ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, March 20, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, March 20, 2012

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Scientists develop tools to make more complex biological machines from yeast (March 19, 2012) -- Scientists are one step closer to making more complex microscopic biological machines, following improvements in the way that they can "re-wire" DNA in yeast, according to new research. ... > full story

Novel therapy discovered for Crohn's disease (March 19, 2012) -- Medical researchers have discovered important new information on the efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in treating Crohn's disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). CLA is a naturally occurring acid found in meat and dairy products known for its anti-cancer and immune modulatory properties. ... > full story

Warm weather puts trees on fast forward (March 19, 2012) -- Flowers are popping open and pollen is flying, driven by higher-than-normal temperatures across the eastern United States. ... > full story

Facebook's dark side (March 19, 2012) -- For the average narcissist, Facebook "offers a gateway for hundreds of shallow relationships and emotionally detached communication," one expert says. More importantly, for this study, social networking in general allows the user a great deal of control over how he or she is presented to and perceived by peers and other users, he added. ... > full story

Biplane to break the sound barrier: Cheaper, quieter and fuel-efficient biplanes could put supersonic travel on the horizon (March 19, 2012) -- A researcher has come up with a concept that may solve many of the problems that grounded the Concorde. An assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics, says the solution, in principle, is simple: Instead of flying with one wing to a side, why not two? ... > full story

One solution to global overfishing found (March 19, 2012) -- A new study indicates that "co-management" -- a collaborative arrangement between local communities, conservation groups, and governments -- provides one solution to a vexing global problem: overfishing. ... > full story

Discovery provides blueprint for new drugs that can inhibit hepatitis C virus (March 19, 2012) -- Chemists have produced the first high resolution structure of a molecule that when attached to the genetic material of the hepatitis C virus prevents it from reproducing. ... > full story

Circadian rhythms have profound influence on metabolic output (March 19, 2012) -- By analyzing the hundreds of metabolic products present in the liver, researchers have discovered that circadian rhythms -- our own body clock -- greatly control the production of such key building blocks as amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids. ... > full story

New antibiotic could make food safer and cows healthier (March 19, 2012) -- Food-borne diseases might soon have another warrior to contend with, thanks to a new molecule discovered by chemists. The new antibiotic, an analog of the widely used food preservative nisin, also has potential to be a boon to the dairy industry as a treatment for bovine mastitis. ... > full story

Beer and bling in Iron Age Europe (March 19, 2012) -- Celtic burial mounds in southwest Germany, offer a glimpse of how Iron Age people lived in a time before written records were kept. Using both old-school archaeology and new technology, the researchers were able to reconstruct elements of dress and ornamentation and also social behavior of those aspiring status. ... > full story

Experients may force revision of astrophysical models of the universe (March 19, 2012) -- In a challenge to current astrophysical models of the universe, researchers have found that current estimates of the interiors of so-called ice giant planets within and without the solar system overstate water's compressibility by as much as 30 percent, forcing revisions in estimates of other elements. ... > full story

Geologic map of Jupiter's moon Io details an otherworldly volcanic surface (March 19, 2012) -- More than 400 years after Galileo's discovery of Io, the innermost of Jupiter's largest moons, a team of scientists has produced the first complete global geologic map of the Jovian satellite. ... > full story

Cosmic rays alter chemistry of lunar ice, may create building blocks of life (March 19, 2012) -- Space scientists report they have quantified levels of radiation on the moon's surface from galactic cosmic ray (GCR) bombardment that over time causes chemical changes in water ice and can create complex carbon chains similar to those that help form the foundations of biological structures. In addition, the radiation process causes the lunar soil, or regolith, to darken over time, which is important in understanding the geologic history of the moon. ... > full story

Polycrystalline diamond drill bits open up options for geothermal energy (March 19, 2012) -- Nearly two-thirds of the oil we use comes from wells drilled using polycrystalline diamond compact bits, originally developed nearly 30 years ago to lower the cost of geothermal drilling. Scientists recently brought the technology full circle, showing how geothermal drillers might use the original PDC technology, incorporating decades of subsequent improvements by the oil and gas industry. ... > full story

Focus on technology overlooks human behavior when addressing climate change (March 19, 2012) -- Technology alone won't help the world turn away from fossil fuel-based energy sources, says a sociologist. A shift in political and economic policies to is needed to embrace the concept that continued growth in energy consumption is not sustainable, experts say. ... > full story

Diagnosis of ADHD on the rise (March 19, 2012) -- The number of American children leaving doctors' offices with an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis has risen 66 percent in 10 years, according to a new study. ... > full story

Genetic variation in human gut viruses could be raw material for inner evolution (March 19, 2012) -- A growing body of evidence underscores the importance of human gut bacteria in modulating human health, metabolism, and disease. Yet bacteria are only part of the story. Viruses that infect those bacteria also shape who we are. A new study sequenced the DNA of viruses -- the virome -- present in the gut of healthy people. ... > full story

