ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, February 29, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, February 29, 2012

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Researchers test sugary solution to Alzheimer's disease (February 28, 2012) -- Slowing or preventing the development of Alzheimer's disease, a fatal brain condition expected to hit one in 85 people globally by 2050, may be as simple as ensuring a brain protein's sugar levels are maintained, according to researchers. ... > full story

Stopping hormone therapy might help breast cancer to regress (February 28, 2012) -- As soon as women quit hormone therapy, their rates of new breast cancer decline, supporting the hypothesis that stopping hormones can lead to tumor regression, according to a new report. ... > full story

Elephant behavior and conservation issues (February 28, 2012) -- Researchers are using fieldwork and genetics research to uncover insights into elephant population genetics and social behavior as well as how human activities alter elephants' social and genetic structures. ... > full story

New 'magnetic yeast' marks step toward harnessing Nature's magnetic capabilities (February 28, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a method for inducing magnetic sensitivity in an organism that is not naturally magnetic -- yeast. Their technology could potentially be used to magnetize a variety of different cell types in medical, industrial and research applications. ... > full story

Molecular duo dictate human weight and energy levels (February 28, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered a key cellular mechanism that may help the brain control how much we eat, what we weigh, and how much energy we have. ... > full story

Searching for the first stars (February 28, 2012) -- How did the first stars and galaxies bring the young universe out of its dark ages and into the light? Three prominent researchers discuss how new instruments and observational techniques may find the answer. ... > full story

Potential solution to melanoma's resistance to vemurafenib (February 28, 2012) -- Researchers have found that the XL888 inhibitor can prevent resistance to the chemotherapy drug vemurafenib, commonly used for treating patients with melanoma. ... > full story

Toppling Raman shift in supercritical carbon dioxide: Vibrational mix shines new light on carbon sequestration measurements (February 28, 2012) -- Just as a wine glass vibrates and sometimes breaks when a diva sings the right note, carbon dioxide vibrates when light or heat serenades it. When it does, carbon dioxide exhibits a vibrational puzzle known as Fermi resonance. Now, researchers studying geologic carbon storage have learned a bit more about the nature of carbon dioxide. ... > full story

Open your eyes and smell the roses: Activating the visual cortex improves our sense of smell (February 28, 2012) -- A new study reveals for the first time that activating the brain’s visual cortex with a small amount of electrical stimulation actually improves our sense of smell. ... > full story

Mysterious electron acceleration explained: Computer simulation identifies source of aurora-causing high-speed electrons in space (February 28, 2012) -- A mysterious phenomenon detected by space probes has finally been explained, thanks to a massive computer simulation that was able to precisely align with details of spacecraft observations. The simulation shows that an active region in Earth's magnetotail, where "reconnection" events take place in the magnetic field, is roughly 1,000 times larger than had been thought. ... > full story

Mutated plants may be better for biofuels (February 28, 2012) -- A new study says genetic mutations in plants could make it easier to break down plant cellulose to the sugars that are fermented into biofuels. ... > full story

Eat your broccoli: Another mechanism discovered by which sulforaphane prevents cancer (February 28, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered yet another reason why the "sulforaphane" compound in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables is so good for you -- it provides not just one, but two ways to prevent cancer through the complex mechanism of epigenetics. ... > full story

Lake Chad: Inhabitants adapt to lower water levels (February 28, 2012) -- Lake Chad used to be one of the biggest lakes in the world, but its volume has been reduced to a tenth of what it was in the 1960s. The way this lake has dried up has become a symbol of climate change in action. It’s true that the lake’s water level has always changed, but this hasn’t diminished the major changes to the lifestyle of the inhabitants of the lake’s shoreline. ... > full story

Nowhere to hide: Tigers threatened by human destruction of groundcover (February 28, 2012) -- A new study is the first of its kind to systematically investigate the use of different land cover types for tiger habitat. ... > full story

Developing sustainable power (February 28, 2012) -- Scientists suggest that renewable energy is a viable option for electrical power in developing and emerging nations. Researchers point out that in most of these nations, the demand for energy far exceeds the generating capacity. ... > full story

Predicting children's language development (February 28, 2012) -- We depend on a barrage of standardized tests to assess everything from aptitude to intelligence. But do they provide an accurate forecast when it comes to something as complex as language? A new Language Use Inventory does, researchers say. ... > full story

Cold air chills heart's oxygen supply, making snow shoveling dangerous for some people (February 28, 2012) -- People with heart disease may not be able to compensate for their bodies' higher demand for oxygen when inhaling cold air, according to researchers, making snow shoveling and other activities dangerous for some. ... > full story

