ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Can repurposed cancer drugs counter bioterror threats?
• Marriage can threaten health: Study finds satisfied newlyweds more likely to gain weight
• Quantum tricks drive magnetic switching into the fast lane
• First data released from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer
• Final MAVEN instrument integrated to spacecraft
• Scientists develop monkey model to study novel coronavirus infection
• Shark tooth weapons reveal missing shark species in Central Pacific islands
• Exhaled breath carries a molecular 'breathprint' unique to each individual
• Brain cell signal network genes linked to schizophrenia risk in families
• Language by mouth and by hand
• For Wikipedia users, being 'Wikipedian' may be more important than political loyalties
• Dementia costs top those for heart disease or cancer, study finds
• Assessing disease surveillance and notification systems after a pandemic
• Low testosterone levels may herald rheumatoid arthritis in men
• Baldness linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease
• Satellite tagging maps the secret migration of white sharks
• Advances in molecular testing offer new hope for lung cancer patients
• Rotary valve could help propel craft to Mars one day
• Avoid impulsive acts by imagining future benefits
• On-and-off approach to prostate cancer treatment may compromise survival
• A giant step toward miniaturization: Nanotechnology transforms molecular beams into functional nano-devices
• Potential therapy for human prion disease
• One specific microRNA promotes tumor growth and cancer spread
• Painted turtle gets DNA decoded
• Phase 1 ALS trial is first to test antisense treatment of neurodegenerative disease: No serious adverse effects reported
• 'Dancing' silicon atoms discovered in graphene
• Green Pea galaxies could help astronomers understand early universe
• 2013 wintertime Arctic sea ice maximum fifth lowest on record
• Chimps: Ability to 'think about thinking' not limited to humans
• 'A better path' toward projecting, planning for rising seas on a warmer Earth
• Accused of complicity in Alzheimer's, amyloid proteins may be getting a bad rap
• Third-generation device significantly improves capture of circulating tumor cells
• Will cell therapy become a 'third pillar' of medicine?
• Rocky mountains originated from previously unknown oceanic plate
• Shape from sound: New methods to probe the universe
• Environmental policies matter for growing megacities
• Breakthrough cancer-killing treatment has no side-effects in mice: New chemistry may cure human cancers
• Ancient pool of warm water questions current climate models
• Ancient climate questions could improve today's climate predictions
• Laser light zaps away cocaine addiction
• Thin clouds drove Greenland's record-breaking 2012 ice melt
• Potential map to more effective HIV vaccine
• Astronomers anticipate 100 billion Earth-like planets
• Brain-imaging tool and stroke risk test help identify cognitive decline early
• Gender bias found in how scholars review scientific studies
• New relief for gynecological disorders: Injectable protein to reverse symptoms of dangerous conditions
• Invasive crabs help Cape Cod marshes
• Ionic thrusters generate efficient propulsion in air
• New system to study trigger of cell death in nervous system developed
• Diversity programs give illusion of corporate fairness, psychologists find
• Search for dark matter: Experiment measures antimatter excess in cosmic ray flux
• NASA team investigates complex chemistry at Saturn's moon Titan
• Urinary tract infections 29 times more likely in schizophrenia relapse
• Choosing less a form of protection, says new study on decision-making
• Building quantum states with individual silicon atoms
• Smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls are 'red flag' for postmenopausal osteoporosis
• Dental anesthesia may interrupt development of wisdom teeth in children, study suggests
• Study looks at importance of coping skills during hospital stays
• Ophthalmologists urge early diagnosis and treatment of age-related macular degeneration
• Taken under the 'wing' of the small magellanic cloud: First detection of X-ray emission from young stars with masses similar to our Sun outside our Milky Way galaxy

Can repurposed cancer drugs counter bioterror threats? Posted: 03 Apr 2013 06:55 PM PDT Scientists are investigating whether two cancer medications have the potential of protecting U.S. troops from biological agents that could be unleashed during an attack.

Marriage can threaten health: Study finds satisfied newlyweds more likely to gain weight Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:04 PM PDT A study of 169 newlywed couples finds that spouses who are more satisfied with their marriage are more likely to gain weight because they are less likely to consider divorce and thus find a new partner.

