ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Got food allergies? You can now test your meal on the spot using a cell phone
• New way to look at dawn of life: Focus shifts from 'hardware' to 'software'
• Depression eased quickly with experimental drug: Works in brain like Ketamine, with fewer side effects, study suggests
• No strong evidence to back use of cannabis extract in multiple sclerosis
• Brain damage triggered by mini-strokes detailed
• Physics on a plane: Helium crystals grown in zero gravity
• Lethal stings from the Australian box jellyfish could be treated with zinc
• Dead guts spill history of extinct microbes: Fecal samples from archeological sites reveal evolution of human gut microbes
• People prefer leaders with more masculine voices, even in feminine leadership roles
• More similar than they think: Liberals and conservatives exaggerate perceived moral views
• Vegetable compound could become ingredient to treating leukemia
• Prickly holly reveals ability to adapt genetics to environmental change
• New factor that could limit life of hybrid and electric car batteries revealed
• Pre-transplant umbilical cord blood expansion in lab speeds establishment of new blood supply in patients, reducing high-risk time to recovery
• Nature nurtures creativity after four days of hiking
• Review of NASA's Ground Systems Development and Operations assesses progress determining infrastructure needs
• Mariner 2's encounter with Venus: NASA celebrates 50 years of planetary exploration
• Cassini spots mini Nile River on Saturn's moon Titan
• Too big or just right? Optimal circle of friends depends on socioeconomic conditions
• Research may have important implications for combating diabetes
• Protein strongest just before death
• Stress resilience, susceptibility traced to neurons in reward circuit
• Study probes impact of climate change on cold-blooded animals
• Unhealthy behaviors could slow progress in reducing heart disease, stroke
• Delaying childbirth may reduce the risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer, study suggests
• Seven primitive galaxies at the dawn of time
• Drug that may help fight Duchenne muscular dystrophy discovered
• Targeted micro-bubbles detect artery inflammation: Procedure done in pigs could potentially detect heart disease early in humans
• Solar power prices to continue falling through 2025, experts say
• X-ray laser takes aim at cosmic mystery
• Study paves way to design drugs aimed at multiple protein targets at once
• Researchers induce, relieve depression symptoms in mice with light
• Fragile X protein linked to nearly 100 genes involved in autism
• Australian multicellular fossils point to life on land, not at sea, geologist proposes
• More ice loss through snowfall on Antarctica
• Chemical analysis reveals first cheese-making in Northern Europe 7,000 years ago
• Emerging virus in raccoons may provide cancer clues
• Cane toads can be stopped
• Relocating elephants fails to decrease human–wildlife conflict: Technique meant to keep animals and humans safe has opposite effects
• Will climate change cause water conflict?
• Substance with promising in vitro anti-cancer effects synthesized: Substance found in tiny amounts in Chinese medicinal herb
• New geometries: Researchers create new shapes of artificial microcompartments
• New twist on using biomass for perfume, cosmetic, personal care products
• Frog-in-bucket-of-milk folklore leads to potential new antibiotics
• Light shed on workings of the body's immune response
• Ultra-short laser pulses control chemical processes
• Astronomers discover 'missing link' of black holes
• Scientists train honey bees to stick out their tongues
• Was life inevitable? New paper pieces together metabolism's beginnings
• Climate modelers predict warmer, wetter Northeast U.S. winters by 2070
• Biocompatible patch developed to heal infants with birth defects
• Advance in chromosomal evolution in sea cradles
• New method to understand superconductors
• Geminid meteors set to light up winter sky
• Injured tiger saved by village
• Scary news for corals -- from the Ice Age
• Violence in Mali threatening survival of endangered elephants
• Previously unknown mechanism identified in oncogene-induced senescence
• Ancient tsunami caused long-term ecosystem change in the Caribbean
• Photosynthesis: Mysterious enzyme structure solved

Got food allergies? You can now test your meal on the spot using a cell phone Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:59 PM PST Scientists have developed a lightweight device called the iTube, which attaches to a common cell phone to detect allergens in food samples. The iTube attachment uses the cell phone's built-in camera, along with an accompanying smart-phone application that runs a test with the same high level of sensitivity a laboratory would.

New way to look at dawn of life: Focus shifts from 'hardware' to 'software' Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:59 PM PST One of the great mysteries of life is how it began. What physical process transformed a nonliving mix of chemicals into something as complex as a living cell? A novel approach to the question of life's origin attempts to dramatically redefine the problem by shifting attention from the "hardware" -- the chemical basis of life -- to the "software" -- its information content.

