ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Half of species found by 'great plant hunters'
• Brain size may determine whether you are good at keeping friends
• Laser hints at how universe got its magnetism
• Embryonic stem cells shift metabolism in cancer-like way upon implanting in uterus
• Magnetic field researchers target 100-tesla goal
• Home alone: Depression highest for those living alone
• One year later, rehabilitated golden eagle's path revealed
• Beta cell stress could trigger the development of type 1 diabetes
• Getting the dirt on immunity: Scientists show evidence for hygiene hypothesis
• Brown liquor and solar cells to provide sustainable electricity
• A new shortcut for stem cell programming

Half of species found by 'great plant hunters' Posted: 24 Mar 2012 12:03 PM PDT More than 50% of the world's plant species have been discovered by 2% of plant collectors, scientists have found. With an estimated 15-30% of the world's flowering plants yet to be discovered, finding and recording new plant species is vital to our understanding of global biodiversity.

Brain size may determine whether you are good at keeping friends Posted: 24 Mar 2012 11:55 AM PDT Researchers are suggesting that there is a link between the number of friends you have and the size of the region of the brain -- known as the orbital prefrontal cortex -- that is found just above the eyes. A new study shows that this brain region is bigger in people who have a larger number of friendships.

Laser hints at how universe got its magnetism Posted: 24 Mar 2012 11:49 AM PDT Scientists have used a laser to create magnetic fields similar to those thought to be involved in the formation of the first galaxies; findings that could help to solve the riddle of how the universe got its magnetism.

Embryonic stem cells shift metabolism in cancer-like way upon implanting in uterus Posted: 23 Mar 2012 05:55 PM PDT When an embryo implants in the uterus, the low-oxygen environment provokes some of its cells to shift to a sugar-busting metabolism. In cancer cells, the same shift releases fuel and materials for rapid tumor growth and division. In the embryo, the shift prepares for dramatic growth and formation of layers that later become organs. The researchers also saw a mitochondrial downshift linked to aging and disease controlling normal embryonic development. It may protect cells that later become eggs or sperm from oxidant damage.

Magnetic field researchers target 100-tesla goal Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:40 AM PDT Researchers have met the grand challenge of producing magnetic fields in excess of 100 tesla while conducting six different experiments.

Home alone: Depression highest for those living alone Posted: 22 Mar 2012 09:12 PM PDT The number of people living on their own has doubled, over the last three decades, to one in three in the UK and US. New research shows that the risk of depression, measured by people taking antidepressants, is almost 80% higher for those living alone compared to people living in any kind of social or family group. For women a third of this risk was attributable to sociodemographic factors, such as lack of education and low income. For men the biggest contributing factors included poor job climate, lack of support at the work place or in their private lives, and heavy drinking.

One year later, rehabilitated golden eagle's path revealed Posted: 22 Mar 2012 02:36 PM PDT A rare golden eagle rehabilitated and released last year in Massachusetts spent the summer around the Quebec/Labrador border, then returned to the New York/Connecticut area where it was originally found, new data has revealed.

Beta cell stress could trigger the development of type 1 diabetes Posted: 22 Mar 2012 12:15 PM PDT In type 1 diabetes (T1D), pancreatic beta cells die from a misguided autoimmune attack, but how and why that happens is still unclear. Now, scientists have found that a specific type of cellular stress takes place in pancreatic beta cells before the onset of T1D, and that this stress response in the beta cell may in fact help ignite the autoimmune attack.

Getting the dirt on immunity: Scientists show evidence for hygiene hypothesis Posted: 22 Mar 2012 11:21 AM PDT Medical professionals have suggested that the hygiene hypothesis explains the global increase of allergic and autoimmune diseases in urban settings. However, neither biologic support nor a mechanistic basis for the hypothesis has been directly demonstrated. Until now.

Brown liquor and solar cells to provide sustainable electricity Posted: 22 Mar 2012 11:21 AM PDT A breakthrough for inexpensive electricity from solar cells, and a massive investment in wind power, will mean a need to store energy in an intelligent way. According to new research batteries of biological waste products from pulp mills could provide the solution.

A new shortcut for stem cell programming Posted: 22 Mar 2012 10:15 AM PDT Scientists have succeeded in directly generating brain stem cells from the connective tissue cells of mice.

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