ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Bees under threat from disease-carrying bumblebee imports, research reveals
• Researcher finds way to convert blood cells into autoimmune disease treatment
• New evidence for warm-blooded dinosaurs
• Milestone in quest to advance emerging super-black nanotechnology
• In the zone: How scientists search for habitable planets
• Curiosity Mars rover passes kilometer of driving
• Compounds outsmart solid tumors' malfunctioning machinery
• 80 percent of Malaysian Borneo degraded by logging
• 'Impossible' material made with record-breaking surface area and water adsorption abilities
• Mutation linked to congenital urinary tract defects
• High tooth replacement rates in largest dinosaurs contributed to their evolutionary success
• Study first to identify heart attack-causing plaque in living patients
• Probiotic bacterium lessens severity of Salmonella infections by hoarding iron
• Poor sleep in pregnancy can disrupt the immune system and cause birth-related complications
• Unattractive people more likely to be bullied at work
• Uncovering a healthier remedy for chronic pain
• Ironing out the origins of wrinkles, creases and folds
• Compound discovered at sea shows potency against anthrax
• Splitting donated livers shown to be safe, allowing doctors to save two lives from single organ, study suggests
• The best defense against catastrophic storms: Mother Nature, researchers say
• Nano drug crosses blood-brain tumor barrier, targets brain-tumor cells and blood vessels
• Discovery of stone monument adds new chapter to ancient Maya history: New World 'Cleopatra story' waits 1,000 years to be retold
• 'Intelligent knife' tells surgeon which tissue is cancerous
• Empty decoys divert antibodies from neutralizing gene therapy in cell, animal studies
• Personality may predict if you like spicy foods
• Great white sharks' fuel for oceanic voyages: Liver oil
• Earth's gold came from colliding dead stars
• BPA and chlorine means bad news: Modified forms of bisphenol A found to alter hormone signaling in new, disturbing ways
• How rice twice became a crop and twice became a weed -- and what it means for the future
• A heart of gold: Gold nanofibers in engineered heart tissue can enhance electrical signalling
• Targeting malaria: Engineered liver tissue could help scientists test new drugs and vaccines
• Big-nosed, long-horned dinosaur discovered in Utah: Dinosaur in same family as Triceratops
• Scientists show proof-of-principle for silencing extra chromosome responsible for Down syndrome
• Protein responsible for 'bad' blood vessel growth discovered
• Scientists find 3-D structure of key drug target for diabetes
• Molecular switch controls the destiny of self-eating cells
• Elastic electronics: Stretchable gold conductor grows its own wires
• Genomic imprinting maintains a reserve pool of blood-forming stem cells in mouse bone marrow
• New Anagnorisma moth species from beautiful Binaloud Mountain Iran
• Ghost particles: New limits on extremely rare decay
• Monitoring nutrient intake can help vegetarian athletes stay competitive
• Deciphering butterflies' designer colors: Findings could inspire new hue-changing materials
• Injectable 'smart sponge' holds promise for controlled drug delivery
• A lost frog in the lost world?
• Cost of treating dizziness in the emergency room soars
• Monkey nation: Mainland Africa's most important nation for primates
• Researchers target Achilles' heel of bacteria behind hospital-associated infections
• Single dose of ADHD drug can reduce fall risk in older adults, study suggests
• Discovery of a new class of white blood cells uncovers target for better vaccine design
• Outgoing people lead happier lives
• The key to ion beams' polarizability
• Bird brain? Birds and humans have similar brain wiring
• Chromosomal abnormalities may explain increased cancer risk in type 2 diabetes
• Ripped apart by a black hole: Gas cloud makes closest approach to monster at center of Milky Way
• Stop marine pollution to protect kelp forests
• Information in brain cells' electrical activity combines memory, environment, and state of mind
• Newly discovered flux in Earth may solve missing-mantle mystery
• Parasites change bees brains, but not their behavior
• Family tree of fish yields surprises

Bees under threat from disease-carrying bumblebee imports, research reveals Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:20 PM PDT Stricter controls over bumblebee imports to the UK are urgently required to prevent diseases spreading to native bumblebees and honeybees, scientists have warned. The call follows the discovery of parasites in over three-quarters of imported bumblebee colonies they tested.

Researcher finds way to convert blood cells into autoimmune disease treatment Posted: 17 Jul 2013 05:01 PM PDT Cells from one's own blood could be converted into a treatment for autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, thanks to new research.

