ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• NASA studying ways to make 'tractor beams' a reality
• New medication effectively treats underlying cause of cystic fibrosis in some patients, study shows
• Current training programs may not prepare firefighters to combat stress
• TRMM Satellite sees Tropical Storm Keila form in the Arabian Sea
• Watching the birth of an iceberg
• Depression linked to breast cancer outcomes
• Evolution offers clues to leading cause of death during childbirth
• Astrobiologists discover 'sweet spots' for the formation of complex organic molecules in the galaxy
• Chantix unsuitable for first-line smoking cessation use, study finds
• Born to roar: Lions' and tigers' fearsome roars are due to their unusual vocal cords
• Hospital tests reveal the secrets of an Egyptian mummy
• Family-based intervention: Study shows promise for teen suicide prevention
• Crop diversity myths persist in media, expert says
• Nicotine as a gateway drug: Biological mechanism in mice identified
• Physicists identify room temperature quantum bits in widely used semiconductor
• Scientists outline steps toward Epstein-Barr virus vaccine
• Maryland climate plan passes key tests
• Unsaturated fat breakdown leads to complications of acute pancreatitis in obese patients
• Fruit fly intestine may hold secret to fountain of youth: Long-lived fruit flies offer clues to slowing human aging and fighting disease
• Interactive play with blocks found to facilitate development of spatial vocabulary
• Newly discovered diffuse interstellar bands support ideas of carbon-based organic 'carriers' in interstellar dust clouds?
• Link between air pollution and cyclone intensity in Arabian Sea: Disruption of wind shear enables stronger storms
• Arabian sea tropical cyclones are intensified by air pollution, study shows
• Continuous use of nitroglycerin increases severity of heart attacks, study shows
• New evidence for the earliest modern humans in Europe
• Jawbone found in England is from the earliest known modern human in northwestern Europe
• Tactic to delay age-related disorders
• Unraveling the causes of the Ice Age megafauna extinctions
• 'Saber-toothed squirrel': First known mammalian skull from Late Cretaceous in South America
• Legalizing medical marijuana does not increase use among youth, study suggests
• Autistic people superior in multiple areas: Scientists must stop emphasizing autistics' shortcomings, expert urges
• Humans and climate contributed to extinctions of large Ice Age mammals, new study finds
• Why measles spreads so quickly
• Did life once exist below Red Planet's surface? NASA study of clays suggests watery Mars underground
• Genome-scale network of rice genes to speed the development of biofuel crops
• Analysis reveals malaria, other diseases as ancient, adaptive and persistent foes
• Rude people have better credit scores, study suggests
• Deepening mystery: Geologists find ponds not the cause of arsenic poisoning in India's groundwater
• Study reveals details of alternative splicing circuitry that promotes cancer's Warburg effect
• Neuroscientist says protein could prevent secondary damage after stroke
• Thousand-color sensor reveals contaminants in earth and sea: Technology spots environmental hazards from inches to light-years away
• Cardiovascular magnetic resonance now an important first-line test
• Dirt prevents allergy, Danish research suggests
• Manufacturing microscale medical devices for faster tissue engineering
• Exenatide (Byetta) has rapid, powerful anti-inflammatory effect, study shows
• Solar power could get boost from new light absorption design
• Newborn period may be crucial time to prevent later diabetes, animal study suggests
• Solar energy: Solar concentrator increases collection with less loss
• Women's chin, abdomen are good indicators of excessive hair growth
• Viral vector designed to treat a genetic form of blindness
• Video game playing tied to creativity, research shows
• Peatland carbon storage is stabilized against catastrophic release of carbon
• Benefits of nut consumption for people with abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure
• New material for air cleaner filters that captures flu viruses
• Maternal separation stresses the baby, research finds
• Australian technology aims to make storing radioactive waste safer
• Understanding emotions without language
• Mediterranean diet and exercise can reduce sleep apnea symptoms
• Humanities researchers and digital technologies: Building infrastructures for a new age
• Precise early diagnosis of psychotic disorders possible

NASA studying ways to make 'tractor beams' a reality Posted: 03 Nov 2011 12:08 AM PDT Tractor beams -- the ability to trap and move objects using laser light -- are the stuff of science fiction, but a team of NASA scientists has won funding to study the concept for remotely capturing planetary or atmospheric particles and delivering them to a robotic rover or orbiting spacecraft for analysis.

