ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• NASA Curiosity rover team selects second drilling target on NASA
• Sifting through atmospheres of far-off worlds
• Carbon dioxide at NOAA's Mauna Loa Observatory reaches new milestone: Tops 400 parts per million
• Sacred lotus genome sequence enlightens scientists
• Potential flu pandemic lurks: Influenza viruses circulating in pigs, birds could pose risk to humans
• Possible reason for cholesterol-drug side effects such as memory loss
• Cocaine vaccine passes key testing hurdle
• New test for H7N9 bird flu in China may help slow outbreak, prevent pandemic
• Background noise in the operating room can impair surgical team communication
• Perfectly doped quantum dots yield 'colors to dye for'
• Study supports alternative model for personality disorders in upcoming DSM-5
• Revealing hidden fungal species using DNA: The importance of recognizing cryptic diversity
• New endurance record for small electric unmanned aerial vehicle
• Do markets erode moral values? People ignore their own moral standards when acting as market participants, researchers say
• New discovery may lead the way to improved whooping cough vaccine
• Earliest archaeological evidence of human ancestors hunting and scavenging
• Discovery pinpoints cause of two types of leukemia
• Flawed diamonds promise sensory perfection: Electron spin extended for incredibly tiny magnetic detectors
• Link between tumor suppressors and starvation survival suggested
• Kestrels, other urban birds are stressed by human activity
• A cautionary tale on genome-sequencing diagnostics for rare diseases
• Cancer drug prevents build-up of toxic brain protein
• Mosquito survey identifies reservoir of disease
• No-win situation for agricultural expansion in the Amazon
• Elephant's Tomb in Carmona may have been a temple to the God Mithras
• New magnetic graphene may revolutionize electronics
• Brain diseases affecting more people and starting earlier than ever before
• The great industrial bake-off
• Individual efficacy of chemotherapies
• Would you ‘Like’ a drink? Youth drinking cultures, social networking and alcohol marketing
• Super-sized citizens: The relationship between a country's fast-food outlets and its obesity rates
• Justinianic Plague was caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis, DNA of skeletal remains shows
• Lyme disease vaccine shows promise in clinical trial
• Future hospitalization and increased health service use may be linked to insomnia
• Allergic disease worsens COPD symptoms and exacerbations
• Gene associated with eczema in dogs identified
• With the right mortgage, home ownership builds wealth

NASA Curiosity rover team selects second drilling target on NASA Posted: 10 May 2013 04:33 PM PDT The team operating NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has selected a second target rock for drilling and sampling. The rover will set course to the drilling location in coming days.

Sifting through atmospheres of far-off worlds Posted: 10 May 2013 04:28 PM PDT Gone are the days of being able to count the number of known planets on your fingers. Today, there are more than 800 confirmed exoplanets -- planets that orbit stars beyond our sun -- and more than 2,700 other candidates. What are these exotic planets made of? Unfortunately, you cannot stack them in a jar like marbles and take a closer look. Instead, researchers are coming up with advanced techniques for probing the planets' makeup.

Carbon dioxide at NOAA's Mauna Loa Observatory reaches new milestone: Tops 400 parts per million Posted: 10 May 2013 03:06 PM PDT On May 9, the daily mean concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mauna Loa, Hawaii, surpassed 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time since measurements began in 1958. Independent measurements made by both NOAA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have been approaching this level during the past week. It marks an important milestone because Mauna Loa, as the oldest continuous carbon dioxide measurement station in the world, is the primary global benchmark site for monitoring the increase of this potent heat-trapping gas.

Sacred lotus genome sequence enlightens scientists Posted: 10 May 2013 03:02 PM PDT The sacred lotus is a symbol of spiritual purity and longevity. Its seeds can survive up to 1,300 years, its petals and leaves repel grime and water, and its flowers generate heat to attract pollinators. Now researchers report that they have sequenced the lotus genome. Of all the plants sequenced so far -- and there are dozens -- sacred lotus bears the closest resemblance to the ancestor of all eudicots, a broad category of flowering plants that includes apple, cabbage, cactus, coffee and tobacco.

Potential flu pandemic lurks: Influenza viruses circulating in pigs, birds could pose risk to humans Posted: 10 May 2013 03:02 PM PDT In the summer of 1968, a new strain of influenza appeared in Hong Kong. This strain, known as H3N2, spread around the globe and eventually killed an estimated 1 million people. A new study reveals that there are many strains of H3N2 circulating in birds and pigs that are genetically similar to the 1968 strain and have the potential to generate a pandemic if they leap to humans. The researchers also found that current flu vaccines might not offer protection against these strains.

Possible reason for cholesterol-drug side effects such as memory loss Posted: 10 May 2013 12:01 PM PDT Researchers have identified a clue to explain the reversible memory loss sometimes caused by the use of statins, one of the most widely prescribed medications. Unusual swellings within neurons, which the team has termed the "beads-on-a-string" effect, may be linked to the cognitive decline some patients experience while taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Cocaine vaccine passes key testing hurdle Posted: 10 May 2013 12:01 PM PDT Researchers have successfully tested their novel anti-cocaine vaccine in primates, bringing them closer to launching human clinical trials.

