ScienceDaily: Top News

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• No-wait data centers: Data-transmission delays across server farms can be reducd by 99. 6 percent
• Are ants the answer to carbon dioxide sequestration?
• Humans walking on all fours is not backward evolution
• Sharpest map of Mars surface properties
• 70-foot-long, 52-ton concrete bridge survives series of simulated earthquakes
• Indus river dolphin's declining range: Patterns of river fragmentation provide insight into river dolphin conservation
• Whale shark fringe migration: 16-year study suggests Azore islands may play increasing role in whale shark habitat
• Borneo deforested 30 percent over past 40 years
• Tooth plaque provides unique insights into our prehistoric ancestors' diet
• Asteroid Vesta to reshape theories of planet formation
• Brain of world's first known predators discovered
• Scientists find way to trap, kill malaria parasite
• One injection stops diabetes in its tracks: Treatment reverses symptoms of type 2 diabetes in mice without side effects
• Mediterranean diet has varied effects on cognitive decline among different races, study shows
• Dispersant from Deepwater Horizon spill found to persist in the environment
• Pregnancy loss, cardiovascular disease connected by new study
• Drug's effect on Alzheimer's may depend on severity of disease
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce cardiovascular death in type 2 diabetes
• Structures of Huntington's disease protein compared in study
• A natural way to monitor, and possibly control populations of, stink bugs
• An anti-glare, anti-reflective display for mobile devices?
• Bubble wrap serves as sheet of tiny test tubes in resource-limited regions
• Promising medication counteracts constipation caused by opioid painkillers
• Abdominal aortic aneurysms: Surgeon explains who needs screening, treatment
• Supercomputers reveal strange, stress-induced transformations in world's thinnest materials
• Hungry, invasive 'crazy worm' makes first appearance in Wisconsin, threatens forests
• Marijuana dependence alters the brain's response to drug paraphernalia
• New knowledge about brain's effective bouncer
• Immune response to infectious disease: New findings on properdin
• Health risks posed by 'third hand' tobacco smoke
• Self-assembling nanoparticle could improve MRI scanning for cancer diagnosis
• Eroded swimmeret syndrome, a novel disease of the signal crayfish
• Tracking the breakup of Arctic summer sea ice
• NASA's Van Allen Probes show how to accelerate electrons
• Glowing red in the big blue: Red fluorescence at great depths
• Team studies immune response of Asian elephants infected with a human disease
• Scientists gear up to fight deadly snake fungal disease
• Organic pollutants not factor in turtle tumor disease, study finds
• Cooperation: Preteens, teens most fickle, older people most cooperative
• Using male mosquitoes to effectively sterilize females through a naturally occurring bacterium

No-wait data centers: Data-transmission delays across server farms can be reducd by 99. 6 percent Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:32 PM PDT Big websites usually maintain their own "data centers," banks of tens or even hundreds of thousands of servers, all passing data back and forth to field users' requests. Like any big, decentralized network, data centers are prone to congestion: Packets of data arriving at the same router at the same time are put in a queue, and if the queues get too long, packets can be delayed. Researchers have designed a new network-management system that, in experiments, reduced the average queue length of routers in a Facebook data center by 99.6 percent -- virtually doing away with queues.

Are ants the answer to carbon dioxide sequestration? Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:31 PM PDT A 25-year-long study provides the first quantitative measurement of in situ calcium-magnesium silicate mineral dissolution by ants, termites, tree roots, and bare ground. This study reveals that ants are one of the most powerful biological agents of mineral decay yet observed. It may be that an understanding of the geobiology of ant-mineral interactions might offer a line of research on how to "geoengineer" accelerated carbon dioxide consumption by Ca-Mg silicates.

Humans walking on all fours is not backward evolution Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:11 PM PDT Five siblings in the family, who live in a remote corner of Turkey, walk exclusively on their hands and feet. Since they were discovered in 2005, scientists have debated the nature of their disability, with speculation they represent a backward stage of evolution. An anthropologist finds quadrupedal humans with Uner Tan Syndrome do not walk in the diagonal pattern characteristic of nonhuman primates such as apes and monkeys.

Sharpest map of Mars surface properties Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:13 AM PDT A heat-sensing camera has provided data to create the most detailed global map yet made of Martian surface properties. Surface properties tell geologists about the physical nature of a planet or moon's surface. Is a particular area coated with dust, and if so, how thick is it likely to be? Where are the outcrops of bedrock? How loose are the sediments that fill this crater or that valley? A map of surface properties lets scientists begin to answer questions such as these.

70-foot-long, 52-ton concrete bridge survives series of simulated earthquakes Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:13 AM PDT A 70-foot-long, 52-ton concrete bridge survived a series of earthquakes in the first multiple-shake-table experiment in the University of Nevada, Reno's new Earthquake Engineering Lab, the newest addition to the world-renowned earthquake and seismic engineering facility.

