ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, October 3, 2008
Arctic Sea Ice Hits Second-lowest Recorded Extent, Likely Lowest Volume (October 3, 2008) -- Arctic sea ice extent during the 2008 melt season dropped to the second-lowest level Sept. 14 since satellite measurements began in 1979 and may represent the lowest volume of sea ice on record, according to researchers. ... > full story
Liver Transplant Recipients Almost Three Times More Likely To Develop Cancer (October 3, 2008) -- Cancer incidence is higher among liver transplant recipients in Finland compared to the general population, according to a new study. ... > full story
Similarity Of Urban Flora: Plants In Towns And Cities Are More Closely Related Than Those In The Countryside (October 3, 2008) -- More plant species grow in German towns and cities than in the countryside, but those in towns and cities are more closely related and are often functionally similar. This makes urban ecosystems more susceptible to environmental impacts. ... > full story
Breakthrough Optical Technology To Assess Colon Cancer Risk, Accuracy (October 3, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered that fiber optic technology can for the very first time effectively measure blood levels in the colonic lining (mucosa) in humans, thus having potential applications for analyzing risk of colon cancer. The study used fiber optic technology to map microvascular blood content in patients during colonoscopy. The results provide the first indication that the early increase in blood supply is detectable in humans. ... > full story
Captain Birdseye's Robotic Nose (October 3, 2008) -- The captain can't freeze smelly fish that's past its best -- and Icelandic scientists can now help him out by detecting the levels of stench-making bacteria faster than ever before. A new method to detect bacteria that break down dead fish and produce the distasteful smell of rotting fish has been developed. ... > full story
Rethinking Who Should Be Considered 'Essential' During A Pandemic Flu Outbreak (October 3, 2008) -- Not only are doctors, nurses, and firefighters essential during a severe pandemic influenza outbreak. So, too, are truck drivers, communications personnel, and utility workers. That's the conclusion of a new article to be published in the journal of Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. ... > full story
Compact Fluorescent Lighting: Are We Trading Energy Conservation For Toxic Mercury Emissions? (October 3, 2008) -- New research shows certain countries and some US states stand to benefit from the use of compact fluorescent lighting more than others, and some places may even produce more mercury emissions by switching from incandescent light bulbs to CFLs. ... > full story
Role Of Stem Cells In Renewing The Cornea (October 3, 2008) -- New research shows how the cornea uses stem cells to repair itself. Using mouse models they demonstrate that everyday wear and tear on the cornea is repaired from stem cells residing in the corneal epithelium, and that more serious repair jobs require the involvement of other stem cells that migrate from the limbus, a region between the cornea and the conjunctiva, the white part of the eye. ... > full story
Spacing, Not Size, Matters In Visual Recognition, Researchers Find (October 3, 2008) -- You might think that the farthest distance at which you can hold a book and still read it quickly is determined by the size of the letters. However, neuroscientists have concluded that it's the spacing between letters, not their size, that matters. ... > full story
Loss Of The Protein Target Of Lithium Disrupts Normal Mouse Embryonic Heart Development (October 3, 2008) -- One drug used to treat bipolar disorder is lithium, an inhibitor of GSK-3 proteins controversially linked to congenital heart defects. However, new data indicate that mice lacking GSK-3-beta die before birth, mostly at the late stage of embryonic development because of numerous defects in the heart. It is therefore suggested that it might be wise to exercise caution when considering whether to treat women of childbearing age with newer, more powerful GSK-3 inhibitors. ... > full story
Simple Twists Of Fate (October 3, 2008) -- A novel study in PLoS Biology reports on some of the molecular gymnastics performed by a protein involved in regulating DNA transcription. Using state-of-the art tools, researchers observed the shape and behavior of individual DNA molecules bent into tight loops by Lac repressor, a protein from the bacterium E.coli that switches on and off individual genes. ... > full story
