ScienceDaily: Top News

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• NASA's Curiosity rover drills sandstone slab on Mars
• Climate change is affecting every region of the U.S. and key sectors of the economy, federal report finds
• Dolphin whistle warnings: Remotely monitoring acoustical changes in dolphin whistles may be powerful new tool for conservation
• Graphene for real-world devices: New research in phonon scattering sheds more light on graphene as a replacement for silicon
• Staying on task is difficult in the automated cockpit
• Small birds capitalize on weather patterns during epic migrations
• Neutron star magnetic fields: Not so turbulent, after all?
• Ban cigarette filters to save environment, suggest researchers
• Concussion rate in high-school athletes more than doubled in 7-year period, U.S. study finds
• Two-lock box delivers cancer therapy: Nano-delivery system targets cancer cells
• Protein molecule may improve survival in deadly lung disease
• The Red Sea: An ocean like all others, after all
• Can you tell a person's gender by their video game avatar?
• One step closer to cell reprogramming
• Redescription of the oldest-known dolphin skull sheds light on their origins and evolution
• Tool for uncovering bot-controlled Twitter accounts: Research designed to counter misinformation campaigns
• International team maps nearly 200,000 global glaciers in quest for sea rise answers
• Mechanisms that link brain alertness, increased heart rate discovered
• Magnetic fingerprint of our galaxy revealed
• Adults at higher risk of suicide attempt if parent abused alcohol, research finds
• How have changing sea-levels influenced evolution on the Galapagos Islands?
• $200 bird scaring line for trawlers can cut albatross deaths by over 90 percent
• Snacking contributes to fatty liver, abdominal obesity
• Do we yawn to cool the brain? Yawning frequencies of people vary with temperature of the season
• Molecular switches for age-related memory decline? A genetic variant protects against brain aging
• Seeing 'Jesus in toast' phenomenon perfectly normal, professor says
• Chimpanzees Show Similar Personality Traits to Humans
• Predator-prey made simple: Simplifying studies of predator-prey interactions and other 'bistable' systems
• Novel antioxidant makes old arteries seem young again, study shows
• 'Laughter Guy' dissects features of counterfeit chortling
• Hotspots of climate change impacts in Africa: Making sense of uncertainties
• Genetic risk factor for premature birth found
• Stop shouting at me: Why clear speech can sound angry
• Clean before you clean: What's on your toothbrush just might surprise you
• Distinct avian influenza viruses found in Antarctic penguins
• Gender may contribute to recovery time after concussion
• Study finds ADHD and trauma often go hand in hand
• Design of new foods should focus particularly on healthy gastro-intestinal tract
• Nanocellulose sponges to combat oil spills
• Galaxy's biggest telescope harnesses most precise measurement of spinning star
• Hypertension related to new cancer therapies, new syndrome emerges
• Early Obesity Linked to Increased Probability of Severe Obesity Later in Life
• Sports, energy drink consumption linked to negative behaviors
• Where DNA's copy machine pauses, cancer could be next
• Is FDA's crackdown on direct-to-consumer genetic testing a violation of the First Amendment?
• Factors leading to diabetes may contribute to milk supply problems for new mothers
• Getting to the root of enamel evolution: Connecting genes to hominin teeth shows evidence of natural selection
• Immune cells outsmart bacterial infection by dying, study shows
• Monitoring RNA levels in blood yields dynamic picture of fetal development, disease
• Focused ultrasound reduces cancer pain

NASA's Curiosity rover drills sandstone slab on Mars Posted: 06 May 2014 04:11 PM PDT Portions of rock powder collected by the hammering drill on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover from a slab of Martian sandstone will be delivered to the rover's internal instruments.

Climate change is affecting every region of the U.S. and key sectors of the economy, federal report finds Posted: 06 May 2014 02:23 PM PDT The U.S. Global Change Research Program has released the Third National Climate Assessment, the most comprehensive, authoritative, transparent scientific report on U.S. climate change impacts ever generated. The report confirms that climate change is affecting every region of the country and key sectors of the U.S. economy and society, underscoring the need to combat the threats climate change presents and increase the preparedness and resilience of American communities.

Dolphin whistle warnings: Remotely monitoring acoustical changes in dolphin whistles may be powerful new tool for conservation Posted: 06 May 2014 01:12 PM PDT A team of researchers has demonstrated that remotely monitoring the acoustical structures of dolphin vocalizations can effectively detect "evolutionarily significant units" of the mammal -- distinct populations that may be tracked for prioritizing and planning conservation efforts.