New test for H7N9 bird flu in China may help slow outbreak, prevent pandemic Posted: 10 May 2013 10:43 AM PDT Breaking research demonstrates that a recently developed diagnostic test can detect the new strain of influenza (H7N9) currently causing an outbreak in China.

Background noise in the operating room can impair surgical team communication Posted: 10 May 2013 09:45 AM PDT To assess the effects of ambient noise on communication in the operating room, investigators created a noise environment similar to that of an OR and tested 15 surgeons.

Perfectly doped quantum dots yield 'colors to dye for' Posted: 10 May 2013 09:45 AM PDT This focuses on an ultra-precise method for doping the tiny semiconductors produces vivid hues.

Study supports alternative model for personality disorders in upcoming DSM-5 Posted: 10 May 2013 09:45 AM PDT A new "alternative model" included in the upcoming Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lines up well with the current approach to diagnosis of personality disorder, according to a new study.

Revealing hidden fungal species using DNA: The importance of recognizing cryptic diversity Posted: 10 May 2013 09:45 AM PDT In contrast to traditional approaches using morphological characters to delimit species, five new lichen-forming fungal species were described from what was traditionally considered a single species using genetic data exclusively. The new species can be identified using DNA barcoding. This pioneering study marks an alternative approach for discovering species and will promote effective research through correct specimen identification in closely related species groups.

New endurance record for small electric unmanned aerial vehicle Posted: 10 May 2013 09:45 AM PDT Using liquid hydrogen fuel stored in a new NRL-developed cryogenic fuel storage tank, the flight shatters the previous 26-hour record set by the UAV in 2009.

Do markets erode moral values? People ignore their own moral standards when acting as market participants, researchers say Posted: 10 May 2013 09:45 AM PDT Many people express objections against child labor, exploitation of the workforce or meat production involving cruelty against animals. At the same time, however, people ignore their own moral standards when acting as market participants, searching for the cheapest electronics, fashion or food. Thus, markets reduce moral concerns, new research shows.

New discovery may lead the way to improved whooping cough vaccine Posted: 10 May 2013 09:44 AM PDT Scientists have made novel discoveries concerning the current vaccine against whooping cough that may lead to the development of an improved future vaccine.

Earliest archaeological evidence of human ancestors hunting and scavenging Posted: 10 May 2013 09:44 AM PDT A recent research study has shed new light on the diet and food acquisition strategies of some the earliest human ancestors in Africa. Beginning around two million years ago, early stone tool-making humans, known scientifically as Oldowan hominin, started to exhibit a number of physiological and ecological adaptations that required greater daily energy expenditures, including an increase in brain and body size, heavier investment in their offspring and significant home-range expansion. Demonstrating how these early humans acquired the extra energy they needed to sustain these shifts has been the subject of much debate among researchers.

Discovery pinpoints cause of two types of leukemia Posted: 10 May 2013 07:21 AM PDT Patients with two forms of leukemia, who currently have no viable treatment options, may benefit from existing drugs developed for different types of cancer, according to a new study.

Flawed diamonds promise sensory perfection: Electron spin extended for incredibly tiny magnetic detectors Posted: 10 May 2013 07:21 AM PDT By extending the coherence time of electron states to over half a second, scientists have improved the performance of one of the most potent sensors of magnetic fields on the nanoscale -- a diamond defect no bigger than a pair of atoms called a nitrogen vacancy center. The achievement is important news for nanoscale sensors and quantum computing.

Link between tumor suppressors and starvation survival suggested Posted: 10 May 2013 07:21 AM PDT A particular tumor suppressor gene that fights cancer cells does more than clamp down on unabated cell division -- the hallmark of the disease -- it also can help make cells more fit by allowing them to fend off stress, says a new study.

Kestrels, other urban birds are stressed by human activity Posted: 10 May 2013 07:20 AM PDT American kestrels, small colorful falcons often seen perched along roadways, are abundant in urban and agricultural areas. Shorter grass makes insects, snakes, mice and other prey more visible, and signposts, fences and telephone poles provide excellent perches. However a new study shows that even species considered "tolerant" of human activity may be adversely impacted by human disturbance; Kestrels nesting in close proximity to roads and developed areas had elevated stress hormones and high rates of nest abandonment. The apparently favorable location, then, becomes an ecological trap.

A cautionary tale on genome-sequencing diagnostics for rare diseases Posted: 10 May 2013 04:56 AM PDT Researchers have discover that several children born with rare diseases called congenital disorders of glycosylation don't contain the mutation in every cell type -- raising new questions about inheritance, genomic sequencing, and diagnostics.

Cancer drug prevents build-up of toxic brain protein Posted: 10 May 2013 04:56 AM PDT Researchers have used tiny doses of a leukemia drug to halt accumulation of toxic proteins in the brains of mice. They say their study offers a unique and exciting strategy to treat neurodegenerative diseases that feature abnormal buildup of proteins in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease and Lewy body dementia, among others.

