ScienceDaily: Top News

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• 'No-sleep energy bugs' drain smartphone batteries
• Pathway for origin of most common form of brain and spinal cord tumor identified
• Tracking MRSA in real time: Study highlights benefits of rapid whole-genome sequencing
• Chinese meditation prompts double positive punch in brain white matter
• Key enzyme plays roles as both friend and foe to cancer
• African cichlid's noisy courtship ritual
• Proposed testosterone testing of some female Olympians challenged
• New drug-screening method yields long-sought anti-HIV compounds: Drug candidates act on target unlikely to mutate
• 'Magical state' of embryonic stem cells may help overcome hurdles to therapeutics
• Increased use of hand held devices may call for new photo guidelines
• Got mass? Scientists observe electrons become both heavy and speedy
• Novel mechanism involved in key immune response
• Self-assembling nanocubes for next generation antennas and lenses
• Anxious mice make lousy dads
• 'Extremely little' telescope discovers pair of odd planets
• 'Hitchhiking' viral therapy deals a double blow to cancer
• Confused about prostate cancer screening? Mayo clinic expert helps explain the latest
• Clarity begins at exome: Sequencing protein-making part of genome can change diagnosis and patient care
• Small planets don't need 'heavy metal' stars to form
• Lack of single protein results in persistent viral infection
• Timing, duration of biochemical bugle call critical for fighting viruses
• Bacterium signals plant to open up and let friends in: Bug's chemical feint makes plant respond the opposite of how it should
• Scientists see new hope for restoring vision with stem cell help
• Scientists synthesize first genetically evolved semiconductor material
• Success with new immune approach to fighting some cancers
• Alien Earths could form earlier than expected
• Ancient effect harnessed to produce electricity from waste heat
• 1960s-era anti-cancer drug points to treatments for Lou Gehrig's disease
• Good news on using recycled sewage treatment plant water for irrigating crops
• NASA's NuSTAR mission lifts off
• Northeast Passage soon free from ice again?
• New energy source for future medical implants: Sugar
• Bonobo genome completed: The final great ape to be sequenced
• Mapping the healthy human microbiome
• Where humans split from sharks: Common ancestor comes into focus
• Sending sexually explicit photos by cell phone is common among teens
• Green fuel from carbon dioxide
• Nanoparticles found in moon glass bubbles explain weird lunar soil behavior
• Robotic assistants may adapt to humans in the factory
• Videogamers no better at talking while driving
• Inner ear may hold key to ancient primate behavior
• Big uncertainties in the global water budget
• No evidence for 'knots' in space: Theories of primordial universe predict existence of knots in space
• Global climate change: Underestimated impact of sea-level rise on habitat loss?
• New species of crab has been found hiding in the seabed of Galicia (Spain)
• If your dog is aggressive, maybe it is in pain
• Little mighty creature of the ocean inspires strong new material for medical implants and armour
• Nonlinear optics: Now in the terahertz range
• Divide the Antarctic to protect native species, propose experts
• Toddler spatial knowledge boosts understanding of numbers
• Juveniles build up physical -- but not mental -- tolerance for alcohol
• Unhealthy lifestyles have little impact on sperm quality
• Ancient story of Dartmoor tors has an ice-cold twist
• Diabetes: Tighter control of blood sugar prevents nerve condition, but at what risk?
• Role of omega-3 in preventing cognitive decline in older people questioned
• New weekly fertility injections work as well as daily, study suggests
• Dissonant music brings out the animal in listeners
• Real-life exposure to violence disrupts a child's sleep habits
• Sleep times influenced by race, ethnicity and country of origin
• Obesity, depression found to be root causes of daytime sleepiness

'No-sleep energy bugs' drain smartphone batteries Posted: 13 Jun 2012 03:40 PM PDT Researchers have proposed a method to automatically detect a new class of software glitches in smartphones called "no-sleep energy bugs," which can entirely drain batteries while the phones are not in use.

Pathway for origin of most common form of brain and spinal cord tumor identified Posted: 13 Jun 2012 03:40 PM PDT Researchers say they have discovered one of the most important cellular mechanisms driving the growth and progression of meningioma, the most common form of brain and spinal cord tumor. A report on the discovery could lead the way to the discovery of better drugs to attack these crippling tumors, the scientists say.