Graphene for real-world devices: New research in phonon scattering sheds more light on graphene as a replacement for silicon Posted: 06 May 2014 11:22 AM PDT Graphene is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, but a number of practical challenges must be overcome before it can emerge as a replacement for silicon. Scientists are exploring novel ways of supporting and connecting graphene using experimental and computational methods.

Staying on task is difficult in the automated cockpit Posted: 06 May 2014 11:21 AM PDT A new study indicates that pilots may have a hard time concentrating on the automated systems that now carry out many of the tasks once completed by humans. Pilots reported an increase in big-picture flight-related thoughts when using higher levels of automation, but when the flight was progressing according to plan and pilots were not interacting with the automation, their thoughts were more likely to wander.

Small birds capitalize on weather patterns during epic migrations Posted: 06 May 2014 10:55 AM PDT In one of the greatest feats of endurance in the biological world, millions of tiny songbirds -- many weighing less than an ounce -- migrate thousands of miles to Central and South America each year. Now scientists are finding out how these featherweights do it: using elliptical routes that take advantage of prevailing wind patterns to save calories.

Neutron star magnetic fields: Not so turbulent, after all? Posted: 06 May 2014 10:55 AM PDT Neutron stars, the extraordinarily dense stellar bodies created when massive stars collapse, are known to host the strongest magnetic fields in the universe -- as much as a billion times more powerful than any human-made electromagnet. But some neutron stars are much more strongly magnetized than others, and this disparity has long puzzled astrophysicists. Physicists have shed new light on the expected geometry of the magnetic field in neutron stars.

Ban cigarette filters to save environment, suggest researchers Posted: 06 May 2014 10:05 AM PDT Ban cigarette filters. Start a deposit-return scheme for used butts. Hold manufacturers responsible for clean-ups. Place warnings on packets about the impact of simply flicking one's used cigarettes away. These are among the policy measures that researchers advocate to curb the environmental harm done through the large-scale littering of cigarette butts, packaging and matches.

Concussion rate in high-school athletes more than doubled in 7-year period, U.S. study finds Posted: 06 May 2014 10:05 AM PDT Concussion rates in US high-school athletes more than doubled between 2005 and 2012, according to a new national study using data on nine team sports. Researchers suspect the upward trend in reported concussions reflects increased awareness. Overall, the rate increased from .23 to .51 concussions per 1,000 athlete exposures. An athlete exposure is defined as one athlete participating in one competition or practice.

Two-lock box delivers cancer therapy: Nano-delivery system targets cancer cells Posted: 06 May 2014 10:04 AM PDT A tunable virus that works like a safe deposit box has been developed by scientists. It takes two keys to open it and release its therapy for cancer and other diseases. The adeno-associated virus (AAV) developed by bioengineers unlocks only in the presence of two selected proteases, enzymes that cut up other proteins for disposal. Because certain proteases are elevated at tumor sites, the viruses can be designed to target and destroy the cancer cells.

Protein molecule may improve survival in deadly lung disease Posted: 06 May 2014 10:04 AM PDT A protein molecule that seems to slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease that is often fatal three to five years after diagnosis, has been discovered by researchers. Nearly five million people worldwide are affected by pulmonary fibrosis, which causes the lungs to become covered in fibrous scar tissue and leads to shortness of breath that gets more severe as the disease progresses.

The Red Sea: An ocean like all others, after all Posted: 06 May 2014 10:04 AM PDT The Red Sea has turned out to be an ideal study object for marine geologists. There they can observe the formation of an ocean in its early phase. However, the Red Sea seemed to go through a different birthing process than the other oceans. Now, scientists have been able to show that salt glaciers have distorted the previous models.

Can you tell a person's gender by their video game avatar? Posted: 06 May 2014 10:04 AM PDT According to a new study a male gamer who chooses to play as a female character will still display signs of his true gender. A sexy wood elf with pointy ears. A hulking ogre with blue skin. An intimidating heroine with a buxom breastplate. When it comes to computer games, players can choose to be anyone or anything. But gamers don't always mask their true identities with online avatars.

One step closer to cell reprogramming Posted: 06 May 2014 10:04 AM PDT Researchers have discovered the essential role played by the Wnt pathway in the cell reprogramming process. The work enables a better understanding of the reprogramming process, as well as how to efficiently induce the pluripotency of reprogrammed cells.

Redescription of the oldest-known dolphin skull sheds light on their origins and evolution Posted: 06 May 2014 10:04 AM PDT Dolphins are the most diverse family of living marine mammals and include species such as the bottlenose dolphin and the killer whale. However, their early evolution and fossil record has been steeped in mystery due to lack of good specimens. A new article re-describes the oldest species of dolphin with a new name: Eodelphis kabatensis.

