ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Remaining Martian atmosphere still dynamic
• A warming world will further intensify extreme precipitation events, research shows
• 'Artificial leaf' gains the ability to self-heal damage and produce energy from dirty water
• Researchers uncover new pathways in bacterial intercellular competition
• Couch potatoes may be genetically predisposed to being lazy, rat study suggests
• Posture provides clue for future disability
• How stepdads can avoid missteps
• Research advances therapy to protect against dengue virus
• 'Post-mortem' yields insight into Kepler's supernova
• Hot and cold senses interact: Cold perception is enhanced when nerve circuitry for heat is inactivated
• The ethics of resurrecting extinct species
• Smoking may negatively impact kidney function among adolescents
• Plant proteins control chronic disease in Toxoplasma infections
• 'Pharmaceutical' approach boosts oil production from algae
• How carbon moves within planet plays big role in planetary atmosphere formation
• Moving cells with light holds medical promise
• No map, no problems for monarchs
• Surprising predictor of ecosystem chemistry
• Carbon dioxide released from burning fuel today goes back into new fuels tomorrow
• Anesthetic linked to brain cell death in newborn mice
• Gulf of Mexico has greater-than-believed ability to self-cleanse oil spills
• Avian virus may be harmful to cancer cells
• Byrd came oh-so-close, but probably didn't reach North Pole
• Computer scientists develop video game that teaches how to program in Java
• Population boom poses interconnected challenges of energy, food, water
• Sustained stress heightens risk of miscarriage
• A fly mutation suggests a new route for tackling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• High salt levels in Saharan groundwater endanger oases farming
• ACMG releases statement on noninvasive prenatal screening
• Rapid climate change and the role of the Southern Ocean
• Gene switch steers blood supply to the retina
• New software identifies and stratifies risk posed by lung nodules
• Women with elite education opting out of full-time careers: Women with MBA's are most likely to work less
• Reframing stress: Stage fright can be your friend
• Some melanoma survivors still use tanning beds, skip sunscreen
• Increased sleep could reduce rate of adolescent obesity
• New evidence dinosaurs were strong swimmers
• Researchers design drug to restore cell suicide in HPV-related head and neck cancer
• Shedding light on a gene mutation that causes signs of premature aging
• Link between obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome may be exaggerated
• Why going green is good chemistry
• Tortuous paths hamper ion transport
• Tin nanocrystals for the battery of the future
• Older patients have higher expectations and are more satisfied with healthcare
• Healthy doctors make healthy patients, study finds
• Rare primate's vocal lip-smacks share features of human speech
• Children with autism leave 'silly' out
• Newly discovered blood protein solves 60-year-old riddle
• Dramatic retreat of the Andean glaciers over the last 30 years
• New 'transient electronics' disappear when no longer needed
• Goodbye drafty backside, hello comfort, style in newly designed patient gown
• Egyptian wedding certificate key to authenticating controversial biblical text
• Natural soil bacteria pump new life into exhausted oil wells
• Sweet success: Catalyzing more sugars from biomass
• 'Jumping genes' may contribute to aging-related brain defects
• Fatheads: How neurons protect themselves against excess fat
• Technique finds software bugs in surgical robots and helps developers fix flaws, ensure safety
• Birds find ways to avoid raising cuckoos' young
• A protein's well-known cousin sheds light on its gout-linked relative
• A hijacking of healthy cellular circuits

Remaining Martian atmosphere still dynamic Posted: 08 Apr 2013 04:29 PM PDT Mars has lost much of its original atmosphere, but what's left remains quite active, recent findings from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity indicate, scientists report. Evidence has strengthened that Mars lost much of its original atmosphere by a process of gas escaping from the top of the atmosphere.

A warming world will further intensify extreme precipitation events, research shows Posted: 08 Apr 2013 04:09 PM PDT As the globe warms from rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, more moisture in a warmer atmosphere will make the most extreme precipitation events more intense, new research shows.

'Artificial leaf' gains the ability to self-heal damage and produce energy from dirty water Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:58 PM PDT Another innovative feature has been added to the world's first practical "artificial leaf," making the device even more suitable for providing people in developing countries and remote areas with electricity. It gives the leaf the ability to self-heal damage.

