ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Scientists identify neurotranmitters that lead to forgetting
• Protein analysis investigates marine worm community
• Whale population size, dynamics determined based on ancient DNA
• Privacy law expert warns of the perils of social media and social reading
• Lenalidomide shows significant benefit for myeloma patients, phase III study suggests
• DC3: Chemistry of thunderstorms
• NASA conducts tests on Orion service module
• NASA spacecraft detects changes in Martian sand dunes
• Opportunity rolling again after fifth Mars winter
• Chronic cocaine use triggers changes in brain's neuron structure
• Response to first drug treatment may signal likelihood of future seizures in people with epilepsy
• Feeding without the frenzy: Students make fun feeders for orangutans and giraffes
• One-quarter of grouper species being fished to extinction
• Genomics used to identify a molecular-based treatment for a viral skin cancer
• Gene-modified stem cell transplant protects patients from toxic side effects of chemotherapy, study suggests
• Why do people choke when the stakes are high? Loss aversion may be the culprit
• Genes and vascular risk modify effects of aging on brain and cognition
• It's a trap: New lab technique captures microRNA targets
• Advanced genetic screening method may speed vaccine development
• Overfed black holes shut down galactic star-making
• New under the sun: Recurrent genetic mutations in melanoma
• Important clues to a dangerous complication of pregnancy: Data strongly suggests that peripartum cardiomyopathy is a vascular disease
• Technology measures Martian sand movement: Dune migration rates appear to be similar to those on Earth
• Secrets of the first practical artificial leaf
• Soybeans soaked in warm water naturally release key cancer-fighting substance
• Sunscreen ingredient may be linked to endometriosis
• Hot sauce ingredient reduces 'beer belly' fat as a weight-loss surgery alternative
• Reduction of excess brain activity improves memory in amnestic mild cognitive impairment
• Blood test could show women at risk of Postnatal Depression
• Encyclopedia of Life reaches historic one million species pages milestone
• ESA declares end of mission for Envisat
• Cellist achieves optimal performance through neurofeedback
• Babies' brains benefit from music lessons, even before they can walk and talk
• Molecule found that inhibits estrogen, key risk factor for endometrial and breast cancers
• Antarctic octopus study shows West Antarctic Ice Sheet may have collapsed 200,000 years ago
• Improved waiting area design increases customer comfort
• Scientists discover new inflammatory target
• Self-worth needs to go beyond appearance, experts say
• New family of key mitochondrial proteins for function and viability of the brain discovered
• Female bugs overcome cost of traumatic sex
• Can a hormone disclose the psychological impact of an accidental injury?
• Significant water anomaly explained
• New light on enigmatic burial rituals in Cambodian mountains
• VISTA views a vast ball of stars
• Reusable grocery bags kept in bathroom implicated in norovirus outbreak
• Two trepanned skulls from the Middles Ages are found in Soria, Spain
• A 'cousin' of the giant panda lived in what is now Zaragoza, Spain
• Portable diagnostics designed to be shaken, not stirred
• Agricultural bacteria: Blowing in the wind
• Computer scientists show what makes movie lines memorable
• Mystery of the missing breast cancer genes
• Effect of groundwater use: Using water from wells leads to sea level rise, cancels out effect of dams
• Emotion can shut down high-level mental processes without our knowledge, in our native language

Scientists identify neurotranmitters that lead to forgetting Posted: 09 May 2012 03:01 PM PDT Scientists have pinpointed a mechanism that is essential for forming memories in the first place and, as it turns out, is equally essential for eliminating them after memories have formed.

Protein analysis investigates marine worm community Posted: 09 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT Techniques used by researchers to analyze a simple marine worm and its resident bacteria could accelerate efforts to understand more complex microbial communities such as those found in humans.

Whale population size, dynamics determined based on ancient DNA Posted: 09 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT Researchers compare ancient, modern whale DNA to investigate discrepancies between genetic data and historical estimates.