Tracking MRSA in real time: Study highlights benefits of rapid whole-genome sequencing Posted: 13 Jun 2012 03:40 PM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that next-generation genome sequencing can provide clinically relevant data on bacterial transmission within a timescale that can influence infection control and patient management. The team recreated an MRSA outbreak that occurred in a neonatal ward and analyzed it using genome sequencing as if in real time. Next-generation genome sequencing provides precise information in a fast turnaround time, and could make a clear distinction between MRSA isolates in a way that was not previously possible.

Chinese meditation prompts double positive punch in brain white matter Posted: 13 Jun 2012 03:38 PM PDT Scientists studying the Chinese mindfulness meditation known as integrative body-mind training have confirmed and expanded on changes in structural efficiency of white matter in the brain that can be related to positive behavioral changes in subjects practicing the technique for a month and a minimum of 11 hours total.

Key enzyme plays roles as both friend and foe to cancer Posted: 13 Jun 2012 03:38 PM PDT A molecule thought to limit cell proliferation also helps cancer cells survive during initial tumor formation and when the wayward cells spread to other organs in the body, researchers have found.

African cichlid's noisy courtship ritual Posted: 13 Jun 2012 12:33 PM PDT Researchers have found that male African cichlids vocalize during courtship, and that females' sensitivity to these sounds increases when they are ready to mate.

Proposed testosterone testing of some female Olympians challenged Posted: 13 Jun 2012 12:33 PM PDT Proposed Olympic policies for testing the testosterone levels of select female athletes could discriminate against women who may not meet traditional notions of femininity and distort the scientific evidence on the relationship between testosterone, sex and athletic performance, says a bioethicist.

New drug-screening method yields long-sought anti-HIV compounds: Drug candidates act on target unlikely to mutate Posted: 13 Jun 2012 12:33 PM PDT Scientists have used a powerful new chemical-screening method to find compounds that inhibit the activity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS.

'Magical state' of embryonic stem cells may help overcome hurdles to therapeutics Posted: 13 Jun 2012 12:32 PM PDT With their potential to treat a wide range of diseases and uncover fundamental processes that lead to those diseases, embryonic stem (ES) cells hold great promise for biomedical science. A number of hurdles, both scientific and non-scientific, however, have precluded scientists from reaching the holy grail of using these special cells to treat heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and other diseases. New research shows that ES cells cycle in and out of a "magical state" in the early stages of embryo development.

Increased use of hand held devices may call for new photo guidelines Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:54 AM PDT Viewing Facebook and Flickr photos on a smart phone are becoming common practice. But according to a recently published study, pictures on the small screen often appear distorted. Vision scientists found that perceptual distortions occur because picture takers do not take their viewing distance into account.

Got mass? Scientists observe electrons become both heavy and speedy Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:54 AM PDT Scientists have shown how electrons moving in certain solids can behave as though they are a thousand times more massive than free electrons, yet at the same time act as speedy superconductors.

Novel mechanism involved in key immune response Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:54 AM PDT Scientists have identified a novel way that a common virus, called adenovirus, causes disease. In doing so, they have discovered important information on one of the body's key immune responses. Their findings may have implications for infectious diseases and cancer.

Self-assembling nanocubes for next generation antennas and lenses Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:54 AM PDT Researchers have developed a technique that enables metallic nanocrystals to self-assemble into larger, complex materials for next-generation antennas and lenses. The metal nanocrystals are cube-shaped and, like bricks or Tetris blocks, spontaneously organize themselves into larger-scale structures with precise orientations relative to one another.

Anxious mice make lousy dads Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:53 AM PDT Normally, male California mice are surprisingly doting fathers, but new research suggests that high anxiety can turn these good dads bad.

'Extremely little' telescope discovers pair of odd planets Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:53 AM PDT Though the KELT North telescope in southern Arizona carries a lens no more powerful than a high-end digital camera, it's just revealed the existence of two very unusual faraway planets.

'Hitchhiking' viral therapy deals a double blow to cancer Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:53 AM PDT Scientists have shown how a promising viral therapy that delivers a double blow to cancer can sneak up on tumours undetected by hitching a ride on blood cells.

Confused about prostate cancer screening? Mayo clinic expert helps explain the latest Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:52 AM PDT Urologists recommend a personalized approach to determining whether or not a patient should consider PSA screening for prostate cancer.

Clarity begins at exome: Sequencing protein-making part of genome can change diagnosis and patient care Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:52 AM PDT The new technology of exome sequencing is not only a promising method for identifying disease-causing genes, but may also improve diagnoses and guide individual patient care.

