SPAM: Neandertals made the first specialized bone tools in Europe

Neandertals made the first specialized bone tools in Europe

Modern humans replaced Neandertals in Europe about 40 thousand years ago, but the Neandertals' capabilities are still greatly debated. Some argue that before they were replaced, Neandertals had cultural capabilities similar to modern humans, while others argue that these similarities only appear once modern humans came into contact with Neandertals.

Novel worm community affects methane release in ocean

Scientists have discovered a super-charged methane seep in the ocean off New Zealand that has created its own unique food web, resulting in much more methane escaping from the ocean floor into the water column. It will not make it into the atmosphere, where it could exacerbate global warming. However, the discovery does highlight scientists' limited understanding of the global methane cycle -- and specifically the biological interactions that create the stability of the ocean system.

More realistic simulated cloth for more realistic video games and movies

Computer scientists have developed a new model to simulate with unprecedented accuracy on the computer the way cloth and light interact. The new model can be used in animated movies and in video games to make cloth look more realistic. Existing models are either too simplistic and produce unrealistic results; or too complex and costly for practical use.

New twist in the graphene story: Tiny twist in bilayer graphene may solve a mystery

Researchers have discovered that in the making of bilayer graphene, a tiny structural twist arises that can lead to surprisingly strong changes in the material's electronic properties.

Protein that helps plants tolerate drought, flooding, other stresses discovered

Researchers have uncovered a protein that plays a vital role in how plant roots use water and nutrients, a key step in improving the production and quality of crops and biofuels.

Melting water's lubricating effect on glaciers has only 'minor' role in future sea-level rise

Concerns that melting water would speed up the decline of Greenland's ice sheet have been allayed by new research which shows the lubricating effect of water beneath glaciers will not significantly add to sea-level rise.

'Molecular flashlight' illuminates brain tumors in mice

In a breakthrough that could have wide-ranging applications in molecular medicine, researchers have created a bioengineered peptide that enables imaging of medulloblastomas, among the most devastating of malignant childhood brain tumors, in lab mice.

Young or old, song sparrows experience climate change differently from each other

What's good for adults is not always best for the young, and vice versa. At least that is the case with song sparrows and how they experience the effects of climate change, according to recent studies.

Climate benefit for cutting soot, methane smaller than previous estimates

Cutting the amount of short-lived, climate-warming emissions such as soot and methane in our skies won't limit global warming as much as previous studies have suggested, a new study shows.

Soil biodiversity will be crucial to future land management and response to climate change

Maintaining healthy soil biodiversity can play an important role in optimizing land management programs to reap benefits from the living soil. The findings extend the understanding about the factors that regulate soil biodiversity.

Electrical signatures of consciousness in the dying brain

About 20 percent of cardiac arrest survivors report having a near death experience with visions and perceptions, but are the experiences real? A new study suggests the dying brain is capable of well-organized electrical activity during the early stages of clinical death. The study provides the first scientific framework for the near-death experience.

Brain's flexible hub network helps humans adapt

New research offers compelling evidence that a well-connected core brain network based in the lateral prefrontal cortex and the posterior parietal cortex -- parts of the brain most changed evolutionarily since our common ancestor with chimpanzees -- contains "flexible hubs" that coordinate the brain's responses to novel cognitive challenges.

Inducing and augmenting labor may be associated with increased risk of autism

Pregnant women whose labors are induced or augmented may have an increased risk of bearing children with autism, especially if the baby is male, according to a large, retrospective analysis.

Tumor suppressor is needed for stem cells to mature into neurons

The previously proposed tumor suppressor CHD5 is essential for making nervous system stem cells mature into neurons, according to a new study. The finding provides valuable information about how neurons mature and shows why the loss of CHD5 can make tumors of the nerve system more malignant.

'Grammar' plays key role in activating genes

Researchers have probed deep into the cell's genome, beyond the basic genetic code, to begin learning the "grammar" that helps determine whether or not a gene gets switched on to make the protein it encodes.

Seasonal carbon dioxide range expanding as more is added to Earth's atmosphere

Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rise and fall each year as plants, through photosynthesis and respiration, take up the gas in spring and summer, and release it in fall and winter. Now the range of that cycle is expanding as more carbon dioxide is emitted from burning fossil fuels and other human activities.

Protein required for cell movement identified

Researchers have now illuminated a crucial step in the process of cell movement. The protein they examined, Exo70, induces a reshaping of the cell's plasma membrane, a necessary step in how a cell migrates from one location to another.

ADHD and texting found to significantly impair teenage driving

ADHD and texting both significantly impair driving performance among teenagers, according to a new study. Researchers used a driving simulator to test the driving performance of 16- and 17-year-old drivers; approximately half of the study's 61 participants had been diagnosed with ADHD, the other half had not.

At 75, would Popeye still be able to take on Bluto?

