ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, March 6, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, March 6, 2012

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Space weather: Explosions on Venus (March 5, 2012) -- A recent study has found clear evidence on Venus for a type of space weather outburst quite common at Earth, called a hot flow anomaly. ... > full story

Tonsils make T-cells, too (March 5, 2012) -- A new study provides evidence that immune cells called T lymphocytes, or T cells, can develop in human tonsils. The cells have been thought to develop only in the thymus, an organ of the immune system that sits on the heart. The findings could be important for improving stem-cell transplantation and for understanding the development of T-cell cancers and autoimmune diseases. ... > full story

New Alzheimer's marker strongly predicts mental decline (March 5, 2012) -- A new marker of Alzheimer’s disease can predict how rapidly a patient’s memory and other mental abilities will decline after the disorder is diagnosed, researchers have found. ... > full story

Stem cells can repair a damaged cornea (March 5, 2012) -- A new cornea may be the only way to prevent a patient going blind -- but there is a shortage of donated corneas and the queue for transplantation is long. Scientists have for the first time successfully cultivated stem cells on human corneas, which may in the long term remove the need for donators. ... > full story

New research supports theory of extraterrestrial impact (March 5, 2012) -- Scientists have identified a nearly 13,000-year-old layer of thin, dark sediment buried in the floor of Lake Cuitzeo in central Mexico. The sediment layer contains an exotic assemblage of materials, including nanodiamonds, impact spherules, and more, which, according to the researchers, are the result of a cosmic body impacting Earth. ... > full story

Perception and preference may have genetic link to obesity (March 5, 2012) -- New discoveries suggest that fats are perceived on the tongue as a "taste" sensation by binding to specialized receptors on taste buds. More specifically, fats are broken down in the mouth to fatty acids, and it's the fatty acids that bind to these receptors. ... > full story

New insights into cloud formation (March 5, 2012) -- Clouds have a profound effect on the climate, but we know surprisingly little about how they form. Researcher have studied how extremely small cloud particles can dispose of excess energy. This knowledge is necessary to understand processes in the atmosphere that affect global climate change. ... > full story

Discovery of a molecule that initiates maturation of mammalian eggs can lead to more IVF pregnancies (March 5, 2012) -- Women who have eggs that cannot mature will not become pregnant, and they cannot be helped by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Now researchers have identified a molecule called Cdk1 that has an important function for mammalian egg maturation. In the future this could lead to an increased rate of successful IVF. ... > full story

Scientists gain new insight into prefrontal cortex activity (March 5, 2012) -- The brain has a remarkable ability to learn new cognitive tasks while maintaining previously acquired knowledge about various functions necessary for everyday life. But exactly how new information is incorporated into brain systems that control cognitive functions has remained a mystery. ... > full story

The Blue Planet's new water budget: Do we have enough? (March 5, 2012) -- Investigating the history of water on Earth is critical to understanding the planet's climate. One central question is whether Earth has always had the same amount of water on and surrounding it, the same so-called "water budget". Has Earth gained or lost water from comets and meteorites? Has water been lost into space? New research into the Earth's primordial oceans revisits Earth’s historical water budget. ... > full story

Smart, self-healing hydrogels open far-reaching possibilities in medicine, engineering (March 5, 2012) -- Bioengineers have developed a self-healing hydrogel that binds in seconds, as easily as Velcro, and forms a bond strong enough to withstand repeated stretching. The material has numerous potential applications, including medical sutures, targeted drug delivery, industrial sealants and self-healing plastics. ... > full story

Demise of early large animals caused by both humans and climate change (March 5, 2012) -- Past waves of extinctions which removed some of the world's largest animals were caused by both people and climate change, according to new research. ... > full story

Advancing understanding of energy storage mechanisms (March 5, 2012) -- Materials researchers have given the engineering world a better look at the inner functions of the electrodes of supercapacitors -- the low-cost, lightweight energy storage devices used in many electronics, transportation and many other applications. ... > full story

Miniature pressure sensors for medical touch (March 5, 2012) -- A new kind of flexible, transparent pressure sensor, developed for use in medical applications, relies on a drop of liquid. ... > full story

Genetic link between visual pathways of hydras and humans discovered (March 5, 2012) -- What good is half an eye? Evolutionary biologists studying the origins of vision get that question a lot, and new research points to a possible answer. New findings indicate that, even in the absence of eyes altogether, some creatures display a light-sensitivity that uses the same visual pathway that allows humans to see. ... > full story

New nanoglue is thin and supersticky (March 5, 2012) -- Engineers have invented a superthin "nanoglue" that could be used in new-generation microchip fabrication. ... > full story