Depression eased quickly with experimental drug: Works in brain like Ketamine, with fewer side effects, study suggests Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:57 PM PST A drug that works through the same brain mechanism as the fast-acting antidepressant ketamine briefly improved treatment-resistant patients' depression symptoms in minutes, with minimal untoward side effects, in a clinical trial. The experimental agent, called AZD6765, acts through the brain's glutamate chemical messenger system. The findings serve as a proof of concept that targeting this system holds promise for development of a new generation of rapid antidepressants with fewer side effects than ketamine.

No strong evidence to back use of cannabis extract in multiple sclerosis Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:57 PM PST There is no strong evidence to back the use of cannabis extract in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, concludes a review of the available evidence on the first licensed preparation.

Brain damage triggered by mini-strokes detailed Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:57 PM PST A new study details for the first time how "mini-strokes" cause prolonged periods of brain damage and result in cognitive impairment. These strokes, which are often imperceptible, are common in older adults and are believed to contribute to dementia.

Physics on a plane: Helium crystals grown in zero gravity Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:56 PM PST Physicists from Japan have taken to the skies to grow crystals in zero gravity. Helium crystals were grown using high pressures, extremely low temperatures (0.6K/-272°C) and by splashing them with a superfluid -- a state of quantum matter which behaves like a fluid but has zero viscosity, meaning it has complete resistance to stress. Superfluids can also flow through extremely tiny gaps without any friction.

Lethal stings from the Australian box jellyfish could be treated with zinc Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:56 PM PST Box jellyfish of the Chironex species are among the most venomous animals in the world, capable of killing humans with their sting. Their venom, though, which kills by rapidly punching holes in human red blood cells, can be slowed down by administering zinc, according to new research.

Dead guts spill history of extinct microbes: Fecal samples from archeological sites reveal evolution of human gut microbes Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:56 PM PST Extinct microbes in fecal samples from archaeological sites across the world resemble those found in present-day rural African communities more than they resemble the microbes found in the gut of cosmopolitan US adults, according to new research.

People prefer leaders with more masculine voices, even in feminine leadership roles Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:56 PM PST Male and female leaders with masculine voices are preferred by both men and women. However, even in leadership roles that are typically held by women, both sexes prefer women leaders with low-pitched voices, according to new research.

More similar than they think: Liberals and conservatives exaggerate perceived moral views Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:56 PM PST Moral stereotypes about "typical" liberals and conservatives held by both groups are generally correct, but exaggerated both for their own group and the other, according to new research.

Vegetable compound could become ingredient to treating leukemia Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:56 PM PST A concentrated form of a compound called sulforaphane found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables has been shown to reduce the number of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in the lab setting, said researchers.

Prickly holly reveals ability to adapt genetics to environmental change Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:54 PM PST Prickly holly leaves are a traditional Christmas decoration, from wreaths adorning homes, to greeting card scenes. Yet, look closer at a holly tree and while some leaves are prickly, others are not. Scientists believe variations within a single tree are the combined result of herbivore activity and molecular responses to environmental change.

New factor that could limit life of hybrid and electric car batteries revealed Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:48 PM PST A new study of the batteries commonly used in hybrid and electric-only cars has revealed an unexpected factor that could limit the performance of batteries currently on the road.

Pre-transplant umbilical cord blood expansion in lab speeds establishment of new blood supply in patients, reducing high-risk time to recovery Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:48 PM PST Donated umbilical cord blood establishes a new blood supply in patients more quickly after transplantation when it is first expanded in the lab on a bed of cells that mimics conditions in the bone marrow, researchers report.

Nature nurtures creativity after four days of hiking Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:48 PM PST Backpackers scored 50 percent better on a creativity test after spending four days in nature disconnected from electronic devices, according to a new study by psychologists.

Review of NASA's Ground Systems Development and Operations assesses progress determining infrastructure needs Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:56 PM PST NASA's Ground Systems Development and Operations (GSDO) Program recently completed an important System Requirements Review/System Definition Review (SRR/SDR) as part of planning for future operations at the agency's Kennedy Space Center. The reviews help establish the groundwork needed to launch NASA's Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket beginning in 2017.