Quantum tricks drive magnetic switching into the fast lane Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:03 PM PDT Researchers in the U.S. and Greece have found a new way to switch magnetism that is at least 1000 times faster than currently used in magnetic memory technologies. Magnetic switching is used to encode information in hard drives, RAM and other computing devices.

First data released from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:03 PM PDT The first published results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), a major physics experiment operating on the International Space Station, were announced today. The result is the most precise measurement to date of the ratio of positrons to electrons in cosmic rays. Measurements of this key ratio may eventually provide the world with our first glimpse into dark matter.

Final MAVEN instrument integrated to spacecraft Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:03 PM PDT An instrument that will measure the composition of Mars' upper atmosphere has been integrated to NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft. MAVEN has a scheduled launch date of Nov. 18.

Scientists develop monkey model to study novel coronavirus infection Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT Researchers have developed a model of infection in rhesus macaques that will help scientists around the world better understand how an emerging coronavirus, first identified in Sept. 2012, affects people. The virus has so far infected at least 17 people in the Middle East and Europe, killing 11 of them.

Shark tooth weapons reveal missing shark species in Central Pacific islands Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT The Gilbert Island reefs in the Central Pacific were once home to two species of sharks not previously reported in historic records or contemporary studies. The species were discovered in a new analysis of weapons made from shark teeth and used by 19th century islanders.

Exhaled breath carries a molecular 'breathprint' unique to each individual Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT Researchers have shown that exhaled human breath contains a characteristic molecular "fingerprint". Stable, specific 'breathprints' unique to an individual exist and may have applications as diagnostic tools in personalized medicine. The scientists want to use this finding to diagnose diseases based on the chemical analysis of patient's exhaled breath, using highly sensitive and precise instrumental methods.

Brain cell signal network genes linked to schizophrenia risk in families Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT New genetic factors predisposing to schizophrenia have been uncovered in five families with several affected relatives. These gene variants weaken NMDA receptors. Found throughout the brain, NMDA receptors normally influence the strength of brain cell connections and the ongoing remodeling of brain networks.

Language by mouth and by hand Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT Humans favor speech as the primary means of linguistic communication. Spoken languages are so common many think language and speech are one and the same. But the prevalence of sign languages suggests otherwise. Not only can Deaf communities generate language using manual gestures, but their languages share some of their design and neural mechanisms with spoken languages.

For Wikipedia users, being 'Wikipedian' may be more important than political loyalties Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT Wikipedia users who proclaim their political affiliations within the online community consider their identity as "Wikipedian" stronger than potentially divisive political affiliations, according to new research.

Dementia costs top those for heart disease or cancer, study finds Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT The most-detailed examination of the costs of dementia in the United States finds the disease is more costly to the nation than either heart disease or cancer. The analysis suggests that the costs of dementia could more than double by 2040 if the rate of the disease remains constant as the nation's population continues to grow older.

Assessing disease surveillance and notification systems after a pandemic Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT Significant investments over the past decade into disease surveillance and notification systems appear to have "paid off" and the systems "work remarkably well," says a researcher who examined the public health response systems during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.

Low testosterone levels may herald rheumatoid arthritis in men Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:01 PM PDT Low testosterone levels may herald the subsequent development of rheumatoid arthritis in men, new research suggests.

Baldness linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:01 PM PDT Male pattern baldness is linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, but only if it's on the top/crown of the head, rather than at the front, a new analysis finds.

Satellite tagging maps the secret migration of white sharks Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:01 PM PDT Long-life batteries and satellite tagging have been used to fill in the blanks of female white sharks' (Carcharodon carcharias) lifestyles. New research defines a two year migratory pattern in the Pacific Ocean. Pregnant females travel between the mating area at Guadalupe Island and nursery in Baja California, putting them and their young at risk from commercial fishing.

Advances in molecular testing offer new hope for lung cancer patients Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:00 PM PDT The emergence of molecular diagnostic testing in lung cancer offers new hope for patients battling the number one cancer killer in the United States and abroad. Now, for the first time after a decade of biomarker testing in lung cancer, a uniform approach for testing for the EGFR mutation and ALK rearrangement along with the availability of targeted therapies offer lung cancer patients the chance for improved quality of life and more time with their loved ones.

