ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• The Deep Roots of Catastrophe: Partly molten, Florida-sized blob forms atop Earth's core
• Scientists identify genetic mechanism that contributed to Irish Famine
• Sensing the light, but not to see: Primitive organism's photosensitive cells may be ancestral to 'circadian receptors' in mammalian retina
• Tiny marine creature spreading through ocean, stabilizing reefs and islands with calcareous shells
• Biostatisticians identify genes linked to heart disease
• Most common form of heart valve disease linked to unusual cholesterol
• Antibiotic cream has high cure rate, few side effects in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis
• Features of southeast European human ancestors influenced by lack of episodic glaciations
• Despite reported dislike, older readers put in less effort when using e-readers
• 'Listening to your heart' could improve body image, says study
• Volunteers, both ailing and healthy, play integral role in clinical trials
• Genetic variation doubles risk of aortic valve calcification
• Lower drinking ages lead to more binge drinking, study of U.S. states finds
• How new corals species form in the ocean
• Nitrogen from pollution, natural sources causes growth of toxic algae, study finds
• Compound stimulates tumor-fighting protein in cancer therapy
• Preserving biodiversity can be compatible with intensive agriculture
• India joined with Asia 10 million years later than previously thought, new timeline suggests
• Understanding microbes blowing in the wind
• Hydrothermal liquefaction: The most promising path to sustainable bio-oil production
• New light shed on the mysteries of spider silk
• Improved X-ray microscopic imaging
• Has the 'Golden Age' of global health funding come to an end?
• Can nerve stimulation help prevent migraine?
• Number of people with Alzheimer's disease in U.S. may triple by 2050
• Breast milk reduces risk of sepsis and intensive care costs in very-low-birth-weight infants
• Turning repulsive feelings into desires
• Pacific locked in 'La Nada' limbo
• Fish oil may protect dialysis patients from sudden cardiac death
• Tiny capsule effectively kills cancer cells
• Happiness increases with age, across generations: But your overall level of well-being depends on when you were born
• Children with ACL injuries require special treatment
• Frequently prescribed drug used in concerning ways with harmful side effects
• Same factors influence depression in stroke patients, spouse caregivers
• 11,000 elephants slaughtered in national park once home to Africa’s largest forest elephant population
• New technology gives doctors an important diagnostic tool
• Buying luxury: Hedonistic or French?
• Molecular link between metabolism and breast cancer
• Tapping into the rubber plant genome
• 2012 global temperatures 10th highest on record
• 2012 warmest and second most extreme year on record for the contiguous United States
• No clear evidence more gluten in new wheat is responsible for increase in celiac disease
• The last big bump before a supernova explodes
• Enzyme behind breast cancer mutations identified
• Calcium-binding protein mutations found in heart rhythm disorders
• Biodiversity helps protect nature against human impacts
• Lungs of the planet reveal their true sensitivity to global warming
• Brain research provides clues to what makes people think and behave differently
• Tai Chi exercise may reduce falls in adult stroke survivors
• Native Hawaiians have bleeding strokes at earlier age, independent of meth use
• Smoking marijuana associated with higher stroke risk in young adults
• Traumatic brain injury complications common among U.S. combat soldiers
• Scientists discover how chromosomes keep their loose ends loose
• Possible cause of, and treatment for, non-familial Parkinson's
• Predicting a low carbon future for Toronto
• Experimental drug combination selectively destroys lymphoma cells
• Thailand: Astonishing ten new species of semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms revealed
• Magnetic field exposure may affect neurodegenerative disease risk
• Mercury contamination in water can be detected with a mobile phone
• New steps recommended to preserve China's famous Terracotta Warriors and other relics

The Deep Roots of Catastrophe: Partly molten, Florida-sized blob forms atop Earth's core Posted: 06 Feb 2013 09:20 PM PST A seismologist analyzed seismic waves that bombarded Earth's core, and believes he got a look at the earliest roots of Earth's most cataclysmic kind of volcanic eruption. But don't worry. He says it won't happen for perhaps 200 million years.

Scientists identify genetic mechanism that contributed to Irish Famine Posted: 06 Feb 2013 04:06 PM PST Plant pathologists studied the pathogen that triggered the Irish Famine of the 19th century by infecting potato plants, and deciphered how it succeeded in crippling the potato plant's immune system.

