ScienceDaily: Top News

Thinking 'big' may not be best approach to saving large-river fish

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:03:03 EDT

Large-river specialist fishes -- from giant species like paddlefish and blue catfish, to tiny crystal darters and silver chub -- are in danger, but researchers say there is greater hope to save them if major tributaries become a focus of conservation efforts.

'Boys will be boys' in US, but not in Asia

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:03:03 EDT

A new study shows there is a gender gap when it comes to behavior and self-control in American young children -- one that does not appear to exist in children in Asia.

Pinpointing how nature's benefits link to human well-being

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:03:03 EDT

What people take from nature -- water, food, timber, inspiration, relaxation -- are so abundant, it seems self-evident. Until you try to quantitatively understand how and to what extent they contribute to humans.

Swine flu pandemic of 2009 more deadly for younger adults

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:03:03 EDT

As the world prepares for what may be the next pandemic strain of influenza virus, in the H7N9 bird flu, a new study reveals that the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic was deadliest for people under the age of 65, while those 65 and over had greater immunity due to previous exposure to similar viruses.

Fetch, boy! Study shows homes with dogs have more types of bacteria

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:03:03 EDT

New research shows that households with dogs are home to more types of bacteria -- including bacteria that are rarely found in households that do not have dogs. The finding is part of a larger study to improve our understanding of the microscopic life forms that live in our homes.

Scientists develop worm EEG to test the effects of drugs

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:01:01 EDT

Scientists have developed a device which records the brain activity of worms to help test the effects of drugs. NeuroChip is a microfluidic electrophysiological device, which can trap the microscopic worm Caenorhadbitis elegans and record the activity of discrete neural circuits in its 'brain' - a worm equivalent of the EEG.

CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:01:01 EDT

CT scans detected twice as many early-stage lung cancers as chest X-ray on initial screening exam, according to new results. Investigators say the 20 percent lung cancer mortality reduction previously reported in the NLST is achievable at screening centers in the U.S.

Baby's life saved with groundbreaking 3-D printed device that restored his breathing

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:01:01 EDT

A bioresorbable splint has been created and used for first time at the University of Michigan, where doctors implanted the device in an infant and stopped a life-threatening condition called tracheobronchomalacia.

Top 10 new species of 2012

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:39:39 EDT

An amazing glow-in-the-dark cockroach, a harp-shaped carnivorous sponge and the smallest vertebrate on Earth are just three of the newly discovered top 10 species selected by a global committee of taxonomists.

Migraine and depression together may be linked with brain size

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:39:39 EDT

Older people with a history of migraines and depression may have smaller brain tissue volumes than people with only one or neither of the conditions, according to a new study.

Tests lead to doubling of fuel cell life

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:03:03 EDT

Researchers working to improve durability in fuel cell powered buses have discovered links between electrode degradation processes and bus membrane durability. The team is quantifying the effects of electrode degradation stressors in the operating cycle of the bus on the membrane lifetime.

Brain can be trained in compassion, study shows

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:03:03 EDT

A new study shows that adults can be trained to be more compassionate. The report investigates whether training adults in compassion can result in greater altruistic behavior and related changes in neural systems underlying compassion.

Novel approach for influenza vaccination shows promise in early animal testing

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:03:03 EDT

A new approach for immunizing against influenza elicited a more potent immune response and broader protection than the currently licensed seasonal influenza vaccines when tested in mice and ferrets. The new vaccine concept represents an important step forward in the quest to develop a universal influenza vaccine -- one that would protect against most or all influenza strains without the need for an annual vaccination.

Magnetic field misbehavior in solar flares explained: The culprit is turbulence

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:03:03 EDT

When a solar flare erupts from the sun, its magnetic fields sometime break a widely accepted rule of physics. Why? Now we know.

Laws to lower alcohol limits mean lower fatalities says trauma expert

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:02:02 EDT

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing that the legal limit for a driver’s blood-alcohol content be reduced from 0.08 to 0.05, but and that may not be far enough say experts.

