ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Shiny new tool for imaging biomolecules
• Learning best when you rest: Sleeping after processing new info most effective
• Highly flexible despite hard-wiring: Even slight stimuli change the information flow in the brain
• New epilepsy gene located in dogs
• Assess global freshwater stress using new tool
• 'Bed-of-nails' breast implant deters cancer cells
• Brain insulin resistance contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease
• New theory on size of black holes: Gas-guzzling black holes eat two courses at a time
• A new test might facilitate diagnosis and drug development for Alzheimer's disease
• Who knew? Fruit flies get kidney stones too
• An extinct species of scops owl has been discovered in Madeira
• Dairy cows have individual temperaments
• Biomarkers for autism discovered
• Humans began walking upright to carry scarce resources, chimp study suggests
• Marine forensics expert seeks to vindicate Titanic survivors' account
• Diatom biosensor could shine light on future nanomaterials
• Ancient civilizations reveal ways to manage fisheries for sustainability
• Swarming and transporting
• Exercise is not enough for sedentary workers
• Archaeologists reconstruct diet of Nelson's navy with new chemical analysis of excavated bones
• Plasma flows may shed light on predicting sunspot cycles
• Simulation explains why HIV cure is elusive
• Pulp Nonfiction: Fungal analysis reveals clues for targeted biomass deconstruction
• Subtle differences can lead to major changes in parasites
• Gene expression abnormalities in autism identified
• How music helps prevent organ rejection
• Standoff sensing enters new realm with dual-laser technique
• Quantum copies do new tricks
• Northern Lights: First-ever measurement of auroral turbulence using a nanosatellite radar receiver

Shiny new tool for imaging biomolecules Posted: 23 Mar 2012 05:55 PM PDT Researchers have developed a technique for lacing artificial membranes with billions of gold nanoantennas that can boost optical signals from a protein tens of thousands of times without the protein ever being touched. This technique could provide a critical tool in the fight against a wide range of health problems including cancer.

Learning best when you rest: Sleeping after processing new info most effective Posted: 23 Mar 2012 05:55 PM PDT Nodding off in class may not be such a bad idea after all. New research shows that going to sleep shortly after learning new material is most beneficial for recall.

Highly flexible despite hard-wiring: Even slight stimuli change the information flow in the brain Posted: 23 Mar 2012 05:53 PM PDT When looking at an optical illusion that can appear as either one cup or two faces, which do you see first? What we believe we see in one of the most famous optical illusions changes in a split second; and so does the path that the information takes in the brain. Changes in the information processing can be triggered even by a slight stimulus, such as a scent or sound, at the right time.

New epilepsy gene located in dogs Posted: 23 Mar 2012 05:53 PM PDT A new epilepsy gene for idiopathic epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds has been found in the canine chromosome 37. This research opens new avenues for the understanding of the genetic background of the most common canine epilepsies. The research also has an impact on the understanding of common epilepsies in humans.

Assess global freshwater stress using new tool Posted: 23 Mar 2012 11:17 AM PDT A new method to make better use of vast amounts of data related to global geography, population and climate may help determine the relative importance of population increases vs. climate change.

'Bed-of-nails' breast implant deters cancer cells Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:49 AM PDT Researchers have created an implant that appears to deter breast cancer cell regrowth. Made from a common federally approved polymer, the implant is the first to be modified at the nanoscale in a way that causes a reduction in the blood-vessel architecture that breast cancer tumors depend upon, while also attracting healthy breast cells.

Brain insulin resistance contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:49 AM PDT Insulin resistance in the brain precedes and contributes to cognitive decline above and beyond other known causes of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.

New theory on size of black holes: Gas-guzzling black holes eat two courses at a time Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:48 AM PDT Astronomers have put forward a new theory about why black holes become so hugely massive -- claiming some of them have no 'table manners', and tip their 'food' directly into their mouths, eating more than one course simultaneously.

A new test might facilitate diagnosis and drug development for Alzheimer's disease Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:46 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new method for measurement of aggregated beta-amyloid – a protein complex believed to cause major nerve cell damage and dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. The new method might facilitate diagnosis and detection as well as development of drugs directed against aggregated beta-amyloid.

Who knew? Fruit flies get kidney stones too Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:45 AM PDT Research on kidney stones in fruit flies may hold the key to developing a treatment that could someday stop the formation of kidney stones in humans, scientists have found.

An extinct species of scops owl has been discovered in Madeira Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:45 AM PDT Scientists have described a new type of fossil scops owl, the first extinct bird on the archipelago of Madeira (Portugal). Otus mauli, which was also the first nocturnal bird of prey described in the area, lived on land and became extinct as a result of humans arriving on the island. Twenty years ago, the German researcher Harald Pieper discovered fossil remains of a small nocturnal bird of prey in Madeira, which, until now, had not been studied in depth. The international team of palaeontologists has shown that the remains belong to a previously unknown extinct species of scops owl, which they have called Otus mauli.

Dairy cows have individual temperaments Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:45 AM PDT From a young age, dairy cows react differently from each other to stimuli from their surroundings. An animal's temperament determines how it reacts in stressful situations, but may also influence its general health. In the future, temperament could be bred as a selective trait to improve the robustness and well-being of dairy cows.

