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Science News for January 13, 2005


Surprising study reveals how cancer-causing protein activates

A new study by Brown University researchers has discovered a chemical modification that activates the STAT3 protein, which is important for embryonic growth and development. This continuous activation causes breast and prostate cells to develop and move through the body, leading to cancer. The research team found that acetylation, anot...

SourceBrown University·JournalScience·DateJan 13, 2005

Researchers map genome of deadly fungus

Researchers have mapped the genome of Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that causes severe inflammation of the brain in people with HIV and those taking chemotherapy or steroid treatments. The study identified 30 new genes involved in the fungus's biosynthesis, offering potential targets for treatment.

SourceSaint Louis University·JournalScience·DateJan 13, 2005

New insight into link between homocysteine and stroke

Researchers used Mendelian randomization to investigate the link between homocysteine levels and stroke risk. They found that individuals with a specific genetic variation had higher homocysteine levels and increased stroke risk, suggesting a potential role for folic acid and B vitamins in preventing strokes.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJan 13, 2005

Spying on black-hole eating habits with LISA

The LISA mission will detect low-frequency gravitational waves from the merger of compact objects like stellar-size black holes and neutron stars. By measuring tiny changes in the motion of freely falling test masses, scientists can study these events with unprecedented precision.

Study finds disparity in land protection

Temperate grasslands like the Great Plains suffer from inadequate land protection, with species-rich ecosystems and habitats for imperiled species at risk. Temperate conifer forests in regions like the Northwest U.S. exhibit robust conservation efforts, even amidst relatively low levels of development.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalEcology Letters·DateJan 13, 2005

Dusting for clues: Gemini discovers evidence for recent planet-forming collisions around nearby star

Astronomers using the Gemini South telescope in Chile have observed new details in the dusty disk surrounding Beta Pictoris, showing a large collision between planetary-sized bodies may have occurred as recently as the past few decades. The mid-infrared observations provide evidence for energetic encounters during planetary formation.

Measurements at CERN help to re-evaluate the element of life

Researchers at CERN and European universities have re-evaluated the primary reaction creating carbon in stars, modifying the rate of this process. The findings suggest that the amount of carbon produced in the first stars was twice as fast as previously thought, with implications for element production in supernovae.

SourceCERN·JournalNature·DateJan 13, 2005

January-February GSA Bulletin media highlights

This article discusses distal fluvio-lacustrine volcaniclastic resedimentation in central Japan and its tectonic implications. Additionally, sedimentology on Macquarie Island reveals fossil ridge-transform intersections, while high-resolution C-isotope stratigraphy sheds light on mid-Neoproterozoic climate change in the Grand Canyon. T...

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalACM SIGSAM Bulletin·DateJan 13, 2005

Clam embryo study shows pollutant mixture adversely affects nerve cell development

A scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory has published a study showing that a combination of pollutants bromoform, chloroform, and tetrachloroethylene can alter nerve cell growth in clam embryos. The study found increased production of an enzyme involved in neural development, which may be linked to neurological disorders such a...

SourceMarine Biological Laboratory·JournalEnvironmental Toxicology and Pharmacology·DateJan 13, 2005

Exposed: Tobacco industrys' efforts to cast doubt

A study reveals tobacco companies' strategies to counteract research linking tobacco smoke to cancer-causing mutations in the p53 gene. The industry supported studies that appeared to cast doubt on this link, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and the integrity of scientific research.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJan 13, 2005