ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Monoclonal antibody effective against norovirus
• Color patterns in fish larvae may reveal relationships among species
• 'International beam team' solves Martian meteorite-age puzzle
• Shedding new light on the brightest objects in the universe
• Genetic glitch at the root of allergies revealed
• Changes proposed to New Orleans area levee systems
• Newly discovered marine viruses offer glimpse into untapped biodiversity
• Are North Atlantic right whales mating in the Gulf of Maine?
• Quantifying cities' emotional effects
• HPV's link to esophageal cancer
• Common agricultural chemicals shown to impair honey bees' health
• Speaker's power to act on words influences listeners' brain response
• Brain research shows psychopathic criminals do not lack empathy, but fail to use it automatically
• Potential cause of Parkinson’s disease points to new therapeutic strategy
• Large study reveals increased cancer risks associated with family history of the disease
• A promising target to treat asthma
• Seeing photosynthesis from space: NASA scientists use satellites to measure plant health
• Tropical ecosystems boost carbon dioxide as temperatures rises
• Improving medicine acceptance in kids: A matter of taste
• Nano scientists reach holy grail in label-free cancer marker detection: Single molecules
• Full genome map of oil palm indicates way to raise yields and protect rainforest: Single gene identified whose regulation controls oil palm yield
• Cost of Arctic methane release could be 'size of global economy', experts warn
• Shifting patterns of temperature volatility in the climate system
• Heading for regeneration: Researchers reactivate head regeneration in regeneration-deficient species of planarians
• Direct nitrogen fixation for low cost energy conversion
• New light shed on cause of pandemic influenza
• Key molecular pathways leading to Alzheimer's identified
• Starburst to star bust: Light shed on mystery of missing massive galaxies
• Marijuana use in adolescence may cause permanent brain abnormalities, mouse study suggests
• Ancient technology for metal coatings 2,000 years ago can't be matched even today
• Scientists get dirty at the Robson Glacier
• Want to stick with your diet? Better have someone hide the chocolate
• Neural simulations hint at the origin of brain waves
• Scientists unable to find evidence of 'embryonic-like' cells in marrow of adult mice
• Novel technology seen as new, more accurate way to diagnose and treat autism
• Curiosity makes its longest one-day drive on Mars
• First human tests of new biosensor that warns when athletes are about to 'hit the wall'
• Pressurized virus blasts its infectious DNA into human cells
• Solar system's youth gives clues to planet search
• A magnetic pen for smartphones adds another level of conveniences
• How do babies learn to be wary of heights?
• Record incidence of hantavirus disease
• Dangers to biological diversity from proliferation of global cashmere garment industry
• New species of Hero Shrew found in equatorial Africa: Most bizarre mammalian spine on Earth
• Physical inactivity, poor diet and smoking linked to disability in older population
• Male guppies ensure successful mating with genital claws
• Face identification accuracy is in the eye (and brain) of the beholder
• Extraordinary trout has tolerance to heavily polluted water
• New study shows inbreeding in winter flounder in Long Island's bays
• Coastal Antarctic permafrost melting faster than expected: Arctic-like melt rates appearing in Coastal Antarctica
• Atmospheric rivers set to increase UK winter flooding
• A quick test for the Black Death
• Does the dangerous new Middle East coronavirus have an African origin?
• The ferromagnetic Kondo effect: A circuit simulates an effect predicted by physicists but never actually observed
• New stem cell gene therapy gives hope to prevent inherited neurological disease
• An evolutionary compromise for long tooth preservation
• Low radon concentrations accurately measurable for the first time
• Embedded nerve cells hold the key to brain activity
• Watching molecule movements in live cells
• Cracking the blue-green code: Study of gene expression in blue-green algae reveals what makes it bloom, toxic

Monoclonal antibody effective against norovirus Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:06 PM PDT Researchers have provided the first proof of concept data showing that a monoclonal antibody can neutralize human norovirus. This research could one day lead to effective therapies against the virus.

