ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Mapping the future of climate change in Africa
• Speaking multiple languages can influence children's emotional development
• Research into oaks helps us understand climate change
• 'Cry' of a shredded star heralds a new era for testing relativity
• Extinction risk factors for New Zealand birds today differ from those of the past
• New bat virus could hold key to Hendra virus
• Mountains, seaway triggered North American dinosaur surge
• Plant-based compound slows breast cancer in a mouse model
• Influenza virus replication: Catching the cap-snatcher
• Close to the bone: 100 gene deletions in mice identifies nine new genes that determine bone strength
• Modest weight loss can have lasting health benefits, research shows
• Alzheimer’s cognitive decline slows in advanced age
• Target for potent first-strike influenza drugs identified
• Higher healing rate using unique cell-based therapy in chronic venous leg ulcers
• Vaporizing Earth in computer simulations to aid search for super-Earths
• Animation research could offer unparalleled control of characters without skeletons
• Deep-sea squid can 'jettison arms' as defensive tactic
• New target for treating diabetes and obesity
• Bacteria-immune system 'fight' can lead to chronic diseases, study suggests
• How elephants produce their deep 'voices': Same physical mechanism produces vocalizations in elephants and humans
• Cuckoo tricks to beat the neighborhood watch
• Aerial photos reveal dynamic Greenland ice sheet: Ice sheet has recently retreated then restabilized
• The mother’s curse explains why women live longer than men
• Research could lead to improved oil recovery, better environmental cleanup
• Climate warming refuted as reason for plant shifts in high-profile 2008 study
• Fingering the culprit that polluted the Solar System
• Timing of antibiotics important in reducing infections after C-section
• Sometimes expressing anger can help a relationship in the long-term
• Researcher's fish-eye view could offer insights for human vision
• Multiple husbands serve as child support and life insurance in some cultures
• What sets allergies in motion?
• Disorders of consciousness: How should clinicians respond to new therapeutic interventions?
• Healthy seafood comes from sustainable fish
• Embryonic blood vessels that make blood stem cells can also make beating heart muscles
• Major recent earthquakes across the globe probably not linked
• Homing in on a potential pre-quake signal
• Upgrading synthetic biology's toolkit: New method could enable reprogramming of mammalian cells
• How protein component that enables cell replication gets ferried to chromosome tips
• 'Unhealthy' changes in gut microbes benefit pregnant women
• It's in our genes: Why women outlive men
• Genetic copy-number variants and cancer risk
• Mending a broken heart -- with a molecule that turns stem cells into heart cells
• Critical tumor suppressor for cancer identified
• Ethylene of no effect: Why peppers do not mature after picking
• Smooth Transition: Researchers Helping Freshmen with ADHD Succeed in College
• Within reach: Engineers to add arms and hands to unmanned aerial vehicles
• Planarians offer a better view of eye development
• Heat-shock factor reveals its unique role in supporting highly malignant cancers
• Genetic cause for body tremors found
• Turning white fat into energy-burning brown fat: New hope for new obesity and diabetes treatments
• Infants exposed to specific molds have higher asthma risk
• Detecting thyroid disease by computer
• Note to waitresses: Wearing red can be profitable
• Smart wirelessly controlled power outlets
• Kicking the habit: Sex differences in smoking cessation
• The science of running: Follow the bouncing ball
• Iced tea can contribute to painful kidney stones
• Usain Bolt could break his own record with the help of altitude and the wind
• How do you make the perfect sandcastle? A little water can give you a five meter high castle
• Implementing a therapeutic hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest in acute care hospitals

Mapping the future of climate change in Africa Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:40 PM PDT The African continent is especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change because it relies on rain-fed agriculture and many of its countries have a low adaptive capacity. The Climate Change and African Political Stability Program (CCAPS) has created a web tool that uses historical data to map the different levels of vulnerability to climate change at the sub-national level. The web tool will soon incorporate vulnerability measurements based on future climate projections, derived from simulations run on the Ranger supercomputer.

Speaking multiple languages can influence children's emotional development Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:40 PM PDT On "I Love Lucy," Ricky Ricardo was known for switching into rapid-fire Spanish whenever he was upset, even though Lucy had no idea what he was saying. These scenes were comedy gold, but they also provided a relatable portrayal of code-switching, or switching back and forth between languages. Code-switching is common in multilingual homes and happens often in emotional situations. In a new article, psychological scientists examine how code-switching might influence children's emotional development.

