ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• 'Super varieties' of wheat expected to boost yields and block deadly threat to food security
• Radiation after prostate removal is cost-effective, but less likely to be recommended by urologists
• Asteroid served up 'custom orders' of life's ingredients
• Engaging high school students in soil science inquiry
• Fragile X protein acts as toggle switch in brain cells
• New imaging technology promising for diagnosing cardiovascular disease, diabetes
• New way to make lighter, stronger steel -- in a flash
• Alternative approach to treating diabetes tested
• Genome sequence could reveal 'Achilles' heels' of important wheat disease
• Early agricultural piracy informs the domestication of rice
• Why animals don't have infrared vision: Source of the visual system's 'false alarms' discovered
• Nicotine triggered appetite suppression site identified in brain
• Deaths and major morbidity from asbestos-related diseases in Asia likely to surge in next 20 years, experts warn
• Want better math teachers? Then train them better
• Unique 'portrait' of shuttle and International Space Station released
• Mars Exploration Rover heads toward 'Spirit Point'
• NASA goes below the surface to understand salinity
• Hormone test helps predict success in IVF
• Large-scale early education linked to higher living standards and crime prevention 25 years later
• Earth-bound asteroids carried ever-evolving, life-starting organic compounds
• Engineers envision 2-dimensional graphene metamaterials and 1-atom-thick optical devices
• New driving force for chemical reactions
• Meteorite holds clues to organic chemistry of early Earth
• The downside -- and surprising upside –- of microcredit
• Chemists devise better way to prepare workhorse molecules
• Discovery may pave way to quitting smoking without gaining weight
• Physicists hit on mathematical description of superfluid dynamics
• Magnetic bubbles reside at solar system edge, NASA probes suggest
• How killer immune cells avoid killing themselves
• Physician participation in lethal injection executions should not be banned, argue ethicists
• Cancer protein discovery may aid radiation therapy: Blocking cyclin D1 might help sensitize tumors to radiation
• Chemistry with sunlight
• Study confirms safety, cancer-targeting ability of nutrient in broccoli, other vegetables, researchers say
• Fathers' use of restaurants affect children more than mothers' use
• Banning U.S. federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research would derail related work, experts argue
• Adjustable valves gave ancient plants the edge
• Mutations in essential genes often cause rare diseases
• Curtailing embryonic stem cell research would also hurt iPS cell research, analysis suggests
• Signaling pathways point to vulnerability in breast cancer stem cells
• Key function of enzyme involved in RNA processing described
• Biologists uncover regulatory mechanism for gene expression in the visual system
• New supernova remnant lights up: SN1987A shines again
• B vitamins in mother's diet reduce colorectal cancer risk in offspring, animal study suggests
• Brain imaging study of preschoolers with ADHD detects brain differences linked to symptoms
• Controlling starch in sugar factories
• Simple test could hold key to early diagnosis of cancers
• First wood-digesting enzyme found in bacteria could boost biofuel production
• Sucking up to the boss may move you up and keep you healthy
• A molecule that switches on and off
• Dramatic fall in cases of meningitis A in three West African nations after new vaccine introduction
• Genetic link between emphysema, lung cancer uncovered
• Pioneering hospital pay-for-performance program falls short of its goals, study finds
• How spiders breathe under water: Spider's diving bell performs like gill extracting oxygen from water
• New genetic technique converts skin cells into brain cells
• Unique Polish detector can observe rare decays of nickel nuclei
• Canine connection: Study explores how dogs think and learn about human behavior
• New superstrate material enables flexible, lightweight and efficient thin film solar modules
• Ultracold neutrons for science: UCNs will help to solve mysteries of astrophysics
• Shipwrecks no more: Recycling old boats
• Is free global trade too great a threat to food supplies, natural heritage and health?

'Super varieties' of wheat expected to boost yields and block deadly threat to food security Posted: 09 Jun 2011 05:23 PM PDT Five years after the launch of a global effort to protect the world's most important food crop from variants of Ug99, a new and deadly form of wheat rust, scientists say they are close to producing super varieties of wheat that will resist the potent pathogen, while boosting yields by as much as 15 percent.

Radiation after prostate removal is cost-effective, but less likely to be recommended by urologists Posted: 09 Jun 2011 03:15 PM PDT Receiving radiation therapy immediately after a radical prostatectomy is a cost-effective treatment for prostate cancer patients when compared with waiting and acting on elevated prostate-specific antigen levels, according to a new study.