Mariner 2's encounter with Venus: NASA celebrates 50 years of planetary exploration Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:46 PM PST Fifty years ago on a mid-December day, NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft sailed close to the shrouded planet Venus, marking the first time any spacecraft had ever successfully made a close-up study of another planet. The flyby, 36 million miles (58 million kilometers) away from Earth, gave America its first bona fide space "first" after five years in which the Soviet Union led with several space exploration milestones. Designed and built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., the successful Mariner 2 spacecraft ushered in a new era of solar system exploration.

Cassini spots mini Nile River on Saturn's moon Titan Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:40 PM PST Scientists with NASA's Cassini mission have spotted what appears to be a miniature, extraterrestrial likeness of Earth's Nile River: a river valley on Saturn's moon Titan that stretches more than 200 miles (400 kilometers) from its "headwaters" to a large sea. It is the first time images have revealed a river system this vast and in such high resolution anywhere other than Earth.

Too big or just right? Optimal circle of friends depends on socioeconomic conditions Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:27 PM PST Some people like to have a few close friends, while others prefer a wider social circle that is perhaps less deep. These preferences reflect people's personalities and individual circumstances -- but is one approach to social networks "better" than the other? New research suggests that the optimal social networking strategy depends on socioeconomic conditions.

Research may have important implications for combating diabetes Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:27 PM PST Biochemists are providing new insights that could have important implications for understanding and treating diabetes.

Protein strongest just before death Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:27 PM PST Researchers have discovered a protein that does its best work with one foot in the grave. The study focuses on the nontraditional lifestyle of Retinoblastoma tumor suppressor proteins, which could lead to new ways to treat cancer.

Stress resilience, susceptibility traced to neurons in reward circuit Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:27 PM PST A specific pattern of neuronal firing in a brain reward circuit instantly rendered mice vulnerable to depression-like behavior induced by acute severe stress. The same firing pattern had the opposite effect when the depression-like behaviors were induced by chronic mild stress. Split-second control of the implicated circuit, via optogenetics, showed that context -- stressor type and intensity -- is pivotal to the workings of brain rapid antidepressant mechanisms.

Study probes impact of climate change on cold-blooded animals Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:27 PM PST Biologists are examining the influence of climate change, particularly warmer winters, on the survival and potential fecundity of cold-blooded animals.

Unhealthy behaviors could slow progress in reducing heart disease, stroke Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:27 PM PST Poor eating and exercise habits could be the game-changer in the fight against heart disease and stroke deaths, according to new research.

Delaying childbirth may reduce the risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer, study suggests Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:25 PM PST Younger women who wait at least 15 years after their first menstrual period to give birth to their first child may reduce their risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer by up to 60 percent, according to a new study.

Seven primitive galaxies at the dawn of time Posted: 12 Dec 2012 11:18 AM PST Astronomers have uncovered a previously unseen population of seven primitive galaxies that formed more than 13 billion years ago, when the universe was less than 3 percent of its present age. The deepest images to date from Hubble yield the first statistically robust sample of galaxies that tells how abundant they were close to the era when galaxies first formed.

Drug that may help fight Duchenne muscular dystrophy discovered Posted: 12 Dec 2012 11:18 AM PST Drugs are currently being tested that show promise in treating patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an inherited disease that affects about one in 3,600 boys and results in muscle degeneration and, eventually, death.

Targeted micro-bubbles detect artery inflammation: Procedure done in pigs could potentially detect heart disease early in humans Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:42 AM PST Researchers have found that targeted micro-bubbles can help detect heart disease before it progresses too far as well as identify patients who are at risk for strokes.

Solar power prices to continue falling through 2025, experts say Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:42 AM PST Prices for photovoltaic modules -- the part of solar panels that turn sunlight into electricity -- are expected to continue falling, in line with the long-term trend that has persisted since 1980, according to experts. On average, global installations per year are not expected to increase much from the record level in 2011, but the total installed solar capacity is expected to soar to 300 gigawatts by 2018, and 600 GW by 2025.

X-ray laser takes aim at cosmic mystery Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:41 AM PST Scientists have used powerful X-rays to study and measure, in atomic detail, a key process at work in extreme plasmas like those found in stars, the rims of black holes and other massive cosmic phenomena.

Study paves way to design drugs aimed at multiple protein targets at once Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:40 AM PST Pharmaceutical chemists had suggested that the objective of a drug hitting multiple targets simultaneously is impossible and unlikely to succeed. A new study shows how to efficiently and effectively make designer drugs that can do that.

