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Neutrons, electrons and theory reveal secrets of natural gas reserves

Gas and oil deposits in shale have no place to hide. A new technique provides an inside look at pores and reveals structural information potentially vital to today's energy needs.

Snakes on the brain: Are primates hard-wired to see snakes?

Was the evolution of high-quality vision in our ancestors driven by the threat of snakes? New work supports this theory.

Toxic ocean conditions during major extinction 93.9 million years ago quantified: Doesn't take much sulfide to impact ocean life

Biogeochemists report that oxygen-free and hydrogen sulfide-rich waters extended across roughly five percent of the ocean 93.9 million years ago -- far more than the modern ocean's 0.1 percent but much less than previous estimates for this event. Across this event, a major biological extinction in the marine realm took place. The new work shows that only portions of the ocean need to contain sulfide to greatly impact biota.

Using data science tools to discover new nanostructured materials

Researchers have developed a new approach to designing novel nanostructured materials through an inverse design framework using genetic algorithms. The study is the first to demonstrate the application of this methodology to the design of self-assembled nanostructures, and could help speed up the materials discovery process. It also shows the potential of machine learning and "big data" approaches.

Common bias known as 'endowment effect' not present in hunter-gatherer societies

Psychology and behavioral economics have experimentally identified a laundry list of common biases that cause people to act against their own apparent interests. One of these biases -- the mere fact of possessing something raises its value to its owner -- is known as the "endowment effect." A new interdisciplinary study has delved into whether this bias is truly universal, and whether it might have been present in humanity's evolutionary past.

Irukandji threat to southern waters

Researchers have conducted a series of climate change simulation experiments to investigate whether the dangerous tropical jellyfish, the Irukandji, is likely to establish breeding populations in the South East. It was found that while higher sea temperatures could provide an opportunity for adult Irukandji to expand their range south, increasing ocean acidification may inhibit the development of juveniles.

Melting Arctic sea ice could increase summer rainfall in northwest Europe suggests new study

A new study offers an explanation for the extraordinary run of wet summers experienced by Britain and northwest Europe between 2007 and 2012. The study found that loss of Arctic sea ice shifts the jet stream further south than normal resulting in increased rain during the summer in northwest Europe.

Local communities produce high-quality forest monitoring data, rivals that of professional foresters

A recent study by researchers at the Nairobi-based World Agroforestry Centre and European and Southeast Asian institutions finds that local communities -- using simple tools like ropes and sticks -- can produce forest carbon data on par with results by professional foresters using high-tech devices.

Super-thin membranes clear the way for chip-sized pumps

A super-thin silicon membrane could now make it possible to drastically shrink the power source of lab-on-a-chip devices, paving the way for diagnostic devices the size of a credit card.

Gold mining ravages Peru

For the first time, researchers have been able to map the true extent of gold mining in the biologically diverse region of Madre De Dios in the Peruvian Amazon. The team combined field surveys with airborne mapping and high-resolution satellite monitoring to show that the geographic extent of mining has increased 400% from 1999 to 2012 and that the average annual rate of forest loss has tripled since the Great Recession of 2008.

One, two, buckle my shoe: Importance of language to learning math

The language a child speaks affects the rate at which they learn number words, and hearing number words in natural conversation – not just in counting routines – is a critical part of learning the meaning of numbers.

Nurturing may protect kids from brain changes linked to poverty

Researchers have identified changes in the brains of children growing up in poverty. Those changes can lead to lifelong problems like depression, learning difficulties and limitations in the ability to cope with stress. But the study showed that the extent of those changes was influenced strongly by whether parents were attentive and nurturing.

Study challenges soil testing for potassium and the fertilizer value of potassium chloride

In the chemical age of agriculture that began in the 1960s, potassium chloride (KCl), the common salt often referred to as potash, is widely used as a major fertilizer in the Corn Belt without regard to the huge soil reserves that were once recognized for their fundamental importance to soil fertility. Soil scientists have serious concerns with the current approach to potassium management that has been in place for the past five decades because their research has revealed that soil K testing is of no value for predicting soil K availability and that KCl fertilization seldom pays.

