ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Brain scans can predict weight gain and sexual activity, research shows
• Long-term exposure to air pollution increases risk of hospitalization for lung, heart disease
• Scientists discover 'switch' in plants to create flowers
• Egg-laying beginning of the end for dinosaurs
• It doesn’t mean you’re crazy –- talking to yourself has cognitive benefits, study finds
• Violence in men caused by unequal wealth and competition, study suggests
• Positive feelings may help protect cardiovascular health
• Lead dust is linked to violence, study suggests
• Scientists tailor cell surface targeting system to hit organelle ZIP codes
• New process improves catalytic rate of enzymes by 3,000 percent
• The BP oil spill, two years later: Natural recovery far greater than expected
• Nanocrystal-coated fibers might reduce wasted energy
• Parkinson's protein causes disease spread in animal model
• A toxic menu: Marine worm feeds on carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide with the help of symbiotic bacteria
• Study of half siblings provides genetic clues to autism
• New genetically engineered mice aid understanding of incurable neuromuscular disease
• Sunlight plus lime juice makes drinking water safer
• Knee injuries in women linked to motion, nervous system differences
• Nanotube electrodes improve solar cells
• Some stars capture rogue planets
• Understanding of hearing in baleen whales amplified
• Cognitive biometrics: A very personal login
• Brain cancer vaccine proves effective, study suggests
• Feelings of immaturity accompany alcohol misuse into adulthood
• Plastic garbage in oceans: Understanding marine pollution from microplastic particles
• Study hints at why gums suffer with age
• Silicone breast implant failures significantly higher than previously thought
• Panoramic view of a turbulent star-making region
• Helicopter transport improves trauma patient survival compared to ground transport
• Excessive weight gain during pregnancy a predictor for above-average birth weight
• Babies flick 'anti-risk switch' in women but not men
• Asteroid craters on Earth give clues in search for life on Mars
• Depression may lead mothers to wake babies
• Hot new manufacturing tool: A temperature-controlled microbe
• Liquorice root found to contain anti-diabetic substance
• Magnetic fields can send particles to infinity
• Lack of sleep is linked to obesity, new evidence shows
• Orangutans smarter than previously thought: Orangutan nest building highly sophisticated
• Preschoolers' reading skills benefit from one modest change by teachers
• 70-year-old chemical mystery solved: How tropolone are synthesized in fungi
• Economic damage to US economy from offshoring jobs may be exaggerated

Brain scans can predict weight gain and sexual activity, research shows Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:19 PM PDT At a time when obesity has become epidemic in American society, scientists have found that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans may be able to predict weight gain. In a new study, the researchers demonstrated a connection between fMRI brain responses to appetite-driven cues and future behavior.

Long-term exposure to air pollution increases risk of hospitalization for lung, heart disease Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:18 PM PDT Older adults may be at increased risk of being hospitalized for lung and heart disease, stroke, and diabetes following long-term exposure to fine-particle air pollution, according to a new study. It is the first study to look at the link between long-term effects of exposure to fine particles in the air and rates of hospital admissions.

Scientists discover 'switch' in plants to create flowers Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:18 PM PDT Flowering is the most crucial act that plants undergo, as the fruits of such labor include crops on which the world depends, and seeds from which the next generation grows. While classic experiments have demonstrated that plants are able to adjust the timing of their flowering in response to environmental conditions, such as light and temperature, until now very little was known about what exactly triggers plants to make flowers instead of leaves. Now, a team of researchers from Singapore has discovered how this happens.

Egg-laying beginning of the end for dinosaurs Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:17 PM PDT Their reproductive strategy spelled the beginning of the end: The fact that dinosaurs laid eggs put them at a considerable disadvantage compared to viviparous mammals. Researchers believe they now know why and how this ultimately led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

It doesn’t mean you’re crazy –- talking to yourself has cognitive benefits, study finds Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:16 PM PDT Most people talk to themselves at least every few days, and many report talking to themselves on an hourly basis. What purpose is served by this seemingly irrational behavior? Previous research has suggested that such self-directed speech in children can help guide their behavior. For example, children often talk themselves step-by-step through tying their shoelaces, as if reminding themselves to focus on the job in hand. Can talking to oneself also help adults?

Violence in men caused by unequal wealth and competition, study suggests Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:16 PM PDT Violence in men can be explained by traditional theories of sexual selection. A new review points to a range of evidence that suggests that high rates of physical aggression and assaults in men are rooted in inter-male competition.

Positive feelings may help protect cardiovascular health Posted: 17 Apr 2012 01:30 PM PDT Over the last few decades numerous studies have shown negative states, such as depression, anger, anxiety, and hostility, to be detrimental to cardiovascular health. Less is known about how positive psychological characteristics are related to heart health. In the first and largest systematic review on this topic to date, researchers found that positive psychological well-being appears to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events.

