ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Chips with olestra cause body toxins to dip, study finds
• win-win situation: Growing crops on photovoltaic farms
• Oyster aquaculture could significantly improve Potomac River estuary water quality
• Synthetic collagen promotes natural clotting
• Sunken logs create new worlds for seafloor animals
• Bone marrow stem cells show promise in stroke treatment
• New 'switch' could power quantum computing: Light lattice traps atoms, builds networks of quantum information transmitters
• Genetic circuits: Bacterial 'FM radio' created
• Genome sequencing of MRSA infection predicts disease severity
• See what a child will look like using automated age-progression software
• Bad penny: Cancer's thirst for copper can be targeted
• Scientists reconstruct ancient impact that dwarfs dinosaur-extinction blast
• Liberia: One of the last strongholds for Western chimpanzees
• Promising agents burst through 'superbug' defenses to fight antibiotic resistance
• Can animals really help people in hospitals, aged care?
• Recycling astronaut urine for energy and drinking water
• Stressful environments genetically affect African American boys
• Love is a many-faceted thing: Regular churchgoers and married people most satisfied with their love life
• Cancer cells may respond to mechanical force
• Study tests theory that life originated at deep sea vents
• Chance meeting creates celestial diamond ring
• Refrigerant in car air conditioners: Refreshingly cool, potentially toxic
• Physical activity is beneficial for late-life cognition
• Tiny step edges, big step for surface science
• Neanderthals were no strangers to good parenting
• Mammalian brain size influences development of individual cranial bones
• Novel ultra-fast electrical circuits use light-generated tunneling currents
• Scale model WWII craft takes flight with fuel from the sea concept
• Images from NASA Mars rover include bright spots
• North America to experience total lunar eclipse
• Sea otters can get the flu, too: Human H1N1 pandemic virus infected Washington State sea otters
• 'RoboClam' hits new depths as robotic digger
• Regular aerobic exercise boosts memory area of brain in older women
• Processing new information during sleep compromises memory
• Chemotherapy may be better for certain patients with advanced lung cancer
• Chronic smoking can diminish postural stability
• New twist makes for better steel: Greater strength without loss of ductility
• Experimental drug shows promise for treatment-resistant leukemias
• Misconceptions about energy drinks could have health consequences, experts say
• Lipid levels during prenatal brain development impact autism, study shows
• Genetic trigger found for RSV-induced infant hospitalizations
• Unlocking secrets of breast tissue: A unique population of microbes?
• Potential therapeutic target for deadly brain cancer
• How our immune system kills abnormal blood cells
• A new tiny species of crayfish from the swamps of coastal eastern Australia
• From learning in infancy to planning ahead in adulthood: Sleep's vital role for memory

Chips with olestra cause body toxins to dip, study finds Posted: 09 Apr 2014 11:39 AM PDT A snack food ingredient called olestra has been found to speed up the removal of toxins in the body, according to a recent clinical trial. The trial demonstrated that olestra -- a zero-calorie fat substitute found in low-calorie snack foods such as Pringles -- could reduce the levels of serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in people who had been exposed to PCBs. High levels of PCBs in the body are associated with an increase in hypertension and diabetes.

win-win situation: Growing crops on photovoltaic farms Posted: 09 Apr 2014 11:39 AM PDT A new model for solar farms that 'co-locates' crops and solar panels could result in a harvest of valuable biofuel plants along with solar energy. This co-location approach could prove especially useful in sunny, arid regions such as the southwestern United States where water is scarce, researchers said.

Oyster aquaculture could significantly improve Potomac River estuary water quality Posted: 09 Apr 2014 11:39 AM PDT Potomac River. Oyster aquaculture in the Potomac River estuary could result in significant improvements to water quality, according to a new study. All of the nitrogen currently polluting the Potomac River estuary could be removed if 40 percent of its river bed were used for shellfish cultivation, according to the joint study. The researchers determined that a combination of aquaculture and restored oyster reefs may provide even larger overall ecosystem benefits. Oysters, who feed by filtering, can clean an enormous volume of water of algae which can cause poor water quality.

