ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Monday, August 8, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Monday, August 8, 2011

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Nanoscale secret to stronger alloys: Scientists find nanoparticle size is readily controlled to make stronger aluminum alloys (August 8, 2011) -- Researchers have solved the mystery of one of the most promising aluminum alloys ever for strength, hardness, lightness, and resistance to corrosion and heat. The secret is the formation of core-shell nanoparticles all nearly the same size. ... > full story

Finding about cell division and metabolism may provide insight into neurodegenerative disorders (August 8, 2011) -- A new finding points to new avenues for investigation of cell metabolism that may provide insights into diseases ranging from neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease to certain types of cancers. ... > full story

Stress protection: How blue-green algae hoard energy (August 8, 2011) -- Under normal conditions, cyanobacteria, also termed blue-green algae, build up energy reserves that allow them to survive under stress such as long periods of darkness. They do this by means of a molecular switch in an enzyme. By removing this switch, researchers now show that it is possible to use the excess energy of the bacteria for biotechnological purposes such as hydrogen production, without the bacteria suffering. ... > full story

How yeast chromosomes avoid the bad breaks (August 8, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered how yeast cells protect themselves against a novel type of chromosome fragility that occurs in repeated DNA during meiosis -- the cell division that produces spores in fungi or eggs and sperm in plants and animals. ... > full story

It's no sweat for salt marsh sparrows to beat the heat if they have a larger bill (August 8, 2011) -- Birds use their bills largely to forage and eat, and these behaviors strongly influence the bill's shape and size. But the bill can play an important role in regulating the bird's body temperature by acting as a radiator for excess heat. A team of scientists have found that because of this, high summer temperatures have been a strong influence in determining bill size in some birds, particularly species of sparrows that favor salt marshes. ... > full story

What do Facebook and Rembrandt have in common? Everything (August 8, 2011) -- Facebook and artists like Rembrandt have much in common, says one researcher. ... > full story

Why plant 'clones' aren't identical (August 8, 2011) -- A new study of plants that are reproduced by 'cloning' has shown why cloned plants are not identical. Scientists have known for some time that 'clonal' (regenerant) organisms are not always identical. Now researchers believe they have found out why this is the case in plants: the genomes of regenerant plants carry relatively high frequencies of new DNA sequence mutations that were not present in the genome of the donor plant. ... > full story

B-cell discovery suggests why women suffer more autoimmune disease (August 8, 2011) -- Researchers report the discovery of a new type of cell that makes autoantibodies, which attack the body's own tissues. It is more common in elderly female mice and humans with autoimmune disease. An application for a patent has been made for a method to treat autoimmune disease by depleting these cells. ... > full story

Solar energy: Smart energy management systems help store power for later use (August 8, 2011) -- Storing power is complicated and expensive, but very often, especially far away from the regular power grids, there is no way around large batteries for grid-independent electricity consumers. It would make more sense to use the electricity when it is generated. This becomes possible with the help of a smart energy management system. ... > full story

Human influence on the 21st century climate: One possible future for the atmosphere (August 8, 2011) -- New computer modeling work in the journal Climatic Change shows that by 2100, if society wants to limit carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to less than 40 percent higher than it is today, the lowest cost option is to use every available means of reducing emissions. This includes more nuclear and renewable energy, choosing electricity over fossil fuels, reducing emissions through technologies that capture and store carbon dioxide, and even using forests to store carbon. ... > full story

Dealing with the cyberworld's dark side (August 8, 2011) -- People who are cyberstalked or harassed online experience higher levels of stress and trauma than people who are stalked or harassed in person, according to a new presentation. ... > full story

Did past climate change encourage tree-killing fungi? (August 7, 2011) -- The Permian extinction 250 million years ago was the largest mass extinction on record, and among the losers were conifers that originally blanketed the arid interior of the supercontinent Pangaea. Now researchers say that climate change led to the proliferation of tree-killing soil fungi that helped destroy the forests -- something that could happen as a consequence of global warming today. ... > full story

