ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Microwave imaging can see how well treatment is progressing
• Anti-smoking ads with strong arguments, not flashy editing, trigger part of brain that changes behavior
• Binge eating curbed by deep brain stimulation in animal model
• Robot & baby sea turtles reveal principles of motion
• ALS trial suggests novel therapy is safe
• Brain biology tied to social reorientation during entry to adolescence
• Researchers discover new explanation for diabetes and poor growth
• Study reveals alcohol industry tactics to influence alcohol policy reform in Scotland
• Air pollution and hardening of arteries
• Battling with bugs to prevent antibiotic resistance
• Effectiveness of early sport specialization limited in most sports, sport diversification may be better approach at young ages
• Strengthening legumes to tackle fertilizer pollution
• Children routinely injured or killed by guns, U.S. study shows
• Binge drinking in college can lead to heart disease later in life
• Use of anti-epileptic drug during pregnancy associated with increased risk of autism
• Big ecosystem changes viewed through the lens of tiny carnivorous plants
• Galaxy goes green in burning stellar fuel
• Repairing articular cartilage defects with an injectable gel engineered with gene modified BMSCs
• Nanowires grown on graphene have surprising structure
• Hundreds of tiny untethered surgical tools deployed in first animal biopsies
• Asian monsoon is getting predictable: Strong correlation between summer monsoon and preceding climate pattern
• New material approach should increase solar cell efficiency
• Troubling patterns of teacher assignments within schools
• The crystal's corners: New nanowire structure has potential to increase semiconductor applications
• Wildfires can burn hot without ruining soil
• Doctors-in-training spend very little time at patient bedside, study finds
• Infants' sweat response predicts aggressive behavior as toddlers
• New pathway, enhancing tamoxifen to tame aggressive breast cancer identified
• Virus kills melanoma in animal model, spares normal cells
• Source of organic matter affects Bay water quality
• Whether human or hyena, there' s safety in numbers
• Insights into deadly coral bleaching could help preserve reefs: Surprising result from study of 1893 World's Fair corals
• Flexible partnership allows lichens to occur in different habitats
• Light bursts out of a flying mirror
• Ancient DNA reveals Europe's dynamic genetic history
• Counting on black crows to help us adapt to stressful situations
• Vitamin E identified as potential weapon against obesity
• Hubble captures comet ISON
• Obese men with benign biopsy at high risk for prostate cancer
• Contact killing of Salmonella by human fecal bacteria
• New research findings open door to zinc-oxide-based UV lasers, LED devices
• Iron in primeval seas rusted by bacteria
• Precision agriculture improves farming efficiency, has important implications on food security
• 'Toggle switch' to burn fat identified
• Facebook and romantic relationships
• Residential lawns efflux more carbon dioxide than corn fields, study finds
• Bacteria may contribute to premature births, STDs
• Less rainfall expected for the Hawaiian Islands
• A beautiful species of tree iguana redescribed 179 years after its discovery
• Jupiter's atmosphere still contains water supplied by the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet impact
• 71 new parasitoid wasp species discovered from Southeast Asia
• Scientists reveals escalating cost of forest conservation
• Cause of LED efficiency droop finally revealed
• Anatomy of a blast: Researchers develop sensor system to assess the effects of explosions on soldiers
• Tart cherries linked to reduced risk of stroke
• The biology of fats in the body
• Drug reduces fat by blocking blood vessels
• Rescue me: New study finds animals do recover from neglect
• Epigenetic changes shed light on biological mechanism of autism
• Humans feel empathy for robots: fMRI scans show similar brain function when robots are treated the same as humans

Microwave imaging can see how well treatment is progressing Posted: 23 Apr 2013 06:18 PM PDT Microwave imaging can be used to monitor how well treatment for breast cancer is working, finds new research. Microwave tomography was able to distinguish between breast cancer, benign growths, and normal tissue.

