ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

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• Wetter Arctic could influence climate change, study finds
• HIF gene mutation found in tumor cells offers new clues about cancer metabolism
• Fathers who sleep closer to children have lower testosterone levels
• Albatross 'dynamic soaring' achieved by repeated curve-altitude oscillation
• Picky penguins: Does mate choice depend on genes that help resist disease?
• NFL players may be at higher risk of death from Alzheimer’s and ALS, research shows
• Social exclusion on the playground: Study looks at why kids say 'you can’t play!'
• Major advances in understanding the regulation and organization of the human genome
• Dinosaur die out might have been second of two closely timed extinctions
• Computational method for pinpointing genetic factors that cause disease
• Exceptional upward mobility in the US is a myth, international studies show
• LEDs winning light race to save energy, the environment
• Seeing the birth of the universe in an atom of hydrogen: Radio waves used to uncover oldest galaxies yet
• Animal study finds anti-HIV vaginal ring can prevent virus transmission
• Carbon sequestration on U. S. rangelands offers promise, but not profit
• Genome-wide scan maps mutations in deadly lung cancers; reveals embryonic gene link
• Mouse study suggests sleep problems may be early Alzheimer's sign
• First holistic view of how human genome actually works: ENCODE study produces massive data set
• How a high-fat diet and estrogen loss leads women to store more abdominal fat than men
• Study in mice discovers injection of heat-generating cells reduces belly fat
• Teens tell different tales about themselves depending on gender
• Gender equality influences how people choose their partners
• How ocean energy impacts life in the deep sea: Results will help scientists understand what to expect under future climate change
• Children exposed to two phthalates have elevated risk of asthma-related airway inflammation
• Millions of DNA switches that power human genome's operating system are discovered
• In massive genome analysis ENCODE data suggests 'gene' redefinition
• Loss of tropical forests reduces rain
• Mapping a genetic world beyond genes
• Researchers unlock disease information hidden in genome's control circuitry
• ENCODE Project publishes new genomic insights in special issue of Genome Research
• Tough gel stretches to 21 times its length, recoils, and heals itself: Biocompatible material much tougher than cartilage
• Understanding the human genome: ENCODE at BioMed Central
• First stars, galaxies formed more rapidly than expected
• List of Asian species at conservation crossroads released by Wildlife Conservation Society
• Decoding the Black Death: Anthropologist finds clues in medieval skeletons
• Quantum teleportation goes the distance: Record-breaking distance of 143 kilometers through free space
• When do we lie? When we're short on time and long on reasons
• Champagne proves a fantastic playground for physicists
• Salamanders display survival techniques in period of extreme drought
• Plaque-forming substances in mice with Alzheimer’s disease dramatically reduced
• Explosion of galaxy formation lit up early universe
• Infections in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Study finds way to pinpoint risk
• Robotic exoskeletal device: Preliminary research findings for Ekso in spinal cord injury
• Concern about plans to close unique Canadian environmental project
• Galileo didn't invent thermometer that bears his name
• Powerful new explosive could replace today's state-of-the-art military explosive
• Prenatal exposure to pesticide additive linked with childhood cough
• Tumor suppressor genes vital to regulating blood precursor cells in fruit flies
• Biting back against Lyme disease
• Wireless window sentinel draws its power from its environment
• Can videogaming benefit young people with autism spectrum disorder?
• Why does Alzheimer's disease affect twice as many women as men?
• Kinsey Reporter: Free app allows public to anonymously report, share information on sexual behavior
• Glacial thinning has sharply accelerated at major South American icefields
• Globular star cluster with a secret
• It pays to keep salmon fit: Salmon farmers could save big by exercising their fish more -- without overexerting them
• Archaeology team announces 'huge step forward' in King Richard III search
• Trout will become extinct in the Iberian Peninsula in less than 100 years, Spanish study predicts
• Epigenetic causes of prostate cancer: Researchers observe modified methylation patterns in a group of prostate cancers
• Brainy beverage: Study reveals how green tea boosts brain cell production to aid memory

Wetter Arctic could influence climate change, study finds Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:05 PM PDT Increased precipitation and river discharge in the Arctic has the potential to speed climate change, according to the results of a new study.

HIF gene mutation found in tumor cells offers new clues about cancer metabolism Posted: 05 Sep 2012 03:30 PM PDT For the first time, a mutation in HIF2 alpha, a specific group of genes known as transcription factors that is involved in red blood cell production and cell metabolism, has been identified in cancer tumor cells.

