Volume 7, Number 7 February 18, 2008

Physical sciences and technology Astrochemistry Atlantic Ocean circulation Lattice QCD Global warming Protein-based digital storage Dark matter and the first stars Very early galaxies Nanotechnology Black holes Extrasolar planets Lab on a chip Supernovae Carbon nanotubes Hydrocarbons on Titan Neutrino mass Superconductivity Laboratory black hole model Advanced photolithography Dark matter Brain-computer interface Graphene and spintronics Graphene Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum Salt water on Mars Bs mesons and CP symmetry Gamma-ray bursts Climate change and hurricanes Quantum information Life sciences Cheap genome sequencing Embryonic development of the nervous system Cancer stem cells Proteins and water PARP-1 regulation of genes Infrared photosynthesis Circadian rhythms Transcription factors Embryonic heart development Induced pluripotent stem cells Enucleation of red blood cells Evolution of microRNA MicroRNA and embryonic development Cancer biology Cohesin and gene expression Addiction, dopamine, and the nucleus accumbens Oxytocin Amoeba, social behavior, and genes Nuclear positioning and gene activation Genetic code translation in bacteria Stem cells and BMP signaling Wnt signaling and glaucoma Riboswitches Nanobiotechnology Characteristics of human cognition Retrograde communication between muscle cells and neurons Sex differences in the brain's serotonin system G protein signaling Extremeophiles Cortisol and memory Health and medicine Avian flu Cardiovascular disease Alzheimer's disease Cancer Diabetes Autism Prions Lifestyle and longevity Stem cells Muscle fatigue and heart failure Interferon augmentation Multiple sclerosis Diabetes and cardiovascular disease Cancer vaccines AIDS Metabolic syndrome Anthocyanins and obesity Parkinson's disease Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Mitochondrial DNA mutations and aging Lupus Allergies and inflammatory diseases Obesity and cancer Schizophrenia

Physical sciences and technology

Astrochemistry

1. February 11, 2008 - Organic molecules found on alien world for first time

Atlantic Ocean circulation

1. February 11, 2008 - Navigating Uncertain Seas
2. February 16, 2008 - Global warming may not have caused sluggish Atlantic

Lattice QCD

1. February 11, 2008 - Latest Supercomputer Calculations Support the Six-Quark Theory

Global warming

1. February 12, 2008 - Sea Level Rise Could Be Twice As High As Current Projections, Greenland Ice Sheet Study Suggests - also here, here
2. February 15, 2008 - Wind Patterns Could Mask Effects Of Global Warming In Ocean
3. February 17, 2008 - Climate Change Has Major Impact On Oceans
4. February 17, 2008 - Has An Ocean Circulation Collapse Been Triggered? - also here

Protein-based digital storage

1. February 12, 2008 - 'Recordable' Proteins As Next-generation Memory Storage Materials

Dark matter and the first stars

1. February 12, 2008 - First stars might have been powered by dark matter
2. February 19, 2008 - First stars 'may have been dark'

Very early galaxies

1. February 12, 2008 - Farthest Galaxy Found, Perhaps
2. February 13, 2008 - Hubble Finds Strong Contender For Galaxy Distance Record - also here

Nanotechnology

1. February 13, 2008 - Nano-bristle T-shirt to harness your power moves
2. February 13, 2008 - Microfiber fabric makes its own electricity?
3. February 13, 2008 - Programming Biomolecular Self-Assembly Pathways
4. February 13, 2008 - Fibres could generate electricity from body motion
5. February 13, 2008 - Nanowires allow 'power dressing'
6. February 13, 2008 - Fabric may make the first real power suit
7. February 14, 2008 - 'Power shirt' generates watts as you walk
8. February 14, 2008 - Nanotechnology In Clothing Could Harvest Energy From Body Movement - also here
9. February 14, 2008 - Remarkable new clothing may someday power your iPod - also here

