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ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

Social networks make us smarter

The secret to why some cultures thrive and others disappear may lie in our social networks and our ability to imitate, rather than our individual smarts, according to a new study.

Natural disasters of the past can help solve future problems

Nobody can predict the future, of course -- but we can learn from the past. The past could teach us a lot about how natural disasters influence society at many different levels.

Researchers predict risk of valvular heart disease

Researchers have identified a clear link between narrowed heart valves and a special lipoprotein in the blood. In the long term, the research may well help to prevent valvular heart disease.

No hot flashes? Then don't count on hormones to improve quality of life

Hormones at menopause can help with sleep, memory, and more, but only when a woman also has hot flashes, find researchers.

Redesigned protein opens door for safer gene therapy‬

A fusion protein combining proteins active in HIV and Moloney murine leukaemia virus (MLV) replication may lead to safer, more effective retroviral gene therapy.

Speedy analysis of steel fiber reinforced concrete

Steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) is a practical construction material that is quick and easy to use. But monitoring SFRC quality is difficult, and this has kept industry acceptance low. A new method offers a quick way to examine its composition.

Back to the future: Nostalgia increases optimism

New research shows that feeling nostalgic about the past will increase optimism about the future. The research examined the idea that nostalgia is not simply a past-orientated emotion but its scope extends into the future, with a positive outlook.

Context is key in helping us to recognize a face

Why does it take longer to recognize a familiar face when seen in an unfamiliar setting, like seeing a work colleague when on holiday? A new study published today has found that part of the reason comes down to the processes that our brain performs when learning and recognizing faces.

Needle in a haystack: New research shows how brain prepares to start searching

Many of us have steeled ourselves for those 'needle in a haystack' tasks of finding our vehicle in an airport car park, or scouring the supermarket shelves for a favorite brand. A new scientific study has revealed that our understanding of how the human brain prepares to perform visual search tasks of varying difficulty may now need to be revised. When people search for a specific object, they tend to hold in mind a visual representation of it, based on key attributes like shape, size or color. Scientists call this 'advanced specification.'

Significantly higher risk of mortality at non-accredited bariatric surgery centers

Bariatric surgery is significantly safer when performed at an accredited center, according to new research.

When sex goes to their heads: Sea slugs have a two-pronged strategy

Slugs may ensure mating success with a shot to beloved's forehead, say evolutionary biologists.

Structure of bacterial nanowire protein hints at secrets of conduction

Tiny electrical wires protrude from some bacteria and contribute to rock and dirt formation. Researchers studying the protein that makes up one such wire have determined the protein's structure. The finding is important to such diverse fields as producing energy, recycling Earth's carbon and miniaturizing computers.

New treatment discovered to cure MRSA infection

Recent work promises to overcome one of the leading public health threats of our time. In a groundbreaking study, the team presents a novel approach to treat and eliminate methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a potent bacterium whose resistance to antibiotics has kept it one step ahead of researchers. That is, until now.

Novel gene therapy works to reverse heart failure

Researchers have successfully tested a powerful gene therapy, delivered directly into the heart, to reverse heart failure in large animal models.

Human stem cells used to reveal mechanisms of beta-cell failure in diabetes

Scientists have used stem cells created from the skin of patients with a rare form of diabetes — Wolfram syndrome — to elucidate an important biochemical pathway for beta-cell failure in diabetes.

Don't hold the anchovies: Study shows Peruvian fish worth more as food than feed

The true potential of Peruvian anchovy lies not in fishmeal but as food for people and as part of the ocean food web, according to Canadian and Peruvian researchers.

HOPE Act passes: May help reduce U. S. organ shortage

The HOPE Act could allow individuals with HIV to receive organ transplants from donors with HIV, and may help reduce the country's current organ shortage.

Nanotechnology researchers prove two-step method for potential pancreatic cancer treatment

A new nanotechnology for drug delivery that could greatly improve the treatment of deadly pancreatic cancer has been proven to work in mice.

Nature's glowing slime: Scientists peek into hidden sea worm's light

Scientists are unraveling the mechanisms behind a little-known marine worm that produces a dazzling bioluminescent display in the form of puffs of blue light released into seawater. Found around the world in muddy environments, from shallow bays to deeper canyons, the light produced by the "parchment tube worm" is secreted as a slimy bioluminescent mucus.

