ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Structure of human protein critical for silencing genes solved

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:52:52 EDT

Scientists have described the three-dimensional atomic structure of a human protein bound to a piece of RNA that "guides" the protein's ability to silence genes. The protein, Argonaute-2, is a key player in RNA interference, a powerful cellular phenomenon that has important roles in diverse biological processes, including an organism's development.

Math predicts size of clot-forming cells

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:52:52 EDT

Mathematicians have helped biologists figure out why platelets, the cells that form blood clots, are the size and shape that they are. Because platelets are important both for healing wounds and in strokes and other conditions, a better understanding of how they form and behave could have wide implications.

High-speed method to aid search for solar energy storage catalysts

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:52:52 EDT

Scientist have developed a new high-throughput method to identify electrocatalysts for water oxidation.

Rare Sumatran rabbit photographed

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:01:01 EDT

Researchers say the rare rabbit may now be found only in two remote national parks on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and conservation is critical.

Cancer may require simpler genetic mutations than previously thought

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:01:01 EDT

Scientists have long known that cancer cells can proliferate by deleting both copies of the tumor suppressor genes that would otherwise kill them. Now research shows they can also grow by deleting single copies of the genes, especially when clusters of those genes appear randomly on a chromosome. The discovery sheds new light on tumorigenesis and explains why large genomic deletions show up so often in cancer cells.

SpaceX Dragon attached to International Space Station In spaceflight first

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:42:42 EDT

The International Space Station's Expedition 31 crew grappled and attached SpaceX's Dragon capsule to the space station Friday (May 25, 2012). This is the first time a commercial company has accomplished this type of space operation.

Solar desalination system for arid land agriculture

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:39:39 EDT

A solar-powered system uses nanofiltration membranes to treat the local brackish water, resulting in high-quality desalinated irrigation water. The results indicate that irrigation with desalinated water yields higher productivity from water and inorganic fertilizers compared with current practices. Crops grown with desalinated water required 25 percent less irrigation and fertilizer than brackish water irrigation.

Thousands of invisibility cloaks trap a rainbow

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:39:39 EDT

Many people anticipating the creation of an invisibility cloak might be surprised to learn that a group of American researchers has created 25,000 individual cloaks.

Like curry? New biological role identified for compound used in ancient medicine

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:39:39 EDT

Scientists have just identified a new reason why some curry dishes, made with spices humans have used for thousands of years, might be good for you. They have discovered that curcumin, a compound found in the cooking spice turmeric, can cause a modest but measurable increase in levels of a protein that's known to be important in the "innate" immune system, helping to prevent infection in humans and other animals.

Copy of the genetic makeup travels in a protein suitcase

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:37:37 EDT

Researchers have caught on film, in real time, the process of messenger RNA leaving the cell nucleus.

Oldest Jewish archaeological evidence on the Iberian Peninsula

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:37:37 EDT

Archaeologists have found one of the oldest artifacts of Jewish culture on the Iberian Peninsula at an excavation site in the south of Portugal, close to the city of Silves (Algarve). On a marble plate, measuring 40 by 60 centimeters, the name "Yehiel" can be read, followed by further letters which have not yet been deciphered. The Jena Archaeologists believe that the new discovery might be a tomb slab.

70% of women use contraceptives during their first sexual encounter, Spanish study suggests

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:37:37 EDT

Contraceptive use in Spain during the first sexual encounter is similar to other European countries. Contraceptive use shows positive correlation in women with a university education and negative correlation amongst women from poor backgrounds.

Tiny robots for less invasive surgery

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:36:36 EDT

Millions of Europeans undergo abdominal surgery each year to treat a range of different disorders, from cancer and heart disease to obesity. Researchers are now developing innovative micro-robotics and micro-system technologies to make such surgeries less complicated, invasive and costly.

Cell’s transport pods look like a molecular version of robots from Transformers

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:36:36 EDT

Images of the cell's transport pods have revealed a molecular version of the robots from Transformers. Previously, scientists had been able to create and determine the structure of 'cages' formed by parts of the protein coats that encase other types of vesicles, but this study was the first to obtain high-resolution images of complete vesicles, budded from a membrane.

Irritable bowel syndrome clearly linked to gut bacteria

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:33:33 EDT

An overgrowth of bacteria in the gut has been definitively linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the results of a new study which used cultures from the small intestine. This is the first study to use this “gold standard” method of connecting bacteria to the cause of the disease that affects an estimated 30 million people in the United States.

