ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Monday, March 26, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Monday, March 26, 2012

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Extreme weather of last decade part of larger pattern linked to global warming (March 25, 2012) -- The past decade has been one of unprecedented weather extremes. Scientists now argue that the high incidence of extremes is not merely accidental. From the many single events a pattern emerges. At least for extreme rainfall and heat waves the link with human-caused global warming is clear, the scientists show in a new analysis of scientific evidence. ... > full story

Genetics of flu susceptibility: Why the flu is life-threatening for some, and quite mild for others (March 25, 2012) -- A genetic finding could help explain why influenza becomes a life-threatening disease to some people while it has only mild effects in others. New research has identified for the first time a human gene that influences how we respond to influenza infection. ... > full story

Materials Inspired by Mother Nature: One-Pound Boat That Could Float 1,000 Pounds (March 25, 2012) -- Combining the secrets that enable water striders to walk on water and give wood its lightness and strength yielded an amazing material so buoyant that, in everyday terms, a boat made from 1 pound of it could carry five kitchen refrigerators, about 1,000 pounds. It is one of the lightest solid substances in the world. ... > full story

Brain size may determine whether you are good at keeping friends (March 24, 2012) -- Researchers are suggesting that there is a link between the number of friends you have and the size of the region of the brain -- known as the orbital prefrontal cortex -- that is found just above the eyes. A new study shows that this brain region is bigger in people who have a larger number of friendships. ... > full story

Laser hints at how universe got its magnetism (March 24, 2012) -- Scientists have used a laser to create magnetic fields similar to those thought to be involved in the formation of the first galaxies; findings that could help to solve the riddle of how the universe got its magnetism. ... > full story

Treatment of ischemic heart failure with bone marrow cells does not show improvement for certain heart function measures (March 24, 2012) -- Use of a patient's bone marrow cells for treating chronic ischemic heart failure did not result in improvement on most measures of heart function, according to a new study. ... > full story

Shiny new tool for imaging biomolecules (March 23, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a technique for lacing artificial membranes with billions of gold nanoantennas that can boost optical signals from a protein tens of thousands of times without the protein ever being touched. This technique could provide a critical tool in the fight against a wide range of health problems including cancer. ... > full story

Embryonic stem cells shift metabolism in cancer-like way upon implanting in uterus (March 23, 2012) -- When an embryo implants in the uterus, the low-oxygen environment provokes some of its cells to shift to a sugar-busting metabolism. In cancer cells, the same shift releases fuel and materials for rapid tumor growth and division. In the embryo, the shift prepares for dramatic growth and formation of layers that later become organs. The researchers also saw a mitochondrial downshift linked to aging and disease controlling normal embryonic development. It may protect cells that later become eggs or sperm from oxidant damage. ... > full story

Learning best when you rest: Sleeping after processing new info most effective (March 23, 2012) -- Nodding off in class may not be such a bad idea after all. New research shows that going to sleep shortly after learning new material is most beneficial for recall. ... > full story

Highly flexible despite hard-wiring: Even slight stimuli change the information flow in the brain (March 23, 2012) -- When looking at an optical illusion that can appear as either one cup or two faces, which do you see first? What we believe we see in one of the most famous optical illusions changes in a split second; and so does the path that the information takes in the brain. Changes in the information processing can be triggered even by a slight stimulus, such as a scent or sound, at the right time. ... > full story

New epilepsy gene located in dogs (March 23, 2012) -- A new epilepsy gene for idiopathic epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds has been found in the canine chromosome 37. This research opens new avenues for the understanding of the genetic background of the most common canine epilepsies. The research also has an impact on the understanding of common epilepsies in humans. ... > full story

Assess global freshwater stress using new tool (March 23, 2012) -- A new method to make better use of vast amounts of data related to global geography, population and climate may help determine the relative importance of population increases vs. climate change. ... > full story

'Bed-of-nails' breast implant deters cancer cells (March 23, 2012) -- Researchers have created an implant that appears to deter breast cancer cell regrowth. Made from a common federally approved polymer, the implant is the first to be modified at the nanoscale in a way that causes a reduction in the blood-vessel architecture that breast cancer tumors depend upon, while also attracting healthy breast cells. ... > full story

Brain insulin resistance contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (March 23, 2012) -- Insulin resistance in the brain precedes and contributes to cognitive decline above and beyond other known causes of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

Expectations, exhaustion can lead mothers to post-adoption stress (March 23, 2012) -- Fatigue and unrealistic expectations of parenthood may help contribute to post-adoption depression in women, according to a new study. ... > full story

New theory on size of black holes: Gas-guzzling black holes eat two courses at a time (March 23, 2012) -- Astronomers have put forward a new theory about why black holes become so hugely massive -- claiming some of them have no 'table manners', and tip their 'food' directly into their mouths, eating more than one course simultaneously. ... > full story

Forces among molecules: Tiny but important (March 23, 2012) -- Forces are not only associated with machines or muscles. You can also find them elsewhere, for instance between molecules. Theoretical chemists are familiar with that. However, they -- or rather their computers -- are not capable of calculating them with high accuracy and efficiency at the same time. ... > full story

