ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, February 28, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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Ultra-fast outflows help monster black holes shape their galaxies (February 27, 2012) -- A curious correlation between the mass of a galaxy's central black hole and the velocity of stars in a vast, roughly spherical structure known as its bulge has puzzled astronomers for years. Astronomers have now identified a new type of black-hole-driven outflow that appears to be both powerful enough and common enough to explain this link. ... > full story

Deaths triple among football players, morning temperatures thought to play a role (February 27, 2012) -- Heat-related deaths among football players across the country tripled to nearly three per year between 1994 and 2009 after averaging about one per year the previous 15 years, according to an analysis of weather conditions and high school and college sports data. The study found for the eastern US, where most deaths occurred, morning heat index values were consistently higher in the latter half of the 30-year study period. ... > full story

Amoeba may offer key clue to photosynthetic evolution (February 27, 2012) -- The major difference between plant and animal cells is the photosynthetic process, which converts light energy into chemical energy. When light isn't available, energy is generated by breaking down carbohydrates and sugars, just as it is in animal and some bacterial cells. Two cellular organelles are responsible for these two processes: the chloroplasts for and the mitochondria. New research has opened a window into the early stages of chloroplast evolution. ... > full story

Solving a spintronic mystery: Researchers resolve controversy over gallium manganese arsenide that could boost spintronic performance (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists appear to have resolved a long-standing controversy regarding the semiconductor gallium manganese arsenide, one of the most promising materials for spintronic technology. They've determined the source of the ferromagnetic properties that make gallium manganese arsenide such a hot commodity for the smaller, faster and much cheaper data storage and processing of spintronic devices. ... > full story

Research offers insight to how fructose causes obesity and other illness (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists have provided new insights into how fructose causes obesity and metabolic syndrome, more commonly known as diabetes. ... > full story

New fossil penguin from New Zealand may be the biggest ever (February 27, 2012) -- After 35 years, a giant fossil penguin has finally been completely reconstructed, giving researchers new insights into prehistoric penguin diversity. ... > full story

Traces of listeria found in Vancouver ready-to-eat fish products (February 27, 2012) -- A new study has found traces of the bacteria listeria in ready-to-eat fish products sold in metro Vancouver, Canada. ... > full story

Coral reef study traces indirect effects of overfishing (February 27, 2012) -- A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya has found dramatic effects of overfishing that could threaten the long-term health of the reefs. ... > full story

Video games depict religion as violent, problematized, study shows (February 27, 2012) -- Many newer-generation video games equate religion with violence in the game narratives, new research shows. ... > full story

'Universal' vaccines could finally allow for wide-scale flu prevention (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists have found that an emerging class of long-lasting flu vaccines called "universal" vaccines could for the first time allow for the effective, wide-scale prevention of flu by limiting the virus' ability to spread and mutate. A computational model showed that the vaccines could achieve unprecedented control of the flu virus both seasonally and during outbreaks of highly contagious new strains. ... > full story

Record-speed wireless data bridge demonstrated: Takes high-speed communications the 'last mile' (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists have created a new way to overcome many of the issues associated with bringing high-speed digital communications across challenging terrain and into remote areas, commonly referred to as the "last mile" problem. The researchers developed a record-speed wireless data bridge that transmits digital information much faster than today's state-of-the-art systems. ... > full story

Dwarf galaxy questions current galaxy formation models (February 27, 2012) -- Researcher observed the dwarf galaxy I Zw 18, and found that much of what is known about galaxy formation and evolution might need substantial revision. ... > full story

Polysternon isonae, a new species of turtle that lived with dinosaurs in Isona (Spanish Pyrenees) (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered a turtle that lived near the end of the age of dinosaurs. Unlike other kinds of turtles, it seems that Polysternon did not survive the end of Cretaceous and went extinct with the dinosaurs. ... > full story

Reduction in U.S. carbon emissions attributed to cheaper natural gas (February 27, 2012) -- Lower emission from power plants in 2009 was driven by competitive pricing of natural gas versus coal, researchers say. ... > full story

