Volume 6, Number 45 November 5, 2007

Physical sciences and technology Dark matter and modified gravity KT mass extinction Red supergiant stars Modeling star clusters Oxygenation of the atmosphere Black holes Neutrino physics Earthquakes Black holes and loop quantum gravity Star formation Extrasolar planets Carbon nanotubes Water on Mars Interacting galaxies Supercomputing Supernovae Quasiparticles Nanotechnology Dark energy Global warming Robotics Spintronics Photonics Life sciences Visual/auditory information processing Brain effects of leptin Histone proteins Evolution of altruism Creativity Chromosomal passenger complex Neurobiology of counting Cancer biology Wnt signaling Cat genome Neuronal circuits Abiotic formation of adenine Lithium and lifespan extension in nematodes Biofilms Fear Bt toxin Human visual tracking capacity Limb regeneration in newts Parasites and evolution Maturation of new neurons Brain-imaging studies Modeling protein behavior Bacterial communication DNA repair Neural network models of the immune system Health and medicine Avian flu Cancer Viruses and cancer AIDS Rheumatoid arthritis Diabetes Malaria Autism Gene therapy Health benefits of organic produce Psoriasis Schizophrenia Cardiovascular disease Inflammatory bowel diseaes Stem cells Health risks of folic acid Vitamin D and cancer Anthrax vaccine Diet, obesity and cancer Cancer vaccines Parkinson's disease Sleep T cells and autoimmunity Polyphenols, cancer, and cardiovascular disease Alzheimer's disease Hepatitis C Antioxidants Carbon nanotubes and cancer Staph vaccines

Physical sciences and technology

Dark matter and modified gravity

1. October 29, 2007 - Scientists Say Dark Matter Doesn't Exist
2. October 31, 2007 - Dark Matter Not a Done Deal?
3. October 31, 2007 - Time to overhaul Newton's theory of gravitation? Galaxy cluster models cast doubt on dark matter
4. November 6, 2007 - Cosmic collision explained without dark matter

KT mass extinction

1. October 29, 2007 - Did mega-volcanoes kill the dinosaurs?
2. October 30, 2007 - Volcanic Eruptions, Not Meteor, May Have Killed The Dinosaurs - also here
3. October 31, 2007 - Gas may be to blame for extinction

Red supergiant stars

1. October 30, 2007 - Betelgeuse: Star in a Shell

Modeling star clusters

1. October 30, 2007 - Astronomers Simulate Life And Death In The Universe - also here, here

Oxygenation of the atmosphere

1. October 30, 2007 - Origin Of 'Breathable' Atmosphere Half A Billion Years Ago Discovered- also here

Black holes

1. October 30, 2007 - Massive Black Hole Smashes Record - also here, here, here, here
2. October 30, 2007 - Massive Stellar Black Hole Smashes Record
3. October 31, 2007 - Huge Black Holes May Hold Keys to Galaxy Formation
4. November 1, 2007 - Best-of-Breed Black Hole
5. November 1, 2007 - Supermassive Black Holes Produce Powerful Galaxy-shaping Winds - also here, here
6. November 2, 2007 - Colossal Winds of Change
7. November 5, 2007 - Black Holes Launch Powerful Cosmic Winds

Neutrino physics

1. October 31, 2007 - India digs deep to build neutrino lab

Black holes and loop quantum gravity

1. October 31, 2007 - Black holes may harbour their own universes

Star formation

1. October 31, 2007 - Magnetic fields may stop young stars self-destructing
2. October 31, 2007 - New Spin on How Stars are Born

Extrasolar planets

1. October 31, 2007 - Planet hunters announce three new finds
2. October 31, 2007 - Boiling planets found at edge of galaxy
3. November 2, 2007 - Earth-like planets get life assessment
4. November 5, 2007 - Three New Exo-planets Discovered
5. November 8, 2007 - Newfound Planets are Scorching Hot

Earthquakes

1. October 31, 2007 - Nano-coatings grease earthquake zones

Carbon nanotubes

1. October 31, 2007 - Bullets bounce off nanotubes

Water on Mars

1. November 1, 2007 - Vast amount of water ice may lie on Martian equator

Interacting galaxies

1. November 1, 2007 - Hubble Sees Graceful Dance Of Two Interacting Galaxies - also here, here

Supercomputing

1. November 1, 2007 - Argonne's Blue Gene/P gets more muscle to address most challenging scientific problems

Supernovae

1. November 1, 2007 - White Dwarf 'Sibling Rivalry' Explodes into Supernova
2. November 1, 2007 - Dead Stars Collide, Explode
3. November 6, 2007 - When Stars Collide