A new test might facilitate diagnosis and drug development for Alzheimer's disease (March 23, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a new method for measurement of aggregated beta-amyloid – a protein complex believed to cause major nerve cell damage and dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. The new method might facilitate diagnosis and detection as well as development of drugs directed against aggregated beta-amyloid. ... > full story

Who knew? Fruit flies get kidney stones too (March 23, 2012) -- Research on kidney stones in fruit flies may hold the key to developing a treatment that could someday stop the formation of kidney stones in humans, scientists have found. ... > full story

An extinct species of scops owl has been discovered in Madeira (March 23, 2012) -- Scientists have described a new type of fossil scops owl, the first extinct bird on the archipelago of Madeira (Portugal). Otus mauli, which was also the first nocturnal bird of prey described in the area, lived on land and became extinct as a result of humans arriving on the island. Twenty years ago, the German researcher Harald Pieper discovered fossil remains of a small nocturnal bird of prey in Madeira, which, until now, had not been studied in depth. The international team of palaeontologists has shown that the remains belong to a previously unknown extinct species of scops owl, which they have called Otus mauli. ... > full story

Dairy cows have individual temperaments (March 23, 2012) -- From a young age, dairy cows react differently from each other to stimuli from their surroundings. An animal’s temperament determines how it reacts in stressful situations, but may also influence its general health. In the future, temperament could be bred as a selective trait to improve the robustness and well-being of dairy cows. ... > full story

Biomarkers for autism discovered (March 23, 2012) -- There are no acknowledged biomarkers for autism today. An important step towards developing a rapid, inexpensive diagnostic method for autism has now been take. Through advanced mass spectrometry the researchers managed to capture promising biomarkers from a tiny blood sample. ... > full story

Humans began walking upright to carry scarce resources, chimp study suggests (March 23, 2012) -- Most of us walk and carry items in our hands every day. These are seemingly simple activities that the majority of us don't question. But scientists have discovered that human bipedalism, or walking upright, may have originated millions of years ago as an adaptation to carrying scarce, high-quality resources. ... > full story

Marine forensics expert seeks to vindicate Titanic survivors' account (March 23, 2012) -- On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking, marine forensics experts are re-interpreting the statements made by survivors at the 1912 official inquiries into the disaster. ... > full story

Diatom biosensor could shine light on future nanomaterials (March 23, 2012) -- A biosensor made of fluorescent proteins embedded in the shell of microscopic marine algae called diatoms could help detect chemicals in water samples. The same research could also lead to new, diatom-inspired nanomaterials that could solve problems in sensing, catalysis and environmental remediation. ... > full story

Magnetic field researchers target 100-tesla goal: Previous world record shattered during six-experiment pulse (March 23, 2012) -- Researchers have met the grand challenge of producing magnetic fields in excess of 100 tesla while conducting six different experiments. ... > full story

Ancient civilizations reveal ways to manage fisheries for sustainability (March 23, 2012) -- In the search for sustainability of the ocean's fisheries, solutions can be found in a surprising place: the ancient past. Marine scientists reconstructed fisheries yields over seven centuries of human habitation in Hawaii and the Florida Keys, the largest coral reef ecosystems in the United States, and evaluated the management strategies associated with periods of sustainability. The results surprised them. ... > full story

Swarming and transporting (March 23, 2012) -- On its own, an ant is not particularly clever. But in a community, the insects can solve complicated tasks. Researchers intend to put this "swarm intelligence“ to use in the logistics field. Lots of autonomous transport shuttles would provide an alternative to traditional materials-handling technology. ... > full story

Exercise is not enough for sedentary workers (March 23, 2012) -- Good physical condition is a route to better health, and in order to improve it, exercising several days a week is recommended. Although it is possible to become healthier by exercising, long daily sedentary periods cause a health risk despite physical activity. ... > full story

Archaeologists reconstruct diet of Nelson's navy with new chemical analysis of excavated bones (March 23, 2012) -- Salt beef, sea biscuits and the occasional weevil; the food endured by sailors during the Napoleonic wars is seldom imagined to be appealing. Now a new chemical analysis technique has allowed archaeologists to find out just how dour the diet of Georgian sailors really was. The team’s findings also reveal how little had changed for sailors in the 200 years between the Elizabethan and Georgian eras. ... > full story

Plasma flows may shed light on predicting sunspot cycles (March 23, 2012) -- A geophysics researcher wants to look inside the sun. More accurately, she wants to simulate the sun to study plasma flows associated with sunspot cycles. With the help of simulations scientists recently warned about a series of solar storms in early March, concerned that it could affect global positioning systems, power grids, satellites and airplane travel. ... > full story

Simulation explains why HIV cure is elusive (March 23, 2012) -- New research shows why the development of a cure and new treatments for HIV have been so difficult for scientists to crack. ... > full story

Pulp Nonfiction: Fungal analysis reveals clues for targeted biomass deconstruction (March 23, 2012) -- Without fungi and microbes to break down dead trees and leaf litter in nature, the forest floor might look like a scene from TV's "Hoarders." A comparative genomic analysis of two white rot fungi was just published. Both fungi are of interest to bioenergy researchers because they possess enzymes that can break down plant biomass and could therefore be useful for accelerating biofuels production. The study revealed substantial differences among the sets of genes involved in lignocellulose degradation. ... > full story

