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Science News for April 25, 2014


Are almonds an optimal snack?

Researchers found that almonds can help curb appetites, improve nutrient intake and reduce abdominal fat mass in adults. Snacking on almonds may be a weight-wise strategy depending on the foods consumed, with their nutrient profile supporting a healthy weight.

SourcePorter Novelli·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateApr 25, 2014

Climate change: Don't wait until you can feel it

New research from Carnegie Institution scientists highlights the need for policy decisions based on sound science, rather than anecdotal information about local weather. The study finds that even as extreme weather events influence public opinion and support for climate change mitigation, waiting for people to experience these conditio...

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature Climate Change·DateApr 25, 2014

Tsetse fly genetic code sequenced

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have successfully sequenced the genetic code of the tsetse fly, a major breakthrough in disease control. The genetic information will enable researchers to develop alternative strategies to control sleeping sickness, a fatal disease that kills over 250,000 people each year.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalScience·DateApr 25, 2014

Reconstructed ancient ocean reveals secrets about the origin of life

A reconstructed ancient ocean revealed spontaneous chemical reactions that could have produced crucial organic molecules for life. These findings suggest that primitive cells may have synthesized their own metabolic components without the aid of enzymes, challenging the traditional view on the origin of life.

SourceEMBO·JournalMolecular Systems Biology·DateApr 25, 2014

3-D printing cancer tumors

Researchers at Drexel University have created a method for 3D printing living cancer tumors using cervical cancer cells and hydrogel substances. This breakthrough technology allows for more accurate modeling of tumor behavior and response to treatment, potentially leading to new paradigms for cancer research and individual therapies.

SourceDrexel University·JournalBiofabrication·DateApr 25, 2014

Know your enemy

Oligomers are identified as the enemy that kills nerve cells and causes symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The study reveals two types of oligomers with different degrees of flexibility, which can link up to inhibit fibril formation.

SourceAarhus University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateApr 25, 2014

'Beneficial inflammation' may promote healing in pulmonary fibrosis

A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology suggests that TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, accelerates lung recovery and reduces scar tissue in mice with pulmonary fibrosis. The researchers found that inflammation can be beneficial during the healing process, rather than just causing scarring.

SourceNational Jewish Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology·DateApr 25, 2014