ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, February 16, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, February 16, 2012

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Genetic mutation implicated in 'broken' heart (February 15, 2012) -- Researchers have found that mutations in a gene called TTN account for 18 percent of sporadic and 25 percent of familial cases of dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged and cannot properly pump blood. ... > full story

Smoking cessation meds shows promise as alcoholism treatment, study suggests (February 15, 2012) -- A medication commonly used to help people stop smoking may have an unanticipated positive side effect for an entirely different vice: drinking alcohol. A new study finds that varenicline, sold as Chantix, increases the negative effects of alcohol and therefore could hold promise as a treatment for alcoholism. ... > full story

Drinking alcohol shrinks critical brain regions in genetically vulnerable mice (February 15, 2012) -- Brain scans of two strains of mice imbibing significant quantities of alcohol reveal serious shrinkage in some brain regions -- but only in mice lacking a particular type of receptor for dopamine, the brain's "reward" chemical. The study provides new evidence that these dopamine receptors may play a protective role against alcohol-induced brain damage. ... > full story

How fast you walk and your grip in middle age may predict dementia, stroke risk (February 15, 2012) -- Simple tests such as walking speed and hand grip strength may help doctors determine how likely it is a middle-aged person will develop dementia or stroke. ... > full story

Autoinjectors offer way to treat prolonged seizures (February 15, 2012) -- A mutli-site study offers paramedics a better tool for treating seizures -- autoinjectors were found to be a safe, effective alternative to giving drugs by IV. ... > full story

Low molecular weight heparin use in cancer treatment (February 15, 2012) -- Researchers suggest conclusive answers to key questions on the benefits of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for cancer patients remain elusive - despite promising results from large studies. ... > full story

Boiling breakthrough: Nano-coating doubles rate of heat transfer (February 15, 2012) -- The old saw that a watched pot never boils may not apply to pots given an ultra-thin layer of aluminum oxide, which researchers have reported can double the heat transfer from a hot surface to a liquid. ... > full story

New 'soft' motor made from artificial muscles (February 15, 2012) -- The electrostatic motor, used more than 200 years ago by Benjamin Franklin to rotisserie a turkey, is making a comeback in a promising new design for motors that is light, soft, and operates without external electronic controllers. ... > full story

Virtual ghost imaging: New technique enables imaging even through highly adverse conditions (February 15, 2012) -- By using some of light's "spooky" quantum properties, researchers have created images of objects that might otherwise be hidden from view. ... > full story

In new mass-production technique, robotic insects spring to life (February 15, 2012) -- A new technique inspired by elegant pop-up books and origami will soon allow clones of robotic insects to be mass-produced by the sheet. Devised by engineers, the ingenious layering and folding process enables the rapid fabrication of not just microrobots, but a broad range of electromechanical devices. ... > full story

Time of year important in projections of climate change effects on ecosystems (February 15, 2012) -- Based on more than 25 years of data, ecologists looked at how droughts and heat waves affect grass growth during different months of the year. ... > full story

Extreme summer temperatures occur more frequently in U.S. now, analysis shows (February 15, 2012) -- Extreme summer temperatures are already occurring more frequently in the United States, and will become normal by mid-century if the world continues on a business as usual schedule of emitting greenhouse gases. By analyzing observations and results obtained from climate models, a new study has shown that previously rare high summertime (June, July and August) temperatures are already occurring more frequently in some regions of the 48 contiguous United States. ... > full story

Dust from industrial-scale processing of nanomaterials carries high explosion risk (February 15, 2012) -- With expanded production of nanomaterials fast approaching, scientists are reporting indications that dust generated during processing may explode more easily than dust from other common dust explosion hazards. Their article indicates that nanomaterial dust could explode from a spark with only 1/30th the energy needed to ignite sugar dust — cause of the 2008 Portwentworth, Georgia, explosion that killed 13 people, injured 42 people and destroyed a factory. ... > full story

Computer sleuthing helps unravel RNA's role in cellular function (February 15, 2012) -- Computer engineers may have just provided the medical community a new way of figuring out exactly how one of the three building blocks of life forms and functions. They have used a complex computer program to analyze RNA motifs – the subunits that make up RNA. ... > full story

Climate change may increase risk of water shortages in hundreds of US counties by 2050 (February 15, 2012) -- More than one in three counties in the US could face a "high" or "extreme" risk of water shortages due to climate change by the middle of the 21st century, according to a new study. The report concluded seven in 10 of the more than 3,100 counties could face "some" risk of shortages of fresh water. ... > full story

Out of Africa? Data fail to support language origin in Africa (February 15, 2012) -- Last year, a report claiming to support the idea that the origin of language can be traced to West Africa appeared in Science. The article caused quite a stir. Now a linguist has challenged its conclusions, in a commentary just published in Science. ... > full story

