Science News – Newsletter for December 23, 2010

Gene that protects against dementia in high-risk individuals found

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found a gene that protects against dementia in high-risk individuals.

It was assumed that a mutation in the progranulin gene, which makes the progranulin protein and supports brain neurons, was sufficient to produce a kind of dementia known as frontotemporal … Read more >>>.

Higher levels of folate in RBCs linked to silenced tumor-suppressors

WASHINGTON – In new study, scientists found that people with higher levels of folate in their red blood cells were more likely to have two tumor-suppressing genes shut down by methylation, a chemical off switch for genes.

DNA hypermethylation, notes co-author Jean-Pierre Issa, professor in MD Anderson’s Department … Read more >>>.

The reason behind failure of dialysis

WASHINGTON – Scientists have revealed that a protein implicated in the development of vascular diseases may also contribute to the failure of arteriovenous (AV) fistulas created for vascular access in dialysis patients.

“Our findings raise the possibility that monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) may contribute to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : The reason behind failure of dialysis.

Entire periodic table etched on professor’s hair!

LONDON – Scientists have written, on a strand of human hair, what they believe is the world’s smallest periodic table — showing the power of nano-writing.

Experts at Nottingham University created the table, which is so small that one million of them could be replicated on a standard Post-It note, using a combination of an … Read more >>.

Fossils show mysterious human species lived 30,000 years ago

LONDON – A mysterious new species of the human beings which lived alongside our ancestors 30,000 years ago has been discovered by the scientists.

The cavemen, called Denisovans, were identified by DNA taken from a tooth and a finger bone found in a cave in Siberia. The bone belonged to a young girl nicknamed the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Fossils show mysterious human species lived 30,000 years ago.

Fossil haul shows life’s recovery after near-extinction

LONDON – A newly-discovered treasure trove of ancient fossils has given a big boost to scientists’ efforts to understand how life on the Earth recovered from the most catastrophic mass extinction of all time.

A haul of nearly 20,000 fossils that belonged to an entire ancient marine ecosystem have been found buried in a mountain … Read more : Fossil haul shows life’s recovery after near-extinction.

Dead tired? Your voice could be a clue

WASHINGTON – Acoustician Adam Vogel of University of Melbourne, Australia has found that one can make out how tired a person is just by listening to their voice.

He describes a novel method to acoustically analyze the effects of fatigue on the central nervous system as revealed through speech.

Those concerned with managing tiredness – such as … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Dead tired? Your voice could be a clue.

Now, a robo that ‘feels’ with its fingertips and smiles just like us!

WASHINGTON – At first sight, the pi4-workerbot looks like a clump of metal, but there’s something extraordinary about this one – it has fingertip sensitivity and a variety of facial expressions.

Designed by Dr.-Ing. Dragoljub Surdilovic at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK in Berlin, the pi4-workerbot is capable of complex movements …. Original source  : Now, a robo that ‘feels’ with its fingertips and smiles just like us!.

New Mars movie reveals red planet’s blue sunset

WASHINGTON – America’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has shot a Mars movie clip, which reveals the red planet’s bluish sunset and another clip that shows the silhouette of the moon Phobos passing in front of the Sun.

Mars’ sunset appears red with a bluish glow around the sun because of the dust particles around the planet.

“These … Read : New Mars movie reveals red planet’s blue sunset.

Scientists discover gene that triggers violent anger

LONDON – Researchers have discovered a genetic mutation that could trigger violent anger under alcohol’s influence.

They sequenced the DNA of a number of impulsive volunteers and compared those sequences with DNA from an equal number of non-impulsive people.
They found that a single DNA change that blocks a gene known as HTR2B … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Scientists discover gene that triggers violent anger.

Selfishness drives people to climb Everest?

WASHINGTON – People who pay as much as $50,000 to climb Mount Everest often do so out of selfish motives, says a study.

“In order to escape the rules, contraptions and stresses of daily life, many people search for new and liberating experiences that transcend their normal bureaucratic and corporate existence,” say the study … Read : Selfishness drives people to climb Everest?.

Freak diversion of jet stream propels freezing conditions

LONDON – The freezing conditions that have blasted Britain are being blamed on a series of weather patterns that are bringing Arctic temperatures to much of western Europe, California and even Australia.

One of the main factors is a change in the position of the jet stream – the fast-moving current of air that moves … Read more >>>.

Pakistan internet connectivity is low, but cheap

ISLAMABAD – Internet connectivity is low in Pakistan, but there are opportunities for growth as broadband costs are quite cheap, a team of Google and YouTube officials has said.

The officials, who recently visited Pakistan, wrote in googleblog that Pakistan has an estimated internet penetration rate of 10 percent but there are opportunities for growth [..] Read the original article: here.

Placebos work – even if patients know they are fake

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that patients could benefit from dummy pills even if they are told they contain no active ingredient.

The findings by the researchers at Harvard Medical School’s Osher Research Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) suggested that the placebo effect could work even without the deception.

Placebos are used … Read : Placebos work – even if patients know they are fake.

New artificial cornea allows blind man to see for the 1st time in 10yrs

LONDON – A man, who lost his sight in an accident 10 years ago, can now see – thanks to a new artificial cornea.

Norman Simpson, who badly damaged the front of his one eye in an

accident, had dropped the hope to see again as corneal transplants from donor eyes failed, reports Sky News.

But … Read : New artificial cornea allows blind man to see for the 1st time in 10yrs.

Major breakthrough could lead to new treatments for melanoma

LONDON – Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have made a major breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for patients with malignant melanoma.

They have discovered that a particular protein suppresses the progression of melanoma through regulation of an oncogene, or gene responsible for cancer growth.

Researchers studied the natural progression of melanoma using …. Original article  : Major breakthrough could lead to new treatments for melanoma.

Angled, down-the-side’ is the best way to pour champagne

WASHINGTON – Scientists in France have reported that pouring bubbly in an angled, down-the-side way is best for preserving the taste and fizz of the champagne.

The study also reports the first scientific evidence confirming the importance of chilling champagne before serving to enhance its taste, the scientists say.

Gerard Liger-Belair and colleagues note that …. Original article  : Angled, down-the-side’ is the best way to pour champagne.

Part of brain that suppresses instinct identified

WASHINGTON – Scientists have identified regions in the brain that “fire up” when we suppress an automatic behaviour such as the urge to look at other people as we enter an elevator.

The research from York University used fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to track brain activity when study participants looked at an image of a …. Source article  : Part of brain that suppresses instinct identified.

Site in brain where leptin may trigger puberty identified

WASHINGTON – Scientists have pinpointed a tiny site in the brain where the hormone leptin may help trigger the onset of puberty.

The findings in mice indicate that a site within the hypothalamus called the ventral premammillary nucleus, or PMV, is the target where the hormone leptin effectively kick starts puberty in females, say UT Southwestern … Original source on Gaea Times at : Site in brain where leptin may trigger puberty identified.

Technology unable to keep up with vagaries of weather

LONDON – Mobile applications and mobile web services are failing to update passengers with the latest travel information, in view of the vagaries of weather.

Research from mobile internet specialist Volantis claims that budget airlines RyanAir and Aer Lingus are failing to provide even the most basic of mobile web services, with no app …. Source article  : Technology unable to keep up with vagaries of weather.