ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Moa's ark: Why the female giant moa was about twice the size of the male
• Neutrons help explain ozone poisoning and links to thousands of premature deaths each year
• Bean leaves can trap bedbugs, researchers find
• Genetics of life and death in an evolutionary arms-race
• Women with low-self esteem work harder to keep a keeper
• Social media: The perils and pleasures
• Face-to-face negotiations favor the powerful
• Multiple genes robustly contribute to schizophrenia risk in replication study
• Co-infections not associated with worse outcomes during H1N1 pandemic
• Shingles vaccine is associated with reduction in both postherpetic neuralgia and herpes zoster
• Treatment leads to near-normal life expectancy for people with HIV in South Africa
• Manipulating calcium accumulation in blood vessels may provide a new way to treat heart disease
• A new approach for spinal muscular atrophy?
• Researchers create next-generation Alzheimer's disease model
• Genetic biomarker may help identify neuroblastomas vulnerable to novel class of drugs
• Engineered small pox may kill liver cancer
• In autism, age at diagnosis depends on specific symptoms
• Researchers find heart disorder genetic variants in stillbirth cases
• Small molecule unlocks key prostate cancer survival tactic
• Key pathway to stop dangerous, out-of-control inflammation discovered
• Two-drug combo more effective in treating sarcomas
• Engineered antibody demonstrated safety, efficacy in wide range of advanced tumors
• RNA interference drug demonstrated activity and safety in phase I trial
• Hangover remedy examined: Yak-a-mein soup, a.k.a., ‘Old Sober’ 
• New evidence that egg white protein may help high blood pressure
• Surf's up: Turbulence tells sea urchins to settle down
• There is no single sexy chin, study shows
• Advancing secure communications: A better single-photon emitter for quantum cryptography
• Excess estrogen in pregnancy can silence BRCA1 in daughters, increasing breast cancer risk
• Exposure to space radiation reduces ability of intestinal cells to destroy oncoprotein
• Homesickness and adjustment in university students
• Study reveals function of thousands of autoantibodies in blood
• Low on self-control? Surrounding yourself with strong-willed friends may help
• Measuring microbes makes wetland health monitoring more affordable, says researcher
• Dramatically greener Arctic in the coming decades
• Producing new neurons under all circumstances: A challenge that is just a mouse away
• System provides clear brain scans of awake, unrestrained mice
• Meditating before lecture leads to better grades
• Satellite sandwich technique improves analysis of geographical data
• Blockade of pathogen's metabolism
• Electronic implants: New fast transcutaneous non-invasive battery recharger and energy feeder
• Nanotechnology imaging breakthrough
• Selling concert tickets? Consider parking when setting the price
• Does class shape men's attitudes toward home improvement projects?
• Do you get what you pay for? It depends on your culture
• No regrets: Close that menu and enjoy your meal more
• Short-term benefits seen with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for focal hand dystonia
• Does mixing eBay and Facebook reduce bidding prices?
• A step toward optical transistors?
• New evidence that natural substances in green coffee beans help control blood sugar levels
• Human shadow cast over the Caribbean slows coral growth
• Scientists seek sea urchin's secret to surviving ocean acidification
• Trouble in penguin paradise? Research analyzes Antarctic ice flow
• Urban grass might be greener, but that doesn't mean it's 'greener'
• Research holds revelations about an ancient society's water conservation, purification
• Striped like a badger: New genus of bat identified in South Sudan
• New chart shows the entire topography of the Antarctic seafloor in detail for the first time
• First genetic factor in prostate cancer prognosis identified
• Der Steppenworm? Two new species differ from the elusive 'Mongolian Death Worm'
• Copper surfaces reduce the rate of health care-acquired infections in the ICU

Moa's ark: Why the female giant moa was about twice the size of the male Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:19 PM PDT The evolutionary reason for the massive difference in size between male and female giant moa -- the extinct giant birds of New Zealand -- has been revealed for the first time.

Neutrons help explain ozone poisoning and links to thousands of premature deaths each year Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:19 PM PDT Researchers have demonstrated ozone attacks on lung surface fluids.