Indus river dolphin's declining range: Patterns of river fragmentation provide insight into river dolphin conservation Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:13 AM PDT Removal of river water for irrigation and habitat fragmentation by irrigation dams were shown to be the principal factors contributing to the decline of the Indus river dolphin.

Whale shark fringe migration: 16-year study suggests Azore islands may play increasing role in whale shark habitat Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:13 AM PDT At the fringe of the whale shark range, the volcanic Azore islands may play an increasing role for the north Atlantic population as sea surface temperatures rise.

Borneo deforested 30 percent over past 40 years Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:13 AM PDT Forest cover in Borneo may have declined by up to 30% over the past 40 years, according to a new study. he native forests of Borneo have been increasingly impacted by logging, fire, and conversion to plantations since the early 1970s. Borneo lacks island-wide forest clearance and logging documentation, making forest conservation planning difficult, especially for selectively logged forests that have high conservation potential but are vulnerable to being converted to plantations.

Tooth plaque provides unique insights into our prehistoric ancestors' diet Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:10 AM PDT An international team of researchers has found new evidence that our prehistoric ancestors had a detailed understanding of plants long before the development of agriculture. By extracting chemical compounds and microfossils from dental calculus (calcified dental plaque) from ancient teeth, the researchers were able to provide an entirely new perspective on our ancestors' diets. Their research suggests that purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus) -- today regarded as a nuisance weed -- formed an important part of the prehistoric diet.

Asteroid Vesta to reshape theories of planet formation Posted: 16 Jul 2014 10:16 AM PDT Researchers have a better understanding of the asteroid Vesta and its internal structure, thanks to numerical simulations and data from the space mission Dawn. Their findings question contemporary models of rocky planet formation, including that of Earth.

Brain of world's first known predators discovered Posted: 16 Jul 2014 10:16 AM PDT Scientists have found the fossilized remains of the brain of the world's earliest known predators, from a time when life teemed in the oceans but had not yet colonized the land. The discovery reveals a brain much simpler than those known in some of the animal's prey and helps answer questions surrounding the evolution of arthropods.

Scientists find way to trap, kill malaria parasite Posted: 16 Jul 2014 10:15 AM PDT Scientists may be able to entomb the malaria parasite in a prison of its own making, researchers report. As it invades a red blood cell, the malaria parasite takes part of the host cell's membrane to build a protective compartment. The parasite then starts a series of major renovations that transform the red blood cell into a suitable home. But the new research reveals the proteins that make these renovations must pass through a single pore in the parasite's compartment to get into the red blood cell. When the scientists disrupted passage through that pore in cell cultures, the parasite stopped growing and died.

One injection stops diabetes in its tracks: Treatment reverses symptoms of type 2 diabetes in mice without side effects Posted: 16 Jul 2014 10:15 AM PDT In mice with diet-induced diabetes -- the equivalent of type 2 diabetes in humans -- a single injection of the protein FGF1 is enough to restore blood sugar levels to a healthy range for more than two days. The discovery could lead to a new generation of safer, more effective diabetes drugs. The team found that sustained treatment with the protein doesn't merely keep blood sugar under control, but also reverses insulin insensitivity, the underlying physiological cause of diabetes. Equally exciting, the newly developed treatment doesn't result in side effects common to most current diabetes treatments.

Mediterranean diet has varied effects on cognitive decline among different races, study shows Posted: 16 Jul 2014 09:38 AM PDT "In a population of initially well-functioning older adults, we found a significant correlation between strong adherence to the Mediterranean diet and a slower rate of cognitive decline among African American, but not white, older adults. Our study is the first to show a possible race-specific association between the Mediterranean diet and cognitive decline," a researcher outlines.

Dispersant from Deepwater Horizon spill found to persist in the environment Posted: 16 Jul 2014 09:34 AM PDT Dispersant compound DOSS, which decreases the size of oil droplets and hampers the formation of large oil slicks, remains associated with oil and can persist in the environment for up to four years, a study has demonstrated. The study examined samples collected from deep-sea corals and surrounding sediments collected in Dec. 2010 as well as oil-soaked sand patties found on coastal beaches since July 2010 to the present.

Pregnancy loss, cardiovascular disease connected by new study Posted: 16 Jul 2014 09:34 AM PDT Women with a history of pregnancy loss are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease later in adulthood than other women, research concludes. The association between pregnancy loss and coronary heart disease appeared to be independent of hypertension, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio and white blood cell count.

