Volume 8, Number 42 October 19, 2009

Physical sciences and technology Graphene Young star clusters Europa DNA sequencing Colossal magnetoresistance Galaxy mergers Controlled fusion Global warming Molecular electronics Baryon Oscillation Spetroscopic Survey Artificial intelligence Superconductivity Extrasolar planets Nanotechnology Artificial black holes Entangled electrons from superconductors Barnard's Galaxy Carbon nanotubes Neutrino physics Photovoltaics Biomolecular computers Magnetricity K-T mass extinction Quantum computing Fuel cells Earthquakes GLORIAD high speed network Ordovician mass extinction and the Appalachians Counting multiverses Plasmonics Quantum cryptography Cosmic neutrinos Large Hadron Collider Life sciences Bacterial RNA repair Biogenesis Brown fat and autophagy Unusually small RNAs Evolution of apoptosis L-form bacteria RISC-loading complex Repressive response elements for p53 Vesicle-membrane fusion Human epigenome Social organization of early humans Mathematical modeling of DNA and RNA synthesis Cell communication with adjacent cells Induced pluripotent stem cells Golgi apparatus Ribosomes Segmented filamentous bacteria and the immune system ATR, p53, and tissue maintenance Formation of gamma-delta T cells Molecular evolution Mitochondrial proteins Experimental evolution Neuroscience, psychology, and behavior Autism Eusociality Brain-imaging studies Cerebral cortex patterning Interleukin-1, TNFα, and alcohol dependence Illusion of free will Brain regions involved with literacy Energy required for action potentials Antidepressants Mapping spatial memory Blindsight Placebo effect Broca's area and language processing Learning in fruit flies Circadian clocks and metabolism Cross-modal perceptual sensitivity Schizophrenia Synucleins, neutotransmitters, and depression Neuropeptide Y and appetite control Health and medicine AIDS Stem cells PI3K and cardiac aging Alzheimer's disease Cancer stem cells Parkinson's disease Cancer Cardiovascular disease Cancer biology Diabetes Gene therapy Multiple sclerosis Prions Antibiotics Malaria Cell phones and cancer Viral involvement in prostate cancer Tissue engineering Helicobacter pylori, inflammation, and cancer Vaccines Salmonella virulence Rheumatoid arthritis Lupus Spinal cord repair

Physical sciences and technology

Graphene

1. October 12, 2009 - Graphene Used As Floating-Molecular Carpet To Ornament It With 24-Carat Gold 'Snowflakes' - also here
2. October 12, 2009 - Growing geodesic carbon nanodomes - also here
3. October 13, 2009 - How Perfect Can Graphene Be?
4. October 14, 2009 - Weird "Particles" Spotted in Hot New Material
5. October 14, 2009 - Physicists discover novel electronic properties in two-dimensional carbon structure - also here
6. October 15, 2009 - Graphene: Unravelling the secrets of a magic material
7. October 15, 2009 - Charges band together in graphene

Young star clusters

1. October 12, 2009 - Young Star Clusters

Europa

1. October 12, 2009 - Europa or Mars: Where Could Extraterrestrial Life Be Found First?
2. October 13, 2009 - Europa's proposed ocean could be rich in oxygen - also here
3. October 13, 2009 - Jupiter moon's ocean is rich in oxygen
4. October 16, 2009 - Jupiter's Moon Europa Has Enough Oxygen For Life

DNA sequencing

1. October 12, 2009 - Nanopores sequence DNA

Colossal magnetoresistance

1. October 12, 2009 - Nanoscale view of colossal magnetoresistance

Galaxy mergers

1. October 13, 2009 - Galactic Hookup Spawns Celestial Offspring
2. October 13, 2009 - Sky merger yields sparkling dividends - also here
3. October 13, 2009 - Hubble Spies Energetic Galaxy Merger