Privacy law expert warns of the perils of social media and social reading Posted: 09 May 2012 02:58 PM PDT The Internet and social media have opened up new vistas for people to share preferences in films, books and music. Services such as Spotify and the Washington Post Social Reader already integrate reading and listening into social networks, providing what Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls "frictionless sharing." "But there's a problem. A world of automatic, always-on disclosure should give us pause," says a privacy law expert.

Lenalidomide shows significant benefit for myeloma patients, phase III study suggests Posted: 09 May 2012 02:58 PM PDT Medical researchers report significant time-to-progression benefit as well as survival benefit for patients who took maintenance doses of lenalidomide following stem-cell transplant.

DC3: Chemistry of thunderstorms Posted: 09 May 2012 02:14 PM PDT NASA researchers are about to fly off on a campaign that will take them into the heart of thunderstorm country. The Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) field campaign will use an airport in Salina, Kan., as a base to explore the impact of large thunderstorms on the concentration of ozone and other substances in the upper troposphere.

NASA conducts tests on Orion service module Posted: 09 May 2012 02:13 PM PDT Engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center are testing parts of the Orion service module to ensure the spacecraft can withstand the harsh realities of deep space missions.

NASA spacecraft detects changes in Martian sand dunes Posted: 09 May 2012 02:12 PM PDT NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed that movement in sand dune fields on the Red Planet occurs on a surprisingly large scale, about the same as in dune fields on Earth. This is unexpected because Mars has a much thinner atmosphere than Earth, is only about one percent as dense, and its high-speed winds are less frequent and weaker than Earth's.

Opportunity rolling again after fifth Mars winter Posted: 09 May 2012 02:11 PM PDT With its daily supply of solar energy increasing, NASA's durable Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has driven off the sunward-tilted outcrop, called Greeley Haven, where it worked during its fifth Martian winter.

Chronic cocaine use triggers changes in brain's neuron structure Posted: 09 May 2012 01:53 PM PDT Chronic exposure to cocaine reduces the expression of a protein known to regulate brain plasticity, according to new, in vivo research on the molecular basis of cocaine addiction.

Response to first drug treatment may signal likelihood of future seizures in people with epilepsy Posted: 09 May 2012 01:53 PM PDT How well people with newly diagnosed epilepsy respond to their first drug treatment may signal the likelihood that they will continue to have more seizures, according to a new study.

Feeding without the frenzy: Students make fun feeders for orangutans and giraffes Posted: 09 May 2012 12:42 PM PDT Like their human cousins, orangutans enjoy food and don't mind working a little to get it. If the menu's right, giraffes are even less picky.

One-quarter of grouper species being fished to extinction Posted: 09 May 2012 12:42 PM PDT Groupers, a family of fishes often found in coral reefs and prized for their quality of flesh, are facing critical threats to their survival. Scientists report that 20 species are at risk of extinction if current overfishing trends continue, and an additional 22 species are near "threatened" status.

Genomics used to identify a molecular-based treatment for a viral skin cancer Posted: 09 May 2012 12:42 PM PDT Four years after they discovered the viral roots of a rare skin cancer, researchers have now identified a molecule activated by this virus that, in animal studies, could be targeted to selectively kill the tumor cells. The treatment will soon be tested in patients.

Gene-modified stem cell transplant protects patients from toxic side effects of chemotherapy, study suggests Posted: 09 May 2012 12:42 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have transplanted brain cancer patients' own gene-modified blood stem cells in order to protect their bone marrow against the toxic side effects of chemotherapy. Initial results of the ongoing, small clinical trial of three patients with glioblastoma showed that two patients survived longer than predicted if they had not been given the transplants, and a third patient remains alive with no disease progression almost three years after treatment.

Why do people choke when the stakes are high? Loss aversion may be the culprit Posted: 09 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT In sports, on a game show, or just on the job, what causes people to choke when the stakes are high? A new study suggests that when there are high financial incentives to succeed, people can become so afraid of losing their potentially lucrative reward that their performance suffers.