Black holes

1. February 13, 2008 - 'Periodic table' organises zoo of black hole orbits

Extrasolar planets

1. February 13, 2008 - First multiple planet system found by microlensing
2. February 14, 2008 - Scientists and amateurs find new solar system
3. February 14, 2008 - Solar System Like Ours Found
4. February 14, 2008 - Siblings of Jupiter and Saturn discovered
5. February 14, 2008 - Solar System match made in the heavens
6. February 15, 2008 - Scaled-Down Solar System Found 5,000 Light-Years Away
7. February 15, 2008 - Cosmic magnifying glass finds familiar planets
8. February 15, 2008 - Jupiter-Saturn-like Planets Discovered In Faraway Solar System Like Our Own - also here
9. February 15, 2008 - Researchers part of the team to discover similar planetary system to our solar system
10. February 15, 2008 - 2 Planets Found In Solar System That Is Similar To Our Own
11. February 15, 2008 - Smaller Version of the Solar System Is Discovered
12. February 17, 2008 - Many, perhaps most, nearby sun-like stars may form rocky planets
13. February 17, 2008 - Study: Earth-like Planets Common
14. February 17, 2008 - 'Hundreds of worlds' in Milky Way
15. February 18, 2008 - Many Earth-like planets may exist in Milky Way
16. February 18, 2008 - Terrestrial Planets Might Form Around Many, Maybe Most, Nearby Sun-like Stars
17. February 18, 2008 - Planet-hunters set for big bounty

Lab on a chip

1. February 13, 2008 - 'Lab On A Chip' Mimics Brain Chemistry - also here

Supernovae

1. February 13, 2008 - Possible progenitor of special supernova type detected - also here
2. February 22, 2008 - Chasing a Supernova Progenitor

Carbon nanotubes

1. February 13, 2008 - NEC Succeeds in Fabrication of CNT Transistor Using Coating Process
2. February 14, 2008 - Tweaking The Conductivity Of Nanotube Composites

Hydrocarbons on Titan

1. February 13, 2008 - Titan's surface organics surpass oil reserves on Earth - also here
2. February 13, 2008 - Titan Has More Oil Than Earth

Neutrino mass

1. February 13, 2008 - Theorists weigh up new route to neutrino mass

Advanced photolithography

1. February 13, 2008 - Dark Physics Beats Light Limit

Superconductivity

1. February 13, 2008 - Superconducting Chaos
2. February 16, 2008 - Superconducting Surprise: Better Understanding Could Bring 'Endless Applications' - also here, here

Laboratory black hole model

1. February 13, 2008 - Laser light creates black holes in the lab - also here
2. February 16, 2008 - Black hole event horizon created in the lab

Dark matter

1. February 14, 2008 - COUPP experiment tightens limits on dark matter - also here
2. February 18, 2008 - Bubble chamber puts new constraints on WIMPs

Brain-computer interface

1. February 15, 2008 - Brain blanket boosts mind control

Graphene and spintronics

1. February 15, 2008 - Graphene Holds Promise For Spintronics - also here

Graphene

1. February 15, 2008 - Small graphene wires may be poor conductors

Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum

1. February 15, 2008 - Past greenhouse warming events provide clues to what the future may hold - also here

Salt water on Mars

1. February 15, 2008 - Mars Rovers Sharpen Questions About Livable Conditions - also here
2. February 15, 2008 - Mars Water Was Very Salty
3. February 15, 2008 - Early Mars 'too salty' for life
4. February 16, 2008 - Salty water may have snuffed out life on Mars: scientists
5. February 18, 2008 - Mars too salty to sustain life

B_s mesons and CP symmetry

1. February 15, 2008 - A 'Golden Channel' for New Physics

Gamma-ray bursts

1. February 16, 2008 - Worldwide Hunt To Solve The Mystery Of Gamma-ray Bursts - also here

Climate change and hurricanes

1. February 16, 2008 - The key to quieter Atlantic hurricane seasons may be blowing in the wind

Quantum information

1. February 16, 2008 - Turning 'funky' quantum mysteries into computing reality

Life sciences

Cheap genome sequencing

1. February 11, 2008 - California company claims faster, cheaper gene map - also here

Embryonic development of the nervous system

1. February 11, 2008 - Gene Essential For Prenatal Development Of Nervous System Characterized

Cancer stem cells

1. February 11, 2008 - Discovery Of Good -- And Bad -- Liver Stem Cells Raises Possibility Of New Treatment - also here
2. February 14, 2008 - Stem Cells Give Clues To Understanding Cancer And Make Breakthrough In Childhood Leukaemia - also here

Proteins and water

1. February 11, 2008 - The Way A Protein Is Folded Affects The Molecular Dance Of Water

PARP-1 regulation of genes

1. February 11, 2008 - How One Protein Binds To Genes And Regulates Human Genome

Infrared photosynthesis

1. February 11, 2008 - Living On 'The Red Edge': Rare Form Of Chlorophyll Discovered In Newly Sequenced Bacterium
2. February 11, 2008 - Researchers decode genetics of rare photosynthetic bacterium

