|  An optical switch based on a single nano-diamond  | A recent study led by researchers in Spain demonstrates that a single nano-diamond can be operated as an ultrafast single-emitter optical switch operating at room temperature. | Read More » Method of recording brain activity could lead to mind-reading devices, Stanford scientists say  | A brain region activated when people are asked to perform mathematical calculations in an experimental setting is similarly activated when they use numbers -- or even imprecise quantitative terms, such as "more than" -- in everyday conversation, according to a new study. | Read More » Small bits of genetic material fight cancer's spread  | Researchers have found that microRNAs -- small bits of genetic material capable of repressing the expression of certain genes -- may serve as both therapeutic targets and predictors of metastasis, or a cancer's spread from its initial site to other parts of the body. | Read More » Genetic identification of neural circuit that suppresses appetite  | Scientists have used genetic engineering to identify a population of neurons that tell the brain to shut off appetite. | Read More » Scientists unravel mechanisms in chronic itching  | New research shows that chronic itching, which can occur in many medical conditions, is different from the urge to scratch a mosquito bite. Chronic itching appears to incorporate more than just the nerve cells that normally transmit itch signals. In chronic itching, neurons that send itch signals also co-opt pain neurons to intensify the itch sensation. | Read More » Non-hallucinogenic cannabinoids are effective anti-cancer drugs  | New research has shown that the non-hallucinogenic components of cannabis could act as effective anti-cancer agents. | Read More » Understanding Inflammation  | Scientists for the first time have solved the 3-dimensional structure of the protein LBP and it´s genetic variant. This finding may help certain patients to better survive severe infectious diseases. | Read More » Teachers more likely to have progressive speech, language disorders  | Researchers have found a surprising occupational hazard for teachers: progressive speech and language disorders. The research found that people with speech and language disorders are about 3.5 times more likely to be teachers than patients with Alzheimer's dementia. | Read More » Muscles and meth: Drug analog identified in 'craze' workout supplement  | An international team of scientists have identified potentially dangerous amounts of methamphetamine analog in the workout supplement Craze, a product widely sold across the U.S. and online. The study was prompted by a spate of failed athletic drug tests. The results reveal the presence of methamphetamine analog N,α- DEPEA, which has not been safely tested for human consumption, in three samples. | Read More » Astronomers find clues to decades-long coronal heating mystery  | Scientists found evidence that magnetic waves in a polar coronal hole contain enough energy to heat the corona and moreover that they also deposit most of their energy at sufficiently low heights for the heat to spread throughout the corona. The observations help to answer a 70-year-old solar physics conundrum about the unexplained extreme temperature of the Sun's corona -- known as the coronal heating problem. | Read More » World ocean systems undermined by climate change by 2100  | An ambitious new study describes the full chain of events by which ocean biogeochemical changes triggered by humanmade greenhouse gas emissions may cascade through marine habitats and organisms, penetrating to the deep ocean and eventually influencing humans. Factoring in predictable synergistic changes such as the depletion of dissolved oxygen in seawater and a decline in productivity of ocean ecosystems, no corner of the world ocean will be untouched by climate change by 2100. | Read More » People with depression may struggle with parenthood  | An article by researchers has shed light on the link between depression and poor parenting. The article identifies the symptoms of depression that are likely to cause difficulties with parenting. The findings could lead to more effective interventions to prevent depression and other psychological disorders from being passed from parent to child. | Read More » Zoomable holograms pave the way for versatile, portable projectors  | Imagine giving a presentation to a roomful of customers when suddenly the projector fails. You whip out your smartphone, beam your PowerPoint presentation onto the conference room screen, and are back in business within seconds. This career-saving application and others like it are the promise of a new generation of ultra-small projectors. Researchers have now taken an important step toward making such devices more versatile and easier to integrate into portable electronic devices. | Read More » Expert panel diagnosis for diagnostic test poorly described, experts not blinded to test under study  | Evaluation of diagnostic studies is often a challenge in diseases that are not defined by a specific test. Assessment of the accuracy of diagnostic tests is essential because they may be used to define who is considered to have a disease and receive treatment for it. However, measuring the accuracy of a diagnostic test requires an accurate gold standard, which defines which patients truly have and do not have the disease. | Read More » Microbiome meets big social science: What's the potential?  | Over the last decade or so, biologists have mustered an ever-growing appreciation for the essential role of microbial communities in a diversity of environments. "We're recognizing that the biosphere is run by microbes at every level," notes an expert. "They are the pivotal, central players in the health of the planet." | Read More » Adding citrus fiber to meatballs improves nutritional quality, does not affect taste  | A research team is addressing the US fiber deficit by including citrus fiber in ground beef while retaining the quality and taste of the meat. | Read More » Patients with inflammatory bowel disease at higher risk for stroke, heart attack  | Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are at an increased risk of stroke and heart attack according to a new study. | Read More » Age doesn't impact concussion symptoms  | Recent scientific findings have raised the fear that young athletes may fare worse after sustaining a sports-related concussion than older athletes. Researchers compared symptoms associated with concussion in middle- and high-school aged athletes with those in college-age athletes, and found no significant differences between the two age groups. | Read More » New evidence that aging tumor cells may be an effective cancer treatment  | Scientists have shown that diffuse large B-cell lymphoma may be susceptible to treatment by re-activating the normal aging program in tumor cells so they can no longer divide. | Read More » Adolescent's weight, socioeconomic status may affect cancer later in life  | Overweight adolescents were twice as likely as their normal weight peers to later develop esophageal cancer, as revealed by a recent study. The study also found that lower socioeconomic status as well as immigration from higher risk countries were important determinants of gastric cancer. | Read More » Compound derived from vegetables shields rodents from lethal radiation doses  | Researchers say a compound derived from cruciferous vegetable such as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli protected rats and mice from lethal doses of radiation. Their study suggests the compound, already shown to be safe for humans, may protect normal tissues during radiation therapy for cancer treatment and prevent or mitigate sickness caused by radiation exposure. | Read More » Why does maximum heart rate drop with age?  | Researchers at the University of Colorado have new insight into the age-old question of why maximum heart rate (maxHR) decreases with age. This decrease in maxHR not only limits the performance of aging athletes but it is also a leading cause for nursing home admittance for otherwise-healthy elderly individuals who no longer have the physical capacity required for independent living. | Read More » 12 percent of midlife women are satisfied with their body size  | A new study of women ages 50 and older examines the 12.2 percent who say they are satisfied with their body size to unlock the secrets of body satisfaction. This minority of midlife women who report being satisfied with their body size appears to exert considerable effort to achieve and maintain this satisfaction. | Read More » Overexpressed protein to be culprit in certain thyroid cancers  | A specific protein once thought to exist only in the brain may play a crucial role in a deadly form of thyroid cancer, as well as other cancers, and provide a fresh target for researchers seeking ways to stop its progression | Read More » Brain connections underlying accurate introspection revealed  | The human mind is not only capable of cognition and registering experiences but also of being introspectively aware of these processes. Until now, scientists have not known if such introspection was a single skill or dependent on the object of reflection. Also unclear was whether the brain housed a single system for reflecting on experience or required multiple systems to support different types of introspection. | Read More » ALMA probes mysteries of jets from giant black holes  | Astronomers have focused on jets from the huge black holes at the centers of galaxies and observe how they affect their surroundings. They have now obtained the best view yet of the molecular gas around a nearby, quiet black hole and caught an unexpected glimpse of the base of a powerful jet close to a distant black hole. | Read More » How the largest star known is tearing itself apart  | Astronomers have observed part of the final death throes of the largest known star in the Universe as it throws off its outer layers. The discovery is a vital step in understanding how massive stars return enriched material to the interstellar medium - the space between stars - which is necessary for forming planetary systems. | Read More » Genetic fingerprinting of pearls developed  | For the first time, a group of researchers has succeeded in isolating DNA from pearls and used their genetic material to identify the specific species of oyster that produced the pearl. In a parallel project, researchers used radiocarbon dating to analyze the age of pearls, opening up new avenues for determining the origin and age of pearl jewellery. | Read More » I'm singing in the rainforest: Researchers find striking similarities between bird song and human music  | The musician wren is aptly-named, because these birds use the same intervals in their songs that are heard as consonant in many human cultures. This is a what composer and musicologist and a biologist found out in their zoomusicological study. Consonant intervals are perceived to fit well together. They sound calm and stable, and are the basis for keys in Western Music. It is because Musician Wrens preferentially produce successive perfect octaves, fifths, and fourths that their songs sound musical to human listeners. | Read More » Quantum particles find safety in numbers  | Researchers have uncovered a novel effect that, in principle, offers a means of stabilizing quantum systems against decoherence. The discovery could represent a major step forward for quantum information processing. | Read More » Misinterpretation of cat study? Anxious