ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, May 26, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, May 26, 2011

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Scientists trick the brain into experiencing Barbie-doll size (May 26, 2011) -- Imagine shrinking to the size of a doll in your sleep. When you wake up, will you perceive yourself as tiny or the world as being populated by giants? Researchers may have found the answer. Researchers found that the size of our bodies has a profound effect on how we perceive the space around us. ... > full story

Unique nerve-stimulation treatment proves effective against drug-resistant epilepsy, study suggests (May 26, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a noninvasive, nonpharmaceutical treatment called trigeminal nerve stimulation to control epileptic seizures. ... > full story

Substance in tangerines fights obesity and protects against heart disease, research suggests (May 26, 2011) -- A substance in tangerines not only helps to prevent obesity, but also offers protection against type 2 diabetes, and even atherosclerosis, the underlying disease responsible for most heart attacks and strokes, new research suggests. ... > full story

Babies born earlier in areas near busy road junctions (May 26, 2011) -- A study of 970 women and their babies found that living near a large number of road junctions increased the risk of pre-term birth. ... > full story

Carrying humans into deep space: NASA announces key decision for next deep space transportation system (May 26, 2011) -- NASA has reached an important milestone for the next U.S. transportation system that will carry humans into deep space. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced May 25, 2011 that the system will be based on designs originally planned for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. Those plans now will be used to develop a new spacecraft known as the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV). ... > full story

Thirty percent of women would trade at least one year of their life to achieve their ideal body weight and shape, UK study finds (May 26, 2011) -- New research in the UK has found that 30 percent of women would trade at least one year of their life to achieve their ideal body weight and shape. ... > full story

Violent video games reduce brain response to violence and increase aggressive behavior, study suggests (May 26, 2011) -- Scientists have known for years that playing violent video games causes players to become more aggressive. The findings of a new study provide one explanation for why this occurs: the brains of violent video game players become less responsive to violence, and this diminished brain response predicts an increase in aggression. ... > full story

Pelvic widening continues throughout a person's lifetime (May 26, 2011) -- A new study has found evidence that, even though you're not getting taller anymore, the pelvis ("hipbones") does continue to widen as people advance in age from 20 years to 79 years. ... > full story

Orthodontic researchers ask: Where's your retainer? (May 26, 2011) -- Have you been wearing your retainer? It's a question countless parents ask of their children post-braces. Now researchers are getting serious about the question. ... > full story

'Sweet wheat' for tastier and more healthful baking (May 26, 2011) -- "Sweet wheat" has the potential for joining that summertime delight among vegetables -- sweet corn -- as a tasty and healthful part of the diet, the scientific team that developed this mutant form of wheat concludes in a new study. ... > full story

Personal music selections change when they can be viewed by the public (May 26, 2011) -- Providing information on your music consumption publicly can change it. A small study finds that people are willing to put a lot of effort into maintaining a desirable public image, yet they also want to be truthful. When information about music preferences is published automatically, youth and young adults are reluctant to digitally "cheat" about their musical choices. Instead, they change the music they listen to. ... > full story

Electron is surprisingly spherical, say scientists following 10-year study (May 25, 2011) -- Scientists have made the most accurate measurement yet of the shape of the humble electron, finding that it is almost a perfect sphere. The experiment suggests that if the electron were magnified to the size of the solar system, it would still appear spherical to within the width of a human hair. ... > full story

Large rehabilitation study looks at getting stroke patients back on their feet (May 25, 2011) -- In the largest stroke rehabilitation study ever conducted in the United States, stroke patients who had physical therapy at home improved their ability to walk just as well as those who were treated in a training program that requires the use of a body-weight supported treadmill device followed by walking practice. ... > full story

Long-term study of swine flu viruses shows increasing viral diversity (May 25, 2011) -- Although swine influenza viruses usually sicken only pigs, potentially one might also spark a pandemic in people, as occurred with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Because few long-term studies have surveyed flu viruses in swine, however, gaps exist in what is known about the evolution of swine influenza viruses and the conditions that enable a swine virus to infect humans and cause disease. Increased transportation of live pigs appears to have driven an increase in the diversity of swine influenza viruses found in the animals in Hong Kong over the last three decades, according to a new study. ... > full story

2020 vision of vaccines for malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS (May 25, 2011) -- In a new article, experts discuss recent advances in vaccine development. New tools including systems biology and structure-based antigen design could lead to a deeper understanding of mechanisms of protection and illuminate the path to rational vaccine development to lift the burden of the world's most devastating infectious diseases. ... > full story

Trash to treasure: Turning steel-mill waste into bricks (May 25, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development and successful testing of a promising new way of using a troublesome byproduct of the global steel industry as raw materials for bricks that can be used in construction projects. ... > full story

