ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• NASA sees Tropical Storm Debby's clouds blanket Florida
• Computer analysis of EEG patterns suggests a potential diagnostic test for autism at two years old
• Math formula leads researchers to source of pollution
• Genetic heart diseases may be responsible for unexplained stillbirths
• Geoflow: Space station experiments shed light on conditions deep inside Earth
• Eating garbage: Bacteria for bioremediation
• Statins appear associated with reduced risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in men, women
• Ozone exposure linked to potential heart attacks
• Sounds of summer can be a danger to hearing
• Greenland ice may exaggerate magnitude of 13,000-year-old deep freeze
• Mercury mineral evolution tied to Supercontinent assembly over last 3 billion years
• Cambodia remains last vulture bastion in Southeast Asia
• Condor lead poisoning persists, impeding recovery, study finds
• Viewing images of high-calorie foods brings on high-calorie cravings, research finds
• Scientists struggle with mathematical details, study by biologists finds
• Biological switch paves way for improved biofuel production
• Lead poisoning blocks recovery of California condor population
• Mystery of the flatfish head solved
• Treating vitamin D deficiency may improve depression
• Testosterone-replacement therapy improves symptoms of metabolic syndrome
• Hormone, oxytocin, shows potential as weight-loss treatment
• Metformin may lower cancer risk in people with type 2 diabetes
• Cassini shows why jet streams cross-cut Saturn
• Scientists twist light to send data: Beams of light can be twisted and combined to transmit data dramatically faster
• Unraveling the mysteries of exotic superconductors: Magnetism may be responsible for superconductivity in iron-based superconductors
• Rate of severe reactions higher than thought in young children with food allergies
• Thinking about choice diminishes concern for wealth inequality
• Smallest and largest fetuses at greater risk of being stillborn, research finds
• Nano-sandwich technique slims down solar cells, improves efficiency
• Low vitamin D levels linked to weight gain in some older women
• New hormonal gel combination shows promise as reversible birth control for men
• Experimental drug helps diabetes patients lose weight
• 'Dessert with breakfast diet' helps avoid weight regain by reducing cravings
• Ratio of appetite-regulating hormones marker of successful dieters
• Secondhand smoke is linked to type 2 diabetes and obesity
• Experimental insulin drug prevents low blood sugar
• Why do fat cells get fat? New suspect identified
• Overweight men can boost low testosterone levels by losing weight
• Gut hormone receptor in brain is key to gastric emptying rate; may help prevent obesity
• NASA space launch system core stage moves from concept to design
• Hubble views globular cluster M10
• NuSTAR mission status report: Observatory unfurls its unique mast
• Study slashes deforestation carbon emission estimate
• Neutrons explain how haemoglobin evolution in red blood cells helped the duck-billed platypus respire
• Browsing internet sites without the hurdles
• Type 2 diabetes, cured by weight loss surgery, returns in one-fifth of patients
• Speeding up bone growth by manipulating stem cells
• Diet, exercise or both? What obese older adults need to do to reduce cardiometabolic risk
• Timing of menopause symptoms relates to risk markers for heart disease, stroke
• Full-term children conceived with fertility drugs are shorter than their peers
• Fungicide used on farm crops linked to insulin resistance
• Do you always have room for dessert? Blame ghrelin, study authors say
• Binge eating improves with deep brain stimulation surgery
• Experimental drug improves muscle strength among male cancer patients
• Common diabetes drugs associated with increased risk of death
• Automated system to detect infectious diseases for Olympics 2012
• Arsenic for better drugs and cleaner crops
• Creative individuals travelled to the south Swedish inland 9,000 years ago
• Gut microbes battle a common set of viruses shared by global populations
• Remapping gang turf: Math model used for mapping chimp territories applies

NASA sees Tropical Storm Debby's clouds blanket Florida Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:30 PM PDT Like a white blanket, Tropical Storm Debby's clouds covered the entire state of Florida in a NASA satellite image. Two satellites have captured imagery that shows Tropical Storm Debby has thrown a large white blanket of clouds over the state of Florida, and it doesn't seem like that blanket is going to lift quickly as Debby moves slowly north.

