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• The end for ATV Johannes Kepler
• Unexpected differences in privacy regulations revealed in new UK study
• Thousands of patients prescribed high-risk drugs, Scottish study finds
• Smoking during pregnancy lowers levels of 'good' HDL cholesterol in children
• New spin on computing: Toward a new breed of computers that can process data using less power
• Stretching old material yields new results for energy- and environment-related devices
• New curation tool a boon for genetic biologists
• Threat level for caribou in Alberta's oilsands country lower than previously thought
• Surprises from the ocean: Marine plankton and ocean pH
• Where will grizzly bears roam? Conservation value of roadless public land in Montana's Crown of the Continent Ecosystem
• Potato psyllid research helps producers determine best management practices
• Yeast genomes: Genetic codes for species of yeasts identified and compared
• Common rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis medications are associated with reduced diabetes risk
• Diabetic kidney disease on the rise in America, despite improved diabetes care
• Smoking may increase risk of prostate cancer recurrence, death
• Certain drugs lower risk of diabetes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis
• Diabetic kidney disease more prevalent in US
• Being a smoker at time of prostate cancer diagnosis linked with increased risk of death
• Most heart-attack patients needing procedure at another hospital not transferred in recommended time
• Intensive-dose statin therapy associated with increased risk of diabetes
• Stem cell model offers clues to cause of inherited ALS
• Not-so-sweet potato resists pests, disease
• Picky pollinators: Native U.S. bees are selective about where they live and feed
• Smart decisions for changing environmental times
• First genetic mutation linked to heart failure in pregnant women
• Researchers create tool to put the lid on solar power fluctuations
• Planning is key to a healthy and happy retirement, studies find
• Angry online commenters can cause negative perceptions of corporations, researchers find
• Earliest art in the Americas: Ice Age image of mammoth or mastodon found in Florida
• Non-coding RNA has role in inherited neurological disorder, and maybe other brain diseases too
• Neuroscientists' discovery could bring relief to epilepsy sufferers; Computational model of epileptic seizures at molecular level
• Lyme disease tick adapts to life on the (fragmented) prairie
• Acrobatics for anyons: New test for elusive fundamental particle proposed
• Optical amplifier with world record low noise
• Smaller companies hit hardest during emerging market crises
• What do we pay attention to?
• Can humans sense Earth's magnetism? Human retina protein can function as light-sensitive magnetic sensor
• A wise man's treatment for arthritis: Frankincense?
• US government should consider public health implications of all major legislation, experts say
• Highly invasive horse-chestnut leaf miner found living in the Balkans by 1879
• How dense is a cell? Combining ancient principle with new technology, researchers devise new way to answer question
• Marriage improves odds of surviving colon cancer
• Resveratrol studies confirms potential health boost
• Exercise associated with longer survival after brain cancer diagnosis
• Consumer views on eating cloned animals: Americans more accepting than Europeans, study suggests
• Flexible schedule is key to keeping working moms on the job
• Taking stock of US National Fire Plan to restore western forests
• Blueberries help lab rats build strong bones
• Self-cleaning anodes could facilitate cost-effective coal-powered fuel cells
• Multiple ocean stresses threaten 'globally significant' marine extinction, experts warn
• Quantum leap: Magnetic properties of a single proton directly observed for the first time
• New data reveals how storms are triggered in the Sahel
• Millions of archived films and TV footage now accessible to all
• Causes of melting tropical glaciers over past 10,000 years identified
• Greater R&D funding needed to fight diseases affecting world's poor, experts say
• Cooling system may build eggs' natural defenses against salmonella
• Astronomers discover that galaxies are either asleep or awake
• New research on community gardening reveals the roots of emotional and physical health
• Breakthrough in the search for new treatments for multiple sclerosis
• Keeping bugs out of software for self-driving cars: Analysis verifies safety of distributed car control system

The end for ATV Johannes Kepler Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:51 AM PDT Europe's unmanned ATV space freighter plunged on command into Earth's atmosphere today (21st June) to end its mission as a spectacular shooting star over the southern Pacific Ocean. Contact with the spacecraft was lost at 20:41:39 GMT (22:41:39 CEST) at an altitude of 80 km.

Unexpected differences in privacy regulations revealed in new UK study Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:16 PM PDT The regulation of personal data varies hugely across countries and sectors, according to new research from the UK. The study examined privacy regulations in four countries across three different areas -- the use of Closed Circuit TV cameras in public places; Radio Frequency Identification Technology chips in consumer goods, such as electronic toll collection tags; and the introduction of biometric features in passports and identity cards. The policies in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and Sweden were all examined.