Asteroid nudged by sunlight: Most precise measurement of Yarkovsky effect

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:53:53 EDT

Scientists on NASA's asteroid sample return mission have measured the orbit of their destination asteroid, 1999 RQ36, with such accuracy they were able to directly measure the drift resulting from a subtle but important force called the Yarkovsky effect -- the slight push created when the asteroid absorbs sunlight and re-emits that energy as heat.

'Personality genes' may help account for longevity

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:53:53 EDT

Researchers have found that personality traits like being extroverted, enjoying laughter and staying engaged may also be part of the longevity genes mix that allows some people to reach age 100 and beyond.

Tiny planet-finding mirrors borrow from Webb Telescope playbook

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:53:53 EDT

NASA's next flagship mission -- the James Webb Space Telescope -- will carry the largest primary mirror ever deployed. This segmented behemoth will unfold to 21.3 feet in diameter once the observatory reaches its orbit in 2018.

New type of male contraceptive? Key gene essential for sperm development discovered

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:52:52 EDT

A new type of male contraceptive could be created thanks to the discovery of a key gene essential for sperm development. The finding could lead to alternatives to the conventional male contraceptives that rely on disrupting the production of hormones, such as testosterone. These treatments can cause side effects such as irritability, mood swings and acne.

Gourmet butterflies speed north

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:51:51 EDT

A new study has shown how a butterfly has changed its diet, and consequently has sped northwards in response to climate change. Researchers found that warmer summers have allowed the Brown Argus butterfly to complete its life cycle by eating wild Geranium plants. Because the Geraniums are widespread in the British countryside, this change in diet has allowed the butterfly to expand its range in Britain at a surprisingly rapid rate. Over the past 20 years, the Brown Argus has spread northwards by around 79 kilometres and has become common in the countryside in much of southern England.

As D-Day anniversary approaches, new geological insights

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:51:51 EDT

Two geology professors have discovered tiny bits of shrapnel and other microscopic remnants of the D-Day invasion in samples of sand collected on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. The scientists were surprised that these tiny traces survived for decades despite the scouring action of sand and waves, and the rusting action of seawater.

Metamaterials, quantum dots show promise for new technologies

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:35:35 EDT

Researchers are edging toward the creation of new optical technologies using "nanostructured metamaterials" capable of ultra-efficient transmission of light, with potential applications including advanced solar cells and quantum computing.

Discarded data may hold the key to a sharper view of molecules

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:35:35 EDT

There's nothing like a new pair of eyeglasses to bring fine details into sharp relief. For scientists who study the large molecules of life from proteins to DNA, the equivalent of new lenses have come in the form of an advanced method for analyzing data from X-ray crystallography experiments.

Pivotal role for proteins: From helping turn carbs into energy to causing devastating disease

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:35:35 EDT

Research into how carbohydrates are converted into energy has led to a surprising discovery with implications for the treatment of a perplexing and potentially fatal neuromuscular disorder and possibly even cancer and heart disease.

Nanoparticles seen as artificial atoms

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:34:34 EDT

Observing the formation of nanorods in real-time, researchers found that nanoparticles become attached to form winding chains that eventually align, attach end-to-end, straighten and stretch into elongated nanowires. This supports the theory of nanoparticles acting like artificial atoms during crystal growth and points the way to future energy devices.

First direct observation of oriented attachment in nanocrystal growth

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:34:34 EDT

Researchers have reported the first direct observation of nanoparticles undergoing oriented attachment, the critical step in biomineralization and the growth of nanocrystals. A better understanding of oriented attachment in nanoparticles is a key to synthesizing new materials with remarkable structural properties.

Organic carbon from Mars, but not biological

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:34:34 EDT

Molecules containing large chains of carbon and hydrogen -- the building blocks of all life on Earth -- have been the targets of missions to Mars from Viking to the present day. While these molecules have previously been found in meteorites from Mars, scientists have disagreed about how this organic carbon was formed and whether or not it came from Mars. A new paper provides strong evidence that this carbon did originate on Mars, although it is not biological.

Categories for kinship vary between languages

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:34:34 EDT

Different languages refer to family relationships in different ways. For example, English speakers use two terms -- grandmother and grandfather -- to refer to grandparents, while Mandarin Chinese uses four terms. Many possible kinship categories, however, are never observed, which raises the question of why some kinship categories appear in the languages of the world but others do not. A new study shows that kinship categories across languages reflect general principles of communication.