Bean leaves can trap bedbugs, researchers find Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:19 PM PDT Inspired by a traditional Balkan bedbug remedy, researchers have documented how microscopic hairs on kidney bean leaves effectively stab and trap the biting insects. Scientists are now developing materials that mimic the geometry of the leaves.

Genetics of life and death in an evolutionary arms-race Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:19 PM PDT Scientists have found evidence of the genetic basis of the evolutionary arms-race between parasitoids and their aphid hosts.

Women with low-self esteem work harder to keep a keeper Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:19 PM PDT How desirable women think their partners are to others can affect how much time and effort they invest in the relationship.

Social media: The perils and pleasures Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:18 PM PDT Too much social media activity may damage strong relationships.

Face-to-face negotiations favor the powerful Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:18 PM PDT If you are negotiating with someone who has more power than you it is a good idea to avoid face-to-face meetings.

Multiple genes robustly contribute to schizophrenia risk in replication study Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:35 PM PDT Multiple genes contribute to risk for schizophrenia and appear to function in pathways related to transmission of signals in the brain and immunity, according to an international study.

Co-infections not associated with worse outcomes during H1N1 pandemic Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:35 PM PDT A new study has found that despite complications, patients co-infected with the pandemic 2009-2010 influenza A H1N1 and a second respiratory virus were not associated with worse outcomes or admission to the hospital's intensive care unit.

Shingles vaccine is associated with reduction in both postherpetic neuralgia and herpes zoster Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:35 PM PDT A vaccine to prevent shingles may reduce by half the occurrence of this painful skin and nerve infection in older people (aged over 65 years) and may also reduce the rate of a painful complication of shingles, post-herpetic neuralgia, but has a very low uptake (only 4 percent) in older adults in the United States, according to a new study.

Treatment leads to near-normal life expectancy for people with HIV in South Africa Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:35 PM PDT In South Africa, people with HIV who start treatment with anti-AIDS drugs (antiretroviral therapy) have life expectancies around 80 percent of that of the general population provided that they start treatment before their CD4 count drops below 200 (cells per microliter), according to a study by South African researchers.

Manipulating calcium accumulation in blood vessels may provide a new way to treat heart disease Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:35 PM PDT Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, is the primary cause of heart disease. It's caused by calcium accumulation in the blood vessels, which leads to obstruction of blood flow and heart complications. Although many risk factors for atherosclerosis have been identified, the cause isn't known and there's currently no way to reverse it once it sets in. In a new study, researchers have characterized the cells responsible for driving this calcium build-up in vessel walls.

A new approach for spinal muscular atrophy? Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:34 PM PDT Spinal muscular atrophy is a debilitating neuromuscular disease that in its most severe form is the leading genetic cause of infant death. By experimenting with an ALS drug in two very different animal models, researchers have identified a new potential mechanism for developing an SMA treatment.

Researchers create next-generation Alzheimer's disease model Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:34 PM PDT A new genetically engineered lab rat that has the full array of brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease supports the idea that increases in a molecule called beta-amyloid in the brain causes the disease.

Genetic biomarker may help identify neuroblastomas vulnerable to novel class of drugs Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:34 PM PDT An irregularity within many neuroblastoma cells may indicate whether the tumor is vulnerable to a new class of anti-cancer drugs known as BET bromodomain inhibitors

Engineered small pox may kill liver cancer Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:33 PM PDT As part of a multicenter clinical trial, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine are evaluating Pexa-Vec (JX-594) to slow the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer. Pexa-Vec is a genetically engineered virus that is used in the smallpox vaccine.

In autism, age at diagnosis depends on specific symptoms Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:33 PM PDT The age at which a child with autism is diagnosed is related to the particular suite of behavioral symptoms he or she exhibits, new research shows.

Researchers find heart disorder genetic variants in stillbirth cases Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:32 PM PDT In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers have discovered genetic mutations associated with long QT syndrome (LQTS), a genetic abnormality in the heart's electrical system, in a small number of intrauterine fetal deaths, according to a new study.

Small molecule unlocks key prostate cancer survival tactic Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:32 PM PDT The most recent in a series of studies has shown that a single molecule is at the heart of one of the most basic survival tactics of prostate cancer cells.