Fathers who sleep closer to children have lower testosterone levels Posted: 05 Sep 2012 02:16 PM PDT Closer sleeping proximity between fathers and children is associated with a greater decrease in the father's testosterone level, with possible implications for parenting behavior.

Albatross 'dynamic soaring' achieved by repeated curve-altitude oscillation Posted: 05 Sep 2012 02:16 PM PDT Albatrosses leverage the energy of the wind to fly with essentially no mechanical cost to themselves, very rarely flapping their wings, and new work offers insight into how exactly they accomplish this feat.

Picky penguins: Does mate choice depend on genes that help resist disease? Posted: 05 Sep 2012 01:37 PM PDT Magellanic penguins have a high level of variation in genes associated with the ability to fight infectious disease, but a recent study found that the mechanism the penguins use to ensure that diversity is far from black and white. A recent study tested whether the significant diversity in the Major Histocompatibility Complex genome region observed in these birds is attributable to mate choice or genetic selection based on disease exposure.

NFL players may be at higher risk of death from Alzheimer’s and ALS, research shows Posted: 05 Sep 2012 01:33 PM PDT New research shows that professional football players may be at a higher risk of death from diseases that damage the cells in the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease and ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), compared to the general U.S. population.

Social exclusion on the playground: Study looks at why kids say 'you can’t play!' Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:46 PM PDT Being the last one picked for the team, getting left out of the clique of cool girls, having no one to sit with at lunch. For children, social exclusion can impact everything from emotional well being to academic achievements.

Major advances in understanding the regulation and organization of the human genome Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:46 PM PDT The National Human Genome Research Institute today announced the results of a five-year international study of the regulation and organization of the human genome. The project is named ENCODE, which stands for the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements. In conjunction with the release of those results, the Journal of Biological Chemistry has published a series of reviews that focus on several aspects of the findings.

Dinosaur die out might have been second of two closely timed extinctions Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:43 PM PDT New research indicates that shortly before an asteroid impact spelled doom for the dinosaurs, a separate extinction triggered by volcanic eruptions killed life on the ocean floor.

Computational method for pinpointing genetic factors that cause disease Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:43 PM PDT Researchers have developed a computational method of identifying "causal" genetic variants that lead to particular diseases, with wide application for genome-wide association studies.

Exceptional upward mobility in the US is a myth, international studies show Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:19 AM PDT The rhetoric is relentless: America is a place of unparalleled opportunity, where hard work and determination can propel a child out of humble beginnings into the White House, or at least a mansion on a hill. But the reality is very different, according to a researcher who is studying inequality across generations around the world.

LEDs winning light race to save energy, the environment Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:19 AM PDT Light-emitting diode light bulbs, also known as LEDs, are more environmentally friendly than compact fluorescent and incandescent lights, new research shows. LEDs' environmental edge is expected to grow substantially as technology and manufacturing methods improve by 2017.

Seeing the birth of the universe in an atom of hydrogen: Radio waves used to uncover oldest galaxies yet Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:19 AM PDT Astronomers are using radio telescopes to find radio waves emitted by hydrogen atoms, which were abundant in the early days of the universe. This new field of research, called "21-centimeter cosmology," opens the way to learning more about the universe's oldest galaxies.

Animal study finds anti-HIV vaginal ring can prevent virus transmission Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:19 AM PDT Scientists have found that a vaginal ring releasing an anti-HIV drug can prevent the transmission of SHIV in macaques. This study provides the first efficacy data on the delivery of a microbicide from a vaginal ring, and indicates strong potential for the success of such rings in women. Microbicides are compounds that can be applied inside the vagina or rectum to protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Carbon sequestration on U. S. rangelands offers promise, but not profit Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:16 AM PDT Nearly 239 million hectares of land in the United States are devoted to pastures and rangeland. Worldwide, rangelands cover about 3.6 billion hectares. Harnessing the potential for carbon sequestration from these lands could have a global impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Genome-wide scan maps mutations in deadly lung cancers; reveals embryonic gene link Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:16 AM PDT Scientists have completed a comprehensive map of genetic mutations linked to an aggressive and lethal type of lung cancer. Among the errors found in small cell lung cancers, scientists found an alteration in a gene called SOX2 associated with early embryonic development.

Mouse study suggests sleep problems may be early Alzheimer's sign Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:16 AM PDT Sleep disruptions may be among the earliest indicators of Alzheimer's disease, scientists report.