Overfishing threatens the survival of seabirds (February 28, 2012) -- From gannets to seagulls, puffins to penguins, all seabirds suffer the same drop in birth rates when the supply of fish drops to less than a third of maximum capacity. Below the critical level of one third of the fish biomass, the birds — and the stability of the entire ecosystem —- come under threat. ... > full story

The Brazilian rainforest : Caught between biodiversity and business (February 28, 2012) -- Brazil is exporting more and more agricultural produce: soya beans and beef in particular, but also corn, rice and sugar. Taken together, these exports represent half of Brazil’s total today. The increase in the export of commodities brings both a higher degree of economic dependency and a threat to the Amazon rainforest. ... > full story

Initial genetic analysis reveals Iceman Ötzi predisposed to cardiovascular disease (February 28, 2012) -- The famous Iceman mummy known as Ötzi was genetically predisposed to cardiovascular diseases, according to recent studies. Not only was this genetic predisposition demonstrable in the 5,000-year-old ice mummy, there was also already a symptom in the form of arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. ... > full story

Newly emerging staph strain transits more easily among humans (February 28, 2012) -- Using genome sequencing and household surveillance, scientists have pieced together how a newly emerging type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria has adapted to transmit more easily among humans. Their new study underscores the need for vigilance in surveillance of S. aureus. ... > full story

Study compares traits of autism, schizophrenia (February 28, 2012) -- A professor is studying the differences between the social impairments found in autism and schizophrenia to help develop better treatments for people with both disorders. Autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia are distinct disorders with unique characteristics, but they share similarities in social dysfunction. ... > full story

Stress changes how people make decisions (February 28, 2012) -- Trying to make a big decision while you're also preparing for a scary presentation? You might want to hold off on that. Feeling stressed changes how people weigh risk and reward. A new article published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, reviews how, under stress, people pay more attention to the upside of a possible outcome. ... > full story

Enhanced brain-computer interface promises unparalleled autonomy for disabled (February 28, 2012) -- In the 2009 film Surrogates, humans live vicariously through robots while safely remaining in their own homes. That sci-fi future is still a long way off, but recent advances in technology are bringing this technology a step closer to reality in order to give disabled people more autonomy and independence than ever before. ... > full story

Cannabis: The good, the evil, the ugly (February 28, 2012) -- Cannabis-like substances that are produced by the body have both therapeutic and harmful properties, besides their well-known intoxicating effects, and the body’s cannabinoid system may be a target for new strategies in cancer treatment, new research suggests. ... > full story

Better health another reason for getting a degree (February 28, 2012) -- Attaining at least a bachelor's degree after 25 years of age is associated with better midlife health, new research shows. ... > full story

Eye movement not engaged in 'arms race' (February 28, 2012) -- We make our eye movements earlier or later in order to coordinate with movements of our arms, neuroscientists have found. Their study points to a mechanism in the brain that allows for this coordination and may have implications for rehabilitation and prosthetics. ... > full story

Tomb exploration reveals first archaeological evidence of Christianity from the time of Jesus (February 28, 2012) -- An examination via robotic camera of an Herodian era tomb near Jerusalem has yielded ossuary engravings that strongly imply Christian culture, including an icon that seems to invoke the Jonah story, the most popular icon in third century CE Roman tomb -- previously the earliest Christian images. The tomb is in close proximity to the controversial "Jesus Tomb," which contained an ossuary engraved "Jesus son of Joseph." ... > full story

How cells make the most of limited resources (February 28, 2012) -- The bacterium that causes atypical pneumonia is helping scientists uncover how cells make the most of limited resources. By measuring all the proteins this bacterium produces, scientists have found that the secret is fine-tuning. ... > full story

Sperm cannot detect smells: End of 'Lily of the Valley phenomenon' in sperm research? (February 28, 2012) -- Scientists have now discovered that sperm do not function like olfactory cells -- a finding that casts doubt on the assumption that scents play a role in fertilization. ... > full story

How the brain responds to deceptive advertising (February 28, 2012) -- Several specific regions of our brains are activated in a two-part process when we are exposed to deceptive advertising, according to new research. The work opens the door to further research that could help us understand how brain injury and aging may affect our susceptibility to fraud or misleading marketing. ... > full story

Direct measurement of the formation length of photons (February 28, 2012) -- How long does it take an electron to form a photon? The answer would normally be: so short a time that it cannot be measured. However, the scientists responsible for experiment NA63 have now succeeded in dragging out the process, thereby making it measurable. ... > full story