The poor, in fact, are less likely to sue their doctor (February 27, 2012) -- Contrary to the common perception among physicians that poor people sue doctors more frequently, researchers have demonstrated that socioeconomically disadvantaged patients, in fact, tend to sue physicians less often. Their work suggests that this myth may exist because of subconscious prejudices or stereotypes that affect thinking and decision making without doctors being aware of it -- a phenomenon known as unconscious bias. ... > full story

Protein identified that can lengthen our life? (February 27, 2012) -- Cells use various methods to break down and recycle worn-out components—autophagy is one of them. New research shows that the protein SNX18 is necessary for cells to be able to perform autophagy. ... > full story

60-year-old definition of surface tension on solids revised (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers have shown that surface tension on a solid material is unconnected to the energy required to create a new surface. Consequently, surface tension on a solid does not exist in its conventional meaning. ... > full story

Lethal effects of genetically modified Bt toxin confirmed on young ladybird larvae (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers confirm earlier findings that the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin Cry1Ab produced for pesticidal purposes by genetically modified (GM) Bt maize increases mortality in the young ladybird larvae (Adalia bipunctata L., two-spotted ladybird) in laboratory tests. These ladybird larvae are typical ‘non-target’ environmental goods which are not supposed to be harmed by the GM maize. ... > full story

Unusual weather: Arctic sea ice decline may be driving snowy winters seen in recent years in N. Hemisphere (February 27, 2012) -- A new study provides further evidence of a relationship between melting ice in the Arctic regions and widespread cold outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere. The study’s findings could improve seasonal forecasting of snow and temperature anomalies across northern continents. ... > full story

Study extends the 'ecology of fear' to fear of parasites (February 27, 2012) -- The ecology of fear, like other concepts from predator-prey theory, also extends to parasites, new research suggests. Raccoons and squirrels would give up food, the study demonstrated, if the area was infested with larval ticks. At some level, they are weighing the value of the abandoned food against the risk of being parasitized. ... > full story

Understanding brain performance: People who take Ritalin are far more aware of their mistakes (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers have investigated how the brain monitors ongoing behavior for performance errors – specifically failures of impulse control. People who take Ritalin are far more aware of their mistakes, a new study has found. ... > full story

Some bacteria attack using spring-loaded poison daggers (February 27, 2012) -- Bacteria have evolved different systems for secreting proteins. One, called a type VI secretion system, is found in about a quarter of all bacteria with two membranes. Despite being common, researchers have not understood how it works. Now scientists have figured out the structure of the type VI secretion system apparatus and proposed how it might work -- by shooting spring-loaded poison molecular daggers. ... > full story

RNA interference cancer treatment? Delivering RNA with tiny sponge-like spheres (February 27, 2012) -- For the past decade, scientists have been pursuing cancer treatments based on RNA interference -- a phenomenon that offers a way to shut off malfunctioning genes with short snippets of RNA. However, one huge challenge remains: finding a way to efficiently deliver the RNA. Scientists have now come up with a novel delivery vehicle in which RNA is packed into microspheres so dense that they withstand degradation until they reach their destinations. The new system knocks down expression of specific genes as effectively as existing delivery methods, but with a much smaller dose of particles. ... > full story

Frontal attack or stealth? How subverting the immune system shapes the arms race between bacteria and hosts (February 27, 2012) -- Why is it that Mycobacterium tuberculosis can cause tuberculosis with as little as 10 cells, whereas Vibrio cholerae requires the host to ingest up to tens of millions of cells to cause cholera? This is the question that scientists have just answered. ... > full story

Eye-tracking reveals variability in successful social strategies for children with autism spectrum disorders (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists used eye-tracking technology to measure the relationship between cognitive and social disability in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the ability of children with ASD to pay attention to social interactions. Results indicated that children with ASD were less likely than typically-developing peers to look at other people's eyes and faces, and were more likely to fixate on bodies and inanimate objects. ... > full story