Lignin-feasting microbe holds promise for biofuels

Researchers have identified a rain forest microbe that feasts on the lignin in plant leaf litter, making it a potential ally for the cost-effective production of advanced biofuels.

Feral cats avoid urban coyotes, are surprisingly healthy

Cats that live outdoors in the city do their darnedest to steer clear of urban coyotes, a new study says. The cats cause less damage to wildlife in urban green spaces, such as city parks and nature preserves, because of that dodging.

Snow melts faster under trees than in open areas in mild climates

Researchers have found that tree cover actually causes snow to melt more quickly in warm, Mediterranean-type climates around the world. Alternatively, open, clear gaps in the forests tend to keep snow on the ground longer into the spring and summer.

Sobriety, spirituality linked for teens in treatment

Increased spirituality in teens undergoing substance abuse treatment is associated with greater likelihood of abstinence (as measured by toxicology screens), increased positive social behaviors, and reduced narcissism, according to a study.

Warming since 1950s partly caused by El Niño

A natural shift to stronger warm El Niño events in the Pacific Ocean might be responsible for a substantial portion of the global warming recorded during the past 50 years, according to new research.

Stingray movement could inspire the next generation of submarines

Stingrays swim through water with such ease that researchers are studying how their movements could be used to design more agile and fuel-efficient unmanned underwater vehicles.

Study uses neutron scattering, supercomputing to demystify forces at play in biofuel production

Researchers studying more effective ways to convert woody plant matter into biofuels have identified fundamental forces that change plant structures during pretreatment processes used in the production of bioenergy.

Fantastic phonons: Blocking sound, channeling heat with 'unprecedented precision'

The phonon, like the photon or electron, is a physical particle that travels like waves, representing mechanical vibration. Phonons transmit everyday sound and heat. Recent progress in phononics has led to the development of new ideas and devices that are using phononic properties to control sound and heat, according to a new review.

Improving detection of radioactive material in nuclear waste water

As the Fukushima crisis continues to remind the world of the potential dangers of nuclear disposal and unforeseen accidents, scientists are reporting progress toward a new way to detect the radioactive materials uranium and plutonium in waste water.

New way to dissolve semiconductors holds promise for electronics industry

Semiconductors, the foundation of modern electronics used in flat-screen TVs and fighter jets, could become even more versatile as researchers make headway on a novel, inexpensive way to turn them into thin films. The new report is on a new liquid that can quickly dissolve nine types of key semiconductors.

Fossil of new big cat species discovered: Oldest ever found

Scientists have discovered the oldest big cat fossil ever found -- which fills in a significant gap in the fossil record.

The big fish that got away… (it was let go)

It's not every day that fishermen catch the world's largest fish species in their nets, but this is what recently happened in Indonesia's Karimunjawa National Park, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Queen bee's honesty is the best policy for reproduction signals

Queen bees convey honest signals to worker bees about their reproductive status and quality, according to an international team of researchers, who say their findings may help to explain why honey bee populations are declining.

Buried leaves reveal precolonial eastern U.S. forests and guide stream restoration

Sediment behind milldams in Pennsylvania preserved leaves deposited just before European contact that provide a glimpse of the ancient forests, according to a team of geoscientists, who note that neither the forests nor the streams were what they are today.

Gut microbes in healthy kids carry antibiotic resistance genes

Friendly microbes in the intestinal tracts of healthy American children have numerous antibiotic resistance genes that could be passed to harmful microbes, according to a pilot study.

Your brain sees things you don't

A study indicates that our brains perceive objects in everyday life of which we may never be aware. The finding challenges currently accepted models about how the brain processes visual information.

Generation length for mammals: An essential reference point for conservation studies

Life history traits are the basic ecological descriptors of a species. These include physical traits, such as body mass and physiological traits, such as reproductive rate. A recent article provides the first comprehensive attempt to complete a database of generation lengths for all extant mammals. This database represents an essential reference point for ecological and conservation-related studies that need pragmatic information on species generation length.