What parasites eat provides key to better drug design (August 7, 2011) -- A new study has revealed in unprecedented detail how parasites use different nutrients needed for growth, providing researchers with unique drug targets against Leishmania, a tropical parasite that infects 12 million people worldwide and causes 500,000 deaths annually. ... > full story

Four unusual views of the Andromeda Galaxy (August 7, 2011) -- The Andromeda Galaxy is revealed in unprecedented detail in four archive observations. They show stars and structure in the galaxy's disc, the halo of stars that surrounds it, and a stream of stars left by a companion galaxy as it was torn apart and pulled in by the galaxy's gravitational forces. ... > full story

Prescriptions for antidepressants increasing among individuals with no psychiatric diagnosis, U.S. study finds (August 7, 2011) -- A new study examines U.S. national trends in antidepressant prescribing and finds much of this growth was driven by a substantial increase in antidepressant prescriptions by non-psychiatrist providers without any accompanying psychiatric diagnosis. ... > full story

Electrons and lattice vibrations: A strong team in the nano world (August 7, 2011) -- Using a newly developed type of spectroscopy, researchers have shown that electrons in a semiconductor are best described as a cloud with a size of a few nanometer (one nanometer is one billionth of one meter). The cloud size is determined by the interaction of the electron with vibrations in the crystal lattice. ... > full story

Social networking's good and bad impacts on kids (August 7, 2011) -- Social media present risks and benefits to children but parents who try to secretly monitor their kids' activities online are wasting their time, according to a new presentation. ... > full story

What shapes a bone? Diet and genetics dictate adult jaw shape (August 6, 2011) -- Researchers found that use over time and not just genetics informs the structure of jaw bones in human populations. The researchers say these findings may be used to predict the diet of an ancient population, even if little evidence exists in the fossil record. It can also make it easier for scientists to pinpoint the genetic relationship between fossils. ... > full story

Potential new eye tumor treatment discovered (August 6, 2011) -- New research demonstrates that a specific small segment of RNA could play a key role in the growth of a type of malignant childhood eye tumor called retinoblastoma. The tumor is associated with mutations of a protein called Rb, which is also involved with other types of cancers, including lung, brain, breast and bone. Their work could result in a new therapeutic target. ... > full story

Sea lampreys fear the smell of death: Repellant could be key to better controlling destructive invasive species (August 6, 2011) -- A repellant for sea lampreys could be the key to better controlling one of the most destructive invasive species in the Great Lakes, according to new research. Scientists have seen the effect alarm cues have on lampreys. When scents from dead sea lampreys are poured into a tank of live ones, the lampreys' efforts to escape are dramatic. In the past, these reactions were simply dismissed as novel. But researchers now see this reaction as a potential game changer. ... > full story

Sentinel node biopsy safe, effective in head and neck melanomas, study finds (August 6, 2011) -- A common technique for determining whether melanoma has spread can be used safely and effectively even in tumors from the head and neck area, according to a new study. ... > full story

Ocean probes to help refine climate change forecasting (August 6, 2011) -- A researcher has opened a new window to understanding how the ocean impacts climate change. She spent four years collecting samples from floating sediment traps in the San Pedro Basin off the Los Angeles coast, giving scientists a peek at how much carbon is locked up in the ocean and where it comes from. ... > full story

Mindless eating: Losing weight without thinking (August 6, 2011) -- Dieters may not need as much willpower as they think, if they make simple changes in their surroundings that can result in eating healthier without a second thought, said a consumer psychologist. ... > full story

Females can place limits on evolution of attractive features in males, research shows (August 5, 2011) -- Female cognitive ability can limit how melodious or handsome males become over evolutionary time, biologists have observed. Males across the animal world have evolved elaborate traits to attract females, from huge peacock tails to complex bird songs and frog calls. But what keeps them from getting more colorful feathers, longer tails, or more melodious songs? ... > full story