First holistic view of how human genome actually works: ENCODE study produces massive data set Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:09 AM PDT The Human Genome Project produced an almost complete order of the 3 billion pairs of chemical letters in the DNA that embodies the human genetic code -- but little about the way this blueprint works. Now, after a multi-year concerted effort by more than 440 researchers in 32 labs around the world, a more dynamic picture gives the first holistic view of how the human genome actually does its job.

How a high-fat diet and estrogen loss leads women to store more abdominal fat than men Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:54 AM PDT A high-fat diet triggers chemical reactions in female mice that could explain why women are more likely than men to gain fat in the abdomen after eating excess saturated fat, new research suggests. The study also sheds light on why women gain fat following menopause.

Study in mice discovers injection of heat-generating cells reduces belly fat Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT The injection of a tiny capsule containing heat-generating cells into the abdomens of mice led those animals to burn abdominal fat and initially lose about 20 percent of belly fat after 80 days of treatment.

Teens tell different tales about themselves depending on gender Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT During adolescence, the stories young people tell about themselves reflects their development of a personal identity and sense of self, and those autobiographical narratives vary depending on the teens' gender, according to psychologists.

Gender equality influences how people choose their partners Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT Men and women clearly have different strategies for picking sexual partners, but the reason why differences exist is less clear. The classic explanation for these differences has been that men's and women's brains have evolved to make certain choices, but a new study suggests that evolution is only part of the answer.

How ocean energy impacts life in the deep sea: Results will help scientists understand what to expect under future climate change Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT A new study of deep-sea species worldwide examines how gradients in food and temperature in the deep sea's dark, frigid waters affect the creatures that live there. Similar studies have been conducted in the shallow oceans, but our understanding of the impact of food and temperature on life in the deep sea -- the Earth's largest and most remote ecosystem -- is more limited. The results will help scientists understand what to expect under future climate change.

Children exposed to two phthalates have elevated risk of asthma-related airway inflammation Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT Children exposed to diethyl phthalate and butylbenzyl phthalate -- phthalate chemicals commonly found in personal care and plastic products -- have elevated risk of asthma-related airway inflammation, according to researchers.

Millions of DNA switches that power human genome's operating system are discovered Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT Genes make up only 2 percent of the human genome and are easy to spot, but the on/off switches controlling those genes were encrypted within the remaining 98 percent of the genome. Without these switches, called regulatory DNA, genes are inert. Scientists created detailed maps of the locations of regulatory DNA within hundreds of different kinds of living cells. They also compiled a dictionary of the instructions written within regulatory DNA.

In massive genome analysis ENCODE data suggests 'gene' redefinition Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT As part of a huge collaborative effort called ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements), a research team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has analyzed all the RNA messages, called transcripts, produced within human cells. They show that three-quarters of the genome is capable of being transcribed, indicating that nearly all of our genome is dynamic and active. This raises exciting new possibilities for research into complex genetic diseases.

Loss of tropical forests reduces rain Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT Deforestation can have a significant effect on tropical rainfall, new research confirms. The findings have potentially devastating impacts for people living in and near the Amazon and Congo forests. Continued destruction of these forests would reduce rain across the Amazon basin by up to a fifth (21 percent) in the dry season by 2050.

Mapping a genetic world beyond genes Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:50 AM PDT Most of the DNA alterations that are tied to disease do not alter protein-coding genes, but rather the "switches" that control them. Characterizing these switches is one of many goals of the ENCODE project -- a sweeping, international effort to create a compendium of all of the working parts of the human genome that have not been well studied or well understood. The function of the vast majority of the human genome has remained largely unknown, but the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project, launched in 2003, set out to change that.

Researchers unlock disease information hidden in genome's control circuitry Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT Researchers have determined that the majority of genetic changes associated with more than 400 common diseases and clinical traits affect the genome's regulatory circuitry. These are the regions of DNA that contain instructions dictating when and where genes are switched on or off. Most of these changes affect circuits that are active during early human development, when body tissues are most vulnerable.

ENCODE Project publishes new genomic insights in special issue of Genome Research Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT Genome Research publishes a special issue dedicated to The ENCODE (ENCyclopedia Of DNA Elements) Project, whose goal is to characterize all functional elements in the human genome.

Tough gel stretches to 21 times its length, recoils, and heals itself: Biocompatible material much tougher than cartilage Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT A team of experts in mechanics, materials science, and tissue engineering has created an extremely stretchy and tough gel that may pave the way to replacing damaged cartilage in human joints. Called a hydrogel, because its main ingredient is water, the new material is a hybrid of two weak gels that combine to create something much stronger. Not only can this new gel stretch to 21 times its original length, but it is also exceptionally tough, self-healing, and biocompatible -- a valuable collection of attributes that opens up new opportunities in medicine and tissue engineering.

