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Science News Archive 2012 - Page 6


Page 6 of 333

Helping the nose know

Researchers describe how feedback mechanism works by identifying where signals go and which neurons receive them. The study reveals that higher brain regions communicate with lower parts of the brain on a near-constant basis, helping to interpret olfactory information.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNeuron·DateDec 19, 2012

First freshwater mosasaur discovered

Researchers discovered a new species of mosasaur that lived about 84 million years ago in freshwater river environments. The largest specimens reached up to 20 feet in length and had unique characteristics such as limbs like a terrestrial lizard, a flattened skull, and a tail unlike other known members.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 19, 2012

Lizard tails detach at a biological 'dotted line'

Researchers from Aarhus University used advanced bio-imaging techniques to discover that geckos shed their tails along pre-formed score lines. This process is independent of protein-cleaving enzymes and involves microstructures at the ends of muscle fibers, facilitating a quick getaway for these lizards.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 19, 2012

Small changes in eating prompts weight loss

A public web-based healthy eating and weight loss program found that participants who made consistent changes lost an average of 2 pounds per month. The study also showed that finding initial tips that are relevant and doable for individuals can lead to gradual weight loss and healthier habits.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateDec 19, 2012

Fighting shaped human hands

The human hand's unique shape may have evolved to stabilize the fist and produce a compact club for use in combat, according to a new study. The researchers found that the tightly packed human fist provides internal support to the digits, protecting them from damage during combat.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateDec 19, 2012

Scientists establish link between inflammatory process and progression of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers have discovered a key link between inflammation and Alzheimer's disease progression. The study suggests that drugs targeting IL-1 beta production may provide benefits for patients with Alzheimer's. The findings point to the possibility of developing new treatments by disrupting the production of this pro-inflammatory cytokine.

SourceUMass Chan Medical School·JournalNature·DateDec 19, 2012

Inside the head of a dinosaur

Researchers found that therizinosaurs had well-developed sensory abilities, including smell, hearing, and balance, which may have affected their behavior as herbivores. The study used high-resolution CT scanning and 3D computer visualization to analyze the brain and inner ear anatomy of a 90-million-year-old therizinosaur fossil.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 19, 2012

Are bacteria making you hungry?

Research suggests that bacteria in the gut may control host appetites by influencing signaling pathways. The gut microbiota respond to nutrients and hormones, generating compounds that affect appetite and mood disorders. Further studies are needed to determine if gut bacteria directly influence food choice.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalJournal of Bacteriology·DateDec 19, 2012

Global collaborative efforts help delineate pediatric TBI in China

Two studies examine pediatric traumatic brain injuries in China, finding that falls, strikes, and traffic collisions are the leading external causes. Suspected child abuse accounts for approximately six percent of TBIs among children under two years old, a significant finding with implications for global injury research.

SourceNationwide Children's Hospital·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateDec 19, 2012

Stars reveal the secrets of looking young

Researchers used the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope and Hubble Space Telescope to study 21 globular clusters, finding that a few were young with blue stragglers distributed throughout, while others were old with the stars clumped in the centre. This reveals big differences in the speed of evolution from cluster to cluster.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateDec 19, 2012

Fast-acting enzymes with 2 fingers: Protein structurally and dynamically explained

The study reveals a two-finger switch-off mechanism for Rab proteins, which control transport operations between different areas of a cell. This mechanism accelerates GTP cleavage over five orders of magnitude and has potential applications in developing small molecules to switch off mutated GTPases involved in tumour formation.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 19, 2012

Fine hands, fists of fury

A University of Utah study suggests human hands evolved not only for manual dexterity but also for making fists and fighting. The research found that human fists provide a performance advantage in punching, with increased force delivery and protection for delicate hand bones during combat. This evolution may have been driven by selecti...

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateDec 19, 2012

From farm to table, mealworms may be the next best food

Researchers found that mealworm farms produce more edible protein than traditional animal farms for chicken, pork, beef, or milk, using less land and similar amounts of energy. Mealworms also produce less greenhouse gas emissions than other animals grown for meat.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 19, 2012

Penn metamaterials experts show a way to reduce electrons' effective mass to nearly 0

Using metamaterials, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a theory for creating materials where electrons have nearly zero effective mass. This concept could lead to faster circuits with unique properties. The team's idea was inspired by the similarities between electromagnetic waves and quantum mechanics, and t...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalPhysical Review B·DateDec 18, 2012

Hass Avocado Board study published in Food & Function journal

A recent study published in Food & Function journal found that consuming fresh Hass avocado with a burger meal can neutralize inflammation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study, conducted by researchers at UCLA, also suggests that avocados may help mitigate negative effects on blood flow after eating a burger.

SourcePadillaCRT·JournalFood & Function·DateDec 18, 2012

Do palm trees hold the key to immortality?

Recent review reveals palm trees have living cells sustained throughout their lifetime, potentially holding the key to longevity and understanding cellular structure in plants. Palm trunks consist of individual cells living for centuries, unlike most long-lived trees with dead woody tissues.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateDec 18, 2012

Global rates of infertility remain unchanged over past 2 decades

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that global infertility rates have remained steady since 1990, with 1.9% of women aged 20 unable to conceive and 10.5% of those who previously gave birth unable to have another child. The levels of infertility varied by region, with higher rates in North Africa and the Middle East.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateDec 18, 2012