Asteroid served up 'custom orders' of life's ingredients Posted: 09 Jun 2011 02:48 PM PDT Some asteroids may have been like "molecular factories" cranking out life's ingredients and shipping them to Earth via meteorite impacts, according to scientists who've made discoveries of molecules essential for life in material from certain kinds of asteroids and comets. Now it appears that at least one may have been less like a rigid assembly line and more like a flexible diner that doesn't mind making changes to the menu.

Engaging high school students in soil science inquiry Posted: 09 Jun 2011 02:37 PM PDT Soil science is an important component of many important global issues. K-12 soil science education is limited, but a new inquiry unit shows promising results.

Fragile X protein acts as toggle switch in brain cells Posted: 09 Jun 2011 02:37 PM PDT New research shows how the protein missing in fragile X syndrome -- the most common inherited form of intellectual disability -- acts as a molecular toggle switch in brain cells.

New imaging technology promising for diagnosing cardiovascular disease, diabetes Posted: 09 Jun 2011 02:37 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new type of imaging technology to diagnose cardiovascular disease and other disorders by measuring ultrasound signals from molecules exposed to a fast-pulsing laser.

New way to make lighter, stronger steel -- in a flash Posted: 09 Jun 2011 02:37 PM PDT A Detroit entrepreneur surprised university engineers recently when he invented a heat-treatment that makes steel 7 percent stronger than any steel on record -- in less than 10 seconds. In fact, the steel has tested stronger and more shock-absorbing than the most common titanium alloys used by industry.

Alternative approach to treating diabetes tested Posted: 09 Jun 2011 02:37 PM PDT In a mouse study, scientists have demonstrated the feasibility of a promising new strategy for treating human type 2 diabetes, which affects more than 200 million people worldwide.

Genome sequence could reveal 'Achilles' heels' of important wheat disease Posted: 09 Jun 2011 02:37 PM PDT New research provides insights into how an important fungal disease is able to evade wheat's defenses. The researchers hope that the study, which reveals the fungus' complete genome sequence, will enable them to breed resistant crop plants or improve the use of pesticides.

Early agricultural piracy informs the domestication of rice Posted: 09 Jun 2011 02:37 PM PDT Researchers are casting new light on the origins of rice. By reconciling two theories, scientists show that the domestication of rice occurred at least twice independently but with extensive "borrowing" between the two subspecies.

Why animals don't have infrared vision: Source of the visual system's 'false alarms' discovered Posted: 09 Jun 2011 12:15 PM PDT On rare occasion, the light-sensing photoreceptor cells in the eye misfire and signal to the brain as if they have captured photons, when in reality they haven't. For years this phenomenon remained a mystery. Neuroscientists have now discovered that a light-capturing pigment molecule in photoreceptors can be triggered by heat, as well, giving rise to these false alarms.

Nicotine triggered appetite suppression site identified in brain Posted: 09 Jun 2011 12:15 PM PDT A new study uncovers a brain mechanism that could be targeted for new medications designed to help people quit smoking without gaining weight.

Deaths and major morbidity from asbestos-related diseases in Asia likely to surge in next 20 years, experts warn Posted: 09 Jun 2011 12:15 PM PDT An alarming new article issues a serious warning of massive rises in deaths from asbestos-related lung diseases in Asia. Asian countries accounted for 64% of the global consumption of asbestos in the period of 2001-2007, a striking increase from 14% between 1920 and 1970. This is a result of unregulated asbestos import and use in many Asian countries.

Want better math teachers? Then train them better Posted: 09 Jun 2011 12:15 PM PDT It's time for the United States to consider establishing higher standards for math teachers if the nation is going to break its "vicious cycle" of mediocrity, an education scholar argues.

Unique 'portrait' of shuttle and International Space Station released Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:58 AM PDT Newly-released portraits show the International Space Station together with the space shuttle, the vehicle that helped build the complex during the last decade. The pictures are the first taken of a shuttle docked to the station from the perspective of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Mars Exploration Rover heads toward 'Spirit Point' Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:54 AM PDT When NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity reaches the rim of a large crater it is approaching, its arrival will come with an inspiring reminder. This crater, Endeavour, became the rover's long-term destination nearly three years ago. Opportunity has driven about 11 miles (18 kilometers) since climbing out of Victoria crater in August 2008, with Endeavour crater beckoning to the southeast. The rover has about 2 miles (about 3 kilometers) to go before reaching the rim of Endeavour.

NASA goes below the surface to understand salinity Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:41 AM PDT When NASA's Aquarius mission launches, its radiometer instruments will take a "skin" reading of the oceans' salt content at the surface. From these data of salinity in the top 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) of the ocean surface, Aquarius will create weekly and monthly maps of ocean surface salinity all over the globe for at least three years. To better understand what's driving changes and fluctuations in salinity -- and how those changes relate to an acceleration of the global water cycle and climate change -- scientists will go deeper.

