ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Landslide fatalities are greater than previously thought
• Climate change will have profound effects on northeast U.S. forests, report says
• Golden age of prostate cancer treatment hailed as fourth drug in two years extends life
• Detection dogs spot northern spotted owls, even those alarmed by barred owls
• Gut bacteria linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome identified
• Exploring the two-way linkages between binge drinking and unemployment
• Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spectrometer detects helium in moon's atmosphere
• Designing tiny molecules that glow in water to shed light on biological processes
• First direct observations of quantum effects in an optomechanical system
• Underwater noise decreases whale communications in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary
• New nanoparticles shrink tumors in mice
• Potential hurdle to universal flu vaccine development may be overcome, study suggests
• Blocking destruction of defective proteins unexpectedly delays neurodegeneration in mice
• Previously unknown cleaning system in brain: Newer imaging technique brings 'glymphatic system' to light
• Link between hormone levels and risk for metabolic disease uncovered
• New device to replace aortic valve in patients who can't have open-heart surgery
• Phoenix cluster sets record pace at forming stars
• Ocean health index provides first global assessment combining natural and human dimensions of sustainability
• 'CYCLOPS' genes may serve as an Achilles' heel in tumor cells
• Behaviors of the tiniest water droplets revealed
• Future increases in US natural gas exports and domestic prices may not be as large as thought
• Greenland melting breaks record four weeks before season's end
• Genetic material in blood cells may affect malaria parasites
• Breastfeeding may protect infants from HIV transmission
• New method to remove phosphorus from wastewater
• Recreating a slice of the universe: Computational approach follows thousands of galaxies over billions of years
• Better ways for developing, testing cancer therapies
• Potential new treatment target identified for melanoma skin cancer
• High potency and synthetic marijuana pose real dangers in first weeks of pregnancy
• Karate black belts' white matter shows how a powerful punch comes from the brain
• Novel nano-structures to realize hydrogen's energy potential
• Color-coded markers may help doctors diagnose neural diseases through the eyes
• When it comes to food, chimps only think of themselves
• Babies may not have a 'moral compass' after all
• Antimicrobials from personal care products found in statewide survey of Minnesota's rivers and lakes
• Vaccine targets malignant brain cancer antigens, significantly lengthens survival
• Mechanisms of acquired chemoresistance in ovarian cancer identified
• Asymmetric warfare between earwigs explored
• This is not a pipe: Curious dark Pipe Nebula seen as never before
• Structure of superheavy elements in 'island of stability': Nucleus 256Rf can now be studied in depth
• Flexible snake armor could inspire abrasion-resistant materials
• Future light component produced in printing press
• Single sign-on for Internet use had major vulnerabilites: Many now fixed
• Tripping the switches on brain growth to treat depression
• Acute stress alters control of gene activity: Researchers examine DNA methylation
• Long-term methadone treatment can affect nerve cells in brain
• New toilet developed: Needs no connection to water supply
• Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil may protect bone
• Danger in the blood: How antibiotic-resisting bacterial infections form
• UK recession may be to blame for over 1,000 suicides in England

Landslide fatalities are greater than previously thought Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:22 PM PDT Landslides kill ten times more people across the world than was previously thought, according to new research.

Climate change will have profound effects on northeast U.S. forests, report says Posted: 15 Aug 2012 02:50 PM PDT A new report by US and Canadian scientists analyzes decades of research and concludes that the climate of the Northeast has changed and is likely to change more. The report outlines the effects of climate change on multiple aspects of forests in the northeastern corner of the United States and eastern Canada and concludes with recommendations on adaptive and mitigating strategies for dealing with future effects.

Golden age of prostate cancer treatment hailed as fourth drug in two years extends life Posted: 15 Aug 2012 02:49 PM PDT Scientists have hailed a golden age in prostate cancer drug discovery as for the fourth time in two years a new drug has been found to significantly extend life. A study now shows the drug enzalutamide can significantly extend life and improve quality of life in men with advanced prostate cancer -- in findings that could further widen the treatment options for men with the disease.

Detection dogs spot northern spotted owls, even those alarmed by barred owls Posted: 15 Aug 2012 02:49 PM PDT A series of forest searches by dogs specially trained to sniff out northern spotted owl pellets -- the undigested bones, fur and other bits regurgitated by owls -- improved the probability of finding the owls by nearly 30 percent over a series of traditional vocalization surveys.