Mercury: Enduring contaminant legacy of the California Gold Rush transported by floods

An unintended legacy of California's gold rush, which began in 1848, endures today in the form of mercury-laden sediment. New research shows that sediment-absorbed mercury is being transported by major floods from the Sierra Nevada mountains to Central Valley lowlands.

Breakthrough in study of aluminum should yield new technological advances

Researchers have announced a scientific advance that has eluded researchers for more than 100 years -- a platform to fully study and understand the aqueous chemistry of aluminum, one of the world's most important metals. It should open the door to significant advances in electronics and many other fields, ranging from manufacturing to construction, agriculture and drinking water treatment.

Researchers turn to technology to discover a novel way of mapping landscapes

Using computer technology to map patterns of land cover reveals types of landscapes and holds applications for numerous fields in research and planning.

Crying wolf: Who benefits and when?

A crisis at work can bring out the best in colleagues, often inspiring more cooperation and self-sacrifice. A study has found that the benefits are not shared equally, however, with higher-ranking group members having the most to gain by perceived threats to the group.

Social science graduates more likely to get employment than science or arts graduates

Social science graduates are more likely to be employed after their first degree than graduates in other areas such as science and the arts, and a higher proportion are in managerial and senior official roles, a new report says.

No running for the well-heeled

If you often find yourself running after a bus, escaping a burning building or taking part in competitive athletics in high-heeled footwear, you may be storing up knee problems for later in life, according to a study published this month.

Moderate exercise not only treats, but prevents depression

Physical activity is being increasingly recognized as an effective tool to treat depression. New research has taken the connection one step further, finding that moderate exercise can actually prevent episodes of depression in the long term. This is the first longitudinal review to focus exclusively on the role that exercise plays in maintaining good mental health and preventing the onset of depression later in life.

Americans would pay to help monarch butterflies

Americans place high value on butterfly royalty. A just-released study suggests they are willing to support monarch butterfly conservation at high levels, up to about $6.5 billion dollars if extrapolated to all US households. If even a small percentage of the population acted upon this reported willingness, the cumulative effort would likely translate into a large, untapped potential for conservation of the iconic butterfly.

Train your body

For avid runners, training for the next marathon never stops. While it's important to focus on running faster or farther, physicians encourage runners to expand their training regimen and are providing the following tips for training and protecting the entire body.

New imaging research shows increased iron in the brain in early stages of MS

While it's been known for over a century that iron deposits in the brain play a role in the pathology of Multiple Sclerosis, imaging research now helps to answer the question of whether these accumulations are a cause or consequence of the disease. Iron deposits in deep gray matter suggest that the accumulation occurs very early in the disease course.

'Lost world' discovered on Australia's Cape York Peninsula

An expedition to Cape York Peninsula in north-east Australia has found three vertebrate species new to science and isolated for millions of years -- a bizarre looking leaf-tail gecko, a golden-colored skink and a boulder-dwelling frog.

Historic demonstration proves laser communication possible

In the early morning hours of Oct. 18, NASA's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) made history, transmitting data from lunar orbit to Earth at a rate of 622 Megabits-per-second (Mbps). That download rate is more than six times faster than previous state-of-the-art radio systems flown to the moon.

How a metamaterial might improve a depression treatment

A brain stimulation technique that is used to treat tough cases of depression could be considerably improved with a new headpiece, experts say.

Work commutes getting longer and gender differences persist

On average, Swedish men and women have different commuting habits. Despite an increasingly gender-equal society, traditional household patterns are changing very slowly. The regional enlargement in many parts of the country – or geographic extension of labor markets – imply longer commuting times.

Switched brain: Unravelling the true identity of the brain of Carl Friedrich Gauss

Researchers reveal the true identity of the brains of mathematicians Carl Friedrich Gauss and Conrad Heinrich Fuchs.

