ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change
• First prospective trial shows molecular profiling timely for tailoring therapy
• Insecticides lead to starvation of aquatic organisms
• Long-term outcomes in patients with advanced coronary artery disease are better than expected
• World's most extraordinary species mapped for the first time
• Sugar-sweetened beverages associated with increased kidney stone risk
• Malaria infected mosquitoes more attracted to human odor than uninfected mosquitoes
• H1N1 discovered in marine mammals
• Frog once imported for pregnancy testing brought deadly amphibian disease to US
• Clam fossils divulge secrets of ecologic stability
• Jekyll into Hyde: Breathing auto emissions turns HDL cholesterol from 'good' to 'bad'
• Brain rewires itself after damage or injury, life scientists discover
• New craters abound: Mars camera reveals hundreds of impacts each year
• Methane emissions higher than thought across much of U.S.
• Getting fit in middle age can reduce heart failure risk
• Scientists shape first global topographic map of Saturn's moon Titan
• Developmental genetics of space and time
• Repeat brain injury raises soldiers' suicide risk
• Cholesterol-lowering drug may reduce exercise benefits for obese adults
• Physicists let magnetic dipoles interact on the nanoscale for the first time
• Nanoscavengers could usher in next generation water purification
• Emotional response to climate change influences whether we seek or avoid further information
• Black hole powered jets plow into galaxy
• Evolution shapes new rules for ant behavior, research finds
• Oldest evidence of split between Old World monkeys and apes: Primate fossils are 25 million years old
• First direct proof of Hofstadter butterfly fractal observed in moiré superlattices
• 'Fish thermometer' reveals long-standing, global impact of climate change
• Billion-year-old water could hold clues to life on Earth and Mars
• Catching graphene butterflies: Dramatically changing electronic properties of world's thinnest material
• Observation of second sound in a quantum gas
• Four genes identified that influence levels of 'bad' cholesterol
• Fall warming on Antarctic Peninsula driven by tropically forced circulation
• Significant improvement in performance of solar-powered hydrogen generation
• Squishy hydrogels may be the ticket for studying biological effects of nanoparticles
• Helping forests gain ground on climate change
• No idle chatter: Malaria parasites 'talk' to each other
• Human skin cells converted into embryonic stem cells: First time human stem cells have been produced via nuclear transfer
• Despite new recommendations, women in 40s continue to get routine mammograms at same rate
• Novel brain training device to reconnect brain and paralyzed limb after stroke
• Making frequency-hopping radios practical
• Groundwater unaffected by shale gas production in Arkansas
• Cotton offers a new ecologically friendly way to clean up oil spills
• Friction in the nano-world: Physicists discover a new kind of friction
• Tiny water creepy crawlies from South Korea and the Russian Far East
• Intestinal bacterium Akkermansia curbs obesity
• Warming in central China greater than most climate models indicated
• Long-term use of prescription painkillers for back pain linked to erectile dysfunction in men
• 'Good vibrations:' Brain ultrasound improves mood
• Untangling the tree of life
• Engineers design, test taller, high-strength concrete towers for wind turbines
• Political motivations may have evolutionary links to physical strength
• Storage power plant on the seabed
• Obtaining polymers with à la carte optical and electrical properties
• Body fat hardens arteries after middle age
• Cells must use their brakes moderately for effective speed control
• European winter weather harder to forecast in certain years
• Electronics comes to paper: Paper, being light and foldable, works well for electrically conducting structures
• Marijuana users have better blood sugar control
• Orion's hidden fiery ribbon

Scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change Posted: 15 May 2013 05:30 PM PDT A comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed articles on the topic of global warming and climate change has revealed an overwhelming consensus among scientists that recent warming is human-caused.

First prospective trial shows molecular profiling timely for tailoring therapy Posted: 15 May 2013 05:30 PM PDT CUSTOM is the first completed prospective clinical trial that used genetic analysis alone to assign cancer treatment for patients with one of three different cancers. Findings suggest patients, and their physicians, are eager to jump into next-era cancer care -- analysis of an individual's tumor to find and target genetic mutations that drive the cancer.

