ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Vanishing act creates a stir in the nanotech world: Sheets made of microscopic carbon fibers seem to disappear when heated
• Ocean temperatures can predict Amazon fire season severity
• Parkinsonian worms may hold the key to identifying drugs for Parkinson's disease
• Woodsmoke from cooking fires linked to pneumonia, cognitive impacts
• Effects of 'mini stroke' can shorten life expectancy
• Volunteering, helping others decreases substance use in rural teens, study finds
• Plant with 'eggbeater' texture inspires waterproof coating
• Deepwater Horizon oil spill: New approach to assessing impacts of ecological damage
• More than 50 percent decline in elephants in eastern Congo due to human conflict
• Can fetus sense mother's psychological state? Study suggests yes
• U.S. National School Lunch Program improves health of children in low-income households, study suggests
• Why do neurons die in Parkinson's disease? Study of hereditary Parkinson’s finds that mitochondria can’t be cleared out when damaged
• Giant planet ejected from the solar system?
• Women see naked men differently, too
• Attention and awareness uncoupled: Brain imaging experiments uncouple two apparently intimately connected mental processes
• Sea change can forecast South American wildfires
• Scientists defuse the 'Vietnam time bomb': How bacterial pathogen causes deadly tropical disease melioidosis
• Astronomers find clouds of primordial gas from the early universe, just moments after Big Bang
• Acupuncture can prevent radiation-induced chronic dry mouth, study finds
• Trees on tundra's border are growing faster in a hotter climate
• Elderly lose ability to distinguish between odors, researcher finds; Smells blend together, pose hazards
• Risk-taking behavior rises until age 50
• 'Fishy lawnmowers' help save Pacific corals
• More fiber, but not necessarily less fat, good for teen diets
• New target identified to stop the spread of breast cancer
• First large-scale study of pain reveals risk factors
• A light wave of innovation to advance solar energy: Researchers adapt classic antennas to harness more power from the sun
• Whiskers marked milestone in evolution of mammals from reptiles
• Using light, researchers convert 2-D patterns into 3-D objects
• Flexible rack systems sort molecules
• Scientists discover how to design drugs that could target particular nerve cells
• Psychologists increase understanding of how the brain perceives shades of gray
• Knocking out key protein in mice boosts insulin sensitivity
• Judges are more ordinary than we imagine, new research suggests
• Rare earth metal shortages could hamper deployment of low-carbon energy technologies
• Combination 'epigenetic' therapy may restore anti-cancer gene activity in late-stage lung cancer patients
• Hubble uncovers tiny galaxies bursting with starbirth in early Universe
• Exploring the last white spot on Earth
• Kawasaki disease linked to wind currents: First evidence that long-range wind transport of an infectious agent might result in human disease
• Nano car has molecular 4-wheel drive: Smallest electric car in the world
• Biological clock controls activation of skin stem cells
• Cangrelor provides effective maintenance of platelet inhibition without major bleeding for patients who require bypass surgery, results show
• Tailored therapy for anti-platelet drugs using a novel point-of-care genetic test provides improved response to medications compared to current standard of care
• Clinical trial comparing prasugrel to clopidogrel following percuataneous coronary intervention is ended early due to overall low rate of primary endpoint clinical events
• Non-adherence to dual antiplatelet therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention results in higher rates of ischemic and bleeding events
• Risk of late stent thrombosis continues for up to seven years in patients with first generation drug-eluting stents; risk factors identified
• Patients with acute coronary syndrome and/or diabetes who show poor response to dual antiplatelet therapy as measured by platelet function testing are at greater risk of stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents

Vanishing act creates a stir in the nanotech world: Sheets made of microscopic carbon fibers seem to disappear when heated Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:11 PM PST Researchers have demonstrated that transparent carbon nanotube sheets, which can have the density of air and the specific strength of steel, can be used to make objects invisible.

Ocean temperatures can predict Amazon fire season severity Posted: 10 Nov 2011 04:23 PM PST By analyzing nearly a decade of satellite data, a team of scientists has created a model that can successfully predict the severity and geographic distribution of fires in the Amazon rain forest and the rest of South America months in advance.

Parkinsonian worms may hold the key to identifying drugs for Parkinson's disease Posted: 10 Nov 2011 04:19 PM PST Researchers have devised a simple test, using dopamine-deficient worms, for identifying drugs that may help people with Parkinson's disease.

Woodsmoke from cooking fires linked to pneumonia, cognitive impacts Posted: 10 Nov 2011 04:19 PM PST Researchers have found a dramatic one-third reduction in severe pneumonia diagnoses among children in homes with smoke-reducing chimneys on their cookstoves. Reducing wood smoke could have a major impact on the burden of pneumonia, the leading cause of child mortality in the world, the researchers said. A separate pilot study also found a link between prenatal maternal exposure to woodsmoke and poorer performance in markers for IQ at ages six and seven.

