ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, March 14, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, March 14, 2012

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Barrier to faster graphene devices identified and suppressed (March 13, 2012) -- Physicists report that they have nailed down the source of the interference inhibiting the rapid flow of electrons through graphene-based devices and found a way to suppress it. ... > full story

Scientists produce eye structures from human blood-derived stem cells (March 13, 2012) -- For the first time, scientists have made early retina structures containing proliferating neuroretinal progenitor cells using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from human blood. ... > full story

Reduced baby risk from another Cesarean (March 13, 2012) -- A major study has found that women who have had one prior cesarean can lower the risk of death and serious complications for their next baby -- and themselves -- by electing to have another cesarean. ... > full story

Investigation of Earth catastrophes from the International Space Station: Uragan Program (March 13, 2012) -- The Uragan program aboard the Russian segment of the International Space Station uses digital photography to study Earth's natural resources by monitoring catastrophes, both natural and human made. Uragan, which means "hurricane" in Russian, began during the first days of habitation on the station and continues to be an important Earth observation program, with the primary goal of defining requirements for a ground-space system for disaster warning and damage mitigation. The program is a logical continuation of the Earth Visual-Instrumental Observations Program (in other words, a crew Earth observation program) started in the Soviet Union/Russia in the early 1970s as part of the Salyut series of space stations and followed by the Mir orbiting complex. ... > full story

Flying through a geomagnetic storm (March 13, 2012) -- Glowing green and red, shimmering hypnotically across the night sky, the aurora borealis is a wonder to behold. Longtime sky watchers say it is the greatest show on Earth. It might be the greatest show in Earth orbit, too. High above our planet, astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been enjoying an up-close view of auroras outside their windows as the ISS flys through geomagnetic storms. ... > full story

NASA's Goddard, Glenn Centers look to lift space astronomy out of the fog (March 13, 2012) -- A fogbank is the least useful location for a telescope, yet today's space observatories effectively operate inside one. That's because Venus, Earth and Mars orbit within a vast dust cloud produced by comets and occasional collisions among asteroids. After the sun, this so-called zodiacal cloud is the solar system's most luminous feature, and its light has interfered with infrared, optical and ultraviolet observations made by every astronomical space mission to date. ... > full story

Cassini captures new images of icy moon (March 13, 2012) -- New raw, unprocessed images of Saturn's second largest moon, Rhea, were taken on March 10, 2012, by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. This was a relatively distant flyby with a close-approach distance of 26,000 miles (42,000 kilometers), well suited for global geologic mapping. ... > full story

Cassini spies wave rattling jet stream on Jupiter (March 13, 2012) -- New movies of Jupiter are the first to catch an invisible wave shaking up one of the giant planet's jet streams, an interaction that also takes place in Earth's atmosphere and influences the weather. The movies, made from images taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft when it flew by Jupiter in 2000, are part of an in-depth study conducted by a team of scientists and amateur astronomers. ... > full story

Simple, low-cost yoga program can enhance coping and quality of life for the caregivers (March 13, 2012) -- For dementia caregivers, researchers have found that engaging in a brief, 12-minute yogic practice that included an ancient chanting meditation, can lead to improved cognitive functioning, and lower levels of depression for caregivers. ... > full story

Children at risk for schizophrenia show disordered brain networks (March 13, 2012) -- Neuroscientists have discovered stark developmental differences in brain network function in children of parents with schizophrenia when compared to those with no family history of mental illness. ... > full story

Multiple sclerosis study documents negative effect of warmer weather on cognition (March 13, 2012) -- Scientists have shown that outdoor temperature significantly impacts cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis (MS). In cross-sectional and longitudinal samples, patients performed worse on processing speed and memory tasks during warmer outdoor temperatures. Previous research documented increased disease activity during warmer months; this study is the first to show that cognition also fluctuates. This is the first study to support the subjective impression of patients with MS that warm weather negatively affects their cognition. ... > full story

Gene known to protect against cancer can also promote tumor growth (March 13, 2012) -- Can a gene simultaneously protect against cancer and favor its growth? Researchers have discovered a gene with this double-edged property and suspect there may be many more that share it. ... > full story

Input of iron linked to biological productivity in ancient Pacific Ocean (March 13, 2012) -- Scientists have found compelling evidence from marine sediment that supports the theory that iron in the Earth’s oceans has a direct impact on biological productivity, potentially affecting the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and, in turn, atmospheric temperature. ... > full story

Charcoal studied for landfill methane containment (March 13, 2012) -- Methane, a potent greenhouse gas that's more than 20 times more effective at trapping atmospheric heat than carbon dioxide, slowly leaks from old, abandoned landfills and town dumps. Researchers are now testing inexpensive biochar as a landfill cover ingredient to keep escaping methane in check. ... > full story