How bacteria resist a 'Trojan horse' antibiotic (March 19, 2012) -- A new study describes how bacteria use a previously unknown means to defeat an antibiotic. The researchers found that the bacteria have modified a common "housekeeping" enzyme in a way that enables the enzyme to recognize and disarm the antibiotic. ... > full story

Smoking may restore tapped-out self-control resources (March 19, 2012) -- When researchers deplete a smoker's self control, smoking a cigarette may restore self-control, new research suggests. ... > full story

Global sea level likely to rise as much as 70 feet for future generations (March 19, 2012) -- Even if humankind manages to limit global warming to 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F), as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommends, future generations will have to deal with sea levels 12 to 22 meters (40 to 70 feet) higher than at present, according to new research. ... > full story

Targeted X-ray treatment of mice prevents glaucoma (March 19, 2012) -- Researchers have demonstrated that a single, targeted x-ray treatment of an individual eye in young, glaucoma-prone mice provided that eye with apparently life-long and typically complete protection from glaucoma. They used sophisticated genomics methods to uncover some of the very first pathways to change during glaucoma in these mice. The first pathway they detected to change suggests a critical mechanism that could be responsible for the earliest damage that glaucoma inflicts on the optic nerve. ... > full story

Scientists break through pancreas cancer treatment barrier (March 19, 2012) -- Pancreas cancer tumors spread quickly and are notoriously resistant to treatment, making them among the deadliest of malignancies. Their resistance to chemotherapy stems in part from a unique biological barrier the tumor builds around itself. Now scientists have found a way to break through that defense, and their research represents a potential breakthrough in the treatment of pancreas cancer. ... > full story

A new tool to reveal structure of proteins (March 19, 2012) -- A new method to reveal the structure of proteins could help researchers understand biological molecules -- both those involved in causing disease and those performing critical functions in healthy cells. For roughly a decade, a technique called solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has allowed researchers to detect the arrangements of atoms in proteins that defy study by traditional laboratory tools such as X-ray crystallography. ... > full story

How monarch butterflies recolonize northern breeding range (March 19, 2012) -- New research reveals how monarchs recolonize the northern reaches of their breeding grounds -- information that will help preserve this migratory species threatened by loss of critical food and habitat. ... > full story

Genetic research develops tools for studying diseases, improving regenerative treatment (March 19, 2012) -- Researchers may make it easier to recover after spinal cord injury or to study neurological disorders. His research can greatly improve animal and human health by developing technology to advance cellular therapy and regenerative medicine. ... > full story

Reintroducing the American chestnut tree (March 19, 2012) -- Reintroduction of the American chestnut tree after billions died due to blight could be accomplished more effectively thanks to a software tool. ... > full story

Tracking Lake Erie water snake in fight against invasive fish (March 19, 2012) -- Researchers have used a surgically implanted device to record the habits of snakes in their natural environment for the first time. This particular study holds promise in "keeping score" as Ohio's Lake Erie water snake defends its native habitat against an invasive fish species. ... > full story

Young children learn about prejudice by instruction, older children by experience (March 19, 2012) -- For a six-year-old, one of the most powerful educational tools may be direct instruction, according to new research on how children learn about prejudice. Scientists found that as children get closer to age 10, they begin to rely more on their own experiences rather than what people tell them -- but for youngsters, instruction trumps experience. ... > full story

Including ads in mobile apps poses privacy, security risks (March 19, 2012) -- Researchers have found that including ads in mobile applications poses privacy and security risks. In a recent study of 100,000 apps in the official Google Play market, researchers noticed that more than half contained so-called ad libraries. And 297 of the apps included aggressive ad libraries that were enabled to download and run code from remote servers -- which raises significant privacy and security concerns. ... > full story

Some orbits more popular than others in solar systems (March 19, 2012) -- Computer simulations have revealed a plausible explanation for a phenomenon that has puzzled astronomers: Rather than occupying orbits at regular distances from a star, giant gas planets similar to Jupiter and Saturn appear to prefer to occupy certain regions in mature solar systems while staying clear of others. ... > full story

Marine Protected Areas are keeping turtles safe (March 19, 2012) -- Marine Protected Areas are providing sea turtles with an ideal habitat for foraging and may be keeping them safe from the threats of fishing. A new study shows that 35 percent of the world's green turtles are found within MPAs. This is much higher that would be expected as only a small proportion of shallow oceans are designated as MPAs. ... > full story

Tracking proteins behaving badly provides insights for treatments of brain diseases (March 19, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a novel technique that tracks diseased proteins behaving badly by forming clusters in brain diseases such as Huntington's and Alzheimer's. ... > full story

First complete full genetic map of promising energy crop (March 19, 2012) -- The first high-resolution, comprehensive genetic map of a promising energy crop called miscanthus has been completed. ... > full story

Solving the mystery of blood clotting (March 19, 2012) -- New research helps to better understand the blood clotting process. Researchers were able to determine the molecular 3-D structure of a protein in blood platelets and a receptor that sticks through the membrane of the cell to the outside. ... > full story