Echolocation: Bats and whales behave in surprisingly similar ways

Sperm whales weigh up to 50 tons, and the smallest bat barely reaches a gram. Nevertheless, the two species share the same success story: They both have developed the ability to use echolocation -- a biological sonar -- for hunting. Now researchers show that the biosonar of toothed whales and bats share surprisingly many similarities -- even though they live in very different environments and vary extremely in size.

Spinning atoms in light crystals

After more than 40 years of intense research, experimental physicists still seek to explore the rich behavior of electrons confined to a two-dimensional crystalline structure exposed to large magnetic fields. Now scientists have developed a new experimental method to simulate these systems using a crystal made of neutral atoms and laser light. In such artificial quantum matter, the atoms could be exposed to a uniform effective magnetic field several thousand times stronger than in typical condensed matter systems.

Scientists reduce behaviors associated with problem gambling in rats

With the help of a rat casino, researchers have successfully reduced behaviors in rats that are commonly associated with compulsive gambling.

People seem more attractive in a group than they do apart

People tend to be rated as more attractive when they're part of a group than when they're alone, according to new research. This phenomenon -- first dubbed the "cheerleader effect" by ladykiller Barney Stinson on the popular TV show "How I Met Your Mother" -- suggests that having a few friends around might be one way to boost perceived attractiveness.

Eye tracking technology suggests people 'check out' women at first glance

Eye tracking technology has reconfirmed what women have known all along: that people look at their sexual body parts more and faces less when evaluating their appearance. A new study found that especially women with typical hour glass figures or larger breasts, narrower waists, and bigger hips frequently prompted such gazes.

Common bioindicator resistant to insecticides

Scientists have found a common bioindicator, Hyalella azteca, used to test the toxicity of water or sediment was resistant to insecticides used in agricultural areas of central California. The study is the first to demonstrate that the indicator species may adapt to polluted conditions of a habitat and become an entirely unreliable source of information about ecosystem health.

Optometrists raise alert on potential risk of colored contact lenses

Researchers have recently conducted a study on 15 brands of colored contact lenses available from various sources. Results showed that most of these cosmetic contact lenses have surface colored pigments which can easily come off when using a standardized lab-based rub-off test.

Researchers discover how cancer hides

Researchers have discovered how a lipid secreted by cancer tumors prevents the immune system from mounting an immune response against it. When lysophosphatidic acid binds to killer T cells, it acts almost like an "invisibility cloak," preventing T cells from recognizing and attacking nascent tumors.

Fewer patients with brain injury being declared 'brain dead'

Fewer patients with brain injury are being declared "brain dead," perhaps reflecting better injury prevention and improved care, according to a new study. However, the main source of organ donations for transplants is patients with neurologic death, so this finding may explain the declining rates of organ donation in some regions.

Excess omega-3 fatty acids could lead to negative health effects

A new review suggests that omega-3 fatty acids taken in excess could have unintended health consequences in certain situations, and that dietary standards based on the best available evidence need to be established.

Untangling Alzheimer's disease

A team of researchers has identified a specific set of microRNA molecules that detrimentally regulate protein levels in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's disease. By targeting these molecules, they hope to move closer toward earlier detection and better treatment of the debilitating condition.

Reproductive biologists move in vitro fertilization knowledge forward

A "pill for men" may be a long way down the road, but a new fundamental knowledge of how sperm acquire the ability to fertilize an egg, letting scientists either block or enhance the process, is at the heart of being able to control it.

Poverty in early childhood appears associated with brain development

Poverty in early childhood appears to be associated with smaller brain volumes measured through imaging at school age and early adolescence.

Overlooked lymph nodes in rib cage have prognostic power for mesothelioma patients

For the first time, researchers have shown the predictive power of a group of overlooked lymph nodes that could serve as a better tool to stage and ultimately treat patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Pregnant women with hepatitis C may pass heartier viral strain to newborns

Infants who get hepatitis C from their mothers during childbirth may inherit a viral strain that replicates more quickly than strains found in non-pregnant hosts, according to a new study.