Human-made fat may limit damage to heart attack victims (August 5, 2011) -- A human-made fat called Intralipid, which is currently used as a component of intravenous nutrition and to treat rare overdoses of local anesthetics, may also offer protection for patients suffering from heart attacks. ... > full story

New field of hydrothermal vents discovered along the mid-Atlantic ridge (August 5, 2011) -- Oceanographers have discovered a previously uncharted field of hydrothermal vents along the mid-Atlantic ridge – the first to be explored north of the Azores. Researchers studied an area 3,000 meters below the surface of the sea using a remotely operated vehicle. ... > full story

Small molecules hit it big: New therapeutic approaches against viruses, bacteria, and cancer (August 5, 2011) -- Scientists have developed small molecules that inhibit the internalization of important signaling molecules but also of pathogenic organisms such as the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and bacteria into cells. These compounds inhibit the function of the cellular scaffold protein clathrin und could thereby serve as a starting point for novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer, viral or bacterial infections, or neurological disorders. ... > full story

Spotting weaknesses in solid wood (August 5, 2011) -- Is there a hairline crack in the oak table? Was the window frame glued badly? Ultrasound thermography can reliably identify material defects during the production of wooden items. This allows rejects to be caught quickly and eliminated, and faulty goods to be repaired in good time. ... > full story

Neuroscientists identify how the brain remembers what happens and when (August 5, 2011) -- Neuroscientists have identified the parts of the brain we use to remember the timing of events within an episode. The study enhances our understanding of how memories are processed and provides a potential roadmap for addressing memory-related afflictions. ... > full story

NASA's Juno spacecraft launches to Jupiter (August 5, 2011) -- NASA's solar-powered Juno spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Aug. 5, 2011 to begin a five-year journey to Jupiter. Juno's detailed study of the largest planet in our solar system will help reveal Jupiter's origin and evolution. As the archetype of giant gas planets, Jupiter can help scientists understand the origin of our solar system and learn more about planetary systems around other stars. ... > full story

Innate cells shown to form immunological 'memory' and protect against viral infection (August 5, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated that cells of the innate immune system are capable of "memory", and of mounting rapid protection to an otherwise lethal dose of live vaccinia virus. The study challenges previous thought that only B cells and T cells can store memory to ward off future infection. The finding has potentially significant consequences for the design of future vaccines, particularly for HIV. ... > full story

Mars' northern polar regions in transition (August 5, 2011) -- A newly released image from the European Space Agency's Mars Express shows the north pole of Mars during the red planet’s summer solstice. All the carbon dioxide ice has gone, leaving just a bright cap of water ice. ... > full story

Molecular mechanisms offer hope for new pain treatments (August 5, 2011) -- By working with individuals suffering from a severe disorder that causes sensory neurons to degenerate, researchers have discovered how a specific genetic mutation causes their patients' condition, which in turn has revealed more information about the mechanisms in our bodies which enable us to sense pain. ... > full story

Better desalination technology key to solving world's water shortage (August 5, 2011) -- Over one-third of the world's population already lives in areas struggling to keep up with the demand for fresh water. By 2025, that number will nearly double. A new Yale University study argues that seawater desalination should play an important role in helping combat worldwide fresh water shortages -- once conservation, reuse and other methods have been exhausted -- and provides insight into how desalination technology can be made more affordable and energy efficient. ... > full story

Gazpacho ingredients lose vitamin C during preparation (August 5, 2011) -- In summer, more dishes like gazpacho –- a cold soup containing raw vegetables, bread, olive oil and vinegar –- are consumed. A new study has revealed that ingredients’ vitamin C content as well as other organic acids is lower in the resulting mixture, meaning that it should be eaten immediately after preparation. ... > full story

Light shed on South Pole dinosaurs (August 5, 2011) -- Bones of South Pole dinosaurs grew like the bones of other dinosaurs, helping explain why dinosaurs were able to dominate the planet for 160 million years, new research shows. ... > full story