New medication effectively treats underlying cause of cystic fibrosis in some patients, study shows Posted: 02 Nov 2011 04:04 PM PDT A new study has confirmed that the drug, ivacaftor (VX-770), significantly improves lung function in some people with cystic fibrosis. The oral medicine targets the defective protein produced by the gene mutation called G551D that causes CF. Researchers found that patients carrying G551D -- approximately four per cent of all CF patients -- who were treated with VX-770 showed a 17 per cent relative improvement in lung function that was sustained over the course of 48 weeks.

Current training programs may not prepare firefighters to combat stress Posted: 02 Nov 2011 04:03 PM PDT Current training programs may not effectively prepare firefighters for the range of scenarios they are likely to encounter, according to human factors/ergonomics researchers.

TRMM Satellite sees Tropical Storm Keila form in the Arabian Sea Posted: 02 Nov 2011 04:03 PM PDT NASA's TRMM Satellite captured moderate rainfall and some high, towering clouds in the Arabian Sea's newborn Tropical Storm Keila.

Watching the birth of an iceberg Posted: 02 Nov 2011 04:03 PM PDT After discovering an emerging crack that cuts across the floating ice shelf of Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica, NASA's Operation IceBridge has flown a follow-up mission and made the first-ever detailed airborne measurements of a major iceberg calving in progress.

Depression linked to breast cancer outcomes Posted: 02 Nov 2011 04:03 PM PDT This year, more than 230,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 40,000 women will not survive their battle with cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. New research shows that certain factors, including marital status, having children in the home, income level and age, affect the likelihood of depression in breast cancer survivors. Further, depressed patients are less likely to adhere to medication regimens, potentially complicating the progress of their treatment.

Evolution offers clues to leading cause of death during childbirth Posted: 02 Nov 2011 04:03 PM PDT Unusual features of the human placenta may be the underlying cause of postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal deaths during childbirth, according to evolutionary research.

Astrobiologists discover 'sweet spots' for the formation of complex organic molecules in the galaxy Posted: 02 Nov 2011 04:00 PM PDT Scientists have compiled years of research to help locate areas in outer space that have extreme potential for complex organic molecule formation. The scientists searched for methanol, a key ingredient in the synthesis of organic molecules that could lead to life. Their results have implications for determining the origins of molecules that spark life in the cosmos.

Chantix unsuitable for first-line smoking cessation use, study finds Posted: 02 Nov 2011 04:00 PM PDT The poor safety profile of the smoking-cessation drug varenicline (Chantix) makes it unsuitable for first-line use, according to a new study. Varenicline, which already carries a "black box warning" from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, showed a substantially increased risk of reported depression or suicidal behavior compared to other smoking-cessation treatments, according to researchers.

Born to roar: Lions' and tigers' fearsome roars are due to their unusual vocal cords Posted: 02 Nov 2011 04:00 PM PDT When lions and tigers roar loudly and deeply -- terrifying every creature within earshot -- they are somewhat like human babies crying for attention, although their voices are much deeper. So says the senior author of a new study that shows lions' and tigers' loud, low-frequency roars are predetermined by physical properties of their vocal fold tissue -- namely, the ability to stretch and shear -- and not by nerve impulses from the brain.

Hospital tests reveal the secrets of an Egyptian mummy Posted: 02 Nov 2011 04:00 PM PDT An ancient Egyptian mummy has had quite an afterlife, traveling more than 6,000 miles, spending six decades in private hands, and finally, in 1989, finding a home at the World Heritage Museum (now the Spurlock Museum) at the University of Illinois. The mummy's travels did not end there, however. It has made two trips to a local hospital -- once in 1990 and again this year -- for some not-so-routine medical exams.

Family-based intervention: Study shows promise for teen suicide prevention Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:13 PM PDT A new study shows that a family-based intervention done while a suicidal youth is still being treated in the emergency room as successful in linking troubled youths to outpatient treatment, with the goal of ending further life-threatening attempts.

Crop diversity myths persist in media, expert says Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:13 PM PDT The conventional wisdom that says the 20th century was a disaster for crop diversity is nothing more than a myth, says an expert in intellectual property law.

Nicotine as a gateway drug: Biological mechanism in mice identified Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:12 PM PDT A landmark study in mice identifies a biological mechanism that could help explain how tobacco products could act as gateway drugs, increasing a person's future likelihood of abusing cocaine and perhaps other drugs as well, according to researchers. The study is the first to show that nicotine might prime the brain to enhance the behavioral effects of cocaine.

Physicists identify room temperature quantum bits in widely used semiconductor Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:12 PM PDT Physicists may have earned silicon carbide –– a semiconductor commonly used by the electronics industry –– a role at the center of a new generation of information technologies designed to exploit quantum physics for tasks such as ultrafast computing and nanoscale sensing.