Hormone test helps predict success in IVF Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:16 AM PDT In a new study, women with high levels of the hormone AMH produced more eggs for in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, and pregnancies were more likely to occur than in women with low levels. The finding could aid counseling and give doctors a new tool to adjust treatment.

Large-scale early education linked to higher living standards and crime prevention 25 years later Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT High-quality early education has a strong, positive impact well into adulthood, according to new research. The study is the longest follow-up ever of an established large-scale early childhood program.

Earth-bound asteroids carried ever-evolving, life-starting organic compounds Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT Detailed analysis of the most pristine meteorite ever recovered shows that the composition of the organic compounds it carried changed during the early years of the solar system. Those changed organics were preserved through billions of years in outer space before the meteorite crashed to Earth.

Engineers envision 2-dimensional graphene metamaterials and 1-atom-thick optical devices Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT Engineers have proposed the possibility of two-dimensional metamaterials. These one-atom- thick metamaterials could be achieved by controlling the conductivity of sheets of graphene, which is a single layer of carbon atoms.

New driving force for chemical reactions Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT Chemists have shown for the first time that a mechanism called tunneling control may drive chemical reactions in directions unexpected from traditional theories.

Meteorite holds clues to organic chemistry of early Earth Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT Carbonaceous chondrites are organic-rich meteorites that contain samples of the materials that took part in the creation of our planets nearly 4.6 billion years ago. The complex suite of organic materials found in carbonaceous chondrites can vary substantially. New research shows that most of these variations are the result of hydrothermal activity that took place within a few million years of the solar system's formation, when the meteorites were still part of larger bodies.

The downside -- and surprising upside –- of microcredit Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT Microcredit, which involves giving small loans to very small businesses in an effort to promote entrepreneurship, has been widely touted as a way to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth. But in a new study, researchers find that the practice may not be an efficient tool in promoting business growth or improving the lives of its beneficiaries, but could instead have just the opposite effect. However, they did discover other surprising advantages.

Chemists devise better way to prepare workhorse molecules Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT Scientists report a new environmentally friendly way to make substituted aromatic molecules that can be customized for different industrial needs.

Discovery may pave way to quitting smoking without gaining weight Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT Smokers tend to die young, but they tend to die thinner than non-smokers. A team of scientists has discovered exactly how nicotine suppresses appetite -- findings that suggest that it might be possible to develop a drug that would help smokers, and non-smokers, stay thin.

Physicists hit on mathematical description of superfluid dynamics Posted: 09 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT A century after the discovery of superfluids, scientists using a powerful supercomputer have devised a theoretical framework that explains the real-time behavior of superfluids.

Magnetic bubbles reside at solar system edge, NASA probes suggest Posted: 09 Jun 2011 10:21 AM PDT Observations from NASA's Voyager spacecraft, humanity's farthest deep space sentinels, suggest the edge of our solar system may not be smooth, but filled with a turbulent sea of magnetic bubbles.

How killer immune cells avoid killing themselves Posted: 09 Jun 2011 10:16 AM PDT After eight years of work, researchers have unearthed what has been a well-kept secret of our immune system's success. The findings offer an explanation for how specialized immune cells are able to kill infected or cancerous cells without killing themselves in the process.

Physician participation in lethal injection executions should not be banned, argue ethicists Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:33 AM PDT Should physicians assist in a lethal injection execution -- or lose professional certification if they do? The American Board of Anesthesiology will revoke certification of anesthesiologists who participate in capital punishment. A new article concludes that decertification of physicians participating in lethal injections goes too far -- though individual physicians and private medical groups like the AMA are entitled to oppose the practice and may censure or dismiss members who violate it.

Cancer protein discovery may aid radiation therapy: Blocking cyclin D1 might help sensitize tumors to radiation Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:33 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered a new role for a key cancer protein, cyclin D1, a finding that could pave the way for more-effective radiation treatment of a variety of tumors. They discovered that cyclin D1 can help cancer cells to quickly repair DNA damage caused by radiation treatments, making the tumors resistant to the therapy.

Chemistry with sunlight Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:33 AM PDT Researchers can make the oxidation reactions used in the synthesis of organic molecules cleaner by hitching photovoltaics to electrochemistry. The idea is simple and yet it has huge implications. To underscore the simplicity of the idea, researchers used a $6 solar cell sold on the Internet and intended to power toy cars to run a variety of chemical reactions. If their suggestion were widely adopted by the chemical industry, it would eliminate the toxic byproducts currently produced by a class of reactions commonly used in chemical synthesis -- and with them the environmental and economic damage they cause.