New clues about cancer cell metabolism: Smallest amino acid, glycine, implicated in cancer cell proliferation

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:34:34 EDT

Researchers have looked across 60 well-studied cancer cell lines, analyzing which of more than 200 metabolites were consumed or released by the fastest dividing cells. Their research yields the first large-scale atlas of cancer metabolism and points to a key role for the smallest amino acid, glycine, in cancer cell proliferation.

Autopsy of a eruption: Linking crystal growth to volcano seismicity

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:34:34 EDT

A forensic approach that links changes deep below a volcano to signals at the surface could ultimately help to predict future volcanic eruptions with greater accuracy.

Brightly colored bird bills indicate good health

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:47:47 EDT

Female bill color reflects the health of the bird, a new study shows. Females with more colorful bills have higher antibody levels, indicating greater strength and the ability to fight off invaders.

Device may inject a variety of drugs without using needles

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:47:47 EDT

A new device delivers a tiny, high-pressure jet of medicine through the skin without the use of a hypodermic needle.

Physicists set new record for graphene solar cell efficiency

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:46:46 EDT

Doping may be a no-no for athletes, but researchers say it was key in getting unprecedented power conversion efficiency from a new graphene solar cell created in their lab.

Beam Me Up: 'Tractor beams' of light pull small objects towards them

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:45:45 EDT

‘Tractor beams’ of light that pull objects towards them are no longer science fiction. Scientists have now demonstrated how a tractor beam can in fact be realized on a small scale.

Robots will quickly recognize and respond to human gestures, with new algorithms

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:45:45 EDT

New intelligent algorithms could help robots to quickly recognize and respond to human gestures. Researchers have created a computer program which recognizes human gestures quickly and accurately, and requires very little training.

Engineered materials: Custom-made magnets

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:45:45 EDT

A novel approach to designing artificial materials could enable magnetic devices with a wider range of properties than those now available. Researchers have now extended the properties and potential uses of metamaterials by using not one but two very different classes of nanostructures, or metamolecules.

Anti-reflective plastics inspired by moths' eyes

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:45:45 EDT

Innovative plastics offer improved performance and wider viewing angles over existing anti-reflective plastics in the market. This plastic uses a nanotechnology method that creates a complex pattern of super tiny structures that mimic the patterns found on a moth’s eye, which has a unique method of diffusing light.

Seismic hazard: Faults discovered near Lake Tahoe could generate earthquakes ranging from 6.3 to 6.9

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:32 EDT

Results of a new US Geological Survey study conclude that faults west of Lake Tahoe, Calif., referred to as the Tahoe-Sierra frontal fault zone, pose a substantial increase in the seismic hazard assessment for the Lake Tahoe region of California and Nevada, and could potentially generate earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 6.3 to 6.9.

Newly modified nanoparticle opens window on future gene editing technologies

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:32 EDT

Researchers are using nanoparticles to simultaneously deliver proteins and DNA into plant cells. The technology could allow more sophisticated and targeted editing of plant genomes. And that could help researchers develop crops that adapt to changing climates and resist pests.

Relationship between social status and wound-healing in wild baboons

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:32 EDT

Biologists have found that male baboons that have a high rank within their society recover more quickly from injuries, and are less likely to become ill than other males.

Persistent sensory experience is good for aging brain

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:32 EDT

Despite a long-held scientific belief that much of the wiring of the brain is fixed by adolescence, a new study shows that changes in sensory experience can cause massive rewiring, even as one ages. The study also found this rewiring involves fibers that supply the primary input to the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for sensory perception, motor control and cognition. These findings may open new avenues of research on brain remodeling and aging.

Knowing genetic makeup may not significantly improve disease risk prediction

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:32 EDT

Researchers have found that detailed knowledge about your genetic makeup -- the interplay between genetic variants and other genetic variants, or between genetic variants and environmental risk factors -- may only change your estimated disease prediction risk for three common diseases by a few percentage points, which is typically not enough to make a difference in prevention or treatment plans.

Nuisance seaweed found to produce compounds with biomedical potential

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:32 EDT

A seaweed considered a threat to the healthy growth of coral reefs in Hawaii may possess the ability to produce substances that could one day treat human diseases, a new study has revealed.

Marked for destruction: Newly developed compound triggers cancer cell death

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:32 EDT

Scientists have developed a compound that enhance cell death in cancer cells.

