ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Friday, March 30, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Friday, March 30, 2012

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Scientists reveal genetic mutation depicted in van Gogh's sunflower paintings (March 29, 2012) -- Scientists reveal the mutation behind the distinctive, thick bands of yellow "double flowers" that Vincent van Gogh painted more than 100 years ago. ... > full story

Oscillating gel acts like artificial skin, giving robots potential ability to 'feel' (March 29, 2012) -- Sooner than later, robots may have the ability to "feel." Scientists have now demonstrated that a non-oscillating gel can be resuscitated in a fashion similar to a medical cardiopulmonary resuscitation. ... > full story

Electricity and carbon dioxide used to generate alternative fuel (March 29, 2012) -- Imagine being able to use electricity to power your car and it's not an electric vehicle. Researchers have for the first time demonstrated a method for converting carbon dioxide into liquid fuel isobutanol using electricity. ... > full story

Physicists explain the collective motion of particles called fermions (March 29, 2012) -- Scientists generally believed that certain collective behavior appeared in fermions only when they moved in unison at very long wavelengths. Now, however, collective behavior has been discovered at short wavelengths in one Fermi system, helium-3. ... > full story

Greater traumatic stress linked with elevated inflammation in heart patients (March 29, 2012) -- Greater lifetime exposure to the stress of traumatic events was linked to higher levels of inflammation in a study of almost 1,000 patients with cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

New seismic hazard assessment for Central America (March 29, 2012) -- A new study evaluates the seismic hazards for the entire Central America, including specific assessments for six capital cities, with the greatest hazard expected for Guatemala City and San Salvador, followed by Managua and San Jose, and notably lower in Tegucigalpa and Panama City. ... > full story

Once considered mainly 'brain glue,' astrocytes' power revealed (March 29, 2012) -- A type of cell plentiful in the brain, long considered mainly the stuff that holds the brain together and oft-overlooked by scientists more interested in flashier cells known as neurons, wields more power in the brain than has been realized, playing a key role in reducing or stopping the electrical signals that are considered brain activity. ... > full story

New material cuts energy costs of separating gas for plastics and fuels (March 29, 2012) -- In producing hydrocarbons for the chemical industry, refiners must first crack oil at high temperatures and then cool the mixture to liquefy the gases for separation. This energy-intensive chilling step could be eliminated thanks to a new material that can do the gas separation at the high temperatures of cracked petroleum. The material is an iron-based metal-organic framework. ... > full story

First the smart phone, now the smart home: Technology anticipates, meets our needs for health, efficiency (March 29, 2012) -- We have all heard of the smartphone and any day now, most of us will have one. Not far behind: The smart home. Scientists say it won't be long before our homes act as "intelligent agents" that use sensors and software to anticipate our needs and tend to tasks that improve our health, energy efficiency, even social media. ... > full story

Radioactive antibody fragment may help scientists identify artery deposits (March 29, 2012) -- Creating a tiny, radioactive antibody fragment may help scientists identify artery deposits most likely to burst and cause a heart attack. A non-invasive system uses miniature antibodies to detect a molecule that identifies the vulnerable deposits. Researchers plan clinical trials to determine the safety and efficacy of the new imaging technique. ... > full story

Autism more common than previously thought: CDC report shows one in 54 boys identified (March 29, 2012) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 88 children in the United States has been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a new study. Autism spectrum disorders are almost five times more common among boys than girls -- with 1 in 54 boys identified. ... > full story

Ultrafast laser pulses shed light on elusive superconducting mechanism (March 29, 2012) -- Physicists have used ultra-fast laser pulses to identify the microscopic interactions that drive high-temperature superconductivity. The researchers were able to capture very fine grained data on the speed of the relaxation process and its influence on the properties of the superconducting system, showing that the high-critical temperature of these compounds can be accounted for by purely electronic (magnetic) processes. ... > full story

Increasing water scarcity in California's Bay-Delta will necessitate trade-offs; 'Hard decisions' needed to balance various environmental risks (March 29, 2012) -- Simultaneously attaining a reliable water supply for California and protecting and rehabilitating its Bay-Delta ecosystem cannot be realized until better planning can identify how trade-offs. ... > full story

