ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Patients' skin cells turned into heart muscle cells to repair their damaged hearts
• Discoveries into perception via popular magic tricks
• Best time to study the cosmos was more than 13 billion years ago
• Uproar over prostate-cancer screenings explained
• Tracking atlantic bluefin tuna shows migration secrets
• Scientists unravel role of fusion gene in prostate cancer
• Civil engineers find savings where the rubber meets the road: Stiffer roads reduce fuel consumption
• How nanotechnology can help detect disease earlier
• NASA Goddard delivers magnetometers for NASA's next mission to Mars
• Zapping deadly bacteria using space technology
• What went up can now come down with SpaceX demo flight
• NASA's NuSTAR gearing up for launch
• For monogamous sparrows, it doesn't pay to stray (but they do it anyway)
• Rapid DNA sequencing may soon be routine part of each patient's medical record
• Role of fusion gene in prostate cancer: Mutation found in half of all prostate cancers may lead to disease development
• New TB test promises to be cheap and fast
• Wrongful convictions can be reduced through science, but tradeoffs exist
• Food fight or romantic dinner? Communication between couples is key to improving men's diets
• Training our brains to see ourselves in a more attractive light
• Availability of hydrogen controls chemical structure of graphene oxide
• Neuron-nourishing cells appear to retaliate in Alzheimer's
• New means of safeguarding world fish stocks
• Flu shot during pregnancy shows unexpected benefits in large study
• Severe nuclear reactor accidents likely every 10 to 20 years, European study suggests
• Deal website discretion: A deal a day can keep the consumer away
• Home damage after 9/11 linked with respiratory illness
• Space lawyer: Before humans step into commercial spaceflight, laws need giant leap
• New anti-cancer drug developed
• Healthy marriage interventions: A boom or a bust?
• Folic acid food enrichment potentially protective against childhood cancers
• Volcanic island of Santorini displaying signs of unrest
• GPS for the brain: New brain map developed
• How Twitter is used to share information after a disaster
• Does polyploidy play a role in the onset of the Italian endemic flora?
• New frog species from Panama dyes fingers yellow
• How Staph bacteria gain resistance to last-line drug
• Archaeology: Spectacular tomb containing more than 80 individuals discovered in Peru
• How high fat foods impact diabetes and metabolic syndrome
• High prevalence of severe asthma with fungal sensitization
• Marine aquarium fish trade study reveals fewer fish, more species imported than previously estimated
• Unsafe at any speed: Even for driving pros, distractions increase crash risk
• Stem cell research paves way for progress on dealing with Fragile X
• Making microscopic machines using metallic glass
• Gold-plated fossil solution
• Disagreeable people prefer aggressive dogs, study suggests
• First Bose-Einstein condensate of erbium: Quantum condensate of the thirteenth kind
• Humanoid robot works side by side with people
• SpaceX Dragon transports student experiments to International Space Station
• SpaceX launches Falcon 9/Dragon on historic mission to deliver cargo to International Space Station
• Heart rules the head when we make financial decisions
• Richer parasite diversity helps protect frogs from viruses that cause malformed limbs

Patients' skin cells turned into heart muscle cells to repair their damaged hearts Posted: 22 May 2012 05:06 PM PDT For the first time scientists have succeeded in taking skin cells from heart failure patients and reprogramming them to transform into healthy, new heart muscle cells that are capable of integrating with existing heart tissue.

Discoveries into perception via popular magic tricks Posted: 22 May 2012 03:07 PM PDT Researchers have unveiled how and why the public perceives some magic tricks in recent studies that could have real-world implications in military tactics, marketing and sports.

Best time to study the cosmos was more than 13 billion years ago Posted: 22 May 2012 03:06 PM PDT The universe is a marvelously complex place, filled with galaxies and larger-scale structures that have evolved over its 13.7-billion-year history. Those began as small perturbations of matter that grew over time, like ripples in a pond, as the universe expanded. By observing the large-scale cosmic wrinkles now, we can learn about the initial conditions of the universe. But is now really the best time to look?

