ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Robotic bug gets wings, sheds light on evolution of flight
• Possible link between bacterium and colon cancer discovered
• 'Drunkorexia:' A recipe for disaster
• New approach to treating Listeria infections
• Impurity atoms introduce waves of disorder in exotic electronic material
• Halo effect: Family members of gastric-bypass patients also lose weight, study finds
• Biomarker-guided heart failure treatment significantly reduces complications
• Muscling toward a longer life: Genetic aging pathway identified in flies
• New research links common RNA modification to obesity
• 2011 a banner year for young striped bass in Virginia
• Links in the chain: Global carbon emissions and consumption difficult to attribute
• Skin's immune peacekeepers discovered
• Clustered hurricanes reduce impact on ecosystems, researchers find
• Discovery helps explain progression of Lou Gehrig's disease, offers new therapy approach
• Protecting the brain when energy runs low
• Chemical warfare on the reef: Molecules used by certain seaweed to harm corals
• Testing micro-electronic stimulators for spinal cord injuries
• Protein is potential new treatment target for adult pulmonary hypertension
• Nourishing protein slows brain disease
• Dark matter mystery deepens
• Electromobility: New components going for a test run
• Protein family key to aging, cancer
• Protein that fuels lethal breast cancer growth emerges as potential new drug target
• US rivers and streams saturated with carbon: Releasing enough carbon to fuel 3.4 million car trips to the moon
• Archaeologists find blade 'production lines' existed as much as 400,000 years ago
• Now you can determine the solar efficiency of your roof
• Key to avoiding ankle re-injury may be in the hips and knees
• Omega-3 fatty acids shown to prevent or slow progression of osteoarthritis
• Wearable depth-sensing projection system makes any surface capable of multitouch interaction
• New DNA test to identify Down syndrome in pregnancy is ready for clinical use
• Gene variant leads to better memory via increased brain activation
• Could hypertension drugs help people with Alzheimer's?
• Sea levels to continue to rise for 500 years? Long-term climate calculations suggest so
• Antiviral drugs may slow Alzheimer's progression
• Genomic sequence and comparison of two macaques reveal new insights into biomedical research
• Genetic study of cave millipedes reveals isolated populations and ancient divergence between species
• Nano funnel used to generate extreme ultraviolet light pulses
• Low birthweight infants five times more likely to have autism, study finds
• Clue to birth defects in babies of mothers with diabetes
• Unexpected effect of climate change on body size for many different species
• Bioengineering to generate healthy skin

Robotic bug gets wings, sheds light on evolution of flight Posted: 17 Oct 2011 06:49 PM PDT When engineers outfitted a six-legged robotic bug with wings in an effort to improve its mobility, they unexpectedly shed some light on the evolution of flight. The wings nearly doubled the running speed of the 25-gram robot, but was that good enough for takeoff?

Possible link between bacterium and colon cancer discovered Posted: 17 Oct 2011 03:46 PM PDT Scientists have found strikingly high levels of a bacterium in colorectal cancers, a sign that it might contribute to the disease and potentially be a key to diagnosing, preventing, and treating it.

'Drunkorexia:' A recipe for disaster Posted: 17 Oct 2011 02:15 PM PDT It is well-known that eating disorders are common among teens and college students. Heavy alcohol consumption is another well-known unhealthy habit of this age group. A new study shows that when college students combine these two unhealthy habits, their long-term health may be affected. "Drunkorexia" is a new term coined by the media to describe the combination of disordered eating and heavy alcohol consumption.

New approach to treating Listeria infections Posted: 17 Oct 2011 02:08 PM PDT Research underway could lead to new treatments for people sickened by Listeria and other sepsis-causing bacteria. Research supports a new approach to treating these infections.

Impurity atoms introduce waves of disorder in exotic electronic material Posted: 17 Oct 2011 02:08 PM PDT Scientists reveal how substituting just a few atoms can cause widespread disruption of the delicate electron interactions that give a particular "heavy fermion" material its unique properties, including superconductivity.

Halo effect: Family members of gastric-bypass patients also lose weight, study finds Posted: 17 Oct 2011 02:08 PM PDT Family members of patients who have undergone surgery for weight loss may also shed several pounds themselves, as well as eat healthier and exercise more, according to a new study.

Biomarker-guided heart failure treatment significantly reduces complications Posted: 17 Oct 2011 02:08 PM PDT Adding regular testing for blood levels of a biomarker of cardiac distress to standard care for the most common form of heart failure may significantly reduce the incidence of cardiovascular complications, a new study finds.

Muscling toward a longer life: Genetic aging pathway identified in flies Posted: 17 Oct 2011 12:56 PM PDT Researchers have identified a set of genes that act in muscles to modulate aging and resistance to stress in fruit flies. Scientists have previously found mutations that extend fruit fly lifespan, but this group of genes is distinct because it acts specifically in muscles. The findings could help doctors better understand and treat muscle degeneration in human aging.

New research links common RNA modification to obesity Posted: 17 Oct 2011 12:56 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that a pervasive human RNA modification provides the physiological underpinning of the genetic regulatory process that contributes to obesity and type II diabetes.