Female drunk-drivers tend to be older, better-educated, and no longer married (May 25, 2011) -- Female drunk-drivers are more likely to be older, better-educated and divorced, widowed or separated, new research has shown. ... > full story

Cosmic explosion is new candidate for most distant object in the universe (May 25, 2011) -- A gamma-ray burst detected by NASA's Swift satellite in April 2009 has been newly unveiled as a candidate for the most distant object in the universe. At an estimated distance of 13.14 billion light years, the burst lies far beyond any known quasar and could be more distant than any previously known galaxy or gamma-ray burst. ... > full story

Vitamin D increases speed of sperm cells, researchers discover (May 25, 2011) -- Vitamin D is important for optimal reproductive function in both animals and humans. It has long been known that serum vitamin D level is important for reproductive function in various animals, but now researchers in Denmark have shown that this relationship can also be demonstrated in humans. ... > full story

Smallest insect filmed in flight (May 25, 2011) -- Scientists have taken high-speed camera footage of parasitic wasps with about a one mm wingspan. The team made films of the tiny flying insects at 22,000 frames per second. That is almost 900 times faster than a TV-screen can show. In the time between two TV images, the wasp has beaten its wings 14 times. ... > full story

Many patients fail to properly take oral chemo, leading to complications (May 25, 2011) -- As the use of oral chemotherapy continues to rise, researchers have discovered many patients fail to properly take the cancer-fighting medication, a significant clinical problem that can result in complications and premature death. That lack of adherence needs to be addressed by the health care community, say the study's authors. ... > full story

Sustainable 'bio-derived' jet fuel industry is achievable (May 25, 2011) -- Establishing an economically and environmentally beneficial, "bio-derived" Australian and New Zealand aviation fuels industry is a viable proposition, according to a new report. ... > full story

Economic recovery is stronger in states where people are more optimistic (May 25, 2011) -- Economic recessions are weaker, expansions are stronger, and economic recovery is faster in US states where people are more optimistic says a new study. Further, the effects are stronger in states where people are older, less educated and less socially connected. ... > full story

Using microbes to generate electricity? (May 25, 2011) -- Using bacteria to generate energy is a significant step closer following a breakthrough discovery. Researchers now demonstrate for the first time the exact molecular structure of the proteins which enable bacterial cells to transfer electrical charge. ... > full story

Lecithin component may reduce fatty liver, improve insulin sensitivity (May 25, 2011) -- A natural product called DLPC (dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine) increases sensitivity to insulin and reduces fatty liver in mice, leading researchers to believe it may provide a treatment for prediabetic patients. DLPC is an unusual phospholipid and a trace component of the dietary supplement lecithin. ... > full story

NASA's Spirit Rover completes mission on Mars (May 25, 2011) -- NASA has ended operational planning activities for the Mars rover Spirit and transitioned the Mars Exploration Rover Project to a single-rover operation focused on Spirit's still-active twin, Opportunity. ... > full story

Nearly one in five young adults has high blood pressure, study shows (May 25, 2011) -- The number of young adults in the United States with high blood pressure may be much higher than previously reported, according to a new study. ... > full story

New bandwidth management techniques boost operating efficiency in multi-core chips (May 25, 2011) -- Researchers have developed two new techniques to help maximize the performance of multi-core computer chips by allowing them to retrieve data more efficiently, which boosts chip performance by 10 to 40 percent. ... > full story

Women who start prenatal vitamins early are less likely to have children with autism, study finds (May 25, 2011) -- Women who reported not taking a daily prenatal vitamin immediately before and during the first month of pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder as women who did take the supplements -- and the associated risk rose to seven times as great when combined with a high-risk genetic make-up, a new study has found. ... > full story

Brilliant but solitary superstar discovered in nearby galaxy (May 25, 2011) -- An extraordinarily bright isolated star has been found in a nearby galaxy -- the star is three million times brighter than the Sun. All previous similar "superstars" were found in star clusters, but this brilliant beacon shines in solitary splendor. The origin of this star is mysterious: did it form in isolation or was it ejected from a cluster? Either option challenges astronomers' understanding of star formation. ... > full story

Enzyme prevents fatal heart condition associated with athletes (May 25, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered an important enzyme molecule that may prevent fatal cardiac disorders associated with cardiac hypertrophy – the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. ... > full story

Improving health assessments with a single cell: Portable microchip for immune monitoring and clinical applications (May 25, 2011) -- There's a wealth of health information hiding in the human immune system. Accessing it, however, can be very challenging, as the many and complex roles that the immune system plays can mask the critical information that is relevant to addressing specific health issues. Now, research has shown that a new generation of microchips can quickly and inexpensively assess immune function. ... > full story

Chlorine and childhood cancer (May 25, 2011) -- A significant positive association between the risk of childhood leukemia and levels of chlorine-containing chemicals in the atmosphere has been found by researchers in Portugal. ... > full story

