ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Two mutations triggered an evolutionary leap 500 million years ago
• Resilience in the wake of Superstorm Sandy
• Rotation-resistant rootworms owe their success to gut microbes
• Giving children non-verbal clues about words boosts vocabularies
• Helping RNA escape from cells' recycling process could make it easier to shut off disease-causing genes
• Migrating animals add new depth to how the ocean 'breathes'
• Turtles have fingerprints? New genetic technique reveals paternity and more
• Vegetation on Earth: Stunning satellite imagery depicting vegetation around the world
• 'Singing' rats show hope for older humans with age-related voice problems
• 'Nerdy' mold needs breaking to recruit women into computer science
• Reading DNA, backward and forward: Biologists reveal how cells control the direction in which the genome is read
• Molecule that reduces fats in blood identified
• Messier 61 looks straight into Hubble's camera
• Billion-pixel view of Mars comes from Curiosity rover
• An expansive physical setting increases a person's likelihood of dishonest behavior
• Ailanthus tree's status as invasive species offers lesson in human interaction
• How fish swim: Researchers examine mechanical bases for the emergence of undulatory swimmers
• New 'biowire' technology matures human heart by mimicking fetal heartrate
• Rare pregnancy condition programs babies to become overweight in later life
• Brain cancer: Hunger for amino acids makes it more aggressive
• Potential treatment strategies for multiple sclerosis
• Second largest kidney exchange in history
• A valve inside a valve: A new heart valve can be implanted in people suffering with adult congenital heart disease without open heart surgery
• Pleasure response from chocolate: You can see it in the eyes
• Uncertainty over the benefits of feeding birds in winter
• Targeted viral therapy destroys breast cancer stem cells in preclinical experiments
• Excited, but cold: Scientists unveil the secret of a reaction for prebiotic synthesis of organic matter
• Tick-caused bobcat fever can be deadly to domestic cats
• Biological arithmetic: Plants do sums to get through the night
• Promising new device detects disease with drop of blood
• In multiple sclerosis animal study, absence of gene leads to earlier, more severe disease
• Surprise species at risk from climate change
• Mystery of the gigantic storm on Saturn
• Robo-pets may contribute to quality of life for those with dementia
• Precise thickness measurement of soft materials by means of contact stylus instruments
• When AIDS viruses are transmitted despite treatment
• Powerful gene-editing tool appears to cause off-target mutations in human cells
• A bit of good luck: A new species of burying beetle from the Solomon Islands Archipelago

Two mutations triggered an evolutionary leap 500 million years ago Posted: 24 Jun 2013 12:26 PM PDT Scientists have discovered two key mutations that sparked a hormonal revolution 500 million years ago. In a feat of "molecular time travel," the researchers resurrected and analyzed the functions of the ancestors of genes that play key roles in modern human reproduction, development, immunity and cancer.

Resilience in the wake of Superstorm Sandy Posted: 24 Jun 2013 12:26 PM PDT Researchers have released results of a major survey exploring resilience of people and neighborhoods directly affected by Superstorm Sandy. The study reveals the importance of social factors such as neighborhood bonds and social supports in coping with the storm and its aftermath.

Rotation-resistant rootworms owe their success to gut microbes Posted: 24 Jun 2013 12:26 PM PDT Researchers say they now know what allows some Western corn rootworms to survive crop rotation, a farming practice that once effectively managed the rootworm pests. The answer to the decades-long mystery of rotation-resistant rootworms lies -- in large part -- in the rootworm gut, the team reports.

Giving children non-verbal clues about words boosts vocabularies Posted: 24 Jun 2013 12:25 PM PDT The clues that parents give toddlers about words can make a big difference in how deep their vocabularies are when they enter school, new research shows. By using words to reference objects in the visual environment, parents can help young children learn new words, according to the research.

Helping RNA escape from cells' recycling process could make it easier to shut off disease-causing genes Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:48 AM PDT Helping RNA escape from cells' recycling process could make it easier to shut off disease-causing genes, says a new study.

Migrating animals add new depth to how the ocean 'breathes' Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:48 AM PDT Animals ranging from plankton to small fish consume vast amounts of what little oxygen is available in the deep ocean, and may reveal a crucial and unappreciated role that animals have in ocean chemistry on a global scale.

Turtles have fingerprints? New genetic technique reveals paternity and more Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:39 AM PDT For 220 million years they have roamed the seas, denizens of the bustling coral reef and the vast open ocean. Each year, some emerge from the pounding surf onto moonlit beaches to lay their eggs. Throughout human history, we have revered them, used them, and worked to protect them, but we have only begun to understand these ancient, iconic creatures. Now, with all five of the sea turtle species in the U.S. threatened or endangered, knowledge is more crucial than ever.

