ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, September 1, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, September 1, 2011

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Cutting soot emissions: Fastest, most economical way to slow global warming? (September 1, 2011) -- A new study of dust-like particles of soot in the air -- now emerging as the second most important, but previously overlooked, factor in global warming -- provides fresh evidence that reducing soot emissions from diesel engines and other sources could slow melting of sea ice in the Arctic faster and more economically than any other quick fix. ... > full story

How white blood cell promotes growth and spread of cancer (September 1, 2011) -- Scientists have shown that a particular white blood cell plays a direct role in the development and spread of cancerous tumors. ... > full story

Down to the wire: Inexpensive technique for making high quality nanowire solar cells (September 1, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a solution-based technique for fabricating core/shell nanowire solar cells using the semiconductors cadmium sulfide for the core and copper sulfide for the shell. These inexpensive and easy-to-make nanowire solar cells hold great promise for future solar cell technology. ... > full story

Commonly used defibrillators raise risk of problems, study suggests (September 1, 2011) -- With defibrillators, simpler may be better, according to a new study. The group reviewed more than 100,000 records of cardiac patients. They found that there was more chance of surgical problems and death with devices that require electrical leads to be attached to two chambers of the heart compared to those that work on one chamber. ... > full story

New insight into how disordered solids deform (September 1, 2011) -- In solid materials with regular atomic structures, figuring out weak points where the material will break under stress is relatively easy. But for disordered solids, like glass or sand, their disordered nature makes such predictions much more daunting tasks. Now, a collaboration combining a theoretical model with a first-of-its kind experiment has demonstrated a novel method for identifying "soft spots" in such materials. ... > full story

Bullying: How do victims respond to bullies and why? (September 1, 2011) -- Many wonder why bullies bully, but a new study looks at the other side of the equation: How do children respond to bullying and why? The answer, researchers say, may lead to more effective interventions to reduce the negative consequences -- and perhaps even the frequency -- of bullying. ... > full story

Tasmanian tiger's jaw was too small to attack sheep, study shows (September 1, 2011) -- Australia's iconic thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, was hunted to death in the early Twentieth century for allegedly killing sheep; however, a new study has found that the tiger had such weak jaws that its prey was probably no larger than a possum. ... > full story

Brain grows while body starves if growth is restricted before birth (September 1, 2011) -- When developing babies are growth restricted in the womb, they are typically born with heads that are large relative to their bodies. The growing brain is protected at the expense of other, less critical organs. Now, researchers unearth new molecular evidence that explains just how the brain is spared. ... > full story

Rare Siamese crocodiles hatched in Lao PDR (September 1, 2011) -- Biologist have successfully hatched a clutch of 20 Siamese crocodiles, a species threatened across its range by hunting, habitat fragmentation and loss, and other factors. ... > full story

Computer model for testing heart-disease drugs: Simulations solve decades-old mystery of failed anti-arrhythmia therapy (September 1, 2011) -- Researchers have developed an accurate computer model to test the effects of medications for arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm, before they are used in patients. ... > full story

First flaws in the Advanced Encryption Standard used for internet banking identified (September 1, 2011) -- Researchers have found a weakness in the AES algorithm used worldwide to protect internet banking, wireless communications, and data on hard disks. They managed to come up with a clever new attack that can recover the secret key four times easier than anticipated by experts. However the attack has no practical implications on the security of user data due to various complexities. ... > full story

Anxiety interferes with some children's capacity to form friendships (September 1, 2011) -- Socially withdrawn children, who have less contact with peers, may miss out on the support that friendships provide. In a new study about the peer relationships of almost 2,500 fifth-graders who are socially withdrawn in different ways and those who aren't withdrawn, researchers have found that withdrawn children who can be described as "anxious-solitary" differ considerably in their relationships with peers, compared to other withdrawn children and children who aren't withdrawn. ... > full story