Quasiparticles

1. November 1, 2007 - Physicists show how electrons 'gain weight' in metal compounds near absolute zero - also here

Nanotechnology

1. November 1, 2007 - Nano-assembly Mimics Origin Of Life? Molecules Organize Themselves Into Patterns - also here, here
2. November 1, 2007 - Engineers Teach Nature to 'Grow' Computer Components
3. November 1, 2007 - Heavy atoms reduce nanoscale friction
4. November 2, 2007 - 'Heftier' Atoms Reduce Friction At The Nanoscale, Study Reveals - also here, here
5. November 2, 2007 - Research predicts size-induced transition to nanoscale half-metallicity

Dark energy

1. November 2, 2007 - Bursting dark energy's bubble

Global warming

1. November 2, 2007 - Shrinking ice means Greenland is rising fast
2. November 2, 2007 - If not in atmosphere, where does carbon go?

Robotics

1. November 2, 2007 - Robots Prepare for the Battlefield by First Fighting City Traffic
2. November 2, 2007 - MIT's 'robocar' named a finalist in DARPA Urban Challenge
3. November 3, 2007 - No driver, no problem in robot car race - also here
4. November 4, 2007 - Robot car technology heads for the road - also here,
5. November 4, 2007 - Outsiders challenged big guys at robot car race
6. November 4, 2007 - SUV with mind of its own wins robot car race
7. November 4, 2007 - US military spurs robot car creations with big money race
8. November 5, 2007 - 'Aggressive but safe' SUV wins robotic street race
9. November 5, 2007 - Robot cars race around California
10. November 5, 2007 - Crashes and Traffic Jams in Military Test of Robotic Vehicles
11. November 6, 2007 - Carnegie Mellon Robotized SUV Wins DARPA Urban Challenge
12. November 7, 2007 - What's ahead for CMU's 'Boss'?

Spintronics

1. November 2, 2007 - Researchers rotate electron spin with electric field - also here, here
2. November 3, 2007 - Single spins controlled by an electric field

Photonics

1. November 2, 2007 - Light-powered micro-machines to advance telecommunications

Life sciences

Visual/auditory information processing

1. October 29, 2007 - When the Eyes Play Tricks on the Ears
2. November 2, 2007 - How Ventriloquists Trick The Brain: Sight, Sound Processed Together And Earlier Than Previously Thought - also here

Brain effects of leptin

1. October 29, 2007 - Brain scans of obese show hunger hormone at work - also here
2. October 30, 2007 - Brain Circuits That Control Hunger Identified - also here, here

Histone proteins

1. October 29, 2007 - Cell Pathway, Disease Linked To Histone Action

Evolution of altruism

1. October 29, 2007 - In-group Altruism And Hostility Toward Outsiders Evolved Together - also here

Creativity

1. October 29, 2007 - Brain Activity Differs For Creative And Noncreative Thinkers

Chromosomal passenger complex

1. October 29, 2007 - The Watchdogs of chromosome-segregation

Neurobiology of counting

1. October 30, 2007 - Monkeys reveal brain is hard-wired for counting
2. October 31, 2007 - How the Brain Maps Symbols to Numbers
3. November 2, 2007 - Neurons In Primate Cortex Associate Numerical Meaning With Visual Signs

Cancer biology

1. October 30, 2007 - Ways To Teach Approved Drugs New Tricks: How To Combat Cancer

Wnt signaling

1. October 30, 2007 - Odd protein interaction guides development of olfactory system - also here

Cat genome

1. October 31, 2007 - Inbred cat provides first feline genome
2. October 31, 2007 - Cat's eye view of DNA sheds light on human disease - also here
3. October 31, 2007 - The Keys to Cat-ness
4. October 31, 2007 - Cat joins the genome club
5. October 31, 2007 - Scientists Decode Most of Mo. Cat's DNA - also here, here
6. November 1, 2007 - Pussy lends DNA to doctors
7. November 1, 2007 - Domestic Cat Genome Sequenced
8. November 1, 2007 - Cat joins exclusive genome club

Neuronal circuits

1. October 31, 2007 - Colours light up brain structure

Abiotic formation of adenine

1. October 31, 2007 - How Did Chemical Constituents Essential To Life Arise On Primitive Earth? - also here

Lithium and lifespan extension in nematodes

1. October 31, 2007 - Drug Commonly Used To Treat Bipolar Disorder Dramatically Increases Lifespan In Worms - also here

Biofilms

1. October 31, 2007 - Efficient Crowd Control In Bacterial Colonies - also here

Fear

1. October 31, 2007 - Scientists Note Brain's Reaction to Fear - also here

Bt toxin

1. November 1, 2007 - New Designer Toxins Kill Bt-resistant Insect Pests - also here
2. November 1, 2007 - Modified toxin helps crops kill resistant insects
3. November 2, 2007 - 'Designer' toxins target resistant bugs