Circadian rhythms

1. February 11, 2008 - New Research Explores How Our Bodies Keep Time

Transcription factors

1. February 12, 2008 - Gene Regulators Bind Promiscuously, But Often Do Nothing

Embryonic heart development

1. February 12, 2008 - How The Heart Takes Form: Early Heart Development In Vertebrates

Induced pluripotent stem cells

1. February 12, 2008 - Human Skin Cells Reprogrammed Into Embryonic Stem Cells
2. February 15, 2008 - Discovery Could Help Reprogram Adult Cells To Embryonic Stem Cell-like State - also here

Enucleation of red blood cells

1. February 12, 2008 - How Red Blood Cells Nuke Their Nuclei - also here

Evolution of microRNA

1. February 12, 2008 - Researchers find the root of the evolutionary emergence of vertebrates
2. February 13, 2008 - "Junk" RNA May Have Played Role in Vertebrate Evolution
3. February 13, 2008 - 'Junk DNA' Can Explain Origin And Complexity Of Vertebrates, Study Suggests - also here

MicroRNA and embryonic development

1. February 13, 2008 - Mechanism Leading To Cleft Palate Discovered - also here

Cancer biology

1. February 13, 2008 - Study catches picture of deadly cancer enzyme
2. February 14, 2008 - Structure Of Gene Regulator That Plays Key Role In Cancer Solved - also here, here
3. February 15, 2008 - Enzyme Structure Reveals New Drug Targets for Cancer and Other Diseases - also here
4. February 15, 2008 - Oncoproteins double-team and destroy vital tumor-suppressor - also here, here
5. February 15, 2008 - Defining cancer's genetic 'support network' - also here
6. February 16, 2008 - Possible Cause Of Lymphoma Illuminated - also here, here

Cohesin and gene expression

1. February 13, 2008 - 'Molecular Glue' Cohesin Acts As Regulator Of Gene Expression

Addiction, dopamine, and the nucleus accumbens

1. February 13, 2008 - New findings show additional similarity between opiate and nicotine addiction - also here

Oxytocin

1. February 14, 2008 - 'Love Hormone' Promotes Bonding: Could It Treat Anxiety?

Amoeba, social behavior, and genes

1. February 14, 2008 - Microbial 'cheaters' help scientists ID 'social' genes
2. February 18, 2008 - Cheating Is Easy For The Social Amoeba

Nuclear positioning and gene activation

1. February 15, 2008 - Location Matters, Even For Genes - also here, here

Genetic code translation in bacteria

1. February 15, 2008 - A new control mechanism for genetic code translation discovered in bacteria - also here, here

Stem cells and BMP signaling

1. February 15, 2008 - Protein maintains cross talk between cells that control hair growth - also here, here

Wnt signaling and glaucoma

1. February 15, 2008 - Role identified for glaucoma gene and related signaling pathway - also here
2. February 15, 2008 - Blinded by sFRP-1: A WNT signaling protein plays a key role in glaucoma

Riboswitches

1. February 15, 2008 - Researchers make first direct observation of 3-D molecule folding in real time - also here

Nanobiotechnology

1. February 15, 2008 - New Nanotube Findings Give Boost to Potential Biomedical Applications
2. February 15, 2008 - Nanotechnology Advances Brain Cancer Detection and Therapy

Characteristics of human cognition

1. February 17, 2008 - What Is The Cognitive Rift Between Humans And Other Animals?

Retrograde communication between muscle cells and neurons

1. February 17, 2008 - Two-way Cell Talk Provides Clues About Neuromuscular Disease

Sex differences in the brain's serotonin system

1. February 17, 2008 - Sex Differences In The Brain's Serotonin System - also here, here

G protein signaling

1. February 17, 2008 - Discovery Of 'Overdrive' Protein Could Broaden Drug Design Options - also here

Extremeophiles

1. February 17, 2008 - Extremophile Hunt Begins In Strange Antarctic Lake

Cortisol and memory

1. February 17, 2008 - Stress hormone impacts memory, learning in diabetic rodents - also here

Health and medicine

Avian flu

1. February 11, 2008 - Bird flu spreads to another Bangladesh district
2. February 13, 2008 - Hong Kong disinfects markets after bird flu scare
3. February 13, 2008 - Indonesian girl tests positive for bird flu
4. February 16, 2008 - Indonesia reports 104th bird flu death
5. February 16, 2008 - Indonesian teenager dies of bird flu
6. February 16, 2008 - Bird Flu Kills Another Indonesian Boy - also here, here
7. February 16, 2008 - Indonesia's Bird-Flu Death Toll at 140
8. February 17, 2008 - Bird flu spreads to another Bangladesh district

