ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Asteroid lutetia: Primitive body from solar system's planet-forming period
• New hybrid technology could bring 'quantum information systems'
• Obese people regain weight after dieting due to hormones
• Scientists chart gene expression in the brain across lifespan
• How biological capsules respond under stress
• Seven billion people are not the issue: Human development is what counts
• Manual wheelchair use, exercise and calorie burning examined
• New approach to study depression: Finding may lead to new marker for risk
• Cancer survivorship research must look at quality of life, experts urge
• Human-caused climate change major factor in more frequent Mediterranean droughts
• Folate receptors may serve as a front door to ovarian cancer treatment
• World’s biggest model of a bacterium magnifies E. coli two million times
• Deadly parasite juggles the number of its chromosomes
• Scientists measure dream content for the first time: Dreams activate the brain in a similar way to real actions
• Highly efficient oxygen catalyst found: Rechargeable batteries and hydrogen-fuel production could benefit
• More power to the cranberry: Study shows juice better than extracts at fighting infections
• Fertility chip measures concentration and motility of semen
• Trance stare led researchers to discover a genuine hypnotic state
• Europe's top microscope for creating tomorrow's materials
• The green look for electric vehicle charging stations
• Novel strategy stymies SARS and other viruses: Versatile inhibitor prevents viral replication
• Cell cultures from a machine
• New findings contradict dominant theory in Alzheimer's disease
• New method in spectral analysis: Measuring the distance of processes
• Meningitis may be eradicated. New vaccine brings hope
• The Lutetia asteroid -- a prehistoric relic
• High tech detection of breast cancer using nanoprobes and SQUID
• Regular aspirin intake halves cancer risk, study finds
• Specific gene linked to cold sore susceptibility, study finds
• NASA launches multi-talented Earth-observing satellite
• 'Pacman' nebula gets some teeth
• The scars of slavery
• Malaria mosquitoes putting up resistance
• Ocean water salinity and color herald El Niño events
• Tropical rainforests original generators of biodiversity
• NASA in final preparations for Nov. 8 asteroid flyby
• Images in magazines and on television increase body dissatisfaction
• Planets smashed into dust near supermassive black holes
• Different paths to drug resistance in Leishmania: Evolution by changes in gene, region and chromosome number, not by mutation in genes
• Vaccine for cattle offers hope to poorest farmers

Asteroid lutetia: Primitive body from solar system's planet-forming period Posted: 28 Oct 2011 11:40 AM PDT The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft has revealed asteroid Lutetia to be a primitive body, left over as the planets were forming in our Solar System. Results from Rosetta's fleeting flyby also suggest that this mini-world tried to grow a metal heart.

New hybrid technology could bring 'quantum information systems' Posted: 28 Oct 2011 11:25 AM PDT The merging of two technologies under development - plasmonics and nanophotonics - is promising the emergence of new "quantum information systems" far more powerful than today's computers.

Obese people regain weight after dieting due to hormones Posted: 28 Oct 2011 11:25 AM PDT Worldwide, there are more than 1.5 billion overweight adults, including 400 million who are obese. Although restriction of diet often results in initial weight loss, more than 80 per cent of obese dieters fail to maintain their reduced weight. Obese people may regain weight after dieting due to hormonal changes, a new study has shown.

Scientists chart gene expression in the brain across lifespan Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:17 AM PDT The "switching on" of specific genes in the human genome is what makes each human tissue and each human being unique. A new study found that many gene expression changes that occur during fetal development are reversed immediately after birth. Reversals of fetal expression changes are also seen again much later in life during normal aging of the brain. Additionally, the team observed the reversal of fetal expression changes in Alzheimer's disease findings reported in other studies.

How biological capsules respond under stress Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:12 AM PDT Cosmetics and pharmaceutical drug delivery systems could be improved thanks to a new method developed to precisely measure the capability of capsule-like biological membranes to change shape under external stress.

