ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Ancient plants reawaken: Plants exposed by retreating glaciers regrowing after centuries entombed under ice
• Historic sea-level change along New Jersey coastline mapped
• Rare species perform unique roles, even in diverse ecosystems
• Different types of psychotherapy have similar benefits for depression
• Changing gut bacteria through diet affects brain function
• Significantly improved survival rates for stem cell transplant recipients
• Key to development of peripheral nervous system uncovered
• Novel disease in songbirds demonstrates evolution in the blink of an eye
• Diamonds, nanotubes find common ground in graphene
• Guatemala's jaguars: Capturing phantoms in photos
• Small molecule could have big impact on cancer
• Picking up a second language is predicted by ability to learn patterns
• Scientists develop CO2 sequestration technique
• Disappearance of stromatolites, earliest visible manifestation of life: Ancient enigma solved?
• Shape-shifting nanoparticles flip from sphere to net in response to tumor signal
• New ruthenium complexes target cancer cells without typical side effects, study suggests
• Increasing problem of prescription drug abuse among youth
• Beer-pouring robot programmed to anticipate human actions
• Preventing 'traffic jams' in brain cells
• Novel class of drugs for prostate cancers
• Fast-sinking jellyfish could boost the oceans' uptake of carbon dioxide
• Striking green-eyed butterfly discovered in the United States
• Children of long-lived parents less likely to get cancer
• Soda and illegal drugs cause similar damage to teeth: Acids erode enamel
• Just how secure is quantum cryptography?
• Einstein's 'spooky action' common in large quantum systems
• Findings may help overcome hurdle to successful bone marrow transplantation
• Have health effects from the Chernobyl accident been overestimated?
• Ugly plants worse for allergy patients
• 'Ultraselective' process to make valuable chemical from biomass
• How do plants grow toward the light? Scientists explain mechanism behind phototropism
• Crystal-clear method for distinguishing between glass and fluids
• New insights into protein disposal
• Unique omega-3 supplement effective at reducing exercise-induced asthma symptoms
• Family studies suggest rare genetic mutations team up to cause schizophrenia
• Hubble sees a swirl of star formation
• Century-old ocean data provides further confirmation of global warming
• New 1-step process for designer bacteria
• Models from big molecules captured in a flash
• Finding a genetic cause for severe childhood epilepsies
• Scientists narrow global warming range
• White Mountains hikers often underprepared
• Researcher builds replica human colon to improve water quality
• Bees tell birds to buzz off: How bumblebees steal birds' nests
• Childhood bullying increases the propensity to self-harm during adolescence, study finds
• Copper destroys norovirus, study suggests
• Aspirin triggered resolvin protects against cognitive decline after surgery
• Brittle material toughened: Tungsten-fiber-reinforced tungsten
• Analysis of medical images improved to facilitate study of psychotic disorders
• Decoding the genome of the camel
• Self-assembled nanostructures for hostile environments
• New safety test predicts reactions to novel drugs and cosmetics
• Salmonella uses protective switch during infection

Ancient plants reawaken: Plants exposed by retreating glaciers regrowing after centuries entombed under ice Posted: 28 May 2013 05:25 PM PDT When Catherine La Farge threads her way through the recently exposed terrain left behind by retreating glaciers, she looks at the ancient plant remains a lot closer than most. Now, her careful scrutiny has revealed a startling reawakening of long-dormant plants known as bryophytes.

Historic sea-level change along New Jersey coastline mapped Posted: 28 May 2013 03:10 PM PDT A new study relied upon fossil records of marshland to reconstruct the changes in sea level along the New Jersey coast going back 10,000 years.

Rare species perform unique roles, even in diverse ecosystems Posted: 28 May 2013 03:10 PM PDT A new study reveals the potential importance of rare species in the functioning of highly diverse ecosystems. Using data from three different ecosystems -- coral reefs, tropical forests and alpine meadows -- a team of researchers has shown that it's primarily the rare species, rather than more common ones, that have distinct traits involved in unique ecological functions. As biodiversity declines, these unique features are particularly vulnerable to extinction because rare species are likely to disappear first.

