|  Mixing nanoparticles to make multifunctional materials  | Scientists have developed a general approach for combining different types of nanoparticles to produce large-scale composite materials. The technique opens many opportunities for mixing and matching particles with different magnetic, optical, or chemical properties to form new, multifunctional materials or materials with enhanced performance for a wide range of potential applications. | Read More » Flu virus wipes out immune system's first responders to establish infection  | Revealing influenza's truly insidious nature, scientists have discovered that the virus is able to infect its host by first killing off the cells of the immune system that are actually best equipped to neutralize the virus. | Read More » Delayed gratification hurts climate change cooperation  | Time is a huge impediment when it comes to working together to halt the effects of climate change, new research suggests. | Read More » Neuron 'claws' in the brain enable flies to distinguish one scent from another  | Researchers are using the fruit fly to discover how the brain integrates multiple signals to identify one unique smell. It's work that has broader implication for how flies -- and ultimately, people -- learn. | Read More » Large-scale deep re-sequencing reveals cucumber's evolutionary enigma  | Scientists have created a cucumber genomic variation map that includes about 3.6 million variants revealed by deep resequencing of 115 cucumbers worldwide. This work provides new insights for understanding the genetic basis of domestication and diversity of this important crop, and provides guidance for breeders to harness genetic variation for crop improvement. | Read More » Rats! Humans and rodents process their mistakes  | What happens when the brain recognizes an error? A new study shows that the brains of humans and rats adapt in a similar way to errors by using low-frequency brainwaves in the medial frontal cortex to synchronize neurons in the motor cortex. The finding could be important in studies of mental illnesses such as obsessive compulsive disorder, ADHD, and Parkinson's disease. | Read More » 'Random' cell movement is directed from within  | Cell biologists have discovered that message-relaying proteins inside cells always initiate the cellular projections that act as hands to help cells "crawl." The messenger protein network was known to be required for directional movement but scientists now know that it can self-activate spontaneously to direct random movement as well. | Read More » Cells' 'molecular muscles' help them sense and respond to their environments  | Researchers used suction to learn that individual "molecular muscles" within cells respond to different types of force, a finding that may explain how cells "feel" the environment and appropriately adapt their shapes and activities. | Read More » Evolution is not a one-way road towards complexity  | The larvae of the Wirenia argentea hold a much more complex muscular architecture than their adults -- they remodel during their metamorphosis. So evolution is not a one-way road towards complexity. | Read More » Blood stem cells age at the unexpected flip of a molecular switch  | Scientists have found a novel and unexpected molecular switch that could become a key to slowing some of the ravages of getting older as it prompts blood stem cells to age. | Read More » Global ocean currents explain why Northern Hemisphere is the soggier one  | The Northern Hemisphere gets more tropical rain because of ocean currents that originate in the icy waters near Greenland. | Read More » Two genetic wrongs make a biochemical right  | In a biological quirk that promises to provide researchers with a new approach for studying and potentially treating Fragile X syndrome, scientists have shown that knocking out a gene important for messenger RNA translation in neurons restores memory deficits and reduces behavioral symptoms in a mouse model of a prevalent human neurological disease. | Read More » Market bubbles may be predictable, controllable  | An international team of chaos researchers say that extreme events like market crashes and super-waves at sea, which they call "dragon kings," are less random than had been thought and that, in a simple experiment at least, they can be anticipated and controlled. | Read More » A new look at air pollution sources and atmosphere-warming particles in South Asia  | New research provides most thorough analysis yet of outdoor cremation ritual emissions in South Asia. While past studies identify black carbon aerosols emitted from combustion of fossil fuels and residential biofuels as the dominant light-absorbing aerosol in the region; new research shows funeral pyre emissions contain sunlight-absorbing organic carbon aerosols known as brown carbon, and underscores the importance of quantifying and characterizing region-specific, cultural combustion activities to enhance existing aerosol emission budgets and climate models. | Read More » Lots of oxygen does not necessarily lead to the evolution of advanced life  | Any textbook will tell you that oxygen is essential for advanced life to evolve. But why did life not explode when oxygen levels rose dramatically 2.1 billion years ago? This became a big question after scientists showed the oxygen content 2.1 billion years ago was probably the same as when life exploded 500 million years ago. | Read More » Tiny sea creatures are heading for extinction, and could take local fisheries with them  | A species of cold water plankton in the North Atlantic, that is a vital food source for fish such as cod and hake, is in decline as the oceans warm. This will put pressure on the fisheries that rely on abundant supplies of these fish. | Read More » Inherited gene variation tied to high-risk