ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Melody modulates choir members' heart rate
• Potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis identified
• Nearly half of sarcoma surgeries done by nonsurgical oncology specialists
• Glimpse into the future of acidic oceans shows ecosystems transformed
• Finding the Goldilocks sites to store carbon dioxide underground
• Denormalizing smoking: Making the case for banning cigarettes in parks and on beaches
• Consuming soy peptide may reduce colon cancer metastasis
• Ethical quandary about vaccinations sparked by tension between parental rights and protecting public health
• Innovative study estimates extent to which air pollution in China shortens human lives
• What do rotten eggs and colon cancer have in common?
• Corals cozy up with bacterial buddies
• Inhibiting macrophage MerTK signaling creates an innate immune response against cancer
• NASA's polar robotic ranger passes first Greenland test
• Research points to biomarker that could track Huntington's disease progression
• CPAP therapy reduces nightmares in veterans with PTSD and sleep apnea
• Plant molecular biologist are getting to the root of the matter
• Nano-tool for designing the next big battery: Eavesdropping on lithium ions
• Buckling up to turn: Marine microbes change swimming direction via a high-speed mechanical instability
• 'Dead zone' impacts Chesapeake Bay fishes
• Two blood pressure drugs linked to lower risk of heart disease in diabetics
• Targeting errant immune system enzyme kills myelodysplastic cells
• Researchers identify 'switch' for long-term memory
• 135-year-old meteorite mystery solved? Chondrules may have formed from high-pressure collisions in early solar system
• Immune cells essential to establishing pregnancy
• Breakthrough could lead to 'artificial skin' that senses touch, humidity and temperature
• Sydney's urban areas to be hit hardest by global warming
• Not-weak knots bolster carbon fiber
• Second door discovered in war against mosquito-borne diseases
• How well can you see with your ears? Device offers new alternative to blind people
• New metallic bubble wrap offers big benefits over other protective materials
• Robot mom would beat robot butler in popularity contest
• Scientists solve titanic puzzle of popular photocatalyst
• Moths talk about sex in many ways
• Brain and eye combined monitoring breakthrough could lead to fewer road accidents
• Researchers warn of legacy mercury in the environment
• Exposure to stress even before conception causes genetic changes to offspring
• Deserts 'greening' from rising carbon dioxide: Green foliage boosted across the world's arid regions
• Enhanced yet affordable material for supercapacitors
• First child born following embryo screening with new genome analysis technique
• Tailoring diabetes treatment to older patients yields dramatic results
• People with depression tend to pursue generalized goals
• Unlikely competitor for diamond as best thermal conductor: Boron arsenide potential for cooling applications
• Matter-antimatter asymmetry: Using the sun to illuminate a basic mystery of matter
• IVF for 200 euro per cycle: First real-life proof of principle that IVF is feasible and effective for developing countries
• Egg donation in European clinics: Why do women do it?
• Adverse effects of phthalates on ovarian response to IVF
• Early life and in utero factors found to influence testicular function in adulthood
• Deep sea isolation: Hypersaline 'islands' harbor unique life
• Archaeologists unearth a virtually intact Late Roman well
• Historical clues to Stradivari's craft: Evidence that violin maker's workmanship was based on traditions of ancient artists
• Zombies offer key to understanding how crowds evacuate
• Brain structural deficits may contribute to increased functional connections between brain regions implicated in depression
• New tissue engineering breakthrough encourages nerve repair
• Cosmic dust belts without dust
• Does marital breakdown have an effect on male offending?
• Light transistor: Efficient transistor for light could lead to optical computers
• Earthworms could help scientists 'dig' into past climates
• Math game more effective than paper exercises
• Detection of single photons via quantum entanglement
• Even slight temperature increases causing tropical forests to blossom

Melody modulates choir members' heart rate Posted: 08 Jul 2013 05:01 PM PDT When people sing in a choir their heart beats are synchronized, so that the pulse of choir members tends to increase and decrease in unison.

Potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis identified Posted: 08 Jul 2013 05:00 PM PDT Findings of disrupted micronuclei may prove to be a valuable tool for detecting cancer.

Nearly half of sarcoma surgeries done by nonsurgical oncology specialists Posted: 08 Jul 2013 02:10 PM PDT Orthopedic oncologists and surgical oncologists, who have been trained in the complex procedures required to remove sarcomas located deep in the muscles and other soft tissues of the limbs, conducted only 52 percent of these operations at 85 academic medical centers during a three-year period, according to an analysis of national data.

