Volume 7, Number 21 May 26, 2008

Physical sciences and technology Black holes Stellar flares Graphene Polaritonics Gravity Probe B Carbon nanotubes Distribution of baryonic matter Terahertz technology Nanotechnology Supernovae Photonic crystals Superconductivity Bacterial computers Extrasolar planets Large Hadron Collider Bose-Einstein condensates SETI Water on Mars Gamma-ray bursts Ocean acidification Magnetars Robotics The Copernican principle and the cosmic microwave background Digital gene expression analysis Topology of the universe Dark energy Wave-partical duality of photons Quantum computing Global warming Earthquakes Life sciences Cancer biology Cancer stem cells Antibodies in the brain Brain-imaging studies Schwann cell rejuvenation Sporadic sexual reproduction in yeast Asymmetry in mitosis Opioids and fear Sexual selection Biofilms Dopamine and fruit fly courting Oxytocin Expression of transcription factors and development Confabulation Visual processing model Extremophiles Protein degradation and cellular senescence Embryonic stem cells Neuronal targeting and glia Bacteria-virus combat Cell growth and mTOR signaling Spread of modern humans Cellular nitric oxide system Molecular evolution Bacterial lifestyles Fibrillin and aging Independent evolution of lignin in plants Evolutionary developmental biology Helicobacter pylori Genetics of fat storage Video games and creativity DNA repair Synapse development Metagenomics Health and medicine Cancer Tissue regeneration Cardiovascular disease Alzheimer's disease Avian flu Metabolic syndrome Immunomodulatory effects of probiotics Stem cells Antidepressants Sleep deprivation AIDS Parkinson's disease Vaccines Adolescent obesity and mortality Celiac disease Lupus Gene therapy Autism Lab-on-a-chip Diabetes Schizophrenia Flavonoids, IL-6, and inflammation Tuberculosis Risks of anti-TNF therapy Nanobiotechnology Cancer vaccines

Physical sciences and technology

Black holes

1. May 19, 2008 - Mystery deepens over origin of biggest black holes

Stellar flares

1. May 19, 2008 - Puny star unleashes deadly flare
2. May 19, 2008 - Pipsqueak Star Unleashes Monster Flare - also here, here
3. May 19, 2008 - Tiny Star Unleashes Huge Explosion
4. May 20, 2008 - Pipsqueak star unleashes monster flare
5. May 20, 2008 - Common star draws swift attention with unprecedented flare
6. May 21, 2008 - Puny Star's Big Flare Wows Astronomers

Graphene

1. May 19, 2008 - By Adding Graphene, Researchers Create Superior Polymer - also here, here

Polaritonics

1. May 19, 2008 - 'Polaritonics' forges ahead

Gravity Probe B

1. May 20, 2008 - Gravity Probe B scores 'F' in NASA review
2. May 21, 2008 - Gravity Probe B comes last in NASA review

Carbon nanotubes

1. May 20, 2008 - Nanotubes' toxic effects 'similar to asbestos'
2. May 20, 2008 - Study Says Carbon Nanotubes as Dangerous as Asbestos
3. May 20, 2008 - Nanotechnology's Public Health Hazard?
4. May 20, 2008 - Carbon nanotubes: the new asbestos?
5. May 20, 2008 - 'Asbestos warning' on nanotubes
6. May 21, 2008 - Nanotubes give pre-cancer symptoms in mice
7. May 21, 2008 - Nanotubes present asbestos-like risk
8. May 21, 2008 - Asbestos-like nanotubes
9. May 21, 2008 - In Study, Researchers Find Nanotubes May Pose Health Risks Similar to Asbestos
10. May 21, 2008 - Carbon nanotubes mimic asbestos in early study - also here
11. May 22, 2008 - Carbon Nanotubes That Look Like Asbestos, Behave Like Asbestos, Could Lead To Asbestos-related Disease - also here

Distribution of baryonic matter

1. May 20, 2008 - Missing matter found in deep space
2. May 20, 2008 - Missing Matter Of Universe Found; Cosmic Web Discovered
3. May 20, 2008 - More Missing Cosmic Matter Found
4. May 21, 2008 - Bulk of Missing "Normal" Matter Found in Cosmic Web

