ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Asteroid fragments could hint at the origin of the solar system
• Dating between modern humans and Neandertals
• Abortion rates plummet with free birth control
• BPA's real threat may be after it has metabolized: Chemical found in many plastics linked to multiple health threats
• Way, way beyond wrist radios
• Sandia Labs benchmark helps wind industry measure success
• How solvent mixtures affect organic solar cell structure
• Neurofeedback offers effective treatment for bedwetting
• Marathon runners may be at risk for incontinence
• NASA Mars Curiosity rover prepares to study martian soil
• How to restore native grasslands in the interior Pacific Northwest, U.S.
• Northern conifers youngest of the species
• Duck-bill dinosaurs had plant-pulverizing teeth more advanced than horses
• Star discovered racing around black hole at center of our galaxy: Crucial to revealing fabric of space and time
• How ketamine defeats chronic depression
• Insects a prime driver in plant evolution and diversity
• Insects shape genetic landscape through plant defenses
• Ancient carbon resurfacing in lakes challenges current models of long-term carbon storage in lakes and rivers
• Medication use higher among overweight, obese kids
• Toward an artificial pancreas: Math modeling and diabetes control
• What makes self-directed learning effective?
• Scale to measure parent-teacher communication at the K-12 level
• Shoulder dislocation in older patients poses different challenges in diagnosis, treatment
• Better battlefield triage, transport may raise severely wounded soldiers' survival rates
• Fourteen new biomarkers identified for type 2 diabetes
• Climate change beliefs: Political views trump facts for some
• Engineers test rotor landing for capsules
• The Helix Nebula: Bigger in death than life
• NASA's Curiosity rover checks in on Mars using Foursquare
• How bicultural consumers respond to marketing cues
• Fox squirrels show long-term investment savvy when hoarding nuts
• Life cycle of blue-crab parasite unraveled
• More certainty on uncertainty's quantum mechanical role
• Researchers a step closer to controlling inflammation in multiple sclerosis
• Universal map of vision in the human brain
• New function of protein involved in colon cancer identified
• Genetic risk for uterine fibroids identified
• In cancer, an embryonic gene-silencing mechanism gone awry
• The smell of mom: Scientists find elusive trigger of first suckling in mice
• Clot-busting enzymes are working two jobs
• Newborn mice depend on mom's signature scent
• New human neurons from adult cells right there in the brain
• Biologists find electricity in biological clock
• New gene test detects early mouth cancer risk
• Botox versus oral medication for women's incontinence: Benefits, drawbacks described
• Progress reported in tackling initial, recurrent bouts of health care-associated infection
• Bacterium in a laser trap: Light tube can grab and scan even tiniest of unicellular organisms
• Nonprescription medication abuse underestimated
• Increasing occurrence of MRSA bacteria in Denmark
• 'Humanized' mice advance study of rheumatoid arthritis; Human stell cells implanted in mice improve chances of better therapies
• Anthropologist finds evidence of hominin meat eating 1.5 million years ago: Eating meat may have 'made us human'
• Multi-photon approach in quantum cryptography implemented
• Compassion meditation may boost neural basis of empathy, study finds
• BPA linked to thyroid hormone changes in pregnant women, newborns
• Hi-fi single photons
• Artificial cornea could help save vision, make up for lack of donor corneas
• Vehicle construction: Tape laying gets closer to series production
• Heat-conducting composites for seawater desalination
• Lakes react differently to warmer climate
• A molecular scissor related to Alzheimer’s disease

Asteroid fragments could hint at the origin of the solar system Posted: 04 Oct 2012 05:10 PM PDT Scientists are analyzing minute asteroid fragments which could shed light on the origin and evolution of the solar system.

Dating between modern humans and Neandertals Posted: 04 Oct 2012 05:10 PM PDT To discover why Neandertals are most closely related to people outside Africa, scientists have estimated the date when Neandertals and modern Europeans last shared ancestors. The research provides a historical context for the interbreeding. It suggests that it occurred when modern humans carrying Upper Paleolithic technologies encountered Neandertals as they expanded out of Africa.

Abortion rates plummet with free birth control Posted: 04 Oct 2012 05:09 PM PDT Providing birth control to women at no cost substantially reduced unplanned pregnancies and cut abortion rates by 62 percent to 78 percent over the national rate, a new study shows.