Understanding the human genome: ENCODE at BioMed Central Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:49 AM PDT The completion of the human genome project in 2003 was an immeasurably important milestone, but (like an book written in code) left many biologists wondering what the sequence might actually mean. Consequently, the focus of human genomics that year began the transition from generating sequence -- to annotating the functional elements, hidden within the human genome's 3.2 billion As, Cs, Gs and Ts. With this goal in mind the ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) consortium was formed.

First stars, galaxies formed more rapidly than expected Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:48 AM PDT Analysis of data from the National Science Foundation's South Pole Telescope, for the first time, more precisely defines the period of cosmological evolution when the first stars and galaxies formed and gradually illuminated the universe.

List of Asian species at conservation crossroads released by Wildlife Conservation Society Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:48 AM PDT The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) today released a list of Asian species that are at a conservation crossroads calling for governments to take immediate action with The Three Rs Approach: Recognition, Responsibility, Recovery.

Decoding the Black Death: Anthropologist finds clues in medieval skeletons Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:48 AM PDT Researchers have been studying medieval skeletons at the Museum of London since 2003, each year unlocking more clues to the mystery that surrounds the Black Death.

Quantum teleportation goes the distance: Record-breaking distance of 143 kilometers through free space Posted: 05 Sep 2012 10:43 AM PDT An international research team has achieved quantum teleportation over a record-breaking distance of 143 kilometers through free space.

When do we lie? When we're short on time and long on reasons Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:30 AM PDT Almost all of us have been tempted to lie at some point, whether about our GPA, our annual income, or our age. But what makes us actually do it? In a new study, psychological scientists discover that time pressure and available justifications both influence dishonest behavior.

Champagne proves a fantastic playground for physicists Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:28 AM PDT The fleeting life of champagne bubbles intrigues scientists; collapsing bubbles are common in our everyday lives but are still not fully understood. Two reviews explore collapsing bubbles and bubble flow patterns in champagne glasses. These phenomena are of much wider interest because of the huge importance of bubbles in many natural and industrial processes.

Salamanders display survival techniques in period of extreme drought Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:27 AM PDT The stress of drought is acutely felt by aquatic animals such as salamanders. The extreme drought in the southeastern United States in 2007–2008 provided an opportunity to study how salamanders react and survive during such dry conditions. It also gave us clues as to how salamanders and other aquatic organisms may react to global warming.

Plaque-forming substances in mice with Alzheimer’s disease dramatically reduced Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:27 AM PDT Scientists have found that eliminating an enzyme from mice with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease leads to a 90 percent reduction in the compounds responsible for formation of the plaques linked to this form of dementia. That is the most dramatic reduction in this compound reported to date in published research.

Explosion of galaxy formation lit up early universe Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:12 AM PDT The universe was dark until the first stars began to form, but really lit up once massive hydrogen clouds began birthing galaxies of stars. A study by researchers using data from the South Pole Telescope finds that this period, the Epoch of Reionization, was later and more explosive than thought, ending 13 billion years ago. The clues come from minute temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation.

Infections in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Study finds way to pinpoint risk Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:11 AM PDT Rheumatoid arthritis alone is painful and disabling, but it also puts patients at higher risk of death. The greater susceptibility to infections that accompanies the autoimmune disorder is one reason.

Robotic exoskeletal device: Preliminary research findings for Ekso in spinal cord injury Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:11 AM PDT Preliminary research findings have been released from a clinical study of the wearable robotic exoskeletal device, Ekso (Ekso Bionics). Initial results are promising for the potential application of Ekso-assisted walking in rehabilitation, in exercise/wellness programs, in the community and for home use.

Concern about plans to close unique Canadian environmental project Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:11 AM PDT The Canadian government's plans to discontinue in 2013 a unique environmental research project that has yielded insights into water pollution, climate change and other topics for almost 40 years would be a "huge loss not only to science but to the scientific heritage of humanity."

Galileo didn't invent thermometer that bears his name Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:11 AM PDT The great Italian scientist Galileo may have been the first person to use a telescope to observe the heavens, helping spark the scientific revolution of the 16th century, but Galileo definitely did not invent the famous thermometer and captivating curiosity that bears his name, according to a new article.

Powerful new explosive could replace today's state-of-the-art military explosive Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:10 AM PDT Borrowing a technology used to improve the effectiveness of drugs, scientists are reporting discovery of a new explosive more powerful than the current state-of-the-art explosive used by the military, and just as safe for personnel to handle.

