ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Discovery of new material state counterintuitive to laws of physics
• Silicon-based nanoparticles could make LEDs cheaper, greener to produce
• Sleep mechanism identified that plays role in emotional memory
• Rapid adaptation is purple sea urchins' weapon against ocean acidification
• Age-related smelling loss significantly worse in African-Americans
• Chemotherapy: Greater potential benefit in overall survival for eribulin compared with capecitabine
• New quantum dot technique combines best of optical and electron microscopy
• Jammed molecular motors may play a role in the development of ALS
• Altitude may affect the way language is spoken
• BPA linked to obesity risk in puberty-age girls
• Turtles watch for, snack on gelatinous prey while swimming
• Fossil kangaroo teeth reveal mosaic of Pliocene ecosystems in Queensland
• Infants express non-verbal sympathy for others in distress
• Four-fold rise in children treated for obesity-related conditions
• Scan predicts whether therapy or meds will best lift depression
• Laws help limit junk foods in schools
• Men with restless legs syndrome may be at higher risk of early death
• Mars water-ice clouds are key to odd thermal rhythm
• NASA's Chandra turns up black hole bonanza in galaxy next door
• Iron fertilization, process of putting iron into ocean to help capture carbon, could backfire
• Easy and effective therapy to restore sight: Engineered virus will improve gene therapy for blinding eye diseases
• Brain's 'dark side' as key to cocaine addiction
• 'Spiritual' young people more likely to commit crimes than 'religious' ones
• Alzheimer's brain change measured in humans
• Male guppies reproduce long after death
• World's deepest ERT imaging system for CO2 sequestration developed
• Breakthrough allows fast, reliable pathogen identification
• People anticipate others' genuine smiles, but not polite smiles
• Public health's role in health care reform -- Lessons from Massachusetts
• Lab experiments question effectiveness of green coffee bean weight-loss supplements
• Filmmaking magic with polymers
• Saliva proteins may protect older people from influenza
• When will the next megathrust hit the west coast of North America?
• Network of cameras used to track people in complex indoor settings
• Water in Earth's crust and upper mantle may not lubricate plate tectonics as much as previously assumed
• Cocoa may help fight obesity-related inflammation
• Cameras five times more sensitive to light? An ultrasensitive molybdenum-based image sensor developed
• Low birth weight could be a risk factor for age-related vision loss
• Heroin availability increasing across Washington state
• Deep biosphere harbors active, growing communities of microorganisms
• Chalking up a marine blooming alga: Genome fills a gap in the tree of life
• NYC-style cap on soda size would target the overweight, not the poor
• Nano-thermometer enables first atomic-scale heat transfer measurements
• Recognising low blood sugars could help prevent brain damage in newborn babies
• Wristband simplifies blood pressure measurement
• Dad's life stress exposure leaves mark on sperm, can affect offspring brain development
• New mechanism of TB drug resistance identified
• Commonly prescribed drugs may influence the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease
• Fingernails reveal clues to limb regeneration
• A critically endangered beauty: The passion flower Passiflora kwangtungensis
• Harbor porpoises can thank their worst enemy, the killer whale, for their success
• Luminous bacterial proteins detect chemicals in water
• Vitamin C may be beneficial against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
• High diversity of flying reptiles in England 110 million years ago
• Hearing loss clue uncovered
• Hot flashes before menopause? It can happen
• New kind of variable star discovered: Minute variations in brightness reveal whole new class of stars
• Moderate-intensity walking timed just right might help protect against Type 2 diabetes
• Fraternal singing in zebra finches: Young zebra finches are able to learn their fathers' song via their brothers
• Producing cheaper and more flexible multiple thin crystalline silicon wafers

Discovery of new material state counterintuitive to laws of physics Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:42 PM PDT When you squeeze something, it gets smaller -- unless you're among a group of scientists who have seemingly defied the laws of physics and found a way to apply pressure to make a material expand instead of compress/contract.

Silicon-based nanoparticles could make LEDs cheaper, greener to produce Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:41 PM PDT Researchers have created a material they say would make LED bulbs cheaper and greener to manufacture, driving down the price. Their silicon-based nanoparticles soften the blue light emitted by LEDs, creating white light that more closely resembles sunlight.

