ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Wetter Arctic could influence climate change, study finds
• NASA's 'Mighty Eagle' robotic prototype lander aces major exam
• Cheers, Voyager: 35 years of exploration
• HIF gene mutation found in tumor cells offers new clues about cancer metabolism
• Alternatives to Medicare's fee-for-service payment system examined
• Call for a new approach to fighting tuberculosis
• Fathers who sleep closer to children have lower testosterone levels
• Albatross 'dynamic soaring' achieved by repeated curve-altitude oscillation
• Best strategy to defeat HIV in South Africa: Study challenges World Health Organization's approach
• Picky penguins: Does mate choice depend on genes that help resist disease?
• NFL players may be at higher risk of death from Alzheimer’s and ALS, research shows
• Space shuttle Atlantis' new home tops out
• NASA mission to study magnetic explosions passes major review
• Dawn has departed the giant asteroid Vesta
• NASA to explore link between sea saltiness, climate
• Biochemical functions for most of human genome identified: New map finds genetic regulatory elements account for 80 percent of our DNA
• Social exclusion on the playground: Study looks at why kids say 'you can’t play!'
• Major advances in understanding the regulation and organization of the human genome
• Dinosaur die out might have been second of two closely timed extinctions
• Computational method for pinpointing genetic factors that cause disease
• Concussions can happen in all kids, not just athletes
• Exceptional upward mobility in the US is a myth, international studies show
• LEDs winning light race to save energy, the environment
• Guys, take note: Male birth control pill may be ready soon
• Seeing the birth of the universe in an atom of hydrogen: Radio waves used to uncover oldest galaxies yet
• Animal study finds anti-HIV vaginal ring can prevent virus transmission
• Carbon sequestration on U. S. rangelands offers promise, but not profit
• Genome-wide scan maps mutations in deadly lung cancers; reveals embryonic gene link
• Mouse study suggests sleep problems may be early Alzheimer's sign
• First holistic view of how human genome actually works: ENCODE study produces massive data set
• New PTSD diagnosis criteria examined
• How a high-fat diet and estrogen loss leads women to store more abdominal fat than men
• Study in mice discovers injection of heat-generating cells reduces belly fat
• Teens tell different tales about themselves depending on gender
• Gender equality influences how people choose their partners
• How ocean energy impacts life in the deep sea: Results will help scientists understand what to expect under future climate change
• Telaprevir: Added benefit in certain patients with hepatitis C
• Children exposed to two phthalates have elevated risk of asthma-related airway inflammation
• Quantum physics at a distance
• Millions of DNA switches that power human genome's operating system are discovered
• In massive genome analysis ENCODE data suggests 'gene' redefinition
• Yale team finds order amidst the chaos within the human genome
• Loss of tropical forests reduces rain
• Mapping a genetic world beyond genes
• UC Santa Cruz provides access to encyclopedia of the human genome
• UMASS Medical School faculty annotate human genome for ENCODE project
• Huge human gene study includes Penn State University research
• Researchers unlock disease information hidden in genome's control circuitry
• Fast forward for biomedical research: Massive DNA encyclopedia scraps the junk
• ENCODE Project publishes new genomic insights in special issue of Genome Research
• Comprehensive transcriptome analysis of human ENCODE cells
• Tough gel stretches to 21 times its length, recoils, and heals itself: Biocompatible material much tougher than cartilage
• Human genome far more active than thought: GENCODE Consortium discovers far more genes than previously thought
• Understanding the human genome: ENCODE at BioMed Central
• First stars, galaxies formed more rapidly than expected
• Nanosystems engineering research center on self-powered health monitoring
• List of Asian species at conservation crossroads released by Wildlife Conservation Society
• Decoding the Black Death: Anthropologist finds clues in medieval skeletons
• Quantum teleportation goes the distance: Record-breaking distance of 143 kilometers through free space
• When do we lie? When we're short on time and long on reasons

Wetter Arctic could influence climate change, study finds Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:05 PM PDT Increased precipitation and river discharge in the Arctic has the potential to speed climate change, according to the results of a new study.

NASA's 'Mighty Eagle' robotic prototype lander aces major exam Posted: 05 Sep 2012 03:57 PM PDT Completing this round of flight test objectives, the "Mighty Eagle," a NASA robotic prototype lander, flew to an altitude of 100 feet and descended gently to a controlled landing during a successful free flight Sept. 5 at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Cheers, Voyager: 35 years of exploration Posted: 05 Sep 2012 03:55 PM PDT What would a birthday party be without cake, music and toasts? Thirty-five years ago today, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft launched on its mission of exploration. It is now the most distant human-made object and the second-longest operating spacecraft. (Voyager 2 is the longest.) NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., which manages the Voyager spacecraft, held a celebration Sept. 5.

