ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Friday, July 1, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Friday, July 1, 2011

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

Plastic found in nine percent of 'garbage patch' fishes: Tens of thousands of tons of debris annually ingested (July 1, 2011) -- The first scientific results from an ambitious voyage led by a group of graduate students from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego offer a stark view of human pollution and its infiltration of an area of the ocean that has been labeled as the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch." ... > full story

Novel genetic variation linked to increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest (July 1, 2011) -- A study by a global consortium of physician-scientists has identified a genetic variation that may predispose people to double the risk of having a sudden cardiac arrest, a disorder that gives little warning and is fatal in about 95 percent of cases. Although previous, smaller studies have identified some genes with a potential association with sudden cardiac arrest, this is the first study large enough to enable scientists to apply results to the general population. ... > full story

Scientists hope to get glimpse of adolescent universe from revolutionary instrument-on-a-chip (July 1, 2011) -- Thanks to technological advances,scientists hope to provide a picture of how the cosmos developed into the kind of place that could support life like that found on Earth. ... > full story

Massive genome studies identify genetics behind white blood cell counts (July 1, 2011) -- A trio of large-scale genome-wide association studies, or GWAS, have identified more than 15 gene variants responsible for the diversity of white blood cell counts among whites, African-Americans, and Japanese. Combined, the studies offer the first comprehensive analysis into why some people, and some populations, have more or fewer white blood cells than others. ... > full story

Transmission lines for nanofocusing of infrared light (July 1, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain report an innovative method to focus infrared light with tapered transmission lines to nanometer-size dimensions. This device could trigger the development of novel chemical and biological sensing tools, including ultra-small infrared spectrometers and lab-on-a-chip integrated biosensors. ... > full story

Combining physical activity with classroom lessons results in improved test scores (July 1, 2011) -- When schools cut physical education programs so students can spend more time in the classroom, they may be missing a golden opportunity to promote learning. ... > full story

Takeoffs and landings cause more precipitation near airports, researchers find (July 1, 2011) -- Researchers have found that areas near commercial airports sometimes experience a small but measurable increase in rain and snow when aircraft take off and land under certain atmospheric conditions. The new study is part of ongoing research that focuses on so-called hole punch and canal clouds that form when planes fly through certain mid-level clouds, forcing nearby air to rapidly expand and cool. ... > full story

Cancer Genome Atlas completes detailed ovarian cancer analysis (July 1, 2011) -- An analysis of genomic changes in ovarian cancer has provided the most comprehensive and integrated view of cancer genes for any cancer type to date. Serous adenocarcinoma is the most prevalent form of ovarian cancer, accounting for about 85 percent of all ovarian cancer deaths. Researchers completed whole-exome sequencing, which examines the protein-coding regions of the genome, on an unprecedented 316 tumors. They also completed other genomic characterizations on these tumors and another 173 specimens. ... > full story

Recalculation of the Potsdam geoid shows time-dependent variation of gravity (July 1, 2011) -- The "Potsdam Gravity potato", as this representation of terrestrial gravity has become known, can for the first time display gravity variations that change with time. The seasonal fluctuations of the water balance of continents or melting or growing ice masses, i.e. climate-related variables, are now included in the modeling of the gravity field. ... > full story

Structural biologists reveal molecular architecture of key NMDA receptor subunit (July 1, 2011) -- Structural biologists have determined the molecular structure of a key portion, or subunit, of a receptor type commonly expressed in brain cells. The receptor is one of several NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor variants, and the subunit in question is that which specifically binds with excitatory neurotransmitters, most notably glutamate. ... > full story

‘Nanocrystal doping’ results in semiconductor nanocrystals with enhanced electrical function (July 1, 2011) -- Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in the field of nanoscience by successfully altering nanocrystal properties with impurity atoms -- a process called doping -- thereby opening the way for the manufacture of improved semiconductor nanocrystals. ... > full story

Obese people can suffer from social anxiety disorder due to weight alone (July 1, 2011) -- A new study shows that obese individuals with social anxiety related only to their weight may experience anxiety as severe as individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD). The findings directly conflict with the criteria for SAD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition. ... > full story

How social pressure can affect what we remember: Scientists track brain activity as false memories are formed (June 30, 2011) -- How easy is it to falsify memory? New research shows that a bit of social pressure may be all that is needed. The study reveals a unique pattern of brain activity when false memories are formed -- one that hints at a surprising connection between our social selves and memory. ... > full story

New mechanism used by cells to reverse silenced genes (June 30, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a new mechanism used by cells in the body to turn on silenced genes. This process is critical in preventing the development of cancer -- suggesting the possibility of new therapies that might target the specific changes underlying the disease. ... > full story

Scientists study earthquake triggers in Pacific Ocean (June 30, 2011) -- New samples of rock and sediment from the depths of the eastern Pacific Ocean may help explain the cause of large, destructive earthquakes similar to the Tohoku Earthquake that struck Japan in mid-March. Nearly 1,500 meters (almost one mile) of core collected from the ocean floor near the coast of Costa Rica reveal detailed records of approximately two million years of tectonic activity along a seismic plate boundary. ... > full story