Sensing the light, but not to see: Primitive organism's photosensitive cells may be ancestral to 'circadian receptors' in mammalian retina Posted: 06 Feb 2013 04:06 PM PST In a primitive marine organism, scientists find photosensitive cells that may be ancestral to the "circadian receptors" in the mammalian retina.

Tiny marine creature spreading through ocean, stabilizing reefs and islands with calcareous shells Posted: 06 Feb 2013 04:06 PM PST The climate is getting warmer, and sea levels are rising -- a threat to island nations. As a group of researchers found out, at the same time, tiny single-cell organisms are spreading rapidly through the world's oceans, where they might be able to mitigate the consequences of climate change. Amphistegina are stabilizing coastlines and reefs with their calcareous shells.

Biostatisticians identify genes linked to heart disease Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:58 PM PST Recently, large studies have identified some of the genetic basis for important common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, but most of the genetic contribution to them remains undiscovered. Now researchers have applied sophisticated statistical tools to existing large databases to reveal substantial new information about genes that cause such conditions as high cholesterol linked to heart disease.

Most common form of heart valve disease linked to unusual cholesterol Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:58 PM PST Researchers have discovered a gene associated with a form of cholesterol that increases the risk of developing aortic stenosis, the most common form of heart valve disease, by more than half. This international study is the first of its kind to uncover a genetic link with aortic valve disease -- a condition that affects more than five million people in North America.

Antibiotic cream has high cure rate, few side effects in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:58 PM PST Researchers have demonstrated a high cure rate and remarkably few side effects in treating patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) with an investigational antibiotic cream. CL is a parasitic disease that causes disfiguring lesions, with 350 million people at risk worldwide and 1.5 million new cases annually.

Features of southeast European human ancestors influenced by lack of episodic glaciations Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:58 PM PST A fragment of human lower jaw recovered from a Serbian cave is the oldest human ancestor found in this part of Europe, who probably evolved under different conditions than populations that inhabited more western parts of the continent at the same time, according to new research.

Despite reported dislike, older readers put in less effort when using e-readers Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:58 PM PST Reading text on digital devices like tablet computers requires less effort from older adults than reading on paper.

'Listening to your heart' could improve body image, says study Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:58 PM PST Women who are more aware of their bodies from within are less likely to think of their bodies principally as objects, according to new research.

Volunteers, both ailing and healthy, play integral role in clinical trials Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:57 PM PST The vital role filled by volunteer subjects – both sick and healthy – is an often-underappreciated aspect of clinical research at academic medical centers and other institutions.

Genetic variation doubles risk of aortic valve calcification Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:57 PM PST Researchers have found a genetic variant that doubles the likelihood that people will have calcium deposits on their aortic valve. Such calcification, if it becomes severe, can cause narrowing or a blockage of the aortic valve, a condition called aortic stenosis. The study is the first large-scale, genome-wide association study to uncover a genetic link to aortic valve calcification.

Lower drinking ages lead to more binge drinking, study of U.S. states finds Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:23 PM PST People who grew up in U.S. states where it was legal to drink alcohol before the age of 21 are more likely to be binge drinkers later in life. Researchers found that people who lived in states with lower minimum drinking ages weren't more likely to consume more alcohol overall, but when they did drink, they were more likely to drink heavily.

How new corals species form in the ocean Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:23 PM PST Biological sciences professors have investigated how corals specialize to particular environments in the ocean. They propose that the large dispersal potential of coral larvae in open water and the proximity of different species on the ocean floor creates a mystery for researchers who study speciation, asking, "How can new marine species emerge without obvious geographic isolation?"

Nitrogen from pollution, natural sources causes growth of toxic algae, study finds Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:23 PM PST Nitrogen in ocean waters fuels the growth of two tiny but toxic phytoplankton species that are harmful to marine life and human health, warns a new study. Researchers found that nitrogen entering the ocean -- whether through natural processes or pollution -- boosts the growth and toxicity of a group of phytoplankton that can cause the human illness amnesic shellfish poisoning.

Compound stimulates tumor-fighting protein in cancer therapy Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:23 PM PST A compound that stimulates the production of a tumor-fighting protein may improve the usefulness of the protein in cancer therapy, according to a team of researchers.

Preserving biodiversity can be compatible with intensive agriculture Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST Preserving genetically diverse local crops in areas where small-scale farms are rapidly modernizing is possible, according to a geographer, who is part of an international research project investigating the biodiversity of maize, or corn, in hotspots of Bolivia, Peru and Mexico.

