ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, October 13, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, October 13, 2011

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Wet and mild: Researchers take the temperature of Mars' past (October 13, 2011) -- Researchers have directly determined the surface temperature of early Mars for the first time, providing evidence that's consistent with a warmer and wetter Martian past. ... > full story

Proper protein intake crucial for moderating energy intake, keeping obesity at bay (October 13, 2011) -- Obesity is a growing problem worldwide, but proper protein consumption can help keep it at bay, according to a new study. ... > full story

Natural processes can limit spread of arsenic in water, says study (October 13, 2011) -- A new study shows that deep sediments can grab naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater and take it out of circulation -- a finding that may help to keep wells safe elsewhere, including in the United States. ... > full story

Transfusion not always best treatment for anemia, age of stored blood may play a role (October 13, 2011) -- Researchers are suggesting that transfusion may not always be the best treatment for hospitalized patients with anemia. ... > full story

New mathematical model explains patterns of human movement by considering the costs (October 13, 2011) -- People decide to take trips for a dauntingly complex mix of reasons, but out of the individual chaos of dry-cleaning pick-ups, pizza dinners, and European vacations, a new mathematical model has emerged. It finds hidden patterns in human beings' collective excursions near, not-so-near, and far from home. ... > full story

Extreme gambling: Extreme sport athletes have a lot in common with gamblers (October 13, 2011) -- Can parachuting help people with a gambling addiction? New research shows that extreme sport athletes have quite a lot in common with gamblers. ... > full story

How life might have survived 'snowball Earth' (October 13, 2011) -- New research indicates that simple life in the form of photosynthetic algae could have survived a "snowball Earth" event, living in a narrow body of water with characteristics similar to today's Red Sea. ... > full story

Improving gene therapy for heart disease, cancer (October 13, 2011) -- A new study could lead to improved gene therapies for conditions such as heart disease and cancer as well as more effective vaccines for tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases. ... > full story

Scientists demonstrate the power of optical forces in blood cell identification (October 13, 2011) -- Biological analysis systems that rely on labels can be costly, labor intensive, and depend upon prior knowledge of the target in question. Researchers have developed a system that can detect optical pressure differences between populations or classes of cells. ... > full story

Survival disparities in African-American and white colorectal cancer patients (October 13, 2011) -- African-American patients with resected stage II and stage III colon cancer experienced worse overall and recurrence-free survival compared to whites, but similar recurrence-free intervals, according to a new study. ... > full story

New technique offers enhanced security for sensitive data in cloud computing (October 13, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new, experimental technique to better protect sensitive information in cloud computing -- without significantly affecting the system's overall performance. ... > full story

Smoking cannabis increases risk of depression in the case of genetic vulnerability, study finds (October 13, 2011) -- Young people who are genetically vulnerable to depression should be extra careful about using cannabis: smoking cannabis leads to an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms, according to a new study carried out by researchers in the Netherlands. Two-thirds of the population have the gene variant that makes one sensitive to depression. ... > full story

'Dark matter' of the genome revealed through analysis of 29 mammals (October 12, 2011) -- An international team of researchers has discovered the vast majority of the so-called "dark matter" in the human genome, by means of a sweeping comparison of 29 mammalian genomes. The team has pinpointed the parts of the human genome that control when and where genes are turned on. This map is a critical step in interpreting the thousands of genetic changes that have been linked to human disease. ... > full story

Water-soluble 'gelatinase inhibitor' compounds show promise for treating neurological diseases (October 12, 2011) -- Scientists have taken a promising step on the road to developing new drugs for a variety of neurological diseases. The researchers focused on the design, synthesis and evaluation of water-soluble "gelatinase inhibitor" compounds. ... > full story

Feeding the world while protecting the planet: Global plan for sustainable agriculture (October 12, 2011) -- An international team of researchers from Canada, the US, Sweden and Germany has come up with a plan to double the world's food production while reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture. ... > full story

Case of the missing monocyte: Gene appears to protect against rheumatoid arthritis (October 12, 2011) -- An estimated 1.3 million people in the United States suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The causes behind this chronic disease -- which can exhibit itself as pain, swelling, stiffness, deformation, and loss of function in the joints -- have eluded scientists for centuries. A new study offers tantalizing glimmers about the roles of a gene called CCR2, an immune system cell called Th17 cell, and a missing monocyte. ... > full story

Nuclear receptors battle it out during metamorphosis in new fruit fly model (October 12, 2011) -- Growing up just got more complicated. Biochemistry researchers have shown for the first time that the receptor for a major insect molting hormone doesn't activate and repress genes as once thought. In fact, it only activates genes, and it is out-competed by a heme-binding receptor to repress the same genes during the larval to pupal transition in the fruit fly. ... > full story