BPA's real threat may be after it has metabolized: Chemical found in many plastics linked to multiple health threats Posted: 04 Oct 2012 05:09 PM PDT Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical widely used in the making of plastic products ranging from bottles and food can linings to toys and water supply lines. When these plastics degrade, BPA is released into the environment and routinely ingested. New research suggests it's the metabolic changes that take place once BPA is broken down inside the body that pose the greater health threat.

Way, way beyond wrist radios Posted: 04 Oct 2012 01:30 PM PDT To believe that technologies once dreamed of in science fiction novels, television shows, and comic strips may one day be a reality, or that real-world technologies might make the fantastic devices of fiction obsolete, you'd need to be either an optimist ... or a futurist in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate.

Sandia Labs benchmark helps wind industry measure success Posted: 04 Oct 2012 01:30 PM PDT Sandia National Laboratories published the second annual 2012 Wind Plant Reliability Benchmark on Oct. 1, 2012, and the results should help the nation's growing wind industry benchmark its performance, understand vulnerabilities and enhance productivity.

How solvent mixtures affect organic solar cell structure Posted: 04 Oct 2012 01:30 PM PDT Controlling "mixing" between acceptor and donor layers, or domains, in polymer-based solar cells could increase their efficiency, according to a team of researchers.

Neurofeedback offers effective treatment for bedwetting Posted: 04 Oct 2012 01:29 PM PDT For children, nighttime bedwetting is a common problem, often requiring intervention. The use of medicine and other treatments has met with limited success. Targeting neuronal activities of the brain through neurofeedback, however, has shown promising results.

Marathon runners may be at risk for incontinence Posted: 04 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT While many marathon runners may be preoccupied with shin splints, chafing and blisters come race day, one thing they may not consider is their bladder health.

NASA Mars Curiosity rover prepares to study martian soil Posted: 04 Oct 2012 12:53 PM PDT NASA's Curiosity rover is in a position on Mars where scientists and engineers can begin preparing the rover to take its first scoop of soil for analysis.

How to restore native grasslands in the interior Pacific Northwest, U.S. Posted: 04 Oct 2012 12:06 PM PDT Weed scientists in Oregon have found that the timing of herbicide application along with reseeding of native grasses offers the best recipe for restoring native grasslands while controlling invasive weeds. Grasslands are a valuable resource for ecosystems, providing soil conservation, food and fiber production, and wildlife habitat. When threatened by invading exotic species, the quality and quantity of forage for wildlife can be reduced, fire frequencies can be altered, soil moisture and nutrients can be depleted, and the costs of land management can increase.

Northern conifers youngest of the species Posted: 04 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT Dramatic shifts in the planet's climate and geography over millions of years changed the course of evolutionary history for conifer trees, according to new research.

Duck-bill dinosaurs had plant-pulverizing teeth more advanced than horses Posted: 04 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT A team of paleontologists and engineers has found that duck-billed dinosaurs had an amazing capacity to chew tough and abrasive plants with grinding teeth more complex than those of cows, horses, and other well-known modern grazers. Their study is the first to recover material properties from fossilized teeth.

Star discovered racing around black hole at center of our galaxy: Crucial to revealing fabric of space and time Posted: 04 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT Astronomers report the discovery of a remarkable star that orbits the enormous black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy in a blistering 11-and-a-half years, the shortest known orbit of any star near this black hole.

How ketamine defeats chronic depression Posted: 04 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT Many chronically depressed and treatment-resistant patients experience immediate relief from symptoms after taking small amounts of the drug ketamine. For a decade, scientists have been trying to explain the observation.

Insects a prime driver in plant evolution and diversity Posted: 04 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT Take a good look around on your next nature hike. Not only are you experiencing the wonders of the outdoors -- you're probably also witnessing evolution in action.

Insects shape genetic landscape through plant defenses Posted: 04 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT In a new study involving aphids and the broccoli-like research plant Arabidopsis thaliana, scientists offer the first measurable evidence that plant-eating insects influence the genetic variation of their host plants through the plant's natural defense mechanisms.

Ancient carbon resurfacing in lakes challenges current models of long-term carbon storage in lakes and rivers Posted: 04 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT A new study reveals that a significant amount of carbon released into the atmosphere from lakes and rivers in Southern Québec, Canada, is very old -- approximately 1,000 to 3,000 years old -- challenging the current models of long-term carbon storage in lakes and rivers.