HIF gene mutation found in tumor cells offers new clues about cancer metabolism Posted: 05 Sep 2012 03:30 PM PDT For the first time, a mutation in HIF2 alpha, a specific group of genes known as transcription factors that is involved in red blood cell production and cell metabolism, has been identified in cancer tumor cells.

Alternatives to Medicare's fee-for-service payment system examined Posted: 05 Sep 2012 02:16 PM PDT For years policymakers have attempted to replace Medicare's fee-for-service payment system with approaches that pay one price for an aggregation of services. The intent has been to reward providers for offering needed care in the most appropriate and cost-effective manner. But many of these programs have known pitfalls, according to a new article.

Call for a new approach to fighting tuberculosis Posted: 05 Sep 2012 02:16 PM PDT Each year, nearly two million people die from tuberculosis -- a treatable disease that has been brought under control in the United States, but continues to ravage other parts of the world. This health inequity should prompt a complete rethinking of the way tuberculosis is fought on a global level, experts argue.

Fathers who sleep closer to children have lower testosterone levels Posted: 05 Sep 2012 02:16 PM PDT Closer sleeping proximity between fathers and children is associated with a greater decrease in the father's testosterone level, with possible implications for parenting behavior.

Albatross 'dynamic soaring' achieved by repeated curve-altitude oscillation Posted: 05 Sep 2012 02:16 PM PDT Albatrosses leverage the energy of the wind to fly with essentially no mechanical cost to themselves, very rarely flapping their wings, and new work offers insight into how exactly they accomplish this feat.

Best strategy to defeat HIV in South Africa: Study challenges World Health Organization's approach Posted: 05 Sep 2012 02:15 PM PDT The World Health Organization (WHO) is about to embark on a new strategy to prevent AIDS in South Africa, a country thought to have more people with HIV/AIDS than any other country in the world. Using mathematical modeling, the WHO predicts this strategy could completely eliminate HIV in South Africa within a decade. Alas, researchers at UCLA respectively disagree, suggesting the WHO has left out key considerations. Their own model suggests a different approach.

Picky penguins: Does mate choice depend on genes that help resist disease? Posted: 05 Sep 2012 01:37 PM PDT Magellanic penguins have a high level of variation in genes associated with the ability to fight infectious disease, but a recent study found that the mechanism the penguins use to ensure that diversity is far from black and white. A recent study tested whether the significant diversity in the Major Histocompatibility Complex genome region observed in these birds is attributable to mate choice or genetic selection based on disease exposure.

NFL players may be at higher risk of death from Alzheimer’s and ALS, research shows Posted: 05 Sep 2012 01:33 PM PDT New research shows that professional football players may be at a higher risk of death from diseases that damage the cells in the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease and ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), compared to the general U.S. population.

Space shuttle Atlantis' new home tops out Posted: 05 Sep 2012 01:26 PM PDT The new home for space shuttle Atlantis was topped out Wednesday with its highest beam in a milestone ceremony marking the continuing construction of a 90,000-square-foot exhibit hall at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

NASA mission to study magnetic explosions passes major review Posted: 05 Sep 2012 01:22 PM PDT On August 31, 2012, NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission proved it was ready for its next steps by passing what's called a Systems Integration Review (SIR), which deems a mission ready to integrate instruments onto the spacecraft.

Dawn has departed the giant asteroid Vesta Posted: 05 Sep 2012 01:20 PM PDT Mission controllers received confirmation today that NASA's Dawn spacecraft has escaped from the gentle gravitational grip of the giant asteroid Vesta. Dawn is now officially on its way to its second destination, the dwarf planet Ceres.

NASA to explore link between sea saltiness, climate Posted: 05 Sep 2012 01:18 PM PDT A NASA-sponsored expedition is set to sail to the North Atlantic's saltiest spot to get a detailed, 3-D picture of how salt content fluctuates in the ocean's upper layers and how these variations are related to shifts in rainfall patterns around the planet.

Biochemical functions for most of human genome identified: New map finds genetic regulatory elements account for 80 percent of our DNA Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:48 PM PDT Only about 1 percent of the human genome contains gene regions that code for proteins, raising the question of what the rest of the DNA is doing. Scientists have now begun to discover the answer: About 80 percent of the genome is biochemically active, and likely involved in regulating the expression of nearby genes, according to a study from a large international team of researchers.

