science newsletter: Science News SciGuru.com

Πέμπτη 7 Νοεμβρίου 2013

Science News SciGuru.com

Researchers surprised to find how neural circuits identify information needed for decisions
Updating Building Energy Codes: How Much Can Your State Save?
Mighty mouse uses scorpion venom as painkiller
Stem cells hold hope for Hurler's syndrome
Researchers discover new path to address genetic muscular diseases

Researchers surprised to find how neural circuits identify information needed for decisions

Posted: 06 Nov 2013 12:30 PM PST

While eating lunch you notice an insect buzzing around your plate. Its color and motion could both influence how you respond. If the insect was yellow and black you might decide it was a bee and move away. Conversely, you might simply be annoyed at the buzzing motion and shoo the insect away. You perceive both color and motion, and decide based on the circumstances. Our brains make such contextual decisions in a heartbeat. The mystery is how.

Updating Building Energy Codes: How Much Can Your State Save?

Posted: 06 Nov 2013 08:30 AM PST

How much in energy and cost savings would your state realize if it updated its commercial building energy codes? You can find out in a new on-line publication from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The state-by-state reports were the product of a new building energy efficiency analysis tool developed by NIST.

Mighty mouse uses scorpion venom as painkiller

Posted: 06 Nov 2013 07:57 AM PST

The painful, potentially deadly stings of bark scorpions are nothing more than a slight nuisance to grasshopper mice, which voraciously kill and consume their prey with ease. When stung, the mice briefly lick their paws and move in again for the kill.

The grasshopper mice are essentially numb to the pain, scientists have found, because the scorpion toxin acts as an analgesic rather than a pain stimulant.

The scientists published their research this week in Science.

Stem cells hold hope for Hurler's syndrome

Posted: 06 Nov 2013 07:46 AM PST

University of Adelaide research using special adult stem cells is promising new hope for better treatments for the devastating genetic disease Hurler's syndrome.

Hurler's syndrome has a frequency of one in 100,000 live births in Australia and sufferers develop severe mental and physical disabilities and often die in their early teens.

The disease is caused by a single defective enzyme that is essential for breaking down complex sugars in cells.

Researchers discover new path to address genetic muscular diseases

Posted: 06 Nov 2013 07:43 AM PST

For decades, scientists have searched for treatments for myopathies – genetic muscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy and ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. Now, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from ASU, Stanford and University of Arizona has discovered a new avenue to search for treatment possibilities.

The team’s research findings are featured in an article in this week’s early online edition of the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).