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Science News Archive 2012 - Page 119


Page 119 of 333

The wasp that never cries wolf

Researchers found a direct relationship between the brightness of European paper wasps' colours and the size of their poison glands. This colouration serves as an honest signal to predators that the wasp is strong and healthy, potentially wasting energy on bright patterns.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalFrontiers in Zoology·DateAug 19, 2012

A new route to dissipationless electronics

Researchers at RIKEN have demonstrated a new material that can eliminate loss in electrical power transmission, opening the door to energy-efficient electronics. The discovery uses magnetic topological insulators, which exhibit unique properties that allow for dissipationless electricity channels.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Physics·DateAug 19, 2012

Molecular code cracked

Researchers cracked the molecular code for pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, which recognize and bind specific RNA molecules. This discovery enables the potential for new treatments of genetic diseases and precise control over gene expression.

SourceUniversity of Western Australia·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateAug 18, 2012

Trust in management key to avoiding correctional staff burnout Wayne State research finds

A Wayne State University researcher found that correctional facility employees who trust supervisors and management are less likely to experience job burnout. Higher trust levels resulted in lower reported burnout characteristics, while trust in management had no bearing on perceived work effectiveness.

Photographic cholesterol test

Researchers in India have developed a non-invasive approach to determine total cholesterol levels using image processing and a database of known cholesterol levels. The test uses a digital camera to capture the back of a patient's hand and compares it with images in a database for accurate cholesterol readings.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics·DateAug 17, 2012

Foreclosure crisis and metropolitan crime rates

A recent study by Indiana University researchers found no association between housing-mortgage stress and crime rates in US metropolitan areas. Despite anecdotal evidence, the research indicates that higher levels of housing-mortgage stress do not correlate with violent or property crime rates.

SourceIndiana University·JournalSocial Science Quarterly·DateAug 17, 2012

Writing the book in DNA

Researchers encoded George Church's book 'Regenesis' in DNA using novel strategy and next-generation sequencing technology. The team stored 54,898 unique DNA sequences, each with an address to guide reassembly, for a total of 70 billion copies.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalScience·DateAug 17, 2012

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of wheeze and asthma in preschool children

Maternal smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of wheeze and asthma in preschool children, with a dose-response pattern related to maternal cigarette consumption. Exposure to maternal smoking before birth and early life is associated with an increased likelihood of developing respiratory symptoms.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateAug 17, 2012

A GPS in your DNA

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a method for determining more precise geographical locations of an individual's ancestral origins using genetic traits. By analyzing DNA samples from 1,157 people across Europe, they were able to accurately determine two separate points on the map for an individual's mother and father.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalNature Genetics·DateAug 16, 2012

New form of carbon observed

Scientists at Carnegie Institution have observed a new form of very hard carbon clusters that are unusual in their mix of crystalline and disordered structure. These clusters can indent diamond, indicating they are superhard, and their unique structure has potential applications for various uses.