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Science News for February 13, 2011


Acid oceans demand greater reef care

A new study finds that coral reefs are more vulnerable to weakening due to ocean acidification and global warming, especially in developing countries. Effective local management efforts can help maintain coral resilience while carbon emissions are stabilized.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateFeb 13, 2011

Scripps Research study sheds light on RNA 'on/off switches'

Scientists from Scripps Research Institute have discovered a new type of RNA molecule, called riboswitches, that can turn genes on or off in response to cellular energy needs. These findings may have implications for designing new antibiotics against harmful bacteria.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateFeb 13, 2011
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Partnership of genes affects the brain's development

Scientists have discovered a genetic partnership between two proteins that enables nerve cells to connect correctly in the brain. The study suggests that similar mechanisms may play a role in human brain development and could lead to new therapies for developmental disorders.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateFeb 13, 2011

Mummies' false toes helped ancient Egyptians walk

Researchers recreated ancient Egyptian artificial toes and tested them on volunteers, finding they could help with walking. The toes date from before 600BC, predating the Roman Capula Leg as the earliest known practical prosthesis.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalThe Lancet·DateFeb 13, 2011

Eating berries may lower risk of Parkinson's

A study published in Neurology found that men who eat berries regularly have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Flavonoids, particularly anthocyanins from berries, were associated with a reduced risk in both men and women.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateFeb 13, 2011
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Gonorrhea acquires a piece of human DNA

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered the first evidence of a human DNA fragment in a bacterial genome, specifically Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This finding offers insight into the bacterium's ability to adapt to its human host and could lead to new strains of the disease.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalmBio·DateFeb 13, 2011

Fleeting fluctuations in superconductivity disappear close to transition temperature

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Brookhaven National Laboratory measured superconducting fluctuations in a superconductor, finding they disappear 10-15 Kelvin above the transition temperature. This suggests electron pairs lose coherence rather than break apart at Tc, driving the transition to a non-superconducting state.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Physics·DateFeb 13, 2011