Gene therapy can correct forms of severe combined immunodeficiency, study suggests

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:30 EDT

Scientists found that loss of the ADA gene directly contributes to B cell tolerance problems and that these defects are mostly corrected after gene therapy.

DNA evidence shows that marine reserves help to sustain fisheries

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:30 EDT

Biologists have presented the first evidence that areas closed to all fishing are helping to sustain valuable Australian fisheries. The scientists applied a forensic DNA profiling approach to track the dispersal pathways of fish larvae throughout a network of marine reserves on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Anti-psychotic drug pushes cancer stem cells over the edge

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:30 EDT

An anti-psychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia appears to get rid of cancer stem cells by helping them differentiate into less threatening cell types. The discovery comes after researchers screened hundreds of compounds in search of those that would selectively inhibit human cancer stem cells, and it may lead rather swiftly to a clinical trial.

The secret to good tomato chemistry

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:30 EDT

There is nothing better than a ripe, red, homegrown tomato, and now researchers have figured out just what it is that makes some of them so awfully good (and your average supermarket tomato so bland).

Male fertility genes discovered

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:30 EDT

A new study has revealed previously undiscovered genetic variants that influence fertility in men. The findings shed much-needed light on human reproduction and might provide answers for countless men suffering from infertility.

Nervous system: Cellular boundary key to neuronal function

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:30 EDT

A molecule responsible for the proper formation of a key portion of the nervous system finds its way to the proper place not because it is actively recruited, but instead because it can't go anywhere else. Researchers have identified a distal axonal cytoskeleton as the boundary that makes sure AnkyrinG clusters where it needs to so it can perform properly.

Revolutionary chipset for high-speed wireless data transfer

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:29:29 EDT

Scientists have invented a revolutionary chipset for high-speed wireless data transfer, a new microchip that can transfer data the size of 80 MP3 song files (or 250 megabytes) wirelessly between mobile devices, 1000 times faster than Bluetooth.

Protein necessary for behavioral flexibility discovered

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT

Researchers have identified a protein necessary to maintain behavioral flexibility, which allows us to modify our behaviors to adjust to circumstances that are similar, but not identical, to previous experiences. Their findings may offer new insights into addressing autism and schizophrenia—afflictions marked by impaired behavioral flexibility.

Key gene found responsible for chronic inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT

Researchers at NYU School of Medicine have, for the first time, identified a single gene that simultaneously controls inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer.

Nnew genetic method developed to pinpoint individuals' geographic origin

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:25:25 EDT

Scientists have developed an innovative approach for the modeling of genetic variation in two- or three-dimensional space called spatial ancestry analysis (SPA). With SPA, researchers model the spatial distribution of each genetic variant by assigning a genetic variant's frequency as a continuous function in geographic space.

Exotic particles, chilled and trapped, form giant matter wave

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:25:25 EDT

Physicists have trapped and cooled exotic particles called excitons so effectively that they condensed and cohered to form a giant matter wave, a signature of a state called a Bose-Einstein condensate. A first for subatomic particles, rather than whole atoms, the feat will facilitate study of the physical properties of excitons, which exist only fleetingly yet offer promising applications as diverse as efficient solar energy and ultrafast computing.

Positive words: The glue to social interaction

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:23:23 EDT

Words charged with a positive emotional content are used more frequently, thus enhancing human communication.

Plants could use light even more effectively for food production

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:23:23 EDT

Scientists have concluded that it is possible to develop plants that produce even more food by reducing the level of pigments which make no contribution to photosynthesis. The conclusion is based on research into the effectiveness of photosynthesis in various light conditions. The scientists discovered that leaf pigments not directly involved in photosynthesis ‘dissipate’ light by absorption rather than using it effectively.

Synchronized brains: Feeling strong emotions makes people's brains 'tick together'

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:23:23 EDT

Human emotions are highly contagious. Seeing others' emotional expressions such as smiles triggers often the corresponding emotional response in the observer. Researchers have now found that feeling strong emotions makes different individuals' brain activity literally synchronous.

Record number of young scallops in Mid-Atlantic

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:23:23 EDT

Recent surveys reveal an unprecedented number of young scallops in two fishery management areas off the mid-Atlantic coast. The results bode well for the continued success of the commercial fishery.

Unusual quantum effect discovered in earliest stages of photosynthesis

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:29:29 EDT

Quantum physics and plant biology seem like two branches of science that could not be more different, but surprisingly they may in fact be intimately tied. Scientists have discovered an unusual quantum effect in the earliest stages of photosynthesis.