Spider silk conducts heat as well as metals (March 5, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered that spider silk is surprisingly good at transferring heat. Spider silk, in fact, conducts heat as well or better than most metals. ... > full story

Unraveling biological networks: Biological network motif discovery algorithms (March 5, 2012) -- A new approach to disentangling the complexities of biological networks, such as the way in which proteins interact in our body's cells has been developed. The new algorithm could allow biologists and biomedical researchers to unravel new clues about how cells work and what goes awry with such networks in various diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer. ... > full story

Is seaweed the future of biofuel? (March 5, 2012) -- The problem with environmentally friendly biofuels is the ever-increasing amount of farmland necessary to produce these crops diverts it from food production. Now researchers are exploring common seaweed as a viable alternative. ... > full story

Will a genetic mutation cause trouble? Ask Spliceman (March 5, 2012) -- New, free Web-based software analyzes DNA sequences to determine if mutations are likely to cause errors in splicing of messenger RNA. When gene splicing goes awry, a wide variety of diseases can result. ... > full story

Scientists search for source of creativity (March 5, 2012) -- Researchers are working to pin down the exact source of creativity in the brain -- and have found that the left hemisphere of your brain, thought to be the logic and math portion, actually plays a critical role in creative thinking. ... > full story

Sawfishes sure can wield a saw: Saw senses electric fields to locate prey and also attack (March 5, 2012) -- Sawfishes wouldn't be sawfishes if they didn't come equipped with long toothy snouts -- their saws. Now, researchers have figured out what they use those saws for, and it turns out the answer is quite impressive. The saws themselves have tiny sensors that enable sawfishes to detect the electric fields of other nearby animals. ... > full story

Next-generation DNA sequencing to improve diagnosis for muscular dystrophy (March 5, 2012) -- Scientists have used a revolutionary new DNA-reading technology for a research project that could lead to correct genetic diagnosis for muscle-wasting diseases. The technique could be used to offer people with muscular dystrophy, or a related neuromuscular condition, a more accurate prognosis, which would enable them to make more informed choices on life decisions, including family planning. ... > full story

Spanking and genetics may increase childhood aggression (March 5, 2012) -- The risk of problem behavior during childhood — particularly for boys — is greatly increased if children have genetic predispositions for these behaviors and if they are spanked by their parents. ... > full story

Bioethicist calls Jon Stewart 'our greatest public intellectual' (March 5, 2012) -- A bioethicist is calling political satirist Jon Stewart "our greatest public intellectual. This is no joke." ... > full story

Elevated carbon dioxide concentrations can increase carbon storage in the soil (March 5, 2012) -- Elevated carbon dioxide concentrations can increase carbon storage in the soil, according to results from a 12-year carbon dioxide-enrichment experiment. ... > full story

Women happier in relationships when men feel their pain (March 5, 2012) -- Men like to know when their wife or girlfriend is happy while women really want the man in their life to know when they are upset, according to a new study. ... > full story

Nanomaterials: A coating protocol (March 5, 2012) -- A robust approach for preparing polymer-coated quantum dots may find use in a wide range of applications. ... > full story

Conscious perception has little to do with primary visual cortex, research suggests (March 5, 2012) -- Imaging data suggest that conscious perception has little to do with the primary visual cortex -- the region where visual information enters the brain. From a purely intuitive point of view, it is easy to believe that our ability to actively pay attention to a target is inextricably connected with our capacity to consciously perceive it. However, this proposition remains the subject of extensive debate in the research community, and surprising new findings promise to fuel the debate. ... > full story

Building a beetle antifreeze (March 5, 2012) -- An Alaskan beetle beats the cold using an unusual, natural antifreeze with a novel mode of action that scientists are beginning to unravel. ... > full story

The origin of organic magnets (March 5, 2012) -- A theoretical model for the unusual occurrence of magnetism in organic molecules may help develop this class of material for electronics applications. ... > full story

Evolving planets get a bumpy ride (March 5, 2012) -- The formation of planets occurs under constant bombardment from particles ranging from a few nanometers to tens of kilometers in size, according to recent analyses of asteroid samples by scientists. The study is the first reported analysis of grains taken directly from a solar body in space. ... > full story

Stress making your blood pressure rise? Blame your immune system (March 5, 2012) -- If stress is giving you high blood pressure, blame the immune system. T cells, helpful for fighting infections, are also necessary for mice to show an increase in blood pressure after a period of psychological stress, scientists have found. The findings suggest the effects of chronic stress on cardiovascular health may be a side effect of having an immune system that can defend us from infection. There also are potential implications for treating both high blood pressure and anxiety disorders. ... > full story