Novel analysis method organizes genomic cancer data (June 30, 2011) -- The technology that allows scientists to profile the entire genome of individual tumors offers new hope for discovering ways to select the best treatment for each patient's particular type of cancer. However, these profiles produce huge amounts of data, and the volume alone creates unique analytical problems. In a new study, researchers describe a new analytical approach based on a concept called multiplicity, that can organize large amounts of varied genetic data. ... > full story

Moving microscopic vision into another new dimension (June 30, 2011) -- Scientists who pioneered a revolutionary 3-D microscope technique are now describing an extension of that technology into a new dimension that promises sweeping applications in medicine, biological research, and development of new electronic devices. ... > full story

Tranquillity formula could increase health benefits of visiting urban and country parks (June 30, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a toolkit for measuring tranquillity that could enable neglected or overlooked urban parks to flourish and become a haven for stressed city workers. ... > full story

X-rays reveal patterns in the plumage of the first birds (June 30, 2011) -- Researchers report in Science Express that they have taken a big step in determining what the first birds looked like more than 100 million years ago, when their relatives, the dinosaurs, still ruled the Earth. At the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, they discovered chemical traces of a pigment, an important component of color, that once formed patterns in the feathers of the fossilized birds. ... > full story

Heart transplant patients at risk for serious skin cancers, study finds (June 30, 2011) -- A new study reveals that there is a significant risk of serious skin cancers, including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, in heart transplant patients. ... > full story

Evolutionary kings of the hill use good, bad and ugly mutations to speed ahead of competition (June 30, 2011) -- Evolutionary adaptation is often compared to climbing a hill, and organisms making the right combination of multiple mutations -- both good and bad -- can become the king of the mountain, according to new research. Through computer simulations, researchers were able to watch evolution play out and see how populations use these combinations to evolve from one adaptive state to another. ... > full story

Women win out in gastrointestinal surgery (June 30, 2011) -- In the first study to consider the impact of gender on patient outcomes in major gastrointestinal surgeries, researchers have found that women are more likely to survive after the procedure than men. The pattern is even more pronounced when comparing women before menopause with men of the same age. ... > full story

The future of chip manufacturing (June 30, 2011) -- Researchers have shown how to make e-beam lithography, commonly used to prototype computer chips, more practical as a mass-production technique. ... > full story

TV food advertising increases children's preference for unhealthy foods, study finds (June 30, 2011) -- Researchers have found that children who watch advertisements for unhealthy food on television are more likely to want to eat high-fat and high-sugar foods. ... > full story

New fossils demonstrate that powerful eyes evolved in a twinkling (June 30, 2011) -- Palaeontologists have uncovered half-a-billion-year-old fossils demonstrating that primitive animals had excellent vision. Scientists found exquisite fossils, which look like squashed eyes from a recently swatted fly. ... > full story

Your brain on nicotine: Nicotine receptors affect social behavior (June 30, 2011) -- No longer assume that nicotine receptors are only important to smokers trying to quit. Research suggests that these receptors are important in social interaction and the ability to choose between competing motivations. Scientists show that prefrontal cortex nicotinic receptors are essential for social interaction in mice, with this area of the brain necessary for balanced social interactions. This knowledge could lead to treatments for ADHD, schizophrenia and depression. ... > full story

Squeezed light from single atoms (June 30, 2011) -- Scientists have generated amplitude-squeezed light fields using single atoms trapped inside optical cavities. ... > full story

Variation in make-up of generic epilepsy drugs can lead to dosing problems, study suggests (June 30, 2011) -- Generic anti-epilepsy drugs, pharmaceutical products similar to brand-name versions, save consumers billions of dollars each year, but some are different enough from branded formulations that they may not be effective, particularly if patients switch between two generic drugs, a new study suggests. ... > full story

'Dirty hack' restores Cluster mission from near loss (June 30, 2011) -- Using ingenuity and an unorthodox 'dirty hack', the European Space Agency has recovered the four-satellite Cluster mission from near loss. The drama began in March, when a crucial science package stopped responding to commands -- one of a mission controller's worst fears. ... > full story

Why do we share stories, news and information with others? (June 30, 2011) -- People often share stories, news and information with the people around them. We forward online articles to our friends, share stories with our co-workers at the water cooler and pass along rumors to our neighbors. Such social transmission has been going on for thousands of years, and the advent of social technologies like texting, Facebook and other social media sites has only made it faster and easier to share content with others. ... > full story

'Zombie' stars key to measuring dark energy (June 30, 2011) -- "Zombie" stars that explode like bombs as they die, only to revive by sucking matter out of other stars. According to an astrophysicist, this isn't the plot for the latest 3-D blockbuster movie. Instead, it's something that happens every day in the universe -- something that can be used to measure dark energy. ... > full story

Genetic alterations in pig tissue may allow for human transplantation (June 30, 2011) -- A sizzling genetic discovery may one day allow pig tissue to be transplanted successfully into humans. Scientists have taken a step forward toward filling the shortage of vital organs for human transplantation. Research has shown that altering or overexpressing human programmed death ligand-1 molecule in endothelial cells of pig arteries reduces conditions that cause rejection. This suggests humans could receive altered porcine organs with fewer complications. ... > full story

