ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Research reveals carbon footprint caused by China's irrigation system
• Fatty diets may be associated with reduced semen quality
• Losing belly fat, whether from a low-carb or a low-fat diet, helps improve blood vessel function
• Rats match humans in decision-making that involves combining different sensory cues
• Dietary patterns exist among US adults based on demographics
• Treating intestinal E. coli infection with antibiotic may reduce duration of bacterial carriage
• Potential Alzheimer's disease drug slows damage and symptoms in animal model
• Barrier to faster graphene devices identified and suppressed
• Scientists produce eye structures from human blood-derived stem cells
• Reduced baby risk from another Cesarean
• Flying through a geomagnetic storm
• Cassini spies wave rattling jet stream on Jupiter
• Simple, low-cost yoga program can enhance coping and quality of life for the caregivers
• Children at risk for schizophrenia show disordered brain networks
• Multiple sclerosis study documents negative effect of warmer weather on cognition
• Gene known to protect against cancer can also promote tumor growth
• Input of iron linked to biological productivity in ancient Pacific Ocean
• More trans fat consumption linked to greater aggression, researchers find
• Data support theory on location of lost Leonardo da Vinci painting
• Global warming skepticism climbs during tough economic times
• Get me out of this slump: Visual illusions improve sports performance
• Scientists tap the cognitive genius of tots to make computers smarter
• Microbubbles and ultrasound help penetrate blood-brain barrier
• Potential drug for speeding up cellular recycling
• Hydrogen power in real life: Clean and energy efficient
• Fertilization by invasive species threatens nutrient-poor ecosystems
• Body clocks may hold key for treatment of bipolar disorder
• Santorini: The ground is moving again in paradise
• Laser lightning rod: Guiding bursts of electricity with a flash of light
• Diamond-based materials brighten the future of electronics
• Artificially structured metamaterials may boost wireless power transfer
• Increased honey bee diversity means fewer pathogens, more helpful bacteria
• New theory on formation of oldest continents
• Scientists find insulin, nutrition prevent blood stem cell differentiation in fruit flies

Research reveals carbon footprint caused by China's irrigation system Posted: 13 Mar 2012 08:04 PM PDT China's groundwater irrigation system is responsible for polluting the atmosphere with more than 30 million tonnes of CO2 per year – according to research from the University of East Anglia.

Fatty diets may be associated with reduced semen quality Posted: 13 Mar 2012 08:03 PM PDT Men's diets, in particular the amount and type of different fats they eat, could be associated with their semen quality according to the results of a study. The study of 99 men in the USA found an association between a high total fat intake and lower total sperm count and concentration.

Losing belly fat, whether from a low-carb or a low-fat diet, helps improve blood vessel function Posted: 13 Mar 2012 08:03 PM PDT Overweight people who shed pounds, especially belly fat, can improve the function of their blood vessels no matter whether they are on a low-carb or a low-fat diet, according to a new study.

Rats match humans in decision-making that involves combining different sensory cues Posted: 13 Mar 2012 04:00 PM PDT The next time you set a trap for that rat running around in your basement, here's something to consider: you are going up against an opponent whose ability to assess the situation and make decisions is statistically just as good as yours. A new study has found that just like humans, rodents also combine multisensory information and exploit it in a "statistically optimal" way -- or the most efficient and unbiased way possible.

Dietary patterns exist among US adults based on demographics Posted: 13 Mar 2012 04:00 PM PDT Scientists say they have identified five eating patterns for US adults that are strongly influenced by age, race, region, gender, income and education.

Treating intestinal E. coli infection with antibiotic may reduce duration of bacterial carriage Posted: 13 Mar 2012 03:59 PM PDT In the E. coli outbreak in Germany in May 2011, treatment with azithromycin was associated with a lower frequency of long-term carriage of the bacteria and shorter duration of shedding of the bacteria in stool specimens, according to a new study.

Potential Alzheimer's disease drug slows damage and symptoms in animal model Posted: 13 Mar 2012 03:58 PM PDT A compound that previously progressed to Phase II clinical trials for cancer treatment slows neurological damage and improves brain function in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. The compound epothilone D is effective in preventing further neurological damage and improving cognitive performance in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The results establish how the drug might be used in early-stage AD patients.