Uproar over prostate-cancer screenings explained Posted: 22 May 2012 03:06 PM PDT Despite recent recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force, many people simply don't believe that the prostate-specific antigen test is ineffective. Even faced with overwhelming evidence, many activists and medical professionals are clamoring for men to continue receiving their annual PSA test. Why the disconnect? A new article examines the reasons why people are so reluctant to give up the PSA test.

Tracking atlantic bluefin tuna shows migration secrets Posted: 22 May 2012 02:54 PM PDT New fish-tagging studies of young bluefin tuna in the Atlantic off New England are offering the first fishery-independent, year-round data on dispersal patterns and habitat use for the popular game fish. Miniaturized pop-up satellite tags suitable for smaller fish helped make the research possible.

Scientists unravel role of fusion gene in prostate cancer Posted: 22 May 2012 01:14 PM PDT Up to half of all prostate cancer cells have a chromosomal rearrangement that results in a new "fusion" gene and formation of its unique protein -- but no one has known how that alteration promotes cancer growth.

Civil engineers find savings where the rubber meets the road: Stiffer roads reduce fuel consumption Posted: 22 May 2012 01:14 PM PDT Pavement deflection under vehicle tires makes for a continuous uphill drive that increases fuel consumption, new research shows. A new study by civil engineers at MIT shows that using stiffer pavements on the nation's roads could reduce vehicle fuel consumption by as much as 3 percent — a savings that could add up to 273 million barrels of crude oil per year, or $15.6 billion at today's oil prices. This would result in an accompanying annual decrease in CO2 emissions of 46.5 million metric tons.

How nanotechnology can help detect disease earlier Posted: 22 May 2012 01:13 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a new way to precisely detect a single chemical at extremely low concentrations and high contamination.

NASA Goddard delivers magnetometers for NASA's next mission to Mars Posted: 22 May 2012 12:50 PM PDT Magnetometers built by scientists and engineers at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. for NASA's Mars Atmosphere And Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission have been delivered to the University of California at Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory for integration into the Particles and Field Package.

Zapping deadly bacteria using space technology Posted: 22 May 2012 12:48 PM PDT Technology spin-off from long-running research aboard the International Space Station is opening up a new way to keep hospital patients safe from infections. Using plasma -- electrically charged gas -- researchers are developing ways to kill bacteria and viruses that can cause infections in hospitals.

What went up can now come down with SpaceX demo flight Posted: 22 May 2012 12:44 PM PDT The SpaceX Dragon demo flight brings a new American transportation vehicle onto the scene for travel to and from the International Space Station. Currently there are other ways to reach station, however only one vehicle, the Russian Soyuz, offers return capability. The SpaceX Dragon adds a welcome additional option for the transport of supplies and research equipment from the station to the ground.

NASA's NuSTAR gearing up for launch Posted: 22 May 2012 12:41 PM PDT Final pre-launch preparations are underway for NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR. The mission, which will use X-ray vision to hunt for hidden black holes, is scheduled to launch no earlier than June 13 from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The observatory will launch from the belly of Orbital Sciences Corporation's L-1011 "Stargazer" aircraft aboard the company's Pegasus rocket.

For monogamous sparrows, it doesn't pay to stray (but they do it anyway) Posted: 22 May 2012 12:26 PM PDT It's quite common for a female song sparrow to stray from her breeding partner and mate with the male next door, but a new study shows that sleeping around can be costly.

Rapid DNA sequencing may soon be routine part of each patient's medical record Posted: 22 May 2012 12:26 PM PDT Rapid DNA sequencing may soon become a routine part of each individual's medical record, providing enormous information previously sequestered in the human genome's 3 billion nucleotide bases. Recent advances in sequencing technology using a tiny orifice known as a nanopore are covered in a new a article.