cat owners can carry on stroking their four-legged friends without worry  | In a recent study researchers examined whether cats living in multi-cat households are more stressed than cats housed singly. Many media outlets responded to the study with an incorrect interpretation of the results and published such as "Cats Hate to be Stroked". The co-author explains: "As a matter of fact, the majority of the cats enjoyed being stroked. Only those animals that did not actually like to be stroked, but nevertheless allowed it, were stressed." | Read More » Computer models of tornadoes show possible sheltering region behind hills  | Three-dimensional computer models of the interaction between tornadoes and hills shows that wind velocities are significantly reduced on the leeward side of hills. The finding applied to hills whose height was equal to or greater than the radius of the tornado vortex. | Read More » Roadmap for implementing quality preschool  | Early childhood education can yield short- and long-term educational, economic, and societal benefits, underscoring the value of expanding publicly funded preschool education, researchers say. | Read More » Halloween candy spooks aging digestive systems  | Have you ever wondered why young children can eat bags of Halloween candy and feel fine the next day – compared to adults who experience all sorts of agony following the same junk food binge? Evolution and a gene called Foxo may be to blame. | Read More » Eye contact builds bedside trust  | Doctors who make a lot of eye contact are viewed as more likable and empathetic by patients, according to a new study. | Read More » New heat-resistant materials could vastly improve solar cell efficiency  | Scientists have created a heat-resistant thermal emitter that could significantly improve solar cell efficiency. The novel component is designed to convert heat from the sun into infrared light that can be absorbed by solar cells to make electricity -- a technology known as thermophotovoltaics. | Read More » Recession's after-effects could lead to cheating and workplace theft suggests new study  | We like to think we'd stick to our ethical principles no matter what. But when people feel financially deprived -- as many did from losses suffered thanks to the last market and banking meltdown -- they are more likely to relax their moral standards and transgress to improve their financial situation. They are also more likely to judge other deprived moral offenders who do the same more leniently. | Read More » Taking guns away from mentally ill won't eliminate mass shootings, psychiatrist argues  | A string of public mass shootings during the past decade-plus have rocked America leaving policymakers and mental health experts alike fishing for solutions to prevent these heinous crimes. | Read More » Birds on repeat: Do birdwatchers playbacks hurt fowl?  | Using the emphatic sounds of two bird species in Ecuador, a researcher has -- for the first time in peer-reviewed research -- examined the effects of birdwatchers' "playbacks" in the wild. He shows that playbacks do have potentially negative consequences, especially in terms of birds' energies. | Read More » Maximizing broccoli's cancer-fighting potential  | Spraying a plant hormone on broccoli -- already one of the planet's most nutritious foods -- boosts its cancer-fighting potential, and researchers say they have new insights on how that works. | Read More » Carbon cycle models underestimate indirect role of animals  | While models typically take into account how plants and microbes affect the carbon cycle, they often underestimate how much animals can indirectly alter the absorption, release, or transport of carbon within an ecosystem. | Read More » Glowing neurons reveal networked link between brain, whiskers  | New research on mouse whiskers reveals a surprise -- at the fine scale, the sensory system's wiring diagram doesn't have a set pattern. And it's probably the case that no two people's touch sensory systems are wired exactly the same at the detailed level, according to this study. | Read More » Cuckoos impersonate hawks by matching their 'outfits'  | An evolutionary trick allows cuckoos to 'mimic' the plumage of birds of prey, and may be used to scare mothers from their nests -- allowing cuckoos to lay eggs. Parasitism in cuckoos may be more much more widespread than previously thought. | Read More » Software uses cyborg swarm to map unknown environs  | Researchers have developed software that allows them to map unknown environments -- such as collapsed buildings -- based on the movement of a swarm of insect cyborgs, or "biobots." | Read More » Wari, predecessors of the Inca, used restraint to reshape human landscape  | The Wari, a complex civilization that preceded the Inca empire in pre-Columbia America, didn't rule solely by pillage, plunder and iron-fisted bureaucracy, a new study finds. Instead, they started out by creating loosely administered colonies to expand trade, provide land for settlers and tap natural resources across much of the central Andes. | Read More » Schizophrenia linked to abnormal brain waves: Neurological hyperactivity produces disordered thinking  | Schizophrenia patients usually suffer from a breakdown of organized thought, often accompanied by delusions or hallucinations. For the first time, neuroscientists have observed the neural activity that appears to produce this disordered thinking. | Read More » Ancient Syrians favored buying local to outsourcing production  | Archaeologists have found evidence that, contrary to a widely held theory, ancient Syrians made their stone tools locally instead of importing finished tools from Turkey. | Read More » Just ask the animals: Fishers with GPS sensors show animal movements  | Many animals are adapting to