ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Friday, January 13, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Friday, January 13, 2012

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Mystery of source of supernova in nearby galaxy solved (January 13, 2012) -- Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have solved a longstanding mystery of the type of star, or so-called progenitor, that caused a supernova in a nearby galaxy. The finding yields new observational data for pinpointing one of several scenarios that trigger such outbursts. ... > full story

The microbiome and disease: Gut bacteria influence the severity of heart attacks in rats (January 13, 2012) -- New research suggests the types and levels of intestinal bacteria may be used to predict a person's likelihood of having a heart attack, and manipulating these organisms may help reduce risk. This discovery may lead to new tests and therapies that physicians use to prevent and treat heart attacks. In addition, this research suggests probiotics may be able to protect the heart in patients undergoing heart surgery and angioplasty. ... > full story

Cancer treatment with minor side effects (January 13, 2012) -- Side effects are currently the biggest problem with any cancer treatment. A new company is drawing closer to the goal of creating a treatment which kills only cancer cells, leaving other cells unaffected. ... > full story

Regulatory enzyme overexpression may protect against neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease (January 13, 2012) -- Treatment that increases brain levels of an important regulatory enzyme may slow the loss of brain cells that characterizes Huntington's disease (HD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. A team found that increased expression of Sirt1, one of a family of enzymes called sirtuins, in the brain of a mouse model of HD protected against neurodegeneration. The investigators also identified a potential mechanism for this protective effect. ... > full story

Platform safety on the radar for researchers (January 13, 2012) -- Systems used to detect aircraft and ships could soon be fitted in train stations to quickly identify objects – or even people – that have fallen on the tracks, preventing serious accidents and reducing delays that are frequently caused by these mishaps. ... > full story

Habit formation is enabled by gateway to brain cells (January 13, 2012) -- A brain cell type found where habits are formed and movement is controlled has receptors that work like computer processors to translate regular activities into habits, researchers report. "Habits, for better or worse, basically define who we are," said one of the researchers. Habits also provide mental freedom and flexibility by enabling many activities to be on autopilot while the brain focuses on more urgent matters, he said. ... > full story

Electron's negativity cut in half by supercomputer: Simulations slice electron in half -- a physical process that cannot be done in nature (January 13, 2012) -- Using several massive supercomputers, a team of physicists has split a simulated electron perfectly in half. The results are another example of how tabletop experiments on ultra-cold atoms and other condensed-matter materials can provide clues about the behavior of fundamental particles. ... > full story

New method keeps normal cells and tumor cells taken from an individual cancer patient alive (January 13, 2012) -- In a major step that could revolutionize biomedical research, scientists have discovered a way to keep normal cells as well as tumor cells taken from an individual cancer patient alive in the laboratory -- which previously had not been possible. Normal cells usually die in the lab after dividing only a few times, and many common cancers will not grow, unaltered, outside of the body. ... > full story

Wandering albatross alters its foraging due to climate change (January 13, 2012) -- Wandering albatrosses have altered their foraging due to changes in wind fields in the southern hemisphere during the last decades. Since winds have increased in intensity and moved to the south, the flight speed of albatrosses increased and they spend less time foraging. As a consequence, breeding success has improved and birds have gained 1 kilogram. ... > full story

Obesity and cancer screening: Does race and gender also play a role? (January 13, 2012) -- Researchers recently found that obesity was linked to higher rates of prostate cancer screening across all races/ethnic differences and lower rates of cervical cancer screening, most notably in white women. ... > full story

Backing out of the nanotunnel (January 13, 2012) -- Nanopores provide a versatile tool for probing molecular structures. A new study shows that one can obtain more detailed information about the dynamic behavior of nucleic acids during passage through nanopores by directing them to asymmetric pores for the return journey. ... > full story

Penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages keeps the doctor away and saves money, study finds (January 13, 2012) -- Over the past 10 years, Americans drank more sugar-sweetened beverages than ever making these drinks the single largest dietary factor in the current obesity epidemic. In a new study, researchers estimated that if a higher, penny-per-ounce tax were imposed on sugar-sweetened beverages, it would result in an approximately 15 percent reduction in consumption and reduce the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

NASA's Hubble breaks new ground with distant supernova discovery (January 12, 2012) -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has looked deep into the distant universe and detected the feeble glow of a star that exploded more than 9 billion years ago. The sighting is the first finding of an ambitious survey that will help astronomers place better constraints on the nature of dark energy: the mysterious repulsive force that is causing the universe to fly apart ever faster. ... > full story

Hereditary predisposition of melanoma of the eye discovered (January 12, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered a hereditary cancer syndrome that predisposes certain people to a melanoma of the eye, along with lung cancer, brain cancer and possibly other types of cancer. ... > full story