Sleep mechanism identified that plays role in emotional memory Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:41 PM PDT Sleep researchers have identified the sleep mechanism that enables the brain to consolidate emotional memory and found that a popular prescription sleep aid heightens the recollection of and response to negative memories.

Rapid adaptation is purple sea urchins' weapon against ocean acidification Posted: 12 Jun 2013 03:40 PM PDT In the race against climate change and ocean acidification, some sea urchins may still have a few tricks up their spiny sleeves, suggesting that adaptation will likely play a large role for the sea creatures as the carbon content of the ocean increases.

Age-related smelling loss significantly worse in African-Americans Posted: 12 Jun 2013 03:40 PM PDT The ability to distinguish between odors declines steadily with age, but a new study shows that African-Americans have a much greater decrease in their sense of smell than Caucasians. This can have serious consequences. Olfactory loss often leads to impaired nutrition. It also may be an early warning sign of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, and can predict death.

Chemotherapy: Greater potential benefit in overall survival for eribulin compared with capecitabine Posted: 12 Jun 2013 03:40 PM PDT Subgroup analyses from a phase III clinical trial comparing a newer chemotherapy agent called eribulin mesylate, with capecitabine, a standard chemotherapy medication in women with previously treated metastatic breast cancer, showed increased benefit among women sharing certain traits. Specifically, these analyses demonstrated a greater potential benefit in certain subsets of patients with metastatic breast cancer.

New quantum dot technique combines best of optical and electron microscopy Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:33 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new microscopy technique that uses a process similar to how an old tube television produces a picture to image nanoscale features. Combining the best features of optical and scanning electron microscopy, the fast, versatile, and high-resolution technique allows scientists to view surface and subsurface features potentially as small as 10 nanometers in size.

Jammed molecular motors may play a role in the development of ALS Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:33 PM PDT Delays in the transport of nutrients, proteins and neurotransmitters along the nerve axon could be a major factor in the development of the neurodegenerative disease ALS.

Altitude may affect the way language is spoken Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:33 PM PDT Until recently most linguists believed that the relationship between the structure of language and the natural world was mainly the influence of the environment on vocabulary. Now, a new study shows that there is a link between geographical elevation and the way language is spoken. Ejectives are sounds made, and incorporated into language, only at higher altitudes.

BPA linked to obesity risk in puberty-age girls Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:33 PM PDT Girls between nine and 12 years of age with higher-than-average levels of bisphenol-A (BPA) in their urine had double the risk of being obese than girls with lower levels of BPA, according to a new study.

Turtles watch for, snack on gelatinous prey while swimming Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:33 PM PDT Loggerhead turtles use visual cues to find gelatinous prey to snack on as they swim in open waters, according to new research.

Fossil kangaroo teeth reveal mosaic of Pliocene ecosystems in Queensland Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:33 PM PDT The teeth of a kangaroo and other extinct marsupials reveal that southeastern Queensland 2.5-5-million-years ago was a mosaic of tropical forests, wetlands and grasslands and much less arid than previously thought.

Infants express non-verbal sympathy for others in distress Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:33 PM PDT Infants as young as ten months old express sympathy for others in distress in non-verbal ways, according to new research.

Four-fold rise in children treated for obesity-related conditions Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:32 PM PDT The number of children admitted to hospital for problems related to obesity in England and Wales quadrupled between 2000 and 2009, a study has found.

Scan predicts whether therapy or meds will best lift depression Posted: 12 Jun 2013 01:23 PM PDT Pre-treatment scans of brain activity predicted whether depressed patients would best achieve remission with an antidepressant medication or psychotherapy, in a study that may help mental health treatment decision-making move beyond trial-and-error. The study sought to identify a biomarker that could predict which type of treatment a patient would benefit from based on the state of his or her brain.

Laws help limit junk foods in schools Posted: 12 Jun 2013 01:23 PM PDT A US nationwide school survey shows availability of sugar- and fat-laden foods and drinks.

