ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Normal molecular pathway affected in poor-prognosis childhood leukemia identified
• Scientists confirm theory regarding the origins of the sucking disc of remora fish
• Math technique de-clutters cancer-cell data, revealing tumor evolution, treatment leads
• Astronomers gear up to discover Earth-like planets
• By trying it all, predatory sea slug learns what not to eat
• Diminished balance found in those with poor vision
• Rapid change in China brings significant improvements in health
• How similar are the gestures of apes and human infants? More than you might suspect
• Small lifestyle changes may have big impact on reducing stroke risk
• Earthquake acoustics can indicate if a massive tsunami is imminent
• How brain circuits can become miswired during development
• Three-billion-year-old microfossils include plankton
• Compulsive no more: Clues to what causes compulsive behavior could improve OCD treatments
• Spooky action put to order: Different types of 'entanglement' classified
• Gannets don't eat off each other's plates
• Conflict-of-interest restrictions needed to ensure strong FDA review
• The swing of architect genes
• Metabolic model of E. coli reveals how bacterial growth responds to temperature change
• Gene variant may provide novel therapy for several cancer types
• Stalagmites provide new view of abrupt climate events over 100,000 years
• How young genes gain a toehold on becoming indispensable: Tracking a gene from its birth through to its pathway to purpose and evolutionary importance
• Pollution in Northern Hemisphere helped cause 1980s African drought
• MRI study: Breastfeeding boosts babies' brain growth
• Rewinding development: A step forward for stem cell research
• New liver cell for cellular therapy to aid in liver regeneration
• Promising material for lithium-ion batteries
• Excessive Facebook use can damage relationships, study suggests
• Insights into a debilitating brain disease
• Quantum teleportation between atomic systems over long distances
• Molecular Velcro for chromosome stability
• Predicting the future of coral reefs in a changing world
• Scientists coax brain to regenerate cells lost in Huntington's disease in mouse model
• 'Dust trap' around young star solves long-standing planet formation mystery
• Tumors disable immune cells by using up sugar
• Cassini sees precursors to aerosol haze on Saturn's largest moon, Titan
• Stars don't obliterate their planets (very often)
• NASA builds sophisticated Earth-observing microwave radiometer
• NASA spacecraft sees tornado's destructive swath
• Second life for possible spintronic materials: Manganese, gallium nitride merged in uniform layer
• Mapping the brain: Researchers use signals from natural movements to identify brain regions
• Alpine lakes reflect climate change
• Surgeons implant bioengineered vein: Kidney dialysis patient first in U.S. to receive lab-grown blood vessel
• Drought, river fragmentation forcing endangered fish out of water, biologist finds
• Autism discovery paves way for early blood test and therapeutic options
• 'Caldas tear' resolves puzzling seismic activity beneath Colombia
• Evolutionary history of a cancer-related gene
• Most youth football player concussions occur during games, not practice
• Listening to music while driving has very little effect on driving performance, study suggests
• Reversal cells may tip the balance between bone formation and resorption in health and disease
• New DNA test on roo poo identifies species
• Living fossils? Actually, sturgeon fish are evolutionary speedsters
• Specifically sized gold nanoparticle spheres increase the sensitivity of a light-based chemical detector
• New technique for deep brain stimulation surgery proves accurate and safe

Normal molecular pathway affected in poor-prognosis childhood leukemia identified Posted: 06 Jun 2013 04:10 PM PDT Through genetic engineering of laboratory models, researchers have uncovered a vulnerability in the way cancer cells diverge from normal regenerating cells that may help treat children with leukemia.

Scientists confirm theory regarding the origins of the sucking disc of remora fish Posted: 06 Jun 2013 04:10 PM PDT Remora fish, with a sucking disc on their heads, have been the stuff of legend. They often attach themselves to boat hulls and were once thought to purposely slow the boat down. While that is a misunderstanding, something else not well understood was the origins of the fish's sucking disc. Scientists, however, have solved that mystery proving that the disc is actually a greatly modified dorsal fin.

Math technique de-clutters cancer-cell data, revealing tumor evolution, treatment leads Posted: 06 Jun 2013 04:09 PM PDT Scientists have developed a mathematical method of simplifying and interpreting genome data bearing evidence of mutations, such as those that characterize specific cancers.