Gut bacteria linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome identified Posted: 15 Aug 2012 02:49 PM PDT Researchers have identified 26 species of bacteria in the human gut microbiota that appear to be linked to obesity and related metabolic complications. These include insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels, increased blood pressure and high cholesterol, known collectively as "the metabolic syndrome," which significantly increases an individual's risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Exploring the two-way linkages between binge drinking and unemployment Posted: 15 Aug 2012 01:16 PM PDT Many studies have found that problem drinking is related to subsequent unemployment; However, the reverse association is unclear. Some studies have found that unemployment can increase total drinking, alcohol disorders, and/or problem drinking while others have found that unemployment can decrease drinking or have no effect at all. An analysis of binge drinking as either a predictor or outcome of unemployment has found that binge drinking among women seems to have a significant association with long-term unemployment.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spectrometer detects helium in moon's atmosphere Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:16 PM PDT Scientists using the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) spectrometer aboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) have made the first spectroscopic observations of the noble gas helium in the tenuous atmosphere surrounding the Moon.

Designing tiny molecules that glow in water to shed light on biological processes Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT Scientists have developed a way to switch fluorescent molecules on and off within aqueous environments, by strategically trapping the molecules inside water-soluble particles and controlling them with ultraviolet light.

First direct observations of quantum effects in an optomechanical system Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT Using a unique optical trapping system that provides ensembles of ultracold atoms, scientists have recorded the first direct observations of distinctly quantum optical effects -- amplification and squeezing -- in an optomechanical system. Their findings point the way toward low-power quantum optical devices and enhanced detection of gravitational waves among other possibilities.

Underwater noise decreases whale communications in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT High levels of background noise, mainly due to ships, have reduced the ability of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales to communicate with each other by about two-thirds.

New nanoparticles shrink tumors in mice Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT Researchers have developed RNA-delivering nanoparticles that allow for rapid screening of new drug targets in mice. In a study of mice with ovarian tumors, the researchers found that treatment with the RNAi nanoparticles eliminated most of the tumors.

Potential hurdle to universal flu vaccine development may be overcome, study suggests Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT In the quest for a universal influenza vaccine -- one that elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies that can protect against most or all strains of flu virus -- scientists have faced a sobering question: Does pre-existing immunity generated by prior exposure to influenza virus or vaccine hamper production of broadly neutralizing antibodies? If so, then a universal flu vaccine might work best (and perhaps only) in very young children who have had limited exposure to influenza viruses or vaccines.

Blocking destruction of defective proteins unexpectedly delays neurodegeneration in mice Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT One might expect that ridding a brain cell of damaged proteins would be a universally good thing, and that impairing the cell's ability to do this would allow the faulty proteins to accumulate within the cell, possibly to toxic levels. So a lot of scientific effort has gone into looking for ways to enhance the process by which cells dispose of banged-up proteins. But this thinking may need some revision, according to a new study.

Previously unknown cleaning system in brain: Newer imaging technique brings 'glymphatic system' to light Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT A previously unrecognized system that drains waste from the brain at a rapid clip has been discovered by neuroscientists. The highly organized system acts like a series of pipes that piggyback on the brain's blood vessels, sort of a shadow plumbing system that seems to serve much the same function in the brain as the lymph system does in the rest of the body -- to drain away waste products.

Link between hormone levels and risk for metabolic disease uncovered Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:19 AM PDT A team of researchers has shown for the first time a link between low levels of a specific hormone and increased risk of metabolic disease in humans.

New device to replace aortic valve in patients who can't have open-heart surgery Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:19 AM PDT UCLA has performed its first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), using a new device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to replace an aortic valve in a patient who was not a candidate for open-heart surgery.

Phoenix cluster sets record pace at forming stars Posted: 15 Aug 2012 10:17 AM PDT Astronomers have found an extraordinary galaxy cluster, one of the largest objects in the universe, that is breaking several important cosmic records. Observations of the Phoenix cluster with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, the National Science Foundation's South Pole Telescope, and eight other world-class observatories may force astronomers to rethink how these colossal structures and the galaxies that inhabit them evolve.

Ocean health index provides first global assessment combining natural and human dimensions of sustainability Posted: 15 Aug 2012 10:17 AM PDT Using a new comprehensive index designed to assess the benefits to people of healthy oceans, scientists have evaluated the ecological, social, economic, and political conditions for every coastal country in the world. Their findings show that the global ocean scores 60 out of 100 overall on the Ocean Health Index. Individual country scores range widely, from 36 to 86.

'CYCLOPS' genes may serve as an Achilles' heel in tumor cells Posted: 15 Aug 2012 10:11 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new class of genes, dubbed CYCLOPS, that may serve as an Achilles' heel for many forms of cancer.