Anti-smoking ads with strong arguments, not flashy editing, trigger part of brain that changes behavior Posted: 23 Apr 2013 06:17 PM PDT Researchers have shown that an area of the brain that initiates behavioral changes had greater activation in smokers who watched anti-smoking ads with strong arguments versus those with weaker ones, and irrespective of flashy elements, like bright and rapidly changing scenes, loud sounds and unexpected scenario twists. Those smokers also had significantly less nicotine metabolites in their urine when tested a month after viewing those ads, the team reports.

Binge eating curbed by deep brain stimulation in animal model Posted: 23 Apr 2013 06:17 PM PDT Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in a precise region of the brain appears to reduce caloric intake and prompt weight loss in obese animal models, according to a new study.

Robot & baby sea turtles reveal principles of motion Posted: 23 Apr 2013 06:17 PM PDT Based on a study of both hatchling sea turtles and "FlipperBot" -- a robot with flippers -- researchers have learned principles for how both robots and turtles move on granular surfaces such as sand.

ALS trial suggests novel therapy is safe Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:27 PM PDT An investigational treatment for an inherited form of Lou Gehrig's disease has passed an early phase clinical trial for safety, researchers report.

Brain biology tied to social reorientation during entry to adolescence Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:27 PM PDT A specific region of the brain is in play when children consider their identity and social status as they transition into adolescence -- that often-turbulent time of reaching puberty and entering middle school, says a psychologist.

Researchers discover new explanation for diabetes and poor growth Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:27 PM PDT A group of researchers has taken a significant step towards understanding the reasons for both diabetes and growth hormone deficiency. Their new discoveries center on the body's ability to regulate certain hormones.

Study reveals alcohol industry tactics to influence alcohol policy reform in Scotland Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:27 PM PDT The alcohol industry misrepresented international evidence on effective alcohol control measures in an attempt to influence the Scottish Government's public health policy to its advantage, according to new research.

Air pollution and hardening of arteries Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:27 PM PDT Long term exposure to air pollution may be linked to heart attacks and strokes by speeding up atherosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries", according to a new study.

Battling with bugs to prevent antibiotic resistance Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:27 PM PDT Bacteria can evolve resistance more quickly when stronger antibiotics are used, new research confirms.

Effectiveness of early sport specialization limited in most sports, sport diversification may be better approach at young ages Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:26 PM PDT Ever-increasing requirements for success in competitive sports has created added pressure for young athletes to train with greater intensity at earlier ages. The goal to become the next Olympian or more commonly, to obtain a college scholarship, motivates many parents to encourage their children to specialize in one sport at a young age. This has resulted in an increased demand for year-round sport training programs, facilities and products. But is this approach really an effective way to generate long-term success in competitive athletics?

Strengthening legumes to tackle fertilizer pollution Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT Scientists create the first model of legume iron transportation aimed at maximizing nitrogen fixation, even in poor soil.

Children routinely injured or killed by guns, U.S. study shows Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT While gun control issues usually surface after major incidents like the fatal shooting of 20 elementary school students in Newtown, Connecticut, a new U.S. study shows that children are routinely killed or injured by firearms.

Binge drinking in college can lead to heart disease later in life Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT Frequent binge drinking in college can cause more than a hangover. Regularly consuming multiple drinks in a short window of time can cause immediate changes in circulation that increase an otherwise healthy young adult's risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life, according to new research.

Use of anti-epileptic drug during pregnancy associated with increased risk of autism Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:18 PM PDT Maternal use of valproate (a drug used for the treatment of epilepsy and other neuropsychological disorders) during pregnancy was associated with a significantly increased risk of autism in offspring, according to a new study. The authors caution that these findings must be balanced against the treatment benefits for women who require valproate for epilepsy control.

Big ecosystem changes viewed through the lens of tiny carnivorous plants Posted: 23 Apr 2013 12:39 PM PDT The water-filled pool within a pitcher plant, it turns out, is a tiny ecosystem whose inner workings are similar to those of a full-scale water body. Whether small carnivorous plant or huge lake, both are subject to the same ecological "tipping points," of concern on Earth Day -- and every day, say scientists.

Galaxy goes green in burning stellar fuel Posted: 23 Apr 2013 12:37 PM PDT Astronomers have spotted the "greenest" of galaxies, one that converts fuel into stars with almost 100-percent efficiency. The findings come from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer in the French Alps.