Cardiovascular disease

1. February 11, 2008 - Patients At Increased Risk Of Heart Attack Within 3 Months After Stopping Clopidogrel Therapy, Study Shows
2. February 12, 2008 - Hostility Plus Depression Elevates Risk For Heart Disease - also here, here
3. February 13, 2008 - Urinary Biomarkers For Coronary Disease Found
4. February 13, 2008 - Setting Up A Roadblock For Atherosclerosis
5. February 14, 2008 - Cigarette Smoking Linked Heart Attacks In Early 50's For People With Common Gene Variant - also here, here
6. February 14, 2008 - Cardiovascular disease is different for women
7. February 14, 2008 - Brain Damage Occurs Within Minutes from the Onset of a Stroke, Study Reveals - also here
8. February 15, 2008 - Women tea-drinkers have less plaque in arteries
9. February 15, 2008 - Blood Pressure Drug May Also Reduce Risk Of Heart Attack, Stroke, Animal Study Suggests - also here, here
10. February 16, 2008 - Strokes cause brain damage in three minutes, report scientists - also here

Alzheimer's disease

1. February 11, 2008 - Mild Alzheimer's Patients Show Rapid Decline In Financial Skills And Increased Vulnerability To Fraud, Over One Year
2. February 12, 2008 - Iron Banded Worms Drying Out Of Blood Could Be Linked To Parkinson's And Alzheimer's - also here
3. February 13, 2008 - Moss Protein Plays Role In Alzheimer's Disease, Researchers Believe - also here

Cancer

1. February 11, 2008 - Why Certain Ovarian Cancers Develop Resistance To Platinum-based Chemotherapy - also here
2. February 12, 2008 - Genentech's Avastin meets breast cancer study goal
3. February 12, 2008 - Regular aspirin may lower colon cancer risk in men
4. February 12, 2008 - BRCA type sways benefit of anti-cancer surgery
5. February 12, 2008 - Smoking may raise risk of colon polyps
6. February 12, 2008 - New Trial To Test Radiation-emitting Beads Against Advanced Liver Cancer - also here, here
7. February 12, 2008 - HPV-positive Head And Neck Cancer Patients Fare Better Than HPV-negative Patients - also here
8. February 12, 2008 - Biological Factors That May Drive Prostate Tumor Aggressiveness In African-American Men Found
9. February 12, 2008 - Research team identifies novel anticancer drug from the sea - also here
10. February 12, 2008 - Veterinary researchers study poultry virus as human cancer treatment
11. February 13, 2008 - Skin cancer and colon cancer syndrome may be linked
12. February 13, 2008 - Older men with prostate cancer can wait and see - also here
13. February 13, 2008 - Skin cancer, colon cancer syndrome may be linked
14. February 13, 2008 - Straight To The Tumor: Fusion Protein Targets INKT Immune Cells To Tumors
15. February 13, 2008 - New Test Detects Early Stage Ovarian Cancer With 99 Percent Accuracy - also here
16. February 13, 2008 - Men Who Are Continually Active At Work May Have Decreased Prostate Cancer Risk, Study Suggests - also here
17. February 14, 2008 - Test can predict aggressive prostate cancer
18. February 14, 2008 - Breast cancer risk linked with fertility timing
19. February 14, 2008 - Benefit Of Cancer Prevention Surgery Differs Between Women With BRCA1 And BRCA2 Mutations - also here
20. February 14, 2008 - Smokers might benefit from earlier colon cancer screening - also here
21. February 14, 2008 - Researcher discovers new predictor of prostate cancer recurrence - also here
22. February 14, 2008 - Delaying Prostate Care OK for Some Men - also here
23. February 15, 2008 - Hair sample may provide breast cancer diagnosis - also here
24. February 15, 2008 - Blood test detects ovarian cancer early
25. February 15, 2008 - How DDT Metabolite Disrupts Breast Cancer Cells - also here, here
26. February 15, 2008 - PSA Testing Can Predict Advanced Prostate Cancer, Study Shows - also here, here
27. February 15, 2008 - Tumor-targeting viral therapy slows neuroblastoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors
28. February 16, 2008 - A Ray Of Sunshine In The Fight Against Cancer: Vitamin D May Help
29. February 16, 2008 - Stress may increase a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer - also here
30. February 16, 2008 - Stress may hit cancer virus fight
31. February 18, 2008 - Being Overweight May Raise Cancer Risk - also here, here

Diabetes

1. February 11, 2008 - Cure hope over diabetes therapy

Autism

1. February 12, 2008 - Some Cases Of Autism May Be Traced To The Immune System Of Mothers During Pregnancy - also here
2. February 12, 2008 - Prenatal Exposure To Maternal Antibodies Linked To Autistic Behaviors In Offspring

