ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, January 25, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, January 25, 2012

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Sunshade geoengineering more likely to improve global food security, research suggests (January 25, 2012) -- Carbon dioxide emissions have been increasing over the past decades, causing Earth to get hotter and hotter. There are concerns that a continuation of these trends could have catastrophic effects. This has led some to explore drastic ideas for combating global warming, including the idea of counteracting it by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. However, it has been suggested that reflecting sunlight away from Earth might itself threaten the food supply. New research examines the potential effects that geoengineering the climate could have on global food production and concludes that sunshade geoengineering would be more likely to improve rather than threaten food security. ... > full story

With mutation, you can have your cream and eat it, too (January 25, 2012) -- People who carry a malfunctioning copy of a particular gene are especially good at clearing fat from their systems. The report shows how the mutant gene influences metabolism in this way. ... > full story

Chemists devise chemical reaction that holds promise for new drug development (January 25, 2012) -- Scientists have devised a new method for making complex molecules. The reaction they have come up with should enable chemists to synthesize new varieties of a whole subclass of organic compounds called nitrogen-containing heterocycles, thus opening up new avenues for the development of novel pharmaceuticals and natural products ranging from chemotherapeutic compounds to bioactive plant materials such as morphine. ... > full story

Tobacco smoking and high blood pressure are biggest killers of Japanese adults, study finds (January 25, 2012) -- The life expectancy of a person born in Japan is among the highest in the world (82.9 years) yet tobacco smoking and high blood pressure are still the major risk factors for death among adults in Japan, emphasizing the need to reduce tobacco smoking and to improve ongoing programs designed to help people manage multiple cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, according to a new study. ... > full story

Improving crops from the roots up (January 25, 2012) -- Scientists have taken us a step closer to breeding hardier crops that can better adapt to different environmental conditions and fight off attack from parasites. ... > full story

Love of a dog or cat helps women cope with HIV/AIDS (January 25, 2012) -- A spoonful of medicine goes down a lot easier if there is a dog or cat around. Having pets is helpful for women living with HIV/AIDS and managing their chronic illness, according to a new study. ... > full story

New breed of electron interactions in quantum systems (January 25, 2012) -- Physicists have observed a new kind of interaction that can arise between electrons in a single-atom silicon transistor, offering a more complete understanding of the mechanisms that govern electron conduction in nano-structures at the atomic scale. ... > full story

Women with certain type of ovarian cancer and BRCA gene mutation have improved survival at 5 years (January 25, 2012) -- Among women with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer, patients having a germline (gene change in a reproductive cell that could be passed to offspring) mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes was associated with improved five-year overall survival, with BRCA2 carriers having the best prognosis, according to a new study. ... > full story

Power generation is blowing in the wind (January 25, 2012) -- By looking at the stability of the atmosphere, wind farm operators could gain greater insight into the amount of power generated at any given time. Power generated by a wind turbine largely depends on the wind speed. In a wind farm in which the turbines experience the same wind speeds but different shapes (such as turbulence) to the wind profile, a turbine will produce different amounts of power. This variable power can be predicted by looking at atmospheric stability, according to new research. ... > full story

Addition of proton pump inhibitor to treatment of poorly controlled asthma in children does not improve symptoms (January 25, 2012) -- Children without symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux whose asthma was being poorly controlled with anti-inflammatory treatment did not have an improvement in symptoms or lung function with the added treatment of the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole, compared to patients who received placebo, according to a new study. Use of lansoprazole was associated with increased adverse events. ... > full story

Molecular structure and function of essential plant hormone could profoundly change our understanding of a key cell process (January 25, 2012) -- A recent study investigating the molecular structure and function of an essential plant hormone could profoundly change our understanding of a key cell process, and might ultimately lead to the development of new drugs for a variety of diseases. ... > full story

Homeless heavy drinkers imbibe less when housing allows alcohol, study finds (January 25, 2012) -- A study of a controversial housing project that allows chronically homeless people with severe alcohol problems to drink in their apartments found that during their first two years in the building residents cut their heavy drinking by 35 percent. ... > full story

Scientists discover new clue to chemical origins of life (January 24, 2012) -- Organic chemists have made a significant advance towards establishing the origin of the carbohydrates (sugars) that form the building blocks of life. The researchers have re-created a process which could have occurred in the prebiotic world. ... > full story

Entry point for hepatitis C infection identified (January 24, 2012) -- A molecule embedded in the membrane of human liver cells that aids in cholesterol absorption also allows the entry of hepatitis C virus, the first step in hepatitis C infection, according to new research. ... > full story

Low temperatures enhance ozone degradation above the Arctic (January 24, 2012) -- Extraordinarily cold temperatures in the winter of 2010/2011 caused the most massive destruction of the ozone layer above the Arctic so far: The mechanisms leading to the first ozone hole above the North Pole have now been investigated. ... > full story

