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A 700,000 year old horse gets its genome sequenced

Scientists have just sequenced the oldest genome from a prehistoric creature. They have done so by sequencing and analyzing short pieces of DNA molecules preserved in bone-remnants from a horse that had been kept frozen for the last 700,000 years in the permafrost of Yukon, Canada.

Chimps or humans: Who's the better baseball pitcher?

Scientists collected motion data from baseball players to uncover why humans are such good throwers. Little leaguers and professional baseball players alike have our extinct ancestors to thank for their success on the mound, shows a new study. Of course, the ability to throw fast and accurately did not evolve so our ancestors could play ball. Instead, the study proposes that this ability first evolved nearly 2 million years ago to aid in hunting. Humans are unique in their throwing ability, even when compared to our chimpanzee cousins.

Crabgrass' secret: The despised weed makes herbicide to kill neighboring plants

Contrary to popular belief, crabgrass does not thrive in lawns, gardens and farm fields by simply crowding out other plants. A new study has found that the much-despised weed actually produces its own herbicides that kill nearby plants.

Quantum engines must break down

Our present understanding of thermodynamics is fundamentally incorrect if applied to small systems and need to be modified, according to new research. The work establishes new laws in the rapidly emerging field of quantum thermodynamics. The findings have wide applications in small systems, from nanoscale engines and quantum technologies, to biological motors and systems found in the body.

Unraveling the largest outbreak of fungal infections associated with contaminated steroid injections

Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe pathologic findings from 40 case reports of fungal infection in patients who had been given contaminated epidural, paraspinal, or intra-articular (into joints) steroid injections and correlate these findings with clinical and laboratory data. The report alerts clinicians and the general public to the catastrophic dangers of contaminated epidural injections.

Solar power heads in a new direction: Thinner

Atom-thick photovoltaic sheets could pack hundreds of times more power per weight than conventional solar cells.

A stepping-stone for oxygen on Earth

For most terrestrial life on Earth, oxygen is necessary for survival. But the planet's atmosphere did not always contain this life-sustaining substance, and one of science's greatest mysteries is how and when oxygenic photosynthesis first began. Now, geobiologists have found evidence of a precursor photosystem involving manganese that predates cyanobacteria, the first group of organisms to release oxygen into the environment via photosynthesis.

Comparing genomes of wild and domestic tomato

You say tomato, I say comparative transcriptomics. Researchers in the US, Europe and Japan have produced the first comparison of both the DNA sequences and which genes are active, or being transcribed, between the domestic tomato and its wild cousins.

Can home-culture images impair second-language skills?

New research shows that reminders of your heritage culture can trigger troubles in your second language.

Getting the carbon out of emissions

Researchers propose a new method to remove carbon from emissions that could be more efficient than previous systems and easier to retrofit in existing power plants.

DNA found outside genes plays largely unknown, potentially vital roles: Thousands of previously unknown RNA molecules identified

A new study highlights the potential importance of the vast majority of human DNA that lies outside of genes within the cell.

Location of upwelling in Earth's mantle discovered to be stable

A new study shows that large-scale upwelling within Earth's mantle mostly occurs in only two places: Beneath Africa and the Central Pacific. These upwelling locations have remained remarkably stable over geologic time, despite dramatic reconfigurations of tectonic plate motions and continental locations on the Earth's surface. The study describes a plate tectonic "quadrupole," which defines two points of "net convergence" and two points of "net divergence" of tectonic plate motions.

Cloning mice: For the first time, a donor mouse has been cloned using a drop of peripheral blood from its tail

Since Dolly the sheep in 1996, reproductive cloning has continued to advance; nearly 20 different mammalian species have now been cloned. Researchers have now developed a unique cloning procedure using peripheral blood cells, which may be collected repeatedly from a single animal and so facilitate preservation of infertile mouse strains.

New brain imaging study provides support for the notion of food addiction

Consuming highly processed carbohydrates can cause excess hunger and stimulate brain regions involved in reward and cravings, according to a new study. These findings suggest that limiting these "high-glycemic index" foods could help obese individuals avoid overeating.

Archaeologists unearth Tuscaloosa's early history

As the former location of a Civil War outhouse and POW facility to an antebellum furniture maker and ice factory, a patch of dirt in downtown Tuscaloosa has hidden a wealth of Southern history within its layers. Excavations are further revealing some of the country's rich past.

Potential therapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease

Scientists have demonstrated a new potential target in the fight against Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases in two mouse models.

Social capabilities of performing multiple-action sequences

Scientists are examining how action planning generalizes to collaborative actions performed with others.

People prefer 'carrots' to 'sticks' when it comes to healthcare incentives

To keep costs low, companies often incentivize healthy lifestyles. Now, new research suggests that how these incentives are framed -- as benefits for healthy-weight people or penalties for overweight people -- makes a big difference. The research shows that policies that carry higher premiums for overweight individuals are perceived as punishing and stigmatizing.

