ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, February 8, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, February 8, 2012

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Ancient seagrass holds secrets of the oldest living organism on Earth (February 7, 2012) -- It's big, it's old and it lives under the sea -- and now an international research collaboration has confirmed that an ancient seagrass holds the secrets of the oldest living organism on Earth. Ancient giant Posidonia oceanica reproduces asexually, generating clones of itself. A single organism -- which has been found to span up to 15 kilometers in width and reach more than 6,000 metric tonnes in mass -- may well be more than 100,000 years old. ... > full story

Mars Express radar yields strong evidence of ocean that once covered part of Red Planet (February 7, 2012) -- ESA's Mars Express has returned strong evidence for an ocean once covering part of Mars. Using radar, it has detected sediments reminiscent of an ocean floor within the boundaries of previously identified, ancient shorelines on Mars. ... > full story

Americans' knowledge of polar regions up, but not their concern (February 7, 2012) -- Americans’ knowledge of facts about the polar regions of the globe has increased since 2006, but this increase in knowledge has not translated into more concern about changing polar environments, according to new research. ... > full story

Low-cost instrument developed by high school students could aid severe weather research (February 7, 2012) -- A group of high school students designed, built and tested a low-cost device that monitors the buildup of electrical charge in clouds. A network of such field mill devices could be used to learn more about the lightning that is part of severe weather. ... > full story

Why bad immunity genes survive: Study implicates arms race between genes and germs (February 7, 2012) -- Biologists have found new evidence for why mice, people and other vertebrate animals carry thousands of varieties of genes to make immune-system proteins named MHCs -- even though some of those genes make us sick. ... > full story

New stinky flower: Our amorphophallus is smaller, but it stinks like its big cousin (February 7, 2012) -- The famed “corpse flower” plant – known for its giant size, rotten-meat odor and phallic shape – has a new, smaller relative: A botanist has discovered a new species of Amorphophallus that is one-fourth as tall but just as stinky. ... > full story

Gene mutation discovery sparks hope for effective endometriosis screening (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers have, for the first time, described the genetic basis of endometriosis, a condition affecting millions of women that is marked by chronic pelvic pain and infertility. The researchers' discovery of a new gene mutation provides hope for new screening methods. ... > full story

Researchers uncover a mechanism to explain dune field patterns (February 6, 2012) -- In a study of the harsh but beautiful White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, researchers have uncovered a unifying mechanism to explain dune patterns. The new work represents a contribution to basic science, but the findings may also hold implications for identifying when dune landscapes like those in Nebraska's Sand Hills may reach a "tipping point" under climate change, going from valuable grazing land to barren desert. ... > full story

Why common tree is toxic to snowshoe hares (February 6, 2012) -- Biologists have uncovered why the chemical defenses in birch, a common type of tree found in North America, are toxic to snowshoe hares. ... > full story

Metabolic 'breathalyzer' reveals early signs of disease (February 6, 2012) -- The future of disease diagnosis may lie in a “breathalyzer”-like technology currently under development. ... > full story

Three 'targeted' cancer drugs raise risk of fatal side effects (February 6, 2012) -- Treatment with three "targeted" cancer drugs has been linked to a slightly elevated chance of fatal side effects, according to a new analysis. These risks remain low, but they should be factored in when developing patients’ treatment plans. ... > full story

School closures slowed spread of 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic (February 6, 2012) -- Using high-quality data about the incidence of influenza infections in Alberta during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, the researchers show that when schools closed for the summer, the transmission of infection from person to person was sharply reduced. ... > full story

Clues to common birth defect found in gene expression data (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers have uncovered 27 new candidate genes for congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a common and often deadly birth defect. Their sophisticated data-filtering strategy offers a new, efficient and potentially game-changing approach to gene discovery. ... > full story

Fossil cricket reveals Jurassic love song (February 6, 2012) -- The love song of an extinct cricket that lived 165 million years ago has been brought back to life by scientists. The song – possibly the most ancient known musical song documented to date – was reconstructed from microscopic wing features on a fossil discovered in North East China. It allows us to listen to one of the sounds that would have been heard by dinosaurs and other creatures roaming Jurassic forests at night. ... > full story

NASA's Juno spacecraft refines its path to Jupiter (February 6, 2012) -- NASA's solar-powered Juno spacecraft successfully refined its flight path Feb. 1 with the mission's first trajectory correction maneuver. The maneuver is the first of a dozen planned rocket firings that, over the next five years, will keep Juno on course for its rendezvous with Jupiter. ... > full story

Discovery predicts patient sensitivity to important drug target in deadly brain cancer (February 6, 2012) -- A recent discovery enables the prediction of patient sensitivity to proposed drug therapies for glioblastoma – the most common and most aggressive malignant brain tumor in humans. ... > full story