Prenatal exposure to pesticide additive linked with childhood cough Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:10 AM PDT Children exposed in the womb to the widely used pesticide additive piperonyl butoxide have heightened risk of noninfectious cough at ages 5 and 6, according to researchers.

Tumor suppressor genes vital to regulating blood precursor cells in fruit flies Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:10 AM PDT Stem cell scientists have shown that two common tumor suppressor genes, TSC and PTEN, are vital to regulating the stem cell-like precursor cells that create the blood supply in Drosophila, the common fruit fly.

Biting back against Lyme disease Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:09 AM PDT Caused by a bite from an infected tick, Lyme disease has early symptoms that are unpleasant but respond well to antibiotics. However, if diagnosis is delayed or mistaken, the illness can take a serious turn, leading to severe joint pain, brain infection and paralysis. Now a researcher in the UK is on the trail of an accurate test that will enable quick and accurate detection of Lyme disease.

Wireless window sentinel draws its power from its environment Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:09 AM PDT Window contacts tell users if a window is open or closed. Typically, such sensors are wire-based. Scientists working with industry partners recently developed a new system that operates without wires or batteries. It draws its power from its environment: from sunlight and ambient heat.

Can videogaming benefit young people with autism spectrum disorder? Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:09 AM PDT Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder are typically fascinated by screen-based technology such as video games, and these can be used for educational and treatment purposes, as described in a new article.

Why does Alzheimer's disease affect twice as many women as men? Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:09 AM PDT A group of experts has developed consensus recommendations for future research directions to determine why nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are women.

Kinsey Reporter: Free app allows public to anonymously report, share information on sexual behavior Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:08 AM PDT Indiana University has released Kinsey Reporter, a global mobile survey platform for collecting and reporting anonymous data about sexual and other intimate behaviors. The pilot project allows citizen observers around the world to use free applications now available for Apple and Android mobile platforms to not only report on sexual behavior and experiences, but also to share, explore and visualize the accumulated data.

Glacial thinning has sharply accelerated at major South American icefields Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:05 AM PDT For the past four decades scientists have monitored the ebbs and flows of the icefields in the southernmost stretch of South America's vast Andes Mountains, detecting an overall loss of ice as the climate warms. A new study, however, finds that the rate of glacier thinning has increased by about half over the last dozen years in the Southern Patagonian Icefield, compared to the 30 years prior to 2000.

Globular star cluster with a secret Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:39 AM PDT A new image from the European Southern Observatory's La Silla Observatory in Chile shows the spectacular globular star cluster Messier 4. This ball of tens of thousands of ancient stars is one of the closest and most studied of the globular clusters and recent work has revealed that one of its stars has strange and unexpected properties, apparently possessing the secret of eternal youth.

It pays to keep salmon fit: Salmon farmers could save big by exercising their fish more -- without overexerting them Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:39 AM PDT Salmon farmers could save huge sums by exercising their fish more. Researchers in Norway have tested various swimming exercise regimes for three years on salmon fry. The findings indicate that proper exercise can improve smolt health enough to significantly reduce losses at sea.

Archaeology team announces 'huge step forward' in King Richard III search Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:39 AM PDT A UK team confirms it has found medieval Grey Friars Church -- the burial place of Richard III.

Trout will become extinct in the Iberian Peninsula in less than 100 years, Spanish study predicts Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:38 AM PDT Climate change, pollution, the extraction of water for irrigation and overfishing all threaten the survival of the common trout. This fish is very sensitive to changes in its environment and, according to a Spanish study, its habitat will have reduced by half by the year 2040 and will have completely disappeared from Iberian rivers by 2100, so its population will become extinct.

Epigenetic causes of prostate cancer: Researchers observe modified methylation patterns in a group of prostate cancers Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:38 AM PDT In about half of all prostate tumors, there are two genetic areas that are fused with one another. When this is not the case, the exact way cancer cells originate in prostate tumors was not clear until now. Scientists were able to show that the genesis of this fusion-negative prostate cancer has epigenetic causes: methyl groups are distributed differently over the DNA in the cancer cells than in healthy cells. Thanks to this knowledge, physicians may be able to achieve greater specificity in treating prostate tumors in future. In addition, the aberrant DNA methylations can be used as a potential biomarker for identifying prostate cancer.

Brainy beverage: Study reveals how green tea boosts brain cell production to aid memory Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:38 AM PDT It has long been believed that drinking green tea is good for the memory. Now researchers have discovered how the chemical properties of China's favorite drink affect the generation of brain cells, providing benefits for memory and spatial learning.

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