Quantum microphone captures extremely weak sound (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists have demonstrated a new kind of detector for sound at the level of quietness of quantum mechanics. The result offers prospects of a new class of quantum hybrid circuits that mix acoustic elements with electrical ones, and may help illuminate new phenomena of quantum physics. ... > full story

Finding explosives with laser beams: New method detects chemicals -- even if enclosed in containers -- over long distances (February 27, 2012) -- People like to keep a safe distance from explosive substances, but in order to analyze them, close contact is usually inevitable. A new method has now been developed to detect chemicals inside a container over a distance of more than a hundred meters. Laser light is scattered in a very specific way by different substances. Using this light, the contents of a nontransparent container can be analyzed without opening it. ... > full story

Multiple sclerosis: Damaged myelin not the trigger, study finds (February 27, 2012) -- Millions of adults suffer from the incurable disease multiple sclerosis (MS). It is relatively certain that MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own defense cells attack the myelin in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin enwraps the nerve cells and is important for their function of transmitting stimuli as electrical signals. There are numerous unconfirmed hypotheses on the development of MS, one of which has now been refuted by the neuroimmunologists in their current research: The death of oligodendrocytes, as the cells that produce the myelin sheath are called, does not trigger MS. ... > full story

Diabetes drug improves glucose control without increasing risk of hypoglycemia, study suggests (February 27, 2012) -- Too high? Too low? Only about half of those with type 2 diabetes have their blood sugar levels on target, but a new drug shows promise in managing glucose levels. TAK-875 works by boosting the release of insulin from pancreatic B cells, but only when diabetics need it most – such as when glucose and fatty acids rise in the blood after a meal. ... > full story

In vino veritas: Promiscuous yeast hook up in wine-making vats (February 26, 2012) -- Humans aren't the only species that like to get busy with a glass of bubbly. Turns out, the common baker's yeast has indulged in a frenzy of amorous frolicking in the fermentation vats of winemakers for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years, with interesting results. ... > full story

Ancient Arabic writings help scientists piece together past climate (February 26, 2012) -- Ancient manuscripts written by Arabic scholars can provide valuable meteorological information to help modern scientists reconstruct the climate of the past, a new study has revealed. The research analyses the writings of scholars, historians and diarists in Iraq during the Islamic Golden Age between 816-1009 AD for evidence of abnormal weather patterns. ... > full story

Volcanoes deliver two flavors of water (February 26, 2012) -- By analyzing submarine volcanic glass from the Manus Basin, scientists found unexpected changes in hydrogen and boron isotopes from the deep mantle. They expected to see the "fingerprint" of seawater. But discovered evidence of seawater distilled from a more ancient plate descent, preserved for as long as one billion years. The data indicate that these ancient "slabs" can return to the upper mantle, and that rates of hydrogen exchange may not conform to experiments. ... > full story

Elusive platelet count and limb development gene discovered (February 26, 2012) -- Researchers have identified an elusive gene responsible for Thrombocytopenia with Absent Radii (TAR), a rare inherited blood and skeletal disorder. As a result, this research is now being transformed into a medical test that allows prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling in affected families. ... > full story

Glow and be eaten: Marine bacteria use light to lure plankton and fish (February 26, 2012) -- Not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes it is just bacteria trying to get ahead in life. Many sea creatures glow with a biologically produced light. This phenomenon, known as bioluminescence, is observed, among others, in some marine bacteria which emit a steady light once they have reached a certain level of concentration (a phenomenon called "quorum sensing") on organic particles in ocean waters. Though this was a known occurrence, the benefits of producing light remained unclear. Now, researchers have unraveled the mystery of why the marine bacteria glow. It has to do with what might be called "the survival of the brightest." ... > full story

Squeezing what hasn't been squeezed before: Another victory over uncertainty in quantum physics measurements (February 26, 2012) -- Uncertainty affects the accuracy with which measurements can be made in quantum physics. To reduce this uncertainty, physicists have learned to "squeeze" certain measurements. Researchers are now reporting a new type of measurement that can be squeezed to improve precision. ... > full story