Tool for uncovering bot-controlled Twitter accounts: Research designed to counter misinformation campaigns Posted: 06 May 2014 10:02 AM PDT Complex networks researchers have developed a tool that helps anyone determine whether a Twitter account is operated by a human or an automated software application known as a social bot.

International team maps nearly 200,000 global glaciers in quest for sea rise answers Posted: 06 May 2014 09:02 AM PDT Glaciologists have mapped virtually all of the world's glaciers -- including their locations and sizes -- allowing for calculations of their volumes and ongoing contributions to global sea rise as the world warms.

Mechanisms that link brain alertness, increased heart rate discovered Posted: 06 May 2014 09:02 AM PDT The way that your heart rate increases in response to alertness in the brain has been recently discovered by researchers. Specifically, this study looked at the interactions between neurons that fire upon increased attention and anxiety and neurons that control heart rate to discover the "why," "how," and "where to next" behind this phenomenon. The results may have important implications for how certain conditions are treated in the future, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic anxiety, or even stress, the researchers note.

Magnetic fingerprint of our galaxy revealed Posted: 06 May 2014 09:02 AM PDT Astrophysicists have released an unprecedented map of the entire sky that charts the magnetic field shaping our Milky Way Galaxy. The map reveals magnetic field lines running parallel to the plane of the Galaxy, as well as great loops and whorls associated with nearby clouds of gas and dust.

Adults at higher risk of suicide attempt if parent abused alcohol, research finds Posted: 06 May 2014 09:02 AM PDT People who grew up with a parent who abused alcohol may be 85 percent more likely to attempt suicide than people whose parents did not abuse alcohol, according to research. Furthermore, having divorced parents increased by 14 percent the risk that a person would try to take his or her own life when compared to people whose parents did not divorce, the study found. But putting those two factors together -- parents who abuse alcohol and are divorced -- did not increase suicide attempts, according to the study.

How have changing sea-levels influenced evolution on the Galapagos Islands? Posted: 06 May 2014 09:02 AM PDT The Galapagos Islands have an iconic status in the history of evolutionary study, now new research shows that the islands' own geological past may have influenced the evolution of the chain's native species.

$200 bird scaring line for trawlers can cut albatross deaths by over 90 percent Posted: 06 May 2014 09:02 AM PDT The sight of seabirds following trawlers in order to feast from discarded fish is a common maritime sight, but each year many thousands of seabirds are killed by overhanging cables or in nets. New research assesses mortality figures from South Africa to show that a simple bird scaring line can reduce the mortality rate by over 90 percent.

Snacking contributes to fatty liver, abdominal obesity Posted: 06 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT Snacking on high-fat and high-sugar foods was independently associated with abdominal fat and fatty liver (hepatic steatosis) research has shown. According to the study, hypercaloric diet with frequent meals increases intrahepatic triglyceride content and fat around the waist, but increasing meal size did not.

Do we yawn to cool the brain? Yawning frequencies of people vary with temperature of the season Posted: 06 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT Why do we yawn? We tend to yawn before sleep and after waking, when we are bored or under stimulated. We yawn in the anticipation of important events and when we are under stress. What do all of these have in common? Researchers highlight a link with thermoregulation, and in particular, brain cooling.

Molecular switches for age-related memory decline? A genetic variant protects against brain aging Posted: 06 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT Even among the healthiest individuals, memory and cognitive abilities decline with age. This aspect of normal aging can affect an individual's quality of life and capability to live independently, but the rate of decline is variable across individuals. There are many factors that can influence this trajectory, but perhaps none more importantly than genetics.

Seeing 'Jesus in toast' phenomenon perfectly normal, professor says Posted: 06 May 2014 08:56 AM PDT Researchers have found that the phenomenon of "face pareidolia" -- where onlookers report seeing images of Jesus, Virgin Mary, or Elvis in objects such as toasts, shrouds, and clouds -- is normal and based on physical causes.

Chimpanzees Show Similar Personality Traits to Humans Posted: 06 May 2014 08:56 AM PDT Chimpanzees have almost the same personality traits as humans, and they are structured almost identically, according to new work. The research also shows some of those traits have a neurobiological basis, and that those traits vary according to the biological sex of the individual chimpanzee.

Predator-prey made simple: Simplifying studies of predator-prey interactions and other 'bistable' systems Posted: 06 May 2014 08:56 AM PDT Scientists have developed a way to dramatically reduce the complexity of modeling "bistable" systems which involve the interaction of two evolving species where one changes faster than the other ("slow-fast systems"). The work paves the way for easier computational simulations and predictions involving such systems, which are found in fields as diverse as chemistry, biology and ecology.