The case of the dying aspens (January 12, 2012) -- Over the past 10 years, the death of forest trees due to drought and increased temperatures has been documented on all continents except Antarctica. This can in turn drive global warming by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere by trees and by releasing carbon locked up in their wood. New research offers evidence for the physiological mechanism governing tree death in a drought. ... > full story

Vitamin therapy can still reduce stroke, researchers contend (January 12, 2012) -- Medical researchers argue that vitamin therapy still has a role to play in reducing stroke. ... > full story

Some 'low-gluten' beer contains high levels of gluten (January 12, 2012) -- Beer tested in a new study, including some brands labeled "low-gluten," contains levels of hordein, the form of gluten present in barley, that could cause symptoms in patients with celiac disease, the autoimmune condition treated with a life-long gluten-free diet, scientists are reporting. ... > full story

Early dietary experience shapes salt preference of infants and preschoolers (January 12, 2012) -- Researchers report that 6-month-old infants who have been introduced to starchy table foods, which often contain added salt, have a heightened preference for salty taste. They also were more likely to consume plain salt at preschool age. The findings highlight the potentially significant role of early dietary experience in shaping salty taste preferences of infants and young children. ... > full story

When galaxy clusters collide: Collision could help astronomers better understand 'dark matter' (January 12, 2012) -- The collision of two clusters of galaxies 5 billion light years away could help astronomers better understand "dark matter," the invisible stuff that makes up a big chunk of our universe. ... > full story

Diet rich in slowly digested carbs reduces markers of inflammation in overweight and obese adults (January 12, 2012) -- Among overweight and obese adults, a diet rich in slowly digested carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes and other high-fiber foods, significantly reduces markers of inflammation associated with chronic disease, according to a new study. Such a "low-glycemic-load" diet, which does not cause blood-glucose levels to spike, also increases a hormone that helps regulate the metabolism of fat and sugar. ... > full story

In ancient Pompeii, trash and tombs went hand in hand (January 12, 2012) -- Trash and tombs went hand in hand in ancient Pompeii. That's according to research that provides new insights into daily life of that city before the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. ... > full story

Study could lead to a treatment for Angelman syndrome (January 12, 2012) -- Scientists say they have found a way to "awaken" the paternal allele of Ube3a, which could lead to a potential treatment strategy for Angelman syndrome -- a neurogenetic disorder often misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy or autism. ... > full story

Retreating glaciers threaten water supplies (January 12, 2012) -- Glaciers are retreating at an unexpectedly fast rate according to research done in Peru's Cordillera Blanca. This may threaten water supplies. ... > full story

World's smallest vertebrate: Tiny frogs discovered in New Guinea (January 12, 2012) -- Biologists just discovered two new species of frogs in New Guinea, one of which is now the world's tiniest known vertebrate, averaging only 7.7 millimeters in size -- less than one-third of an inch. It ousts Paedocypris progenetica, an Indonesian fish averaging more than 8 millimeters, from the record. ... > full story

New evidence that bacteria in large intestine have a role in obesity (January 12, 2012) -- Bacteria living in people's large intestine may slow down the activity of the "good" kind of fat tissue, a special fat that quickly burns calories and may help prevent obesity, scientists are reporting in a new study. The discovery could shed light on ways to prevent obesity and promote weight loss, including possible microbial and pharmaceutical approaches, the authors said. ... > full story

Bacteria's move from sea to land may have occurred much later than thought (January 12, 2012) -- A new analysis indicates the shift of soil bacteria Azospirillum may have occurred only 400 million years ago, rather than approximately two billion years earlier as originally thought. ... > full story

New culprit discovered in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (January 12, 2012) -- A new study shows how the cancer causing gene Notch, in combination with a mutated Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) protein complex, work together to cause T- cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). ... > full story

Honeybee deaths linked to seed insecticide exposure (January 12, 2012) -- Honeybee populations have been in serious decline for years, and scientists may have identified one of the factors that cause bee deaths around agricultural fields. ... > full story

We may be less happy, but our language isn't (January 12, 2012) -- Research shows that English is strongly biased toward being positive. This new study complements another study showing that average global happiness, based on Twitter data, has been dropping for the past two years. Combined, the two studies show that short-term average happiness has dropped -- against the backdrop of the long-term fundamental positivity of the English language. ... > full story

Planets with double suns are common (January 12, 2012) -- Astronomers have discovered two new circumbinary planet systems -- planets that orbit two stars, like Tatooine in the movie Star Wars. Their find, which brings the number of known circumbinary planets to three, shows that planets with two suns must be common, with many millions existing in our galaxy. ... > full story

Hopes for reversing age-associated effects in MS patients (January 12, 2012) -- New research highlights the possibility of reversing aging in the central nervous system for multiple sclerosis patients. ... > full story