pediatric leukemia, risk of relapse  | Research scientists have linked an inherited gene variation to a nearly four-fold increased risk of developing a pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) subtype that is associated with a poor outcome. | Read More » Disaster management expert warns Australian bush fires will be amongst worst ever seen  | New South Wales firefighters could not possibly have done any more to tackle the bushfires engulfing the area around Sydney and are now ultimately at the mercy of the elements, according to a senior academic. | Read More » Mutations in cancer often affect the X chromosome  | Every cell in a woman's body inactivates one of its two X chromosomes. Scientists have discovered that various types of cancer exhibit an abnormally huge numbers of mutations in the inactive X chromosome. The findings help scientists understand how mutations accumulate in damaged cells and eventually lead to the development of cancer. | Read More » Habitat research methods give a new peek at tiger life  | From a tiger's point of view, yesterday's thoughtful conservation plans might be today's reason to branch out. An international team of researchers has found a useful way to better understand the tiger's take on policy. | Read More » Wrangling flow to quiet cars and aircraft  | With the use of high voltage equipment, very small plasmas can be used to manipulate fluid flows. In recent years, the development of devices known as plasma actuators has advanced the promise of controlling flows in new ways that increase lift, reduce drag and improve aerodynamic efficiencies -- advances that may lead to safer, more efficient and more quiet land and air vehicles in the near future. | Read More » Deer-like species: Extinct cervid species remains discovered in Barcelona  | Scientists have discovered the remains of an extinct cervid species first recorded in the Iberian Peninsula. The animal lived in the Pleistocene about 90,000 years ago. | Read More » The benefits of bacteria for gut health  | Scientists have shown that specific gut bacteria are beneficial for maintaining a healthy intestine in the fruit fly Drosophila and mice and also contribute to the overall health of these organisms. The researchers demonstrated that bacteria in the gut, particularly members of the genus Lactobacillus, promote the growth of host epithelial cells and that this is essential for maintaining homeostasis in the intestinal system. | Read More » Link strengthened between low fiber intake, increased cardiovascular risk  | New research shows a significant association between low dietary fiber intake and cardiometabolic risks including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular inflammation, and obesity. | Read More » Tanning gene linked to increased risk of testicular cancer  | A gene important in skin tanning has been linked to higher risk for testicular cancer in white men, according to a study. Nearly 80 percent of white men carry a variant form of this gene, which increased risk of testicular cancer up to threefold in the study. | Read More » Key genes for increasing oil content in plant leaves identified  | Scientists have identified the key genes required for oil production and accumulation in plant leaves and other vegetative plant tissues. Enhancing expression of these genes resulted in vastly increased oil content in leaves, the most abundant sources of plant biomass -- a finding that could have important implications for increasing the energy content of plant-based foods and renewable biofuel feedstocks. | Read More » Learning dialects shapes brain areas that process spoken language  | Using advanced imaging to visualize brain areas used for understanding language in native Japanese speakers, a new study finds that the pitch-accent in words pronounced in standard Japanese activates different brain hemispheres depending on whether the listener speaks standard Japanese or one of the regional dialects. | Read More » New tool predicts survival in advanced prostate cancer  | Researchers have developed a tool for doctors to forecast the potential survival of individual patients, enabling faster, more accurate information on whether to try additional rounds of treatment or seek clinical trials. | Read More » Scientist uncovers internal clock able to measure age of most human tissues; Women's breast tissue ages faster than rest of body  | A new study is the first to identify a biological clock able to gauge the age of most human tissues. Some parts of the anatomy, like a woman's breasts, age faster than the rest of the body. | Read More » Cleaner and greener cities with integrated transparent solar cells  | Imagine buildings in which the windows allow the sun's light to enter, and at the same time capture the energy from the sun needed to meet all their energy needs. In this seemingly futuristic scenario, the windows become productive solar cells that help us decrease our reliance on fossil fuels and advance towards a greener and cleaner environment. Researchers have now fabricated an optimal organic solar cell with a high level of transparency and a high power conversion efficiency, a promising step forward towards affordable, clean, more widely utilized and urban integrated renewable energies. | Read More » In Nepal, villagers' land uses help people and tigers  | Hopeful signs that humans and critically endangered tigers can coexist are emerging in rural Nepal, where a new study shows that when Nepalese villagers are empowered to make local land management decisions, the results benefit both people and tigers. | Read More » Nanodiamonds made under ambient conditions  | Researchers have developed a way to cheaply make nanodiamonds on a lab bench at atmospheric pressure and near room temperature. The nanodiamonds are formed