Genes and vascular risk modify effects of aging on brain and cognition Posted: 09 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT Efforts to understand how the aging process affects the brain and cognition have expanded beyond simply comparing younger and older adults.

It's a trap: New lab technique captures microRNA targets Posted: 09 May 2012 10:59 AM PDT To better understand how microRNAs -- small pieces of genetic material -- influence human health and disease, scientists first need to know which microRNAs act upon which genes. To do this scientists developed miR-TRAP, a new easy-to-use method to directly identify microRNA targets in cells.

Advanced genetic screening method may speed vaccine development Posted: 09 May 2012 10:59 AM PDT Vaccines remain the best line of defense against deadly pathogens and now medical researchers are using clever functional screening methods to attempt to speed new vaccines into production that are both safer and more potent.

Overfed black holes shut down galactic star-making Posted: 09 May 2012 10:59 AM PDT The Herschel Space Observatory has shown galaxies with the most powerful, active black holes at their cores produce fewer stars than galaxies with less active black holes. The results are the first to demonstrate black holes suppressed galactic star formation when the universe was less than half its current age.

New under the sun: Recurrent genetic mutations in melanoma Posted: 09 May 2012 10:59 AM PDT Melanoma -- the deadliest and most aggressive form of skin cancer -- has long been linked to time spent in the sun. Now scientists have sequenced the whole genomes of 25 metastatic melanoma tumors, confirming the role of chronic sun exposure and revealing new genetic changes important in tumor formation.

Important clues to a dangerous complication of pregnancy: Data strongly suggests that peripartum cardiomyopathy is a vascular disease Posted: 09 May 2012 10:59 AM PDT Medical researchers have found the first clear evidence that a dangerous form of heart failure that occurs in pregnancy is a vascular disease, brought about by an imbalance of angiogenic proteins.

Technology measures Martian sand movement: Dune migration rates appear to be similar to those on Earth Posted: 09 May 2012 10:59 AM PDT Last year, images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured sand dunes and ripples moving across the surface of Mars -- observations that challenged previously held beliefs that there was not a lot of movement on the Red Planet's surface. Now, new technology has allowed scientists to measure these activities for the very first time.

Secrets of the first practical artificial leaf Posted: 09 May 2012 09:39 AM PDT A detailed description of development of the first practical artificial leaf -- a milestone in the drive for sustainable energy that mimics the process, photosynthesis, that green plants use to convert water and sunlight into energy -- has just been published. The article notes that unlike earlier devices, which used costly ingredients, the new device is made from inexpensive materials and employs low-cost engineering and manufacturing processes.

Soybeans soaked in warm water naturally release key cancer-fighting substance Posted: 09 May 2012 09:38 AM PDT Soybeans soaking in warm water could become a new "green" source for production of a cancer-fighting substance now manufactured in a complicated and time-consuming industrial process, scientists are reporting.

Sunscreen ingredient may be linked to endometriosis Posted: 09 May 2012 09:38 AM PDT Scientists are reporting a possible link between the use of sunscreen containing a certain ingredient that mimics the effects of the female sex hormone estrogen and an increased risk of being diagnosed with endometriosis, a painful condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus.

Hot sauce ingredient reduces 'beer belly' fat as a weight-loss surgery alternative Posted: 09 May 2012 09:38 AM PDT The ingredient that gives hot sauce its heat could play a role in the future of weight loss.

Reduction of excess brain activity improves memory in amnestic mild cognitive impairment Posted: 09 May 2012 09:38 AM PDT New research describes a potential new therapeutic approach for improving memory and modifying disease progression in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. The study finds that excess brain activity may be doing more harm than good in some conditions that cause mild cognitive decline and memory impairment.

