ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, March 27, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, March 27, 2012

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Does the brain 'remember' antidepressants? More proof for the power of placebo (March 26, 2012) -- Using a placebo pill appearing identical to the real thing, researchers have found that how the brain responds to antidepressant medication may be influenced by its remembering past antidepressant exposure. ... > full story

Genetic risk and stressful early infancy join to increase risk for schizophrenia (March 26, 2012) -- Working with genetically engineered mice and the genomes of thousands of people with schizophrenia, researchers say they now better understand how both nature and nurture can affect one's risks for schizophrenia and abnormal brain development in general. ... > full story

Expedition to undersea mountain yields new information about sub-seafloor structure (March 26, 2012) -- Scientists recently concluded an expedition aboard the research vessel JOIDES Resolution to learn more about Atlantis Massif, an undersea mountain, or seamount, that formed in a very different way than the majority of the seafloor in the oceans. ... > full story

Geologists correct a 'rift' in Africa (March 26, 2012) -- The huge changes in the Earth's crust that influenced human evolution are being redefined, according to new research. The Great Rift Valley of East Africa -- the birthplace of the human species -- may have taken much longer to develop than previously believed. ... > full story

A 24-karat gold key to unlock the immune system (March 26, 2012) -- Using nanoparticles made of pure gold, researchers have developed a new method of introducing chemical residues into the immune system, triggering immune cells to help the body fight infection. The breakthrough could lead to an increased understanding of viruses and bacteria, better drug delivery systems, and more effective medications and vaccinations. ... > full story

Research: 'Buckliball' opens new avenue in design of foldable engineering structures (March 26, 2012) -- Inspired by a toy, the 'buckliball' -- a collapsible structure fabricated from a single piece of material -- represents a new class of 3-D, origami-like structures. ... > full story

Smokers could be more prone to schizophrenia (March 26, 2012) -- Smoking alters the impact of a schizophrenia risk gene. Scientists have demonstrated that healthy people who carry this risk gene and smoke process acoustic stimuli in a similarly deficient way as patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, the impact is all the stronger the more the person smokes. ... > full story

Deep-ocean impact of the Deepwater Horizon explosion revealed (March 26, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered compelling evidence of the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea corals. The researchers used a wide range of underwater vehicles, including the research submarine Alvin, as well as comprehensive chemical-analysis techniques to determine precisely the source of the petroleum hydrocarbons they found on the corals. ... > full story

Chronic stress spawns protein aggregates linked to Alzheimer's (March 26, 2012) -- Repeated stress triggers the production and accumulation of insoluble tau protein aggregates inside the brain cells of mice, say researchers. ... > full story

Single antibody shrinks variety of human tumors transplanted into mice, study shows (March 26, 2012) -- Human tumors transplanted into laboratory mice disappeared or shrank when scientists treated the animals with a single antibody, according to a new study. The antibody works by masking a protein flag on cancer cells that protects them from macrophages and other cells in the immune system. The scientists achieved the findings with human breast, ovarian, colon, bladder, brain, liver and prostate cancer samples. ... > full story

Cassini to make closest pass yet over Enceladus south pole (March 26, 2012) -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft is preparing to make its lowest pass yet over the south polar region of Saturn's moon Enceladus, where icy particles and water vapor spray out in glittering jets. The closest approach, at an altitude of about 46 miles (74 kilometers), will occur around 11:30 a.m. PDT (2:30 p.m. EDT) on March 27. ... > full story

Slime mold mimics Canadian highway network (March 26, 2012) -- A researcher placed rolled oats on a map of Canada, covering the major urban areas. One urban area held the slime mold. The slime mold reached out for the food, creating thin tubes that eventually formed a network mirroring the Canadian highway system. ... > full story

Some Gulf dolphins severely ill after Gulf oil spill (March 26, 2012) -- Bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, are showing signs of severe ill health, according to marine mammal biologists. Barataria Bay, located in the northern Gulf of Mexico, received heavy and prolonged exposure to oil during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ... > full story

Computer system identifies liars (March 26, 2012) -- Computer scientists are exploring whether machines can read the visual cues that give away deceit. Results so far are promising: In a study of 40 videotaped conversations, an automated system that analyzed eye movements correctly identified whether interview subjects were lying or telling the truth 82.5 percent of the time. ... > full story