Color patterns in fish larvae may reveal relationships among species Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:06 PM PDT Similarities in how different organisms look can indicate a close evolutionary relationship. Conversely, great differences in appearance can suggest a very distant relationship, as in many adult marine fish species. For the first time, however, a scientist has found that color patterns of different fish species in the larval stage can be very similar, revealing a closer evolutionary relationship than their adult forms would suggest.

'International beam team' solves Martian meteorite-age puzzle Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:06 PM PDT By directing energy beams at tiny crystals found in a Martian meteorite, geologists have proven that the most common group of meteorites from Mars is almost four billion years younger than many scientists had believed -- resolving a long-standing puzzle in Martian science and painting a much clearer picture of the Red Planet's evolution that can now be compared to that of habitable Earth.

Shedding new light on the brightest objects in the universe Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:06 PM PDT Astrophysicists have documented the immense power of quasar radiation, reaching out for many thousands of light years to the limits of the quasar's galaxy.

Genetic glitch at the root of allergies revealed Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:06 PM PDT Newly published research reveals that a faulty genetic pathway already known for its role in some connective tissue disorders is also a potent player in many types of allergies. Scientists have long understood that allergies are the result of a complex interplay between environment and genes, but now, in what investigators believe is a scientific first, a single genetic pathway has been implicated in an array of allergic disorders.

Changes proposed to New Orleans area levee systems Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:05 PM PDT Less may mean more when it comes to the levee systems designed to protect New Orleans from hurricanes. That's the conclusion of a new study led by the co-developer of the authoritative computer model for storm surge used by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state of Louisiana to determine water levels due to hurricane surge and to design levee heights and alignments.

Newly discovered marine viruses offer glimpse into untapped biodiversity Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:05 PM PDT Studying bacteria from the Baltic Sea, researchers have discovered an entire array of previously unknown viruses that use these bacteria as hosts. By impacting the life cycles of these bacteria, the viruses play indirect but crucial ecological roles in environments ranging from the oceans and sea ice to the human gut.

Are North Atlantic right whales mating in the Gulf of Maine? Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:05 PM PDT Using data obtained during six years of regular aerial surveys and genetics data collected by a consortium of research groups, scientists have strengthened evidence pointing to the central Gulf of Maine as a mating ground for North Atlantic right whales, according to a new study.

Quantifying cities' emotional effects Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:05 PM PDT A new Web tool could help measure subjective impressions of urban environments, which may have consequences for social behaviors.

HPV's link to esophageal cancer Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:04 PM PDT The human papillomavirus triples the risk of people developing yet another cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, according to new research.

Common agricultural chemicals shown to impair honey bees' health Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:04 PM PDT Honey bees used to pollinate crops are exposed to many agricultural chemicals, including common fungicides which impair their ability to fight off a potentially lethal parasite, according to a new study.

Speaker's power to act on words influences listeners' brain response Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:04 PM PDT A speaker's power to act on his words influences how a listener perceives the meaning of their message, according to new research.

Brain research shows psychopathic criminals do not lack empathy, but fail to use it automatically Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:04 PM PDT A brain imaging study in the Netherlands shows individuals with psychopathy have reduced empathy while witnessing the pains of others. When asked to empathize, however, they can activate their empathy.

Potential cause of Parkinson’s disease points to new therapeutic strategy Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:02 PM PDT Biologists have made a significant discovery that could lead to a new therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease. The findings focus on an enzyme known as parkin, whose absence causes an early-onset form of Parkinson's disease. Precisely how the loss of this enzyme leads to the deaths of neurons has been unclear. But the TSRI researchers showed that parkin's loss sharply reduces the level of another protein that normally helps protect neurons from stress.

Large study reveals increased cancer risks associated with family history of the disease Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:02 PM PDT A family history of cancer increases the risk of other members of the family developing not only the same cancer but also a different (discordant) cancer, according to a large study of 23,000 people in Italy and Switzerland. The research is one of the few large studies of this kind that takes into account other important factors, such as individual characteristics and lifestyles, that could affect the degree of risk as well.