Social exclusion on the playground: Study looks at why kids say 'you can’t play!' Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:46 PM PDT Being the last one picked for the team, getting left out of the clique of cool girls, having no one to sit with at lunch. For children, social exclusion can impact everything from emotional well being to academic achievements.

Major advances in understanding the regulation and organization of the human genome Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:46 PM PDT The National Human Genome Research Institute today announced the results of a five-year international study of the regulation and organization of the human genome. The project is named ENCODE, which stands for the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements. In conjunction with the release of those results, the Journal of Biological Chemistry has published a series of reviews that focus on several aspects of the findings.

Dinosaur die out might have been second of two closely timed extinctions Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:43 PM PDT New research indicates that shortly before an asteroid impact spelled doom for the dinosaurs, a separate extinction triggered by volcanic eruptions killed life on the ocean floor.

Computational method for pinpointing genetic factors that cause disease Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:43 PM PDT Researchers have developed a computational method of identifying "causal" genetic variants that lead to particular diseases, with wide application for genome-wide association studies.

Concussions can happen in all kids, not just athletes Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:43 PM PDT The gridiron is back in action. From little leagues to professional teams, football frenzy has begun, and with it, concerns about concussions. But it's not just jarring tackles that can lead to concussions in kids. According to doctors, there are many ways kids are exposed to concussion risks.

Exceptional upward mobility in the US is a myth, international studies show Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:19 AM PDT The rhetoric is relentless: America is a place of unparalleled opportunity, where hard work and determination can propel a child out of humble beginnings into the White House, or at least a mansion on a hill. But the reality is very different, according to a researcher who is studying inequality across generations around the world.

LEDs winning light race to save energy, the environment Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:19 AM PDT Light-emitting diode light bulbs, also known as LEDs, are more environmentally friendly than compact fluorescent and incandescent lights, new research shows. LEDs' environmental edge is expected to grow substantially as technology and manufacturing methods improve by 2017.

Guys, take note: Male birth control pill may be ready soon Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:19 AM PDT Attention men: The day may be coming soon when you can take your own birth control pill with no side effects, according to a new study.

Seeing the birth of the universe in an atom of hydrogen: Radio waves used to uncover oldest galaxies yet Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:19 AM PDT Astronomers are using radio telescopes to find radio waves emitted by hydrogen atoms, which were abundant in the early days of the universe. This new field of research, called "21-centimeter cosmology," opens the way to learning more about the universe's oldest galaxies.

Animal study finds anti-HIV vaginal ring can prevent virus transmission Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:19 AM PDT Scientists have found that a vaginal ring releasing an anti-HIV drug can prevent the transmission of SHIV in macaques. This study provides the first efficacy data on the delivery of a microbicide from a vaginal ring, and indicates strong potential for the success of such rings in women. Microbicides are compounds that can be applied inside the vagina or rectum to protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Carbon sequestration on U. S. rangelands offers promise, but not profit Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:16 AM PDT Nearly 239 million hectares of land in the United States are devoted to pastures and rangeland. Worldwide, rangelands cover about 3.6 billion hectares. Harnessing the potential for carbon sequestration from these lands could have a global impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Genome-wide scan maps mutations in deadly lung cancers; reveals embryonic gene link Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:16 AM PDT Scientists have completed a comprehensive map of genetic mutations linked to an aggressive and lethal type of lung cancer. Among the errors found in small cell lung cancers, scientists found an alteration in a gene called SOX2 associated with early embryonic development.

Mouse study suggests sleep problems may be early Alzheimer's sign Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:16 AM PDT Sleep disruptions may be among the earliest indicators of Alzheimer's disease, scientists report.

First holistic view of how human genome actually works: ENCODE study produces massive data set Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:09 AM PDT The Human Genome Project produced an almost complete order of the 3 billion pairs of chemical letters in the DNA that embodies the human genetic code -- but little about the way this blueprint works. Now, after a multi-year concerted effort by more than 440 researchers in 32 labs around the world, a more dynamic picture gives the first holistic view of how the human genome actually does its job.

New PTSD diagnosis criteria examined Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:54 AM PDT Proposed changes to the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder will not substantially affect the number of people who meet criteria for the disorder, according to new research.

How a high-fat diet and estrogen loss leads women to store more abdominal fat than men Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:54 AM PDT A high-fat diet triggers chemical reactions in female mice that could explain why women are more likely than men to gain fat in the abdomen after eating excess saturated fat, new research suggests. The study also sheds light on why women gain fat following menopause.

