ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Rainforest microbe can handle ionic liquids: New find could help reduce biofuel production costs
• First gene therapy successful against aging-associated decline: Mouse lifespan extended up to 24% with a single treatment
• Brain circuitry is different for women with anorexia and obesity
• Bone grown from human embryonic stem cells
• Sleepwalking more prevalent among U.S. adults than previously suspected, researcher says
• Refurbishment on grand scale for iconic Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center
• Nearly one tenth of hemisphere's mammals unlikely to outrun climate change
• Different mechanisms of pain revealed
• Button battery risks: Number of battery-related emergency department visits by children more than doubles
• Anthropologists discover earliest form of wall art
• Measuring CO₂ to fight global warming, enforce future treaty
• Injuries associated with baby bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups in the U.S. surprisingly high
• Too much or too little noise turns off consumers, creativity
• A microRNA prognostic marker identified in acute leukemia
• A walk in the park gives mental boost to people with depression
• Why women chose bad boys: Ovulating women perceive sexy cads as good dads
• Dip chip technology tests toxicity on the go
• Foxtail millet offers clues for assembling the switchgrass genome
• Begin early: Water with meals may encourage wiser choices
• Color of robins' eggs determines parental care
• Breastfeeding benefits: Human breast milk ingredient adjusts to optimize for beneficial gut bacteria over time
• Drug kills cancer cells by restoring faulty tumor suppressor
• Amateur astronomers boost ESA’s asteroid hunt
• Smoked cannabis reduces some symptoms of multiple sclerosis
• Pufferfish at the 'beak' of evolution: Why humans don't continuously replace their teeth
• Floating robots use GPS-enabled smartphones to track water flow
• Steelhead trout lose out when water is low in wine country
• Sundown syndrome-like symptoms in fruit flies may be due to high dopamine levels
• You can't play nano-billiards on a bumpy table
• Virus 'barcodes' offer rapid detection of mutated strains
• Pay-to-play sports keeping lower-income kids out of the game
• Urban landscape's power to hurt or heal
• Groundbreaking discovery on mutation-causing genetic disorder in humans
• Plant protein discovery could boost bioeconomy
• To avoid pain during an injection, look away
• 'Thermal tasters' can experience taste from heating or cooling tongue without any food
• Roadmap towards sustainable pole-and-line-caught tuna
• Cell biology: How ribosomes override their blockades
• Real smart: Protective clothing with built-in A/C
• Artificial pancreas gets first U. S. Outpatient test
• DNA replication protein also has a role in mitosis, cancer
• Wasted milk is a real drain on our resources, study shows
• Scientists generate electricity from viruses
• Tiny solar-panel-like cells help restore sight to the blind
• Novel new device diagnoses irregular heartbeat: Small stick-on device monitors heart rhythm for weeks

Rainforest microbe can handle ionic liquids: New find could help reduce biofuel production costs Posted: 14 May 2012 05:40 PM PDT Researchers have identified a tropical rainforest microbe that can endure relatively high concentrations of an ionic liquid used to dissolve cellulosic biomass for the production of advanced biofuels. They've also determined how the microbe accomplishes this, a discovery that holds broad implications beyond biofuels.

First gene therapy successful against aging-associated decline: Mouse lifespan extended up to 24% with a single treatment Posted: 14 May 2012 05:40 PM PDT A new study consisting of inducing cells to express telomerase, the enzyme which -- metaphorically -- slows down the biological clock -- was successful. The research provides a "proof-of-principle" that this "feasible and safe" approach can effectively "improve health span."

Brain circuitry is different for women with anorexia and obesity Posted: 14 May 2012 01:16 PM PDT Why does one person become anorexic and another obese? Researchers have now shown that reward circuits in the brain are sensitized in anorexic women and desensitized in obese women.

Bone grown from human embryonic stem cells Posted: 14 May 2012 01:16 PM PDT Human embryonic stem cells can now be used to grow bone tissue grafts for use in research and potential therapeutic application. The study is the first example of using bone cell progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells to grow compact bone tissue in quantities large enough to repair centimeter-sized defects.

Sleepwalking more prevalent among U.S. adults than previously suspected, researcher says Posted: 14 May 2012 01:16 PM PDT What goes bump in the night? In many U.S. households: people. About 3.6 percent of US adults -- or upward of 8.4 million -- are prone to sleepwalking, new research shows. The work also showed an association between nocturnal wanderings and certain psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. A large number of people reported sleepwalking in childhood or adolescence making the lifetime prevalence of sleepwalking 29.2 percent.

