ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Lifelike, cost-effective robotic hand can disable IEDs
• NASA's Curiosity studies Mars surroundings, nears drive
• Moving closer to extracting uranium from seawater
• A little music training goes a long way: Practicing music for only few years in childhood helps improve adult brain
• Running marathons safe for older adults, study suggests
• Historian examines animals' role in westward expansion
• Compounds shown to thwart stubborn pathogen's social propensity
• Low oxygen levels may decrease life-saving protein in spinal muscular atrophy
• 'Electronic nose' prototype developed: Device has applications in agriculture, industry, homeland security and the military
• Sanctuary chimps show high rates of drug-resistant staph
• Many options, good outcomes, for early-stage follicular lymphoma
• Statin therapy associated with lower risk of pancreatitis
• New form of long-used food ingredient for 'anti-hunger' yogurts, smoothies
• Multiple factors, including climate change, led to collapse and depopulation of ancient Maya
• Thinking and choosing in the brain: Researchers study over 300 lesion patients
• Study shows long-term effects of radiation in pediatric cancer patients
• New laboratory test assesses how DNA damage affects protein synthesis
• Time with parents is important for teens' well-being
• Public wave energy test facility begins operation in Oregon
• Climate: Researchers examine clouds (from both sides now) and the structure of the atmosphere
• Self-charging power cell converts and stores energy
• Brain's code for pronouncing vowels uncovered
• Targeting sugars in quest for vaccine against HIV - the virus that causes AIDS
• New cancer therapy using ultra-violet C (UVC) pulse flash irradiation
• Footprints of cretaceous dinosaur found at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
• Older women may not benefit from radiotherapy after breast surgery
• Acai counteracts oxidative stress, lengthens lifespan in fruit flies
• Sleep improves memory in people with Parkinson's disease
• Forest razing by ancient Maya worsened droughts, says study
• New species: No ordinary forget-me-nots
• Flood risk ranking reveals vulnerable cities
• Stem cells can become anything, but not without this protein
• Key component of cell division identified
• Dawn of humanity illuminated – 50 years after the Leakeys
• New technology to transform blood processing
• Viruses with integrated gene switch
• Dont get mad, get creative: Social rejection can fuel imaginative thinking, study shows
• The science of motor control can bring back a smile for those with muscle dysfunction
• Halo of neutrinos alters physics of exploding stars
• Intense bursts of star formation drive fierce galactic winds
• Marine species at risk unless drastic protection policies put in place
• World's sea life is 'facing major shock', marine scientists warn
• Sun's plasma loops recreated in the lab to help understand solar physics
• Speeding the search for better carbon capture
• New attack on pain caused by diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
• Unique solution to gene regulation
• MRI findings shed light on multiple sclerosis
• Common antifungal drug decreases tumor growth and shows promise as cancer therapy
• Chain of violence: Study shows impact on Palestinian and Israeli children
• Infants' avoidance of drop-off reflects specific motor ability, not fear
• Computer program recognizes any language
• Patient suffers severe amnesia but musical memory remains intact
• Alzheimer protein seems to slow down neurotransmitter production
• Big picture of the universe confirmed, WiggleZ survey of more than 200,000 galaxies shows
• Antibiotic use in infants before six months associated with being overweight in childhood
• In your future: More healthful foods to nourish the non-human you
• Looking one cell at a time in the brain to better understand pain, learning, memory
• New solar panels made with more common metals could be cheaper and more sustainable
• Distressing life events and poverty behind many abortions in U.S., study finds
• Acupuncture offers low-cost alternative to knee surgery for osteoarthritis, research finds

Lifelike, cost-effective robotic hand can disable IEDs Posted: 21 Aug 2012 07:20 PM PDT Researchers have developed a cost-effective robotic hand that can be used in disarming improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

NASA's Curiosity studies Mars surroundings, nears drive Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:50 PM PDT NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has been investigating the Martian weather around it and the soil beneath it, as its controllers prepare for the car-size vehicle's first drive on Mars.

Moving closer to extracting uranium from seawater Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:26 PM PDT Fueling nuclear reactors with uranium harvested from the ocean could become more feasible because of a new material.