Terahertz technology

1. May 20, 2008 - First Room-temperature Semiconductor Source Of Coherent Terahertz Radiation Demonstrated - also here, here
2. May 28, 2008 - Terahertz laser source shines at room temperature

Nanotechnology

1. May 20, 2008 - Researchers Develop Revolutionary Technology for Nanoscale Assembly at Wafer Level
2. May 21, 2008 - Mass-Producing Tunable Magnetic Nanoparticles

Supernovae

1. May 21, 2008 - Star self-destructs before astronomers' eyes
2. May 21, 2008 - Supernova Caught at its Very Start
3. May 21, 2008 - Supernova caught exploding on camera
4. May 21, 2008 - Astronomers Witness Supernova's First Moments
5. May 21, 2008 - The Beginning of a Star's Explosive End
6. May 21, 2008 - Supernova Caught Starting to Explode for First Time
7. May 21, 2008 - Supernova Birth Seen For First Time - also here
8. May 21, 2008 - Observation Of X-rays From Birth Of Supernova Leads To All-out Effort To Record Stellar Death - also here
9. May 21, 2008 - Supernova Birth Observed for First Time
10. May 21, 2008 - Exploding star caught in the act
11. May 21, 2008 - Scientists witness start of star's explosive death - also here, here, here
12. May 21, 2008 - Stellar blast watched in real time
13. May 22, 2008 - Exploding star caught in the act
14. May 22, 2008 - Scientists See Supernova in Action
15. May 22, 2008 - A supernova explosion is observed in real time
16. May 22, 2008 - NASA's Swift satellite catches first 'normal' supernova in the act of exploding - also here
17. May 22, 2008 - Astronomers watch as star dies
18. May 29, 2008 - Exploding Star Caught on Tape

Photonic crystals

1. May 21, 2008 - Diamond-Like Crystals Discovered In Brazilian Beetle Solve Issue For Future Optical Computers - also here, here

Superconductivity

1. May 21, 2008 - Superconducting State Can Be Induced By High Pressure In So-called High-temperature Superconductors - also here, here

Bacterial computers

1. May 21, 2008 - New Meaning For The Term 'Computer Bug': Genetically Altered Bacteria For Data Storage - also here
2. May 30, 2008 - DNA Computer Puts Microbes to Work as Number Crunchers

Extrasolar planets

1. May 21, 2008 - Twinkle, twinkle, any star - Sun not so special
2. May 22, 2008 - Sun's properties not 'fine-tuned' for life
3. May 22, 2008 - COROT's exoplanet hunt update
4. May 23, 2008 - Life doesn't need a special star
5. May 23, 2008 - Many stars, many planets

Large Hadron Collider

1. May 21, 2008 - Scientists join hunt for Higgs boson to complete 'theory of everything' - also here

Bose-Einstein condensates

1. May 21, 2008 - BEC bubble could measure tiny forces

SETI

1. May 21, 2008 - Looking for ET's neutrino beam

Water on Mars

1. May 22, 2008 - Mars Rover Unearths Ancient Hot Springs
2. May 22, 2008 - Martian sands
3. May 22, 2008 - Early Mars Had Floods, Yellowstone-Like Hot Springs
4. May 22, 2008 - Earth canyon hints at ancient megafloods on Mars
5. May 22, 2008 - Martian Canyons by a Trickle or a Gush?
6. May 22, 2008 - Ancient Flash Floods Sculpted Earth, Mars
7. May 22, 2008 - Hydrothermal Vents on Mars Could Have Supported Life
8. May 22, 2008 - Mars rover discovers signs of hot springs
9. May 23, 2008 - Mars rover eyes hot spring-like deposits
10. May 23, 2008 - Foot-dragging Mars Rover Finds Yellowstone-like Hot Spring Deposits - also here, here
11. May 27, 2008 - Massive Floods May Have Formed Steep-Headed Canyons

Gamma-ray bursts

1. May 22, 2008 - Gamma-ray bling!

Ocean acidification

1. May 22, 2008 - Growing Ocean Acidity May Erode Coastal Ecosystems
2. May 23, 2008 - U.S. Pacific Coast Waters Turning More Acidic - also here, here
3. May 24, 2008 - Ocean Acidification: Another Undesired Side Effect Of Fossil Fuel-burning - also here
4. May 28, 2008 - Scientists warn of rising Pacific Coast acidity - also here

