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Friday, May 24, 2013

ScienceDaily: Top Science News

ScienceDaily: Top Science News


King Richard III found in 'untidy lozenge-shaped grave'

Posted: 23 May 2013 07:37 PM PDT

A new article on the archaeology of the Search for Richard III reveals for the first time specific details of the grave dug for King Richard III and discovered under a car park in Leicester.

Earth's mantle affects long-term sea-level rise estimates

Posted: 23 May 2013 11:37 AM PDT

New findings reveal that the U.S. shoreline -- from Virginia to Florida -- has been uplifted by more than 210 feet, meaning less ice melted than expected. This is big news for scientists who use the coastline to predict future sea-level rise.

Scientists offer first definitive proof of bacteria-feeding behavior in green algae

Posted: 23 May 2013 11:37 AM PDT

Researchers have captured images of green alga consuming bacteria, offering a glimpse at how early organisms dating back more than 1 billion years may have acquired free-living photosynthetic cells. This acquisition is thought to be a critical first step in the evolution of photosynthetic algae and land plants, which, in turn, contributed to the increase in oxygen levels in Earth's atmosphere and ocean and provided one of the conditions necessary for animal evolution.

Biophysicists measure mechanism that determines fate of living cells

Posted: 23 May 2013 11:37 AM PDT

For the first time, biophysicists have measured the molecular force required to mechanically transmit function-regulating signals within a cell. A new laboratory method, named the tension gauge tether approach, has made it possible to detect and measure the mechanics of the single-molecule interaction by which human cell receptors are activated.

Drug reverses Alzheimer's disease deficits in mice

Posted: 23 May 2013 11:35 AM PDT

An anti-cancer drug reverses memory deficits in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model, new research shows. The article reviewed previously published findings on the drug bexarotene, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

Molecule that triggers sensation of itch discovered

Posted: 23 May 2013 11:33 AM PDT

Scientists report they have discovered in mouse studies that a small molecule released in the spinal cord triggers a process that is later experienced in the brain as the sensation of itch.

White tiger mystery solved: Coat color produced by single change in pigment gene

Posted: 23 May 2013 11:33 AM PDT

White tigers today are only seen in zoos, but they belong in nature, say researchers reporting new evidence about what makes those tigers white. Their spectacular white coats are produced by a single change in a known pigment gene, according to a new study.

Motion quotient: IQ predicted by ability to filter visual motion

Posted: 23 May 2013 11:31 AM PDT

A brief visual task can predict IQ, according to a new study. This surprisingly simple exercise measures the brain's unconscious ability to filter out visual movement. The study shows that individuals whose brains are better at suppressing background motion perform better on standard measures of intelligence.

Accurate distance measurement resolves major astronomical mystery

Posted: 23 May 2013 11:30 AM PDT

Astronomers have resolved a major problem in their understanding of a class of stars that undergo regular outbursts by accurately measuring the distance to a famous example of the type.

Bacterium from Canadian high Arctic offers clues to possible life on Mars

Posted: 23 May 2013 08:38 AM PDT

The recent discovery of a bacterium that is able to thrive at minus 15 degrees Celsius, the coldest temperature ever reported for bacterial growth, is exciting because it offers clues about some of the necessary preconditions for microbial life on Mars.

Hubble reveals the Ring Nebula’s true shape

Posted: 23 May 2013 08:32 AM PDT

The Ring Nebula's distinctive shape makes it a popular illustration for astronomy books. But new observations by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope of the glowing gas shroud around an old, dying, sun-like star reveal a new twist.

Hidden population of exotic neutron stars

Posted: 23 May 2013 08:25 AM PDT

Magnetars -- the dense remains of dead stars that erupt sporadically with bursts of high-energy radiation -- are some of the most extreme objects known in the Universe. A major campaign using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and several other satellites shows magnetars may be more diverse -- and common -- than previously thought.

Flat spray-on optical lens created

Posted: 23 May 2013 07:18 AM PDT

Engineers have made a breakthrough utilizing spray-on technology that could revolutionize the way optical lenses are made and used.

The secret lives (and deaths) of neurons

Posted: 23 May 2013 07:18 AM PDT

Researchers have uncovered surprising insights about how nerve cells rewire themselves, shedding light on a process linked with neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia and autism.

Depression linked to telomere enzyme, aging, chronic disease

Posted: 22 May 2013 09:45 PM PDT

The first symptoms of major depression may be behavioral, but the common mental illness is based in biology — and not limited to the brain, new research suggests.

Ants and carnivorous plants conspire for mutualistic feeding

Posted: 22 May 2013 03:03 PM PDT

An insect-eating pitcher plant teams up with ants to prevent mosquito larvae from stealing its nutrients, according to new research.

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