ScienceDaily: Top Science News

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• 'True grit' erodes assumptions about evolution
• Extinction looms for forest elephants: 60 percent of Africa's forest elephants killed for their ivory over past decade
• Quantum realm: Forging new pathways to quantum devices
• Brain adds cells in puberty to navigate adult world
• Global warming will open unexpected new shipping routes in Arctic, researchers find
• One law to rule them all: Sizes within a species appear to follow a universal distribution
• Vortex loops could untie knotty physics problems
• Researchers describe first 'functional HIV cure' in an infant
• Researchers identify queens, mysterious disease syndrome as key factors in bee colony deaths
• Beating heart cells in a lab dish: Creating new tissue instead of transplanting hearts
• Human metabolism in health and disease mapped
• Getting around the uncertainty principle: Physicists make first direct measurements of polarization states of light
• 3-D printing using old milk jugs
• Shark fisheries globally unsustainable: 100 million sharks die every year
• Saharan and Asian dust, biological particles end global journey in California
• Volcanic aerosols, not pollutants, tamped down recent Earth warming
• New study reveals how sensitive US East Coast regions may be to ocean acidification
• Infection during pregnancy and stress in puberty play key role in development of schizophrenia
• New dinosaur species: First fossil evidence shows small crocs fed on baby dinosaurs
• Historic datasets reveal effects of climate change and habitat loss on plant-pollinator networks
• Loss of wild insects hurts crops around the world
• NASA's Van Allen Probes reveal a new radiation belt around Earth
• How did early primordial cells evolve?
• Action video games boost reading skills, study of children with dyslexia suggests
• Toxic oceans may have delayed spread of complex life
• Icy cosmic start for amino acids and DNA ingredients
• Antarctic scientists discover 18-kilogram meteorite
• Birth of a giant Planet? Candidate protoplanet spotted inside its stellar womb
• Physicists demonstrate the acceleration of electrons by a laser in a vacuum
• Novel wireless brain sensor unveiled: Wireless, broadband, rechargeable, fully implantable
• Brain-to-brain interface allows transmission of tactile and motor information between rats
• Renewable energy: Nanotubes to channel osmotic power
• Atoms with quantum-memory
• Nut-cracking monkeys use shapes to strategize their use of tools
• Eyes work without connection to brain: Ectopic eyes function without natural connection to brain
• Reading the human genome: First step-by-step look at transcription initiation
• Feeding limbs and nervous system of one of Earth's earliest animals discovered
• Man walks again after surgery to reverse muscle paralysis
• Songbirds’ brains coordinate singing with intricate timing
• Viruses can have immune systems: A pirate phage commandeers the immune system of bacteria
• NASA's NuSTAR helps solve riddle of black hole spin
• Contaminated diet contributes to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals: Phthalates and BPA
• 'Network' analysis of brain may explain features of autism
• Cryopreservation: A chance for highly endangered mammals
• Pessimism about the future may lead to longer, healthier life
• Discovery on animal memory opens doors to research on memory impairment diseases
• New fabrication technique could provide breakthrough for solar energy systems
• New Greek observatory sheds light on old star
• Too much vitamin D during pregnancy can cause food allergies, research suggests
• Increased risk of sleep disorder narcolepsy in children who received swine flu vaccine

'True grit' erodes assumptions about evolution Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:15 PM PST New work in Argentina where scientists had previously thought Earth's first grasslands emerged 38 million years ago, shows the area at the time covered with tropical forests rich with palms, bamboos and gingers. Grit and volcanic ash in those forests could have caused the evolution of teeth in horse-like animals that scientists mistakenly thought were adaptations in response to emerging grasslands.

Extinction looms for forest elephants: 60 percent of Africa's forest elephants killed for their ivory over past decade Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:12 PM PST Across their range in central Africa, a staggering 62 percent of all forest elephants have been killed for their ivory over the past decade, new research shows.

Quantum realm: Forging new pathways to quantum devices Posted: 04 Mar 2013 12:18 PM PST Physicists are manipulating light on superconducting chips, and forging new pathways to building the quantum devices of the future -- including super-fast and powerful quantum computers.

Brain adds cells in puberty to navigate adult world Posted: 04 Mar 2013 12:18 PM PST The brain adds new cells during puberty to help navigate the complex social world of adulthood, neuroscientists report.

Global warming will open unexpected new shipping routes in Arctic, researchers find Posted: 04 Mar 2013 12:18 PM PST Shipping lanes through the Arctic Ocean won't put the Suez and Panama canals out of business anytime soon, but global warming will make these frigid routes much more accessible than ever imagined by melting an unprecedented amount of sea ice during the late summer, new research shows.