Refurbishment on grand scale for iconic Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Posted: 14 May 2012 12:44 PM PDT The Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida has been a landmark to the technological advancements of sending men to the moon and astronauts into space for more than 45 years. But the VAB, as it is best known, is due for major renovations to continue processing launch vehicles and support the subsequent launching of a new generation of astronauts into orbit and deeper into space than ever before.

Nearly one tenth of hemisphere's mammals unlikely to outrun climate change Posted: 14 May 2012 12:31 PM PDT A safe haven could be out of reach for 9 percent of the Western Hemisphere's mammals, and as much as 40 percent in certain regions, because the animals just won't move swiftly enough to outpace climate change. In particular, many of the hemisphere's species of primates -- including tamarins, spider monkeys, marmosets and howler monkeys, some of which are already considered threatened or endangered -- will be hard-pressed to outpace climate change.

Different mechanisms of pain revealed Posted: 14 May 2012 12:31 PM PDT Researchers have found a previously unknown mechanism through which pain is signaled by nerve cells -- a discovery that could explain the current failings in the drug development process for painkillers and which may offer opportunities for a new approach.

Button battery risks: Number of battery-related emergency department visits by children more than doubles Posted: 14 May 2012 12:29 PM PDT In today's technology-driven world, batteries, especially button batteries, are everywhere. They power countless gadgets and electronic items that we use every day. While they may seem harmless, button batteries can be dangerous if swallowed by children. A new study found that the annual number of battery-related emergency department visits among children younger than 18 years of age more than doubled over the 20-year study period, jumping from 2,591 emergency department visits in 1990 to 5,525 emergency department visits in 2009. The number of button batteries swallowed by children also doubled during this period.

Anthropologists discover earliest form of wall art Posted: 14 May 2012 12:29 PM PDT Anthropologists working in southern France have determined that a 1.5 metric ton block of engraved limestone constitutes the earliest evidence of wall art. Their research shows the piece to be approximately 37,000 years old and offers rich evidence of the role art played in the daily lives of Early Aurignacian humans.

Measuring CO<sub>2</sub> to fight global warming, enforce future treaty Posted: 14 May 2012 12:29 PM PDT If the world's nations ever sign a treaty to limit emissions of climate-warming carbon dioxide gas, there may be a way to help verify compliance. Using measurements from only three carbon-dioxide (monitoring stations in the Salt Lake Valley, the method could reliably detect changes in CO2 emissions of 15 percent or more, researchers report.

Injuries associated with baby bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups in the U.S. surprisingly high Posted: 14 May 2012 11:46 AM PDT A new study examined pediatric injuries associated with baby bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups. Researchers found that from 1991 to 2010, an estimated 45,398 children younger than three years of age were treated in U.S. emergency departments for injuries related to the use of these products. This equates to an average of 2,270 injuries per year, or one child treated in a hospital emergency department every four hours for these injuries.

Too much or too little noise turns off consumers, creativity Posted: 14 May 2012 10:43 AM PDT Ambient background noise turns out to be an important factor affecting creative cognition among consumers, according to new research.

A microRNA prognostic marker identified in acute leukemia Posted: 14 May 2012 10:43 AM PDT A study has identified microRNA-3151 as a new independent prognostic marker in patients with acute myeloid leukemia that has normal-looking chromosomes. High levels of this microRNA in cancer cells indicates patients will experience shorter remissions and survival periods. Additionally, the microRNA is encoded within a gene called BAALC, which itself is an independent marker of poor survival when overexpressed in these patients.

A walk in the park gives mental boost to people with depression Posted: 14 May 2012 10:43 AM PDT In one of the first studies to examine the effect of nature walks on cognition and mood in people with major depression, researchers in Canada and the US have found promising evidence that a walk in the park may provide some cognitive benefits.

Why women chose bad boys: Ovulating women perceive sexy cads as good dads Posted: 14 May 2012 10:43 AM PDT Nice guys do finish last at least when it comes to procreation, according to a new study that answers the question of why women choose bad boys. New research has demonstrated that hormones associated with ovulation influence women's perceptions of men as potential fathers.

Dip chip technology tests toxicity on the go Posted: 14 May 2012 10:42 AM PDT Researchers have developed a portable "dip chip" that detects water toxicity quickly and accurately. Once perfected, the chip might be plugged into ordinary smartphones or PDA devices to provide a toxicity alert.