Botox injections now used for severe urinary incontinence (March 13, 2012) -- When you think of Botox injections, you probably think of getting rid of unwanted wrinkles around the eyes or forehead, but recently the FDA approved using the injections to help patients with neurological conditions who suffer from incontinence, or an overactive bladder. ... > full story

More trans fat consumption linked to greater aggression, researchers find (March 13, 2012) -- Researchers have shown -- by each of a range of measures, in men and women of all ages, in Caucasians and minorities -- that consumption of dietary trans fatty acids is associated with irritability and aggression. ... > full story

Data support theory on location of lost Leonardo da Vinci painting (March 13, 2012) -- Evidence uncovered during research conducted in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio late last year appears to support the theory that a lost Leonardo da Vinci painting existed on the east wall of the Hall of the 500, behind Giorgio Vasari's mural "The Battle of Marciano." ... > full story

Global warming skepticism climbs during tough economic times (March 13, 2012) -- The American public's growing skepticism in recent years about the existence of human-made global warming is rooted in apprehension about the troubled economy, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Get me out of this slump: Visual illusions improve sports performance (March 13, 2012) -- With the NCAA men's college basketball tournament set to begin, college basketball fans around the United States are in the throes of March Madness. Anyone who has seen a game knows that the fans are like extra players on the court, and this is especially true during critical free throws. Fans of the opposing team will wave anything they can, from giant inflatable noodles to big heads, to make it difficult for players to focus on the basket. ... > full story

Scientists tap the cognitive genius of tots to make computers smarter (March 13, 2012) -- People often wonder if computers make children smarter. Scientists are now asking the reverse question: Can children make computers smarter? It appears so. ... > full story

Microbubbles and ultrasound help penetrate blood-brain barrier (March 13, 2012) -- One of the trickiest parts of treating brain conditions is the blood-brain barrier, a blockade of cells that prevent both harmful toxins and helpful pharmaceuticals from getting to the body's control center. But, a new technique uses an MRI machine to guide the use of microbubbles and focused ultrasound to help drugs enter the brain, which may open new treatment avenues for devastating conditions like Alzheimer's and brain cancers. ... > full story

Research shows 50 years of motherhood manuals set standards too high for new moms (March 13, 2012) -- New research into 50 years of motherhood manuals has revealed how despite their differences they have always issued advice as orders and set unattainably high standards for new moms and babies. ... > full story

Potential drug for speeding up cellular recycling (March 13, 2012) -- Cell biologists have identified a potential drug that speeds up trash removal from the cell's recycling center, the lysosome. ... > full story

Hydrogen power in real life: Clean and energy efficient (March 13, 2012) -- Since 2009, a hydrogen powered street cleaning vehicle has been undergoing testing on the streets of Basel. The project is intended to take hydrogen drives out of the laboratory and onto the streets in order to gain experience on using them under practical conditions. The result of the pilot trial: hydrogen as a fuel for municipal utility vehicles saves energy, is environmentally friendly and is technically feasible. In order to make it cost-effective, however, the prices of fuel cells, pressurized storage tanks and electric drives must all drop significantly. ... > full story

Fertilization by invasive species threatens nutrient-poor ecosystems (March 13, 2012) -- Biologists have developed a new method for quantifying the effect of non-native species on ecosystem functioning. ... > full story

Body clocks may hold key for treatment of bipolar disorder (March 13, 2012) -- Scientists have gained insight into why lithium salts are effective at treating bipolar disorder in what could lead to more targeted therapies with fewer side-effects. ... > full story

Santorini: The ground is moving again in paradise (March 13, 2012) -- The Santorini caldera, which sits underneath a famous tourist destination, is awake again and rapidly deforming at levels never seen before. ... > full story

Laser lightning rod: Guiding bursts of electricity with a flash of light (March 13, 2012) -- Lightning is a fascinating but dangerous atmospheric phenomenon. New research reveals that brief bursts of intense laser light can redirect these high-power electrical discharges. ... > full story

Detecting clouds from both sides now (March 13, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a more precise method to detect the boundary between clouds and clear air, by exploiting the swinging motions of a weather balloon and its payload. ... > full story

Diamond-based materials brighten the future of electronics (March 13, 2012) -- Researchers have found a way to combine ultrananocrystalline diamond with graphene and gallium nitride, greatly improving the thermal properties of the material and helping to overcome theoretical limitations on semiconducting circuits. ... > full story

Research aims for better diagnosis of language impairments (March 13, 2012) -- Recent studies aim at finding better ways to diagnose young children with language impairments. The work could lead to better treatments for individual children with communication disorders. ... > full story

Just 60 seconds of combat can impair memory, finds study of police officers (March 13, 2012) -- Just 60 seconds of all-out physical exertion in a threatening situation can seriously damage the memories of those involved for many details of the incident, according to a new study of police officers.   ... > full story