New synthetic biology technique boosts microbial production of diesel fuel (March 26, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a "dynamic sensor-regulator system" that can detect metabolic changes in microbes during the production of fatty acid-based fuels or chemicals and control the expression of genes affecting that production. The result in one demonstration was a threefold increase in the microbial production of biodiesel from glucose. ... > full story

To drive infections, a hijacking virus mimics a cell's signaling system (March 26, 2012) -- New biological research reveals how an invading virus hijacks a cell's workings by imitating a signaling marker to defeat the body's defenses. By manipulating cell signals, the virus destroys a defensive protein designed to inhibit it. This finding, from studies in human cell cultures, may represent a broader targeting strategy used by other viruses, and may lay the scientific groundwork for developing more effective treatments for infectious diseases. ... > full story

New 'thermal' approach to invisibility cloaking hides heat to enhance technology (March 26, 2012) -- In a new approach to invisibility cloaking, a team of French researchers has proposed isolating or cloaking objects from sources of heat -- essentially "thermal cloaking." This method taps into some of the same principles as optical cloaking and may lead to novel ways to control heat in electronics and, on an even larger scale, might someday prove useful for spacecraft and solar technologies. ... > full story

Hammerhead shark double whammy (March 26, 2012) -- A new look-alike species may muddy the water for an endangered hammerhead. ... > full story

Smiling through the tears: Study shows how tearjerkers make people happier (March 26, 2012) -- People enjoy watching tragedy movies like “Titanic” because they deliver what may seem to be an unlikely benefit: tragedies actually make people happier in the short-term. ... > full story

Rapid rise in blood pressure before midlife may cause irreversible heart damage (March 26, 2012) -- The current "watch-and-wait" approach to high blood pressure readings in younger people may set patients on a course for irreversible heart damage, according to new research. ... > full story

New class of platelet blockers proves effective in phase III trial, study suggests (March 26, 2012) -- Adding vorapaxar, an investigational platelet blocker, to standard antiplatelet therapy significantly reduces the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with known atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of the arteries, according to new research. ... > full story

Sleeping too much or too little can be bad for your heart (March 26, 2012) -- Getting too little sleep – or even too much – appears to spell trouble for the heart. New data reveal that adults who get less than six hours of sleep a night are at significantly greater risk of stroke, heart attack and congestive heart failure. Even those who reportedly sleep more than eight hours a night have a higher prevalence of heart problems, namely chest pain (angina) and coronary artery disease, a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. ... > full story

Compound in soy products may help lower blood pressure (March 26, 2012) -- Soy-based food products have taken grocery store shelves by storm, and the benefits of soy are steadily beginning to emerge. Eating foods that contain isoflavones – a key compound in soy milk, tofu, green tea and even peanuts – every day may help young adults lower their blood pressure. ... > full story

Low LDL cholesterol is related to cancer risk (March 26, 2012) -- Low LDL cholesterol in patients with no history of taking cholesterol-lowering drugs predates cancer risk by decades, suggesting there may be some underlying mechanism affecting both cancer and low LDL cholesterol that requires further examination, according to new research. ... > full story

Pregnancy increases risk of heart attack (March 26, 2012) -- Heart attacks during pregnancy tend to be more severe, lead to more complications, and also occur for different reasons than commonly seen in the non-pregnant general population, suggesting that, in some cases, the standard approach to managing this condition may not always be best, according to new research. ... > full story

Snacking on raisins may offer a heart-healthy way to lower blood pressure (March 26, 2012) -- If you have slightly higher than normal blood pressure – known as prehypertension – consider eating a handful of raisins. New data suggest that, among individuals with mild increases in blood pressure, the routine consumption of raisins (three times a day) may significantly lower blood pressure. ... > full story

Saving habitat key to songbird's survival (March 26, 2012) -- The golden-winged warbler – already long gone from Ohio – is disappearing from regions across the United States. The population of this little, gray songbird with bright yellow patches on its wings and head has been in precipitous decline since 1966. And, as of yet, it remains unprotected by the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. ... > full story

Tagged lice help researchers study social interactions of shy brown mouse lemurs (March 26, 2012) -- It can be difficult to uncover the behavior of small, shy, nocturnal primates like the brown mouse lemur, especially in the dense rainforests of Madagascar where this lemur lives. New research shows that the social interactions of brown mouse lemurs can be monitored by mapping the transfer of tagged lice. ... > full story

Skaters' brains: Specialized training of complex motor skills may induce sports-specific structural changes in cerebellum (March 26, 2012) -- Specialized training of complex motor skills may induce sports-specific structural changes in the human brain. ... > full story

