ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Land-Ocean connections: Scientists discover how tree trunks, leaves and kukui nuts are indirectly feeding bottom fish in the submarine canyons off Moloka’i, Hawaii
• Modified bone drug kills malaria parasite in mice
• Salty soil can suck water out of atmosphere: Could it happen on Mars?
• Higher death risk with sleeping pills
• Ultra-fast outflows help monster black holes shape their galaxies
• Deaths triple among football players, morning temperatures thought to play a role
• Hyperactivity in brain may explain multiple symptoms of depression
• A giant 'little step' in cancer treatment opening up new therapeutic horizons
• Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids may cause memory problems
• Amoeba may offer key clue to photosynthetic evolution
• Solving a spintronic mystery: Researchers resolve controversy over gallium manganese arsenide that could boost spintronic performance
• Research offers insight to how fructose causes obesity and other illness
• Immortal worms defy ageing
• New fossil penguin from New Zealand may be the biggest ever
• Indigenous peoples at forefront of climate change offer lessons on plant biodiversity
• Traces of listeria found in Vancouver ready-to-eat fish products
• Coral reef study traces indirect effects of overfishing
• 'Universal' vaccines could finally allow for wide-scale flu prevention
• Record-speed wireless data bridge demonstrated: Takes high-speed communications the 'last mile'
• Dwarf galaxy questions current galaxy formation models
• Polysternon isonae, a new species of turtle that lived with dinosaurs in Isona (Spanish Pyrenees)
• Reduction in U.S. carbon emissions attributed to cheaper natural gas
• The poor, in fact, are less likely to sue their doctor
• Protein identified that can lengthen our life?
• 60-year-old definition of surface tension on solids revised
• Lethal effects of genetically modified Bt toxin confirmed on young ladybird larvae
• Unusual weather: Arctic sea ice decline may be driving snowy winters seen in recent years in N. Hemisphere
• Study extends the 'ecology of fear' to fear of parasites
• Understanding brain performance: People who take Ritalin are far more aware of their mistakes
• Some bacteria attack using spring-loaded poison daggers
• RNA interference cancer treatment? Delivering RNA with tiny sponge-like spheres
• Frontal attack or stealth? How subverting the immune system shapes the arms race between bacteria and hosts
• Quantum microphone captures extremely weak sound
• Finding explosives with laser beams: New method detects chemicals -- even if enclosed in containers -- over long distances
• Multiple sclerosis: Damaged myelin not the trigger, study finds
• Diabetes drug improves glucose control without increasing risk of hypoglycemia, study suggests
• Dental pulp stem cells transformed by 'bad breath’ chemical
• Volcanoes deliver two flavors of water
• Egg-producing stem cells isolated from adult human ovaries
• Promising new technique to rescue the immune system

Land-Ocean connections: Scientists discover how tree trunks, leaves and kukui nuts are indirectly feeding bottom fish in the submarine canyons off Moloka’i, Hawaii Posted: 27 Feb 2012 05:49 PM PST Scientists recently discovered that land-based plant material, such as tree trunks, leaves, and kukui nuts; and coastal macroalgae indirectly support the increased abundances of bottom fish in submarine canyons, like those off the north shore of Moloka'i.

Modified bone drug kills malaria parasite in mice Posted: 27 Feb 2012 05:49 PM PST A chemically altered osteoporosis drug may be useful in fighting malaria, researchers report in a new study. Unlike similar compounds tested against many other parasitic protozoa, the drug readily crosses into the red blood cells of malaria-infected mice and kills the malaria parasite. The drug works at very low concentrations with no observed toxicity to the mouse.

Salty soil can suck water out of atmosphere: Could it happen on Mars? Posted: 27 Feb 2012 05:49 PM PST The frigid McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are a cold, polar desert, yet the sandy soils there are frequently dotted with moist patches in the spring despite a lack of snowmelt and no possibility of rain. A new study has found that that the salty soils in the region actually suck moisture out of the atmosphere, raising the possibility that such a process could take place on Mars or on other planets.

Higher death risk with sleeping pills Posted: 27 Feb 2012 05:48 PM PST People are relying on sleeping pills more than ever to get a good night's rest, but a new study links the medications to a 4.6 times higher risk of death and a significant increase in cancer cases among regular pill users.