Thousands of patients prescribed high-risk drugs, Scottish study finds Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:16 PM PDT Thousands of patients in Scotland who are particularly vulnerable to adverse drug events were prescribed high-risk medications by their GPs which could potentially cause them harm, according to new research.

Smoking during pregnancy lowers levels of 'good' HDL cholesterol in children Posted: 21 Jun 2011 03:29 PM PDT Researchers in Australia have discovered that mothers who smoke during pregnancy are causing developmental changes to their unborn babies that lead to them having lower levels of the type of cholesterol that is known to protect against heart disease in later life -- high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

New spin on computing: Toward a new breed of computers that can process data using less power Posted: 21 Jun 2011 02:35 PM PDT Harnessing the magnetic moment, or spin, of electrons rather than their electric charge, physicists have achieved a breakthrough toward the development of a new breed of computing devices that can process data using less power.

Stretching old material yields new results for energy- and environment-related devices Posted: 21 Jun 2011 02:35 PM PDT Researchers recently found a way to improve electricity generating fuel cells, potentially making them more efficient, powerful and less expensive. Specifically, they discovered a way to speed up the flow and filtering of water or ions, which are necessary for fuel cells to operate.

New curation tool a boon for genetic biologists Posted: 21 Jun 2011 02:35 PM PDT With the BeeSpace Navigator, researchers have created both a curation tool for genetic biologists and a new approach to searching for information. The user-friendly interface allows biologists to build a unique "space," or special collection of literature to search, in a few simple steps. Not only does the program summarize a gene, as a curator would, but it also can perform analysis to extrapolate functions from literature.

Threat level for caribou in Alberta's oilsands country lower than previously thought Posted: 21 Jun 2011 02:35 PM PDT An extensive study of the caribou population in the Fort McMurray oilsands region shows the animals' survival isn't as threatened as was perceived in the past. The study recommends efforts to manage human activity around resource development before resorting to the drastic measure of a wolf kill.

Surprises from the ocean: Marine plankton and ocean pH Posted: 21 Jun 2011 02:35 PM PDT Oceans support vast populations of single-celled phytoplankton which, through photosynthesis, remove about half the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels. One group of phytoplankton, the coccolithophores, are known for their ability to build chalk scales inside their cells and secrete them, forming a protective armor. A new study has revealed the mechanism which achieves this, and that this process may be directly affected by the increasing levels of dissolved carbon dioxide in the oceans.

Where will grizzly bears roam? Conservation value of roadless public land in Montana's Crown of the Continent Ecosystem Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT A new report highlights the critical importance of 1.3 million acres of roadless, public lands in Montana's spectacular Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. The report recommends that most of these lands be preserved to protect wolverines, bighorn sheep, westslope cutthroat and bull trout, grizzly bears and other vulnerable species in the face of climate change and other threats.

Potato psyllid research helps producers determine best management practices Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT One Texas potato field west of Bushland hosts three separate studies, all aimed at helping growers nationwide, even internationally, understand the habits and controls of the potato psyllid. The potato psyllid is the insect that transmits a bacterium that causes the relatively new disease in potatoes known as zebra chip, according to Dr. Charlie Rush, Texas AgriLife Research plant pathologist.

Yeast genomes: Genetic codes for species of yeasts identified and compared Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT A team of US researchers has identified and compared the genetic codes for all known species of yeasts closely related to bakers' and brewers' yeast (the former used in pizza dough, the latter in beer), which lays the foundation for future understanding of mutation and disease, as studies of yeasts often identify key genes and mechanisms of disease.

Common rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis medications are associated with reduced diabetes risk Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT Researchers sought to determine whether commonly used disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, which are directed against inflammation, might reduce the risk for developing diabetes in patients with RA or psoriasis. They found that among patients with RA or psoriasis, the risk for developing diabetes was lower for those patients who started TNF inhibitor or hydroxychloroquine.

Diabetic kidney disease on the rise in America, despite improved diabetes care Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT Diabetic kidney disease has become more prevalent in the United States over the past 20 years, despite a substantial increase in the use of medications for the treatment of people with diabetes. These include drugs to lower glucose, blood pressure, and lipids. Findings suggest that these treatments alone are not effective in reducing diabetic kidney disease, and additional ways are needed. The real solution to preventing diabetic kidney disease is to keep diabetes from occurring in the first place.