Seven billion people are not the issue: Human development is what counts Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:12 AM PDT As the global media speculate on the number of people likely to inhabit the planet on October 31 an international team of population and development experts argue that it is not simply the number of people that matters but more so their distribution by age, education, health status and location that is most relevant to local and global sustainability.

Manual wheelchair use, exercise and calorie burning examined Posted: 28 Oct 2011 08:53 AM PDT A person who uses a manual wheelchair can burn up to 120 calories in half an hour while wheeling at 2 mph on a flat surface, which is three times as much as someone doing the same action in a motorized wheelchair.

New approach to study depression: Finding may lead to new marker for risk Posted: 28 Oct 2011 08:53 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new target area in the human genome that appears to harbor genes with a major role in the onset of depression.

Cancer survivorship research must look at quality of life, experts urge Posted: 28 Oct 2011 08:53 AM PDT Assessing the quality of life experienced by cancer survivors is becoming increasingly important, say researchers. Such an assessment has a number of important applications when doing research on cancer survivorship, but just how to measure quality of life for cancer survivors is still being developed.

Human-caused climate change major factor in more frequent Mediterranean droughts Posted: 28 Oct 2011 08:53 AM PDT Wintertime droughts are increasingly common in the Mediterranean region, and human-caused climate change is partly responsible, according to a new analysis. In the last 20 years, 10 of the driest 12 winters have taken place in the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

Folate receptors may serve as a front door to ovarian cancer treatment Posted: 28 Oct 2011 08:53 AM PDT A new strategy that takes advantage of ovarian cancer's reliance on folate appears to give relapse patients extra months of life with few side effects, researchers say.

World’s biggest model of a bacterium magnifies E. coli two million times Posted: 28 Oct 2011 08:36 AM PDT The E.coli superbug has hit Birmingham – but don't worry, this one isn't about to make you ill. It's a huge scientific model, certified by Guinness World Records as the largest ever. The model – 'Bacterium E.coli magnified two million times' - shows the internal structures of a bacterium without the need for a microscope.

Deadly parasite juggles the number of its chromosomes Posted: 28 Oct 2011 08:36 AM PDT Scientists have found a deadly parasite with some of its chromosomes in duplicate, others in triplicate, while still others are present four or even five times. Moreover, the copy number varies between individuals. Such a bizarre occurrence has never before been found in nature, in any organism. As a rule, chromosomes should come in couples. Scientists made the striking discovery while deciphering the genetic code of a series of Leishmania parasites.

Scientists measure dream content for the first time: Dreams activate the brain in a similar way to real actions Posted: 28 Oct 2011 08:36 AM PDT The ability to dream is a fascinating aspect of the human mind. However, how the images and emotions that we experience so intensively when we dream form in our heads remains a mystery. Up to now it has not been possible to measure dream content. Scientists in Germany have now succeeded, for the first time, in analyzing the activity of the brain during dreaming.

Highly efficient oxygen catalyst found: Rechargeable batteries and hydrogen-fuel production could benefit Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:50 AM PDT A team of researchers has found one of the most effective catalysts ever discovered for splitting oxygen atoms from water molecules -- a key reaction for advanced energy-storage systems, including electrolyzers, to produce hydrogen fuel and rechargeable batteries. This new catalyst liberates oxygen at more than 10 times the rate of the best previously known catalyst of its type.

More power to the cranberry: Study shows juice better than extracts at fighting infections Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:37 AM PDT With scientific evidence now supporting the age-old wisdom that cranberries prevent urinary tract infections, people have wondered if proanthocyanidins or PACs, a group of flavonoids found in cranberries, if extracted and condensed, perhaps in pill form, would be as effective as drinking the juice or eating cranberry sauce. A new study shows that the juice is far better at preventing biofilm formation, the precursor of infection, than PACs alone.

Fertility chip measures concentration and motility of semen Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:33 AM PDT Scientists have developed a "fertility chip" that can accurately count sperm and measure their motility. The chip can be inserted into a compact device for one-off use. A home test kit will soon make it possible for men to test their sperm in a familiar environment. As a result, there is a greater chance of obtaining a correct diagnosis, also the method is simple and inexpensive.