2011 a banner year for young striped bass in Virginia Posted: 17 Oct 2011 12:56 PM PDT Preliminary results from a 2011 survey reveal a strong class of young-of-year striped bass will enter Chesapeake Bay's adult population in 2012. That's good news for anglers and the Bay ecosystem.

Links in the chain: Global carbon emissions and consumption difficult to attribute Posted: 17 Oct 2011 12:56 PM PDT It is difficult to measure accurately each nation's contribution of carbon dioxide to the Earth's atmosphere. Carbon is extracted out of the ground as coal, gas, and oil, and these fuels are often exported to other countries where they are burned to generate the energy that is used to make products. In turn, these products may be traded to still other countries where they are consumed. A team tracked and quantified this supply chain of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Skin's immune peacekeepers discovered Posted: 17 Oct 2011 12:56 PM PDT There are more bacteria living on our skin and in our gut than cells in our body. We need them. But until now no one knew how the immune system could tell that these bacteria are harmless. Researchers in Sydney have discovered a set of peacekeepers -- immune cells in the outer layers of our skin that stop us from attacking friendly bacteria.

Clustered hurricanes reduce impact on ecosystems, researchers find Posted: 17 Oct 2011 12:56 PM PDT New research has found that hurricane activity is "clustered" rather than random, which has important long-term implications for coastal ecosystems and human population. Tropical cyclones and hurricanes have a massive economic, social and ecological impact, and models of their occurrence influence many planning activities from setting insurance premiums to conservation planning.

Discovery helps explain progression of Lou Gehrig's disease, offers new therapy approach Posted: 17 Oct 2011 12:56 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a previously unknown type of neural cell that appears to be closely linked to the progression of amytrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, that they believe will provide an important new approach to therapies. There is now no treatment for this disease, which causes progressive death of motor neurons, serious debility, paralysis and ultimately death within a few years.

Protecting the brain when energy runs low Posted: 17 Oct 2011 12:56 PM PDT Researchers have shed new light on the way that the brain protects itself from harm when 'running on empty.'

Chemical warfare on the reef: Molecules used by certain seaweed to harm corals Posted: 17 Oct 2011 12:56 PM PDT Scientists for the first time have identified and mapped the chemical structure of molecules used by certain species of marine seaweed to kill or inhibit the growth of reef-building coral.

Testing micro-electronic stimulators for spinal cord injuries Posted: 17 Oct 2011 10:38 AM PDT A new wireless device may help victims of spinal cord injury. Researchers are developing micro-electrical stimulators for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Protein is potential new treatment target for adult pulmonary hypertension Posted: 17 Oct 2011 10:38 AM PDT A protein critical to development appears to have a grave impact on lungs exposed to smoking and air pollution, researchers report. Blocking that protein, called calpain, in the lungs may prove an effective way to avoid narrow, scarred blood vessels and pulmonary hypertension, researchers said.

Nourishing protein slows brain disease Posted: 17 Oct 2011 09:43 AM PDT A nourishing protein that promotes the growth of neurons and blood vessels appears to stop the progression of a genetic disease that causes degeneration of the cerebellum, according to new preclinical research. The disease, spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, typically strikes people in the 30s and 40s and eventually causes death.

Dark matter mystery deepens Posted: 17 Oct 2011 09:43 AM PDT Like all galaxies, our Milky Way is home to a strange substance called dark matter. Dark matter is invisible, betraying its presence only through its gravitational pull. Without dark matter holding them together, our galaxy's speedy stars would fly off in all directions. The nature of dark matter is a mystery -- a mystery that a new study has only deepened.

Electromobility: New components going for a test run Posted: 17 Oct 2011 09:43 AM PDT The future belongs to electrical cars -- that's what most experts think. In the future, it will be whisper-quiet on road because in the long run electric cars will replace the internal combustion engine. But there are still some unanswered questions. For instance, how do you store the electricity in cars? Or what power networks do you need?

Protein family key to aging, cancer Posted: 17 Oct 2011 09:42 AM PDT A protein linked to aging may act as a tumor suppressor, and loss of this protein leads to gender-specific tumor development in mice, according to new research. The findings suggest the existence of a rare "family" of tumor suppressors and may have implications for a common form of breast cancer.

Protein that fuels lethal breast cancer growth emerges as potential new drug target Posted: 17 Oct 2011 09:42 AM PDT A protein in the nucleus of breast cancer cells that plays a role in fueling the growth of aggressive tumors may be a good target for new drugs, reports a research team.

US rivers and streams saturated with carbon: Releasing enough carbon to fuel 3.4 million car trips to the moon Posted: 17 Oct 2011 08:16 AM PDT Rivers and streams in the United States are releasing enough carbon into the atmosphere to fuel 3.4 million car trips to the moon, according to researchers. Their findings could change the way scientists model the movement of carbon between land, water and the atmosphere.