Behaviors of the tiniest water droplets revealed Posted: 15 Aug 2012 10:11 AM PDT A new study has uncovered fundamental details about the hexamer structures that make up the tiniest droplets of water, the key component of life -- and one that scientists still don't fully understand.

Future increases in US natural gas exports and domestic prices may not be as large as thought Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:13 AM PDT Amid policy debate over potential liquefied natural gas exports from the United States, a new article predicts the long-term volume of exports from the US will not likely be very large.

Greenland melting breaks record four weeks before season's end Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:13 AM PDT Melting over the Greenland ice sheet shattered the seasonal record on Aug. 8 -- a full four weeks before the close of the melting season, researchers report.

Genetic material in blood cells may affect malaria parasites Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:13 AM PDT Researchers may finally have discovered why people with sickle cell disease get milder cases of malaria than individuals who have normal red blood cells. In a finding that has eluded scientists for years, the researchers discovered that genetic material in red blood cells may help alter parasite activity via a novel mechanism that alters parasite gene regulation.

Breastfeeding may protect infants from HIV transmission Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:11 AM PDT An international team of researchers has found that certain bioactive components found in human milk are associated with a reduced risk of HIV transmission from an HIV infected mother to her breast-fed infant.

New method to remove phosphorus from wastewater Posted: 15 Aug 2012 08:22 AM PDT Researchers are developing a new method of removing phosphorus from wastewater -- a problem seriously affecting lakes and streams across the United States.

Recreating a slice of the universe: Computational approach follows thousands of galaxies over billions of years Posted: 15 Aug 2012 08:22 AM PDT Scientists have invented a new computational approach that can accurately follow the birth and evolution of thousands of galaxies over billions of years. For the first time it is now possible to build a universe from scratch that brims with galaxies like we observe around us.

Better ways for developing, testing cancer therapies Posted: 15 Aug 2012 07:30 AM PDT Scientists have made valuable findings in the search for cancer's cure. While researching ways to improve animal health, the scientists have made two important discoveries that can also improve human health. Not only have they found pigs with severe combined immunodeficiency but they are also the first to discover the connection with human cancer, particularly melanomas and pancreatic cancers.

Potential new treatment target identified for melanoma skin cancer Posted: 15 Aug 2012 07:30 AM PDT New research has identified a potential new target for the treatment of melanoma, the deadliest of all skin cancers. Scientists have discovered a new channel-forming protein called Pannexin (Panx1) that is expressed in normal levels on the surface of healthy skin cells. But they found, in melanoma, Panx1 is over-produced to a pathological level. The researchers also discovered that if you reduce it, the cell becomes more normal.

High potency and synthetic marijuana pose real dangers in first weeks of pregnancy Posted: 15 Aug 2012 07:30 AM PDT Experts say the argument that marijuana is a harmless drug is no longer valid due to the emergence of "high potency" marijuana and synthetic marijuana which pose a potential real threat for pregnant women and their unborn children.

Karate black belts' white matter shows how a powerful punch comes from the brain Posted: 15 Aug 2012 07:28 AM PDT Brain scans have revealed distinctive features in the brain structure of karate experts, which could be linked to their ability to punch powerfully from close range. Researchers found that differences in the structure of white matter -- the connections between brain regions -- were correlated with how black belts and novices performed in a test of punching ability.

Novel nano-structures to realize hydrogen's energy potential Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:33 AM PDT Using a unique nanostructure, researchers have demonstrated for the first time that a promising hydrogen storage material can release and reabsorb energy.

Color-coded markers may help doctors diagnose neural diseases through the eyes Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:33 AM PDT Scientists have devised several new fluorescent probes that change color depending on what type of amyloid they encounter. Because amyloids accumulate in the eye as well as the brain, their discovery offers hope that one day neurodegenerative diseases could be differentially diagnosed with simple eye drops or ointment and an eye exam.

When it comes to food, chimps only think of themselves Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:32 AM PDT A sense of fairness is an important part of human behavior, yet a research team found it did not evolve from our closest living relatives. The study tested whether our great ape relatives, the chimpanzees and bonobos, have a sense of fairness like humans.

Babies may not have a 'moral compass' after all Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:32 AM PDT New research is casting doubt on a landmark US study that suggested infants as young as six months old possess an innate moral compass that allows them to evaluate individuals as "good" or "bad."