Two new species of horned dinosaur named (March 12, 2012) -- Two new horned dinosaurs have been named based on fossils collected from Alberta, Canada. The new species, Unescopceratops koppelhusae and Gryphoceratops morrisoni, are from the Leptoceratopsidae family of horned dinosaurs. The herbivores lived during the Late Cretaceous period between 75 to 83 million years ago. ... > full story

Early evolution of life: Study of ribosome evolution challenges 'RNA World' hypothesis (March 12, 2012) -- In the beginning -- of the ribosome, the cell's protein-building workbench -- there were ribonucleic acids, the molecules we call RNA that today perform a host of vital functions in cells. And according to a new analysis, even before the ribosome's many working parts were recruited for protein synthesis, proteins also were on the scene and interacting with RNA. This finding challenges a long-held hypothesis about the early evolution of life. ... > full story

Artificially structured metamaterials may boost wireless power transfer (March 12, 2012) -- More than one hundred years after the pioneering inventor Nikola Tesla first became fascinated with wireless energy transfer, the spread of mobile electronic devices has sparked renewed interest in the ability to power up without plugging in. Now researchers have proposed a way to enhance the efficiency of wireless power transfer systems by incorporating a lens made from a new class of artificial materials. ... > full story

Increased honey bee diversity means fewer pathogens, more helpful bacteria (March 12, 2012) -- A novel study of honey bee genetic diversity has for the first time found that greater diversity in worker bees leads to colonies with fewer pathogens and more abundant helpful bacteria like probiotic species. ... > full story

Red meat consumption linked to increased risk of total, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality (March 12, 2012) -- A new study has found that red meat consumption is associated with an increased risk of total, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. ... > full story

Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to increased risk of heart disease in men, study suggests (March 12, 2012) -- Men who drank one sugar-sweetened beverage a day had a 20 percent higher risk of heart disease compared to men who did not drink any sugar-sweetened drinks. Daily sugar-sweetened drink consumption was also linked to higher levels of harmful lipids in the blood and inflammation. Artificially sweetened beverages did not increase heart-disease risk in this study. ... > full story

Mathematical methods predicts movement of oil and ash following environmental disasters (March 12, 2012) -- For those involved in managing the fallout from environmental disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, it is essential to have tools that predict how the oil will move, so that they make the best possible use of resources to control the spill. Such tools now appear to be within reach. ... > full story

How the human body controls viruses thought to cause a variety of cancers (March 12, 2012) -- New research addresses how the human body controls gamma-herpesviruses, a class of viruses thought to cause a variety of cancers. ... > full story

Tweens just say 'maybe' to cigarettes and alcohol (March 12, 2012) -- When it comes to prevention of substance use in our tween population, turning our kids on to thought control may just be the answer to getting them to say no. ... > full story

Correcting human mitochondrial mutations (March 12, 2012) -- Researchers have identified, for the first time, a generic way to correct mutations in human mitochondrial DNA by targeting corrective RNAs, a finding with implications for treating a host of mitochondrial diseases. ... > full story

Scientists identify more than 500 genes that may cause pancreatic cancer (March 12, 2012) -- Scientists have identified more than 500 genes that may cause or contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer. This particularly deadly disease has a 1-in-20 survival rate after five years, largely because no effective genetic screening method exists for early detection. ... > full story

Extensive taste loss found in mammals: Feeding preferences shaped by taste receptors (March 12, 2012) -- Scientists report frequent loss of sweet taste in mammalian species that are exclusive meat eaters. Further, two sea-dwelling mammals that swallow their food whole have extensive taste loss. Many sweet-blind species eat only meat, demonstrating that a liking for sweets is frequently lost during the evolution of diet specialization. ... > full story

New study examines stair-related injuries among children in the US (March 12, 2012) -- A new study found that from 1999 through 2008, more than 93,000 children younger than five years of age were treated in US emergency departments for stair-related injuries. On average, this equates to a child younger than five years of age being rushed to an emergency department for a stair-related injury every six minutes in the US. ... > full story

New theory on formation of oldest continents (March 12, 2012) -- Geologists have demonstrated new scientific results to support a new theory on the earliest phase of continental formation. ... > full story

First consumption of abundant life form, Archaea, discovered (March 12, 2012) -- Scientists have documented for the first time that animals can and do consume Archaea – a type of single-celled microorganism thought to be among the most abundant life forms on Earth. Archaea that consume the greenhouse gas methane were in turn eaten by worms living at deep-sea cold seeps off Costa Rica and the West Coast of the United States. ... > full story

Medical imaging technology used to better understand fish senses (March 12, 2012) -- A marine biologist gets an occasional strange look when she brings fish to Rhode Island Hospital. While the facility's microCT scanner is typically used to study bone density and diseases like osteoporosis, it is also providing new insights into the skull structure and sensory systems of fish. ... > full story