ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Earliest known iron artifacts come from outer space
• 'Street-view' comes to the world's coral reefs
• Scientists relate urban population to air pollution
• Novel Chinese herbal medicine JSK improves spinal cord injury outcomes in rats
• US depression treatment demonstrated effective for UK
• LSD and other psychedelics not linked with mental health problems
• Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease: Number may be 10 times more than reported
• Tick by tick: Studying Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus carried by ticks
• A home for the microbiome: Biologists identify how beneficial bacteria reside and thrive in gastrointestinal tract
• Newly discovered ocean plume could be major source of iron
• Archaeologists find massive fortifications from the Iron Age in present-day Israel
• Copper identified as culprit in Alzheimer's disease
• Potential clue associated with aggressive prostate cancer identified
• High BPA levels in children associated with higher risk of obesity and abnormal waist circumference
• Molten magma can survive in upper crust for hundreds of millennia
• New models advance the study of deadly human prion diseases
• Microbial team turns corn stalks and leaves into better biofuel
• Native Californians followed the greenery: Environment shaped 12,000 years of ethnic and linguistic diversity
• Brain network decay detected in early Alzheimer's
• Recurrence risk for autism spectrum disorders examined for full, half siblings
• High-flying pilots at increased risk of brain lesions
• Computer can read letters directly from the brain
• Global sea level rise dampened by Australia floods
• Waking up to a new year: Exoplanet orbits its star in 8.5 hours
• 'Poisoning' corrosion brings stainless magnesium closer
• Tiny fish make 'eyes' at their killer
• The concussed brain at work: fMRI study documents brain activation during concussion recovery
• Potential disruption of endocrine system: Flame retardants can mimic estrogens, 3-D images show
• How shale fracking led to an Ohio town's first 100 earthquakes
• Important step forward for gait analysis of horses
• Large moths need to hear better to get away from bats
• Far from being harmless, the effects of bullying last long into adulthood
• Future flood losses in major coastal cities: Costly projections
• Brain cancer survival improved following FDA approval of bevacizumab
• Finding where the Virginia big-eared bat roosts
• Giving preschoolers choice increases sharing behavior
• Altruism or manipulated helping? Altruism may have origins in manipulation
• Ringing the changes: What museum specimens reveal about climate change
• Species diversification in biodiversity hotspots
• Handaxe design reveals distinct Neanderthal cultures
• Quadcopter piloted by a smartphone
• Longest and largest study of insulin pumps to treat type 1 diabetes in children shows they control blood sugar more effectively and with fewer complications than injections
• New MR analysis technique reveals brain tumor response to anti-angiogenesis therapy
• Major study links aging gene to blood cancer
• Dialing back Treg cell function boosts cancer-fighting immune activity
• Equipping a construction helmet with a sensor can detect the onset of carbon monoxide poisoning

Earliest known iron artifacts come from outer space Posted: 19 Aug 2013 05:24 PM PDT Researchers have shown that ancient Egyptian iron beads held at the UCL Petrie Museum were hammered from pieces of meteorites, rather than iron ore. The objects, which trace their origins to outer space, also predate the emergence of iron smelting by two millennia.

'Street-view' comes to the world's coral reefs Posted: 19 Aug 2013 05:22 PM PDT Scientists are taking the public with them to study the world's coral reefs, thanks to 360 degree panoramas from Google's underwater street-view format. Results from this pioneering project will allow ecologists to harness people power to discover how coral reefs are responding to climate change.

Scientists relate urban population to air pollution Posted: 19 Aug 2013 03:53 PM PDT Live in a large city like New York, London, Beijing or Mumbai, and you are likely exposed to more air pollution than people in smaller cities in surrounding areas. But exactly how a city's pollution relates to the size of its population has never been measured, until now.

Novel Chinese herbal medicine JSK improves spinal cord injury outcomes in rats Posted: 19 Aug 2013 03:53 PM PDT A new study demonstrates that Chinese herbal medicine Ji-Sui-Kang (JSK), given systemically for three weeks after injury in rats, improved locomotor function, reduced tissue damage, and preserved the structure of neural cells compared to control rats. The report also includes data showing that JSK may first act to reduce inflammation and cell apoptosis and death, and boost local oxygen supply while, later on, it appears to restore function and promote tissue regeneration.