MicroRNAs in the songbird brain respond to new songs (June 30, 2011) -- Whenever it hears an unfamiliar song from a male of the same species, a zebra finch stops chirping, hopping and grooming. Once it becomes familiar with the song, it goes back to its busy routine. Researchers have now found that levels of microRNAs -- short lengths of ribonucleic acid -- go up or down in the songbird brain after it hears a new song. These microRNAs likely represent a new class of regulatory agents that fine-tune the brain's response to social information. ... > full story

Resistant mice provide clues about successful immune response to retroviruses (June 30, 2011) -- A new study identifies a key virus-sensing mechanism that is necessary for a successful immune response against infection with a particularly deadly type of virus. ... > full story

Water can flow below -130°C (June 30, 2011) -- When water is cooled below zero degrees, it usually crystallizes directly into ice. A physicist has now managed to produce sluggishly flowing water at 130 degree below zero under high pressure -- 10,000 times higher than normal pressure. It is possible that this sluggishly fluid and cold water exists on other heavenly bodies. ... > full story

Using fear to guide smart investments (June 30, 2011) -- New research based on an examination of 50 years of market volatility in 10 stock markets in seven different countries, demonstrates that a smart stock market portfolio takes into account both negative returns and the dynamics of psychological volatility. ... > full story

Human ancestor older than previously thought; Finding offers new insights into evolution (June 30, 2011) -- Modern humans never co-existed with Homo erectus -- a finding counter to previous hypotheses of human evolution -- new excavations in Indonesia and dating analyses show. The research offers new insights into the nature of human evolution, suggesting a different role for Homo erectus than had been previously thought. ... > full story

Scientists identify order of mutations that lead to cancer (June 30, 2011) -- Scientists have begun to reveal the order of the genetic aberrations in individual cancers in a finding they say is key to early diagnosis and personalized medicine. ... > full story

Scientists develop sensitive skin for robots: Intelligent machines develop 'self-awareness' (June 30, 2011) -- Robots will soon be able to feel heat or gentle touching on their surfaces. Researchers in Germany are now producing small hexagonal plates which when joined together form a sensitive skin for "machines with brains." This will not only help robots to better navigate in their environments, it will also enable robot 'self-perception'. A single robotic arm has already been partially equipped with sensors and proves that the concept works. ... > full story

Osteoarthritis incidence significantly higher among U.S. military personnel compared to general population, study finds (June 30, 2011) -- New research shows significantly higher osteoarthritis (OA) incidence rates in military populations than among comparable age groups in the general population. The magnitude of the difference in OA rates between military service members and the general population also increased with advancing age category. ... > full story

Metal particle generates new hope for hydrogen energy (June 30, 2011) -- Tiny metallic particles produced by Australian chemistry researchers are bringing new hope for the production of cheap, efficient and clean hydrogen energy. ... > full story

Fidgeting your way to fitness (June 30, 2011) -- Walking to the photocopier and fidgeting at your desk are contributing more to your cardiorespiratory fitness than you might think. ... > full story

Researchers can predict future actions from human brain activity (June 30, 2011) -- Bringing the real world into the brain scanner, researchers can now determine the action a person was planning, mere moments before that action is actually executed. ... > full story

Lung cancer: Study shows 20 percent reduction in mortality with low-dose CT vs chest X-ray (June 30, 2011) -- Scientists have found a 20 percent reduction in deaths from lung cancer among current or former heavy smokers who were screened with low-dose helical computed tomography (CT) versus those screened by chest X-ray. This finding provides a more extensive analysis of the data originally reported in November 2010 while providing additional data to the public and research community without barriers to access. ... > full story

Ladybirds -- wolves in sheep's clothing (June 30, 2011) -- Australian research has revealed that the tremendous diversity of ladybird beetle species is linked to their ability to produce larvae which, with impunity, poach members of "herds" of tiny, soft-bodied scale insects from under the noses of the aggressive ants that tend them. ... > full story

Getting enough 'sunshine vitamin' may not just be about catching rays, new blood test reveals (June 30, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new highly-accurate blood test which can detect how much a patient’s diet could be responsible for a lack of the so-called ‘sunshine vitamin’. Vitamin D deficiencies can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of cancer and osteoporosis. For the first time, the different forms of vitamin D the body absorbs from diet and sunlight, known as vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 respectively, can be individually distinguished from closely related compounds. ... > full story

Researchers image graphene electron clouds, revealing how folds can harm conductivity (June 30, 2011) -- Chemists have used synchrotron light sources to observe the electron clouds on the surface of graphene, producing a series of images that reveal how folds and ripples in the remarkable material can harm its conductivity. ... > full story

Drink-fueled memory blackouts among students predict future injury risk (June 30, 2011) -- The higher the number of drink-fueled memory blackouts a student experiences, the greater is his/her risk of sustaining a future injury while under the influence, reveals new nresearch. ... > full story