Controlled fusion

1. October 13, 2009 - Fusion delays sow concern

Global warming

1. October 13, 2009 - Kashmir glacier melting 'alarming'
2. October 13, 2009 - Experts warn glaciers in Indian Kashmir melting
3. October 14, 2009 - Arctic to be 'ice-free in summer'
4. October 15, 2009 - Arctic to be ice-free in summer in 20 years: scientist
5. October 15, 2009 - Arctic Largely Ice Free in Summer Within Ten Years?
6. October 15, 2009 - Stormier Arctic Predicted as Ice Melts
7. October 15, 2009 - Arctic ice cap 'to disappear in future summers' - also here
8. October 15, 2009 - Arctic Has Potential To Alter Earth's Climate: Arctic Land And Seas Account For Up To 25 Percent Of World's Carbon Sink
9. October 15, 2009 - Survey Data Supports Rapid Ice Loss: Largely Open Arctic Seas In Summer Within 10 Years
10. October 18, 2009 - Global Surface Temperature Was Second Warmest For September

Molecular electronics

1. October 13, 2009 - Researchers create molecular diode - also here, here

Baryon Oscillation Spetroscopic Survey

1. October 13, 2009 - Astrophysicists use new spectrographs to look far back into the history of the universe

Artificial intelligence

1. October 13, 2009 - Researchers teach computers to recognize objects
2. October 14, 2009 - In search of machines that play at being human

Superconductivity

1. October 13, 2009 - Magnet Lab to Investigate Promising Superconductor

Extrasolar planets

1. October 13, 2009 - Researcher hunts for new planets, seeking clues on solar system's origin
2. October 16, 2009 - Chemical signature could help locate Earth-like planets

Nanotechnology

1. October 13, 2009 - New nanotech sensor developed with medical, chemistry applications - also here
2. October 13, 2009 - Nano Measurement In The Third Dimension
3. October 14, 2009 - Quantum-limited Measurement Method for Nanosensors
4. October 14, 2009 - Silicon brittle? Not this kind! - also here
5. October 14, 2009 - Exotic Quasicrystal Structures May Be More Normal Than Assumed
6. October 15, 2009 - Tiny Test Tube Experiment Shows Reaction Of Melting Materials at the Nano Scale - also here

Artificial black holes

1. October 14, 2009 - Scientists Make Desktop Black Hole
2. October 14, 2009 - First black hole for light created on Earth
3. October 15, 2009 - Researchers create portable black hole
4. October 16, 2009 - Chinese scientists create metamaterial black hole
5. October 20, 2009 - Researchers Create an Electromagnetic "Black Hole" the Size of a Salad Plate
6. October 27, 2009 - Pseudo Black Hole Created in Lab

Entangled electrons from superconductors

1. October 14, 2009 - Entanglement on demand
2. October 14, 2009 - Entangled electrons do the splits

Barnard's Galaxy

1. October 14, 2009 - The Milky Way's Tiny but Tough Galactic Neighbour - also here, here
2. October 14, 2009 - Strange Shapes Seen In Milky Way's Tiny Neighbor

Carbon nanotubes

1. October 14, 2009 - Researchers uncover recipe for controlling carbon nanotubes
2. October 14, 2009 - Chemistry Team Seeks to Use Artificial Photosynthesis and Nanotubes to Generate Hydrogen Fuel with Sunlight

Neutrino physics

1. October 14, 2009 - Grant to Design Neutrino Detector

Photovoltaics

1. October 14, 2009 - Scientist increase the efficiency of a type of solar cell by incorporating ionic salts - also here

Biomolecular computers

1. October 14, 2009 - World's Smallest Computers Made of DNA and Other Biological Molecules Made to 'Think' Logically

Magnetricity

1. October 14, 2009 - 'Magnetic electricity' discovered
2. October 14, 2009 - 'Magnetricity' observed for first time
3. October 15, 2009 - 'Magnetricity' observed and measured for the first time - also here
4. October 15, 2009 - 'Magnetic charge' measured in spin ice
5. October 22, 2009 - Physicists detect elusive 'magnetricity'

K-T mass extinction

1. October 15, 2009 - India Asteroid Killed Dinosaurs, Made Largest Crater?
2. October 15, 2009 - Giant impact near India -- not Mexico -- may have doomed dinosaurs - also here
3. October 18, 2009 - New Dino-destroying Theory Fuels Hot Debate
4. October 19, 2009 - Did giant Indian impact kill the dinosaurs?

