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BrightSurf.com Science News Headlines October 2003
October 31, 2003
Another giant solar explosion follows TuesdayÍs enormous solar flare: Since Tuesday 28 October, explosive events originating from the Sun have been bathing the Earth and its surroundings in high energy radiation.
Scientists find evolution of life: A trio of scientists has found that humans may owe the relatively mild climate in which their ancestors evolved to tiny marine organisms with shells and skeletons made out of calcium carbonate.
Japanese shipwreck adds to evidence of great Cascadia earthquake in 1700: Evidence has mounted for nearly 20 years that a great earthquake ripped the seafloor off the Washington coast in 1700, long before there were any written records in the region. Now, a newly authenticated record of a fatal shipwreck in Japan has added an intriguing clue.
Flares near edge of our galaxy's central black hole indicate rapid spin: Razor-sharp optics on ground-based telescopes now allows astronomers to peer at events occurring near the very edge of our galaxy's central black hole, providing new clues about the massive but invisible object at the core of the Milky Way.
Major new finding on genetics of Parkinson's disease zeroes in on activity of alpha synuclein: Scientists investigating a rare familial form of early-onset Parkinson's disease have discovered that too much of a normal form of the alpha-synuclein gene may cause Parkinson's disease.
Mega starbirth cluster is biggest, brightest and hottest ever seen: A mysterious arc of light found behind a distant cluster of galaxies has turned out to be the biggest, brightest and hottest star-forming region ever seen in space.
NASA testing K9 rover in granite quarry for future missions: NASA scientists and engineers are testing new technologies using the K9 rover in a granite quarry near Watsonville, Calif., in preparation for future missions to Mars.
Researchers create 'supersized' molecule of DNA: Scientists at Stanford University have created an expanded molecule of DNA with a double helix wider than any found in nature. Besides being more heat resistant than natural DNA, the new version glows in the dark - a property that could prove useful in detecting genetic defects in humans.

October 30, 2003
Scientists detect melting of Antarctic Ice Shelf: A giant ice shelf the size of Scotland is melting rapidly in warm Antarctic waters, a report in SCIENCE will reveal today. Thinning of the Larsen Ice Shelf - vast sections of which collapsed catastrophically during the 1990's - was discovered by scientists at the University of Cambridge, University College London, University of Bristol and the Instituto Antártico Argentino.
Specialized brain helped ancient reptiles fly and hunt: Pterosaurs, which emerged as the first flying vertebrates during the age of dinosaurs, could grow as large as an airplane but soared through the skies with ease. New research suggests that a specialized brain and inner ear structure helped these ancient reptiles to fly and target their prey.
University of Toronto technology could foil fraud with laser-sensitive dyes: Working with capsules of dye just a few billionths of a metre in diameter, researchers at University of Toronto and the advanced optical microscopy facility at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital have created a new strategy for encrypting photographs, signatures and fingerprints on security documents.
NASA funded Earth alert system to aid MEMA in disasters: The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has recently deployed a new communications system, based on NASA technology, that is designed to aid emergency management professionals when natural or man-made disasters occur.
'Reset Switch' for brain cells discovered: Duke University Medical Center neurobiologists have discovered how neurons in the brain 'reset' when they are overly active. This molecular reset switch works to increase or decrease the sensitivity of brain cells to stimulation by their neighbors.
Aspirin withdrawal may pose risk to coronary patients: Patients with coronary artery disease who stop taking aspirin may be at risk for developing withdrawal-related coronary events.
Polar bears' habitat threatened by thinning of Arctic sea ice: The main natural habitat of the polar bear is under increasing threat as a consequence of the dramatic thinning of the Arctic sea ice.
GenSAT (Gene Expression Nervous System Atlas) project announced: For scientists studying the brain, this week's Nature announces a remarkable new map describing previously uncharted territory, plus the means of exploring the new horizons for themselves.

October 29, 2003
Enormous X-ray solar flare seen by SOHO: The third most powerful solar X-ray flare on record, a remarkable X17.2 category explosion, erupted from sunspot 10486 on Tuesday, 28 October 2003.
Wolves are rebalancing yellowstone ecosystem: The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park may be the key to maintaining groves of cottonwood trees that were well on their way to localized extinction, and is working to rebalance a stream ecosystem in the park for the first time in seven decades, Oregon State University scientists say in two new studies.
Silicon may have been the key to start of life on Earth: A scientist at the University of Sheffield has discovered that silicon may have been key to the establishment of life on earth.
UCLA study identifies stem cell in artery wall: A UCLA study demonstrates for the first time that specific cells found in the adult artery wall have stem cell-like potential. Researchers found artery cells that change into cartilage, bone, muscle and marrow stromal cells.
Researchers discover molecular signaling system controlling aspects of embryonic development: Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have identified a secreted signaling protein that regulates smooth muscle development in fruit flies. In the absence of a protein called 'Jelly Belly (Jeb),' primitive smooth muscle cells fail to migrate or differentiate.
Case researchers discover the mouth's defenses against AIDS: Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic have discovered a way that the mouth may prevent the contraction of HIV.
New therapies under development promise improved relief for Non-HodgkinÍs Lymphoma cancer patients: Biotech companies and researchers across the world are focusing on the development of new therapies for the treatment of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) cancer, a lethal and malignant disease that is spreading at an alarming rate.
Studies show preventive value of food supplements: Common spices and herbs contain ingredients that may prevent the formation of major tumors, such as intestinal and prostate cancers, according to research presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research's Second Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.

