ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Monday, January 23, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Monday, January 23, 2012

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Cooling semiconductors by laser light (January 23, 2012) -- Researchers have combined two fields -- quantum physics and nano physics -- and this has led to the discovery of a new method for laser cooling semiconductor membranes. Semiconductors are vital components in many electronics, and the efficient cooling of components is important for future quantum computers and ultrasensitive sensors. The new cooling method works quite paradoxically by heating the material. Using lasers, researchers cooled membrane fluctuations to minus 269 degrees C. ... > full story

Genetic mechanism linked to congenital heart disease identified (January 23, 2012) -- Scientists have identified a finely tuned mechanism by which fetal heart muscle develops into a healthy and fully formed beating heart -- offering new insight into the genetic causes of congenital heart disease and opening the door to one day developing therapies to fight this chronic and potentially fatal disorder. ... > full story

Color-coding, rearranging food products improves healthy choices in hospital cafeteria (January 23, 2012) -- A simple program involving color-coded food labeling and adjusting the way food items are positioned in display cases was successful in encouraging more healthful food choices in a large hospital cafeteria. ... > full story

Novel iron source: Newly identified iron absorption mechanism suggests that legumes could provide key to treating iron deficiency worldwide (January 23, 2012) -- A groundbreaking study reveals the existence of at least two independent mechanisms for iron absorption from non-meat sources -- and a potential treatment for iron deficiency, the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide. The discovery of an alternative mechanism for iron absorption from vegetables and legumes may provide the key to helping solve iron deficiency by providing an alternative, affordable, and readily available source of iron. ... > full story

A baby crystal is born (January 23, 2012) -- Scientists determine the smallest possible cubic lead sulfide cluster that exhibits the same coordination (a key structural property) as bigger bulk crystals. ... > full story

Resource management in ant colonies may have lessons for politicians and economists (January 23, 2012) -- Political and economic theorists could learn lessons from studying how an ant colony allocates food resources, according to a new article. ... > full story

Gene critical to sense of smell in fruit fly identified (January 23, 2012) -- Fruit flies don't have noses, but a huge part of their brains is dedicated to processing smells. Flies probably rely on the sense of smell more than any other sense for essential activities such as finding mates and avoiding danger. Researchers have discovered that a gene called distal-less is critical to the fly's ability to receive, process and respond to smells. ... > full story

Embryonic signal drives pancreatic cancer and offers a way to kill it (January 23, 2012) -- Pancreatic cancer is a particularly challenging one to beat; it has a tendency to spread and harbors cancer stem cells that stubbornly resist conventional approaches to therapy. Now, researchers have evidence to suggest there is a way to kill off those cancer stem cells. The target is a self-renewal pathway known for its role not in cancer but in embryonic stem cells. ... > full story

Metal oxide simulations could help green technology (January 23, 2012) -- Researchers have proposed a radical new way of thinking about the chemical reactions between water and metal oxides, the most common minerals on Earth. The new paradigm could lead to a better understanding of corrosion and how toxic minerals leach from rocks and soil. It could also help in the development of "green" technology: new types of batteries, or catalysts for splitting water to produce hydrogen fuel. ... > full story

First detailed data of risk of using Rasilez with certain blood pressure-lowering drugs (January 23, 2012) -- Researchers have published the first detailed figures showing the risk of using the prescription drug Rasilez in combination with certain other blood pressure-lowering medications. ... > full story

3-D view of 1-D nanostructures (January 23, 2012) -- Semiconductor gallium nitride nanowires show great promise in the next generation of nano- and optoelectronic systems. Recently, researchers have found new piezoelectric properties of the nanowires that could make them more useful in self-powered nanodevices. ... > full story

Study explores men's ability to manage fear in ways that allow them to exhibit confidence (January 23, 2012) -- A study of mixed martial arts competitors found that these men have unique ways of managing fear that actually allow them to exhibit confidence. ... > full story

Catching a comet death on camera (January 22, 2012) -- On July 6, 2011, a comet was caught doing something never seen before: die a scorching death as it flew too close to the sun. That the comet met its fate this way was no surprise -- but the chance to watch it first-hand amazed even the most seasoned comet watchers. ... > full story

Sweeping genetic analysis of rare disease yields common mechanism of hypertension (January 22, 2012) -- Analyzing all the genes of dozens of people suffering from a rare form of hypertension, researchers have discovered a new mechanism that regulates the blood pressure of all humans. ... > full story

Unveiling malaria's 'cloak of invisibility' (January 22, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered a molecule that is key to malaria's 'invisibility cloak.' The research will help to better understand how the parasite causes disease and escapes from the defenses mounted by the immune system. ... > full story