Parental controls on embryonic development? (January 24, 2012) -- When a sperm fertilizes an egg, each contributes a set of chromosomes to the resulting embryo, which at these very early stages is called a zygote. Early on, zygotic genes are inert, so embryonic development is largely controlled by parental factors. The activation of the zygotic genome therefore represents an important transition toward a more autonomous mode of embryonic development, and has been the subject of much speculation and scrutiny. Now a new study suggests that the reach of parental control in the embryo may be longer than we thought. ... > full story

Membrane fusion a mystery no more (January 24, 2012) -- The many factors that contribute to how cells communicate and function at the most basic level are still not fully understood, but researchers have uncovered a mechanism that helps explain how intracellular membranes fuse, and in the process, created a new physiological membrane fusion model. ... > full story

Poorest smokers face toughest odds for kicking the habit (January 24, 2012) -- Quitting smoking is never easy. However, when you're poor and uneducated, kicking the habit for good is doubly hard, according to a new study. ... > full story

New material to remove radioactive gas from spent nuclear fuel (January 24, 2012) -- Research by chemists could impact worldwide efforts to produce clean, safe nuclear energy and reduce radioactive waste. They have used metal-organic frameworks to capture and remove volatile radioactive gas from spent nuclear fuel. ... > full story

High levels of fructose consumption by adolescents may put them at cardiovascular risk, evidence suggests (January 24, 2012) -- Evidence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk is present in the blood of adolescents who consume a lot of fructose, a scenario that worsens in the face of excess belly fat, researchers report. ... > full story

Space weather arrives: Relatively minor impacts expected from solar storm (January 24, 2012) -- A significant blast of energy from the sun arrived at Earth on Jan. 24, 2012 at 10 a.m. EST, triggering a moderate geomagnetic storm here that's unlikely to cause major problems. But skywatchers take note: the storm could set off bright Northern and Southern lights Tuesday night, possibly visible from as far south as New York and Oregon. ... > full story

The big picture: Long-term imaging reveals intriguing patterns of human brain maturation (January 24, 2012) -- Now, new research describes the first comprehensive study of coordinated anatomical maturation within the developing human brain. The study reveals that functionally connected brain regions mature together and uncovers fascinating sex-specific differences in brain development. ... > full story

Wasp found in upstate New York shows up in Southern California (January 24, 2012) -- In August 2010, an entomologist at the University of California, Riverside discovered a tiny fairyfly wasp in upstate New York that had never been seen in the United States until then. Nearly exactly a year later, he discovered the wasp in Irvine, Calif., strongly suggesting that the wasp is well established in the country. Called Gonatocerus ater, the 1-millimeter-long wasp was accidentally introduced in North America. It lays its eggs inside the eggs of leafhoppers. ... > full story

Brain activity linked to delusion-like experience (January 24, 2012) -- People with schizophrenia showed greater brain activity during tests that induce a brief, mild form of delusional thinking. This effect wasn't seen in a comparison group without schizophrenia. ... > full story

Ancient dinosaur nursery: Oldest nesting site yet found (January 24, 2012) -- An excavation at a site in South Africa has unearthed the 190-million-year-old dinosaur nesting site of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus -- revealing significant clues about the evolution of complex reproductive behavior in early dinosaurs. ... > full story

Is short stature associated with a 'shortage' of genes? (January 24, 2012) -- New research sifts through the entire genome of thousands of human subjects to look for genetic variation associated with height. The results of the study suggest that uncommon genetic deletions are associated with short stature. ... > full story

Supercomputers take a cue from microwave ovens: Co-design may be the answer to modeling clouds and other big problems (January 24, 2012) -- As sophisticated as modern climate models are, one critical component continues to elude their precision -- clouds. Clouds modulate the climate. Experts agree that getting their effect on the climate system correct is critical to increasing confidence in projections of future climate change. To build the breakthrough supercomputers that these researchers need, computer scientists are taking a cue from the world of consumer electronics. ... > full story

Cell signaling key to stopping growth and migration of brain cancer cells (January 24, 2012) -- Inhibition of cell signaling through the Mer receptor tyrosine kinase pathway shown to both sensitize glioblastoma cells to chemotherapy and decrease their ability to migrate to other, non-targeted areas of the brain. ... > full story

Efforts to control the 'Mighty Mississippi' result in flooded farmland and permanent damage, research shows (January 24, 2012) -- When the water in the Mississippi River rose to 58 feet with a forecast of 60 feet or higher in May 2011, the emergency plan to naturally or intentionally breach the levees, established over 80 years prior, was put in motion. The flood of 1937 did top the frontline levee and water passed into and through the New Madrid Floodway, but being floodfree since then caused area landowners to oppose the plan being put into action. ... > full story

It's evolution: Nature of prejudice, aggression different for men and women (January 24, 2012) -- Prejudice against people from groups different than their own is linked to aggression for men and fear for women, suggests new research. ... > full story

Neanderthals and their contemporaries engineered stone tools, anthropologists discover (January 24, 2012) -- New published research from anthropologists in the UK supports the long-held theory that early human ancestors across Africa, Western Asia and Europe engineered their stone tools.  ... > full story