October 28, 2003
Researchers' probe discovers pollutant-eating microbe and a strategy to speed cleanup of old gasworks: Cornell University microbiologists, looking for bioremediation microbes to 'eat' toxic pollutants, report the first field test of a technique called stable isotopic probing (SIP) in a contaminated site.
Station crew captures unique view of California wildfires: The wildfires ravaging southern California are even impressive from 240 miles above the Earth. NASA astronaut Ed Lu took still photographs of the fires through the windows of the International Space Station Sunday.
Elusive cancer killer's deep-sea hideout discovered after a nearly 20-year hunt: In 1984, Harbor Branch scientists exploring deep waters off the Bahamas in one of the institution's Johnson-Sea-Link submersibles discovered a small piece of sponge that harbored a chemical with a remarkable ability to kill cancer cells in laboratory tests.
NASA scientist dives into perfect space storm: Newly uncovered scientific data of recorded history's most massive space storm is helping a NASA scientist investigate its intensity and the probability that what occurred on Earth and in the heavens almost a century-and-a-half ago could happen again.
Two million neonatal deaths take place in two developing regions of the world: The developing areas of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa account for more than two million neonatal deaths annually, according to research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Improved remote mapping of disaster zones: Research by scientists at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University shows that Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) polarimetry is a more superior technology for rapidly identifying disaster zones than the currently used optical remote sensing technologies, such as Landsat and SPOT.
Surgeons offer new treatment for degenerative eye disease: Researchers at Duke Eye Center believe a surgical procedure they have refined for over a decade can offer hope to more people suffering from end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
International Space Station Status Report: The Expedition 7 crew touched down in northern Kazakhstan in its Soyuz spacecraft about 8:41 p.m. CST, concluding a 183-day mission aboard the International Space Station and 185 days in space. Landing occurred on target, approximately 24 miles (38 kilometers) from Arkylyk in Kazakhstan.

October 27, 2003
Bad Mileage - 98 tons of plants per gallon: A staggering 98 tons of prehistoric, buried plant material - that's 196,000 pounds - is required to produce each gallon of gasoline we burn in our cars, SUVs, trucks and other vehicles.
Experimental hantavirus vaccine elicits strong antibody response in primates: For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that an experimental vaccine to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a highly lethal disease, elicits a strong neutralizing antibody response in laboratory animals--a response that is key to preventing the virus from causing infection.
Consumers value genetically modified foods that directly benefit them: Consumers may be willing to pay a premium for certain genetically modified foods if they are told of the potential health benefits they may receive from eating those foods, according to a recent Purdue University study.
More evidence shows that children's brains with dyslexia respond abnormally to language stimuli: Researchers have additional evidence that reading problems are linked to abnormal sound processing, thanks to high-precision pictures of the brain at work.
Mutant gene linked to obsessive compulsive disorder: Analysis of DNA samples from patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related illnesses suggests that these neuropsychiatric disorders affecting mood and behavior are associated with an uncommon mutant, malfunctioning gene that leads to faulty transporter function and regulation.
Biological trick reveals key step in melatonin's regulation: Johns Hopkins researchers have uncovered a key step in the body's regulation of melatonin, a major sleep-related chemical in the brain. In the advance online section of Nature Structural Biology, the research team reports finding the switch that causes destruction of the enzyme that makes melatonin -- no enzyme, no melatonin.
International Space Station Status Report: Final handover activities have been underway aboard the International Space Station as the Expedition 7 crew prepares to return to Earth today, following six months aboard the orbiting complex. Landing is scheduled for 8:41 p.m. CST on the steppes of Kazakhstan.