Synthetic collagen promotes natural clotting Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:49 AM PDT Synthetic collagen may help wounds heal by directing the natural clotting of blood. The material, KOD, mimics natural collagen, a fibrous protein that binds cells together into organs and tissues. It could improve upon commercial sponges or therapies based on naturally derived porcine or bovine-derived collagen now used to aid healing during or after surgery.

Sunken logs create new worlds for seafloor animals Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:49 AM PDT When it comes to food, most of the deep sea is a desert. In this food-poor environment, even bits of dead wood, waterlogged enough to sink, can support thriving communities of specialized animals. A new paper by biologists shows that wood-boring clams serve as "ecosystem engineers," making the organic matter in the wood available to other animals that colonize wood falls in the deep waters of Monterey Canyon.

Bone marrow stem cells show promise in stroke treatment Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:47 AM PDT Stem cells culled from bone marrow may prove beneficial in stroke recovery, scientists have learned. The researchers identified 46 studies that examined the use of mesenchymal stromal cells -- a type of multipotent adult stem cells mostly processed from bone marrow -- in animal models of stroke. They found MSCs to be significantly better than control therapy in 44 of the studies.

New 'switch' could power quantum computing: Light lattice traps atoms, builds networks of quantum information transmitters Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:47 AM PDT Using a laser to place individual rubidium atoms near the surface of a lattice of light, scientists have developed a new method for connecting particles -- one that could help in the development of powerful quantum computing systems. The new technique allows researchers to couple a lone atom of rubidium, a metal, with a single photon, or light particle.

Genetic circuits: Bacterial 'FM radio' created Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:47 AM PDT A team of biologists and engineers has developed a 'rapid and tunable post-translational coupling' for genetic circuits.

Genome sequencing of MRSA infection predicts disease severity Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:47 AM PDT The spread of the antibiotic-resistant pathogen MRSA remains a concerning public health problem, especially among doctors trying to determine appropriate treatment options for infected patients. In a study, researchers used the genome sequence of MRSA to predict which isolates were highly toxic, thus potentially personalizing the treatment of individual MRSA infections.

See what a child will look like using automated age-progression software Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:46 AM PDT Researchers have developed software that automatically generates images of a young child's face as it ages through a lifetime. The technique is the first fully automated approach for aging babies to adults that works with variable lighting, expressions and poses.

Bad penny: Cancer's thirst for copper can be targeted Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:43 AM PDT Drugs used to block copper absorption for a rare genetic condition may find an additional use as a treatment for certain types of cancer, researchers report. The researchers found that cancers with a mutation in the BRAF gene require copper to promote tumor growth. These tumors include melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer that kills an estimated 10,000 people in the United States a year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Scientists reconstruct ancient impact that dwarfs dinosaur-extinction blast Posted: 09 Apr 2014 09:58 AM PDT Picture this: A massive asteroid almost as wide as Rhode Island and about three to five times larger than the rock thought to have wiped out the dinosaurs slams into Earth. The collision punches a crater into the planet's crust that's nearly 500 kilometers (about 300 miles) across: greater than the distance from Washington, D.C. to New York City, and up to two and a half times larger in diameter than the hole formed by the dinosaur-killing asteroid.

Liberia: One of the last strongholds for Western chimpanzees Posted: 09 Apr 2014 08:13 AM PDT Liberia is home to the second largest chimpanzee population in West Africa. An international research team has now counted chimpanzees and other large mammals living in Liberia. The census revealed that this country is home to 7000 chimpanzees and therefore to the second largest population of the Western subspecies of chimpanzees. As Liberia has released large areas for deforestation, the local decision-makers can now use the results of this study in order to protect the chimpanzees more effectively.

