ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, June 7, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

First-of-its-kind fluorescence map offers a new view of the world's land plants (June 7, 2011) -- Scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center have produced groundbreaking global maps of land plant fluorescence, a difficult-to-detect reddish glow that leaves emit as a byproduct of photosynthesis. While researchers have previously mapped how ocean-dwelling phytoplankton fluoresce, the new maps are the first to focus on land vegetation and to cover the entire globe. ... > full story

Testosterone therapy improves memory in postmenopausal women, preliminary study finds (June 7, 2011) -- Post-menopausal women have better memory after daily treatment with a testosterone spray for six months, a new preliminary study finds. ... > full story

New direction in Alzheimer's research (June 7, 2011) -- In what they are calling a new direction in the study of Alzheimer's disease, scientists have made an important finding about what happens to brain cells that are destroyed in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. ... > full story

Intravenous nutrition in critically ill patients should be delayed, study finds (June 7, 2011) -- Patients in the intensive care unit who do not tolerate adequate nutrition from tube feeding should wait a week before receiving intravenous (IV) feeding because, compared with early IV feeding, it enhances recovery from critical illness, according to results of a new multicenter study from Belgium. ... > full story

Compaction bands in sandstone are permeable: Findings could aid hydraulic fracturing, other fluid extraction techniques (June 7, 2011) -- When geologists survey an area of land for the potential that gas or petroleum deposits could exist there, they must take into account the composition of rocks that lie below the surface. Previous research had suggested that compaction bands might act as barriers to the flow of oil or gas. Now, researchers have analyzed X-ray images of sandstone and revealed that compaction bands are actually more permeable than earlier models indicated. ... > full story

Expertise provides buffer against bias in making judgments, study finds (June 7, 2011) -- Scientists have demonstrated through behavioral research and brain scans using functional MRI (fMRI) that monetary favors can influence people's assessments of art works, but not if the viewer is an art expert. ... > full story

Scientists use super microscope to pinpoint body’s immunity 'switch' (June 7, 2011) -- Using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, medical scientists have been able for the first time to see the inner workings of T-cells, the front-line troops that alert our immune system to go on the defensive against germs and other invaders in our bloodstream. The discovery overturns prevailing understanding, identifying the exact molecular "switch" that spurs T-cells into action -- a breakthrough that could lead to treatments for a range of conditions from autoimmune diseases to cancer. ... > full story

Removal of a tiny RNA molecule can inhibit cancer growth, researchers discover (June 7, 2011) -- Removing a tiny RNA molecule in mice has been found to suppress carcinogenic tumor formation. Researchers discovered that the removal of a non-coding RNA molecule known as MicroRNA 21 suppressed the formation of skin tumors in mice. This molecule -- abbreviated as miR-21 -- was targeted for study because of its presence in human cancer formation. ... > full story

Scientists unlock potential of frog skin to treat cancer (June 7, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered proteins in frog skins which could be used to treat cancer, diabetes, stroke and transplant patients by regulating the growth of blood vessels. ... > full story

Desserts with a low glycemic index may benefit weight-loss efforts for obese children (June 7, 2011) -- Overweight girls lose more weight and can better stay on a healthy diet if they eat sugar-free, low-fat desserts several times weekly, as opposed to any dessert once a week, a new study finds. ... > full story

Virtual water cannot remedy freshwater shortage (June 7, 2011) -- The implementation of virtual water into trading deals has been suggested as a realistic solution to solving the global inequality of renewable freshwater, but new research suggests that it may not be as revolutionary as first thought. ... > full story

Tai chi could help overcome cognitive effects of chemotherapy, evidence suggests (June 7, 2011) -- Previous studies have indicated that a significant number of patients who receive chemotherapy also experience cognitive declines, including decreases in verbal fluency and memory. Now, one psychologist has found evidence that indicates Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art, might help overcome some of those problems. ... > full story

Higher density means world forests are capturing more carbon (June 6, 2011) -- Forests in many regions are becoming larger carbon sinks thanks to higher density, researchers say in a new report. In Europe and North America, increased density significantly raised carbon storage despite little or no expansion of forest area, according to the study. Even in the South American nations studied, more density helped maintain regional carbon levels in the face of deforestation. ... > full story

BPA lowers male fertility, mouse study finds (June 6, 2011) -- Daily exposure to a chemical that is prevalent in the human environment, bisphenol A, causes lowered fertility in male mice, according to the results of a new study. ... > full story

Nanotechnologists must take lessons from nature (June 6, 2011) -- Accepting and understanding natural variability is the key for engineers seeking to make nanoscale devices that are as efficient as living microorganisms. ... > full story

Ovarian cancer screening does not appear to reduce risk of ovarian cancer death, study finds (June 6, 2011) -- In a clinical trial that included nearly 80,000 women, those who received ovarian cancer screening did not have a reduced risk of death from ovarian cancer compared to women who received usual care, but did have an increase in invasive medical procedures and associated harms as a result of being screened, according to a new study. ... > full story