Mosquito survey identifies reservoir of disease Posted: 10 May 2013 04:55 AM PDT A large scale, five year study of mosquitoes from different ecological regions in Kenya, including savannah grassland, semi-arid Acacia thorn bushes, and mangrove swamps, found a reservoir of viruses carried by mosquitoes (arboviruses) that are responsible for human and animal diseases. This research highlights the need for continued surveillance in order to monitor the risk of disease outbreaks.

No-win situation for agricultural expansion in the Amazon Posted: 10 May 2013 04:55 AM PDT The large-scale expansion of agriculture in the Amazon through deforestation will be a no-win scenario, according to a new study. The study shows that deforestation will not only reduce the capacity of the Amazon's natural carbon sink, but will also inflict climate feedbacks that will decrease the productivity of pasture and soybeans.

Elephant's Tomb in Carmona may have been a temple to the God Mithras Posted: 10 May 2013 04:55 AM PDT The so-called Elephant's Tomb in the Roman necropolis of Carmona (Seville, Spain) was not always used for burials. The original structure of the building and a window through which the sun shines directly in the equinoxes suggest that it was a temple of Mithraism, an unofficial religion in the Roman Empire. The position of Taurus and Scorpio during the equinoxes gives force to the theory.

New magnetic graphene may revolutionize electronics Posted: 10 May 2013 04:55 AM PDT Researchers have managed to give graphene magnetic properties. The breakthrough opens the door to the development of graphene-based spintronic devices, that is, devices based on the spin or rotation of the electron, and could transform the electronics industry.

Brain diseases affecting more people and starting earlier than ever before Posted: 10 May 2013 04:55 AM PDT Scientists have found that the sharp rise of dementia and other neurological deaths in people under 74 cannot be put down to the fact that we are living longer. The rise is because a higher proportion of old people are being affected by such conditions -- and what is really alarming, it is starting earlier and affecting people under 55 years.

The great industrial bake-off Posted: 10 May 2013 04:55 AM PDT Not everyone can rustle up a Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle cake or a jam roly-poly, so shop-bought cakes remain a mainstay of high tea for many a household. Thankfully, quality control on food production lines continues to improve. Now, a research article shows how a simple set of rules can spot critical points in the cake-making process and through careful design improve even exceedingly good cakes.

Individual efficacy of chemotherapies Posted: 10 May 2013 04:54 AM PDT The function of the mitochondria – also defined as "power plants" within the cells – is essential as to whether, and how, some chemotherapeutic agents take effect in tissue. Scientists have thus discovered a significant cell characteristic that could possibly predict the success of therapy.

Would you ‘Like’ a drink? Youth drinking cultures, social networking and alcohol marketing Posted: 10 May 2013 04:54 AM PDT Preventing alcohol abuse, especially among young people, has long been a focus of public-health campaigns. But despite the well-publicized social and medical consequences of drinking too much it's clear that for many, heavy drinking has become a normal part of life.

Super-sized citizens: The relationship between a country's fast-food outlets and its obesity rates Posted: 10 May 2013 04:54 AM PDT Many studies have linked the meals served at fast-food outlets to obesity, but is there a relationship between the number of restaurants in a country and the girth of its population?

Justinianic Plague was caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis, DNA of skeletal remains shows Posted: 10 May 2013 04:54 AM PDT Ancient DNA analyses of skeletal remains of plague victims from the 6th century AD provide information about the phylogeny and the place of origin of this pandemic.

Lyme disease vaccine shows promise in clinical trial Posted: 10 May 2013 04:53 AM PDT The results of a phase 1/2 clinical trial in Europe of an investigational Lyme disease vaccine revealed it to be promising and well tolerated. The vaccine was shown to produce substantial antibodies against all targeted species of Borrelia, the causative agent of Lyme disease in Europe and the United States.

Future hospitalization and increased health service use may be linked to insomnia Posted: 10 May 2013 04:53 AM PDT New study finds insomnia may be an important indicator of future hospitalization among middle-aged and older adults.

Allergic disease worsens COPD symptoms and exacerbations Posted: 10 May 2013 04:53 AM PDT Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who also have allergic disease have higher levels of respiratory symptoms and are at higher risk for COPD exacerbations, according to a new study.

Gene associated with eczema in dogs identified Posted: 09 May 2013 03:46 PM PDT A novel gene associated with canine atopic dermatitis has been identified. The gene encodes a protein called plakophilin 2, which is crucial for the formation and proper functioning of the skin structure, suggesting an aberrant skin barrier as a potential risk factor for atopic dermatitis.

With the right mortgage, home ownership builds wealth Posted: 09 May 2013 03:46 PM PDT The Great Recession, characterized by devastating mortgage defaults, has challenged the conventional wisdom that home ownership is a good investment, particularly for those with low and moderate incomes. But the conventional wisdom on the benefits of owning vs. renting still holds when done right, according to a newly published study.

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