Study Shows How Civil War Refugees Cope With The Unknown (October 3, 2008) -- A new study focuses on the experiences of the Sudanese refugees who were separated from their parents during the Sudanese civil war. ... > full story
Chernobyl Fallout? Plutonium Found In Swedish Soil (October 2, 2008) -- More than 20 years later, researchers from Case Western Reserve University traveled to Sweden and Poland to gain insight into the downward migration of Chernobyl-derived radionuclides in the soil. Among the team's findings was the fact that much more plutonium was found in the Swedish soil at a depth that corresponded with the nuclear explosion than that of Poland. ... > full story
Changes In Sex Steroids Associated With Menopause (October 2, 2008) -- A new study shows that the increased rate of follicle stimulating hormone change that occurs during menopause is associated with increased objective sleep duration but poor subjective sleep quality. ... > full story
Acupressure Calms Children Before Surgery (October 2, 2008) -- An acupressure treatment applied to children undergoing anesthesia noticeably lowers their anxiety levels and makes the stress of surgery more calming for them and their families, anesthesiologists have learned. ... > full story
Genes Influence Effectiveness Of Weight-loss Drug (October 2, 2008) -- Obese patients with a specific genetic make-up lose more weight when taking the weight loss drug sibutramine and undergoing behavioral therapy compared to those without this genetic make-up. ... > full story
New Mathematical Model Can Measure Political Party Power (October 2, 2008) -- A new algorithm developed by a computer scientist can be used to predict political power balances. ... > full story
Presidential Candidates' Health Plans Offer Divergent Approaches To Health System Reform (October 2, 2008) -- A new report from the Commonwealth Fund examines key differences and areas of agreement in the health system reform proposals of presidential candidates Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama. Both plans seek to expand health insurance, but Senator McCain would encourage individuals to select their own coverage through the individual insurance market while Senator Obama would strengthen employer coverage and public programs. ... > full story
New Fish Species May Emerge Because Of How Females See Males (October 2, 2008) -- Eye color and hair color play a role in human partner choice, but visual stimuli can also determine mating preferences in the animal kingdom. In many species, the male's fortunes in the mating stakes are decided by a conspicuous breeding dress. A study of brightly colored fish has now demonstrated that this has less to do with aesthetics than with the sensitivity of female eyes, which varies as a result of adaptation to the environment. ... > full story
When Cells Go Bad: Cells That Avoid Suicide May Become Cancerous (October 2, 2008) -- When a cell's chromosomes lose their ends, the cell usually kills itself to stem the genetic damage. But now biologists have discovered how those cells can evade suicide and start down the path to cancer. The new study of fruit flies is the first to show in animals that losing just one telomere -- the end of a chromosome -- can lead to many abnormalities in a cell's chromosomes. ... > full story
Jog To The Beat: Music Increases Exercise Endurance By 15% (October 2, 2008) -- New research reveals strong link between music and cardiovascular exercise performance. ... > full story
Research Suggests Doctors Should Consider Kidney-sparing Surgery (October 2, 2008) -- A study of almost 1,500 kidney cancer patients treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center suggests that surgery to spare as much kidney tissue as possible may improve overall survival in patients who also have reduced kidney function at the time their cancer is diagnosed. The finding is significant because both kidney cancer and decreased kidney function appear to be increasing. ... > full story
Nanoparticles Used To Deliver Treatment For Brain, Spinal Cord Injuries (October 2, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a method of using nanoparticles to deliver treatments to injured brain and spinal cord cells. Scientists coated silica nanoparticles with a polymer to target and repair injured guinea pig spinal cords. They then used the coated nanoparticles to deliver both the polymer and hydralazine to cells with secondary damage from a naturally produced toxin. ... > full story
Eureka! How Distractions Facilitate Creative Problem-solving (October 2, 2008) -- According to psychologists, distractions may be helpful in coming up with creative solutions to a certain problem, but must be followed by a period of conscious thought to ensure that we are aware of those solutions and can apply them. Likewise, while distractions are more useful in solving difficult problems, it may be better to stay focused on finding the solution when confronted with easier problems. ... > full story