Bone marrow stem cells can improve heart function, study suggests (March 26, 2012) -- Physicians have found that stem cells derived from heart failure patients’ own bone marrow and injected into their hearts improved the function of the left ventricle, the heart’s pumping chamber. Researchers also found that certain types of the stem cells were associated with the largest improvement and warrant further study. ... > full story

NASA flight tests new ADS-B device on Ikhana UAS (March 26, 2012) -- NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center flew its Ikhana MQ-9 unmanned aircraft with an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, device, for the first time on March 15. It was the first time an unmanned aircraft as large as Ikhana -- with a 66-foot wingspan, a takeoff weight of more than 10,000 pounds, and a cruising altitude of 40,000 feet -- has flown while equipped with ADS-B. ADS-B is an aircraft tracking technology that all planes operating in certain U.S. airspace must adopt by January 2020 to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. ... > full story

James Cameron makes first ever successful solo dive to Mariana Trench -- ocean's deepest point (March 26, 2012) -- Filmmaker James Cameron descended 35,756 feet (6.77 miles/10.89 km) to reach the "Challenger Deep," the ocean's deepest point located in the Mariana Trench, in his specially designed submersible DEEPSEA CHALLENGER. The attempt was part of DEEPSEA CHALLENGE, a joint scientific expedition by Cameron, National Geographic and Rolex to conduct deep-ocean research and exploration. Cameron is the only individual ever to complete the dive in a solo vehicle and the first person since 1960 to reach the very bottom of the world in a manned submersible. ... > full story

Inner weapons against allergies: Gut bacteria control allergic diseases, study suggests (March 25, 2012) -- Researchers have found that commensal bacteria in humans might play an important role in influencing and controlling allergic inflammation. The study suggest that therapeutic targeting of immune cell responses to resident gut bacteria may be beneficial in treating allergic diseases. ... > full story

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

Single molecules in a quantum movie (March 25, 2012) -- The quantum physics of massive particles has intrigued physicists for more than 80 years, since it predicts that even complex particles can exhibit wave-like behavior – in conflict with our everyday ideas of what is real or local. ... > 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

Popcorn: The snack with even higher antioxidants levels than fruits and vegetables (March 25, 2012) -- Popcorn’s reputation as a snack food that’s actually good for health popped up a few notches today as scientists reported that it contains more of the healthful antioxidant substances called "polyphenols" than fruits and vegetables. ... > full story

Scientists identify novel pathway for T-cell activation in leprosy (March 25, 2012) -- Scientists have pinpointed a new mechanism that potently activates T-cells to fight leprosy. Specifically, the team studied how immune cells located at the site of infection, called dendritic cells, become more specialized to fight leprosy. Dendritic cells deliver key information about an invading pathogen that helps activate the T-cells in launching a more effective attack. The finding may have applications in combating other infectious diseases and cancer. ... > full story

A double ring ceremony prepares telomerase RNA to wed its protein partner (March 25, 2012) -- Few molecules are more interesting than DNA—except of course RNA. After two decades of research, that “other macromolecule” is no longer considered a mere messenger between glamorous DNA and protein-synthesizing machines. We now know that RNA has been leading a secret life, regulating gene expression and partnering with proteins to form catalytic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. ... > full story

Incontinence 20 years after child birth three times more common after vaginal delivery (March 25, 2012) -- Women are nearly three times more likely to experience urinary incontinence for more than 10 years following a vaginal delivery rather than a caesarean section, finds new research. ... > full story

High blood sugar lowers chances of surviving a heart attack (March 25, 2012) -- Patients with high blood sugar run an increased risk of dying if they have a heart attack, and diabetics are less likely to survive in-hospital cardiac arrest than non-diabetics, reveals new research. ... > full story

The body's bacteria affect intestinal blood vessel formation (March 25, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism which helps intestinal bacteria to affect the formation of blood vessels. The results may provide future treatments of intestinal diseases and obesity. ... > full story

Brushing teeth: New 'massage method' quadruples protection against tooth decay, study suggests (March 25, 2012) -- Do you really want to avoid cavities in your teeth? Try massaging them with a high-fluoride toothpaste after lunch. "Rubbing toothpaste onto your teeth increases the fluoride protection by 400%," say experts. ... > full story

Diabetes drug can prevent heart disease, new study suggests (March 25, 2012) -- The widely used diabetes medicine metformin can have protective effects on the heart, reveals a new study. ... > 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

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