Researchers uncover new pathways in bacterial intercellular competition Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:47 PM PDT There's an epic battle taking place that's not on the national radar: intercellular competition. While it's not an Olympic event, new research demonstrates that this microscopic rivalry can be just as fierce as humans going for the gold.

Couch potatoes may be genetically predisposed to being lazy, rat study suggests Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:47 PM PDT Researchers were able to selectively breed rats that exhibited traits of either extreme activity or extreme laziness. They say these rats indicate that genetics could play a role in exercise motivation, even in humans.

Posture provides clue for future disability Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:47 PM PDT The shape of an individual's spinal column may predict his or her risk for nursing home admission or need of home assistance in old age, according to a new article.

How stepdads can avoid missteps Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:46 PM PDT A new study found three factors that contribute to feelings of closeness in stepfamilies: the couple keeps arguments to a minimum; mothers help children feel comfortable sharing their frustrations; and the stepfather and mother agree on how to parent.

Research advances therapy to protect against dengue virus Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:46 PM PDT Now a therapy to protect people from the dengue virus could finally be a step closer, thanks to new research.

'Post-mortem' yields insight into Kepler's supernova Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:46 PM PDT An exploding star observed in 1604 by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler held a greater fraction of heavy elements than the sun, according to an analysis of X-ray observations from the Japan-led Suzaku satellite. The findings will help astronomers better understand the diversity of type Ia supernovae, an important class of stellar explosion used in probing the distant universe.

Hot and cold senses interact: Cold perception is enhanced when nerve circuitry for heat is inactivated Posted: 08 Apr 2013 02:22 PM PDT A new study offers new insights into how the nervous system processes hot and cold temperatures. The research found an interaction between the neural circuits that detect hot and cold stimuli: cold perception is enhanced when nerve circuitry for heat is inactivated.

The ethics of resurrecting extinct species Posted: 08 Apr 2013 01:59 PM PDT At some point, scientists may be able to bring back extinct animals, and perhaps early humans, raising questions of ethics and environmental disruption.

Smoking may negatively impact kidney function among adolescents Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:29 PM PDT New research finds the effects of tobacco smoke on kidney function begin in childhood.

Plant proteins control chronic disease in Toxoplasma infections Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:29 PM PDT A new discovery about the malaria-related parasite Toxoplasma gondii -- which can threaten babies, AIDS patients, the elderly and others with weakened immune systems -- may help solve the mystery of how this single-celled parasite establishes life-long infections in people. The study places the blame squarely on a family of plant proteins, known as AP2 factors.

'Pharmaceutical' approach boosts oil production from algae Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:29 PM PDT Taking an approach similar to that used for discovering new therapeutic drugs, chemists have found several compounds that can boost oil production by green microscopic algae, a potential source of biodiesel and other "green" fuels.

How carbon moves within planet plays big role in planetary atmosphere formation Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:29 PM PDT A new study suggests that the way carbon moves from within a planet to the surface plays a big role in the evolution of a planet's atmosphere. Mars, which likely released much of its carbon as methane, might have been warm enough to support liquid water.

Moving cells with light holds medical promise Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:29 PM PDT Scientists have shown they can coax cells to move toward a beam of light. The feat is a first step toward manipulating cells to control insulin secretion or heart rate using light.

No map, no problems for monarchs Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:29 PM PDT Monarch butterflies have long been admired for their sense of direction, as they migrate from Canada and the United States to Mexico. According to new findings from a team of scientists, the winged insects fly without a map, and use basic orientation and landmarks to find their way to their wintering sites, thousands of miles away.

Surprising predictor of ecosystem chemistry Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:28 PM PDT Scientists have found that the plant species making up an ecosystem are better predictors of ecosystem chemistry than environmental conditions such as terrain, geology, or altitude. This is the first study using a new, high-resolution airborne, chemical-detecting instrument to map multiple ecosystem chemicals.