Small planets don't need 'heavy metal' stars to form Posted: 13 Jun 2012 11:16 AM PDT The formation of small worlds like Earth previously was thought to occur mostly around stars rich in heavy elements such as iron and silicon. However, new ground-based observations, combined with data collected by NASA's Kepler space telescope, show small planets form around stars with a wide range of heavy element content and suggest they may be widespread in our galaxy.

Lack of single protein results in persistent viral infection Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT Scientists have shown a single protein can make the difference between an infection clearing out of the body or persisting for life.

Timing, duration of biochemical bugle call critical for fighting viruses Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT Researchers have identified the primary player of the biochemical bugle call that musters the body's defenders against viral infection.

Bacterium signals plant to open up and let friends in: Bug's chemical feint makes plant respond the opposite of how it should Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT Researchers have identified the set of tools an infectious microbe uses to persuade a plant to open the windows and let the bug and all of its friends inside.

Scientists see new hope for restoring vision with stem cell help Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT Human-derived stem cells can spontaneously form the tissue that develops into the part of the eye that allows us to see, according to a new study. Transplantation of this 3-D tissue in the future could help patients with visual impairments see clearly.

Scientists synthesize first genetically evolved semiconductor material Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:33 AM PDT In the not-too-distant future, scientists may be able to use DNA to grow their own specialized materials, thanks to the concept of directed evolution. Scientists have, for the first time, used genetic engineering and molecular evolution to develop the enzymatic synthesis of a semiconductor.

Success with new immune approach to fighting some cancers Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:32 AM PDT Scientists have found that 20 to 25 percent of "heavily pre-treated" patients with a variety of cancers who enrolled in a clinical trial had "objective and durable" responses to a treatment with BMS-936558, an antibody that specifically blocks programmed cell death 1 (PD-1). PD-1 is a key immune "checkpoint" receptor expressed by activated immune cells and is involved in the suppression of immunity.

Alien Earths could form earlier than expected Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:32 AM PDT Previous studies have shown that Jupiter-sized gas giants tend to form around stars containing more heavy elements than the sun. However, new research found that planets smaller than Neptune are located around a wide variety of stars, including those with fewer heavy elements than the sun. As a result, rocky worlds like Earth could have formed earlier than expected in the universe's history.

Ancient effect harnessed to produce electricity from waste heat Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:32 AM PDT A phenomenon first observed by an ancient Greek philosopher 2,300 years ago has become the basis for a new device designed to harvest the enormous amounts of energy wasted as heat each year to produce electricity. It is the first-of-its-kind "pyroelectric nanogenerator."

1960s-era anti-cancer drug points to treatments for Lou Gehrig's disease Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:32 AM PDT A long-used anti-cancer drug could be a starting point to develop new treatments for the incurable nerve disease known as Lou Gehrig's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), scientists are reporting. Their research shows how the drug prevents clumping of an enzyme linked to ALS.

Good news on using recycled sewage treatment plant water for irrigating crops Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:32 AM PDT A new study eases concerns that irrigating crops with water released from sewage treatment plants -- an increasingly common practice in arid areas of the world -- fosters emergence of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that cause thousands of serious infections each year.

NASA's NuSTAR mission lifts off Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:32 AM PDT NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) launched into the morning skies over the central Pacific Ocean at 9 a.m. PDT (noon EDT) Wednesday, beginning its mission to unveil secrets of buried black holes and other exotic objects.

Northeast Passage soon free from ice again? Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:31 AM PDT The Northeast Passage, the sea route along the North coast of Russia, is expected to be free of ice early again this summer. The forecast was made by sea ice physicists based on a series of measurement flights over the Laptev Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean.

New energy source for future medical implants: Sugar Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:31 AM PDT An implantable fuel cell could power neural prosthetics that help patients regain control of limbs. Engineers have developed a fuel cell that runs on the same sugar that powers human cells: glucose. This glucose fuel cell could be used to drive highly efficient brain implants of the future, which could help paralyzed patients move their arms and legs again.

Bonobo genome completed: The final great ape to be sequenced Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:31 AM PDT Scientists have completed the genome of the bonobo -- the final great ape to be sequenced. Bonobos, which together with chimpanzees are the closest living relatives of humans, are known for their peaceful, playful and sexual behavior that contrasts with the more aggressive behavior of chimpanzees.

Mapping the healthy human microbiome Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:31 AM PDT Human beings are ecosystems on two legs, each of us carrying enough microbes to outnumber our human cells by 10 to 1 and our genes by even more. The Human Microbiome Project Consortium has for the first time answered two fundamental questions about the microbiota that healthy humans carry: Who's there and what are they doing?