One law to rule them all: Sizes within a species appear to follow a universal distribution Posted: 04 Mar 2013 12:16 PM PST Biologists have discovered what might be a universal property of size distributions in living systems. If valid throughout the animal kingdom, it could have profound implications on how we understand population dynamics of large ecosystems.

Vortex loops could untie knotty physics problems Posted: 04 Mar 2013 10:08 AM PST Physicists have succeeding in creating a vortex knot -- a feat akin to tying a smoke ring into a knot. Linked and knotted vortex loops have existed in theory for more than a century, but creating them in the laboratory had previously eluded scientists.

Researchers describe first 'functional HIV cure' in an infant Posted: 04 Mar 2013 07:56 AM PST A team of researchers describe the first case of a so-called "functional cure" in an HIV-infected infant. The finding, the investigators say, may help pave the way to eliminating HIV infection in children.

Researchers identify queens, mysterious disease syndrome as key factors in bee colony deaths Posted: 04 Mar 2013 07:56 AM PST A new long-term study of honey bee health has found that a little-understood disease study authors are calling "idiopathic brood disease syndrome," which kills off bee larvae, is the largest risk factor for predicting the death of a bee colony.

Beating heart cells in a lab dish: Creating new tissue instead of transplanting hearts Posted: 04 Mar 2013 07:51 AM PST Embryonic stem cells can develop into any kind of tissue. Adult stem cells can still turn into different kinds of cells, but their differentiation potential is significantly reduced. New substances have now been developed which allow the creation of fully functional heart cells.

Human metabolism in health and disease mapped Posted: 03 Mar 2013 12:50 PM PST Scientists have produced the most comprehensive virtual reconstruction of human metabolism to date. Scientists could use the model, known as Recon 2, to identify causes of and new treatments for diseases like cancer, diabetes and even psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.

Getting around the uncertainty principle: Physicists make first direct measurements of polarization states of light Posted: 03 Mar 2013 12:49 PM PST Researchers have applied a recently developed technique to directly measure for the first time the polarization states of light. Their work both overcomes some important challenges of Heisenberg's famous Uncertainty Principle and also is applicable to qubits, the building blocks of quantum information theory.

3-D printing using old milk jugs Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:36 PM PST 3-D printing lets anyone make almost anything with a simple machine and a roll of plastic filament. Now researchers have found a way to drive costs down even further by recycling empty milk jugs into filament. The process reduces landfill waste, saves on energy compared with traditional recycling, and makes 3-D printing and even better deal.

Shark fisheries globally unsustainable: 100 million sharks die every year Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:32 PM PST The world's shark populations are experiencing significant declines with perhaps 100 million – or more - sharks being lost every year, according to a new study.

Saharan and Asian dust, biological particles end global journey in California Posted: 01 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PST A new study is the first to show that dust and other aerosols from one side of the world influence rainfall in the Sierra Nevada.

Volcanic aerosols, not pollutants, tamped down recent Earth warming Posted: 01 Mar 2013 09:30 AM PST Scientists looking for clues about why Earth did not warm as much as scientists expected between 2000 and 2010 now thinks the culprits are hiding in plain sight -- dozens of volcanoes spewing sulfur dioxide.

New study reveals how sensitive US East Coast regions may be to ocean acidification Posted: 01 Mar 2013 09:30 AM PST A continental-scale chemical survey in the waters of the eastern US and Gulf of Mexico is helping researchers determine how distinct bodies of water will resist changes in acidity.

Infection during pregnancy and stress in puberty play key role in development of schizophrenia Posted: 01 Mar 2013 09:25 AM PST The interplay between an infection during pregnancy and stress in puberty plays a key role in the development of schizophrenia, as behaviorists demonstrate in a mouse model. However, there is no need to panic.

New dinosaur species: First fossil evidence shows small crocs fed on baby dinosaurs Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:15 PM PST A paleontologist and his team have discovered a new species of herbivorous dinosaur and published the first fossil evidence of prehistoric crocodyliforms feeding on small dinosaurs.

Historic datasets reveal effects of climate change and habitat loss on plant-pollinator networks Posted: 28 Feb 2013 12:56 PM PST Two biologists at Washington University in St. Louis were delighted to discover a meticulous dataset on a plant-pollinator network recorded by Illinois naturalist Charles Robertson between 1884 and 1916. Re-collecting part of Robertson's network, they learned that although the network has compensated for some losses, battered by climate change and habitat loss it is now weaker and less resilient than in Robertson's time.

Loss of wild insects hurts crops around the world Posted: 28 Feb 2013 12:56 PM PST Researchers studying data from 600 fields in 20 countries have found that managed honey bees are not as successful at pollinating crops as wild insects, primarily wild bees, suggesting the continuing loss of wild insects in many agricultural landscapes has negative consequences for crop harvests.