Promising new technique to rescue the immune system (February 26, 2012) -- Researchers report on a promising new technique that potentially could turn immune system killer T cells into more effective weapons against infections and possibly cancer. ... > full story

European Neanderthals were on the verge of extinction even before the arrival of modern humans (February 25, 2012) -- Most Neanderthals in Europe died off around 50,000 years ago, new research suggests. The previously held view of a Europe populated by a stable Neanderthal population for hundreds of thousands of years up until modern humans arrived must therefore be revised, researchers say. ... > full story

Training parents is good medicine for children with autism behavior problems, study suggests (February 24, 2012) -- Children with autism spectrum disorders who also have serious behavioral problems responded better to medication combined with training for their parents than to treatment with medication alone, researchers report. ... > full story

Significant state-by-state differences in black, white life expectancy (February 24, 2012) -- A group of researchers tracing disparities in life expectancy between blacks and whites in the US has found that white males live about 7 years longer on average than African American men and that white women live more than 5 years longer than their black counterparts. ... > full story

Memory formation triggered by stem cell development (February 24, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered an answer to the long-standing mystery of how brain cells can both remember new memories while also maintaining older ones. ... > full story

Advancing personalized medicine: Tailoring drugs to fit a patient's genetic predisposition (February 24, 2012) -- Researchers are examining how drugs can be matched to a patient’s genetic information through the study of single nucleotide polymorphisms. ... > full story

Bird brains follow the beat (February 24, 2012) -- By training birds to ‘get rhythm’, scientists uncover evidence that our capacity to move in time with music may be connected with our ability to learn speech. ... > full story

Diagnostic tool: Polymer film loaded with antibodies can capture tumor cells (February 24, 2012) -- The development of polymer film loaded with antibodies that can capture tumor cells shows promise as a diagnostic tool. Cancer cells that break free from a tumor and circulate through the bloodstream spread cancer to other parts of the body. But this process, called metastasis, is extremely difficult to monitor because the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can account for as few as one in every billion blood cells. ... > full story

NASA pinning down where 'here' is better than ever (February 24, 2012) -- Before our Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation devices can tell us where we are, the satellites that make up the GPS need to know exactly where they are. For that, they rely on a network of sites that serve as "you are here" signs planted throughout the world. The catch is, the sites don't sit still because they're on a planet that isn't at rest, yet modern measurements require more and more accuracy in pinpointing where "here" is. To meet this need, NASA is helping to lead an international effort to upgrade the four systems that supply this crucial location information. ... > full story

The Many Moods of Titan (February 24, 2012) -- A set of recent papers, many of which draw on data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, reveal new details in the emerging picture of how Saturn's moon Titan shifts with the seasons and even throughout the day. The papers show how this largest moon of Saturn is a cousin -- though a very peculiar cousin -- of Earth. ... > full story

Erosional origin of linear dunes on Earth and Saturn's moon Titan (February 24, 2012) -- Linear dunes, widespread on Earth and Saturn's moon, Titan, are generally considered to have been formed by deposits of windblown sand. It has been speculated for some time that some linear dunes may have formed by "wind-rift" erosion, but this model has commonly been rejected due to lack of sufficient evidence. Now, new research indicates that erosional origin models should not be ruled out. ... > full story

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, certain cancers: Correct protein folding illuminated (February 24, 2012) -- Using the exceptionally bright and powerful X-ray beams of the Advanced Light Source, researchers have discovered a critical control element within chaperonin, the protein complex responsible for the correct folding of other proteins. The "misfolding" of proteins has been linked to many diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and some forms of cancer. ... > full story

Trusting feelings when predicting future events: The emotional oracle effect (February 24, 2012) -- People with higher trust in their feelings were more likely to correctly predict a variety of future events. The researchers call this phenomenon the emotional oracle effect. ... > full story