Newly discovered heart stem cells make muscle and bone (January 24, 2012) -- Researchers have identified a new and relatively abundant pool of stem cells in the heart. The findings show that these heart cells have the capacity for long-term expansion and can form a variety of cell types, including muscle, bone, neural and heart cells. ... > full story

New study sheds light on evolutionary origin of oxygen-based cellular respiration (January 24, 2012) -- Researchers in Japan have clarified the crystal structure of quinol dependent nitric oxide reductase (qNOR), a bacterial enzyme that offers clues on the origins of our earliest oxygen-breathing ancestors. In addition to their importance to fundamental science, the findings provide key insights into the production of nitrogen oxide, an ozone-depleting and greenhouse gas hundreds of times more potent than carbon dioxide. ... > full story

Breast cancer and heart disease may have common roots (January 24, 2012) -- Women who are at risk for breast cancer may also be at greater risk for heart disease, new research has found. ... > full story

How cells dispose of their waste: Researchers reveal the structure of the cellular protein degradation machinery (January 24, 2012) -- Defective proteins that are not disposed of by the body can cause diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Scientists recently succeeded in revealing the structure of the cellular protein degradation machinery (26S proteasome) by combining different methods of structural biology. The results represent an important step forward in the investigation of the 26S proteasome. ... > full story

Ancient domesticated dog skull found in Siberian cave: 33,000 years old (January 24, 2012) -- A 33,000-year-old dog skull unearthed in a Siberian mountain cave presents some of the oldest known evidence of dog domestication and indicates that modern dogs may be descended from multiple ancestors, with advancing glaciers thwarting early domestication efforts. ... > full story

How skin is wired for touch (January 24, 2012) -- Compared to our other senses, scientists don't know much about how our skin is wired for the sensation of touch. Now, new research provides the first picture of how specialized neurons feel light touches, like a brush of movement or a vibration, are organized in hairy skin. ... > full story

Lifelong brain-stimulating habits linked to lower Alzheimer's protein levels (January 24, 2012) -- People who have made mental engagement a lifelong habit have lower levels of a key protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by neuroscientists. The findings could provide support for cognitive therapies to help prevent the onset of a debilitating disease. ... > full story

Greater brain activation after cognitive rehabilitation for MS (January 24, 2012) -- Scientists have documented increased cerebral activation in patients with multiple sclerosis following memory retraining using modified Story Memory Technique. This study is the first to demonstrate that behavioral interventions can have a positive effect on brain function in MS, an important step in validating the clinical utility of cognitive rehabilitation. ... > full story

'Miracle tree' substance produces clean drinking water inexpensively and sustainably (January 24, 2012) -- A natural substance obtained from seeds of the "miracle tree" could purify and clarify water inexpensively and sustainably in the developing world, where more than 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, scientists report. ... > full story

To 'think outside the box,' think outside the box (January 24, 2012) -- Want to think outside the box? Try actually thinking outside of a box. In a new study, researchers had students think up solutions to problems while acting out various metaphors about creative thinking and found that the instructions actually worked. ... > full story

Scientists produce world's first magnetic soap (January 24, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a soap, composed of iron rich salts dissolved in water, that responds to a magnetic field when placed in solution. The soap’s magnetic properties were shown to result from tiny iron-rich clumps that sit within the watery solution. The generation of this property in a fully functional soap could calm concerns over the use of soaps in oil-spill clean ups and revolutionize industrial cleaning products. ... > full story

Genes and timing of menopause (January 24, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered 13 new regions of the genome associated with the timing of menopause. These genes shed light on the biological pathways involved in reproductive lifespan and will provide insights into conditions connected to menopause, such as breast cancer and heart disease. ... > full story

Lessons in coral reef survival from deep time (January 24, 2012) -- Lessons from tens of millions of years ago are pointing to new ways to save and protect today's coral reefs and their myriad of beautiful and many-hued fishes at a time of huge change in the Earth's systems. Today's complex relationship between fishes and corals developed relatively recently in geological terms -- and is a major factor in shielding reef species from extinction, say experts. ... > full story

Molecular fingerprint discovered that may improve outcomes for head and neck cancer patients (January 24, 2012) -- Researchers have found a biomarker in head and neck cancers that can predict whether a patient’s tumor will be life threatening. The biomarker is considered particularly promising because it can detect the level of risk immediately following diagnosis. ... > full story

Extremely rare turtle is released into the wild (January 24, 2012) -- Biologists have successfully released a Southern River terrapin (Batagur affinis) – one of the most endangered turtles on Earth – into the Sre Ambel River in Cambodia. ... > full story

Benefits of high quality child care persist 30 years later (January 24, 2012) -- Adults who participated in a high quality early childhood education program in the 1970s are still benefiting from their early experiences in a variety of ways, according to a new study. ... > full story

Women report feeling pain more intensely than men, says study of electronic medical records (January 24, 2012) -- Women report more intense pain than men in virtually every disease category, according to researchers who mined a huge collection of electronic medical records to establish the broad gender difference to a high level of statistical significance. ... > full story