ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Fermi's latest gamma-ray census highlights cosmic mysteries
• Research on US nuclear levels after Fukushima could aid in future nuclear detection
• Microbes travel through the air: But how, and where?
• High levels of toxic PCBs in Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal in Indiana, US
• Researchers use new tool to counter multiple myeloma drug resistance
• Birth control pills affect memory, researchers find
• Groundbreaking DNA tests could trap deer poachers
• Biology, crop injury, and management of thrips in cotton seedlings
• Cotton's potential for padding nonwovens
• Regional differences in the care of acute stroke patients
• Towards certification of East-African green garnet
• Opposite of built-in obsolescence: Experts urge improving product quality for the sake of future generations
• 10,000 years of Andean glacier melt explained
• How can high-quality seed be reproduced?
• Snakebites a public health problem in Africa
• Increasing rice production using genes from the African species
• Ancient Mediterranean water supply networks revived
• Reducing costs of electric vehicle batteries
• Children better witnesses than previously thought, Swedish psychologist finds
• Using 61 years of tropical storm data, scientists uncover landfall threat probabilities
• New twist in diabetes drugs could reduce life-threatening side effects
• Novel approach scores first success against elusive cancer gene
• Hospitals of last resort deliver lower quality of lung cancer care, study suggests
• Whole-parasite malaria vaccine shows promise in clinical trial; Vaccine is first of its kind to earn FDA approval to test in humans
• Extreme summertime temperatures to become a regular occurrence, researcher predicts
• Body clock found to regulate platelet function
• Rebalancing the nuclear debate through education
• Captivated by critters: Humans are wired to respond to animals
• Milestones for two radiation machines used to test U.S. defenses against atomic weapons
• Researchers work to develop screening method for superbug: Pharmacologists study first drug-resistant strain of pneumonia to enter Texas
• Early motor experiences give infants a social jump start
• Hormone that predicts premature death in kidney patients identified
• Fewer than three doses of cervical cancer vaccine effective, study suggests
• Ion channels ensure the heart keeps time
• Emotional impact of 9/11 attacks seen in brain's response to negative visual images
• Diamondback moth host-parasite interaction unraveled: Important implications for global pest-control
• Taming light: Mastering the fine structuring of ultrashort light fields

Fermi's latest gamma-ray census highlights cosmic mysteries Posted: 09 Sep 2011 04:51 PM PDT Every three hours, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope scans the entire sky and deepens its portrait of the high-energy universe. Every year, the satellite's scientists reanalyze all of the data it has collected, exploiting updated analysis methods to tease out new sources. These relatively steady sources are in addition to the numerous transient events Fermi detects, such as gamma-ray bursts in the distant universe and flares from the sun. Earlier this year, the Fermi team released its second catalog of sources detected by the satellite's Large Area Telescope, producing an inventory of 1,873 objects shining with the highest-energy form of light.

Research on US nuclear levels after Fukushima could aid in future nuclear detection Posted: 09 Sep 2011 04:51 PM PDT What do increased atmospheric radioactivity concentrations in Washington state tell us about what happened in the Fukushima nuclear disaster? For one expert, the story is in the numbers.

Microbes travel through the air: But how, and where? Posted: 09 Sep 2011 12:52 PM PDT Preliminary research on Fusarium, a group of fungi that includes devastating pathogens of plants and animals, shows how these microbes travel through the air. Researchers now believe that with improvements on this preliminary research, there will be a better understanding about crop security, disease spread and climate change.

High levels of toxic PCBs in Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal in Indiana, US Posted: 09 Sep 2011 11:16 AM PDT Researchers have found high levels of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the deep sediments lining the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal (IHSC) in East Chicago, Ind. Scientists say the discovery is cause for concern because the IHSC is scheduled to be dredged in spring 2012 to maintain proper depth for ship traffic in this heavily industrialized area of southern Lake Michigan.

Researchers use new tool to counter multiple myeloma drug resistance Posted: 09 Sep 2011 11:16 AM PDT Researchers are pioneering promising research utilizing a monitoring technology that could provide a better understanding of acquired drug resistance and assist in clinical decision-making for developing individualized patient treatments for multiple myeloma.

Birth control pills affect memory, researchers find Posted: 09 Sep 2011 11:16 AM PDT Women who use contraceptives like birth control pills experience memory changes, according to new research. Their ability to remember the gist of an emotional event improves, while women not using the contraceptives better retain details.

Groundbreaking DNA tests could trap deer poachers Posted: 09 Sep 2011 11:16 AM PDT Human DNA found on deer remains could help to track down poachers. Identifying deer poachers can be problematic, as the crimes are often committed in remote areas and are not discovered until some time after the event.

Biology, crop injury, and management of thrips in cotton seedlings Posted: 09 Sep 2011 11:16 AM PDT A new article provides a brief summary of the various species of thrips present in US cotton, their plant host range and injury to cotton, a general description of thrips biology, and management practices currently available to growers.