Psychiatric diagnoses: Why no one is satisfied (February 15, 2012) -- As the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is revised for the first time since 1994, controversy about psychiatric diagnosis is reaching a fever pitch. ... > full story

Plasmas torn apart: Discovery hints at origin of phenomena like solar flares (February 15, 2012) -- Using high-speed cameras to look at jets of plasma in the lab, researchers have made a discovery that may be important in understanding phenomena like solar flares and in developing nuclear fusion as a future energy source. ... > full story

Hospitalization of US underage drinkers common, costs 5 million a year (February 15, 2012) -- Hospitalization for underage drinking is common in the United States, and it comes with a price tag -- the estimated total cost for these hospitalizations is about 5 million per year, a new study has found. ... > full story

Stem cell study in mice offers hope for treating heart attack patients (February 15, 2012) -- A new stem cell study conducted in mice suggests a novel strategy for treating damaged cardiac tissue in patients following a heart attack. The approach potentially could improve cardiac function, minimize scar size, lead to the development of new blood vessels – and avoid the risk of tissue rejection. ... > full story

Great eruption replay: Astronomers watch delayed broadcast of powerful stellar eruption (February 15, 2012) -- Astronomers are watching a delayed broadcast of a spectacular outburst from the unstable, behemoth double-star system Eta Carinae, an event initially seen on Earth nearly 170 years ago. ... > full story

Prions play powerful role in the survival and evolution of wild yeast strains (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have tested nearly 700 wild yeast strains isolated from diverse environments for the presence of known and unknown prion elements, finding them in one third of all strains. All the prions appear capable of creating diverse new traits, nearly half of which are beneficial. These unexpected findings stand as strong evidence against the common argument that prions are merely yeast "diseases" or rare artifacts of laboratory culture. ... > full story

Lava formations in Western U.S. linked to rip in giant slab of Earth (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have proposed mass melting as a new force behind volcanic activity in the Columbia River region. ... > full story

Protein may play role in obesity, diabetes, aging (February 15, 2012) -- Researchers have identified a potent regulator of sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels. The new findings may help scientists find better treatments for type II diabetes, obesity and other health problems caused by the body's inability to properly regulate blood sugar. ... > full story

Stretching helices help keep muscles together (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered that the elastic part of myomesin, a protein that links muscle filaments, can stretch to two and a half times its original length, unfolding in a way that was hitherto unknown. ... > full story

Black hole came from a shredded galaxy (February 15, 2012) -- Astronomers have found a cluster of young, blue stars encircling the first intermediate-mass black hole ever discovered. The presence of the star cluster suggests that the black hole was once at the core of a now-disintegrated dwarf galaxy. The discovery of the black hole and the star cluster has important implications for understanding the evolution of supermassive black holes and galaxies. ... > full story

Children may have highest exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles, found in candy and other products (February 15, 2012) -- Children may be receiving the highest exposure to nanoparticles of titanium dioxide in candy, which they eat in amounts much larger than adults, according to a new study. A new study provides the first broadly based information on amounts of the nanomaterial – a source of concern with regard to its potential health and environmental effects – in a wide range of consumer goods. ... > full story

New defense mechanism against viruses and cancer identified (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have found a fundamentally new mechanism how our defense system is ramped up when facing a viral intruder. Exploitation of this mechanism in vaccines sparks new hope for better prevention and therapy of infectious diseases and cancer. ... > full story

In the mouth, smoking zaps healthy bacteria (February 15, 2012) -- According to a new study, smoking causes the body to turn against its own helpful bacteria, leaving smokers more vulnerable to disease. ... > full story

Diabetes may start in the intestines, research suggests (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have made a surprising discovery about the origin of diabetes. Their research suggests that problems controlling blood sugar — the hallmark of diabetes — may begin in the intestines. The new study, in mice, may upend long-held theories about the causes of the disease. ... > full story

NASA Landsat's thermal infrared sensor arrives at Orbital (February 15, 2012) -- A new NASA satellite instrument that makes a quantum leap forward in detector technology has arrived at Orbital Sciences Corp. in Gilbert, Ariz. There it will be integrated into the next Landsat satellite, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM). ... > full story

Teachers fly experiments on NASA reduced gravity flights (February 15, 2012) -- More than 70 teachers had an opportunity to experience what it feels like to float in space as they participated in the Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston last week. ... > full story

NASA science aircraft to travel the globe in 2012 (February 15, 2012) -- With missions scheduled throughout the year, 2012 is shaping up to be an extraordinary time for NASA's Airborne Science Program and Earth system science research. Multiple aircraft and specialized instruments will operate in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America this year in support of studies conducted by NASA and the Earth science community, improving scientists' understanding of our planet. ... > full story