Research into oaks helps us understand climate change Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:40 PM PDT Biologists are tracking the evolution of the live oaks of eastern North America, seeking to understand how the trees adapted to climate change during glacial periods.

'Cry' of a shredded star heralds a new era for testing relativity Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:39 PM PDT Last year, astronomers discovered a quiescent black hole in a distant galaxy that erupted after shredding and consuming a passing star. Now researchers have identified a distinctive X-ray signal observed in the days following the outburst that comes from matter on the verge of falling into the black hole.

Extinction risk factors for New Zealand birds today differ from those of the past Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:39 PM PDT What makes some species more prone to extinction? A new study of nearly 300 species of New Zealand birds -- from pre-human times to the present -- reveals that the keys to survival today differ from those of the past. The results are important for the growing number of studies that try to predict which species could be lost in the future based on what kinds of species are considered most threatened today, the researchers say.

New bat virus could hold key to Hendra virus Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:39 PM PDT Australian scientists have discovered a new virus in bats that could help shed light on how Hendra and Nipah viruses cause disease and death in animals and humans.

Mountains, seaway triggered North American dinosaur surge Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:39 PM PDT The rise of the Rocky Mountains and the appearance of a major seaway that divided North America may have boosted the evolution of new dinosaur species, according to a new study.

Plant-based compound slows breast cancer in a mouse model Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:39 PM PDT The natural plant compound phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) hinders the development of mammary tumors in a mouse model with similarities to human breast cancer progression, according to a new study.

Influenza virus replication: Catching the cap-snatcher Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:38 PM PDT Researchers have determined the detailed three-dimensional structure of part of the flu virus' RNA polymerase, an enzyme that is crucial for influenza virus replication. The research was done on the 2009 pandemic influenza strain but it will help scientists to design innovative drugs against all the different influenza strains.

Close to the bone: 100 gene deletions in mice identifies nine new genes that determine bone strength Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:38 PM PDT Researchers have uncovered nine new genes associated with bone health. This study found clues to the cause of bone disorders such as osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, and high bone density syndromes by investigating the bone mineral content, strength and flexibility.

Modest weight loss can have lasting health benefits, research shows Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:37 PM PDT Overweight and obese individuals can achieve a decade's worth of important health benefits by losing just 20 pounds, even if they regain the weight later that decade, according to new research. With a focus on psychology's role in overcoming the national obesity epidemic, the session also examined research that indicates foods high in sugar and fat could have addictive properties.

Alzheimer’s cognitive decline slows in advanced age Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:37 PM PDT The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is advancing age. By age 85, the likelihood of developing the dreaded neurological disorder is roughly 50 percent. But researchers say AD hits hardest among the "younger elderly" – people in their 60s and 70s – who show faster rates of brain tissue loss and cognitive decline than AD patients 80 years and older.

Target for potent first-strike influenza drugs identified Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:37 PM PDT Compounds blocking an enzyme universal to all influenza viruses may allow development of new antiviral drugs that also avoid the problem of drug resistance.

Higher healing rate using unique cell-based therapy in chronic venous leg ulcers Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:37 PM PDT A new study finds that treating chronic venous leg ulcers with a topical spray containing a unique living human cell formula provides a 52 percent greater likelihood of wound closure than treatment with compression bandages only.

Vaporizing Earth in computer simulations to aid search for super-Earths Posted: 02 Aug 2012 12:32 PM PDT Scientists have vaporized the Earth -- if only by simulation, that is mathematically and inside a computer. They weren't just practicing their evil overlord skills. By baking model Earths, they are trying to figure out what astronomers should see when they look at the atmospheres of super-Earths in a bid to learn the planets' compositions.

Animation research could offer unparalleled control of characters without skeletons Posted: 02 Aug 2012 12:32 PM PDT Computer-generated characters have become so lifelike in appearance and movement that the line separating reality is almost imperceptible at times. But while bipeds and quadrupeds have reigned supreme in CG animation, attempts to create and control their skeleton-free cousins using similar techniques has proved time-consuming and laborious. Researchers have found a possible solution to this challenge by developing a way to simulate and control movement of computer-generated characters without a skeletal structure.

Deep-sea squid can 'jettison arms' as defensive tactic Posted: 02 Aug 2012 12:04 PM PDT A researcher has observed a never-before-seen defensive strategy used by a small species of deep-sea squid in which the animal counter-attacks a predator and then leaves the tips of its arms attached to the predator as a distraction.