Novel antioxidant makes old arteries seem young again, study shows Posted: 06 May 2014 06:49 AM PDT An antioxidant that targets specific cell structures -- mitochondria -- may be able to reverse some of the negative effects of aging on arteries, reducing the risk of heart disease, according to a new study. When the research team gave old mice -- the equivalent of 70- to 80-year-old humans -- water containing an antioxidant known as MitoQ for four weeks, their arteries functioned as well as the arteries of mice with an equivalent human age of just 25 to 35 years.

'Laughter Guy' dissects features of counterfeit chortling Posted: 06 May 2014 06:49 AM PDT Ever wonder how often you fool your boss or in-laws by pretending to laugh at their dumb jokes? The answer is probably around one-third of the time, according to new research by a communication expert who conducted research on fake laughs. When your fake laughs fall short of convincing, tiny subtleties of your breathing are probably giving you away, suggests one researcher.

Hotspots of climate change impacts in Africa: Making sense of uncertainties Posted: 06 May 2014 06:48 AM PDT Overlapping impacts of climate change such as drought or flooding, declining crop yields or ecosystem damages create hotspots of risk in specific parts of Africa. These are for the first time identified in a new study. The uncertainties in assessing the impacts do not necessarily hamper but can inform development strategies, according to the scientists. Likelihood and potential severity of impacts can be weighed to decide on suitable adaptation measures.

Genetic risk factor for premature birth found Posted: 06 May 2014 06:46 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a genetic risk factor for premature birth. The risk factor is related to a gene that codes for a protein that the scientists have found helps the body's immune cells recognize and fight Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria. These bacteria are found in the vagina or lower gastrointestinal tract of approximately 15 to 20 percent of healthy women, but may cause life-threatening infections, such as sepsis or meningitis in newborns, especially those born prematurely.

Stop shouting at me: Why clear speech can sound angry Posted: 06 May 2014 06:44 AM PDT When loved ones lose their hearing, audiologists often counsel spouses and family members to speak clearly so they are better understood. But hearing loss professionals say that this well-meaning advice can backfire: clear speech can make you sound angry. A new study supports the idea that clear speech can carry negative overtones even when the phrase itself is emotionally neutral.

Clean before you clean: What's on your toothbrush just might surprise you Posted: 06 May 2014 06:44 AM PDT Do you know Staphylococci, coliforms, pseudomonads, yeasts, intestinal bacteria and -- yes -- even fecal germs may be on your toothbrush? Appropriate toothbrush storage and care are important to achieving personal oral hygiene and optimally effective plaque removal. Appropriate toothbrush storage and care are important to achieving personal oral hygiene and optimally effective plaque removal

Distinct avian influenza viruses found in Antarctic penguins Posted: 06 May 2014 04:47 AM PDT Researchers have, for the first time, identified an avian influenza virus in a group of Adelie penguins from Antarctica. The virus was found to be unlike any other circulating avian flu.

Gender may contribute to recovery time after concussion Posted: 06 May 2014 04:47 AM PDT A study of concussion patients using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) found that males took longer to recover after concussion than females did. Results of the study show that DTI can be used as a bias-free way to predict concussion outcome. Each year, more than 17 million Americans suffer a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), more commonly known as a concussion, of which approximately 15 percent suffer persistent symptoms beyond three months.

Study finds ADHD and trauma often go hand in hand Posted: 06 May 2014 04:47 AM PDT When children struggle with focusing on tasks, staying organized, controlling their behavior and sitting still, they may be evaluated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Clinicians, however, shouldn't stop there, according to a new study.

Design of new foods should focus particularly on healthy gastro-intestinal tract Posted: 06 May 2014 04:45 AM PDT New foods should be designed -– more than has been the case up to now -– with human health in mind, and especially the health of the gastro-intestinal tract. There is a need for a new generation of products known as functional foods, which are beneficial to bowel health and which are also regarded as such by consumers. A researcher believes his own scientific discipline should help to reduce the high percentage of failures involved in introducing new products.

Nanocellulose sponges to combat oil spills Posted: 06 May 2014 04:45 AM PDT A new, absorbent material could be of assistance in future oil spill accidents: a chemically modified nanocellulose sponge. The light material absorbs the oil spill, remains floating on the surface and can then be recovered. The absorbent can be produced in an environmentally-friendly manner from recycled paper, wood or agricultural by-products.

Galaxy's biggest telescope harnesses most precise measurement of spinning star Posted: 06 May 2014 04:44 AM PDT An international team of astronomers has made a measurement of a distant neutron star that is one million times more precise than the previous world's best. The researchers were able to use the interstellar medium, the 'empty' space between stars and galaxies that is made up of sparsely spread charged particles, as a giant lens to magnify and look closely at the radio wave emission from a small rotating neutron star.

