ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Tuesday, October 21, 2008
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'Filament' Of Dark Matter Supports 'Bubbly' Universe Theory (October 21, 2008) -- Despite thousands of years of research, astronomers know next to nothing about how the universe is structured. One strong and accepted theory is that large galaxies are clustered together on structures similar to giant soap bubbles, with tinier galaxies sprinkled on the surface of this "soapy" layer. Astronomers have uncovered what they believe are visible traces of a "filament" of dark matter -- an entity on which galaxies meet, cluster and form. A filament can originate at the junction of two "soap bubbles," where the thin membrane is thicker. ... > full story
Role Of Fatty Acids In Alzheimer's Disease Identified (October 21, 2008) -- Scientists have found that complete or partial removal of an enzyme that regulates fatty acid levels improves cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. A large-scale analysis of brain lipids identifies a potential therapeutic strategy. ... > full story
Revealing The Evolutionary History Of Threatened Sea Turtles (October 21, 2008) -- New genetic research carried out at the American Museum of Natural History clarifies our understanding of the evolutionary relationships among all seven sea turtle species and shows that specialized diets arose independently. The refined phylogeny has important implications for conservation of these threatened, highly migratory animals. ... > full story
Best Treatment Determined For Childhood Eye Problem, Study Suggests (October 21, 2008) -- A nine-site study has helped determine the best of three currently-used treatments for convergence insufficiency in children. Convergence refers to the natural ability of the eyes to focus and align while viewing objects up close. ... > full story
New Tools That Model 3D Structure Of Amorphous Materials To Transform Technology Driven R&D (October 21, 2008) -- Researchers have accurately identified tools that model the atomic and void structures of a network-forming elemental material. These tools may revolutionize the process of creating new solar panels, flat-panel displays, optical storage media and myriad other technological devices. ... > full story
Hypertension Disparity Linked To Environment (October 21, 2008) -- Social environment may play a greater role in the disparity between the numbers of African-Americans living with hypertension compared to non-Hispanic whites with the disease. A new study found that the disparity was substantially reduced when comparing groups of African Americans and non-Hispanic whites living in similar social environments. ... > full story
Scientists Create 'World's Most Relaxing Room' (October 21, 2008) -- Psychologists have designed and constructed a large-scale multi-media space that aims to calm even the most stressed out of minds. ... > full story
New Hope For A Better Treatment For Childhood Cancer (October 21, 2008) -- Children who are diagnosed with cancer could benefit from better diagnosis and treatment in the future, thanks to a new research project. ... > full story
Toxoplasma Parasite's Family Tree Traced (October 21, 2008) -- Scientists are tracing the family tree of Toxoplasma gondii, one of the most widespread parasites of warm-blooded vertebrates. Understanding how T. gondii has evolved and disseminated will help parasitologists and public health officials improve methods for controlling the parasite in humans and animals. ... > full story
Integrating Antiretroviral Therapy With TB Treatment For Co-infections Reduces Mortality By 55% (October 21, 2008) -- A South African treatment study shows that mortality among TB-HIV co-infected patients can be reduced by a remarkable 55 percent, if antiretroviral therapy is provided with TB treatment at the same time. ... > full story
Herbicide-resistant Grape Could Revitalize Midwest Wine Industry (October 21, 2008) -- An herbicide that is effective at killing broadleaf weeds in corn, but also annihilated most of the grapes in Illinois and other Midwestern states, may finally have a worthy contender. Researchers have developed a new grape called Improved Chancellor which is resistant to the popular herbicide 2, 4-D. ... > full story
New Framework Could Consign Slavery To The Past (October 21, 2008) -- A panel of international experts is expected to join forces to create a new framework that would help major organizations around the world make meaningful reparations for the transatlantic slave trade. ... > full story
Less Ice In Arctic Ocean 6000-7000 Years Ago (October 20, 2008) -- Recent mapping of a number of raised beach ridges on the north coast of Greenland suggests that the ice cover in the Arctic Ocean was greatly reduced some 6000-7000 years ago. The Arctic Ocean may have been periodically ice free. ... > full story
Swamping Bad Cells With Good In ALS Animal Models Helps Sustain Breathing (October 20, 2008) -- In a disease like ALS -- one that's always fatal and that has a long history of research-resistant biology -- finding a proof of principle in animal models is significant. ... > full story
City Trash Plus Farm Leftovers May Yield Clean Energy (October 20, 2008) -- Tomorrow's household garbage might be blended with after-harvest leftovers from fields, orchards, and vineyards to make ethanol and other kinds of bioenergy. Scientists are investigating this straightforward, eco-friendly strategy in their laboratories. ... > full story
Blood Flow Reversal System Used During Carotid Stenting Is Both Safe And Effective, Study Shows (October 20, 2008) -- Results of a study on an embolic protection system during carotid stenting that uses a novel blood flow reversal system were reported during the 20th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific symposium. ... > full story
Protected 'Swimways' Urged For Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle (October 20, 2008) -- A new resolution urges nations to protect the leatherback sea turtle and sharks from the world's industrial fisheries by identifying and creating marine protected areas along the Pacific leatherback's migratory routes. The routes were based on recent satellite tracking data. 8,000 scientists from 250 nations support the resolution. ... > full story