October 24, 2003
Large asteroid is two orbiting objects: An asteroid that has eluded astronomers for decades turns out to be an unusual pair of objects traveling together in space, a UCLA planetary scientist and colleagues report.
Recent warming of Arctic may affect worldwide climate: Recently observed change in Arctic temperatures and sea ice cover may be a harbinger of global climate changes to come, according to a recent NASA study. Satellite data -- the unique view from space -- are allowing researchers to more clearly see Arctic changes and develop an improved understanding of the possible effect on climate worldwide.
Green mineral indicates red planet is dry: The presence of a common green mineral on Mars suggests that the red planet could have been cold and dry since the mineral has been exposed, which may be more than a billion years according to new research appearing in the Oct. 24 edition of Science.
How many fish in the sea? Census of Marine Life launches first report: An estimated 5,000 previously unknown ocean fish species and hundreds of thousands of other marine life forms are yet to be discovered, according to scientists engaged in a massive global scientific collaboration to identify and catalog life in the oceans.
Research sheds light on inter-ocean and ocean-atmosphere dynamics: Currents connecting Pacific and Indian Oceans are colder and deeper than thought Scientists at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory have found that currents connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans are colder and deeper than originally believed.

October 23, 2003
NASA scientists to study lake's primitive life to learn about Mars: Scientists from NASA, the SETI Institute and other institutions will study microscopic life forms in some of the highest lakes on Earth atop a South American volcano to learn what life may have been like on early Mars.
Scientists find genetic 'fountain of youth' for adult stem cells: Scientists at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a gene that controls the amazing ability of adult stem cells to self-renew, or make new copies of themselves, throughout life.
New study seeks to identify and minimize danger to aviation from cosmic radiation: Scientists have long known of the potential risk from cosmic rays and other aspects of space weather, such as streams of protons from the Sun, to airline electronic systems, passengers, and crews.
Scientists seize golden business opportunity by solving 20-year old problem: Scientists have created a new material which could save the electronics industry millions of pounds each year and could also be more effective.
Retroviral protein triggers proliferation of immune cells: Scientists here have found that a protein in the retrovirus known as human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) can cause immune cells to divide and proliferate, helping the virus spread through the body.
Let gravity assist you...: 'Fly-bys', or 'gravity assist' manoeuvres, are now a standard part of spaceflight and are used by almost all ESA interplanetary missions.
Embryonic pathway critical to growth of digestive tract tumors: A common signal critical for normal embryo development in many species also contributes to cancers of the esophagus, stomach and pancreas in people, according to Johns Hopkins researchers.
Evidence that neurons prune only 'Twigs' to rewire themselves: By using a laser microscope to spy on individual nerve cells in living mice, researchers have discovered that neurons' wiring remain largely stable, providing a solid scaffold to accommodate the challenges in their environment.

October 22, 2003
Doped liquid crystals allow real time holography: The addition of buckyballs or carbon nanotubes to nematic liquid crystals changes their properties and makes them low-cost alternatives for holographic and image processing applications.
Arsenic remedy for arsenic poisoning?: A homeopathic remedy made from arsenic oxide could ease the suffering of the hundreds of millions of people at risk from arsenic poisoning worldwide.
Changing fiber optics communications: Florida Tech professor quadruples amount of information carried on single cable.
MIT's plasmatron cuts diesel bus emissions, promises better gas engine efficiency: A bus in Indiana is the latest laboratory for MIT's plasmatron reformer, a small device its developers believe could significantly cut the nation's oil consumption as well as noxious emissions from a variety of vehicles.
Nuna II breaks all records in the world solar challenge!: The Dutch solar car Nuna II, using ESA space technology, finished first in the World Solar Challenge, a 3010 km race right across Australia for cars powered by solar energy.
Outbreak of foodborne botulism traced from food sold at Texas salvage store: An article published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, reports that an outbreak of foodborne botulism in Texas in 2001, involving 16 cases, was traced back to storing conditions at a salvage store.
New drug proves helpful for treating long-term insomnia: Researchers at Duke University Medical Center and elsewhere have completed the first large-scale study demonstrating sustained efficacy of a medication to treat insomnia for a period of six months.
Gray matter damage in the brain of MS patients linked to cognitive, physical deficits: The mental impairment and problems with walking experienced by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are linked to damage in the brain's gray matter, with MRI findings suggesting the damage is due to toxic deposits of iron.

October 21, 2003
Who moved my cheese!?: Rats inhabit a world of smells far beyond our poor powers to discriminate. Thousands of odors that smell the same to us, or that we cannot perceive at all, are quickly recognizable as distinct and meaningful odors to rodents and other animals in which the Nose Knows. But just how quick?
ESA's Integral discovers hidden black holes: Integral, ESA's powerful gamma-ray space telescope, has discovered what seems to be a new class of astronomical objects.
Beetle chosen for national genome sequencing project: The red flour beetle can be a pest in massive grain elevators or in the 5-pound sack of flour in your kitchen. But it also can be an important organism in the field of genetic research.
Drug may treat previously incurable brain cancer: An old drug may have found a new role treating an incurable form of brain cancer called glioblastoma, according to preliminary research at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Gene silencer may improve chemo and radiation: Like bacteria that resist common antibiotics, cancer cells can survive chemotherapy and radiation. Radiation oncologists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center report they have found a gene 'silencer' that blocks a cancer cell's ability to repair itself after drugs and radiation cause damage.
Increasing MRSA in California jails: In the past few years, California jails have seen a large jump in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Fighting the side effects of radiation: If facing their cancer weren't enough, brain tumor patients undergoing radiation also risk life-threatening infections such as pneumonia as their immune systems are suppressed by the corticosteroids used to ward off brain swelling and treatment-related headaches.
International Space Station Status Report: The International Space Station's newest crew of Expedition 8 Commander Mike Foale and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri officially boarded the complex when hatches between its Soyuz spacecraft swung open at 5:19 a.m. CDT ( 1019 GMT, 2:19 p.m. Moscow time) on Monday.