Glimpse into the future of acidic oceans shows ecosystems transformed Posted: 08 Jul 2013 02:10 PM PDT In the waters surrounding Castello Aragonese, a 14th century castle off the coast of Italy, volcanic vents naturally release bubbles of carbon dioxide gas, creating different levels of acidity among the marine-animal and plant communities there. These gradients of acidity gave scientists a glimpse of what a future marked by increasingly acidic ocean waters could look like, and how the creatures and plants living in those environments may react to it.

Finding the Goldilocks sites to store carbon dioxide underground Posted: 08 Jul 2013 02:09 PM PDT To implement carbon capture and storage successfully, each underground repository will need careful appraisal based on its unique history and setting, according to a new study.

Denormalizing smoking: Making the case for banning cigarettes in parks and on beaches Posted: 08 Jul 2013 02:09 PM PDT Many state and local governments banned smoking in parks and on beaches on the basis that passive smoke is a risk for non-smokers, cigarette butts pollute the environment, and seeing people smoke poses a long-term risk to children. Researchers say the evidence for these claims is far from definitive and policymakers pushing for smoking bans will need to make a stronger argument to overcome the opposition and gain the public trust.

Consuming soy peptide may reduce colon cancer metastasis Posted: 08 Jul 2013 02:08 PM PDT After a recent study showed that injection of the soy peptide lunasin dramatically reduced colon cancer metastasis in mice, researchers were eager to see how making lunasin part of the animals' daily diet would affect the spread of the disease.

Ethical quandary about vaccinations sparked by tension between parental rights and protecting public health Posted: 08 Jul 2013 02:08 PM PDT Increased concerns about the perceived risk of vaccination, inconvenience, or religious tenets are leading more U.S. parents to opt-out of vaccinating their children. Parents are increasingly able to do so in states that have relatively simple procedures for immunization exemption, report researchers. Some states, fearing a public health crisis, have responded by putting in place more burdensome procedures for parents of school-aged children to opt-out.

Innovative study estimates extent to which air pollution in China shortens human lives Posted: 08 Jul 2013 01:19 PM PDT A high level of air pollution, in the form of particulates produced by burning coal, significantly shortens the lives of people exposed to it, according to a unique new study of China.

What do rotten eggs and colon cancer have in common? Posted: 08 Jul 2013 01:19 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that hydrogen sulfide -- the pungent-smelling gas produced by rotten eggs -- is a key player in colon cancer metabolism, and a potential target for therapies for the disease.

Corals cozy up with bacterial buddies Posted: 08 Jul 2013 12:10 PM PDT Corals may let certain bacteria get under their skin, according to a new study. The study offers the first direct evidence that Stylophora pistillata, a species of reef-building coral found throughout the Indian and west Pacific Oceans, harbors bacterial denizens deep within its tissues.

Inhibiting macrophage MerTK signaling creates an innate immune response against cancer Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:33 AM PDT New evidence shows that MerTK macrophage action in the microenvironment that surrounds cancer cells blunts the immune response, allowing the tumor cell to grow and metastasize.

NASA's polar robotic ranger passes first Greenland test Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:33 AM PDT Defying 30 mph gusts and temperatures down to minus 22 F, NASA's new polar rover recently demonstrated in Greenland that it could operate completely autonomously in one of Earth's harshest environments.

Research points to biomarker that could track Huntington's disease progression Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:33 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated that measurements of electrical activity in the brains of mouse models of Huntington's disease could indicate the presence of disease before the onset of major symptoms.

CPAP therapy reduces nightmares in veterans with PTSD and sleep apnea Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:33 AM PDT A new study suggests that CPAP therapy reduces nightmares in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.

Plant molecular biologist are getting to the root of the matter Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:33 AM PDT Plant molecular biologists go looking for the genetics of poplar root growth in low-nitrogen soil and wind up with a model for genetic interaction.

Nano-tool for designing the next big battery: Eavesdropping on lithium ions Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:33 AM PDT It's a jungle down there at batteries' atomic level, with ions whacking into electrodes, eventually causing the battery to fail. Now, a scientist has developed a device that lets researchers spy on the actions of lithium ions inside a nanobattery -- and use that data to develop better, longer-lasting batteries to power everything from electric cars to cell phones.