A promising target to treat asthma Posted: 24 Jul 2013 04:59 PM PDT Scientists have found a promising, new way to treat asthma: Target an enzyme in airway lining cells. The finding could lead to the development of drugs that block the enzyme, CaMKII, from excessive oxidation, which can trigger asthma attacks.

Seeing photosynthesis from space: NASA scientists use satellites to measure plant health Posted: 24 Jul 2013 12:52 PM PDT NASA scientists have established a new way to use satellites to measure what's occurring inside plants at a cellular level. Plants grow and thrive through photosynthesis, a process that converts sunlight into energy. During photosynthesis, plants emit what is called fluorescence -- light invisible to the naked eye but detectable by satellites orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth. NASA scientists have now established a method to turn this satellite data into global maps of the subtle phenomenon in more detail than ever before.

Tropical ecosystems boost carbon dioxide as temperatures rises Posted: 24 Jul 2013 12:45 PM PDT NASA scientists and an international team of researchers have found tropical ecosystems can generate significant carbon dioxide when temperatures rise, unlike ecosystems in other parts of the world.

Improving medicine acceptance in kids: A matter of taste Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:43 AM PDT Many children reject medicines due to an aversion to bitter taste. As such, bitterness presents a key obstacle to the acceptance and effectiveness of beneficial drugs by children worldwide. A new review addresses this critical problem by highlighting recent advances in the scientific understanding of bitter taste, with special attention to the sensory world of children.

Nano scientists reach holy grail in label-free cancer marker detection: Single molecules Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:43 AM PDT Scientists have announced a nano-enhanced version of a biosensor has detected a single cancer marker protein and even smaller molecules below the mass of all known markers. This achievement sets a new benchmark for the most sensitive limit of detection, and may significantly advance early disease diagnostics.

Full genome map of oil palm indicates way to raise yields and protect rainforest: Single gene identified whose regulation controls oil palm yield Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:42 AM PDT A multinational team of scientists has identified a single gene, called Shell, that regulates yield of the oil palm tree. The fruit and seeds of the oil palm are the source of nearly one-half of the supply of edible vegetable oil worldwide, and provide one of the most promising sources of biofuel.

Cost of Arctic methane release could be 'size of global economy', experts warn Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:42 AM PDT Researchers have warned of an "economic time-bomb" in the Arctic, following a ground-breaking analysis of the likely cost of methane emissions in the region. Economic modelling shows that the methane emissions caused by shrinking sea ice from just one area of the Arctic could come with a global price tag of 60 trillion dollars -- the size of the world economy in 2012.

Shifting patterns of temperature volatility in the climate system Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:42 AM PDT In recent decades there has been increased variability in yearly temperature records for large parts of Europe and North America, according to a new study.

Heading for regeneration: Researchers reactivate head regeneration in regeneration-deficient species of planarians Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:40 AM PDT Rabbits can't do it, neither can frogs, but zebrafish and axolotls can and flatworms are true masters of the craft: regeneration. Why some animals can re-grow lost body parts or organs while others cannot remains a big mystery. And even more intriguing to us regeneration-challenged humans is the question whether one might be able to activate regenerative abilities in species that don't usually regenerate.

Direct nitrogen fixation for low cost energy conversion Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:31 AM PDT Researchers have announced a simple, low-cost and eco-friendly method of creating nitrogen-doped graphene nanoplatelets (NGnPs), which could be used in dye-sensitized solar cells and fuel cells The work could be a step towards replacing conventional platinum (Pt)-based catalysts for energy conversion.

New light shed on cause of pandemic influenza Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:31 AM PDT With the use of sophisticated mathematical modelling techniques, mathematicians have completed a study that explains the phenomenon of multiple waves of influenza pandemic in the last century.

