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Thursday, February 23, 2012

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Scientists create potent molecules aimed at treating muscular dystrophy

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 05:43 PM PST

While RNA is an appealing drug target, small molecules that can actually affect its function have rarely been found. But now scientists have for the first time designed a series of small molecules that act against an RNA defect directly responsible for the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy.

Phobia's effect on perception of feared object allows fear to persist

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 05:42 PM PST

The more afraid a person is of a spider, the bigger that individual perceives the spider to be, new research suggests.

For disaster debris arriving from Japan, radiation least of the concerns

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:37 AM PST

Later this year debris from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan should begin to wash up on US shores -- and one question many have asked is whether that will pose a radiation risk. The simple answer is, no.

Low levels of fallout from Fukushima, U.S. study finds

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:37 AM PST

Fallout from the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power facility in Japan was measured in minimal amounts in precipitation in the United States in about 20 percent of 167 sites sampled in a nationwide U.S. study.

Is there a general motivation center in the depths of the brain?

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:34 AM PST

Researchers have identified the part of the brain driving motivation during actions that combine physical and mental effort: the ventral striatum.

Faster way to catch cells: New microfluidic device could be used to diagnose and monitor cancer and other diseases

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:31 AM PST

Separating complex mixtures of cells, such as those found in a blood sample, can offer valuable information for diagnosing and treating disease. However, it may be necessary to search through billions of other cells to collect rare cells such as tumor cells, stem cells or fetal cells. Researchers have now demonstrated a new microfluidic device that can isolate target cells much faster than existing devices. Such technology could be used in applications such as point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine.

'Miracle material' graphene is thinnest known anti-corrosion coating

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:31 AM PST

New research has established the "miracle material" called graphene as the world's thinnest known coating for protecting metals against corrosion.

New way to tap largest remaining treasure trove of potential new antibiotics

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:29 AM PST

Scientists are reporting use of a new technology for sifting through the world's largest remaining pool of potential antibiotics to discover two new antibiotics that work against deadly resistant microbes, including the "superbugs" known as MRSA.

Birds sing louder amidst the noise and structures of the urban jungle

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:29 AM PST

Sparrows, blackbirds and the great tit are all birds known to sing at a higher pitch in urban environments. It was previously believed that these birds sang at higher frequencies in order to escape the lower frequencies noises of the urban environment. Now, researchers have discovered that besides noise, the physical structure of cities also plays a role in altering the birds' songs.

Researchers take a step forward in transplanting pig cells to regenerate human cartilage

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:27 AM PST

Researchers have recently studied the response of human NK cells against porcine chondrocytes. The results of the research indicate that these cells, characteristic of the innate immune system, play an important role in the rejection of xenotransplantation of porcine chondrocytes.

Exposure to micronutrients pre-pregnancy associated with gene modifications in offspring

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:27 AM PST

The offspring of women who were given micronutrient supplements (minerals needed in small quantities, such as iron, iodine and vitamin A) before they became pregnant had gene modifications at birth as well as when they were tested at nine months.

Heart beats to the rhythm of a circadian clock

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:25 AM PST

Sudden cardiac death -- catastrophic and unexpected fatal heart stoppage -- is more likely to occur shortly after waking in the morning and in the late night. In a new study, an international consortium of researchers explains the molecular linkage between the circadian clock and the deadly heart rhythms that lead to sudden death.

World of Warcraft boosts cognitive functioning in older adults

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:22 AM PST

For some older adults, the online video game World of Warcraft (WoW) may provide more than an opportunity for escapist adventure. Researchers have found that playing WoW boosted cognitive functioning for older adults – particularly those who had scored poorly on cognitive ability tests before playing the game.

How cancer cells change once they spread to distant organs

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:21 AM PST

Oncologists have known that in order for cancer cells to spread, they must transform themselves so they can detach from a tumor and spread to a distant organ. Now, scientists have revealed critical steps in what happens next -- how these cells reverse the process, morphing back into classical cancer that can now grow into a new tumor.

What can animals' survival instincts tell us about understanding human emotion?

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 10:21 AM PST

Can animals' survival instincts shed additional light on what we know about human emotion? Neuroscientists pose this question in outlining a pioneering theory, drawn from two decades of research, that could lead to a more comprehensive understanding of emotions in both humans and animals.

NASA's Spitzer finds solid buckyballs in space

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 08:45 AM PST

Astronomers using data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have, for the first time, discovered buckyballs in a solid form in space. Prior to this discovery, the microscopic carbon spheres had been found only in gas form in the cosmos.

Earth's clouds are getting lower, NASA satellite finds

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 08:43 AM PST

Earth's clouds got a little lower -- about one percent on average -- during the first decade of this century, finds a new NASA-funded university study based on NASA satellite data. The results have potential implications for future global climate.

From Bass Strait to the Indian Ocean: Tracking a current

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:42 AM PST

Deep-diving ocean "gliders" have revealed the journey of Bass Strait water from the Tasman Sea to the Indian Ocean.

Tiny, implantable medical device can propel itself through bloodstream

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:42 AM PST

For 50 years, scientists had searched for the secret to making tiny implantable devices that could travel through the bloodstream. Engineers have now demonstrated a wirelessly powered device that just may make the dream a reality.

New twist on nanowires: Technology can control composition and structure of these tiny wires as they grow

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:42 AM PST

Nanowires -- microscopic fibers that can be "grown" in the lab -- are a hot research topic today, with a variety of potential applications including light-emitting diodes and sensors. Now, researchers has found a way of precisely controlling the width and composition of these tiny strands as they grow, making it possible to grow complex structures that are optimally designed for particular applications.

Newly identified oral bacterium linked to heart disease and meningitis

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:39 AM PST

A novel bacterium, thought to be a common inhabitant of the oral cavity, has the potential to cause serious disease if it enters the bloodstream, according to a new study.

Observing single atoms during relaxation toward equilibrium

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:38 AM PST

Scientists have succeeded for the first time in simulating the dynamic behavior of strongly correlated individual atoms in solids. They were able to string atoms in so-called optical lattices and observe their dynamic behavior, which is determined by complex interactions with other atoms.

Fried food risks: Toxic aldehydes detected in reheated oil

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:35 AM PST

Researchers have been the first to discover the presence of certain aldehydes in food, which are believed to be related to some neurodegenerative diseases and some types of cancer. These toxic compounds can be found in some oils, such as sunflower oil, when heated at a suitable temperature for frying.

Off switch for pain? Chemists build light-controlled neural inhibitor

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:35 AM PST

Pain? Just turn it off! It may sound like science fiction, but researchers have now succeeded in inhibiting pain-sensitive neurons on demand, in the laboratory. The crucial element in their strategy is a chemical sensor that acts as a light-sensitive switch.

Fake drug sales are increasing on the Internet and turning up in legitimate supply chains, review finds

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:35 AM PST

Criminal gangs are increasingly using the internet to market life-threatening counterfeit medicines and some have even turned up in legitimate outlets such as pharmacies, according to a newly published review.

Recharge your cell phone with a touch? New nanotechnology converts body heat into power

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 06:29 AM PST

Never get stranded with a dead cell phone again. A promising new technology called Power Felt, a thermoelectric device that converts body heat into an electrical current, soon could create enough juice to make another call simply by touching it.

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