ScienceDaily: Top News

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• First semiaquatic dinosaur, spinosaurus
• BP Deepwater Horizon disaster: Researchers continue working to safeguard shoreline
• 'Hot Jupiters' provoke their own host suns to wobble
• New species of electrons can lead to better computing
• The sound of an atom has been captured
• Ebola paper demonstrates disease transmission rate
• Secrets of animal weapons revealed
• Increased access to nature trails could decrease youth obesity rates, study finds
• Ticks that vector Lyme disease move west into North Dakota
• Two new species of carabid beetles found in Ethiopia
• New defense mechanism against viruses discovered
• Chemical signals in brain help guide risky decisions
• Cells put off protein production during times of stress
• Intestinal bacteria needed for strong flu vaccine responses in mice
• You can classify words in your sleep
• Atmosphere in northern hemisphere has lower self-cleaning capacity than previously thought
• Scientists revert human stem cells to pristine state
• Impact on gut microbiota of fermented milk product containing probiotics revealed by new technology
• Brain differences: Sometimes, adolescents just can't resist
• Not enough vitamin B1 can cause brain damage
• Bioethicists call for greater first-world response to Ebola outbreak
• Our microbes are a rich source of drugs
• Owls Provides Clues on How Humans Focus Attention
• The quantum revolution is a step closer: New way to run a quantum algorithm
• Endometriosis a burden on women's lives
• Excitonic dark states shed light on TMDC atomic layers: New promise for nanoelectronic and photonic applications
• Breast milk reveals a correlation between dietary fats and academic success
• World's largest DNA origami created
• Childhood mentors have positive impact on career success
• Graphene paints a corrosion-free future: Keep food fresh longer?
• Lurking bright blue star caught: The last piece of a supernova puzzle
• High levels of physical activity linked to better academic performance in boys
• New superfoods could help key protein keep bodies healthy
• Talking therapy for people with a recent Bipolar Disorder diagnosis
• Sunshine can act as 'driver' for suicide
• Is the pattern of brain folding a 'fingerprint' for schizophrenia?
• Steroid hormone to fight age-related diseases
• Bully victims more likely to suffer night terrors, nightmares by age 12
• Pesticides more toxic for soil organisms in dry soil, at enhanced temperatures
• Last decade's slow-down in global warming enhanced by an unusual climate anomaly
• Genomic analysis reveals that high-risk leukemia subtype becomes more common with age
• Cutting health care costs one appendix at a time
• Cat bites dog: In India's human dominated landscapes, top prey for leopards is dogs
• 'Fat shaming' doesn't encourage weight loss
• Binge drinking in pregnancy can affect child's mental health, school results
• Astronomers pinpoint 'Venus Zone' around stars
• Smokers who consume too much sodium at greater risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis
• Psychological study of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 conspiracy theories
• Chemical detection: A purer solution
• Neuroscientists decode brain maps to discover how we take aim
• Chemists discover the way nose perceives common class of odors
• 'Green wave' explains migratory bird routes
• Restricting calories may improve sleep apnea, blood pressure in obese people
• Using plants to produce enzyme may provide treatment for high blood pressure in lungs
• Small weight gain can raise blood pressure in healthy adults
• Can your blood type affect your memory in later years?
• PTSD, respiratory illness: A signature long-term problem of 9/11 responders
• More efficient fuel cells for vehicles: Angling chromium to let oxygen through
• Earth's ozone layer on track to recovery, scientists report
• Major earthquake may occur off coast of Istanbul, seismic shifts suggest

First semiaquatic dinosaur, spinosaurus Posted: 11 Sep 2014 11:27 AM PDT Scientists today unveiled what appears to be the first truly semiaquatic dinosaur, Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. New fossils of the massive Cretaceous-era predator reveal it adapted to life in the water some 95 million years ago, providing the most compelling evidence to date of a dinosaur able to live and hunt in an aquatic environment. The fossils also indicate that Spinosaurus was the largest known predatory dinosaur to roam the Earth, measuring more than nine feet longer than the world's largest Tyrannosaurus rex specimen.

BP Deepwater Horizon disaster: Researchers continue working to safeguard shoreline Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:55 AM PDT A research team has estimated the total mass of oil that reached the Gulf of Mexico shore in the wake of the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout. It's the first time such an estimate was reported.

'Hot Jupiters' provoke their own host suns to wobble Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:54 AM PDT Blame the 'hot Jupiters.' These large, gaseous exoplanets can make their suns wobble when they wend their way through their own solar systems to snuggle up against their suns, according to new research.

