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Science News for March 29, 2013


Teachers' gestures boost math learning

A study published in Child Development found that instructors who use hand gestures while teaching math problems outperform those without gestures. Students who learned from gesture videos performed better on tests compared to those who learned from speech-only videos, with improved retention over time.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalChild Development·DateMar 29, 2013

Estrogen plus progestin use linked with increased breast cancer incidence and mortality

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that estrogen plus progestin use is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer incidence. However, survival after diagnosis did not differ between users and non-users, suggesting higher mortality rates among hormone therapy users.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateMar 29, 2013

Multi-toxin biotech crops not silver bullets, scientists warn

A new study by University of Arizona entomologists reveals that the pyramid strategy for genetically modified crops may not be as durable as previously assumed. The research found that critical assumptions underlying the strategy do not always apply, and that some degree of cross-resistance between toxins can reduce its effectiveness.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 29, 2013

Making do with more: Joint BioEnergy Institute researchers engineer plant cell walls to boost sugar yields for biofuels

Researchers at Joint BioEnergy Institute develop new strategy to enhance polysaccharide deposition in plant cell walls, reducing lignin content and improving sugar release. This breakthrough could increase cell wall content for the pulping industry, bioenergy applications, and improve crop yields.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPlant Biotechnology Journal·DateMar 29, 2013