ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Saturday, December 24, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Saturday, December 24, 2011

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Crucial advances in 'brain reading' demonstrated (December 23, 2011) -- A new study demonstrates several crucial advances in "brain reading" or "brain decoding" using computerized machine learning methods. Researchers classified data taken from people being scanned while watching videos meant to induce nicotine cravings and detected whether people were watching and resisting cravings, indulging in them, or watching videos that were unrelated to smoking or cravings. ... > full story

Multiple sclerosis linked to different area of brain (December 23, 2011) -- Radiology researchers have found evidence that multiple sclerosis affects an area of the brain that controls cognitive, sensory and motor functioning apart from the disabling damage caused by the disease's visible lesions. ... > full story

WISE presents a cosmic wreath (December 23, 2011) -- Just in time for the holidays, astronomers have come across a new image from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, that some say resembles a wreath. You might even think of the red dust cloud as a cheery red bow, and the bluish-white stars as silver bells. This star-forming nebula is named Barnard 3. Baby stars are being born throughout the dusty region, while the "silver bell" stars are located both in front of, and behind, the nebula. ... > full story

Researchers use light to measure cancer cells' response to treatment (December 23, 2011) -- Many cancer therapies target specific proteins that proliferate on the outside of some cancer cells, but the therapies are imperfect and the cancer does not always respond. Researchers have now demonstrated a new way to optically test cultured cancer cells' response to a particular cancer drug. ... > full story

New method for watching proteins fold (December 23, 2011) -- A protein's function depends on both the chains of molecules it is made of and the way those chains are folded. And while figuring out the former is relatively easy, the latter represents a huge challenge with serious implications because many diseases are the result of misfolded proteins. Now, a team of chemists has devised a way to watch proteins fold in "real-time," which could lead to a better understanding of protein folding and misfolding in general. ... > full story

Myths and truths of obesity and pregnancy (December 23, 2011) -- Ironically, despite excessive caloric intake, many obese women are deficient in vitamins vital to a healthy pregnancy. This and other startling statistics abound when obesity and pregnancy collide. Together, they present a unique set of challenges that women and their doctors must tackle in order to achieve the best possible outcome for mom and baby. ... > full story

More powerful supercomputers? New device could bring optical information processing (December 23, 2011) -- Researchers have created a new type of optical device small enough to fit millions on a computer chip that could lead to faster, more powerful information processing and supercomputers. ... > full story

What makes anesthetics work (December 23, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered what cells respond to anesthesia in an organism known as the C. elegans, according to a new study. ... > full story

How bacteria fight fluoride in toothpaste and in nature (December 23, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered the molecular tricks used by bacteria to fight the effects of fluoride, which is commonly used in toothpaste and mouthwash to combat tooth decay. ... > full story

Balancing the womb: New research may explain premature births (December 23, 2011) -- New research may explain premature births and failed inductions of labor. The study suggests a new mechanism by which the level of myosin phosphorylation is regulated in the pregnant uterus. ... > full story

New material cools under pressure (December 23, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a new material that exhibits an inverse barocaloric effect at room temperature, which means that it cools when pressure is applied, unlike most other materials. ... > full story

Sleep disorders common among police officers (December 23, 2011) -- A survey of police officers indicated that about 40 percent have a sleep disorder, which was associated with an increased risk of adverse health, safety and performance outcomes, according to a new study. ... > full story