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Thursday, August 14, 2014

ScienceDaily: Top Science News

ScienceDaily: Top Science News


Embalming study 'rewrites' key chapter in Egyptian history

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:41 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered new evidence to suggest that the origins of mummification started in ancient Egypt 1,500 years earlier than previously thought.

Cell discovery brings blood disorder cure closer

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:21 AM PDT

A cure for a range of blood disorders and immune diseases is in sight, according to scientists who have unraveled the mystery of stem cell generation. Found in the bone marrow and in umbilical cord blood, HSCs are critically important because they can replenish the body's supply of blood cells. Leukemia patients have been successfully treated using HSC transplants, but medical experts believe blood stem cells have the potential to be used more widely.

Single gene controls jet lag, study finds

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:20 AM PDT

A master gene responsible for sleep and wake cycles has been identified by scientists, offering hope for a drug that could help reset sleep. The discovery of the role of this gene, called Lhx1, provides scientists with a potential therapeutic target to help night-shift workers or jet lagged travelers adjust to time differences more quickly. The results can point to treatment strategies for sleep problems caused by a variety of disorders.

Forces that hold rapidly spinning near-Earth asteroid together discovered

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:20 AM PDT

Astronomers studied near-Earth asteroid 1950 DA and discovered that the body, which rotates extremely quickly, is held together by cohesive forces called van der Waals, never detected before on an asteroid.

Coming soon: Genetically edited 'super bananas' and other fruit?

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:10 AM PDT

Recent advances that allow the precise editing of genomes now raise the possibility that fruit and other crops might be genetically improved without the need to introduce foreign genes, according to researchers. This could mean that genetically edited versions of GMOs such as "super bananas" that produce more vitamin A and apples that don't brown when cut, among other novelties, could be making an appearance on grocery shelves.

How spiders fix their webs: Adhesion can vary depending on surface

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:35 AM PDT

Spider silk is light and delicate, while incredibly resilient and tear-resistant. Understanding the structure and way of construction of these threads is a challenge. Now scientists have examined five different spider species regarding the adhesion and tensile strength of a particular silk they use to fix the main thread to a surface. As shown in their new study, the scientists found out that the substrate has a particularly significant impact on the silk's adhesion.

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