EurekAlert! - Breaking NewsThe premier online source for science news since 1996. A service of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.Ronin an alternate control for embryonic stem cells- June 26, 2008 Like the masterless samurai for whom it is named, the protein Ronin chooses an independent path, maintaining embryonic stem cells in their undifferentiated state and playing essential roles in genesis of embryos and their development, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers who reported on this novel cellular regulator in the current issue of the journal Cell.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/bcom-raa061908.php July-August Geological Society of America Bulletin media highlights- June 26, 2008 The JulyAugust GSA BULLETIN features studies on the eruptive processes recorded in Colorado's San Juan Mountains; some of West Antarctica's oldest known ice and the climatic record it might reveal; the effect of humidity on erosion, faulting, and asymmetry in the mountains of Columbia; the influence of clay on debris-flow hazards; northern Australia's branching and growing Magela Creek; and the story of future earthquake potential as told by submerged paleoshorelines off the California...http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/gsoa-jgs062608.php Huge genome-scale phylogenetic study of birds rewrites evolutionary tree-of-life- June 26, 2008 The largest ever study of bird genetics redraws the avian evolutionary tree, challenges current classifications, alters our understanding of avian evolution, and provides a resource for future studies. Early Bird, centered at the Field Museum, examined DNA from all major living bird groups. Scientists built and analyzed a dataset of more than 32 kilobases of nuclear DNA sequences from 19 locations on the DNA of each of 169 species -- equivalent to a small genome project.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/fm-hgp062008.php Quantum computing breakthrough arises from unknown molecule- June 26, 2008 In a Nature Physics journal paper currently online, the researchers describe how they have created a new, hybrid molecule in which its quantum state can be intentionally manipulated -- a required step in the building of quantum computers.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/pu-qcb062608.php Ancient Mexican maize varieties- June 26, 2008 Because of its importance as food, the need to improve yield, and the challenges presented by changing climate, the maize genome of the B73 cultivar is being sequenced. However, because maize has a complex genome and many varieties, the genome sequence from just one variety will not be adequate to represent the diversity of maize worldwide. Mexican scientists are also sequencing and analyzing the genomes of the ancient landraces to recapture the full genetic diversity of this complex and...http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/asop-amm062308.php New process creates 3-D nanostructures with magnetic materials- June 26, 2008 Materials scientists at NIST have developed a process to build complex, three-dimensional nanoscale structures of magnetic materials such as nickel or nickel-iron alloys using techniques compatible with standard semiconductor manufacturing. The process could enable whole new classes of sensors and microelectromechanical devices.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/nios-npc062608.php 10 percent of healthy people in study had injury from 'silent strokes'- June 26, 2008 MRIs on healthy Framingham offspring found that about 10 percent had experienced a silent stroke. Silent stroke -- silent cerebral infarction -- is a risk factor for stroke and dementia.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/aha-tpo062308.php Exposing the sensitivity of extreme ultraviolet photoresists- June 26, 2008 Researchers at NIST have confirmed that the photoresists used in next-generation semiconductor manufacturing processes now under development are twice as sensitive as previously believed. The finding has attracted considerable interest because of its implications for future electronics manufacturing.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/nios-ets062608.php Treatment for cigarette, alcohol and drug use in pregnancy improves outcomes for mom and baby- June 26, 2008 Pregnant women who receive treatment for substance abuse early in pregnancy can achieve the same health outcomes as pregnant women with no substance abuse, a Kaiser Permanente study in the Journal of Perinatology found. The study, the largest to date, examined 49,985 women in Kaiser's prenatal care program and found that integrating substance abuse treatment into prenatal care helped pregnant women achieve similar health outcomes as women who were not using cigarettes, alcohol or drugs.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/kp-tfc062308.php 'Electron trapping' may impact future microelectronics measurements- June 26, 2008 Using an ultra-fast method of measuring how a transistor switches from the "off" to the "on" state, researchers at NIST recently reported that they have uncovered an unusual phenomenon that may impact how manufacturers estimate the lifetime of future nanoscale electronics.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/nios-tm062608.php |