Drug's effect on Alzheimer's may depend on severity of disease Posted: 16 Jul 2014 09:34 AM PDT A cancer drug that has shown promise against Alzheimer's disease in mice and has begun early clinical trials has yielded perplexing results in a novel mouse model of Alzheimer's disease that mimics the genetics and pathology of the human disease more closely than any other animal model.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce cardiovascular death in type 2 diabetes Posted: 16 Jul 2014 09:34 AM PDT Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability among people with Type 2 diabetes. In fact, at least 65 percent of people with diabetes die from some form of heart disease or stroke. However, a new study suggests that the use of cholesterol-lowering statins may help prolong the lives of people with diabetic cardiovascular disease.

Structures of Huntington's disease protein compared in study Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:28 AM PDT Huntington's disease, an incurable neurodegenerative disorder, starts as a genetic mutation that leads to an overabundance of "huntingtin" protein fragments, which form clumps in the brain. Neutron scattering research has revealed clear structural differences in the normal and pathological forms of a protein involved in Huntington's disease.

A natural way to monitor, and possibly control populations of, stink bugs Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:27 AM PDT Anyone who has squashed a stink bug knows why they got their name. Although just a nuisance to homeowners, the insects feed on and damage fruits and vegetables, causing significant economic losses for farmers. Now scientists have discovered certain stink bug pheromone components and made them artificially in the lab for the first time, and these substances can be used to monitor and manage their populations.

An anti-glare, anti-reflective display for mobile devices? Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:27 AM PDT If you've ever tried to watch a video on a tablet on a sunny day, you know you have to tilt it at just the right angle to get rid of glare or invest in a special filter. But now scientists are reporting that they've developed a novel glass surface that reduces both glare and reflection, which continue to plague even the best mobile displays today.

Bubble wrap serves as sheet of tiny test tubes in resource-limited regions Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:27 AM PDT Popping the blisters on the bubble wrap might be the most enjoyable thing about moving. But now, scientists propose a more productive way to reuse the popular packing material -- as a sheet of small, test tube-like containers for medical and environmental samples. Their report shows that analyses can take place right in the bubbles.

Promising medication counteracts constipation caused by opioid painkillers Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:27 AM PDT Opioids -- strong morphine-based painkillers -- are widely prescribed to patients experiencing chronic severe pain. While these drugs are very effective for treating and managing pain, they have one particularly bothersome side effect: constipation. A new drug, called naloxegol, could bring relief. In stage 3 trials, international researchers provide new evidence that the drug relieves constipation without dulling opioids' pain-relieving effects.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms: Surgeon explains who needs screening, treatment Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:22 AM PDT An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a potentially life-threatening condition: If the body's major blood vessel ruptures, it can prove deadly. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently updated its recommendations on screening. Now a surgeon explains who should be watched for abdominal aortic aneurysms, how they are diagnosed and how surgery, which now includes a less invasive endovascular option, is improving survival rates.

Supercomputers reveal strange, stress-induced transformations in world's thinnest materials Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:57 AM PDT Interested in an ultra-fast, unbreakable, and flexible smart phone that recharges in a matter of seconds? Monolayer materials may make it possible. These atom-thin sheets -- including the famed super material graphene -- feature exceptional and untapped mechanical and electronic properties. But to fully exploit these atomically tailored wonder materials, scientists must pry free the secrets of how and why they bend and break under stress. Supercomputer simulations have revealed unexpected transitions in graphene and other promising super materials under strain.

Hungry, invasive 'crazy worm' makes first appearance in Wisconsin, threatens forests Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:57 AM PDT Wisconsin's newest invasive species has done its best to stay underground, but the voracious, numerous and mysterious Asian crazy worm has emerged for the first time in the state on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Marijuana dependence alters the brain's response to drug paraphernalia Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:08 AM PDT New research demonstrates that drug paraphernalia triggers the reward areas of the brain differently in dependent and non-dependent marijuana users. By letting users handle a marijuana pipe while in an fMRI, researchers found that areas of brain activation in the dependent users suggests a more emotional connection than in non-dependent users. Non-dependent users had greater activations in areas associated with memory and attention.

New knowledge about brain's effective bouncer Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:08 AM PDT Researchers are shedding new light on the brain's complicated barrier tissue. The blood-brain barrier is an effective barrier which protects the brain, but which at the same time makes it difficult to treat diseases such as Alzheimer's. In an in vitro blood-brain barrier, researchers can recreate the brain's transport processes for the benefit of the development of new pharmaceuticals for the brain.

Immune response to infectious disease: New findings on properdin Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:07 AM PDT Knowledge in immunology has been advanced by recent research. A new paper presents significant new findings about the protein properdin -- an important part of the immune system. It is a positive regulator in the alternative pathway of complement activation -- which means it plays a key part in one of the body's main techniques for tackling infections and foreign bodies known as antigens.