Where humans split from sharks: Common ancestor comes into focus Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:30 AM PDT The common ancestor of all jawed vertebrates on Earth resembled a shark, according to a new analysis of the braincase of a 290-million-year-old fossil fish that has long puzzled paleontologists. Research on Acanthodes bronni, a Paleozoic fish, sheds light on the evolution of the earliest jawed vertebrates and offers a glimpse of the last common ancestor before the split between the earliest sharks and the first bony fishes -- the lineage that would eventually include human beings.

Sending sexually explicit photos by cell phone is common among teens Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:29 AM PDT A significant number of teenagers are sending and receiving sexually explicit cell phone photos, often with little, if any, awareness of the possible psychological, interpersonal, and sometimes legal consequences of doing so. Even many of those who believe there could be serious legal consequences are undeterred and still choose to engage in 'sexting'.

Green fuel from carbon dioxide Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:29 AM PDT Scientists agree that carbon dioxide has an effect on global warming as a greenhouse gas, but we still pump tons and tons of it into the atmosphere every day. Scientists have now developed a new system for producing methanol that uses CO2 and hydrogen. Methanol can, for example, be used as an environmentally friendly alternative for gasoline. The goal of the scientists is to harness the power of CO2 on a large scale and integrate it into the utilization cycle as a sustainable form of energy production.

Nanoparticles found in moon glass bubbles explain weird lunar soil behavior Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:24 AM PDT Using synchrotron-based nano tomography, scientists have found a highly porous network of alien-looking glassy particles inside unbroken bubbles of glass in a sample of lunar soil.

Robotic assistants may adapt to humans in the factory Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:24 AM PDT In today's manufacturing plants, the division of labor between humans and robots is quite clear, but according experts, the factory floor of the future may host humans and robots working side by side, each helping the other in common tasks.

Videogamers no better at talking while driving Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:24 AM PDT No matter how much time you've spent training your brain to multitask by playing "Call of Duty," you're probably no better at talking on the phone while driving than anybody else, according to a new study.

Inner ear may hold key to ancient primate behavior Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:24 AM PDT CT scans of fossilized primate skulls or skull fragments from both the Old and New Worlds may shed light on how these extinct animals moved, especially for those species without any known remains.

Big uncertainties in the global water budget Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:22 AM PDT No life without water. Catastrophes like droughts or strong rains reflect our dependence on the water cycle and climate system. Hence, it is important to understand details of the water cycle among the atmosphere, oceans, and land. A new study outlines significant differences of global models and measurement data sets. As the network of measurement stations worldwide is shrinking dramatically, uncertainties are increased.

No evidence for 'knots' in space: Theories of primordial universe predict existence of knots in space Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:22 AM PDT Theories of the primordial universe predict the existence of knots in the fabric of space -- known as cosmic textures -- which could be identified by looking at light from the cosmic microwave background, the relic radiation left over from the Big Bang. Astronomers have performed the first search for textures on the full sky, finding no evidence for such knots in space.

Global climate change: Underestimated impact of sea-level rise on habitat loss? Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:22 AM PDT Global climate change is expected to cause sea-level rise of approximately 1-2 meters within this century. Researchers have found that in more populated regions secondary effects can lead to an equal or even higher loss of habitat than primary displacement effects.

New species of crab has been found hiding in the seabed of Galicia (Spain) Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:21 AM PDT Despite Europe's marine fauna being the best documented on Earth, there are still some new species to be discovered. This is the case of Uroptychus cartesi, a crab between 5 cm and 7 cm in size found at more than 1400 deep in the underwater mountains facing the Galician coast (Spain). Its closest relative can be found in the Caribbean Sea.

If your dog is aggressive, maybe it is in pain Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:21 AM PDT Dogs can sometimes suffer sudden episodes of aggression without their owners understanding why. But, in many cases, the cause of these attacks can be pain that has never been diagnosed or treated. For the first time the study describes the characteristics of this irritability, which can make dogs violent and increase aggression in already conflictive individuals. There are many factors that explain aggression in dogs: the conditions of the mother during gestation, the handling of the puppy in the neonatal phase, the age at weaning, the experiences of the animal during the socializing phase, diet, exercise, genetics and learning techniques based on active punishment during adulthood. However, aggressive behavior also arises from the presence of pathologies and pain in the dog.