Magnetars

1. May 22, 2008 - Cosmic Supermagnet Spreads Mysterious 'Morse Code'

Robotics

1. May 22, 2008 - New Robot Walks Like A Human

The Copernican principle and the cosmic microwave background

1. May 22, 2008 - A Test of the Copernican Principle
2. May 25, 2008 - New tests of the Copernican Principle proposed
3. June 7, 2008 - Researchers suggest experiments to test the Copernican principle

Digital gene expression analysis

1. May 22, 2008 - Fluorescent nano-barcodes could revolutionize diagnostics

Topology of the universe

1. May 23, 2008 - Doughnut-shaped Universe bites back

Dark energy

1. May 23, 2008 - Dark energy 'imaged' in best detail yet

Wave-partical duality of photons

1. May 23, 2008 - Tight deadline

Quantum computing

1. May 23, 2008 - Spin states endure in quantum dot

Global warming

1. May 23, 2008 - Vast cracks appear in Arctic ice
2. May 25, 2008 - Warm winds comfort climate change models: study

Earthquakes

1. May 25, 2008 - To predict quakes, listen to the animals, China survivors say
2. May 25, 2008 - Big quakes spark jolts worldwide - also here, here
3. May 26, 2008 - Major quakes spawn extra tremors across the globe
4. May 26, 2008 - Monster Quakes Set Off Global Tremors
5. May 27, 2008 - Quakes can be triggered from Earth's flipside

Life sciences

Cancer biology

1. May 19, 2008 - Study Implicates 350 Gene Regions In Cancer Development In The Mouse
2. May 20, 2008 - Closing In On New Melanoma Gene - also here
3. May 20, 2008 - Retraining Immune Cells To Kill Tumors
4. May 20, 2008 - Mapping Of Prostate Cancer Genes Opens The Door To New Treatments - also here
5. May 25, 2008 - Researchers find roadmap to next-generation cancer therapies - also here, here

Cancer stem cells

1. May 19, 2008 - Cancer Stem Cells May Be At The Root Of Brain Tumors
2. May 23, 2008 - What identifies cancer cells causing relapse and metastasis? Not CD133
3. May 28, 2008 - New Cancer Stem Cell Driving Metastatic Tumors Identified - also here

Antibodies in the brain

1. May 19, 2008 - Antibodies in the brain

Brain-imaging studies

1. May 19, 2008 - Researchers Reveal the Neuronal Computations Governing Strategic Social Interactions in the Human Brain

Schwann cell rejuvenation

1. May 19, 2008 - Turning back the clock for Schwann cells
2. May 22, 2008 - Regenerative Activity In The Peripheral Nervous System Could Mean Regeneration For The Central Nervous System - also here, here

Sporadic sexual reproduction in yeast

1. May 19, 2008 - DNA clues to reproductive behaviour - also here

Asymmetry in mitosis

1. May 19, 2008 - Mitotic cells: separate but unequal

Opioids and fear

1. May 20, 2008 - Body's natural painkillers may damp down phobias

Sexual selection

1. May 20, 2008 - 'Poets' and 'jocks' can both win in songbird duels

Biofilms

1. May 20, 2008 - First Evidence That Bacteria Get 'Touchy-feely' About Dangerous Biofilms - also here

Dopamine and fruit fly courting

1. May 20, 2008 - Doped-up male fruit flies fancy other males

Oxytocin

1. May 21, 2008 - The Neurochemistry of Forgiving and Forgetting
2. May 21, 2008 - Trust again
3. May 23, 2008 - Brain's 'Trust Machinery' Identified - also here

Expression of transcription factors and development

1. May 21, 2008 - Turn Off Gene Regulators To Tune In To Development

Confabulation

1. May 21, 2008 - When Your Memories Can No Longer Be Trusted - also here, here

Visual processing model

1. May 21, 2008 - Cat brain could provide bionic eye firmware
2. May 22, 2008 - Modeling How We See Natural Scenes - also here

