Volume 8, Number 33 August 17, 2009

Physical sciences and technology Dark matter Nanotechnology Black holes Extrasolar planets Quantum Hall effect Microelectromechanical systems Climate modeling Carbon nanotubes Solar proxies Fuel cells Global warming Cosmic ray electrons and positrons from supernovae Quantum computing Solar radiation and climate change Weather on Titan Supernova remnants Hurricanes and global warming Geometric packing problems Supernovae Graphene Molecular clouds and star formation Video conferencing Artificial black holes Quantum ghost imaging Molecular electronics Ocean acidification Super planetary nebulae Climate and ocean heat flow Nanoflares and solar coronal heating Planck telescope Paleoclimatology Gravitational waves Aerosols and climate Nanoplasmonics Neutrino experiments Life sciences Genome sequencing Calmodulin Biomimetic chemistry Estrogen and cytotoxic T cells Beta-interferon and immune response Neanderthals Bacteriophages and anthrax bacteria Helicobacter pylori movement in mucus Polyploidy and speciation in plants Gene splicing in stem cells DNA damage control Apoptosis Motor proteins and friction Human Epigenome Project Modeling of DNA replication and cell division in bacteria Early modern human use of fire in tool manufacture Exon identification and sequencing DNA cleavage with deoxyribozymes Neuroscience, psychology, and behavior Schizophrenia Neurogenesis Malleability of cognitive ability Mirror neurons Long-term memory Brain-imaging studies Category-specific brain organization Language networks Neural codes of sound and images Anhedonia, depression, and dopamine Neurophysiology of visual search Learning and brain plasticity Brain mechanism for speech decoding Broca's area Genetics of sleep need Oxytocin in humans and birds Ghrelin and circadian rhythm Modeling of spoken language processing Health and medicine Cancer Lifestyle and health Cardiovascular disease Tuberculosis Avian flu Diabetes Nanobiotechnology Alzheimer's disease AIDS Cancer biology Stem cells Cancer stem cells Dementia Inflammatory bowel disease Hepatitis C Gene therapy Asthma Multiple sclerosis Detrimental short-term effects of high-fat diet Obesity, leptin, and diabetes Malaria

Physical sciences and technology

Dark matter

1. August 10, 2009 - Dark Matter May be Easier to Detect than Previously Thought

Nanotechnology

1. August 10, 2009 - Nanoelectronic transistor combined with biological machine could lead to better electronics - also here
2. August 11, 2009 - Nanowires get biological impulses
3. August 11, 2009 - 'Nanospears' could lead to better solar cells, lasers, lighting
4. August 11, 2009 - Mysterious charge transport in self-assembled monolayer transistors unraveled

Black holes

1. August 10, 2009 - First black holes born starving - also here
2. August 11, 2009 - First Black Holes Were Lean and Mean
3. August 14, 2009 - First Black Holes Starved at Birth

Extrasolar planets

1. August 10, 2009 - Planet Smash-Up Sends Vaporized Rock, Hot Lava Flying - also here
2. August 10, 2009 - Two Worlds Collide in Deep Space
3. August 11, 2009 - Exoplanets' "Demolition Derby"
4. August 11, 2009 - Traces of planet collision found
5. August 11, 2009 - Planetary smashup leaves trail of frozen lava
6. August 12, 2009 - Giant New Exoplanet Goes the Wrong Way
7. August 12, 2009 - Huge new planet tells of game of planetary billiards - also here
8. August 12, 2009 - Newfound Planet Orbits Backward
9. August 12, 2009 - New exoplanet orbits 'backwards'
10. August 13, 2009 - Planet found orbiting its star backwards for first time
11. August 13, 2009 - Second backwards planet found, a day after the first
12. August 14, 2009 - Planetary crash leaves stellar ring
13. August 17, 2009 - "Backward" Planet Has Density of Foam Coffee Cups
14. September 2, 2009 - Planetary smash-up around nearby star

Quantum Hall effect

1. August 10, 2009 - Scientists discover, visualize exotic electrons on surfaces of unique insulators

Microelectromechanical systems

1. August 10, 2009 - Tiny 'MEMS' devices to filter, amplify electronic signals
2. August 12, 2009 - Mechanical energy dissipation in ultrananocrystalline diamond microresonators

