ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, September 6, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, September 6, 2011

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Bedrock nitrogen may help forests buffer climate change, study finds (September 6, 2011) -- For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that forest trees have the ability to tap into nitrogen found in rocks, boosting the trees' growth and their ability to pull more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. If trees can access more nitrogen than previously thought, that could lead to more storage of carbon on land and less carbon remaining in the atmosphere. ... > full story

Stomach bacterium damages human DNA; Risk factor for gastric cancer (September 6, 2011) -- The stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori is one of the biggest risk factors for the development of gastric cancer, the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Molecular biologists in Switzerland have now identified a mechanism of H. pylori that damages the DNA of cells in the gastric mucosa and sets them up for malignant transformation. ... > full story

Flexible electronics hold promise for consumer applications (September 6, 2011) -- New research has advanced the field of plastic-based flexible electronics by developing, for the first time, an extremely large molecule that is stable, possesses excellent electrical properties, and inexpensive to produce. ... > full story

Two genes that cause familial ALS shown to work together (September 6, 2011) -- Although several genes have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), it is still unknown how they cause this progressive neurodegenerative disease. In a new study, researchers have demonstrated that two ALS-associated genes work in tandem to support the long-term survival of motor neurons. ... > full story

Innovative organic solar cell architecture sets new performance level, Belgian researchers demonstrate (September 6, 2011) -- Researchers in Belgium have demonstrated an organic polymer-based single junction solar cell with 6.9 percent performance in an innovative inverted device stack. The polymer was also integrated into a module resulting in excellent module level efficiencies of 5 percent for an aperture area of 25 square centimeters. ... > full story

Search for predictors of risk for PTSD: Meaningful associations dependent on reliable measures of pre-existing trauma (September 6, 2011) -- A new study suggests that certain variants of a gene that helps regulate serotonin (a brain chemical related to mood) may serve as a useful predictor of risk for symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a trauma. ... > full story

Manufacturing method paves way for commercially viable quantum dot-based LEDs (September 6, 2011) -- Researchers may help resolve the public debate over our future light source of choice: Edison's incandescent bulb or the more energy efficient compact fluorescent lamp. It could be neither. Instead, our future lighting needs may be supplied by a new breed of light emitting diode, or LED, that conjures light from the invisible world of quantum dots. ... > full story

Scientists discover secret life of chromatin: DNA/histone combination, a destination for cell signals, also talks to other proteins (September 6, 2011) -- Chromatin -- the intertwined histone proteins and DNA that make up chromosomes -- constantly receives messages that pour in from a cell's intricate signaling networks: Turn that gene on. Stifle that one. But chromatin also talks back, scientists report, issuing orders affecting a protein that has nothing to do with chromatin's central role in gene transcription -- the first step in protein formation. ... > full story

All for the grandkids: Promiscuity in female birds results in genetic 'trade-up,' more offspring, research finds (September 6, 2011) -- It's all about the grandkids! That's what a team of biologists has learned about promiscuous female birds and why they mate outside their social pair. ... > full story

Breast cancer risk drops when diet includes walnuts, researchers find (September 6, 2011) -- The risk of breast cancer dropped significantly in mice when their regular diet included a modest amount of walnut, researchers report in a new study. ... > full story

World’s largest fusion experiment back in operation (September 6, 2011) -- After an 18-month shutdown to upgrade the machine and four months of commissioning, the Joint European Torus (JET), the world’s largest magnetic fusion device, is ready to start new experiments. The inside of the vessel now has a completely new wall. JET is the first fusion machine to test the materials that will be used inside the next-generation international experiment, ITER. ... > full story

The size and burden of mental disorders in Europe (September 6, 2011) -- A major landmark study sheds new light on the state of Europe's mental and neurological health. The study reveals that mental disorders have become Europe's largest health challenge in the 21st century. The study also highlights that the majority of mental disorders remain untreated. Taken together with the large and increasing number of "disorders of the brain," the true size and burden is even significantly higher. ... > full story

New map shows where tastes are coded in the brain (September 5, 2011) -- Each taste, from sweet to salty, is sensed by a unique set of neurons in the brains of mice, new research reveals. The findings demonstrate that neurons that respond to specific tastes are arranged discretely in what the scientists call a 'gustotopic map.' This is the first map that shows how taste is represented in the mammalian brain. ... > full story

An 'unconventional' path to correcting cystic fibrosis (September 5, 2011) -- Researchers have identified an unconventional path that may correct the defect underlying cystic fibrosis, according to a new study. This new treatment dramatically extends the lives of mice carrying the disease-associated mutation. ... > full story

Sparing or sharing? Protecting wild species may require growing more food on less land (September 5, 2011) -- In parts of the world still rich in biodiversity, separating natural habitats from high-yielding farmland could be a more effective way to conserve wild species than trying to grow crops and conserve nature on the same land, according to a new study. ... > full story

New mutations in leukemia: Researchers found mechanism that can help design future therapies (September 5, 2011) -- Medical researchers have found a group of mutations involved in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), and showed that certain drugs, already in clinical use to treat other diseases, can eliminate the cells carrying these mutations. Results may allow for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for treating leukemia. ... > full story