Study in mice discovers injection of heat-generating cells reduces belly fat Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT The injection of a tiny capsule containing heat-generating cells into the abdomens of mice led those animals to burn abdominal fat and initially lose about 20 percent of belly fat after 80 days of treatment.

Teens tell different tales about themselves depending on gender Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT During adolescence, the stories young people tell about themselves reflects their development of a personal identity and sense of self, and those autobiographical narratives vary depending on the teens' gender, according to psychologists.

Gender equality influences how people choose their partners Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT Men and women clearly have different strategies for picking sexual partners, but the reason why differences exist is less clear. The classic explanation for these differences has been that men's and women's brains have evolved to make certain choices, but a new study suggests that evolution is only part of the answer.

How ocean energy impacts life in the deep sea: Results will help scientists understand what to expect under future climate change Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT A new study of deep-sea species worldwide examines how gradients in food and temperature in the deep sea's dark, frigid waters affect the creatures that live there. Similar studies have been conducted in the shallow oceans, but our understanding of the impact of food and temperature on life in the deep sea -- the Earth's largest and most remote ecosystem -- is more limited. The results will help scientists understand what to expect under future climate change.

Telaprevir: Added benefit in certain patients with hepatitis C Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT The new drug telaprevir offers advantages in various groups of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection of genotype 1. The available studies provide proof, indications or "hints" of an added benefit. However, not only the probability but also the extent of added benefit varies, according to a new assessment.

Children exposed to two phthalates have elevated risk of asthma-related airway inflammation Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT Children exposed to diethyl phthalate and butylbenzyl phthalate -- phthalate chemicals commonly found in personal care and plastic products -- have elevated risk of asthma-related airway inflammation, according to researchers.

Quantum physics at a distance Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT Physicists have achieved quantum teleportation over a record distance of 143 km. The experiment is a major step towards satellite-based quantum communication.

Millions of DNA switches that power human genome's operating system are discovered Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT Genes make up only 2 percent of the human genome and are easy to spot, but the on/off switches controlling those genes were encrypted within the remaining 98 percent of the genome. Without these switches, called regulatory DNA, genes are inert. Scientists created detailed maps of the locations of regulatory DNA within hundreds of different kinds of living cells. They also compiled a dictionary of the instructions written within regulatory DNA.

In massive genome analysis ENCODE data suggests 'gene' redefinition Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT As part of a huge collaborative effort called ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements), a research team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has analyzed all the RNA messages, called transcripts, produced within human cells. They show that three-quarters of the genome is capable of being transcribed, indicating that nearly all of our genome is dynamic and active. This raises exciting new possibilities for research into complex genetic diseases.

Yale team finds order amidst the chaos within the human genome Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT The massive Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) unveiled Sept. 5 reveals a human genome vastly more rich and complex than envisioned even a decade ago. In a key supporting paper published in the journal Nature, the lab of Yale's Mark Gerstein, the Albert L. Williams Professor of Biomedical Informatics, has found order amidst the seeming chaos of trillions of potential molecular interactions.

Loss of tropical forests reduces rain Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT Deforestation can have a significant effect on tropical rainfall, new research confirms. The findings have potentially devastating impacts for people living in and near the Amazon and Congo forests. Continued destruction of these forests would reduce rain across the Amazon basin by up to a fifth (21 percent) in the dry season by 2050.

Mapping a genetic world beyond genes Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT Most of the DNA alterations that are tied to disease do not alter protein-coding genes, but rather the "switches" that control them. Characterizing these switches is one of many goals of the ENCODE project -- a sweeping, international effort to create a compendium of all of the working parts of the human genome that have not been well studied or well understood. The function of the vast majority of the human genome has remained largely unknown, but the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project, launched in 2003, set out to change that.

UC Santa Cruz provides access to encyclopedia of the human genome Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT The ENCODE project has enabled scientists to assign specific functions for 80 percent of the human genome, providing new insights into the mechanisms of gene regulation and giving biomedical researchers a solid genetic foundation for understanding how the body works in health and disease. The project's data coordination center at UCSC has made all of the ENCODE data available for public use through the UCSC Genome Browser.

UMASS Medical School faculty annotate human genome for ENCODE project Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT The first comprehensive decoding and annotation of the human genome is being published today by the ENCyclopedia Of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project, an international consortium of scientists from 32 institutions, including the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The groundbreaking ENCODE discovery appears in a set of 30 papers in Nature, Genome Research and Genome Biology.