Good marriage can buffer effects of dad's depression on young children

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:05:05 EDT

What effect does a father's depression have on his young son or daughter? When fathers report a high level of emotional intimacy in their marriage, their children benefit, said a new study.

Innovation could bring flexible solar cells, transistors, displays

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Researchers have created a new type of transparent electrode that might find uses in solar cells, flexible displays for computers and consumer electronics and future "optoelectronic" circuits for sensors and information processing.

Small, speedy plant-eater extends knowledge of dinosaur ecosystems

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Dinosaurs are often thought of as large, fierce animals, but new research highlights a previously overlooked diversity of small dinosaurs. Paleontologists have now described a new dinosaur, the smallest plant-eating dinosaur species known from Canada.

Children of married parents less likely to be obese

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Children living in households where the parents are married are less likely to be obese, according to new research.

Overcoming resistance to anti-cancer drugs by targeting cell 'powerhouses'

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Re-routing anti-cancer drugs to the "power plants" that make energy to keep cells alive is a promising but long-neglected approach to preventing emergence of the drug-resistant forms of cancer -- source of a serious medical problem, scientists are reporting.

Mosquito behavior may be immune response, not parasite manipulation

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Malaria-carrying mosquitoes appear to be manipulated by the parasites they carry, but this manipulation may simply be part of the mosquitoes' immune response, according to entomologists.

More emphasis needed on recycling and reuse of Li-ion batteries

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

The discovery of potential environmental and human health effects from disposal of millions of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries each year has led scientists to recommend stronger government policies to encourage recovery, recycling and reuse of lithium-ion battery materials.

Hospitals profit when patients develop bloodstream infections

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:18:18 EDT

Researchers report that hospitals may be reaping enormous income for patients whose hospital stays are complicated by preventable bloodstream infections contracted in their intensive care units.

Enzyme-activating antibodies revealed as marker for most severe form of rheumatoid arthritis

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:18:18 EDT

In a series of lab experiments designed to unravel the workings of a key enzyme widely considered a possible trigger of rheumatoid arthritis, researchers have found that in the most severe cases of the disease, the immune system makes a unique subset of antibodies that have a disease-promoting role.

Forecast for Saturn's moon Titan: Wild weather could be ahead

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:32:32 EDT

Saturn's moon Titan might be in for some wild weather as it heads into its spring and summer, if two new models are correct. Scientists think that as the seasons change in Titan's northern hemisphere, waves could ripple across the moon's hydrocarbon seas, and hurricanes could begin to swirl over these areas, too. The model predicting waves tries to explain data from the moon obtained so far by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Both models help mission team members plan when and where to look for unusual atmospheric disturbances as Titan summer approaches.

Overeating learned in infancy, study suggests

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Research shows that clinical obesity at 24 months of age strongly traces back to infant feeding patterns.

Promising new approach to treatment of lung cancer

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Researchers have developed a new drug delivery system that allows inhalation of chemotherapeutic drugs to help treat lung cancer, and in laboratory and animal tests it appears to reduce the systemic damage done to other organs while significantly improving the treatment of lung tumors -- the tumors virtually disappeared.

Fast new, one-step genetic engineering technology

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:12:12 EDT

A new, streamlined approach to genetic engineering drastically reduces the time and effort needed to insert new genes into bacteria, the workhorses of biotechnology, scientists are reporting. The method paves the way for more rapid development of designer microbes for drug development, environmental cleanup and other activities.

Insomnia may cause dysfunction in emotional brain circuitry

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:12:12 EDT

A new study provides neurobiological evidence for dysfunction in the neural circuitry underlying emotion regulation in people with insomnia, which may have implications for the risk relationship between insomnia and depression.

Detecting mirror molecules: New technique reliably tells left-handed from right-handed variant of a compound

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Physicists have developed a novel technique that can detect molecular variants in chemical mixtures -- greatly simplifying a process that is one of the most important, though time-consuming, processes in analytical chemistry.