Study confirms safety, cancer-targeting ability of nutrient in broccoli, other vegetables, researchers say Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:33 AM PDT Sulforaphane, one of the primary phytochemicals in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables that helps them prevent cancer, has been shown for the first time to selectively target and kill cancer cells while leaving normal prostate cells healthy and unaffected. The findings are another important step forward for the potential use of sulforaphone in cancer prevention and treatment.

Fathers' use of restaurants affect children more than mothers' use Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT This Father's Day, dad's choice of where to eat could literally tip the scales on his children's health. A father's use of restaurants and his perceptions of family meals carry more weight, so to speak, than mothers', according to a new study.

Banning U.S. federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research would derail related work, experts argue Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT Banning U.S. federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research would have "disastrous consequences" on the study of a promising and increasingly popular new stem cell type that is not derived from human embryos, experts argue in a new article.

Adjustable valves gave ancient plants the edge Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT Controlling water loss is an important ability for modern land plants as it helps them thrive in changing environments. New research shows that water conserving innovations occurred very early in plants' evolutionary history.

Mutations in essential genes often cause rare diseases Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT Mutations in genes essential to survival are behind so-called orphan diseases, explaining in part why these diseases are rare and often deadly, according to a new study.

Curtailing embryonic stem cell research would also hurt iPS cell research, analysis suggests Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT Any legislation that slows human embryonic stem cell research is likely to also seriously harm the study of induced pluripotent stem cells, according to a new analysis.

Signaling pathways point to vulnerability in breast cancer stem cells Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT Researchers have identified signals impinging on breast epithelial cells that can induce those cells to acquire and stably display migratory and self-renewing characteristics. These signals appear to be responsible for maintaining both normal mammary epithelial stem cells and the stem cells in breast carcinomas. Interrupting these and other extracellular signals strips the various types of stem cells of the migratory and self-renewal abilities used by cancer stem cells to seed new tumors.

Key function of enzyme involved in RNA processing described Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT Researchers have identified a cellular mechanism that is critical in maintaining normal cell function. They examined the function of TRAMP, a protein complex involved in the processing of RNA or ribonucleic acid within the cell. They identified a key function for the protein Mtr4p in a process that initiates the degradation of select RNAs, a necessary step in preserving normal cell function.

Biologists uncover regulatory mechanism for gene expression in the visual system Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT Biologists have uncovered a key regulatory mechanism used for gene expression in the visual system. Their findings offer new insights into the complexity behind the genetic make-up of biological systems.

New supernova remnant lights up: SN1987A shines again Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:29 AM PDT Light from an exploding star in a neighboring galaxy has suddenly begun to glow brighter as the shock wave and X-rays hit surrounding debris. What we are witnessing the the change from an active supernova to a supernova remnant.

B vitamins in mother's diet reduce colorectal cancer risk in offspring, animal study suggests Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:29 AM PDT Mice born to mothers who are fed a diet supplemented with B vitamins are less likely to develop intestinal tumors. Scientists associated the tumor suppression seen in the offspring of supplemented mothers with a protection against disruptions to the "Wnt" signaling pathway, a network of genes commonly altered in colorectal cancer.

Brain imaging study of preschoolers with ADHD detects brain differences linked to symptoms Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:29 AM PDT Researchers found differences in the brains of preschool children with symptoms of ADHD. Results showed the region of the brain important for cognitive and motor control was smaller in these children than in typically developing children. Novel for its use of neuroimaging in very young, preschool age children with ADHD symptoms, this examination of brain differences may offer insights into early interventions.

Controlling starch in sugar factories Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:29 AM PDT Factory trials have led to recommendations for controlling or preventing starch buildup in processed raw sugars and products made with those sugars.

Simple test could hold key to early diagnosis of cancers Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:29 AM PDT Cancers of the gut, stomach and pancreas could be detected much sooner with a simple urine test, research suggests. Researchers have identified key proteins in the urine of patients with advanced cancers.

First wood-digesting enzyme found in bacteria could boost biofuel production Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:29 AM PDT Researchers have identified an enzyme in bacteria which could be used to make biofuel production more efficient.

Sucking up to the boss may move you up and keep you healthy Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:24 AM PDT Savvy career minded individuals have known for some time that ingratiating oneself to the boss and others – perhaps more commonly known as 'sucking up'– can help move them up the corporate ladder more quickly. However, a recent study suggests that politically savvy professionals who use ingratiation as a career aid may also avoid the psychological distress that comes to others who are less cunning about their workplace behavior.

