere: Significant microorganism populations found in middle and upper troposphere Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, researchers used genomic techniques to document the presence of significant numbers of living microorganisms -- principally bacteria -- in the middle and upper troposphere, that section of the atmosphere approximately four to six miles above Earth's surface.

Power helps you live the good life by bringing you closer to your true self Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:30 AM PST How does being in a position of power at work, with friends, or in a romantic relationship influence well-being? While we might like to believe the stereotype that power leads to unhappiness or loneliness, new research indicates that this stereotype is largely untrue: Being in a position of power may actually make people happier.

When food 'porn' holds no allure: The science behind satiety Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:30 AM PST New research is shedding light on why enticing pictures of food affect us less when we're full.

Climate change impacts to U.S. coasts threaten public health, safety and economy, report finds Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:30 AM PST According to a new technical report, the effects of climate change will continue to threaten the health and vitality of US coastal communities' social, economic and natural systems.

One in, two out: Simulating more efficient solar cells Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:29 AM PST Using an exotic form of silicon could substantially improve the efficiency of solar cells, according to computer simulations.

Eating deep-fried food linked to increased risk of prostate cancer Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:28 AM PST Regular consumption of deep-fried foods such as French fries, fried chicken and doughnuts is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, and the effect appears to be slightly stronger with regard to more aggressive forms of the disease, according to a new study.

More severe flu seasons predicted due to climate change Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:28 AM PST The American public can expect to add earlier and more severe flu seasons to the fallout from climate change, according to a new research.

Islet transplant may slow progression of atherosclerosis Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:39 AM PST Minimally invasive islet transplantation for patients with type 1 diabetes achieves insulin independence and reverses the progression of atherosclerosis in the first few years after transplant, according to a new study.

Irrigation in California's Central Valley intensifies rainfall, storms across the Southwest Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:39 AM PST Agricultural irrigation in California's Central Valley doubles the amount of water vapor pumped into the atmosphere, ratcheting up rainfall and powerful monsoons across the interior Southwest, according to a new study.

Safeguards needed for tissue donors Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:39 AM PST Donors to biobanks -- vast collections of human tissue samples that scientists hope will lead to new treatments for diseases -- have a right to basic information about how their donations may be used, an ethicist argues in a new article.

Majority of Americans support dozens of policies to strengthen U.S. gun laws Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:39 AM PST The majority of Americans support a broad array of policies to reduce gun violence, according to a new national public opinion survey.

Potential therapeutic target to treat autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:39 AM PST Synapse development is promoted by a variety of cell adhesion molecules that connect neurons and organize synaptic proteins. Many of these adhesion molecules are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders; mutations in neuroligin and neurexin proteins, for example, are associated with autism and schizophrenia. A new study reveals that another family of proteins linked to these disorders regulates the function of neuroligins and neurexins in order to suppress the development of inhibitory synapses.

Clinical trials with nonblinded outcome assessors have high observer bias Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:38 AM PST A new study of randomized clinical trials found significant observer bias toward a more beneficial treatment effect in nonblinded trials when the researcher knew the treatment being given to the participant.

Glial cells assist in the repair of injured nerves Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:38 AM PST Unlike the brain and spinal cord, the peripheral nervous system has an astonishing capacity for regeneration following injury. Researchers have discovered that, following nerve damage, peripheral glial cells produce the growth factor neuregulin1, which makes an important contribution to the regeneration of damaged nerves.

Best friends influence when teenagers have first drink Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:31 AM PST Researchers have found that teenagers who exhibit problem drinking likely got their first drink from a friend. The reason, the researchers explain, is that friends who drink are more likely to have access to alcohol and are more likely to influence when their buddies first drink. The finding is part of a formula that may help specialists intervene before problem drinking arises in at-risk adolescents.

Discovering the missing 'LINC' to deafness Posted: 28 Jan 2013 08:39 AM PST 50 percent of hearing loss is linked to genetic mutations. Now a researcher has discovered a significant mutation in a family of proteins that could lead to new treatments for hearing disorders.

Safer way to vaccinate? Polymer film that gradually releases DNA coding for viral proteins may beat traditional vaccines Posted: 28 Jan 2013 08:39 AM PST Researchers have described a new type of vaccine-delivery film that holds promise for improving the effectiveness of DNA vaccines.

Berries may be healthful, but some health benefits of berries may not make it past your mouth Posted: 28 Jan 2013 08:38 AM PST For the first time, scientists have exposed extracts from numerous berries high in healthy pigments to human saliva to see just what kinds of health-promoting substances are likely to survive and be produced in the mouth.

Flu myths and legends: Five common flu misconceptions dispelled Posted: 28 Jan 2013 08:38 AM PST It seems you can't go anywhere these days without hearing "the flu this" or "the flu that." Unfortunately, this season's influenza outbreak is one of the worst in years. And it's not just the flu virus that's causing problems; there are also many myths about the flu that are keeping people from doing more to prevent it.

Groundwater depletion linked to climate change Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST Climate change may be exacerbating many countries' experience of water stress, according to new research. Experts explain how several human-driven factors, if not rectified, will combine with climate change to significantly reduce useable groundwater availability for agriculture globally.