Quantum computing

1. October 15, 2009 - Quantum Computer Chips Now One Step Closer To Reality - also here

Fuel cells

1. October 15, 2009 - Fuel cells get a boost
2. October 18, 2009 - Chemists discover recipe to design a better type of fuel cell - also here

Earthquakes

1. October 15, 2009 - Satellite data look behind the scenes of deadly earthquake - also here
2. October 15, 2009 - Colossal quake may hit Sumatra in 30 years: geologist

GLORIAD high speed network

1. October 15, 2009 - High-Speed 'Other' Internet Goes Global

Ordovician mass extinction and the Appalachians

1. October 15, 2009 - Birth of the Appalachians triggered mass extinction
2. November 3, 2009 - The Mountains That Froze the World

Counting multiverses

1. October 16, 2009 - Physicists Calculate Number of Parallel Universes
2. October 28, 2009 - Multiplying universes: How many is the multiverse?

Plasmonics

1. October 16, 2009 - Going plasmonic in search of faster computing, communications - also here

Quantum cryptography

1. October 16, 2009 - Field experiment on a robust hierarchical metropolitan quantum cryptography network

Cosmic neutrinos

1. October 16, 2009 - So Close, yet So Far

Large Hadron Collider

1. October 16, 2009 - LHC gets colder than deep space

Life sciences

Bacterial RNA repair

1. October 12, 2009 - Researchers discover RNA repair system in bacteria - also here

Biogenesis

1. October 12, 2009 - A Hazy View of Early Earth

Brown fat and autophagy

1. October 12, 2009 - Inhibiting The Cellular Process Autophagy Makes Mice Leaner

Unusually small RNAs

1. October 13, 2009 - No such thing as 'junk RNA,' say researchers - also here

Evolution of apoptosis

1. October 13, 2009 - Cell death occurs in the same way in plants, animals and humans - also here

L-form bacteria

1. October 13, 2009 - Researchers identify workings of L-form bacteria - also here

RISC-loading complex

1. October 13, 2009 - Silence of the genes - also here

Repressive response elements for p53

1. October 13, 2009 - Scientists discover widely sought molecular key to understanding p53 tumor suppressor gene - also here

Vesicle-membrane fusion

1. October 13, 2009 - Live Recordings Of Cell Communication

Human epigenome

1. October 14, 2009 - What drives our genes? Researchers map the first complete human epigenome - also here, here
2. October 14, 2009 - Scientists decode human genome's instruction manual
3. October 15, 2009 - Researchers map human epigenome

Social organization of early humans

1. October 14, 2009 - A 200,000-year-old cut of meat

Mathematical modeling of DNA and RNA synthesis

1. October 14, 2009 - Scientists use math modeling to predict unknown biological mechanism of regulation - also here

Cell communication with adjacent cells

1. October 14, 2009 - Milestone discovery in cell behaviors - also here

Induced pluripotent stem cells

1. October 14, 2009 - Researchers Studying How Genetic Disorder Develops -- In a Petri Dish
2. October 18, 2009 - A major step in making better stem cells from adult tissue - also here
3. October 18, 2009 - 'Ethical' stem cell crop boosted

Golgi apparatus

1. October 15, 2009 - Golgi's job stretches it thin
2. October 15, 2009 - Stretching the Golgi: a link between form and function - also here

Ribosomes

1. October 15, 2009 - Scientists visualize assembly line gears in ribosomes, cell's protein factory - also here

Segmented filamentous bacteria and the immune system

1. October 15, 2009 - Unusual bacteria help balance the immune system in mice
2. October 19, 2009 - In Shaping Our Immune Systems, Some 'Friendly' Bacteria May Play Inordinate Role

ATR, p53, and tissue maintenance

1. October 15, 2009 - Loss of Tumor-Suppressor and DNA-Maintenance Proteins Causes Tissue Demise, Study Finds - also here

Formation of gamma-delta T cells

1. October 15, 2009 - ID3 provides career counseling for blood progenitors, driving the creation of gamma-delta T cells - also here