Archaeologists find blade 'production lines' existed as much as 400,000 years ago Posted: 17 Oct 2011 08:16 AM PDT Archaeologists report that large numbers of long, slender cutting tools were discovered at the Qesem Cave outside Tel Aviv. They report that every element of the system points to a sophisticated tool "production line" to rival technologies used hundreds of thousands of years later.

Now you can determine the solar efficiency of your roof Posted: 17 Oct 2011 08:16 AM PDT It is becoming more and more common to install solar panels on roofs in order to obtain green electricity, but not all roofs are equally suitable. Scientists have now launched a tool that uses the actual conditions to determine the maximum possible magnitude of solar incidence -- in a whole town, a neighborhood, or a particular roof.

Key to avoiding ankle re-injury may be in the hips and knees Posted: 17 Oct 2011 08:16 AM PDT Nearly all active people suffer ankle sprains at some point in their lives, and a new study suggests that the different ways people move their hip and knee joints may influence the risk of re-injury.

Omega-3 fatty acids shown to prevent or slow progression of osteoarthritis Posted: 17 Oct 2011 08:16 AM PDT New research has shown for the first time that omega-3 in fish oil could "substantially and significantly" reduce the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Wearable depth-sensing projection system makes any surface capable of multitouch interaction Posted: 17 Oct 2011 08:15 AM PDT OmniTouch, a wearable projection system developed by researchers, enables users to turn pads of paper, walls or even their own hands, arms and legs into graphical, interactive surfaces. OmniTouch employs a depth-sensing camera to track the user's fingers on everyday surfaces. This allows users to control interactive applications by tapping or dragging their fingers, much as they would with touchscreens found on smartphones or tablet computers.

New DNA test to identify Down syndrome in pregnancy is ready for clinical use Posted: 17 Oct 2011 07:26 AM PDT A new DNA-based prenatal blood test that can strikingly reduce the number of risky diagnostic procedures needed to identify a pregnancy with Down syndrome is ready to be introduced into clinical practice.

Gene variant leads to better memory via increased brain activation Posted: 17 Oct 2011 07:26 AM PDT Carriers of the so-called KIBRA T allele have better memories than those who don't have this gene variant. This means we can reject the theory that the brain of a non-bearer compensates for this.

Could hypertension drugs help people with Alzheimer's? Posted: 17 Oct 2011 07:26 AM PDT A new study has looked at whether certain types of drugs used to treat high blood pressure, also called hypertension, might have beneficial effects in reducing the number of new cases of Alzheimer's disease each year.

Sea levels to continue to rise for 500 years? Long-term climate calculations suggest so Posted: 17 Oct 2011 07:26 AM PDT Rising sea levels in the coming centuries is perhaps one of the most catastrophic consequences of rising temperatures. Massive economic costs, social consequences and forced migrations could result from global warming. But how frightening times are we facing? Researchers have now calculated the long-term outlook for rising sea levels in relation to the emission of greenhouse gases and pollution of the atmosphere using climate models and have some startling predictions.

Antiviral drugs may slow Alzheimer's progression Posted: 17 Oct 2011 07:25 AM PDT Antiviral drugs used to target the herpes virus could be effective at slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease, a new study shows.

Genomic sequence and comparison of two macaques reveal new insights into biomedical research Posted: 17 Oct 2011 07:25 AM PDT Researchers have completed the genome sequence and comparison of two non-human primate animal models -- the Chinese rhesus macaque and the cynomolgus.

Genetic study of cave millipedes reveals isolated populations and ancient divergence between species Posted: 17 Oct 2011 07:25 AM PDT Cave millipedes of the genus Tetracion are found on the southern Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee and Alabama, USA. New genetic analyses show that their populations are generally isolated and genetically distinct. Genetic divergence between two species of Tetracion suggests they diverged several million years ago.

Nano funnel used to generate extreme ultraviolet light pulses Posted: 17 Oct 2011 06:23 AM PDT Scientists have successfully concentrated the energy of infrared laser pulses using a nano funnel enabling them to generate extreme ultraviolet light pulses, which repeated 75 million times per second.

Low birthweight infants five times more likely to have autism, study finds Posted: 17 Oct 2011 06:22 AM PDT Autism researchers have found a link between low birthweight and children diagnosed with autism, reporting premature infants are five times more likely to have autism than children born at normal weight.

Clue to birth defects in babies of mothers with diabetes Posted: 17 Oct 2011 06:20 AM PDT Researchers have identified the enzyme AMP kinase as key to the molecular mechanism that significantly increases the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and some heart defects among babies born to women with diabetes.

Unexpected effect of climate change on body size for many different species Posted: 17 Oct 2011 06:20 AM PDT A new study by researchers in Singapore shows that organisms from primary producers to top predators are shrinking in size in response to climate change. Decreasing organism size could have adverse effect on society, for example crop harvests getting smaller or ecosystem services being compromised.

Bioengineering to generate healthy skin Posted: 17 Oct 2011 04:55 AM PDT Scientists are participating in research to study how to make use of the potential for auto regeneration of stem skills from skin, in order to create, in the laboratory, a patient's entire cutaneous surface by means of a combination of biological engineering and tissue engineering techniques.

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