Biomarkers for autism discovered Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:45 AM PDT There are no acknowledged biomarkers for autism today. An important step towards developing a rapid, inexpensive diagnostic method for autism has now been take. Through advanced mass spectrometry the researchers managed to capture promising biomarkers from a tiny blood sample.

Humans began walking upright to carry scarce resources, chimp study suggests Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:44 AM PDT Most of us walk and carry items in our hands every day. These are seemingly simple activities that the majority of us don't question. But scientists have discovered that human bipedalism, or walking upright, may have originated millions of years ago as an adaptation to carrying scarce, high-quality resources.

Marine forensics expert seeks to vindicate Titanic survivors' account Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:44 AM PDT On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking, marine forensics experts are re-interpreting the statements made by survivors at the 1912 official inquiries into the disaster.

Diatom biosensor could shine light on future nanomaterials Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:40 AM PDT A biosensor made of fluorescent proteins embedded in the shell of microscopic marine algae called diatoms could help detect chemicals in water samples. The same research could also lead to new, diatom-inspired nanomaterials that could solve problems in sensing, catalysis and environmental remediation.

Ancient civilizations reveal ways to manage fisheries for sustainability Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:40 AM PDT In the search for sustainability of the ocean's fisheries, solutions can be found in a surprising place: the ancient past. Marine scientists reconstructed fisheries yields over seven centuries of human habitation in Hawaii and the Florida Keys, the largest coral reef ecosystems in the United States, and evaluated the management strategies associated with periods of sustainability. The results surprised them.

Swarming and transporting Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:39 AM PDT On its own, an ant is not particularly clever. But in a community, the insects can solve complicated tasks. Researchers intend to put this "swarm intelligence" to use in the logistics field. Lots of autonomous transport shuttles would provide an alternative to traditional materials-handling technology.

Exercise is not enough for sedentary workers Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:38 AM PDT Good physical condition is a route to better health, and in order to improve it, exercising several days a week is recommended. Although it is possible to become healthier by exercising, long daily sedentary periods cause a health risk despite physical activity.

Archaeologists reconstruct diet of Nelson's navy with new chemical analysis of excavated bones Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:38 AM PDT Salt beef, sea biscuits and the occasional weevil; the food endured by sailors during the Napoleonic wars is seldom imagined to be appealing. Now a new chemical analysis technique has allowed archaeologists to find out just how dour the diet of Georgian sailors really was. The team's findings also reveal how little had changed for sailors in the 200 years between the Elizabethan and Georgian eras.

Plasma flows may shed light on predicting sunspot cycles Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:36 AM PDT A geophysics researcher wants to look inside the sun. More accurately, she wants to simulate the sun to study plasma flows associated with sunspot cycles. With the help of simulations scientists recently warned about a series of solar storms in early March, concerned that it could affect global positioning systems, power grids, satellites and airplane travel.

Simulation explains why HIV cure is elusive Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:36 AM PDT New research shows why the development of a cure and new treatments for HIV have been so difficult for scientists to crack.

Pulp Nonfiction: Fungal analysis reveals clues for targeted biomass deconstruction Posted: 22 Mar 2012 09:14 PM PDT Without fungi and microbes to break down dead trees and leaf litter in nature, the forest floor might look like a scene from TV's "Hoarders." A comparative genomic analysis of two white rot fungi was just published. Both fungi are of interest to bioenergy researchers because they possess enzymes that can break down plant biomass and could therefore be useful for accelerating biofuels production. The study revealed substantial differences among the sets of genes involved in lignocellulose degradation.

Subtle differences can lead to major changes in parasites Posted: 22 Mar 2012 09:14 PM PDT Researchers have found the subtle genetic differences that make one parasite far more virulent than its close relative. They looked at the evolution of these parasites and found that although their genome architecture still remains similar, the two split from their common ancestor 28 million years ago, approximately four times longer than the human-gorilla split.

Gene expression abnormalities in autism identified Posted: 22 Mar 2012 09:13 PM PDT A new study has for the first time identified in young autism patients genetic mechanisms involved in abnormal early brain development and overgrowth that occurs in the disorder. The findings suggest novel genetic and molecular targets that could lead to discoveries of new prevention strategies and treatment for the disorder.

How music helps prevent organ rejection Posted: 22 Mar 2012 09:12 PM PDT Music has a fundamental affect on humans. It can reduce stress, enhance relaxation, provide a distraction from pain, and improve the results of clinical therapy. New research demonstrates that music can reduce rejection of heart transplants in mice by influencing the immune system.

Standoff sensing enters new realm with dual-laser technique Posted: 22 Mar 2012 02:36 PM PDT Identifying chemicals from a distance could take a step forward with the introduction of a new two-laser system.

Quantum copies do new tricks Posted: 22 Mar 2012 12:15 PM PDT New research shows that it is possible to perfectly recover the original from the imperfect quantum copies. Scientists also propose a way that his could be done in practice.

Northern Lights: First-ever measurement of auroral turbulence using a nanosatellite radar receiver Posted: 22 Mar 2012 07:03 AM PDT Researchers have taken the first-ever measurement of naturally occurring auroral turbulence recorded using a nanosatellite radar receiver.

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