Lead dust is linked to violence, study suggests Posted: 17 Apr 2012 01:27 PM PDT Childhood exposure to lead dust has been linked to lasting physical and behavioral effects, and now lead dust from vehicles using leaded gasoline has been linked to instances of aggravated assault two decades after exposure, according to researchers.

Scientists tailor cell surface targeting system to hit organelle ZIP codes Posted: 17 Apr 2012 12:27 PM PDT Scientists who developed a technology for identifying and targeting unique protein receptor ZIP codes on the cellular surface have found a way to penetrate the outer membrane and deliver engineered particles -- called iPhage -- to organelles inside the cell.

New process improves catalytic rate of enzymes by 3,000 percent Posted: 17 Apr 2012 12:27 PM PDT Light of specific wavelengths can be used to boost an enzyme's function by as much as 30 fold, potentially establishing a path to less expensive biofuels, detergents and a host of other products.

The BP oil spill, two years later: Natural recovery far greater than expected Posted: 17 Apr 2012 12:26 PM PDT This Friday, April 20, will mark two years since the explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused vast quantities of crude oil to flow into the Gulf of Mexico. But despite the size of the spill, "the natural recovery is far greater than what anybody hoped when it happened," said a professor of biology. "The fears of most people – that there would be a catastrophic collapse of the ecosystem in the Gulf – never materialized."

Nanocrystal-coated fibers might reduce wasted energy Posted: 17 Apr 2012 11:38 AM PDT Researchers are developing a technique that uses nanotechnology to harvest energy from hot pipes or engine components to potentially recover energy wasted in factories, power plants and cars.

Parkinson's protein causes disease spread in animal model Posted: 17 Apr 2012 11:38 AM PDT Researchers have shown that brain tissue from a Parkinson's disease mouse model, as well as synthetically produced disease protein fibrils, injected into young, symptom-free PD mice led to spreading of PD pathology.

A toxic menu: Marine worm feeds on carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide with the help of symbiotic bacteria Posted: 17 Apr 2012 11:38 AM PDT Scientists have revealed that a small marine worm, faced with a scarce food supply in the sandy sediments it lives in off the coast of Elba, must deal with a highly poisonous menu: this worm lives on carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide.

Study of half siblings provides genetic clues to autism Posted: 17 Apr 2012 11:38 AM PDT New research in half siblings adds to evidence that even though autism is far more common in males, mothers and fathers appear to be transmitting genetic risk equally.

New genetically engineered mice aid understanding of incurable neuromuscular disease Posted: 17 Apr 2012 11:38 AM PDT Scientists have created a genetically modified mouse that mimics key features of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, an inherited neuromuscular disease affecting approximately 150,000 people in the United States.

Sunlight plus lime juice makes drinking water safer Posted: 17 Apr 2012 09:56 AM PDT Adding lime juice to water that is treated with a solar disinfection method removed detectable levels of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli significantly faster than solar disinfection alone.

Knee injuries in women linked to motion, nervous system differences Posted: 17 Apr 2012 09:56 AM PDT Women are more prone to knee injuries than men, and the findings of a new study suggest one cause may be that males and females differ in the way they transmit the nerve impulses that control muscle force. Men control nerve impulses similar to individuals trained for explosive muscle usage -- like those of a sprinter -- while the nerve impulses of women are more similar to those of an endurance-trained athlete, like a distance runner.

Nanotube electrodes improve solar cells Posted: 17 Apr 2012 09:56 AM PDT Forests of carbon nanotubes are an efficient alternative for platinum electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells, according to new research.

Some stars capture rogue planets Posted: 17 Apr 2012 08:36 AM PDT New research suggests that billions of stars in our galaxy have captured rogue planets that once roamed interstellar space. The nomad worlds, which were kicked out of the star systems in which they formed, occasionally find a new home with a different sun. This finding could explain the existence of some planets that orbit surprisingly far from their stars, and even the existence of a double-planet system.

Understanding of hearing in baleen whales amplified Posted: 17 Apr 2012 08:36 AM PDT For decades, scientists have known that dolphins and other toothed whales have specialized fats associated with their jaws, which efficiently convey sound waves from the ocean to their ears. But until now, the hearing systems of their toothless grazing cousins, baleen whales, remained a mystery, largely because specimens to study are hard to get. Now, a new study has shown that some baleen whales also have fats leading to their ears.

Cognitive biometrics: A very personal login Posted: 17 Apr 2012 08:35 AM PDT Retina and iris scans, fingerprint and palm logins rely on possession of unique anatomical characteristics that you cannot forget as you might a password. A new review examines alternative approaches to user authentication.