A molecule that switches on and off Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:24 AM PDT Researchers in France have developed a single molecule whose charge state and shape can be changed at will. The advance should prove a key advantage in the race for miniaturization. In addition to controlling its charge in a completely reversible way, the researchers have revealed a link between the molecule's charge and its geometrical shape, effectively making it usable as a bit of information or an electromechanical system on a nanometric scale. This perfectly controllable back-and-forth motion at the molecular level holds great promise for the creation of ultra-dense digital memory or nanomotors.

Dramatic fall in cases of meningitis A in three West African nations after new vaccine introduction Posted: 09 Jun 2011 07:55 AM PDT Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger report the lowest number of meningitis A cases ever recorded during an epidemic season following the successful introduction of a new vaccine six months ago, scientists announced. A new analysis shows that introducing this vaccine in seven highly endemic African countries could save as much as $300 million over a decade and prevent a million cases of disease.

Genetic link between emphysema, lung cancer uncovered Posted: 09 Jun 2011 07:55 AM PDT A gene linked to emphysema also can be a factor for developing lung cancer unrelated to cigarette smoking, new research indicates. Smoking was the only known risk factor previously associated with both diseases.

Pioneering hospital pay-for-performance program falls short of its goals, study finds Posted: 09 Jun 2011 07:55 AM PDT Massachusetts' innovative use of "pay-for-performance" bonuses to try to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the case of Medicaid patients has turned up no evidence of the problem at any of the state's 66 acute-care hospitals, according to a new study that raises questions about the effectiveness of the state's novel approach.

How spiders breathe under water: Spider's diving bell performs like gill extracting oxygen from water Posted: 09 Jun 2011 07:55 AM PDT Water spiders spend their entire lives under water, only venturing to the surface to replenish their diving bell air supply. Yet no one knew how long the spiders could remain submerged until Roger Seymour and Stefan Hetz measured the bubble's oxygen level. They found that the diving bell behaves like a gill sucking oxygen from the water and the spiders only need to dash to the surface once a day to supplement their air supply.

New genetic technique converts skin cells into brain cells Posted: 09 Jun 2011 05:48 AM PDT A research breakthrough has proven that it is possible to reprogram mature cells from human skin directly into brain cells, without passing through the stem cell stage. The unexpectedly simple technique involves activating three genes in the skin cells; genes which are already known to be active in the formation of brain cells at the fetal stage.

Unique Polish detector can observe rare decays of nickel nuclei Posted: 09 Jun 2011 05:48 AM PDT Polish scientists have built a unique detector that has made it possible to observe atypical decays of one of the isotopes of nickel, during which two protons were emitted simultaneously.

Canine connection: Study explores how dogs think and learn about human behavior Posted: 09 Jun 2011 05:48 AM PDT Dog owners often attest to their canine companion's seeming ability to read their minds. How do dogs learn to beg for food or behave badly primarily when we're not looking? According to one research team, the way that dogs come to respond to the level of people's attentiveness tells us something about the ways dogs think and learn about human behavior. Their research suggests it is down to a combination of specific cues, context and previous experience.

New superstrate material enables flexible, lightweight and efficient thin film solar modules Posted: 09 Jun 2011 05:48 AM PDT DuPont's Kapton colorless polyimide film, a new material currently in development for use as a flexible superstrate for cadmium telluride thin film photovoltaic modules, has enabled a new world record for energy conversion efficiency. A Swiss team has now demonstrated a conversion efficiency of 13.8 percent using the new colorless film, leapfrogging their previous record of 12.6 percent and nearing that of glass.

Ultracold neutrons for science: UCNs will help to solve mysteries of astrophysics Posted: 09 Jun 2011 05:32 AM PDT Researchers in Germany have the most powerful source of ultracold neutrons, opening up the possibility of conducting a key experiment to determine the life time of the neutron.

Shipwrecks no more: Recycling old boats Posted: 09 Jun 2011 05:32 AM PDT Nearly 5,000 recreational boats are retired and disposed of every year in Norway -- either sunk to the bottom of the sea or burned in a bonfire. Now, researchers have developed a new method for recycling these vessels.

Is free global trade too great a threat to food supplies, natural heritage and health? Posted: 09 Jun 2011 05:32 AM PDT Researchers from the UK say that we face a future of uncertainty, and possible new threats to food supplies, natural heritage, and even human health, from animal and plant pathogens. Human behavior, travel and trade exacerbates the problem and we may need to reconsider our approach to free trade.

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