Researchers solve questions about Ethiopians' high-altitude adaptations (January 22, 2012) -- Over many generations, people living in the high-altitude regions of the Andes or on the Tibetan Plateau have adapted to life in low-oxygen conditions, but exactly how their genes convey a survival advantage remains an open question. Now, scientists have made new inroads to answering this question with the first genome-wide study of high-altitude adaptations within the third major population to possess them: the Amhara people of the Ethiopian Highlands. ... > full story

Elusive Z-DNA found on nucleosomes (January 22, 2012) -- New research shows that left-handed Z-DNA, normally only found at sites where DNA is being copied, can also form on nucleosomes. ... > full story

Are religious people better adjusted psychologically? (January 22, 2012) -- Psychological research has found that religious people feel great about themselves, with a tendency toward higher social self-esteem and better psychological adjustment than non-believers. But a new study finds that this is only true in countries that put a high value on religion. ... > full story

T-rays technology could help develop Star Trek-style hand-held medical scanners (January 22, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a new way to create Terahertz waves (T-rays) that may one day lead to biomedical detective devices similar to the 'tricorder' scanner used in Star Trek. ... > full story

Chemical in personal care products (phthalates) may contribute to child obesity (January 22, 2012) -- Researchers have found an association between exposure to the chemical group known as phthalates and obesity in young children – including increased body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. ... > full story

Health benefits of exercise may depend on cellular degradation (January 22, 2012) -- The health benefits of exercise on blood sugar metabolism may come from the body's ability to devour itself. ... > full story

Fundamental malaria discovery: How parasites target proteins to surface of red blood cells (January 22, 2012) -- Researchers have made a fundamental discovery in understanding how malaria parasites cause deadly disease. The researchers show how parasites target proteins to the surface of the red blood cell that enables sticking to and blocking blood vessels. Strategies that prevent this host-targeting process will block disease. ... > full story

Italian shipwreck threatens to create second disaster at sea (January 22, 2012) -- An expert on the protection of threatened marine ecosystems has commented on the potential for ecological disaster posed by the 2,300 tons of fuel oil still aboard the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia. ... > full story

Why do smells make some people sick? (January 22, 2012) -- Do you get a headache from the perfume of the lady next to you at the table? Do cleaning solutions at work make your nose itch? If you have symptoms prompted by everyday smells, it does not necessarily mean you are allergic but rather that you suffer from chemical intolerance. This hypersensitivity can be the result of an inability to get used to smells. ... > full story

Carbon dioxide is 'driving fish crazy' (January 21, 2012) -- Rising human carbon dioxide emissions may be affecting the brains and central nervous system of sea fishes with serious consequences for their survival, an international scientific team has found. Carbon dioxide concentrations predicted to occur in the ocean by the end of this century will interfere with fishes' ability to hear, smell, turn and evade predators, says a professor. ... > full story

Advance toward an imaging agent for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (January 21, 2012) -- Scientists are reporting development and initial laboratory tests of an imaging agent that shows promise for detecting the tell-tale signs of Alzheimer's disease in the brain -- signs that now can't confirm a diagnosis until after patients have died. ... > full story

Manganese may have potential in neutralizing deadly Shiga toxin (January 21, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered that manganese, an element commonly found in nature, might provide a way to neutralize the potentially lethal effects Shiga toxin. New results could pave the way for future research aimed at creating an inexpensive treatment for infections caused by bacteria that produce the Shiga toxin. Currently there is no treatment for such infections that afflict more than 150 million people each year, resulting in more than one million deaths worldwide. ... > full story

Breast cancers at lower-risk detected with widespread use of mammograms (January 21, 2012) -- As a woman ages, her chances of being diagnosed with a lower-risk breast tumor increase, according to a novel study which found that for women over 50, a substantial number of cancers detected by mammograms have good prognoses. ... > full story

In solar cells, tweaking the tiniest of parts yields big jump in efficiency (January 21, 2012) -- By tweaking the smallest of parts, engineers are hoping to dramatically increase the amount of sunlight that solar cells convert into electricity. ... > full story

Nap-deprived tots may be missing out on more than sleep (January 21, 2012) -- A new study indicates missed naps by toddlers leads to more anxiety, less joy and interest and a poorer understanding on how to solve problems. ... > full story

Tiny amounts of alcohol dramatically extend a worm's life, but why? (January 21, 2012) -- Minuscule amounts of ethanol can at least double the life span of a tiny worm used as a model for aging studies, biochemists report. "This finding floored us; it's shocking" said the senior author of the study. ... > full story

High levels of MRSA bacteria in U.S. retail meat products, study suggests (January 21, 2012) -- Retail pork products in the U.S. have a higher prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA) than previously identified, according to new research. ... > full story