Effects of 'mini stroke' can shorten life expectancy Posted: 10 Nov 2011 04:19 PM PST Having a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or "mini stroke," could lower your life expectancy, according to new research. Survival rates after TIA were 20 percent lower than expected nine years later, compared to the general population. The long-term effects of TIA were most serious for patients older than 65 and for patients with previous history of stroke and heart problems.

Volunteering, helping others decreases substance use in rural teens, study finds Posted: 10 Nov 2011 12:17 PM PST Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 report the highest rates of substance use and dependence, according to the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use & Health. A new study found that rural adolescents who engage in prosocial behaviors, such as volunteering and helping others, are less likely to use substances as young adults.

Plant with 'eggbeater' texture inspires waterproof coating Posted: 10 Nov 2011 12:17 PM PST A floating weed that clogs waterways around the world has at least one redeeming feature: It's inspired a high-tech waterproof coating intended for boats and submarines. The Brazilian fern Salvinia molesta has proliferated around the Americas and Australia in part because its surface is dotted with oddly shaped hairs that trap air, reduce friction, and help the plant stay afloat.

Deepwater Horizon oil spill: New approach to assessing impacts of ecological damage Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:23 AM PST The magnitude and depth of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill will require an unprecedented effort to determine the extent and severity of ecological damage and to develop restoration plans for affected areas in the Gulf of Mexico, says a new report. A broad approach that focuses on repairing ecosystem processes -- such as fisheries production -- in addition to replacing natural resources damaged by the spill could offer more options for restoring the Gulf region, says the congressionally mandated report.

More than 50 percent decline in elephants in eastern Congo due to human conflict Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:23 AM PST Humans play a far greater role in the fate of African elephants than habitat, and human conflict in particular has a devastating impact on these largest terrestrial animals, according to a new study.

Can fetus sense mother's psychological state? Study suggests yes Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:23 AM PST As a fetus grows, it's constantly getting messages from its mother. It's not just hearing her heartbeat and whatever music she might play to her belly; it also gets chemical signals through the placenta. A new study finds that this includes signals about the mother's mental state.

U.S. National School Lunch Program improves health of children in low-income households, study suggests Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:21 AM PST A recent study confirmed that the U.S. National School Lunch Program (NSLP) improves the health outcomes of children who reside in low-income households. The study of nearly 2,700 NSLP children found that the NSLP reduces the prevalence of food insecurity by 3.8 percent, poor general health by 29 percent, and the rate of obesity by at least 17 percent in its participants.

Why do neurons die in Parkinson's disease? Study of hereditary Parkinson’s finds that mitochondria can’t be cleared out when damaged Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:21 AM PST Current thinking about Parkinson's disease is that it's a disorder of mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles inside cells, causing neurons in the brain's substantia nigra to die or become impaired. A study now shows that genetic mutations causing a hereditary form of Parkinson's disease cause mitochondria to run amok inside the cell, leaving the cell without a brake to stop them.

Giant planet ejected from the solar system? Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:21 AM PST Just as an expert chess player sacrifices a piece to protect the queen, the solar system may have given up a giant planet and spared the Earth, according to a new article.

Women see naked men differently, too Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:21 AM PST For both men and women, wearing revealing attire causes them to be seen as more sensitive but less competent, says a new study.

Attention and awareness uncoupled: Brain imaging experiments uncouple two apparently intimately connected mental processes Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:20 AM PST In everyday life, attention and awareness appear tightly interwoven. Attending to the scissors on the right side of your desk, you become aware of their attributes, for example the red handles. Vice versa, the red handles could attract your attention to the scissors. However, a number of behavioural observations have recently led scientists to postulate that attention and awareness are fundamentally different processes and not necessarily connected. A new study provides the first experimental evidence that the primary visual cortex, the entrance stage to cortical visual processing, is modulated only by attention and not by awareness.

Sea change can forecast South American wildfires Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:20 AM PST Tiny temperature changes on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans provide an excellent way to forecast wildfires in South American rainforests, new research shows.

Scientists defuse the 'Vietnam time bomb': How bacterial pathogen causes deadly tropical disease melioidosis Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:20 AM PST A key mechanism by which a bacterial pathogen causes the deadly tropical disease melioidosis has been discovered by an international team of scientists.

Astronomers find clouds of primordial gas from the early universe, just moments after Big Bang Posted: 10 Nov 2011 11:20 AM PST For the first time, astronomers have found pristine clouds of the primordial gas that formed in the first few minutes after the Big Bang. The composition of the gas matches theoretical predictions, providing direct evidence in support of the modern cosmological explanation for the origins of elements in the universe.