New breast cancer susceptibility gene (March 29, 2012) -- Mutations in a gene called XRCC2 cause increased breast cancer risk, according to a new study. The study looked at families that have a history of the disease but do not have mutations in the currently known breast cancer susceptibility genes. ... > full story

Carbon dioxide was hidden in the ocean during last Ice Age (March 29, 2012) -- Why did the atmosphere contain so little carbon dioxide during the last Ice Age 20,000 years ago? Why did it rise when the Earth's climate became warmer? Processes in the ocean are responsible for this, says a new study based on newly developed isotope measurements. ... > full story

Compounds dramatically alter biological clock and lead to weight loss, animal study suggests (March 29, 2012) -- Scientists have synthesized a pair of small molecules that dramatically alter the core biological clock in animal models, highlighting the compounds' potential effectiveness in treating a remarkable range of disorders -- including obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and serious sleep disorders. ... > full story

Plant research reveals new role for gene silencing protein (March 29, 2012) -- A DICER protein, known to produce tiny RNAs in cells, also helps complete an important step in gene expression, according to research on Arabidopsis thaliana. The expression of a gene requires activation via a promoter or an external trigger. Plant research to be published in Science helps to show that later stages of transcription are just as important. This is likely to apply to other organisms, including humans. ... > full story

Simple 3-D grid structure underlying complexity of primate brain (March 29, 2012) -- How do you build a brain? Scientists how present a surprising answer, reporting their discovery of a remarkably simple organizational structure in the brains of humans and other primates. Employing sophisticated mathematical analysis of advanced imaging data, they found that the pathways carrying neural signals through the brain are arranged not in a disorganized tangle but in a curved, three-dimensional grid. ... > full story

Weakness can be an advantage in surviving deadly parasites, a new study shows (March 29, 2012) -- When battling an epidemic of a deadly parasite, less resistance can sometimes be better than more. A new study suggests that a lake's ecological characteristics influence how freshwater zooplankton Daphnia dentifera evolve to survive epidemics of a virulent yeast parasite Metschnikowia bicuspidate. The study found that Daphnia populations evolved either enhanced resistance or susceptibility to infection depending on the nutrient concentration and predation levels in the lake. ... > full story

How bees are harmed by common crop pesticides (March 29, 2012) -- A widely used insecticide can threaten the health of bumblebee colonies and interfere with the homing abilities of honeybees, according to a pair of new studies. Researchers have proposed multiple causes for these declines, including pesticides, but it's been unclear exactly how pesticides are inflicting their damage. ... > full story

Physicists find patterns in new state of matter (March 29, 2012) -- Physicists have discovered patterns which underlie the properties of a new state of matter. In a new study, the scientists describe the emergence of "spontaneous coherence," "spin textures" and "phase singularities" when excitons -- the bound pairs of electrons and holes that determine the optical properties of semiconductors and enable them to function as novel optoelectronic devices -- are cooled to near absolute zero. ... > full story

How genes organize the surface of the brain (March 29, 2012) -- The first atlas of the surface of the human brain based upon genetic information has been produced by a team of scientists. The atlas reveals that the cerebral cortex -- the sheet of neural tissue enveloping the brain -- is roughly divided into genetic divisions that differ from other brain maps based on physiology or function. ... > full story

On the path to age-defying therapies (March 29, 2012) -- The drug rapamycin extends lifespan in lab animals, yet it's linked to two hallmarks of diabetes. By teasing apart its activity, researchers have determined that inhibiting only the protein cluster known as mTORC1 prolongs life in mice without adversely affecting glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity. ... > full story

Star explodes and turns inside out (March 29, 2012) -- A new X-ray study of the remains of an exploded star indicates that the supernova that disrupted the massive star may have turned it inside out in the process. Using very long observations of Cassiopeia A, a team of scientists has mapped the distribution elements in the supernova remnant in unprecedented detail. This information shows where the different layers of the pre-supernova star are located three hundred years after the explosion, and provides insight into the nature of the supernova. ... > full story