'Gene overdose' causes extreme thinness (August 31, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a genetic cause of extreme thinness for the first time. The research shows that people with extra copies of certain genes are much more likely to be very skinny. In one in 2000 people, part of chromosome 16 is duplicated, making men 23 times and women five times more likely to be underweight. ... > full story

World's largest cardiac arrest trial suggests longer initial paramedic CPR provides no benefit (August 31, 2011) -- A study involving nearly 10,000 cardiac arrest patients from 10 North American regions has shown that extending the period of initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by paramedics and firefighters from one to three minutes provides no benefit. The study resolves a worldwide controversy about cardiac arrest care. ... > full story

NASA satellite observes unusually hot July in the U.S. Great Plains (August 31, 2011) -- Much of the United States sweated through an unusually humid heat wave during July, a month that brought record-breaking temperatures to many areas across the Great Plains. As temperatures soared, NASA satellites observed the unusual weather from above. ... > full story

New bacterium found causing tick-borne illness ehrlichiosis in Wisconsin and Minnesota (August 31, 2011) -- A new tick-borne bacterium infecting humans with ehrlichiosis has been discovered in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Experts say the new species from the Ehrlichia genus can cause a feverish illness in humans. The new bacterium, not yet named, has been identified in more than 25 people and found in black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Researchers used culture and genetic analyses. ... > full story

Some desert birds less affected by wildfires and climate change (August 31, 2011) -- A new study has found that some bird species in the desert southwest are less affected, and in some cases positively influenced, by widespread fire through their habitat. In fact, the researchers say that fire actually helps some bird species because of the habitat that is formed after a fire is positive for the bird's prey needs. ... > full story

Mother-son ties change over time, influence teen boys' behavior (August 31, 2011) -- In a new longitudinal study of 265 mother-son pairs from low-income families in Pittsburgh, Pa., researchers found that mothers of boys who had a difficult temperament when they were toddlers reported that their relationships with the boys included a lot of conflict and lower levels of closeness over time. They also found that boys who experienced a lot of conflict with their mothers were more likely to engage in delinquent behavior as teens. ... > full story

First lizard genome sequenced: Green anole lizard's genome sheds light on vertebrate evolution (August 31, 2011) -- The green anole lizard is an agile and active creature, and so are elements of its genome. This genomic agility and other new clues have emerged from the full sequencing of the lizard's genome and may offer insights into how the genomes of humans, mammals, and their reptilian counterparts have evolved since mammals and reptiles parted ways 320 million years ago. ... > full story

Third genetic link to osteoarthritis discovered (August 31, 2011) -- Researchers have revealed the third gene associated with osteoarthritis, a painful and debilitating disease that afflicts four out of ten people over the age of 70. The new link to osteoarthritis was found without any new genome sequencing: instead, the study included 7.2 million variants from the 1000 Genomes Project to increase the power of a genome-wide association scan. ... > full story

Ion armageddon: Measuring the impact energy of highly charged ions (August 31, 2011) -- Much like a meteor impacting a planet, highly charged ions hit really hard and can do a lot of damage, albeit on a much smaller scale. And much like geologists determine the size and speed of the meteor by looking at the hole it left, physicists can learn a lot about a highly charged ion's energy by looking at the divots it makes in thin films. Researchers have now measured the energy of highly charged ion impacts on a thin film surface for the first time in detail. ... > full story

Smoking after menopause may increase sex hormone levels: Elevated sex hormone levels associated with chronic disease risk (August 31, 2011) -- A recent study found that postmenopausal women who smoke have higher androgen and estrogen levels than non-smoking women, with sex hormone levels being highest in heavy smokers. ... > full story

Cracking cellulose: A step into the biofuels future (August 31, 2011) -- Scientists from the University of York have played a pivotal role in a discovery which could finally unlock the full potential of waste plant matter to replace oil as a fuel source. ... > full story

Wakeup call for college students: New research finds you need to catch more Z's (August 31, 2011) -- A new study finds that college students are spending too much time burning the midnight oil and not enough time gaining the sleep that will benefit their ability to learn. ... > full story