Computer analysis of EEG patterns suggests a potential diagnostic test for autism at two years old Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:30 PM PDT The largest, most rigorous study to date to investigate EEGs as a potential diagnostic tool for autism offers hope for an earlier, more definitive test. Widely available EEG testing can distinguish children with autism from neurotypical children as early as age two. Findings could be the basis for a future objective diagnostic test of autism particularly at younger ages when behavior-based measures are unreliable.

Math formula leads researchers to source of pollution Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:30 PM PDT The leaking of environmentally damaging pollutants into our waters and atmosphere could soon be counteracted by a simple mathematical algorithm, according to researchers.

Genetic heart diseases may be responsible for unexplained stillbirths Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:28 PM PDT Genetic researchers have made an important step towards resolving the mystery of the causes of intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD), or stillbirth, where a baby dies in the womb after the 14th week of gestation. IUFD is responsible for 60% of perinatal mortality and occurs in about one in every two hundred pregnancies in Europe. Up to half of these stillbirths are unexplained. Now scientists have found that up to 8% of these unexplained deaths may be caused by specific genetic heart conditions.

Geoflow: Space station experiments shed light on conditions deep inside Earth Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:25 PM PDT ESA astronaut André Kuipers is running experiments on the International Space Station that are shedding light on conditions deep inside Earth. Orbiting some 400 km above us, Geoflow is offering insights into the inner workings of our planet.

Eating garbage: Bacteria for bioremediation Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:54 PM PDT A 150-foot-high garbage dump in Colombia, South America, may have new life as a public park. Researchers have demonstrated that bacteria found in the dump can be used to neutralize the contaminants in the soil.

Statins appear associated with reduced risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in men, women Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:54 PM PDT Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs appear to be associated with reduced risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in men and women, but do not appear to be associated with reduced all-cause mortality or stroke in women, according to a new report.

Ozone exposure linked to potential heart attacks Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:29 PM PDT Young, healthy adult volunteers exposed for two hours to ozone developed physiological changes associated with cardiovascular ailments, according to a small study.

Sounds of summer can be a danger to hearing Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:29 PM PDT Hearing can be permanently damaged by loud summer noises such as fireworks, marching bands, construction and the like. An audiologist explains decibels for common sounds and offers tips and expertise to safeguard hearing.

Greenland ice may exaggerate magnitude of 13,000-year-old deep freeze Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:29 PM PDT Ice samples pulled from nearly a mile below the surface of Greenland glaciers have long served as a historical thermometer, adding temperature data to studies of the local conditions up to the Northern Hemisphere's climate. But the method — comparing the ratio of oxygen isotopes buried as snow fell over millennia — may not be such a straightforward indicator of air temperature.

Mercury mineral evolution tied to Supercontinent assembly over last 3 billion years Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:23 PM PDT Mineral evolution posits that Earth's near-surface mineral diversity gradually increased through an array of chemical and biological processes. A dozen different species in interstellar dust particles that formed the solar system have evolved to more than 4500 species today. New work demonstrates that the creation of most minerals containing mercury is fundamentally linked to several episodes of supercontinent assembly over the last 3 billion years.

Cambodia remains last vulture bastion in Southeast Asia Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:23 PM PDT In face of what has become a precipitous slide toward extinction across the Asian continent, the vultures of Cambodia have persisted, giving conservationists hope that these important scavengers can come back from the brink, according to authors a new study.

Condor lead poisoning persists, impeding recovery, study finds Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:04 PM PDT The California condor is chronically endangered by lead exposure from ammunition and requires ongoing human intervention for population stability and growth, according to a new study.

Viewing images of high-calorie foods brings on high-calorie cravings, research finds Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:04 PM PDT New research indicates looking at images of high-calorie foods stimulates appetite and reward centers in the brain.

Scientists struggle with mathematical details, study by biologists finds Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:04 PM PDT Many people remember struggling with maths at school, but few of us would expect that professional scientists suffer from a similar problem in their daily work. A new study shows that scientists tend to overlook their colleagues' research if it is packed full of mathematical equations.