Human visual tracking capacity

1. November 1, 2007 - Brain can juggle eight balls at once

Limb regeneration in newts

1. November 1, 2007 - Newt protein may offer clues for human regeneration - also here
2. November 2, 2007 - Newt protein makes legs grow back

Parasites and evolution

1. November 1, 2007 - Parasites: Beat Them or Join Them?
2. November 3, 2007 - Tangled Web Of The Insect, Plant And Parasite Arms Race
3. November 7, 2007 - To Fight Disease, Animals -- Like Plants -- Can Tolerate Parasites - also here

Maturation of new neurons

1. November 1, 2007 - New Brain Cells Listen Before They Talk - also here, here

Brain-imaging studies

1. November 1, 2007 - Human Decision-making Takes Multiple Brain Regions Performing Individual Functions
2. November 4, 2007 - Training and experience can affect brain organization, research shows - also here

Modeling protein behavior

1. November 1, 2007 - Modeling Protein Behavior: Speed Plays Crucial Role In Breaking Protein's H-bonds

Bacterial communication

1. November 1, 2007 - New Peptide Communication Factor Enabling Bacteria To 'Talk To Each Other' Discovered - also here

DNA repair

1. November 2, 2007 - New Discovery Illuminates How Cells Repair Damaged DNA - also here

Neural network models of the immune system

1. November 2, 2007 - 'PIN Codes' Of The Immune System Can Be Hacked - also here

Health and medicine

Avian flu

1. October 29, 2007 - Indonesian boy sick with bird flu - also here
2. November 2, 2007 - Bird flu forces Bangladesh to cull chickens - also here
3. November 4, 2007 - Indonesian woman dies of bird flu - health official - also here

Cancer

1. October 29, 2007 - Sunlight may cut breast cancer risk for some women - also here
2. October 29, 2007 - UV light may offer "double whammy" for cancer - also here
3. October 29, 2007 - Unravelling The Secrets Of Cancer Cells
4. October 29, 2007 - Combination Targets For Cancer: Some Drugs Work Well Together, Studies Suggest
5. October 29, 2007 - Blood Markers Can Help Choose Best Dose For Antiangiogenic Drugs, Study Suggests
6. October 29, 2007 - PET scans track small tumors after stereotactic body radiotherapy
7. October 29, 2007 - FDA Approves Drug to Treat Leukemia
8. October 30, 2007 - Close Relationship Between H. Pylori And Gastric Cancer Suggested
9. October 30, 2007 - Tiny Radioactive Spheres Effectively Treat Cancer That Has Spread To The Liver - also here, here
10. October 30, 2007 - Radiation Seeds Effectively Cure Prostate Cancer In Young Men - also here, here
11. October 30, 2007 - Extra radiation dose prevents breast cancer return in young women
12. October 30, 2007 - Breast cancer is more aggressive in African-American women - also here
13. October 30, 2007 - How Does the Antitumor Drug Get to the Cell Nucleus? - also here
14. October 30, 2007 - Light activated cancer drug hope
15. October 31, 2007 - Cervical cancer survivors prone to other cancers - also here
16. October 31, 2007 - Knocking down cholesterol helps prostate cancer treatment
17. October 31, 2007 - ADH2 And ALDH2 Are Associated With Esophageal Cancer, Study Shows
18. October 31, 2007 - 3-D Model Of Esophageal Cancer Created
19. October 31, 2007 - Surgery, Radiation Gives Early Survival Advantage In Bile Duct Cancer - also here
20. October 31, 2007 - Radiation Plus Chemo Quadruples Survival Time For Fatal Brain Cancer
21. October 31, 2007 - Can Cholesterol-lowering Medicine Make Radiation More Effective At Curing Prostate Cancer?
22. October 31, 2007 - Breast Cancer Returns More Often In Black Women - also here
23. November 1, 2007 - Enzyme may play role in aggressive lung cancer - also here
24. November 1, 2007 - New Treatment Option Studied For Bladder Cancer - also here
25. November 1, 2007 - Promising Cancer Treatments Under Development
26. November 1, 2007 - Oncologists Show Focused Radiation Is Effective As Surgery Against Nerve Tumor - also here
27. November 1, 2007 - Cancer-Killing Virus Shows Promise as Metastatic Cancer Treatment
28. November 1, 2007 - New Genetic Variant Linked To Prostate Cancer In African-Americans - also here
29. November 1, 2007 - Novel Medication Improves Ovarian Cancer Treatment
30. November 1, 2007 - Men, Don't Skip Your Prostate Cancer Treatment Appointments
31. November 1, 2007 - Study shows drug could effectively treat, prevent the spread of breast cancer
32. November 1, 2007 - Vessel-thwarting antibody might help starve cancerous tumors
33. November 2, 2007 - Mechanism Of Action Of EGFR Inhibitors in Cancer Chemotherapy
34. November 2, 2007 - Radiation After Surgery Keeps High-risk Prostate Cancer At Bay
35. November 2, 2007 - Recent Increase In Multiple Myeloma Survival Attributed To Novel Therapies - also here, here
36. November 2, 2007 - Potential New Therapeutic Molecular Target To Fight Cancer - also here, here
37. November 2, 2007 - Increased glucose level is a strong risk factor for colorectal cancer - also here, here
38. November 2, 2007 - Like cancer, survival rate can be inherited: study
39. November 2, 2007 - Folic acid linked to increased cancer rate - also here
40. November 2, 2007 - Does neural cell adhesion molecule-180 predict survival in colorectal cancer?
41. November 2, 2007 - Cancer children more prone to survive if parents did
42. November 3, 2007 - UV Light Improving Chances Of Fighting Cancer - also here, here
43. November 3, 2007 - Cancer Treatment: Radiation Seed Implant Decreases Risk Of Death Over Watchful Waiting
44. November 3, 2007 - New Way To Predict Survival In Older Women With Lung Cancer - also here
45. November 4, 2007 - Discovery Could Increase Tumors' Sensitivity To Radiation Therapy - also here
46. November 4, 2007 - Drug Found Effective In Treating, Preventing Breast Cancer - also here, here
47. November 4, 2007 - Sweep of lung cancer genome reveals new gene - also here