Key molecular pathways leading to Alzheimer's identified Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:30 AM PDT Key molecular pathways that lead to late-onset Alzheimer's disease have been identified by neuroscientists. The findings present a new approach to Alzheimer's research and highlight several new potential drug targets.

Starburst to star bust: Light shed on mystery of missing massive galaxies Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:30 AM PDT The cosmic fireworks that characterize a starburst galaxy can abruptly fizzle out after only a relatively brief period of star formation, and astronomers want to know why.

Marijuana use in adolescence may cause permanent brain abnormalities, mouse study suggests Posted: 24 Jul 2013 09:50 AM PDT Regular marijuana use in adolescence, but not adulthood, may permanently impair brain function and cognition, and may increase the risk of developing serious psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, according to a recent study.

Ancient technology for metal coatings 2,000 years ago can't be matched even today Posted: 24 Jul 2013 09:49 AM PDT Artists and craftsmen more than 2,000 years ago developed thin-film coating technology unrivaled even by today's standards for producing DVDs, solar cells, electronic devices and other products. Understanding these sophisticated metal-plating techniques from ancient times could help preserve priceless artistic and other treasures from the past.

Scientists get dirty at the Robson Glacier Posted: 24 Jul 2013 09:49 AM PDT New research presents some of the first data documenting microbial community diversity, biomass and function along a 100-year-old soil chronosequence in a Canadian glacier retreat area.

Want to stick with your diet? Better have someone hide the chocolate Posted: 24 Jul 2013 09:49 AM PDT If you are trying to lose weight or save for the future, new research suggests avoiding temptation may increase your chances of success compared to relying on willpower alone.

Neural simulations hint at the origin of brain waves Posted: 24 Jul 2013 09:49 AM PDT Computer models of individual neurons are being assembled into neural circuits that produce actual electrical signals akin to brain waves. The results are helping solve the mystery of how and why these signals arise in the brain.

Scientists unable to find evidence of 'embryonic-like' cells in marrow of adult mice Posted: 24 Jul 2013 09:49 AM PDT Research on human embryonic stem cells has been a political and religious lightning rod for more than a decade. Scientists say they have been unable to identify any very small, pluripotent cells in the bone marrow of mice, despite exhaustive efforts to duplicate the original experimental procedures.

Novel technology seen as new, more accurate way to diagnose and treat autism Posted: 24 Jul 2013 09:48 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new screening and tracking tool for diagnosing autism. The method holds promise as a method to introduce interventions.

Curiosity makes its longest one-day drive on Mars Posted: 24 Jul 2013 09:00 AM PDT NASA's Mars rover Curiosity drove twice as far on July 21 as on any other day of the mission so far: 109.7 yards (100.3 meters). The length of the drive took advantage of starting the 340th Martian day, or sol, of the mission from a location with an unusually good view for rover engineers to plan a safe path. In weeks to come, the rover team plans to begin using "autonav" capability for the rover to autonomously navigate a path for itself, which could make such long drives more frequent.

First human tests of new biosensor that warns when athletes are about to 'hit the wall' Posted: 24 Jul 2013 08:43 AM PDT A new biosensor, applied to the human skin like a temporary tattoo, can alert marathoners, competitive bikers and other "extreme" athletes that they're about to "bonk," or "hit the wall," scientists are reporting.

Pressurized virus blasts its infectious DNA into human cells Posted: 24 Jul 2013 08:42 AM PDT The virus that causes those painful lip blisters known as cold sores has an internal pressure eight times higher than a car tire, and uses it to literally blast its infectious DNA into human cells, scientists are reporting in a new study. Discovery of the pressure-driven infection mechanism -- the first in a human virus -- opens the door to new treatments for viral infections, they add in a new study.

Solar system's youth gives clues to planet search Posted: 24 Jul 2013 08:42 AM PDT Comets and meteorites contain clues to our solar system's earliest days. But some of the findings are puzzle pieces that don't seem to fit well together. A new set of theoretical models shows how an outburst event in the Sun's formative years could explain some of this disparate evidence. The research could have implications for the hunt for habitable planets outside of our solar system.