Role of fusion gene in prostate cancer: Mutation found in half of all prostate cancers may lead to disease development Posted: 22 May 2012 12:24 PM PDT Up to half of all prostate cancer cells have a chromosomal rearrangement that results in a new "fusion" gene and formation of its unique protein — but no one has known how that alteration promotes cancer growth. Now, researchers have found that in these cancer cells, the 3-D architecture of DNA, wrapped up in a little ball known as a chromatin, is warped in such a way that a switch has been thrown on thousands of genes, turning them on or off to promote abnormal, unchecked growth. Researchers also found that new chromosomal translocations form, further destabilizing the genome.

New TB test promises to be cheap and fast Posted: 22 May 2012 10:53 AM PDT Biomedical engineers have developed a microfluidic chip to test for latent tuberculosis. They hope the test will be cheaper, faster and more reliable than current testing for the disease.

Wrongful convictions can be reduced through science, but tradeoffs exist Posted: 22 May 2012 10:53 AM PDT Many of the wrongful convictions identified in a report this week hinged on a misidentified culprit -- now, scientific research reveals the paradox of reforms in eyewitness identification procedure. In our efforts to ensure good guys don't get locked up, we could let more bad guys go. Scholars in psychology and law debate aspects of eyewitness identification procedures, providing a scientific foundation for this important social issue.

Food fight or romantic dinner? Communication between couples is key to improving men's diets Posted: 22 May 2012 10:53 AM PDT Married men will eat their peas to keep the peace, but many aren't happy about it, and may even binge on unhealthy foods away from home.

Training our brains to see ourselves in a more attractive light Posted: 22 May 2012 10:51 AM PDT Researchers have designed a program called Mírate bien (Take a good look at yourself). It is a tool designed to enable us to learn to love our bodies and faces; and to improve our physical self-concept. Initiatives of this kind are routinely applied at educational establishments and high schools, but in this case there is a difference.

Availability of hydrogen controls chemical structure of graphene oxide Posted: 22 May 2012 10:51 AM PDT A new study shows that the availability of hydrogen plays a significant role in determining the chemical and structural makeup of graphene oxide, a material that has potential uses in nano-electronics, nano-electromechanical systems, sensing, composites, optics, catalysis and energy storage.

Neuron-nourishing cells appear to retaliate in Alzheimer's Posted: 22 May 2012 10:51 AM PDT When brain cells start oozing too much of the amyloid protein that is the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, the astrocytes that normally nourish and protect them deliver a suicide package instead, researchers report.

New means of safeguarding world fish stocks Posted: 22 May 2012 10:50 AM PDT Powerful and versatile new genetic tools will assist in safeguarding both European fish stocks and European consumers. A new article details the first system shown to identify populations of fish species to a forensic level of validation.

Flu shot during pregnancy shows unexpected benefits in large study Posted: 22 May 2012 10:49 AM PDT Getting a flu shot during pregnancy provides unanticipated benefits to the baby, according to the authors of a large population-based study examining the issue. Specifically, the study showed that H1N1 vaccination during the pandemic was associated with a significantly reduced risk of stillbirth, preterm birth and extremely small babies at birth.

Severe nuclear reactor accidents likely every 10 to 20 years, European study suggests Posted: 22 May 2012 10:49 AM PDT Western Europe has the worldwide highest risk of radioactive contamination caused by major reactor accidents. Catastrophic nuclear accidents such as the core meltdowns in Chernobyl and Fukushima are more likely to happen than previously assumed. Based on the operating hours of all civil nuclear reactors and the number of nuclear meltdowns that have occurred, scientists have calculated that such events may occur once every 10 to 20 years (based on the current number of reactors) -- some 200 times more often than estimated in the past.

Deal website discretion: A deal a day can keep the consumer away Posted: 22 May 2012 10:48 AM PDT While daily deal websites and flash sale websites offer a service or product at a discount to bring in new consumers and incentivize them to return, consumers are not coming back after the initial use, a marketing and technology researcher says.