Climate modeling

1. August 10, 2009 - Climate models confirm more moisture in atmosphere attributed to humans - also here

Carbon nanotubes

1. August 10, 2009 - Researchers make carbon nanotubes without metal catalyst - also here
2. August 13, 2009 - Switching light on and off in nanotubes

Solar proxies

1. August 10, 2009 - The violent youth of solar proxies steer course of genesis of life - also here

Fuel cells

1. August 10, 2009 - New Clues About A Hydrogen Fuel Catalyst

Global warming

1. August 10, 2009 - Spectacular Melting Of The Largest French Glacier
2. August 10, 2009 - The Arctic on thin ice
3. August 13, 2009 - New study reveals unexpected relationship between climate warming and advancing treelines - also here
4. August 13, 2009 - Antarctic glacier 'thinning fast'
5. August 14, 2009 - Warming ocean contributes to global warming - also here
6. August 14, 2009 - Antarctic glacier thinning at alarming rate - also here

Cosmic ray electrons and positrons from supernovae

1. August 10, 2009 - Excess positrons are linked to Geminga pulsar
2. August 11, 2009 - Particles as tracers for the most massive explosions in the Milky Way - also here
3. August 18, 2009 - Simple Explanation for Mysterious Observations

Quantum computing

1. August 10, 2009 - Ditching binary will make quantum computers more powerful
2. August 11, 2009 - Pushing quantum mechanics to higher levels - also here

Solar radiation and climate change

1. August 11, 2009 - Role Of Solar Radiation In Climate Change

Weather on Titan

1. August 12, 2009 - A Tropical Tempest on Titan
2. August 12, 2009 - Scientists discover storms in the tropics of Titan - also here
3. August 12, 2009 - Tropical Storm Spotted on Saturn's Moon Titan
4. August 12, 2009 - Atmospheric 'pulse' may spread rain clouds across Titan
5. August 20, 2009 - Weird storms rain on Titan's tropics

Supernova remnants

1. August 12, 2009 - New Supernova Image Reveals Third Dimension

Hurricanes and global warming

1. August 12, 2009 - Hurricane peak not unique
2. August 12, 2009 - Medieval Storms Portend Worse Hurricanes

Geometric packing problems

1. August 12, 2009 - Mathematicians set world record in packing puzzle - also here

Supernovae

1. August 12, 2009 - Variability of type 1a supernovae has implications for dark energy studies - also here

Graphene

1. August 12, 2009 - Camera flash turns an insulating material into a conductor - also here
2. August 17, 2009 - Making graphene in a flash

Molecular clouds and star formation

1. August 12, 2009 - Trigger-Happy Star Formation - also here

Video conferencing

1. August 12, 2009 - Video conferencing allows companies to cut travel plans

Artificial black holes

1. August 13, 2009 - Scientists propose lab-grade black holes
2. August 21, 2009 - Researchers propose new way to reproduce a black hole - also here
3. August 26, 2009 - Semiconducting SQUID to help detect Hawking radiation
4. August 27, 2009 - Reproducing a Black Hole in the Laboratory, and other Quantum Theories

Quantum ghost imaging

1. August 13, 2009 - A strange kind of imaging relies on quantum mechanics
2. August 17, 2009 - A ghost image violates a Bell inequality

Molecular electronics

1. August 13, 2009 - Team Models Molecular Transistor

Ocean acidification

1. August 13, 2009 - New findings show increased ocean acidification in Alaska waters - also here

Super planetary nebulae

1. August 14, 2009 - Super Planetary Nebulae - also here
2. August 14, 2009 - Long-Sought Remnants of Massive Stars Found
3. August 18, 2009 - Astronomers spot new type of 'death star'

Climate and ocean heat flow

1. August 14, 2009 - Changes in net flow of ocean heat correlate with past climate anomalies - also here

Nanoflares and solar coronal heating

1. August 14, 2009 - Tiny Flares Responsible for Outsized Heat of Sun's Atmosphere - also here
2. August 18, 2009 - Why Sun's Atmosphere Is 'So Darned Hot'

