ScienceDaily: Top Science News

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• Gecko feet inspire amazing glue that can hold 700 pounds on smooth wall
• Successful human tests for first wirelessly controlled drug-delivery chip
• New molecular map to guide development of new treatments for multiple sclerosis and other diseases
• New ability to regrow blood vessels holds promise for treatment of heart disease
• Researchers make living model of brain tumor
• Robot reconnoiters uncharted terrain
• Preventing the Tasmanian devil's downfall: Genome of contagious cancer sheds light on disease origin and spread
• Why do dinosaur skeletons look so weird?
• Microbial oasis discovered beneath the Atacama Desert
• Low-carbon technologies 'no quick-fix': May not lessen global warming until late this century
• Climate change threatens tropical birds: Global warming, extreme weather aggravate habitat loss, review finds

Gecko feet inspire amazing glue that can hold 700 pounds on smooth wall Posted: 16 Feb 2012 01:55 PM PST Biologists have long been amazed by gecko feet, which allow 5-ounce lizards to produce an adhesive force equivalent to carrying 9 lbs. up a wall without slipping. Now, a team of polymer scientists and a biologist have invented "Geckskin," an adhesive device that can hold 700 pounds on a smooth wall.

Successful human tests for first wirelessly controlled drug-delivery chip Posted: 16 Feb 2012 11:42 AM PST About 15 years ago, two professors had the idea to develop a programmable, wirelessly controlled microchip that would deliver drugs after implantation in a patient's body. This week, they reported that they have successfully used such a chip to administer daily doses of an osteoporosis drug normally given by injection. The results represent the first successful test of such a device.

New molecular map to guide development of new treatments for multiple sclerosis and other diseases Posted: 16 Feb 2012 11:39 AM PST Scientists have created the first high-resolution virtual image of cellular structures called S1P1 receptors, which are critical in controlling the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis and other diseases. This new molecular map is already pointing researchers toward promising new paths for drug discovery and aiding them in better understanding how certain existing drugs work.

New ability to regrow blood vessels holds promise for treatment of heart disease Posted: 16 Feb 2012 10:43 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated a new and more effective method for regrowing blood vessels in the heart and limbs -- a research advancement that could have major implications for how we treat heart disease, the leading cause of death in the Western world.

Researchers make living model of brain tumor Posted: 16 Feb 2012 10:43 AM PST Researchers have created a living 3-D model of a brain tumor and its surrounding blood vessels. In experiments, the scientists report that iron-oxide nanoparticles carrying the agent tumstatin were taken by blood vessels, meaning they should block blood vessel growth. The living-tissue model could be used to test the effectiveness of nanoparticles in fighting other diseases.

Robot reconnoiters uncharted terrain Posted: 16 Feb 2012 10:41 AM PST Mobile robots have many uses. They serve as cleaners, carry out inspections and search for survivors of disasters. But often, there is no map to guide them through unknown territory. Researchers have now developed a mobile robot that can roam uncharted terrain and simultaneously map it – all thanks to an algorithm toolbox.

Preventing the Tasmanian devil's downfall: Genome of contagious cancer sheds light on disease origin and spread Posted: 16 Feb 2012 10:34 AM PST Researchers have sequenced the genome of a contagious cancer that is threatening the Tasmanian devil, the world's largest carnivorous marsupial, with extinction. Cataloguing the mutations present in the cancer has led to clues about where the cancer came from and how it became contagious.

Why do dinosaur skeletons look so weird? Posted: 16 Feb 2012 08:12 AM PST Many fossilized dinosaurs have been found in a twisted posture. Scientists have long interpreted this as a sign of death spasms. Researchers have now come to the conclusion that these bizarre deformations occurred only during decomposition of dead dinosaurs.

Microbial oasis discovered beneath the Atacama Desert Posted: 16 Feb 2012 08:04 AM PST Two meters below the surface of the Atacama Desert there is an 'oasis' of microorganisms. Researchers have found it in hypersaline substrates thanks to SOLID, a detector for signs of life which could be used in environments similar to subsoil on Mars.

Low-carbon technologies 'no quick-fix': May not lessen global warming until late this century Posted: 16 Feb 2012 06:48 AM PST A drastic switch to low carbon-emitting technologies, such as wind and hydroelectric power, may not yield a reduction in global warming until the latter part of this century, new research suggests. Furthermore, it states that technologies that offer only modest reductions in greenhouse gases, such as the use of natural gas and perhaps carbon capture and storage, cannot substantially reduce climate risk in the next 100 years.

Climate change threatens tropical birds: Global warming, extreme weather aggravate habitat loss, review finds Posted: 16 Feb 2012 06:47 AM PST Climate change spells trouble for many tropical birds -- especially those living in mountains, coastal forests and relatively small areas -- and the damage will be compounded by other threats like habitat loss, disease and competition among species, according to a new review.

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