Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for March 12, 2007


A single-photon server with just one atom

Researchers have developed a system that uses a single trapped atom to generate high-quality single photons, which can be controlled and made indistinguishable for quantum computing. The 'single-photon server' has the potential to revolutionize quantum information processing by enabling deterministic atom-photon entanglement experiments.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Physics·DateMar 12, 2007

HIV in late childhood and adolescence a growing problem

A new study reveals that up to 1 in 10 infected infants may survive into late childhood or early adolescence without diagnosis or treatment. Late diagnosis can significantly affect their future health and long-term survival, emphasizing the need for accessible and sympathetic HIV testing and treatment services.

SourceWellcome Trust·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateMar 12, 2007

Smithsonian scientists report new carbon dioxide study

A new study reveals that elevated CO2 levels stimulate soils to release carbon dioxide, rather than store it. The research found that soil loss due to decomposition offsets gains in plant biomass, suggesting that soils may not be a reliable carbon sink under high CO2 conditions.

SourceSmithsonian·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2007

Study: Long legs are more efficient

A recent study published in The Journal of Experimental Biology suggests that longer legs are more efficient due to reduced force production and lower energy cost. According to the LiMB model developed by Herman Pontzer, this is because longer limbs require less force to move, resulting in decreased energy expenditure.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateMar 12, 2007

Eighteen percent of young women experience sexual victimization

A study by researchers at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions found that 18% of young women experienced sexual victimization over a two-year period. The majority (66%) of these cases involved intimate partners, highlighting the need for tailored prevention strategies to address both types of victimization.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·DateMar 12, 2007

Expert centers prove cost-effective in managing ovarian cancer

A new study reveals that expert centers with extensive experience in managing cancer are more cost-effective over time, providing significantly longer quality-adjusted survival compared to less experienced medical centers. High-volume multidisciplinary centers also show better outcomes for ovarian cancer patients.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateMar 12, 2007

Smithsonian study concludes Caribbean extinctions occurred 2M years after apparent cause

A new study by Smithsonian scientists suggests that environmental changes in the Caribbean led to extinctions 2 million years after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama. The research found that most coral and snail species died off a good 2 million years after the environmental change that caused their demise.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2007

Health-care inequities underscore racial disparities in prostate cancer

African-American men face significant barriers to timely diagnosis and screening due to constrained healthcare access, distrust of physicians, and socioeconomic disadvantages. The study reveals that knowledge about prostate cancer is comparable to that of white men, but lack of trust in medical care leads to irregular interactions and ...

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateMar 12, 2007

Anti-fungal drug kills TB bug

Scientists have discovered that anti-fungal drugs can kill the TB bacteria, potentially effective against emerging drug-resistant strains. The study found that chemicals called azoles target a specific enzyme in the TB bacterium, leading to its death.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMar 12, 2007

Women and heart disease

A comprehensive review highlights clinically relevant differences in women and men's heart disease prevalence, presentation, management, and outcomes. Young women with acute coronary syndrome face higher mortality rates than young men.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateMar 12, 2007

Disease opened door to invading species in California

A new study reveals that a plant pathogen played a key role in allowing non-native grasses to invade California, dramatically changing the state's vast grassland ecosystem. The research suggests that diseases can facilitate the invasion of exotic species, which threatens biodiversity and ecological function.

SourceOregon State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2007

Pig study forces rethink of Pacific colonisation

Scientists analyzed DNA and tooth shape in modern and ancient pigs to contradict longstanding ideas about Pacific colonist origins. The research suggests that ancient humans may have traveled between islands before reaching New Guinea and eventually landing on Hawaii and French Polynesia.

SourceDurham University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2007

Molecular differences between early and advanced melanomas could provide new drug targets

Scientists have discovered that a cell-signaling molecule Akt plays a key role in the progression of melanomas from non-invasive to invasive cancers. Understanding this molecular difference could lead to new targets for treating advanced stage melanoma, with a survival rate of 98% for radial melanomas on the surface of the skin.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 12, 2007

Scientists develop plans for ultimate microscope

Researchers at University of Sheffield have developed a new technique to enhance x-ray microscope images, enabling the capture of high-resolution 3D images of any molecular structure. They aim to develop the ultimate x-ray microscope with computer-aided image processing and potentially replace lenses with solid-state optical microscopes.

Rings made of little rods

Researchers at Rice University discovered that gold nanorods can spontaneously self-assemble into ring-shaped structures within seconds. The rings are made of tiny gold rods and form due to the condensation of water droplets onto a solution of the rods in a nonpolar solvent.

SourceWiley·DateMar 12, 2007

Tonga quake not conducive to tsunami

A recent study found that a magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Tonga was likely a slab-tearing event, which explains why the resulting tsunami was relatively small and caused no damage. The researchers deployed seven seismograph stations to record aftershocks beneath the surface, providing insights into the nature of earthquakes in the region.

Malaria: The right vaccine in the right place?

A new study found that the most commonly used malaria vaccine may not be effective against the prevalent strain in Mali. The researchers discovered that only 16% of infections were caused by the strain included in the vaccine, highlighting the importance of testing vaccines in diverse populations.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateMar 12, 2007

Hackers get bum rap for corporate America's digital delinquency

A recent study by Phil Howard and Kris Erickson found that 60% of breached-record incidents between 1980 and 2006 were caused by organizational mismanagement, such as missing or stolen hardware. The number of reported incidents more than tripled in 2005 and 2006 after California's pioneering Notice of Security Breach law took effect.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Computer-Mediated Communication·DateMar 12, 2007