Cotton's potential for padding nonwovens Posted: 09 Sep 2011 11:16 AM PDT Scientists have conducted studies to investigate the use of virgin cotton in nonwoven materials and products.

Regional differences in the care of acute stroke patients Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:57 AM PDT Considerable regional differences exist in the treatment of patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Towards certification of East-African green garnet Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:57 AM PDT Green garnet, recently introduced on to the gemstone market, is renowned for its brilliance, hardness and rarity – much rarer than diamond for example. On top of these fine qualities this precious stone has a high level of purity and a lower price compared with emerald, its direct competitor since it has the same color. These properties give it high economic potential for the producer countries, essentially Tanzania and Kenya. Researchers have now drawn up the first identification card for green garnets according to their deposit of origin. A first step towards certification of the new gemstone and greater added value on the jewellery market.

Opposite of built-in obsolescence: Experts urge improving product quality for the sake of future generations Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:57 AM PDT Manufacturers should be encouraged to make products that last longer, retain their retail value and are more readily recyclable after use, according to a green consultant. He suggests sustainability will only be achieved by promoting growth in high-quality goods and the phasing out of "shoddy" products.

10,000 years of Andean glacier melt explained Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:16 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in explaining 10 000 years of glacial melt in the Andes. They showed that the Telata glacier in Bolivia retreated 3 km during the Holocene epoch covering that time and continuing in the present. This regression was linked mainly to a 3°C increase in atmospheric temperatures resulting from warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean, itself a response to a rise in insolation in the tropics.

How can high-quality seed be reproduced? Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:16 AM PDT Some wild plants show the particular characteristic of apomixis. This is a process adopted for producing seeds without fertilization or genetic recombination, giving rise to exact copies of the mother plant. This is an unusual method of reproduction and researchers are seeking to apply it to agriculturally useful plant species such as wheat or maize. Such a revolution would spare farmers the need to buy seed every year, particularly in the countries of the South.

Snakebites a public health problem in Africa Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:16 AM PDT One and a half million people per year are poisoned by snake venom in Sub-Saharan Africa. An IRD researcher recently analysed around 100 surveys and medical reports published over the past 40 years. No large-scale study of the situation had hitherto been conducted and public health authorities had underestimated the size of the problem. This means that currently only 10% of victims are treated, owing to a shortage of antivenoms* and lack of awareness among health care practitioners. Yet the clinical complications can be very serious, even fatal. A bite from a cobra or mamba can bring on death by asphyxia --- due to respiratory paralysis --- within 6 hours of the incident. Venom injected by the ocellated carpet viper, common in the African savannah, can cause hemorrhages leading to the victim's death in a few days. This new study provides authorities with more detailed and reliable figures which should enable them to readjust their health-care services in better tune with needs.

Increasing rice production using genes from the African species Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:16 AM PDT Rice is the world's most commonly used cereal food, feeding half of humanity. However, rice production will have to double within 20 years from now to meet the needs of a growing population. Two species are used for cultivation, one Asian and the other African. The Asian species gives much stronger agronomic performances, but the African one is more rustic, more resistant to pathogens, more tolerant to drought and soil salinity. With the aim of transferring these properties to Asian rice, scientists are seeking to overcome the sterility between the two species.

Ancient Mediterranean water supply networks revived Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:16 AM PDT Years of drought had dried up the ancient water supply networks existing around the Mediterranean Rim. However, with rainfall returning over the past 5 years, the hydraulic heritage has come to life again. The names of the tunnels that carry the revived streams -khettaras in Morocco, foggaras in Algeria or qanâts in Iran- evoke the trickling sounds of water. These underground infiltration galleries are the most characteristic and original illustration of local communities' recovery of ancestral schemes. These water mines in the middle of the desert, most of which had been abandoned, have now been restored by oasis inhabitants.

Reducing costs of electric vehicle batteries Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:16 AM PDT Costs of manufacture of batteries and power trains of electric vehicles can be halved by 2018, if the gaps in the innovation chain can be closed. For reaching this objective, scientists develop concrete, close-to-industry solutions for energy stores and power trains and combine them on the system level.

Children better witnesses than previously thought, Swedish psychologist finds Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:15 AM PDT Children are more reliable eyewitnesses than had previously been thought, according to a witness psychologist in Sweden. She also questions a common method used for police identity line-ups with children.

Using 61 years of tropical storm data, scientists uncover landfall threat probabilities Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:15 AM PDT Scientists have found an intriguing relationship between hurricane tracks and climate variability using data from the Atlantic gathered between 1950-2010, unlocking some noteworthy results.

New twist in diabetes drugs could reduce life-threatening side effects Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:15 AM PDT Researchers have created prototype drugs that have powerful anti-diabetic effects and are free of dangerous side effects plaguing some current diabetes medications.

Novel approach scores first success against elusive cancer gene Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:15 AM PDT Researchers successfully disrupted the function of the gene MYC by tampering with the gene's "on" switch and growth signals in multiple myeloma cells, offering promising strategy for treating myeloma and other cancers driven by the MYC gene.

