ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• B-cell lymphoma: New research provides breakthrough in understanding common cancer
• Stable temperatures boost biodiversity in tropical mountains, study finds
• Immediate use of an IUD following abortion more likely to prevent unintended pregnancies, study finds
• Swine flu spread was much wider than first thought, scientists say
• Moderate to intense exercise may protect the brain
• Can evolution outpace climate change? Tiny seashore animal suggests not
• How cells' sensing hairs are made
• 'Thermal pollution' in rivers not fully mediated by gravel augmentation
• Eating a high-fat diet may rapidly injure brain cells that control body weight
• Will psych majors make the big bucks?
• Citrate key in bone's nanostructure
• Lifelong gap in health between rich and poor set by age 20, Canadian study finds
• Researchers discover superatoms with magnetic shells
• Saving wildlife with forensic genetics
• Ecology biased against non-native species?
• New 3-D tumor model: Step toward speeding cancer drug research
• 'Biological circuit' components developed; New microscope technique for measuring them
• Lack of relationships, education top list of common American regrets
• Is root grafting a positive, cooperative behavior in trees?
• Breast cancer drug pushes colon cancer cells to their death
• Genes provide landmarks on the roadmap of autism
• Tut, tut: Microbial growth in pharaoh's tomb suggests burial was a rush job
• Mountain pine beetle activity may impact snow accumulation and melt
• Competition between females leads to infanticide in some primates
• Connection discovered between the nervous system and the vascular system
• Scientists create humanized mouse model for hepatitis C
• Crucial molecule involved in spread of breast cancer identified; Findings suggest strategy for halting metastasis
• Astronomers find a new class of stellar explosions
• Water's surface not all wet: Some water molecules split the difference between gas and liquid
• Planet's soils are under threat, expert warns
• Blood simpler: Researchers parse the origins of hematopoietic stem cells
• U.S. researchers advocate national strategic approach to therapeutic cancer vaccines
• Temperature tracking device for packages may have climate metrology applications
• 'Catch and release' program could improve nanoparticle safety assessment
• Using cell phones while driving? Distracted driving data and laws to prevent it don't match up
• Tuning 'metasurface' with fluid in new concept for sensing and chemistry
• Historic first images of rod photoreceptors in the living human eye
• Seniors abused during childhood face increased risk of sleep troubles, study suggests
• Shingles may be related to elevated risk of multiple sclerosis
• Dangerous toxin discovered in critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal
• Stop on red: The effects of color may lie deep in evolution
• Childhood trauma linked to higher rates of mental health problems
• Widespread stream biodiversity declines at low levels of urban development
• The cellular root of colorectal cancers?
• Patient gender may influence nuclear stress test referrals, researchers say
• Ordered fear plays a strong role in market chaos
• Progress in tissue engineering to repair joint damage in osteoarthritis
• Poplar tree leaf bud extract could fight skin aging
• Flooding of farmland does not increase levels of potentially harmful flame retardants in milk, study suggests
• Treating children's eye infections without surgery
• Scale helps to measure the utility of genetic counseling in tackling fear of cancer
• MyCare -- the 'card' that could save your life
• Membrane protein mystery solved: May lead to better treatments for people with learning deficits
• Autism study validates importance of spontaneous causal mutations and sheds new light on gender skew
• Many genetic keys needed to unlock autism, researchers discover
• Unraveling the complex genetics of autism
• Rosetta comet probe starts years-long space hibernation
• Silver from the Americas may have entered the Spanish economy later than thought
• Adjuvant combo shows potential for universal influenza vaccine
• Digital democracy? Study finds elite viewpoints dominate online content

B-cell lymphoma: New research provides breakthrough in understanding common cancer Posted: 08 Jun 2011 04:51 PM PDT Researchers have discovered valuable insight into how people develop B-cell lymphoma, one of the most common cancers. The team found that a mechanism different to that previously thought to be the cause of lymphoma may be responsible for the development of the disease.

Stable temperatures boost biodiversity in tropical mountains, study finds Posted: 08 Jun 2011 02:14 PM PDT We often think of rainforests and coral reefs as hotspots for biodiversity, but mountains are treasure troves for species too -- especially in the tropics, scientists say. But what drives montane biodiversity? The diversity of plants and animals in tropical mountain ranges may have something to do with the stable seasonal temperatures found in the tropics relative to higher latitudes, says a new study.