Researchers induce, relieve depression symptoms in mice with light Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:40 AM PST Researchers have successfully induced and relieved depression-like deficiencies in both pleasure and motivation in mice by controlling just a single area of the brain known as the ventral tegmental area. It is the first time that well-defined types of neurons within a specific brain region have been directly tied to the control of myriad symptoms of major depressive illness.

Fragile X protein linked to nearly 100 genes involved in autism Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:40 AM PST Doctors have known for many years that patients with fragile X syndrome, the most common form of inherited intellectual disability, are often also diagnosed with autism. But little has been known about how the two diagnoses are related. Now scientists have pinpointed the precise genetic footprint that links the two.

Australian multicellular fossils point to life on land, not at sea, geologist proposes Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:40 AM PST Ancient multicellular fossils long thought to be ancestors of early marine life are remnants of land-dwelling lichen or other microbial colonies, says a University of Oregon scientist who has been studying fossil soils of South Australia.

More ice loss through snowfall on Antarctica Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:40 AM PST Stronger snowfall increases future ice discharge from Antarctica. Global warming leads to more precipitation as warmer air holds more moisture -- hence earlier research suggested the Antarctic ice sheet might grow under climate change. Now a new study shows that a lot of the ice gain due to increased snowfall is countered by an acceleration of ice-flow to the ocean.

Chemical analysis reveals first cheese-making in Northern Europe 7,000 years ago Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:40 AM PST Archeologists have the first unequivocal evidence that humans in prehistoric Northern Europe made cheese more than 7,000 years ago.

Emerging virus in raccoons may provide cancer clues Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:09 AM PST Rare brain tumors emerging among raccoons in Northern California and Oregon may be linked to a previously unidentified virus.

Cane toads can be stopped Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:09 AM PST It may be possible to stop the spread of can toads into new areas of Australia, according to new research.

Relocating elephants fails to decrease human–wildlife conflict: Technique meant to keep animals and humans safe has opposite effects Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:09 AM PST Human–elephant conflict in Sri Lanka kills more than 70 humans and 200 Asian elephants every year. One of the most common tools in combating these conflicts is moving the elephants into ranges away from humans, often into national parks. This is done in hopes of avoiding problems that include elephants raiding crops, breaking into homes and injuring or killing people.

Will climate change cause water conflict? Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:09 AM PST Climate change plays a secondary role in the origin or aggravation of social conflicts linked to water. Political discourses must avoid directly linking climate change with social conflict and human insecurity, without taking into account other political and socio-economic factors.

Substance with promising in vitro anti-cancer effects synthesized: Substance found in tiny amounts in Chinese medicinal herb Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:09 AM PST In science's equivalent of ascending Mt. Everest, researchers are reporting success in one of the most difficult challenges in synthetic chemistry -- a field in which scientists reproduce natural and other substances from jars of chemicals in a lab. The feat, reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, involved synthesis of a rare substance with promising in vitro anti-cancer effects found naturally in tiny amounts in a Chinese medicinal herb.

New geometries: Researchers create new shapes of artificial microcompartments Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:09 AM PST Researchers have figured out how to mimic the different shapes of microcompartments found in nature. The findings could have implications in materials research, targeted drug delivery, and more.

New twist on using biomass for perfume, cosmetic, personal care products Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:09 AM PST In a new approach for tapping biomass as a sustainable raw material, scientists are reporting use of a Nobel-Prize-winning technology to transform plant "essential oils" -- substances with the characteristic fragrance of the plant -- into high-value ingredients for sunscreens, perfumes and other personal care products. The approach could open up new economic opportunities for tropical countries that grow such plants.

Frog-in-bucket-of-milk folklore leads to potential new antibiotics Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:08 AM PST Following up on an ancient Russian way of keeping milk from going sour -- by putting a frog in the bucket of milk -- scientists have identified a wealth of new antibiotic substances in the skin of the Russian Brown frog.

Light shed on workings of the body's immune response Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:08 AM PST Researchers have discovered that two proteins which are believed to play a key role in controlling the body's immune response are found in lower levels in T lymphocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis.

Ultra-short laser pulses control chemical processes Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:08 AM PST Specially shaped laser pulses can be used to change the state of electrons in a molecule. This process only takes several attoseconds -- but it can initiate another, much slower process: The splitting of the molecule into two parts. Laser pulses can be used to initiate or suppress chemical reactions in a controlled way.