Warming of two degrees inevitable over Canada, experts say (March 5, 2012) -- Even if zero emissions of greenhouse gases were to be achieved, the world's temperature would continue to rise by about a quarter of a degree over a decade. That's a best-case scenario, according to a new article. Experts urge the public, governments and industries to wake up to a harsh new reality. ... > full story

In forests, past disturbances obscure warming impacts (March 5, 2012) -- Past disturbances, such as logging, can obscure the effects of climate change on forest ecosystems. So reports a new study. The article, exploring nitrogen dynamics, found that untangling climate impacts from other factors can be difficult, even when scientists have access to decades of data on a forest's environmental conditions. ... > full story

Rare wolverine photographed in Montana (March 5, 2012) -- Conservationists recently released ta camera-trap photo of a wolverine retrieving bait placed in a tree in Montana. ... > full story

Making memories: How one protein does it (March 5, 2012) -- Studying tiny bits of genetic material that control protein formation in the brain, scientists say they have new clues to how memories are made and how drugs might someday be used to stop disruptions in the process that lead to mental illness and brain wasting diseases. ... > full story

Ice hockey feels the heat in Canada (March 5, 2012) -- The future of Canadian outdoor ice hockey – a sport synonymous with the country’s culture – is being threatened by anthropogenic climate change, new research suggests. As warmer winter temperatures restrict ice from freezing over, researchers believe the ice hockey stars of the future will have limited access to the frozen lakes and backyard rinks that have helped shape the careers of some of the greatest professional players, such as Wayne Gretzky; the Canadian considered to be the greatest of all time who started skating as a child on a rink in his backyard. ... > full story

Keep smiling: Collagen matrix promotes gum healing around exposed roots (March 5, 2012) -- Receding gums often result in tooth sensitivity and can lead to decay of the root and persistent inflammation of the gum. New research demonstrates that a novel method using bovine collagen is able to enhance gum healing. This resulted in thicker margins around the tooth and, in over half the cases, complete coverage of exposed roots. ... > full story

Personality change key to improving wellbeing (March 5, 2012) -- People’s personalities can change considerably over time, say scientists, suggesting that leopards really can change their spots. ... > full story

How plants sniff out unhealthy neighbors to fight off infection (March 5, 2012) -- A new study sheds light on how plants sniff out unhealthy neighbors to fight off infection. People and animals are not the only ones who can smell. Plants are also able to perceive odors, but they process them in a very different way . While insects or mammals smell odors within a second of exposure, plants require much longer exposure times to respond. Then using this information, they react effectively to the odors emitted by infected or infested neighboring plants in order to increase their resistance to pest insects or disease. ... > full story

Standing still in running water: Lotic dragon and damselfly species less able to adapt to climate change (March 5, 2012) -- A new study throws light on the capability of individual dragonfly species to track climate change. The authors show that dragonfly species which breed in pools and ponds are better able to cope with climate change than species whose habitats are streams and rivers. The results are based on a comparison of the projected and observed distributions of European dragonfly species in 2006 and 1988.  ... > full story

X-rays reveal how soil bacteria carry out surprising chemistry (March 5, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered how soil bacteria carry out surprising chemistry, defying a longstanding set of chemical rules and thus paving the way for new synthesis of polyether drugs. ... > full story

New direction for game controllers: Prototypes tug at thumb tips to enhance video gaming (March 5, 2012) -- University of Utah engineers designed a new kind of video game controller that not only vibrates like existing devices, but pulls and stretches the thumb tips in different directions to simulate the tug of a fishing line, the recoil of a gun or the feeling of ocean waves. ... > full story

Sleepy pilots, train operators and drivers (March 4, 2012) -- The people we trust to take us or our loved ones from place to place struggle with sleep, according to an new poll. It is the first poll to ask transportation professionals, including pilots, train operators, truck, bus, taxi and limo drivers about their sleep habits and work performance. ... > full story

Escaping parasites and pathogens (March 4, 2012) -- In nature, how do host species survive parasite attacks? This has not been well understood, until now. A new mathematical model shows that when a host and its parasite each have multiple traits governing their interaction, the host has a unique evolutionary advantage that helps it survive. ... > full story

Study shows brain flexibility, gives hope for natural-feeling neuroprosthetics (March 4, 2012) -- A new study that shows more flexibility in the brain than previously thought could be a major boost to the development of mind-controlled neuroprosthetic devices that feel natural. ... > full story

Oxygen detected in atmosphere of Saturn's moon Dione: Discovery could mean ingredients for life are abundant on icy space bodies (March 2, 2012) -- An international research team has discovered molecular oxygen ions (O2+) in the upper-most atmosphere of Dione, one of the 62 known moons orbiting the ringed planet. The research was made possible via instruments aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft. ... > full story