New target for treating diabetes and obesity Posted: 02 Aug 2012 12:04 PM PDT Researchers have identified a potential target for treating diabetes and obesity. Studying mice, they found that when the target protein was disabled, the animals became more sensitive to insulin and were less likely to get fat.

Bacteria-immune system 'fight' can lead to chronic diseases, study suggests Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:15 AM PDT A "fight" between bacteria normally living in the intestines and the immune system, kicked off by another type of bacteria, may be linked to two types of chronic disease.

How elephants produce their deep 'voices': Same physical mechanism produces vocalizations in elephants and humans Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:15 AM PDT Elephants rely on the same mechanism that produces speech in humans (and the vocalizations of many other mammals) to hit the extremely low notes they use to communicate.

Cuckoo tricks to beat the neighborhood watch Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:15 AM PDT To minimize the chance of being recognized and thus attacked by the birds they are trying to parasitize, female cuckoos have evolved different guises.

Aerial photos reveal dynamic Greenland ice sheet: Ice sheet has recently retreated then restabilized Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:15 AM PDT Despite the current and rapid melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, it remains uncertain just when we will have reached a point when scientists will be able to predict its disappearance. Scientists report that this is not the first time in recent history that the ice sheet has been in retreat and then stabilized again.

The mother’s curse explains why women live longer than men Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:15 AM PDT Women outlive men by about five to six years but why? By age 85 there are roughly six women to every four men and by age 100 the ratio is more than two to one.

Research could lead to improved oil recovery, better environmental cleanup Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:14 AM PDT Researchers have taken a new look at an old, but seldom-used technique developed by the petroleum industry to recover oil, and learned more about why it works, how it could be improved, and how it might be able to make a comeback not only in oil recovery but also environmental cleanup.

Climate warming refuted as reason for plant shifts in high-profile 2008 study Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:14 AM PDT The simple model of how plants handle climate change doesn't always explain what's going on.

Fingering the culprit that polluted the Solar System Posted: 02 Aug 2012 10:36 AM PDT For decades it has been thought that a shock wave from a supernova explosion triggered the formation of our Solar System. The shock wave also injected material from the exploding star into a cloud of dust and gas, and the newly polluted cloud collapsed to form the Sun and its surrounding planets. New work provides the first fully three-dimensional models for how this process could have happened.

Timing of antibiotics important in reducing infections after C-section Posted: 02 Aug 2012 10:36 AM PDT Giving antibiotics before cesarean section surgery rather than just after the newborn's umbilical cord is clamped cuts the infection rate at the surgical site in half, according to new research.

Sometimes expressing anger can help a relationship in the long-term Posted: 02 Aug 2012 10:36 AM PDT It is not always best to forgive and forget in marriage, according to new research. Sometimes expressing anger might be necessary to resolve a problem – with the short-term discomfort of an angry but honest conversation benefiting the health of the relationship in the long-term. The research is part of an effort to better understand the contexts in which some relationships succeed and others fail, and also to understand how close relationships affect our health.

Researcher's fish-eye view could offer insights for human vision Posted: 02 Aug 2012 10:36 AM PDT A research team uncovered an enzyme's role in the regulation of eye size in zebrafish. If the enzyme's role is similar in human eyes, it could be relevant to human vision problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. The findings also warn of the potential changes phenylthiourea, a chemical used to block pigment, may have on zebrafish and the results of research using this common animal model.

Multiple husbands serve as child support and life insurance in some cultures Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:26 AM PDT Marrying multiple husbands at the same time, or polyandry, creates a safety net for women in some cultures, according to a recent study. Extra husbands ensure that women's children are cared for even if their fathers die or disappear. Although polyandry is taboo and illegal in the United States, certain legal structures, such as child support payments and life insurance, fill the same role for American women that multiple husbands do in other cultures.

What sets allergies in motion? Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:26 AM PDT Scientists have identified a group of proteins that determine how cells react to allergens, and two of them may hold the key to future preventative medications. When the chain of events leading to an allergic reaction is fully understood, she says, drugs can be developed to inhibit the initial reaction, relieving sufferers of their symptoms.