If Popeye were to age naturally like the rest of us, he would need more than just big muscles to stay independent during his senior years. When it comes to muscles and aging, the important thing is quality, not quantity, as shown by the findings of a new study.

If you were a preemie, take heed for your heart

Being born prematurely may be linked to important changes in how your heart forms and works as an adult.

Your eyes may hold clues to stroke risk

Photographing the retina may help detect which high blood pressure patients are more likely to have a stroke. Retinal imaging may be an inexpensive and non-invasive way to assess risk.

How books can have a positive impact on a child's social struggles

New research explores the positive effects of reading as part of a parental intervention strategy for children struggling with social issues.

Planning by postcode: How prepared are cities for climate change?

New 'Urban Climate Change Preparedness Score' highlights huge variations in the state of readiness for climate change across the UK, and will now be used to assess the preparedness of cities around the world.

Researchers optically levitate a glowing, nanoscale diamond

Researchers have measured for the first time light emitted by photoluminescence from a nanodiamond levitating in free space.

New gene repair technique promises advances in regenerative medicine

Using human pluripotent stem cells and DNA-cutting protein from meningitis bacteria, researchers have created an efficient way to target and repair defective genes.

Vitamin D supplementation does not appear to reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension

Vitamin D supplementation does not appear to improve blood pressure or markers of vascular health in older patients with isolated systolic hypertension (a common type of high blood pressure), according to a new study.

Irrigation in arid regions can increase malaria risk for a decade

New irrigation systems in arid regions benefit farmers but can increase the local malaria risk for more than a decade — which is longer than previously believed — despite intensive and costly use of insecticides, a new study in northwest India concludes.

Microentrepreneurs may be an untapped market for product design

Designing products for the developing world can be a hit-or-miss endeavor: While there may be a dire need for products addressing problems, such as access to clean water, sanitation and electricity, designing a product that consumers will actually buy is a complicated process. More often than not, such products -- even those that are distributed at no charge -- go unused due to poor quality, unreliability or differences in cultural expectations.

New materials for bio-based hydrogen synthesis: Synthetic biology enables spontaneous protein activation

Researchers have discovered an efficient process for hydrogen biocatalysis. They developed semi-synthetic hydrogenases, hydrogen-generating enzymes, by adding the protein's biological precursor to a chemically synthesized inactive iron complex. From these two components, the biological catalyst formed spontaneously in a test tube.

Genetic mutations linked to Parkinson's disease

Researchers have discovered how genetic mutations linked to Parkinson's disease might play a key role in the death of brain cells, potentially paving the way for the development of more effective drug treatments.

How 'teamwork' between egg and sperm works: Little-known protein identified in vertebrate fertilization process

Researchers have decoded a previously unknown molecular mechanism in the fertilization process of vertebrates. The team of scientists have identified a specific protein in frog egg extracts that the male basal bodies need, but that is produced only by the reproductive cells of the female. This "teamwork" between the egg and sperm is what makes embryo development possible.

Competition changes how people view strangers online: On sites like eBay, strangers no longer seen as 'just like you'

An anonymous stranger you encounter on websites like Yelp or Amazon may seem to be just like you, and a potential friend. But a stranger on a site like eBay is a whole different story.

Weeds threaten carbon offset programs

Researchers have identified gamba grass and other invasive weeds as a potential threat to landholder involvement in environmental offset programs such as the Carbon Farming Initiative. Strategic savanna burning is one way to reduce Australia's carbon emissions and create new markets in northern Australia, but the increased fuel load and emissions from weed infestations could make it unfeasible.

Baby corals pass the acid test

Corals can survive the early stages of their development even under the tough conditions that rising carbon emissions will impose on them says a new study. Globally, ocean acidification remains a major concern and scientists say it could have severe consequences for the health of adult corals, however, the evidence for negative effects on the early life stages of corals is less clear cut.

People prefer products that help them 'save face' in embarrassing moments

People who are feeling embarrassed are more likely to choose items that hide or "repair" the face, according to new research. The research indicates that feelings of embarrassment can be alleviated by using so-called "restorative" products -- effectively helping people to "save face."

DHA-enriched formula in infancy linked to positive cognitive outcomes in childhood

While the effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant formula on children's cognitive development may not always be evident on standardized developmental tasks at 18 months, significant effects may emerge later on more specific or fine-grained tasks.

Canine distemper virus: An emerging disease in rare Amur tigers

Rare Amur tigers in Russia are succumbing to infection with canine distemper virus, a pathogen most commonly found in domestic dogs, according to new research.

Bright birds make good mothers

Female blue tits with brightly coloured crowns are better mothers than duller birds, according to a new study.

Highest winter losses in recent years for honey bees in Scotland

Soaring numbers of honey bees died last winter new Scottish research has revealed.

A hypnotic suggestion can generate true and automatic hallucinations

Scientists have found evidence that hypnotic suggestion can modify processing of a targeted stimulus before it reaches consciousness. The experiments show that it is possible to hypnotically modulate even highly automatic features of perception, such as color experience.