Little mighty creature of the ocean inspires strong new material for medical implants and armour Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:21 AM PDT A scientist may be onto an ocean of discovery because of his research into a little sea creature called the mantis shrimp. The research is likely to lead to making ceramics -- today's preferred material for medical implants and military body armour -- many times stronger. The mantis shrimp's can shatter aquarium glass and crab shells alike.

Nonlinear optics: Now in the terahertz range Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:21 AM PDT Researchers have recently reported on the direct observation of a nonlinear-optical effect, occurring in the regime of single-cycle pulse of light at terahertz (THz) frequencies. They used a doped semiconductor as an efficient nonlinear medium, where the THz-range optical nonlinearity arises from the response of free-electron plasma to THz electric fields.

Divide the Antarctic to protect native species, propose experts Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:21 AM PDT Scientists have published the first continent-wide assessment of the Antarctic's biogeography, and propose that the landmass should be divided into 15 distinct conservation regions to protect the continent from invasive alien species.

Toddler spatial knowledge boosts understanding of numbers Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:20 AM PDT Children who are skilled in understanding how shapes fit together to make recognizable objects also have an advantage when it comes to learning the number line and solving math problems. The work is further evidence of the value of providing young children with early opportunities in spatial learning, which helps them mentally manipulate objects.

Juveniles build up physical -- but not mental -- tolerance for alcohol Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:20 AM PDT Research into alcohol's effect on juvenile rats shows they have an ability to build up a physical, but not cognitive, tolerance over the short term — a finding that could have implications for adolescent humans, according to psychologists.

Unhealthy lifestyles have little impact on sperm quality Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:11 AM PDT Lifestyle advice given by doctors to men diagnosed with infertility should be radically overhauled according to new research.

Ancient story of Dartmoor tors has an ice-cold twist Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:11 AM PDT Ice extended further across the UK than previously thought and played a part in sculpting the rocky landscape of Dartmoor in South West England during the last Ice Age, according to new research which challenges previously held theories.

Diabetes: Tighter control of blood sugar prevents nerve condition, but at what risk? Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:11 AM PDT Aggressive control of blood sugar levels in diabetes can help to prevent a painful condition affecting patients' nerves, according to a new systematic review. However, the review suggests that optimal target levels need to be established to prevent serious complications.

Role of omega-3 in preventing cognitive decline in older people questioned Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:10 AM PDT Older people who take omega-3 fish oil supplements are probably not reducing their chances of losing cognitive function, according to a new Cochrane systematic review. Based on the available data from studies lasting up to 3.5 years, the researchers concluded that the supplements offered no benefits for cognitive health over placebo capsules or margarines, but that longer term effects are worth investigating.

New weekly fertility injections work as well as daily, study suggests Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:10 AM PDT New long-lasting weekly injections of fertility hormones are as safe and effective as standard daily injections, according to Cochrane researchers. The researchers compared weekly and daily hormone injections and found no difference in pregnancies or serious side effects between the two regimens.

Dissonant music brings out the animal in listeners Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:10 AM PDT Researchers have isolated some of the ways in which distorted and jarring music is so evocative, and they believe that the mechanisms are closely related to distress calls in animals.

Real-life exposure to violence disrupts a child's sleep habits Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:10 AM PDT Violence in a child's world impacts sleep, new research shows. The result is measurable, affected by the severity of the violence and can last over time. The more severe the violence, the more sleep is impacted. Characteristics of the violent act also touch different aspects of the child's sleep. Children who are victimized during a violent event tend to sleep less and more poorly; children who witness homicide have more inconsistent sleep as time passes.

Sleep times influenced by race, ethnicity and country of origin Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:10 AM PDT Two new studies report sleep disparities among Americans based on racial and ethnic background. Study One looked at 400,000 national survey responses and found Americans born in the US are more likely to report sleeping longer than African-born or Indian-born citizens. Another study analyzed 439 random sleep measurements and found that white participants slept significantly longer than the other groups, with blacks reporting the worst sleep quality and Asians the highest reports of daytime sleepiness.

Obesity, depression found to be root causes of daytime sleepiness Posted: 13 Jun 2012 06:10 AM PDT Three new studies conclude that obesity and depression are the main culprits making Americans excessively sleepy while awake. Researchers examined a random population sample of 1,741 adults and determined that obesity and emotional stress are the main causes of an "epidemic" of sleepiness and fatigue plaguing the country. Insufficient sleep and obstructive sleep apnea also play a role; both have been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression, diabetes, obesity and accidents.

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