Blood test could show women at risk of Postnatal Depression Posted: 09 May 2012 09:37 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a way of identifying which women are most at risk of postnatal depression (PND) by checking for specific genetic variants. The findings could lead to the development of a simple, accurate blood test which checks for the likelihood of developing the condition.

Encyclopedia of Life reaches historic one million species pages milestone Posted: 09 May 2012 09:37 AM PDT The Encyclopedia of Life has surged past one million pages of content with the addition of hundreds of thousands of new images and specimen data. Launched in 2007 with the support of leading scientific organizations around the world, the Encyclopedia of Life provides global access to knowledge about life on Earth by building a web page for each of the 1.9 million recognized species.

ESA declares end of mission for Envisat Posted: 09 May 2012 09:37 AM PDT Just weeks after celebrating its tenth year in orbit, communication with the Envisat satellite was suddenly lost on 8 April. Following rigorous attempts to re-establish contact and the investigation of failure scenarios, the end of the mission is being declared. A team of engineers has spent the last month attempting to regain control of Envisat, investigating possible reasons for the problem.

Cellist achieves optimal performance through neurofeedback Posted: 09 May 2012 09:36 AM PDT "Practice makes perfect," the saying goes. Optimal performance, however, can require more than talent, effort, and repetition. Training the brain to reduce stress through neurofeedback can remove barriers and enhance one's innate abilities.

Babies' brains benefit from music lessons, even before they can walk and talk Posted: 09 May 2012 09:36 AM PDT After completing the first study of its kind, researchers have discovered that very early musical training benefits children even before they can walk or talk. They found that one-year-old babies who participate in interactive music classes with their parents smile more, communicate better and show earlier and more sophisticated brain responses to music.

Molecule found that inhibits estrogen, key risk factor for endometrial and breast cancers Posted: 09 May 2012 09:36 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a molecule that inhibits the action of estrogen. This female hormone plays a key role in the growth, maintenance and repair of reproductive tissues and fuels the development of endometrial and breast cancers. The molecule, discovered in animal studies, could lead to new therapies for preventing and treating estrogen-related diseases in humans.

Antarctic octopus study shows West Antarctic Ice Sheet may have collapsed 200,000 years ago Posted: 09 May 2012 08:14 AM PDT Scientists have found that genetic information on the Antarctic octopus supports studies indicating that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could have collapsed during its history, possibly as recently as 200,000 years ago.

Improved waiting area design increases customer comfort Posted: 09 May 2012 08:14 AM PDT A researcher has studied restaurant design and has recommendations for how restaurateurs can design waiting areas to be more comfortable, thus increasing diners' willingness to wait for a table.

Scientists discover new inflammatory target Posted: 09 May 2012 08:14 AM PDT Scientists have found a new role for the tiny organelles known as primary cilia - they are important for regulating inflammation.

Self-worth needs to go beyond appearance, experts say Posted: 09 May 2012 07:53 AM PDT Women with high family support and limited pressure to achieve the 'thin and beautiful' ideal have a more positive body image. That's according to a new study looking at five factors that may help young women to be more positive about their bodies, in the context of a society where discontent with appearance is common among women.

New family of key mitochondrial proteins for function and viability of the brain discovered Posted: 09 May 2012 07:53 AM PDT Scientists have described a new family of six genes whose function regulates the movement and position of mitochondria in neurons. Many neurological conditions, including Parkinson's and various types of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, are caused by alterations of genes that control mitochondrial transport, a process that provides the energy required for cell function.

Female bugs overcome cost of traumatic sex Posted: 09 May 2012 07:53 AM PDT The study of "sexual conflict" between males and females helps us to understand why sexual reproduction persists given that it can be costly, especially to females. One aspect of this conflict concerns how females respond to increased mating events that are of more benefit to males than to themselves.

Can a hormone disclose the psychological impact of an accidental injury? Posted: 09 May 2012 07:53 AM PDT A study that was performed in Zurich and was published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics explored the role of a steroid hormone in disclosing the long term psychological consequence of an accidental injury.