US depression treatment demonstrated effective for UK Posted: 19 Aug 2013 03:53 PM PDT Collaborative care involves depressed people having access to a team of specialists, with advice and support often given over the phone. A trial found that collaborative care led to improvement of depression symptoms immediately after treatment. Furthermore, 15 per cent more patients were still improved after 12 months, compared with those who saw their GP.

LSD and other psychedelics not linked with mental health problems Posted: 19 Aug 2013 03:53 PM PDT The use of LSD, magic mushrooms, or peyote does not increase a person's risk of developing mental health problems, according to an analysis of information from more than 130,000 randomly chosen people, including 22,000 people who had used psychedelics at least once. The researchers found no link between the use of psychedelic drugs and a range of mental health problems. Instead they found some significant associations between the use of psychedelic drugs and fewer mental health problems.

Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease: Number may be 10 times more than reported Posted: 19 Aug 2013 03:28 PM PDT Preliminary estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the number of Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease each year is around 300,000. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States. The new estimate suggests that the total number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease is roughly 10 times higher than the yearly reported number.

Tick by tick: Studying Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus carried by ticks Posted: 19 Aug 2013 02:18 PM PDT How do you safely work with ticks in a biosafety level four "spacesuit lab?" Step by painstaking step.

A home for the microbiome: Biologists identify how beneficial bacteria reside and thrive in gastrointestinal tract Posted: 19 Aug 2013 02:18 PM PDT The human body is full of tiny microorganisms -- hundreds to thousands of species of bacteria collectively called the microbiome, which are believed to contribute to a healthy existence. The gastrointestinal tract is home to the largest concentration and highest diversity of bacterial species. But how do these organisms persist and thrive in a system that is constantly in flux? Biologists believe they have found the answer.

Newly discovered ocean plume could be major source of iron Posted: 19 Aug 2013 02:18 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a vast plume of iron and other micronutrients more than 1,000 kilometers long billowing from hydrothermal vents in the South Atlantic Ocean. The finding calls past estimates of iron abundances into question, and may challenge researchers' assumptions about iron sources in the world's seas.

Archaeologists find massive fortifications from the Iron Age in present-day Israel Posted: 19 Aug 2013 02:16 PM PDT Archaeologists have discovered the remains of massive ancient fortifications built around an Iron Age Assyrian harbor in present-day Israel. The fortifications appear to protect an artificial harbor, a discovery of international significance, experts say.

Copper identified as culprit in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 19 Aug 2013 02:16 PM PDT Copper appears to be one of the main environmental factors that trigger the onset and enhance the progression of Alzheimer's disease by preventing the clearance and accelerating the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain, new research suggests.

Potential clue associated with aggressive prostate cancer identified Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:26 PM PDT Researchers who are studying the underlying mechanisms that cause invasive tumor growth have identified a key transcription factor, a protein which regulates the flow of information from DNA, that is over-produced in treatment-resistant prostate cancer, as well as the two protein kinases that trigger the process.

High BPA levels in children associated with higher risk of obesity and abnormal waist circumference Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:26 PM PDT Children who have higher levels of Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical previously used in many products for kids, like baby bottle and plastic toys, had a higher odds of obesity and adverse levels of body fat, according to a new study.

Molten magma can survive in upper crust for hundreds of millennia Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:26 PM PDT Reservoirs of silica-rich magma – the kind that causes the most explosive volcanic eruptions – can persist in Earth's upper crust for hundreds of thousands of years without triggering an eruption, according to new research.

New models advance the study of deadly human prion diseases Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:25 PM PDT By directly altering the gene coding for the prion protein (PrP), researchers have created mouse models of two neurodegenerative prion diseases, each of which manifests in different regions of the brain. These new models for fatal familial insomnia (FFI) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) accurately reflect the distinct patterns of destruction caused by the these diseases in humans.

Microbial team turns corn stalks and leaves into better biofuel Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:25 PM PDT A fungus and E. coli bacteria have joined forces to turn tough, waste plant material into isobutanol, a biofuel that matches gasoline's properties better than ethanol.

Native Californians followed the greenery: Environment shaped 12,000 years of ethnic and linguistic diversity Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:25 PM PDT California's rich diversity of Native American ethnic-and-language groups took shape during the past 12,000 years as migrating tribes settled first on the lush Pacific coast and then in progressively drier, less-vegetated habitats, says a new study.

