ScienceDaily: Top Science News

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• Shark tooth weapons reveal missing shark species in Central Pacific islands
• Exhaled breath carries a molecular 'breathprint' unique to each individual
• 'Dancing' silicon atoms discovered in graphene
• Green Pea galaxies could help astronomers understand early universe
• Chimps: Ability to 'think about thinking' not limited to humans
• 'A better path' toward projecting, planning for rising seas on a warmer Earth
• Accused of complicity in Alzheimer's, amyloid proteins may be getting a bad rap
• Rocky mountains originated from previously unknown oceanic plate
• Shape from sound: New methods to probe the universe
• Breakthrough cancer-killing treatment has no side-effects in mice: New chemistry may cure human cancers
• Ancient pool of warm water questions current climate models
• Laser light zaps away cocaine addiction
• Thin clouds drove Greenland's record-breaking 2012 ice melt
• Astronomers anticipate 100 billion Earth-like planets
• Ionic thrusters generate efficient propulsion in air
• Search for dark matter: Experiment measures antimatter excess in cosmic ray flux
• NASA team investigates complex chemistry at Saturn's moon Titan
• Building quantum states with individual silicon atoms
• Taken under the 'wing' of the small magellanic cloud: First detection of X-ray emission from young stars with masses similar to our Sun outside our Milky Way galaxy
• Earth is 'lazy' when forming faults like those near San Andreas
• Scientists build material that mimics squid beak: Promising step toward safer, more comfortable implants
• Largest class survey reveals polarized UK society and the rise of new groups
• Breakthrough in hydrogen fuel production could revolutionize alternative energy market
• Light tsunami in a superconductor
• Quantum cryptography: On wings of light

Shark tooth weapons reveal missing shark species in Central Pacific islands Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT The Gilbert Island reefs in the Central Pacific were once home to two species of sharks not previously reported in historic records or contemporary studies. The species were discovered in a new analysis of weapons made from shark teeth and used by 19th century islanders.

Exhaled breath carries a molecular 'breathprint' unique to each individual Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT Researchers have shown that exhaled human breath contains a characteristic molecular "fingerprint". Stable, specific 'breathprints' unique to an individual exist and may have applications as diagnostic tools in personalized medicine. The scientists want to use this finding to diagnose diseases based on the chemical analysis of patient's exhaled breath, using highly sensitive and precise instrumental methods.

'Dancing' silicon atoms discovered in graphene Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT Jumping silicon atoms are the stars of a newly discovered atomic scale ballet. The "dancing" movement of the silicon atoms was caused by the energy transferred to the material from the electron beam of the team's microscope.

Green Pea galaxies could help astronomers understand early universe Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT The rare Green Pea galaxies discovered by the general public in 2007 could help confirm astronomers' understanding of reionization, a pivotal stage in the evolution of the early universe.

Chimps: Ability to 'think about thinking' not limited to humans Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT Humans' closest animal relatives, chimpanzees, have the ability to "think about thinking" -- what is called "metacognition," according to new research.

'A better path' toward projecting, planning for rising seas on a warmer Earth Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT More useful projections of sea level are possible despite substantial uncertainty about the future behavior of massive ice sheets. In two recent articles, researchers present an approach that provides a consistent means to integrate the potential contribution of continental ice sheets such as Greenland and Antarctica into sea-level rise projections.

Accused of complicity in Alzheimer's, amyloid proteins may be getting a bad rap Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT Amyloids -- clumps of misfolded proteins found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders -- are the quintessential bad boys of neurobiology. But now a pair of recent research studies sets a solid course toward rehabilitating the reputation of the proteins that form these amyloid tangles, or plaques. In the process, they appear poised to turn the field of neurobiology on its head.

Rocky mountains originated from previously unknown oceanic plate Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT The mountain ranges of the North American Cordillera are made up of dozens of distinct crustal blocks. A new study clarifies their mode of origin and identifies a previously unknown oceanic plate that contributed to their assembly. Geologists were able to locate the remnants of several deep-sea trenches that mark subduction sites at which oceanic plates plunge at a steep angle into the mantle and are drawn almost vertically into its depths.

Shape from sound: New methods to probe the universe Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT A new mathematical tool should allow scientists to use "sound" to help reveal the shape of the universe.

Breakthrough cancer-killing treatment has no side-effects in mice: New chemistry may cure human cancers Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT The scientific crusade against cancer recently achieved a victory. Medical researchers have developed a new form of radiation therapy that successfully put cancer into remission in mice. This innovative treatment produced none of the harmful side-effects of conventional chemo and radiation cancer therapies.