Island biodiversity in danger of total submersion with climate change

Island ecosystems constitute the most biodiverse regions in the world, holding a large number of endemic flora and fauna. Islands are also under direct threat of predicted sea level rises, with gloomy prognoses predicting large areas submerged, whole islands sinking and up to 11 percent islands inundated. A new study looks at three scenarios to estimate the risks posed by global change to island ecosystems.

The 'evolution' of Little Red Riding Hood

Evolutionary analysis can be used to study similarities among folktales.

Scorpions use strongest defense mechanisms when under attack

Scorpions tend to use their strongest defense mechanisms when they are being attacked.

Early uses of chili peppers in Mexico

Chili peppers may have been used to make spicy beverages thousands of years ago in Mexico.

Impulsivity, rewards and ritalin: Monkey study shows tighter link

Even as the rate of diagnosis has reached 11 percent among American children aged 4 to 17, neuroscientists are still trying to understand attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). One classic symptom is impulsivity — the tendency to act before thinking.

Squeeze and you shall measure: Squeezed coherent states shown to be optimal for gravitational wave

Extremely precise measurements of distances are key in all techniques used to detect gravitational waves. To increase this precision, physicists have started using quantum effects linked with photons. Physicists now show that it is not necessary to use quantum light states more refined than the squeezed coherent states available currently.

Carbon dioxide's new-found signalling role could be applied to blood flow, birth and deafness

New research reveals exactly how the body measures carbon dioxide and suggests that far from being a metabolic waste product, it could play a key role as a biological signalling molecule.

Development and clinical approval of biodegradeble magnesium alloy for medical devices

This biodegradable and bioabsorbable metal decomposes from 6 months to 2 years after being transplanted into human body and hence, medical devices made with these materials are expected to reshape the landscape in the field of fracture treatment, as it reminders second operation to take out the device after patient recovery obsolete.

Solar cells utilize thermal radiation

Thermal radiation from the sun is largely lost on most silicon solar cells. Up-converters transform the infrared radiation into usable light, however. Researchers have now for the first time successfully adapted this effect for use in generating power.

Expert assessment: Ocean acidification may increase 170 percent this century

In a major new international report, experts conclude that the acidity of the world's ocean may increase by around 170 percent by the end of the century bringing significant economic losses. People who rely on the ocean's ecosystem services -- often in developing countries -- are especially vulnerable.

Deletion of any single gene provokes mutations elsewhere in the genome

Researchers report that the deletion of any single gene in yeast cells puts pressure on the organism's genome to compensate, leading to a mutation in another gene. Their discovery, which is likely applicable to human genetics because of the way DNA is conserved across species, could have significant consequences for the way genetic analysis is done in cancer and other areas of research.

Study shows decrease in sepsis mortality rates

A recent study shows a significant decrease in severe sepsis mortality rates over the past 20 years. Looking at data from patients with severe sepsis enrolled in clinical trials, researchers found that in-hospital mortality rates decreased from 47 percent between 1991 and 1995 to 29 percent between 2006 and 2009, a time period when no new pharmacological treatments were developed for severe sepsis.

Schools help kids choose carrots over candy bars

When schools adopt healthful nutrition policies and practices, kids' diets improve. According to new research, when schools offered snacks in lunchtime a la carte or vending that were mostly or entirely healthful, students responded with improvements in their diets.

Menstrual cycle influences concussion outcomes

Researchers found that women injured during the two weeks leading up to their period (the premenstrual phase) had a slower recovery and poorer health one month after injury compared to women injured during the two weeks directly after their period or women taking birth control pills. If confirmed in subsequent research, the findings could alter the treatment and prognosis of women who suffer head injuries from sports, falls, car accidents or combat.

Building a better tokamak by blowing giant plasma bubbles: How magnetic reconnection -- the force behind solar flares -- could initiate fusion in a tokamak reactor

New simulations shed light on the mechanisms at work in magnetic bubbles inside tokomak fusion machines, clarifying what happens at various stages in the ultrafast phenomenon.

Healing powers of cells

How do cells spread to cover and close a wound? A team of researchers publishes new insights into epithelial cell spreading.