India joined with Asia 10 million years later than previously thought, new timeline suggests Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST Researchers have found that the collision between India and Asia occurred only 40 million years ago -- 10 million years later than previously thought. The scientists analyzed the composition of rocks from two regions in the Himalayas, and discovered evidence of two separate collisional events: As India crept steadily northward, it first collided with a string of islands 50 million years ago, before plowing into the Eurasian continental plate 10 million years later.

Understanding microbes blowing in the wind Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST With help from a wind tunnel and the latest DNA technology, scientists are shedding light on the travel patterns of microbes in soils carried off by strong winds. The work has implications for soil health and could lead to management practices that minimize the damage to soils caused by wind erosion.

Hydrothermal liquefaction: The most promising path to sustainable bio-oil production Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST A new generation of the HTL process can convert all kinds of biomasses to crude bio-oil, which is sufficiently similar to fossil crude oil that a simple thermal upgrade and existing refinery technology can be employed to subsequently obtain all the liquid fuels we know today. What is more, the HTL process only consumes approximately 10-15 percent of the energy in the feedstock biomass, yielding an energy efficiency of 85-90 percent.

New light shed on the mysteries of spider silk Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST Researchers have now measured all of the elastic properties of an intact spider's web, drawing a remarkable picture of the behavior of one of nature's most intriguing structures. The work could lead to new "bio-inspired" materials that improve upon nature.

Improved X-ray microscopic imaging Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST X-ray microscopy requires radiation of extremely high quality. In order to obtain sharp images instrument and sample must stay absolutely immobile even at the nanometer scale during the recording. Researchers have now developed a method that relaxes these hard restrictions. Even fluctuations in the material can be visualized.

Has the 'Golden Age' of global health funding come to an end? Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST Despite dire predictions in the wake of the economic crisis, donations to health projects in developing countries appear to be holding steady. After reaching a historic high of $28.2 billion in 2010, development assistance for health dropped in 2011.

Can nerve stimulation help prevent migraine? Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST Wearing a nerve stimulator for 20 minutes a day may be a new option for migraine sufferers, according to new research.

Number of people with Alzheimer's disease in U.S. may triple by 2050 Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST The number of people with Alzheimer's disease in the U.S. is expected to triple in the next 40 years, according to a new study.

Breast milk reduces risk of sepsis and intensive care costs in very-low-birth-weight infants Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:21 PM PST Feeding human breast milk to very-low-birth-weight infants greatly reduces risk for sepsis and significantly lowers associated neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) costs, according to a new study. A daily dose of 25 to 49.99 milliliters of human milk per kilogram cut NICU costs by more than $20,000, while 50 milliliters per kilogram per day lowered NICU costs by nearly $32,000.

Turning repulsive feelings into desires Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:21 PM PST Hunger, thirst, stress and drugs can create a change in the brain that transforms a repulsive feeling into a strong positive "wanting," a new study indicates.

Pacific locked in 'La Nada' limbo Posted: 06 Feb 2013 12:58 PM PST Sea-surface height data from NASA's Jason-1 satellite show that the equatorial Pacific Ocean is still locked in what some call a neutral, or 'La Nada' state. This condition follows two years of strong, cool-water La Niña events.

Fish oil may protect dialysis patients from sudden cardiac death Posted: 06 Feb 2013 12:16 PM PST Medical literature long has touted the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for the heart. But until now, researchers have not studied the potential benefit for people on hemodialysis, who are among the highest-risk patients for sudden cardiac death. A new study, which included 100 patients who died of sudden cardiac death during their first year of hemodialysis and 300 patients who survived, is the first to examine this question.

Tiny capsule effectively kills cancer cells Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:16 AM PST Devising a method for more precise and less invasive treatment of cancer tumors, scientists have developed a degradable nanoscale shell to carry proteins to cancer cells and stunt the growth of tumors without damaging healthy cells.

Happiness increases with age, across generations: But your overall level of well-being depends on when you were born Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:16 AM PST Psychological well-being has been linked to many important life outcomes, including career success, relationship satisfaction, and even health. But it's not clear how feelings of well-being change as we age, as different studies have provided evidence for various trends over time. A new report reveals that self-reported feelings of well-being tend to increase with age, but that a person's overall level of well-being depends on when he or she was born.

