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• Space sunflower may help snap pictures of planets
• NASA's Spitzer Telescope brings 360-degree view of galaxy to our fingertips
• NASA orbiter finds new gully channel on Mars
• Deep ocean current may slow due to climate change
• Permafrost thaw exacerbates climate change
• Better predictor of prostate cancer survival proposed by research
• Characteristics of lung cancers arising in genetic mutation carriers
• Seal teeth offer glimpse into the environmental past of Russia's Lake Baikal
• Basketball: The physics of the 3-point shot
• Salivary biomarkers of gingivitis: Information important for personalized decision-making
• Forests crucial to green growth
• Treat or Eat: Food insecurity linked to cost-related medication underuse in chronically ill Americans
• Lightweight construction materials of highest stability
• Making synthetic diamond crystals in plasma reactor
• Military dermatologists making strides in applying treatments for wounded warriors to injured civilians
• New and improved laser and light treatments take aim at cellulite, fat, tattoos, wrinkles and sagging skin
• Genetic clue to irritable bowel syndrome found

Space sunflower may help snap pictures of planets Posted: 22 Mar 2014 06:49 AM PDT A spacecraft that looks like a giant sunflower might one day be used to acquire images of Earth-like rocky planets around nearby stars. The prototype deployable structure, called a starshade, is being developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

NASA's Spitzer Telescope brings 360-degree view of galaxy to our fingertips Posted: 22 Mar 2014 06:45 AM PDT Touring the Milky Way now is as easy as clicking a button with NASA's new zoomable, 360-degree mosaic. The star-studded panorama of our galaxy is constructed from more than 2 million infrared snapshots taken over the past 10 years by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

NASA orbiter finds new gully channel on Mars Posted: 22 Mar 2014 06:44 AM PDT A comparison of images taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in November 2010 and May 2013 reveal the formation of a new gully channel on a crater-wall slope in the southern highlands of Mars.

Deep ocean current may slow due to climate change Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:49 PM PDT Far beneath the surface of the ocean, deep currents act as conveyer belts, channeling heat, carbon, oxygen and nutrients around the globe. A new has found that recent climate change may be acting to slow down one of these conveyer belts, with potentially serious consequences for the future of the planet's climate.

Permafrost thaw exacerbates climate change Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:48 PM PDT Growing season gains do not offset carbon emissions from permafrost thaw, new research shows. Permafrost contains three to seven times the amount of carbon sequestered in tropical forests. The warming climate threatens to thaw permafrost, which will result in the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere creating feedbacks to climate change -- more warming and greater permafrost thaw.

Better predictor of prostate cancer survival proposed by research Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:48 PM PDT Measuring circulating tumor cells -- the cells that spread cancer through the body -- may be a better predictor of patient survival than the prostate-specific antigen, new research indicates.

Characteristics of lung cancers arising in genetic mutation carriers Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:48 PM PDT Two studies are providing new insight into germline epidermal growth factor receptor T790M mutation in familial non-small cell lung cancer. The findings suggest the need for tailored approaches for early detection and treatment, as well as for genetic testing to identify carriers. "These studies now solidify the fact that routine clinical management of lung cancer now has to include the awareness of this inherited cancer syndrome," said one expert.

Seal teeth offer glimpse into the environmental past of Russia's Lake Baikal Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:46 PM PDT Scientists have found that the teeth of the nerpa seal may hold the strongest evidence of the effects of decades of environmental pollution, nuclear testing, and climate change on Russia's Lake Baikal. The nerpa, also known as the Baikal seal, is the only seal that lives exclusively in fresh water.

Basketball: The physics of the 3-point shot Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:46 PM PDT What makes the perfect 3-pointer? Well, there is the angle the player takes on the 3-point line and the arc of the ball, which is the path the basketball flies from the time it leaves the shooter's hand until it arrives at the basket. What makes the perfect 3-pointer? Well, there is the angle the player takes on the 3-point line and the arc of the ball, which is the path the basketball flies from the time it leaves the shooter's hand until it arrives at the basket.

Salivary biomarkers of gingivitis: Information important for personalized decision-making Posted: 21 Mar 2014 08:22 AM PDT Salivary biomarkers have been studied to help determine the presence, risk, and progression of periodontal disease. However, clinical translation of salivary biomarkers from bench to chairside requires studies that identify biomarkers associated with the continuum of phases between health and periodontal disease. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify salivary biomarkers associated with gingivitis.

Forests crucial to green growth Posted: 21 Mar 2014 07:17 AM PDT The value of forests and tree-based ecosystems extends far beyond carbon sequestration; they are the foundation of sustainable societies. A new report promotes REDD+ and the Green Economy as together providing a new pathway to sustainable development that can benefit all nations. It claims this approach can conserve and even boost the economic and social benefits forests provide to human society.

Treat or Eat: Food insecurity linked to cost-related medication underuse in chronically ill Americans Posted: 21 Mar 2014 06:52 AM PDT Chronically ill adults who reported food insecurity in their household (not having consistent access to food due to lack of financial stability) were significantly more likely to report cost-related medication underuse, according to a new study. The term cost-related medication underuse refers to taking less medication than prescribed or not taking it at all due to financial concerns.

Lightweight construction materials of highest stability Posted: 21 Mar 2014 06:49 AM PDT Researchers have developed microstructured lightweight construction materials of highest stability. Although their density is below that of water, their stability relative to their weight exceeds that of massive materials, such as high-performance steel or aluminum. The lightweight construction materials are inspired by the framework structure of bones and the shell structure of the bees' honeycombs.

Making synthetic diamond crystals in plasma reactor Posted: 21 Mar 2014 06:48 AM PDT Synthetic diamond crystals are of interest to many industrial sectors. Their unique properties make them a suitable material for numerous applications including lenses for high-energy laser optics, X-ray radiation detectors and ophthalmological scalpels. Scientists produce artificial diamonds in all shapes and sizes ranging from discs to three-dimensional shapes and even hollow spheres.

Military dermatologists making strides in applying treatments for wounded warriors to injured civilians Posted: 21 Mar 2014 06:47 AM PDT To aid in the function and appearance of battlefield scars, military dermatologists began experimenting with ablative fractional laser surgery – known to improve the appearance of acne scars. Results over the last seven years have been impressive, and dermatologists now are treating civilians injured from car accidents, fires and job and household accidents with this laser therapy to enhance scar and wound healing.

New and improved laser and light treatments take aim at cellulite, fat, tattoos, wrinkles and sagging skin Posted: 21 Mar 2014 06:47 AM PDT As more people look for ways to turn back the clock or improve their appearance, dermatologists are pioneering many of the newest aesthetic laser technologies – from tattoo removal to erasing fine lines and wrinkles to reducing fat or cellulite. Before considering any cosmetic procedure, dermatologists recommend that consumers do their homework to better understand the best technologies available for their specific needs.

Genetic clue to irritable bowel syndrome found Posted: 20 Mar 2014 02:31 PM PDT Is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) caused by genetics, diet, past trauma, anxiety? All are thought to play a role, but now, for the first time, researchers have reported a defined genetic defect that causes a subset of IBS. Researchers estimate that approximately 15 to 20 percent of the Western world has IBS. It is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Most patients with the disorder commonly experience symptoms of cramping, abdominal pain, bloating gas, diarrhea and constipation.

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