Vegetation on Earth: Stunning satellite imagery depicting vegetation around the world Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:18 AM PDT Although 75 percent of the planet is an ocean of blue, the remaining 25 percent of Earth's surface is a dynamic green. Data from the Visible-Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument on board the NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite is able to detect these subtle differences in greenness, and is sending extraordinary images back to Earth giving us a clearer picture of vegetation around the world.

'Singing' rats show hope for older humans with age-related voice problems Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:14 AM PDT New research from speech and hearing science professors shows training rats to "sing" could provide a model for voice therapy that will, in turn, help aging humans with vocal problems.

'Nerdy' mold needs breaking to recruit women into computer science Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:14 AM PDT The 'computer nerd' is a well-known stereotype. While this stereotype is inaccurate, it still has a chilling effect on women pursuing a qualification in computer science, according to a new article. However, when this image is downplayed in the print media, women express more interest in further education in computer science.

Reading DNA, backward and forward: Biologists reveal how cells control the direction in which the genome is read Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:14 AM PDT Biologists have discovered a mechanism that allows cells to read their own DNA in the correct direction and prevents them from copying most of the so-called "junk DNA" that makes up long stretches of our genome.

Molecule that reduces fats in blood identified Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:13 AM PDT Researchers have found that a regulatory RNA molecule interferes with the production of lipoproteins and, in a mouse model, reduces hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Messier 61 looks straight into Hubble's camera Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:13 AM PDT The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a new image of nearby spiral galaxy Messier 61, also known as NGC 4303. The galaxy, located only 55 million light-years away from Earth, is roughly the size of the Milky Way, with a diameter of around 100,000 light-years.

Billion-pixel view of Mars comes from Curiosity rover Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:52 AM PDT A billion-pixel view from the surface of Mars, from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, offers armchair explorers a way to examine one part of the Red Planet in great detail.

An expansive physical setting increases a person's likelihood of dishonest behavior Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT A new study reveals that expansive physical settings can cause individuals to feel more powerful, and in turn these feelings of power can elicit more dishonest behavior such as stealing, cheating, and even traffic violations.

Ailanthus tree's status as invasive species offers lesson in human interaction Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT An exotic tree species that changed from prized possession to forest management nightmare serves as a lesson in the unpredictability of non-native species mixing with human interactions, according to researchers.

How fish swim: Researchers examine mechanical bases for the emergence of undulatory swimmers Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT How do fish swim? It is a simple question, but there is no simple answer. Researchers have now gleaned insight into the mechanical properties that allow them to perform their seemingly complex movements.

New 'biowire' technology matures human heart by mimicking fetal heartrate Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:31 AM PDT A new method of maturing human heart cells that simulates the natural growth environment of heart cells while applying electrical pulses to mimic the heart rate of fetal humans has led researchers to an electrifying step forward for cardiac research.

Rare pregnancy condition programs babies to become overweight in later life Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:28 AM PDT Babies born to mothers who suffer from a rare metabolic complication during pregnancy are programmed to be overweight, according to a study part-funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Brain cancer: Hunger for amino acids makes it more aggressive Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:28 AM PDT An enzyme that facilitates the breakdown of specific amino acids makes brain cancers particularly aggressive. Scientists have discovered this in an attempt to find new targets for therapies against this dangerous disease.

Potential treatment strategies for multiple sclerosis Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:27 AM PDT Myelin, the fatty coating that protects neurons, is destroyed in diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Researchers have been striving to determine whether oligodendrocytes, cells that produce myelin, can be stimulated to make new myelin. Using live imaging in zebrafish to track oligodendrocytes, researchers discovered that oligodendrocytes coat neurons with myelin for only five hours after they are born. If the findings hold true in humans, they could lead to new treatment strategies for multiple sclerosis.

Second largest kidney exchange in history Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:18 AM PDT Earlier this month, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the National Kidney Registry, in partnership with 18 transplant centers across the country, successfully completed the second largest kidney exchange in history and the largest to be concluded in under 40 days. Dubbed Chain 221, the swap involved 56 participants (28 donors and 28 recipients). Four patients at Penn Medicine, including two long-lost grade-school friends, participated in the chain – two receiving new, healthy kidneys, and two donating their own kidneys to other recipients in the chain.

A valve inside a valve: A new heart valve can be implanted in people suffering with adult congenital heart disease without open heart surgery Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:17 AM PDT A new heart valve that can be implanted inside an existing valve will help adults with congenital heart disease avoid open heart surgeries.