Scientists reprogram cancer cells with low doses of epigenetic drugs (March 23, 2012) -- Experimenting with cells in culture, researchers have breathed possible new life into two drugs once considered too toxic for human cancer treatment. The drugs, azacitidine (AZA) and decitabine (DAC), are epigenetic-targeted drugs and work to correct cancer-causing alterations that modify DNA. ... > full story

Subtle differences can lead to major changes in parasites (March 23, 2012) -- Researchers have found the subtle genetic differences that make one parasite far more virulent than its close relative. They looked at the evolution of these parasites and found that although their genome architecture still remains similar, the two split from their common ancestor 28 million years ago, approximately four times longer than the human-gorilla split. ... > full story

Gene expression abnormalities in autism identified (March 23, 2012) -- A new study has for the first time identified in young autism patients genetic mechanisms involved in abnormal early brain development and overgrowth that occurs in the disorder. The findings suggest novel genetic and molecular targets that could lead to discoveries of new prevention strategies and treatment for the disorder. ... > full story

How music helps prevent organ rejection (March 23, 2012) -- Music has a fundamental affect on humans. It can reduce stress, enhance relaxation, provide a distraction from pain, and improve the results of clinical therapy. New research demonstrates that music can reduce rejection of heart transplants in mice by influencing the immune system. ... > full story

Home alone: Depression highest for those living alone (March 23, 2012) -- The number of people living on their own has doubled, over the last three decades, to one in three in the UK and US. New research shows that the risk of depression, measured by people taking antidepressants, is almost 80% higher for those living alone compared to people living in any kind of social or family group. For women a third of this risk was attributable to sociodemographic factors, such as lack of education and low income. For men the biggest contributing factors included poor job climate, lack of support at the work place or in their private lives, and heavy drinking. ... > full story

Why Wikileaks' bid for radical transparency failed (March 23, 2012) -- The scale and significance of the 2010 WikiLeaks disclosures were overstated, according to new research. Analysis of the WikiLeaks debacle serves to highlight four key reasons why radical transparency is hard to achieve, and why a technological fix alone will not achieve it. ... > full story

High-throughput screening finds surprising properties for antioxidants: Some compounds can damage DNA, but may treat cancer (March 22, 2012) -- Antioxidants have long been thought to have anti-aging properties, primarily by protecting a person's genetic material from damaging chemicals. The story, however, now appears to be much more complicated. Researchers have demonstrated that some antioxidants damage DNA and kill cells instead of protecting them. The findings also suggest that this surprising capability may be good for treating cancer, but may prove cautionary when using antioxidant-based medicines to treat other disorders, such as diabetes. ... > full story

Standoff sensing enters new realm with dual-laser technique (March 22, 2012) -- Identifying chemicals from a distance could take a step forward with the introduction of a new two-laser system. ... > full story

One year later, rehabilitated golden eagle's path revealed (March 22, 2012) -- A rare golden eagle rehabilitated and released last year in Massachusetts spent the summer around the Quebec/Labrador border, then returned to the New York/Connecticut area where it was originally found, new data has revealed. ... > full story

NASA GRAIL returns first student-selected moon images (March 22, 2012) -- One of two NASA spacecraft orbiting the moon has beamed back the first student-requested pictures of the lunar surface from its onboard camera. Fourth grade students from the Emily Dickinson Elementary School in Bozeman, Mont., received the honor of making the first image selections by winning a nationwide competition to rename the two spacecraft. ... > full story

Can our genes be making us fat? (March 22, 2012) -- While high-fat foods are thought to be of universal appeal, there is actually a lot of variation in the extent to which people like and consume fat. A new study reported that two specific genes (TAS2R38–a bitter taste receptor and CD36–a possible fat receptor), may play a role in some people’s ability to taste and enjoy dietary fat. By understanding the role of these two genes, food scientists may be able to help people who have trouble controlling how much fat they eat. ... > full story

New light shed on wandering continents (March 22, 2012) -- A layer of partially molten rock about 22 to 75 miles underground can't be the only mechanism that allows continents to gradually shift their position over millions of years, according to a new research. The result gives insight into what allows plate tectonics -- the movement of the Earth's crustal plates -- to occur. ... > full story

Scientists wrest partial control of a memory (March 22, 2012) -- Scientists have successfully harnessed neurons in mouse brains, allowing them to at least partially control a specific memory. Researchers have known for decades that stimulating various regions of the brain can trigger behaviors and even memories. But understanding the way these brain functions develop and occur normally -- effectively how we become who we are -- has been a much more complex goal. ... > full story

Cylinder hides contents and makes them invisible to magnetic fields (March 22, 2012) -- Researchers have created a cylinder which hides contents and makes them invisible to magnetic fields. The device was built using superconductor and ferromagnetic materials available on the market. ... > full story

Quantum copies do new tricks (March 22, 2012) -- New research shows that it is possible to perfectly recover the original from the imperfect quantum copies. Scientists also propose a way that his could be done in practice. ... > full story