Barrier to faster graphene devices identified and suppressed Posted: 13 Mar 2012 03:52 PM PDT Physicists report that they have nailed down the source of the interference inhibiting the rapid flow of electrons through graphene-based devices and found a way to suppress it.

Scientists produce eye structures from human blood-derived stem cells Posted: 13 Mar 2012 03:52 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have made early retina structures containing proliferating neuroretinal progenitor cells using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from human blood.

Reduced baby risk from another Cesarean Posted: 13 Mar 2012 03:52 PM PDT A major study has found that women who have had one prior cesarean can lower the risk of death and serious complications for their next baby -- and themselves -- by electing to have another cesarean.

Flying through a geomagnetic storm Posted: 13 Mar 2012 01:39 PM PDT Glowing green and red, shimmering hypnotically across the night sky, the aurora borealis is a wonder to behold. Longtime sky watchers say it is the greatest show on Earth. It might be the greatest show in Earth orbit, too. High above our planet, astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been enjoying an up-close view of auroras outside their windows as the ISS flys through geomagnetic storms.

Cassini spies wave rattling jet stream on Jupiter Posted: 13 Mar 2012 12:54 PM PDT New movies of Jupiter are the first to catch an invisible wave shaking up one of the giant planet's jet streams, an interaction that also takes place in Earth's atmosphere and influences the weather. The movies, made from images taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft when it flew by Jupiter in 2000, are part of an in-depth study conducted by a team of scientists and amateur astronomers.

Simple, low-cost yoga program can enhance coping and quality of life for the caregivers Posted: 13 Mar 2012 11:50 AM PDT For dementia caregivers, researchers have found that engaging in a brief, 12-minute yogic practice that included an ancient chanting meditation, can lead to improved cognitive functioning, and lower levels of depression for caregivers.

Children at risk for schizophrenia show disordered brain networks Posted: 13 Mar 2012 11:50 AM PDT Neuroscientists have discovered stark developmental differences in brain network function in children of parents with schizophrenia when compared to those with no family history of mental illness.

Multiple sclerosis study documents negative effect of warmer weather on cognition Posted: 13 Mar 2012 11:50 AM PDT Scientists have shown that outdoor temperature significantly impacts cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis (MS). In cross-sectional and longitudinal samples, patients performed worse on processing speed and memory tasks during warmer outdoor temperatures. Previous research documented increased disease activity during warmer months; this study is the first to show that cognition also fluctuates. This is the first study to support the subjective impression of patients with MS that warm weather negatively affects their cognition.

Gene known to protect against cancer can also promote tumor growth Posted: 13 Mar 2012 11:07 AM PDT Can a gene simultaneously protect against cancer and favor its growth? Researchers have discovered a gene with this double-edged property and suspect there may be many more that share it.

Input of iron linked to biological productivity in ancient Pacific Ocean Posted: 13 Mar 2012 11:04 AM PDT Scientists have found compelling evidence from marine sediment that supports the theory that iron in the Earth's oceans has a direct impact on biological productivity, potentially affecting the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and, in turn, atmospheric temperature.

More trans fat consumption linked to greater aggression, researchers find Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:25 AM PDT Researchers have shown -- by each of a range of measures, in men and women of all ages, in Caucasians and minorities -- that consumption of dietary trans fatty acids is associated with irritability and aggression.

Data support theory on location of lost Leonardo da Vinci painting Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:24 AM PDT Evidence uncovered during research conducted in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio late last year appears to support the theory that a lost Leonardo da Vinci painting existed on the east wall of the Hall of the 500, behind Giorgio Vasari's mural "The Battle of Marciano."

Global warming skepticism climbs during tough economic times Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:24 AM PDT The American public's growing skepticism in recent years about the existence of human-made global warming is rooted in apprehension about the troubled economy, a new study suggests.