Different types of psychotherapy have similar benefits for depression Posted: 28 May 2013 03:10 PM PDT Treatments for depression that don't involve antidepressant drugs but rather focus on different forms of talking therapy (referred to as psychotherapeutic interventions) are all beneficial, with no one form of therapy being better than the others, according to a new study.

Changing gut bacteria through diet affects brain function Posted: 28 May 2013 03:09 PM PDT Researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task.

Significantly improved survival rates for stem cell transplant recipients Posted: 28 May 2013 03:08 PM PDT Study of 38,000 blood stem cell transplant recipients shows that survival rates increased significantly over 12 years, and numbers of patients receiving transplants grew dramatically.

Key to development of peripheral nervous system uncovered Posted: 28 May 2013 03:08 PM PDT Patients suffering from hereditary neuropathy may have hope for new treatment thanks to a new study that uncovered a key to the development of the peripheral nervous system.

Novel disease in songbirds demonstrates evolution in the blink of an eye Posted: 28 May 2013 03:08 PM PDT A novel disease in songbirds has rapidly evolved to become more harmful to its host on at least two separate occasions in just two decades, according to a new study. The research provides a real-life model to help understand how diseases that threaten humans can be expected to change in virulence as they emerge.

Diamonds, nanotubes find common ground in graphene Posted: 28 May 2013 01:09 PM PDT What may be the ultimate heat sink is only possible because of yet another astounding capability of graphene. The one-atom-thick form of carbon can act as a go-between that allows vertically aligned carbon nanotubes to grow on nearly anything, including diamonds.

Guatemala's jaguars: Capturing phantoms in photos Posted: 28 May 2013 01:09 PM PDT The Wildlife Conservation Society has released a photograph of a male jaguar taken by a remote camera trap in Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve. Activated by motion or heat differentials, camera traps "capture" pictures of secretive and elusive animals in the wild. Because each jaguar's pattern of spots is unique, the photographs can be used to identify individuals and estimate abundance.

Small molecule could have big impact on cancer Posted: 28 May 2013 01:09 PM PDT Researchers have designed and synthesized a novel small molecule that might become a large weapon in the fight against prostate cancer.

Picking up a second language is predicted by ability to learn patterns Posted: 28 May 2013 11:38 AM PDT Some people seem to pick up a second language with relative ease, while others have a much more difficult time. Now, a new study suggests that learning to understand and read a second language may be driven, at least in part, by our ability to pick up on statistical regularities.

Scientists develop CO2 sequestration technique Posted: 28 May 2013 11:37 AM PDT Scientists have discovered and demonstrated a new technique to remove and store atmospheric carbon dioxide while generating carbon-negative hydrogen and producing alkalinity, which can be used to offset ocean acidification.

Disappearance of stromatolites, earliest visible manifestation of life: Ancient enigma solved? Posted: 28 May 2013 11:37 AM PDT The widespread disappearance of stromatolites, the earliest visible manifestation of life on Earth, may have been driven by single-celled organisms called foraminifera, a new study finds.

Shape-shifting nanoparticles flip from sphere to net in response to tumor signal Posted: 28 May 2013 11:37 AM PDT Tiny spherical particles float easily through the bloodstream after injection, then assemble into a durable scaffold within diseased tissue. An enzyme produced by a specific type of tumor can trigger the transformation of the spheres into netlike structures that accumulate at the site of a cancer.

New ruthenium complexes target cancer cells without typical side effects, study suggests Posted: 28 May 2013 11:37 AM PDT Pre-clinical tests found two ruthenium polypyridyl complexes, or RPCs, yielded results comparable to cisplatin against human non-small cell lung cancer cells and were generally cleared from the body unchanged, without noticeable effects on metabolism or kidney function. Healthy cells could withstand almost 10 times as much exposure to the ruthenium complexes as the cancer cells and the RPCs seemed to target cells in hypoxic states.

Increasing problem of prescription drug abuse among youth Posted: 28 May 2013 11:37 AM PDT Young people are increasingly turning to prescription drugs to get high. Research sheds new light on what could increase or lower that risk.

