Science & TechnologyS


Magnify

Parasites in the Genome: A Molecular Parasite Plays an Important Role in Human Evolution


PhysOrg
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:25 UTC
Parasite
© Max Planck InstituteA Scheme of the L1ORF1p trimer. B Crystal structure of the RRM-domain of the human L1ORF1p protein.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, Germany, determined the structure of a protein (L1ORF1p), which is encoded by a parasitic genetic element and which is responsible for its mobility.

The so-called LINE-1 retrotransposon is a mobile genetic element that can multiply and insert itself into chromosomal DNA at many different locations. This disturbs the genetic code at the site of integration, which can have serious consequences for the organism. On the other hand, this leads to genetic variation, an absolute prerequisite for the evolution of species. The structure of the L1ORF1p protein now allows a much more precise investigation of the mechanism of LINE-1 mobilization. This provides new insight into the relation between retrotransposons and retroviruses and probably also into certain evolutionary processes in humans and animals.

Moreover, the researchers assume that the mechanism of LINE-1 retrotransposition can be exploited one day to precisely insert genetic information into specific locations. This would be an alternative to contemporary, less location-specific methods that are based on a retroviral mechanism. (PNAS, January 20th, 2009)
Read More...
Laptop

Fake sites spreading malware claim Obama won't take oath

Gregg Keizer
Network World
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:28 UTC
Sites claiming President-Elect Barack Obama will refuse to take the oath of office Tuesday are serving up attack code believed to be programmed by the same hackers responsible for the notorious Storm bot Trojan, researchers said this weekend.

According to researchers at several security companies, including F-Secure Corp. , MX Logic Inc. and Trend Micro Inc. , spam campaigns are in gear that try to trick users into visiting malicious Web sites hosting variations of "Waledec," the Trojan horse thought to be the successor to Storm

Sam Masiello, vice president of information security at MX Logic, was one of the first to call attention to the attacks, which begin with one-line spam messages such as "Haven't you heard latest news about our president-elect?", "Barack Obama abandoned sinking ship," and "Obama doesn't wany [sic] anymore to be a president."

The links in those messages lead to a legitimate-looking site that resembles the real Obama-Biden campaign site . The fake site contains both bogus and real news stories. At the top of the page is a story with the headline "Barack Obama has refused to be a president," that includes text which reads, "On the Eve of Inauguration Day President-elect Barack Obama made statement. He declared that he is definitely NOT ready for this position."
Read More...
Laptop

Three million hit by Windows worm


BBC News
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:46 UTC
flashdrive
© unknownThe worm can also spread via USB flash drives.
A worm that spreads through low security networks, memory sticks, and PCs without the latest security updates is posing a growing threat to users.

The malicious program, known as Conficker, Downadup, or Kido was first discovered in October 2008.

Although Microsoft released a patch, it has gone on to infect 3.5m machines.

Experts warn this figure could be far higher and say users should have up-to-date anti-virus software and install Microsoft's MS08-067 patch.
Read More...
Magnify

Gene Therapy Studied For Preeclampsia: New Clues To Mysterious Pregnancy Condition


ScienceDaily
Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:40 UTC
To better understand preeclampsia, a sudden rise in maternal blood pressure and onset of kidney disease during pregnancy, researchers from Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medical College are studying mice that have the same affliction. Preeclampsia is the leading cause of both maternal and fetal death - killing more than 500,000 women worldwide each year and causing 15 percent of all premature births - yet the condition is not well understood.

Dr. Robin Davisson, Dr. Shari Gelber, and their team of researchers have developed an experimental gene therapy technique that lessens preeclampsia in mice, with the hope of someday applying their promising findings to humans. Dr. Davisson is a professor of cell and developmental biology at Weill Cornell Medical College and professor of molecular physiology at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, in Ithaca, New York. Dr. Shari Gelber is a clinical fellow in maternal-fetal medicine in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.
Read More...
Info

CAS Researchers found The Earliest Creature Showed off Feathers


Science Now
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:39 UTC
Beipiaosaurus feather
© Zhao Chuang and Xing LidaBeipiaosaurus feather close-up
In what may be the first example of a peacocklike display, researchers are reporting the earliest evidence of a creature that used feathers for showing off. The animal, a 125-million-year-old long-necked bipedal dinosaur named Beipiaosaurus, may have employed the plumage to attract mates or defend its territory.

