Science News / June 30th, 2007

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In This Issue

Sequencing the dead to save the living: Reviving ancient genomes of long-extinct creatures offers a window into past extinctions—and may help prevent future die outs
No gene is an island: Even as biologists catalog the discrete parts of life forms, an emerging picture reveals that life’s functions arise from interconnectedness
The decider: Informing the debate over the reality of ‘free will’ requires learning something about the lateral habenula
This week's table of contents

June 30th, 2007

Life Swap: Switching genomes converts bacteria

Transplanting the entire genome of one species of bacteria into another paves the way for making synthetic microbes with manmade DNA. (p. 403)
Cat History: DNA study finds domestic-cat kin

DNA evidence shows that the Near Eastern lineage of the wildcat, one of five lineages of Felis silvestris, gave rise to today's domestic kitty cats. (p. 403)
Biowarfare: Engineered virus can invade bacterial film

A genetically engineered virus not only kills bacteria but makes an enzyme that breaks up the biofilm in which the bacteria live. (p. 404)
Cellular Smugglers: Laden nanoparticles hitch a ride on bacteria

Molecular cargoes loaded onto nanoparticles can sneak into mammalian cells on the backs of bacteria. (p. 404)
Alcohol Answer? Drinks lower glucose to protect heart

Moderate consumption of beer, wine, or gin lowers blood glucose, perhaps helping to stave off type 2 diabetes and heart disease. (p. 405)
Immune Abuse: Methamphetamine is linked to cardiac damage

The illicit drug methamphetamine alters immune proteins unleashed in the body, possibly explaining why some longtime methamphetamine abusers suffer heart problems. (p. 405)
Ape Aid: Chimps share altruistic capacity with people

Chimpanzees, as well as 18-month-old children, will assist strangers even when getting no personal reward, suggesting that human altruism has deep evolutionary roots. (p. 406)
Summer Reading

The staff of Science News presents wide-ranging recommendations of books for readers to pack for their summer vacations. (p. 408)
A Gemstone's Wild Ride

Diamonds may be carried to the surface in explosions of gas and rock fizzing up from deep within Earth's mantle. (p. 412)
A computer in every cell

Artificial genes inserted into cells make RNA molecules that can perform logical computations. (p. 413)
Eris dwarfs Pluto

Ex-planet Pluto suffers another demotion, as observations show that it's much less massive than Eris, another distant denizen of the outer solar system. (p. 413)
West Nile virus hits bird populations

West Nile virus has hammered populations of five common North American birds. (p. 413)
Double-acting bacteria immobilize toxic nanoparticles

Bacteria lurking in the bowels of an abandoned Wisconsin mine might help remove toxic metals from polluted water. (p. 413)
Nerves are key to longevity effect

The life-extending effect that some animals get from calorie-restricted diets may depend on signals from the brain. (p. 414)
A sweet way to replace petroleum?

Thanks to a new chemical process, many products now manufactured from petroleum could one day be made from sugar molecules. (p. 414)
Stradivari's secrets

Three-dimensional imaging of a classic violin's vibrations explains the instrument's superior ability to direct sound to the audience. (p. 414)
Music to alien ears

Saturn's moon Titan may be the best rock concert venue in the solar system, according to computer simulations of sound propagation on other worlds. (p. 414)
Letters from the June 30, 2007, issue of Science News

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Blogs:

Science & the Public Is Your Fish Oil Polluted?
By Janet Raloff Nov 20th 2008

Columns:

Comment Debates over definition of planet continue and inspire
By Alan Stern Nov 21st 2008

Math Trek How to (really) trust a mathematical proof
By Julie Rehmeyer
Mathematicians develop computer proof-checking systems in order to realize century-old dreams of fully precise, accurate mathematics. Nov 14th 2008

Bulletin Board: