ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Not all 'good cholesterol' is 'good': Raising HDL not a sure route to countering heart disease
• Bats: A good immune system ensures success in reproduction
• The Rhine is five million years older than first thought: Age of the river corrected based on fossils
• Damaged connections in Phineas Gage's brain: Famous 1848 case of man who survived accident has modern parallel
• Children with cancer have complete responses in a COG phase 1 trial: Pills zero in on abnormal genes that drive specific cancers
• NASA survey counts potentially hazardous asteroids
• Biologists produce potential malarial vaccine from algae
• Head impacts in contact sports may reduce learning in college athletes
• You are what you eat: Why do male consumers avoid vegetarian options?
• When does planning interfere with achieving our goals?
• Nine new breast cancer risk genes: Landscape of cancer genes and mutational processes in breast cancer complicated
• Listening to chickens could improve poultry production
• Sumatra faces yet another risk: Major volcanic eruptions
• Graphite enters different states of matter in ultrafast experiment
• Alzheimer's gene causes brain's blood vessels to leak toxins and die
• Colorful butterflies increase their odds of survival by sharing traits
• Human genes transplanted into zebrafish: Helps identify genes related to autism, schizophrenia and obesity
• Humanmade pollutants may be driving Earth's tropical belt expansion: May impact large-scale atmospheric circulation
• People with paralysis control robotic arms to reach and grasp using brain computer interface
• Internet usage patterns may signify depression
• Ancient tree-ring records from southwest U.S. suggest today's megafires are truly unusual
• Baby galaxies grew up quickly
• Common fungicide wreaks havoc on freshwater ecosystems
• Let's get moving: Unraveling how locomotion starts
• Microscope looks into cells of living fish
• Character traits determined genetically? Genes may hold the key to a life of success, study suggests
• Deeper Look at Centaurus A
• Make or break for cellular tissues
• Chocolate and diamonds: Why volcanoes could be 'a girl's best friend'
• Plant growth without light control
• Full control of plastic transistors
• 20 percent 'fat tax' needed to improve population health, experts say
• Sunscreens remain safe, effective form of sun protection, experts say
• 740,000 lives saved: Benefits of AIDS relief program
• Big-mouthed babies drove the evolution of giant island snakes
• Why omega-3 oils help at the cellular level
• High doses of certain dietary supplements increase cancer risk
• New biomarker test predicts arthritis before symptoms appear
• All cancer cells are not created equal: Some cell types control continued tumor growth, others prepare the way for metastasis
• Ancient plant-fungal partnerships reveal how the world became green
• Protein inhibitor points to potential medical treatments for skull and skin birth defects
• Maps of miscanthus genome offer insight into grass evolution
• Getting in tune: Researchers solve tuning problem for wireless power transfer systems
• The use of acoustic inversion to estimate the bubble size distribution in pipelines

Not all 'good cholesterol' is 'good': Raising HDL not a sure route to countering heart disease Posted: 16 May 2012 04:55 PM PDT Medical researchers explored naturally occurring genetic variations in humans to test the connection between HDL levels and heart attack. By studying the genes of roughly 170,000 individuals, the team discovered that, when examined together, the 15 HDL-raising variants they tested do not reduce the risk of heart attack.

Bats: A good immune system ensures success in reproduction Posted: 16 May 2012 04:54 PM PDT Anyone who is healthy has more enthusiasm for reproduction. The same is true even for bats. Male bats with a good immune system are more successful in being selected by females during mate choice and reproduction than their ailing counterparts.

The Rhine is five million years older than first thought: Age of the river corrected based on fossils Posted: 16 May 2012 04:54 PM PDT Scientists have examined the age of the Rhine based on fossils. They have discovered that the river is five million years older than previously believed.

Damaged connections in Phineas Gage's brain: Famous 1848 case of man who survived accident has modern parallel Posted: 16 May 2012 04:54 PM PDT In 1848, Phineas Gage survived an accident that drove an iron rod through his head. Researchers, for the first time, used images of Gage's skull combined with modern-day brain images to suggest there was extensive damage to the white matter "pathways" that connected various regions of his brain.