Fossils found in China in recent years have given paleontologists some of their best evidence for the existence of feathered dinosaurs. This early plumage, which was downy in nature, wasn't used for flight, however. Researchers have speculated that it may have been for thermal insulation, yet its true function remains a mystery.
Read More...
Sherlock

Researchers: Molecular Forklifts Overcome Obstacle To 'Smart Dust'


PhysOrg
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:15 UTC
Algae is a livid green giveaway of nutrient pollution in a lake. Scientists would love to reproduce that action in tiny particles that would turn different colors if exposed to biological weapons, food spoilage or signs of poor health in the blood.

Now, University of Florida engineering researchers have tapped the working parts of cells to clear a major hurdle to creating such "smart dust."

The feat, which signifies a new approach to technology known as the "lab on a chip," is to be reported Sunday in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

"Instead of just changing one part of an existing system, we have a new and different way of doing things," said Henry Hess, a UF assistant professor of materials science and engineering and the senior author of the paper. "And we can do it this way because of building blocks from bionanotechnology, and that's what makes it very exciting."
Read More...
Telescope

Lulin comet can be sighted with moderate telescopes


Meri News
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:12 UTC
space debris
© Unknown
In February, the Earth will have a visitor. The Comet Lulin is going to cut through the planet's orbit by the end of next month. The comet will be seen to naked eyes in the East and South-East of the morning sky. The comet was discovered in 2007.

Comet Lulin is already visible before dawn between the constellations Scorpio and Libra and can be sighted in the East to South-East morning sky with telescopes.

Comet Lulin, with two tails, is said to be a visual phenomenon when it cuts across Earth's orbital plane in late February.

Amateur astronomers claim to have spotted the comet through their mid-sized telescopes despite it's being faint at the moment.
Read More...
Magnify

Researchers Find Moors Built with Powdered Bones

Ciaran Giles
The Associated Press/PhysOrg
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:15 UTC
A chance discovery of a medieval clay oven has revealed that Moorish architects used powdered animal bones to protect the walls of fortresses close to the Alhambra Palace in southern Spain.

The finding represents the first evidence of powdered bones being used in protective coats, or patinas, in Moorish architecture, said Granada University geologist Carolina Cardell, who headed a yearlong scientific research project at the site.

"We know this method was used in Greek, Roman and Celtic structures, but this is the first report of it in a Moorish building," Cardell told The Associated Press.

Cardell's team's findings were published Wednesday in the U.S. journal Analytical Chemistry.
Read More...
Laptop

Royal Navy warships lose email in virus infection


The Register
Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:57 UTC
Windows for Warships™ combat kit unaffected, says MoD

The Ministry of Defence confirmed today that it has suffered virus infections which have shut down "a small number" of MoD systems, most notably including admin networks aboard Royal Navy warships.

The Navy computers infected are the NavyStar (N*) system, based on a server cabinet and cable-networked PCs on each warship and used for purposes such as storekeeping, email and similar support functions. N* ship nets connect to wider networks by shore connection when vessels are in harbour and using satcomms when at sea.

The system is supplied by Fujitsu, with most of the Navy's fleet being equipped in the early years of the century. N* is intended to stay in service, coming under the Defence Information Infrastructure now being rolled out.
Read More...
Meteor

New Lunar Meteorite Found In Antarctica


Science Daily
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:39 UTC
lunar meteorite
© Case Western Reserve UniversityThe new meteorite specimen in the Antarctic Meteorite Processing Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The meteorite was broken open for initial characterization, revealing a pinkish-tan interior and a granular texture unusual in meteorites. The cube in the images is 1 cm on a side and is used to establish a consistent frame of reference for the geometry of the specimen; labeling the top, bottom, sides, etc.

Although last year's inclement weather resulted in fewer Antarctic meteorite recoveries than usual, scientists have recently discovered that one of the specimens is a rare breed -- a type of lunar meteorite seen only once before.

The new specimen was found by a field party from the U.S. Antarctic Search for Meteorites program (ANSMET) headquartered at Case Western Reserve University. The meteorite was discovered on Dec. 11, 2005, on an icefield in the Miller Range of the Transantarctic Mountains, roughly 750 km from the South Pole.

This 142.2 g black rock, slightly larger than a golfball and officially designated MIL 05035, was one of 238 meteorites collected by ANSMET during the 2005-2006 austral summer. Heavy snows limited search efforts during much of the remainder of the six-week field season, making this meteorite, discovered just 600 m from camp, a particularly welcome find.
Read More...