Get me out of this slump: Visual illusions improve sports performance Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:17 AM PDT With the NCAA men's college basketball tournament set to begin, college basketball fans around the United States are in the throes of March Madness. Anyone who has seen a game knows that the fans are like extra players on the court, and this is especially true during critical free throws. Fans of the opposing team will wave anything they can, from giant inflatable noodles to big heads, to make it difficult for players to focus on the basket.

Scientists tap the cognitive genius of tots to make computers smarter Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:17 AM PDT People often wonder if computers make children smarter. Scientists are now asking the reverse question: Can children make computers smarter? It appears so.

Microbubbles and ultrasound help penetrate blood-brain barrier Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:17 AM PDT One of the trickiest parts of treating brain conditions is the blood-brain barrier, a blockade of cells that prevent both harmful toxins and helpful pharmaceuticals from getting to the body's control center. But, a new technique uses an MRI machine to guide the use of microbubbles and focused ultrasound to help drugs enter the brain, which may open new treatment avenues for devastating conditions like Alzheimer's and brain cancers.

Potential drug for speeding up cellular recycling Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:17 AM PDT Cell biologists have identified a potential drug that speeds up trash removal from the cell's recycling center, the lysosome.

Hydrogen power in real life: Clean and energy efficient Posted: 13 Mar 2012 09:15 AM PDT Since 2009, a hydrogen powered street cleaning vehicle has been undergoing testing on the streets of Basel. The project is intended to take hydrogen drives out of the laboratory and onto the streets in order to gain experience on using them under practical conditions. The result of the pilot trial: hydrogen as a fuel for municipal utility vehicles saves energy, is environmentally friendly and is technically feasible. In order to make it cost-effective, however, the prices of fuel cells, pressurized storage tanks and electric drives must all drop significantly.

Fertilization by invasive species threatens nutrient-poor ecosystems Posted: 13 Mar 2012 07:39 AM PDT Biologists have developed a new method for quantifying the effect of non-native species on ecosystem functioning.

Body clocks may hold key for treatment of bipolar disorder Posted: 13 Mar 2012 07:39 AM PDT Scientists have gained insight into why lithium salts are effective at treating bipolar disorder in what could lead to more targeted therapies with fewer side-effects.

Santorini: The ground is moving again in paradise Posted: 13 Mar 2012 07:38 AM PDT The Santorini caldera, which sits underneath a famous tourist destination, is awake again and rapidly deforming at levels never seen before.

Laser lightning rod: Guiding bursts of electricity with a flash of light Posted: 13 Mar 2012 06:20 AM PDT Lightning is a fascinating but dangerous atmospheric phenomenon. New research reveals that brief bursts of intense laser light can redirect these high-power electrical discharges.

Diamond-based materials brighten the future of electronics Posted: 13 Mar 2012 06:20 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to combine ultrananocrystalline diamond with graphene and gallium nitride, greatly improving the thermal properties of the material and helping to overcome theoretical limitations on semiconducting circuits.

Artificially structured metamaterials may boost wireless power transfer Posted: 12 Mar 2012 04:27 PM PDT More than one hundred years after the pioneering inventor Nikola Tesla first became fascinated with wireless energy transfer, the spread of mobile electronic devices has sparked renewed interest in the ability to power up without plugging in. Now researchers have proposed a way to enhance the efficiency of wireless power transfer systems by incorporating a lens made from a new class of artificial materials.

Increased honey bee diversity means fewer pathogens, more helpful bacteria Posted: 12 Mar 2012 04:27 PM PDT A novel study of honey bee genetic diversity has for the first time found that greater diversity in worker bees leads to colonies with fewer pathogens and more abundant helpful bacteria like probiotic species.

New theory on formation of oldest continents Posted: 12 Mar 2012 11:03 AM PDT Geologists have demonstrated new scientific results to support a new theory on the earliest phase of continental formation.

Scientists find insulin, nutrition prevent blood stem cell differentiation in fruit flies Posted: 12 Mar 2012 07:21 AM PDT Stem cell researchers have shown that insulin and nutrition keep blood stem cells from differentiating into mature blood cells in Drosophila, the common fruit fly.

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