Insecticides lead to starvation of aquatic organisms Posted: 15 May 2013 05:30 PM PDT Neonicotinoid insecticides have adverse effects not only on bees but also on freshwater invertebrates. Exposure to low but constant concentrations of these substances – which are highly soluble in water – has lethal effects on these aquatic organisms.

Long-term outcomes in patients with advanced coronary artery disease are better than expected Posted: 15 May 2013 02:45 PM PDT Death rates associated with patients with refractory angina, or chronic chest pain, are lower than previously considered; therefore, physicians should focus on relieving the chest pain symptoms and improving the quality of life in these patients according to a new article.

World's most extraordinary species mapped for the first time Posted: 15 May 2013 02:44 PM PDT The black-and-white ruffed lemur, Mexican salamander and Sunda pangolin all feature on the first map of the world's most unique and threatened mammals and amphibians.

Sugar-sweetened beverages associated with increased kidney stone risk Posted: 15 May 2013 02:44 PM PDT Researchers found that the consumption of sugar sweetened soda and punch is associated with a higher risk of kidney stone formation.

Malaria infected mosquitoes more attracted to human odor than uninfected mosquitoes Posted: 15 May 2013 02:44 PM PDT Female mosquitoes infected with malaria parasites are significantly more attracted to human odor than uninfected mosquitoes, according to new research. Scientists will now attempt to find out how malaria parasites manipulate their mosquito hosts.

H1N1 discovered in marine mammals Posted: 15 May 2013 02:44 PM PDT Scientists detected the H1N1 (2009) virus in free-ranging northern elephant seals off the central California coast a year after the human pandemic began.

Frog once imported for pregnancy testing brought deadly amphibian disease to US Posted: 15 May 2013 02:43 PM PDT African frogs, originally imported for early 20th century pregnancy tests, carried a deadly amphibian disease to the US, according to new findings. African Clawed Frogs have long been suspected of spreading a harmful fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. The earliest known case of the fungus was found in these frogs in their native South Africa. Now scientists have found the first evidence of the disease among introduced feral populations in the US.

Clam fossils divulge secrets of ecologic stability Posted: 15 May 2013 02:40 PM PDT Clam fossils from the middle Devonian era now yield a better paleontological picture of the capacity of ecosystems to remain stable in the face of environmental change, according to new research.

Jekyll into Hyde: Breathing auto emissions turns HDL cholesterol from 'good' to 'bad' Posted: 15 May 2013 02:40 PM PDT Academic researchers have found that breathing motor vehicle emissions triggers a change in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, altering its cardiovascular protective qualities so that it actually contributes to clogged arteries. The finding, shown in mice, reveals how car emissions activate the early cell and tissue damage called oxidation that causes inflammation leading to hardening of the arteries and HDL cholesterol may play a key role.

Brain rewires itself after damage or injury, life scientists discover Posted: 15 May 2013 01:50 PM PDT The brain forms complex new circuits after damage to compensate for lost function, often far from the damaged region, life scientists report. The new study identified the exact regions of the brain that take over when the brain's hippocampus is damaged, and is the first demonstration of such neural circuit plasticity.

New craters abound: Mars camera reveals hundreds of impacts each year Posted: 15 May 2013 01:50 PM PDT Taking before and after pictures of the Martian terrain, researchers have identified nearly 250 fresh impact craters on the Red Planet. The results provide scientists with a better yardstick to estimate how frequently craters are blasted on Mars, allowing them to assess recently formed features with greater accuracy.

Methane emissions higher than thought across much of U.S. Posted: 15 May 2013 01:50 PM PDT After taking a rented camper outfitted with special equipment to measure methane on a cross-continent drive, a scientist has found that methane emissions across large parts of the US are higher than currently known, confirming what other more local studies have found.

Getting fit in middle age can reduce heart failure risk Posted: 15 May 2013 01:50 PM PDT Already being fit or getting into shape during middle age can reduce future heart failure risk. Low fitness is an independent, modifiable risk factor for heart failure.

Scientists shape first global topographic map of Saturn's moon Titan Posted: 15 May 2013 01:39 PM PDT Scientists have created the first global topographic map of Saturn's moon Titan, giving researchers a valuable tool for learning more about one of the most Earthlike and interesting worlds in the solar system.