Molecular evolution

1. October 16, 2009 - Fish vision discovery makes waves in natural selection - also here

Mitochondrial proteins

1. October 16, 2009 - Cell's Powerhouses Dismantled: Complete Inventory Of All Proteins In Mitochondria

Experimental evolution

1. October 18, 2009 - Scientists watch evolution unfold - also here

Neuroscience, psychology, and behavior

Autism

1. October 12, 2009 - Scientists find autism-associated synapse alterations
2. October 13, 2009 - Professor uses video games to explore facets of autism
3. October 14, 2009 - Experts summarize state of the science in autism disorders - also here

Eusociality

1. October 12, 2009 - Self-sacrifice among strangers has more to do with nurture than nature - also here
2. October 13, 2009 - Chimps happy to help - you just have to ask
3. October 14, 2009 - Chimpanzees help each other on request but not voluntarily - also here
4. October 19, 2009 - Chimps Display Humanlike Good Will

Brain-imaging studies

1. October 12, 2009 - Dyslexia varies across language barriers - also here
2. October 13, 2009 - Chinese dyslexia complicated: study

Cerebral cortex patterning

1. October 13, 2009 - Genetics of patterning the cerebral cortex - also here

Interleukin-1, TNFα, and alcohol dependence

1. October 13, 2009 - Polymorphisms Of The Interleukin-1 Gene Complex May Influence Alcohol Dependence

Illusion of free will

1. October 13, 2009 - Free choice not as free as we think - also here

Brain regions involved with literacy

1. October 14, 2009 - Colombian guerrillas help scientists locate literacy in the brain - also here

Energy required for action potentials

1. October 14, 2009 - Brain power goes green

Antidepressants

1. October 14, 2009 - Popular antidepressant associated with a dramatic increase in suicidal thoughts amongst men - also here

Mapping spatial memory

1. October 14, 2009 - 'Matrix for mice' probes how mental maps are made
2. October 15, 2009 - Virtual maze 'maps' mouse memory

Blindsight

1. October 14, 2009 - People Blinded by Brain Damage Can Respond to Emotive Expressions

Placebo effect

1. October 15, 2009 - Placebo effect is in the spine as well as the mind
2. October 16, 2009 - Placebo effect in the spine and mind
3. October 16, 2009 - Placebo effect caught in the act in spinal nerves
4. October 19, 2009 - In Between Mind-Body Split: Chronic Pain Relief

Broca's area and language processing

1. October 15, 2009 - Brain speed-reads using just one part
2. October 15, 2009 - Wires Inserted Into Human Brain Reveal Speech Surprise
3. October 15, 2009 - Researchers document how brain computes language - also here
4. October 16, 2009 - Rare Procedure Pinpoints the Location, Speed and Sequence of the Brain's Language Processes
5. October 26, 2009 - Finding the seat of language? Researchers look into Broca's brain

Learning in fruit flies

1. October 15, 2009 - Flies get fright from false memories
2. October 15, 2009 - Lasers Impart Life Lessons in Flies
3. October 15, 2009 - Scientists give flies false memories - also here
4. October 15, 2009 - Laser creates 'false memories' in fly brains
5. October 16, 2009 - Bad memories written with lasers

Circadian clocks and metabolism

1. October 15, 2009 - The food-energy cellular connection revealed - also here

Cross-modal perceptual sensitivity

1. October 15, 2009 - Approaching footsteps boost seeing in the dark

Schizophrenia

1. October 16, 2009 - Scientists demonstrate link between genetic defect and brain changes in schizophrenia - also here
2. October 16, 2009 - Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Bridging the divide
3. October 16, 2009 - Mechanism Of Gene Linked To Autism, Schizophrenia Pinpointed

Synucleins, neutotransmitters, and depression

1. October 18, 2009 - Fine-tuning treatments for depression - also here

Neuropeptide Y and appetite control

1. October 18, 2009 - Researchers Quell Hunger Neurons in Fruit Flies

Health and medicine

AIDS

1. October 12, 2009 - Hubbub brews for HIV vax data
2. October 13, 2009 - Researchers find candidates for new HIV drugs - also here
3. October 15, 2009 - Research shows treating HIV-AIDS with interleukin-2 is ineffective - also here
4. October 15, 2009 - Discovery of enzyme structure points way to creating less toxic anti-HIV drugs - also here