October 20, 2003
Let water power your cell phone?: A team of researchers in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta has discovered a new way of generating electricity from flowing water.
Radioactive plutonium remains from US military accident in Spain: Researchers from the Physics Department and the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA) of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have detected concentrations of radioactive plutonium and americium in plankton from the coast of Palomares (south-east coast of Spain), with an activity level five times higher than the average of other samples taken from the Mediterranean.
Self-assembled nanocells function as non-volatile memory: Chemists at Rice University have demonstrated that disordered assemblies of gold nanowires and conductive organic molecules can function as non-volatile memory, one of the key components of computer chips.
New drug-and-psychotherapy program for bipolar disorder in children: A psychiatrist at the University of Illinois at Chicago has devised a promising drug regimen for children with bipolar disorder.
Genome desert yield DNA gold: Vast regions of the human genome thought to be genetic 'deserts' harboring DNA sequences of no value may actually contain heretofore hidden nuggets of DNA gold.
Investigational drug may protect cancer and AIDS patients from side effects of pain relief therapy: A drug developed to relieve one of the major side effects of pain therapy for cancer patients may offer an added benefit for AIDS patients.
Gene mutation responsible for Chrohn's disease inflammation identified: A mutation in one of the genes that might be responsible for the inflammation that characterizes Crohn's disease has been identified by researchers at Temple University's School of Medicine (TUSM).
International Space Station Status Report: New residents arrived at the International Space Station Monday with the ISS Soyuz 7 spacecraft docking to the Station at 2:16 a.m. CDT (0716 GMT, 11:16am Moscow time).

October 17, 2003
Nanosprings - Helical piezoelectric nanostructures could be actuators & transducers in future nanosystems: Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new class of nanometer-scale structures that spontaneously form helical shapes from long ribbon-like single crystals of zinc oxide (ZnO). Dubbed 'nanosprings,' the new structures have piezoelectric and electrostatic polarization properties that could make them useful in small-scale sensing and micro-system applications.
Bull mastodons in deadly combat; sound and fury from silent bones: The American mastodon, a massive, tusk-bearing relative of elephants, inhabited much of North America until its extinction just 10,000 years ago.
South American glaciers melting faster, changing sea level: The Patagonia Icefields of Chile and Argentina, the largest non-Antarctic ice masses in the Southern Hemisphere, are thinning at an accelerating pace and now account for nearly 10 percent of global sea-level change from mountain glaciers, according to a new study by NASA and Chile's Centro de Estudios Cientificos.
New global treaty proposed to control climate change and improve health: A global treaty focusing on intercontinental air pollution could be a better approach to controlling climate change than the Kyoto Protocol.
Scientists explain and improve upon 'enigmatic' probability formula: Scientists at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have developed new insight into a formula that helped British cryptanalysts crack the German Enigma code in World War II.
Medieval climate not so hot: The idea that there's no need to worry about human-induced global warming because the world's climate in medieval time was at least as warm as today's is flawed, according to an analysis published today.

October 16, 2003
Experiments validate relativity theory's light speed limit: Addressing a controversy first raised around 1910, two physicists have performed experiments with the aid of an engineer that validate anew the special theory of relativity's limitations on the speed of light.
Sandia develops ultra-high-temperature ceramics to withstand 2000 degrees Celsius: Researchers at the Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new lightweight material to withstand ultra-high temperatures on hypersonic vehicles, such as the space shuttle.
Airborne ozone can alter forest soil: The industrial pollutant ozone, long known to be harmful to many kinds of plants, can also affect the very earth in which they grow.
Researchers discover power behind molecular motors: After having demonstrated how 'molecular motors' move within cells, a team of researchers led by a Duke University Medical Center scientist now believe they have discovered the power stroke that drives these motors.
Adult alcoholism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are connected: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms include inattention, motor hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Roughly half of the adults who report ADHD symptoms also report a co-existing substance-abuse disorder.
Startling deep-sea encounter with rare, massive Greenland shark: During a recent submersible dive 3,000 feet down in the Gulf of Maine a Harbor Branch scientist and sub pilot had the first face-to-face meeting ever in the deep sea with a rare Greenland shark.
Setting the evolutionary record straight: Writing in this week's issue of Nature, Professor Paul Pearson relates how he discovered an account of the theory - regarded as one of the most important in the history of science - in a rare 1794 publication by geologist, James Hutton.
Climate change and U.S. agriculture: Computer-based simulations of U.S. agriculture show that, by the year 2060, the benefits of climate change to American croplands could be less than previous work had indicated.