Rotary valve could help propel craft to Mars one day Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:00 PM PDT A rotary fuel delivery valve just might help us get manned space flights out of our immediate neighborhood one day, and it could have practical terrestrial applications.

Avoid impulsive acts by imagining future benefits Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:00 PM PDT Why is it so hard for some people to resist the least little temptation, while others seem to possess incredible patience, passing up immediate gratification for a greater long-term good? The answer, suggests a new study, is that patient people focus on future rewards in a way that makes the waiting process seem much more pleasurable.

On-and-off approach to prostate cancer treatment may compromise survival Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:00 PM PDT Taking a break from hormone-blocking prostate cancer treatments once the cancer seems to be stabilized is not equivalent to continuing therapy, a new large-scale international study finds.

A giant step toward miniaturization: Nanotechnology transforms molecular beams into functional nano-devices Posted: 03 Apr 2013 12:44 PM PDT Semiconductor nanowires are quasi-one-dimensional nanomaterials that have sparked a surge of interest as one of the most powerful and versatile nanotechnological building blocks with actual or potential impact on nanoelectronics, photonics, electromechanics, environmentally friendly energy conversion, biosensing, and neuro-engineering technologies.

Potential therapy for human prion disease Posted: 03 Apr 2013 12:43 PM PDT Scientists have for the first time identified a pair of drugs already approved for human use that show anti-prion activity and, for one of them, great promise in treating rare and universally fatal disorders, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, caused by misfolded proteins called prions.

One specific microRNA promotes tumor growth and cancer spread Posted: 03 Apr 2013 12:43 PM PDT Researchers have determined that the overexpression of microRNA-155 (miR-155), a short, single strand of ribonucleic acid encoded by the miR-155 host gene, promotes the growth of blood vessels in tumors, tumor inflammation, and metastasis. As a therapeutic target, miR-155 could potentially provide a new avenue of treatment when targeted with drugs to suppress its activity.

Painted turtle gets DNA decoded Posted: 03 Apr 2013 12:40 PM PDT Scientists have decoded the genome of the western painted turtle, one of the most abundant turtles on Earth, finding clues to their longevity and ability to survive without oxygen during long winters spent hibernating in ice-covered ponds.

Phase 1 ALS trial is first to test antisense treatment of neurodegenerative disease: No serious adverse effects reported Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT The initial clinical trial of a novel approach to treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- blocking production of a mutant protein that causes an inherited form of the progressive neurodegererative disease -- may be a first step towards a new era in the treatment of such disorders.

'Dancing' silicon atoms discovered in graphene Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT Jumping silicon atoms are the stars of a newly discovered atomic scale ballet. The "dancing" movement of the silicon atoms was caused by the energy transferred to the material from the electron beam of the team's microscope.

Green Pea galaxies could help astronomers understand early universe Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT The rare Green Pea galaxies discovered by the general public in 2007 could help confirm astronomers' understanding of reionization, a pivotal stage in the evolution of the early universe.

2013 wintertime Arctic sea ice maximum fifth lowest on record Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT During the cold and dark of Arctic winter, sea ice refreezes and achieves its maximum extent, usually in late Feb. or early Mar. According to a NASA analysis, this year the annual maximum extent was reached on Feb. 28 and it was the fifth lowest sea ice winter extent in the past 35 years.

Chimps: Ability to 'think about thinking' not limited to humans Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT Humans' closest animal relatives, chimpanzees, have the ability to "think about thinking" -- what is called "metacognition," according to new research.

'A better path' toward projecting, planning for rising seas on a warmer Earth Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT More useful projections of sea level are possible despite substantial uncertainty about the future behavior of massive ice sheets. In two recent articles, researchers present an approach that provides a consistent means to integrate the potential contribution of continental ice sheets such as Greenland and Antarctica into sea-level rise projections.

Accused of complicity in Alzheimer's, amyloid proteins may be getting a bad rap Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT Amyloids -- clumps of misfolded proteins found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders -- are the quintessential bad boys of neurobiology. But now a pair of recent research studies sets a solid course toward rehabilitating the reputation of the proteins that form these amyloid tangles, or plaques. In the process, they appear poised to turn the field of neurobiology on its head.