A little music training goes a long way: Practicing music for only few years in childhood helps improve adult brain Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:26 PM PDT A little music training in childhood goes a long way in improving how the brain functions in adulthood when it comes to listening and the complex processing of sound, according to a new study. The impact of music on the brain has been a hot topic in science in the past decade. Now researchers have directly examined what happens after children stop playing a musical instrument after only a few years.

Running marathons safe for older adults, study suggests Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:25 PM PDT A study of adults >50 years old has found no lasting adverse effects from running marathons, similar to findings of adults aged 18-40.

Historian examines animals' role in westward expansion Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:25 PM PDT The story of westward expansion in the United States is often told from the perspective of the men and women who crossed the Great Plains in search of a better life in the west. But a historian is now bringing to light the role settlers' animals played in the westward migration of the mid-1800s.

Compounds shown to thwart stubborn pathogen's social propensity Posted: 21 Aug 2012 01:25 PM PDT Certain small molecule chemicals that can disrupt quorum sensing in A. baumanni have been identified, providing a glimmer of hope that the stubborn pathogen can be tamed.

Low oxygen levels may decrease life-saving protein in spinal muscular atrophy Posted: 21 Aug 2012 01:25 PM PDT Investigators may have discovered a biological explanation for why low levels of oxygen advance spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) symptoms and why breathing treatments help SMA patients live longer.

'Electronic nose' prototype developed: Device has applications in agriculture, industry, homeland security and the military Posted: 21 Aug 2012 01:25 PM PDT Research has led to the development of an "electronic nose" prototype that can detect small quantities of harmful airborne substances.

Sanctuary chimps show high rates of drug-resistant staph Posted: 21 Aug 2012 01:25 PM PDT Chimpanzees from African sanctuaries carry drug-resistant, human-associated strains of the bacteria Staphlyococcus aureus, a pathogen the infected chimpanzees could spread to endangered wild ape populations if they were reintroduced to their natural habitat. The study was the first to apply the same modern sequencing technology of bacterial genomes used in hospitals to track the transmission of staph from humans to African wildlife.

Many options, good outcomes, for early-stage follicular lymphoma Posted: 21 Aug 2012 01:25 PM PDT A new study challenges treatment guidelines for early stage follicular lymphoma, concluding that six different therapies can bring a remission, particularly if the patient is carefully examined and staged at diagnosis.

Statin therapy associated with lower risk of pancreatitis Posted: 21 Aug 2012 01:25 PM PDT Although some studies have suggested that use of lipid-lowering therapies may increase the risk of pancreatitis, an analysis that involved pooling of data from previous studies and included more than 150,000 participants found that statin therapy was associated with a reduction in the risk of pancreatitis in patients with normal or mildly elevated triglyceride levels.

New form of long-used food ingredient for 'anti-hunger' yogurts, smoothies Posted: 21 Aug 2012 01:21 PM PDT Promising results were recently reported from a proof-of-concept clinical trial of an "anti-hunger" ingredient for yogurt, fruit shakes, smoothies and other foods that would make people feel full longer and ease the craving to eat. Scientists described the ingredient as a new version of a food additive that has been in use for more than 50 years.

Multiple factors, including climate change, led to collapse and depopulation of ancient Maya Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:41 AM PDT A new analysis of complex interactions between humans and the environment preceding the 9th century collapse and abandonment of the Central Maya Lowlands in the Yucatan Peninsula points to a series of events -- some natural, like climate change; some human-made, including large-scale landscape alterations and shifts in trade routes -- that have lessons for contemporary decision-makers and sustainability scientists.

Thinking and choosing in the brain: Researchers study over 300 lesion patients Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:41 AM PDT The frontal lobes are the largest part of the human brain, and damage to this area can result in profound impairments in reasoning and decision making. Neuroscientists studied brain-lesion patients to map brain activity in the frontal lobes. Results showed that reasoning and behavioral control are dependent on different regions of the lobes than the areas called upon when making a decision.

Study shows long-term effects of radiation in pediatric cancer patients Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:41 AM PDT Of 15 patients who received TBI before age 3, many developed endocrine and metabolic problems including testicular malfunction (78 percent), restrictive pulmonary disease due to high levels of blood triglycerides (74 percent), and cataracts (78 percent). Likewise, 90 percent of patients showed abnormally low levels of growth hormone, and 71 percent were considerably under height. Additional late effects of TBI included kidney, liver, skeletal and cardiac malfunction -- and three of four patients whose IQ had been tested before TBI showed cognitive decline.