Japanese traditional therapy, honokiol, blocks key protein in inflammatory brain damage, study suggests (March 19, 2012) -- Microglia are the first line defense of the brain and are constantly looking for infections to fight off. Overactive microglia can cause uncontrolled inflammation within the brain, which can in turn lead to neuronal damage. New research shows that, honokiol (HNK) is able to down-regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory enzymes in activated microglia via Klf4, a protein known to regulate DNA. ... > full story

The Viking journey of mice and men (March 19, 2012) -- House mice happily live wherever there are humans. When populations of humans migrate the mice often travel with them. New research has used evolutionary techniques on modern day and ancestral mouse mitochondrial DNA to show that the timeline of mouse colonization matches that of Viking invasion. During the Viking age (late 8th to mid 10th century) Vikings from Norway established colonies across Scotland, the Scottish islands, Ireland, and Isle of Man. They also explored the north Atlantic, settling in the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Newfoundland and Greenland. While they intentionally took with them domestic animals such as horses, sheep, goats and chickens they also inadvertently carried pest species, including mice. ... > full story

Nerve cells grow on nanocellulose (March 19, 2012) -- Researchers have shown that nanocellulose stimulates the formation of neural networks. This is the first step toward creating a three-dimensional model of the brain. Such a model could elevate brain research to totally new levels, with regard to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, for example. ... > full story

Antibiotic treatment increases the severity of asthma in young mice (March 19, 2012) -- Treatment with the antibiotic vancomycin increases the severity of allergic asthma in young mice, researchers in Canada have revealed. The results are consistent with the “hygiene hypothesis” that links the loss of beneficial bacteria in the community of microorganisms in the gut, collectively known as the microbiota, to the onset of asthma.   ... > full story

Lifestyle study highlights key differences in relapsing and progressive onset multiple sclerosis (March 19, 2012) -- Patients with relapsing onset Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who consumed alcohol, wine, coffee and fish on a regular basis took four to seven years longer to reach the point where they needed a walking aid than people who never consumed them. However the study did not observe the same patterns in patients with progressive onset MS. ... > full story

No fear of the 'big bad wolf:' Feeding habits of German wolves investigated (March 19, 2012) -- Scientists have been investigating the feeding habits of wolves in the first eight years since their appearance in Germany. The results are reassuring: The proportion of livestock on the menu lies at less than one percent. ... > full story

Smell is a symphony: New model for how the brain is organized to process odor information (March 19, 2012) -- Just like a road atlas faithfully maps real-word locations, our brain maps many aspects of our physical world: Sensory inputs from our fingers are mapped next to each other in the somatosensory cortex; the auditory system is organized by sound frequency. The olfactory system was believed to map similarly, where groups of chemically related odorants - amines, ketones, or esters, for example - register with clusters of cells that are laid out next to each other. ... > full story

Researchers boost potency, reduce side effects of IL-2 protein used to treat cancer (March 18, 2012) -- The utility of a naturally occurring protein given, sometimes to great effect, as a drug to treat advanced cancers is limited by the severe side effects it sometimes causes. But scientists have now generated a mutant version of the protein whose modified shape renders it substantially more potent than the natural protein while reducing its toxicity. ... > full story

Looking at quantum gravity in a mirror (March 18, 2012) -- Einstein's theory of gravity and quantum physics are expected to merge at the Planck-scale of extremely high energies and on very short distances. Now scientists have proposed a new quantum experiment using Planck-mass mirrors. ... > full story

Need for speed: Molecular ticket determines RNA’s destination and speed inside egg cell (March 18, 2012) -- Like any law-abiding train passenger, a molecule called oskar RNA carries a stamped ticket detailing its destination and form of transport, scientists have found. They show that for this molecule, moving in the right direction isn’t enough: speed is of the essence. Their study also provides clues as to how a single molecule could receive tickets for different destinations, depending on what type of cell it is in. ... > full story

Physicists simulate strongly correlated fermions (March 18, 2012) -- Combining known factors in a new way, physicists have solved an intractable 50-year-old problem: How to simulate strongly interacting quantum systems to accurately predict their properties. It could lead to superconductor applications and solving high-energy physics and ultra-cold atoms problems. ... > full story

Hazy shades of life on early Earth (March 18, 2012) -- When microbes ruled the world -- new research provides evidence of the key role played by microorganisms in the creation of our atmosphere and the development of complex life on Earth. ... > full story

Bone marrow transplant arrests symptoms in model of Rett syndrome (March 18, 2012) -- Medical researchers have used a bone marrow transplant to replace faulty immune system cells in models of Rett syndrome. The procedure arrested many severe symptoms of the childhood disorder, including abnormal breathing and movement, and extended the lifespan of Rett mouse models. Exploring the function of microglia deficient in the Rett protein scientists uncovered a completely novel approach to this devastating neurological syndrome. ... > full story

Genetic variation in East Asians found to explain resistance to cancer drugs (March 18, 2012) -- Scientists have identified the reason why some patients fail to respond to some of the most successful cancer drugs. ... > full story