Scientists identify four mechanisms that contribute to gastric cancers Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST Scientists have discovered four processes by which gastric cancer is formed. This is extremely important since gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide, claiming almost 750,000 lives annually, 60 percent of which are Asians.

Mysteries of spider silk strength unraveled Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST Scientists are celebrating their recent success on the path to understanding what makes the fiber that spiders spin -- weight for weight -- at least five times as strong as piano wire. They have found a way to obtain a wide variety of elastic properties of the silk of several intact spiders' webs using a sophisticated but non–invasive laser light scattering technique.

Neuroscientists pinpoint location of fear memory in amygdala Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST Neuroscientists have shed new light on the brain circuit that is involved in fear learning, memory, responses. They show that fear memory is encoded in a subdivision of the central amygdala. In addition, a particular class of neurons, somatostatin-positive neurons, is required to translate that memory into fear responses.

Fewer people adding salt at the table Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST The number of people in England adding salt to food at the table fell by more than a quarter in the five years following a national campaign, according to new research.

Progressive optics for side mirrors ends automobile blind spots without distorting view, experts say Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST A new optical prescription for automobile side-view mirrors may eliminate the dreaded "blind spot" in traffic without distorting the perceived distance of cars approaching from behind. Objects viewed in a mirror using the new design appear larger than in traditional side-view mirrors, so it's easier to judge their following distance and speed.

'First time' may predict lifelong sexual satisfaction Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST The first sexual experience can set the tone for the rest of one's sexual life, according to new research.

New technique sheds light on RNA Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST Researchers have developed a technique to better understand why RNA may be different in cancer cells than in normal cells. The technique will bring new depth of understanding to tests that sequence a tumor's entire genome.

Pandemic controversies: The global response to pandemic influenza must change Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST "Evil" scientists, deadly viruses and terrorist plots are usually the preserve of Hollywood blockbusters. But when it comes to pandemic influenza, it is the stuff of real life. As controversy about H5N1 bird flu virus research continues, a new article argues for a new approach to pandemic preparedness.

Researchers break million-core supercomputer barrier Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST A new record in computational science has been set by using a supercomputer with more than one million computing cores to solve a complex fluid dynamics problem -- the prediction of noise generated by a supersonic jet engine.

DNA-repairing protein may be key to preventing recurrence of some cancers Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST Just as the body can become resistant to antibiotics, certain methods of killing cancer tumors can end up creating resistant tumor cells. But a professor has found a protein present in several types of cancer, including breast and ovarian cancer, which could be helpful in preventing tumors from coming back.

Genome sequence of 90 chickpea lines decoded Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST Decoded genome of chickpea, a leading grain legume for many poor smallholder farmers, promises improved livelihoods in marginal environments.

Blood pressure, cholesterol most important indicators of heart disease risk in diabetics Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST For people with diabetes, meeting the recommended guidelines for blood pressure and cholesterol is even more important than meeting the guidelines for blood sugar control in reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke, according to a new study.

Dementia sufferers benefit from GPS Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:45 AM PST As part of the norwegian research project "Trygge Spor", more than fifty dementia sufferers have been using GPS for periods varying from several weeks to up to a year. The results show that localization technology helps achieve an increased sense of security, freedom and quality of life, both for sufferers and their next of kin.

Altering eye cells may one day restore vision Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:44 AM PST Doctors may one day treat some forms of blindness by altering the genetic program of the light-sensing cells of the eye, new research suggests.

Less invasive treatment is associated with improved survival in early stage breast cancer Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:44 AM PST Patients with early stage breast cancer who were treated with lumpectomy plus radiation may have a better chance of survival compared with those who underwent mastectomy, according to new research.

Scientists discover process that turns normal liver cells to cancer cells Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:44 AM PST Researchers have identified a useful biomarker to detect early disorders leading to liver cancer and as a potential therapeutic target.

Nanophotonics enables new kind of optical spectrometer Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:44 AM PST By bringing nanophotonics technology to traditional optical spectroscopy, a new kind of optical spectrometer with functions of sensing and spectral measurement has been recently demonstrated.

Guidelines for brain amyloid imaging in Alzheimer's Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:29 AM PST To provide guidance for physicians, individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's, and the public, experts have published the first criteria for the appropriate use of this imaging technology to aid in the diagnosis of people with suspected Alzheimer's disease.

Misconceptions about a popular pet treat Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:29 AM PST A popular dog treat, the "bully stick," could be adding more calories than pet owners realize, and possibly be contaminated by bacteria, according to a new study.

Penicillin, not the pill, may have launched the sexual revolution Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:29 AM PST The rise in risky, non-traditional sexual relations that marked the swinging '60s and advent of readily available contraception actually began as much as a decade earlier, during the conformist '50s, suggests a new analysis. The analysis strongly indicates that the widespread use of penicillin, leading to a rapid decline in syphilis during the 1950s, is what launched the modern sexual era.

Primates, too, can move in unison Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:19 AM PST Primates modify their body movements to be in tune with others, just like humans do. Humans unconsciously modify their movements to be in synchrony with their peers. For example, we adapt our pace to walk in step or clap in unison at the end of a concert. This phenomenon is thought to reflect bonding and facilitate human interaction. Researchers report that pairs of macaque monkeys also spontaneously coordinate their movements to reach synchrony.

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