Astronomers gear up to discover Earth-like planets Posted: 06 Jun 2013 04:08 PM PDT Dust clouds around stars are thought to hide many undiscovered planets with conditions suitable for life, but observations have been hampered by the fact that only the brightest such clouds can be detected with current technology. Astronomers are developing a technique to detect faint dust clouds, many of which might hide Earth-like planets.

By trying it all, predatory sea slug learns what not to eat Posted: 06 Jun 2013 04:08 PM PDT Researchers found that a type of predatory sea slug with a simple nervous system has more complex cognitive abilities than previously thought, allowing it to learn the warning cues of dangerous prey and avoid them in the future.

Diminished balance found in those with poor vision Posted: 06 Jun 2013 04:08 PM PDT Researchers have found that visually impaired individuals and those with uncorrected refractive error -- those who could benefit from glasses to achieve normal vision but don't wear glasses -- have a significantly greater risk of diminished balance with their eyes closed on a compliant, foam surface than individuals with normal vision.

Rapid change in China brings significant improvements in health Posted: 06 Jun 2013 04:08 PM PDT In China between 1990 and 2010, communicable disease and child mortality decreased while life expectancy increased. But China faces significant challenges. The top five causes of health loss are dietary risks, high blood pressure, tobacco use, ambient air pollution, and household air pollution. Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer increased in the past 20 years. China has five cancers in its top 15 causes of premature mortality, more than any G20 country.

How similar are the gestures of apes and human infants? More than you might suspect Posted: 06 Jun 2013 04:08 PM PDT A new study used naturalistic video data for the first time to compare gestures in a female chimpanzee, bonobo and human infant.

Small lifestyle changes may have big impact on reducing stroke risk Posted: 06 Jun 2013 03:57 PM PDT Making small lifestyle changes could reduce your risk of having a stroke, according to a new study.

Earthquake acoustics can indicate if a massive tsunami is imminent Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:51 PM PDT Scientists have identified key acoustic characteristics of the 2011 Japan earthquake that indicated it would cause a large tsunami. The technique could be applied worldwide to create an early warning system for massive tsunamis.

How brain circuits can become miswired during development Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:51 PM PDT Researchers have uncovered a mechanism that guides the exquisite wiring of neural circuits in a developing brain -- gaining unprecedented insight into the faulty circuits that may lead to brain disorders ranging from autism to mental retardation.

Three-billion-year-old microfossils include plankton Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:51 PM PDT Spindle-shaped inclusions in three-billion-year-old rocks are microfossils of plankton that probably inhabited the oceans around the globe during that time, according to scientists.

Compulsive no more: Clues to what causes compulsive behavior could improve OCD treatments Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:47 PM PDT By activating a brain circuit that controls compulsive behavior, neuroscientists have shown that they can block a compulsive behavior in mice -- a result that could help researchers develop new treatments for diseases such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette's syndrome.

Spooky action put to order: Different types of 'entanglement' classified Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:47 PM PDT A property known as "entanglement" is a fundamental characteristic of quantum mechanics. Physicists and mathematicians have now shown how different forms of this phenomenon can be efficiently and systematically classified into categories. The method should help to fully exploit the potential of novel quantum technologies.

Gannets don't eat off each other's plates Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:47 PM PDT Colonies of gannets maintain vast exclusive fishing ranges despite doing nothing to defend their territory from rival colonies, scientists have discovered.

Conflict-of-interest restrictions needed to ensure strong FDA review Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:47 PM PDT A 2012 law that loosened conflict-of-interest restrictions for FDA advisory panels could weaken the agency's review system and could allow more drugs with safety problems to gain market approval, says a new analysis.

The swing of architect genes Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:47 PM PDT Architect genes are responsible for organizing structures of the body during embryonic development. Some of them, namely the Hox genes, are involved in the formation of forelimbs. They are activated in two successive waves, enabling the formation of the arm, then the hand. Scientists are uncovering the workings of this complex process.