New evidence for warm-blooded dinosaurs Posted: 17 Jul 2013 04:49 PM PDT A scientist in Australia has shown new evidence that dinosaurs were warm-blooded like birds and mammals, not cold-blooded like reptiles as commonly believed. The researchers argues that cold-blooded dinosaurs would not have had the required muscular power to prey on other animals and dominate over mammals as they did throughout the Mesozoic period.

Milestone in quest to advance emerging super-black nanotechnology Posted: 17 Jul 2013 03:39 PM PDT A NASA engineer has achieved yet another milestone in his quest to advance an emerging super-black nanotechnology that promises to make spacecraft instruments more sensitive without enlarging their size.

In the zone: How scientists search for habitable planets Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:54 PM PDT There is only one planet we know of, so far, that is drenched with life. That planet is Earth, and it has all the right conditions for critters to thrive on its surface. Do other planets beyond our solar system, called exoplanets, also host life forms? Astronomers still don't know the answer, but they search for potentially habitable planets using a handful of criteria. Ideally, they want to find planets just like Earth, since we know without a doubt that life took root here. The hunt is on for planets about the size of Earth that orbit at just the right distance from their star -- in a region termed the habitable zone.

Curiosity Mars rover passes kilometer of driving Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:53 PM PDT The latest drive by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover brought the total distance that the rover has driven on Mars to more than 1 kilometer. One kilometer is about 0.62 mile.

Compounds outsmart solid tumors' malfunctioning machinery Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:30 PM PDT Molecular biologists have found a novel way to fine-tune the activity of cells' protein-disposing machinery, with potentially cancer-fighting effects.

80 percent of Malaysian Borneo degraded by logging Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:30 PM PDT A new study has found that more than 80 percent of tropical forests in Malaysian Borneo have been heavily impacted by logging. The team used the Carnegie Landsat Analysis System-lite (CLASlite) to reveal the vast and previously unmapped extent of heavily logged forest. CLASlite's high-resolution satellite imaging uncovered logging roads in Brunei and in the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

'Impossible' material made with record-breaking surface area and water adsorption abilities Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:29 PM PDT A novel material with world record-breaking surface area and water adsorption abilities has been synthesized by researchers in Sweden. The magnesium carbonate material that has been given the name Upsalite is foreseen to reduce the amount of energy needed to control environmental moisture in the electronics and drug formulation industry as well as in hockey rinks and ware houses. It can also be used for collection of toxic waste, chemicals or oil spill and in drug delivery systems, for odor control and sanitation after fire.

Mutation linked to congenital urinary tract defects Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:28 PM PDT Researchers have identified a genetic mutation that causes congenital malformations of the kidney and urinary tract, a common form of birth defect and the most common cause of kidney failure in children. It is the first time that a specific genetic mutation has been linked to a non-syndromic form of urinary tract malformation.

High tooth replacement rates in largest dinosaurs contributed to their evolutionary success Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:28 PM PDT Rapid tooth replacement by sauropods, the largest dinosaurs in the fossil record, likely contributed to their evolutionary success, according to a new article. The study also hypothesizes that differences in tooth replacement rates among the giant herbivores likely meant their diets varied, an important factor that allowed multiple species to share the same ecosystems for several million years.

Study first to identify heart attack-causing plaque in living patients Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:47 PM PDT Scientists may be closer to predicting who is at risk for a heart attack, according to a recently published study. Researchers used new imaging technology on patients being treated for heart attacks.

Probiotic bacterium lessens severity of Salmonella infections by hoarding iron Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:47 PM PDT Microbiologists have learned how a probiotic bacterium used to treat irritable bowel syndrome can soothe gut bacterial infections caused by salmonella, paving the way for potential relief from foodborne illnesses that affect millions of people annually.

Poor sleep in pregnancy can disrupt the immune system and cause birth-related complications Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:47 PM PDT Poor sleep quality and quantity during pregnancy can disrupt normal immune processes and lead to lower birth weights and other complications, a new study finds. Women with depression also are more likely than non-depressed women to suffer from disturbed sleep and to experience immune system disruption and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Unattractive people more likely to be bullied at work Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:47 PM PDT It's common knowledge that high school can be a cruel environment where attractive students are considered "popular," and unattractive kids often get bullied. And, while that type of petty behavior is expected to vanish with adulthood, new research proves it does not. Colleagues can be just as immature as classmates.

Uncovering a healthier remedy for chronic pain Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:47 PM PDT Physicians and patients who are wary of addiction to pain medication and opioids may soon have a healthier and more natural alternative. A study revealed that a derivative of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a main ingredient of over-the-counter fish oil supplements, can sooth and prevent neuropathic pain caused by injuries to the sensory system.