Seafood: 'Ray' wings sold to consumers include vulnerable species and can be mislabeled

Genetic testing by DNA Barcoding, has revealed which species are sold under the commercial term "ray wings" in Ireland and the UK. The blonde ray, given the lowest rating for sustainability in the marine conservation society's good fish guide, was the most widely sold. Samples from the only retailer to label products as originating from more sustainable sources demonstrated high levels of mislabeling, substituted by more vulnerable species. Therefore, consumers cannot make informed purchasing decisions.

Precisely measuring velocity of supernova shockwave

Astronomers have precisely measured the expansion velocity of a shockwave of the supernova remnant W44. The remnant is located in the constellation of Aquila, approximately 10,000 light-years away from our solar system. The team observed the high-temperature and high-density molecular gas in the millimeter/submillimeter wave ranges.

Who benefits from vitamin D?

Studying the expression of genes that are dependent on vitamin D makes it possible to identify individuals who will benefit from vitamin D supplementation, shows a new study. Population-based studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk for chronic diseases and weaken the body's immune system.

Enhancer RNAs may open new avenues for gene therapy

A study investigating the function of the recently discovered enhancer RNA molecules may open new avenues for gene therapy. According to the study researchers, altering the production and function of these molecules could affect the expression of genes and, in consequence, possibly also the progression of various diseases.

New electron beam writer enables next-gen biomedical and information technologies

The new electron beam writer housed in the Nano3 cleanroom facility at the Qualcomm Institute is important for electrical engineering professor Shadi Dayeh's two major areas of research. He is developing next-generation, nanoscale transistors for integrated electronics; and he is developing neural probes that have the capacity to extract electrical signals from individual brain cells and transmit the information to a prosthetic device or computer.

Fuel cell innovation: Novel cathode material which has outstanding performance

Scientists have developed a novel cathode material which has outstanding performance and robust reliability even at the intermediate temperature range.

Decellularized mouse heart beats again after regenerating with human heart precursor cells

For the first time, a mouse heart beat again after its own cells were stripped and replaced with human heart precursor cells. The findings show the promise that regenerating a functional organ by placing human induced pluripotent stem cells -- which could be personalized for the recipient -- in a three-dimensional scaffold could have for transplantation and understanding heart development.

Newly discovered 'switch' plays dual role in memory formation

Researchers have uncovered a protein switch that can either increase or decrease memory-building activity in brain cells, depending on the signals it detects. Its dual role means the protein is key to understanding the complex network of signals that shapes our brain's circuitry, the researchers say.

Sugar toxic to mice in 'safe' doses

When mice ate a diet of 25 percent extra sugar – the mouse equivalent of a healthy human diet plus three cans of soda daily – females died at twice the normal rate and males were a quarter less likely to hold territory and reproduce, according to a toxicity test.

Autism four times likelier when mother's thyroid is weakened

Pregnant women who don't make nearly enough thyroid hormone are nearly 4 times likelier to produce autistic children than healthy women.

'Talking' to structures to boost public safety

Researchers are developing low-cost technology which can 'talk' to structures like bridges and airplanes to monitor their structural health and assess them for damage.

Mediterranean diet counteracts a genetic risk of stroke

A gene variant strongly associated with development of type 2 diabetes appears to interact with a Mediterranean diet pattern to prevent stroke, report researchers. The results are a significant advance for nutrigenomics, the study of the linkages between nutrition and gene function.

Dating oldest known petroglyphs in North America

A new high-tech analysis shows the oldest known petroglyphs in North America, which are cut into several boulders in western Nevada, date to at least 10,500 years ago and perhaps even as far back as 14,800 years ago.

How genes tell cellular construction crews, 'Read me now!'

When egg and sperm combine, the new embryo bustles with activity. Its cells multiply so rapidly they largely ignore their DNA, other than to copy it and to read just a few essential genes. The embryonic cells mainly rely on molecular instructions placed in the egg by its mother in the form of RNA.

High-angle helix helps bacteria swim

It's counterintuitive but true: Some microorganisms that use flagella for locomotion are able to swim faster in gel-like fluids such as mucus. Research engineers have now figured out why. It's the angle of the coil that matters.

Ecosystems change long before species are lost

Researchers take a detailed look at how species affect an ecosystem as they progress through their lifecycles.

Wireless devices go battery-free with new communication technique

Engineers have created a new wireless communication system that allows devices to interact with each other without relying on batteries or wires for power. The technology could enable a network of devices and sensors to communicate with no power source or human attention needed.

Low-temperature combustion enables cleaner, more efficient engines

As demand climbs for more fuel-efficient vehicles, knowledge compiled over several years about diesel engines and a new strategy known as "low-temperature combustion" (LTC) might soon lead auto manufacturers and consumers to broader use of cleaner diesel engines in the United States.

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Sunday, August 18, 2013

Neandertals made the first specialized bone tools in Europe

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