Men with restless legs syndrome may be at higher risk of early death Posted: 12 Jun 2013 01:22 PM PDT Men who experience restless legs syndrome (RLS) may have a higher risk of dying earlier, according to new research.

Mars water-ice clouds are key to odd thermal rhythm Posted: 12 Jun 2013 12:58 PM PDT Researchers using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have found that temperatures in the Martian atmosphere regularly rise and fall not just once each day, but twice.

NASA's Chandra turns up black hole bonanza in galaxy next door Posted: 12 Jun 2013 12:40 PM PDT Using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers have discovered an unprecedented bonanza of black holes in the Andromeda Galaxy, one of the nearest galaxies to the Milky Way. Using more than 150 Chandra observations, spread over 13 years, researchers identified 26 black hole candidates, the largest number to date, in a galaxy outside our own. Many consider Andromeda to be a sister galaxy to the Milky Way. The two ultimately will collide, several billion years from now.

Iron fertilization, process of putting iron into ocean to help capture carbon, could backfire Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:48 AM PDT A study suggests that iron fertilization, the process of putting iron into the ocean to encourage the growth of carbon dioxide capturing alga blooms, could backfire.

Easy and effective therapy to restore sight: Engineered virus will improve gene therapy for blinding eye diseases Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:48 AM PDT Gene therapy using adeno-associated virus has successfully restored sight to people with a rare inherited retinal degeneration, but current therapy requires injecting the virus directly into the retina. Researchers have now caused AAV to evolve so that it is able to penetrate the retina, allowing doctors to inject the virus and its gene load into the vitreous to reach all cells of the retina. This broadens AAV's potential application to more common types of vision loss.

Brain's 'dark side' as key to cocaine addiction Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:47 AM PDT Scientists have found evidence that an emotion-related brain region called the central amygdala —- whose activity promotes feelings of malaise and unhappiness —- plays a major role in sustaining cocaine addiction.

'Spiritual' young people more likely to commit crimes than 'religious' ones Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:47 AM PDT Young adults who deem themselves "spiritual but not religious" are more likely to commit property crimes — and to a lesser extent, violent ones — than those who identify themselves as either "religious and spiritual" or "religious but not spiritual," according to researchers.

Alzheimer's brain change measured in humans Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:47 AM PDT Scientists have measured a significant and potentially pivotal difference between the brains of patients with an inherited form of Alzheimer's disease and healthy family members who do not carry a mutation for the disease.

Male guppies reproduce long after death Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:34 AM PDT Performing experiments in a river in Trinidad, evolutionary biologists have found that male guppies -- small freshwater fish -- continue to reproduce for at least ten months after they die, living on as stored sperm in females, who have much longer lifespans than males. While it is well known that guppies store sperm, biologists had never before thought of the extent of the storage.

World's deepest ERT imaging system for CO2 sequestration developed Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:34 AM PDT Researchers have broken the record for tracking the movement and concentration of carbon dioxide in a geologic formation using the world's deepest Electrical Resistance Tomography system.

Breakthrough allows fast, reliable pathogen identification Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:33 AM PDT Researchers may have developed a way to quickly and reliably diagnose life-threatening bacterial infections and pinpoint the right antibiotics to clear the infections.

People anticipate others' genuine smiles, but not polite smiles Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:33 AM PDT Smile and the world smiles with you -- but new research suggests that not all smiles are created equal. The research shows that people actually anticipate smiles that are genuine but not smiles that are merely polite. The differing responses may reflect the unique social value of genuine smiles.

Public health's role in health care reform -- Lessons from Massachusetts Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:33 AM PDT How will full implementation of the Affordable Care Act affect the work and goals of state and local public health departments -- and how can public health personnel contribute to the success of health care reform? The experience in Massachusetts has some important lessons, according to a new article.

Lab experiments question effectiveness of green coffee bean weight-loss supplements Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT A major ingredient in those green coffee bean dietary supplements -- often touted as "miracle" weight-loss products -- doesn't prevent weight gain in obese laboratory mice fed a high-fat diet when given at higher doses. A new study also linked the ingredient to an unhealthy build-up of fat in the liver.