Immediate use of an IUD following abortion more likely to prevent unintended pregnancies, study finds Posted: 08 Jun 2011 02:14 PM PDT Women who receive a contraceptive known as an intrauterine device or IUD immediately following a first trimester abortion experience few complications and are less likely to have an unintended pregnancy than those who delay getting an IUD by several weeks, according to a new study.

Swine flu spread was much wider than first thought, scientists say Posted: 08 Jun 2011 02:14 PM PDT The swine flu outbreak of winter 2009-2010 was much more widespread than was previously realized, research suggests.

Moderate to intense exercise may protect the brain Posted: 08 Jun 2011 02:14 PM PDT Older people who regularly exercise at a moderate to intense level may be less likely to develop the small brain lesions, sometimes referred to as "silent strokes," that are the first sign of cerebrovascular disease, according to a new study.

Can evolution outpace climate change? Tiny seashore animal suggests not Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:15 PM PDT Animals and plants may not be able to evolve their way out of the threat posed by climate change, according to a new study of a tiny seashore animal.

How cells' sensing hairs are made Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:15 PM PDT New research provides insights into how sensory hairs, or cilia, on the surface of cells are assembled.

'Thermal pollution' in rivers not fully mediated by gravel augmentation Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:15 PM PDT Although adding gravel to a river to replace lost sediments won't likely cool the whole river channel, it can create cool water refuges that protect fish from thermal pollution, according to a new study.

Eating a high-fat diet may rapidly injure brain cells that control body weight Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:15 PM PDT Obesity among people who eat a high-fat diet may involve injury to neurons, or nerve cells, in a key part of the brain that controls body weight, according to the authors of a new animal study.

Will psych majors make the big bucks? Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:15 PM PDT A new crop of college graduates have just landed on the job market. Right now they're probably just hoping to get any job, if at all. However, for psychology majors, the salary outlook in both the short and long term is particularly poor, according to a new study.

Citrate key in bone's nanostructure Posted: 08 Jun 2011 12:35 PM PDT Scientists have identified the composition that gives bone its outstanding properties and the important role citrate plays, work that may help science better understand and treat or prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

Lifelong gap in health between rich and poor set by age 20, Canadian study finds Posted: 08 Jun 2011 12:35 PM PDT Canadians who are less educated and have a lower income start out less healthy than their wealthier and better-educated compatriots, and remain so over the course of their lives, according to a new study.

Researchers discover superatoms with magnetic shells Posted: 08 Jun 2011 12:35 PM PDT A team of scientists has discovered a new class of 'superatoms' -- a stable cluster of atoms that can mimic different elements of the periodic table -- with unusual magnetic characteristics.

Saving wildlife with forensic genetics Posted: 08 Jun 2011 12:35 PM PDT Using forensic genetics techniques, the University of Arizona's Conservation Genetics Lab is working to protect wild animals and catch the criminals in cases of wildlife crime.

Ecology biased against non-native species? Posted: 08 Jun 2011 12:35 PM PDT Nineteen eminent ecologists issue a call to "end the bias against non-native species" in a new commentary. Often called aliens, hitchhikers or invasives, non-native species could just as easily be coined "abductees" whose transport links to activities by humans, some scientists say.

New 3-D tumor model: Step toward speeding cancer drug research Posted: 08 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT A team of scientists has developed a way to coax tumor cells in the lab to grow into 3-D spheres. Their discovery takes advantage of an earlier technique of producing spherical cavities in a common polymer and promises more accurate tests of new cancer therapies.

'Biological circuit' components developed; New microscope technique for measuring them Posted: 08 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT Electrical engineers have long been toying with the idea of designing biological molecules that can be directly integrated into electronic circuits. Researchers have developed a way to form these structures so they can operate in open-air environments, and, more important, have developed a new microscope technique that can measure the electrical properties of these and similar devices.

Lack of relationships, education top list of common American regrets Posted: 08 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT Regrets -- we've all had a few. Although too many regrets can interfere with life and mental health, a healthy amount of regret can motivate us to improve our lives, say researchers.