Developmental genetics of space and time Posted: 15 May 2013 01:39 PM PDT Scientists have conducted a study that reveals important and useful insights into how and why developmental genes often take inputs from two independent "morphogen concentration gradients."

Repeat brain injury raises soldiers' suicide risk Posted: 15 May 2013 01:39 PM PDT Suicide risk is higher among military personnel with more lifetime TBIs, even after controlling for clinical symptom severity. Results of the study show that multiple TBIs, which are common among military personnel, may contribute to increased risk for suicide.

Cholesterol-lowering drug may reduce exercise benefits for obese adults Posted: 15 May 2013 12:19 PM PDT Researchers found that simvastatin, a generic type of drug typically prescribed to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, hindered the positive effects of exercise for obese and overweight adults.

Physicists let magnetic dipoles interact on the nanoscale for the first time Posted: 15 May 2013 12:15 PM PDT Physicists have found out how tiny islands of magnetic material align themselves when sorted on a regular lattice -- by measurements at BESSY II. Contrary to expectations, the north and south poles of the magnetic islands did not arrange themselves in a zigzag pattern, but in chains.

Nanoscavengers could usher in next generation water purification Posted: 15 May 2013 12:15 PM PDT A new synthetic nanoparticle could disinfect, depollute, and desalinate contaminated water and then get removed magnetically. This improves upon existing technologies through ultraresponsiveness to magnetism.

Emotional response to climate change influences whether we seek or avoid further information Posted: 15 May 2013 12:14 PM PDT Because information about climate change is ubiquitous in the media, researchers looked at why many Americans know so little about its causes and why many are not interested in finding out more.

Black hole powered jets plow into galaxy Posted: 15 May 2013 12:14 PM PDT The intense gravity of a supermassive black hole can be tapped to produce immense power in the form of jets moving at millions of miles per hour.

Evolution shapes new rules for ant behavior, research finds Posted: 15 May 2013 10:16 AM PDT Biologist Deborah M. Gordon's decades-long study of collective behavior in harvester ant colonies has provided a rare real-time look at natural selection at work.

Oldest evidence of split between Old World monkeys and apes: Primate fossils are 25 million years old Posted: 15 May 2013 10:15 AM PDT Two fossil discoveries from the East African Rift reveal new information about the evolution of primates, according to a new study.

First direct proof of Hofstadter butterfly fractal observed in moiré superlattices Posted: 15 May 2013 10:15 AM PDT Scientists have directly observed a rare quantum effect that produces a repeating butterfly-shaped energy spectrum, confirming the longstanding prediction of this quantum fractal energy structure called Hofstadter's butterfly.

'Fish thermometer' reveals long-standing, global impact of climate change Posted: 15 May 2013 10:15 AM PDT Climate change has been impacting global fisheries for the past four decades by driving species towards cooler, deeper waters, according to scientists.

Billion-year-old water could hold clues to life on Earth and Mars Posted: 15 May 2013 10:15 AM PDT Scientists have discovered ancient pockets of water, which have been isolated deep underground for billions of years and contain abundant chemicals known to support life. This water could be some of the oldest on the planet and may even contain life. Not just that, but the similarity between the rocks that trapped it and those on Mars raises the hope that comparable life-sustaining water could lie buried beneath the Red Planet's surface.

Catching graphene butterflies: Dramatically changing electronic properties of world's thinnest material Posted: 15 May 2013 10:15 AM PDT A large international team of researchers has shown that when graphene placed on top of insulating boron nitride, or 'white graphene', the electronic properties of graphene change dramatically revealing a pattern resembling a butterfly. The pattern is referred to as the elusive Hofstadter butterfly that has been known in theory for many decades but never before observed in experiments.

Observation of second sound in a quantum gas Posted: 15 May 2013 10:15 AM PDT Second sound is a quantum mechanical phenomenon, which has been observed only in superfluid helium. Physicists have now proven the propagation of such a temperature wave in a quantum gas.