Carbon dioxide released from burning fuel today goes back into new fuels tomorrow Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:28 PM PDT The search for ways to use megatons of carbon dioxide that may be removed from industrial smokestacks during efforts to curb global warming has led to a process for converting that major greenhouse gas back into the fuel that released it in the first place.

Anesthetic linked to brain cell death in newborn mice Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:27 PM PDT Exposure to the anesthetic agent isoflurane increases "programmed cell death" of specific types of cells in the newborn mouse brain, a new study reports.

Gulf of Mexico has greater-than-believed ability to self-cleanse oil spills Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:27 PM PDT The Gulf of Mexico may have a much greater natural ability to self-clean oil spills than previously believed, an expert in bioremediation has said.

Avian virus may be harmful to cancer cells Posted: 08 Apr 2013 11:26 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that a genetically engineered Newcastle disease virus, which harms chickens but not humans, kills prostate cancer cells of all kinds, including hormone-resistant cancer cells.

Byrd came oh-so-close, but probably didn't reach North Pole Posted: 08 Apr 2013 11:26 AM PDT When renowned explorer Richard E. Byrd returned from the first-ever flight to the North Pole in 1926, he sparked a controversy that remains today. Studying supercomputer simulations of atmospheric conditions on the day of the flight and double-checking Byrd's navigation techniques, a researcher has determined that Byrd indeed neared the Pole, but likely only flew within 80 miles of it before turning back.

Computer scientists develop video game that teaches how to program in Java Posted: 08 Apr 2013 11:26 AM PDT Computer scientists have developed an immersive, first-person player video game designed to teach students in elementary to high school how to program in Java, one of the most common programming languages in use today. The researchers tested the game on a group of girls who had never been exposed to programming before.

Population boom poses interconnected challenges of energy, food, water Posted: 08 Apr 2013 11:26 AM PDT Mention great challenges in feeding a soaring world population, and thoughts turn to providing a bare subsistence diet for poverty-stricken people in developing countries. But an expert described a parallel and often-overlooked challenge of feeding a larger middle class.

Sustained stress heightens risk of miscarriage Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:39 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that pregnant women living under continuous political and military stress have a 59 percent increased risk of miscarriage. The findings, based upon studies conducted on women in the Israeli town of Sderot, which is constantly under threat of rocket bombings from Gaza, demonstrate the importance of early intervention provided by health care professionals.

A fly mutation suggests a new route for tackling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:39 AM PDT Medical researchers have discovered a gene, dSarm, in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster that, when mutant, blocks the self-destruction of damaged axons, which could hold clues to treating motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

High salt levels in Saharan groundwater endanger oases farming Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:38 AM PDT For more than 40 years, snowmelt and runoff from Morocco's High Atlas Mountains has been dammed and redirected hundreds of kilometers to the south to irrigate oases farms in the arid, sub-Saharan Draa Basin. But a new study finds that far from alleviating water woes for the six farm oases in the basin, the inflow of imported water has exacerbated problems by dramatically increasing the natural saltiness of their groundwater.

ACMG releases statement on noninvasive prenatal screening Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:37 AM PDT The new ACMG statement on "Noninvasive Prenatal Screening" addresses: The current limitations of NIPS; the advantages of NIPS compared with current screening approaches; pretest and posttest genetic counseling; the reporting of results by laboratories performing NIPS; and the oversight of analytical and bioinformatic components by testing of the laboratories performing NIPS.

Rapid climate change and the role of the Southern Ocean Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:37 AM PDT Scientists have discovered new clues about past rapid climate change. The research concludes that oceanographic reorganizations and biological processes are linked to the supply of airborne dust in the Southern Ocean and this connection played a key role in past rapid fluctuations of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, an important component in the climate system.

Gene switch steers blood supply to the retina Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:35 AM PDT Normal functioning of the eye depends on a proper supply of blood to the retina. Light entering the eye passes through the cornea, the lens, and the vitreous body before reaching the retina, where it stimulates the nerves. If the retina contains too few or too many blood vessels – i.e., if it is under- or oversupplied with blood – a number of severe, often blinding eye diseases can develop.

New software identifies and stratifies risk posed by lung nodules Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:30 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new software tool to noninvasively characterize pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common type of cancerous nodule in the lungs.