Making chaos visible: As chaos celebrates its 50th birthday, biophysicist Christian Herbst develops a new method to visualize it

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Exactly 50 years after the US-American meteorologist Edward Lorenz discovered chaos (remember the "butterfly effect?") the topic is still as fascinating as ever. A new visualization technique helps to make chaos visible to the naked eye. The method allows for the intuitive interpretation of chaotic or nearly chaotic phenomena, and thus makes the fascinating world of chaos theory more accessible to the scientific community.

Tropical upper atmosphere 'fingerprint' of global warming

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:11:11 EDT

The winds of the quasibiennial oscillation in the tropical upper atmosphere have greatly weakened at some altitudes over the last six decades, according to a new study. The finding is consistent with computer model projections of how the upper atmosphere responds to global warming induced by increased greenhouse gas concentrations.

Fragile mega-galaxy is missing link in history of cosmos

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:11:11 EDT

Two hungry young galaxies that collided 11 billion years ago are rapidly forming a massive galaxy about 10 times the size of the Milky Way, according to new research.

Model of Sun's magnetic field created

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:11:11 EDT

Researchers have uncovered an important mechanism behind the generation of astrophysical magnetic fields such as that of the Sun.

Largest genetic sequencing study of human disease

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:11:11 EDT

Researchers have completed the largest sequencing study of human disease to date, investigating the genetic basis of six autoimmune diseases.

First genomic survey of human skin fungal diversity

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:11:11 EDT

In the first study of human fungal skin diversity, researchers sequenced the DNA of fungi at skin sites of healthy adults to define the normal populations across the skin and to provide a framework for investigating fungal skin conditions.

Slowing the aging process -- only with antibiotics

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:11:11 EDT

Scientists reveal the mechanism responsible for aging hidden deep within mitochondria -- and dramatically slow it down in worms by administering antibiotics to the young.

Norway spruce genome sequenced: Largest ever to be mapped

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:10:10 EDT

Scientists have mapped the gene sequence of Norway spruce (the Christmas tree) -- a species with huge economic and ecological importance -- and that is the largest genome to have ever been mapped. The genome is complex and seven times larger than that of humans.

Plasmonics: A wave without diffraction

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:10:10 EDT

Optical computing could benefit from the recent development of a novel electromagnetic wave.

Optics: Statistics light the way

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:10:10 EDT

A revelation of how photoreceptive cells in the eye distinguish between different light sources could pave the way for a novel class of optical devices.

Carbon capture: Making use of minerals

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:10:10 EDT

Ammonium salts could provide a viable way of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere via carbon mineralization, studies suggest.

Re-emergence of moderate iodine deficiency in developed countries

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:10:10 EDT

A commentary accompanying research calls for greater public health policies to eradicate iodine deficiency in the U.K. and other developed countries, including the United States.

Calcium supplements linked to longer lifespans in women

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:09:09 EDT

Taking a calcium supplement of up to 1,000 mg per day can help women live longer, according to a recent study.

Fish oil supplements may help fight against type 2 diabetes

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:09:09 EDT

Widely-used fish oil supplements modestly increase amounts of a hormone that is associated with lower risk of diabetes and heart disease, according to a new study.

How immune system peacefully co-exists with 'good' bacteria

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:09:09 EDT

The human gut is loaded with helpful bacteria microbes, yet the immune system seemingly turns a blind eye. Now, researchers know how this friendly truce is kept intact. Innate lymphoid cells directly limit the response by inflammatory T cells to commensal bacteria in the gut of mice. Loss of this ILC function effectively puts the immune system on an extended war footing against the commensal bacteria a condition observed in multiple chronic inflammatory diseases.

Study details genes that control whether tumors adapt or die when faced with p53 activating drugs

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:32:32 EDT

When turned on, the gene p53 turns off cancer. However, when existing drugs boost p53, only a few tumors die -- the rest resist the challenge. A new study shows how: tumors that live even in the face of p53 reactivation create more of the protein p21 than the protein PUMA; tumors that die have more PUMA than p21. And, for the first time, the current study shows a handful of genes that control this ratio.

Footwear's (carbon) footprint: Bulk of shoes' carbon footprint comes from manufacturing processes

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:31 EDT

A typical pair of running shoes generates 30 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to keeping a 100-watt light bulb on for one week, according to a new lifecycle assessment.