New laboratory test assesses how DNA damage affects protein synthesis Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:39 AM PDT In transcription genetic information from DNA is copied to messenger RNA for protein production. But anticancer drugs and environmental chemicals can sometimes interrupt this flow of genetic information by causing DNA modifications. Chemists have now developed a test to examine how such DNA modifications lead to aberrant transcription and ultimately a disruption in protein synthesis. The method can help explain how DNA damage arising from anticancer drugs and environmental chemicals leads to cancer development.

Time with parents is important for teens' well-being Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:39 AM PDT Teenagers are famous for seeking independence from their parents, but research shows that many teens continue to spend time with their parents and that this shared time is important for teens' well-being, according to researchers.

Public wave energy test facility begins operation in Oregon Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:36 AM PDT One of the first public wave energy testing systems in the United States began operation this week off the Oregon coast near Newport, and will allow private industry or academic researchers to test new technology that may help advance this promising form of sustainable energy.

Climate: Researchers examine clouds (from both sides now) and the structure of the atmosphere Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:36 AM PDT At the northernmost point of the North American continent, researchers analyze environmental data to improve climate models and satellite pictures.

Self-charging power cell converts and stores energy Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:36 AM PDT Researchers have developed a self-charging power cell that directly converts mechanical energy to chemical energy, storing the power until it is released as electrical current. The development eliminates the need to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy for charging a battery.

Brain's code for pronouncing vowels uncovered Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:36 AM PDT Scientists have unraveled how our brain cells encode the pronunciation of individual vowels in speech. The discovery could lead to new technology that verbalizes the unspoken words of people paralyzed by injury or disease.

Targeting sugars in quest for vaccine against HIV - the virus that causes AIDS Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:36 AM PDT As a step toward designing the first effective anti-HIV vaccine, scientists are reporting new insights into how a family of rare, highly potent antibodies bind to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and neutralize it — stop it from infecting human cells. They recently described the antibodies, which were isolated from people infected with HIV and can neutralize a wide range of HIV strains.

New cancer therapy using ultra-violet C (UVC) pulse flash irradiation Posted: 21 Aug 2012 11:32 AM PDT Medical scientists have announced the development of a new cancer therapy using ultra violet C (UVC) pulses of light.

Footprints of cretaceous dinosaur found at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Posted: 21 Aug 2012 09:03 AM PDT About 110 million light years away, the bright, barred spiral galaxy NGC 3259 was just forming stars in dark bands of dust and gas. Here on the part of the Earth where NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center would eventually be built, a plant-eating dinosaur sensed predators nearby and quickened its pace, leaving a deep imprint in the Cretaceous mud.

Older women may not benefit from radiotherapy after breast surgery Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:50 AM PDT A radiation oncologist says in a new editorial that research exploring the impact of radiotherapy in older women with low risk of breast cancer recurrence has little effect on actual clinical decisions.

Acai counteracts oxidative stress, lengthens lifespan in fruit flies Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:50 AM PDT Scientists found that a commercially available acai berry product can lengthen the lives of fruit flies, when the flies' lives are made short through additional oxidative stress. Under certain conditions (a simple sugar diet) acai supplementation could triple flies' lifespans, from eight to 24 days. Acai could also counteract the neurotoxic effects of the herbicide paraquat on the flies.

Sleep improves memory in people with Parkinson's disease Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:50 AM PDT People with Parkinson's disease performed markedly better on a test of working memory after a night's sleep, and sleep disorders can interfere with that benefit, researchers have shown.

Forest razing by ancient Maya worsened droughts, says study Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:50 AM PDT Prolonged drought is thought to have played a role in the collapse of the Classic Maya empire, but a recent study adds a new twist: The Maya may have made the droughts worse by clearing away forests for cities and crops, making a naturally drying climate drier.

New species: No ordinary forget-me-nots Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:47 AM PDT Two new species of forget-me-nots were discovered in the mountains of New Zealand. One of the species is known from the entrance of a few small caves at the base of limestone bluffs and the other from a single site in the forest. Both species are extremely rare and their conservation status is rated Nationally Critical.

Flood risk ranking reveals vulnerable cities Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:47 AM PDT A new study of nine coastal cities around the world suggests that Shanghai is most vulnerable to serious flooding. European cities top the leader board for their resilience.