Buckling up to turn: Marine microbes change swimming direction via a high-speed mechanical instability Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:33 AM PDT Bacteria swim by rotating the helical, hairlike flagella that extend from their unicellular bodies. Some bacteria, including the Escherichia coli (E. coli) living in the human gut, have multiple flagella that rotate as a bundle to move the cell forward. These cells turn somewhat acrobatically by unbundling their flagella, causing the cell to tumble, reorient and strike out in another direction.

'Dead zone' impacts Chesapeake Bay fishes Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:31 AM PDT A 10-year study provides the first quantitative evidence on a bay-wide scale that low-oxygen "dead zones" are impacting the distribution and abundance of "demersal" fishes -- those that live and feed near the Bay bottom.

Two blood pressure drugs linked to lower risk of heart disease in diabetics Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:31 AM PDT Two drugs, telmisartan and valsartan, which are used to reduce blood pressure in people with diabetes, are associated with a lower risk of hospitalization for heart attack, stroke or heart failure, according to a new study.

Targeting errant immune system enzyme kills myelodysplastic cells Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:31 AM PDT Scientists have successfully targeted a malfunctioning immune system enzyme to kill diseased cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome -- a blood disorder and precursor to leukemia. Researchers say their successful laboratory tests in human MDS cells and mouse models of MDS provide a molecular target for designing new drugs to battle a syndrome with few effective treatments.

Researchers identify 'switch' for long-term memory Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:30 AM PDT Neurobiologists have identified calcium in the cell nucleus to be a cellular "switch" responsible for the formation of long-term memory. Using the fruit fly as a model, scientists investigate how the brain learns. The researchers wanted to know which signals in the brain were responsible for building long-term memory and for forming the special proteins involved.

135-year-old meteorite mystery solved? Chondrules may have formed from high-pressure collisions in early solar system Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:29 AM PDT A normally staid scientist has stunned many of his colleagues with his radical solution to a 135-year-old mystery in cosmochemistry. At issue is how numerous small, glassy spherules had become embedded within specimens of the largest class of meteorites—the chondrites.

Immune cells essential to establishing pregnancy Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:29 AM PDT New research shows for the first time that immune cells known as macrophages are critical to fertility by creating a healthy hormone environment in the uterus.

Breakthrough could lead to 'artificial skin' that senses touch, humidity and temperature Posted: 08 Jul 2013 09:44 AM PDT Using tiny gold particles and a kind of resin, a team of scientists has discovered how to make a new kind of flexible sensor that one day could be integrated into electronic skin, or e-skin. If scientists learn how to attach e-skin to prosthetic limbs, people with amputations might once again be able to feel changes in their environments.

Sydney's urban areas to be hit hardest by global warming Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:51 AM PDT Green spaces, trees and bodies of water are must-have design features for future development in Sydney's suburbs after researchers found that by 2050 global warming combined with Sydney's urban heat island effect could increase temperatures by up to 3.7°C.

Not-weak knots bolster carbon fiber Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:51 AM PDT Scientists have created carbon fiber from graphene oxide flakes. The surprising strength of knots in the fiber should make it suitable for advanced fabrics.

Second door discovered in war against mosquito-borne diseases Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:51 AM PDT In the global war against disease-carrying mosquitoes, scientists have long believed that a single molecular door was the key target for insecticide. This door, however, is closing, giving mosquitoes the upper hand.

How well can you see with your ears? Device offers new alternative to blind people Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:51 AM PDT A device that trains the brain to turn sounds into images could be used as an alternative to invasive treatment for blind and partially-sighted people, researchers have found.

New metallic bubble wrap offers big benefits over other protective materials Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:49 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new metallic bubble wrap that is lighter, stronger and more flexible than sheet metal and more heat- and chemical-resistant than plastic or other polymer-based bubble wraps. Potential applications include automobile body panels, the wing edges of airplanes, suitcases, helmets and cases for computers and other electronic devices.

Robot mom would beat robot butler in popularity contest Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:49 AM PDT If you tickle a robot, it may not laugh, but you may still consider it humanlike -- depending on its role in your life, reports an international group of researchers.