Photovoltaics among fastest growing industries in the world (September 5, 2011) -- The photovoltaic (PV) industry production more than doubled and reached a world-wide production volume of 23.5 gigawatt (GW) of photovoltaic modules. Since 1990, photovoltaic module production has increased more than 500-fold from 46 megawatts (MW) to 23.5 GW in 2010, which makes photovoltaics one of the fastest-growing industries at present. ... > full story

Why we crave creativity but reject creative ideas (September 5, 2011) -- Most people view creativity as an asset -- until they come across a creative idea. That's because creativity not only reveals new perspectives; it promotes a sense of uncertainty. ... > full story

Mystery of disappearing bird digit solved? (September 5, 2011) -- What is the origin of digits in birds? The question has long puzzled evolutionary biologists. Using genomic analysis, researchers have now solved a key part of this mystery. ... > full story

Potential vaccine readies immune system to kill tuberculosis in mice (September 5, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a potential vaccine against tuberculosis that completely eliminates tuberculosis bacteria from infected tissues in some mice. The vaccine was created with a strain of bacteria that, due to the absence of a few genes, are unable to avoid its host's first-line immune response. Once this first-line defense has been activated, it triggers the more specific immune response that can protect against future infections. ... > full story

Harmless soil-dwelling bacteria successfully kill cancer (September 5, 2011) -- A bacterial strain that specifically targets tumors could soon be used as a vehicle to deliver drugs in frontline cancer therapy. The strain is expected to be tested in cancer patients in 2013. ... > full story

Gene mutation shown to cause leukemia and lymphedema (September 5, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a gene that when mutated can cause lymphedema (swollen limbs due to a failure of the lymph system), immune abnormalities, deafness and leukemia. The identification of the gene responsible for causing this rare combination of medical conditions, known as Emberger syndrome, could allow earlier identification and treatment of those at risk. ... > full story

A whole new light on graphene metamaterials: Tunable graphene device is first tool in a kit for putting terahertz light to work (September 5, 2011) -- Invisible terahertz light can detect explosives, image drug structures, and pinpoint skin cancer, but practical tools for using it are scarce. Scientists have now made a graphene microribbon array that strongly responds to terahertz light by exciting the collective electron oscillations known as plasmons. The device can be tuned with exquisite precision by varying the width of the graphene ribbons and controlling electron density. ... > full story

Living with a smoker increases absenteeism in school children, U.S. study confirms (September 5, 2011) -- Children who live in households where they are exposed to tobacco smoke miss more days of school than do children living in smoke-free homes, a new U.S. nationwide study confirms. The report finds these children have higher rates of respiratory illnesses that can be caused by second-hand smoke and details the probable economic costs of their increased school absence. ... > full story

World's smallest electric motor made from a single molecule (September 5, 2011) -- Chemists have developed the world's first single molecule electric motor, a development that may potentially create a new class of devices that could be used in applications ranging from medicine to engineering. ... > full story

New class of anti-diabetic compound established (September 5, 2011) -- Scientists have established a new class of anti-diabetic compound that targets a unique molecular switch. ... > full story

Revolutionary three-dimensional model shows how breast tissue grows (September 5, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a revolutionary three-dimensional model that allows them to visualize how breast tissue grows in its earliest stages, giving them the closest look ever at the very beginnings of breast cancer. ... > full story

Growth hormone helps repair the zebrafish ear (September 5, 2011) -- Loud noise, especially repeated loud noise, is known to cause irreversible damage to the hair cells inside the cochlea and eventually lead to deafness. In mammals this is irreversible. However, both birds and fish are able to re-grow the damaged hair cells and restore hearing. New research shows that growth hormone is involved in this regeneration in zebrafish. ... > full story

Tree-killing pathogen traced back to California (September 5, 2011) -- California has emerged as the top suspect as the source of a pathogen responsible for a global pandemic of cypress canker disease. The genetic detective work by researchers in the U.S. and in Italy spotlights the hazards of planting trees and other vegetation in regions where they are not native. ... > full story

Simple teaching tool boosts student reading performance, study finds (September 5, 2011) -- New research shows that utilizing a freely available literacy tool results in significant advances in fundamental reading skills for elementary school students, without requiring schools to drastically overhaul existing programs. The research focused on children who were characterized as "struggling readers" at risk for a learning disability in reading. ... > full story

First stem cells from endangered species (September 5, 2011) -- Starting with normal skin cells, scientists have produced the first stem cells from endangered species. Such cells could eventually make it possible to improve reproduction and genetic diversity for some species, possibly saving them from extinction, or to bolster the health of endangered animals in captivity. ... > full story

New tactic for controlling blood sugar in diabetes contradicts current view of the disease: Inflammation may be part of the solution, not the problem (September 5, 2011) -- Increased low-grade inflammation in the body resulting from obesity is widely viewed as contributing to type 2 diabetes. Going against this long-held belief, researchers report that two proteins activated by inflammation are actually crucial for maintaining good blood sugar levels -- and that boosting the activity of these proteins can normalize blood sugar in severely obese and diabetic mice. ... > full story