Repairing articular cartilage defects with an injectable gel engineered with gene modified BMSCs Posted: 23 Apr 2013 11:43 AM PDT Tissue engineering combined with gene therapy technology has the potential to manage the repair of defective articular cartilage. In this study, through minimally invasive injection methods the authors were able to repair rabbit articular cartilage defects with CS/PVA gel and gene modified BMSCs.

Nanowires grown on graphene have surprising structure Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:58 AM PDT When engineers set out to grow nanowires of a compound semiconductor on top of a sheet of graphene, they did not expect to discover a new paradigm of epitaxy. The self-assembled wires have a core of one composition and an outer layer of another, a desired trait for many advanced electronics applications.

Hundreds of tiny untethered surgical tools deployed in first animal biopsies Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:58 AM PDT Using swarms of untethered grippers, each as small as a speck of dust, engineers and physicians have devised a new way to perform biopsies that could provide a more effective way to access narrow conduits in the body as well as find early signs of cancer or other diseases.

Asian monsoon is getting predictable: Strong correlation between summer monsoon and preceding climate pattern Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:58 AM PDT For much of Asia, the pace of life is tuned to rhythms of monsoons. Its variations can mean the difference between drought and flood. Now a new study reports on a crucial connection that could drastically improve the ability of forecasters to reliably predict the monsoon a few months in advance.

New material approach should increase solar cell efficiency Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:58 AM PDT A new research group brought together aspects of condensed matter physics, semiconductor device engineering, and photochemistry to develop a new form of high-performance solar photocatalyst based on the combination of the TiO2 (titanium dioxide) and other "metallic" oxides that greatly enhance the visible light absorption and promote more efficient utilization of the solar spectrum for energy applications.

Troubling patterns of teacher assignments within schools Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:57 AM PDT Even within the same school, lower-achieving students often are taught by less-experienced teachers, as well as by teachers who received their degrees from less-competitive colleges, according to a new study. The study, using data from one of the nation's largest school districts, also shows that student class assignments vary within schools by a teacher's gender and race.

The crystal's corners: New nanowire structure has potential to increase semiconductor applications Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:57 AM PDT New research describes the discovery of a new structure that is a fundamental game changer in the physics of semiconductor nanowires.

Wildfires can burn hot without ruining soil Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:57 AM PDT When scientists torched an entire 22-acre watershed in Portugal in a recent experiment, their research yielded a counterintuitive result: Large, hot fires do not necessarily beget hot, scorched soil.

Doctors-in-training spend very little time at patient bedside, study finds Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:57 AM PDT Medical interns spend just 12 percent of their time examining and talking with patients, and more than 40 percent of their time behind a computer, according to a new study that closely followed first-year residents at Baltimore's two large academic medical centers. Indeed, the study found, interns spent nearly as much time walking (7 percent) as they did caring for patients at the bedside.

Infants' sweat response predicts aggressive behavior as toddlers Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:57 AM PDT Infants who sweat less in response to scary situations at age 1 show more physical and verbal aggression at age 3, according to new research.

New pathway, enhancing tamoxifen to tame aggressive breast cancer identified Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:57 AM PDT Tamoxifen is a time-honored breast cancer drug used to treat millions of women with early-stage and less-aggressive disease, and now medical researchers have shown how to exploit tamoxifen's secondary activities so that it might work on more aggressive breast cancer.

Virus kills melanoma in animal model, spares normal cells Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:57 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that vesicular stomatitis virus is highly competent at finding, infecting, and killing human melanoma cells, both in vitro and in animal models, while having little propensity to infect non-cancerous cells.

Source of organic matter affects Bay water quality Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:51 AM PDT Organic carbon in runoff from urbanized landscapes is more likely to persist as it is carried downstream, thus contributing to low-oxygen "dead zones" in coastal waters.

Whether human or hyena, there' s safety in numbers Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:51 AM PDT Humans, when alone, see threats as closer than they actually are. But mix in people from a close group, and that misperception disappears.