Planck telescope

1. August 14, 2009 - Planck Sees Light Billions of Years Old - also here

Paleoclimatology

1. August 14, 2009 - Rapid changes in the winter climate - also here
2. August 14, 2009 - Middle Miocene Oxygen Minimum Zone Expansion Offshore West Africa: Evidence For Global Cooling Precursor Events

Gravitational waves

1. August 14, 2009 - Neutrino trigger could reveal gravitational waves

Aerosols and climate

1. August 14, 2009 - A big boost in coal burning, especially in China, is adding more aerosols to the stratosphere

Nanoplasmonics

1. August 16, 2009 - World's smallest laser unveiled
2. August 16, 2009 - New nanolaser -- spaser -- key to future optical computers and technologies - also here

Neutrino experiments

1. August 16, 2009 - 'Big crunch' or another 'Big Bang?' - also here

Life sciences

Genome sequencing

1. August 10, 2009 - Professor sequences his entire genome at low cost, with small team - also here
2. August 10, 2009 - Cost of Decoding a Genome Is Lowered
3. August 11, 2009 - Genome sequence for the price of a car - also here

Calmodulin

1. August 10, 2009 - Single-molecule technique captures calcium sensor calmodulin in action

Biomimetic chemistry

1. August 10, 2009 - Chemists discover twisted molecules that pick their targets - also here

Estrogen and cytotoxic T cells

1. August 10, 2009 - Estrogen-dependent switch tempers killing activity of immune cells - also here

Beta-interferon and immune response

1. August 11, 2009 - The Right Messenger For A Healthy Immune Response

Neanderthals

1. August 11, 2009 - 'Taste test' for Neanderthal DNA
2. August 12, 2009 - Neandertals Led Bitter Lives
3. August 12, 2009 - Neanderthals wouldn't have eaten their sprouts either
4. August 12, 2009 - Seafood gave us the edge on the Neanderthals
5. August 13, 2009 - Neanderthals didn't like sprouts either

Bacteriophages and anthrax bacteria

1. August 12, 2009 - Anthrax bacteria conspire with viruses to stay alive - also here

Helicobacter pylori movement in mucus

1. August 12, 2009 - Uncovering the secrets of ulcer-causing bacteria - also here

Polyploidy and speciation in plants

1. August 12, 2009 - Genome duplication responsible for more plant species than previously thought - also here

Gene splicing in stem cells

1. August 13, 2009 - Technique enables efficient gene splicing in human embryonic stem cells - also here

DNA damage control

1. August 13, 2009 - Raising the alarm when DNA goes bad - also here

Apoptosis

1. August 13, 2009 - MRC scientists advance understanding of cell death - also here

Motor proteins and friction

1. August 13, 2009 - Friction keeps molecular motors on track
2. August 14, 2009 - Bionanomachines: Proteins as resistance fighters - also here

Human Epigenome Project

1. August 14, 2009 - Scientists take early steps toward mapping epigenetic variability - also here

Modeling of DNA replication and cell division in bacteria

1. August 14, 2009 - Math model accurately mimics cell division in carbon-cycling bacterium - also here

Early modern human use of fire in tool manufacture

1. August 14, 2010 - Early humans forged tools from fire

Exon identification and sequencing

1. August 16, 2009 - Researchers sequence exomes of 12 people - also here

DNA cleavage with deoxyribozymes

1. August 16, 2009 - Newly found DNA catalysts cleave DNA with water molecule - also here

Neuroscience, psychology, and behavior

Schizophrenia

1. August 10, 2009 - Traffic jam in brain causes schizophrenia symptoms - also here
2. August 11, 2009 - Substance abuse, schizophrenia and risk of violence - also here

Neurogenesis

1. August 10, 2009 - Recruitment of new neurons slows when old brain cells kept from dying - also here

Malleability of cognitive ability

1. August 10, 2009 - Labor market economist studies changes in IQ

Mirror neurons

1. August 11, 2009 - New research uncovers evidence for mirror neurons in humans

Long-term memory

1. August 11, 2009 - Researchers unravel mystery behind long-lasting memories - also here

Brain-imaging studies

1. August 11, 2009 - Researchers Find Alcoholics Display Abnormal Brain Activity When Processing Facial Expressions
2. August 11, 2009 - Why insults are better taken lying down
3. August 12, 2009 - Excessive Drinking Can Damage Brain Regions Used For Processing Facial Emotions