October 15, 2003
Massive Antarctic iceberg breaks in two: In what could be a boom or a bust for some Antarctic shipping, a massive, 100-mile long iceberg known as B-15A has split in two, satellite photos have confirmed.
Researchers discover genes that distinguish human, nonhuman primate brains: Findings shed light on the evolution of human cognition, the capacity for long lifespan and the potential for neurodegenerative disease.
New diode could enable faster, more efficient electronics: Engineers have designed a new diode that transmits more electricity than any other device of its kind, and the inspiration for it came from technology that is 40 years old.
Restricting the gene pool: Nature has evolved clever ways to prevent animals from different species from successfully reproducing. As published in the upcoming issue of Genes & Development, molecular biologists at UC Irvine are gaining a better understanding as to how.
Changes in Arctic ice affect life around the globe: NASA satellite observations show there has been considerable warming of the Arctic over the last two decades and a simultaneous retreat of Arctic sea-ice cover.
New scheduling method raises efficiency of electronics recycling: An industrial engineer at Purdue University has created a method to increase the efficiency, profitability and capacity of recycling operations for electronic products such as computers and television sets.
Sperm from marijuana smokers move too fast too early, impairing fertility: Men who smoke marijuana frequently have significantly less seminal fluid, a lower total sperm count and their sperm behave abnormally, all of which may affect fertility adversely, a new study in reproductive physiology at the University at Buffalo has shown.
New NASA facility will help protect space crews from radiation: To ensure the safety of spacecraft crews, NASA biologists and physicists will perform thousands of experiments at the new $34 million NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) commissioned today at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y.

October 14, 2003
Grid technology helps astronomers keep pace with the Universe: 'Intelligent Agent' computer programs are roaming the Internet and watching the skies. It may sound like science fiction, but these programs, using Grid computing technology, will help astronomers detect some of the most dramatic events in the universe, such as massive supernova explosions.
MIT engineers report new approach to tissue engineering: MIT engineers report a new approach to creating three-dimensional samples of human tissue that could push researchers closer to their ultimate goal: tissues for therapeutic applications and replacement organs. The technique could also help answer questions in cell and developmental biology.
For quantum confinement, size matters, but so does shape: Size matters, but so does shape, at least in the world of semiconducting nanocrystals, report chemists at Washington University in St. Louis.
Launch of Ariadna to boost advanced space research in Europe: Will spacecraft travelling through interplanetary space be able to determine their positions by using signals from dead stars as astronomical clocks?
MicroRNA targets: How big is the iceberg?: In line with the dogma of molecular biology 'DNA makes RNA makes protein', RNA molecules have largely been thought of as intermediaries between the information encoded in the genome and the proteins that do the work.
Revised periodic table slanted toward astronomers: The periodic table isn't what it used to be, thanks to innovations by a planetary chemist at Washington University in St. Louis.
From genome comparisons, researchers learn lessons about evolution and cancer: It took genome scientists barely three months in 2003 to confirm a revolutionary new view of what happens in the human genome to cause dramatic evolutionary changes.
Causal relationship suggested between reflux and sleep apnea: The results of a recent study to be presented at the 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology suggest that gastroesophageal reflux (GER) of any sort -- not just acid reflux -- may contribute to sleep apnea arousals.

October 13, 2003
Monkeys consciously control a robot arm using only brain signals: Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have taught rhesus monkeys to consciously control the movement of a robot arm in real time, using only signals from their brains and visual feedback on a video screen. The scientists said that the animals appeared to operate the robot arm as if it were their own limb.
Purdue researchers stretch DNA on chip, lay track for future computers: Researchers at Purdue University are making it easier to read life's genetic blueprint. They have precisely placed strands of DNA on a silicon chip and then stretched out the strands so that their encoded information might be read more clearly, two steps critical to possibly using DNA for future electronic devices and computers.
Microscopic cracks spoil the transparency of glass, nano-researchers find: A fundamental discovery about the behavior of cooling glass could have a significant impact on the glass- and plastic-making industries, say researchers at Lehigh University.
NASA selectes Allied team to provide hypersonic vehicles: NASA has selected Allied Aerospace Industries of Tullahoma, Tenn., to provide three flight-ready experimental demonstrator vehicles that will fly approximately 5,000 miles per hour or seven times the speed of sound.
Electronics interconnections for extreme space environments: If all goes as planned, two rovers named Spirit and Opportunity will explore the surface of Mars next year, gathering a wealth of geologic information and beaming the results back to Earth.
Study ties African drought to ocean temperatures: A strong link has been confirmed between sea surface temperatures and precipitation in Africa's semi-arid Sahel, according to a new study published in Science.
New diode could enable faster, more efficient eletronics: Engineers have designed a new diode that transmits more electricity than any other device of its kind, and the inspiration for it came from technology that is 40 years old.
Mimicking the human body with carbon black polymers: Metal detectors have become so commonplace that you might think we know all we need to about them. However, the law enforcement community must continually update performance standards for metal detectors to ensure that new products purchased in the marketplace operate at specified minimum levels.
International Space Station Status Report: Expedition 7 Commander Yuri Malenchenko and NASA International Space Station Science Officer Ed Lu formally began preparations to come home this week, while continuing to work on several science experiments.