Children with ACL injuries require special treatment Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:16 AM PST Until a child's bones have fully matured (in girls, typically by age 14; in boys, age 16), an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament -- the primary, stabilizing ligament of the knee joint -- requires special consideration, treatment and care to ensure appropriate healing and to prevent long-term complications, experts say.

Frequently prescribed drug used in concerning ways with harmful side effects Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:16 AM PST A popular class of drugs commonly used to treat sleep and mood symptoms continues to be frequently prescribed despite being known to have potentially life-threatening side effects.

Same factors influence depression in stroke patients, spouse caregivers Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:16 AM PST Self-esteem, optimism and perceived control influence depression in stroke survivors and their spouse caregivers. Healthcare providers should assess the survivor and caregiver as a pair, not separately. Self-esteem influenced each partners' depression. Spousal optimism influenced stroke survivors' depression.

11,000 elephants slaughtered in national park once home to Africa’s largest forest elephant population Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:15 AM PST The Wildlife Conservation Society has just announced that a national park, once home to Africa's largest forest elephant population, has lost a staggering 11,100 individuals due to poaching for the ivory trade. The shocking figures come from Gabon's Minkebe Park, where recent surveys of areas within the park revealed that two thirds of its elephants have vanished since 2004. The majority of these losses have probably taken place in the last five years.

New technology gives doctors an important diagnostic tool Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:15 AM PST When cocaine producers began using an inexpensive medication, levamisole, to dilute the cocaine to boost their profits, their customers were showing up in hospital emergency rooms with serious skin injuries caused by cocaine-levamisole toxicity. A dermatologist has provided photographs of the skin condition to VisualDx -- a new technology that was created with more than 100,000 medical images to help doctors visually diagnose disease.

Buying luxury: Hedonistic or French? Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:15 AM PST Why do consumers around the world buy luxury goods? In the U.S. it's about hedonism. Meanwhile Germans focused on function, placing emphasis on quality standards over prestige, as did the Italians, Hungarians and Slovakians.

Molecular link between metabolism and breast cancer Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:15 AM PST A protein associated with conditions of metabolic imbalance, such as diabetes and obesity, may play a role in the development of aggressive forms of breast cancer, according to new findings.

Tapping into the rubber plant genome Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:14 AM PST Scientists have sequenced the draft genome sequence of the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis, the major commercial source of natural rubber.

2012 global temperatures 10th highest on record Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:12 AM PST The globally-averaged temperature for 2012 marked the 10th warmest year since record keeping began in 1880. It also marked the 36th consecutive year with a global temperature above the 20th century average. The last below-average annual temperature was 1976. Including 2012, all 12 years to date in the 21st century (2001-2012) rank among the 14 warmest in the 133-year period of record. Only one year during the 20th century -- 1998 -- was warmer than 2012.

2012 warmest and second most extreme year on record for the contiguous United States Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:07 AM PST In 2012, the contiguous United States (CONUS) average annual temperature of 55.3°F was 3.2°F above the 20th century average, and was the warmest year in the 1895-2012 period of record for the nation. The 2012 annual temperature was 1.0°F warmer than the previous record warm year of 1998.

No clear evidence more gluten in new wheat is responsible for increase in celiac disease Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:11 AM PST No clear evidence exists to support the idea that celiac disease is increasing in prevalence because farmers are growing strains of wheat that contain more gluten.

The last big bump before a supernova explodes Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:11 AM PST Astronomers have found the first causal evidence that massive stars shed huge amounts of material in a "penultimate outburst" before they finally detonate as Type IIn supernovae. After characterizing supernova 2010mc, the scientists found evidence of previous outbursts in the same location and were able to conclusively relate them to the supernova explosion.

Enzyme behind breast cancer mutations identified Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:11 AM PST Researchers have uncovered a human enzyme responsible for causing DNA mutations found in the majority of breast cancers. The discovery of this enzyme -- called APOBEC3B -- may change the way breast cancer is diagnosed and treated.

Calcium-binding protein mutations found in heart rhythm disorders Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST Two new genes -- both coding for the signaling protein calmodulin -- have now been associated with severe early-onset disorders of heart rhythm. The findings expand the list of culprits that can cause sudden cardiac death and may point to new therapeutic approaches.

Biodiversity helps protect nature against human impacts Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST New research suggests farmers and resource managers should not rely on seemingly stable but vulnerable single-crop monocultures. Instead they should encourage more kinds of plants in fields and woods as a buffer against sudden ecosystem disturbance.