Disorders of consciousness: How should clinicians respond to new therapeutic interventions? Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:26 AM PDT New tools have confirmed high rates of misdiagnosis of patients with chronic disorders of consciousness, such as the vegetative state. An increasing number of patients' families wish to use these novel techniques for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. An international team analyzed the clinical, social and ethical issues that clinicians are now facing.

Healthy seafood comes from sustainable fish Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:26 AM PDT When ordering seafood, the options are many and so are some of the things you might consider in what you order. Is your fish healthy? Is it safe? Is it endangered? While there are many services offered to help you decide, a group of researchers have found a simple rule of thumb applies. "If the fish is sustainable, then it is likely to be healthy to eat too," said one of the authors.

Embryonic blood vessels that make blood stem cells can also make beating heart muscles Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:26 AM PDT Stem cell researchers have found for the first time a surprising and unexpected plasticity in the embryonic endothelium, the place where blood stem cells are made in early development.

Major recent earthquakes across the globe probably not linked Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:26 AM PDT The past decade has been plagued with what seems to be a cluster of large earthquakes, with massive quakes striking Sumatra, Chile, Haiti and Japan since 2004. Some researchers have suggested that this cluster has occurred because the earthquakes may be 'communicating' across large distances, possibly triggering each other. But a new analysis concludes that the cluster could just as well be the result of random chance.

Homing in on a potential pre-quake signal Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:25 AM PDT In a new analysis of the 2004 magnitude 6.0 Parkfield earthquake in California, David Schaff suggests some limits on how changes measured by ambient seismic noise could be used as a pre-earthquake signal.

Upgrading synthetic biology's toolkit: New method could enable reprogramming of mammalian cells Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:25 AM PDT A new method for creating genetic components dramatically expands synthetic biologists' toolkit beyond off-the-shelf bacterial components, greatly expanding the size and complexity of genetic circuits they can build. Applications include stem cell therapeutics and in-cell devices to diagnose early-state cancer and other diseases.

How protein component that enables cell replication gets ferried to chromosome tips Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:25 AM PDT Stem cells are special. Nestled in muscle and skin, organ and bone, they bide their time over years or decades until called to replace damaged or lost tissue. One secret to their longevity is an enzyme called telomerase, which stills the relentless ticking of the molecular clock that limits the life span of other cells.

'Unhealthy' changes in gut microbes benefit pregnant women Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:25 AM PDT The composition of microbes in the gut changes dramatically during pregnancy, according to a new study. Although these changes are associated with metabolic disease under most circumstances, they could be beneficial in pregnant women.

It's in our genes: Why women outlive men Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:25 AM PDT Scientists are beginning to understand one of life's enduring mysteries - why women live, on average, longer than men.

Genetic copy-number variants and cancer risk Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:25 AM PDT Genetics clearly plays a role in cancer development and progression, but the reason that a certain mutation leads to one cancer and not another is less clear. Furthermore, no links have been found between any cancer and a type of genetic change called "copy-number variants," or CNVs. Now, a new study identifies CNVs associated with testicular cancer risk, but not with the risk of breast or colon cancer.

Mending a broken heart -- with a molecule that turns stem cells into heart cells Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:24 AM PDT Scientists have long been looking for a source of heart cells to study cardiac function or perhaps even to replace damaged tissue in heart disease patients. To do this, many are looking to stem cells. Scientists now describe how they uncovered ITD-1, a molecule that generates unlimited numbers of new heart cells from stem cells.

Critical tumor suppressor for cancer identified Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:24 AM PDT Scientists have identified a protein that impairs the development and maintenance of lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes), but is repressed during the initial stages of the disease, allowing for rapid tumor growth.

Ethylene of no effect: Why peppers do not mature after picking Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:24 AM PDT The plant hormone ethylene lets green tomatoes ripen even after the harvest, whereas the closely related chili peppers show no such effect. Researchers wanted to understand the reason for that and compared gene expression levels and metabolic pathways of both plant species. Understanding the ripening process is important to minimize the amount of food that festers on the way from the producer to the consumer.

Smooth Transition: Researchers Helping Freshmen with ADHD Succeed in College Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:23 AM PDT Researchers have studied ways to help freshmen with ADHD plan a successful transition to college. They have found that having management strategies in place before coming to campus helps students succeed. The researchers have developed recommendations for ways that universities and families can support college students with ADHD.