Hospitals of last resort deliver lower quality of lung cancer care, study suggests Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:14 AM PDT A new study finds that patients treated in hospitals that care for a high percentage of uninsured and Medicaid-insured patients were significantly less likely to undergo surgery that was intended to cure the cancer.

Whole-parasite malaria vaccine shows promise in clinical trial; Vaccine is first of its kind to earn FDA approval to test in humans Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:14 AM PDT For the first time, a malaria vaccine that uses the entire parasite has proven safe and shown promise to produce a strong immune response in a clinical trial, according to a new study. The vaccine is unique in that it employs the entire malaria parasite. Researchers found that the vaccine could provide unprecedented immune responses when administered intravenously.

Extreme summertime temperatures to become a regular occurrence, researcher predicts Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:14 AM PDT In a new article, researchers have estimated the impact near-term increases in global-mean temperatures will have on summertime temperatures in the US and around the globe.

Body clock found to regulate platelet function Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:14 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that the circadian system, the body's internal clock, regulates human platelet function and causes a peak in platelet activation corresponding to the known morning peak in adverse cardiovascular events.

Rebalancing the nuclear debate through education Posted: 09 Sep 2011 08:14 AM PDT Better physics teaching with a particular emphasis on radioactivity and radiation science could improve public awareness through education of the environmental benefits and relative safety of nuclear power generation, according to scientists. Experts have suggestsed that it might then be possible to have a less emotional debate about the future of the industry that will ultimately reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

Captivated by critters: Humans are wired to respond to animals Posted: 09 Sep 2011 06:12 AM PDT Some people feel compelled to pet every animal they see on the street, while others jump at the mere sight of a shark on their television. No matter what your response is to animals, it may be thanks to a specific part of your brain that is hardwired to rapidly detect creatures of the nonhuman kind. In fact, researchers report that neurons throughout the amygdala respond preferentially to images of animals.

Milestones for two radiation machines used to test U.S. defenses against atomic weapons Posted: 09 Sep 2011 06:12 AM PDT Two remarkable pulsed-power machines used to test the nation's defenses against atomic weapons have surpassed milestones at Sandia National Laboratories: 4,000 firings, called "shots," on the Saturn accelerator and 9,000 shots on the HERMES III accelerator. Saturn -- originally projected to last 5 to 10 years -- began operating in 1987. Its major function has been to produce X-rays to test the effectiveness of countermeasures used to protect electronics and other materials against X-ray radiation from nuclear weapons.

Researchers work to develop screening method for superbug: Pharmacologists study first drug-resistant strain of pneumonia to enter Texas Posted: 09 Sep 2011 06:12 AM PDT A team of researchers is working to develop improved screening methods to detect a potentially lethal, drug-resistant superbug -- commonly called CRKP -- that has made its way to Texas.

Early motor experiences give infants a social jump start Posted: 09 Sep 2011 04:49 AM PDT Researchers have found that early motor experiences can shape infants' preferences for objects and faces. The study findings demonstrate that providing infants with "sticky mittens" to manipulate toys increases their subsequent interest in faces, suggesting advanced social development.

Hormone that predicts premature death in kidney patients identified Posted: 09 Sep 2011 04:49 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a hormone that can predict early death in kidney patients.

Fewer than three doses of cervical cancer vaccine effective, study suggests Posted: 09 Sep 2011 04:49 AM PDT Fewer than three doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Cervarix may be just as effective as the standard three-dose regimen when it comes to preventive measures against cervical cancer, according to a new study.

Ion channels ensure the heart keeps time Posted: 09 Sep 2011 04:49 AM PDT Electrical signals regulate the rhythmic contractions of the heart muscle and thus control heartbeat. If the signals go awry, the consequences can be lethal. Researchers have now delineated how specific ion channels in the membranes of cardiomyocytes ensure that the heart beats in and on time.

Emotional impact of 9/11 attacks seen in brain's response to negative visual images Posted: 09 Sep 2011 04:49 AM PDT In the wake of the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks, new research reveals how the attacks impacted the psychological processes of those not directly exposed to the event. The study, which focused on college students in Massachusetts, found that even those who were not directly connected to New York or Washington showed increased stress responses to run of the mill visual images.

Diamondback moth host-parasite interaction unraveled: Important implications for global pest-control Posted: 09 Sep 2011 04:49 AM PDT The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, is one of the world's most destructive crop pests. It has developed resistance to many chemical and biological pesticides, and the estimated global cost of controlling this insect is approximately one billion dollars US annually. Researchers from have now identified the genes expressed when the diamondback moth is attacked by a parasitic wasp, which could have significant implications for controlling this notorious pest.

Taming light: Mastering the fine structuring of ultrashort light fields Posted: 09 Sep 2011 04:49 AM PDT Physicists have generated for the first time "white" light pulses. They are able to control their field on a time scale shorter than an optical oscillation. These new tools hold promise for unprecedented control of the motion of electrons.

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