Single-atom bit forms smallest memory in the world

One atom equals one bit: According to this design principle, we would like to construct magnetic data memories in the future. Presently, a compound of several million atoms is needed to stabilize a magnetic bit in a way that hard disk data are secure for several years. However, researchers have just made a big step towards a single-atom bit: They fixed a single atom on a surface such that the magnetic spin remained stable for ten minutes.

Are probiotics a promising treatment strategy for depression?

Probiotics are not new, but their status as a nutritional buzzword is. Most folks have now heard and seen the term countless times in commercials and advertisements, as yogurt, dietary supplement, natural food product, and even cosmetic companies promote their probiotic-containing products. But what are they, and why are they important?

Mind-reading robots coming ever closer

If you think with the release of every new i-device the world is getting closer to thought-controlled smart tech and robotic personal assistants, you might be right.

Physician argues for mandatory flu shots for health care workers

Should flu vaccines be mandatory for health care workers? A new article argues both sides of the debate.

Protein-rich breakfast helps curb appetite throughout the morning

New research presented today at The Obesity Society's annual scientific meeting in Atlanta shows that eating high protein sausage and egg-based breakfasts curbed hunger throughout the morning, compared with a low-protein breakfast (pancakes and syrup) or skipping breakfast, in 18-55-year-old women.

Amazon rainforest more able to withstand drought than previously thought

New research suggests that the Amazon rainforest may be more able to cope with dry conditions than previously predicted. Researchers used a computer model to demonstrate that, providing forest conservation measures are in place, the Amazon rainforest may be more able to withstand periods of drought than has been estimated by other climate models.

Electron beams and radio signals from the surface of the Sun

The sun emits light, but it also emits particle beams. A scientist has now revealed how these beams generate radio waves. These radio waves can tell us about the outer layers of the sun and the interstellar medium without going there. In particular, the radio emissions are produced in small packages, and their shapes are determined by the density changes in the solar wind.

Controversial cholesterol guidelines biggest change in 25 years

New cholesterol guidelines for identifying adults at risk for heart disease represent the biggest change in such expert advice in more than 25 years, and could dramatically affect how patients are treated.

Researcher helping to solve moon's water puzzles

Astrophysicists are applying new techniques to better characterize hydrogen, or water, at the moon's poles and map its distribution.

Can eyes help diagnose Alzheimer's disease?

An international team of researchers studying the link between vision loss and Alzheimer's disease report that the loss of a particular layer of retinal cells not previously investigated may provide a new way to track disease progression. "The retina is an extension of the brain so it makes sense to see if the same pathologic processes found in an Alzheimer's brain are also found in the eye," they explain.

Could next new cancer drug come from Kentucky coal mines?

In their ongoing quest to develop the latest and most effective drugs for disease treatment, researchers are looking deep — as in, deep underground.

Breathalyzer technology detects acetone levels to monitor blood glucose in diabetics

A novel hand-held, noninvasive monitoring device that uses multilayer nanotechnology to detect acetone has been shown to correlate with blood-glucose levels in the breath of diabetics.

Tomato therapy: Engineered veggies target intestinal lipids, improve cholesterol

Researchers report that tiny amounts of a specific type of lipid in the small intestine may play a greater role than previously thought in generating the high cholesterol levels and inflammation that lead to clogged arteries. The team also found they could reduce the negative effects of these lipids in mice by feeding the animals a new genetically engineered tomato that is designed to mimic HDL ("good") cholesterol.

Genetic signature identified for leading cause of infant hospitalizations worldwide

Scientists have identified the genetic signature of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of infant hospitalizations around the world. The work is a key step toward a better understanding of the immune response to RSV, which will aid the development of a vaccine and a tool that could allow physicians to determine the severity of the infection when symptoms first develop.

Hubble reveals first scrapbook pictures of Milky Way's formative years

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has provided the first visual evidence showing how our home galaxy, the Milky Way, assembled itself into the majestic pinwheel of stars we see today. Perusing Hubble's deep-sky surveys, astronomers traced 400 galaxies similar to our Milky Way at various stages of construction over a time span of 11 billion years.

Accidental discovery dramatically improves electrical conductivity

Quite by accident, researchers have achieved a 400-fold increase in the electrical conductivity of a crystal simply by exposing it to light. The effect, which lasted for days after the light was turned off, could dramatically improve the performance of devices like computer chips.