A patient's own skin cells may one day treat multiple diseases (August 5, 2011) -- The possibility of developing stem cells from a patient's own skin and using them to treat conditions as diverse as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and cancer has generated tremendous excitement in the stem cell research community in recent years. ... > full story

Researchers discover natural food preservative that kills food-borne bacteria (August 5, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered and received a patent for a naturally occurring lantibiotic -- a peptide produced by a harmless bacteria -- that could be added to food to kill harmful bacteria like salmonella, E. coli and listeria. ... > full story

Omega 3 fatty acids have protective benefits when taken during pregnancy, study suggests (August 5, 2011) -- A new study suggests consuming Omega 3 fatty acids during pregnancy helps protects babies against illness during early infancy. The randomized, placebo-controlled trial followed approximately 1,100 pregnant women and 900 infants in Mexico. The women were supplemented daily with 400 mg of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) supplements in the algal form or placebo from 18 to 22 weeks gestation through childbirth. Those whose mothers took DHA supplements had fewer colds and shorter illnesses at one, three and six months of age. ... > full story

Wireless network in hospital monitors vital signs, even as patients move about (August 5, 2011) -- A clinical warning system undergoing a feasibility study will include wireless sensors that take blood oxygenation and heart-rate readings from at-risk patients once or twice a minute. The data and lab results in the electronic medical record will be continually scrutinized by a machine-learning algorithm looking for signs of clinical deterioration. If any such signs are found, the system will call a nurse on a cellphone, alerting the nurse to check on the patient. ... > full story

How to eliminate motion sickness on tilting trains (August 5, 2011) -- Scientists have found that motion sickness on tilting trains can be essentially eliminated by adjusting the timing of when the cars tilt as they enter and leave the curves. They found that when the cars tilt just at the beginning of the curves instead of while they are making the turns, there was no motion sickness. ... > full story

Northern humans had bigger brains, to cope with the low light levels, study finds (August 5, 2011) -- The farther that human populations live from the equator, the bigger their brains, according to a new study. But it turns out that this is not because they are smarter, but because they need bigger vision areas in the brain to cope with the low light levels experienced at high latitudes. ... > full story

Making sperm from stem cells in a dish (August 5, 2011) -- Researchers have found a way to turn mouse embryonic stem cells into sperm. This finding opens up new avenues for infertility research and treatment. ... > full story

Researchers uncover new catalysis site (August 5, 2011) -- A new study details for the first time a new type of catalytic site where oxidation catalysis occurs, shedding new light on the inner workings of the process. ... > full story

Screening effort turns up multiple potential anti-malaria compounds; Possible resistance-proof drug pairs found (August 5, 2011) -- Numerous potential anti-malarial candidate drugs have been uncovered by researchers. Researchers used robotic, ultra-high-throughput screening technology to test more than 2,800 chemical compounds for activity against 61 genetically diverse strains of lab-grown malaria parasites. They found 32 compounds that were highly effective at killing at least 45 of the 61 strains. ... > full story

Web search is ready for a shakeup, says computer scientist (August 5, 2011) -- On the 20-year anniversary of the World Wide Web, computer scientist Oren Etzioni has published a two-page commentary in the journal Nature that calls on the international academic and industry communities to take a bolder approach when designing how people find information online. ... > full story

It’s official: Computerized trading agents do beat humans in foreign exchange markets (August 5, 2011) -- Robot trading agents, which already dominate the foreign exchange markets, have now been definitively shown to beat human traders at the same game. ... > full story

Engineers solve longstanding problem in photonic chip technology: Findings help pave way for next generation of computer chips (August 5, 2011) -- Stretching for thousands of miles beneath oceans, optical fibers now connect every continent except for Antarctica. But although optical fibers are increasingly replacing copper wires, carrying information via photons instead of electrons, today's computer technology still relies on electronic chips. Now, researchers are paving the way for the next generation of computer-chip technology: photonic chips. ... > full story