Signs of motor disorders can appear years before disease manifestation

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:31 EDT

It is known that signs of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease can appear years before the disease becomes manifest; these signs take the form of subtle changes in the brain and behavior of individuals affected. For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the existence of such signatures for motor disorders belonging to the group of "spinocerebellar ataxias."

Schizophrenia symptoms eliminated in animal model

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:31 EDT

Overexpression of a gene associated with schizophrenia causes classic symptoms of the disorder that are reversed when gene expression returns to normal, scientists report. They genetically engineered mice so they could turn up levels of neuregulin-1 to mimic high levels found in some patients then return levels to normal.

Costs to treat stroke in America may double by 2030

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:31 EDT

Stroke costs are predicted to more than double in the next 20 years. Americans 45-64 years old are expected to have the highest increase in stroke incidence.

Vast methane-based ecosystem uncovered

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:30 EDT

A marine research expedition has led to the discovery of perhaps the world's largest methane cold seep. The seep lies deep in the western North Atlantic Ocean, far from the life-sustaining energy of the sun. Mussels blanketing the the seep rely on bacteria that use the methane to make energy. The process, known as chemosynthesis, forms the basis for life in the harsh environment and could help scientists better understand how organisms can survive under these types of extreme conditions.

Molecular roots of cocaine addiction in brain uncovered: Promising new anti-addiction drug revealed

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:30 EDT

Researchers have unraveled the molecular foundations of cocaine’s effects on the brain, and identified a compound that blocks cravings for the drug in cocaine-addicted mice. The compound, already proven safe for humans, is undergoing further animal testing in preparation for possible clinical trials in cocaine addicts, the researchers say.

New technique may open up an era of atomic-scale semiconductor devices

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:20:20 EDT

Researchers have developed a new technique for creating high-quality semiconductor thin films at the atomic scale -- meaning the films are only one atom thick. The technique can be used to create these thin films on a large scale, sufficient to coat wafers that are two inches wide, or larger.

New pneumococcal vaccine appears to be as safe as previously used vaccine, study suggests

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:20:20 EDT

The new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine appears to be as safe as the previous version used prior to 2010, the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, according to a new study.

Eyes on the prey: Researchers analyse the hunting behaviour of fish larvae in virtual reality

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:20:20 EDT

Moving objects attract greater attention -- a fact exploited by video screens in public spaces and animated advertising banners on the Internet. For most animal species, moving objects also play a major role in the processing of sensory impressions in the brain, as they often signal the presence of a welcome prey or an imminent threat. Scientists have now investigated how the brain uses the information from the visual system for the execution of quicker movements.

Fish oil may help the heart beat mental stress

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:19:19 EDT

Why is fish oil good for the heart? A new study suggests that this omega 3 fatty acid-rich nutrient could blunt some cardiovascular effects of mental stress.

Inexpensive, accurate way to detect prostate cancer: At-home urine tests

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:58:58 EDT

Early screening for prostate cancer could become as easy for men as personal pregnancy testing is for women, thanks to new research.

Life scientists present new insights on climate change and species interactions

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:58:58 EDT

Life scientists provide important new details on how climate change will affect interactions between species in newly published research. This knowledge, they say, is critical to making accurate predictions and informing policymakers of how species are likely to be impacted by rising temperatures.

Whirlpools on the nanoscale could multiply magnetic memory

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:58:58 EDT

Scientists are developing four-bit magnetic cells instead of the two-bit magnetic domains of standard magnetic memories. Magnetic vortices are whirlpools of magnetic field, in which electron spins point either clockwise or counterclockwise. In the crowded center of the whirlpool the spins point either down or up. These four orientations could represent separate bits of information in a new kind of memory, if controlled independently and simultaneously.

Two miniature spider species discovered in Giant Panda Sanctuaries of China

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:58:58 EDT

Two tiny, bizarre shaped spider species have been discovered in the Sichuan province and Chongqing city of China. The two species belong to the understudied Mysmenidae family, which prove difficult to find due to their small size (under 2 mm in total) and their cryptic lifestyle habits.