Anti-malaria drug synthesized with the help of oxygen and light (January 21, 2012) -- In the future it should be possible to produce the best anti-malaria drug, artemisinin, more economically and in sufficient volumes for all patients. ... > full story

One molecule for muscle growth and insulin sensitivity (January 21, 2012) -- Two independent studies suggest a common way to pump up muscles and prevent diabetes. The key is a molecule required for fine-tuning metabolism by selectively and subtly modifying core metabolic programs. ... > full story

Theory explains how new material could improve electronic shelf life (January 21, 2012) -- Engineers have discovered that the new material graphene conducts heat about 20 times faster than silicon, making it an option as a semiconductor material that could produce quieter and longer-lasting computers, cellphones and other devices. ... > full story

Working moms multitask more and have worse time doing so than dads (January 21, 2012) -- Not only are working mothers multitasking more frequently than working fathers, but their multitasking experience is more negative as well, according to a new study. ... > full story

'Bubblegram' imaging: Novel approach to view inner workings of viruses (January 20, 2012) -- Since the discovery of the microscope, scientists have tried to visualize smaller and smaller structures to provide insights into the inner workings of human cells, bacteria and viruses. Now, researchers have developed a new way to see structures within viruses that were not clearly seen before. ... > full story

'Pulverized' chromosomes linked to cancer? (January 20, 2012) -- Researchers have mapped out a mechanism by which micronuclei could potentially disrupt the chromosomes within them and produce cancer-causing gene mutations. The findings may point to a vulnerability in cancer cells that could be attacked by new therapies. ... > full story

NASA sees repeating La Niña hitting its peak (January 20, 2012) -- La Niña, "the diva of drought," is peaking, increasing the odds that the Pacific Northwest will have more stormy weather this winter and spring, while the southwestern and southern United States will be dry. Sea surface height data from NASA's Jason-1 and -2 satellites show that the milder repeat of last year's strong La Niña has recently intensified, as seen in the latest Jason-2 image of the Pacific Ocean. ... > full story

New findings lead to test and therapy for kidney failure caused by E. coli (January 20, 2012) -- Scientists have made new discoveries about the basic workings of endothelial cells that could lead to a diagnostic test for the serious kidney disease known as hemolytic uremic syndrome and a possible treatment. ... > full story

Scientists solve mystery of colorful armchair nanotubes (January 20, 2012) -- Researchers have figured out what gives armchair nanotubes their unique bright colors: hydrogen-like objects called excitons. ... > full story

Why bigger is better when it comes to our brain and memory (January 20, 2012) -- The hippocampus is an important brain structure for recollection memory, the type of memory we use for detailed reliving of past events. Now, new research reveals characteristics of the human hippocampus that allow scientists to use anatomical brain scans to form predictions about an individual's recollection ability. ... > full story

Toward twister forecasting: Scientists make progress in assessing tornado seasons (January 20, 2012) -- A new study of short-term climate trends offers the first framework for predicting tornado activity up to a month out with current technology, and possibly further out as climate models improve, giving communities a chance to plan. The study may also eventually open a window on the question of whether tornadoes are growing more frequent due to long-term climate warming. ... > full story

Investigators achieve important step toward treating Huntington's disease (January 20, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a technique for using stem cells to deliver therapy that specifically targets the genetic abnormality found in Huntington's disease, a hereditary brain disorder that causes progressive uncontrolled movements, dementia and death. ... > full story

Mysterious flotsam in Gulf of Mexico came from Deepwater Horizon rig (January 20, 2012) -- Using state-of-the-art chemical forensics and a bit of old-fashioned detective work, scientists confirmed that mysterious material found floating in the Gulf of Mexico came from the Deepwater Horizon rig. They further determined that tracking debris from damaged rigs can help forecast coastal impacts and guide response efforts in future spills. ... > full story

Enzyme function could help with muscular dystrophy therapies (January 20, 2012) -- Researchers have worked out the exact function of an enzyme that is critical for normal muscle structure and is involved in several muscular dystrophies. The findings could be used to develop rapid, large-scale testing of potential muscular dystrophy therapies. ... > full story

Hearty bacteria help make case for life in the extreme (January 20, 2012) -- The bottom of a glacier is not the most hospitable place on Earth, but at least two types of bacteria happily live there, according to researchers. ... > full story

Horse fly named in honor of Beyoncé (January 20, 2012) -- A previously unnamed species of horse fly whose appearance is dominated by its glamorous golden lower abdomen has been named in honor of American pop diva, Beyoncé -- a member of the former group Destiny's Child that recorded the 2001 hit single "Bootylicious." ... > full story