New dispatch system could save money for trucking industry, make life easier for drivers

Engineers are studying a new approach to organize and route truck transportation that could save millions of dollars, improve the quality of life for thousands of truck drivers and make freight transportation far more efficient. There's a potential to revolutionize the way that truck transportation is handled in the United States and around the world.

Ingested nanoparticle toxicity

Ingestion of commonly encountered nanoparticles at typical environmental levels is unlikely to cause overt toxicity, according to US researchers. Nevertheless there is insufficient evidence to determine whether chronic exposures could lead to subtle alterations in intestinal immune function, protein profiles, or microbial balance.

Christians tweet more happily, less analytically than atheists

A computer analysis of nearly 2 million text messages (tweets) on the online social network Twitter found that Christians use more positive words, fewer negative words and engage in less analytical thinking than atheists. Christians also were more likely than atheists to tweet about their social relationships, the researchers found.

Researchers find zinc's crucial pathway to the brain

A new study helps explain how parts of the brain maintain their delicate balance of zinc, an element required in minute but crucial doses, particularly during embryonic development.

Survivor of stellar collision is new type of pulsating star

Astronomers have observed the remnant of a stellar collision and discovered that its brightness varies in a way not seen before on this rare type of star. By analyzing the patterns in these brightness variations, astronomers will learn what really happens when stars collide.

Social animals have more social smarts

Lemurs from species that hang out in big tribes are more likely to steal food behind your back instead of in front of your face. This behavior suggests that primates who live in larger social groups tend to have more "social intelligence," a new study shows.

Zebrafish study paves the way for new treatments for genetic disorder

Scientists have paved the way for new treatments for a common genetic disorder thanks to pioneering research on zebrafish -- an animal capable of mending its own heart.

Simple two-drug combination proves effective in reducing risk of stroke

Results of a Phase III clinical trial showed that a simple drug regimen of two anti-clotting drugs -- clopidogrel and aspirin -- lowered the risk of stroke by almost one-third, compared to the standard therapy of aspirin alone, when given to patients who had minor or transient stroke symptoms to prevent subsequent attacks.

Salmonella infection is a battle between good and bad bacteria in the gut

A new study that examined food poisoning infection as-it-happens in mice revealed harmful bacteria, such as a common type of Salmonella, takes over beneficial bacteria within the gut amid previously unseen changes to the gut environment. The results provide new insights into the course of infection and could lead to better prevention or new treatments.

First transiting planets in a star cluster discovered

All stars begin their lives in groups. Most stars are born in small groups that quickly fall apart. Others form in huge, dense swarms, where stars jostle with thousands of neighbors while strong radiation and harsh stellar winds scour interstellar space, stripping planet-forming materials from nearby stars. It would thus seem an unlikely place to find alien worlds. Yet 3,000 light-years from Earth, in the star cluster NGC 6811, astronomers have found two planets smaller than Neptune orbiting sun-like stars.

Have a brain injury? You may be at higher risk for stroke

People who have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be more likely to have a future stroke, according to new research.

Whole genome or exome sequencing: An individual insight

Focusing on parts rather than the whole, when it comes to genome sequencing, might be extremely useful, finds new research. The research compares several sequencing technologies in the same individual with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), and shows that sequencing the coding regions alone at high depth of coverage can identify the genetic variation behind this disease, and was also able to resolve previous ambiguities. Next generation sequencing for understanding human DNA variation and genetic disorders is advancing in leaps and bounds.

People's perception of the effect of stress on their health is linked to risk of heart attacks

People who believe that stress is having an adverse impact on their health are probably right, because they have an increased risk of suffering a heart attack, according to new research.

Hold the medicinal lettuce

New research suggests that bits of genetic material from plants eaten by mice can NOT enter the bloodstream intact as previous research from another institution had indicated.

Human activities threaten Sumatran tiger population

Wildlife researchers have found that tigers in central Sumatra live at very low densities, lower than previously believed.

Antibiotics: Change route of delivery to mitigate resistance

New research suggests that the rapid rise of antibiotic resistance correlates with oral ingestion of antibiotics, raising the possibility that other routes of administration could reduce the spread of resistance.

Stabilizing sloping land: 'Blowing' a slope into place

Research scientists have developed a new method for stabilizing areas with difficult soil mechanics. The concept is based on blowing expanded clay (Leca) spheres into enormous "sausage skins" made from geotextiles.

The violent birth of neutron stars

Scientists have conducted the most expensive and most elaborate computer simulations so far to study the formation of neutron stars at the center of collapsing stars with unprecedented accuracy. These worldwide first three-dimensional models with a detailed treatment of all important physical effects confirm that extremely violent, hugely asymmetric sloshing and spiral motions occur when the stellar matter falls towards the center. The results of the simulations thus lend support to basic perceptions of the dynamical processes that are involved when a star explodes as supernova.

New iron catalyst promises green future for hydrogenation

A new iron nanoparticle catalyst promises to drastically improve the efficiency of hydrogenation, a key chemical process used in a wide array of industrial applications. Cleaner, safer and cheaper than traditional rare metal-based catalysts, the new, more environmentally friendly technique marks a breakthrough for the emerging field of green chemistry.