Scientists outline steps toward Epstein-Barr virus vaccine Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:12 PM PDT Epstein-Barr virus infects nine out of ten people worldwide at some point during their lifetimes. Infections in early childhood often cause no disease symptoms, but people infected during adolescence or young adulthood may develop infectious mononucleosis, a disease characterized by swollen lymph nodes, fever and severe fatigue.

Maryland climate plan passes key tests Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:12 PM PDT Maryland's plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020 meets a series of benchmark tests set by state lawmakers, concludes a new pair of new studies. The findings should help clear the way for adoption of a full Climate Action Plan next year, the researchers say.

Unsaturated fat breakdown leads to complications of acute pancreatitis in obese patients Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:11 PM PDT The toxic breakdown products of unsaturated fats contribute to the higher likelihood of severe inflammation, cell death and multi-system organ failure among acute pancreatitis patients who are obese, say researchers Their findings provide new insight into how fat can induce complications after sudden inflammatory, non-infectious illnesses.

Fruit fly intestine may hold secret to fountain of youth: Long-lived fruit flies offer clues to slowing human aging and fighting disease Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:11 PM PDT One of the few reliable ways to extend an organism's lifespan, be it a fruit fly or a mouse, is to restrict calorie intake. Now, a new study in fruit flies is helping to explain why such minimal diets are linked to longevity and offering clues to the effects of aging on stem cell behavior.

Interactive play with blocks found to facilitate development of spatial vocabulary Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:11 PM PDT Parents and researchers have long speculated that play with construction toys might offer a rich environment that would support later learning in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Researchers have found that when playing with blocks under interactive conditions, children hear the kind of language that helps them think about space, such as "over," "around" and "through."

Newly discovered diffuse interstellar bands support ideas of carbon-based organic 'carriers' in interstellar dust clouds? Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:11 PM PDT The discovery of 13 diffuse interstellar bands with the longest wavelengths to date could someday solve a 90-year-old mystery. Astronomers have now discovered new bands using data collected by the Gemini North telescope of stars in the center of the Milky Way. The new findings support recent ideas about the presence of large, possibly carbon-based organic molecules -— "carriers" —- hidden in interstellar dust clouds.

Link between air pollution and cyclone intensity in Arabian Sea: Disruption of wind shear enables stronger storms Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:11 PM PDT Pollution is making Arabian Sea cyclones more intense, according to a new study. Traditionally, prevailing wind shear patterns prohibit cyclones in the Arabian Sea from becoming major storms. The paper suggests that weakening winds have enabled the formation of stronger cyclones in recent years -- including storms in 2007 and 2010 that were the first recorded storms to enter the Gulf of Oman.

Arabian sea tropical cyclones are intensified by air pollution, study shows Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:11 PM PDT A recent increase in the intensity of tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea may be a side effect of increasing air pollution over the Indian sub-continent, a new multi-institutional study has found.

Continuous use of nitroglycerin increases severity of heart attacks, study shows Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:11 PM PDT When given for hours as a continuous dose, the heart medication nitroglycerin backfires -- increasing the severity of subsequent heart attacks, according to a study of the compound in rats.

New evidence for the earliest modern humans in Europe Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:11 PM PDT The timing, process and archeology of the peopling of Europe by early modern humans have been actively debated for more than a century. Reassessment of the anatomy and dating of a fragmentary upper jaw with three teeth from Kent's Cavern in southern England has shed new light on these issues.

Jawbone found in England is from the earliest known modern human in northwestern Europe Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PDT A piece of jawbone excavated from a prehistoric cave in England is the earliest evidence for modern humans in Europe, according to an international science team. New dating of the bone, which shows that it is between 44,000 and 41,000 years old, is expected to help scientists pin down how quickly modern humans spread across Europe during the last Ice Age. It also helps to confirm the much-debated theory that early humans coexisted with Neanderthals.

Tactic to delay age-related disorders Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PDT Researchers have shown that eliminating cells that accumulate with age could prevent or delay the onset of age-related disorders and disabilities. The study, performed in mouse models, provides the first evidence that these "deadbeat" cells could contribute to aging and suggests a way to help people stay healthier as they age.

Unraveling the causes of the Ice Age megafauna extinctions Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PDT Was it humans or climate change that caused the extinctions of the iconic Ice Age mammals (megafauna) such as the woolly rhinoceros and woolly mammoth? For decades, scientists have been debating the reasons behind these enigmatic Ice Age mass extinctions, which caused the loss of a third of the large mammal species in Eurasia and two thirds of the species in North America. Now an interdisciplinary research team has tried to tackle the contentious question in the biggest study of its kind. And the answers are far more complicated than ever imagined.