Brain network decay detected in early Alzheimer's Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:25 PM PDT In patients with early Alzheimer's disease, disruptions in brain networks emerge about the same time as chemical markers of the disease appear in the spinal fluid, researchers have shown.

Recurrence risk for autism spectrum disorders examined for full, half siblings Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:25 PM PDT A Danish study of siblings suggests the recurrence risks for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) varied from 4.5 percent to 10.5 percent depending on the birth years, which is higher than the ASD risk of 1.18 percent in the overall Danish population, according to a new study.

High-flying pilots at increased risk of brain lesions Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:25 PM PDT A new study suggests that pilots who fly at high altitudes may be at an increased risk for brain lesions.

Computer can read letters directly from the brain Posted: 19 Aug 2013 11:16 AM PDT By analysing MRI images of the brain with an elegant mathematical model, it is possible to reconstruct thoughts more accurately than ever before. In this way, researchers have succeeded in determining which letter a test subject was looking at.

Global sea level rise dampened by Australia floods Posted: 19 Aug 2013 11:16 AM PDT When enough raindrops fall over land instead of the ocean, they begin to add up. New research led by shows that three atmospheric patterns drove so much precipitation over Australia in 2010 and 2011 that the world's ocean levels dropped measurably.

Waking up to a new year: Exoplanet orbits its star in 8.5 hours Posted: 19 Aug 2013 09:19 AM PDT In the time it takes you to complete a single workday, or get a full night's sleep, a small fireball of a planet 700 light-years away has already completed an entire year. Researchers have discovered an Earth-sized exoplanet named Kepler 78b that whips around its host star in a mere 8.5 hours -- one of the shortest orbital periods ever detected.

'Poisoning' corrosion brings stainless magnesium closer Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:27 AM PDT In a discovery that could have major implications for the aerospace, automotive and electronics industries, scientists have found a way to dramatically reduce the corrosion rate of lightweight wonder metal magnesium: adding arsenic.

Tiny fish make 'eyes' at their killer Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:27 AM PDT Small prey fish can grow a bigger 'eye' on their rear fins as a way of distracting predators and dramatically boosting their chances of survival, new research has found. Researchers have made a world-first discovery that, when constantly threatened with being eaten, small damsel fish not only grow a larger false 'eye spot' near their tail -- but also reduce the size of their real eyes.

The concussed brain at work: fMRI study documents brain activation during concussion recovery Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:27 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have documented irregular brain activity within the first 24 hours of a concussive injury, as well as an increased level of brain activity weeks later -- suggesting that the brain may compensate for the injury during the recovery time.

Potential disruption of endocrine system: Flame retardants can mimic estrogens, 3-D images show Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:27 AM PDT By determining the three-dimensional structure of proteins at the atomic level, researchers have discovered how some commonly used flame retardants, called brominated flame retardants (BFRs), can mimic estrogen hormones and possibly disrupt the body's endocrine system. BFRs are chemicals added or applied to materials to slow or prevent the start or growth of fire.

How shale fracking led to an Ohio town's first 100 earthquakes Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:27 AM PDT Since records began in 1776, the people of Youngstown, Ohio had never experienced an earthquake. However, from January 2011, 109 tremors were recorded and new research reveals how this may be the result of shale fracking.

Important step forward for gait analysis of horses Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:27 AM PDT New research makes it possible to use sensors to accurately measure a horse's movements providing veterinarians a number of new possibilities.

Large moths need to hear better to get away from bats Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:27 AM PDT The larger the moth, the better hearing senses it needs if it wants to avoid its worst enemy, the bat. A large moth is easier to detect for a bat, and therefore evolution has forced large moths to develop larger and more sensitive ears. But the improved hearing comes at a price, says sound researchers.

Far from being harmless, the effects of bullying last long into adulthood Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:27 AM PDT A new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, shows that serious illness, struggling to hold down a regular job, and poor social relationships are just some of the adverse outcomes in adulthood faced by those exposed to bullying in childhood.

Future flood losses in major coastal cities: Costly projections Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:26 AM PDT Climate change combined with rapid population increases, economic growth and land subsidence could lead to a more than nine-fold increase in the global risk of floods in large port cities between now and 2050.

Brain cancer survival improved following FDA approval of bevacizumab Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:24 AM PDT A new population-based study has found that patients with glioblastoma who died in 2010, after the Food and Drug Administration approval of bevacizumab, had lived significantly longer than patients who died of the disease in 2008, prior to the conditional approval of the drug for the treatment of the deadly brain cancer. Bevacizumab is used to treat patients with certain cancers whose cancer has spread.