Scientists solve titanic puzzle of popular photocatalyst Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:49 AM PDT A breakthrough in our understanding of the properties of titania (titanium dioxide) -- the basis of self-cleaning window technology -- has been made by scientists, uncovering a decades old misunderstanding that has clouded our knowledge of how mixed phase titania catalysts operate.

Moths talk about sex in many ways Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:49 AM PDT Originally moths developed ears so that they could hear their worst enemy, the bat, but now moths also use their ears to communicate about sex in a great number of different ways.

Brain and eye combined monitoring breakthrough could lead to fewer road accidents Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:49 AM PDT Latest advances in capturing data on brain activity and eye movement are being combined to open up a host of 'mindreading' possibilities for the future. These include the potential development of a system that can detect when drivers are in danger of falling asleep at the wheel.

Researchers warn of legacy mercury in the environment Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:45 AM PDT Environmental researchers have published evidence that significant reductions in mercury emissions will be necessary just to stabilize current levels of the toxic element in the environment. So much mercury persists in surface reservoirs (soil, air, and water) from past pollution, going back thousands of years, that it will continue to persist in the ocean and accumulate in fish for decades to centuries, they report.

Exposure to stress even before conception causes genetic changes to offspring Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:44 AM PDT A female's exposure to distress even before she conceives causes changes in the expression of a gene linked to the stress mechanism in the body — in the ovum and later in the brains of the offspring from when they are born, according to a new study on rats.

Deserts 'greening' from rising carbon dioxide: Green foliage boosted across the world's arid regions Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:35 AM PDT Increased levels of carbon dioxide have helped boost green foliage across the world's arid regions over the past 30 years through a process called carbon dioxide fertilization, according to new research.

Enhanced yet affordable material for supercapacitors Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:35 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new method to massively synthesize enhanced yet affordable materials for supercapacitors.

First child born following embryo screening with new genome analysis technique Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:35 AM PDT The first birth has been achieved following the analysis of embryos using a new genome sequencing technique which promises to revolutionise embryo selection for IVF. The technique has never before been applied in the screening of embryos.

Tailoring diabetes treatment to older patients yields dramatic results Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:35 AM PDT More than a quarter of over 70s with type 2 diabetes could benefit simply from improving communication and education in the clinic, new research has revealed. A new study has found that 27 percent achieved better glycemic control through individualized care alone.

People with depression tend to pursue generalized goals Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:35 AM PDT Researchers have found that people with depression have more generalized personal goals than non-depressed people.

Unlikely competitor for diamond as best thermal conductor: Boron arsenide potential for cooling applications Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:34 AM PDT Researchers report the potential for boron arsenide to challenge the extraordinarily high thermal conductivity of diamond, which could pave the way for a more plentiful and affordable alternative to cooling high tech devices.

Matter-antimatter asymmetry: Using the sun to illuminate a basic mystery of matter Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:34 AM PDT Antimatter has been detected in solar flares via microwave and magnetic-field data, according to researchers. The finding sheds light on the puzzling strong asymmetry between matter and antimatter by gathering data on a very large scale using the Sun as a laboratory.

IVF for 200 euro per cycle: First real-life proof of principle that IVF is feasible and effective for developing countries Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:34 AM PDT A study performed in Belgium has shown that low-cost IVF for developing and poor resource countries is feasible and effective, with delivery rates not much different from those achieved in conventional IVF programs. This proof-of-principle study, say the investigators, suggests that infertility care may now be "universally accessible".

Egg donation in European clinics: Why do women do it? Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:34 AM PDT Egg donation is now one of the major reasons why couples travel abroad for fertility treatment. Because this growing trend may circumvent regulations at home or raise concerns about financial inducement, it has also become one of the most controversial. Yet little is known about the women who provide the donor eggs in overseas clinics -- their characteristics, their motivation and their compensation.

Adverse effects of phthalates on ovarian response to IVF Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:34 AM PDT Phthalates are among a group of industrial chemicals shown in some studies to have adverse effects on reproductive health and development, particularly in the male. As such, they have been collectively defined as "endocrine disruptors", and proposed as one of several possible environmental exposures responsible for a decline in fertility. Human studies increasingly report associations of phthalates with various adverse reproductive outcomes, including altered semen quantity and quality.

Early life and in utero factors found to influence testicular function in adulthood Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:34 AM PDT A new study based on a 20-year follow-up of one of the world's largest study cohorts, suggests that exposure to several factors in utero and in early life may lead to reduced semen parameters in adulthood and potentially to a decline in male fertility.