Low-cost wireless sensor networks open new horizons for the Internet of things (June 6, 2011) -- The ESNA project enables high effective networking based on cheap wireless sensors in a wide range of business applications – from more comfortable and energy-efficient environmental controls to precision monitoring of agricultural resources. ... > full story

What, me worry? Young adults get self-esteem boost from debt (June 6, 2011) -- Instead of feeling stressed by the money they owe, many young adults actually feel empowered by their credit card and education debts, according to a new nationwide study. Researchers found that the more credit card and college loan debt held by young adults aged 18 to 27, the higher their self-esteem and the more they felt like they were in control of their lives. ... > full story

New supernova shows signs of atypical composition (June 6, 2011) -- An exploding star, in nearby galaxy M51, shows signs of an unusual composition. The material thrown into space in the explosion contains a wide variety of elements -- a mix that is atypical of supernova events at such an early stage of the explosion, researchers say. ... > full story

Targeted cancer therapy kills prostate tumor cells, study finds (June 6, 2011) -- A new targeted therapy for prostate cancer halts tumor growth in animals with advanced prostate cancer that is resistant to hormone therapy, a new study finds. ... > full story

Insulin action in the brain can lead to obesity: How insulin in hypothalamus controls body's energy balance (June 6, 2011) -- Fat-rich food makes you fat. Behind this simple equation lie complex signalling pathways, through which the neurotransmitters in the brain control the body’s energy balance. Scientists in Germany have clarified an important step in this complex control circuit. They have succeeded in showing how the hormone insulin acts in the part of the brain known as the ventromedial hypothalamus. ... > full story

Hyperdiverse flora in Cape region, Africa, mainly caused by huge range of soil types (June 6, 2011) -- Hardly any other place worldwide boosts such a hyperdiverse flora as is to be found on the southwestern tip of Africa. The flora is moreover quite unique with almost 70 % of the native species being endemic. Biologists have now established that the remarkable plant diversity is mainly due to the large range of different soils in this region. ... > full story

More men with migraine suffer from PTSD than women, study finds (June 6, 2011) -- A recently published paper highlights that while the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is more common in those with migraine than those without migraine irrespective of sex, the risk is greater in male migraineurs than female migraineurs. ... > full story

Climate scientists forecast permanently hotter summers (June 6, 2011) -- The tropics and much of the Northern Hemisphere are likely to experience an irreversible rise in summer temperatures within the next 20 to 60 years if atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations continue to increase, according to a new climate study. ... > full story

Gene therapy reverses type 1 diabetes in mice, study finds (June 6, 2011) -- An experimental cure for type 1 diabetes has a nearly 80 percent success rate in curing diabetic mice. The results offer possible hope of curing a disease that affects 3 million Americans. ... > full story

Tiny talk on a barnacle's back: Scientists use new imaging technique to reveal complex microbial interactions (June 6, 2011) -- Researchers report using a new form of imaging mass spectrometry to dramatically visualize multiplex microbial interactions. ... > full story

Deer tick bacteria DNA in joint fluid not reliable marker of active lyme arthritis, study finds (June 6, 2011) -- New research shows that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Borrelia burgdorferi DNA--the spirochetal bacteria transmitted by deer ticks--in joint fluid may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, but is not a reliable indicator for active joint infection in patients whose arthritis persists after antibiotic therapy. ... > full story

Perfect welds for car bodies (June 6, 2011) -- Surface welding instead of penetration welding, allows a laser to produce a weld that is only visible on one side. But how do you control the laser power to prevent it burning a hole through the sheets of metal? A new camera system analyzes thermal images in real time -- and ensures a perfect weld. ... > full story

Kinder, gentler video games may actually be good for players (June 6, 2011) -- While violent video games may lead to more aggression and anger in players, a new study shows that the opposite is also true: relaxing video games can make people happier and more kind. "With all the evidence about the dangers of violent video games, it's good to know that game players can choose games that will provide a positive experience," researchers said. ... > full story

Material turns hard or soft at the touch of a button (June 6, 2011) -- A world premiere: A material which changes its strength, virtually at the touch of a button. This transformation can be achieved in a matter of seconds through changes in the electron structure of a material; thus hard and brittle matter, for example, can become soft and malleable. What makes this development revolutionary, is that the transformation can be controlled by electric signals. ... > full story

Anti-obesity vaccine reduces food consumption in animals (June 6, 2011) -- A new therapeutic vaccine to treat obesity by suppressing the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin decreases food intake and increases calorie burning in mice, a new study finds. ... > full story

Darkness stifles reproduction of surface-dwelling fish (June 6, 2011) -- There's a reason to be afraid of the dark. Fish accustomed to living near the light of the water's surface become proverbial "fish out of water" when they move to dark environments like those found in caves, according to a study. ... > full story

Blood clotting and bowel cancer risk (June 6, 2011) -- People whose blood clots more easily than normal are more often affected by cancer. Scientists have discovered that a number of variants of clotting factor genes have an influence on bowel cancer risk. They found out that carriers of a particular gene variant of clotting factor V have a bowel cancer risk that is six times higher than people who do not have this gene variant. ... > full story