Beer-pouring robot programmed to anticipate human actions Posted: 28 May 2013 11:36 AM PDT Understanding when and where to pour a beer or knowing when to offer assistance opening a refrigerator door can be difficult for a robot because of the many variables it encounters while assessing the situation. Researchers have created a solution: a robot that has learned to foresee human action in order to step in and offer a helping hand.

Preventing 'traffic jams' in brain cells Posted: 28 May 2013 11:36 AM PDT An Alzheimer's disease protein controls the speed at which materials move through brain cells, and defects could lead to deadly pileups of the kind seen in neurodegenerative disease, a new publication finds.

Novel class of drugs for prostate cancers Posted: 28 May 2013 09:25 AM PDT A new study on prostate cancer describes a novel class of drugs that interrupts critical signaling needed for prostate cancer cells to grow.

Fast-sinking jellyfish could boost the oceans' uptake of carbon dioxide Posted: 28 May 2013 09:25 AM PDT Increasing numbers of gelatinous plankton might help in mitigating the carbon dioxide problem. In field and laboratory experiments scientists have shown that dead jellyfish and pelagic tunicates sink much faster than phytoplankton and marine snow remains. Jellies are especially important because they rapidly consume plankton and particles and quickly export biomass and carbon to the ocean interior.

Striking green-eyed butterfly discovered in the United States Posted: 28 May 2013 09:25 AM PDT Striking olive-green eye colour allows scientists to distinguish a new butterfly species, which was confirmed using Smithsonian entomology collections. Previously unrecognized because of its similarity with the common Gray Ministreak, the newly described Vicroy's Ministreak was named after the wife of Jeffrey Glassberg, who discovered it. It may turn out to be the last distinctive butterfly species from the United States.

Children of long-lived parents less likely to get cancer Posted: 28 May 2013 09:25 AM PDT The offspring of parents who live to a ripe old age are more likely to live longer themselves, and less prone to cancer and other common diseases associated with aging, a study has revealed.

Soda and illegal drugs cause similar damage to teeth: Acids erode enamel Posted: 28 May 2013 09:25 AM PDT Addicted to soda? You may be shocked to learn that drinking large quantities of your favorite carbonated soda could be as damaging to your teeth as methamphetamine and crack cocaine use. The consumption of illegal drugs and abusive intake of soda can cause similar damage to your mouth through the process of tooth erosion, according to a case study.

Just how secure is quantum cryptography? Posted: 28 May 2013 09:24 AM PDT Unlike classical encryption, quantum communication systems are known to offer the promise of virtually unbreakable encryption. Now, new research on this topic is shaking up the long-held notion that quantum communications are 100 percent secure. Researchers have recently demonstrated that quantum encryption may be susceptible to hacking.

Einstein's 'spooky action' common in large quantum systems Posted: 28 May 2013 09:24 AM PDT Mathematician have shown that entanglement -- what Einstein termed "spooky action at a distance" -- is actually prevalent in large quantum systems and have identified the threshold at which it occurs.

Findings may help overcome hurdle to successful bone marrow transplantation Posted: 28 May 2013 09:24 AM PDT Blood diseases such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplasia can develop from abnormal bone marrow cells and a dysfunctional bone marrow microenvironment that surrounds these cells. Researchers have found that eliminating a gene in the cells found in this microenvironment causes them to die, enabling donor cells to replace them. The findings could help improve bone marrow transplant therapy for patients who need it.

Have health effects from the Chernobyl accident been overestimated? Posted: 28 May 2013 09:23 AM PDT The impact of the Chernobyl nuclear accident has been seriously overestimated, while unfounded statements presented as scientific facts have been used to strangle the nuclear industry, according to Russian researchers. New research suggests that the health effects of food contamination in particular have been distorted in anti-industry propaganda.