Insights into deadly coral bleaching could help preserve reefs: Surprising result from study of 1893 World's Fair corals Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:51 AM PDT Coral reefs are stressed because of climate change. Researchers have discovered corals themselves play a role in their susceptibility to deadly coral bleaching due to the light-scattering properties of their skeletons. No one else has shown this before. Using optical technology designed for early cancer detection, the researchers discovered that reef-building corals scatter light in different ways to the symbiotic algae that feed the corals.

Flexible partnership allows lichens to occur in different habitats Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:51 AM PDT A group of researchers has discovered the survival secrets of a lichen that occurs in polar regions of the northern and southern Hemisphere, but curiously also dwells in the warm climate of the Mediterranean. The lichen is able to form symbiotic associations with different algae which helps to colonize successfully areas with vastly different climates.

Light bursts out of a flying mirror Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:41 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in generating flashes of extreme ultraviolet radiation via the reflection from a mirror that moves close to the speed of light.

Ancient DNA reveals Europe's dynamic genetic history Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:40 AM PDT Ancient DNA recovered from a series of skeletons in central Germany up to 7,500 years old has been used to reconstruct the first detailed genetic history of modern Europe.

Counting on black crows to help us adapt to stressful situations Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:40 AM PDT It's hard not to catch sight of at least one black crow in the pursuit of our daily lives. For most of us, however, that is where the interaction ends. For one professor that single sighting is the open door to hours of observation.

Vitamin E identified as potential weapon against obesity Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:40 AM PDT A potential new way to fight obesity-related illness has been uncovered, thanks to a serendipitous finding.

Hubble captures comet ISON Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:40 AM PDT When the Hubble picture of ISON was taken on April 10, the comet was slightly closer than Jupiter's orbit at a distance of 386 million miles from the Sun. Hubble photographed a jet blasting dust particles off the sunward-facing side of the comet's nucleus. Preliminary measurements suggest that ISON's nucleus is no larger than three or four miles across.

Obese men with benign biopsy at high risk for prostate cancer Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:40 AM PDT Obese men were more likely to have precancerous lesions detected in their benign prostate biopsies compared with nonobese men and were at a greater risk for subsequently developing prostate cancer, according to new data.

Contact killing of Salmonella by human fecal bacteria Posted: 23 Apr 2013 08:08 AM PDT Researchers have recently found a novel mode of interaction between Salmonella, a foodborne pathogen, and the bacteria that live in our guts. Fecal bacteria collected from healthy donors effectively inactivated Salmonella, when they were allowed close contact. Mathematical modelling of this interaction is now being used to find new ways of controlling Salmonella.

New research findings open door to zinc-oxide-based UV lasers, LED devices Posted: 23 Apr 2013 08:08 AM PDT Researchers have solved a long-standing materials science problem, making it possible to create new semiconductor devices using zinc oxide -- including efficient ultraviolet lasers and LED devices for use in sensors and drinking water treatment, as well as new ferromagnetic devices.

Iron in primeval seas rusted by bacteria Posted: 23 Apr 2013 08:07 AM PDT Researchers have been able to show for the first time how microorganisms contributed to the formation of the world's biggest iron ore deposits. The biggest known deposits -- in South Africa and Australia -- are geological formations billions of years old. They are mainly composed of iron oxides -- minerals we know from the rusting process. These iron ores not only make up most of the world demand for iron -- the formations also help us to better understand the evolution of the atmosphere and climate, and provide important information on the activity of microorganisms in the early history of life on Earth.

Precision agriculture improves farming efficiency, has important implications on food security Posted: 23 Apr 2013 08:07 AM PDT Precision agriculture promises to make farming more efficient and should have an important impact on the serious issue of food security, according to a new study. A scientist assesses how there is potential to manage land more effectively to improve the farming economy and crop quality, and to ensure food security.

'Toggle switch' to burn fat identified Posted: 23 Apr 2013 08:07 AM PDT For a long time, scientists have dreamt of converting undesirable white fat cells into brown fat cells and thus simply have excess pounds melt away. Researchers have now gotten a step closer to this goal: They decoded a "toggle switch" in mice which can significantly stimulate fat burning.

Facebook and romantic relationships Posted: 23 Apr 2013 08:07 AM PDT A Western Illinois University faculty member who published a widely covered study about Facebook and narcissism last year has authored another study about Facebook and romantic relationships.