Extremophiles

1. May 22, 2008 - Huge hidden biomass lives deep beneath the oceans
2. May 22, 2008 - Microbes found living at record 1.6km below seabed
3. May 22, 2008 - How low can life go?
4. May 22, 2008 - Life Found Where You Least Expect It
5. May 23, 2008 - Life reaches deeper beneath seabed
6. May 23, 2008 - Hot Life-Forms Found a Mile Under Seafloor
7. May 27, 2008 - Scientists Document Bustling Community Far Below Ocean Floor

Protein degradation and cellular senescence

1. May 22, 2008 - Enzyme For Ubiquitin-dependent Protein Degradation Linked To Cellular Senescence - also here

Embryonic stem cells

1. May 22, 2008 - Method To Duplicate Primitive Stem Cells And Prevent Cell Differentiation Discovered - also here

Neuronal targeting and glia

1. May 22, 2008 - Molecular Scaffold That Guides Connections Between Brain Cells Discovered - also here, here

Bacteria-virus combat

1. May 22, 2008 - Rapid escalation characterizes virus/host arms race

Cell growth and mTOR signaling

1. May 22, 2008 - How cells size up their growth opportunities

Spread of modern humans

1. May 23, 2008 - Tracing Humanity's Path
2. May 23, 2008 - New Statistical Method Reveals Surprises About Our Ancestry - also here
3. May 23, 2008 - New method reveals ancestry surprises