Tiny oxygen generators boost effectiveness of anticancer treatment (August 31, 2011) -- Researchers have created and tested miniature devices that are implanted in tumors to generate oxygen, boosting the killing power of radiation and chemotherapy. ... > full story

Aerobic exercise bests resistance training at burning belly fat (August 31, 2011) -- Aerobic exercise is your best bet when it comes to losing that dreaded belly fat, a new study finds. When researchers conducted a head-to-head comparison of aerobic exercise, resistance training, and a combination of the two, they found aerobic exercise to be the most efficient and most effective way to lose the belly fat that's most damaging to your health. ... > full story

New chemical reagent turns mouse brain transparent (August 31, 2011) -- Researchers in Japan have developed a ground-breaking new aqueous reagent which literally turns biological tissue transparent. Experiments using fluorescence microscopy on samples treated with the reagent have produced vivid 3-D images of neurons and blood vessels deep inside the mouse brain. Highly effective and cheap to produce, the reagent offers an ideal means for analyzing the complex organs and networks that sustain living systems. ... > full story

Scientists reveal new survival mechanism for neurons (August 31, 2011) -- Nerve cells that regulate everything from heart muscle to salivary glands send out projections known as axons to their targets. By way of these axonal processes, neurons control target function and receive molecular signals from targets that return to the cell body to support cell survival. Now, researchers have revealed a molecular mechanism that allows a signal from the target to return to the cell body and fulfill its neuron-sustaining mission. ... > full story

Solar industry responsible for lead emissions in developing countries, research finds (August 31, 2011) -- Solar power heavily reliant on lead batteries has the potential to release more than 2.4 million tons of lead pollution in China and India, according to new research. ... > full story

Like mama bears, nursing mothers defend babies with a vengeance (August 31, 2011) -- Women who breast-feed are far more likely to demonstrate a "mama bear" effect -- aggressively protecting their infants and themselves -- than women who bottle-feed their babies or non-mothers, according to a new study. ... > full story

Hubble movies provide unprecedented view of supersonic jets from young stars (August 31, 2011) -- Astronomers have combined two decades of Hubble observations to make unprecedented movies revealing never-before-seen details of the birth pangs of new stars. This sheds new light on how stars like the Sun form. ... > full story

Hot flashes may be fewer in older, heavier women (August 31, 2011) -- A recent study found that among women aged 60 and above, heavier women have fewer hot flashes than their leaner counterparts. The inverse association between body size and hot flashes was observed only among the older women. ... > full story

Great tits sing low to be loved or high to be heard (August 31, 2011) -- Male great tits of this species try to sound sexy to females by singing complex or high performance songs, but may find their attempts hindered by human-generated noise. Birds have been found to adjust their songs when confronted with urban noise, which seems an effective strategy to deal with masking interference. However, such change may come at a cost of reduced attractiveness. ... > full story

Sandfly saliva provides important clues for new Leishmaniasis treatments (August 31, 2011) -- For millions threatened with Leishmania infection, new research points to breakthroughs preventing these parasites from taking hold in the body or reducing the severity of infections. A new report shows specific molecules found in saliva of the sandfly allow for Leishmania to evade neutrophils and live within human hosts. Along with providing new targets for drug development, this discovery may help doctors accurately gauge the severity of infections. ... > full story

New tests for dangerous 'legal marijuana,' 'bath salts' and other emerging designer drugs (August 31, 2011) -- Scientists report the development of much needed new tests to help cope with a wave of deaths, emergency room visits and other problems from a new genre of dangerous designer drugs sold legally in stores and online that mimic the effects of cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana. ... > full story

Fathers' presence linked to enhanced intellect, well-being among children (August 31, 2011) -- Fathers who actively engage in raising their children can help make their offspring smarter and better behaved, according to new research. The long-term study examined how fathers can positively influence the development of their kids through hands-on parenting. ... > full story