Ugly plants worse for allergy patients Posted: 28 May 2013 09:22 AM PDT As allergy season continues for Middle Tennessee and much of the U.S., a largely unknown adage rings true: the uglier a flower or weed, the more allergy-inducing its pollen tends to be. Ragweed, mugwort, plantain and pigweed have more than just their unappealing appearance in common—they're some of the worst offenders to allergy sufferers.

'Ultraselective' process to make valuable chemical from biomass Posted: 28 May 2013 09:22 AM PDT Chemical engineers have discovered a new chemical process to make p-xylene, an important ingredient of plastics for products such as soda bottles and packaging, at 90 percent yield from lignocellulosic biomass, the highest yield achieved to date.

How do plants grow toward the light? Scientists explain mechanism behind phototropism Posted: 28 May 2013 07:59 AM PDT Plants have developed a number of strategies to capture the maximum amount of sunlight through their leaves. As we know from looking at plants on a windowsill, they grow toward the sunlight to be able to generate energy by photosynthesis. Now scientists have provided definitive insights into the driving force behind this movement -- the plant hormone auxin.

Crystal-clear method for distinguishing between glass and fluids Posted: 28 May 2013 07:59 AM PDT Many solids are produced from melting. Depending on how quickly they cool off, invariably, internal tensile stresses begin to build up. However, until now, our understanding of the unique characteristics exhibited by the condition of the glass as compared with a tough molten mass was spotty at best. Now, scientists have offered a surprisingly simple model to explain the difference between glass and molten materials.

New insights into protein disposal Posted: 28 May 2013 07:59 AM PDT Cells have a sophisticated system to control and dispose of defective, superfluous proteins and thus to prevent damage to the body. Researchers have discovered a new function of an enzyme that is involved in this vital process.

Unique omega-3 supplement effective at reducing exercise-induced asthma symptoms Posted: 28 May 2013 07:52 AM PDT A new study found that an omega-3 supplement derived from the New Zealand green-lipped mussel improved lung function and reduced airway inflammation in asthmatics with exercise-induced asthma.

Family studies suggest rare genetic mutations team up to cause schizophrenia Posted: 28 May 2013 07:52 AM PDT Using a novel method of analyzing genetic variations in families, researchers have found that individually harmless genetic variations affecting related biochemical processes may team up to increase the risk of schizophrenia. They say their findings bring some clarity to the murky relationship between genetics and schizophrenia, and may lead to a genetic test that can predict which medications will be effective for individual patients.

Hubble sees a swirl of star formation Posted: 28 May 2013 07:51 AM PDT The Hubble Space Telescope has captured the image of an unusual galaxy -- a beautiful, glittering swirl named, rather un-poetically, J125013.50+073441.5. A glowing haze of material seems to engulf the galaxy, stretching out into space in different directions and forming a fuzzy streak in this image. It is a starburst galaxy -- a name given to galaxies that show unusually high rates of star formation. The regions where new stars are being born are highlighted by sparkling bright blue regions along the galactic arms.

Century-old ocean data provides further confirmation of global warming Posted: 28 May 2013 07:45 AM PDT A new NASA and university analysis of ocean data collected more than 135 years ago by the crew of the HMS Challenger oceanographic expedition provides further confirmation that human activities have warmed our planet over the past century.

New 1-step process for designer bacteria Posted: 28 May 2013 07:02 AM PDT A simpler and faster way of producing designer bacteria used in biotechnology processes has been developed.

Models from big molecules captured in a flash Posted: 28 May 2013 07:02 AM PDT The structures of most of the two million proteins in the human body are still unknown, even at low resolution. A new algorithm solves the convoluted shapes of large molecules by using images of numerous individual samples, all caught simultaneously in a split-second flash of x-rays from a free-electron laser. The technique promises efficient information about the shapes of many more large biological molecules in their native, fluid state.

Finding a genetic cause for severe childhood epilepsies Posted: 28 May 2013 07:01 AM PDT A large scientific study has discovered new genes causing severe seizure disorders that begin in babies and early childhood. The finding will lead to new tests to diagnose these conditions and promises to lead to improved outcomes.

Scientists narrow global warming range Posted: 28 May 2013 07:01 AM PDT Australian scientists have narrowed the predicted range of global warming through groundbreaking new research.