Dermatologists identify five skin health treatments, procedures that consumers may not need

The American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) today released its list of specific treatments and procedures related to skin health and care that are not always necessary. The Academy developed its list as part of Choosing Wisely®, an initiative to help patients talk with their doctors about medical tests and treatments that may be unnecessary to effectively care for their condition.

Model virus structure shows why there's no cure for common cold

In a pair of landmark studies that exploit the genetic sequencing of the "missing link" cold virus, rhinovirus C, scientists have constructed a three-dimensional model of the pathogen that shows why there is no cure yet for the common cold.

Drowsy driving an increasing hazard

Sleep deprivation and darkness can cause drivers to doze when they believe they are alert, increasing hazards on the road.

Smokers worldwide more likely to think about kicking their habit on Mondays

Forget New Year's; a study published today has found that Mondays are when smokers are most likely to think about quitting.

Heart disease risk appears associated with breast cancer radiation

Among patients with early stages of breast cancer, those whose hearts were more directly irradiated with radiation treatments on the left side in a facing-up position had higher risk of heart disease, according to research.

High rate of lower back injuries reported in young athletes

Lower back injuries are the third most common injuries suffered in athletes under age 18. Many injuries are severe enough to sideline young athletes for one-to-six months, and put them at future risk for long-term back problems, a study has found.

Experts' attitudes influence what children believe

Children are more apt to believe a nice, non-expert than a mean expert according to researchers. In this study, the authors examine how preschoolers decide whom to believe when provided with two conflicting pieces of information given by a nice or mean adult.

New technology shows promise in taking the guesswork out of vaccine development

Scientists have developed a comprehensive, microchip-based technology, called immunosignature diagnosis, which can rapidly and comprehensively measure an individual's vaccine response, promising to take much of the initial guesswork out of predicting effective vaccines.

VIP treatment for jet lag

A small molecule called VIP, known to synchronize time-keeping neurons in the brain's biological clock, has the startling effect of desynchronizing them at higher dosages, says a research team. Neurons knocked for a loop by a burst of VIP are better able to re-synchronize to abrupt shifts in the light-dark cycle like those that make jet lag or shift work so miserable.

Five commonly performed tests, treatments in pulmonary medicine may not be necessary

A list released today identified five commonly performed tests and procedures in pulmonary medicine that may not always be necessary. The list, part of the ABIM Foundation's Choosing Wisely® campaign, was produced by a collaborative task force.

The intersection of gaming, education

Video games have an enormous impact on children's lives, but not always a positive one. Persuasive gaming, the burgeoning study of the use of gaming to educate, aims to make use of a medium that has captured the imagination of youth, and transform it into a teaching tool. Researchers are looking to change the perception of gaming completely, and study how technology in the classroom can revolutionize education.

NASA's Orion spacecraft comes to life

NASA's first-ever deep space craft, Orion, has been powered on for the first time, marking a major milestone in the final year of preparations for flight.

A ghostly trio from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope

In the spirit of Halloween, scientists are releasing a trio of stellar ghosts caught in infrared light by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. All three spooky structures, called planetary nebulas, are in fact material ejected from dying stars. As death beckoned, the stars' wispy bits and pieces were blown into outer space.

Thawing permafrost: The speed of coastal erosion in Eastern Siberia has nearly doubled

The high cliffs of Eastern Siberia -- which mainly consist of permafrost -- continue to erode at an ever quickening pace. This evaluation is based on data and aerial photographs of the coastal regions for the last 40 years.

Coral reefs may be able to adapt to moderate climate change

Coral reefs may be able to adapt to moderate climate warming, improving their chance of surviving through the end of this century, if there are large reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new study. Results further suggest corals have already adapted to part of the warming that has occurred.

Plasmonic crystal alters to match light-frequency source: Device is like a photonic crystal, but smaller and tunable

A plasma-containing crystal, tunable by varying a voltage, could increase the bandwidth of high-speed communication networks and generally enhance high-speed electronics.