Category-specific brain organization

1. August 12, 2009 - Blind and sighted subjects sort the living from the nonliving in the same way
2. August 12, 2009 - No experience required: Category-specific brain organization in sighted and blind humans
3. August 14, 2009 - Brain Innately Separates Living And Non-living Objects For Processing

Language networks

1. August 11, 2009 - What's the semantic organization of human language?

Neural codes of sound and images

1. August 12, 2009 - Sound and vision wired through same 'black box' - also here

Anhedonia, depression, and dopamine

1. August 12, 2009 - Worth the effort? Not if you're depressed - also here

Neurophysiology of visual search

1. August 12, 2009 - The mind's eye scans like a spotlight - also here

Learning and brain plasticity

1. August 12, 2009 - Researchers use MRI to track memories - also here

Brain mechanism for speech decoding

1. August 12, 2009 - Researchers shed light on the brain mechanism responsible for processing of speech - also here

Broca's area

1. August 12, 2009 - Why humans can talk and chimps can't

Genetics of sleep need

1. August 13, 2009 - Genetic variation reduces amount of shut-eye in some people and in experiments on mice and fruit flies
2. August 13, 2009 - Lucky Sleep Mutants Need Fewer Zzzzzs
3. August 13, 2009 - Early Risers Are Mutants
4. August 13, 2009 - First human gene implicated in regulating length of human sleep - also here
5. August 13, 2009 - Some People Just Need Less Sleep
6. August 13, 2009 - Rare Genetic Mutation Lets Some People Function with Less Sleep
7. August 14, 2009 - Gene linked to time spent sleeping
8. August 14, 2009 - Scientists find rare gene behind short sleepers

Oxytocin in humans and birds

1. August 13, 2009 - Scientists find a common link of bird flocks, breast milk and trust - also here

Ghrelin and circadian rhythm

1. August 14, 2009 - Scientists identify stomach's timekeepers of hunger

Modeling of spoken language processing

1. August 14, 2009 - Doing what the brain does -- how computers learn to listen - also here

Health and medicine

Cancer

1. August 10, 2009 - Breastfeeding protects against breast cancer
2. August 10, 2009 - New light-emitting biomaterial could improve tumor imaging, study shows - also here
3. August 10, 2009 - Grapefruit juice found to give cancer treatment a boost
4. August 10, 2009 - Researchers launch study into search-and-destroy antigen for deadly skin cancer
5. August 10, 2009 - Breastfeeding associated with reduced risk of breast cancer among women with family history
6. August 10, 2009 - Study identifies risk factors for transformation of eye growths into melanoma - also here
7. August 10, 2009 - Ultrasound Outperforms Symptom Analysis In Detecting Ovarian Cancer
8. August 10, 2009 - A Step Toward Preventing Lung Cancer From Spreading To The Brain And New Clinical Trial Results
9. August 10, 2009 - Drink blamed for oral cancer rise
10. August 11, 2009 - Aspirin cuts colon cancer death risk: U.S. study - also here
11. August 11, 2009 - Aspirin shows promise for colon cancer patients - also here
12. August 11, 2009 - British boozing blamed for rise in oral cancer rates
13. August 11, 2009 - Research Team Designing Holographic Imaging System for Ovarian Cancer
14. August 11, 2009 - Advanced Targeted Therapies Effective As First-line Treatment For Lung Cancer
15. August 11, 2009 - Aspirin Seen Aiding Colorectal Cancer Patients
16. August 12, 2009 - Anti-psychotic drugs could help fight cancer - also here
17. August 12, 2009 - Sequential TACE and cryosurgery can improve survival times for patients with HCC? - also here
18. August 12, 2009 - Breastfeeding Reduces Risk Of Breast Cancer In Women With A Family History Of The Disease
19. August 12, 2009 - Aspirin shows promise for colon cancer patients
20. August 12, 2009 - Any spread of breast cancer raises risk of return
21. August 12, 2009 - Genmab says Arzerra leukaemia test result positive
22. August 13, 2009 - Obesity increases risk of prostate cancer recurrence for both blacks and whites - also here
23. August 13, 2009 - MRI may cause more harm than good in newly diagnosed early breast cancer - also here
24. August 13, 2009 - Cancer mortality rates experience steady decline - also here
25. August 14, 2009 - Researchers identify 'regulatory' genetic sequences that may predict risk for prostate cancer - also here
26. August 14, 2009 - MRI may be unnecessary prior to treatment in most newly diagnosed breast cancer patients
27. August 14, 2009 - Studies do not support unhealthful relation between animal foods and breast cancer - also here
28. August 14, 2009 - Possible Genetic Links Between Environmental Toxins And Multiple Myeloma
29. August 16, 2009 - Tokyo hospital to test viral therapy for tumors
30. August 16, 2009 - Researchers develop new, more-sensitive assay for detecting DNA methylation in colon cancer - also here
31. August 16, 2009 - Inherited risk factors increase odds of developing childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia - also here
32. August 16, 2009 - Child leukaemia 'genes' revealed