Viruses and cancer

1. October 29, 2007 - New Screening Method May Identify Tumor Viruses
2. October 31, 2007 - Kill the Virus, Stop the Cancer
3. November 2, 2007 - Cancer Treated As An Infectious Disease -- With Promising Results - also here, here
4. November 4, 2007 - How One Virus Uses Mimicry To Replicate Successfully: Related Mechanisms May Trigger Some Cancers - also here

AIDS

1. October 29, 2007 - A Hairpin To Fight HIV - also here
2. October 29, 2007 - AIDS virus invaded U.S. from Haiti: study - also here
3. October 29, 2007 - How HIV Took the World by Storm
4. October 29, 2007 - Key HIV strain 'came from Haiti'
5. October 30, 2007 - HIV's Path Out Of Africa: Haiti, The US Then The World - also here
6. October 30, 2007 - Analysis clarifies route of AIDS
7. November 2, 2007 - Lifetime trauma may speed progression of HIV, early death - also here, here

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. October 29, 2007 - Rheumatoid arthritis patients' mortality unchanged - also here
2. October 31, 2007 - Widening Mortality Gap Between People With Rheumatoid Arthritis And The General Population
3. November 4, 2007 - Researchers identify gene behind rheumatoid arthritis - also here, here

Diabetes

1. October 29, 2007 - Type 2 Diabetes: Genes Linked To Insulin Resistance Identified
2. November 1, 2007 - Protein may be key to gestational diabetes - also here
3. November 3, 2007 - Preventing Or Reducing Enlarged Heart May Decrease Risk For Diabetes - also here

Malaria

1. October 29, 2007 - Protein-Based Vaccine May Protect Against Malaria
2. October 30, 2007 - Newly Identified Genes May Be Key In Preventing Pregnancy Malaria

Autism

1. October 29, 2007 - What Are The Early Warning Signs Of Autism?
2. October 31, 2007 - Genotype data of families with autism are released

Gene therapy

1. October 29, 2007 - Intravenous gene therapy protects normal tissue of mice during whole-body radiation
2. October 30, 2007 - Gene therapy sees early success for neurodegenerative disease

Health benefits of organic produce

1. October 29, 2007 - Organic produce 'better for you'

Psoriasis

1. October 29, 2007 - Smoking 'raises psoriasis risk'
2. October 30, 2007 - Smoking Increases Risk Of Psoriasis, Study Shows - also here