Huge human gene study includes Penn State University research Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT The first integrated understanding of how the human genome functions will be published this week -- the triumphant result of a collaborative five-year project called ENCODE, involving more than 440 researchers working in 32 labs worldwide. Penn State's contribution involves using the new ENCODE data to help explain how genetic variants that do not affect the structure of encoded proteins could affect a person's susceptibility to disease.

Researchers unlock disease information hidden in genome's control circuitry Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT Researchers have determined that the majority of genetic changes associated with more than 400 common diseases and clinical traits affect the genome's regulatory circuitry. These are the regions of DNA that contain instructions dictating when and where genes are switched on or off. Most of these changes affect circuits that are active during early human development, when body tissues are most vulnerable.

Fast forward for biomedical research: Massive DNA encyclopedia scraps the junk Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT Today, an international team of researchers reveal that much of what has been called 'junk DNA' in the human genome is actually a massive control panel with millions of switches regulating the activity of our genes. Without these switches, genes would not work -- and mutations in these regions might lead to human disease. Discovered by hundreds of scientists working on the ENCODE Project, the new information is so comprehensive and complex that it has given rise to a new publishing model in which electronic documents and datasets are interconnected.

ENCODE Project publishes new genomic insights in special issue of Genome Research Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT Genome Research publishes a special issue dedicated to The ENCODE (ENCyclopedia Of DNA Elements) Project, whose goal is to characterize all functional elements in the human genome.

Comprehensive transcriptome analysis of human ENCODE cells Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT ENCODE, an international research project led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), has produced and analyzed 1649 data sets designed to annotate functional elements of the entire human genome. Data on transcription starting sites (TSS) contributed by a research team at the RIKEN Omics Science Center provided key anchor points linking the epigenetic status of genes observed at the 5' end directly to their RNA output.

Tough gel stretches to 21 times its length, recoils, and heals itself: Biocompatible material much tougher than cartilage Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT A team of experts in mechanics, materials science, and tissue engineering has created an extremely stretchy and tough gel that may pave the way to replacing damaged cartilage in human joints. Called a hydrogel, because its main ingredient is water, the new material is a hybrid of two weak gels that combine to create something much stronger. Not only can this new gel stretch to 21 times its original length, but it is also exceptionally tough, self-healing, and biocompatible -- a valuable collection of attributes that opens up new opportunities in medicine and tissue engineering.

Human genome far more active than thought: GENCODE Consortium discovers far more genes than previously thought Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT The GENCODE Consortium expects the human genome has twice as many genes than previously thought, many of which might have a role in cellular control and could be important in human disease. This remarkable discovery comes from the GENCODE Consortium, which has done a painstaking and skilled review of available data on gene activity.

Understanding the human genome: ENCODE at BioMed Central Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT The completion of the human genome project in 2003 was an immeasurably important milestone, but (like an book written in code) left many biologists wondering what the sequence might actually mean. Consequently, the focus of human genomics that year began the transition from generating sequence -- to annotating the functional elements, hidden within the human genome's 3.2 billion As, Cs, Gs and Ts. With this goal in mind the ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) consortium was formed.

First stars, galaxies formed more rapidly than expected Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:48 AM PDT Analysis of data from the National Science Foundation's South Pole Telescope, for the first time, more precisely defines the period of cosmological evolution when the first stars and galaxies formed and gradually illuminated the universe.

Nanosystems engineering research center on self-powered health monitoring Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:48 AM PDT Four universities will partner on a national nanotechnology research effort to create self-powered devices to help people monitor their health and better understand how their environment affects it, the U.S. National Science Foundation announced.

List of Asian species at conservation crossroads released by Wildlife Conservation Society Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:48 AM PDT The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) today released a list of Asian species that are at a conservation crossroads calling for governments to take immediate action with The Three Rs Approach: Recognition, Responsibility, Recovery.

Decoding the Black Death: Anthropologist finds clues in medieval skeletons Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:48 AM PDT Researchers have been studying medieval skeletons at the Museum of London since 2003, each year unlocking more clues to the mystery that surrounds the Black Death.

Quantum teleportation goes the distance: Record-breaking distance of 143 kilometers through free space Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:43 AM PDT An international research team has achieved quantum teleportation over a record-breaking distance of 143 kilometers through free space.

When do we lie? When we're short on time and long on reasons Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:30 AM PDT Almost all of us have been tempted to lie at some point, whether about our GPA, our annual income, or our age. But what makes us actually do it? In a new study, psychological scientists discover that time pressure and available justifications both influence dishonest behavior.

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