directly from a gas and require no surface to grow on. | Read More » Deepwater mining in Norway  | The mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates meet in the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans are seething with volcanic activity. The most active areas are deep under water, several thousand metres down. Ocean water penetrates several kilometres down towards the centre of the Earth where the crust is fractured. Geologists call this hydrothermal activity. Liquid magma heats the water to about 400 °C before the water squirts back out again as an underwater geyser. The ocean water draws minerals and metals out of the Earth's crust and carries these back up to the seabed. Gold, silver, copper, cobalt, zinc, and lead are all deposited when the hot springs meet the cold ocean water. | Read More » Rings, dark side of Saturn glow in new Cassini image  | The gauzy rings of Saturn and the dark side of the planet glow in newly released infrared images obtained by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. | Read More » Managing the deluge of 'Big Data' from space  | For NASA and its dozens of missions, data pour in every day like rushing rivers. Spacecraft monitor everything from our home planet to faraway galaxies, beaming back images and information to Earth. All those digital records need to be stored, indexed and processed so that spacecraft engineers, scientists and people across the globe can use the data to understand Earth and the universe beyond. | Read More » Scientists untangle nanotubes to release their potential in the electronics industry  | Researchers have demonstrated how to produce electronic inks for the development of new applications using the 'wonder material', carbon nanotubes. | Read More » Straw could supply energy to millions of households  | Straw from agriculture could play an important role in the future energy mix for Germany. Up until now it has been underutilized as a biomass residue and waste material. Research shows that a total of 30 million tons of cereal straw is produced annually in Germany and between 8 and 13 million tons of it could be used sustainably for energy or fuel production. This potential could for example provide 1.7 to 2.8 million average households with electricity and at the same time 2.8 to 4.5 million households with heating. | Read More » Parents want e-mail consults with doctors, but don't want to pay for them  | Most parents would love to get an e-mail response from their kids' health care provider for a minor illness rather than making an office visit, but about half say that online consultation should be free. | Read More » Nonlinear quantum effects? Topological light  | Scientists report the first observation of topological effects for light in two dimensions, analogous to the quantum Hall effect for electrons. To accomplish this, they built a structure to guide infrared light over the surface of a room temperature, silicon-on-insulator chip. | Read More » Physical cues help mature cells revert into embryonic-like stem cells  | Bioengineers have shown that physical cues can help reprogram mature cells back into pluripotent stem cells. The study demonstrates for the first time that biomaterials can help regulate the memory of a cell's identity. | Read More » Yangtze finless porpoise: Highly endangered mammal trying to cope with constant shipping, dredging and underwater construction  | The Yangtze finless porpoise, which inhabits the high-traffic waters near the Three Gorges Dam in China, is highly endangered, with only about 1,000 animals alive today. Scientists are using medical technology to shed new light on this species' critical sense of hearing in a waterway punctuated by constant shipping, dredging, and underwater construction. | Read More » Changing the common rule to increase minority voices in research  | Researchers recommend changing the U.S. federal regulations that govern oversight of human subjects research ("the Common Rule") to address continued underrepresentation of minorities in research studies. | Read More » Hair regeneration method is first to induce new human hair growth  | Researchers have devised a hair restoration method that can generate new human hair growth, rather than simply redistribute hair from one part of the scalp to another. The approach could significantly expand the use of hair transplantation to women with hair loss, who tend to have insufficient donor hair, as well as to men in early stages of baldness. | Read More » Learning new skills keeps an aging mind sharp  | Older adults are often encouraged to stay active and engaged to keep their minds sharp, that they have to "use it or lose it." But new research indicates that only certain activities -- learning a mentally demanding skill like photography, for instance -- are likely to improve cognitive functioning. These findings reveal that less demanding activities, such as listening to classical music or completing word puzzles, probably won't bring noticeable benefits to an aging mind. | Read More » Getting ready for Generation-C: Creative consumers who modify electronics  | A generational movement consisting of creative consumers who modify proprietary offerings, and of members of society who in turn use their developments, all without any moral and legal considerations. Think video and audio mashups, jailbreaks for game consoles, unlocked mobile phones, tuned cars, even 'hacked' vacuum cleaners that can now be controlled remotely, via mobile phone apps. | Read More » Controlling triggers of age-related inflammation could extend 'healthspan'  | Inflammation is the common denominator of many chronic age-related diseases such as arthritis, gout, Alzheimer's, and diabetes. But according to a study, even in the absence of a disease, inflammation can lead