Ultra-fast outflows help monster black holes shape their galaxies Posted: 27 Feb 2012 01:28 PM PST A curious correlation between the mass of a galaxy's central black hole and the velocity of stars in a vast, roughly spherical structure known as its bulge has puzzled astronomers for years. Astronomers have now identified a new type of black-hole-driven outflow that appears to be both powerful enough and common enough to explain this link.

Deaths triple among football players, morning temperatures thought to play a role Posted: 27 Feb 2012 01:26 PM PST Heat-related deaths among football players across the country tripled to nearly three per year between 1994 and 2009 after averaging about one per year the previous 15 years, according to an analysis of weather conditions and high school and college sports data. The study found for the eastern US, where most deaths occurred, morning heat index values were consistently higher in the latter half of the 30-year study period.

Hyperactivity in brain may explain multiple symptoms of depression Posted: 27 Feb 2012 01:26 PM PST People with depression suffer a number of symptoms -- including anxiety, memory issues, and sleep disturbances. Now researchers have found that the brains of depressed people show hyperactivity; The finding sheds new light on the brain dysfunction that causes depression and its wide array of symptoms.

A giant 'little step' in cancer treatment opening up new therapeutic horizons Posted: 27 Feb 2012 01:26 PM PST A new study heralds a new horizon in the fight against cancer, opening up a parallel dimension to existing treatment options. The data demonstrate that by combining two drugs that had already been used on a patient in the past but had stopped working, they boost each other's efficacy and at the same time manage to break down the patient's resistance to each of them individually, presenting a third potential treatment option for clinically advanced metastatic tumors. While this may not initially appear to be an innovation, given that combined treatments are used in cancer as a matter of course, it actually represents a radical change in the use of the existing therapeutic weaponry, an extremely practical solution and a source of hope for many patients.

Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids may cause memory problems Posted: 27 Feb 2012 01:25 PM PST A diet lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients commonly found in fish, may cause your brain to age faster and lose some of its memory and thinking abilities, according to a new study. Omega-3 fatty acids include the nutrients called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Amoeba may offer key clue to photosynthetic evolution Posted: 27 Feb 2012 12:28 PM PST The major difference between plant and animal cells is the photosynthetic process, which converts light energy into chemical energy. When light isn't available, energy is generated by breaking down carbohydrates and sugars, just as it is in animal and some bacterial cells. Two cellular organelles are responsible for these two processes: the chloroplasts for and the mitochondria. New research has opened a window into the early stages of chloroplast evolution.

Solving a spintronic mystery: Researchers resolve controversy over gallium manganese arsenide that could boost spintronic performance Posted: 27 Feb 2012 12:27 PM PST Scientists appear to have resolved a long-standing controversy regarding the semiconductor gallium manganese arsenide, one of the most promising materials for spintronic technology. They've determined the source of the ferromagnetic properties that make gallium manganese arsenide such a hot commodity for the smaller, faster and much cheaper data storage and processing of spintronic devices.

Research offers insight to how fructose causes obesity and other illness Posted: 27 Feb 2012 12:27 PM PST Scientists have provided new insights into how fructose causes obesity and metabolic syndrome, more commonly known as diabetes.

Immortal worms defy ageing Posted: 27 Feb 2012 12:26 PM PST Researchers have demonstrated how a species of flatworm overcomes the ageing process to be potentially immortal.

New fossil penguin from New Zealand may be the biggest ever Posted: 27 Feb 2012 12:25 PM PST After 35 years, a giant fossil penguin has finally been completely reconstructed, giving researchers new insights into prehistoric penguin diversity.

Indigenous peoples at forefront of climate change offer lessons on plant biodiversity Posted: 27 Feb 2012 10:28 AM PST Over the last 40 years, an ethnobotanist has worked with the Yanesha of the upper Peruvian Amazon and the Tibetans of the Himalayas, two groups of indigenous peoples carrying on traditional ways of life, even in the face of rapid environmental changes. She explains how their traditional knowledge and practices hold the key to conserving, managing and even creating new biodiversity.

Traces of listeria found in Vancouver ready-to-eat fish products Posted: 27 Feb 2012 10:28 AM PST A new study has found traces of the bacteria listeria in ready-to-eat fish products sold in metro Vancouver, Canada.