Titanium paternity test fingers Earth as moon's sole parent (March 29, 2012) -- A new chemical analysis of lunar material collected by Apollo astronauts in the 1970s conflicts with the widely held theory that a giant collision between Earth and a Mars-sized object gave birth to the moon 4.5 billion years ago. ... > full story

Forest-destroying avalanches on the rise due to clear-cut logging (March 29, 2012) -- Scientists have been studying the impact of clear-cut logging on avalanche terrain in British Columbia. Understanding avalanche behavior and its destructive potential is an important factor in assessing risk of clear-cut logging of mature forest timber. A new article presents data collected from locations where avalanches have been released due to clear-cut logging; These data demonstrate the adverse effects of poor logging practices. ... > full story

World's first bedside genetic test (March 29, 2012) -- The world's first bedside genetic test has been developed. Scientists reports on the use of a simple cheek swab test, the Spartan RX CYP2C19, performed by nurses at the patient's bedside. This revolutionary technology allows doctors to rapidly identify patients with a genetic variant known as CYP2C19*2. ... > full story

Divergent evolution illuminated: Light shed on reasons behind genome differences between species (March 29, 2012) -- A new study explains the divergent evolution of the genomes of different groups of species. The connection between the function of enzymes and the composition of the genomes shed light on the evolution and structure of genes, and explains differences between archaebacteria, bacteria and eukaryotes. ... > full story

Artificial thymus tissue enables maturation of immune cells (March 29, 2012) -- The thymus plays a key role in the body's immune response. It is here where the T lymphocytes or T cells, a major type of immune defence cells, mature. Different types of T cells, designated to perform specific tasks, arise from progenitor cells that migrate to the thymus from the bone marrow. Researchers have now generated artificial thymus tissue in a mouse embryo to enable the maturation of immune cells. In this process, they discovered which signalling molecules control the maturation of T cells. Their results represent the first step towards the production of artificial thymus glands that could be used to replace or augment the damaged organ. ... > full story

Mind-pops more likely with schizophrenia (March 29, 2012) -- Almost everyone reports experiencing 'mind-pops' at some time or another, but some experience them more than others according to new research. New findings suggest that mind-pop experiences -- when unrelated thoughts pop into your head -- are related to hallucinations in those people suffering from schizophrenia. ... > full story

Genes for learning, remembering and forgetting (March 29, 2012) -- Certain genes and proteins that promote growth and development of embryos also play a surprising role in sending chemical signals that help adults learn, remember, forget and perhaps become addicted, biologists have discovered. ... > full story

Rare animal-shaped mounds discovered in Peru (March 29, 2012) -- For more than a century and a half, scientists and tourists have visited massive animal-shaped mounds, such as Serpent Mound in Ohio, created by the indigenous people of North America. But few animal effigy mounds had been found in South America until an anthropology professor recently identified numerous earthen animals rising above the coastal plains of Peru, a region already renowned for the Nazca lines, the ruined city of Chan Chan, and other cultural treasures. ... > full story

Why are we made of matter? Supercomputing the difference between matter and antimatter (March 29, 2012) -- Using breakthrough techniques on some of the world's fastest supercomputers -- scientists have reported a landmark calculation of a kind of subatomic particle decay that's important to understanding matter/antimatter asymmetry. The research helps nail down the exact process of kaon decay, and is also inspiring the development of a new generation of supercomputers. ... > full story

New understanding of how materials change when rapidly heated (March 29, 2012) -- Scientists have made ground-breaking advances in our understanding of the changes that materials undergo when rapidly heated. ... > full story

Tiny electrical sensors could signal faster MRSA diagnosis (March 29, 2012) -- A simple test to identify MRSA in wounds could identify the superbug quickly and help prevent infection from spreading. Scientists have developed the test to show whether wounds or lesions are infected with bacteria and if MRSA is present. ... > full story