Medication use higher among overweight, obese kids Posted: 04 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT Overweight children are far more likely to take prescription medications than children of a normal weight, according to new research.

Toward an artificial pancreas: Math modeling and diabetes control Posted: 04 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT Medical researchers propose novel mathematical models for injection of insulin in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The models simulate injections of insulin in the manner of insulin pumps, which deliver periodic impulses in diabetes patients.

What makes self-directed learning effective? Posted: 04 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT In recent years, educators have placed more emphasis on the importance of hands-on participation and student-led inquiry. While the benefits of self-directed learning are widely acknowledged, the reasons why a sense of control over the learning process might lead to better acquisition of material are poorly understood. Psychological scientists address this gap in understanding in a new article by examining the issue of self-directed learning from a cognitive and a computational perspective.

Scale to measure parent-teacher communication at the K-12 level Posted: 04 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT The Parental Academic Support Scale was developed to assess the supportive interactions between parents and teachers, including the frequency of specific behaviors associated with parental academic support, parents' perceptions of the importance of those supportive behaviors, and the modes (e-mail, face-to-face interactions, phone, etc.) of communication that parents commonly use to communicate with teachers.

Shoulder dislocation in older patients poses different challenges in diagnosis, treatment Posted: 04 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT Although shoulder dislocation can occur at about the same rates in both younger and older patients, injuries in older patients are more likely to be overlooked or misdiagnosed, resulting in years of persistent pain and disability.

Better battlefield triage, transport may raise severely wounded soldiers' survival rates Posted: 04 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT Wounded soldiers who sustained chest injuries in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom had higher mortality rates than soldiers in Korea and Vietnam, but improved battlefield triage and transport may have meant that severely wounded soldiers whom would have been considered killed in action in previous conflicts are more likely to get sent to trauma centers in the United States sooner in their course of care.

Fourteen new biomarkers identified for type 2 diabetes Posted: 04 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT Researchers have identified 14 novel biomarkers for type 2 diabetes. The biomarkers can serve as basis for developing new methods of treatment and prevention. They can also be used to determine diabetes risk at a very early point in time and enable insight into the complex mechanisms of this disease, which still have not been completely elucidated.

Climate change beliefs: Political views trump facts for some Posted: 04 Oct 2012 10:47 AM PDT For some people, scientific facts help determine what they believe about an issue. But for others, political views trump scientific facts and determine what information they will accept as true. It's a phenomenon that is particularly prevalent on the issue of climate change.

Engineers test rotor landing for capsules Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:20 AM PDT A team of researchers brought a pair of scale model space capsules to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to try out a rotor system that could be used in place of parachutes on returning spacecraft.

The Helix Nebula: Bigger in death than life Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:18 AM PDT A dying star is refusing to go quietly into the night, as seen in a combined infrared and ultraviolet view from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX), which NASA has lent to the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. In death, the star's dusty outer layers are unraveling into space, glowing from the intense ultraviolet radiation being pumped out by the hot stellar core.

NASA's Curiosity rover checks in on Mars using Foursquare Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:17 AM PDT NASA's Curiosity Mars rover checked in on Mars Wednesday using the mobile application Foursquare. This marks the first check-in on another planet. Users on Foursquare can keep up with Curiosity as the rover checks in at key locations and posts photos and tips, all while exploring the Red Planet.

How bicultural consumers respond to marketing cues Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:16 AM PDT Consider a Japanese-American woman strolling through a mall. If she passes by a UNIQLO store, is she more likely to opt for sushi than a hamburger when she reaches the food court? Would this cue of Japanese culture draw out her Japanese side? The answer, new research suggests, depends on the degree to which she has integrated her cultural identities.

Fox squirrels show long-term investment savvy when hoarding nuts Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:16 AM PDT Researchers are gathering evidence this fall that the feisty fox squirrels scampering around campus are not just mindlessly foraging for food, but engaging in a long-term savings strategy. Humans could learn something about padding their nest eggs from squirrels' diversification efforts. Of course, with squirrels, it's not about money, but about nuts.

Life cycle of blue-crab parasite unraveled Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:16 AM PDT Biologists have succeeded in their 15-year effort to unravel the life history of Hematodinium, a single-celled parasite that afflicts blue crabs and is of growing concern to aquaculture operations and wild fisheries around the world.

