ScienceDaily: Top Science News

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• Herschel discovers some of the youngest stars ever seen
• Humanoid robot helps train children with autism
• Natural climate swings contribute more to increased monsoon rainfall than global warming
• Brain mapping reveals neurological basis of decision-making in rats
• Bacteria with vuvuzelas: Microbes use a channel protein as a syringe for toxins
• Biodiversity does not reduce transmission of disease from animals to humans, researchers find
• Discovery of new drug to combat malaria
• Stem cells entering heart can be tracked with nano-hitchhikers
• Scientists discover 'lubricant' for Earth's tectonic plates: Hidden magma layer could play role in earthquakes
• How two brain areas interact to trigger divergent emotional behaviors
• Voyager 1 has entered a new region of space, sudden changes in cosmic rays indicate
• 'Brain waves' challenge area-specific view of brain activity
• Enigmatic giant squid is same species in all oceans of the planet, dna studies show

Herschel discovers some of the youngest stars ever seen Posted: 20 Mar 2013 04:28 PM PDT Astronomers have found some of the youngest stars ever seen, thanks to the Herschel space observatory. Dense envelopes of gas and dust surround the fledgling stars known as protostars, making their detection difficult. The 15 newly observed protostars turned up by surprise in a survey of the biggest site of star formation near our solar system, located in the constellation Orion. The discovery gives scientists a peek into one of the earliest and least understood phases of star formation.

Humanoid robot helps train children with autism Posted: 20 Mar 2013 12:52 PM PDT An interdisciplinary team of mechanical engineers and autism experts have developed an adaptive robotic system and used it to demonstrate that humanoid robots can be powerful tools for enhancing the basic social learning skills of children with autism.

Natural climate swings contribute more to increased monsoon rainfall than global warming Posted: 20 Mar 2013 12:52 PM PDT Natural swings in the climate have significantly intensified Northern Hemisphere monsoon rainfall, showing that these swings must be taken into account for climate predictions in the coming decades.

Brain mapping reveals neurological basis of decision-making in rats Posted: 20 Mar 2013 12:52 PM PDT Scientists have discovered how memory recall is linked to decision-making in rats, showing that measurable activity in one part of the brain occurs when rats in a maze are playing out memories that help them decide which way to turn. The more they play out these memories, the more likely they are to find their way correctly to the end of the maze.

Bacteria with vuvuzelas: Microbes use a channel protein as a syringe for toxins Posted: 20 Mar 2013 12:51 PM PDT The bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens is a constant companion of some roundworms. These worms assault insect larvae, thereby infecting them with the bacteria; the pathogens then attack the cells of their victims with a deadly cocktail of various toxins. Scientists have now discovered that the bacteria use an important toxin complex like a syringe.

Biodiversity does not reduce transmission of disease from animals to humans, researchers find Posted: 20 Mar 2013 11:27 AM PDT A new analysis pokes holes in widely accepted theory that connects biodiversity abundance with a reduced disease risk for humans.

Discovery of new drug to combat malaria Posted: 20 Mar 2013 11:27 AM PDT A new project has yielded a promising new antimalarial drug with the potential to cure the mosquito-borne disease and block its transmission with low doses.

Stem cells entering heart can be tracked with nano-hitchhikers Posted: 20 Mar 2013 11:27 AM PDT The promise of repairing damaged hearts through regenerative medicine -- infusing stem cells into the heart in the hope that these cells will replace worn out or damaged tissue -- has yet to meet with clinical success. But a highly sensitive visualization technique may help speed that promise's realization.

Scientists discover 'lubricant' for Earth's tectonic plates: Hidden magma layer could play role in earthquakes Posted: 20 Mar 2013 11:27 AM PDT Scientists have found a layer of liquefied molten rock in Earth's mantle that may be acting as a lubricant for the sliding motions of the planet's massive tectonic plates. The discovery may carry far-reaching implications, from solving basic geological functions of the planet to a better understanding of volcanism and earthquakes.

How two brain areas interact to trigger divergent emotional behaviors Posted: 20 Mar 2013 11:25 AM PDT New research for the first time explains exactly how two brain regions interact to promote emotionally motivated behaviors associated with anxiety and reward. The findings could lead to new mental health therapies for disorders such as addiction, anxiety, and depression.

Voyager 1 has entered a new region of space, sudden changes in cosmic rays indicate Posted: 20 Mar 2013 10:42 AM PDT Thirty-five years after its launch, Voyager 1 appears to have travelled beyond the influence of the Sun and exited the heliosphere, according to a new study.

'Brain waves' challenge area-specific view of brain activity Posted: 20 Mar 2013 08:51 AM PDT Our understanding of brain activity has traditionally been linked to brain areas – when we speak, the speech area of the brain is active. New research shows that this view may be overly rigid. The entire cortex, not just the area responsible for a certain function, is activated when a given task is initiated. Furthermore, activity occurs in a pattern: waves of activity roll from one side of the brain to the other.

Enigmatic giant squid is same species in all oceans of the planet, dna studies show Posted: 19 Mar 2013 07:27 AM PDT The giant squid is one of the most enigmatic animals on the planet. It is extremely rarely seen, except as the remains of animals that have been washed ashore, and placed in the formalin or ethanol collections of museums. But now, researchers have discovered that no matter where in the world they are found, the fabled animals are so closely related at the genetic level that they represent a single, global population, and thus despite previous statements to the contrary, a single species worldwide.

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