'Living' micro-robot could detect diseases in humans (March 29, 2012) -- A tiny prototype robot that functions like a living creature is being developed which one day could be safely used to pinpoint diseases within the human body. Called 'Cyberplasm', it will combine advanced microelectronics with latest research in biomimicry. The aim is for Cyberplasm to have an electronic nervous system, 'eye' and 'nose' sensors derived from mammalian cells, as well as artificial muscles that use glucose as an energy source to propel it. ... > full story

Why some animals live longer than others (March 29, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a new method to detect proteins associated with longevity, which helps further our understanding into why some animals live longer than others. ... > full story

New insights into how cells duplicate their DNA (March 29, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered new insights into how cells duplicate their DNA. They used an imaging method known as cryo-electron microscopy to take extremely high resolution images of how the right proteins come together at the right point on the DNA strands, forming a structure called an "origin recognition complex" (ORC). The lab's first-of-a-kind images (taken using yeast cells, which are also eukaryotes), showed how the shape of the complex changes as it sets the DNA up for duplication. ... > full story

Key component in mother's egg critical for survivial of newly formed embryo (March 29, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered that a protein, called TRIM28, normally present in the mother's egg, is essential right after fertilization, to preserve certain chemical modifications or 'epigenetic marks' on a specific set of genes. This newly published study paves the way for more research to explore the role that epigenetics might play in infertility. ... > full story

Genetic regulators hijacked by avian and swine flu viruses identified (March 29, 2012) -- Researchers have identified a number of tiny but powerful "genetic regulators" that are hijacked by avian and swine flu viruses during human infection. ... > full story

Scientists clone 'survivor' elm trees (March 29, 2012) -- Scientists have found a way to successfully clone American elm trees that have survived repeated epidemics of their biggest killer -- Dutch elm disease. The breakthrough is the first known use of in vitro culture technology to clone buds of mature American elm trees. ... > full story

Culprit behind unchecked angiogenesis identified (March 29, 2012) -- Researchers have unraveled a critical regulatory mechanism controlling blood vessel growth that might help solve drug resistance problems in the future. ... > full story

MicroRNAs offer new hope against obesity and diabetes (March 29, 2012) -- Hunger has always threatened humankind. This makes it unsurprising that human bodies attempt to store all surplus nourishment in adipose tissue. In developed countries, this life-saving craving is turning into a problem and obesity -- adiposity -- is turning into a danger. Why, though, does excess fat the body ill? How does fat trigger diabetes? And can these superfluous fat reserves be turned into warmth and just as well burnt? Scientists have now discovered that microRNAs could be a new switch of adipose cell development in humans. ... > full story

Mites form friendly societies: Predatory mites who stick with familiar individuals are more efficient at finding food (March 29, 2012) -- For plant-inhabiting predatory mites, living among familiar neighbors reduces stress. This allows individuals to focus on other tasks and be more productive, in particular while they are foraging. The new study supports the theory that so-called 'social familiarity' reduces the cognitive, physiological and behavioral costs of group-living, leading to increased efficiency in other tasks. ... > full story

Dolphins cultivate loose alliances (March 29, 2012) -- Dolphins behave uniquely. On the one hand, male dolphins form alliances with others; on the other hand, they live in an open social structure. Anthropologists from the University of Zurich detected this unusual behavior in the animal kingdom in dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia. ... > full story

Researchers close in on vaccine to protect babies (March 29, 2012) -- Researchers are closing in on a needle-free vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a major cause of respiratory illness in children under two years of age. ... > full story

Current chemical testing missing low-dosage effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (March 29, 2012) -- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) —- such as BPA —- can show tangible effects on health endpoints at high dosage levels, yet those effects do not predict how EDCs will affect the endocrine system at low doses, according to a recent study. ... > full story

Milky Way image reveals detail of a billion stars (March 28, 2012) -- More than one billion stars in the Milky Way can be seen together in detail for the first time in a new image. Large structures of the Milky Way galaxy, such as gas and dust clouds where stars have formed and died, can be seen in the image. ... > full story