Women with elite education opting out of full-time careers: Women with MBA's are most likely to work less Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:30 AM PDT Though past studies have found little evidence that women are opting out of the workforce in general, first-of-its-kind research by a professor of law and economics shows that female graduates of elite undergraduate universities are working much fewer hours than their counterparts from less selective institutions.

Reframing stress: Stage fright can be your friend Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:30 AM PDT Fear of public speaking tops death and spiders as the nation's number one phobia. But new research shows that learning to rethink the way we view our shaky hands, pounding heart, and sweaty palms can help people perform better both mentally and physically.

Some melanoma survivors still use tanning beds, skip sunscreen Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:30 AM PDT Although most survivors of melanoma take precautions to protect their skin from the sun and further occurrences of cancer, new data has revealed that more than a quarter do not use sunscreen when outside for more than an hour, and more than 2 percent still use tanning beds.

Increased sleep could reduce rate of adolescent obesity Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:35 AM PDT Increasing the number of hours of sleep adolescents get each night may reduce the prevalence of adolescent obesity, according to a new study. Results of the study show that fewer hours of sleep is associated with greater increases in adolescent body mass index for participants between 14 and 18-years-old.

New evidence dinosaurs were strong swimmers Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:35 AM PDT A researcher has identified some of the strongest evidence ever found that dinosaurs could paddle long distances. He examined unusual claw marks left on a river bottom in China that is known to have been a major travel-way for dinosaurs.

Researchers design drug to restore cell suicide in HPV-related head and neck cancer Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:35 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which the human papilloma virus causes head and neck cancer, and they have designed a drug to block that mechanism. The new agent might offer a safer treatment for these tumors when combined with a tapered dose of standard chemotherapy.

Shedding light on a gene mutation that causes signs of premature aging Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:34 AM PDT Researchers found that mice developed without the ATRX gene had problems in in the forebrain, the part of the brain associated with learning and memory, and in the anterior pituitary which has a direct effect on body growth and metabolism. The mice, unexpectedly, also displayed many of the symptoms associated with aging.

Link between obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome may be exaggerated Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:34 AM PDT The relationship between obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome may be exaggerated, likely because the women who actively seek care for the condition tend to be heavier than those identified through screening of the general population, researchers report.

Why going green is good chemistry Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:33 AM PDT Shaken, not stirred, is the essence of new research that's showing promise in creating the chemical reactions necessary for industries such as pharmaceutical companies, but eliminating the resulting waste from traditional methods.

Tortuous paths hamper ion transport Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:32 AM PDT Researchers have used X-ray tomography to screen lithium ion battery electrodes and can reconstruct the microstructure in high resolution. This helps to understand the discharging and charging process better and develop optimized electrodes.

Tin nanocrystals for the battery of the future Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:32 AM PDT More powerful batteries could help electric cars achieve a considerably larger range and thus a breakthrough on the market. A new nanomaterial for lithium ion batteries could come into play here.

Older patients have higher expectations and are more satisfied with healthcare Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:32 AM PDT New research on patients' experiences of health services and how these relate to their expectations and satisfaction, reveals that older people have higher expectations of their care and that they believe that their expectations are being met.

Healthy doctors make healthy patients, study finds Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:32 AM PDT Patients are more likely to follow preventive health practices like getting a flu shot or mammography if their doctors do likewise, researchers have discovered.

Rare primate's vocal lip-smacks share features of human speech Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:31 AM PDT The vocal lip-smacks that geladas use in friendly encounters have surprising similarities to human speech, according to a new study. The geladas, which live only in the mountains of Ethiopia, are the only nonhuman primate known to communicate with such a speech-like, undulating rhythm. Calls of other monkeys and apes are typically one or two syllables and lack those rapid fluctuations in pitch and volume.

Children with autism leave 'silly' out Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:31 AM PDT When a child with autism copies the actions of an adult, he or she is likely to omit anything "silly" about what they've just seen. In contrast, typically developing children will go out of their way to repeat each and every element of the behavior even as they may realize that parts of it don't make any sense.