More certainty on uncertainty's quantum mechanical role Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:16 AM PDT Researchers are presenting findings that observation need not disturb systems as much as once thought, severing the act of measurement from the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

Researchers a step closer to controlling inflammation in multiple sclerosis Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:16 AM PDT New research suggests a possible new mechanism to control multiple sclerosis.

Universal map of vision in the human brain Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:15 AM PDT Nearly 100 years after a British neurologist first mapped the blind spots caused by missile wounds to the brains of soldiers, researchers have perfected his map using modern-day technology. Their results create a map of vision in the brain based upon an individual's brain structure, even for people who cannot see.

New function of protein involved in colon cancer identified Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:15 AM PDT Researchers have determined the function of a new variant of enzyme IKKalpha (IKK±) is to activate some of the genes taking part in the tumor progressions of colorectal cancer. In the future, this knowledge will make it possible to design new drugs that inhibit this enzyme specifically and are less toxic for the remaining body cells, hence improving the treatment for this disease.

Genetic risk for uterine fibroids identified Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:15 AM PDT Researchers detected genetic variants that are significantly associated with uterine fibroid status in a span of three genes including FASN which encodes a protein called FAS.

In cancer, an embryonic gene-silencing mechanism gone awry Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:15 AM PDT Many types of cancer could originate from a mechanism that cells use to silence genes. This process, which is essential in embryonic development, might be accidentally reactivated in tumor cells, according to scientists.

The smell of mom: Scientists find elusive trigger of first suckling in mice Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:15 AM PDT Biologists have solved the long-standing scientific mystery of how mice first know to nurse or suckle. This basic mammalian instinct, which could be a key to understanding instinctive behavior more generally, was thought to be triggered by a specific odor (pheromone) that all mouse mothers emit. But the trigger in mice turns out to be a more complicated blend of nature and nurture: a signature mix of odors, unique for each mother, which her offspring learn.

Clot-busting enzymes are working two jobs Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:15 AM PDT The body's blood clot-busting enzymes are much busier than previously imagined, with new research showing that they also dispose of every cell that dies prematurely from disease or trauma.

Newborn mice depend on mom's signature scent Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:15 AM PDT For newborn mice to suckle for the very first time and survive, they depend on a signature blend of scents that is unique to their mothers. The findings reveal that mom's natural perfume consists of odors emitted from the amniotic fluid, which served to nourish and protect those young mice before they were born.

New human neurons from adult cells right there in the brain Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:15 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a way to generate new human neurons from another type of adult cell found in our brains. The discovery is one step toward cell-based therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Biologists find electricity in biological clock Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:11 AM PDT Biologists have uncovered new ways our biological clock's neurons use electrical activity to help keep behavioral rhythms in order. The findings also point to fresh directions for exploring sleep disorders and related afflictions.

New gene test detects early mouth cancer risk Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:42 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new gene test that can detect pre-cancerous cells in patients with benign-looking mouth lesions. The test could potentially allow at-risk patients to receive earlier treatment, significantly improving their chance of survival.

Botox versus oral medication for women's incontinence: Benefits, drawbacks described Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:42 AM PDT Oral medication for treating a type of incontinence in women is roughly as effective as Botox injections to the bladder, reported researchers who conducted a clinical trials network study, with each form of treatment having benefits and limitations.

Progress reported in tackling initial, recurrent bouts of health care-associated infection Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:42 AM PDT Researchers described the progress being made toward preventing initial and recurrent bouts of clostridium difficile colitis (C. difficile or C. diff), a vicious bacterial infection.

Bacterium in a laser trap: Light tube can grab and scan even tiniest of unicellular organisms Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:40 AM PDT Scientists have constructed an innovative new optical trap that can grab and scan tiny elongated bacteria with the help of a laser. The physicists created a kind of light tube that traps the agile unicellular organisms. Optical tweezers could previously only be used to grab bacteria at one point, not to manipulate their orientation. Researchers have now succeeded in using a quickly moving, focused laser beam to exert an equally distributed force over the entire bacterium, which constantly changes its complex form. At the same time, they were able to record the movements of the trapped bacterium in high-speed three-dimensional images by measuring miniscule deflections of the light particles.