Coral reef study traces indirect effects of overfishing Posted: 27 Feb 2012 10:28 AM PST A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya has found dramatic effects of overfishing that could threaten the long-term health of the reefs.

'Universal' vaccines could finally allow for wide-scale flu prevention Posted: 27 Feb 2012 08:15 AM PST Scientists have found that an emerging class of long-lasting flu vaccines called "universal" vaccines could for the first time allow for the effective, wide-scale prevention of flu by limiting the virus' ability to spread and mutate. A computational model showed that the vaccines could achieve unprecedented control of the flu virus both seasonally and during outbreaks of highly contagious new strains.

Record-speed wireless data bridge demonstrated: Takes high-speed communications the 'last mile' Posted: 27 Feb 2012 08:14 AM PST Scientists have created a new way to overcome many of the issues associated with bringing high-speed digital communications across challenging terrain and into remote areas, commonly referred to as the "last mile" problem. The researchers developed a record-speed wireless data bridge that transmits digital information much faster than today's state-of-the-art systems.

Dwarf galaxy questions current galaxy formation models Posted: 27 Feb 2012 08:12 AM PST Researcher observed the dwarf galaxy I Zw 18, and found that much of what is known about galaxy formation and evolution might need substantial revision.

Polysternon isonae, a new species of turtle that lived with dinosaurs in Isona (Spanish Pyrenees) Posted: 27 Feb 2012 08:12 AM PST Researchers have discovered a turtle that lived near the end of the age of dinosaurs. Unlike other kinds of turtles, it seems that Polysternon did not survive the end of Cretaceous and went extinct with the dinosaurs.

Reduction in U.S. carbon emissions attributed to cheaper natural gas Posted: 27 Feb 2012 08:12 AM PST Lower emission from power plants in 2009 was driven by competitive pricing of natural gas versus coal, researchers say.

The poor, in fact, are less likely to sue their doctor Posted: 27 Feb 2012 08:12 AM PST Contrary to the common perception among physicians that poor people sue doctors more frequently, researchers have demonstrated that socioeconomically disadvantaged patients, in fact, tend to sue physicians less often. Their work suggests that this myth may exist because of subconscious prejudices or stereotypes that affect thinking and decision making without doctors being aware of it -- a phenomenon known as unconscious bias.

Protein identified that can lengthen our life? Posted: 27 Feb 2012 08:12 AM PST Cells use various methods to break down and recycle worn-out components—autophagy is one of them. New research shows that the protein SNX18 is necessary for cells to be able to perform autophagy.

60-year-old definition of surface tension on solids revised Posted: 27 Feb 2012 08:12 AM PST Researchers have shown that surface tension on a solid material is unconnected to the energy required to create a new surface. Consequently, surface tension on a solid does not exist in its conventional meaning.

Lethal effects of genetically modified Bt toxin confirmed on young ladybird larvae Posted: 27 Feb 2012 08:11 AM PST Researchers confirm earlier findings that the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin Cry1Ab produced for pesticidal purposes by genetically modified (GM) Bt maize increases mortality in the young ladybird larvae (Adalia bipunctata L., two-spotted ladybird) in laboratory tests. These ladybird larvae are typical 'non-target' environmental goods which are not supposed to be harmed by the GM maize.

Unusual weather: Arctic sea ice decline may be driving snowy winters seen in recent years in N. Hemisphere Posted: 27 Feb 2012 08:10 AM PST A new study provides further evidence of a relationship between melting ice in the Arctic regions and widespread cold outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere. The study's findings could improve seasonal forecasting of snow and temperature anomalies across northern continents.

Study extends the 'ecology of fear' to fear of parasites Posted: 27 Feb 2012 06:43 AM PST The ecology of fear, like other concepts from predator-prey theory, also extends to parasites, new research suggests. Raccoons and squirrels would give up food, the study demonstrated, if the area was infested with larval ticks. At some level, they are weighing the value of the abandoned food against the risk of being parasitized.

Understanding brain performance: People who take Ritalin are far more aware of their mistakes Posted: 27 Feb 2012 06:43 AM PST Researchers have investigated how the brain monitors ongoing behavior for performance errors – specifically failures of impulse control. People who take Ritalin are far more aware of their mistakes, a new study has found.