Applying conductive nanocoatings to textiles (June 6, 2011) -- Imagine plugging a USB port into a sheet of paper, and turning it into a tablet computer. It might be a stretch, but ideas like this have researchers examining the use of conductive nanocoatings on simple textiles -- like woven cotton or even a sheet of paper. ... > full story

Your brain can pay attention to something without you being aware that it's there (June 6, 2011) -- Paying attention to something and being aware of it seems like the same thing -- they both involve somehow knowing the thing is there. However a new study finds that these are actually separate; your brain can pay attention to something without you being aware that it's there. ... > full story

New solar system formation models indicate that Jupiter's foray robbed Mars of mass (June 6, 2011) -- Planetary scientists have long wondered why Mars is only about half the size and one-tenth the mass of Earth. As next-door neighbors in the inner solar system, probably formed about the same time, why isn't Mars more like Earth and Venus in size and mass? A new paper provides the first cohesive explanation and, by doing so, reveals an unexpected twist in the early lives of Jupiter and Saturn as well. ... > full story

Stem cell treatment may offer option for broken bones that don't heal (June 6, 2011) -- Researchers have shown in an animal study that transplantation of adult stem cells enriched with a bone-regenerating hormone can help mend bone fractures that are not healing properly. ... > full story

Will global climate change enhance boreal forest growth? (June 6, 2011) -- With an increasingly warmer climate, there is a trend for springs to arrive earlier and summers to be hotter. Since spring and summer are the prime growing seasons for plants -- when flowers bloom and trees increase in girth and height -- do these climate changes mean greater seasonal growth for plants? This is a critical question for forest management, especially in the boreal region -- an area particularly sensitive to the effects of climate change. ... > full story

Hormone deprivation therapy for prostate cancer may raise diabetes risk (June 6, 2011) -- Men with prostate cancer are at higher risk of developing diabetes or diabetes risk factors if they receive androgen deprivation therapy to block the production or action of male hormones that can fuel the growth of this cancer. ... > full story

First polymer solar-thermal device heats home, saves money (June 6, 2011) -- A new polymer-based solar-thermal device is the first to generate power from both heat and visible sunlight -- an advance that could shave the cost of heating a home by as much as 40 percent. ... > full story

Pain of ostracism can be deep, long-lasting (June 6, 2011) -- Ostracism or exclusion may not leave external scars, but it can cause pain that often is deeper and lasts longer than a physical injury, according to an expert. ... > full story

Carbon release to atmosphere 10 times faster than in the past, geologists find (June 6, 2011) -- The rate of release of carbon into the atmosphere today is nearly 10 times as fast as during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), 55.9 million years ago, the best analog we have for current global warming, according to an international team of geologists. Rate matters and this current rapid change may not allow sufficient time for the biological environment to adjust. ... > full story

Severity of facial wrinkles may predict bone density in early menopause, study suggests (June 6, 2011) -- A new study finds that the worse a woman's skin wrinkles are during the first few years of menopause, the lower her bone density is. ... > full story

Precision-tinted lenses offer real migraine relief, reveals new study (June 6, 2011) -- Precision tinted lenses have been used widely to reduce visual perceptual distortions in poor readers, and are increasingly used for migraine sufferers, but until now the science behind these effects has been unclear. Now research uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for the first time to suggest a neurological basis for these visual remedies. ... > full story

Pioneering stem cell bandage receives approval in UK for clinical trial (June 6, 2011) -- Millions of people with knee injuries could benefit from a new type of stem cell bandage treatment if clinical trials are successful. The world's first clinical trial for the treatment of patients with torn meniscal cartilage has received approval from the UK regulatory agency to commence. The current treatment for the majority of tears is the removal of the meniscus, a procedure that often results in the early onset of osteoarthritis. ... > full story

New communication systems to bring order to air traffic chaos (June 6, 2011) -- Averting chaos in Europe’s skies will require replacing systems that are up to 50 years old. Air traffic throughout Europe is being reorganized to meet the challenges ahead. Whereas pilots currently communicate verbally with air traffic controllers, this information will be digitalized in the future. One purpose is to make the information available to multiple user groups, such as ground crews. Passengers may see prices drop a bit, and find that their journeys take less time overall thanks to the new technology. ... > full story

Wikipedia improves students' work: Students become much more concerned with accuracy when their research is posted online, study finds (June 6, 2011) -- A student writing an essay for their teacher may be tempted to plagiarize or leave facts unchecked. A new study shows that if you ask that same student to write something that will be posted on Wikipedia, he or she suddenly becomes determined to make the work as accurate as possible, and may actually do better research. ... > full story

Major step in improving forecasts of weather extremes such as floods and droughts (June 6, 2011) -- Moisture and heat fluctuations from the land surface to the atmosphere form a critical nexus between surface hydrology and atmospheric processes, especially those relevant to rainfall. While current theory has suggested that soil moisture has had a positive impact on precipitation, there have been very few large-scale observations of this. Now, a team of researchers has demonstrated that evaporation from the land surface is able to modify summertime rainfall east of the Mississippi and in the monsoonal region in the southern U.S. and Mexico. ... > full story