More environmental rules needed for shale gas, says geophysicist (February 6, 2012) -- In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama praised the potential of the country's tremendous supply of natural gas buried in shale. But the "Halliburton exclusion" passed by Congress says gas companies don't have to disclose the chemicals used in fracturing fluids. That was a real mistake because it makes the public needlessly paranoid, says a geophysicist. ... > full story

PET techniques provide more accurate diagnosis, prognosis in challenging breast cancer cases (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers are revealing how molecular imaging can be used to solve mysteries about difficult cases of breast cancer. One recent article focuses on an imaging agent that targets estrogen receptors in estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer patients with formerly inconclusive assessments, and the second highlights a different imaging agent's ability to help predict the prognosis for patients undergoing chemotherapy for a very aggressive type of breast cancer. ... > full story

Satellite tracking reveals sea turtle feeding hotspots (February 6, 2012) -- Satellite tracking of threatened loggerhead sea turtles has revealed two previously unknown feeding "hotspots" in the Gulf of Mexico that are providing important habitat for at least three separate populations of the turtles. ... > full story

It's not solitaire: Brain activity differs when one plays against others (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers have found a way to study how our brains assess the behavior -- and likely future actions -- of others during competitive social interactions. Their study is the first to use a computational approach to tease out differing patterns of brain activity during these interactions, the researchers report. ... > full story

Researchers examine consequences of non-intervention for infectious disease in African great apes (February 6, 2012) -- Infectious disease has joined poaching and habitat loss as a major threat to the survival of African great apes as they have become restricted to ever-smaller populations. Despite the work of dedicated conservationists, efforts to save our closest living relatives from ecological extinction are largely failing, and new scientific approaches are necessary to analyze major threats and find innovative solutions. ... > full story

Exercise triggers stem cells in muscle (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers have determined that an adult stem cell present in muscle is responsive to exercise, a discovery that may provide a link between exercise and muscle health. The findings could lead to new therapeutic techniques using these cells to rehabilitate injured muscle and prevent or restore muscle loss with age. ... > full story

Why people can hold visual information in great detail in their working memory (February 6, 2012) -- A new study may explain why people can hold visual information in great detail in their working memory. ... > full story

Raw milk is a dangerous raw deal for farmers and consumers, experts say (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers and experts on food safety have commented on the danger presented to farmers and consumers by the raw milk movement. ... > full story

Key finding in stem cell self-renewal (February 6, 2012) -- Scientists have proposed a mechanism for the control of whether embryonic stem cells continue to proliferate and stay stem cells, or differentiate into adult cells like brain, liver or skin. The work has implications in two areas. In cancer treatment, it is desirable to inhibit cell proliferation. ... > full story

New species of bamboo-feeding plant lice found in Costa Rica (February 6, 2012) -- Several periods of field work during 2008 have led to the discovery of a new species of bamboo-feeding plant lice in Costa Rica's high-altitude region Cerro de la Muerte. The discovery was made thanks to molecular data analysis of mitochondrial DNA. The collected records have also increased the overall knowledge of plant lice (one of the most dangerous agricultural pests worldwide) from the region with more that 20 percent. ... > full story

Playing RFID tag with sheets of paper (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers in France have developed a way to deposit a thin aluminum RFID tag onto paper that not only reduces the amount of metal needed for the tag, and so the cost, but could open up RFID tagging to many more systems, even allowing a single printed sheet or flyer to be tagged. ... > full story

Low levels of lipid antibodies increase complications following heart attack (February 6, 2012) -- Coronary patients with low levels of an immune system antibody called anti-PC, which neutralizes parts of the "bad" cholesterol, run a greater risk of suffering complications following an acute cardiac episode and thus of premature death. ... > full story

Engineers weld nanowires with light (February 6, 2012) -- At the nano level, researchers have discovered a new way to weld together meshes of tiny wires. Their work could lead to exciting new electronics and solar applications. To succeed, they called upon plasmonics. ... > full story

Strategy shift with age can lead to navigational difficulties (February 6, 2012) -- A researcher believes studying people's ability to find their way around may help explain why loss of mental capacity occurs with age. ... > full story

Children hospitalized at alarming rate due to abuse, U.S. study finds (February 6, 2012) -- In one year alone, over 4,500 children in the United States were hospitalized due to child abuse, and 300 of them died of their injuries, researchers report in a new study. ... > full story

Positive parenting during early childhood may prevent obesity (February 6, 2012) -- Programs that support parents during their child’s early years hold promise for obesity prevention, according to a new study. ... > full story

Did your surgeons miss something? New system to prevent retained surgical items (February 6, 2012) -- It may sound like something from a TV medical drama, but the incidence of surgeons leaving something behind in the body is very real at hospitals across the country. But researchers have now created a new system using state-of-the-art technologies to insure that no foreign objects are left behind during surgery. ... > full story