Colorado mountain hail may disappear in a warmer future (January 12, 2012) -- Summertime hail could all but disappear from the eastern flank of Colorado's Rocky Mountains by 2070, according to a new modeling study. Less hail damage could be good news for gardeners and farmers, but a shift from hail to rain can also mean more runoff, which could raise the risk of flash floods, she said. ... > full story

IPS cells match embryonic stem cells in modeling human disease (January 12, 2012) -- Investigators have shown that iPS cells, viewed as a possible alternative to human embryonic stem cells, can mirror the defining defects of a genetic condition -- in this instance, Marfan syndrome -- as well as embryonic stem cells can. ... > full story

Identifying sloth species at a genetic level (January 12, 2012) -- Identifying species, separating out closely related species and managing each type on its own, is an important part of any animal management system. Some species, like the two types of two-toed sloth, are so close in appearance and behavior that differentiation can be challenging. Conservation researchers have developed a mechanism for identifying these reclusive species from each other. ... > full story

Clue as to why alcohol is addicting: Scientists show that drinking releases brain endorphins (January 12, 2012) -- Drinking alcohol leads to the release of endorphins in areas of the brain that produce feelings of pleasure and reward, according to a new study. ... > full story

Plasma treatment zaps viruses before they can attack cells (January 12, 2012) -- Researchers have tested a pre-emptive anti-viral treatment on a common virus known to cause respiratory infections. ... > full story

Why do dew drops do what they do on leaves? (January 12, 2012) -- Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore once wrote, "Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf." Now, a new study is finally offering an explanation for why small dew drops do as Tagore advised and form on the tips, rather than the flat surfaces, of leaves. ... > full story

Pathogenic landscape of HIV: Hundreds of connections between viral and human proteins identified in work that may reveal new drug targets (January 12, 2012) -- In perhaps the most comprehensive survey of the inner workings of HIV, an international team of scientists led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco has mapped every apparent physical interaction the virus makes with components of the human cells it infects -- work that may reveal new ways to design future HIV/AIDS drugs. ... > full story

Scientists paint new picture of dance between protein and binding partners (January 12, 2012) -- Using a blend of technologies, scientists have painted a new picture of how biochemical information can be transmitted through the modification of a protein. Previously, scientists believed that during the pairing of proteins and their binding partners ("ligands"), proteins modified their shape while ligands remained stable. The new study shows this one-size-fits-all solution is not entirely accurate. ... > full story

New cores from glacier in Eastern European Alps may yield new climate clues (January 12, 2012) -- Researchers are beginning their analysis of what are probably the first successful ice cores drilled to bedrock from a glacier in the eastern European Alps. ... > full story

Why are older people happier? (January 12, 2012) -- Older people tend to be happier. But why? Some psychologists believe that cognitive processes are responsible -- in particular, focusing on and remembering positive events and leaving behind negative ones; those processes, they think, help older people regulate their emotions, letting them view life in a sunnier light. ... > full story

Astronomers find three smallest planets outside solar system (January 12, 2012) -- Astronomers have discovered the three smallest confirmed planets ever detected outside our solar system. The three planets, which all orbit a single star, are smaller than Earth and appear to be rocky. Their existence suggests that the galaxy could be teeming with similarly rocky planets—and that there's a good chance that many are in the so-called habitable zone, where liquid water and possibly life could exist. ... > full story

New strategy in fight against infectious diseases (January 12, 2012) -- New research shows that infectious disease-fighting drugs could be designed to block a pathogen's entry into cells rather than to kill the bug itself. Historically, medications for infectious diseases have been designed to kill the offending pathogen. This new strategy is important, researchers say, because many parasites and bacteria can eventually mutate their way around drugs that target them, resulting in drug resistance. ... > full story

Unique protein organization in arteries associated with cardiovascular disease (January 12, 2012) -- Researchers have now used advanced 3-D microscopic imaging technology to identify and monitor the proteins involved in the artery stiffening process. These findings could eventually help researchers and physicians understand and treat complications associated with cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

Paddlefish sensors tuned to detect signals from zooplankton prey (January 12, 2012) -- Neurons fire in a synchronized bursting pattern in response to robust signals indicating nearby food. ... > full story

Colorful plates boost a picky eater's appetite (January 12, 2012) -- Parents of picky eaters can encourage their children to eat more nutritionally diverse diets by introducing more color to their meals, according to new research. ... > full story

Disruption of biological clocks can lead to neurodegeneration, early death, study suggests (January 12, 2012) -- New research provides evidence for the first time that disruption of circadian rhythms -- the biological "clocks" found in many animals -- can clearly cause accelerated neurodegeneration, loss of motor function and premature death. ... > full story

Less blood needed post-surgery, new study suggests (January 12, 2012) -- Patients need less blood after surgery than is widely thought. A new study comparing two plans for giving blood transfusions following surgery showed no ill effects from postponing transfusion until patients develop signs of anemia or their hemoglobin concentration falls below 8 g/dL. ... > full story