Forest Peoples' Rights Key To Reducing Emissions From Deforestation (October 20, 2008) -- Unless based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and forest communities, efforts by rich countries to combat climate change by funding reductions in deforestation in developing countries will fail, and could even unleash a devastating wave of forest loss, cultural destruction and civil conflict, warned a leading group of forestry and development experts meeting in Oslo this week. ... > full story
Engineers Build First-ever Multi-input 'Plug-and-play' Synthetic RNA Device (October 20, 2008) -- Engineers have created a "plug-and-play" synthetic RNA device -- a sort of eminently customizable biological computer -- that is capable of taking in and responding to more than one biological or environmental signal at a time. Such devices could have a multitude of potential medical applications, including being used as sensors to sniff out tumor cells or determine when to turn modified genes on or off during cancer therapy. ... > full story
'Junk' DNA May Have Important Role In Gene Regulation (October 20, 2008) -- For about 15 years, scientists have known that certain "junk" DNA -- repetitive DNA segments previously thought to have no function -- could evolve into exons, which are the building blocks for protein-coding genes in higher organisms like animals and plants. Now, there is evidence that a significant number of exons created from junk DNA seem to play a role in gene regulation. The findings increase understanding of how humans differ from other animals. ... > full story
Spinning Natural Proteins Into Fabrics For New Wound-repair Products (October 20, 2008) -- Scientists in Israel are reporting the first successful spinning of a key natural protein into strong nano-sized fibers about 1/50,000th the width of a human hair. The advance could lead to a new generation of stronger, longer-lasting biocompatible sutures and bandages to treat wounds. ... > full story
Enlarged Prostates: Choice Of Treatment Needs Careful Consideration (October 20, 2008) -- In the last few years, the treatment options for prostate problems have expanded. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care has assessed new treatments and warns that some new surgical techniques are being heavily promoted without first having been adequately evaluated. ... > full story
Researchers Write Protein Nanoarrays Using A Fountain Pen And Electric Fields (October 20, 2008) -- Most tools capable of patterning on the nanoscale were developed for the silicon microelectronics industry and cannot be used for soft and relatively sensitive biomaterials such as DNA and proteins. Now researchers have demonstrated the ability to rapidly write nanoscale protein arrays using a tool they call the nanofountain probe. The probe works much like a fountain pen, only on a much smaller scale, and the "ink" is the protein solution. ... > full story
Catching Smugglers With Technology To Detect Guilt (October 20, 2008) -- Researchers are looking to increase security at border controls by developing a computer system that can detect guilt. ... > full story
Dinosaur Dance Floor: Numerous Tracks at Jurassic Oasis on Arizona-Utah Border (October 20, 2008) -- Geologists identified an amazing concentration of dinosaur footprints and tail-drag marks that they call "a dinosaur dance floor," located in a wilderness on the Arizona-Utah border where there was a sandy desert oasis 190 million years ago. ... > full story
Achilles Heel Of Common Childhood Tumor Identified (October 20, 2008) -- Researchers have, for the first time, found a mechanism for the rapid growth of the benign blood vessel tumor known as infantile hemangiomas, the most common tumor found in children. The findings implicate gene mutations that facilitate the abnormal activity of a hormone called VEGF, and suggest that anti-VEGF therapies -- already approved for other conditions -- may be an effective treatment. ... > full story
LEDs May Help Reduce Skin Wrinkles (October 20, 2008) -- Researchers in Germany are describing a potential alternative to Botox and cosmetic surgery for easing facial wrinkles. Their study reports that high intensity visible light from light emitting diodes (LEDs) applied daily for several weeks resulted in "rejuvenated skin, reduced wrinkle levels, juvenile complexion and lasting resilience." LEDs are the miniature lights used in an array of products, from TV remote controls to traffic lights. ... > full story
Potential Treatment To Prevent Diabetes And Obesity Using Interleukin-6 (October 20, 2008) -- A molecule called interleukin-6 has opened new doors for the creation of new drugs against obesity and diabetes. ... > full story
Ship Strike Reduction Rule Aims To Protect North Atlantic Right Whales (October 20, 2008) -- NOAA officials have issued a regulation that will implement new measures to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales. The regulation will, for the first time, require large ships to reduce speeds to ten knots in areas where the whales feed and reproduce, as well as along migratory routes in between. The goal of the regulation is to reduce the risk of ship collisions with the whales. ... > full story
Kidney Donation Web Sites Raise Ethical Concerns (October 20, 2008) -- Some patients do not have access living donors who are both willing and medically eligible to give them a kidney. As a result, some are now turning to websites that attempt to match people in need of transplantation with those who want to donate a kidney, so-called "Good Samaritan" donors. ... > full story
Listening To Dark Matter: New Clues From Lab Deep Underground (October 20, 2008) -- Researchers in Canada have made a bold stride in the struggle to detect dark matter. The PICASSO collaboration has documented the discovery of a significant difference between the acoustic signals induced by neutrons and alpha particles in a detector based on superheated liquids. ... > full story