NASA's Van Allen Probes reveal a new radiation belt around Earth Posted: 28 Feb 2013 12:54 PM PST NASA's Van Allen Probes mission has discovered a previously unknown third radiation belt around Earth, revealing the existence of unexpected structures and processes within these hazardous regions of space.

How did early primordial cells evolve? Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:41 AM PST New research on bacteria examines how primordial cells could have evolved without protein machinery or cell walls. While the vast majority of bacteria have cell walls, many bacteria can switch to a wall-free existence called the L-form state, which could mirror the structure of primordial cells. A new study reveals how bacteria in this L-form state divide and proliferate, shedding light on how the earliest forms of cellular life may have replicated.

Action video games boost reading skills, study of children with dyslexia suggests Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:41 AM PST Much to the chagrin of parents who think their kids should spend less time playing video games and more time studying, time spent playing action video games can actually make dyslexic children read better, new research suggests. In fact, 12 hours of video game play did more for reading skills than is normally achieved with a year of spontaneous reading development or demanding traditional reading treatments.

Toxic oceans may have delayed spread of complex life Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:34 AM PST A new model suggests that inhospitable hydrodgen-sulfide rich waters could have delayed the spread of complex life forms in ancient oceans. The research considers the composition of the oceans 550-700 million years ago and shows that oxygen-poor toxic conditions, which may have delayed the establishment of complex life, were controlled by the biological availability of nitrogen.

Icy cosmic start for amino acids and DNA ingredients Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:34 AM PST Using new technology at the telescope and in laboratories, researchers have discovered an important pair of prebiotic molecules in interstellar space. The discoveries indicate that some basic chemicals that are key steps on the way to life may have formed on dusty ice grains floating between the stars.

Antarctic scientists discover 18-kilogram meteorite Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:34 AM PST An international team of scientists have discovered a meteorite with a mass of 18 kilograms embedded in the East Antarctic ice sheet, the largest such meteorite found in the region since 1988.

Birth of a giant Planet? Candidate protoplanet spotted inside its stellar womb Posted: 28 Feb 2013 07:33 AM PST Astronomers have obtained what is likely the first direct observation of a forming planet still embedded in a thick disc of gas and dust. If confirmed, this discovery will greatly improve our understanding of how planets form and allow astronomers to test the current theories against an observable target.

Physicists demonstrate the acceleration of electrons by a laser in a vacuum Posted: 28 Feb 2013 06:38 AM PST The acceleration of a free electron by a laser is a long-time goal of solid-state physicists. Physicists have established that an electron beam can be accelerated by a laser in free space. This has never been done before at high energies and represents a significant breakthrough, and may have implications for fusion as a new energy source.

Novel wireless brain sensor unveiled: Wireless, broadband, rechargeable, fully implantable Posted: 28 Feb 2013 06:38 AM PST In a significant advance for brain-computer interfaces, engineers have developed a novel wireless, broadband, rechargeable, fully implantable brain sensor that has performed well in animal models for more than a year.

Brain-to-brain interface allows transmission of tactile and motor information between rats Posted: 28 Feb 2013 06:38 AM PST Researchers have electronically linked the brains of pairs of rats for the first time, enabling them to communicate directly to solve simple behavioral puzzles. A further test of this work successfully linked the brains of two animals thousands of miles apart -- one in Durham, N.C., and one in Natal, Brazil.

Renewable energy: Nanotubes to channel osmotic power Posted: 28 Feb 2013 06:35 AM PST The salinity difference between fresh water and salt water could be a source of renewable energy. However, power yields from existing techniques are not high enough to make them viable. A solution to this problem may now have been found. Researchers have discovered a new means of harnessing this energy: osmotic flow through boron nitride nanotubes generates huge electric currents, with 1,000 times the efficiency of any previous system.

Atoms with quantum-memory Posted: 28 Feb 2013 05:02 AM PST Order tends towards disorder. This is also true for quantum states. Measurements show that in quantum mechanics this transition can be quite different from what we experience in our daily lives.

Nut-cracking monkeys use shapes to strategize their use of tools Posted: 27 Feb 2013 03:35 PM PST Bearded capuchin monkeys deliberately place palm nuts in a stable position on a surface before trying to crack them open, revealing their capacity to use tactile information to improve tool use.

Eyes work without connection to brain: Ectopic eyes function without natural connection to brain Posted: 27 Feb 2013 03:33 PM PST For the first time, scientists have shown that transplanted eyes located far outside the head in a vertebrate animal model can confer vision without a direct neural connection to the brain. Biologists used a frog model to shed new light -- literally -- on one of the major questions in regenerative medicine and sensory augmentation research.