Astronomers discover 'missing link' of black holes Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:07 AM PST The discovery of a binging black hole in our nearest neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda, has shed new light on some of the brightest X-ray sources seen in other galaxies, according to a new article.

Scientists train honey bees to stick out their tongues Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:07 AM PST A new video-article illustrates a novel tactile conditioning experiment using honey bees. The technique trains honey bees to stick out their tongues when their antennae touch an object. This procedure allows researchers to analyze how changes in antennal movement correspond to tactile pattern recognition and learning.

Was life inevitable? New paper pieces together metabolism's beginnings Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:07 AM PST A new synthesis by two researchers offers a coherent picture of how metabolism, and thus all life, arose. The study offers new insights into how the complex chemistry of metabolism cobbled itself together, the likelihood of life emerging and evolving as it did on Earth, and the chances of finding life elsewhere.

Climate modelers predict warmer, wetter Northeast U.S. winters by 2070 Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:13 AM PST A new high-resolution climate study, the first to apply regional climate models to examine likely near-term changes in temperature and precipitation across the Northeast United States, suggests temperatures are going to be significantly warmer in all seasons in the next 30 years, especially in winter. Also, they project that winters will be wetter, with more rain likely than snow.

Biocompatible patch developed to heal infants with birth defects Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:13 AM PST Researchers have created a new type of biodegradable scaffold to repair the hearts of infants with birth defects.

Advance in chromosomal evolution in sea cradles Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:13 AM PST A chromosomal study performed in a common Mediterranean chiton (sea cradle) provides information, relevant to systematic relationships of the species; furthermore the comparison of its karyotype with ones in literature allows the authors to put forward a hypothesis on chromosome evolution of this group of mollusks.

New method to understand superconductors Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:10 AM PST Researchers have devised a new method to understand the processes that happen when atoms cool which could lead to new materials for superconducting power grids and widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Geminid meteors set to light up winter sky Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:10 AM PST On the evening of December 13 and the morning of 14 December, skywatchers across the world will be looking up as the Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak, in potentially one of the best night sky events of the year.

Injured tiger saved by village Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:09 AM PST The village of Nidugumba in Karnataka State in southwest India acted swiftly to save an injured tiger that had become caught in a barbed wire fence last week.

Scary news for corals -- from the Ice Age Posted: 12 Dec 2012 06:32 AM PST There is growing scientific concern that corals could retreat from equatorial seas and oceans as the Earth continues to warm, marine researchers have warned. Working on clues in the fossil coral record from the last major episode of global warming, the period between the last two ice ages about 125,000 years ago, the researchers found evidence of a sharp decline in coral diversity near the equator.

Violence in Mali threatening survival of endangered elephants Posted: 12 Dec 2012 06:32 AM PST Researchers have revealed the secrets of survival of an endangered population of African elephant in the unforgiving Sahara desert. The elephants have the biggest range in the world, the study showed, but recent violence in Mali may now be putting the animals at risk.

Previously unknown mechanism identified in oncogene-induced senescence Posted: 12 Dec 2012 06:31 AM PST Cell aging, or cellular senescence, has an important role in the natural physiological response to tumor development. Activated oncogenes are able to induce senescence, and recent findings have suggested that oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) could play a key role in future cancer therapy. Researchers have now identified a previously unknown mechanism in the regulation of OIS.

Ancient tsunami caused long-term ecosystem change in the Caribbean Posted: 12 Dec 2012 06:28 AM PST Overwash deposits point to major wave event more than 3,000 years ago. A detailed analysis of sediments from the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean presents convincing evidence for an extraordinary wave impact dating back some 3,300 years, even though no historical records of tsunamis exist for this island. Of particular interest are the consequences this large wave impact had on the island's ecosystem. The sediments studied by the scientists suggested that this tsunami entirely changed the coastal ecosystem and sedimentation patterns in the area.

Photosynthesis: Mysterious enzyme structure solved Posted: 12 Dec 2012 06:28 AM PST Scientists have solved a long-standing puzzle in photosynthesis research. With the aid of quantum chemistry they were able to provide unexpected insight into the properties of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC). The OEC is the catalyst in plants that splits water using sunlight in order to build carbohydrates, thus powering all life on earth. Its precise structure, which was showing enigmatic spectroscopic behavior, could now finally be solved with the aid of quantum chemistry.

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