Ancient pool of warm water questions current climate models Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT A huge pool of warm water that stretched out from Indonesia over to Africa and South America four million years ago suggests climate models might be too conservative in forecasting tropical changes. Present in the Pliocene era, this giant mass of water would have dramatically altered rainfall in the tropics, possibly even removing the monsoon. Its decay and the consequential drying of East Africa may have been a factor in Hominid evolution. The missing data for this phenomenon could have significant implications when predicting the future climate.

Laser light zaps away cocaine addiction Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT By stimulating one part of the brain with laser light, researchers have shown that they can wipe away addictive behavior in rats -- or conversely turn non-addicted rats into compulsive cocaine seekers.

Thin clouds drove Greenland's record-breaking 2012 ice melt Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT If the sheet of ice covering Greenland were to melt in its entirety tomorrow, global sea levels would rise by 24 feet. Three million cubic kilometers of ice won't wash into the ocean overnight, but researchers have been tracking increasing melt rates since at least 1979. Last summer, however, the melt was so large that similar events show up in ice core records only once every 150 years or so over the last four millennia.

Astronomers anticipate 100 billion Earth-like planets Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Researchers have proposed a new method for finding Earth-like planets and they anticipate that the number will be in the order of 100 billion. The strategy uses a technique called gravitational microlensing, currently used by a Japan-New Zealand collaboration.

Ionic thrusters generate efficient propulsion in air Posted: 03 Apr 2013 09:20 AM PDT Thrusters powered by ionic wind may be an efficient alternative to conventional atmospheric propulsion technologies. When a current passes between two electrodes -- one thinner than the other -- it creates a wind in the air between. If enough voltage is applied, the resulting wind can produce a thrust without the help of motors or fuel. Researchers have now found that ionic thrusters may be a far more efficient source of propulsion than conventional jet engines.

Search for dark matter: Experiment measures antimatter excess in cosmic ray flux Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:53 AM PDT The international team running the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) today announced the first results in its search for dark matter. They report the observation of an excess of positrons in the cosmic ray flux. The results are consistent with the positrons originating from the annihilation of dark matter particles in space, but not yet sufficiently conclusive to rule out other explanations.

NASA team investigates complex chemistry at Saturn's moon Titan Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:41 AM PDT A laboratory experiment at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., simulating the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan suggests complex organic chemistry that could eventually lead to the building blocks of life extends lower in the atmosphere than previously thought. The results now point out another region on the moon that could brew up prebiotic materials.

Building quantum states with individual silicon atoms Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:27 AM PDT By introducing individual silicon atom 'defects' using a scanning tunneling microscope, scientists have coupled single atoms to form quantum states.

Taken under the 'wing' of the small magellanic cloud: First detection of X-ray emission from young stars with masses similar to our Sun outside our Milky Way galaxy Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is one of the Milky Way's closest galactic neighbors. In fact, it was so bright that many navigators used this object to make their way across the oceans. A new composite image shows this galaxy like Ferdinand Magellan, who lends his name to the SMC, could never have imagined. New Chandra data of the SMC have provided the first detection of X-ray emission from young stars with masses similar to our Sun outside our Milky Way galaxy.

Earth is 'lazy' when forming faults like those near San Andreas Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT Some geoscientists have taken an uncommon, "Earth is lazy" approach to modeling fault development in the crust and it is providing new insights into how faults grow. In particular, this group is studying irregularities along strike-slip faults, the active zones where plates slip past each other such as at the San Andreas Fault of southern California.

Scientists build material that mimics squid beak: Promising step toward safer, more comfortable implants Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT Researchers have turned to an unlikely model to make medical devices safer and more comfortable -- a squid's beak. Many medical implants require hard materials that have to connect to or pass through soft body tissue. This mechanical mismatch leads to problems. But the beak, which boasts a mechanical gradient that can act as a shock absorber, may provide a solution.

Largest class survey reveals polarized UK society and the rise of new groups Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT The largest survey of the British class system ever carried out has revealed a new structure of seven social divisions, ranging from an "advantaged and privileged" elite to a large "precariat" of poor and deprived people.

Breakthrough in hydrogen fuel production could revolutionize alternative energy market Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:41 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a way to extract large quantities of hydrogen from any plant, a breakthrough that has the potential to bring a low-cost, environmentally friendly fuel source to the world.

Light tsunami in a superconductor Posted: 03 Apr 2013 06:26 AM PDT Superconductors are materials which conduct electric currents without any resistance. Scientists have managed to selectively influence this resistance-free conductivity with a powerful terahertz laser. This very precise laser light turns into a vortex which moves through the superconductor like a tsunami.

Quantum cryptography: On wings of light Posted: 03 Apr 2013 04:19 AM PDT Physicists have, for the first time, successfully transmitted a secure quantum code through the atmosphere from an aircraft to a ground station.

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