Promising agents burst through 'superbug' defenses to fight antibiotic resistance Posted: 09 Apr 2014 08:13 AM PDT In the fight against 'superbugs,' scientists have discovered a class of agents that can make some of the most notorious strains vulnerable to the same antibiotics that they once handily shrugged off. The report on the promising agents called metallopolymers -- large, metal-containing molecules -- demonstrated that they evaded the bacteria's defensive enzymes and destroyed its protective walls, causing the bacteria to burst.

Can animals really help people in hospitals, aged care? Posted: 09 Apr 2014 07:34 AM PDT While many people have an opinion on whether animals can help to improve well-being and care for patients in hospitals, does anyone really know whether there are benefits both for the patients and the animals themselves? Not according to a team of researchers that has conducted a worldwide review of all studies looking at the impact of "animal interventions" in healthcare settings for children.

Recycling astronaut urine for energy and drinking water Posted: 09 Apr 2014 07:34 AM PDT On the less glamorous side of space exploration, there's the more practical problem of waste -- in particular, what to do with astronaut pee. But rather than ejecting it into space, scientists are developing a new technique that can turn this waste burden into a boon by converting it into fuel and much-needed drinking water. Their report could also inspire new ways to treat municipal wastewater.

Stressful environments genetically affect African American boys Posted: 09 Apr 2014 07:33 AM PDT Stressful upbringings can leave imprints on the genes of children, including African-American boys, according to a study. Such chronic stress during youth leads to physiological weathering similar to aging. "African American children have really not yet been studied through this context," said a co-author. "Previous work has mostly focused on middle-class whites. Our study takes a different approach and really highlights the importance of early intervention to moderate disparities in social and educational opportunities."

Love is a many-faceted thing: Regular churchgoers and married people most satisfied with their love life Posted: 09 Apr 2014 07:30 AM PDT Scientists found that a combination of factors such as age, religious involvement, marital status and love style (e.g. manipulative or playful), influence a person's love satisfaction. While education does not impact a person's love life satisfaction, religious involvement does.

Cancer cells may respond to mechanical force Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:43 AM PDT The processes and cellular pathways that allow cells to move, stiffen, and react to physical stresses has been identified through new research. This knowledge, researchers hope, could reveal the causes of cancer and help develop treatments, including therapies for a variety of diseases. "In the cancer context, mechanical force is important because tumor cells will generate force as they are invading, pulling on other cells," said one researcher. "They are pulling on the cells they are attached to as they are trying to get away."

Study tests theory that life originated at deep sea vents Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:43 AM PDT One of the greatest mysteries facing humans is how life originated on Earth. Scientists have determined approximately when life began, roughly 3.8 billion years ago, but there is still intense debate about exactly how life began. One possibility -- that simple metabolic reactions emerged near ancient seafloor hot springs, enabling the leap from a non-living to a living world -- has grown in popularity in the last two decades.

Chance meeting creates celestial diamond ring Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:42 AM PDT Astronomers have captured an eye-catching image of planetary nebula PN A66 33 -- usually known as Abell 33. Created when an aging star blew off its outer layers, this beautiful blue bubble is, by chance, aligned with a foreground star, and bears an uncanny resemblance to a diamond engagement ring. This cosmic gem is unusually symmetric, appearing to be almost circular on the sky.

Refrigerant in car air conditioners: Refreshingly cool, potentially toxic Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:40 AM PDT The refrigerant R1234yf is being considered for use in air conditioning systems in cars. Chemists now show that, in the event of a fire, it releases the highly poisonous carbonyl fluoride, and urge that its safety be reassessed.

Physical activity is beneficial for late-life cognition Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:40 AM PDT Physical activity in midlife seems to protect from dementia in old age, according to a study. Those who engaged in physical activity at least twice a week had a lower risk of dementia than those who were less active. The protective effects were particularly strong among overweight individuals. In addition, the results showed that becoming more physically active after midlife may also contribute to lowering dementia risk.

Tiny step edges, big step for surface science Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:39 AM PDT New experiments can explain the behavior of electrons at tiny step edges on titanium oxide surfaces. This is important for solar cell technology and novel, more effective catalysts.