Stem cells

1. October 12, 2009 - Doctors Use Patient's Own Stem Cells to Grow Facial Bone
2. October 15, 2009 - Study finds potential key to growing heart cells
3. October 15, 2009 - Scientists grow mice heart muscle strip that beats
4. October 15, 2009 - Scientists grow mice heart muscle strip that beats
5. October 15, 2009 - Stem cells offer new hope for kidney disease patients - also here
6. October 15, 2009 - Stem Cells from Fat Used to Grow Teen's Missing Facial Bones
7. October 16, 2009 - New findings on the formation of body pigment - also here
8. October 18, 2009 - Small mechanical forces have big impact on embryonic stem cells - also here
9. October 18, 2009 - Jostling spurs cell spreading

PI3K and cardiac aging

1. October 12, 2009 - Suppressing a gene in mice prevents heart from aging, preserves its function - also here
2. October 13, 2009 - Aging heart can be prevented, say scientists

Alzheimer's disease

1. October 12, 2009 - Declines in other thinking and learning skills may precede memory loss in Alzheimer's disease - also here
2. October 13, 2009 - Protective Role For Copper In Alzheimer's Disease
3. October 13, 2009 - Memory not first Alzheimer's sign
4. October 14, 2009 - Skills tests like 'connect the dots' may be early Alzheimer's indicator
5. October 15, 2009 - Scientists remove amyloid plaques from brains of live animals with Alzheimer's disease - also here
6. October 18, 2009 - APP -- Good, bad or both? - also here

Cancer stem cells

1. October 12, 2009 - Researchers find triggers in cells' transition from colitis to cancer - also here

Parkinson's disease

1. October 12, 2009 - Study supports possible role of urate in slowing Parkinson's disease progression
2. October 12, 2009 - A balancing act in Parkinson's disease: Phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein - also here
3. October 12, 2009 - Gout chemical slows Parkinson's
4. October 13, 2009 - Investment In Parkinson's Disease Data Bank Yields Potential Therapy
5. October 14, 2009 - Phytopharm shares soar on Parkinson's drug promise

Cancer

1. October 12, 2009 - Researchers develop more precise approach to delivery of chemotherapy drugs
2. October 12, 2009 - Breast tenderness during hormone replacement therapy linked to elevated cancer risk - also here
3. October 12, 2009 - Effects of aspirin and folic acid on inflammation markers for colorectal adenomas - also here
4. October 12, 2009 - Prediction model superior to traditional criteria in bladder treatment decision - also here
5. October 12, 2009 - Technology to detect, treat breast cancer is evolving, improving say researchers, experts
6. October 12, 2009 - Computer Simulations Validate Treatment Targets For Lung Cancer
7. October 13, 2009 - For women on HRT, tenderness may be warning sign
8. October 13, 2009 - New prostate surgery not necessarily better: study
9. October 13, 2009 - Pros and cons with "easier" prostate cancer surgery
10. October 13, 2009 - Green tea may curb risk of some cancers
11. October 13, 2009 - Magnetic nanotags spot cancer in mice earlier than methods now in clinical use - also here
12. October 13, 2009 - New old drug fights colon cancer - also here
13. October 13, 2009 - Studying cancer in pet dogs to find new treatments for human patients - also here
14. October 13, 2009 - Minimally invasive radical prostatectomy shows advantages, but also certain complications - also here
15. October 13, 2009 - Bioluminescence imaging used for eye cancer detection - also here
16. October 13, 2009 - Robotic prostate surgery may mean big trade-off - also here
17. October 13, 2009 - Study charts links between mobile phones, tumors
18. October 14, 2009 - No support for routine pancreatic cancer screening
19. October 14, 2009 - Elderly Immune System Needs A Boost: Older Cancer Sufferers Need Treatments Tailored To Their Aging Immune Systems
20. October 14, 2009 - Sick American dogs get first shot at cancer drugs
21. October 14, 2009 - Caution sounded on robot-aided prostate surgery
22. October 15, 2009 - Treatment not testicular cancer poses greatest risk to survivors' long-term health - also here
23. October 15, 2009 - Skin cells may provide early warning for cancer risk elsewhere in body - also here
24. October 16, 2009 - U.S. OKs Glaxo's cervical cancer shot - also here
25. October 16, 2009 - Glaxo wins Japanese approval for Cervarix
26. October 16, 2009 - U.S. approves Glaxo's cervical cancer vaccine
27. October 16, 2009 - Promising novel treatment for human cancer -- Chrysanthemum indicum extract - also here
28. October 16, 2009 - Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus may not be associated with human prostate cancer - also here
29. October 16, 2009 - Which is promising as therapeutic targets in patients with biliary tract cancer? EGFR or HER2? - also here
30. October 18, 2009 - Mice study gives clue to how breast cancer spreads
31. October 18, 2009 - Cancer drug crosses key hurdle in brain: study
32. October 18, 2009 - New chromosomal abnormality identified in leukemia associated with Down syndrome - also here
33. October 18, 2009 - What's The Clonality Status And Allelotype Of Focal Nodular Hyperplasia? - also here