Tiny 'Lego' blocks build Janus nanotubes with potential for new drugs and water purification

Researchers have created tiny protein tubes named after the Roman god Janus which may offer a new way to accurately channel drugs into the body's cells.

Gymnasts face high exposure to flame retardants

Competitive gymnasts have a higher exposure to potentially harmful flame-retardants than the general population, likely because such contaminants are present in foam used in gym equipment.

How argonaute proteins intervene in gene regulation process

Scientists identify protein motifs that influence gene silencing.

Higher altitudes result in reduced concussion rates in high school sports

According to a recent study, high school athletes who play collision sports at higher altitudes are less likely to suffer from concussions than those who play at lower altitudes.

Early stages breast cancer could soon be diagnosed from blood samples

A new blood test for the early detection of breast cancer was shown in preliminary studies to successfully identify the presence of breast cancer cells from serum biomarkers.

Compound stymies polyomaviruses in lab tests

There is no approved medicine to treat polyomaviruses, which afflict those with weakened immune systems, but scientists have found that a chemical compound called Retro-2 is able to significantly reduce the infectivity and spread of the viruses in lab cell cultures. Now they are working to improve it further.

Antibiotic resistance an international issue; could be addressed with education

Antibiotic resistance is an international reality whose solution includes better educating physicians about using bacteria-fighting tools, says an infectious disease physician.

Bleeding symptom leads scientists to intracellular trafficker's role in virus propagation

Researchers find a new important clue to how deadly rodent-borne viruses harness ERGIC-53 to ensure their reproductive success.

Potential new treatment for sepsis

Sepsis is the leading cause of in-hospital death and there is no specific treatment for it. Now, research suggests a protein called recombinant human annexin A5 may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of this disease.

Genomics of antiplatelet heart medication being studied

Which antiplatelet medication is best after a coronary stent? The costly and potential life-or-death question lingers after most of the 600,000 angioplasties performed every year in the United States. The answer may lie in your genes, but professional cardiovascular societies and many working cardiologists question the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent recommendation that patients undergo genetic testing before taking Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate).

Researchers test bandaging for swollen arm

As a complication of treatment, breast cancer patients may develop swelling in the arm, called lymphedema, which can last a long time. But there's no difference if simple compression bandages or a complicated daily lymphatic massage are used as treatment.

Few patients with hyperlipidemia receive recommended thyroid screening

Despite current guidelines that recommend newly diagnosed high-cholesterol patients have a TSH blood test done to make sure they do not have hypothyroidism, researchers have found that only about half of these patients were screened for thyroid dysfunction. The findings show the current guidelines may be underutilized.

Clues to cocaine's toxicity could lead to better tests for detection

A new study on cocaine, the notorious white powder illegally snorted, injected or smoked by nearly 2 million Americans, details how it may permanently damage proteins in the body. That information, gleaned from laboratory tests, could be used to potentially detect the drug in biofluids for weeks or months -- instead of days -- after use, say scientists. The findings could also help explain cocaine's long-term health effects.

Penguin-inspired propulsion system

Scientists who have explored leveraging penguins' "rocket" properties to create new propulsion technologies with high maneuverability and improved hydrodynamic efficiency, are creating a penguin-inspired propulsion system that uses a novel spherical joint mechanism.

Large graphene crystals with exceptional electrical properties created

Researchers are using oxygen to grow large single graphene crystals on copper. Large single-crystal graphene is of great interest because the grain boundaries in polycrystalline material have defects, and eliminating such defects makes for a better material.

Jupiter mystery solved: Why the giant planet's mysterious Great Red Spot has not disappeared

Based on what scientists understand about fluid dynamics, Jupiter's Great Red Spot should have disappeared centuries ago. Astronomers now think they can explain why. Their work also provides insight into persistent ocean eddies and vortices that contribute to star and planet formation.

Study examines link in college women's use of substances, condoms

A new study finds a link between alcohol consumption and reduced condom use among college women. The findings also indicate that women who smoke marijuana with established romantic partners may use condoms less often.

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Thursday, November 14, 2013

FeedaMail: ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

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