ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Saturday, September 17, 2011 ~ techdeck

Sabtu, 17 September 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Saturday, September 17, 2011

02.21 technofi No comments

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Saturday, September 17, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Switch that controls stem cell pluripotency discovered (September 16, 2011) -- Scientists have found a control switch that regulates stem cell "pluripotency," the capacity of stem cells to develop into any type of cell in the human body. The discovery reveals that pluripotency is regulated by a single event in a process called alternative splicing. ... > full story

It’s all in the head: Songbirds with bigger brains have benefited from the end of communism (September 16, 2011) -- The abundance of songbirds with relatively large brains in Eastern Germany and the Czech Republic has increased since 1989/1990. The increase in large-brained songbirds is attributed to the better cognitive abilities of the species enabling them better adaption to the socio-economic changes affecting habitats after the end of communism. ... > full story

Biochemical cell signals quantified: Data capacity much lower than expected, scientists find (September 16, 2011) -- Just as cell phones and computers transmit data through electronic networks, the cells of your body send and receive chemical messages through molecular pathways. The term "cell signaling" was coined more than 30 years ago to describe this process. For the first time, scientists have quantified the data capacity of a biochemical signaling pathway and found a surprise -- it's lower than a dial-up modem. ... > full story

Resistance to antibiotics is ancient (September 16, 2011) -- New research findings show antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon that predates the modern clinical antibiotic use. The breakthrough will have important impact on the understanding of antibiotic resistance. ... > full story

Cities to grab lands equaling size of Mongolia In next 20 years, study predicts (September 16, 2011) -- In the next 20 years, more than 590,000 square miles of land globally -- more than twice the size of Texas -- will be gobbled up by cities, a trend that shows no signs of stopping and one that could pose threats on several levels, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Tree resin captures evolution of feathers on dinosaurs and birds (September 16, 2011) -- A researcher found treasure trove of Cretaceous feathers trapped in tree resin. The resin turned to resilient amber, preserving some 80 million-year-old protofeathers, possibly from non-avian dinosaurs, as well as plumage that is very similar to modern birds, including those that can swim under water. ... > full story

Carbon nanoparticles break barriers -- and that may not be good (September 16, 2011) -- In a new study, researchers studied cellular alterations in the urine-blood barrier in the kidney caused by repeated exposure to low concentrations of carbon nanoparticles. Among the first to study concentrations of these tiny particles that are low enough to mimic the actual exposure of an ordinary individual, researchers say this is the initial step to understanding the assault on the human body of accidental exposure to CNPs. ... > full story

Ancient crocodile competed with Titanoboa, world's largest snake, for food, paleontologists discover (September 16, 2011) -- Did an ancient crocodile relative give the world's largest snake a run for its money? In a new study, researchers describe a new 20-foot extinct species discovered in the same Colombian coal mine with Titanoboa, the world's largest snake. The findings help scientists better understand the diversity of animals that occupied the oldest known rainforest ecosystem, which had higher temperatures than today, and could be useful for understanding the impacts of a warmer climate in the future. ... > full story

An apple or pear a day may keep strokes away (September 16, 2011) -- Eating apples and pears may help prevent stroke, according to a new study. While high consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with lower stroke risk, a Dutch study found that eating fruit and vegetables with white edible portions was associated with a 52 percent lower stroke risk. Apples and pears were the majority of the white fruits and vegetables consumed in the study. ... > full story

New method for detecting lung cancer unveiled (September 16, 2011) -- When lung cancer strikes, it often spreads silently into more advanced stages before being detected. In a new article, biological engineers and medical scientists reveal how their discovery could provide a much earlier warning signal. ... > full story

New rapid test tells difference between bacterial and viral infections (September 16, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development and successful testing of a rapid and accurate test to tell the difference between bacterial and viral infections. Those common afflictions often have similar symptoms but vastly different treatments -- antibiotics work for bacterial infections but not for viruses. ... > full story

A wild and woolly discovery: Tibetan expedition ends with prehistoric find (September 16, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered the oldest known species of woolly rhino. They found the complete skull and lower jaw of a previously unknown and long-extinct animal. ... > full story