Neanderthals were no strangers to good parenting Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:39 AM PDT Archaeologists are challenging the traditional view that Neanderthal childhood was difficult, short and dangerous. A new and distinctive perspective suggests that Neanderthal children experienced strong emotional attachments with their immediate social group, used play to develop skills and played a significant role in their society.

Mammalian brain size influences development of individual cranial bones Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:39 AM PDT In mammals, embryonic cranial development is modular and step-wise: The individual cranial bones form according to a defined, coordinated schedule. The typical increase in the size of the brain in mammals in the course of evolution ultimately triggered changes in this developmental plan, as a study conducted on embryos of 134 species of animal reveals.

Novel ultra-fast electrical circuits use light-generated tunneling currents Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:36 AM PDT Scientists have successfully designed and fabricated electrical circuits that can operate at hundreds of terahertz frequencies, which is tens of thousands times faster than today's state-of-the-art microprocessors.

Scale model WWII craft takes flight with fuel from the sea concept Posted: 09 Apr 2014 04:59 AM PDT Navy researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Materials Science and Technology Division, demonstrate proof-of-concept of novel NRL technologies developed for the recovery of carbon dioxide and hydrogen from seawater and conversion to a liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

Images from NASA Mars rover include bright spots Posted: 08 Apr 2014 06:51 PM PDT Images taken by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover on April 2 and April 3 include bright spots, which might be due to the sun glinting off a rock or cosmic rays striking the camera's detector.

North America to experience total lunar eclipse Posted: 08 Apr 2014 06:36 PM PDT When people in North America look up at the sky in the early morning hours of April 15, they can expect the moon to look a little different. A total lunar eclipse is expected at this time, a phenomenon that occurs when the Earth, moon and sun are in perfect alignment, blanketing the moon in the Earth's shadow.

Sea otters can get the flu, too: Human H1N1 pandemic virus infected Washington State sea otters Posted: 08 Apr 2014 06:36 PM PDT Northern sea otters living off the coast of Washington state were infected with the same H1N1 flu virus that caused the world-wide pandemic in 2009, according to a new study. The researchers discovered antibodies for the 2009 H1N1 flu virus in blood samples from 70 percent of the sea otters studied. None of the otters were visibly sick, but the presence of antibodies means that the otters were previously exposed to influenza.

'RoboClam' hits new depths as robotic digger Posted: 08 Apr 2014 06:35 PM PDT A digging robot inspired by the unique mechanisms employed by the Atlantic razor clam has been created by a group of researchers in the US. The robot, dubbed RoboClam, is able to dig with extreme efficiency by transforming the surrounding soil from a solid into a liquid, and could have a variety of applications from anchoring underwater robots to subsea cable installation and mine neutralization.

Regular aerobic exercise boosts memory area of brain in older women Posted: 08 Apr 2014 06:35 PM PDT Regular aerobic exercise seems to boost the size of the area of the brain involved in verbal memory and learning among women whose intellectual capacity has been affected by age, indicates a small study. The researchers tested the impact of different types of exercise on the hippocampal volume of 86 women who said they had mild memory problems, known as mild cognitive impairment -- and a common risk factor for dementia.

Processing new information during sleep compromises memory Posted: 08 Apr 2014 06:33 PM PDT New research highlights the important role sleep plays in strengthening and maintaining the accuracy of a memory and hints at why the brain shuts out sensory information during periods of deep sleep. The study found that introducing new odor information to an animal while it sleeps compromises its ability to remember the difference between new and previously encountered smells while awake.

Chemotherapy may be better for certain patients with advanced lung cancer Posted: 08 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT Among patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer without a mutation of a certain gene, conventional chemotherapy, compared with treatment using epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, was associated with improvement in survival without progression of the cancer, but not with overall survival, according to a study.

Chronic smoking can diminish postural stability Posted: 08 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT Chronic cigarette smoking has a high co-occurrence with alcohol use disorders. Postural instability is also common among alcohol dependent individuals. New findings indicate that chronic cigarette use continues to impact the brain systems regulating postural stability even during abstinence from alcohol.