Ironing out the origins of wrinkles, creases and folds Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:44 PM PDT Engineers have mapped out the amounts of compression required to cause wrinkles, creases, and folds to form in rubbery materials. The findings could help engineers control the formation of these structures, which can be useful in designing nanostructured materials for flexible electronic devices or surfaces that require variable adhesion.

Compound discovered at sea shows potency against anthrax Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:44 PM PDT Scientists have discovered anthracimycin, a new chemical compound from an ocean microbe that could one day set the stage for new treatments for anthrax and other ailments such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Splitting donated livers shown to be safe, allowing doctors to save two lives from single organ, study suggests Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:44 PM PDT Split liver transplantation carries no increased risk of failure in either recipient, allowing surgeons to safely save two lives from a single donated organ, according to new research.

The best defense against catastrophic storms: Mother Nature, researchers say Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:44 PM PDT Researchers say that natural habitats such as dunes and reefs are the best protection against storms and rising sea levels along the U.S. coastline.

Nano drug crosses blood-brain tumor barrier, targets brain-tumor cells and blood vessels Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:44 PM PDT The blood-brain barrier protects the brain from poisons but also prevents drugs from reaching brain tumors. A preclinical study shows that an experimental nanotechnology drug called SapC-DOPS crosses the tumor blood-brain barrier, targets brain-tumor cells and retards growth of tumor blood vessels. The findings also show why the agent targets tumor cells and recommend the drug's further development as a novel treatment for glioblastoma.

Discovery of stone monument adds new chapter to ancient Maya history: New World 'Cleopatra story' waits 1,000 years to be retold Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:41 PM PDT Archaeologists tunneling beneath the main temple of the ancient Maya city of El Perú-Waka' in Guatemala have discovered a stone monument with hieroglyphic text detailing the exploits of a little-known sixth-century princess whose progeny prevailed in a bloody struggle between two of the civilization's most powerful royal dynasties.

'Intelligent knife' tells surgeon which tissue is cancerous Posted: 17 Jul 2013 11:17 AM PDT Scientists have developed an "intelligent knife" that can tell surgeons immediately whether the tissue they are cutting is cancerous or not. In the first study to test the invention in the operating theatre, the "iKnife" diagnosed tissue samples from 91 patients with 100 per cent accuracy, instantly providing information that normally takes up to half an hour to reveal using laboratory tests.

Empty decoys divert antibodies from neutralizing gene therapy in cell, animal studies Posted: 17 Jul 2013 11:17 AM PDT Gene therapy researchers have produced a bioengineered decoy that fools the immune system and prevents it from mistakenly defeating the benefits delivered by a corrective gene. The decoy was effective in animal studies, and if the approach succeeds in humans, it offers a potential new treatment for genetic diseases such as hemophilia, while advancing the broader field of gene therapy.

Personality may predict if you like spicy foods Posted: 17 Jul 2013 11:17 AM PDT Certain aspects of an individual's personality may be a determining factor in whether they like their food plain and bland or spicy and hot, according to new research.

Great white sharks' fuel for oceanic voyages: Liver oil Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:49 AM PDT New research shows that great white sharks power their nonstop journeys of more than 2,500 miles with energy stored as fat and oil in their massive livers. The findings provide novel insights into the biology of these ocean predators.

Earth's gold came from colliding dead stars Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:49 AM PDT We value gold for many reasons: Its beauty, its usefulness as jewelry, and its rarity. Gold is rare on Earth in part because it's also rare in the universe. Unlike elements like carbon or iron, it cannot be created within a star. Instead, it must be born in a more cataclysmic event -- like one that occurred last month -- known as a short gamma-ray burst.

BPA and chlorine means bad news: Modified forms of bisphenol A found to alter hormone signaling in new, disturbing ways Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:24 AM PDT The ubiquity of the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A led researchers to ask what it might be doing in publicly supplied, chlorinated drinking water. The answer: Chlorinated BPA has different, but no less profound effects on cell-signaling networks than unmodified BPA.

How rice twice became a crop and twice became a weed -- and what it means for the future Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:24 AM PDT With the help of modern genetic technology and the resources of the International Rice GeneBank, which contains more than 112,000 different types of rice, evolutionary biologist Kenneth Olsen has been able to look back in time at the double domestication of rice (in Asia and in Africa) and its double "de-domestication" to form two weedy strains. Olsen predicts the introduction of pesticide-resistant rice will drive ever faster adaptation in weedy rice.