Residential lawns efflux more carbon dioxide than corn fields, study finds Posted: 23 Apr 2013 08:07 AM PDT More carbon dioxide is released from residential lawns than corn fields according to a new study. And much of the difference can likely be attributed to soil temperature. The data suggest that urban heat islands may be working at smaller scales than previously thought.

Bacteria may contribute to premature births, STDs Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:24 AM PDT New research points to a common species of bacteria as an important contributor to bacterial vaginosis, a condition linked to preterm birth and increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

Less rainfall expected for the Hawaiian Islands Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:24 AM PDT Almost imperceptibly, rainfall over the Hawaiian Islands has been declining since 1978, and this trend is likely to continue with global warming to the end of this century, according to scientists.

A beautiful species of tree iguana redescribed 179 years after its discovery Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:23 AM PDT The tree iguana, Liolaemus nigromaculatus, was the second species of the genus Liolaemus to be described and the nominal species of the group nigromaculatus. However, since its description, no scientific study further clarified the identity of this engaging species or its type locality. A recent study by Chilean biologists clarifies the mysteries around this tree iguana, characterizing the species and its dwelling areas.

Jupiter's atmosphere still contains water supplied by the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet impact Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:23 AM PDT Researchers are reporting Herschel observations of water in Jupiter's stratosphere. It is a clear remnant of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet impact on Jupiter nearly 20 years ago.

71 new parasitoid wasp species discovered from Southeast Asia Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:23 AM PDT A recent study of the parasitoid wasp genus Oxyscelio found a total of 90 species present in Southeast Asia. This includes the astonishing number of 71 newly described wasps from across 16 different nations. The study greatly expands and contributes to the knowledge of this intriguing parasitoid wasp genus.

Scientists reveals escalating cost of forest conservation Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:23 AM PDT New researchers illustrates how changes to farming could dramatically increase future costs of conservation.

Cause of LED efficiency droop finally revealed Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:23 AM PDT Researchers have conclusively identified Auger recombination as the mechanism that causes light emitting diodes to be less efficient at high drive currents.

Anatomy of a blast: Researchers develop sensor system to assess the effects of explosions on soldiers Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:21 AM PDT To study the effects of improvised explosive devices on soldiers and help provide continuing treatment, researchers have developed a sensor system that measures the physical environment of an explosion and collects data that can correlate what the soldier experienced with long-term outcomes.

Tart cherries linked to reduced risk of stroke Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:21 AM PDT For the millions of Americans at risk for heart disease or diabetes, a diet that includes tart cherries might actually be better than what the doctor ordered, according to new animal research.

The biology of fats in the body Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:21 AM PDT Researchers are studying triglycerides, cholesterol and other fats to learn more about normal and abnormal biology. Chew on these findings the next time you ponder the fate of the fat in a French fry.

Drug reduces fat by blocking blood vessels Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:21 AM PDT Researchers have long known that cancerous tumors grow collections of abnormal blood cells, the fuel that feeds this disease and keeps it growing. Now, new evidence in an animal model suggests that blood vessels in the fat tissue of obese individuals could provide the same purpose —- and could provide the key to a new way for people to lose weight.

Rescue me: New study finds animals do recover from neglect Posted: 23 Apr 2013 06:11 AM PDT Animal sanctuaries can play an important role in rehabilitating goats and other animals that have suffered from neglect, according to scientists.

Epigenetic changes shed light on biological mechanism of autism Posted: 23 Apr 2013 06:11 AM PDT Scientists have identified patterns of epigenetic changes involved in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by studying genetically identical twins who differ in autism traits. The study is the largest of its kind and may shed light on the biological mechanism by which environmental influences regulate the activity of certain genes and in turn contribute to the development of ASD and related behavior traits.

Humans feel empathy for robots: fMRI scans show similar brain function when robots are treated the same as humans Posted: 23 Apr 2013 06:11 AM PDT How do we really feel about non-sentient objects on a human level? A recent study found that humans have similar brain function when shown images of affection and violence being inflicted on robots and humans.

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