New species of electrons can lead to better computing Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:54 AM PDT Electrons that break the rules and move perpendicular to the applied electric field could be the key to delivering next generation, low-energy computers.

The sound of an atom has been captured Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:54 AM PDT Scientists have used sound to communicate with an artificial atom. They can thereby demonstrate phenomena from quantum physics with sound taking on the role of light.

Ebola paper demonstrates disease transmission rate Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:00 AM PDT Transmission rates for each single case of Ebola consistently showed at least one new case of the disease being transmitted. Country-specific analysis of transmission rates in Liberia and Sierra Leone showed on average between one and two new cases for every existing case, research has shown.

Secrets of animal weapons revealed Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:59 AM PDT From antlers to horns, humans have long been fascinated by animals' ability to defend themselves with their natural-born weapons. But until now, no studies have directly tested whether those weapons perform better at the animals' own style of fighting than they would using the fighting style of another species. Researchers recently discovered each species' weapons are structurally adapted to meet their own functional demands of fighting.

Increased access to nature trails could decrease youth obesity rates, study finds Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:59 AM PDT Local governments can help reduce youth obesity levels by increasing the amount and type of public lands available for recreation, researchers say. "More non-motorized nature trails available for use by youth in a particular county lead to an increase in the physical activity rates as well as lower youth obesity rates," one researcher said.

Ticks that vector Lyme disease move west into North Dakota Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:59 AM PDT Ixodes scapularis, also known as the blacklegged tick or deer tick -- is moving westward, and for the first time has been found to be established in North Dakota.

Two new species of carabid beetles found in Ethiopia Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:59 AM PDT Scientists have found two new beetles in the genus Calathus -- Calathus juan and Calathus carballalae -- in Ehtiopia. There are more than 150 species of beetles in the genus Calathus, 17 of which have only been found in the mountains of the Ethiopian Highlands.

New defense mechanism against viruses discovered Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:59 AM PDT A known quality control mechanism in human, animal and plant cells is active against viruses, researchers have discovered. They think it might represent one of the oldest defense mechanisms against viruses in evolutionary history.

Chemical signals in brain help guide risky decisions Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:58 AM PDT A gambler's decision to stay or fold in a game of cards could be influenced by a chemical in the brain, suggests new research. The rise and fall of dopamine plays a key role in decisions involving risk and reward, from a baseball player trying to steal a base to an investor buying or selling a stock. Previous studies have shown that dopamine signals increase when risky choices pay off.

Cells put off protein production during times of stress Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:58 AM PDT When a stressed cell recognizes the buildup of misfolded proteins, it responds by reshuffling its workload, much like a stressed out employee might temporarily move papers from an overflowing inbox into a junk drawer. The study could lend insight into misfolded protein diseases such as Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's, and type 2 diabetes.

Intestinal bacteria needed for strong flu vaccine responses in mice Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:58 AM PDT Mice treated with antibiotics to remove most of their intestinal bacteria or raised under sterile conditions have impaired antibody responses to seasonal influenza vaccination, researchers have found. The findings suggest that antibiotic treatment before or during vaccination may impair responses to certain vaccines in humans. The results may also help to explain why immunity induced by some vaccines varies in different parts of the world.

You can classify words in your sleep Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:58 AM PDT When people practice simple word classification tasks before nodding off -- knowing that a 'cat' is an animal or that 'flipu' isn't found in the dictionary, for example -- their brains will unconsciously continue to make those classifications even in sleep. The findings show that some parts of the brain behave similarly whether we are asleep or awake and pave the way for further studies on the processing capacity of our sleeping brains, the researchers say.

Atmosphere in northern hemisphere has lower self-cleaning capacity than previously thought Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:50 AM PDT Pollution is being removed more slowly from the atmosphere in the northern hemisphere than previously assumed. An international research team established that the atmospheric cleaning agent hydroxyl (OH) is found in the same concentrations in the southern and the northern hemisphere. Until now, scientists had assumed that there would be more OH in the atmosphere in the more polluted northern hemisphere as the cleaning agent is produced where there is pollution.

Scientists revert human stem cells to pristine state Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:50 AM PDT Researchers have resolved a long-standing challenge in stem cell biology by successfully 'resetting' human pluripotent stem cells to a fully pristine state, at a point of their greatest developmental potential.

Impact on gut microbiota of fermented milk product containing probiotics revealed by new technology Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:50 AM PDT The effect of a fermented milk product containing probiotics on the gut microbiota has been demonstrated by researchers using a novel high resolution bioinformatics tool. The product affected certain gut bacteria without changing the global composition of the microbial community. These findings open new perspectives to understand the effects of probiotics on our health.