Brain cancer vaccine proves effective, study suggests Posted: 17 Apr 2012 08:34 AM PDT A new brain cancer vaccine tailored to individual patients by using material from their own tumors has proven effective in a multicenter phase 2 clinical trial at extending their lives by several months or longer. The patients suffered from recurrent glioblastoma multiforme —- which kills thousands of Americans every year.

Feelings of immaturity accompany alcohol misuse into adulthood Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:26 AM PDT Tipping back one too many cocktails during an individual's early 20s doesn't correlate to a personal sense of immaturity; however if this habit doesn't stop as they reach age 30, young adults can feel psychologically underdeveloped, according to a new study. Helping young adults acknowledge their mental impulse to "sober up" as they mature can improve substance abuse intervention programs.

Plastic garbage in oceans: Understanding marine pollution from microplastic particles Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:25 AM PDT Biologists have prepared guidelines for a more precise investigation into marine pollution from microplastic particles.

Study hints at why gums suffer with age Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:24 AM PDT A study reveals that gum deterioration, which often occurs with increasing age, is associated with a drop in the level of a protein called Del-1.

Silicone breast implant failures significantly higher than previously thought Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:24 AM PDT New research suggests that the failure rate of silicone breast implants manufactured by Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) could be as high as 33.8 percent.

Panoramic view of a turbulent star-making region Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:20 AM PDT Several million stars are vying for attention in a new image of a raucous stellar breeding ground in 30 Doradus, located in the heart of the Tarantula nebula.

Helicopter transport improves trauma patient survival compared to ground transport Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:20 AM PDT A new study concludes a helicopter flight to a top-level trauma center boosts the chance of survival over ground transport.

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy a predictor for above-average birth weight Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:19 AM PDT One out of every two women of reproductive age is overweight or obese. Overweight or obese women are more likely to give birth to above average weight babies, new research shows.

Babies flick 'anti-risk switch' in women but not men Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:19 AM PDT Unlike women, men don't curb certain risk-taking behaviors when a baby is present, a new psychology study suggests.

Asteroid craters on Earth give clues in search for life on Mars Posted: 17 Apr 2012 05:05 AM PDT Craters made by asteroid impacts may be the best place to look for signs of life on other planets, a study suggests.

Depression may lead mothers to wake babies Posted: 17 Apr 2012 05:05 AM PDT Depressed mothers are more likely to needlessly wake up their infants at night than mothers who are not depressed, according to Penn State researchers.

Hot new manufacturing tool: A temperature-controlled microbe Posted: 17 Apr 2012 05:05 AM PDT Scientists have found a way to control a heat-loving microbe with a temperature switch: it makes a product at low temperatures but not at high temperatures. The innovation could make it easier to use microorganisms as miniature factories for the production of needed materials like biofuels.

Liquorice root found to contain anti-diabetic substance Posted: 17 Apr 2012 05:04 AM PDT It provides the raw material for liquorice candy, calms the stomach and alleviates diseases of the airways: liquorice root. Chosen as the "Medicinal plant 2012," the root has been treasured in traditional healing since ancient times. Researchers have now discovered that liquorice root also contains substances with an anti-diabetic effect.

Magnetic fields can send particles to infinity Posted: 17 Apr 2012 05:03 AM PDT Researchers have mathematically shown that particles charged in a magnetic field can escape into infinity without ever stopping. One of the conditions is that the field is generated by current loops situated on the same plane. At the moment this is a theoretical mathematical study, but researchers have recently demonstrated that, in certain conditions, magnetic fields can send particles to infinity.

Lack of sleep is linked to obesity, new evidence shows Posted: 17 Apr 2012 05:03 AM PDT Can lack of sleep make you fat? A new paper which reviews the evidence from sleep restriction studies reveals that inadequate sleep is linked to obesity. The research explores how lack of sleep can impact appetite regulation, impair glucose metabolism and increase blood pressure.

Orangutans smarter than previously thought: Orangutan nest building highly sophisticated Posted: 17 Apr 2012 05:03 AM PDT Orangutans may be smarter than previously thought if a new study into the sophisticated way they build nests is any indication.

Preschoolers' reading skills benefit from one modest change by teachers Posted: 17 Apr 2012 05:01 AM PDT A small change in how teachers and parents read aloud to preschoolers may provide a big boost to their reading skills later on, a new study found.

70-year-old chemical mystery solved: How tropolone are synthesized in fungi Posted: 16 Apr 2012 12:44 PM PDT Chemists and biologists have finally cracked one of the longest standing chemical mysteries. They have demonstrated exactly how an unusual class of compounds known as tropolones are synthesized in fungi.

Economic damage to US economy from offshoring jobs may be exaggerated Posted: 16 Apr 2012 12:01 PM PDT Sending jobs overseas may not be as damaging to the U.S. economy as commonly believed, according to a new study.

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