Stem cells can become anything, but not without this protein Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:47 AM PDT In a finding that could be important to the use of all kinds of stem cells in treating disease, scientists have discovered the crucial role of a protein called Mof in preserving the 'stem-ness' of stem cells, and priming them to become specialized cells in mice. It plays a key role in the "epigenetics" of stem cells -- that is, helping stem cells read and use their DNA.

Key component of cell division identified Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:47 AM PDT A new study highlights the protein Nek9 as a decisive factor in cell division, a fundamental process for both the development of an organism and tissue maintenance. Nek9 is shown to be required for a cell to be able to divide the chromosomes into two identical groups in order to ensure efficient and accurate cell division.

Dawn of humanity illuminated – 50 years after the Leakeys Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:47 AM PDT The first systematic, multidisciplinary results to come out of research conducted on the edge of the Serengeti at the rich palaeoanthropological site in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania since that produced by Louis and Mary Leakey's team, have recently been published.

New technology to transform blood processing Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:47 AM PDT A pioneering surgical blood salvage technology is set to transform the way major surgery is carried out by reducing blood loss in patients.

Viruses with integrated gene switch Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:47 AM PDT Scientists have developed "RNA switches" which allow them to specifically turn on and off genes in viruses. This will help to enhance regulation of gene therapy and viral therapy of cancer.

Dont get mad, get creative: Social rejection can fuel imaginative thinking, study shows Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:46 AM PDT It's not just in movies where nerds get their revenge. Social rejection can inspire imaginative thinking, particularly in individuals with a strong sense of their own independence.

The science of motor control can bring back a smile for those with muscle dysfunction Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:46 AM PDT A child's smile is something we take for granted. But muscle dysfunction can turn a simple expression of joy into a challenge. Surface electromyography provides a noninvasive method of sensing muscle activity that can be used for muscle rehabilitation -— and to bring a smile to a child's face.

Halo of neutrinos alters physics of exploding stars Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:44 AM PDT Sparse halos of neutrinos within the hearts of exploding stars exert a previously unrecognized influence on the physics of the explosion and may alter which elements can be forged by these violent events.

Intense bursts of star formation drive fierce galactic winds Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:44 AM PDT Fierce galactic winds powered by an intense burst of star formation may blow gas right out of massive galaxies, shutting down their ability to make new stars.

Marine species at risk unless drastic protection policies put in place Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:44 AM PDT Many marine species will be harmed or won't survive if the levels of carbon dioxide continue to increase. Current protection policies and management practices are unlikely to be enough to save them. Unconventional, non-passive methods to conserve marine ecosystems need to be considered if various marine species are to survive.

World's sea life is 'facing major shock', marine scientists warn Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:44 AM PDT Life in the world's oceans faces far greater change and risk of large-scale extinctions than at any previous time in human history, a team of the world's leading marine scientists has warned. The researchers have compared events which drove massive extinctions of sea life in the past with what is observed to be taking place in the seas and oceans globally today.

Sun's plasma loops recreated in the lab to help understand solar physics Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:44 AM PDT In orbit around Earth is a wide range of satellites that we rely on for everything from television feeds to GPS navigation. Although these spacecraft soar high above storms on Earth, they are still vulnerable to weather from the sun. Large solar flares can cause widespread damage, which is why researchers are working to learn more about the possible precursors to solar flares called plasma loops by recreating them in the lab.

Speeding the search for better carbon capture Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:44 AM PDT Researchers have develop the first computational model to accurately predict the interactions between flue gases and a special variety of the carbon dioxide-capturing molecular systems known as metal-organic frameworks. This new model should greatly accelerate the search for new low-cost and efficient ways to burn coal without exacerbating global climate change.

New attack on pain caused by diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:44 AM PDT Medical researchers are working on a new therapy that can potentially control the pain caused by diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Unique solution to gene regulation Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:44 AM PDT Research on a unique vertebrate called the sea lamprey shows that more than a thousand genes are shed during its early development. By undergoing programmed genome rearrangement and gene loss during embryogenesis, the sea lamprey "seals" the genes away in the small germline compartment so they cannot be misexpressed and create untoward problems (such as development of cancer, for example).