Pleasure response from chocolate: You can see it in the eyes Posted: 24 Jun 2013 08:10 AM PDT The brain's pleasure response to tasting food can be measured through the eyes using a common, low-cost ophthalmological tool, according to a new study.

Uncertainty over the benefits of feeding birds in winter Posted: 24 Jun 2013 08:10 AM PDT Scientists have found that feeding wild blue tits in winter resulted in less successful breeding during the following spring.

Targeted viral therapy destroys breast cancer stem cells in preclinical experiments Posted: 24 Jun 2013 08:10 AM PDT A promising new treatment for breast cancer has been shown in cell culture and in animal models to selectively kill cancer stem cells at the original tumor site and in distant metastases with no toxic effects on healthy cells, including normal stem cells. Cancer stem cells are critical to a cancer's ability to recur following conventional chemotherapies and radiation therapy because they can quickly multiply and establish new tumors that are often therapy resistant.

Excited, but cold: Scientists unveil the secret of a reaction for prebiotic synthesis of organic matter Posted: 24 Jun 2013 07:42 AM PDT How is it that a complex organism evolves from a pile of dead matter? How can lifeless materials become organic molecules that are the bricks of animals and plants? Scientists have been trying to answer these questions for ages. Researchers have now disclosed the secret of a reaction that has to do with the synthesis of complex organic matter before the origin of life.

Tick-caused bobcat fever can be deadly to domestic cats Posted: 24 Jun 2013 07:38 AM PDT Veterinarians are warning pet owners to watch out for ticks carrying a disease that could kill cats.

Biological arithmetic: Plants do sums to get through the night Posted: 24 Jun 2013 06:35 AM PDT Using fundamental processes instead of brain cells, plants measure the time until dawn and divide that by their stored starch levels. Researchers say that this ability in plants represents the first concrete example in a fundamental biological process of such a sophisticated arithmetic calculation.

Promising new device detects disease with drop of blood Posted: 24 Jun 2013 06:35 AM PDT Scientists are creating a prototype lab-on-a-chip that would someday enable a physician to detect disease or virus from just one drop of liquid, including blood.

In multiple sclerosis animal study, absence of gene leads to earlier, more severe disease Posted: 24 Jun 2013 06:34 AM PDT Scientists are reporting that they have identified the likely genetic mechanism that causes some patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to quickly progress to a debilitating stage of the disease while other patients progress much more slowly.

Surprise species at risk from climate change Posted: 24 Jun 2013 04:58 AM PDT Most species at greatest risk from climate change are not currently conservation priorities, according to a new study that has introduced a pioneering method to assess the vulnerability of species to climate change.

Mystery of the gigantic storm on Saturn Posted: 24 Jun 2013 04:57 AM PDT We now understand the nature of the giant storms on Saturn. Through the analysis of images as well as the computer models of the storms and the examination of the clouds therein, astronomers have managed to explain the behavior of these storms for the very first time.

Robo-pets may contribute to quality of life for those with dementia Posted: 24 Jun 2013 04:57 AM PDT Robotic animals can help to improve the quality of life for people with dementia, according to new research.

Precise thickness measurement of soft materials by means of contact stylus instruments Posted: 24 Jun 2013 04:57 AM PDT In microsystems, metallic components are increasingly replaced by components made of inexpensive polymers. As polymers yield when they are subjected to pressure, the layer thicknesses cannot be measured with sufficient accuracy by means of conventional contact stylus instruments. But precision is of decisive importance in microsystem technology. Now, industrial enterprises which measure the thickness of soft polymer layers on hard substrates will be able to correct their measurement results by means of a formula.

When AIDS viruses are transmitted despite treatment Posted: 24 Jun 2013 04:57 AM PDT While antiretroviral drugs offer an efficient means of preventing the replication of HIV in the blood, shedding of HIV may occur in semen, so that other persons can become infected during unprotected sexual intercourse. This occurs in particular if the male genital tract also has other viral infections.

Powerful gene-editing tool appears to cause off-target mutations in human cells Posted: 23 Jun 2013 11:51 AM PDT Scientists have found a significant limitation to the use of CRISPR-Cas RGNs, production of unwanted DNA mutations at sites other than the desired target, which indicates a need to improve the specificity of the nucleases.

A bit of good luck: A new species of burying beetle from the Solomon Islands Archipelago Posted: 21 Jun 2013 07:44 AM PDT Scientists discovered a new species of burying beetle from the Solomon Islands Archipelago. Nicrophorus efferens was discovered when one of the authors, Tonya Mousseau, decided to look through the local museum collections during a holiday in Hawaii. The lucky find is a type of burying beetle, a group of beetles famous among naturalists for their peculiar reproductive habits.

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