Lifestyle and health

1. August 10, 2009 - Study IDs four ways to cut disease risks
2. August 10, 2009 - Healthy lifestyle habits may be associated with reduced risk of chronic disease - also here

Cardiovascular disease

1. August 10, 2009 - Optimism may do women's hearts good
2. August 10, 2009 - Optimism appears to lower women's risk of death, heart disease - also here
3. August 10, 2009 - Optimistic women 'live longer'
4. August 11, 2009 - Amazonian tribe sheds light on causes of heart disease in developed countries - also here
5. August 13, 2009 - Abnormal heart rhythm more common in white elders
6. August 13, 2009 - Chocolate cuts death rate in heart attack survivors: study - also here, here
7. August 13, 2009 - Bypassing bypass surgery - also here
8. August 13, 2009 - Abbott expanding study of its popular Xience stent
9. August 14, 2009 - Quitting smoking causes quick drop in inflammation

Tuberculosis

1. August 10, 2009 - Most drug-resistant TB cases go untested: expert
2. August 10, 2009 - New drug-resistant TB strains could become widespread, says new study - also here
3. August 10, 2009 - Misuse of common antibiotic is creating resistant TB - also here
4. August 11, 2009 - Drug resistant TB on the rise

Avian flu

1. August 10, 2009 - Bird flu survivors could face brain disease risk
2. August 10, 2009 - Avian flu promotes Parkinson's?
3. August 10, 2009 - Bird Flu Virus a Possible Trigger for Parkinson's
4. August 10, 2009 - Avian influenza strain primes brain for Parkinson's disease - also here
5. August 12, 2009 - Bird flu virus linked to inflamed brains

Diabetes

1. August 10, 2009 - Taking the needle's sting out of diabetes - also here
2. August 10, 2009 - Found: A gene that may play a role in type 1 diabetes - also here
3. August 10, 2009 - Insufficient sleep may be linked to increased diabetes risk - also here
4. August 10, 2009 - Array's diabetes drug meets goal in early-stage trial
5. August 11, 2009 - Physicians bust myths about insulin - also here
6. August 12, 2009 - Not enough shut-eye may raise diabetes risk
7. August 12, 2009 - Carnitine supplements reverse glucose intolerance in animals - also here
8. August 13, 2009 - Black Tea May Fight Diabetes
9. August 14, 2009 - Goal setting helps cut type 2 diabetes risk

Nanobiotechnology

1. August 10, 2009 - Tumors feel the deadly sting of nanobees - also here, here

Alzheimer's disease

1. August 10, 2009 - New class of compounds discovered for potential Alzheimer's disease drug - also here
2. August 11, 2009 - Exercise and Mediterranean-type diet combined associated with lower risk for Alzheimer's
3. August 11, 2009 - Researchers determine toxic levels of Alzheimer's clusters in brain - also here
4. August 11, 2009 - Oxygen treatment hastens memory loss in Alzheimer's mice - also here
5. August 11, 2009 - Formal education lessens the impact of Alzheimer's disease - also here
6. August 12, 2009 - Hormones stored in structures usually thought toxic
7. August 13, 2009 - Seizures uncommon in Alzheimer disease: study
8. August 13, 2009 - Mediterranean Diet, Physical Activity Linked With Lower Risk Of Alzheimer Disease