Hypertension related to new cancer therapies, new syndrome emerges Posted: 06 May 2014 04:44 AM PDT New cancer therapies, particularly agents that block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, have improved the outlook for patients with some cancers and are now used as a first line therapy for some tumors. However, almost 100% of patients who take VEGF inhibitors (VEGFIs) develop high blood pressure, and a subset develops severe hypertension. The mechanisms underlying VEGF inhibitor-induced hypertension need to be better understood and there is a need for clear guidelines and improved management, say investigators.

Early Obesity Linked to Increased Probability of Severe Obesity Later in Life Posted: 06 May 2014 04:44 AM PDT Exposure to long-term obesity has become more common with increases in obesity at younger ages. Researchers in a new study examined the relationship between BMI at age 25, obesity later in life, and biological indicators of health. They found that people who were obese by age 25 had a higher chance of more severe obesity later in life, but that current weight, rather than the duration of obesity, was a better indicator of cardiovascular and metabolic risk.

Sports, energy drink consumption linked to negative behaviors Posted: 06 May 2014 04:42 AM PDT Weekly consumption of sports drinks and energy drinks among adolescents is significantly associated with higher consumption of other sugar-sweetened beverages, cigarette smoking, and screen media use, according to a study conducted by researchers. Although national data have shown a decline in the prevalence of soft drink and fruit drink consumption, sports and energy drink consumption has tripled among adolescents in recent years. The high caffeine content of energy drinks, as well as the high sugar and calorie content of many sports and energy drinks, has drawn much concern from health professionals.

Where DNA's copy machine pauses, cancer could be next Posted: 05 May 2014 06:14 PM PDT A comprehensive mapping of the 'fragile sites' where chromosomes are more likely to experience breakage shows the damage appears in specific areas of the genome where the DNA copying machinery is slowed or stalled during replication, either by certain sequences of DNA or by structural elements. The study could give insight into the origins of many of the genetic abnormalities seen in solid tumors.

Is FDA's crackdown on direct-to-consumer genetic testing a violation of the First Amendment? Posted: 05 May 2014 06:12 PM PDT In November 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered the company 23andMe to stop offering its direct-to-consumer DNA testing service, which provided individuals with $99 assessments of their genetic risk for almost 200 disorders. Experts now examines whether this move by FDA is a violation of the First Amendment, or a necessary step to protect consumers.

Factors leading to diabetes may contribute to milk supply problems for new mothers Posted: 05 May 2014 06:10 PM PDT The same factors that lead to diabetes contribute to low milk supply in some new mothers, new evidence demonstrates. Researchers discovered that problems with mothers' insulin metabolism may affect their milk production. The study found that women diagnosed with low milk supply were 2.5 times more likely to have experienced gestational diabetes compared to women seen at the clinic solely because their infants were having problems latching onto the breast.

Getting to the root of enamel evolution: Connecting genes to hominin teeth shows evidence of natural selection Posted: 05 May 2014 12:53 PM PDT Thick tooth enamel is one of the features that distinguishes our genus, Homo, from our primate relatives and forebears. A new study offers insight into exactly how evolution shaped our teeth, one gene at a time. By comparing the human genome with those of five other primate species, a team of geneticists and evolutionary anthropologists has identified two segments of DNA where natural selection acted to give modern humans their thick enamel.

Immune cells outsmart bacterial infection by dying, study shows Posted: 05 May 2014 12:53 PM PDT A clearer picture of the delicate arms race between the human immune system and a pathogen that seeks to infect and kill human cells has been painted through new research. The research explores the strategies by which the bacterial pathogen Yersinia, responsible for causing plague and gastrointestinal infections, tries to outsmart immune cell responses and looks at the tactics used by the immune system to fight back.

Monitoring RNA levels in blood yields dynamic picture of fetal development, disease Posted: 05 May 2014 12:53 PM PDT Researchers have moved beyond relying on the static information delivered by DNA sequences in the blood. Instead, they've generated a much more dynamic picture by monitoring changing levels of another genetic material -- RNA -- in the blood. It's the biological difference between a still photo and a video when it comes to figuring out what the body is doing, and why.

Focused ultrasound reduces cancer pain Posted: 05 May 2014 12:51 PM PDT When cancer progresses and spreads to the bone, patients often suffer debilitating pain. Now, a new phase III clinical trial shows that non-invasive magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound treatment that heats the cancer within the bone, relieves pain and improves function for most patients when other treatment options are limited.

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