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

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, December 1, 2011

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Abrupt permafrost thaw increases climate threat, experts say (December 1, 2011) -- As the Arctic warms, greenhouse gases will be released from thawing permafrost faster and at significantly higher levels than previous estimates, according to a survey of international experts. Permafrost thaw will release approximately the same amount of carbon as deforestation. However, the effect of thawing permafrost on climate will be 2.5 times greater because emissions include methane, a more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. ... > full story

Clinical trial for muscular dystrophy demonstrates safety of customized gene therapy (December 1, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that it is safe to cut and paste together different viruses in an effort to create the ultimate vehicle for gene therapy. In a phase I clinical trial, the investigators found no side effects from using a "chimeric" virus to deliver replacement genes for an essential muscle protein in patients with muscular dystrophy. ... > full story

Kilobots are leaving the nest: Swarm of tiny, collaborative robots will be made available to researchers, educators, and enthusiasts (December 1, 2011) -- The Kilobots are coming. Computer scientists and engineers have developed and licensed technology that will make it easy to test collective algorithms on hundreds, or even thousands, of tiny robots. ... > full story

Researchers develop blood test to detect membranous nephropathy (December 1, 2011) -- Research conducted by a pair of physicians has led to the development of a test that can help diagnose membranous nephropathy in its early stages. The test, which is currently only offered in the research setting and is awaiting commercial development, could have significant implications in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Currently, the only way to diagnose the disease is through a biopsy. ... > full story

Rainfall suspected culprit in leaf disease transmission (December 1, 2011) -- Rainfalls are suspected to trigger the spread of a multitude of foliar (leaf) diseases, which could be devastating for agriculture and forestry. Instead of focusing on the large-scale, ecological impact of this problem, researchers are studying the phenomenon from a novel perspective: that of a single rain droplet. ... > full story

Study explores distrust of atheists by believers (December 1, 2011) -- Distrust is the central motivating factor behind why religious people dislike atheists, according to a new study led by psychologists. While reasons behind antagonism towards atheists have not been fully explored, the study is among the first explorations of the social psychological processes underlying anti-atheist sentiments. ... > full story

NASA's Swift finds a gamma-ray burst with a dual personality (December 1, 2011) -- A peculiar cosmic explosion first detected by NASA's Swift observatory on Christmas Day 2010 was caused either by a novel type of supernova located billions of light-years away or an unusual collision much closer to home, within our own galaxy. ... > full story

MAKS: Drug-free prevention of dementia decline (December 1, 2011) -- There are many different causes of dementia and, although its progression can be fast or slow, it is always degenerative. Symptoms of dementia include confusion, loss of memory, and problems with speech and understanding. It can be upsetting for the affected person, their relatives and carers. New research shows that a regime of behavioral and mental exercises was able to halt the progression of dementia. ... > full story

Texas drought visible in new national groundwater maps (December 1, 2011) -- The record-breaking drought in Texas that has fueled wildfires, decimated crops and forced cattle sales has also reduced levels of groundwater in much of the state to the lowest levels seen in more than 60 years, according to new national maps. ... > full story

US preterm birth rate under 12 percent, the lowest level in nearly a decade (December 1, 2011) -- The preterm birth rate slipped under 12 percent for the first time in nearly a decade, the fourth consecutive year it declined, potentially sparing tens of thousands of babies the serious health consequences of an early birth. The rate declined to 11.99 percent last year. Despite the improvement, too many babies, one out of every eight, was born too soon. ... > full story

A new model for understanding biodiversity (December 1, 2011) -- Biology researchers have developed a unified, spatially based understanding of biodiversity that takes into account the complex food webs of predators and prey. ... > full story

Caresses enjoyable vicariously, too (December 1, 2011) -- It is well-known that we humans enjoy sensual caresses, but the brain reacts just as strongly to seeing another person being caressed, reveals new research. ... > full story

Earthquake friction effect demonstrated at the nanoscale (November 30, 2011) -- Earthquakes are some of the most daunting natural disasters that scientists try to analyze. Though Earth's major fault lines are well known, there is little scientists can do to predict when an earthquake will occur or how strong it will be. And, though earthquakes involve millions of tons of rock, a team of researchers has helped discover an aspect of friction on the nanoscale that may lead to a better understanding of the disasters. ... > full story

From gene to function: Genome wide study into new gene functions in the formation of platelets (November 30, 2011) -- A new study successfully identifies new genetic variants involved in the formation of platelets and more importantly, defines how genes near these variants affect platelet size and number using a series of biological analyses. This is the largest genome-wide meta-analysis on platelet size and number and involves more than 68,000 individuals from different ancestries. ... > full story

The interplay of dancing electrons (November 30, 2011) -- Negative ions play an important role in everything from how our bodies function to the structure of the universe. Scientists have now developed a new method that makes it possible to study how the electrons in negative ions interact in, which is important in, for example, superconductors and in radiocarbon dating. ... > full story