AIDS

1. August 10, 2009 - An HIV-blocking gel for women - also here
2. August 11, 2009 - Gel condom to empower women
3. August 13, 2009 - Is HIV progression sex-linked?
4. August 25, 2009 - Gel could block HIV like a condom

Cancer biology

1. August 10, 2009 - Researchers identify potential target for metastatic cancer
2. August 10, 2009 - Basic Mechanism Of Skin Cancer Development Illuminated
3. August 12, 2009 - Researchers identify potential new avenue to attack cancer
4. August 12, 2009 - Finding may explain anti-cancer activity of thiazole antibiotics - also here
5. August 13, 2009 - Protein plays unexpected role protecting chromosome tips - also here

Stem cells

1. August 10, 2009 - Scientists make multiple types of white blood cells directly from embryonic and adult stem cells - also here
2. August 10, 2009 - Veterinarians using stem cells to treat animals
3. August 14, 2009 - Some mice stem cells divide in unexpected ways

Cancer stem cells

1. August 10, 2009 - STAT3 gene regulates cancer stem cells in brain cancer - also here
2. August 13, 2009 - Chemical kills tumor-making master cells: study - also here
3. August 13, 2009 - Drug compound kills breast cancer stem cells
4. August 13, 2009 - A screen for cancer killers
5. August 13, 2009 - New method takes aim at aggressive cancer cells - also here
6. August 13, 2009 - Drug shows cancer stem cells not invulnerable
7. August 13, 2009 - Screening Could Lead to More Potent Cancer Drugs
8. August 14, 2009 - Drug 'attacks cancer stem cells'

Dementia

1. August 10, 2009 - Brain damage seen on brain scans may predict memory loss in old age - also here
2. August 14, 2009 - More evidence that fish is brain food

Inflammatory bowel disease

1. August 10, 2009 - Predictors of disease behavior change in Crohn's disease - also here
2. August 13, 2009 - Stomach bugs may boost bowel disease risk: study

Hepatitis C

1. August 10, 2009 - Hepatitis Healing Power Of Blueberry Leaves
2. August 11, 2009 - Anadys hepatitis C drug shows promise
3. August 14, 2009 - New strategy for inhibiting virus replication - also here
4. August 16, 2009 - Gene predicts response to hepatitis C drugs: study
5. August 16, 2009 - New Biomarker Predicts Response to Hepatitis C Treatment - also here
6. August 16, 2009 - Gene variant predicts hepatitis treatment success

Gene therapy

1. August 10, 2009 - New genes at work in patients with hereditary lung disease
2. August 11, 2009 - Gene Therapy Trial Succeeds In Boosting Protective Protein In Patients With Hereditary Lung Disease
3. August 12, 2009 - Lasting benefits seen in gene therapy for blindness
4. August 12, 2009 - Vision researchers see unexpected gain a year into blindness trial - also here
5. August 14, 2009 - Gene therapy found to help patients with Parkinson's
6. August 14, 2009 - Gene Therapy Treatment for Blindness Proves Safe--and Effective--One Year in

Asthma

1. August 10, 2009 - Searching for predictors of asthma attacks - also here
2. August 11, 2009 - Discovery may lead to powerful new therapy for asthma - also here

Multiple sclerosis

1. August 11, 2009 - Multiple sclerosis successfully reversed in animals - also here

Detrimental short-term effects of high-fat diet

1. August 11, 2009 - High-fat diet affects physical and memory abilities of rats after 9 days - also here

Obesity, leptin, and diabetes

1. August 13, 2009 - Scarring key to link between obesity and diabetes - also here

Malaria

1. August 14, 2009 - Malaria vaccine holds out eradication hope

Copyright © 2009 by Charles Daney, All Rights Reserved