ScienceDaily: Top 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
• Watching the birth of an iceberg
• 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
• 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
• Fruit fly intestine may hold secret to fountain of youth: Long-lived fruit flies offer clues to slowing human aging and fighting disease
• 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
• Continuous use of nitroglycerin increases severity of heart attacks, study shows
• Jawbone found in England is from the earliest known modern human in northwestern Europe
• Tactic to delay age-related disorders
• '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
• Analysis reveals malaria, other diseases as ancient, adaptive and persistent foes
• 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
• 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
• Viral vector designed to treat a genetic form of blindness
• 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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