ScienceDaily: Top Science News

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• Agriculture in China predates domesticated rice: Discovery of ancient diet shatters conventional ideas of how agriculture emerged
• Asian lady beetles use biological weapons against their European relatives
• Vicious cycle: Obesity sustained by changes in brain biochemistry
• Spiders: Capturing prey in silken netting and sticky hairs
• X-ray tomography of living frog embryo
• Paleontology: The eloquence of otoliths seen in a 23-million-year-old fish fossil
• South Africa's new radio telescope reveals giant outbursts from binary star system
• Work-related stress linked to increased blood fat levels, cardiovascular health risks
• Crickets' calling song hits the high notes
• Actor Johnny Depp immortalized in ancient fossil find

Agriculture in China predates domesticated rice: Discovery of ancient diet shatters conventional ideas of how agriculture emerged Posted: 17 May 2013 05:57 AM PDT Archaeologists have made a discovery in southern subtropical China which could revolutionize thinking about how ancient humans lived in the region. They have uncovered evidence for the first time that people living in Xincun 5,000 years ago may have practiced agriculture -- before the arrival of domesticated rice in the region.

Asian lady beetles use biological weapons against their European relatives Posted: 16 May 2013 11:25 AM PDT Once introduced for biological pest control, Asian lady beetle populations have been increasing uncontrollably. Scientists have now found the reason for the animal's success. Its body fluid contains microsporidia, fungus-like protozoa that parasitize body cells and can cause immense harm to their host. The Asian lady beetle is obviously resistant to these parasites. However, transferred to native species, microsporidia can be lethal.

Vicious cycle: Obesity sustained by changes in brain biochemistry Posted: 16 May 2013 07:55 AM PDT Scientists have shown that in the brain cells of rats, obesity impedes the production of a hormone that curbs appetite and inspires calorie burning. The root cause appears to be a breakdown in the protein-processing mechanism of the cells. In the lab, the researchers showed they could fix the breakdown with drugs.

Spiders: Capturing prey in silken netting and sticky hairs Posted: 16 May 2013 07:52 AM PDT The great ecological success of spiders is often substantiated by the evolution of silk and webs. Biologists have now found an alternative adaptation to hunting prey: hairy adhesive pads, so called scopulae.

X-ray tomography of living frog embryo Posted: 16 May 2013 07:52 AM PDT Classical X-ray radiographs provide information about internal, absorptive structures of organisms such as bones. Alternatively, X-rays can also image soft tissues throughout early embryonic development of vertebrates. Related to this, a new X-ray method allowed researchers to view three dimensional reconstructions showing developing embryos of the African clawed frog.

Paleontology: The eloquence of otoliths seen in a 23-million-year-old fish fossil Posted: 16 May 2013 07:52 AM PDT Fish fossils that are about 23 million years old give unprecedented insight into the evolutionary history of the gobioid order, one of the most species-rich groups among the modern bony fishes.

South Africa's new radio telescope reveals giant outbursts from binary star system Posted: 16 May 2013 07:52 AM PDT An international team of astronomers have reported the first scientific results from the Karoo Array Telescope (KAT-7) in South Africa.

Work-related stress linked to increased blood fat levels, cardiovascular health risks Posted: 16 May 2013 03:38 AM PDT New results link job stress to dyslipidemia, a disorder that alters the levels of lipids and lipoproteins in the blood. An altered lipid profile is dangerous for the heart.

Crickets' calling song hits the high notes Posted: 16 May 2013 03:38 AM PDT Research has detailed how acoustic communication has evolved within a unique species of cricket which exploits extremely high frequency harmonics to interact.

Actor Johnny Depp immortalized in ancient fossil find Posted: 16 May 2013 03:38 AM PDT A scientist has discovered an ancient extinct creature with 'scissor hand-like' claws in fossil records and has named it in honor of his favorite movie star.

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