Pocket microscope with accessory for ordinary smart phone (February 15, 2012) -- Engineers have developed an optical accessory that turns an ordinary camera phone into a high-resolution microscope. The device is accurate to one hundredth of a millimeter. Among those who will benefit from the device are the printing industry, consumers, the security business, and even health care professionals. ... > full story

Tiny chameleons discovered in Madagascar: Small enough to stand on the tip of a finger (February 15, 2012) -- Four new species of miniaturized lizards have been identified in Madagascar. These lizards, just tens of millimeters from head to tail and in some cases small enough to stand on the head of a match, rank among the smallest reptiles in the world. ... > full story

Newborn stars emerge from dark clouds in Taurus (February 15, 2012) -- A new image from the APEX telescope in Chile shows a sinuous filament of cosmic dust more than ten light-years long. In it, newborn stars are hidden, and dense clouds of gas are on the verge of collapsing to form yet more stars. The cosmic dust grains are so cold that observations at wavelengths of around one millimeter are needed to detect their glow. ... > full story

New molecule discovered in fight against allergy (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered a new molecule that could offer the hope of new treatments for people allergic to the house dust mite. ... > full story

Virtual reality supports planning by architects (February 15, 2012) -- Even the most exact construction plan lacks many details and design options. The building owner needs imagination to obtain an idea of the constructed building. Now, new 3D video glasses provide a true representation in virtual reality. With the help of integrated high-resolution motion sensors, the virtual environment adapts to the natural movement of the head in real time. ... > full story

New clues about how cancer cells communicate and grow (February 15, 2012) -- Researchers have shown that the communication signals sent around the body by cancer cells, which are essential for the cancer to grow, may contain pieces of RNA – these substances, like DNA, are pieces of genetic code that can instruct cells, and ultimately the body, how to form. The same study also found early indications that these genetic instructions can be intercepted and modified by chemotherapy to help prevent cancer cells growing. ... > full story

Freeze-dried heart valve scaffolds hold promise for heart valve replacement (February 15, 2012) -- The biological scaffold that gives structure to a heart valve after its cellular material has been removed can be freeze-dried and stored for later use as a tissue-engineered replacement valve to treat a failing heart, as described in a new article. ... > full story

When nerve meets muscle, biglycan seals the deal (February 14, 2012) -- In the absence of the protein biglycan, synapses at neuromuscular junctions in mice began to break up about five weeks after birth, according to a new study. Reintroducing byglycan helped fix the loss of synaptic stability in cell culture. The research may be relevant to efforts to treat motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gherig's Disease) and spinal muscular atrophy. ... > full story

Stem cell treatments improve heart function after heart attack (February 14, 2012) -- Stem cell therapy moderately improves heart function after a heart attack, according to a systematic review. But the researchers behind the review say larger clinical trials are needed to establish whether this benefit translates to a longer life. ... > full story

Cognitive stimulation beneficial in dementia (February 14, 2012) -- Cognitive stimulation therapies have beneficial effects on memory and thinking in people with dementia, according to a systematic review. Despite concerns that cognitive improvements may not be matched by improvements in quality of life, the review also found positive effects for well-being. ... > full story

High population density is greatest risk factor for water-linked diseases (February 14, 2012) -- Water-associated infectious disease outbreaks are more likely to occur in areas where a region's population density is growing, according to a new global analysis of economic and environmental conditions that influence the risk for these outbreaks. ... > full story

Building bone from cartilage: Orthopaedic researchers take the road less travelled (February 14, 2012) -- A person has a tumor removed from her femur. A soldier is struck by an improvised explosive device and loses a portion of his tibia. A child undergoes chemotherapy for osteosarcoma but part of the bone dies as a result. Every year, millions of Americans sustain fractures that don't heal or lose bone that isn't successfully grafted. Orthopaedic researchers have just found a very promising, novel way to regenerate bone. ... > full story

Left-handed? Different bodies, different minds (February 14, 2012) -- We like to think of ourselves as rational creatures, absorbing information, weighing it carefully, and making thoughtful decisions. But, as it turns out, we're kidding ourselves. Over the past few decades, scientists have shown there are many different internal and external factors influencing how we think, feel, communicate, and make decisions at any given moment. One particularly powerful influence may be our own bodies, according to new research. ... > full story

Short-term exposure to most major air pollutants associated with increased risk of heart attack (February 14, 2012) -- Short-term exposure (for up to 7 days) to all major air pollutants, with the exception of ozone, is significantly associated with an increased risk of heart attack, according to a new review article. ... > full story

Trouble sleeping? It may affect your memory later on (February 14, 2012) -- The amount and quality of sleep you get at night may affect your memory later in life, according to new research. ... > full story