ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Sunday, October 9, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Sunday, October 9, 2011

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Electricity from the nose: Engineers make power from human respiration (October 8, 2011) -- The same piezoelectric effect that ignites your gas grill with the push of a button could one day power sensors in your body via the respiration in your nose. ... > full story

Imaging agents offer new view of inflammation, cancer (October 8, 2011) -- A series of novel imaging agents could make it possible to "see" tumors in their earliest stages, before they turn deadly. The compounds, derived from inhibitors of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 and detectable by positron emission tomography imaging, may have broad applications for cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment. ... > full story

A new species of 'gigantic' mollusc has been discovered in the Antarctic waters (October 8, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a rare mollusc in Antarctic waters that looks the same as limpets but is bigger in size than the species known to date. The specimen appeared in waters much further away from where this type of species is normally found. ... > full story

Raising 'good' cholesterol levels reduces heart attack and stroke risk in diabetes patients (October 8, 2011) -- Increasing levels of high-density lipoproteins, better known as HDL or "good" cholesterol, reduced the risk for heart attack and stroke among patients with diabetes. ... > full story

Early detection of plant disease (October 8, 2011) -- Each year, plant viruses and fungal attacks lead to crop losses of up to 30 percent. That is why it is important to detect plant disease early on. Yet laboratory tests are expensive and often time-consuming. Researchers are now developing a low-cost quick test for use on site. ... > full story

More insight into the secret life of the American teen (October 8, 2011) -- Researchers have found that when adolescents argue with friends, it can spillover and turn into arguments with family. (And vice versa.) ... > full story

Reefs recovered faster after mass extinction than first thought (October 8, 2011) -- Metazoan-dominated reefs only took 1.5 million years to recover after the largest species extinction 252 million years ago, paleontologists have found, based on fossils from the southwestern United States. ... > full story

Alzheimer's research: Researchers watch amyloid plaques form (October 8, 2011) -- Researchers use optical trapping to take a detailed look at the early minutes of amyloid aggregate formation, a process important in Alzheimer's disease. The technique could be used for new drug design. ... > full story

Culling can't save the Tasmanian devil, researchers warn (October 8, 2011) -- Culling will not control the spread of facial tumor disease among Tasmanian devils, according to a new study. Unless a way of managing the disease is found, the iconic marsupial could become extinct in the wild within the next 25 years. ... > full story

New targets for treating inflammatory, autoimmune diseases discovered (October 8, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a cellular pathway that promotes inflammation in diseases like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis. Understanding the details of this pathway may provide opportunities for tailored treatments of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. ... > full story

Wireless window contacts: No maintenance, no batteries (October 8, 2011) -- Window contacts tell us which of a house's windows are open or closed. Researchers have now developed a fail-safe system that is particularly easy to use and needs no wiring or batteries. The sensors harvest the energy they need to run from ambient radio signals. ... > full story

Timing is crucial for family consent in brain dead organ donors (October 8, 2011) -- Hearts used in transplants can only be sourced from donors that are brain dead before circulation to their heart has ceased. Data from a new study indicate that the time at which organ donation in brain dead donors is first discussed with family members could affect whether or not they consent to donation. ... > full story