Brain differences: Sometimes, adolescents just can't resist Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:45 AM PDT A new study finds teenagers are far more sensitive than adults to the immediate effect or reward of their behaviors. Even when a behavior is no longer in a teenager's best interest to continue, they will because the effect of the reward is still there and lasts much longer in adolescents than in adults.

Not enough vitamin B1 can cause brain damage Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:45 AM PDT A deficiency of a single vitamin, B1 (thiamine), can cause a potentially fatal brain disorder called Wernicke encephalopathy. Symptoms can include confusion, hallucinations, loss of muscle coordination and vision problems. Untreated, the condition can lead to irreversible brain damage and death.

Bioethicists call for greater first-world response to Ebola outbreak Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:42 AM PDT Amid recent discussion about the Ebola crisis in West Africa, physicians say that high-income countries like the United States have an obligation to help those affected by the outbreak and to advance research to fight the deadly disease — including in the context of randomized clinical trials of new drugs to combat the virus.

Our microbes are a rich source of drugs Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:42 AM PDT Bacteria that normally live in and upon us have genetic blueprints that enable them to make thousands of molecules that act like drugs, and some of these molecules might serve as the basis for new human therapeutics, according to new research.

Owls Provides Clues on How Humans Focus Attention Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:42 AM PDT Research with barn owls reveals how the brain decides what it should pay attention to among competing external events.

The quantum revolution is a step closer: New way to run a quantum algorithm Posted: 11 Sep 2014 07:30 AM PDT A new way to run a quantum algorithm using much simpler methods than previously thought has been discovered. These findings could dramatically bring forward the development of a 'quantum computer' capable of beating a conventional computer.

Endometriosis a burden on women's lives Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:47 AM PDT Endometriosis often takes a long time to be diagnosed and affects all areas of a women's life, a study has found. Endometriosis is a chronic, recurring disease that is experienced by approximately 10 per cent of women worldwide. Common symptoms include painful menstruation, heavy menstrual bleeding, painful sex and infertility.

Excitonic dark states shed light on TMDC atomic layers: New promise for nanoelectronic and photonic applications Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:47 AM PDT Researchers believe they have uncovered the secret behind the unusual optoelectronic properties of single atomic layers of TMDC materials, the two-dimensional semiconductors that hold great promise for nanoelectronic and photonic applications.

Breast milk reveals a correlation between dietary fats and academic success Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:47 AM PDT You are what you eat, the saying goes, and now a study suggests that the oft-repeated adage applies not just to physical health, but to brain power as well. Researchers compared the fatty acid profiles of breast milk from women in over two dozen countries with how well children from those same countries performed on academic tests. Their findings show that the amount of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in a mother's milk is the strongest predictor of test performance. It outweighs national income and the number of dollars spent per pupil in schools.

World's largest DNA origami created Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:47 AM PDT Researchers have created the world's largest DNA origami, which are nanoscale constructions with applications ranging from biomedical research to nanoelectronics. DNA origami are self-assembling biochemical structures that are made up of two types of DNA.

Childhood mentors have positive impact on career success Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:47 AM PDT Young people who have had mentors are more likely to find work early in their careers that gives them more responsibility and autonomy -- ultimately putting them on a path to more financially and personally rewarding careers.

Graphene paints a corrosion-free future: Keep food fresh longer? Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:47 AM PDT A thin layer of graphene paint can make impermeable and chemically resistant coatings which could be used for packaging to keep food fresh for longer and protect metal structures against corrosion, new findings show.

Lurking bright blue star caught: The last piece of a supernova puzzle Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:47 AM PDT Astronomers have found evidence of a hot binary companion star to a yellow supergiant star, which had become a bright supernova. Its existence had been predicted by the team. This finding provides the last link in a chain of observations that have so far supported the team's theoretical picture for this supernova.

High levels of physical activity linked to better academic performance in boys Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:47 AM PDT Higher levels of physical activity are related to better academic achievement during the first three school years, particularly in boys, research shows. For instance, boys with higher levels of physical activity, and especially walking and bicycling to and from school, had better reading skills than less active boys.

New superfoods could help key protein keep bodies healthy Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:33 AM PDT A new generation of new superfoods that tackle heart disease and diabetes could be developed following research into a protein that helps keep cells in our bodies healthy. The beneficial substances comprise broccoli-derived sulforaphane and quercetin, which is found in high-levels in onions.

