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Tuesday, November 6, 2012

ScienceDaily: Top Science News

ScienceDaily: Top Science News


How underground rodent wards off cancer: Second mole rat species has different mechanism for resisting cancer

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 05:00 PM PST

Biologists have determined how blind mole rats fight off cancer -- and the mechanism differs from what they discovered three years ago in another long-lived and cancer-resistant mole rat species, the naked mole rat.

Indian monsoon failure more frequent with global warming, research suggests

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 05:00 PM PST

Global warming could cause frequent and severe failures of the Indian summer monsoon in the next two centuries, new research suggests.

Laser the size of a virus particle: Miniature laser operates at room temperature and defies the diffraction limit of light

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 02:23 PM PST

A research team has found a way to manufacture single laser devices that are the size of a virus particle and that operate at room temperature. These plasmonic nanolasers could be readily integrated into silicon-based photonic devices, all-optical circuits and nanoscale biosensors.

PTSD linked to smaller brain area regulating fear response

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 01:13 PM PST

Recent combat veterans who are diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder have significantly smaller volume in an area of the brain critical for regulating fear and anxiety responses, according to new research.

Carbon buried in the soil rises again

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:13 PM PST

A team of researchers estimated that roughly half of the carbon buried in soil by erosion will be re-released into the atmosphere within about 500 years, and possibly faster due to climate change.

Climate modeler identifies trigger for Earth's last big freeze

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:13 PM PST

For more than 30 years, climate scientists have debated whether flood waters from melting of the enormous Laurentide Ice Sheet, which ushered in the last major cold episode on Earth about 12,900 years ago, flowed northwest into the Arctic first, or east via the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to weaken ocean thermohaline circulation and have a frigid effect on global climate. Now, using new, high-resolution global ocean circulation models, researchers report the first conclusive evidence that this flood must have flowed north into the Arctic first down the Mackenzie River valley.

Smell you later! Chemosignals communicate human emotions

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 11:04 AM PST

Many animal species transmit information via chemical signals, but the extent to which these chemosignals play a role in human communication is unclear. Researchers have investigated whether we humans might actually be able to communicate our emotional states to each other through chemical signals.

Cockatoo 'can make its own tools'

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 11:02 AM PST

A cockatoo from a species not known to use tools in the wild has been observed spontaneously making and using tools for reaching food and other objects.

Low vitamin D levels linked to longevity, surprising study shows

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 10:03 AM PST

Low levels of vitamin D may be associated with longevity, according to a study involving middle-aged children of people in their 90s.

World's rarest whale seen for the first time

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 10:03 AM PST

A whale that is almost unknown to science has been seen for the first time after two individuals -- a mother and her male calf -- were stranded and died on a New Zealand beach. A new report offers the first complete description of the spade-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon traversii), a species previously known only from a few bones.

Crystals for efficient refrigeration: Can pump or extract heat, even on the nanoscale, for use on computer chips

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 08:46 AM PST

Researchers have discovered a new efficient way to pump heat using crystals. The crystals can pump or extract heat, even on the nanoscale, so they could be used on computer chips to prevent overheating or even meltdown, which is currently a major limit to higher computer speeds.

Genetically engineered tomatoes decrease plaque build-up in mice

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 08:46 AM PST

For the first time, researchers have genetically engineered tomato plants to produce a peptide that mimics the actions of good cholesterol when eaten. Mice that ate the freeze-dried, ground tomatoes had less inflammation and reduced plaque build-up in their arteries.

People can learn to sense with 'rat's whiskers' on fingers; May improve aids for the blind

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 07:09 AM PST

A new experiment in which volunteers learned to sense objects' locations using just "rat whiskers" may help improve aids for the blind.

Vehicles, roadways 'talk' in efforts to improve traffic safety

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 06:26 AM PST

One day, your auto and the roadway will be in constant communication and able to suggest route changes to avoid accidents, construction, and congestion; coordinate your vehicle with signal lights, other vehicles, and lane markers; and let you know where you can park. Right now, a fleet of instrumented vehicles are testing these systems on two instrumented test beds -- one in Northern Virginia and one in Southwestern Virginia.

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