ScienceDaily: Top Science News

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• Earth-size 'diamond' in space: Remarkable white dwarf star possibly coldest, dimmest ever detected
• We can eliminate the major tornado threat in Tornado Alley, experts say
• First demonstration of a self-powered cardiac pacemaker
• New type of dust discovered in Martian atmosphere
• Common BPA substitute, BPS, disrupts heart rhythms in females
• BPA Substitute as bad as BPA? Exposure to BPA substitute causes hyperactivity and brain changes in fish
• Association found between maternal exposure to agricultural pesticides and autism
• Organic conundrum in Large Magellanic Cloud
• 3-D map shows dusty structure of the Milky Way
• Puffing sun gives birth to reluctant eruption
• Sensitive? Emotional? Empathetic? It could be in your genes
• Regional weather extremes linked to atmospheric variations
• The ICEMAN study: How keeping cool could spur metabolic benefits
• Mysterious 'magic island' appears on Saturn's moon Titan
• Scientists tie social behavior to activity in specific brain circuit
• Conclusive evidence that sunscreen use in childhood prevents development of malignant melanoma in adults

Earth-size 'diamond' in space: Remarkable white dwarf star possibly coldest, dimmest ever detected Posted: 23 Jun 2014 10:13 AM PDT Astronomers have identified possibly the coldest, faintest white dwarf star ever detected. This ancient stellar remnant is so cool that its carbon has crystallized, forming -- in effect -- an Earth-size diamond in space. The object in this new study is likely the same age as the Milky Way, approximately 11 billion years old.

We can eliminate the major tornado threat in Tornado Alley, experts say Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:03 AM PDT Can we eliminate major tornadoes in Tornado Alley? Devastating tornados over there start from violent clashes between northbound warm wind and southbound cold wind. If we build three east-west great walls, 300m high and 50m wide, one in North Dakota, one passing Oklahoma and one in Texas, we will weaken such air mass clashes and diminish major tornado threat. Such walls may be built locally at areas with frequent tornado outbreaks first and gradually extended.

First demonstration of a self-powered cardiac pacemaker Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:03 AM PDT A self-powered artificial cardiac pacemaker that is operated semi-permanently by a flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator has been developed by researchers. The team's newly designed flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator directly stimulated a living rat's heart using electrical energy converted from the small body movements of the rat. This technology could facilitate the use of self-powered flexible energy harvesters, not only prolonging the lifetime of cardiac pacemakers but also realizing real-time heart monitoring.

New type of dust discovered in Martian atmosphere Posted: 23 Jun 2014 07:42 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new peculiarity of the Martian atmosphere. The scientists had analyzed satellite-acquired data and concluded that the dust particles in the planet's atmosphere can be of two types.

Common BPA substitute, BPS, disrupts heart rhythms in females Posted: 23 Jun 2014 07:39 AM PDT Bisphenol S (BPS), a common substitute for bisphenol A (BPA) in consumer products, may have similar toxic effects on the heart as previously reported for BPA, a new study finds.

BPA Substitute as bad as BPA? Exposure to BPA substitute causes hyperactivity and brain changes in fish Posted: 23 Jun 2014 07:39 AM PDT A chemical found in many "BPA free" consumer products, known as bisphenol S (BPS), is just as potent as bisphenol A (BPA) in altering brain development and causing hyperactive behavior, an animal study finds.

Association found between maternal exposure to agricultural pesticides and autism Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:29 AM PDT Pregnant women who lived in close proximity to fields and farms where chemical pesticides were applied experienced a two-thirds increased risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay, a study by researchers has found. The study examined associations between specific classes of pesticides, including organophosphates, pyrethroids and carbamates, applied during the study participants' pregnancies and later diagnoses of autism and developmental delay in their offspring.

Organic conundrum in Large Magellanic Cloud Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:23 AM PDT A group of organic chemicals that are considered carcinogens and pollutants today on Earth, but are also thought to be the building blocks for the origins of life, may hold clues to how carbon-rich chemicals created in stars are processed and recycled in space.

3-D map shows dusty structure of the Milky Way Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:23 AM PDT Astronomers have created a detailed three-dimensional map of the dusty structure of the Milky Way – the star-studded bright disc of our own galaxy – as seen from Earth's northern hemisphere.

Puffing sun gives birth to reluctant eruption Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:23 AM PDT A suite of Sun-gazing spacecraft, SOHO, STEREO and Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), have spotted an unusual series of eruptions in which a series of fast 'puffs' force the slow ejection of a massive burst of plasma from the Sun's corona.  The eruptions took place over a period of three days, starting on 17 January 2013.

Sensitive? Emotional? Empathetic? It could be in your genes Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:18 AM PDT Do you jump to help the less fortunate or cry during sad movie scenes? If yes, you may be among the 20 percent of our population that is genetically pre-disposed to empathy, according to a study. The results provide further evidence that highly sensitive people are generally highly tuned into their environment, and provide evidence that especially high levels of awareness and emotional responsiveness are fundamental features of humans characterized as HSPs.

Regional weather extremes linked to atmospheric variations Posted: 22 Jun 2014 11:22 AM PDT Variations in high-altitude wind patterns expose particular parts of Europe, Asia and the US to different extreme weather conditions, a new study has shown. Changes to air flow patterns around the Northern Hemisphere are a major influence on prolonged bouts of unseasonal weather -- whether it be hot, cold, wet or dry.

The ICEMAN study: How keeping cool could spur metabolic benefits Posted: 22 Jun 2014 11:22 AM PDT A new study demonstrates that ambient temperatures can influence the growth or loss of brown fat in people. Cool environments stimulate growth, warm environments loss. The study results clearly show the 'plasticity' of brown fat in humans.

Mysterious 'magic island' appears on Saturn's moon Titan Posted: 22 Jun 2014 11:21 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered a bright, mysterious geologic object – where one never existed – on Cassini mission radar images of Ligeia Mare, the second-largest sea on Saturn's moon Titan. Scientifically speaking, this spot is considered a "transient feature," but the astronomers have playfully dubbed it "Magic Island."

Scientists tie social behavior to activity in specific brain circuit Posted: 19 Jun 2014 09:52 AM PDT A particular brain circuit has been linked by researchers to mammals' tendency to interact socially. Stimulating this circuit -- one among millions in the brain -- instantly increases a mouse's appetite for getting to know a strange mouse, while inhibiting it shuts down its drive to socialize with the stranger. The new findings may throw light on psychiatric disorders marked by impaired social interaction such as autism, social anxiety, schizophrenia and depression, said the study's senior author.

Conclusive evidence that sunscreen use in childhood prevents development of malignant melanoma in adults Posted: 19 Jun 2014 08:14 AM PDT Unequivocally, in a natural animal model, researchers have demonstrated that the incidence of malignant melanoma in adulthood can be dramatically reduced by the consistent use of sunscreen in infancy and childhood. The research was driven by the fact that, despite the increasing use of sunscreen in recent decades, the incidence of malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, continues to increase dramatically. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 75,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year.

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