Health risks posed by 'third hand' tobacco smoke Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:07 AM PDT The potential cancer risk in non-smokers -- particularly young children -- of tobacco smoke gases and particles deposited to surfaces and dust in the home has been demonstrated by researchers. Until now, the risks of this exposure known as 'third hand tobacco smoke' have been highly uncertain and not considered in public policy. However, a new study has estimated for the first time the potential cancer risk by age group through non-dietary ingestion and dermal exposure to third hand smoke. The results indicate potentially severe long-term consequences, particularly to children.

Self-assembling nanoparticle could improve MRI scanning for cancer diagnosis Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:07 AM PDT A new self-assembling nanoparticle has been developed that targets tumors, to help doctors diagnose cancer earlier. The new nanoparticle boosts the effectiveness of MRI scanning by specifically seeking out receptors that are found in cancerous cells. The nanoparticle is coated with a special protein that looks for specific signals given off by tumors. When it finds one, it begins to interact with the cancerous cells; this interaction strips off the protein coating, causing the nanoparticle to self-assemble into a much larger particle so that it is more visible on the scan.

Eroded swimmeret syndrome, a novel disease of the signal crayfish Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:07 AM PDT Crayfish researchers have discovered, together with Swedish colleagues, a new disease plaguing female signal crayfish. As the name suggests, eroded swimmeret syndrome (ESS) destroys the swimmerets of female crayfish, weakens their reproductive ability and can increase the mortality of mother crayfish. In Finland and Sweden, the observed declines and sudden plunges in natural populations of signal crayfish can, to some extent, be explained by eroded swimmeret syndrome.

Tracking the breakup of Arctic summer sea ice Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:05 AM PDT An international team has placed sensors on and under Arctic sea ice to monitor this season's retreat. Scientists hope to understand the physics of the ice edge in order to predict summer conditions in the Arctic Ocean.

NASA's Van Allen Probes show how to accelerate electrons Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:43 PM PDT One of the great, unanswered questions for space weather scientists is just what creates two gigantic donuts of radiation surrounding Earth, called the Van Allen radiation belts. Recent data from the Van Allen Probes -- two nearly identical spacecraft that launched in 2012 -- address this question.

Glowing red in the big blue: Red fluorescence at great depths Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:42 PM PDT Many fish species glow red and can see red light, even at depths where the red part of the sunlight spectrum has been absorbed by the water above. It was long assumed that red light did not play a role at depths of 10m or more. However, researchers have not only discovered and investigated the phenomenon of red fluorescence; they have now described a new detail which offers important clues to the function of glowing red.

Team studies immune response of Asian elephants infected with a human disease Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:27 AM PDT Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the organism that causes tuberculosis in humans, also afflicts Asian -- and occasionally other -- elephants. Diagnosing and treating elephants with TB is a challenge, however, as little is known about how their immune systems respond to the infection. A new study begins to address this knowledge gap, and offers new tools for detecting and monitoring TB in captive elephants.

Scientists gear up to fight deadly snake fungal disease Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:27 AM PDT A faster and more accurate way to test for infection with Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, a fungus that is killing snakes in the Midwest and eastern United States, has been devised by researchers. The test also allows scientists to monitor the progression of the infection in living snakes. Researchers first took notice of Ophidiomyces in snakes in the mid-2000s. Today the fungus threatens the last remaining eastern massasauga rattlesnake population in Illinois and has been found to infect timber rattlesnakes, mud snakes, rat snakes, garter snakes, milk snakes, water snakes and racers in several states.

Organic pollutants not factor in turtle tumor disease, study finds Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:26 AM PDT A new study casts doubt on long-held suspicions that persistent organic pollutants in the environment make green turtle more susceptible to the virus that causes fibropapilomatosis, a disease that forms large benign tumors that can inhibit the animal's sight, mobility and feeding ability.

Cooperation: Preteens, teens most fickle, older people most cooperative Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:22 AM PDT A new experimental study analyzed how cooperative attitudes evolve in different age ranges. Researchers found that young people between the ages of ten and sixteen demonstrate more fickle behavior when it comes to cooperating, unlike other age groups. People over the age of 66 demonstrated the most cooperative behavior.

Using male mosquitoes to effectively sterilize females through a naturally occurring bacterium Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:19 AM PDT A new company, created by scientists, uses a very unique approach to control a common pest that can carry dangerous diseases: using male mosquitoes to effectively sterilize females through a naturally occurring bacterium. "Most mosquito control companies use chemical pesticides which are sprayed out of trucks and planes, or maybe out of a backpack sprayer," one of the scientists said. "By using a natural bacterium called Wolbachia and the mosquitoes' innate ability to find mates, we are applying an approach which does not require chemicals."

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