Trance stare led researchers to discover a genuine hypnotic state Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:33 AM PDT Hypnosis has had a long and controversial history in psychology, psychiatry and neurology. For the past hundred years, researchers have debated whether or not hypnosis really involves an altered mental state unlike the normal wakeful condition, or whether it simply reflects a cognitive state similar to those occurring outside hypnosis.

Europe's top microscope for creating tomorrow's materials Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:32 AM PDT Europe's most precise electron microscope is now in use in Sweden. The 80-300 transmission electron microscope has been adjusted so it now provides a resolution of less than 0.7 Å (about half the distance between two atoms in a silicon crystal).

The green look for electric vehicle charging stations Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:32 AM PDT The network of electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations in Germany is still relatively sparse, but their number is growing rapidly. The majority of roadside charging points take the form of steel-clad pillars. A group of researchers has set out to develop an alternative design based on environmentally compatible materials.

Novel strategy stymies SARS and other viruses: Versatile inhibitor prevents viral replication Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:32 AM PDT Broad-spectrum antiviral drugs are urgently needed but have so far eluded discovery. Researchers have now identified a new point of attack. Moreover, they show that targeting of this molecule inhibits the growth of a wide range of viruses, including the SARS virus – at least in cell culture.

Cell cultures from a machine Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:32 AM PDT Cell cultures form the basis of day-to-day research work in applications that range from the development of drugs and vaccines to the decoding of functions of individual genes. Up until now, cell cultures have been sown, tended, observed and transferred to vessels -- all by hand. A new device automates these worksteps completely.

New findings contradict dominant theory in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:32 AM PDT For decades the amyloid hypothesis has dominated the research field in Alzheimer's disease. The theory describes how an increase in secreted beta-amyloid peptides leads to the formation of plaques, toxic clusters of damaged proteins between cells, which eventually result in neurodegeneration. Scientists have now presented a study that turns this premise on its head. The research group's data offers an opposite hypothesis, suggesting that it is in fact the neurons' inability to secrete beta-amyloid that is at the heart of pathogenesis in Alzheimer's disease.

New method in spectral analysis: Measuring the distance of processes Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:32 AM PDT A milestone in the description of complex processes -- for example the ups and downs of share prices -- has been reached by mathematicians. Researchers have developed a new method in spectral analysis, which allows a classical mathematical model assumption, so-called stationarity, to be precisely measured and determined for the first time. The approach also makes it possible to construct statistical tests that are considerably better and more accurate than previous methods.

Meningitis may be eradicated. New vaccine brings hope Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:32 AM PDT Outbreaks of meningitis can quickly reach epidemic proportions across a number of African countries, afflicting tens of thousands of people. Now a new vaccine appears capable of completely eradicating the disease. The new and improved vaccine, MenAfriVac, costs no more than USD 0.50 per dose.

The Lutetia asteroid -- a prehistoric relic Posted: 28 Oct 2011 07:32 AM PDT New information has been published about the Lutetia asteroid that was observed in 2010 and its properties. The analysis of the data collected during the spacecraft fly-by indicates that Lutetia is a dense, intact relic dating back to the birth of our solar system.

High tech detection of breast cancer using nanoprobes and SQUID Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:27 AM PDT Mammography saves lives by detecting very small tumors. However, it fails to find 10-25% of tumors and is unable to distinguish between benign and malignant disease. New research provides a new and potentially more sensitive method using tumor-targeted magnetic nanoprobes and superconducting quantum interference device sensors.

Regular aspirin intake halves cancer risk, study finds Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:27 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that taking regular aspirin halves the risk of developing hereditary cancers. The study -- which followed nearly 1,000 patients, in some cases for over 10 years -- found that those who had been taking a regular dose of aspirin had 50 per cent fewer incidents of hereditary cancer compared with those who were not taking aspirin.