Four genes identified that influence levels of 'bad' cholesterol Posted: 15 May 2013 10:14 AM PDT Scientists have identified four genes in baboons that influence levels of "bad" cholesterol. This discovery could lead to the development of new drugs to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Fall warming on Antarctic Peninsula driven by tropically forced circulation Posted: 15 May 2013 10:14 AM PDT New research shows that, in recent decades, fall is the only period of extensive warming over the entire Antarctic Peninsula, and it is mostly from atmospheric circulation patterns originating in the tropics.

Significant improvement in performance of solar-powered hydrogen generation Posted: 15 May 2013 09:51 AM PDT Using a powerful combination of microanalytic techniques that simultaneously image photoelectric current and chemical reaction rates across a surface on a micrometer scale, researchers have shed new light on what may become a cost-effective way to generate hydrogen gas directly from water and sunlight.

Squishy hydrogels may be the ticket for studying biological effects of nanoparticles Posted: 15 May 2013 09:51 AM PDT A class of water-loving, jelly-like materials with uses ranges ranging from the mundane, such as superabsorbent diaper liners, to the sophisticated, such as soft contact lenses, could be tapped for a new line of serious work: testing the biological effects of nanoparticles, according to scientists.

Helping forests gain ground on climate change Posted: 15 May 2013 09:50 AM PDT Researchers in Canada have developed guidelines being used by foresters and the timber industry to get a jump on climate change when planting trees.

No idle chatter: Malaria parasites 'talk' to each other Posted: 15 May 2013 09:50 AM PDT Scientists have made the surprise discovery that malaria parasites can 'talk' to each other -- a social behavior to ensure the parasite's survival and improve its chances of being transmitted to other humans. The finding could provide a niche for developing antimalarial drugs and vaccines that prevent or treat the disease by cutting these communication networks.

Human skin cells converted into embryonic stem cells: First time human stem cells have been produced via nuclear transfer Posted: 15 May 2013 09:50 AM PDT Scientists have successfully reprogrammed human skin cells to become embryonic stem cells capable of transforming into any other cell type in the body. It is believed that stem cell therapies hold the promise of replacing cells damaged through injury or illness. Diseases or conditions that might be treated through stem cell therapy include Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, cardiac disease and spinal cord injuries.

Despite new recommendations, women in 40s continue to get routine mammograms at same rate Posted: 15 May 2013 09:49 AM PDT Women in their 40s continue to undergo routine breast cancer screenings despite national guidelines recommending otherwise, according to new research.

Novel brain training device to reconnect brain and paralyzed limb after stroke Posted: 15 May 2013 09:48 AM PDT The world's first Brain Training Device has given a ray of new hope to the recovery of survivors after stroke. This novel device can detect brainwave and control the movement of paralyzed limbs.

Making frequency-hopping radios practical Posted: 15 May 2013 08:39 AM PDT New hardware could lead to wireless devices that identify and exploit unused transmission frequencies, using radio spectrum much more efficiently.

Groundwater unaffected by shale gas production in Arkansas Posted: 15 May 2013 08:38 AM PDT A new study finds no evidence of groundwater contamination from shale gas production in Arkansas.

Cotton offers a new ecologically friendly way to clean up oil spills Posted: 15 May 2013 08:38 AM PDT With the Deepwater Horizon disaster emphasizing the need for better ways of cleaning up oil spills, scientists are reporting that unprocessed, raw cotton may be an ideal, ecologically friendly answer, with an amazing ability to sop up oil.

Friction in the nano-world: Physicists discover a new kind of friction Posted: 15 May 2013 08:38 AM PDT Whether in vehicle transmissions, hip replacements, or tiny sensors for triggering airbags: The respective components must slide against each other with minimum friction to prevent loss of energy and material wear. Investigating the friction behavior of nanosystems, scientists have discovered a previously unknown type of friction that sheds new light on some previously unexplainable phenomena.

Tiny water creepy crawlies from South Korea and the Russian Far East Posted: 15 May 2013 08:38 AM PDT Tiny and hard to notice for the human eye water mites are present almost every stream and in in every continent apart from Antarctica. A new study explores the water mites of the family Torrenticolidae from a variety of habitats in South Korea and the Russian species, providing the description of two new species.