Talking therapy for people with a recent Bipolar Disorder diagnosis Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:33 AM PDT A group of people with a recent bipolar diagnosis who had an average of 14 hours Cognitive Behavioural Therapy alongside 'treatment as usual,' which includes medication and support from community mental health teams, psychiatry or a GP was compared to a group of 34 people who only received 'treatment as usual' in a randomized controlled trial. The group receiving Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - a psychological therapy which helps people address patterns of thinking and behavior which they wish to change - made a better, more sustained recovery.

Sunshine can act as 'driver' for suicide Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:33 AM PDT Long spells of sunshine - as proven by many scientific studies - can have a positive impact on the human mind and can have a helpful effect for people with depression. Things are very different at the start of a spell of nice weather, however. During the first days of sunshine, the internal unrest and increased activity can act as a driver for some at-risk people to commit suicide.

Is the pattern of brain folding a 'fingerprint' for schizophrenia? Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT Anyone who has seen pictures or models of the human brain is aware that the outside layer, or cortex, of the brain is folded in an intricate pattern of "hills", called gyri, and "valleys", called sulci. It turns out that the patterns of cortical folding are largely consistent across healthy humans, broadly speaking. However, disturbances in cortical folding patterns suggest deeper disturbances in brain structure and function..

Steroid hormone to fight age-related diseases Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT Through the study of the roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans, a research team has discovered a hormone that enhances longevity and reduces fertility, thus reproducing the effects of an extreme diet. The scientists now intend to explore its mode of action in the hope of finding new ways to combat age-related diseases.

Bully victims more likely to suffer night terrors, nightmares by age 12 Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT Children who are bullied at ages 8-10 are more likely to suffer from sleep walking, night terrors or nightmares by the time they are 12 years old. The authors suggest that: "If a child is experiencing frequent parasomnias, parents, teachers, school counsellors, and clinicians may consider asking about bullying. This would allow detecting bullied children and providing the help they need at an early time to reduce the negative effects of being bullied."

Pesticides more toxic for soil organisms in dry soil, at enhanced temperatures Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT Soil organisms react more sensitive to marketable pesticides when exposed in dry soil and at enhanced temperatures. Both conditions may occur more often in the future due to climate change. Singularly and combined these factors lower the toxicity threshold of fungicides for springtails.

Last decade's slow-down in global warming enhanced by an unusual climate anomaly Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT A hiatus in global warming ongoing since 2001 is due to a combination of a natural cooling phase, known as multidecadal variability (MDV) and a downturn of the secular warming trend. The exact causes of the latter, unique in the entire observational record going back to 1850, are still to be identified, according to a new article.

Genomic analysis reveals that high-risk leukemia subtype becomes more common with age Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT The stage has been set to determine if drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors will extend the lives of patients with the high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia subtype, researchers report. A pediatric clinical trial is scheduled to open by early 2015.

Cutting health care costs one appendix at a time Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:24 AM PDT When given the choice between a less costly "open" operation or a pricier laparoscopy for their children's appendicitis, parents were almost twice as likely to choose the less expensive procedure – when they were aware of the cost difference. The study shows that providing pricing information upfront can influence patient choice of surgical procedures and potentially lead to cost savings in health care, a sector of the economy that accounts for more than 17 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product, researchers say.

Cat bites dog: In India's human dominated landscapes, top prey for leopards is dogs Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:23 AM PDT In India's human dominated agricultural landscapes, where leopards prowl at night, it's not livestock that's primarily on the menu – it is man's best friend.

'Fat shaming' doesn't encourage weight loss Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:41 PM PDT Discrimination against overweight and obese people does not help them to lose weight, finds new research. In a study of 2,944 UK adults over four years, those who reported experiencing weight discrimination gained more weight than those who did not. On average, after accounting for baseline differences, people who reported weight discrimination gained 0.95kg whereas those who did not lost 0.71kg, a difference of 1.66kg.

Binge drinking in pregnancy can affect child's mental health, school results Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:41 PM PDT Binge drinking during pregnancy can increase the risk of mental health problems (particularly hyperactivity and inattention) in children aged 11 and can have a negative effect on their school examination results, according to new research on more than 4,000 participants.

Astronomers pinpoint 'Venus Zone' around stars Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:41 PM PDT Astronomers have defined the 'Venus Zone,' the area around a star in which a planet is likely to exhibit the unlivable conditions found on the planet Venus. The research will aid Kepler astronomers searching for exoplanets, helping them determine which are likely to be similar to Earth and which are more likely to resemble Venus.

Smokers who consume too much sodium at greater risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:40 PM PDT The interaction between high sodium intake and smoking is associated with a more than doubled risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), research shows. "These findings will provide new insights into the aetiopathogenic process leading to the development of RA among smokers. The finding of sodium being a risk factor for the development of RA among smokers is intriguing, as it may explain discrepancies in previous studies of diet as a risk factor for RA," researchers said.