Children with cancer have complete responses in a COG phase 1 trial: Pills zero in on abnormal genes that drive specific cancers Posted: 16 May 2012 04:54 PM PDT A pill designed to zero in on abnormal genes that drive specific cancers has produced encouraging early results in children with an uncommon but aggressive type of lymphoma, as well as in children with a rare form of neuroblastoma.

NASA survey counts potentially hazardous asteroids Posted: 16 May 2012 03:06 PM PDT Observations from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) have led to the best assessment yet of our solar system's population of potentially hazardous asteroids. The results reveal new information about their total numbers, origins and the possible dangers they may pose.

Biologists produce potential malarial vaccine from algae Posted: 16 May 2012 02:44 PM PDT Biologists have succeeded in engineering algae to produce potential candidates for a vaccine that would prevent transmission of the parasite that causes malaria.

Head impacts in contact sports may reduce learning in college athletes Posted: 16 May 2012 02:37 PM PDT A new study suggests that head impacts experienced during contact sports such as football and hockey may worsen some college athletes' ability to acquire new information.

You are what you eat: Why do male consumers avoid vegetarian options? Posted: 16 May 2012 12:25 PM PDT Why are men generally more reluctant to try vegetarian products? According to a new study consumers are influenced by a strong association of meat with masculinity.

When does planning interfere with achieving our goals? Posted: 16 May 2012 12:24 PM PDT It seems really simple: If you want to achieve something, set a goal and then make specific plans to implement it. But according to a new study consumers get overwhelmed while juggling multiple goals.

Nine new breast cancer risk genes: Landscape of cancer genes and mutational processes in breast cancer complicated Posted: 16 May 2012 12:23 PM PDT Researchers have described nine new genes that drive the development of breast cancer. This takes the tally of all genes associated with breast cancer development to 40.

Listening to chickens could improve poultry production Posted: 16 May 2012 12:22 PM PDT Listening to squawks and other chicken "vocalizations" using digital signal processing techniques may help farmers better manage growing conditions, contributing to both healthier birds and more productive poultry operations.

Sumatra faces yet another risk: Major volcanic eruptions Posted: 16 May 2012 11:01 AM PDT The early April earthquake of magnitude 8.6 that shook Sumatra was a grim reminder of the devastating earthquakes and tsunami that killed tens of thousands of people in 2004 and 2005. Now a new study shows that the residents of that region are at risk from yet another potentially deadly natural phenomenon -- major volcanic eruptions.

Graphite enters different states of matter in ultrafast experiment Posted: 16 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT For the first time, scientists have seen an X-ray-irradiated mineral go to two different states of matter in about 40 femtoseconds. Scientists heated graphite to induce a transition from solid to liquid and to warm-dense plasma.

Alzheimer's gene causes brain's blood vessels to leak toxins and die Posted: 16 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT ApoE4, a well-known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease triggers a cascade of signaling that ultimately results in leaky blood vessels in the brain, allowing toxic substances to pour into brain tissue in large amounts, scientists report.

Colorful butterflies increase their odds of survival by sharing traits Posted: 16 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT Bright black-and-red butterflies that flit across the sunlit edges of Amazonian rain forests are natural hedonists, and it does them good, according to new genetic data.

Human genes transplanted into zebrafish: Helps identify genes related to autism, schizophrenia and obesity Posted: 16 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have transplanted a set of human genes into a zebrafish and then used it to identify genes responsible for head size at birth. This finding also is related to some cases of autism and possibly schizophrenia and childhood obesity.

Humanmade pollutants may be driving Earth's tropical belt expansion: May impact large-scale atmospheric circulation Posted: 16 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT Black carbon aerosols and tropospheric ozone, both humanmade pollutants emitted predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere's low- to mid-latitudes, are most likely pushing the boundary of the tropics further poleward in that hemisphere, new research shows. While stratospheric ozone depletion has already been shown to be the primary driver of the expansion of the tropics in the Southern Hemisphere, the researchers are the first to report that black carbon and tropospheric ozone are the most likely primary drivers of the tropical expansion observed in the Northern Hemisphere.

