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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Effects of interannual climate variability on tropical tree cover: Satellite data reveal how tropical ecosystems may respond to climate extremes

Tree cover in the tropics will likely change in surprising ways as climate change increases the frequency of extreme rainfall events, according to a new study.

Therapy that heats and destroys bone tumors eases patients' pain

Patients with cancer that has spread to their bones are often treated with radiation therapy to reduce pain. But if that treatment doesn't work, or can't be used again, a second, effective option now exists.

The next frontier of wireless tech? Your body

The military has for decades used sonar for underwater communication. Now, researchers are developing a miniaturized version of the same technology to be applied inside the human body to treat diseases such as diabetes and heart failure in real time.

Oncogene mutation hijacks splicing process to promote growth and survival

Scientists have found that a singular gene mutation helps brain cancer cells to not just survive, but grow tumors rapidly by altering the splicing of genes that control cellular metabolism.

Difference in arterial health seen in highly active college-age people compared to inactive peers

Researchers found that people in their 20s already began to demonstrate arterial stiffening -- when arteries become less compliant as blood pumps through the body -- but their highly active peers did not. A reduction in compliance of the body's arteries is considered a risk factor, predictive of future cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure and stroke. This new study is the first to examine arterial stiffening in a young, healthy population.

Mother's level of education has impact on depression in her children

Children of women who did not finish high school were twice as likely to experience a major episode of depression in early adulthood as children whose mothers obtained a high school diploma.

Sleep deprived men over perceive women's sexual interest and intent

A new study suggests that one night of sleep deprivation leads to an increase in men's perceptions of both women's interest in and intent to have sex.

Bright light therapy may improve sleep and promote recovery in patients with mild TBI

A new study suggests that bright light therapy may improve sleep, cognition, emotion and brain function following mild traumatic brain injury.

Live and let die: Protein prevents immune cell suicide

A protein called c-FLIP-R is critical to immune cell survival: If this molecule is missing, the cells kill themselves -- and are thus no longer able to perform their job fighting off invaders.

Puffin count on Isle of May NNR in Scotland gives surprising result

Atlantic Puffin numbers on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve (NNR) off Scotland's east coast are at similar levels to 2009 despite this spring's severe weather.

Is enough being done to make drinking water safe?

There is a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of technologies used to reduce arsenic contamination finds new research. More studies assessing the technologies themselves and how they are used in the community are needed to ensure that people have access to safe, clean water.

Urinary tract infections:Getting better without antibiotics

Given the option, many women with symptoms of urinary tract infections are choosing to avoid antibiotics and give their bodies a chance to heal naturally, finds new research. The research shows that 70% of women with symptoms of uncomplicated urinary tract infections who did not use antibiotics for a week were cured or showed improvement.

Smoking leads to five-fold increase in heart disease and stroke in under-50s

Smoking increases the risk of heart disease and stroke by five-fold in people under the age of 50 and doubles risk in the over-60s. The protection of children and adolescents from taking up smoking is essential to future health.

How disease mutations affect the Parkin protein

Researchers have determined the crystal structure of Parkin, a protein found in cells that when mutated can lead to a hereditary form of Parkinson's disease. The results define the position of many of the mutations linked to hereditary Parkinson's disease and explain how these alterations may affect the stability and function of the protein. The findings may in time reveal how the activity of Parkin is affected in patients with this rare but debilitating type of Parkinson's disease.

For love not money: What keeps circuses on the road?

Year-in, year-out the circus comes to town. But in 2013 circuses are in trouble. Seen by many as entertainment from a bygone age and facing Government action to ban circuses with wild animals, what is it that keeps circuses on the road? Why do they carry on going?

The greatest place to be a Martian: Australia?

Would Martians feel at home in Australia? Recent research has proven that if Martians took a holiday to Australia they might feel more at home than you'd think. Researchers have recently exposed a unique set of attributes suggesting that the Australian red center could be a close analogue for the surface of the red planet – and how this unusual weathering has led to the formation of Australia's opals.

International negotiations: Playing games with the climate

Researchers have applied game theory to the problem of climate change to help analyze the relationships between international players on the world stage, occurrence and effects, attitude towards carbon emissions, the power struggles taking place and the negotiations that are under way between nations, energy companies and the public.

Building 3-D fractals on a nano scale

It starts with one 3-D structure with eight planes, an octahedron. This repeats itself to smaller octahedra: 625 after just four steps. At every corner of a new octahedron, a successive octahedron is formed. A truly fascinating 3D fractal 'building' is formed on the micro and nano scale.