Prions

1. February 12, 2008 - Prions Link Cholesterol To Neurodegeneration - also here, here

Lifestyle and longevity

1. February 12, 2008 - Studies identify modifiable factors associated with exceptionally long life
2. February 13, 2008 - How To Live To 100: Remain Independent, Avoid Disability, Research Suggests
3. February 13, 2008 - Reaching 100 Is Easier Than Suspected - also here, here, here , here, here, here

Stem cells

1. February 12, 2008 - Boy home after rare stem cell treatment
2. February 13, 2008 - Functional Immune System Can Be Derived From Embryonic Stem Cells, Preliminary Study Finds - also here, here
3. February 17, 2008 - From Stem Cells To Organs: The Bioengineering Challenge - also here

Muscle fatigue and heart failure

1. February 12, 2008 - Leaky Muscle Cells Lead To Fatigue - also here
2. February 12, 2008 - Fatigue relief drug's heart hope
3. February 12, 2008 - Finding May Solve Riddle of Fatigue in Muscles

Interferon augmentation

1. February 13, 2008 - Scientists see promise in new way to fight viruses - also here
2. February 14, 2008 - Genetic Breakthrough Supercharges Immunity To Flu And Other Viruses - also here
3. February 14, 2008 - Virus immunity 'created in lab'

Multiple sclerosis

1. February 13, 2008 - Cancer drug slows multiple sclerosis progression - also here, here
2. February 14, 2008 - MS therapy shows promise in test
3. February 16, 2008 - Experimental MS Drug Shows Promise, Offers New Window On Disease, Study Shows - also here
4. February 17, 2008 - Brain drug target discovery in MS

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease

1. February 13, 2008 - International diabetes study contradicts U.S. trial
2. February 14, 2008 - Aggressive diabetes treatment affirmed in new study
3. February 15, 2008 - Major International Diabetes Study Does Not Confirm Increased Risk Of Death Reported By US Trial
4. February 29, 2008 - ADVANCE diabetes trial results confirm no evidence of safety risk

Cancer vaccines

1. February 13, 2008 - Vaccine protects against prostate cancer in mice
2. February 15, 2008 - Gene Therapy Protocol Activates Immune System In Patients With Leukemia, Study Shows - also here, here
3. February 15, 2008 - Mesothelin engineered on virus-like particles provides treatment clues for pancreatic cancer - also here

AIDS

1. February 14, 2008 - HIV Persists In The Gut Despite Long-term HIV Therapy, Study Shows - also here, here
2. February 14, 2008 - HIV can 'never be cured'
3. February 15, 2008 - HIV vaccine research hits impasse
4. February 17, 2008 - Experimental HIV Vaccine Gets A Boost From '70s-era Discovery - also here

Metabolic syndrome

1. February 14, 2008 - Genes that conquered cold blamed for fat
2. February 15, 2008 - Metabolic syndrome in kids likely to persist
3. February 17, 2008 - Metabolic Syndrome Linked To Cold Tolerance

Anthocyanins and obesity

1. February 14, 2008 - Natural Purple Pigments In Fruits, Vegetables And Berries, Such As Blueberries, May Help Prevent Obesity - also here

Parkinson's disease

1. February 14, 2008 - New Deep Brain Stimulation Device For Parkinson's, Movement Disorders, Under Evaluation

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

1. February 14, 2008 - Bacterial toxin closes gate on immune response, researchers discover - also here
2. February 15, 2008 - Cholesterol drug strips staph of color, virulence - also here
3. February 15, 2008 - Novel approach strips staph of virulence
4. February 16, 2008 - New Approach May Render Disease-causing Staph Harmless - also here

Mitochondrial DNA mutations and aging

1. February 14, 2008 - Mitochondrial DNA mutations can cause degenerative heart and muscle disease - also here

Lupus

1. February 14, 2008 - Blocked signals to immune cells extend their life and contribute to progression of lupus - also here

Allergies and inflammatory diseases

1. February 14, 2008 - New target promises better asthma and allergy drugs
2. February 15, 2008 - Toward Developing A New Class Of Asthma And Allergy Drugs - also here, here

Obesity and cancer

1. February 14, 2008 - British researchers link obesity to more cancers
2. February 15, 2008 - Obesity Growing to Be Top Cancer Cause - also here
3. February 16, 2008 - Weighty Evidence
4. February 18, 2008 - Obesity Increases Cancer Risk, Analysis Of Hundreds Of Studies Shows

Schizophrenia

1. February 15, 2008 - A genetic variant increases the risk of developing schizophrenia in women - also here

Copyright © 2008 by Charles Daney, All Rights Reserved