Intestinal bacterium Akkermansia curbs obesity Posted: 15 May 2013 08:37 AM PDT A dominant and useful bacterium called Akkermansia muciniphila is present in the intestinal system of all humans, from babies to the elderly. This microorganism is found in the intestinal mucus layer that protects against intruders. Even more remarkable is that this bacterium has a favorable effect on the disrupted metabolism associated with obesity.

Warming in central China greater than most climate models indicated Posted: 15 May 2013 06:49 AM PDT New data from Central China reveal that temperatures have risen 10 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit over the last 20,000 years in this region, an increase two to four times greater than what many scientists previously thought.

Long-term use of prescription painkillers for back pain linked to erectile dysfunction in men Posted: 15 May 2013 06:49 AM PDT Regularly taking prescription painkillers, also known as opioids, is associated with a higher risk of erectile dysfunction in men.

'Good vibrations:' Brain ultrasound improves mood Posted: 15 May 2013 06:48 AM PDT Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques aimed at mental and neurological conditions include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression, and transcranial direct current (electrical) stimulation (tDCS), have been shown to improve memory. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) has also shown promise.

Untangling the tree of life Posted: 15 May 2013 06:48 AM PDT Phylogeneticists examined the reasons why large-scale tree-of-life studies are producing contradictory results and have proposed a suite of novel techniques to resolve the conflicts.

Engineers design, test taller, high-strength concrete towers for wind turbines Posted: 15 May 2013 06:48 AM PDT Engineers have designed and tested a concept for concrete towers to replace the steel towers used for wind turbines. The concrete towers could be a practical way to raise turbine towers from today's 80 meters to the better winds at 100 meters or higher.

Political motivations may have evolutionary links to physical strength Posted: 15 May 2013 05:55 AM PDT Men's upper-body strength predicts their political opinions on economic redistribution, according to new research. The researchers collected data on bicep size, socioeconomic status, and support for economic redistribution from hundreds of people in the United States, Argentina, and Denmark. In line with their hypotheses, the data revealed that wealthy men with high upper-body strength were less likely to support redistribution of wealth, while less wealthy men of the same strength were more likely to support it.

Storage power plant on the seabed Posted: 15 May 2013 05:53 AM PDT A group of scientists aims to store electricity at the bottom of the sea. The energy will be stored with the help of high water pressure.

Obtaining polymers with à la carte optical and electrical properties Posted: 15 May 2013 05:53 AM PDT Scientists have created nanostructured composite materials with specific optical and electrical properties that vary according to size. These properties allow researchers to synthesize particles of the size corresponding to the desired properties, and by adding these particles to polymers, to give the final product one specific property or another.

Body fat hardens arteries after middle age Posted: 15 May 2013 05:53 AM PDT Having too much body fat makes arteries become stiff after middle age, a new study has revealed.

Cells must use their brakes moderately for effective speed control Posted: 15 May 2013 05:53 AM PDT How cells regulate their own function by "accelerating and braking" is important basic knowledge when new intelligent medicines are being developed, or when plant cells are tweaked to produce more bioenergy. Scientists now show a model of how cells' regulatory systems work.

European winter weather harder to forecast in certain years Posted: 15 May 2013 05:52 AM PDT Weather forecasters have a tougher job predicting winter conditions over Europe in some years over others, concludes a new study.

Electronics comes to paper: Paper, being light and foldable, works well for electrically conducting structures Posted: 15 May 2013 05:52 AM PDT Paper, being a light and foldable raw material, is a cost-efficient and simple means of generating electrically conducting structures.

Marijuana users have better blood sugar control Posted: 15 May 2013 05:52 AM PDT Regular marijuana use is associated with favorable indices related to diabetic control, say investigators. They found that current marijuana users had significantly lower fasting insulin and were less likely to be insulin resistant, even after excluding patients with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Orion's hidden fiery ribbon Posted: 15 May 2013 05:52 AM PDT A dramatic new image of cosmic clouds in the constellation of Orion reveals what seems to be a fiery ribbon in the sky. This orange glow represents faint light coming from grains of cold interstellar dust, at wavelengths too long for human eyes to see.

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