Third-generation device significantly improves capture of circulating tumor cells Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT A new system for isolating rare circulating tumor cells -- living solid tumor cells found at low levels in the bloodstream -- shows significant improvement over previously developed devices and does not require prior identification of tumor-specific target molecules.

Will cell therapy become a 'third pillar' of medicine? Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT Treating patients with cells may one day become as common as it is now to treat the sick with drugs made from engineered proteins, antibodies or smaller chemicals, according to UC San Francisco researchers. They have outlined their vision of cell-based therapeutics as a "third pillar of medicine."

Rocky mountains originated from previously unknown oceanic plate Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT The mountain ranges of the North American Cordillera are made up of dozens of distinct crustal blocks. A new study clarifies their mode of origin and identifies a previously unknown oceanic plate that contributed to their assembly. Geologists were able to locate the remnants of several deep-sea trenches that mark subduction sites at which oceanic plates plunge at a steep angle into the mantle and are drawn almost vertically into its depths.

Shape from sound: New methods to probe the universe Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT A new mathematical tool should allow scientists to use "sound" to help reveal the shape of the universe.

Environmental policies matter for growing megacities Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT A new study shows clean-air regulations have dramatically reduced acid rain in the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea over the past 30 years, but the opposite is true in fast-growing East Asian megacities, possibly due to lax antipollution rules or lack of enforcement.

Breakthrough cancer-killing treatment has no side-effects in mice: New chemistry may cure human cancers Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT The scientific crusade against cancer recently achieved a victory. Medical researchers have developed a new form of radiation therapy that successfully put cancer into remission in mice. This innovative treatment produced none of the harmful side-effects of conventional chemo and radiation cancer therapies.

Ancient pool of warm water questions current climate models Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT A huge pool of warm water that stretched out from Indonesia over to Africa and South America four million years ago suggests climate models might be too conservative in forecasting tropical changes. Present in the Pliocene era, this giant mass of water would have dramatically altered rainfall in the tropics, possibly even removing the monsoon. Its decay and the consequential drying of East Africa may have been a factor in Hominid evolution. The missing data for this phenomenon could have significant implications when predicting the future climate.

Ancient climate questions could improve today's climate predictions Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Climate models for the early Pliocene might be missing key processes. If researchers can uncover these missing processes, they can apply them to models of modern climate and improve future climate predictions.

Laser light zaps away cocaine addiction Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT By stimulating one part of the brain with laser light, researchers have shown that they can wipe away addictive behavior in rats -- or conversely turn non-addicted rats into compulsive cocaine seekers.

Thin clouds drove Greenland's record-breaking 2012 ice melt Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT If the sheet of ice covering Greenland were to melt in its entirety tomorrow, global sea levels would rise by 24 feet. Three million cubic kilometers of ice won't wash into the ocean overnight, but researchers have been tracking increasing melt rates since at least 1979. Last summer, however, the melt was so large that similar events show up in ice core records only once every 150 years or so over the last four millennia.

Potential map to more effective HIV vaccine Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT By tracking the very earliest days of one person's robust immune response to HIV, researchers have charted a new route for developing a long-sought vaccine that could boost the body's ability to neutralize the virus.

Astronomers anticipate 100 billion Earth-like planets Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Researchers have proposed a new method for finding Earth-like planets and they anticipate that the number will be in the order of 100 billion. The strategy uses a technique called gravitational microlensing, currently used by a Japan-New Zealand collaboration.

Brain-imaging tool and stroke risk test help identify cognitive decline early Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Medical researchers have used a brain-imaging tool and stroke risk assessment to identify signs of cognitive decline early on in individuals who don't yet show symptoms of dementia.

Gender bias found in how scholars review scientific studies Posted: 03 Apr 2013 09:20 AM PDT A scientist's gender can have a big impact on how other researchers perceive his or her work, according to a new study.

New relief for gynecological disorders: Injectable protein to reverse symptoms of dangerous conditions Posted: 03 Apr 2013 09:20 AM PDT Researchers have discovered an injectable protein that reverses symptoms of two dangerous gynecological conditions, endometriosis and overian hyperstimulation syndrome. Because there are currently no treatment options for women suffering from these diseases, this breakthrough promises long-awaited relief from severe abdominal pain and infertility issues.