Key pathway to stop dangerous, out-of-control inflammation discovered Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:08 PM PDT A potential new strategy to developing new drugs to control inflammation without serious side effects has been found by Georgia State University researchers and international colleagues.

Two-drug combo more effective in treating sarcomas Posted: 09 Apr 2013 12:58 PM PDT Researchers have found that when given together, a two-drug combination acts synergistically in test animals modeled with sarcoma tumors. They report that the drug combination of MK-1775 and gemcitabine resulted in a 70 percent decrease in the tumor volume when compared to receiving one drug or the other.

Engineered antibody demonstrated safety, efficacy in wide range of advanced tumors Posted: 09 Apr 2013 12:58 PM PDT The engineered antibody MPDL3280A, which targets a protein called programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), was safe and effective for several cancers, according to phase I study results.

RNA interference drug demonstrated activity and safety in phase I trial Posted: 09 Apr 2013 12:58 PM PDT Early results from a phase I, first in-human study indicate that a potential new class of drugs, RNA interference (RNAi) drugs, can be safely administered in humans, according to new research.

Hangover remedy examined: Yak-a-mein soup, a.k.a., ‘Old Sober’  Posted: 09 Apr 2013 12:58 PM PDT One of the Crescent City's time-honored traditions -- a steaming bowl of Yak-a-mein Soup, a.k.a., "Old Sober" -- after a night of partying in the French Quarter actually does have a basis in scientific fact, according to new research.

New evidence that egg white protein may help high blood pressure Posted: 09 Apr 2013 12:58 PM PDT Scientists reported new evidence today that a component of egg whites -- already popular as a substitute for whole eggs among health-conscious consumers concerned about cholesterol in the yolk -- may have another beneficial effect in reducing blood pressure.

Surf's up: Turbulence tells sea urchins to settle down Posted: 09 Apr 2013 11:51 AM PDT Tumbling in the waves as they hit a rocky shore tells purple sea urchin larvae it's time to settle down and look for a spot to grow into an adult, researchers at have found.

There is no single sexy chin, study shows Posted: 09 Apr 2013 11:51 AM PDT A new global study finds significant geographic differences in chin shapes.

Advancing secure communications: A better single-photon emitter for quantum cryptography Posted: 09 Apr 2013 11:50 AM PDT In a development that could make the advanced form of secure communications known as quantum cryptography more practical, researchers have demonstrated a simpler, more efficient single-photon emitter that can be made using traditional semiconductor processing techniques.

Excess estrogen in pregnancy can silence BRCA1 in daughters, increasing breast cancer risk Posted: 09 Apr 2013 11:48 AM PDT Excess estrogen levels during pregnancy can disable, in their daughters, a powerful breast cancer tumor suppressor gene, say researchers. They found the DNA repair gene BRCA1 to be silenced in one year-old girls exposed to a high hormonal fetal environment.

Exposure to space radiation reduces ability of intestinal cells to destroy oncoprotein Posted: 09 Apr 2013 11:48 AM PDT With so much recent interest in space travel, many have asked, is it safe? Two studies funded by NASA help explain why space radiation may increase the risk of colorectal cancer in humans.

Homesickness and adjustment in university students Posted: 09 Apr 2013 11:46 AM PDT Sure, many young adults are ecstatic at that first taste of freedom that comes with "going away to college." But for some, the intense transition can also trigger intense homesickness.

Study reveals function of thousands of autoantibodies in blood Posted: 09 Apr 2013 11:43 AM PDT Research suggests a new immunology frontier with evidence that blood contains thousands of autoantibodies that bind specifically to antigens from all over the body, clear cellular debris from injury and disease and vary by age, gender and disease state.

Low on self-control? Surrounding yourself with strong-willed friends may help Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:20 AM PDT People with low self-control prefer and depend on people with high self-control, possibly as a way to make up for the skills they themselves lack, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Measuring microbes makes wetland health monitoring more affordable, says researcher Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:20 AM PDT Tiny, unseen wetland creatures provided crucial indicators of the ecosystems' health in a new study. Using analysis of the microbiological health of wetlands is cheaper and faster than traditional assessments, and could lead to improvements in harnessing natural processes to filter human's wastewater.