Foxtail millet offers clues for assembling the switchgrass genome Posted: 14 May 2012 10:42 AM PDT Scientists are interested in the perennial grass switchgrass as a prospective biofuels feedstock, but the plant genome is complex. Researchers have sequenced plant genomes of related candidate bioenergy crops such as sorghum and the model grass Brachypodium but they last shared a common ancestor with switchgrass more than 20 million years ago. The genome of a much closer switchgrass relative -- foxtail millet -- has now been described.

Begin early: Water with meals may encourage wiser choices Posted: 14 May 2012 09:28 AM PDT Water could change the way we eat. That's the conclusion of new research.

Color of robins' eggs determines parental care Posted: 14 May 2012 09:28 AM PDT A male robin will be more diligent in caring for its young if the eggs its mate lays are a brighter shade of blue.

Breastfeeding benefits: Human breast milk ingredient adjusts to optimize for beneficial gut bacteria over time Posted: 14 May 2012 09:28 AM PDT A new study shows that human milk oligosaccharides, or HMO, produce short-chain fatty acids that feed a beneficial microbial population in the infant gut. Not only that, the bacterial composition adjusts as the baby grows older and its needs change. For the first time, scientists have shown that a complex mixture of HMO and a single HMO component produce patterns of short-chain fatty acids that change as the infant gets older.

Drug kills cancer cells by restoring faulty tumor suppressor Posted: 14 May 2012 09:27 AM PDT New research uses a novel, computer based strategy to identify potential anti-cancer drugs, including one that targets the third most common p53 mutation in human cancer, p53-R175H. The number of new cancer patients harboring this mutation in the United States who would potentially benefit from this drug is estimated to be 30,000 annually.

Amateur astronomers boost ESA’s asteroid hunt Posted: 14 May 2012 09:26 AM PDT ESA's Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme is keeping watch over space hazards, including disruptive space weather, debris objects in Earth orbit and asteroids that pass close enough to cause concern.

Smoked cannabis reduces some symptoms of multiple sclerosis Posted: 14 May 2012 09:26 AM PDT A clinical study of 30 adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has shown that smoked cannabis may be an effective treatment for spasticity – a common and disabling symptom of this neurological disease.

Pufferfish at the 'beak' of evolution: Why humans don't continuously replace their teeth Posted: 14 May 2012 08:28 AM PDT Prickly pufferfish could hold the key to why humans do not continually replace their teeth and may lead to advances in dental therapies.

Floating robots use GPS-enabled smartphones to track water flow Posted: 14 May 2012 07:50 AM PDT A fleet of 100 floating robots took a trip down the Sacramento River on May 9, in a field test. The devices, equipped with GPS-enabled smartphones, demonstrated the next generation of water-monitoring technology, promising to transform the way government agencies track one of the state's most precious resources.

Steelhead trout lose out when water is low in wine country Posted: 14 May 2012 07:50 AM PDT The competition between farmers and fish for precious water in California is intensifying in wine country, suggests a new study by biologists. The study links higher death rates for threatened juvenile steelhead trout with low water levels in the summer and the acreage of vineyards upstream.

Sundown syndrome-like symptoms in fruit flies may be due to high dopamine levels Posted: 14 May 2012 07:49 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a mechanism involving the neurotransmitter dopamine that switches fruit fly behavior from being active during the day (diurnal) to nocturnal. This change parallels a human disorder in which increased agitation occurs in the evening hours near sunset and may also be due to higher than normal dopamine levels in the brain.

You can't play nano-billiards on a bumpy table Posted: 14 May 2012 07:49 AM PDT There's nothing worse than a shonky pool table with an unseen groove or bump that sends your shot off course: a new study has found that the same goes at the nano-scale, where the "billiard balls" are tiny electrons moving across a "table" made of the semiconductor gallium arsenide. Physicists have shown that in this game of "semiconductor billiards," small bumps have an unexpectedly large effect on the paths that electrons follow.

Virus 'barcodes' offer rapid detection of mutated strains Posted: 14 May 2012 07:49 AM PDT Researchers are developing a way to 'barcode' viral diseases to rapidly test new outbreaks for potentially lethal mutations.

Pay-to-play sports keeping lower-income kids out of the game Posted: 14 May 2012 07:49 AM PDT Nearly one in five lower-income parents report costs forced their children to cut back on sports.