Home damage after 9/11 linked with respiratory illness Posted: 22 May 2012 10:47 AM PDT Residents of Lower Manhattan who suffered home damage following the September 11 terrorist attacks are more likely to report respiratory symptoms and diseases than area residents whose homes were not damaged, concludes a new study .

Space lawyer: Before humans step into commercial spaceflight, laws need giant leap Posted: 22 May 2012 10:47 AM PDT SpaceX's launch to the International Space Station opens a new era in commercial spaceflight -- and raises questions about what laws govern private space companies and what legal obstacles affect future human space travel.

New anti-cancer drug developed Posted: 22 May 2012 08:52 AM PDT Scientists have created a new type of anti-cancer drug named BP-1-102. The drug, which can be orally administered, targets a key protein that triggers the development of many types of cancer including lung, breast and skin cancers. The development of BP-1-102 was guided by the research teams computer based molecular analysis of the cancer causing Stat 3 protein.

Healthy marriage interventions: A boom or a bust? Posted: 22 May 2012 08:50 AM PDT Conventional wisdom, backed by years of research, suggests that healthy marriages equals a healthy society. And politicians and government officials have taken note, investing millions of dollars each year in education programs designed to promote healthy marriages, focusing specifically on poor couples and couples of color. Is it working? No, says a researcher in a new article.

Folic acid food enrichment potentially protective against childhood cancers Posted: 22 May 2012 08:50 AM PDT Researchers have found folic acid fortification of grain products in the United States may have an impact on lowering some childhood cancers. The new research shows fortification does not appear to be causing childhood cancer rates to increase, and also finds a notable decrease in two types of childhood cancer.

Volcanic island of Santorini displaying signs of unrest Posted: 22 May 2012 08:50 AM PDT Archived data from the Envisat satellite show that the volcanic island of Santorini has recently displayed signs of unrest. Even after the end of its mission, Envisat information continues to be exploited for the long-term monitoring of volcanoes.

GPS for the brain: New brain map developed Posted: 22 May 2012 08:50 AM PDT Researchers have developed a map of the human brain that shows great promise as a new guide to the inner workings of the body's most complex and critical organ.

How Twitter is used to share information after a disaster Posted: 22 May 2012 08:50 AM PDT A new study shows how people used Twitter following the 2011 nuclear disaster in Japan, highlighting challenges for using the social media tool to share information. The study also indicates that social media haven't changed what we communicate so much as how quickly we can disseminate it.

Does polyploidy play a role in the onset of the Italian endemic flora? Posted: 22 May 2012 08:49 AM PDT Plants show a higher variation in chromosome numbers than animals do, mainly because of polyploidy -- the occurrence of more than two sets of chromosomes. In plants, polyploidy can cause reproductive isolation and the consequent onset of new species. Researchers now set out to estimate to what extent polyploidy is involved in the onset of the Italian endemic plants.

New frog species from Panama dyes fingers yellow Posted: 22 May 2012 08:49 AM PDT Biologists have discovered a new, beautiful golden frog species in western Panama. The frog that hides in very dense vegetation has attracted the scientists' attention when they first heard the characteristic call emitted by the males.

How Staph bacteria gain resistance to last-line drug Posted: 22 May 2012 08:49 AM PDT Scientists have determined the genome sequences of a dozen strains of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria known to be resistant to vancomycin, an antibiotic of last resort. The researchers demonstrated that resistance arose independently in each strain, and identified shared features among the strains that may have helped them acquire vancomycin resistance and evade human immune defenses.

Archaeology: Spectacular tomb containing more than 80 individuals discovered in Peru Posted: 22 May 2012 08:46 AM PDT Archaeologists have discovered a spectacular tomb containing more than eighty individuals of different ages. This discovery – provisionally dated to around 1000 years ago – was made at the site of Pachacamac.