White Mountains hikers often underprepared Posted: 28 May 2013 07:01 AM PDT In a new study based on surveys of hikers in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest, researchers find that many people hit the trails without essential equipment, often because they don't think it's needed for short hikes. Young, inexperienced hikers were most likely to lack essential gear.

Researcher builds replica human colon to improve water quality Posted: 28 May 2013 07:01 AM PDT To better understand how bacteria impact the environment researchers spent nearly a year building a system that replicates a human colon, septic tank and groundwater and "fed" the colon three times a day during weeklong experiments to simulate human eating.

Bees tell birds to buzz off: How bumblebees steal birds' nests Posted: 28 May 2013 06:21 AM PDT A new study reveals how bumblebees steal birds' nests. The study highlights the 'parasitism by theft' of bumblebees that invade birds' nests and claim them as their own. Their warning buzz helps bumblebees to "scare" the bird away from the nest.

Childhood bullying increases the propensity to self-harm during adolescence, study finds Posted: 28 May 2013 06:21 AM PDT A new study has shown that being bullied during childhood directly increases the likelihood of self-harm in late adolescence.

Copper destroys norovirus, study suggests Posted: 28 May 2013 06:21 AM PDT New research shows that copper and copper alloys will rapidly destroy norovirus - the highly-infectious sickness bug. The virus can be contracted from contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact, and contact with contaminated surfaces, meaning surfaces made from copper could effectively shut down one avenue of infection.

Aspirin triggered resolvin protects against cognitive decline after surgery Posted: 28 May 2013 06:16 AM PDT Resolvins are molecules naturally produced by the body from omega-3 fatty acids – a process that can be jumpstarted by common aspirin. In a new study researchers describe how resolvins could protect against the cognitive impairment that often affects recovery of surgical and critically ill patients. The study adds new knowledge on how peripheral surgery affects the brain and neuronal function contributing to the processes of cognitive decline.

Brittle material toughened: Tungsten-fiber-reinforced tungsten Posted: 28 May 2013 06:16 AM PDT Tungsten is particularly suitable as material for highly stressed parts of the vessel enclosing a hot fusion plasma, it being the metal with the highest melting point. A disadvantage, however, is its brittleness, which under stress makes it fragile and prone to damage. A novel, more resilient compound material has now been developed. It consists of homogeneous tungsten with coated tungsten wires embedded. A feasibility study has just shown the basic suitability of the new compound.

Analysis of medical images improved to facilitate study of psychotic disorders Posted: 28 May 2013 06:16 AM PDT Scientists have developed new superresolution and segmentation methods for magnetic resonance images so that they can be applied to the structural study of psychosis. The aim is to be able to identify the differences that are produced in specific parts of the brain in psychotic patients with respect to their healthy relatives or other people.

Decoding the genome of the camel Posted: 28 May 2013 06:16 AM PDT By sequencing the genome of a Bactrian camel, researchers have made a significant contribution to population genetic research on camels. The study has laid the foundation for future scientific work on these enigmatic desert animals. A blood sample from a single Bactrian camel with the evocative name of "Mozart" provided the genetic raw material for the work.

Self-assembled nanostructures for hostile environments Posted: 28 May 2013 06:14 AM PDT Scientists in Japan have developed a new self-assembled nanostructure that can survive very hot or saline environments.

New safety test predicts reactions to novel drugs and cosmetics Posted: 27 May 2013 08:19 PM PDT A simple lab-based skin test which eliminates the risk of adverse reactions to new drugs, cosmetics and household chemicals has been developed. It uses real human skin and immune cells to show any reaction such as a rash or blistering indicating a wider immune response within the body.

Salmonella uses protective switch during infection Posted: 27 May 2013 12:36 PM PDT For the first time, researchers have found a particular kind of molecular switch in the food poisoning bacteria Salmonella Typhimurium under infection-like conditions. This switch, using a process called S-thiolation, appears to be used by the bacteria to respond to changes in the environment during infection and might protect it from harm, researchers report.

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