Within reach: Engineers to add arms and hands to unmanned aerial vehicles Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:23 AM PDT Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as those used by the military for surveillance and reconnaissance, could be getting a hand –- and an arm -– from engineers as part of a project to investigate adding dexterous limbs to the aircrafts. The project, whose subject harkens to the hovering android iconography of sci-fi movies, could be a step toward the use of UAVs for emergency response and search and rescue scenarios.

Planarians offer a better view of eye development Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:23 AM PDT Researchers have created a complete catalog of genes active in the planarian eye. Several identified genes are known to have versions that play a role in the vertebrate eye, including genes involved in eye development and age-related macular degeneration and Usher syndrome, a disorder that causes progressive retinal degradation.

Heat-shock factor reveals its unique role in supporting highly malignant cancers Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:23 AM PDT Researchers have found that an ancient, highly conserved cell survival factor drives expression of a specific set of genes that is strongly associated with metastasis and death in patients with breast, colon, and lung cancers.

Genetic cause for body tremors found Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:23 AM PDT People suffering from the "essential tremor" disorder can now be more easily diagnosed.

Turning white fat into energy-burning brown fat: New hope for new obesity and diabetes treatments Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:23 AM PDT Medical researchers have identified a mechanism that can give energy-storing white fat some of the beneficial characteristics of energy-burning brown fat. The findings, based on studies of mice and of human fat tissue, could lead to new strategies for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Infants exposed to specific molds have higher asthma risk Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:15 AM PDT In the United States, one in ten children suffers from asthma but the potential environmental factors contributing to the disease are not well known. Researchers now report new evidence that exposure to three types of mold during infancy may have a direct link to asthma development during childhood.

Detecting thyroid disease by computer Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:14 AM PDT Researchers in India have developed an improved expert system for the diagnosis of thyroid disease.

Note to waitresses: Wearing red can be profitable Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:14 AM PDT In many restaurants throughout the world, wait staff's income depends largely on the tips received from customers. According to a new study, male restaurant customers give higher tips to waitresses wearing red.

Smart wirelessly controlled power outlets Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:13 AM PDT Many homeowners dream of being able to wash a load of laundry when the photovoltaic panels on the roof are delivering a maximum of electricity, even when they are not at home. A new Internet-enabled power outlet will soon allow users to control household appliances via their smartphone, and reduce their energy costs into the bargain.

Kicking the habit: Sex differences in smoking cessation Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:13 AM PDT A recent study challenged an enduring belief that women were less successful than men in quitting smoking. The study found convincing evidence that across all of the age groups, "there [is] relatively little difference in cessation between the sexes."

The science of running: Follow the bouncing ball Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:13 AM PDT Muscle size, genetics and training are among the countless factors that separate Olympic sprinters from the average person. On a fundamental level, however, the mechanics of running are the same for all humans. In fact, they're basically identical for animals too.

Iced tea can contribute to painful kidney stones Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:13 AM PDT Summer is the peak season for drinking iced tea, but the popular drink can contribute to painful kidney stones. Iced tea contains high concentrations of oxalate, one of the key chemicals that lead to the formation of kidney stones.

Usain Bolt could break his own record with the help of altitude and the wind Posted: 02 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT Imagine the following situation. The 100 meters finals in the London Olympic Games. The Jamaican Usain Bolt wins. Up to this point everything sounds normal except for the fact that he would break his own record again with a time of 9.48 seconds. According to the New Zealand researchers, this would be his record if there were a two meter per second tailwind (maximum allowable wind) and the race took place at an altitude of 999 meters. The 100 meter final will take place on Sunday at London 2012.

How do you make the perfect sandcastle? A little water can give you a five meter high castle Posted: 02 Aug 2012 07:11 AM PDT All children who build sandcastles on the beach know that in addition to sand you also need to add a little water to prevent the structure from collapsing. But why is this? The function of water in sandcastles is to form small 'bridges' which make the grains of sand stick together, thus increasing the solidity of the structure. The researchers show that the optimum amount of water is very small (only a few per cent). If this optimum concentration is used, sandcastles reaching five meters in height can be built.

Implementing a therapeutic hypothermia program for post-cardiac arrest in acute care hospitals Posted: 02 Aug 2012 07:11 AM PDT National guidelines recommend the use of therapeutic hypothermia to improve outcomes in patients who suffer a heart attack outside of a hospital. The results of a survey of all 73 acute care hospitals in New Jersey evaluating the adoption and implementation of this life-saving treatment from 2004-2011 is has now been published.

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