Lungs of the planet reveal their true sensitivity to global warming Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST The amount of carbon dioxide that rainforests absorb, or produce, varies hugely with year-to-year variations in the climate. Climate scientists have shown that these variations reveal how vulnerable the rainforest is to climate change.

Brain research provides clues to what makes people think and behave differently Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST Differences in the physical connections of the brain are at the root of what make people think and behave differently from one another. Researchers shed new light on the details of this phenomenon, mapping the exact brain regions where individual differences occur. Their findings reveal that individuals' brain connectivity varies more in areas that relate to integrating information than in areas for initial perception of the world.

Tai Chi exercise may reduce falls in adult stroke survivors Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST Tai Chi exercise reduced falls among stroke survivors. The ancient Chinese martial art helped survivors achieve and maintain balance to aid stroke recovery.

Native Hawaiians have bleeding strokes at earlier age, independent of meth use Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST Native Hawaiians have more bleeding strokes at an earlier age than other people independent of methamphetamine abuse. Besides genetics, environmental factors -- such as diet, stress, unhealthy lifestyles and a lack of good healthcare could also affect the higher incidences. Researchers suggest more focus is needed on controlling high blood pressure, diabetes and weight management in this population.

Smoking marijuana associated with higher stroke risk in young adults Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST Marijuana use may double the risk of stroke in young adults. The New Zealand findings are the first from a case-controlled study to indicate a potential link between marijuana and stroke.

Traumatic brain injury complications common among U.S. combat soldiers Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST U.S. soldiers in combat often suffer constricted blood vessels and increased pressure in the brain -- significant complications of traumatic brain injuries, according to new research.

Scientists discover how chromosomes keep their loose ends loose Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST We take it for granted that our chromosomes won't stick together, yet this kind of cellular disaster would happen constantly were it not for a protein called TRF2. Now, scientists have discovered key details of how TRF2 performs this crucial chromosome-protecting function. The finding represents a significant advance in cell biology and also has implications for our understanding of cancer and the aging process.

Possible cause of, and treatment for, non-familial Parkinson's Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:09 AM PST Researchers have identified a protein trafficking defect within brain cells that may underlie the common form of Parkinson's disease. The defect is at a point of convergence for the action of at least three different genes that had been implicated in prior studies of Parkinson's disease. Whereas most molecular studies focus on mutations associated with rare familial forms of the disease, these findings relate directly to the common non-familial form of Parkinson's.

Predicting a low carbon future for Toronto Posted: 06 Feb 2013 09:13 AM PST Cities are major players in the climate change game. More than half of the world's population lives in urban areas and over 70 percent of global GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions can be attributed to cities. A case study of Toronto demonstrates alternative strategies for how the city can implement a low carbon urban infrastructure plan by 2031.

Experimental drug combination selectively destroys lymphoma cells Posted: 06 Feb 2013 09:13 AM PST Laboratory experiments suggest that a novel combination of the drugs ibrutinib and bortezomib could potentially be an effective new therapy for several forms of blood cancer, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma.

Thailand: Astonishing ten new species of semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms revealed Posted: 06 Feb 2013 09:13 AM PST An astonishing ten new species of semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms have been discovered in river systems in Thailand, documenting a remarkable level of biodiversity. The animals occur in a wide range of natural freshwater habitats, including rice fields, where they might play an important role in the development of organic farming.

Magnetic field exposure may affect neurodegenerative disease risk Posted: 06 Feb 2013 09:12 AM PST Occupational exposure to magnetic fields (MF) may be associated with "moderately increased risk" of certain neurodegenerative diseases —- including Alzheimer's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Mercury contamination in water can be detected with a mobile phone Posted: 06 Feb 2013 08:10 AM PST Chemists have manufactured a sheet that changes color in the presence of water contaminated with mercury. The results can be seen with the naked eye but when photographing the membrane with a mobile phone the concentration of this extremely toxic metal can be quantified.

New steps recommended to preserve China's famous Terracotta Warriors and other relics Posted: 06 Feb 2013 08:09 AM PST The preservation of immovable historic relics displayed in large open spaces like China's world-renowned Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses requires air curtains and other modifications to recreate the primitive environment from which archaeologists excavated the relics. That's the conclusion of a study of environmental control measures for archaeology museums in the People's Republic of China.

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