Smoking may increase risk of prostate cancer recurrence, death Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT A new study suggests that men with prostate cancer who smoke increase their risk of prostate cancer recurrence and of dying from the disease.

Certain drugs lower risk of diabetes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT In a study that included nearly 14,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis, the use of certain disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs was found to lower the risk of diabetes.

Diabetic kidney disease more prevalent in US Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT Over the past two decades the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease in the US increased in direct proportion to the prevalence of diabetes itself, according to a new study.

Being a smoker at time of prostate cancer diagnosis linked with increased risk of death Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT Men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer and who are also smokers have an associated increased risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and prostate cancer-specific death, according to a study in the June 22/29 issue of JAMA. These patients also had an increased likelihood of prostate cancer recurrence.

Most heart-attack patients needing procedure at another hospital not transferred in recommended time Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT Only about 10 percent of patients with a certain type of heart attack who need to be transferred to another hospital for a PCI (procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries) are transferred within the recommended time of 30 minutes.

Intensive-dose statin therapy associated with increased risk of diabetes Posted: 21 Jun 2011 01:47 PM PDT An analysis of data from previously published studies indicates that intensive-dose statin therapy is associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes compared with moderate-dose therapy, according to a study.

Stem cell model offers clues to cause of inherited ALS Posted: 21 Jun 2011 12:14 PM PDT Scientists have used induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to reveal for the first time how reduced levels of a specific protein may play a central role in causing at least one inherited form of the disease.

Not-so-sweet potato resists pests, disease Posted: 21 Jun 2011 12:14 PM PDT Agricultural scientists in the U.S. have developed a new variety of not-so-sweet potato, called Liberty. Known as a boniato, or tropical sweet potato, Liberty has a dark red skin and light yellow, dry flesh with a bland flavor. Boniato potatoes originated in the tropical Americas and are grown in south Florida in the United States. They can be served fried, mashed or in soup.

Picky pollinators: Native U.S. bees are selective about where they live and feed Posted: 21 Jun 2011 12:14 PM PDT Native bees -- often small, stingless, solitary and unnoticed in the flashier world of stinging honeybees -- are quite discriminating about where they live, according to new research.

Smart decisions for changing environmental times Posted: 21 Jun 2011 11:18 AM PDT Recognizing that guessing is not good enough when talking about the viability of an entire planet, researchers are working to find a better way. Experts have evaluated existing environmental decision-making tools and constructed an approach they think will give us the best chance at making good choices for an uncertain future.

First genetic mutation linked to heart failure in pregnant women Posted: 21 Jun 2011 11:18 AM PDT Researchers have identified the first genetic mutation ever associated with a mysterious and potentially devastating form of heart disease that affects women in the final weeks of pregnancy or the first few months after delivery.

Researchers create tool to put the lid on solar power fluctuations Posted: 21 Jun 2011 11:18 AM PDT How does the power output from solar panels fluctuate when the clouds roll in? And can researchers predict these fluctuations? Researchers in California have found the answer to these questions. They also have developed a software program that allows power grid managers to easily predict fluctuations in the solar grid caused by changes in the cloud cover.

Planning is key to a healthy and happy retirement, studies find Posted: 21 Jun 2011 11:18 AM PDT For many older adults, chronic health problems and poor planning often hinder the enjoyment of retirement. Now, a researcher has found that planning for changes in lifestyle and health leads to better retirement for married couples. According to the studies, couples should plan for retirement, both financially and socially and consider the changes that may occur in their relationships and day-to-day activities. Communication with each other and family members makes it easier for couples to adjust.

Angry online commenters can cause negative perceptions of corporations, researchers find Posted: 21 Jun 2011 11:18 AM PDT Researchers have found that angry user-generated comments on Internet sites can further perpetuate negative perceptions of an organization undergoing the crisis.

Earliest art in the Americas: Ice Age image of mammoth or mastodon found in Florida Posted: 21 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a bone fragment, approximately 13,000 years old, in Florida with an incised image of a mammoth or mastodon. This engraving is the oldest and only known example of Ice Age art to depict a proboscidean (the order of animals with trunks) in the Americas.

Non-coding RNA has role in inherited neurological disorder, and maybe other brain diseases too Posted: 21 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered a novel mechanism regulating gene expression and transcription linked to Spinocerebellar ataxia 7, an inherited neurological disorder. The discovery promises to have broad ramifications, suggesting that abundant non-coding transcripts of ribonucleic acid (RNA) may be key players in neurological development and function, and could be powerful targets for future clinical therapies.