A heart of gold: Gold nanofibers in engineered heart tissue can enhance electrical signalling Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:24 AM PDT Scientists have integrated cardiac cells with nanofibers made of real gold particles to create functional engineered cardiac tissues. With the gold particles, these tissues contract much faster and stronger as a whole, he reports, making them more viable for transplants and post-heart-attack therapies.

Targeting malaria: Engineered liver tissue could help scientists test new drugs and vaccines Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:23 AM PDT A team of researchers has now developed a way to grow liver tissue that can support the liver stage of the life cycle of the two most common species of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.

Big-nosed, long-horned dinosaur discovered in Utah: Dinosaur in same family as Triceratops Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:23 AM PDT A remarkable new species of horned dinosaur has been unearthed in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, southern Utah. The huge plant-eater inhabited Laramidia, a landmass formed when a shallow sea flooded the central region of North America, isolating western and eastern portions for millions of years during the Late Cretaceous Period. The newly discovered dinosaur belongs to the same family as the famous Triceratops.

Scientists show proof-of-principle for silencing extra chromosome responsible for Down syndrome Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:23 AM PDT Scientists have established that a naturally occurring X chromosome "off switch" can be rerouted to neutralize the extra chromosome responsible for trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by cognitive impairment. The discovery provides the first evidence that the underlying genetic defect responsible for Down syndrome can be suppressed in cells in culture.

Protein responsible for 'bad' blood vessel growth discovered Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:23 AM PDT The discovery of a protein that encourages blood vessel growth, and especially "bad" blood vessels -- the kind that characterize diseases as diverse as cancer, age-related macular degeneration and rheumatoid arthritis -- has been reported.

Scientists find 3-D structure of key drug target for diabetes Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:22 AM PDT Scientists have determined and analyzed the three-dimensional atomic structure of the human glucagon receptor. The receptor, found mainly on liver and kidney cells, helps regulate glucose levels in the bloodstream and is the target of potential therapeutic agents for type 2 diabetes.

Molecular switch controls the destiny of self-eating cells Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:22 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that controls whether a cell survives autophagy, a process that can be compared to the cell consuming parts of itself. The discovery means that it might now be possible to influence the process, which is involved in a wide variety of diseases.

Elastic electronics: Stretchable gold conductor grows its own wires Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:22 AM PDT Networks of spherical nanoparticles embedded in elastic materials may make the best stretchy conductors yet, engineering researchers have discovered.

Genomic imprinting maintains a reserve pool of blood-forming stem cells in mouse bone marrow Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:21 AM PDT Hematopoietic stem cells -- bone marrow-derived adult stem cells that give rise to the wide variety of specialized blood cells -- come in two flavors: the reserve force sits quietly waiting to be called upon while the active arm continually proliferates spawning billions of blood cells every day. In a new study, researchers reveal a new mechanism that is critical in maintaining the delicate balance between the two.

New Anagnorisma moth species from beautiful Binaloud Mountain Iran Posted: 17 Jul 2013 08:45 AM PDT Researchers have described a new species of Noctuidae moth from Iran, which is the fifth described species of the genus Anagnorisma. The new species belongs to the owlet moths (family Noctuidae). which are a large worldwide group of more than 20,000 species of nocturnal lepidopterans.

Ghost particles: New limits on extremely rare decay Posted: 17 Jul 2013 08:44 AM PDT Neutrinos are the most elusive particles having extremely weak interactions with all other particles. They have rather unusual properties and are even expected to be identical with their own antiparticles. So far this property is, however, not experimentally verified even though many studies of neutrinos over the last 60 years have already boosted our understanding of elementary particle physics. Now scientists have obtained new strong limits for the so-called neutrino-less double beta decay, which tests if neutrinos are their own antiparticles.

Monitoring nutrient intake can help vegetarian athletes stay competitive Posted: 17 Jul 2013 08:43 AM PDT A balanced plant-based diet provides the same quality of fuel for athletes as a meat-based diet, provided vegetarians seek out other sources of certain nutrients that are more commonly found in animal products, according to new research.

Deciphering butterflies' designer colors: Findings could inspire new hue-changing materials Posted: 17 Jul 2013 07:59 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered how subtle differences in the tiny crystals of butterfly wings create stunningly varied patterns of color even among closely related species. The discovery could lead to new coatings for manufactured materials that could change color by design, if researchers can figure out how to replicate the wings' light-manipulating properties.

Injectable 'smart sponge' holds promise for controlled drug delivery Posted: 17 Jul 2013 07:59 AM PDT Researchers have developed a drug delivery technique for diabetes treatment in which a sponge-like material surrounds an insulin core. The sponge expands and contracts in response to blood sugar levels to release insulin as needed. The technique could also be used for targeted drug delivery to cancer cells.