Some bacteria attack using spring-loaded poison daggers Posted: 27 Feb 2012 06:43 AM PST Bacteria have evolved different systems for secreting proteins. One, called a type VI secretion system, is found in about a quarter of all bacteria with two membranes. Despite being common, researchers have not understood how it works. Now scientists have figured out the structure of the type VI secretion system apparatus and proposed how it might work -- by shooting spring-loaded poison molecular daggers.

RNA interference cancer treatment? Delivering RNA with tiny sponge-like spheres Posted: 27 Feb 2012 06:43 AM PST For the past decade, scientists have been pursuing cancer treatments based on RNA interference -- a phenomenon that offers a way to shut off malfunctioning genes with short snippets of RNA. However, one huge challenge remains: finding a way to efficiently deliver the RNA. Scientists have now come up with a novel delivery vehicle in which RNA is packed into microspheres so dense that they withstand degradation until they reach their destinations. The new system knocks down expression of specific genes as effectively as existing delivery methods, but with a much smaller dose of particles.

Frontal attack or stealth? How subverting the immune system shapes the arms race between bacteria and hosts Posted: 27 Feb 2012 06:41 AM PST Why is it that Mycobacterium tuberculosis can cause tuberculosis with as little as 10 cells, whereas Vibrio cholerae requires the host to ingest up to tens of millions of cells to cause cholera? This is the question that scientists have just answered.

Quantum microphone captures extremely weak sound Posted: 27 Feb 2012 06:39 AM PST Scientists have demonstrated a new kind of detector for sound at the level of quietness of quantum mechanics. The result offers prospects of a new class of quantum hybrid circuits that mix acoustic elements with electrical ones, and may help illuminate new phenomena of quantum physics.

Finding explosives with laser beams: New method detects chemicals -- even if enclosed in containers -- over long distances Posted: 27 Feb 2012 06:39 AM PST People like to keep a safe distance from explosive substances, but in order to analyze them, close contact is usually inevitable. A new method has now been developed to detect chemicals inside a container over a distance of more than a hundred meters. Laser light is scattered in a very specific way by different substances. Using this light, the contents of a nontransparent container can be analyzed without opening it.

Multiple sclerosis: Damaged myelin not the trigger, study finds Posted: 27 Feb 2012 06:39 AM PST Millions of adults suffer from the incurable disease multiple sclerosis (MS). It is relatively certain that MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own defense cells attack the myelin in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin enwraps the nerve cells and is important for their function of transmitting stimuli as electrical signals. There are numerous unconfirmed hypotheses on the development of MS, one of which has now been refuted by the neuroimmunologists in their current research: The death of oligodendrocytes, as the cells that produce the myelin sheath are called, does not trigger MS.

Diabetes drug improves glucose control without increasing risk of hypoglycemia, study suggests Posted: 27 Feb 2012 06:37 AM PST Too high? Too low? Only about half of those with type 2 diabetes have their blood sugar levels on target, but a new drug shows promise in managing glucose levels. TAK-875 works by boosting the release of insulin from pancreatic B cells, but only when diabetics need it most – such as when glucose and fatty acids rise in the blood after a meal.

Dental pulp stem cells transformed by 'bad breath’ chemical Posted: 26 Feb 2012 07:59 PM PST Japanese scientists have found that the odorous compound responsible for halitosis – otherwise known as bad breath – is ideal for harvesting stem cells taken from human dental pulp.

Volcanoes deliver two flavors of water Posted: 26 Feb 2012 12:36 PM PST By analyzing submarine volcanic glass from the Manus Basin, scientists found unexpected changes in hydrogen and boron isotopes from the deep mantle. They expected to see the "fingerprint" of seawater. But discovered evidence of seawater distilled from a more ancient plate descent, preserved for as long as one billion years. The data indicate that these ancient "slabs" can return to the upper mantle, and that rates of hydrogen exchange may not conform to experiments.

Egg-producing stem cells isolated from adult human ovaries Posted: 26 Feb 2012 12:36 PM PST For the first time, researchers have isolated egg-producing stem cells from the ovaries of reproductive age women and shown these cells can produce what appear to be normal egg cells or oocytes.

Promising new technique to rescue the immune system Posted: 26 Feb 2012 12:35 PM PST Researchers report on a promising new technique that potentially could turn immune system killer T cells into more effective weapons against infections and possibly cancer.

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