Metabolic model of E. coli reveals how bacterial growth responds to temperature change Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:47 PM PDT Bioengineers have developed a computational model of 1,366 genes in E. coli that includes 3D protein structures and has enabled them to compute the temperature sensitivity of the bacterium's proteins. The study opens the door for engineers to create heat-tolerant microbial strains for production of commodity chemicals, therapeutic proteins and other industrial applications.

Gene variant may provide novel therapy for several cancer types Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:44 PM PDT A novel gene variant found in human and animal tissue may be a promising treatment for cancer, including breast and brain cancer.

Stalagmites provide new view of abrupt climate events over 100,000 years Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:44 PM PDT A new set of long-term climate records based on cave stalagmites collected from tropical Borneo shows that the western tropical Pacific responded very differently than other regions of the globe to abrupt climate change events.

How young genes gain a toehold on becoming indispensable: Tracking a gene from its birth through to its pathway to purpose and evolutionary importance Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:44 PM PDT Scientists have, for the first time, mapped a young gene's short, dramatic evolutionary journey to becoming essential, or indispensable. The researchers detail one gene's rapid switch to a new and essential function in the fruit fly, challenging the long-held belief that only ancient genes are important.

Pollution in Northern Hemisphere helped cause 1980s African drought Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:43 PM PDT Air pollution in the Northern Hemisphere in the mid-20th century cooled the upper half of the planet and pushed rain bands south, contributing to the prolonged and worsening drought in Africa's Sahel region. Clean air legislation in the 1980s reversed the trend and the drought lessened.

MRI study: Breastfeeding boosts babies' brain growth Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:10 AM PDT A study using brain images from "quiet" MRI machines adds to the growing body of evidence that breastfeeding improves brain development in infants. Breastfeeding alone produced better brain development than a combination of breastfeeding and formula, which produced better development than formula alone.

Rewinding development: A step forward for stem cell research Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:10 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that they can make embryonic stem cells regress to a stage of development where they are able to make placenta cells as well as the other fetal cells. This significant discovery has the potential to shed new light on placenta related disorders that can lead to problematic pregnancies and miscarriages.

New liver cell for cellular therapy to aid in liver regeneration Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:10 AM PDT Liver transplantation is the mainstay of treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease, the 12th leading cause of death in the United States, but new research suggests that it may one day become possible to regenerate a liver using cell therapy in patients with liver disease.

Promising material for lithium-ion batteries Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:10 AM PDT Laptops could work longer and electric cars could drive farther if it were possible to further increase the capacity of their lithium-ion batteries. The electrode material has a decisive influence on a battery's capacity. So far, the negative electrode typically consists of graphite, whose layers can store lithium atoms. Scientists have now developed a material made of boron and silicon that could smooth the way to systems with higher capacities.

Excessive Facebook use can damage relationships, study suggests Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:08 AM PDT Individuals who use Facebook excessively are far more likely to experience Facebook–related conflict with their romantic partners, which then may cause negative relationship outcomes including emotional and physical cheating, breakup and divorce.

Insights into a debilitating brain disease Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:08 AM PDT From the neurons that enable thought to the keratinocytes that make toenails grow -- a complex canopy of sugar molecules, commonly known as glycans, envelop every living cell in the human body. These complex carbohydrate chains perform a host of vital functions, providing the necessary machinery for cells to communicate, replicate and survive. It stands to reason, then, that when something goes wrong with a person's glycans, something goes wrong with them.

Quantum teleportation between atomic systems over long distances Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:08 AM PDT Researchers have been able to teleport information from light to light at a quantum level for several years. In 2006, researchers succeeded in teleporting between light and gas atoms. Now the research group has succeeded in teleporting information between two clouds of gas atoms and to carry out the teleportation -- not just one or a few times, but successfully every single time.

Molecular Velcro for chromosome stability Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:08 AM PDT Scientists have functionally dissected the molecular processes that ensure the stability of chromosomes. They show how three proteins interact on the repetitive sequences at the chromosomal ends (the telomeres) to form a powerful protein scaffold required for telomere homeostasis.

Predicting the future of coral reefs in a changing world Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:06 AM PDT Scientists have described for the first time the biological process of how corals create their skeletons, which form massive and ecologically vital coral reefs in the world's oceans. They identified specific proteins secreted by corals that precipitate carbonate to form the corals' characteristic skeleton.