Is root grafting a positive, cooperative behavior in trees? Posted: 08 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT Trees are often viewed as individuals that compete with one another for access to limited resources. But could trees in stressed environments actually benefit from positive, facultative interactions? The authors of a new paper suggest that might be the case for certain tree species -- and that it may take the form of root grafting.

Breast cancer drug pushes colon cancer cells to their death Posted: 08 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT A new treatment for colon cancer that combines a chemotherapy agent approved to treat breast cancer and a cancer-fighting antibody is ready for clinical trials, according to researchers.

Genes provide landmarks on the roadmap of autism Posted: 08 Jun 2011 11:15 AM PDT A new interactome -- or protein interaction network -- for autism spectrum disorders developed by researchers demonstrates how protein pathways converge, diverge and interact to arrive at the same devastating condition.

Tut, tut: Microbial growth in pharaoh's tomb suggests burial was a rush job Posted: 08 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT In the tomb of King Tutankhamen, the elaborately painted walls are covered with dark brown spots that mar the face of the goddess Hathor, the silvery-coated baboons -- in fact, almost every surface. A researcher thinks those brown spots reveal something: that the young pharaoh was buried in an unusual hurry, before the walls of the tomb were even dry.

Mountain pine beetle activity may impact snow accumulation and melt Posted: 08 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT Infestation of trees by mountain pine beetles in the high country across the West could potentially trigger earlier snowmelt and increase water yields from snowpack that accumulates beneath affected trees, a new article suggests.

Competition between females leads to infanticide in some primates Posted: 08 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT An international team of scientists has shed light on cannibalism and infanticide carried out by primates, documenting these acts for the first time in the mustached tamarin (Saguinus mystax). The mothers, which cannot raise their infants without help from male group members, commit infanticide in order to prevent the subsequent death of their offspring if they are stressed and in competition with other females.

Connection discovered between the nervous system and the vascular system Posted: 08 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT Scientists have shown for the first time that a key molecule of the vascular system directs axons during the formation of neural circuits. This connection between the nervous system and the vascular system could be a good starting point for the development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Scientists create humanized mouse model for hepatitis C Posted: 08 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT A team of researchers has, for the first time, recreated a portion of the hepatitis C virus life cycle in a mouse with a functional immune system. The new mouse model will enable scientists to test molecules that block entry of the hepatitis C virus into cells as well as potential vaccine candidates.

Crucial molecule involved in spread of breast cancer identified; Findings suggest strategy for halting metastasis Posted: 08 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT Researchers have identified a key player in the spread of breast cancer. The findings identify a critical molecule that helps cancer spread beyond the primary tumor. The research highlights a potential new strategy against metastatic disease.

Astronomers find a new class of stellar explosions Posted: 08 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT They're bright and blue -- and a bit strange. They're a new type of stellar explosion that was recently discovered by a team of astronomers. Among the most luminous in the cosmos, these new kinds of supernovae could help researchers better understand star formation, distant galaxies, and what the early universe might have been like.

Water's surface not all wet: Some water molecules split the difference between gas and liquid Posted: 08 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT At any one time, one quarter of water molecules in the uppermost layer have one hydrogen atom in water and the other vibrating freely above. Such molecules straddle gas and liquid phases, according to a new study that bears on atmospheric chemistry and raises the question of how exactly to define the air-water boundary.

Planet's soils are under threat, expert warns Posted: 08 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT The planet's soils are under greater threat than ever before, at a time when we need to draw on their vital role to support life more than ever, an expert warns in a new article.

Blood simpler: Researchers parse the origins of hematopoietic stem cells Posted: 08 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT Researchers have identified a gene and a novel signaling pathway, both critical for making the first hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in developing vertebrate embryos. The discovery has implications for developing stem cell-based therapies for diseases like leukemia and congenital blood disorders.

U.S. researchers advocate national strategic approach to therapeutic cancer vaccines Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:31 AM PDT Vaccines that save lives by preventing disease have been around for centuries. Now, new vaccines that treat cancer are being developed, but how they will be combined with existing treatments is not clear. U.S. researchers now recommend that a national strategy be developed for bringing therapeutic cancer vaccines to patient care, so that cancers with less effective treatment options are priority targets.

Temperature tracking device for packages may have climate metrology applications Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:31 AM PDT Researchers are working to reduce the uncertainty associated with climate change measurements using a mobile temperature-sensing technology made for tracking delicate or perishable, high-value packages in transit.