Newly discovered blood protein solves 60-year-old riddle Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:28 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new protein that controls the presence of the Vel blood group antigen on our red blood cells. The discovery makes it possible to use simple DNA testing to find blood donors for patients who lack the Vel antigen and need a blood transfusion.

Dramatic retreat of the Andean glaciers over the last 30 years Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:28 AM PDT The glaciers in the tropical Andes shrunk between 30 and 50% in 30 years, which represents the highest rate observed over the last three centuries. Scientists have recently published a summary which chronicles the history of these glaciers since their maximum extension, reached between 1650 and 1730 of our era, in the middle of the Little Ice Age. The faster melting is due to the rapid climate change which has occurred in the tropics since the 1950s, and in particular since the end of the 1970s, leading to an average temperature rise of 0.7°C in this part of the Andes. At the current pace of their retreat, small glaciers could disappear within the next 10 to 15 years, affecting water supply for the populations.

New 'transient electronics' disappear when no longer needed Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:23 AM PDT Scientists have described key advances toward practical uses of a new genre of tiny, biocompatible electronic devices that could be implanted into the body to relieve pain or battle infection for a specific period of time, and then dissolve harmlessly.

Goodbye drafty backside, hello comfort, style in newly designed patient gown Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:23 AM PDT The drafty backside is finally gone, replaced with comfort, warmth and dignity in a newly designed hospital gown that blends style for the patient with clinical function for the health care team.

Egyptian wedding certificate key to authenticating controversial biblical text Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:23 AM PDT A scientist who helped verify authenticity of the fabled Gospel of Judas today revealed how an ancient Egyptian marriage certificate played a pivotal role in confirming the veracity of inks used in the controversial text. The disclosure sheds new light on the intensive scientific efforts to validate the gospel.

Natural soil bacteria pump new life into exhausted oil wells Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:22 AM PDT Technology that enlists natural soil bacteria as 21st century roughnecks now is commercially available and poised to recover precious oil remaining in thousands of exhausted oil wells. The process has been termed microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR).

Sweet success: Catalyzing more sugars from biomass Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:33 AM PDT Using an ultrahigh-precision microscopy technique, researchers have uncovered a way to improve the collective catalytic activity of enzyme cocktails on cellulosic biomass, boosting the yields of sugars for the production of advanced biofuels.

'Jumping genes' may contribute to aging-related brain defects Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:33 AM PDT Aging is a destructive process, whose most visible effects occur on the physical characteristics of the body. Now neuroscientists show transposon, or jumping gene, activity in the aging fruit fly brain may be the cause of age-related brain defects. This research adds to previous data from their lab suggesting loss of transposon control could be a cause of neurodegenerative disease.

Fatheads: How neurons protect themselves against excess fat Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:33 AM PDT In a recent study in mice, researchers have pinpointed an enzyme that keeps neurons' fat levels under control, and may be implicated in human neurological diseases.

Technique finds software bugs in surgical robots and helps developers fix flaws, ensure safety Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:33 AM PDT Surgical robots could make some types of surgery safer and more effective, but proving that the software controlling these machines works as intended is problematic. Researchers have demonstrated that methods for reliably detecting software bugs and ultimately verifying software safety can be applied successfully to this breed of robot.

Birds find ways to avoid raising cuckoos' young Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:33 AM PDT A new study suggests swallows and martins breed indoors and close to humans to avoid having to rear cuckoos. Some species of birds reproduce not by rearing their own young, but by handing that task on to adults of other species. Known as brood parasitism, this habit has been most thoroughly researched in the cuckoo. Previous research has found, however, that the nests of martins and swallows in Europe are rarely parasitized by cuckoos.

A protein's well-known cousin sheds light on its gout-linked relative Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:32 AM PDT A genetic mutation causes a breakdown in a cellular pump that clears uric acid from the blood. By comparing this protein pump to a related protein involved in cystic fibrosis, the researchers also identified a compound that partially repairs the pump.

A hijacking of healthy cellular circuits Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:32 AM PDT Scientists have identified a unique mechanism by which glioblastoma cells develop resistance to drugs that target EGFR signaling.

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