Cellular nitric oxide system

1. May 23, 2008 - Major 'Missed' Biochemical Pathway Emerges As Important In Virtually All Cells - also here, here

Molecular evolution

1. May 23, 2008 - Unique Adaptive Evolution Found In Snake Proteins Provide New Insight Into Vertebrate Physiology

Bacterial lifestyles

1. May 23, 2008 - Scientists reveal the lifestyle evolution of wild marine bacteria - also here, here

Fibrillin and aging

1. May 23, 2008 - Preserving skin elasticity could unlock secrets for better body health

Independent evolution of lignin in plants

1. May 23, 2008 - When Plants 'Think' Alike - also here, here

Evolutionary developmental biology

1. May 23, 2008 - Origin of cells for connective tissues of skull and face challenged - also here, here

Helicobacter pylori

1. May 23, 2008 - Novel toxin receptor discovered for ulcer-causing stomach pathogen - also here

Genetics of fat storage

1. May 24, 2008 - The Genetics Of Fat Storage In Cells Revealed - also here, here

Video games and creativity

1. May 24, 2008 - Video games can make us creative if spark is right

DNA repair

1. May 25, 2008 - Real-time Observation Of DNA-repair Mechanism - also here

Synapse development

1. May 25, 2008 - At The Synapse: Gene May Shed Light On Neurological Disorders - also here, here

Metagenomics

1. May 25, 2008 - Metagenomics Of Skin Reveals Insights Into The Human Microbiome - also here

Health and medicine

Cancer

1. May 19, 2008 - New analysis boosts drug's prostate cancer value
2. May 19, 2008 - Blood test for early lung cancer shows promise
3. May 19, 2008 - Kidney cancer in U.S. being caught earlier
4. May 19, 2008 - Majority Of Kidney Cancers Diagnosed At Earliest Stage - also here, here
5. May 19, 2008 - Radiofrequency Ablation Is Effective Treatment For Dysplasia In Barrett's Esophagus, Study Suggests - also here, here
6. May 19, 2008 - MR Imaging Accurately Determines Prostate Cancer Treatment Failure - also here
7. May 19, 2008 - Patients 75 Years And Older With Brain Tumors May Benefit From More Aggressive Treatment - also here
8. May 19, 2008 - Drug Therapy To Bolster Immune System Cells Found Effective Toward Childhood Cancer
9. May 19, 2008 - Iressa Shows Promise For Treatment Of Metastatic Breast Cancer When Combined With Hormonal Therapy - also here
10. May 20, 2008 - Cancer risk soars in HIV-infected people: study
11. May 20, 2008 - New Prognostic Markers For Gastric Cancer Patients
12. May 20, 2008 - Blood Test Can Help Improve Treatment Outcomes For Breast Cancer Patients
13. May 20, 2008 - Traditional Herbal Medicine Kills Pancreatic Cancer Cells, Researchers Report - also here, here
14. May 20, 2008 - Drug Fends Off Kidney Cancer Progression - also here
15. May 20, 2008 - Blood Test For Lung Cancer May Be Possible - also here
16. May 20, 2008 - Will Lung Cancer Recur? A Genetic Test May Provide The Answer - also here
17. May 20, 2008 - Doctors endorse waiting on some prostate tumors
18. May 21, 2008 - New treatments extend brain cancer survival a bit
19. May 21, 2008 - Could Common Pain Killers Have A Role In Cancer Prevention?
20. May 21, 2008 - New Research Improves Early Detection And Survival For Pancreatic Cancer
21. May 22, 2008 - Determining Genetic Signature Of Lung Tumors Can Help Guide Treatment - also here, here
22. May 22, 2008 - Virtual Biopsy Can Tell Whether Colon Polyp Is Benign Without Removal, Researchers Say - also here, here
23. May 22, 2008 - Study firms up promise of potential new cervical cancer screening tool - also here
24. May 23, 2008 - Monitoring Blood Flow Helps Improve Prostate Biopsies, Researchers Report - also here, here
25. May 23, 2008 - Doctors Can Unmask Deceptive High-risk Breast Tumors Using Genetic Profile - also here
26. May 23, 2008 - New Discovery May Lead To Early Cancer Detection - also here, here
27. May 24, 2008 - Data Re-analysis Shows Drug Finasteride May Reduce Risk For Most Prostate Cancers - also here
28. May 24, 2008 - Experimental Agent Blocks Prostate Cancer In Animal Study - also here, here
29. May 25, 2008 - Photodynamic Therapy Breakthrough In Cancer Treatment
30. May 25, 2008 - Clues to alcohol cancer mystery

Tissue regeneration

1. May 19, 2008 - Working bladders grown from progenitor cells

Cardiovascular disease

1. May 19, 2008 - Life-saving heart pill starts clinical tests
2. May 20, 2008 - Heart polypill to start clinical tests
3. May 20, 2008 - Erectile dysfunction predicts heart problems: study
4. May 20, 2008 - Diabetics' blood pressure often inadequately controlled
5. May 20, 2008 - Erectile Dysfunction May Signal A Broken Heart - also here
6. May 21, 2008 - Drug therapy doesn't buy time in heart attack
7. May 21, 2008 - Superiority Of Bivalirudin Found In Heart Attack Patients At 30 Days - also here, here
8. May 21, 2008 - Old Antibiotic May Find New Life As A Stroke Treatment - also here, here
9. May 21, 2008 - Merck ends study of cholesterol drug - also here
10. May 22, 2008 - HRT pills 'blood clot risk link'
11. May 22, 2008 - Study touts new drug for use in angioplasty
12. May 23, 2008 - Hypertension Treatment With Diuretics Recommended In New Guide - also here
13. May 23, 2008 - Hypoxia training suppresses harmful cardiac nitric oxide production during heart attack - also here, here
14. May 23, 2008 - Blood cholesterol levels predict risk of heart disease due to hormone therapy - also here
15. May 23, 2008 - Silent thyroid dysfunction has risks: study
16. May 23, 2008 - Sex problems 'may be heart alert'
17. May 25, 2008 - Blood Cholesterol Levels Predict Risk Of Heart Disease Due To Hormone Therapy, Study Shows - also here
18. May 27, 2008 - Drug Bivalirudin Better Than Heparin After Heart Attack, Large Study Suggests - also here, here

Alzheimer's disease

1. May 19, 2008 - Vaccine Triggers Immune Response, Prevents Alzheimer's In Mice - also here, here
2. May 24, 2008 - The Emerging Role Of Infection In Alzheimer's Disease - also here, here

Avian flu

1. May 19, 2008 - Glaxo to market bird flu vaccine
2. May 20, 2008 - Bird flu vaccine to hit the shelves
3. May 22, 2008 - Bangladesh says child recovers from bird flu
4. May 22, 2008 - Bangladesh reports 1st human case of H5N1 bird flu