'Saber-toothed squirrel': First known mammalian skull from Late Cretaceous in South America Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PDT Paleontologists have discovered two skulls from the first known mammal of the early Late Cretaceous period of South America. The fossils break a roughly 60 million-year gap in the currently known mammalian record of the continent and provide new clues on the early evolution of mammals.

Legalizing medical marijuana does not increase use among youth, study suggests Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PDT Researchers studied whether legalizing medical marijuana in Rhode Island would be likely to increase its use among youths. Based on their analysis of 32,570 students, they found that while marijuana use was common throughout the study period, there were no statistically significant differences in marijuana use between states where medical marijuana was legal and where it was illegal in any year.

Autistic people superior in multiple areas: Scientists must stop emphasizing autistics' shortcomings, expert urges Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PDT We must stop considering the different brain structure of autistic individuals to be a deficiency, as research reveals that many autistics -- not just "savants" -- have qualities and abilities that may exceed those of people who do not have the condition, according to a provocative new article.

Humans and climate contributed to extinctions of large Ice Age mammals, new study finds Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PDT Both climate change and humans were responsible for the extinction of some large mammals, according to research that is the first of its kind to use genetic, archeological, and climatic data together to infer the population history of large Ice Age mammals. The large international team's research is expected to shed light on the possible fates of living species of mammals as our planet continues its current warming cycle.

Why measles spreads so quickly Posted: 02 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PDT Researchers have discovered why measles, perhaps the most contagious viral disease in the world, spreads so quickly.

Did life once exist below Red Planet's surface? NASA study of clays suggests watery Mars underground Posted: 02 Nov 2011 11:57 AM PDT A new NASA study suggests if life ever existed on Mars, the longest lasting habitats were most likely below the Red Planet's surface. A new interpretation of years of mineral-mapping data, from more than 350 sites on Mars examined by European and NASA orbiters, suggests Martian environments with abundant liquid water on the surface existed only during short episodes. These episodes occurred toward the end of a period of hundreds of millions of years during which warm water interacted with subsurface rocks. This has implications about whether life existed on Mars and how the Martian atmosphere has changed.

Genome-scale network of rice genes to speed the development of biofuel crops Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PDT Researchers have developed the first genome-scale model for predicting the functions of genes and gene networks in a grass species. Called RiceNet, this systems-level model of rice gene interactions should help speed the development of new crops for the production of advanced biofuels, as well as help boost the production and improve the quality of one of the world's most important food staples.

Analysis reveals malaria, other diseases as ancient, adaptive and persistent foes Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PDT One of the most comprehensive analyses yet done of the ancient history of insect-borne disease concludes for the first time that malaria is not only native to the New World, but it has been present long before humans existed and has evolved through birds and monkeys.

Rude people have better credit scores, study suggests Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PDT Researchers have showcased the link between credit ratings and an individual's personality, and shown no connection between poor credit scores and theft.

Deepening mystery: Geologists find ponds not the cause of arsenic poisoning in India's groundwater Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PDT The source of arsenic in India's groundwater continues to elude scientists more than a decade after the toxin was discovered in the water supply of the Bengal delta in India. Geologists have now added a twist -- and furthered the mystery.

Study reveals details of alternative splicing circuitry that promotes cancer's Warburg effect Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PDT Cancer cells maintain their life-style of extremely rapid growth and proliferation thanks to an enzyme called PK-M2 (pyruvate kinase M2) that alters the cells' ability to metabolize glucose -- a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Scientists, who seek to reverse this effect and force cancer cells to regain the metabolism of normal cells, have discovered details of molecular events that cause cancer cells to produce PK-M2 instead of its harmless counterpart PK-M1.

Neuroscientist says protein could prevent secondary damage after stroke Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PDT A neuroscientist says a protein that regulates nerve cells and assists in overall brain function may be key to preventing the long-term damage of stroke and hopes her work leads to the development of an effective therapeutic intervention.

Thousand-color sensor reveals contaminants in earth and sea: Technology spots environmental hazards from inches to light-years away Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PDT A researcher has developed a special camera that can detect more than 1,000 colors -- and can diagnose contaminants and other environmental hazards in real time.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance now an important first-line test Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PDT Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has undergone substantial development and offers important advantages compared with other well-established imaging modalities, experts say.

Dirt prevents allergy, Danish research suggests Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PDT If infants encounter a wide range of bacteria they are less at risk of developing allergic disease later in life, new research from Denmark suggests.

Manufacturing microscale medical devices for faster tissue engineering Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:55 AM PDT Researchers have modified a manufacturing technique called two-photon polymerization to create finely detailed micro-structures, such as scaffolds for tissue engineering, more quickly and efficiently than was previously possible. The new technique could help pave the way to more widespread clinical use of microscale medical devices.