People with paralysis control robotic arms to reach and grasp using brain computer interface Posted: 16 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT Two people with tetraplegia were able to reach for and grasp objects in three-dimensional space with robotic arms that they controlled directly with brain activity. They used the BrainGate neural interface system, an investigational device currently being studied under an IDE. One participant used the system to serve herself coffee for the first time since becoming paralyzed nearly 15 years ago.

Internet usage patterns may signify depression Posted: 16 May 2012 10:55 AM PDT In a new study analyzing Internet usage among college students, researchers have found that students who show signs of depression tend to use the Internet differently than those who show no symptoms of depression.

Ancient tree-ring records from southwest U.S. suggest today's megafires are truly unusual Posted: 16 May 2012 09:03 AM PDT Today's mega forest fires of the southwestern U.S. are truly unusual and exceptional in the long-term record, suggests an unprecedented study that examined 1,500 years of ancient tree ring and fire data from two distinct climate periods. Researchers constructed and analyzed a statistical model and found that today's dry, hot climate combined with the past century of human fire suppression is causing megafires.

Baby galaxies grew up quickly Posted: 16 May 2012 09:02 AM PDT Baby galaxies from the young universe more than 12 billion years ago evolved faster than previously thought, shows new research. This means that already in the early history of the universe, there was potential for planet formation and life.

Common fungicide wreaks havoc on freshwater ecosystems Posted: 16 May 2012 09:01 AM PDT A new study on chlorothalonil, one of the world's most common fungicides, shows it was lethal to a wide variety of freshwater organisms.

Let's get moving: Unraveling how locomotion starts Posted: 16 May 2012 08:59 AM PDT Scientists have shed new light on one of the great unanswered questions of neuroscience: How the brain initiates rhythmic movements like walking, running and swimming.

Microscope looks into cells of living fish Posted: 16 May 2012 08:59 AM PDT Microscopes provide valuable insights in the structure and dynamics of cells, in particular when the latter remain in their natural environment. However, this is very difficult especially for higher organisms. Researchers have now developed a new method to visualize cell structures of an eighth of a micrometer in size in living fish larvae.

Character traits determined genetically? Genes may hold the key to a life of success, study suggests Posted: 16 May 2012 08:59 AM PDT Genes play a greater role in forming character traits -- such as self-control, decision making or sociability -- than was previously thought, new research suggests.

Deeper Look at Centaurus A Posted: 16 May 2012 06:32 AM PDT The strange galaxy Centaurus A is pictured in a new image from the European Southern Observatory. With a total exposure time of more than 50 hours this is probably the deepest view of this peculiar and spectacular object every created.

Make or break for cellular tissues Posted: 16 May 2012 06:32 AM PDT Models developed to study liquids are used to investigate the mechanics of cellular tissues, which could further our understanding of embryonic development and cancer. Scientists have demonstrated that the behavior of a thin layer of cells in contact with an unfavorable substrate is akin to that of thin fluid or elastic films. Understanding the mechanism by which a thin layer of cells splits into disjointed patches, thus breaking the layer's structural integrity, bears great significance because the human tissue, or epithelium, covering organs can only fulfill its role if there are no holes or gaps between the cells.

Chocolate and diamonds: Why volcanoes could be 'a girl's best friend' Posted: 16 May 2012 06:32 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a previously unrecognized volcanic process, similar to one that is used in chocolate manufacturing, which gives important new insights into the dynamics of volcanic eruptions. The scientists investigated how a process called 'fluidized spray granulation' can occur during kimberlite eruptions to produce well-rounded particles containing fragments from the Earth's mantle, most notably diamonds.

Plant growth without light control Posted: 16 May 2012 06:31 AM PDT Plants are dependent on the sun. Sunlight does not only supply them with energy, but also controls their development steps. So-called photoreceptors activate the processes of germination, leaf development, bud formation, and blossoming in the cells. The light-absorbing component of a photoreceptor may be replaced by a chemically similar synthetic substance. For the first time, the effects on complete plants have now been described.

Full control of plastic transistors Posted: 16 May 2012 06:30 AM PDT Transistors made of plastic can be controlled with great precision, according to a new article.