New measuring techniques can improve efficiency, safety of nanoparticles (February 28, 2012) -- Using high-precision microscopy and X-ray scattering techniques, researchers have gained eye-opening insights into the process of applying green chemistry to nanotechnology that results in high yields, improves efficiency and dramatically reduces waste and potential negative exposure to human health or the environment. ... > full story

World's smallest radio stations: Two molecules communicate via single photons (February 28, 2012) -- We know since the dawn of modern physics that although events in our everyday life can be described by classical physics, the interaction of light and matter is down deep governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. Despite this century-old wisdom, accessing truly quantum mechanical situations remains nontrivial, fascinating and noteworthy even in the laboratory. Recently, interest in this area has been boosted beyond academic curiosity because of the potential for more efficient and novel forms of information processing. ... > full story

Optogenetic tool elucidated: Opening of the ion channel with light (February 28, 2012) -- Controlling nerve cells with the aid of light: this is made possible by optogenetics. It enables, for example, the investigation of neurobiological processes with unprecedented spatial and temporal precision. Biophysicists have now succeeded in explaining the switching mechanism. ... > full story

Future smart phones will project images on the wall (February 28, 2012) -- New laser light source has a global market in consumer electronics. Mobile phones currently on the market are capable of showing high quality images and video, but the phones' small size sets insurmountable limits on screen size, and thus the viewing experience. Scientists are now developing a better laser light source for projectors that will be integrated into mobile phones, which will enable accurate and efficient projection of, for example, photographs and movies on any surface. ... > full story

Land-ocean connections: How tree trunks, leaves and kukui nuts indirectly feed bottom fish in submarine canyons off Moloka'i, Hawaii (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists recently discovered that land-based plant material, such as tree trunks, leaves, and kukui nuts; and coastal macroalgae indirectly support the increased abundances of bottom fish in submarine canyons, like those off the north shore of Moloka'i. ... > full story

Modified bone drug kills malaria parasite in mice (February 27, 2012) -- A chemically altered osteoporosis drug may be useful in fighting malaria, researchers report in a new study. Unlike similar compounds tested against many other parasitic protozoa, the drug readily crosses into the red blood cells of malaria-infected mice and kills the malaria parasite. The drug works at very low concentrations with no observed toxicity to the mouse. ... > full story

Salty soil can suck water out of atmosphere: Could it happen on Mars? (February 27, 2012) -- The frigid McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are a cold, polar desert, yet the sandy soils there are frequently dotted with moist patches in the spring despite a lack of snowmelt and no possibility of rain. A new study has found that that the salty soils in the region actually suck moisture out of the atmosphere, raising the possibility that such a process could take place on Mars or on other planets. ... > full story

Higher death risk with sleeping pills (February 27, 2012) -- People are relying on sleeping pills more than ever to get a good night's rest, but a new study links the medications to a 4.6 times higher risk of death and a significant increase in cancer cases among regular pill users. ... > full story

How accurate are rapid flu tests? (February 27, 2012) -- A new study has put the accuracy of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) under the microscope. The meta-analysis of 159 studies showed three key findings: that RIDTs can be used to confirm the flu, but not to rule it out; that test accuracy is higher in children than it is in adults; and that RIDTs are better at detecting the more common influenza A virus than they are at detecting influenza B. ... > full story

How immune system's 'first responders' target infection (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered previously unsuspected aspects of the chemokine guidance system used by the body's first line of defense against infection. ... > full story

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

Hyperactivity in brain may explain multiple symptoms of depression (February 27, 2012) -- People with depression suffer a number of symptoms -- including anxiety, memory issues, and sleep disturbances. Now researchers have found that the brains of depressed people show hyperactivity; The finding sheds new light on the brain dysfunction that causes depression and its wide array of symptoms. ... > full story

A giant 'little step' in cancer treatment opening up new therapeutic horizons (February 27, 2012) -- A new study heralds a new horizon in the fight against cancer, opening up a parallel dimension to existing treatment options. The data demonstrate that by combining two drugs that had already been used on a patient in the past but had stopped working, they boost each other’s efficacy and at the same time manage to break down the patient’s resistance to each of them individually, presenting a third potential treatment option for clinically advanced metastatic tumors. While this may not initially appear to be an innovation, given that combined treatments are used in cancer as a matter of course, it actually represents a radical change in the use of the existing therapeutic weaponry, an extremely practical solution and a source of hope for many patients. ... > full story

Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids may cause memory problems (February 27, 2012) -- A diet lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients commonly found in fish, may cause your brain to age faster and lose some of its memory and thinking abilities, according to a new study. Omega-3 fatty acids include the nutrients called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). ... > 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