Invasive crabs help Cape Cod marshes Posted: 03 Apr 2013 09:20 AM PDT Ecologists are wary of non-native species, but along the shores of Cape Cod where grass-eating crabs have been running amok and destroying the marsh, an invasion of predatory green crabs has helped turn back the tide in favor of the grass.

Ionic thrusters generate efficient propulsion in air Posted: 03 Apr 2013 09:20 AM PDT Thrusters powered by ionic wind may be an efficient alternative to conventional atmospheric propulsion technologies. When a current passes between two electrodes -- one thinner than the other -- it creates a wind in the air between. If enough voltage is applied, the resulting wind can produce a thrust without the help of motors or fuel. Researchers have now found that ionic thrusters may be a far more efficient source of propulsion than conventional jet engines.

New system to study trigger of cell death in nervous system developed Posted: 03 Apr 2013 09:19 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new model system to study a receptor protein that controls cell death in both humans and fruit flies.

Diversity programs give illusion of corporate fairness, psychologists find Posted: 03 Apr 2013 09:19 AM PDT Diversity training programs lead people to believe that work environments are fair even when given evidence of hiring, promotion or salary inequities, according to new findings by psychologists.

Search for dark matter: Experiment measures antimatter excess in cosmic ray flux Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:53 AM PDT The international team running the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) today announced the first results in its search for dark matter. They report the observation of an excess of positrons in the cosmic ray flux. The results are consistent with the positrons originating from the annihilation of dark matter particles in space, but not yet sufficiently conclusive to rule out other explanations.

NASA team investigates complex chemistry at Saturn's moon Titan Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:41 AM PDT A laboratory experiment at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., simulating the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan suggests complex organic chemistry that could eventually lead to the building blocks of life extends lower in the atmosphere than previously thought. The results now point out another region on the moon that could brew up prebiotic materials.

Urinary tract infections 29 times more likely in schizophrenia relapse Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:27 AM PDT Schizophrenia patients experiencing relapse are 29 times more likely than healthy individuals to have a urinary tract infection, researchers report.

Choosing less a form of protection, says new study on decision-making Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:27 AM PDT New research shows that if a person is feeling threatened, or concerned with their status, they are more likely to choose the option that gives them less. And although this choice might seem irrational from an economic perspective, this choice satisfies an important psychological need.

Building quantum states with individual silicon atoms Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:27 AM PDT By introducing individual silicon atom 'defects' using a scanning tunneling microscope, scientists have coupled single atoms to form quantum states.

Smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls are 'red flag' for postmenopausal osteoporosis Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:26 AM PDT Depression, anxiety, and smoking are associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) in adults, but these factors have not previously been studied during adolescence, when more than 50% of bone accrual occurs. This longitudinal preliminary study is the first to demonstrate that smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls have a negative impact on adolescent bone accrual and may become a red flag for a future constrained by low bone mass or osteoporosis and higher fracture rates in postmenopausal years.

Dental anesthesia may interrupt development of wisdom teeth in children, study suggests Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have discovered an association between local dental anesthesia given to children ages two to six and evidence of missing lower wisdom teeth. The results of this epidemiological study suggest that injecting anesthesia into the gums of young children could interrupt the development of lower wisdom teeth.

Study looks at importance of coping skills during hospital stays Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:26 AM PDT New research looks at how coping strategies used by a mother when her child is hospitalized impacts that child's anxiety level.

Ophthalmologists urge early diagnosis and treatment of age-related macular degeneration Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:26 AM PDT A new study shows that AMD still causes severe vision loss in approximately 15 percent of Americans 85 and older. This study tracked vision loss in relation to eye disease and treatment response in nearly 5,000 patients over a 20-year period.

Taken under the 'wing' of the small magellanic cloud: First detection of X-ray emission from young stars with masses similar to our Sun outside our Milky Way galaxy Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is one of the Milky Way's closest galactic neighbors. In fact, it was so bright that many navigators used this object to make their way across the oceans. A new composite image shows this galaxy like Ferdinand Magellan, who lends his name to the SMC, could never have imagined. New Chandra data of the SMC have provided the first detection of X-ray emission from young stars with masses similar to our Sun outside our Milky Way galaxy.

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