October 10, 2003
NASA research team successfully flies first laser-powered aircraft: Ever since the dawn of powered flight, it has been necessary for all aircraft to carry onboard fuel - whether in the form of batteries, fuel, solar cells, or even a human 'engine' - in order to stay aloft.
Physicist devises way to observe protein folding: Physicists are getting more involved in the fight against diseases by studying the folding of proteins, which they hope will eventually lead to the development of new drugs.
New hybrid material has potential use in microelectronics: University of Toronto scientists have developed a new class of hybrid materials combining organic and inorganic elements that could lead to improved computer chips, among other applications.
Desert washes key to bringing native birds back: Restoring desert washes may be the best way to bring native desert birds back to Tucson, according to research done at the University of Arizona.
Purdue team solves structure of West Nile virus: Purdue University biologists have determined the structure of the West Nile virus, a development that could greatly augment our understanding of the virus' life cycle.
Canadian forest fires affect mercury levels in the northeastern United States: Fires in the Canadian boreal forest may be contributing significant amounts of mercury to the atmosphere above the northeastern United States.
Lone Vietnamese turtle may be last of its kind: After surviving for thousands of years in the lakes of Southeast Asia, the East Asian giant softshell turtle may finally be faced with extinction, as the last member of the species lingers on in Vietnam's Hoan Kiem Lake.
HIV protein attacks body's innate protection system that could prevent virus' replication: When HIV enters the human body, a fierce battle ensues between a ruthless viral protein and our long-misunderstood innate protection system. Ultimately, the protein seizes and destroys that system, and HIV replicates.

October 9, 2003
First extrasolar planets, now extrasolar moons!: ESA is now planning a mission that can detect moons around planets outside our Solar System, those orbiting other stars.
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2003: The two Russian physisists Alexei Abrikosov, 75, and Vitaly Ginzburg, 87, and the British physicist Anthony Leggett, 65, will receive this year's Nobel Prize in Physics 'for pioneering contributions to the theory of superconductors and superfluids'.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2003: The two American scientists Peter Agre, 54, and Roderick MacKinnon, 47, will receive this years Nobel Prize in Chemistry 'for discoveries concerning channels in cell membranes'.
Stages of memory described in new study: A new study in the Oct. 9 issue of the journal Nature describes three distinct stages in the life of a memory, and helps explain how memories endure - or are forgotten - including the role that sleep plays in safeguarding memories.
The genetics of blindness: Treatment for the most common inherited cause of blindness, retinitis pigmentosa, is one step closer, according to investigators at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).
Rocks could reveal secrets of life on Earth Æ and Mars: A new UK project could help detect evidence for life on Mars, as well as improve our understanding of how it evolved on Earth.
Mysterious rock markings discovery baffles archaeologists: The discovery of a series of mysterious rock carvings has sparked a quest among experts to find out exactly what they are.
ATV simulation facility will be first to 'fly' very complex mission: Before the green light can be given for the launch of Jules Vernes in autumn 2004, another Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) has to first successfully fly the same mission.

October 8, 2003
HIV vaccine in worldwide trial: Vanderbilt University Medical Center is participating in worldwide tests of a potential vaccine that can stimulate important immune responses against the virus that causes AIDS.
Prehistoric footpaths in Costa Rica indicate intimate ties with villages, cemeteries: New findings by the University of Colorado at Boulder indicate tiny footpaths traveled by Costa Rican people 1,500 years ago were precursors to wide, deep and ritualistic roadways 500 years later leading to and from cemeteries and villages.
Brookhaven Lab develops 'ThraxVac' to clean up Anthrax: Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a device, dubbed 'ThraxVac,' that can collect and kill anthrax and other bacterial spores.
Antarctic penguins thrive in ocean 'oases': NASA satellite data was used for the first time to analyze the biology of hot spots along the coast of Antarctica. The biological oases are open waters, called polynyas, where blooming plankton support the local food chain.
New glass can replace expensive crystals in some lasers and bring high power to small packages: Researchers have developed a new family of glasses that will bring higher power to smaller packages in lasers and optical devices and provide a less-expensive alternative to many other optical glasses and crystals, like sapphire.
NCAR to explore link between climate change and air quality: The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and other institutions are launching a far-reaching project this month to help the government keep polluted areas in compliance with Clean Air Act standards in the event of rising global temperatures.
Oceanographers study relationship between Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound: Over the past 40 years Narragansett Bay has benefited from numerous scientific studies on the chemical, biological, physical and geological processes operating within the estuary. These efforts help us to understand how the Bay works and how best to manage Rhode Island's signature resource.