A magnetic pen for smartphones adds another level of conveniences Posted: 24 Jul 2013 08:42 AM PDT Scientists have developed a magnetically driven pen interface that works both on and around mobile devices. This interface, called the MagPen, can be used for any type of smartphones and tablet computers so long as they have embedded magnetometers.

How do babies learn to be wary of heights? Posted: 24 Jul 2013 08:42 AM PDT Infants develop a fear of heights as a result of their experiences moving around their environments, according to new research.

Record incidence of hantavirus disease Posted: 24 Jul 2013 08:41 AM PDT 2824 new cases of hantavirus disease were reported in Germany in 2012, the highest number ever in a single year.

Dangers to biological diversity from proliferation of global cashmere garment industry Posted: 24 Jul 2013 08:40 AM PDT A new study reveals a disturbing link between the cashmere trade and the decay of ecosystems that support some of the planet's most spectacular yet little-known large mammals.

New species of Hero Shrew found in equatorial Africa: Most bizarre mammalian spine on Earth Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:32 AM PDT Scientists have described a new species of Hero Shrew -- the mammal with the most bizarre lower spine on Earth. The interlocking vertebrae of the Hero Shrew render the spine four to five times more robust relative to body mass, a condition not found in any other mammal. The spine has been an enigma to evolutionary biologists, with no known adaptive significance.

Physical inactivity, poor diet and smoking linked to disability in older population Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:32 AM PDT An unhealthy lifestyle is associated with a greater likelihood of developing disability over the age of 65, with the risk increasing progressively with the number of unhealthy behaviors, suggests a new article.

Male guppies ensure successful mating with genital claws Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:32 AM PDT Some males will go to great lengths to pursue a female and take extreme measures to hold on once they find one that interests them, even if that affection is unrequited. New research from evolutionary biologists shows that the male guppy grows claws on its genitals to make it more difficult for unreceptive females to get away during mating.

Face identification accuracy is in the eye (and brain) of the beholder Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:32 AM PDT Though humans generally have a tendency to look at a region just below the eyes and above the nose toward the midline when first identifying another person, a small subset of people tend to look further down –– at the tip of the nose, for instance, or at the mouth.

Extraordinary trout has tolerance to heavily polluted water Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:30 AM PDT A population of brown trout can survive in the contaminated waters of the River Hayle in Cornwall where metal concentrations are so high they would be lethal to fish from unpolluted sites. The team believe this is due to changes in the expression of their genes.

New study shows inbreeding in winter flounder in Long Island's bays Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:30 AM PDT Research conducted in six bays of Long Island, NY has shown that local populations of winter flounder are inbred, which is a situation that is not usually considered in marine fisheries management.

Coastal Antarctic permafrost melting faster than expected: Arctic-like melt rates appearing in Coastal Antarctica Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:30 AM PDT Scientists have documented an acceleration in the melt rate of permafrost in a part of Antarctica where the ice had been considered stable. The melt rates are comparable with the Arctic and could preview melting permafrost in other parts of a warming Antarctica. In Garwood Valley, scientists found melt rates accelerated consistently from 2001 to 2012, rising to about 10 times the historical average.

Atmospheric rivers set to increase UK winter flooding Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:27 AM PDT The prolonged heat wave that has bathed the UK in sunshine over the past month has given the country an unexpected taste of summer that has seemed to be missing in recent years. However, a new study has provided warnings that will chime with those accustomed to more typical British weather. According to the study, winter flooding in the UK is set to get more severe and more frequent under the influence of climate change as a result of a change in the characteristics of atmospheric rivers.