Psychological study of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 conspiracy theories Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:40 PM PDT Conspiracy theories flourish even when there is no official explanation to react against, finds a psychologist who has examined reactions to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 -- the passenger jet that disappeared without a trace in March 2014. Scientists asked 250 participants to rate their agreement with a range of conspiracy explanations for the disappearance of MH370. They were also asked to rate their agreement with well-known conspiracy theories, such as those about the 9/11 attacks and the death of Princess Diana.

Chemical detection: A purer solution Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:37 PM PDT A separation method that isolates protein-protected gold clusters enables improved sensing of toxic mercury compounds and pesticides. Fluorescence-based detection of pesticides and other environmentally harmful chemicals is limited by the ability of current methods to reliably and selectively sense specific chemical species. Researchers have now developed a co-precipitation process that removes excess reagents to improve the efficiency of fluorescent sensors.

Neuroscientists decode brain maps to discover how we take aim Posted: 10 Sep 2014 04:02 PM PDT A new brain map shows how the brain encodes allocentric and egocentric space in different ways during activities that involve manual aiming. The study finding will help healthcare providers to develop therapeutic treatment for patients with brain damage in these two areas, according to the neuroscientists.

Chemists discover the way nose perceives common class of odors Posted: 10 Sep 2014 04:02 PM PDT Biologists claim that humans can perceive and distinguish a trillion different odors, but little is known about the underlying chemical processes involved. Biochemists have found an unexpected chemical strategy employed by the mammalian nose to detect chemicals known as aldehydes.

'Green wave' explains migratory bird routes Posted: 10 Sep 2014 04:02 PM PDT Bird migrations follow areas of new plant growth -- a so-called 'green wave' of new leaves and numerous insects -- research shows. In fall, particularly in the western US, they stick to higher elevations and head directly southward, making fewer detours along the way for food.

Restricting calories may improve sleep apnea, blood pressure in obese people Posted: 10 Sep 2014 04:01 PM PDT Restricting calories may improve sleep apnea and reduce blood pressure in obese adults. Those who restricted their calories had higher levels of oxygen in their blood and a greater reduction in body weight, a study has demonstrated.

Using plants to produce enzyme may provide treatment for high blood pressure in lungs Posted: 10 Sep 2014 04:01 PM PDT Using plant leaves to produce and deliver a key enzyme may someday improve treatment for life-threatening high blood pressure in the lungs. This plant-based therapy would be less expensive and easier to take than enzyme therapies delivered by injection, researchers report.

Small weight gain can raise blood pressure in healthy adults Posted: 10 Sep 2014 04:00 PM PDT Gaining a few pounds can increase blood pressure in healthy adults, researchers report. Increased fat inside the abdomen led to even larger increases in blood pressure, their study results showed.

Can your blood type affect your memory in later years? Posted: 10 Sep 2014 03:59 PM PDT People with blood type AB may be more likely to develop memory loss in later years than people with other blood types, according to a study. AB is the least common blood type, found in about 4 percent of the U.S. population. The study found that people with AB blood were 82 percent more likely to develop the thinking and memory problems that can lead to dementia than people with other blood types.

PTSD, respiratory illness: A signature long-term problem of 9/11 responders Posted: 10 Sep 2014 03:59 PM PDT As many as 60 percent of 9/11 World Trade Center responders continue to experience clinically significant symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and lower respiratory illness, according to the findings from research conducted over the past several years.

More efficient fuel cells for vehicles: Angling chromium to let oxygen through Posted: 10 Sep 2014 03:59 PM PDT More efficient fuel cells might gain wider use in vehicles or as quiet, pollution-free, neighborhood electricity generating stations. A serendipitous finding has resulted in a semiconducting material that could enable fuel cells to operate at temperatures two-thirds lower than current technology, scientists report.

Earth's ozone layer on track to recovery, scientists report Posted: 10 Sep 2014 01:23 PM PDT Earth's protective ozone layer is well on track to recovery in the next few decades thanks to concerted international action against ozone depleting substances, according to a new assessment by 300 scientists.

Major earthquake may occur off coast of Istanbul, seismic shifts suggest Posted: 10 Sep 2014 12:25 PM PDT When a segment of a major fault line goes quiet, it can mean one of two things: The "seismic gap" may simply be inactive -- the result of two tectonic plates placidly gliding past each other -- or the segment may be a source of potential earthquakes, quietly building tension over decades until an inevitable seismic release. After tracking seismic shifts, researchers say a major quake may occur off the coast of Istanbul.

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