The São Miguel scops owl was wiped out arrival of humans in the Azores

On São Miguel Island in the Azores, there used to exist a small, nocturnal bird of prey, related to the European scops owl, named Otus frutuosoi, which was very probably driven to extinction with the arrival of the first settlers in the 15th century.

Influenza infection increases likelihood of bacterial pneumonia 100-fold

It's been known for more than two centuries that pneumonia cases increase during flu epidemics.

Spiral galaxies like Milky Way bigger than thought

Let's all fist bump: Spiral galaxies like our own Milky Way appear to be much larger and more massive than previously believed, according to a new study.

Tired and edgy? Sleep deprivation boosts anticipatory anxiety

Researchers have found that a lack of sleep, which is common in anxiety disorders, may play a key role in ramping up the brain regions that contribute to excessive worrying. The results suggest that people suffering from such maladies as generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder, may benefit substantially from sleep therapy.

How visual attention affects the brain

New research shows for the first time how visual attention affects activity in specific brain cells. The study shows that attention increases the efficiency of signaling into the brain's cerebral cortex and boosts the ratio of signal over noise.

DNA 'reverse' vaccine reduces levels of immune cells believed responsible for Type 1 diabetes

A clinical trial of a vaccine designed to combat Type 1 diabetes has delivered initially promising results, suggesting that it may selectively counter the errant immune response that causes the disease.

Babies can read each other's moods, study finds

Research shows that babies can understand each others emotional signals at five months of age. This study comes on the heels of research on infants' ability to understand the moods of dogs, monkeys and classical music.

Power for seaports may be the next job for hydrogen fuel cells

Providing auxiliary hydrogen power to docked or anchored ships may soon be added to the list of ways in which hydrogen fuel cells can provide efficient, emissions-free energy.

Big environmental footprints: 21 percent of homes account for 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions

Energy conservation in a small number of households could go a long way to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are reporting. Their study measured differences in energy demands at the household level.

Toward broad-spectrum antiviral drugs for common cold and other infections

Scientists are reporting progress in the search for the first broad-spectrum drugs to combat human rhinoviruses, which cause humanity's most common infectious diseases.

New low-cost, transparent electrodes

A durable, multilayered thin film is a possible replacement for expensive indium-based electrodes in devices such as liquid crystal displays and solar cells.

NASA's Voyager 1 explores final frontier of our 'solar bubble'

Data from Voyager 1, now more than 11 billion miles (18 billion kilometers) from the sun, suggest the spacecraft is closer to becoming the first human-made object to reach interstellar space.

High-resolution mapping technique uncovers underlying circuit architecture of the brain

Using an innovative brain-tracing technique, scientists have found a way to untangle neural networks and create a high-resolution map of the brain's underlying molecular circuitry. Their findings offer new insight into how specific brain regions connect to each other, while also revealing clues as to what may happen, neuron by neuron, when these connections are disrupted.

Research raises concerns over smoke detectors' effectiveness in waking children

Standard domestic smoke detectors may not always wake children in the event of a fire, according to new research.

Stress: It should never be ignored, experts say

Work pressure, tension at home, financial difficulties... the list of causes of stress grows longer every day. There have been several studies in the past showing that stress can have negative effects on health (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and more). According to a new study people under stress have twice the risk of a heart attack, compared with others.

'Shields to maximum, Mr. Scott': Simulating orbital debris impacts on spacecraft and fragment impacts on body armor

Running hundreds of simulations on TACC supercomputers, University of Texas mechanical engineering professor Eric Fahrenthold assisted NASA in the development of ballistic limit curves that predict whether a shield will be perforated when hit by a projectile of a given size and speed. The framework they developed also allows them to study the impact of projectiles on body armor materials and to predict the response of different fabric weaves upon impact.

Inside the minds of murderers: Impulsive murderers much more mentally impaired than those who kill strategically

The minds of murderers who kill impulsively, often out of rage, and those who carefully carry out premeditated crimes differ markedly both psychologically and intellectually, according to a new study.

Scientists discover thriving colonies of microbes in ocean 'plastisphere'

Scientists have discovered a diverse multitude of microbes colonizing and thriving on flecks of plastic that have polluted the oceans -- a vast new human-made flotilla of microbial communities that they have dubbed the "plastisphere."

Imagination can change what we hear and see

Our imagination may affect how we experience the world more than we perhaps think. What we imagine hearing or seeing "in our head" can change our actual perception. The study sheds new light on a classic question in psychology and neuroscience -- about how our brains combine information from the different senses.

Illegal marijuana grows threaten fishers in the southern Sierra Nevada

Rat poison used on illegal marijuana grows is killing fishers in the southern Sierra Nevada, according to a recent study conducted by a team of scientists.

Promising Alzheimer's 'drug' halts memory loss

A new class of experimental drug is showing great promise in preventing early memory loss in Alzheimer's disease. It halted memory loss and fixed damaged communication among brain cells in a mouse model of Alzheimer's. Scientists said the new class of drug, if proven effective in humans, could be used early in the disease to arrest its progress.

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

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