Scientists Identify Part Of Hummingbird’s Tiny Bird Brain That Helps It Hover November 30, 2006
University of Alberta researchers have pinpointed a section in the tiny hummingbird’s brain that may be responsible for its unique ability to stay stationary mid-air and hover.
‘Cancer Prognosis Gene’ Found To Control The Fate Of Breast Cells
Scientists have discovered an unsuspected role for a gene known to be one of the best predictors of human breast cancer outcome. The gene, called GATA-3, is in a family of genes that guides development of stem cells into mature cells. University of California, San Francisco researchers have now found that GATA-3 is also required for mature mammary cells to remain mature in the adult. In research focusing on mice mammary glands, they found that without GATA-3, mature cells revert to a less specialized, "undifferentiated" state characteristic of aggressive cancer.
Excess Water Vapor Near Cirrus Clouds Puzzles Scientists
Researchers in recent years have found water vapor at concentrations as much as twice what they should be in and around cirrus clouds high in the atmosphere, a finding that could alter some conclusions about climate change. A group of European and US scientists is advocating a broad research effort to solve the puzzle.
Genomic ‘Firestorms’ Underlie Aggressive Breast Cancer Progression
The first high-resolution analysis of genomic alterations in breast tumors is reported in the scientific journal Genome Research. In this analysis, scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, in collaboration with researchers from Scandinavia, identified three distinct patterns of genomic variation that underlie breast tumor formation, one of which — "firestorms" — may be predictive of aggressive disease progression and short survival.
Protective Garment: Liquid-crystal Rubber Suit Prevents Overheating
To make breathable rubber, Douglas Gin of the University of Colorado, Brian Elliott at TDA Research Inc. (Wheat Ridge, Colorado), and colleagues blended synthetic rubber with a liquid-crystal molecule that could also be crosslinked like the rubber itself.
Second Opinion Yields Treatment Changes For Half Of Patients
More than half of breast cancer patients who sought a second opinion from a multidisciplinary tumor board received a change in their recommended treatment plan, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Mystery Of Ancient Astronomical Calculator Unveiled
An international team has unravelled the secrets of a 2,000-year-old computer which could transform the way we think about the ancient world.
Abortion Pill Compound Prevents Breast Tumor Growth
The chemical compound for the abortion pill has been found to prevent the growth of mammary tumors caused by the mutant gene responsible for a majority of breast and ovarian cancers, according to UC Irvine scientists.
Noise-immune Stethoscope Helps Medics Hear Vital Signs In Loud Environments
A new type of stethoscope enables doctors to hear the sounds of the body in extremely loud situations, such as during the transportation of wounded soldiers in Blackhawk helicopters.
Researchers Discover How A Key Dietary Vitamin Is Absorbed
Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have found the mechanism by which the B vitamin folate — a crucially important nutrient — is absorbed by the intestinal tract. Their findings solve a longstanding mystery as to how folates in the diet are absorbed and pave the way for a genetic test that can save the lives of infants who lack the ability to absorb folate.
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