Scientists gain new insights into dolphin's evolutionary history and conversation

Researchers report their original genomic research on Baiji, also known as Yangtze River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer). The study gives new insight into the genetic and evolutionary adaptations of the dolphin, and provides valuable resources for the conservation of mammals and cetaceans in particular.

Old bat gets a new name

The Mortlock Islands flying fox, a species threatened by climate change and rising sea levels, is one of the world's least studied bats. A new study presents the first detailed research on wild populations of this endangered species. The study also shows that the species was discovered and named by a German naturalist almost 50 years earlier than previously realized.

Male birth defect weakly linked to pesticide exposure

A study of several hundred chemicals used in commercial pesticides has found only weak evidence that any of them are associated with a common birth defect in male infants.

Less toxic metabolites, more chemical product

By preventing the build-up of toxic metabolites in engineered microbes, a dynamic regulatory system can help boost production of an advanced biofuel, a therapeutic drug, or other valuable chemical products. The system has already been used to double the production in E. coli of amorphadiene, a precursor to the premier antimalarial drug artemisinin.

Physicists provide new insights into coral skeleton formation

Scientists have shed important new light on coral skeleton formation. Their investigations, carried out at the nanoscale, provide valuable new information for scientists and environmentalists working to protect and conserve coral from the threats of acidification and rising water temperatures. As corals grow, they produce limestone -- calcium carbonate -- skeletons which build up over time into vast reefs. The skeleton's role is to help the living biofilm to move towards the light and nutrients.

Paleontologist presents origin of life theory

Meteorite bombardment left large craters that contained water and chemical building blocks for life, which ultimately led to the first organisms, according to one origin of life theory.

High blood sugar makes Alzheimer's plaque more toxic to the brain

High blood-sugar levels, such as those linked with Type 2 diabetes, make beta amyloid protein associated with Alzheimer's disease dramatically more toxic to cells lining blood vessels in the brain, according to a new study.

Do 'family-friendly' workplaces discriminate against childless employees?

Communication researchers who interviewed childless individuals for a study found that expanding definitions of family often don't embrace people without children. These individuals felt that work and family discussions isolated or belittled them, and that sometimes they were expected to fill in for absent workers because of more liberal attitudes toward parents.

DIY, gardening can cut heart attack/stroke risk by 30 percent, prolong life for seniors

A spot of DIY or gardening can cut the risk of a heart attack/stroke and prolong life by as much as 30 per cent among the 60+ age group, indicates research published.

Researchers detail possible resistance mechanisms of colorectal cancer to bevacizumab (avastin)

A study published shows that when colorectal cancer is targeted by the drug bevacizumab (Avastin), tumors may switch dependence from VEGF-A, which is targeted by the drug, to related growth factors in including VEGF-C, VEGF-D and placental growth factor. This change to new growth-factor dependence may allow colorectal cancer to push past bevacizumab's blockage of VEGF-A to continue to drive tumor growth.

New species of dolphin found in Australian waters

A species of humpback dolphin previously unknown to science is swimming in the waters off northern Australia, according to biologists.

Test of manhood

The implications of prostate cancer get men thinking about what it means to be a man, according to a Norwegian doctoral thesis.

Study on neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal exposure to paracetamol

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is the most commonly used medicine in pregnancy, yet there are very few studies that have investigated the possible long-term consequences for the child. A new study suggests that long-term use of paracetamol during pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse effects on child development.

A potential new class of fast-acting antidepressant

More than 1 in 10 Americans take antidepressants, but these medications can take weeks — and for some patients, months — before they begin to alleviate symptoms. Now, scientists have discovered that selectively blocking a serotonin receptor subtype induces fast-acting antidepressant effects in mice, indicating a potential new class of therapeutics for depression.

Increased ED reimbursements after ACA insurance coverage expansions

Researchers have found that outpatient emergency department encounters could reimburse considerably more after implementation of the insurance coverage expansions of the Affordable Care Act.

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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

FeedaMail: ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

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