Biological switch paves way for improved biofuel production Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:04 PM PDT A mechanism that controls the way organisms breathe or photosynthesize has been discovered by scientists. The research could pave the way for improved biofuel production.

Lead poisoning blocks recovery of California condor population Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:04 PM PDT A comprehensive study shows that California condors are continually exposed to harmful levels of lead, the principal source of that lead is ammunition, and lead poisoning from ammunition is preventing the recovery of the condor population.

Mystery of the flatfish head solved Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:03 PM PDT A new discovery describes a fossil fish, named Heteronectes (meaning "different swimmer") that was found in 50 million year old marine rocks from northern Italy. This study provides the first detailed description of a primitive flatfish, revealing that the migrated eye had not yet crossed to the opposite side of the skull in early members of this group.

Treating vitamin D deficiency may improve depression Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT Women with moderate to severe depression had substantial improvement in their symptoms of depression after they received treatment for their vitamin D deficiency, a new study finds.

Testosterone-replacement therapy improves symptoms of metabolic syndrome Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT Hormone-replacement therapy significantly improved symptoms of metabolic syndrome associated with testosterone deficiency in men, a new study from Germany finds.

Hormone, oxytocin, shows potential as weight-loss treatment Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT A reproductive hormone helps regulate food intake and energy metabolism without causing adverse effects, a new animal study finds.

Metformin may lower cancer risk in people with type 2 diabetes Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT A commonly prescribed diabetes drug, metformin, reduces the overall cancer risk in people with Type 2 diabetes, a large systematic review study finds.

Cassini shows why jet streams cross-cut Saturn Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:05 PM PDT Turbulent jet streams, regions where winds blow faster than in other places, churn east and west across Saturn. Scientists have been trying to understand for years the mechanism that drives these wavy structures in Saturn's atmosphere and the source from which the jets derive their energy.

Scientists twist light to send data: Beams of light can be twisted and combined to transmit data dramatically faster Posted: 25 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT Researchers have developed a system of transmitting data using twisted beams of light at ultra-high speeds -- up to 2.56 terabits per second.

Unraveling the mysteries of exotic superconductors: Magnetism may be responsible for superconductivity in iron-based superconductors Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:59 AM PDT Scientists are using specialized techniques to help unravel the mysteries of iron-based superconductors. An international collaboration that magnetism may be helping or even responsible for superconductivity in iron-based superconductors.

Rate of severe reactions higher than thought in young children with food allergies Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:59 AM PDT Young children with allergies to milk and egg experience reactions to these and other foods more often than researchers had expected, a study reports. The study also found that severe and potentially life-threatening reactions in a significant number of these children occur and that some caregivers are hesitant to give such children epinephrine, a medication that reverses the symptoms of such reactions and can save lives.

Thinking about choice diminishes concern for wealth inequality Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:59 AM PDT Against the backdrop of a worldwide recession, wealth inequality has become a prominent theme in discussions about politics and the economy. In opinion polls, many Americans seem to support a more equal distribution of wealth. But they often vote against measures that would narrow the gap between those with the highest and lowest incomes. In a new study, psychological scientists examine whether the concept of choice might help to explain Americans' contradictory opinions on wealth.

Smallest and largest fetuses at greater risk of being stillborn, research finds Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:58 AM PDT The tiniest and the heaviest fetuses are at much higher risk of being stillborn than those of average weight, new research has found.

Nano-sandwich technique slims down solar cells, improves efficiency Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:58 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to create much slimmer thin-film solar cells without sacrificing the cells' ability to absorb solar energy. Making the cells thinner should significantly decrease manufacturing costs for the technology.

Low vitamin D levels linked to weight gain in some older women Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:54 AM PDT Older women with insufficient levels of Vitamin D gained more weight than those with sufficient levels of the vitamin, according to a new study. The study of more than 4,600 women ages 65 and older found that over nearly five years, those with insufficient levels of Vitamin D in their blood gained about two pounds more than those with adequate levels of the vitamin.