New twist makes for better steel: Greater strength without loss of ductility Posted: 08 Apr 2014 12:44 PM PDT In steelmaking, two desirable qualities -- strength and ductility -- tend to be at odds: stronger steel is less ductile, and more ductile steel is not as strong. Engineers have now shown that pre-treating steel cylinders by twisting then can improve strength without sacrificing ductility.

Experimental drug shows promise for treatment-resistant leukemias Posted: 08 Apr 2014 12:44 PM PDT Research in mice and human cell lines has identified an experimental compound dubbed TTT-3002 as potentially one of the most potent drugs available to block genetic mutations in cancer cells blamed for some forms of treatment-resistant leukemia. Results show that two doses a day of TTT-3002 eliminated leukemia cells in a group of mice within 10 days. The treatment performed as well as or better than similar drugs in head-to-head comparisons.

Misconceptions about energy drinks could have health consequences, experts say Posted: 08 Apr 2014 12:42 PM PDT Many popular energy drinks contain five times the caffeine in a cup of coffee, but you probably won't find the amount listed on the can. A professor says the omission could explain why a CDC study found some young people think energy drinks are safe.

Lipid levels during prenatal brain development impact autism, study shows Posted: 08 Apr 2014 10:50 AM PDT Abnormal levels of lipid molecules in the brain can affect the interaction between two key neural pathways in early prenatal brain development, which can trigger autism, researchers have found in a groundbreaking study. And, environmental causes such as exposure to chemicals in some cosmetics and common over-the-counter medication can affect the levels of these lipids, according to the researchers.

Genetic trigger found for RSV-induced infant hospitalizations Posted: 08 Apr 2014 09:19 AM PDT A viral protein has been pinpointed that plays a major role in making respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) the most common cause of hospitalization in children under one year of age. The discovery is the first step toward identifying better diagnostics and potential treatments for an infection that strikes nearly all children before they reach the age of three and causing severe disease in 3 percent of infected children.

Unlocking secrets of breast tissue: A unique population of microbes? Posted: 08 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT A unique population of microbes in the female breast may lay the groundwork for understanding how this bacterial community contributes to health and disease, according to a new study. Forms of bacteria known as 'Proteobacteria' were the most abundant, potentially as they are able to metabolize the fatty tissue, said the paper's first author.

Potential therapeutic target for deadly brain cancer Posted: 08 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT New research identifies a potential characteristic for predicting outcome in a deadly form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme. Existing therapies based on genetic information have failed to effectively treat glioblastomas. Therefore, researchers are aggressively looking to find new molecular targets for this aggressive brain tumor.

How our immune system kills abnormal blood cells Posted: 08 Apr 2014 08:19 AM PDT A team of researchers explains how our immune system kills abnormal blood cells. Their discovery could eventually lead to new treatment avenues for leukemia, lymphoma and certain types of infectious viral diseases. "Our team is studying how natural killer cells can eliminate abnormal hematopoietic (blood) cells," explains the lead researcher. "Natural killer cells are crucial to the immune system and play a critical role in protecting us against viruses and cancer cells."

A new tiny species of crayfish from the swamps of coastal eastern Australia Posted: 08 Apr 2014 08:17 AM PDT Hidden in one of Australia's most developed and fastest growing areas lives one of the world's smallest freshwater crayfish species. Biologists described the new species belonging to the genus Gramastacus, after eight years of research in the swamps and creeks of coastal New South Wales, Australia.

From learning in infancy to planning ahead in adulthood: Sleep's vital role for memory Posted: 08 Apr 2014 08:17 AM PDT Babies and young children make giant developmental leaps all of the time. Sometimes, it seems, even overnight they figure out how to recognize certain shapes or what the word 'no' means no matter who says it. It turns out that making those leaps could be a nap away: New research finds that infants who nap are better able to apply lessons learned to new skills, while preschoolers are better able to retain learned knowledge after napping.

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