Deep sea isolation: Hypersaline 'islands' harbor unique life Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:33 AM PDT Deep in the ocean exist super salty anoxic basins that form 'islands' allowing evolution to vary between communities of ciliated plankton. These unique communities provide an opportunity to observe multiple results of evolution from the same stock and different solutions to environmental difficulties.

Archaeologists unearth a virtually intact Late Roman well Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:33 AM PDT Archaeologists say a virtually intact Late Roman well discovered near Heslington, on the outskirts of the city, may have had significance in contemporary local agricultural cycles and fertility practices.

Historical clues to Stradivari's craft: Evidence that violin maker's workmanship was based on traditions of ancient artists Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:33 AM PDT Scientists have used a range of analytical methods to identify the techniques used by violin master Antonio Stradivari in the 17th century, and attempted to replicate his craftsmanship. Antonio Stradivari is universally recognized as one of the most famous violin makers in the world. During his life, he and his apprentices built more than a thousand violins, violas, cellos and other stringed instruments.

Zombies offer key to understanding how crowds evacuate Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:32 AM PDT Zombies might not be the most obvious candidates to use when researching how crowds evacuate buildings, but they have proved a key factor in a new study into crowd behaviour.

Brain structural deficits may contribute to increased functional connections between brain regions implicated in depression Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:31 AM PDT Major depressive disorder is associated with a dysregulation of brain regions including the prefrontal cortex and limbic system. The relationship between structural and functional abnormalities in these brain regions in depressed patients is far from clear. However, both types of changes are assumed to underlie the symptoms of this disorder.

New tissue engineering breakthrough encourages nerve repair Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:29 AM PDT A new combination of tissue engineering techniques could reduce the need for nerve grafts, according to new research. Regeneration of nerves is challenging when the damaged area is extensive, and surgeons currently have to take a nerve graft from elsewhere in the body, leaving a second site of damage. Nerve grafts contain aligned tissue structures and Schwann cells that support and guide neuron growth through the damaged area, encouraging function to be restored. Now medical researchers have developed a way to manufacture artificial nerve tissue with the potential to be used as an alternative to nerve grafts.

Cosmic dust belts without dust Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:29 AM PDT Planets and asteroids, red giants and brown dwarfs – there are all kinds of objects in our Universe. Debris disks are among them. These are belts consisting of countless dust particles and planetesimals, circling around one central star. Debris disks are an important piece in the puzzle to be able to better understand the variety of planetary systems.

Does marital breakdown have an effect on male offending? Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:29 AM PDT Criminologists have long known that men tend to offend less after they marry. But with almost half of all marriages now ending in divorce, what effect does separation have?

Light transistor: Efficient transistor for light could lead to optical computers Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:29 AM PDT Light can oscillate in different directions, as we can see in the 3-D cinema: Each lens of the glasses only allows light of a particular oscillation direction to pass through. However, changing the polarization direction of light without a large part of it being lost is difficult. Scientists have now managed this feat, using a type of light – terahertz radiation – that is of particular technological importance.

Earthworms could help scientists 'dig' into past climates Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:29 AM PDT A team of UK researchers believes earthworms could provide a window into past climates, allowing scientists to piece together the prevailing weather conditions thousands of years ago.

Math game more effective than paper exercises Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:29 AM PDT To measure the effectiveness of Monkey Tales, a study was carried out with 88 second grade pupils divided into three groups. One group was asked to play the game for a period of three weeks while the second group had to solve similar math exercises on paper and a third group received no assignment. The math performance of the children was measured using an electronic arithmetic test before and after the test period.

Detection of single photons via quantum entanglement Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:29 AM PDT Almost 200 years ago, Bavarian physicist Joseph von Fraunhofer discovered dark lines in the sun's spectrum. It was later discovered that these spectral lines can be used to infer the chemical composition and temperature of the sun's atmosphere. Today we are able to gain information about diverse objects through light measurements in a similar way. Because often very little light needs to be detected for this, physicists are looking for ever more sensitive spectroscopy methods. In extreme cases, also single particles of light (photons) need to be measured reliably, which is technically challenging.

Even slight temperature increases causing tropical forests to blossom Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:27 AM PDT A new study shows that tropical forests are producing more flowers in response to only slight increases in temperature.

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