Acupuncture can prevent radiation-induced chronic dry mouth, study finds Posted: 10 Nov 2011 10:01 AM PST When given alongside radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, acupuncture has shown for the first time to reduce the debilitating side effect of xerostomia, according to new research.

Trees on tundra's border are growing faster in a hotter climate Posted: 10 Nov 2011 10:01 AM PST Evergreen trees at the edge of Alaska's tundra are growing faster, suggesting that at least some forests may be adapting to a rapidly warming climate, says a new study. While forests elsewhere are thinning from wildfires, insect damage and droughts partially attributed to global warming, some white spruce trees in the far north of Alaska have grown more vigorously in the last hundred years, especially since 1950, the study has found.

Elderly lose ability to distinguish between odors, researcher finds; Smells blend together, pose hazards Posted: 10 Nov 2011 10:01 AM PST Scientists studying the effect of aging on smell, have found that those 60 and over have more difficulty distinguishing between odors, putting them at risk from dangerous chemicals and poor nutrition.

Risk-taking behavior rises until age 50 Posted: 10 Nov 2011 10:01 AM PST Willing to risk your knowledge, skills and monetary reward in competition? If you are under age 50, you've probably not reached your competitive peak. If you are older, that peak is behind you. That people are willing to engage in risk at 50 surprised economists and psychologists who explored such behavior in their research.

'Fishy lawnmowers' help save Pacific corals Posted: 10 Nov 2011 10:01 AM PST Can fish save coral reefs from dying? Researchers have found one case where fish have helped coral reefs to recover from cyclones and predators.

More fiber, but not necessarily less fat, good for teen diets Posted: 10 Nov 2011 10:00 AM PST A diet high in fiber – but not necessarily one low in saturated fat or cholesterol – is tied to a lower risk of heart disease and type-2 diabetes in teenagers, according to new findings.

New target identified to stop the spread of breast cancer Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:59 AM PST A new potential target to slow breast cancer tumor progression and metastasis has been identified.

First large-scale study of pain reveals risk factors Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:59 AM PST Researchers have developed a comprehensive set of clinical characteristics that they say will lead to the ability to identify individuals at risk for developing painful jaw conditions.

A light wave of innovation to advance solar energy: Researchers adapt classic antennas to harness more power from the sun Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:59 AM PST Engineers are developing a solar panel composed of nano-antennas instead of silicon semiconductors. They say that through the use of these antennas, a much higher conversion rate from light into usable energy can be achieved -- and could lead to a more cost-effective way to harvest and utilize "green" energy.

Whiskers marked milestone in evolution of mammals from reptiles Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:59 AM PST New research comparing rats and mice with their distance relatives the marsupial, suggests that moveable whiskers were an important milestone in the evolution of mammals from reptiles.

Using light, researchers convert 2-D patterns into 3-D objects Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:58 AM PST Researchers have developed a simple way to convert two-dimensional patterns into three-dimensional objects using only light.

Flexible rack systems sort molecules Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:58 AM PST Researchers have developed a flexible and efficient new process for the separation of enantiomers. Enantiomer separation is indispensable for the production of many pharmaceuticals. In their process, the scientists use porous molecular frameworks that are assembled in layers on solid substrates using a specifically developed method.

Scientists discover how to design drugs that could target particular nerve cells Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:58 AM PST The future of drug design lies in developing therapies that can target specific cellular processes without causing adverse reactions in other areas of the nervous system. Scientists have now discovered how to design drugs to target specific areas of the brain.

Psychologists increase understanding of how the brain perceives shades of gray Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:57 AM PST Peoples' eyes, nerves and brains translate light into electrochemical signals and then into an experience of the world around them. A close look shows that even seemingly simple tasks, like keeping a stable perception of an object's color in different lighting conditions or distinguishing black and white objects, is, in fact, very challenging. By way of a novel experiment, psychologists have now provided new insight into how the brain tackles this problem.

Knocking out key protein in mice boosts insulin sensitivity Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:57 AM PST By knocking out a key regulatory protein, scientists have dramatically boosted insulin sensitivity in lab mice, an achievement that opens a new door for drug development and the treatment of diabetes.

Judges are more ordinary than we imagine, new research suggests Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PST The traditional reputation of judges as out-of-touch and pompous is no longer deserved, according to an expert who gained unprecedented access to every tier of the British judiciary.

Rare earth metal shortages could hamper deployment of low-carbon energy technologies Posted: 10 Nov 2011 09:56 AM PST Scientists report that five metals, essential for manufacturing low-carbon technologies, show a high risk of shortage. Reasons for this lie in Europe's dependency on imports, increasing global demand, supply concentration and geopolitical issues.