'Catch and release' program could improve nanoparticle safety assessment Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:31 AM PDT Scientists have found a way to trap and release nanoparticles at will, a research technique useful for studying how the particles behave in biological systems.

Using cell phones while driving? Distracted driving data and laws to prevent it don't match up Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:30 AM PDT More and more states are passing laws to crack down on the use of mobile devices while driving. But a new study finds a widening gap between the evidence on distracted driving and the laws being passed to address the problem.

Tuning 'metasurface' with fluid in new concept for sensing and chemistry Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:30 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated a unique fluid-tuned "metasurface," a concept that may be useful in biomedical sensors and microwave-assisted chemistry.

Historic first images of rod photoreceptors in the living human eye Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:30 AM PDT Scientists have reported that the tiny light-sensing cells known as rods have been clearly and directly imaged in the living eye for the first time. Using adaptive optics, scientists can see through the murky distortion of the outer eye, revealing the eye's cellular structure with unprecedented detail. This innovation will help doctors diagnose degenerative eye disorders sooner.

Seniors abused during childhood face increased risk of sleep troubles, study suggests Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:30 AM PDT Suffering from parental abuse as a child increases a person's chances of having poor sleep quality in old age, according to new research.

Shingles may be related to elevated risk of multiple sclerosis Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:30 AM PDT Taiwanese investigators have found that there can be a significantly higher risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) occurring in the year following a shingles, or herpes zoster, attack. The findings support a long-held view on how MS may develop.

Dangerous toxin discovered in critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:30 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a potent and highly-debilitating toxin in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, a first-of-its-kind chemical finding that is now prompting investigations of other marine mammals in the state.

Stop on red: The effects of color may lie deep in evolution Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:30 AM PDT Almost universally, red means stop. Red means danger. Red means hot. And analyzing the results in the 2004 Olympics, researchers have found that red also means dominance. Athletes wearing red prevailed more often than those wearing blue, especially in hand-to-hand sports like wrestling.

Childhood trauma linked to higher rates of mental health problems Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:30 AM PDT New research has shown that children's risk for learning and behavior problems and obesity rises in correlation to their level of trauma exposure, says a psychiatrist.

Widespread stream biodiversity declines at low levels of urban development Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT Biology researchers have found that there are consistent and widespread declines in stream biodiversity at lower levels of urban development more damaging than what was previously believed.

The cellular root of colorectal cancers? Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:28 AM PDT Researchers have found a marker called ABCB5 that both tags a small proportion of cells within colorectal cancers and fuels resistance in those cells to standard treatments. The results indicate that eliminating ABCB5-expressing cells is crucial for successful colorectal cancer treatment, while adding to the growing body of evidence for a theory of cancer growth called the cancer stem cell hypothesis.

Patient gender may influence nuclear stress test referrals, researchers say Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:28 AM PDT New research from cardiologists suggests a possible gender disparity in how patients are referred for nuclear stress tests, an imaging technique that measures blood flow to the heart muscle both at rest and during periods of stress, such as exercise.

Ordered fear plays a strong role in market chaos Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:28 AM PDT When the current financial crisis hit, the failure of traditional economic doctrines to provide any sort of early warning shocked not only financial experts worldwide, but also governments and the general public, and we all began to question the effectiveness and validity of those doctrines. A research team based in Israel decided to investigate what went awry, searching for order in an apparently random system.

Progress in tissue engineering to repair joint damage in osteoarthritis Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:28 AM PDT Medical scientists now have "clear" evidence that the damaged cartilage tissue in osteoarthritis and other painful joint disorders can be encouraged to regrow and regenerate, and are developing tissue engineering technology that could help millions of patients with those disorders. That's the conclusion of a new analysis of almost 100 scientific studies on the topic.

Poplar tree leaf bud extract could fight skin aging Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:28 AM PDT Antioxidants are popular anti-aging ingredients in skin creams, and now scientists are reporting a new source of these healthful substances -- leaf buds of poplar trees.

Flooding of farmland does not increase levels of potentially harmful flame retardants in milk, study suggests Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:28 AM PDT As millions of acres of farmland in the US Midwest and South recover from Mississippi River flooding, scientists report that river flooding can increase levels of potentially harmful flame retardants in farm soils. But the higher levels apparently do not find their way into the milk produced by cows that graze on these lands, according to a new study.