Schizophrenia

1. October 30, 2007 - Ziprasidone may control unresponsive schizophrenia - also here

Cardiovascular disease

1. October 30, 2007 - Ethnic Differences In Sleep Quality And Blood Pressure - also here, here
2. October 31, 2007 - Hereditary Link To Heart Disease Puts Male Siblings At Highest Risk - also here, here
3. October 31, 2007 - Researchers identify new cardiac arrest gene
4. November 1, 2007 - Link between a sleep-related breathing disorder and increased heart rate variability - also here
5. November 2, 2007 - Master Switch That Regulates Blood Pressure Identified - also here
6. November 2, 2007 - New studies add weight to link between pre-eclampsia and heart disease - also here
7. November 2, 2007 - Pre-eclampsia link to heart risk
8. November 2, 2007 - Study: Fountain of youth for your heart? - also here, here
9. November 2, 2007 - Just Anticipating a Nap May Be Good for the Heart - also here, here, here
10. November 4, 2007 - Onions 'cut heart disease risk'
11. November 4, 2007 - Study: New Heart Pill May Rival Plavix
12. November 4, 2007 - Less of Schering-Plough clot drug works
13. November 4, 2007 - Lilly clot drug works, but more bleeding seen

Inflammatory bowel diseaes

1. October 30, 2007 - New Treatment Is Effective Strategy In IBD Patients, Study Suggests

Stem cells

1. October 30, 2007 - Could stem cells be used to cure Crohn's Disease?
2. November 1, 2007 - Bystander Stem Cells Keep Original Neurons Humming, Restore Memory
3. November 2, 2007 - Stem Cells Can Improve Memory After Brain Injury - also here
4. November 2, 2007 - Researchers to develop new drug delivery system - also here, here
5. November 4, 2007 - Stem Cells In Degenerating Spinal Discs Discovered, Potential For Repair - also here, here

Health risks of folic acid

1. October 30, 2007 - Folic acid fortification warning
2. November 5, 2007 - Scientists Question Folic Acid Fortification - also here

Vitamin D and cancer

1. October 30, 2007 - Vitamin D does not prevent death from cancer - also here
2. October 30, 2007 - Vitamin D May Not Reduce Cancer Deaths
3. October 30, 2007 - Vitamin D Won't Help Prevent Most Cancers
4. October 31, 2007 - Vitamin D cuts colon cancer death risk: U.S. study - also here
5. October 31, 2007 - Study Finds No Connection Between Vitamin D And Overall Cancer Deaths
6. November 1, 2007 - At the moment, Vitamin D may fight cancer - also here

Anthrax vaccine

1. October 31, 2007 - Lack of realism blamed for failed anthrax vaccine

Diet, obesity and cancer

1. October 31, 2007 - Obesity increases the risk of cancer
2. October 31, 2007 - Report stresses link between obesity and cancer - also here
3. October 31, 2007 - Diet, growth are major cancer causes: report
4. October 31, 2007 - Be thin to cut cancer, study says
5. October 31, 2007 - Body fat is linked to six types of cancers
6. November 2, 2007 - Our Diet Must Change To Cut Cancer Risk, Experts Urge - also here

Cancer vaccines

1. October 31, 2007 - One Step Closer To Elusive Cancer Vaccine - also here

Parkinson's disease

1. October 31, 2007 - Chemical That Triggers Parkinson's Disease Discovered

Sleep

1. October 31, 2007 - Nap Now, Sleep Tonight -- And Think Better Tomorrow

T cells and autoimmunity

1. November 1, 2007 - What Immune Cells See: Ins And Outs Of Peptide Processing

Polyphenols, cancer, and cardiovascular disease

1. November 1, 2007 - Chemical In Red Wine, Fruits And Vegetables May Stop Cancer, Heart Disease, Depending On The Dose - also here, here

Alzheimer's disease

1. November 1, 2007 - PET Scan Distinguishes Alzheimer's From Other Dementia
2. November 1, 2007 - Alzheimer's cold sore virus link
3. November 4, 2007 - New Brain Marker Shows Promise For Predicting Future Alzheimer's Disease - also here, here

Hepatitis C

1. November 2, 2007 - 24-week Course Of Interferon-alpha Therapy Prolongs Survival In Patients Hepatitis C Virus
2. November 2, 2007 - How Hep C bypasses cell defences

Antioxidants

1. November 2, 2007 - Rosemary Chicken Protects Your Brain From Free Radicals - also here, here

Carbon nanotubes and cancer

1. November 3, 2007 - Radio Waves Fire Up Nanotubes Embedded In Tumors, Destroying Liver Cancer - also here, here
2. November 5, 2007 - Nanotubes zap cancer

Staph vaccines

1. November 4, 2007 - Promising Vaccine Against Deadly Staph Infections Blocks Communication System Of Bacteria - also here, here

Copyright © 2007 by Charles Daney, All Rights Reserved