New study supports mammography screening at 40 (November 30, 2011) -- Women in their 40s with no family history of breast cancer are just as likely to develop invasive breast cancer as are women with a family history of the disease, according to a new study. These findings indicate that women in this age group would benefit from annual screening mammography. ... > full story

Imperfections may improve graphene sensors (November 30, 2011) -- Although they found that graphene makes very good chemical sensors, researchers have discovered an unexpected "twist" -- that the sensors are better when the graphene is "worse" -- more imperfections improved performance. ... > full story

Short waits, long consults keep most patients very happy with their physicians (November 30, 2011) -- Patients overall in the United States are very satisfied with their physicians and with treatment they receive in outpatient settings, according to new information which challenges common public perceptions about outpatient medical treatment. ... > full story

Astronomers discover new exoplanet similar in size to Earth; Planet Kepler-21b found using space and ground-based observations (November 30, 2011) -- The NASA Kepler Mission is designed to survey a portion of our region of the Milky Way Galaxy to discover Earth-size planets in or near the "habitable zone," the region in a planetary system where liquid water can exist, and determine how many of the billions of stars in our galaxy have such planets. It now has another planet to add to its growing list. Researchers have shown that one of the brightest stars in the Kepler star field has a planet with a radius only 1.6 that of Earth's radius and a mass no greater that 10 earth masses, circling its parent star with a 2.8 day period. ... > full story

Biologists deliver neutralizing antibodies that protect against HIV infection in mice (November 30, 2011) -- Researchers have been studying a group of potent antibodies that have the ability to neutralize HIV in the lab; Their hope is to create a vaccine that makes antibodies with similar properties. Now, biologists have taken one step closer to that goal: They have developed a way to deliver these antibodies to mice and, in so doing, have effectively protected them from HIV infection. ... > full story

Engineered botulism toxins could have broader role in medicine (November 30, 2011) -- The most poisonous substance on Earth -- already used medically in small doses to treat certain nerve disorders and facial wrinkles -- could be re-engineered for an expanded role in helping millions of people with rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis and other diseases, scientists are reporting. ... > full story

Self-referral leads to more negative exams for patients (November 30, 2011) -- Physicians who have a financial interest in imaging equipment are more likely to refer their patients for potentially unnecessary imaging exams, according to a new study. ... > full story

Magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time (November 30, 2011) -- Scientists understand that Earth's magnetic field has flipped its polarity many times over the millennia. The answer, from the geologic and fossil records we have from hundreds of past magnetic polarity reversals, seems to be "no." ... > full story

Ancient cooking pots reveal gradual transition to agriculture (November 30, 2011) -- Humans may have undergone a gradual rather than an abrupt transition from fishing, hunting and gathering to farming, according to a new study of ancient pottery. Researchers in the UK analyzed cooking residues preserved in 133 ceramic vessels from the Western Baltic regions of Northern Europe to establish whether these residues were from terrestrial, marine or freshwater organisms. ... > full story

Setting the stage for life: Scientists make key discovery about the atmosphere of early Earth (November 30, 2011) -- Scientists have used the oldest minerals on Earth to reconstruct the atmospheric conditions present on Earth very soon after its birth. The findings are the first direct evidence of what the ancient atmosphere of the planet was like soon after its formation and directly challenge years of research on the type of atmosphere out of which life arose on the planet. ... > full story

Is it Alzheimer's disease or another dementia? Marker may give more accurate diagnosis (November 30, 2011) -- New research finds a marker used to detect plaque in the brain may help doctors make a more accurate diagnosis between two common types of dementia -- Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The study is published in the Nov. 30, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. ... > full story

Lightning-made waves in Earth's atmosphere leak into space (November 30, 2011) -- NASA's Vector Electric Field Instrument aboard the US Air Force's Communications/Navigation Outage Forecast System satellite has detected Schumann resonance from space. This comes as a surprise, since current models of Schumann resonance predict these waves should be caged at lower altitude, between the ground and a layer of Earth's atmosphere called the ionosphere. ... > full story

Researchers examine role of inflammatory mechanisms in a healing heart (November 30, 2011) -- Researchers have found that an inflammatory mechanism known as inflammasome may lead to more damage in the heart following injury such as a heart attack, pointing researchers toward developing more targeted strategies to block the inflammatory mechanisms involved. ... > full story

Genetic buzzer-beater genes may save fish (November 30, 2011) -- Two distinct populations of rainbow trout -- one in Alaska, the other in Idaho -- share a genetic trait that could have huge implications for fisheries conservation and management, an eight-member research team reports. ... > full story

At a crossroads: New research predicts which cars are likeliest to run lights at intersections (November 30, 2011) -- Researchers have developed an algorithm that predicts which cars are likeliest to run lights at intersections. ... > full story

