ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Molecular 'calcium sponge' created to tackle heart failure
• Promising target to block Staphylococcus infection discovered
• New genes for short-sightedness: 24 new genes that cause refractive errors and myopia identified
• Old drug may point the way to new treatments for diabetes and obesity
• NASA's MAVEN mission completes assembly, begins environmental testing
• Hubble catches a streak of stars in side-on view of spiral galaxy
• NASA Curiosity rover collects first Martian bedrock sample
• CT texture analysis of tumors may be a valuable biomarker in localized esophageal cancer
• Landsat data continuity mission awaits liftoff
• Physicians' belief about obesity causes impacts advice and care

Molecular 'calcium sponge' created to tackle heart failure Posted: 10 Feb 2013 11:32 AM PST Researchers have utilized molecular genetic engineering to optimize heart performance in models of diastolic heart failure by creating an optimized protein that can aid in high-speed relaxation similar to fast twitching muscles.

Promising target to block Staphylococcus infection discovered Posted: 10 Feb 2013 11:32 AM PST Scientists have identified a promising lead for developing a new type of drug to treat infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that frequently resists traditional antibiotics. The researchers discovered a system used by S. aureus to transport toxins that are thought to contribute to severe staph infections. These toxins -- called phenol-soluble modulins -- have gained much attention in recent years, but their multitude and diversity have hindered efforts to target them for drug development.

New genes for short-sightedness: 24 new genes that cause refractive errors and myopia identified Posted: 10 Feb 2013 11:32 AM PST Myopia is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment worldwide, and currently there is no cure. New findings reveal genetic causes of the trait, which could lead to finding better treatments or ways of preventing the condition in the future.

Old drug may point the way to new treatments for diabetes and obesity Posted: 10 Feb 2013 11:32 AM PST Researchers have found that amlexanox, an off-patent drug currently prescribed for the treatment of asthma and other uses, also reverses obesity, diabetes and fatty liver in mice.

NASA's MAVEN mission completes assembly, begins environmental testing Posted: 10 Feb 2013 05:59 AM PST NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft is assembled and is undergoing environmental testing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems facilities, near Denver, Colo. MAVEN is the next mission to Mars and will be the first mission devoted to understanding the Martian upper atmosphere.

Hubble catches a streak of stars in side-on view of spiral galaxy Posted: 10 Feb 2013 05:58 AM PST The Hubble Space Telescope captured a thin, glittering streak of stars in a new view of the spiral galaxy ESO 121-6, which lies in the southern constellation of Pictor (The Painter's Easel). Viewed almost exactly side-on, the intricate structure of the swirling arms is hidden, but the full length of the galaxy can be seen -- including the intense glow from the central bulge, a dense region of tightly packed young stars sitting at the center of the spiral arms. Tendrils of dark dust can be seen across the frame, partially obscuring the bright center of the galaxy and continuing out towards the smattering of stars at its edges, where the dust lanes and shapes melt into the inky background. Numerous nearby stars and galaxies are visible as small smudges in the surrounding sky, and the brightest stars are dazzlingly prominent towards the bottom left of the image. ESO 121-6 is a galaxy with patchy, loosely-wound arms and a relatively faint central bulge. It actually belongs to a group of galaxies, a clump of no more than 50 similar structures all loosely bound to one another by gravity. The Milky Way is also a member of a galactic group, known as the Local Group.

NASA Curiosity rover collects first Martian bedrock sample Posted: 09 Feb 2013 08:11 AM PST NASA's Curiosity rover has, for the first time, used a drill carried at the end of its robotic arm to bore into a flat, veiny rock on Mars and collect a sample from its interior. This is the first time any robot has drilled into a rock to collect a sample on Mars.

CT texture analysis of tumors may be a valuable biomarker in localized esophageal cancer Posted: 08 Feb 2013 12:27 PM PST CT texture analysis of primary tumors may be a potential imaging biomarker in localized esophageal cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, according to new research.

Landsat data continuity mission awaits liftoff Posted: 08 Feb 2013 08:11 AM PST When the newest Landsat spacecraft trains its state-of-the-art sensors on Earth's surface, it will provide images of our ever-changing planet in unparalleled clarity. Launched by NASA in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) will add a new chapter to an enduring program. Since 1972, Landsat has enabled people around the globe to observe our planet's land masses. The enhanced images that will be provided by improved Landsat data come at a time when such information is vitally important.

Physicians' belief about obesity causes impacts advice and care Posted: 08 Feb 2013 08:00 AM PST A new study indicates that physicians who believed overconsumption of food to be a major contributor to obesity were significantly more likely to counsel their patients to modify nutritional habits.

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