MRI findings shed light on multiple sclerosis Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:44 AM PDT New magnetic resonance imaging research shows that changes in brain blood flow associated with vein abnormalities are not specific for multiple sclerosis and do not contribute to its severity, despite what some researchers have speculated.

Common antifungal drug decreases tumor growth and shows promise as cancer therapy Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:43 AM PDT An inexpensive antifungal drug, thiabendazole, slows tumor growth and shows promise as a chemotherapy for cancer. Scientists made this discovery by exploiting the evolutionary relatedness of yeast, frogs, mice and humans.

Chain of violence: Study shows impact on Palestinian and Israeli children Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:43 AM PDT Children exposed to ethnic and political violence in the Middle East are more aggressive than other children, and the younger the child, the stronger the effect.

Infants' avoidance of drop-off reflects specific motor ability, not fear Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:42 AM PDT Researchers have long studied infants' perceptions of safe and risky ground by observing their willingness to cross a visual cliff, a large drop-off covered with a solid glass surface. Now a new study has found that although infants learn to avoid the drop-off while crawling, this knowledge doesn't transfer to walking. This suggests that what infants learn is to perceive the limits of their ability to crawl or walk, not a generalized fear of heights.

Computer program recognizes any language Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:41 AM PDT New technology that allows computers to recognize any language without pre-learning stands to revolutionize automatic speech recognition.

Patient suffers severe amnesia but musical memory remains intact Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:40 AM PDT Scientists have examined a professional cellist who suffered from encephalitis caused by a herpes virus. As a result of the inflammation, the patient developed serious disturbances in memory. Both his memory for the past (retrograde amnesia), as well as the acquisition of new information (anterograde amnesia) were affected. Whereas the patient was unable to recount any events from his private or professional life, or remember any of his friends or relatives, he retained a completely intact musical memory.

Alzheimer protein seems to slow down neurotransmitter production Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:40 AM PDT Researchers report how abnormal protein deposits in the brains of Alzheimer's patients disrupt the signaling between nerve cells. They varied the amount of APP protein and related proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease in cell cultures, and then analyzed how this manipulation affected other proteins in the cell. The result: The amount of APP present was related to the amount of an enzyme that is essential for the production of neurotransmitters and therefore for communication amongst nerve cells.

Big picture of the universe confirmed, WiggleZ survey of more than 200,000 galaxies shows Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:40 AM PDT We know that stars group together to form galaxies, galaxies clump to make clusters and clusters gather to create structures known as superclusters. At what scale though, if at all, does this Russian doll-like structure stop? Scientists have been debating this very question for decades because clustering on large scales would be in conflict with our 'standard model' of cosmology. The current model is based on Einstein's equations assuming everything is smooth on the largest scales. If matter were instead clumpy on very large scales, then the entire model would need to be rethought.

Antibiotic use in infants before six months associated with being overweight in childhood Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:39 AM PDT Treating very young infants with antibiotics may predispose them to being overweight in childhood, according to a study of more than 10,000 children.

In your future: More healthful foods to nourish the non-human you Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:38 AM PDT The focus of nutrition for good health is quietly shifting to include consumption of food ingredients specifically designed to nourish the non-human cells that comprise 80 percent of the cells in the typical person, an authority on the topic says.

Looking one cell at a time in the brain to better understand pain, learning, memory Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:38 AM PDT Scientists are developing profiles of the contents of individual brain cells in a search for the root causes of chronic pain, memory loss and other maladies that affect millions of people. They have described the latest results of a one-by-one exploration of selected cells or "neurons" from among the millions present in an animal's brain.

New solar panels made with more common metals could be cheaper and more sustainable Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:38 AM PDT With enough sunlight falling on home roofs to supply at least half of America's electricity, scientists have described advances toward the less-expensive solar energy technology needed to roof many of those homes with shingles that generate electricity.

Distressing life events and poverty behind many abortions in U.S., study finds Posted: 20 Aug 2012 05:50 PM PDT Most women accessing abortion services in the United States have faced a major life stressor, such as job loss or separation, in the preceding year, new research finds.

Acupuncture offers low-cost alternative to knee surgery for osteoarthritis, research finds Posted: 20 Aug 2012 05:50 PM PDT Acupuncture can relieve the pain of knee osteoarthritis and offer a low-cost alternative to surgery for the condition, new research finds.

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