Antimicrobials from personal care products found in statewide survey of Minnesota's rivers and lakes Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:32 AM PDT A team of scientists has completed the first statewide analysis of freshwater bodies in Minnesota, finding widespread evidence of the presence of active ingredients of personal care products in Minnesota lakes, streams and rivers.

Vaccine targets malignant brain cancer antigens, significantly lengthens survival Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:31 AM PDT An experimental immune-based therapy more than doubled median survival of patients diagnosed with the most aggressive malignant brain tumor, researchers report.

Mechanisms of acquired chemoresistance in ovarian cancer identified Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:32 AM PDT Disease has high heterogeneity. First-line chemosensitivity associated with subsequent chemoresistance. Gene identified that may predict chemoresistance.

Asymmetric warfare between earwigs explored Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:32 AM PDT Symmetrical looks are highly prized in the animal kingdom, but according to biologists studying an insect called the maritime earwig, asymmetry might come with its own perks.

This is not a pipe: Curious dark Pipe Nebula seen as never before Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:27 AM PDT Just as René Magritte wrote "This is not a pipe" on his famous painting, this is also not a pipe. It is however a picture of part of a vast dark cloud of interstellar dust called the Pipe Nebula. By coincidence this image is appearing on the 45th anniversary of the painter's death.

Structure of superheavy elements in 'island of stability': Nucleus 256Rf can now be studied in depth Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:27 AM PDT One of the most sought-after goals in nuclear physics is an understanding of the structure of superheavy elements in the so-called "island of stability". These nuclei contain a large number of protons, and would ordinarily be ripped apart by the strong Coulomb repulsion between them. However, quantum mechanical shell-effects act to stabilize the nuclei, meaning that they can then live long enough to be observed in the laboratory. Now, experimental advances make it possible to study the nucleus 256Rf in detail for the first time.

Flexible snake armor could inspire abrasion-resistant materials Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:27 AM PDT Snakes are highly specialized legless animals, which have evolved around 150 million years ago. Although without extremities their body is exposed to constant friction forces. Snake skin could inspire systems in engineering with minimized abrasion.

Future light component produced in printing press Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:27 AM PDT Scientists have produced organic light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) using a roll-to-roll compatible process under ambient conditions.

Single sign-on for Internet use had major vulnerabilites: Many now fixed Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:27 AM PDT Online shopping, cloud computing, online CRM systems: Each day many IT systems require the user to identify himself/herself. Single Sign-On (SSO) systems were introduced to circumvent this problem, and to establish structured Identity Management (IDM) systems in industry: Here the user only has to identify once, all subsequent authentications are done automatically. However, SSO systems based on the industry standard SAML have huge vulnerabilities: Roughly 80 percent of these systems could be broken by the researchers.

Tripping the switches on brain growth to treat depression Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:27 AM PDT Depression takes a substantial toll on brain health. Brain imaging and post-mortem studies provide evidence that the wealth of connections in the brain are reduced in individuals with depression, with the result of impaired functional connections between key brain centers involved in mood regulation. Researchers now report that a relatively novel growth factor named fibroblast growth factor-2, or FGF2, can increase the number of glial cells and block the decrease caused by chronic stress exposure by promoting the generation of new glial cells.

Acute stress alters control of gene activity: Researchers examine DNA methylation Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:27 AM PDT Acute stress alters the methylation of the DNA and thus the activity of certain genes.

Long-term methadone treatment can affect nerve cells in brain Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:27 AM PDT Long-term methadone treatment can cause changes in the brain, according to recent studies. The results show that treatment may affect the nerve cells in the brain. The studies follow on from previous studies where methadone was seen to affect cognitive functioning, such as learning and memory.

New toilet developed: Needs no connection to water supply Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:27 AM PDT There are 2.6 billion people in the world who have no access to a decent toilet. A new toilet model will provide a sanitary solution that ensures human dignity and hygiene, while also being environment-friendly and economically feasible. All for less than five cents per day and person.

Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil may protect bone Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:26 AM PDT Consumption of a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil for two years is associated with increased serum osteocalcin concentrations, suggesting a protective effect on bone.

Danger in the blood: How antibiotic-resisting bacterial infections form Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:26 AM PDT New research may help explain why hundreds of thousands of Americans a year get sick – and tens of thousands die – after bacteria get into their blood. It also suggests why some of those bloodstream infections resist treatment with even the most powerful antibiotics.

UK recession may be to blame for over 1,000 suicides in England Posted: 14 Aug 2012 06:34 PM PDT A new paper suggests that over 1,000 people have committed suicide due to the 2008-2010 economic recession in the UK (846 men and 155 women).

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