Scientists coax brain to regenerate cells lost in Huntington's disease in mouse model Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:06 AM PDT Researchers have been able to mobilize the brain's native stem cells to replenish a type of neuron lost in Huntington's disease. The scientists were able to both trigger the production of new neurons in mice with the disease and show that the new cells successfully integrated into the brain's existing neural networks, dramatically extending the survival of the treated mice.

'Dust trap' around young star solves long-standing planet formation mystery Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:05 AM PDT Astronomers have imaged a region around a young star where dust particles can grow by clumping together. This is the first time that such a dust trap has been clearly observed and modeled. It solves a long-standing mystery about how dust particles in discs grow to larger sizes so that they can eventually form comets, planets and other rocky bodies.

Tumors disable immune cells by using up sugar Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:04 AM PDT Cancer cells' appetite for sugar may have serious consequences for immune cell function, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have learned.

Cassini sees precursors to aerosol haze on Saturn's largest moon, Titan Posted: 06 Jun 2013 10:58 AM PDT Scientists working with data from NASA's Cassini mission have confirmed the presence of a population of complex hydrocarbons in the upper atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, that later evolve into the components that give the moon a distinctive orange-brown haze. The presence of these complex, ringed hydrocarbons, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), explains the origin of the aerosol particles found in the lowest haze layer that blankets Titan's surface. Scientists think these PAH compounds aggregate into larger particles as they drift downward.

Stars don't obliterate their planets (very often) Posted: 06 Jun 2013 10:47 AM PDT Stars have an alluring pull on planets, especially those in a class called hot Jupiters, which are gas giants that form farther from their stars before migrating inward and heating up. Now, a new study using data from NASA's Kepler Space Telescope shows that hot Jupiters, despite their close-in orbits, are not regularly consumed by their stars. Instead, the planets remain in fairly stable orbits for billions of years, until the day comes when they may ultimately get eaten.

NASA builds sophisticated Earth-observing microwave radiometer Posted: 06 Jun 2013 10:28 AM PDT A NASA team delivered in May a sophisticated microwave radiometer specifically designed to overcome the pitfalls that have plagued similar Earth-observing instruments in the past. Literally years in the making, the new radiometer, which is designed to measure the intensity of electromagnetic radiation, specifically microwaves, is equipped with one of the most sophisticated signal-processing systems ever developed for an Earth science satellite mission.

NASA spacecraft sees tornado's destructive swath Posted: 06 Jun 2013 10:23 AM PDT A new image from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NASA's Terra spacecraft shows the extent of destruction from the deadly Newcastle-Moore tornado that ripped through central Oklahoma on May 20, 2013. The Newcastle-Moore tornado was rated at EF-5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. An EF-5 is the most powerful category of tornado.

Second life for possible spintronic materials: Manganese, gallium nitride merged in uniform layer Posted: 06 Jun 2013 08:20 AM PDT Ten years ago, scientists were convinced that a combination of manganese and gallium nitride could be a key material to create spintronics, the next generation of electronic devices that operate on properties found at the nanoscale.

Mapping the brain: Researchers use signals from natural movements to identify brain regions Posted: 06 Jun 2013 08:05 AM PDT Whether we run to catch a bus or reach for a pen: Activities that involve the use of muscles are related to very specific areas in the brain. Traditionally, their exact location has only been determined through electrical stimulation or unnatural, experimental tasks. A team of scientists has now succeeded for the first time in mapping the brain's surface using measurements of everyday movements.

Alpine lakes reflect climate change Posted: 06 Jun 2013 08:05 AM PDT Global warming impacts lakes' structure, function and water quality. Increases in temperature as a result of climate change are mirrored in lake waters where temperatures are also on the rise. A new study forecasts surface water temperatures in large Austrian lakes for 2050 and discusses the impact on the lakes' structure, function and water quality.