Gene defect predisposes people to leukemia (September 5, 2011) -- Mutations on a gene that regulates the transition of primitive blood-forming cells to white blood cells have been implicated in acute myeloid leukemia and in myelodysplasia, a difficulty in producing white blood cells. Studies beyond this one link GATA2 gene mutations to other health problems, including intractable infections, to a type of developmental delay, as well as to a leukemia that causes limb swelling and deafness. A clinical trial under way may point to treatment recommendations for those with GATA2 mutations. ... > full story

Endogenous approach to the prevention of allergies: How the immune system can develop tolerance to allergens (September 5, 2011) -- Scientists in Germany have clarified an endogenous mechanism that can prevent the development of allergies. They were able to show that certain cells of the immune system, so-called killer dendritic cells, are capable of eliminating allergy cells. The results of the study open up new perspectives for strategies to protect against allergies. ... > full story

Mars Science Laboratory launch preparations (September 5, 2011) -- NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Project continues to press ahead with launch preparation activities, planning to use additional time before encapsulating the rover in the launch vehicle's nose cone. ... > full story

U.S. high school science standards in genetics are 'inadequate,' according to experts (September 5, 2011) -- More than 85 percent of states have genetics standards that are inadequate for preparing America's high school students for participation in a society and health care system that will be increasingly impacted by genetics-based personalized medicine, according to experts. ... > full story

Non-epileptic seizures may be misdiagnosed longer in veterans (September 5, 2011) -- Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures may go undiagnosed for much longer in veterans compared to civilians, according to a new study. This type of seizure is different from seizures related to epilepsy and is thought to have a psychological origin. ... > full story

Study identifies 'respectable addicts' experiencing range of problems with over-the-counter medicines (September 5, 2011) -- A report of a study investigating over the counter medicine (OTC) abuse provides evidence that there is a group of individuals experiencing a range of problems often with codeine-based medicines purchased from pharmacies, and for whom help and support varied. ... > full story

Rock rafts could be 'cradle of life' (September 4, 2011) -- Floating rafts of volcanic pumice could have played a significant role in the origins of life on Earth, scientists from have suggested. ... > full story

Human intestinal stem cell breakthrough for regenerative medicine (September 4, 2011) -- Human colon stem cells have been identified and grown in a petri dish for the first time. This achievement is a crucial advance towards regenerative medicine. ... > full story

Rush hour in a coffee stain: Transition from order to disorder (September 4, 2011) -- A remarkable effect never witnessed before has been discovered in the ring-shaped stains of tiny dissolved particles ('coffee stains') that develop after a liquid has evaporated. While the particles on the outside of the ring are neatly organized, chaos reigns on the inside of the ring where the particles seem to have collected in a great hurry. ... > full story

Key function of mutation in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer gene discovered (September 4, 2011) -- It is widely known that mutations in the breast cancer susceptibility 1 (BRCA1) gene significantly increase the chance of developing breast and ovarian cancers, but the mechanisms at play are not fully understood. Now, researchers have shown that certain BRCA1 mutations result in excessive, uncontrolled DNA repair, which challenges the prior assumption that mutations in BRCA1 only contribute to breast cancer through a reduction in function. ... > full story

Adding hydrogen triples transistor performance in graphene (September 4, 2011) -- A technique that uses hydrogen to improve transistor performance on real-world graphene devices has been demonstrated on the wafer-scale. Researchers have demonstrated a 3x improvement in electron mobility of epitaxial graphene grown on the silicon face of a 100 mm silicon carbide wafer, as well as a similar improvement in radio-frequency transistor performance. ... > full story

Sex hormones impact career choices, psychologists find in new study (September 4, 2011) -- Teacher, pilot, nurse or engineer? Sex hormones strongly influence people's interests, which affect the kinds of occupations they choose, according to psychologists. ... > full story

Robots learn to handle objects, understand new places (September 4, 2011) -- Infants spend their first few months learning to find their way around and manipulating objects, and they are very flexible about it: Cups can come in different shapes and sizes, but they all have handles. So do pitchers, so we pick them up the same way. Now researchers are teaching robots to manipulate objects and find their way around in new environments. ... > full story

Researchers successfully perform first injection of cultured red blood cells in human donor (September 4, 2011) -- For the first time, researchers have successfully injected cultured red blood cells (cRBCs) created from human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into a human donor. As the global need for blood continues to increase while the number of blood donors is decreasing, these study results provide hope that one day patients in need of a blood transfusion might become their own donors. ... > full story

Sporulation may have given rise to the bacterial outer membrane (September 4, 2011) -- Bacteria can generally be divided into two classes: those with just one membrane and those with two. Now researchers have used a powerful imaging technique to find what they believe may be the missing link between the two classes, as well as a plausible explanation for how the outer membrane may have arisen. ... > full story

Nearly half of runners may be drinking too much during races (September 4, 2011) -- Nearly half of recreational runners may be drinking too much fluid during races, according to a new survey of runners. ... > full story