How high fat foods impact diabetes and metabolic syndrome Posted: 22 May 2012 08:45 AM PDT The Bcl10 protein helps the free fatty acids found in high fat foods impair insulin action and raise blood sugar, new research shows.

High prevalence of severe asthma with fungal sensitization Posted: 22 May 2012 08:03 AM PDT New research suggests that a significant proportion of children with asthma failing Step 4 or greater therapy may have severe asthma with fungal sensitization.

Marine aquarium fish trade study reveals fewer fish, more species imported than previously estimated Posted: 22 May 2012 08:03 AM PDT As the popularity of marine aquariums rises, so does the demand for wildlife inhabiting them. Most aquarium fish are harvested from their natural habitats -- primarily coral reefs -- and imported into the United States by the millions annually.

Unsafe at any speed: Even for driving pros, distractions increase crash risk Posted: 22 May 2012 08:01 AM PDT The ringing cell phone you're reaching to answer. The text message that demands a reply now. The GPS you're trying to program as you're frantically rushing to your destination. They're just a few activities -- among many -- that divert drivers' attention from the road and escalate their risk of having an accident.

Stem cell research paves way for progress on dealing with Fragile X Posted: 22 May 2012 05:45 AM PDT Researchers have achieved, for the first time, the generation of neuronal cells from stem cells of Fragile X patients. The discovery paves the way for research that will examine restoration of normal gene expression in Fragile X patients.

Making microscopic machines using metallic glass Posted: 22 May 2012 05:45 AM PDT A new manufacturing technology allows researchers to mass produce components for use in next-generation computer storage devices and disposable medical and chemical test kits.

Gold-plated fossil solution Posted: 22 May 2012 05:45 AM PDT Scientists have found a solution to a research problem involving fossils right next door.

Disagreeable people prefer aggressive dogs, study suggests Posted: 22 May 2012 05:43 AM PDT Aggressive dog ownership is not always a sign of attempted dominance or actual delinquency. A new study finds that younger people who are disagreeable are more likely to prefer aggressive dogs, confirming the conventional wisdom that dogs match the personality of their owners.

First Bose-Einstein condensate of erbium: Quantum condensate of the thirteenth kind Posted: 22 May 2012 05:43 AM PDT Scientists have created a condensate of the exotic element erbium. Ultracold quantum gases have exceptional properties and offer an ideal system to study basic physical phenomena. Erbuim is a very exotic element, which due to its particular properties, offers new and fascinating possibilities to investigate fundamental questions in quantum physics.

Humanoid robot works side by side with people Posted: 22 May 2012 05:43 AM PDT The first robots reached the world of industry over 60 years ago. Since then, for security reasons, they have performed their work isolated in cages, and that prevented collaboration between workers and machines. Researches are embarking on a new era by incorporating into European industry the first robot capable of working shoulder to shoulder with people.

SpaceX Dragon transports student experiments to International Space Station Posted: 22 May 2012 05:34 AM PDT The SpaceX Dragon capsule, which on Tuesday became the first commercially developed and built spacecraft to launch to the International Space Station, is carrying among its cargo a suite of 15 science experiments designed by students.

SpaceX launches Falcon 9/Dragon on historic mission to deliver cargo to International Space Station Posted: 22 May 2012 05:28 AM PDT A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket thundered into space and delivered a Dragon cargo capsule into orbit on May 22, 2012. The launch began an ambitious mission to show that the company is ready to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.

Heart rules the head when we make financial decisions Posted: 21 May 2012 06:36 PM PDT Our 'gut feelings' influence our decisions, overriding 'rational' thought, when we are faced with financial offers that we deem to be unfair, according to a new study. Even when we are set to benefit, our physical response can make us more likely to reject a financial proposition we consider to be unjust.

Richer parasite diversity helps protect frogs from viruses that cause malformed limbs Posted: 21 May 2012 01:38 PM PDT Increases in the diversity of parasites that attack amphibians cause a decrease in the infection success rate of virulent parasites, including one that causes malformed limbs and premature death, says a new study.

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