New hormonal gel combination shows promise as reversible birth control for men Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:51 AM PDT Male hormonal contraceptives applied daily to the skin reduce sperm production, finds a new study. Very low sperm counts resulted for about 89 percent of men using a new combination of hormones, the authors reported. They combined a transdermal (skin) gel containing the male hormone testosterone and a gel containing a new synthetic progestin called Nestorone.

Experimental drug helps diabetes patients lose weight Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:50 AM PDT An experimental drug helped significantly more overweight patients with diabetes shed pounds, compared with placebo, a new study finds.

'Dessert with breakfast diet' helps avoid weight regain by reducing cravings Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:50 AM PDT Dieters have less hunger and cravings throughout the day and are better able to keep off lost weight if they eat a carbohydrate-rich, protein-packed breakfast that includes dessert.

Ratio of appetite-regulating hormones marker of successful dieters Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:50 AM PDT A pre-diet measurement of two hormones related to weight regulation can help predict which dieters will be more likely to maintain their weight loss and who will not, according to a new study.

Secondhand smoke is linked to type 2 diabetes and obesity Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:50 AM PDT Adults who are exposed to secondhand smoke have higher rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes than do nonsmokers without environmental exposure to tobacco smoke, a new study shows.

Experimental insulin drug prevents low blood sugar Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:50 AM PDT An experimental insulin drug prevented low blood sugar among diabetic patients more often than a popular drug on the market, a new study finds.

Why do fat cells get fat? New suspect identified Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:49 AM PDT As the world fights obesity at the human level, a new finding at the microscopic level could help fuel that fight. The work helps explain why fat-storing cells get fatter, and burn fat slower, as obesity sets in -- and could lead to new obesity drugs.

Overweight men can boost low testosterone levels by losing weight Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:49 AM PDT Weight loss can reduce the prevalence of low testosterone levels in overweight, middle-aged men with prediabetes by almost 50 percent, a new study finds.

Gut hormone receptor in brain is key to gastric emptying rate; may help prevent obesity Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:49 AM PDT Researchers have discovered how a hormone in the gut slows the rate at which the stomach empties and thus suppresses hunger and food intake.

NASA space launch system core stage moves from concept to design Posted: 25 Jun 2012 08:49 AM PDT The United States' space exploration program is taking a critical step forward with a successful major technical review of the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS), the rocket that will take astronauts farther into space than ever before. The core stage is the heart of the heavy-lift launch vehicle. It will stand more than 200 feet (61 meters) tall with a diameter of 27.5 feet (8.4 meters).

Hubble views globular cluster M10 Posted: 25 Jun 2012 08:45 AM PDT Like many of the most famous objects in the sky, globular cluster Messier 10 was of little interest to its discoverer. Charles Messier, the 18th century French astronomer, cataloged over 100 galaxies and clusters, but was primarily interested in comets. Through the telescopes available at the time, comets, nebulae, globular clusters and galaxies appeared just as faint, diffuse blobs and could easily be confused for one another.

NuSTAR mission status report: Observatory unfurls its unique mast Posted: 25 Jun 2012 08:42 AM PDT NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, has successfully deployed its lengthy mast, giving it the ability to see the highest energy X-rays in our universe. The mission is one step closer to beginning its hunt for black holes hiding in our Milky Way and other galaxies.

Study slashes deforestation carbon emission estimate Posted: 25 Jun 2012 08:30 AM PDT A new study with NASA participation has sharply reduced previous estimates of how much carbon was emitted into Earth's atmosphere from tropical deforestation in the early 2000s.

Neutrons explain how haemoglobin evolution in red blood cells helped the duck-billed platypus respire Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:09 AM PDT Scientists have explained the evolutionary history of haemoglobin using what might seem an unlikely array of samples. Researchers focused the world's most intense neutrons beams on the oxygen-carrying protein from a human, a duck-billed platypus, a chicken and a salt-water crocodile to explain how it has adapted to different body temperatures within different species.