Surgeons implant bioengineered vein: Kidney dialysis patient first in U.S. to receive lab-grown blood vessel Posted: 06 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT In a first-of-its-kind operation in the United States, a team of doctors created a bioengineered blood vessel and implanted it into the arm of a patient with end-stage kidney disease. The procedure, the first U.S. clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of the bioengineered blood vessel, is a milestone in the field of tissue engineering. The new vein is an off-the-shelf, human cell-based product with no biological properties that would cause organ rejection.

Drought, river fragmentation forcing endangered fish out of water, biologist finds Posted: 06 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT North American drought has caused dramatic changes in native fish communities.

Autism discovery paves way for early blood test and therapeutic options Posted: 06 Jun 2013 07:20 AM PDT Cells from individuals with autism spectrum disorders showed significantly decreased metabolism of the amino acid L-tryptophan, new research shows. The article shows promise for understanding the mechanism of the pathogenesis, as well as developing an early ASDs screening test by measuring the metabolism of L-tryptophan using advanced Biolog Phenotype MicroArray cell scanning technology.

'Caldas tear' resolves puzzling seismic activity beneath Colombia Posted: 06 Jun 2013 07:17 AM PDT Colombia sits atop a complex geological area where three tectonic plates are interacting, producing seismicity patterns that have puzzled seismologists for years. Now seismologists have identified the "Caldas tear," which is a break in a slab that separates two subducting plates and accounts for curious features, including a "nest" of seismic activity beneath east-central Colombia and high grade mineral deposits on the surface.

Evolutionary history of a cancer-related gene Posted: 06 Jun 2013 07:17 AM PDT Scientists have described how a genetic duplication that took place in the vertebrate ancestor some 500 million years ago encouraged the evolution of the ASF1b gene; a gene essential for proper cell division and related to some types of cancer such as breast cancer.

Most youth football player concussions occur during games, not practice Posted: 06 Jun 2013 07:17 AM PDT Despite the lack of data regarding the rates of concussions in youth football, concerns have been raised about the sport being dangerous for this age group. Researchers have analyzed the incidence rates of concussion in youth football players in this age group and found a significantly higher incidence during games compared to practice sessions.

Listening to music while driving has very little effect on driving performance, study suggests Posted: 06 Jun 2013 07:15 AM PDT Most motorists enjoy listening to the radio or their favourite CD while driving. Many of them switch on the radio without thinking. But is this safe? Experiments carried out by an environment and traffic psychologist suggest that it makes very little difference. In fact the effects that were measured turned out to be positive. Music helps drivers to focus, particularly on long, monotonous roads.

Reversal cells may tip the balance between bone formation and resorption in health and disease Posted: 06 Jun 2013 07:15 AM PDT By analyzing biopsy specimens from patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and primary hyperparathyroidism, investigators have begun to pay increasing attention to "reversal cells," which prepare for bone formation during bone remodeling. The hope is that these reversal cells will become critical therapeutic targets that may someday prevent osteoporosis and other bone disorders.

New DNA test on roo poo identifies species Posted: 06 Jun 2013 07:13 AM PDT Researchers have developed a simple and cost-effective DNA test to identify kangaroo species from their droppings which will boost the ability to manage and conserve kangaroo populations.

Living fossils? Actually, sturgeon fish are evolutionary speedsters Posted: 06 Jun 2013 07:13 AM PDT Efforts to restore sturgeon in the Great Lakes region have received a lot of attention in recent years, and many of the news stories note that the prehistoric-looking fish are "living fossils" virtually unchanged for millions of years. But a new study reveals that in at least one measure of evolutionary change -- changes in body size over time -- sturgeon have been one of the fastest-evolving fish on the planet.

Specifically sized gold nanoparticle spheres increase the sensitivity of a light-based chemical detector Posted: 06 Jun 2013 06:59 AM PDT A sensor that relies on reflected light to analyze biomedical and chemical samples now has greater sensitivity, thanks to a carpet of gold nanoparticles. Scientists have determined the ideal size of nanoparticle to improve surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors.

New technique for deep brain stimulation surgery proves accurate and safe Posted: 05 Jun 2013 04:06 PM PDT The surgeon who more than two decades ago pioneered deep brain stimulation surgery in the United States to treat people with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders has now developed a new way to perform the surgery -- which allows for more accurate placement of the brain electrodes and likely is safer for patients.

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