NASA's TRMM satellite saw heavy rainfall in supercell that spawned Joplin, Missouri tornado (May 25, 2011) -- On Sunday May 22, 2011, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite captured an image of the rainfall rate in the supercell thunderstorm that generated the deadly twister that struck Joplin, Missouri. ... > full story

Long-distance commuters get divorced more often, Swedish study finds (May 25, 2011) -- Commuting to work can be advantageous in terms of income and career opportunities, and it presents a good alternative to moving. But long commuting times also entail less time for family and friends and can lead to stress and health problems. Pair relationships are also jeopardized, and according to a new research from Sweden, the risk of separation is 40 percent higher among long-distance commuters than among other people. ... > full story

Do bacteria play role in weather events? High concentration of bacteria in center of hailstones, researchers report (May 25, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a high concentration of bacteria in the center of hailstones, suggesting that airborne microorganisms may be responsible for that and other weather events. ... > full story

New protein linked to Alzheimer's disease (May 25, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a molecule called c-Abl that has a known role in leukemia also has a hand in Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story

Kepler's astounding haul of multiple-planet systems (May 25, 2011) -- NASA's Kepler spacecraft is proving itself to be a prolific planet hunter. Within just the first four months of data, astronomers have found evidence for more than 1,200 planetary candidates. Of those, 408 reside in systems containing two or more planets, and most of those look very different than our solar system. ... > full story

New-onset atrial fibrillation in initially healthy women may increase risk of premature death (May 25, 2011) -- In a follow-up of participants from the Women's Health Study, seemingly healthy middle-aged women with new-onset atrial fibrillation had an associated increased risk of cardiovascular, non-cardiovascular, and all-cause death, with some of the risk potentially explained by nonfatal cardiovascular events, according to a new study. ... > full story

Bacteria use caffeine as food source (May 25, 2011) -- A new bacterium that uses caffeine for food has been discovered. The bacterium uses newly discovered digestive enzymes to break down the caffeine, which allows it to live and grow. ... > full story

Why people with schizophrenia may have trouble reading social cues (May 25, 2011) -- Impairments to a brain area responsible for processing social stimuli may help explain why individuals with schizophrenia have trouble reading social cues. ... > full story

Hips take walking in stride, ankles put best foot forward in run (May 25, 2011) -- In a first-of-its-kind study comparing human walking and running motions -- and whether the hips, knees or ankles are the most important power sources for these motions -- researchers show that the hips generate more of the power when people walk, but the ankles generate more of the power when humans run. Knees provide approximately one-fifth or less of walking or running power. ... > full story

Simple method of dealing with harmful radioactive iodine discovered (May 25, 2011) -- A novel way to immobilize radioactive forms of iodine using a microwave has been discovered. Iodine radioisotopes are produced by fission of uranium fuel in a nuclear reactor. Radioactive iodine is of concern because it is highly mobile in the environment and selective uptake by the thyroid gland can pose a significant cancer risk following long term exposure. ... > full story

Dual parasitic infections deadly to marine mammals (May 25, 2011) -- A study of tissue samples from 161 marine mammals that died between 2004 and 2009 in the Pacific Northwest reveals an association between severe illness and co-infection with two kinds of parasites normally found in land animals. One, Sarcocystis neurona, is a newcomer to the northwest coastal region of North America and is not known to infect people, while the other, Toxoplasma gondii, has been established there for some time and caused a large outbreak of disease in people in 1995. ... > full story

Increasing daily calcium will not reduce the risk of fractures in later life, study suggests (May 25, 2011) -- While moderate amounts of calcium (around 700 mg a day) are vital for maintaining healthy bones, there is no need to start increasing calcium intake in order to reduce the risk of fractures or osteoporosis in later life, according to new research. ... > full story

T. rex leech, Titanic-eating bacterium, batfish that hops and glow-in-the-dark fungi: Scientists list top 10 new species (May 25, 2011) -- A committee of taxonomists from around the world announced their picks for the top 10 new species described in 2010. The May 23 announcement coincided with the anniversary of the birth of Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who was responsible for the modern system of plant and animal names and classifications. ... > full story

Your culture may influence your perception of death (May 25, 2011) -- Contemplating mortality can be terrifying. But not everyone responds to that terror in the same way. Now, a new study finds cultural differences in how people respond to mortality. European-Americans get worried and try to protect their sense of self, while Asian-Americans are more likely to reach out to others. ... > full story

Birch mouse ancestor discovered in Inner Mongolia is new species of rare 'living fossil' (May 25, 2011) -- Fossils from Inner Mongolia are a new species of birch mice, Sicista primus. This significantly extends the geologic history of the rodent family that includes jumping mice. The teeth from sediments 17 million years old distinguish the birch mice genus Sicista as a rare "living fossil" and indicate Sicista migrated from Asia to North America, contrary to what scientists previously hypothesized. ... > full story