Browsing internet sites without the hurdles Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:09 AM PDT The majority of websites have major shortcomings. Unclean programming frequently causes excessive load times. Companies are only gradually recognizing the advantages of a barrier-free Internet. Researchers are crafting tools that can be used to monitor compliance with web standards.

Type 2 diabetes, cured by weight loss surgery, returns in one-fifth of patients Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:09 AM PDT A new study shows that although gastric bypass surgery reverses Type 2 diabetes in a large percentage of obese patients, the disease recurs in about 21 percent of them within three to five years.

Speeding up bone growth by manipulating stem cells Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:09 AM PDT Differentiation of stem cells into bone nodules is greatly accelerated by nanomolecular scaffolds.

Diet, exercise or both? What obese older adults need to do to reduce cardiometabolic risk Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:09 AM PDT Obese older adults can reduce their chance of developing the metabolic syndrome by losing weight through dieting alone, but adding exercise to a weight loss program has even more benefit, a new study finds. The results show that a combination of diet-induced weight loss and frequent exercise almost doubled the improvement in insulin sensitivity compared with dieting alone.

Timing of menopause symptoms relates to risk markers for heart disease, stroke Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:09 AM PDT The hot flashes and night sweats that most women experience early in menopause are not linked to increased levels of cardiovascular disease risk markers unless the symptoms persist or start many years after menopause begins.

Full-term children conceived with fertility drugs are shorter than their peers Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:09 AM PDT Among children born full term, those conceived with the help of fertility drugs are slightly shorter than naturally conceived children but overall are physically healthy, a new study finds.

Fungicide used on farm crops linked to insulin resistance Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:09 AM PDT A fungicide used on farm crops can induce insulin resistance, a new tissue-culture study finds, providing another piece of evidence linking environmental pollutants to diabetes.

Do you always have room for dessert? Blame ghrelin, study authors say Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:25 AM PDT A new study suggests that the appetite-inducing hormone ghrelin increases the incentive for humans to eat high-calorie foods, even on a full stomach.

Binge eating improves with deep brain stimulation surgery Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:25 AM PDT Deep brain stimulation reduces binge eating in mice, suggesting that this surgery, which is approved for treatment of certain neurologic and psychiatric disorders, may also be an effective therapy for obesity.

Experimental drug improves muscle strength among male cancer patients Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:22 AM PDT An experimental medication safely increases muscle strength and physical functioning among cancer patients with low testosterone levels, a new drug study finds. The results will be presented Sunday at the Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.

Common diabetes drugs associated with increased risk of death Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:22 AM PDT Compared to another popular drug, three widely used diabetes medications are associated with a greater risk of death, a large new analysis finds.

Automated system to detect infectious diseases for Olympics 2012 Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:53 AM PDT The world's first comprehensive, automated outbreak detection system will monitor over 3,000 infections and is ready to run during Olympics 2012.

Arsenic for better drugs and cleaner crops Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:53 AM PDT New research may lead to more effective arsenic-containing drugs. The results may also lead to more resistant plants, and crops with a limited absorption and storage of arsenic.

Creative individuals travelled to the south Swedish inland 9,000 years ago Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:52 AM PDT Despite its good ecologic status, there were no permanent settlements in the south Swedish inland 9,000 years ago. Yet the area was visited by people who wanted to express their individuality and creativity and thereby gain status, new research suggests.

Gut microbes battle a common set of viruses shared by global populations Posted: 25 Jun 2012 03:53 AM PDT The human gut is home to a teeming ecosystem of microbes that is intimately involved in both human health and disease. But while the gut microbiota is interacting with our body, they are also under constant attack from viruses. Researchers have analyzed a bacterial immune system, revealing a common set of viruses associated with gut microbiota in global populations.

Remapping gang turf: Math model used for mapping chimp territories applies Posted: 25 Jun 2012 03:53 AM PDT A mathematical model that has been used for more than 80 years to determine the hunting range of wild animals holds promise for mapping the territories of street gangs, social scientists report. The way gangs break up their neighborhoods into unique territories is a lot like the way lions, chimpanzees or honey bees break up space, according to researchers.

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