Cardiovascular disease

1. October 12, 2009 - Gene mingling increases sudden death risk - also here
2. October 12, 2009 - Afib triggered by a cell that resembles a pigment-producing skin cell - also here
3. October 13, 2009 - No evidence B vitamins protect the heart
4. October 13, 2009 - Signs Of Macular Degeneration May Predict Heart Disease
5. October 14, 2009 - 'Beneficial' effects of alcohol? - also here
6. October 15, 2009 - Fish may not protect against heart failure
7. October 15, 2009 - Never Too Old to Keep Blood Pressure in Check
8. October 15, 2009 - New mathematical model more accurately diagnoses acute heart failure in emergency rooms - also here

Cancer biology

1. October 13, 2009 - Cancer metastasis scrutinized
2. October 13, 2009 - Loss of tumor supressor gene essential to transforming benign nerve tumors into cancers - also here
3. October 13, 2009 - Using RNAi-based technique, scientists find new tumor suppressor genes in lymphoma - also here
4. October 13, 2009 - Genes behind increasingly common form of cancer identified - also here
5. October 13, 2009 - New cancer gene discovered - also here
6. October 15, 2009 - Gene blamed for immunological disorders shown to protect against breast cancer development - also here

Diabetes

1. October 13, 2009 - Sleepiness from sleep apnea linked to diabetes
2. October 14, 2009 - Can fish for dinner lead to diabetes?
3. October 14, 2009 - Chinese herbs show promise for diabetes prevention

Gene therapy

1. October 14, 2009 - Long-term monkey tests back Oxford's gene therapy
2. October 14, 2009 - Gene therapy could remedy Parkinson's

Multiple sclerosis

1. October 14, 2009 - Neurologists Investigate Possible New Underlying Cause of MS - also here

Prions

1. October 14, 2009 - Cell study explains why younger people more at risk of vCJD - also here

Antibiotics

1. October 14, 2009 - Major breakthrough could lead to new antibiotics for human use
2. October 15, 2009 - Misuse of antibiotics not the only cause of resistance says report - also here

Malaria

1. October 14, 2009 - Researchers find extreme genetic variability in malaria parasite - also here

Cell phones and cancer

1. October 14, 2009 - Review of mobile studies gets mixed signal

Viral involvement in prostate cancer

1. October 16, 2009 - Virus cancer link examined

Tissue engineering

1. October 16, 2009 - 'Spaghetti' scaffolding could help grow skin in labs - also here

Helicobacter pylori, inflammation, and cancer

1. October 16, 2009 - Protein interaction network can respond Helicobacter pylori infection? - also here

Vaccines

1. October 17, 2009 - Outfoxing Pox: Developing A New Class Of Vaccine Candidates

Salmonella virulence

1. October 17, 2009 - How Salmonella Bacteria Cause Diarrhea In Their Host

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. October 17, 2009 - Roche drug helps halt rheumatoid arthritis progress
2. October 17, 2009 - Pfizer JAK-3 arthritis drug effective in studies
3. October 17, 2009 - J&J's Simponi effective against joint damage-study

Lupus

1. October 18, 2009 - New study identifies cellular mechanism that causes lupuslike symptoms in mice - also here

Spinal cord repair

1. October 18, 2009 - Antidepressant improves recovery from spine injury

Copyright © 2009 by Charles Daney, All Rights Reserved