Specific gene linked to cold sore susceptibility, study finds Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:27 AM PDT Researchers have identified a human chromosome containing a specific gene associated with susceptibility to herpes simplex labialis, the common cold sore. The study looks at how several genes may affect the severity of symptoms and frequency of this common infection. The findings, if confirmed, could have implications for the development of new drugs to treat outbreaks.

NASA launches multi-talented Earth-observing satellite Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:25 AM PDT NASA's newest Earth-observing satellite soared into space early Oct. 28, 2011 aboard a Delta II rocket after liftoff at 5:48 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

'Pacman' nebula gets some teeth Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:22 AM PDT To visible-light telescopes, this star-forming cloud appears to be chomping through the cosmos, earning it the nickname the "Pacman" nebula, like the famous Pac-Man video game that debuted in 1980. When viewed in infrared light by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, the Pacman takes on a new appearance. In place of its typical, triangle-shaped mouth is a new set of lower, sharp-looking teeth. The Pacman is located at the top of the picture, taking a bite in the direction of the upper left corner.

The scars of slavery Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:21 AM PDT The diaspora of Afro-descendants in Mexico and Central America takes on many guises, as reflected in names used such as Colonial Blacks, Afro-Antilleans, Garifuna. Status and levels of social recognition and integration are highly diverse and this distinguishes the countries of this region from the rest of the Latin-American continent. Researchers are studying the historical construction of these communities, which developed from successive waves of migrations, and of their identities.

Malaria mosquitoes putting up resistance Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:21 AM PDT After a significant fall in malaria in Africa over recent years, the disease is making a disquieting return. The deployment of new, highly effective treatments and distribution of millions of insecticide treated bednets have helped check this terrible disease's progress. However, scientists have observed a new leap in the number of cases since the end of 2010 in the village of Dielmo, Senegal.

Ocean water salinity and color herald El Niño events Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:21 AM PDT El Niño and La Niña, the climate's two 'enfants terribles,' arise with the onset of eastward migration of the tropical western Pacific's immense warm-water reservoir, the "warm pool". Researchers recently found two parameters useful for observing the way this pool moves: water salinity and color.

Tropical rainforests original generators of biodiversity Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:21 AM PDT The tropical rainforests harbor a multitude of living resources. Where, when and how did this wealth of biodiversity appear? To find answers to these fundamental questions, biologists have realized the first evolutionary history of a family of plants characteristic of this ecosystem: palms (Arecaceae or Palmae).

NASA in final preparations for Nov. 8 asteroid flyby Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:21 AM PDT NASA scientists will be tracking asteroid 2005 YU55 with antennas of the agency's Deep Space Network at Goldstone, Calif., as the space rock safely flies past Earth slightly closer than the moon's orbit on Nov. 8. Scientists are treating the flyby of the 1,300-foot-wide (400-meter) asteroid as a science target of opportunity -- allowing instruments on "spacecraft Earth" to scan it during the close pass.

Images in magazines and on television increase body dissatisfaction Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:20 AM PDT

Planets smashed into dust near supermassive black holes Posted: 28 Oct 2011 05:20 AM PDT Fat doughnut-shaped dust shrouds that obscure about half of supermassive black holes could be the result of high speed crashes between planets and asteroids, according to a new theory from an international team of astronomers.

Different paths to drug resistance in Leishmania: Evolution by changes in gene, region and chromosome number, not by mutation in genes Posted: 27 Oct 2011 02:35 PM PDT Two remarkable discoveries have been revealed by researchers into genome analysis of Leishmania parasites. These results uncovered a surprising level of variation at the genome structure level.

Vaccine for cattle offers hope to poorest farmers Posted: 27 Oct 2011 02:35 PM PDT A new approach to vaccinating cattle could help farmers worldwide, research suggests. Scientists have developed a technique using a harmless parasite, which lives in cows but has no effect on their health, to carry medicines into the animals' bloodstream.

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