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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News


Does germ plasm accelerate evolution?

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 06:19 AM PDT

Scientists have challenged a long held belief about the way certain species of vertebrates evolved. They found that genes evolve more rapidly in species containing germ plasm. The results came about as they put to the test a novel theory that early developmental events dramatically alter the vertebrate body plan and the way evolution proceeds.

Hereditary trauma: Inheritance of traumas and how they may be mediated

Posted: 13 Apr 2014 10:59 AM PDT

Extreme and traumatic events can change a person -- and often, years later, even affect their children. Researchers have now unmasked a piece in the puzzle of how the inheritance of traumas may be mediated. The phenomenon has long been known in psychology: traumatic experiences can induce behavioural disorders that are passed down from one generation to the next. It is only recently that scientists have begun to understand the physiological processes underlying hereditary trauma

Faraway moon or faint star? Possible exomoon found

Posted: 12 Apr 2014 06:41 AM PDT

Titan, Europa, Io and Phobos are just a few members of our solar system's pantheon of moons. Are there are other moons out there, orbiting planets beyond our sun? Researchers have spotted the first signs of an "exomoon," and though they say it's impossible to confirm its presence, the finding is a tantalizing first step toward locating others. The discovery was made by watching a chance encounter of objects in our galaxy, which can be witnessed only once.

Hepatitis C treatment cures over 90 percent of patients who also have cirrhosis

Posted: 12 Apr 2014 06:34 AM PDT

Twelve weeks of an investigational oral therapy cured hepatitis C infection in more than 90 percent of patients with liver cirrhosis and was well tolerated by these patients, according to a new study.

What happens when we try to manipulate our voice to attract a mate? Her voice is hot, his is not

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 12:33 PM PDT

Trying to sound sexier? Sorry, guys, it seems you just don't have what it takes. New research suggests that men cannot intentionally make their voices sound more sexy or attractive, while women have little trouble. And true to the stereotype, women will lower their pitch and increase their hoarseness to dial up the allure.

Protein researchers closing in on the mystery of schizophrenia

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:31 AM PDT

Schizophrenia is a severe disease for which there is still no effective medical treatment. In an attempt to understand exactly what happens in the brain of a schizophrenic person, researchers have analyzed proteins in the brains of rats that have been given hallucinogenic drugs. This may pave the way for new and better medicines.

Better solar cells, better LED light and vast optical possibilities

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT

Changes at the atom level in nanowires offer vast possibilities for improvement of solar cells and LED light. Researchers have discovered that by tuning a small strain on single nanowires they can become more effective in LEDs and solar cells. 

NASA's Hubble extends stellar tape measure 10 times farther into space

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:19 AM PDT

Astronomers now can precisely measure the distance of stars up to 10,000 light-years away -- 10 times farther than previously possible. Astronomers have developed yet another novel way to use the 24-year-old space telescope by employing a technique called spatial scanning, which dramatically improves Hubble's accuracy for making angular measurements. The technique, when applied to the age-old method for gauging distances called astronomical parallax, extends Hubble's tape measure 10 times farther into space.

Confirmation of neurobiological origin of attention-deficit disorder

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:17 AM PDT

The neurobiological origin of attention-deficit disorder (ADD), a syndrome whose causes are poorly understood, has just been confirmed by a study carried out on mice. Researchers have identified a cerebral structure, the superior colliculus, where hyperstimulation causes behavior modifications similar to those of some patients who suffer from ADD. Their work also shows noradrenaline accumulation in the affected area, shedding light on this chemical mediator having a role in attention disorders.

Uncovering a new angle on mental distance: Feeling closer leads to poor judgement of space

Posted: 10 Apr 2014 10:15 AM PDT

Why does the second hour of a journey seem shorter than the first? Research suggests that the answer lies in how we're physically oriented in space. Research has demonstrated that a person's orientation -- the direction they are headed -- changed how they thought of an object or event. "Feeling close to or distant from something impacts our behavior and judgment," says the lead author. "We feel more socially connected, more emotionally engaged, and more attuned to the present when something is perceived as close."

Thermoelectric generator on glass fabric for wearable electronic devices

Posted: 10 Apr 2014 10:14 AM PDT

Wearable computers or devices have been hailed as the next generation of mobile electronic gadgets, from smart watches to smart glasses to smart pacemakers. For electronics to be worn by a user, they must be light, flexible, and equipped with a power source, which could be a portable, long-lasting battery or no battery at all but a generator. How to supply power in a stable and reliable manner is one of the most critical issues to commercialize wearable devices. Scientists have now proposed a solution to this problem by developing a glass fabric-based thermoelectric (TE) generator that is extremely light and flexible and produces electricity from the heat of the human body.

Chance meeting creates celestial diamond ring

Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:42 AM PDT

Astronomers have captured an eye-catching image of planetary nebula PN A66 33 -- usually known as Abell 33. Created when an aging star blew off its outer layers, this beautiful blue bubble is, by chance, aligned with a foreground star, and bears an uncanny resemblance to a diamond engagement ring. This cosmic gem is unusually symmetric, appearing to be almost circular on the sky.

Novel ultra-fast electrical circuits use light-generated tunneling currents

Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:36 AM PDT

Scientists have successfully designed and fabricated electrical circuits that can operate at hundreds of terahertz frequencies, which is tens of thousands times faster than today's state-of-the-art microprocessors.

Future computers that are normally off

Posted: 08 Apr 2014 09:19 AM PDT

Researchers have broadly envisioned the future of spin-transfer torque magnetoresistive random access memory (STT-MRAM), and they have now described how it will radically alter computer architectures and consumer electronics.

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