20 percent 'fat tax' needed to improve population health, experts say Posted: 15 May 2012 05:30 PM PDT Taxes on unhealthy food and drinks would need to be at least 20 percent to have a significant effect on diet-related conditions such as obesity and heart disease, say experts on bmj.com today. Ideally, this should be combined with subsidies on healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables, they add.

Sunscreens remain safe, effective form of sun protection, experts say Posted: 15 May 2012 05:21 PM PDT The American Academy of Dermatology today reiterated the safety and effectiveness of sunscreens to protect against the damaging effects from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. As one component of a daily sun-protection strategy, sunscreen is an important tool in the fight against skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

740,000 lives saved: Benefits of AIDS relief program Posted: 15 May 2012 01:53 PM PDT The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the government's far-reaching health-care foreign aid program, has contributed to a significant decline in adult death rates from all causes in Africa, according to a new study.

Big-mouthed babies drove the evolution of giant island snakes Posted: 15 May 2012 12:10 PM PDT The need to have big-mouthed babies drove the evolution of giant tiger snakes on Australian islands, new research shows. The findings offer a new dimension to the study of island gigantism and dwarfism.

Why omega-3 oils help at the cellular level Posted: 15 May 2012 12:10 PM PDT For the first time, researchers have peered inside a living mouse cell and mapped the processes that power the celebrated health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. More profoundly, they say their findings suggest it may be possible to manipulate these processes to short-circuit inflammation before it begins, or at least help to resolve inflammation before it becomes detrimental.

High doses of certain dietary supplements increase cancer risk Posted: 15 May 2012 12:10 PM PDT Beta-carotene, selenium and folic acid -- taken up to three times their recommended daily allowance, these supplements are probably harmless. But taken at much higher levels as some supplement manufacturers suggest, these three supplements have now been shown to increase the risk of developing a host of cancers.

New biomarker test predicts arthritis before symptoms appear Posted: 15 May 2012 10:18 AM PDT A research team has found a way to detect and predict arthritis before patients begin suffering from symptoms.

All cancer cells are not created equal: Some cell types control continued tumor growth, others prepare the way for metastasis Posted: 15 May 2012 10:17 AM PDT New researchers suggests that specific populations of tumor cells have different roles in the process by which tumors make new copies of themselves and grow.

Ancient plant-fungal partnerships reveal how the world became green Posted: 15 May 2012 10:17 AM PDT Prehistoric plants grown in state-of-the-art growth chambers recreating environmental conditions from more than 400 million years ago have shown scientists how soil dwelling fungi played a crucial role in the evolution of plants.

Protein inhibitor points to potential medical treatments for skull and skin birth defects Posted: 15 May 2012 10:13 AM PDT Researchers have found new clues in the pathogenesis of skull and skin birth defects associated with a rare genetic disorder, Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome (BSS).

Maps of miscanthus genome offer insight into grass evolution Posted: 15 May 2012 07:47 AM PDT Miscanthus grasses are used in gardens, burned for heat and energy, and converted into liquid fuels. They also belong to a prominent grass family that includes corn, sorghum and sugarcane. Two new, independently produced chromosome maps of Miscanthus sinensis (an ornamental that likely is a parent of Miscanthus giganteus, a biofuels crop) are a first step toward sequencing the M. sinensis genome. The studies reveal how a new plant species with distinctive traits can arise as a result of chromosome duplications and fusions.

Getting in tune: Researchers solve tuning problem for wireless power transfer systems Posted: 15 May 2012 07:46 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new way to fine-tune wireless power transfer (WPT) receivers, making the systems more efficient and functional. WPT systems hold promise for charging electric vehicles, electronic devices and other technologies.

The use of acoustic inversion to estimate the bubble size distribution in pipelines Posted: 15 May 2012 07:45 AM PDT New research has devised a new method to more accurately measure gas bubbles in pipelines. The ability to measure gas bubbles in pipelines is vital to the manufacturing, power and petrochemical industries. In the case of harvesting petrochemicals from the seabed, warning of bubbles present in the crude that is being harvested is crucial because otherwise when these bubbles are brought up from the seabed (where pressure is very high) to the surface where the rig is, the reduction in pressure causes these bubbles to expand and causes 'blow out'.

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