Significant water anomaly explained Posted: 09 May 2012 07:52 AM PDT Physicists have just explained a puzzling water anomaly -- a deviation from the common form -- of water ice that has been largely neglected and never before explained.

New light on enigmatic burial rituals in Cambodian mountains Posted: 09 May 2012 06:28 AM PDT Researchers working in remote Cambodian mountains are shedding new light on the lost history of an unidentified people by studying their enigmatic burial rituals.

VISTA views a vast ball of stars Posted: 09 May 2012 06:27 AM PDT A new image of Messier 55 from ESO's VISTA infrared survey telescope shows tens of thousands of stars crowded together like a swarm of bees. Besides being packed into a relatively small space, these stars are also among the oldest in the Universe. Astronomers study Messier 55 and other ancient objects like it, called globular clusters, to learn how galaxies evolve and stars age.

Reusable grocery bags kept in bathroom implicated in norovirus outbreak Posted: 09 May 2012 06:25 AM PDT Investigators recently mapped the trail of an outbreak of a nasty stomach bug among participants in a girls' soccer tournament to a reusable open top grocery bag stored in a hotel bathroom. Their findings illustrate the role that inanimate objects can play in spreading norovirus infection.

Two trepanned skulls from the Middles Ages are found in Soria, Spain Posted: 09 May 2012 06:25 AM PDT Two skulls with perforations have been exhumed in the area of Gormaz in Soria, Spain. They have been dated from the 13th and 14th centuries -- a period in which trepanation was not commonly practiced.  One woman lived for a length of time after a hole was made through her skull.

A 'cousin' of the giant panda lived in what is now Zaragoza, Spain Posted: 09 May 2012 06:25 AM PDT Scientists have found a new ursid fossil species in the area of Nombrevilla in Zaragoza, Spain. Agriarctos beatrix was a small plantigrade omnivore and was genetically related to giant pandas, according to researchers.

Portable diagnostics designed to be shaken, not stirred Posted: 09 May 2012 06:24 AM PDT A textured surface mimics a lotus leaf to move drops of liquid in particular directions. The low-cost system could be used in portable medical or environmental tests.

Agricultural bacteria: Blowing in the wind Posted: 09 May 2012 06:24 AM PDT The 1930s Dust Bowl proved what a disastrous effect wind can have on dry, unprotected topsoil. Now a new study has uncovered a less obvious, but equally troubling, impact of wind: Not only can it carry away soil particles, but also agriculturally important bacteria that build soil and recycle nutrients.

Computer scientists show what makes movie lines memorable Posted: 08 May 2012 07:00 PM PDT Researchers who applied computer analysis to a database of movie scripts think they may have found the secret to a memorable movie line - use familiar sentence structure but incorporate distinctive words or phrases, and make general statements that could apply elsewhere.

Mystery of the missing breast cancer genes Posted: 08 May 2012 07:00 PM PDT Researchers are hoping to better understand why the mutated genes for breast and ovarian cancer are not passed on more frequently from one generation of women to the next.

Effect of groundwater use: Using water from wells leads to sea level rise, cancels out effect of dams Posted: 08 May 2012 02:35 PM PDT As people pump groundwater for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial uses, the water doesn't just seep back into the ground -- it also evaporates into the atmosphere, or runs off into rivers and canals, eventually emptying into the world's oceans. This water adds up, and a new study calculates that by 2050, groundwater pumping will cause a global sea level rise of about 0.8 millimeters per year.

Emotion can shut down high-level mental processes without our knowledge, in our native language Posted: 08 May 2012 02:35 PM PDT Psychologists believe that they have glimpsed for the first time, a process that takes place deep within our unconscious brain, where primal reactions interact with higher mental processes. They have identified a reaction to negative language inputs which shuts down unconscious processing. The psychologists extrapolate this from their most recent findings working with bilingual people.

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