'Landlubber' fish leap for love when tide is right: Research sheds light on how animal life first evolved to colonize land (August 31, 2011) -- One of the world's strangest animals -- a unique fish that lives on land and can leap large distances despite having no legs -- has a rich and complex social life, a new study has found. The odd lifestyle of the Pacific leaping blenny (Alticus arnoldorum) has been detailed for the first time in research findings that throw new light on how animal life first evolved to colonize the land. ... > full story

Genetic variation found to protect against Parkinson's disease (August 31, 2011) -- Neuroscientists have found a genetic variation they say protects against Parkinson's disease. The study also reports the discovery of different variants of the same gene, LRRK2 -- the most important Parkinson's risk gene found to date -- that double Parkinson's risk in Caucasians and Asians. ... > full story

Flame retardants linked to lower-birth-weight babies (August 31, 2011) -- Researchers have linked prenatal exposure to flame retardant chemicals commonly found in homes to lower-birth-weight babies. For every tenfold increase in levels of PBDEs in a mother's blood during pregnancy, there was a corresponding drop of 115 grams in her baby's birth weight. ... > full story

Putting the squeeze on fruit with 'pascalization' boosts healthful antioxidant levels (August 31, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting new evidence that a century-old food preservation technology, finding a new life amid 21st-century concerns about food safety and nutrition, more than doubles the levels of certain healthful natural antioxidants in fruit. The effect occurs as a bonus in addition to its effects in killing harmful bacteria, viruses and mold in food. ... > full story

Graphene's shining light could lead to super-fast Internet (August 31, 2011) -- Internet connection speeds could be tens of times faster than they currently are, thanks to new research by scientists using wonder material graphene. By combining graphene with metallic nanostructures, they show a twenty-fold enhancement in harvesting light by graphene, which paves the way for advances in high-speed internet and other communications. ... > full story

Faulty signaling in brain increases craving for sugar and drugs (August 31, 2011) -- When glutamate and dopamine do not collaborate as they should in the brain's signal system, the kick that alcohol, sugar, or other drugs induce increases. This provides a key piece of the puzzle about the mechanisms behind both substance abuse and obesity. ... > full story

Panda poop may be a treasure trove of microbes for making biofuels (August 31, 2011) -- Panda feces contains bacteria with potent effects in breaking down plant material in the way needed to tap biomass as a major new source of "biofuels" produced not from corn and other food sources, but from grass, wood chips and crop wastes, scientists report. ... > full story

New way to disarm malaria parasite (August 31, 2011) -- A novel technique to "tame" the malaria parasite, by forcing it to depend on an external supply of a vital chemical, has been developed. The scientists have, in effect, created a domesticated strain of Plasmodium -- the one-celled parasite that causes malaria -- that would no longer cause this dreaded disease. ... > full story

New light shed on pulsars (August 31, 2011) -- Astronomers have made an important breakthrough in the understanding of how pulsars work. Using a new inverse mapping or reverse engineering approach, researchers were able to establish for the first time that most of the light from the pulsar comes from close to the star's surface. This is contrary to most pulsar models and points to a new way of analysing observational data from pulsars. ... > full story

Viruses in the human gut show dynamic response to diet (August 31, 2011) -- The digestive system is home to a myriad of viruses, but how they are involved in health and disease is poorly understood. Researchers have now investigated the dynamics of virus populations in the human gut, shedding new light on the gut "virome" and how it differs between people and responds to changes in diet. ... > full story

Jupiter-bound space probe captures Earth and Moon (August 31, 2011) -- On its way to the biggest planet in the solar system -- Jupiter, NASA's Juno spacecraft took time to capture its home planet and its natural satellite -- the moon. ... > full story

How couples' collaborative dialogue may assist in a spouse's memory (August 31, 2011) -- Effective memory is a key ability for independent living in later life, and a new study is among the first to report that social partners can help extend memory. The study also found that the collaboration that helps middle-aged couples with memory tasks doesn't seem to be as effective for couples older than 70. ... > full story