October 7, 2003
2003 Nobel Prize in Medicine to Paul C Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield: The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has decided to award The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2003 jointly to Paul C Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield for their discoveries concerning 'magnetic resonance imaging'.
New approach to epilepsy - magnetic fields guide surgery: Electrical signals from nerves in the brain cause weak magnetic fields which can be measured by means of magnetoencephalography (MEG).
UCI study uncovers unexpectedly high air pollutant levels in southwest states: Elevated levels tied to oil and natural gas processing; overall US greenhouse gas levels likely higher than previously estimated.
Gene expression profiling may lead to customized treatments for pediatric leukemia patients: Gene expression profiling can help doctors accurately identify subtypes of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to the October 15, 2003, issue of Blood, the official journal of the American Society of Hematology.
ICESat's lasers measure ice, cloud and land elevations: NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) has resumed measurements of the Earth's polar ice sheets, clouds, mountains and forests with the second of its three lasers.
On October 10th the Magic telescope will be inaugurated: On October 10th the Magic Telescope (Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov telescope) will be inaugurated. The telescope is located La Palma island, 2200 meters above the sea level at the Observatory Roque de los Muchachos, of the Itituto Astrofisico de Canarias.
'Genetic switch' proves two mechanisms exist by which immune system cells differentiate: The thymus, a once overlooked glandular structure just behind the top of the sternum, has gained increasing attention from scientists in the past two decades because it is where disease-fighting T-cells mature.

October 6, 2003
Huge iceberg wreaks havoc on Antarctic marine ecosystem: For the second time in 26 months, a massive iceberg has clogged a large portion of Antarctica's Ross Sea, causing what could turn out to be a devastating loss of penguins and other marine life, according to a NASA-funded study by Stanford scientists.
Scientist find more efficient way to 'unlearn' fear: Behavior therapists may have a better way to help anxious patients, thanks to insights from a UCLA study of different ways to get mice past their fears.
Understanding Alzheimer's disease: Alzheimer's disease may be caused by a problem transporting a certain protein across the blood brain barrier and out of the brain, according to new Saint Louis University research published in the October issue of Neuroscience.
Sequence data for parasite that causes trichomoniasis: Scientists at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) are beginning to unravel the mysteries of the most prevalent human parasite in North America, Trichomonas vaginalis. On October 1, TIGR released the first draft assembly of the T. vaginalis genome into the public domain.
Benchmark study of brain tumors points to resection over biopsy as one key to survival: Patients with gliomas, the most common type of brain tumor, have a more favorable outcome with surgical resection in a craniotomy procedure that opens the skull than patients who have only a biopsy for a tumor, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Virginia Health System.
Purdue biologists' spotlight solves mysteries of photosynthesis, metabolism: A complete molecular-scale picture of how plants convert sunlight to chemical energy has been obtained at Purdue University, offering potential new insights into animal metabolism as well.
International Space Station Status Report: The week for Commander Yuri Malenchenko and NASA International Space Station Science Officer Ed Lu was filled with work on various science experiments and routine maintenance aboard the orbiting laboratory.

October 3, 2003
Research breakthrough in understanding treatment resistant depression: A pioneering research study using brain imaging has yielded new clues to help sufferers from severe depression who do not respond to conventional treatment.
Driving performance declines with dementia and age: In one of the first studies to track driving performance over time in older adults, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that driving abilities predictably worsen in individuals with early Alzheimer's disease and, to a lesser extent, in older adults without dementia.
Obesity can be harmful to your child's mental health: Children who are obese are at increased risk for emotional problems that last well into adulthood, according to several studies and experts on the subject. Obesity and the mental disorders they contribute to should be considered as serious as other medical illnesses, they say.
SARS virus can change quickly and unpredictably, analysis indicates: The SARS virus is capable of changing rapidly and unpredictably, which could present serious challenges for managing the disease and developing drugs and vaccines to combat it, research at the University of Michigan suggests.
Healthy neighbors rescue degenerating motor neurons: The life or death of motor neurons in patients afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may rest with a somewhat overlooked group of support cells that helps guide, nourish and remove toxins from neurons.
Report shows high arsenic in some southeast NH private wells: A recently released study led by the U.S. Geological Survey shows that an estimated 41,000 people in three southeast New Hampshire counties are using private wells that contain arsenic in concentrations that exceed federal safety standards for public water supplies.
Scientists use satellite to 'pond-er' melted Arctic ice: NASA researchers and other scientists used a satellite combined with aircraft video to create a new technique for detecting ponds of water on top of Arctic sea ice. Until now, it was not possible to accurately monitor these ponds on ice from space.
Lasers create new possibilities for biological technology: A team of researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder has taken another step in the quest to build a compact, tabletop x-ray microscope that could be used for biological imaging at super-high resolution.