Filmmaking magic with polymers Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT Self-assembled copolymer block film is now being fabricated with intricately organized nanostructures, giving them multiple functions and flexibility on a macroscale level never before seen.

Saliva proteins may protect older people from influenza Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT Spit. Drool. Dribble. Saliva is not normally a topic of polite conversation, but it may be the key to explaining the age and sex bias exhibited by influenza and other diseases, according to a new study. Research, it provides new insights into why older people were better able to fight off the new strains of "bird" flu and "swine" flu than younger people.

When will the next megathrust hit the west coast of North America? Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT A new study presents our first glimpse back in geologic time of the recurrence interval of large and megathrust earthquakes impacting the vulnerable BC outer coastline.

Network of cameras used to track people in complex indoor settings Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT Researchers have developed a method for tracking the locations of multiple individuals in complex, indoor settings using a network of video cameras, creating something similar to the fictional Marauder's Map used by Harry Potter to track comings and goings at the Hogwarts School. The method was able to automatically follow the movements of 13 people within a nursing home, even though individuals sometimes slipped out of view of the cameras.

Water in Earth's crust and upper mantle may not lubricate plate tectonics as much as previously assumed Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT Water in olivin mineral reveals less important role.

Cocoa may help fight obesity-related inflammation Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT A few cups of hot cocoa may not only fight off the chill of a winter's day, but they could also help obese people better control inflammation-related diseases, such as diabetes, according to new research.

Cameras five times more sensitive to light? An ultrasensitive molybdenum-based image sensor developed Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT Scientist have built a prototype for an image sensor based on the semi-conducting properties of molybdenite. It could one day result in cameras that are five times more light sensitive than current technology.

Low birth weight could be a risk factor for age-related vision loss Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT Medical researchers show that rats with restricted growth in the womb, causing low birth weights when born, were most susceptible to developing age-related vision loss, compared to their normal weight counterparts.

Heroin availability increasing across Washington state Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT New data indicates increases in heroin availability, abuse and deaths across the state, particularly among young adults ages 18-29. These increases are concerning because of the high risks of overdose and contracting infectious diseases associated with heroin use.

Deep biosphere harbors active, growing communities of microorganisms Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT The deep biosphere -- the realm of sediments far below the seafloor -- harbors a vast ecosystem of bacteria, archaea, and fungi that are actively metabolizing, proliferating, and moving, according a new study. The finding of so much activity in the deep biosphere has implications for our understanding of global biogeochemical cycles.

Chalking up a marine blooming alga: Genome fills a gap in the tree of life Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT Carbon dioxide is released when the calcium carbonate "armor" of the photosynthetic alga Emiliania huxleyi forms, but Ehux can trap as much as 20 percent of organic carbon derived from carbon dioxide in some marine ecosystems. Its versatility in either contributing to primary production or adding to carbon dioxide emissions makes Ehux a critical player in the marine carbon cycle. The Ehux genome sequence has now been compared with other algal sequences.

NYC-style cap on soda size would target the overweight, not the poor Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT Legislation to restrict consumption of large sugar-sweetened beverages in food service establishments would affect 7.5 percent of Americans on a given day, and a greater percentage among those who are overweight, including 13.6 percent of overweight teenagers, according to new research. Challenging criticism that the restriction is discriminatory against the poor, the study finds low-income individuals would not be disproportionately affected.

Nano-thermometer enables first atomic-scale heat transfer measurements Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT In findings that could help overcome a major technological hurdle in the road toward smaller and more powerful electronics, an international research team has shown the unique ways in which heat dissipates at the tiniest scales.

Recognising low blood sugars could help prevent brain damage in newborn babies Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT Researchers studying a rare and potentially lethal childhood disease – which is the clinical opposite of diabetes - have made an important discovery.

Wristband simplifies blood pressure measurement Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT The consequences of high blood pressure are one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Despite this, according to the World Health Organization WHO, fewer than one in two of those affected measures their blood pressure regularly. The main reason for this is that regular measurements are costly or inconvenient. An innovative wrist sensor should now change that.