A quick test for the Black Death Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:27 AM PDT Diagnosing the presence of Yersinia pestis, the cause of plague, may soon be easier than ever before. Scientists have come up with a simple, inexpensive and reliable method of detecting the bacterium. The research team, specialising in glycochemistry and glycobiology, first identified and synthesised an oligosaccharide structure on bacterial surface before combining it with a protein to heighten the immunological effect. The presence of antibodies against this surface glycan in the blood of infected patients can be a biomarker of diagnostic value in Yersinia pestis infections. The Potsdam-based scientists also used the antigen to create antibodies which can directly detect the plague pathogen in infected samples.

Does the dangerous new Middle East coronavirus have an African origin? Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:27 AM PDT The MERS-coronavirus is regarded as a dangerous novel pathogen: Almost 50 people have died from infection with the virus since it was first discovered in 2012. To date all cases are connected with the Arabian peninsula. Scientists have now detected a virus in the faeces of a South African bat that is genetically more closely related to MERS-CoV than any other known virus. The scientists therefore believe that African bats may play a role in the evolution of MERS-CoV predecessor viruses.

The ferromagnetic Kondo effect: A circuit simulates an effect predicted by physicists but never actually observed Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:27 AM PDT A group of physicists has shown how to obtain a particular case of a physical effect -- so far never observed in reality -- whose studies have earned a Nobel Prize. The scientists have also observed the response of the material subject to such effect. These observations will provide precious indications to the experimental physicists in order to verify, in the future, their theory.

New stem cell gene therapy gives hope to prevent inherited neurological disease Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:27 AM PDT Scientists have used stem cell gene therapy to treat a fatal genetic brain disease in mice for the first time.

An evolutionary compromise for long tooth preservation Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:26 AM PDT Researchers have conducted stress analyses on gorilla teeth of differing wear stages. Their findings show that different features of the occlusal surface antagonize tensile stresses in the tooth to tooth contact during the chewing process. They further show that tooth wear, with its loss of dental tissue and reduction of occlusal relief decreases tensile stresses in the tooth. The result, however, is that food processing becomes less effective. Thus, when the condition of the occlusal surface changes during an individual's lifetime due to tooth wear, the biomechanical requirements on the existing dental material change as well -- an evolutionary compromise for longer tooth preservation.

Low radon concentrations accurately measurable for the first time Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:26 AM PDT You can't see it, you can't smell it, you can't taste it -- but at high doses, it can be lethal: the natural radioactive noble gas radon occurs especially in places where the subsoil consists of granite. It can, however, also occur in construction materials. It has been known for a long time that radon at high doses can cause lung cancer -- numerous workers from the Wismut-Werke uranium mines in the former GDR died of it. Now, scientists, however, deem radon to be dangerous also at low concentrations and therefore have increased the classification of its radiation effects: radon gas is now officially classified as contributing just as strongly to the exposure rate of the general public as medical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Embedded nerve cells hold the key to brain activity Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:26 AM PDT Understanding complex systems such as the brain of mammals: Dr. Arvind Kumar and colleagues from the Bernstein Center and the Cluster of Excellence BrainLinks-BrainTools at the University of Freiburg present a new view on brain function. Much of today's brain research follows an approach that has been in use for decades: An area of the brain is either silenced of augmented in its activity, and the resulting effects in other parts of the brain -- or in the whole organ -- are measured. While this approach is very successful in understanding how the brain processes input from our senses, a team of scientists argues that it is too simple when trying to understand other brain regions.

Watching molecule movements in live cells Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:26 AM PDT The newly developed STED-RICS microscopy method records rapid movements of molecules in live samples. By combining raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS) with STED fluorescence microscopy, researchers have opened up new applications in medical research, e.g. analyzing the dynamics of cell membranes at high protein concentrations.

Cracking the blue-green code: Study of gene expression in blue-green algae reveals what makes it bloom, toxic Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:15 AM PDT If your local pond, lake, or watering hole is looking bright green this summer, chances are it has blue-green algae and it may be dangerous to you or your pets. A newly published study has used a novel approach to better understand why these algae form blooms and what makes them toxic.

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