October 2, 2003
Research shows little effect from Arctic offshore oil drilling: When the U.S. Dept. of Interior contracted with Florida Tech Oceanographer John Trefry to study the impact of recent offshore oil drilling in the Alaskan Arctic, the Florida Academy of Sciences gold medallist had some concerns about what he might discover. Instead of finding significant impacts, however, Trefry and his team of Florida Tech scientists were amazed by the discovery of a remarkable, thriving oceanographic system.
La Niøa takes Bolivian Andes on a sedimental journey: Conventional wisdom says a river's flood plain builds bit by bit, flood after flood, whenever the stream overflows its banks and deposits new sediment on the flood plain. But for some vast waterways in South America's Amazon River basin, that wisdom doesn't hold water.
Huge Antarctic iceberg makes a big splash on sea life: NASA satellites observed the calving, or breaking off, of one of the largest icebergs ever recorded, named 'C-19.'
Solar contribution to 'global warming' predicted to decrease: New research on the sun's contribution to global warming is reported in this month's Astronomy & Geophysics. By looking at solar activity over the last 11,000 years, British Antarctic Survey (BAS) astrophysicist, Mark Clilverd, predicts that the sun's contribution to warming the Earth will reduce slightly over the next 100 years.
When heme attacks - After trauma, the molecule that makes life possible rampages: Heme, the iron-bearing, oxygen-carrying core of hemoglobin, makes it possible for blood to carry oxygen, but researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have determined how free-floating heme can also make traumatic events worse by damaging tissue.
New surface can find different twists on a molecular theme: Researchers have created a new process to produce materials that can sift through similar, molecular brethren and latch onto chemicals that differ from each other in only their mirrored images.
Contrast mammography reveals hard-to-find cancers: A new technique accurately identifies breast cancers that are difficult to detect with conventional mammography, according to a study appearing in the October issue of the journal Radiology.
What lies beneath: Just a few hundred yards off the coast of southern California, two huge submarine canyons slice more than three hundred feet into the seafloor. Though 'out of sight' at the surface, the impact of the canyons on nearby beaches and coastal communities is far from 'out of mind.'
SMART-1 ion engine fired successfully: SMART-1's revolutionary propulsion system was successfully fired at 12:25 UT on 30 September, 2003, in orbit around the Earth.

October 1, 2003
SMART-1 ion engine fired successfully: SMART-1's revolutionary propulsion system was successfully fired at 12:25 UT on 30 September, 2003, in orbit around the Earth.
Biological basis for creativity linked to mental illness: The study in the September issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology says the brains of creative people appear to be more open to incoming stimuli from the surrounding environment. Other people's brains might shut out this same information through a process called 'latent inhibition' - defined as an animal's unconscious capacity to ignore stimuli that experience has shown are irrelevant to its needs.
MITÍs HexFlex manipulates the nanoscopic: Assembling a machine sounds straightforward, but what if the components of that machine are nanoscopic? Similarly, bringing together the ends of two cables is simple unless those cables have a core diameter many times smaller than a human hair, as is the case with fiber optics.
New research technique provides unique glimpse into Alzheimer's disease: A team led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, in collaboration with researchers at Eli Lilly and Co. in Indianapolis, have developed a new technique that, for the first time, provides a way to dynamically study proteins known to be related to Alzheimer's disease in the fluid between brain cells, called interstitial fluid.
Gallery of Mars closeups from NASA orbiter adds 10,232 views: Thousands of newly released portraits of martian landscapes from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft testify to the diversity of ways geological processes have sculpted the surface of our neighboring planet.
Canopy raft, canopy crane, canopy bubble, Ikos tree house in Panama: Of the 10 million plus species thought to exist on this planet, a mere 2 million are known to science. Others dwell in inaccessible locations--deep sea vents or hard-to-reach tropical treetops.
NASA technology reduces some smoke stack emmissions: Thanks to NASA, a new method for reducing smokestack emissions of toxic formaldehyde and carbon monoxide may soon be in use throughout industry.
Infants can use previous observations to interpret new ones: Twelve-month-old infants can use previous observations as a basis to understand new interactions, although five-month-olds cannot, according to a Yale study.
A realistic way to save rainforests: Misty-eyed idealism alone will not save Earth's dwindling tropical rainforests. But a five-year, $3 million study in Panama indicates rainforests can be protected if the pharmaceutical industry establishes Third World laboratories and hires local researchers to look for new medicines extracted from plants that evolved defenses against insects.

[ September 2003 News Archive ]
 
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