Making a light-harvesting antenna from scratch: Biomimetic antenna for gathering sunlight may one day transform solar-powered devices (November 30, 2011) -- Scientists have succeeded in making a light-harvesting antenna from scratch. The new antenna, modeled on the chlorosome found in green bacteria, is a giant assembly of pigment molecules. Perhaps nature's most spectacular light-harvesting antennae, chlorosomes allow green bacteria to photosynthesize even in the dim light in ocean deeps. ... > full story

Sugar-sweetened beverages may increase cardiovascular risk in women, research suggests (November 30, 2011) -- Drinking two or more sugar-sweetened beverages a day may expand a woman's waistline and increase her risk of heart disease and diabetes, according to new research. ... > full story

Gone with the wind: Why the fast jet stream winds cannot contribute much renewable energy after all (November 30, 2011) -- The assumption that high jet steam wind speeds in the upper atmosphere correspond to high wind power has now been challenged by new research. Taking into account that the high wind speeds result from the near absence of friction and not from a strong power source, scientists found that the maximum extractable energy from jet streams is approximately 200 times less than reported previously. ... > full story

Unlocking the genetic and molecular mystery of soft-tissue sarcoma (November 30, 2011) -- Scientists have uncovered important molecular and genetic keys to the development of soft-tissue sarcomas in skeletal muscle, giving researchers and clinicians additional targets to stop the growth of these often deadly tumors. ... > full story

Some smartphone models more vulnerable to attack (November 30, 2011) -- Some smartphones specifically designed to support the Android mobile platform have incorporated additional features that can be used by hackers to bypass Android's security features, making them more vulnerable to attack. Android has the largest share of the smartphone market in the US. ... > full story

Marzipan Santas, elves and stollen: Real deal or cheap fakes? (November 30, 2011) -- With the December holidays a peak season for indulging in marzipan, scientists are reporting development of a new test that can tell the difference between the real thing -- a pricey but luscious paste made from ground almonds and sugar -- and cheap fakes made from ground soy, peas and other ingredients. ... > full story

Psychopaths' brains show differences in structure and function (November 30, 2011) -- Images of prisoners' brains show important differences between those who are diagnosed as psychopaths and those who aren't, according to a new study. ... > full story

Professional dental cleanings may reduce risk of heart attack, stroke (November 30, 2011) -- Professional tooth scaling was associated with fewer heart attacks and strokes in a recent study from Taiwan. ... > full story

Restricted calorie diet improves heart function in obese patients with diabetes (November 30, 2011) -- A low-calorie diet eliminates insulin dependence and leads to improved heart function in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. ... > full story

Vaccine for metastatic breast, ovarian cancer shows promise (November 30, 2011) -- Treatment with a recombinant poxviral vaccine showed a positive response in both metastatic breast cancer and ovarian cancer, according to a recent trial. ... > full story

Long-lasting, near infrared-emitting material invented (November 30, 2011) -- Materials that emit visible light after being exposed to sunlight are commonplace and can be found in everything from emergency signage to glow-in-the-dark stickers. But until now, scientists have had little success creating materials that emit light in the near-infrared range, a portion of the spectrum that only can be seen with the aid of night vision devices. ... > full story

Medical marijuana laws reduce traffic deaths, preliminary research suggests (November 30, 2011) -- A new study shows that laws legalizing medical marijuana lead to fewer traffic deaths and less consumption of alcohol. ... > full story

3-D printer used to make bone-like material (November 30, 2011) -- It looks like bone. It feels like bone. For the most part, it acts like bone. And it came off an inkjet printer. Researchers have used a 3-D printer to create a bone-like material that can be used in orthopedic procedures, dental work, and to deliver medicine for treating osteoporosis. Paired with actual bone, it acts as a scaffold for new bone to grow on and ultimately dissolves with no apparent ill effects. ... > full story

Functional brain pathways disrupted in children with ADHD (November 30, 2011) -- Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, researchers have identified abnormalities in the brains of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder that may serve as a biomarker for the disorder, according to a new study. ... > full story

Gray matter in brain's control center linked to ability to process reward; Structure-function impairments observed in people addicted to cocaine (November 30, 2011) -- The more gray matter you have in the decision-making, thought-processing part of your brain, the better your ability to evaluate rewards and consequences. A new study is the first to show this link between structure and function in healthy people -- and the impairment of both in people addicted to cocaine. ... > full story

Some tumors contain factors that may block metastasis (November 30, 2011) -- Scientists are another step closer to understanding what drives tumor metastasis, as laboratory models suggest there are factors inside tumors that can slow their own growth. ... > full story

Herbicide may affect plants thought to be resistant (November 30, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a fine-tuning mechanism involved in plant root growth that has them questioning whether a popular herbicide may have unintended consequences, causing some plants to need more water or nutrients. ... > full story

Elderly long-term care residents suffer cognitively during disasters (November 30, 2011) -- In a summer with unprecedented weather events, from tornadoes, floods, fires and hurricanes, researchers found that physiological changes associated with aging and the presence of chronic illness make older adults more susceptible to illness or injury, even death, during a disaster. ... > full story