First Detection Of Magnetic Field In Distant Galaxy Surprises Astronomers (October 2, 2008) -- Using a powerful radio telescope to peer into the early universe, a team of California astronomers has obtained the first direct measurement of a nascent galaxy's magnetic field as it appeared 6.5 billion years ago. ... > full story
MRI Spots Early Breast Cancer In Mice (October 2, 2008) -- A new magnetic resonance imaging procedure can detect very early breast cancer in mice, including ductal carcinoma in situ, a precursor to invasive cancer. Some of the tumors detected were less than 300 microns in diameter, the smallest cancers ever detected by MRI. ... > full story
Electron Give-and-take Lets Molecules Shine Individually On Camera (October 2, 2008) -- A single fluorescent molecule flashing as it gains or loses its electron has made the microscopic spotlight. Watching a whole gaggle of these molecules, they appear to work synchronously; but a new close-up view reveals mavericks that shine when they seemingly shouldn't. The work sets the stage for a better understanding of the underlying principles of certain reactions common to biofuel production, so-called electron transfer reactions. ... > full story
3-D CT Scans Lead To More Successful Treatment Of Varicose Veins In The Lower Extremities (October 2, 2008) -- 3-D CT scans provide a more comprehensive view of complex varicose veins (one of the most common diseases in the world) in the lower extremities, according to a study performed at the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea. This technique aids surgeons to more effectively treat varicose veins. ... > full story
More Star Births Than Astronomers Have Calculated (October 2, 2008) -- More newborn stars are apparently emerging around the universe than previously assumed. Researchers have now published a paper in the journal Nature explaining this discrepancy. Their study has identified a systematic error in the method of estimation. ... > full story
International Cooperation Needed To Lower Proliferation Risks As Nuclear Energy Grows (October 2, 2008) -- As more nations pursue nuclear power, the United States and Russia, along with other countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency, should redouble efforts to ensure a reliable supply of nuclear fuel so that countries seeking nuclear energy have less incentive to build their own facilities to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel, says a new report by the US National Academy of Sciences and Russian Academy of Sciences. ... > full story
New Dinosaur Species, Pachyrhinosaur Lakustai, Had Bony Frill And Horns (October 2, 2008) -- Newly found fossils revealed a herd of dinosaurs that perished in a catastrophic event 72.5 million years ago. Scientists describe the animals as having a bony frill on the back of the skull ornamented with smaller horns. They also had large bony structures above their nose and eyes which lends them their name: Pachyrhinosaurus (thick-nosed lizard). These structures probably supported horns of keratin. ... > full story
Vitamin C Supplements May Reduce Benefit From Wide Range Of Anti-cancer Drugs (October 2, 2008) -- In pre-clinical studies, vitamin C appears to substantially reduce the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs, say researchers. ... > full story
Cells Coordinate Gene Activity With FM Bursts, Scientists Find (October 2, 2008) -- How a cell achieves the coordinated control of a number of genes at the same time has long puzzled scientists. Researchers have discovered a surprising answer. Just as human engineers control devices ranging from dimmer switches to retrorockets using frequency modulated signals, cells tune the expression of groups of genes using discrete bursts of activation. ... > full story
Colon Cancer: Researchers Take Important Steps Forward In Understanding Cause (October 2, 2008) -- Scientists investigating a molecule known to play a key role in causing colon cancer have made a series of ground-breaking discoveries that could have major implications for future treatment of the disease. ... > full story
Keeping Computing Compatible (October 2, 2008) -- As distributed computing becomes universal, the programs that make devices work really have to work together. European researchers have gone back to basics to create a development toolkit that guarantees this sort of compatibility. ... > full story