Nonprescription medication abuse underestimated Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:40 AM PDT Nonprescription medications are just as likely a cause of poisoning as prescription drugs, according to a new study.

Increasing occurrence of MRSA bacteria in Denmark Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:40 AM PDT In 2011, more Danes became infected with MRSA bacteria, and the number was the highest in over 25 years. The increase was primarily seen in otherwise healthy people without any hospital relation. Although the number of MRSA positive pig herds is on a par with the level seen in 2010, significantly more pigs at slaughter were found to be infected with the so-called pig MRSA, and the number of people infected with pig MRSA is increasing.

'Humanized' mice advance study of rheumatoid arthritis; Human stell cells implanted in mice improve chances of better therapies Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:35 AM PDT Researchers have developed the first animal model that duplicates the human response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an important step that may enable scientists to discover better medicines to treat the disease. This is the first time human stem cells have been transplanted into mice in order to find RA treatments.

Anthropologist finds evidence of hominin meat eating 1.5 million years ago: Eating meat may have 'made us human' Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:35 AM PDT A skull fragment unearthed in Tanzania shows our ancient ancestors ate meat at least 1.5 million years ago, shedding new light on human evolution.

Multi-photon approach in quantum cryptography implemented Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:35 AM PDT Move over money, a new currency is helping make the world go round. As increasing volumes of data become accessible, transferable and, therefore, actionable, information is the treasure companies want to amass. To protect this wealth, organizations use cryptography, or coded messages, to secure information from "technology robbers." This group of hackers and malware creators increasingly is becoming more sophisticated at breaking encrypted information, leaving everyone and everything, including national security and global commerce, at risk.

Compassion meditation may boost neural basis of empathy, study finds Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:35 AM PDT A compassion-based meditation program can significantly improve a person's ability to read the facial expressions of others, finds a new study. This boost in empathic accuracy was detected through both behavioral testing of the study participants and through functional magnetic resonance imaging scans of their brain activity. The meditation protocol, known as Cognitively-Based Compassion Training, or CBCT, is derived from ancient Tibetan Buddhist practices, although the program is secular in content and presentation.

BPA linked to thyroid hormone changes in pregnant women, newborns Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:35 AM PDT A new study adds to growing concerns about the health effects of Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound commonly found in the lining of tin cans, hard plastics and certain store receipts. Researchers have linked prenatal exposure to BPA to changes in thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women and newborn boys.

Hi-fi single photons Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:32 AM PDT A trade-off between photon source settings and detector specific requirements allows the generation of high-fidelity single photons. Many quantum technologies-such as cryptography, quantum computing and quantum networks-hinge on the use of single photons. Researchers have now identified the extent to which photon detector characteristics shape the preparation of a photon source designed to reliably generate single photons.

Artificial cornea could help save vision, make up for lack of donor corneas Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:32 AM PDT Blindness is often caused by corneal diseases. The established treatment is a corneal transplant, but in many cases this is not possible and donor corneas are often hard to come by. In the future, an artificial cornea could make up for this deficiency and save the vision of those affected.

Vehicle construction: Tape laying gets closer to series production Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:32 AM PDT New approaches are needed for vehicle construction. While vehicles to date have mostly been built using metals such as aluminum and steel, the approaching era of electromobility will require light-weight construction. That means that new materials must be found. Fiber-reinforced plastics offer significant potential. These are fibers that are impregnated with a plastic matrix and are utilized as composite materials. These materials offer a rigidity similar to that of metals.

Heat-conducting composites for seawater desalination Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:32 AM PDT Drinking water is a scarce commodity – a fact no longer limited to the desert regions of the world. During the hot summer months, drinking water is a valuable commodity in Mediterranean countries such as Spain and Portugal, too. As a result, industrial plants that can desalinate seawater and convert it to drinking water are on the rise.

Lakes react differently to warmer climate Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:31 AM PDT A future warmer climate will produce different effects in different lakes. Researchers have now been able to explain that the effects of climate change depend on what organisms are dominant in the lake. Algal blooms will increase, especially of toxic blue-green algae.

A molecular scissor related to Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:31 AM PDT An international research team has revealed the atomic‐level structure of the human peptidase enzyme meprin beta. The enzyme is related to inflammation, cancer and Alzheimer's disease and is involved in cellular proliferation and differentiation. The knowledge of the enzyme structure will allow for the development of a new medication type different from those known up to now.

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