Identifying earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease (October 12, 2011) -- Addressing the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, before a patient shows outward signs of cognitive problems, has sometimes been a challenge for physicians and researchers, in part because they have not been using common and specific terms to describe the disease's initial phases. A new study recommends adding categories to more effectively identify and treat people and give researchers standard definitions to work with. ... > full story

Possible trigger for volcanic 'super-eruptions' discovered (October 12, 2011) -- The "super-eruption" of a major volcanic system occurs about every 100,000 years and is considered one of the most catastrophic natural events on Earth, yet scientists have long been unsure about what triggers these violent explosions. A new model points to a combination of temperature influence and the geometrical configuration of the magma chamber as a potential cause for these super-eruptions. ... > full story

Scientists move closer to predicting who will and will not fight off severe infections (October 12, 2011) -- Why are some people prone to severe infections, while others handle them with less difficulty? A new research report attempts to answer this question by shedding light on the genetic differences that influence our ability to fight off bacterial infections. ... > full story

By reprogramming skin cells into brain cells, scientists gain new insights into mental disorders (October 12, 2011) -- By reprogramming skin cells from patients with mental disorders, scientists are creating brain cells that are now providing extraordinary insights into afflictions like schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. ... > full story

How the brain’s own marijuana-like chemicals suppress pain (October 12, 2011) -- There are new findings about how the brain functions to suppress pain. For the first time, it has been shown that the hippocampus of the brain, which is usually associated with memory, has an active role to play in suppressing pain during times of stress. ... > full story

Biologists use Sinatra-named fly to show how to see the blues -- and the greens (October 12, 2011) -- Biologists have identified a new mechanism for regulating color vision by studying a mutant fly named after Frank ('Ol Blue Eyes) Sinatra. Their findings focus on how the visual system functions in order to preserve the fidelity of color discrimination throughout the life of an organism. They also offer new insights into how genes controlling color detection are turned on and off. ... > full story

Delays in video calls may not always hurt communication, study finds (October 12, 2011) -- A new study reveals how the delay computer users sometimes experience when making video calls over the internet can actually help communication in some circumstances, even though it is frustrating in many others. Researchers found that when two strangers first talked about an emotionally charged topic over a video connection with a one-second delay, they actually reported less frustration than did those who talked with no delay. ... > full story

Researchers reconstruct genome of the Black Death; Bacteria found to be ancestor of all modern plagues (October 12, 2011) -- An international team has sequenced the entire genome of the Black Death, one of the most devastating epidemics in human history. ... > full story

New molecular target for diabetes treatment discovered (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a key molecular pathway responsible for the natural decrease in the proliferation of insulin-producing cells that occurs as a person ages. Artificially activating this pathway, which is normally not functional in adults, may be a new way to combat diabetes. ... > full story

Fuel and plastics production could be made more energy efficient and cost effective (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have overcome a major hurdle in the quest to design a specialized type of molecular sieve that could make the production of gasoline, plastics and various chemicals more cost effective and energy efficient. ... > full story

Significant breakthrough in study of chlamydia (October 12, 2011) -- A breakthrough in the study of chlamydia genetics could open the way to new treatments and the development of a vaccine for this sexually transmitted disease. For decades research progress has been hampered because scientists have been prevented from fully understanding these bacteria as they have been unable to manipulate the genome of Chlamydia trachomatis. ... > full story

Metal shortages alert from leading geologists: Inexorable demand for consumer goods places strain on supply of metals (October 12, 2011) -- Geologists are warning of shortages and bottlenecks of some metals due to an insatiable demand for consumer products. ... > full story

Kids more accepting of peers who try to change undesirable trait than those faulted for it (October 12, 2011) -- Psychologists looked at the extent to which children attribute fault to peers with undesirable characteristics, and how they anticipate interacting with these peers. They found that obese and aggressive peers are disliked and blamed for having these faults. ... > full story

Astrophysicists find evidence of black holes' destruction of stars (October 12, 2011) -- Astrophysicists have found evidence of black holes destroying stars, a long-sought phenomenon that provides a new window into general relativity. The research also opens up a method to search for the possible existence of a large population of presently undetectable "intermediate mass" black holes which are hypothesized to be precursors to the super-massive black holes at the centers of most large galaxies. ... > full story

Peanut allergy turned off by tricking immune system: New approach makes allergen appear safe and prevents life-threatening reaction (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have turned off a life-threatening allergic response to peanuts by tricking the immune system into thinking the nut proteins aren't a threat to the body, according to a new preclinical study. The peanut tolerance was achieved by attaching peanut proteins onto blood cells and reintroducing them to the body -- an approach that ultimately may be able to target more than one food allergy at a time. ... > full story