New Method May Rapidly And Effectively Detect Significant Food-Borne Pathogen (October 20, 2008) -- Researchers from Sweden and Finland have developed a rapid and specific method that may detect the bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica, a common cause of gastric illness, in food. ... > full story
Real Pilots And 'Virtual Flyers' Go Head-to-head (October 20, 2008) -- Stunt pilots have raced against computer-generated opponents for the first time -- in a contest that combines the real and the "virtual" at 250 miles per hour. ... > full story
Varying Combinations Of Antiviral Drugs May Effectively Treat Chronic Hepatitis Virus Infection In Woodchucks (October 20, 2008) -- Oral administration of various combined and independent antiviral drug therapies may effectively treat chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in woodchucks, a well-characterized mammalian model for research with human implications, and provide an alternative strategy for managing drug resistance. ... > full story
New Natural Products Act Against Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria (October 20, 2008) -- A group of antibiotic natural products points to a new mode of action against pathogenic bacteria. Isolated from myxobacteria, the substances prevent an enzyme of the pathogens from being able to translate their genetic material. ... > full story
See What I See: Machines With Mental Muscle (October 20, 2008) -- The way we use and interact with machines is undergoing a profound change as computers are programmed to learn from experience and see more how we see. European research into machine learning is pushing back the boundaries of computer capabilities. ... > full story
Gene Mutation Protects Against Obesity And Diabetes (October 20, 2008) -- Scientists have identified a natural mutation in the Tbc1d1 gene that keeps mice lean and also protects against diabetes despite a high-fat diet. The researchers were thus able to gain a deep insight into the function of the gene. Further clarification of its function would provide a basis for developing new approaches for prevention and treatment, as this gene could also be linked to obesity and diabetes in humans. ... > full story
Worms' Nervous System Shown To Alert Immune System (October 20, 2008) -- The nervous system and the immune system have something in common. Each has evolved to react quickly to environmental cues. Because the nervous system is able to detect some of these cues at a distance, it sometimes can sense trouble earlier than the immune system, which has to wait until the pathogen invades the organism. Now, geneticists have shown that, indeed, the two systems talk to one another. ... > full story
First Tunable, 'Noiseless' Amplifier May Boost Quantum Computing, Communications (October 20, 2008) -- Researchers have made the first tunable 'noiseless' amplifier. By significantly reducing the uncertainty in delicate measurements of microwave signals, the new amplifier could boost the speed and precision of quantum computing and communications systems. ... > full story
Genes That Control Cell Death Fingered In Age-related Hearing Loss (October 20, 2008) -- Several genes that play a role in how our body's cells normally auto-destruct may play a role in age-related hearing loss, according to new research in a journal devoted to the topic of cell suicide, or programmed cell death. ... > full story
Alternative Energy: New Sugarcanes To Deliver One-Two Energy Punch (October 20, 2008) -- New varieties of sugarcane and other crops adapted to the U.S. Gulf Coast region are being developed for use in making ethanol as a cleaner-burning alternative to gasoline. ... > full story
New Fossil Reveals Primates Lingered In Texas (October 20, 2008) -- More than 40 million years ago, primates preferred Texas to northern climates that were significantly cooling, according to new fossil evidence. ... > full story
Bird Flu Vaccine Protects People And Pets (October 20, 2008) -- A single vaccine could be used to protect chickens, cats and humans against deadly flu pandemics, according to a new article published in the Journal of General Virology. The vaccine protects birds and mammals against different flu strains and can even be given to birds while they are still in their eggs, allowing the mass vaccination of wild birds. ... > full story
Steroids Aid Recovery From Pneumonia, Researchers Say (October 20, 2008) -- Adding corticosteroids to traditional antimicrobial therapy might help people with pneumonia recover more quickly than with antibiotics alone, scientists have found. ... > full story
Single-pixel Camera Has Multiple Futures (October 20, 2008) -- A terahertz version of the single-pixel camera could lead to breakthrough technologies in security, telecom, signal processing and medicine. ... > full story
Aspirin Does Not Prevent Heart Attacks In Patients With Diabetes, Study Suggests (October 20, 2008) -- Taking regular aspirin and antioxidant supplements does not prevent heart attacks even in high risk groups with diabetes and asymptomatic arterial disease, and aspirin should only be given to patients with established heart disease, stroke or limb arterial disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Buckypapers Clarify Electrical, Optical Behavior Of Nanotubes (October 20, 2008) -- Using highly uniform samples of carbon nanotubes, materials scientists have made some of the most precise measurements yet of the concentrations at which delicate mats of nanotubes become transparent, conducting sheets. Their recent experiments point up the importance of using relatively homogeneous nanotubes for making high performance conducting films. ... > full story
Alternative Theory Of Information Processing In The Cortex (October 20, 2008) -- With remarkable precision, neurons in the sound-processing part of the brain's cortex fire electrochemical pulses or "spikes" in sync with cues they receive from other neurons. Neuroscientists have demonstrated that "spike timing" in cortical neurons can influence behavior in rats when signals are separated by as little as three milliseconds. This discovery helps make the case for an alternate theory of how neuron-to-neuron messaging is processed in the cortex. ... > full story
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