Dad's life stress exposure leaves mark on sperm, can affect offspring brain development Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:26 AM PDT Stress felt by dad -- whether as a preadolescent or adult -- leaves a lasting impression on his sperm that gives sons and daughters a blunted reaction to stress, according to a new preclinical study. The findings point to a never-before-seen epigenetic link to stress-related diseases such as anxiety and depression passed from father to child.

New mechanism of TB drug resistance identified Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:25 AM PDT A recent study has identified a new mechanism for PZA-resistance, which provides new insight into the how this mysterious drug works.

Commonly prescribed drugs may influence the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:25 AM PDT Multiple drug classes commonly prescribed for common medical conditions are capable of influencing the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers.

Fingernails reveal clues to limb regeneration Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:25 AM PDT Mammals possess the remarkable ability to regenerate a lost fingertip, including the nail, nerves and even bone. In humans, an amputated fingertip can sprout back in as little as two months, a phenomenon that has remained poorly understood until now. Biologists now shed light on this rare regenerative power in mammals, using genetically engineered mice to document for the first time the biochemical chain of events that unfolds in the wake of a fingertip amputation.

A critically endangered beauty: The passion flower Passiflora kwangtungensis Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:19 AM PDT The Chinese passion vine species Passiflora kwangtungensis strikes with the beauty of its clusters of white-greenish flowers and its small round fruit. Feared extinct for a long period of time, this engaging plant has been rediscovered in Hunan Province, but it remains highly endangered. A recent study discusses the conservation status of P. kwangtungensis, raising concerns about the future preservation of the species.

Harbor porpoises can thank their worst enemy, the killer whale, for their success Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:19 AM PDT The harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is a whale species that is doing quite well in coastal and busy waters. They are found in large numbers throughout the Northern Hemisphere from Mauritania to Alaska, and now researchers explain why these small toothed whales are doing so well: The harbor porpoise can thank their worst enemy, the killer whale, for their success.

Luminous bacterial proteins detect chemicals in water Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:18 AM PDT Scientists have developed a simple color sensor principle which facilitates the detection of residual medications, trace metals from industrial process waters, and many other substances. This is the concept: If the analyzed sample shines red, then the water is 'clean;' if its color turns green, however, then it contains the substances the scientists wish to detect.

Vitamin C may be beneficial against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:18 AM PDT Vitamin C may substantially reduce bronchoconstriction caused by exercise according to a meta-analysis. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction -- formerly called exercise-induced asthma -- means the transient narrowing of the airways that occurs during or after exercise, which can cause symptoms such as cough, wheezing and the shortness of breath.

High diversity of flying reptiles in England 110 million years ago Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:18 AM PDT Pterosaurs are an extinct group of flying reptiles that are only abundant in very few deposits. One of these is situated in England, where hundreds of fossils of these animals, that covered the skies some 110 million years ago, have been unearthed. Paleontologists have re-analyzed these fossils and discovered that they had a much higher diversity of groups than previously thought.

Hearing loss clue uncovered Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:38 AM PDT Researchers have discovered how hearing loss in humans is caused by a certain genetic mutation.

Hot flashes before menopause? It can happen Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:38 AM PDT More than half of middle-aged women who still have regular cycles have hot flashes.

New kind of variable star discovered: Minute variations in brightness reveal whole new class of stars Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:37 AM PDT Astronomers have found a new type of variable star. The discovery was based on the detection of very tiny changes in brightness of stars in a cluster. The observations revealed previously unknown properties of these stars that defy current theories and raise questions about the origin of the variations.

Moderate-intensity walking timed just right might help protect against Type 2 diabetes Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:37 AM PDT A 15-minute walk after each meal appears to help older people regulate blood sugar levels and could reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

Fraternal singing in zebra finches: Young zebra finches are able to learn their fathers' song via their brothers Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:36 AM PDT Social learning from peers is a widespread phenomenon in infants. Peer group size may influence the degree to which interactions within the group can influence their own behavior. This insight nowadays gains more importance as an increasing number of children get into contact with large group peers at an even earlier age, for example in day care.

Producing cheaper and more flexible multiple thin crystalline silicon wafers Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:36 AM PDT Scientists have found a way to make the manufacture of crystalline silicon materials faster and more affordable.

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