Neuroscientists' discovery could bring relief to epilepsy sufferers; Computational model of epileptic seizures at molecular level Posted: 21 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT Researchers have made a discovery that could help drug manufacturers develop new antiepileptic drugs and explore novel strategies for treating seizures associated with epilepsy. The researchers used a computational model of the cortical network to show that during seizure there is a slow and progressive buildup of intracellular sodium in neurons, and that it is this accumulation of intracellular sodium that leads to the termination of the seizure.

Lyme disease tick adapts to life on the (fragmented) prairie Posted: 21 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT A new study offers a detailed look at the status of Lyme disease in Central Illinois and suggests that deer ticks and the Lyme disease bacteria they host are more adaptable to new habitats than previously appreciated.

Acrobatics for anyons: New test for elusive fundamental particle proposed Posted: 21 Jun 2011 10:13 AM PDT Anyons are hypothetical particles that have been postulated to represent a third class of fundamental particles alongside the known bosons and fermions. Physicists in Germany have now proposed a novel experimental design that should make it possible to create and detect them for the first time.

Optical amplifier with world record low noise Posted: 21 Jun 2011 10:12 AM PDT Researchers in Sweden have demonstrated an optical amplifier which can amplify light with extremely low noise. The breakthrough enables a reach increase for optical fiber signals from e.g. 1000 km to 4000 km, paving way for increasing the capacity of data communications. The new amplifier could lead to better Internet traffic and laser radar technology, and promote any applications where detection of very weak levels of light is essential, such as free-space communication.

Smaller companies hit hardest during emerging market crises Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:13 AM PDT A study of the reaction by the United States stock market to international financial crises shows that small companies are often hit hardest, and the impact is above and beyond what would be expected given their exposure to global market factors.

What do we pay attention to? Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:13 AM PDT Once we learn the relationship between a cue and its consequences -- say, the sound of a bell and the appearance of the white ice cream truck bearing our favorite chocolate cone -- do we turn our attention to that bell whenever we hear it?

Can humans sense Earth's magnetism? Human retina protein can function as light-sensitive magnetic sensor Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:13 AM PDT New research shows that a protein expressed in the human retina can sense magnetic fields when implanted into Drosophila, reopening an area of sensory biology in humans for further exploration.

A wise man's treatment for arthritis: Frankincense? Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:13 AM PDT The answer to treating painful arthritis could lie in an age old herbal remedy -- frankincense, according to scientists. They have been examining the potential benefits of frankincense to help relieve and alleviate the symptoms of the condition.

US government should consider public health implications of all major legislation, experts say Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:13 AM PDT Because strong evidence indicates that policies beyond the health sector have substantial effects on people's health, all levels of US government should adopt a structured approach to considering the health effects of any major legislation or regulation, says a new report.

Highly invasive horse-chestnut leaf miner found living in the Balkans by 1879 Posted: 21 Jun 2011 09:11 AM PDT The horse-chestnut leaf miner was living on native stands of the horse-chestnut in Greece by 1879 and was already present in the Balkans more than a century before its scientific description, new research shows.

How dense is a cell? Combining ancient principle with new technology, researchers devise new way to answer question Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:43 AM PDT Scientists have developed a way to measure the density of a single cell. The new method involves measuring the buoyant mass of each cell in two fluids of different densities. Measuring cell density could allow researchers to gain biophysical insight into fundamental cellular processes such as adaptations for survival, and might also be useful for identifying diseased cells.

Marriage improves odds of surviving colon cancer Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT Married patients had a 14 percent lower risk of death according to researchers. That estimate is based on analysis of 127,753 patient records. Similar to studies of other types of cancers, the researchers did find that married people were diagnosed at earlier stages of colon cancer and sought more aggressive treatment. The researchers took those and other factors into account before calculating the benefit of marriage on survival odds.

Resveratrol studies confirms potential health boost Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT A review of research finds the polyphenol compound known as resveratrol found in red wine, grapes and other fruits may not prevent old age, but it might make it more tolerable.

Exercise associated with longer survival after brain cancer diagnosis Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT Brain cancer patients who are able to exercise live significantly longer than sedentary patients, scientists report.

Consumer views on eating cloned animals: Americans more accepting than Europeans, study suggests Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT Not all consumers share the same attitudes toward animal cloning, but the latest research shows that Americans may be more accepting of consuming cloned animal products than Europeans.