A lost frog in the lost world? Posted: 17 Jul 2013 07:58 AM PDT Ecotourism and Conservation - Can it work? In the context of a study in the forests of Central Guyana, scientists investigated this very question and by chance found a previously undiscovered species of frog that only exists in a very confined area of the so-called Iwokrama Forest.

Cost of treating dizziness in the emergency room soars Posted: 17 Jul 2013 07:58 AM PDT Emergency room visits for severe dizziness have grown exponentially in recent years, with costs topping $3.9 billion in 2011 and projected to reach $4.4 billion by 2015. The investigators say roughly half a billion a year could be saved immediately if emergency room physicians stopped the routine and excessive use of head CT scans to search for stroke in dizzy patients, and instead used simple bedside physical exams to identify the small group of patients that truly needs imaging.

Monkey nation: Mainland Africa's most important nation for primates Posted: 17 Jul 2013 07:58 AM PDT A five-year study gives new hope to some of the world's most endangered primates by establishing a roadmap to protect all 27 species in Tanzania – mainland Africa's most primate-diverse country.

Researchers target Achilles' heel of bacteria behind hospital-associated infections Posted: 17 Jul 2013 07:57 AM PDT Researchers are defeating persistent bacteria known for causing infections in hospitals. They have discovered how a regulatory system helps this bacteria resist a host's innate immune defense -- a finding that may help develop novel drug compounds to fight the bacteria.

Single dose of ADHD drug can reduce fall risk in older adults, study suggests Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:55 AM PDT A single dose of MPH improves walking by reducing the number of step errors and the step error rate in both single and dual tasks, a new study suggests.

Discovery of a new class of white blood cells uncovers target for better vaccine design Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:55 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new class of white blood cells in human lung and gut tissues that play a critical role as the first line of defense against harmful fungal and bacterial infections. This research will have significant impact on the design of vaccines and targeted immunotherapies for diseases caused by infectious microbes such as the hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Outgoing people lead happier lives Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:53 AM PDT Young adults who are more outgoing or more emotionally stable are happier in later life than their more introverted or less emotionally stable peers.

The key to ion beams' polarizability Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:53 AM PDT Polarizability determines the force with which an inhomogeneous external electric field acts on the ions of an ion beam. However, it can be quite tricky to obtain accurate values for this force. Now chemists have devised formulas providing the polarizability of atomic ions as a function of their total charge number.

Bird brain? Birds and humans have similar brain wiring Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:53 AM PDT You may have more in common with a pigeon than you realize, according to research.

Chromosomal abnormalities may explain increased cancer risk in type 2 diabetes Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:53 AM PDT Certain chromosomal abnormalities of the preleukemic type appear to be over-represented in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who are suffering from vascular complications. This finding may provide a partial explanation for the higher rates of cancer-related mortality observed among patients with this type of diabetes.

Ripped apart by a black hole: Gas cloud makes closest approach to monster at center of Milky Way Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:53 AM PDT New observations show for the first time a gas cloud being ripped apart by the supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy. The cloud is now so stretched that its front part has passed the closest point and is traveling away from the black hole at more than 10 million km/h, whilst the tail is still falling towards it.

Stop marine pollution to protect kelp forests Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:52 AM PDT Marine biologists have found that reducing nutrient pollution in coastal marine environments should help protect kelp forests from the damaging effects of rising CO2.

Information in brain cells' electrical activity combines memory, environment, and state of mind Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:52 AM PDT The information carried by the electrical activity of neurons is a mixture of stored memories, environmental circumstances, and current state of mind, scientists have found in a study of laboratory rats. The findings offer new insights into the neurobiological processes that give rise to knowledge and memory recall.

Newly discovered flux in Earth may solve missing-mantle mystery Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:18 AM PDT Researchers have identified a "hidden flux" of material in Earth's mantle that would make the planet's overall composition much more similar to that of meteorites.

Parasites change bees brains, but not their behavior Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:17 AM PDT Honey bees infected with the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, or the microsporidia, Nosema ceranae, have changes in the chemical profile of their skin and in their brains. Despite this, parasitized bees were not expelled from the hive, which, the authors say, supports the hypothesis that stressed bees leave the hive altruistically to prevent the spread of infection.

Family tree of fish yields surprises Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:17 AM PDT The mighty tuna is more closely related to the dainty seahorse than to a marlin or sailfish. That is one of the surprises from the first comprehensive family tree, or phylogeny, of the "spiny-rayed fish," a group that includes about a third of all living vertebrate species.

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