Metabolic syndrome

1. May 20, 2008 - Blood test helps predict metabolic syndrome: study
2. May 20, 2008 - Metabolic syndrome not a good predictor of death
3. May 21, 2008 - Metabolic syndrome can't predict heart risk: study
4. May 22, 2008 - New Blood Test Reveals Risk For Metabolic Syndrome - also here

Immunomodulatory effects of probiotics

1. May 20, 2008 - What Else May Probiotics Do In Adults? - also here

Stem cells

1. May 20, 2008 - Stem Cells Might Contribute To Vascular Disease
2. May 21, 2008 - Vacillating stem cells
3. May 24, 2008 - Many Paths, Few Destinations: How Stem Cells Decide What They'll Become - also here, here

Antidepressants

1. May 20, 2008 - Burning Incense Is Psychoactive: New Class Of Antidepressants Might Be Right Under Our Noses - also here

Sleep deprivation

1. May 20, 2008 - No sleep 'renders brain erratic'
2. May 21, 2008 - Sleep-deprived Brains Alternate Between Normal Activity And 'Power Failure' - also here

AIDS

1. May 20, 2008 - HIV vaccines: Plan B
2. May 21, 2008 - Challenges Of HIV-1 Subtype Diversity - also here, here
3. May 23, 2008 - New Hope For HIV Vaccine: Unique HIV Vaccine Formula Elicits Strong Immune Responses
4. May 23, 2008 - Scientists reveal a protein's role in enabling AIDS virus to reproduce - also here, here
5. May 25, 2008 - Scientists image a single HIV particle being born - also here, here
6. May 25, 2008 - Protein that provides innate defense against HIV could lead to new treatments - also here, here

Parkinson's disease

1. May 21, 2008 - Parkinson's researchers join forces with gene tester
2. May 22, 2008 - Neural Cell Transplants May Help Those With Parkinson's Disease

Vaccines

1. May 21, 2008 - Vaccine Booster's Secret Revealed
2. May 24, 2008 - How Common Vaccine Booster Works - also here, here

Adolescent obesity and mortality

1. May 21, 2008 - Overweight In Adolescence Gives Increased Mortality Rate, Study Shows - also here

Celiac disease

1. May 21, 2008 - Research Advances May Help Prevent And Improve Diagnosis Of Celiac Disease

Lupus

1. May 21, 2008 - Abnormal 'Editing' Of Gene Messages May Be A Cause Of Lupus - also here, here

Gene therapy

1. May 21, 2008 - Improved Gene Therapy Agent Is 30 Times More Efficient Than Current One - also here, here
2. May 21, 2008 - Scientists 'Paint' Viruses To Track Their Fate In The Body
3. May 21, 2008 - A potential route for human tumor gene therapy
4. May 22, 2008 - Oral Gene Delivery System For Inflammatory Bowel Disease Works, Study Shows

Autism

1. May 21, 2008 - New Research Tool Can Detect Autism At 9 Months Of Age - also here, here

Lab-on-a-chip

1. May 21, 2008 - Chip-Based Device Measures Drug Resistance in Tumor Cells

Diabetes

1. May 22, 2008 - Insulin boost for early diabetes
2. May 22, 2008 - Diet, exercise can delay diabetes for years: study
3. May 23, 2008 - Act early to blunt long-term impact of diabetes: study
4. May 23, 2008 - Lifestyle Changes Can Keep Diabetes at Bay for 14 Years - also here

Schizophrenia

1. May 22, 2008 - Genetic Variation Affects Brain Region Dysfunctional In Schizophrenia

Flavonoids, IL-6, and inflammation

1. May 23, 2008 - Plant Flavonoid In Celery And Green Peppers Found To Reduce Inflammatory Response In The Brain - also here

Tuberculosis

1. May 23, 2008 - Latent TB Treatment Saves Time, Money, And Lives

Risks of anti-TNF therapy

1. May 23, 2008 - Tuberculosis Not The Only Risk From New Immunological Drugs - also here, here

Nanobiotechnology

1. May 23, 2008 - Failed HIV Drug Gets Second Chance with Addition of Gold Nanoparticles - also here, here

Cancer vaccines

1. May 23, 2008 - Cancer vaccine target pinpointed

Copyright © 2008 by Charles Daney, All Rights Reserved