Battle between the placenta and uterus could help explain preeclampsia (October 12, 2011) -- A battle that brews in the mother's womb between the father's biological goal to produce the biggest, healthiest baby possible vs. the mother's need to live through delivery might help explain preeclampsia, an often deadly disease of pregnancy. The fetus must be big enough to thrive, yet small enough to pass through the birth canal. In a new study, researchers describe the mechanism that keeps these conflicting goals in balance. ... > full story

Crop improvement and human medicine: Using proteins to target and manipulate specific genes (October 12, 2011) -- Scientists are using certain proteins to target and manipulate specific genes. That could lead to breakthroughs in understanding gene function and improving traits in livestock and plants, and even treating human genetic disorders. ... > full story

Computer vision experts develop 'questionable observer detector' (October 12, 2011) -- Biometrics experts are developing a tool that can help law enforcement and military officials identify suspicious individuals at crime scenes. ... > full story

Some youth too immature to stand trial, experts say (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have found that unlike adults, most children and adolescents who are found incompetent to stand trial are not psychotic; rather, they have cognitive impairments. And, they are often too immature to understand the magnitude of the situation. ... > full story

Eating your greens can change the effect of your genes on heart disease (October 12, 2011) -- A long-held mantra suggests that you can't change your family, the genes they pass on, or the effect of these genes. Now, scientists are attacking that belief. The researchers discovered the gene that is the strongest marker for heart disease can actually be modified by generous amounts of fruit and raw vegetables. ... > full story

Study shows increased prostate cancer risk from vitamin E supplements (October 12, 2011) -- Men who took 400 international units of vitamin E daily had more prostate cancers compared to men who took a placebo. The findings showed that, per 1,000 men, there were 76 prostate cancers in men who took only vitamin E supplements, vs. 65 in men on placebo over a seven-year period, or 11 more cases per 1,000 men. This represents a 17 percent increase in prostate cancers relative to those who took a placebo. ... > full story

Progress in quantum computing: Researchers control rate of photon emission from luminescent imperfections in diamond (October 12, 2011) -- Engineers and physicists at Harvard have managed to capture light in tiny diamond pillars embedded in silver, releasing a stream of single photons at a controllable rate. The advance represents a milestone on the road to quantum networks in which information can be encoded in spins of electrons and carried through a network via light, one photon at a time. ... > full story

Test helps reduce risk of death in advanced lung cancer (October 12, 2011) -- A new test has helped reduce the risk of death in lung cancer patients in a recent clinical trial. ... > full story

New view of Vesta mountain from NASA's Dawn mission (October 12, 2011) -- A new image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows a mountain three times as high as Mt. Everest, amidst the topography in the south polar region of the giant asteroid Vesta. ... > full story

Industry conflicts of interest are pervasive among medical guideline panel members, experts say (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have found that conflicts of interest are prevalent and potentially under-reported among individuals participating in the development of clinical practice guidelines, which inform standards of patient care. The findings provide further evidence of the potential influence of industry on medical practice recommendations. ... > full story

Worms among first animals to surface after K-T extinction event, study finds (October 12, 2011) -- A new study of sediments laid down shortly after an asteroid plowed into the Gulf of Mexico 65.5 million years ago, an event that is linked to widespread global extinctions including the demise of big dinosaurs, suggests that lowly worms may have been the first fauna to show themselves following the global catastrophe. ... > full story

Ovarian cancer patients survive longer with BRCA2 mutated in tumors, study finds (October 12, 2011) -- Women with high-grade ovarian cancer live longer and respond better to platinum-based chemotherapy when their tumors have BRCA2 genetic mutations, researchers report. ... > full story

New 'genome mining' technique streamlines discovery from nature (October 12, 2011) -- A newly developed method for microscopically extracting, or "mining," information from genomes could represent a significant boost in the search for new therapeutic drugs and improve science's understanding of basic functions such as how cells communicate with one another. ... > full story

Laser removal of heart device wires safe for older patients, study suggests (October 12, 2011) -- Using a laser to remove pacemaker and defibrillator wires implanted in heart muscle is as safe in people ages 80 and older as it is in younger people. Researchers found no important risk differences between the two age groups. This should reduce safety concerns and increase the procedure's use in octogenarians. ... > full story

Video documents three-year trek on Mars by NASA rover (October 12, 2011) -- While NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity was traveling from Victoria crater to Endeavour crater, between September 2008 and August 2011, the rover team took an end-of-drive image on each Martian day that included a drive. A new video compiles these 309 images, providing an historic record of the three-year trek that totaled about 13 miles (21 kilometers) across a Martian plain pocked with smaller craters. ... > full story

'Ghostwriting' the Torah? New algorithm distinguishes contributors to the Old Testament with high accuracy (October 12, 2011) -- A professor has developed a new computer algorithm to help unravel the different sources that contributed to the authorship of the scriptures. Sidestepping the problems of content-based analysis, his algorithm searches for patterns in writing style to give deeper insight into ancient writings such as the Bible. ... > full story