Combination 'epigenetic' therapy may restore anti-cancer gene activity in late-stage lung cancer patients Posted: 10 Nov 2011 06:49 AM PST A new type of therapy aimed at reversing the gene-silencing that promotes cancer-cell growth has shown promising results in a small clinical trial. Forty-five late-stage lung cancer patients who received a two-drug combination designed to restore anti-cancer gene activity survived about two months longer than the expected four months, and two patients showed complete or near-complete responses despite having progressive disease after multiple standard therapies.

Hubble uncovers tiny galaxies bursting with starbirth in early Universe Posted: 10 Nov 2011 06:48 AM PST Using its infrared vision to peer nine billion years back in time, astronomers have uncovered an extraordinary population of tiny, young galaxies that are brimming with star formation.

Exploring the last white spot on Earth Posted: 10 Nov 2011 06:48 AM PST Scientists will soon gain new insight into matter at conditions so extreme it can only be produced for microseconds using intense laser pulses. Such matter is present in the interior of the Earth and other planets, and we know surprisingly little about it. A new X-ray beamline will explore the last white spot on our globe: The Earth's core.

Kawasaki disease linked to wind currents: First evidence that long-range wind transport of an infectious agent might result in human disease Posted: 10 Nov 2011 06:48 AM PST Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a severe childhood disease that many parents, even some doctors, mistake for an inconsequential viral infection. In fact, if not diagnosed or treated in time, it can lead to irreversible heart damage. After 50 years of research, including genetic studies, scientists have been unable to pinpoint the cause of the disease. Now, surprising findings suggest that KD cases are linked to large-scale wind currents that track from Asia to Japan and also traverse the North Pacific.

Nano car has molecular 4-wheel drive: Smallest electric car in the world Posted: 10 Nov 2011 06:24 AM PST Reduced to the max: the emission-free, noiseless 4-wheel drive car, jointly developed by Swiss researchers and their Dutch colleagues, represents lightweight construction at its most extreme. The nano car consists of just a single molecule and travels on four electrically-driven wheels in an almost straight line over a copper surface.

Biological clock controls activation of skin stem cells Posted: 10 Nov 2011 06:23 AM PST A new study reveals the role of the daily biological clock (circadian rhythms) in the regenerative capacity of skin stem cells. Disruption of this rhythm results in premature tissue aging and a greater predisposition to the development of skin tumors. The proper reestablishment of the biological clock increases the long-term regenerative capacity of the tissue and decreases the probability of developing tumors.

Cangrelor provides effective maintenance of platelet inhibition without major bleeding for patients who require bypass surgery, results show Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:43 PM PST Data from the BRIDGE clinical trial demonstrate that intravenous use of the drug cangrelor was effective at maintaining platelet inhibition in patients on thienopyridines who required bypass surgery.

Tailored therapy for anti-platelet drugs using a novel point-of-care genetic test provides improved response to medications compared to current standard of care Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:43 PM PST A clinical trial of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stable angina showed that a strategy of rapid genotyping followed by selective administration of prasugrel to carriers of a common genetic variant (CYP2C19*2) resulted in a decreased rate of high on-treatment platelet reactivity (platelet non-responder rate) compared to standard therapy.

Clinical trial comparing prasugrel to clopidogrel following percuataneous coronary intervention is ended early due to overall low rate of primary endpoint clinical events Posted: 09 Nov 2011 01:13 PM PST A clinical trial comparing prasugrel to clopidogrel for patients with high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity (HCPR) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was ended early due to relatively few occurrences of cardiac death or myocardial infarction -- the primary endpoint -- at six month follow up.

Non-adherence to dual antiplatelet therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention results in higher rates of ischemic and bleeding events Posted: 09 Nov 2011 01:13 PM PST Non-adherence to antiplatelet therapy – which prevents blood clots following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) -- was associated with higher rates of both ischemic and bleeding events at 30 days.

Risk of late stent thrombosis continues for up to seven years in patients with first generation drug-eluting stents; risk factors identified Posted: 09 Nov 2011 01:13 PM PST The risk of late stent thrombosis (ST) in the first generation of drug-eluting stents continues for up to seven years after implantation, and certain types of patients, including smokers and those who are younger, are at higher risk, according to results of the DESERT registry.

Patients with acute coronary syndrome and/or diabetes who show poor response to dual antiplatelet therapy as measured by platelet function testing are at greater risk of stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents Posted: 09 Nov 2011 01:12 PM PST The relationship of platelet responsiveness to antiplatelet medications; and, the correlation of poor response, and overall platelet aggregation while on dual antiplatelet therapy to the risk of drug-eluting stent thrombosis after 30 days was examined in ADAPT-DES, the largest registry to date to fully examine these relationships.

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