Treating children's eye infections without surgery Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT Researchers report that medical management may be preferred over surgery for children with orbital cellulitis, an acute infection of the tissues surrounding the eye. They have determined the criteria for surgical intervention should be dependent upon the size of a subperiosteal abscess.

Scale helps to measure the utility of genetic counseling in tackling fear of cancer Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT When a person has a family history of cancer, their worry about developing the disease may lead to them refusing to have preventive tests. Advice from genetic counseling units reduces their anxiety but, until now, nobody knew how much. Now, a scientific team has validated the "Escala de Preocupación por el Cancer -- EPC" (equivalent of the "Cancer Worry Scale"), the first of its kind in the Spanish language, in order to evaluate it.

MyCare -- the 'card' that could save your life Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT It looks like a credit card. It slips into a wallet or purse -- but it could mean the difference between life and death in a medical emergency. The MyCare Card stores personal medical data (e.g. information on existing medical conditions, allergies and medication being taken) and plugs into a laptop's USB port, enabling the data to be accessed in just a few moments. It is the first device of its type to have been trialled in the UK.

Membrane protein mystery solved: May lead to better treatments for people with learning deficits Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT A research team has solved a 25-year mystery that may lead to better treatments for people with learning deficits and mental retardation. Synaptophysin is the first protein and most abundant ever found on the membranes surrounding the tiny sacs that carry chemical messengers to synapses, the gaps where communication between nerve cells occurs. But even though the loss of synaptophysin has recently been linked to learning deficits and mental retardation, scientists have been unable for more than a quarter-century to explain what it actually does. Now researchers have shown that synaptophysin controls the replacement of the constantly needed sacs, also known as vesicles.

Autism study validates importance of spontaneous causal mutations and sheds new light on gender skew Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT A clinically extensive and mathematically powerful study of 1000 families with one autistic child and one unaffected sibling has validated a controversial theory of autism's complex genetic causation. The study for the first time estimates the minimum number of locations in the human genome -- 250 to 300 -- where gene copy number variation (CNV) can give rise to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It also sheds new light on the long observed but little understood "gender bias" of autism

Many genetic keys needed to unlock autism, researchers discover Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT Hundreds of small genetic variations are associated with autism spectrum disorders, including an area of DNA that may be a key to understanding why humans are social animals, according to a multi-site collaborative study.

Unraveling the complex genetics of autism Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are devastating developmental disorders characterized by altered social interactions and behavior. Although genetic risks are known to contribute to the development of ASDs, the genetic causes of the disease are not well understood. Now, three new papers provide new insight into the diversity of the genetic abnormalities that contribute to autism and represent a step towards the future design of treatments specifically targeted to different kinds of autism.

Rosetta comet probe starts years-long space hibernation Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:21 AM PDT The final command placing the European Space Agency's Rosetta comet-chaser into deep-space hibernation was sent June 8, 2011. With virtually all systems shut down, the probe will now coast for 31 months until waking up in 2014 for arrival at its comet destination.

Silver from the Americas may have entered the Spanish economy later than thought Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:20 AM PDT European metal dominated Spanish silver coinage up until the reign of Philippe III (1578-1621) and it was only in the 18th century that it was completely replaced by Mexican metal. Using mass spectrometry analyses, researchers have succeeded in determining the provenance of coinage circulating in Spain after 1492. These results call into question the hypothesis according to which the massive influx of metals from the New World was directly responsible for the inflation that occurred in Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Adjuvant combo shows potential for universal influenza vaccine Posted: 08 Jun 2011 06:40 AM PDT Researchers have discovered how to prime a second arm of the immune system to boost influenza vaccine effectiveness. A combination of two adjuvants induced killer T cells to join antibodies in response to influenza infection. Since the killer T cells targeted a highly conserved protein that does not change from year to year, the adjuvant strategy suggests potential for a universal flu vaccine.

Digital democracy? Study finds elite viewpoints dominate online content Posted: 08 Jun 2011 06:40 AM PDT Anyone with Internet access can generate online content and influence public opinion, according to popular belief. But a new study suggests that the social Web is becoming more of a playground for the affluent than a digital democracy.

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