Flexible schedule is key to keeping working moms on the job Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT Women who return to work after giving birth are more likely to stay on the job if they have greater control over their work schedules. Researchers also found that job security and the ability to make use of a variety of their job skills leads to greater retention of working moms, while the impact of work-related stress on their physical and mental health causes greater turnover.

Taking stock of US National Fire Plan to restore western forests Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT Researchers have analyzed recent federal strategies to restore forests on western U.S. forestlands. They evaluated treatments implemented under the U.S. National Fire Plan (NFP); activities included removing trees, shrubs, grasses and litter with the goal of either protecting communities from wildfires or restoring open forests and low-severity fire.

Blueberries help lab rats build strong bones Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT Compounds in blueberries might turn out to have a powerful effect on formation of strong, healthy bones, if results from studies with laboratory rats turn out to hold true for humans.

Self-cleaning anodes could facilitate cost-effective coal-powered fuel cells Posted: 21 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT Using barium oxide nanoparticles, researchers have developed a self-cleaning technique that could allow solid oxide fuel cells to be powered directly by coal gas at operating temperatures as low as 750 degrees Celsius. The technique could provide an alternative for generating electricity from the nation's vast coal reserves.

Multiple ocean stresses threaten 'globally significant' marine extinction, experts warn Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:14 AM PDT An international panel of marine experts warns in a new report that the world's ocean is at high risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history. The preliminary report arises from the first ever interdisciplinary international workshop to consider the cumulative impact of all stressors affecting the ocean. Considering the latest research across all areas of marine science, the workshop examined the combined effects of pollution, acidification, ocean warming, overfishing and hypoxia (deoxygenation).

Quantum leap: Magnetic properties of a single proton directly observed for the first time Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:13 AM PDT An important milestone in the direct measurement of the magnetic moment of the proton and its anti-particle has been achieved. Researchers have observed spin quantum-jumps with a single trapped proton for the first time. The result is a pioneering step forward in the endeavor to directly measure the magnetic properties of the proton with high precision.

New data reveals how storms are triggered in the Sahel Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:13 AM PDT In the Sahel, the frequency of storms increases when soil moisture varies over a few kilometers. Such contrasts cause air circulation between dry and humid areas, contributing to the development of storms. For the first time, these contrasts have been studied on a small scale. The new data that should help researchers to address the issue of drought in the Sahel.

Millions of archived films and TV footage now accessible to all Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:13 AM PDT More than 13 million film, television and radio records are now available thanks to a pioneering new search engine.

Causes of melting tropical glaciers over past 10,000 years identified Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:13 AM PDT The causes of melting of tropical glaciers over the past 10,000 years have at last been revealed. Researchers have shown that the retreat of the Telata glacier in Bolivia over that period is mainly linked to a 3°C rise in air temperature and to the warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean.

Greater R&D funding needed to fight diseases affecting world's poor, experts say Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:11 AM PDT Despite significant advancements in increasing distribution and development of vaccines against childhood killer diseases -- including pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, and Haemophilus influenzae type B -- global efforts to reduce the burden of infection from neglected tropical diseases have greatly lagged, argue experts.

Cooling system may build eggs' natural defenses against salmonella Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:11 AM PDT Once eggs are laid, their natural resistance to pathogens begins to wear down, but a scientist believes he knows how to rearm those defenses.

Astronomers discover that galaxies are either asleep or awake Posted: 21 Jun 2011 07:11 AM PDT Astronomers have probed into the distant universe and discovered that galaxies display one of two distinct behaviors: they are either awake or asleep, actively forming stars or are not forming any new stars at all. A new survey shows that even very young galaxies as far away as 12 billion light years display one of these two states, meaning galaxies have behaved this way for more than 85 percent of the history of the universe.

New research on community gardening reveals the roots of emotional and physical health Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:33 AM PDT Scientists have been studying neighborhoods and health over the past decade. The research has shown that places such as community gardens matter in terms of neighborhood quality and people's health.

Breakthrough in the search for new treatments for multiple sclerosis Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:33 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism which could bring about the development of new treatments for multiple sclerosis -- a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.

Keeping bugs out of software for self-driving cars: Analysis verifies safety of distributed car control system Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:33 AM PDT Driver assistance technologies, such as adaptive cruise control and automatic braking, promise to someday ease traffic on crowded routes and prevent accidents. Proving that these automated systems will work as intended is a daunting task, but computer scientists have now demonstrated it is possible to verify the safety of these highly complex systems.

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