Artificial magnetic monopoles discovered

Scientists have managed to create artificial magnetic monopoles. To do this, they merged tiny magnetic whirls, so-called skyrmions. At the point of merging, the physicists were able to create a monopole, which has similar characteristics to a fundamental particle postulated by Paul Dirac in 1931. In addition to fundamental research, the monopoles may also have application potential.

Dairy's carbon footprint: Flatulence tops the list

Researchers have conducted a life-cycle analysis of fluid milk that will provide guidance for producers, processors and others throughout the dairy supply chain. The largest contributors were feed production, enteric methane -- gas emitted by the animal itself -- and manure management.

Magnetic monopoles erase data: Efficient and long-lived storage of information in magnetic vortices

A physical particle postulated 80 years ago, could provide a decisive step toward the realization of novel, highly efficient data storage devices. Scientists have found that with magnetic monopoles in magnetic vortices, called skyrmions, information can be written and erased.

Structure of videogames examimed

Researchers analyzed the content of videogames and their interaction with the player in depth. The study of this material shows the importance of this industry, which is experiencing exponential growth.

An altered gut microbiota can predict diabetes

Intestinal bacteria may have a greater influence on us than was previously thought. Researchers have shown that patients with type 2 diabetes have an altered gut microbiota. Their findings have led to a new model to identify patients at increased risk of developing diabetes.

Cancer drug shortages hit 83 percent of U. S. oncologists

Eighty-three percent of cancer doctors report that they've faced oncology drug shortages, and of those, nearly all say that their patients' treatment has been impacted, according to a new study. The results showed that shortages – which have hit especially hard among drugs to treat pediatric, gastrointestinal and blood cancers – have left physicians surveyed unable to prescribe standard chemotherapies for a range of cancers.

More TV time equals higher consumption of sweetened beverages among children

More time in front of the TV set and higher exposure to TV advertisements may lead to increased consumption of sweetened beverages among children.

New cancer drug shows promise for treating advanced melanoma

Researchers report preliminary results showing significant antitumor activity with very manageable side effects from a new drug being tested in patients with advanced melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Four lifestyle changes will protect your heart and significantly reduce your risk of death

A large, multi-center study has found a significant link between lifestyle factors and heart health, adding even more evidence in support of regular exercise, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, keeping a normal weight and, most importantly, not smoking.

Some patients with treatment-resistant colorectal cancers may have a new option

A subset of colorectal cancers responds to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) therapies, but develops resistance within months. Among cancers that develop resistance to anti-EGFR therapy, some showed overexpression of a gene called MET, according to a new study. Preliminary data published in this study showed human tumors with MET amplification, grown in mice, responded to MET inhibitor drugs.

Acceleration of ocean denitrification during deglaciation documented

As ice sheets melted during the deglaciation of the last ice age and global oceans warmed, oceanic oxygen levels decreased and "denitrification" accelerated by 30 to 120 percent, a new international study shows, creating oxygen-poor marine regions and throwing the oceanic nitrogen cycle off balance.

Threatened frogs palmed off as forests disappear

The study describes how forests converted to palm oil plantations are causing threatened forest dwelling frogs to vanish, resulting in an overall loss of habitat that is important for the conservation of threatened frog species in the region.

Female moths use olfactory signals to choose the best egg-laying sites

Researchers have discovered that the ability of Manduca sexta moths to recognize changes in the profile of volatile compounds released by plants being attacked by Manduca caterpillars allows them to lay their eggs on plants that are less likely to be attacked by insects and other predators, and to avoid competing against other caterpillars of the same species for resources.

Stem cell study could aid quest to combat range of diseases

Scientists have taken a vital step forward in understanding how cells from skin tissue can be reprogrammed to become stem cells.

Dogs help improve moods among teens in treatment

Researchers have come up with a new, mood-boosting therapy for teenagers in drug and alcohol treatment: Shelter dogs. Dog-interaction activities have been found to improve mood among teenagers living in residential treatment centers.

'Tracking in caves': On the trail of pre-historic humans

In remote caves of the Pyrenees, lie precious remnants of the Ice Age undisturbed: foot and hand prints of prehistoric hunters. The tracks have remained untouched for millennia and are in excellent condition.

Cosmic rays: Galactic knee and extragalactic ankle

A new experiment has yielded the important result that a characteristic bend in the energy spectrum of high-energy cosmic rays, also called "knee", is located at different energies for light and heavy primary particles. Astronomers have found that thesecosmic radiation particles are accelerated in galaxies other than the Milky Way.

Blood vessels in the eye linked with IQ, cognitive function

The width of blood vessels in the retina, located at the back of the eye, may indicate brain health years before the onset of dementia and other deficits, according to a new study.

Cool electron acceleration