Driving Fatalities Surge On US Presidential Election Days (October 2, 2008) -- Researchers have found an increased risk of fatal motor vehicle crashes on United States presidential election days. ... > full story
Short RNAs Show A Long History: MicroRNAs Found In Animals That Appeared A Billion Years Ago (October 2, 2008) -- MicroRNAs, the tiny molecules that fine-tune gene expression, were first discovered in 1993. But it turns out they've been around for a billion years. MicroRNAs and piRNAs, two classes of small RNAs that regulate genes, have been discovered within diverse animal lineages, implying that they have been present since the ancestor of all animals (about a billion years ago).They may have been shaping gene expression throughout the evolution of animals, contributing to the emergence of new species and perhaps even the emergence of multicellular animal life. ... > full story
Groundbreaking Discovery May Lead To Stronger Antibiotics (October 2, 2008) -- The last decade has seen a dramatic decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics, resulting in a mounting public health crisis across the world. A new breakthrough provides physicians and patients a potential new approach toward the creation of less resistant and more effective antibiotics. ... > full story
Ecologists Allay Fears For Farmland Birds From Wind Turbines (October 2, 2008) -- Wind farms pose less of a threat to farmland birds than previously feared, new research has found. The study helps resolve a potentially major environmental conflict: how to meet renewable energy targets at the same time as reversing dramatic declines in biodiversity on European farmland. ... > full story
Changing Dosing, Administration Of Anthrax Vaccine Reduces Side Effects (October 2, 2008) -- Reducing the number of doses of an anthrax vaccine and changing its administration to intramuscular injection resulted in comparable measures of effectiveness but with fewer adverse events, according to a study in the Oct. 1 issue of JAMA. ... > full story
Why Metal Alloys Degrade And Fail (October 2, 2008) -- Metal alloys can fail unexpectedly in a wide range of applications -- from jet engines to satellites to cell phones -- and new research helps to explain why. ... > full story
Strict Societies May Foster Violent Drinking Cultures (October 2, 2008) -- Countries with strict social rules and behavioral etiquette such as the United Kingdom may foster drinking cultures characterized by unruly or bad behavior, according to a new report on alcohol and violence. ... > full story
HIV/AIDS Pandemic Began Around 1900, Earlier Than Previously Thought; Urbanization In Africa Marked Outbreak (October 2, 2008) -- Painstaking reconstruction of viral DNA and RNA sequences from decades-old tissue samples is beginning to yield a clearer picture of HIV's evolutionary history from its beginnings. ... > full story
New Genes Linked To Gout (October 2, 2008) -- Researchers have identified two new genes -- and confirmed the role of a third gene -- associated with increased risk of higher levels of uric acid in the blood, which can lead to gout, a common, painful form of arthritis. Combined, the three genetic variations were associated with up to a 40-fold increased risk in developing gout. ... > full story
Extinct May Not Be Forever For Some Species Of Galapagos Tortoises (October 2, 2008) -- Yale scientists report that genetic traces of extinct species of Galapagos tortoises exist in descendants now living in the wild, a finding that could spur breeding programs to restore the species. ... > full story
HIV Drug Maraviroc Effective For Drug-resistant Patients (October 2, 2008) -- As many as one quarter of HIV patients have drug resistance, limiting their treatment options and raising their risk for AIDS and death. Now, maraviroc, the first of a new class of HIV drugs called CCR5 receptor antagonists, has been shown to be effective over 48 weeks for drug-resistant patients with R5 HIV-1, a variation of the virus found in more than half of HIV-infected patients. ... > full story
DNA Tests Could Help Predict, Prevent Harmful Algal Blooms (October 2, 2008) -- DNA test could be used to detect harmful algal blooms across the globe, an article the International Journal of Environment and Pollution. ... > full story
Getting Help For Depression And Anxiety Has Significant Long-term Benefits (October 2, 2008) -- Researchers have recently studied the long term effects of taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. They found people who were not using antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications were three times more likely to be suffering from depression or anxiety 10 years later. ... > full story
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