Urban landscape's power to hurt or heal Posted: 14 May 2012 07:49 AM PDT Research shows that street furniture, barriers, parks, public spaces and neighborhood architecture can stir up powerful emotions in local residents. This should be taken into account in programs designed to reduce tensions and foster community cohesion.

Groundbreaking discovery on mutation-causing genetic disorder in humans Posted: 14 May 2012 07:48 AM PDT Scientists have identified the genetic cause of a birth defect known as Hamamy syndrome. Their findings lend new insights into common ailments such as heart disease, osteoporosis, blood disorders and possibly sterility.

Plant protein discovery could boost bioeconomy Posted: 14 May 2012 07:48 AM PDT Three proteins have been found to be involved in the accumulation of fatty acids in plants. The discovery could help plant scientists boost seed oil production in crops. And that could boost the production of biorenewable fuels and chemicals.

To avoid pain during an injection, look away Posted: 14 May 2012 07:47 AM PDT Health professionals commonly say, "Don't look and it won't hurt" before administering an injection, but is there any scientific basis for the advice? A group of German investigators has found that, in fact, your past experience with needle pricks, along with information you receive before an injection, shape your pain experience.

'Thermal tasters' can experience taste from heating or cooling tongue without any food Posted: 14 May 2012 07:44 AM PDT Can the temperature of the food we eat affect the intensity of its taste? It depends on the taste, according to a new study. New research shows that changes in the temperature of foods and drinks have an effect on the intensity of sour, bitter and astringent (e.g. cranberry juice) tastes but not sweetness. In addition, research suggests that in 20-30 percent of the population, heating or cooling small areas of the tongue draws out a taste sensation without the presence of food or drink. These individuals are known as 'thermal' tasters. They seem to taste foods more intensely than others people do.

Roadmap towards sustainable pole-and-line-caught tuna Posted: 14 May 2012 07:44 AM PDT New research offers a blueprint for the long-term sustainability of tuna caught using the pole-and-line method.

Cell biology: How ribosomes override their blockades Posted: 14 May 2012 07:44 AM PDT Ribosomes are "protein factories" in the cells of all living things. They produce proteins based on existing genetic codes stored on special nucleic acid molecules. These molecules, also called messenger RNA (mRNA) due to the genetic information encoded on them, are read by ribosomes in a stepwise manner. Defined start and stop signals on the mRNA direct this process. If a stop signal is missing, protein formation cannot be completed and the ribosome's mode of operation is blocked.

Real smart: Protective clothing with built-in A/C Posted: 14 May 2012 07:44 AM PDT In order to test a new 'smart' protective vest, an experimenter wearing one jogged several kilometers on a treadmill in a climate-controlled chamber. During the jog he lost 544 grams in weight through sweating –  but thanks to the vest's integrated cooling system this was still 191 grams less than if he had been wearing a conventional garment.

Artificial pancreas gets first U. S. Outpatient test Posted: 14 May 2012 07:43 AM PDT The first U.S. outpatient trial of an artificial pancreas could make it easier for type 1 diabetes patients to manage their condition.

DNA replication protein also has a role in mitosis, cancer Posted: 13 May 2012 11:46 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that a protein known as Cdt1, which is required for DNA replication, also plays an important role in a later step of the cell cycle, mitosis. The finding presents a possible explanation for why so many cancers possess not just genomic instability, but also more or less than the usual 46 DNA-containing chromosomes.

Wasted milk is a real drain on our resources, study shows Posted: 13 May 2012 11:46 AM PDT Milk poured down Britain's kitchen sinks each year creates a carbon footprint equivalent to thousands of car exhaust emissions, research shows.

Scientists generate electricity from viruses Posted: 13 May 2012 11:46 AM PDT Scientists have developed a way to generate power using harmless viruses that convert mechanical energy into electricity. The scientists tested their approach by creating a generator that produces enough current to operate a small liquid-crystal display. Their generator is the first to produce electricity by harnessing the piezoelectric properties of a biological material.

Tiny solar-panel-like cells help restore sight to the blind Posted: 13 May 2012 11:46 AM PDT Using tiny solar-panel-like cells surgically placed underneath the retina, scientists have devised a system that may someday restore sight to people who have lost vision because of certain types of degenerative eye diseases.

Novel new device diagnoses irregular heartbeat: Small stick-on device monitors heart rhythm for weeks Posted: 11 May 2012 02:50 PM PDT A new study has found that a novel new heart monitoring device helped emergency room patients avoid unnecessary follow-up care.

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