Key to immune cell's 'internal guidance' system discovered (February 5, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered the molecular pathway that enables receptors inside immune cells to find, and flag, fragments of pathogens trying to invade a host. The discovery of the role played by the molecule CD74 could help immunologists investigate treatments that offer better immune responses against cancers, viruses and bacteria, and lead to more efficient vaccines. ... > full story

Genetic variant increases risk of common type stroke (February 5, 2012) -- A genetic variant that increases the risk of a common type of stroke has been identified by scientists. This is one of the few genetic variants to date to be associated with risk of stroke and the discovery opens up new possibilities for treatment. ... > full story

Early study suggests nanodiamonds safe for implants (February 5, 2012) -- As the number of knee and hip joint replacements grows, nanodiamond coatings could answer problems related to metal surfaces. ... > full story

Hearing metaphors activates brain regions involved in sensory experience (February 3, 2012) -- New brain imaging research reveals that a region of the brain important for sensing texture through touch, the parietal operculum, is also activated when someone listens to a sentence with a textural metaphor. The same region is not activated when a similar sentence expressing the meaning of the metaphor is heard. ... > full story

Whole exome sequencing identifies cause of metabolic disease (February 3, 2012) -- Sequencing a patient's entire genome to discover the source of his or her disease is not routine, but geneticists are getting close. A case report shows how researchers can combine a simple blood test with an "executive summary" scan of the genome to diagnose a severe glycosylation disorder. ... > full story

Why do cells age? Discovery of extremely long-lived proteins may provide insight into cell aging and neurodegenerative diseases (February 3, 2012) -- One of the big mysteries in biology is why cells age. Now scientists report that they have discovered a weakness in a component of brain cells that may explain how the aging process occurs in the brain. ... > full story

A lonely heart can make you sick: Middle aged divorced women vulnerable to contracting HIV (February 3, 2012) -- Newly divorced middle aged women are more vulnerable to contract HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, according to new research, because they tend to let their guard down with new sexual partners and avoid using protection since they are not afraid of getting pregnant. ... > full story

Regular use of vitamin and mineral supplements could reduce the risk of colon cancer, study suggests (February 3, 2012) -- Could the use of vitamin and mineral supplements in a regular diet help to reduce the risk of colon cancer and protect against carcinogens? A study published in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology found that rats given regular multivitamin and mineral supplements showed a significantly lower risk of developing colon cancer when they were exposed to carcinogens. ... > full story

The complex relationship between memory and silence (February 3, 2012) -- People who suffer a traumatic experience often don't talk about it, and many forget it over time. But not talking about something doesn't always mean you'll forget it; if you try to force yourself not to think about white bears, soon you'll be imagining polar bears doing the polka. A group of psychological scientists explore the relationship between silence and memories. ... > full story

Placebos and distraction: New study shows how to boost the power of pain relief, without drugs (February 3, 2012) -- Placebos reduce pain by creating an expectation of relief. Distraction -- say, doing a puzzle -- relieves it by keeping the brain busy. But do they use the same brain processes? Neuromaging suggests they do. When applying a placebo, scientists see activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. That's the part of the brain that controls high-level cognitive functions like working memory and attention -- which is what you use to do that distracting puzzle. ... > full story

Warfarin and aspirin are similar in heart failure treatment, study suggests (February 3, 2012) -- In the largest and longest head-to-head comparison of two anti-clotting medications, warfarin and aspirin were similar in preventing deaths and strokes in heart failure patients with normal heart rhythm, according to new research. ... > full story

Rare mutations may help explain aneurysm in high-risk families (February 3, 2012) -- An innovative approach to genome screening has provided clues about rare mutations that may make people susceptible to brain aneurysms, predisposing them to brain bleeds, according to preliminary research. ... > full story

Coughing and other respiratory symptoms improve within weeks of smoking cessation (February 3, 2012) -- If the proven long-term benefits of smoking cessation are not enough to motivate young adults to stop smoking, a new study shows that 18- to 24-year olds who stop smoking for at least two weeks report substantially fewer respiratory symptoms, especially coughing. ... > full story

New drug doesn't improve disability among stroke patients, researchers find (February 3, 2012) -- A new drug that showed promise in animal studies and an early clinical trial didn't improve disability among stroke patients, according to new research. ... > full story

Clopidogrel with aspirin doesn't prevent more small strokes, may increase risk of bleeding and death, researchers report (February 3, 2012) -- The anti-blood clot regimen that adds the drug clopidogrel (Plavix) to aspirin treatment is unlikely to prevent recurrent strokes and may increase the risk of bleeding and death in patients with subcortical stroke, according to new research. ... > full story