Exenatide (Byetta) has rapid, powerful anti-inflammatory effect, study shows Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:55 AM PDT Exenatide, a drug commonly prescribed to help patients with Type 2 diabetes improve blood sugar control, also has a powerful and rapid anti-inflammatory effect, a new study has shown.

Solar power could get boost from new light absorption design Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:55 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new material that absorbs a wide range of wavelengths and could lead to more efficient and less expensive solar technology.

Newborn period may be crucial time to prevent later diabetes, animal study suggests Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:55 AM PDT Pediatric researchers who tested newborn animals with an existing human drug used in adults with diabetes report that this drug, when given very early in life, prevents diabetes from developing in adult animals. If this finding can be repeated in humans, it may become a way to prevent at-risk infants from developing Type 2 diabetes.

Solar energy: Solar concentrator increases collection with less loss Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:55 AM PDT Converting sunlight into electricity is not economically attractive because of the high cost of solar cells, but a recent, purely optical approach to improving luminescent solar concentrators may ease the problem, according to researchers.

Women's chin, abdomen are good indicators of excessive hair growth Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:55 AM PDT Examining the chin and upper and lower abdomen is a reliable, minimally invasive way to screen for excessive hair growth in women, a key indicator of too much male hormone, researchers report.

Viral vector designed to treat a genetic form of blindness Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:53 AM PDT Researchers have developed a viral vector designed to deliver a gene into the eyes of people born with an inherited, progressive form of blindness that affects mainly males. The vector is being tested in a clinical trial investigating the use of gene therapy to cure choroideremia, a disease that affects an estimated 100,000 people worldwide.

Video game playing tied to creativity, research shows Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:53 AM PDT Both boys and girls who play video games tend to be more creative, regardless of whether the games are violent or nonviolent, according to new research.

Peatland carbon storage is stabilized against catastrophic release of carbon Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:53 AM PDT Concerns that global warming may have a domino effect -- unleashing 600 billion tons of carbon in vast expanses of peat in the Northern hemisphere and accelerating warming to disastrous proportions -- may be less justified than previously thought.

Benefits of nut consumption for people with abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:53 AM PDT For the first time, scientists report a link between eating nuts and higher levels of serotonin in the bodies of patients with metabolic syndrome. Serotonin helps transmit nerve signals and decreases feelings of hunger, makes people feel happier and improves heart health. It took only one ounce of mixed nuts (raw unpeeled walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts) a day to produce the good effects.

New material for air cleaner filters that captures flu viruses Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:53 AM PDT With flu season just around the corner, scientists are reporting development of a new material for the fiber in face masks, air conditioning filters and air cleaning filters that captures influenza viruses before they can get into people's eyes, noses and mouths and cause infection.

Maternal separation stresses the baby, research finds Posted: 02 Nov 2011 09:49 AM PDT A woman goes into labor, and gives birth. The newborn is swaddled and placed to sleep in a nearby bassinet, or taken to the hospital nursery so that the mother can rest. Despite common practice, new research provides new evidence that separating infants from their mothers is stressful to the baby.

Australian technology aims to make storing radioactive waste safer Posted: 02 Nov 2011 06:30 AM PDT Australian researchers have developed new technology capable of removing radioactive material from contaminated water and aiding clean-up efforts following nuclear disasters.

Understanding emotions without language Posted: 02 Nov 2011 06:30 AM PDT Does understanding emotions depend on the language we speak, or is our perception the same regardless of language and culture?

Mediterranean diet and exercise can reduce sleep apnea symptoms Posted: 02 Nov 2011 06:30 AM PDT Eating a Mediterranean diet combined with physical activity can help to improve some of the symptoms of sleep apnea, according to new research.

Humanities researchers and digital technologies: Building infrastructures for a new age Posted: 02 Nov 2011 06:30 AM PDT Without research infrastructures such as archives, libraries, academies, museums and galleries, significant strands of humanities research would not be possible, experts argue. By drawing on a number of case studies, a new report demonstrates that digital RIs offer Humanities scholars new and productive ways to explore old questions and develop new ones.

Precise early diagnosis of psychotic disorders possible Posted: 02 Nov 2011 06:30 AM PDT Functional psychosis can be diagnosed from the first indications of the patient, thanks to affective symptomatology. Depressive moods, hyperactivity and lack of concentration are affective symptoms that can present themselves during the first psychotic episodes, and the presence or absence of any of them may contribute to differentiating, at an early stage, between the different variations of the mental disease, according to new research.

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