human encroachment of their natural habitats. Carnivores in particular require territories of sufficient size and so are often forced to move between numerous small habitat patches. To date, scientists often use mathematical models to predict these important routes, but fishers fitted with GPS sensors are now showing that their calculations may be missing the mark if they ignore animal behavior. | Read More » Poor rural youth in Haiti are rich in family ties, rooted in their own culture  | Haitian teens, especially those who live in the country's rural areas, are among the poorest persons in the Western Hemisphere, but they are rich in their family relationships and strongly rooted in their own culture. | Read More » New survey tools unveil two celestial explosions  | A team of researchers used a novel astronomical survey software system -- the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory (iPTF) -- to link a new stripped-envelope supernova, named iPTF13bvn, to the star from which it exploded. The iPTF team also pinpointed the first afterglow of an explosion called a gamma-ray burst that was found by the Fermi satellite. | Read More » Scientists shed new light on star death  | Astronomers have shed new light on the rarest and brightest exploding stars ever discovered in the universe. | Read More » Curiosity confirms origins of Martian meteorites  | Earth's most eminent emissary to Mars has just proven that those rare Martian visitors that sometimes drop in on Earth -- a.k.a. Martian meteorites -- really are from the Red Planet. A key new measurement of Mars' atmosphere by NASA's Curiosity rover provides the most definitive evidence yet of the origins of Mars meteorites while at the same time providing a way to rule out Martian origins of other meteorites. | Read More » Sinking teeth into the evolutionary origin of our skeleton  | Did our skeletons evolve for protection or for violence? The earliest vestiges of our skeleton are encountered in 500 million-year-old fossil fishes, some of which were armor-plated filter feeders, while others were naked predators with a face full of gruesome, vicious teeth. | Read More » Participation in cardiac rehab program improves recovery in stroke patients  | Stroke patients who participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program for six months make rapid gains in how far and fast they can walk, the use of weakened limbs and their ability to sit and stand. | Read More » Extinct 'mega claw' creature had spider-like brain  | Scientists have discovered the earliest known complete nervous system exquisitely preserved in the fossilized remains of a never-before described creature that crawled or swam in the ocean 520 million years ago. The find solves a long-standing debate as to when the ancestors of chelicerates -- spiders and their kin -- made their first appearance and provides evidence that their biting mouthparts evolved from the claw-like appendages of a long-extinct group known as megacheirans. | Read More » Tracking viral DNA in the cell  | Cell biologists and chemists reveal how viral DNA traffics in human cells. They have developed a new method to generate virus particles containing labeled viral DNA genomes. This allowed them to visualize, for the first time, single viral genomes in the cytoplasm and the nucleus by using fluorescence microscopy in regular or superresolution mode. The new findings enhance our understanding of how viral disease occurs, and how cells respond to infections. | Read More » Genetic errors identified in 12 major cancer types  | Examining 12 major types of cancer, scientists have identified 127 repeatedly mutated genes that appear to drive the development and progression of a range of tumors in the body. The discovery sets the stage for devising new diagnostic tools and more personalized cancer treatments. | Read More » Tracking viral DNA in the cell  | Cell biologists and chemists reveal how viral DNA traffics in human cells. They have developed a new method to generate virus particles containing labeled viral DNA genomes. This allowed them to visualize, for the first time, single viral genomes in the cytoplasm and the nucleus by using fluorescence microscopy in regular or superresolution mode. The new findings enhance our understanding of how viral disease occurs, and how cells respond to infections. | Read More » Finding blood clots before they wreak havoc  | Simple urine test developed by MIT engineers uses nanotechnology to detect dangerous blood clotting. | Read More » Study shows how Staph toxin disarms the immune system  | Researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which the deadly Staphylococcus aureus bacteria attack and kill off immune cells. Their findings explain a critical survival tactic of a pathogen that causes more skin and heart infections than any other microbe, and kills more than 100,000 Americans every year. | Read More » Researchers discover, treat toxic effects of ALS mutation in neurons using patients' skin cells  | Researchers have discovered how the most common genetic abnormality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia kills neurons, and have successfully developed a therapeutic strategy to block this neurodegeneration in neurons made from the skin cells of ALS patients. The findings have important implications for treating patients with these debilitating, currently incurable neurodegenerative diseases. | Read More » Better understanding of inherited hearing loss  | A team of researchers made an important discovery that could better explain some inherited forms of hearing loss in humans. Scientists identified a group of proteins crucial for shaping the cellular organ responsible for detecting sounds. | Read More » | |
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