Finding where the Virginia big-eared bat roosts Posted: 19 Aug 2013 07:24 AM PDT A graduate student has discovered the summer roosts in North Carolina of the federally endangered Virginia big-eared bat. Until this summer no one knew where the bats raised their young.

Giving preschoolers choice increases sharing behavior Posted: 19 Aug 2013 06:02 AM PDT Allowing children to make a choice to sacrifice their own toys in order to share with someone else makes them more likely to share in the future, according to new research.

Altruism or manipulated helping? Altruism may have origins in manipulation Posted: 19 Aug 2013 06:02 AM PDT Manipulation is often thought of as morally repugnant, but it might be responsible for the evolutionary origins of some helpful or altruistic behavior, according to a new study.

Ringing the changes: What museum specimens reveal about climate change Posted: 19 Aug 2013 06:01 AM PDT Butterflies collected as long ago as 1876 – the year Alexander Graham Bell made the world's first telephone call – are shedding new light on the earlier arrival of spring each year. Ecologists are using thousands of butterflies from museum collections to learn more about climate change.

Species diversification in biodiversity hotspots Posted: 19 Aug 2013 06:01 AM PDT Biodiversification isn't always favored by living in a hotspot of biodiversity, suggests a study of Australian wood shrubs. The finding goes against previous thinking and boosts our understanding of the factors driving biodiversity. A common view is that species in biodiversity hotspots diversify more quickly than species in less biodiverse areas. But that's not the case for the spikey-flowered Banksia.

Handaxe design reveals distinct Neanderthal cultures Posted: 19 Aug 2013 06:01 AM PDT Researchers have found that Neanderthals were more culturally complex than previously acknowledged. Two cultural traditions existed among Neanderthals living in what is now northern Europe between 115,000 to 35,000 years ago. Researchers examined the design of 1,300 stone tools originating from 80 Neanderthal sites in five European countries; France, Germany, Belgium, Britain and the Netherlands. They uncovered new evidence that two separate handaxe traditions or designs existed -- one in a region now spanning south-western France and Britain -- the other in Germany and further to the East.

Quadcopter piloted by a smartphone Posted: 19 Aug 2013 06:01 AM PDT A new quadcopter can negotiate its way through a room completely on its own. It does not need any human interference, and in contrast to other models, it is not assisted by any external computer. All the necessary computing power in on board; the image processing is done by a standard smartphone.

Longest and largest study of insulin pumps to treat type 1 diabetes in children shows they control blood sugar more effectively and with fewer complications than injections Posted: 18 Aug 2013 04:49 PM PDT The longest and largest study of the effectiveness of insulin pumps to treat type 1 diabetes in children has shown that the pumps are more effective at controlling blood sugar than insulin injections and cause fewer complications.

New MR analysis technique reveals brain tumor response to anti-angiogenesis therapy Posted: 18 Aug 2013 11:44 AM PDT A new way of analyzing data acquired in MR imaging appears to be able to identify whether or not tumors are responding to anti-angiogenesis therapy, information that can help physicians determine the most appropriate treatments and discontinue ones that are ineffective.

Major study links aging gene to blood cancer Posted: 18 Aug 2013 11:44 AM PDT A gene that helps control the ageing process by acting as a cell's internal clock has been linked to cancer by a major new study. Scientists found a genetic variant that influences the ageing process among four new variants they linked to myeloma -- one of the most common types of blood cancer. The study more than doubles the number of genetic variants linked to myeloma.

Dialing back Treg cell function boosts cancer-fighting immune activity Posted: 18 Aug 2013 11:13 AM PDT By carefully adjusting the function of crucial immune cells called Tregs, scientists may have developed a completely new type of cancer immunotherapy—harnessing the body's immune system to attack tumors.

Equipping a construction helmet with a sensor can detect the onset of carbon monoxide poisoning Posted: 17 Aug 2013 05:55 PM PDT Researchers integrated a specific type of sensor into a typical construction helmet to allow continuous and noninvasive monitoring of construction workers' blood gas saturation levels. The results of their study showed that a user of this helmet would be warned of impending carbon monoxide poisoning with a probability of greater than 99 percent.

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