to serious loss of function throughout the body, reducing healthspan -- that portion of our lives spent relatively free of serious illness and disability. | Read More » Excessive alcohol consumption increases progression of atherosclerosis, risk of stroke  | A Finnish population-based study showed that binge drinking was associated with increased atherosclerotic progression in an 11-year follow-up of middle-aged men. The progression of atherosclerosis was increased among men who consumed 6 drinks or more on one occasion. In addition, the risk of stroke increased among men who had at least one hangover per year. Hangovers increased the risk of stroke independent of the total amount of alcohol consumed. | Read More » New insight in quest for single vaccine against multiple flus  | A study highlights a new approach for developing a universal influenza vaccine that could protect against multiple flu strains, including deadly pandemic strains. | Read More » Clean living is a luxury wild animals can't afford  | Domestic animals will choose to steer clear of dirt -- but their wild cousins can't be so picky and may be at increased risk of disease as a result. | Read More » New native shrubs show promise for landscape, nursery industries  | Scientists studied softwood stem cutting propagation of four underused shrub species native to the northeastern United States. The results indicated that two of these could be propagated for consideration as commercial crops for wholesale nurseries looking for new native shrubs, and that all four of the species have the potential to be viable commercial crops for nurseries that specialize in native plants. | Read More » Do sunny climates reduce ADHD?  | ADHD is the most common childhood psychiatric disorder. Scientists do not know what causes it, but genetics play a clear role. Other risk factors have also been identified, including premature birth, low birth weight, a mother's use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy, and environmental exposures to toxins like lead. Regions with high sunlight intensity have a lower prevalence of ADHD, suggesting that high sunlight intensity may exert a 'protective' effect for ADHD. | Read More » Tuberculosis and the social lives of badgers  | Badgers are an important wildlife reservoir for tuberculosis infection, a disease that leads thousands of cattle to slaughter each year. Now, researchers have found that the spread of the disease is influenced in surprising ways by infected badgers, and especially by the details of their social lives. | Read More » 0.3% of GPD would protect East Asia from climate change  | About 12 million people in 23 East Asian cities are at risk from rising sea levels, severe storms, and more intense drought caused by climate change that could jeopardize $864 billion in assets, a new report warns. | Read More » Footwear recycling gets a kick-start  | A newly developed recycling process could make landfill sites filled with old shoes a thing of the past. | Read More » Fiction reading as medicine  | Fiction reading can be viewed as a considerable factor in the rehabilitation process for persons on sick leave. This is the conclusion of a new interdisciplinary study on sick-listed women's experiences with fiction reading to improve their health, so-called bibliotherapy. | Read More » Nano-cone textures generate extremely 'robust' water-repellent surfaces  | Scientists create surfaces with differently shaped nanoscale textures that may yield improved materials for applications in transportation, energy, and diagnostics. | Read More » Cheap metals can be used to make products from petroleum  | A new process suggests that base metals may be worth more than their weight in gold -- as catalysts in the manufacture of countless products made from petroleum-based raw materials. | Read More » 'Chimera' protein could lead to drug treatments for chronic pain  | Scientists have manufactured a new bio-therapeutic molecule that could be used to treat neurological disorders such as chronic pain and epilepsy. | Read More » Personal, social concerns motivate organic food buyers  | Predicting whether consumers will purchase organic or conventional food is a multimillion dollar gamble within the food sector. Researchers can now help advertisers more effectively target the fast-growing organic food market. | Read More » Fatal cholesterol disease overlooked, untreated  | Hereditary high blood cholesterol leads to premature heart disease. It is overlooked and untreated virtually worldwide. This is a major problem as the disease is dangerous for health. However, this disease is easy to diagnose and treat, according to the conclusion of a consensus report. | Read More » Bugs not gay, just confused  | Researchers have found that homosexual behavior in bugs is probably accidental in most cases. In the rush to produce offspring, bugs do not take much time to inspect their mates' gender, potentially leading to same-sex mating. | Read More » Traffic-related air pollution substantial public health concern  | Traffic-related air pollution is increasingly shown to have negative health effects according to a growing body of epidemiologic evidence and is a substantial public health concern in Canada. | Read More » West African bats - no safe haven for malaria parasites  | In Europe, bats are normally discussed in the context of endangered species threatened by loss of their habitats. However, in recent years, bats have caught the eye of infection biologists. The animals are namely hosts to a surprising number of pathogens, many of which could be dangerous to humans. Scientists have been able to identify in West African bats four genera of parasites that are closely related to the malaria pathogen. | Read More » | |
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