Reading the human genome: First step-by-step look at transcription initiation Posted: 27 Feb 2013 12:13 PM PST Researchers have achieved a major advance in understanding how genetic information is transcribed from DNA to RNA by providing the first step-by-step look at the biomolecular machinery that reads the human genome.

Feeding limbs and nervous system of one of Earth's earliest animals discovered Posted: 27 Feb 2013 10:44 AM PST Unique fossils literally 'lift the lid' on ancient creature's head to expose one of the earliest examples of food manipulating limbs in evolutionary history, dating from around 530 million years ago.

Man walks again after surgery to reverse muscle paralysis Posted: 27 Feb 2013 10:43 AM PST After four years of confinement to a wheelchair, Rick Constantine, 58, is now walking again after undergoing an unconventional surgery to restore the use of his leg.

Songbirds’ brains coordinate singing with intricate timing Posted: 27 Feb 2013 10:43 AM PST As a bird sings, some neurons in its brain prepare to make the next sounds while others are synchronized with the current notes—a coordination of physical actions and brain activity that is needed to produce complex movements. The finding that may lead to new ways of understanding human speech production.

Viruses can have immune systems: A pirate phage commandeers the immune system of bacteria Posted: 27 Feb 2013 10:43 AM PST A new study reports that a viral predator of the cholera bacteria has stolen the functional immune system of bacteria and is using it against its bacterial host. This provides the first evidence that this type of virus, the bacteriophage, can acquire an adaptive immune system. The study has implications for phage therapy, the use of phages to treat bacterial diseases.

NASA's NuSTAR helps solve riddle of black hole spin Posted: 27 Feb 2013 10:25 AM PST Two X-ray space observatories, NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton, have teamed up to measure definitively, for the first time, the spin rate of a black hole with a mass 2 million times that of our sun.

Contaminated diet contributes to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals: Phthalates and BPA Posted: 27 Feb 2013 09:19 AM PST While water bottles may tout BPA-free labels and personal care products declare phthalates not among their ingredients, these assurances may not be enough. According to a new study, we may be exposed to these chemicals in our diet, even if our diet is organic and we prepare, cook, and store foods in non-plastic containers. Children may be most vulnerable.

'Network' analysis of brain may explain features of autism Posted: 27 Feb 2013 07:20 AM PST A look at how the brain processes information finds distinct pattern in autistic children. Using EEGs to track the brain's electrical cross-talk, researchers found structural difference in brain connections. Compared with neurotypical children, those with autism have multiple redundant connections between neighboring brain areas at expense of long-distance links. The study, using "network analysis" like with airlines or electrical grids, may help in understanding some classic autistic behaviors.

Cryopreservation: A chance for highly endangered mammals Posted: 27 Feb 2013 07:19 AM PST Oocytes of lions, tigers and other cat species survive the preservation in liquid nitrogen. Scientists have now succeeded in carrying out cryopreservation of felid ovary cortex.

Pessimism about the future may lead to longer, healthier life Posted: 27 Feb 2013 07:19 AM PST Older people who have low expectations for a satisfying future may be more likely to live longer, healthier lives than those who see brighter days ahead, according to new research.

Discovery on animal memory opens doors to research on memory impairment diseases Posted: 27 Feb 2013 05:59 AM PST A new study offers the first evidence of source memory in a nonhuman animal. The findings have fascinating implications, both in evolutionary terms and for future research into the biological underpinnings of memory, as well as the treatment of diseases marked by memory failure such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's, or disorders such as schizophrenia, PTSD and depression.

New fabrication technique could provide breakthrough for solar energy systems Posted: 27 Feb 2013 05:59 AM PST Scientists are using a novel fabrication process to create ultra-efficient solar energy rectennas capable of harvesting more than 70 percent of the sun's electromagnetic radiation and simultaneously converting it into usable electric power.

New Greek observatory sheds light on old star Posted: 27 Feb 2013 05:58 AM PST Continuing a tradition stretching back more than 25 centuries, astronomers have used the new 2.3-meter 'Aristarchos' telescope, sited at Helmos Observatory (2340m high) in the Pelοponnese Mountains in Greece, to determine the distance to and history of an enigmatic stellar system, discovering it to likely be a binary star cocooned within an exotic nebula.

Too much vitamin D during pregnancy can cause food allergies, research suggests Posted: 27 Feb 2013 05:58 AM PST Pregnant women should avoid taking vitamin D supplements, new research suggests. Substitution appears to raise the risk of children developing a food allergy after birth.

Increased risk of sleep disorder narcolepsy in children who received swine flu vaccine Posted: 26 Feb 2013 04:40 PM PST A study finds an increased risk of narcolepsy in children and adolescents who received the A/H1N1 2009 influenza vaccine (Pandemrix) during the pandemic in England.

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