Dramatically greener Arctic in the coming decades Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:20 AM PDT Rising temperatures will lead to a massive "greening" of the Arctic by mid-century, as a result of marked increases in plant cover, according to new research.

Producing new neurons under all circumstances: A challenge that is just a mouse away Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:20 AM PDT Improving neuron production in elderly persons presenting with a decline in cognition is a major challenge facing an aging society and the emergence of neuro-degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Researchers in France recently showed that the pharmacological blocking of the TGF-beta molecule improves the production of new neurons in the mouse model.

System provides clear brain scans of awake, unrestrained mice Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:19 AM PDT Researchers have shown that the AwakeSPECT system can obtain detailed, functional images of the brain of a freely moving, conscious mouse.

Meditating before lecture leads to better grades Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:18 AM PDT A new study shows that meditation before class might help students, especially freshmen, focus better and retain information. A random selection of students followed basic meditation instructions before a lecture, and the students who meditated before the lecture scored better on a quiz that followed than students who did not meditate.

Satellite sandwich technique improves analysis of geographical data Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:18 AM PDT A student researcher has developed a new method to combine thermal data from separate satellite systems to create large, detailed maps of regional temperature fluctuation.

Blockade of pathogen's metabolism Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:18 AM PDT In the search for new antibiotics, researchers are taking an unusual approach: They are developing peptides, short chains of protein building blocks that effectively inhibit a key enzyme of bacterial metabolism.

Electronic implants: New fast transcutaneous non-invasive battery recharger and energy feeder Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:18 AM PDT Scientists have developed a non-invasive battery recharger system for electronic implants that allows a longer life for the internal implantable devices in the human body such as pacemakers, defibrillators and electric hearts.

Nanotechnology imaging breakthrough Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:18 AM PDT Scientists have made a major breakthrough in measuring the structure of nanomaterials under extremely high pressures. They developed a new way to get around the severe distortions of high-energy X-ray beams that are used to image the structure of a gold nanocrystal.

Selling concert tickets? Consider parking when setting the price Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT Sellers mostly focus on the desirability of a product when setting prices. Buyers, however, focus evenly on the product itself and what's entailed in using it, according to a new study.

Does class shape men's attitudes toward home improvement projects? Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT Financial pressure and workplace stress lead some American men to take on home improvement projects, according to a new study.

Do you get what you pay for? It depends on your culture Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT Consumers from less individualistic cultures are more likely to judge the quality of a product by its price, according to a new study.

No regrets: Close that menu and enjoy your meal more Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT Certain physical acts of completion provide consumers with a sense of closure that makes them happier with their purchases, according to a new study.

Short-term benefits seen with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for focal hand dystonia Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is being increasingly explored as a therapeutic tool for movement disorders associated with deficient inhibition throughout the central nervous system. This includes treatment of focal hand dystonia (FHD), characterized by involuntary movement of the fingers either curling into the palm or extending outward. A new study reports short-term changes in behavioral, physiologic, and clinical measures that support further research into the therapeutic potential of rTMS.

Does mixing eBay and Facebook reduce bidding prices? Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT In a competitive context, consumers are willing to pay significantly more to win when other bidders are unknown, according to a new study.

A step toward optical transistors? Posted: 09 Apr 2013 09:47 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated a new way to control light in semiconductor nanocrystals.

New evidence that natural substances in green coffee beans help control blood sugar levels Posted: 09 Apr 2013 09:47 AM PDT Scientists today described evidence that natural substances extracted from unroasted coffee beans can help control the elevated blood sugar levels and body weight that underpin type 2 diabetes.

Human shadow cast over the Caribbean slows coral growth Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:16 AM PDT Striking Caribbean sunsets occur when particles in the air scatter incoming sunlight. But a particulate shadow over the sea may have effects underwater. A research team has linked airborne particles caused by volcanic activity and air pollution to episodes of slow coral-reef growth.

Scientists seek sea urchin's secret to surviving ocean acidification Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:16 AM PDT Ocean research reveals rapid evolutionary adaptations to a changing climate. Genetic variation is the key to this ability to deal with higher acidity.

Trouble in penguin paradise? Research analyzes Antarctic ice flow Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:16 AM PDT A student researcher has discovered that a good way to monitor the environmental health of Antarctica is to go with the flow -- the ice flow, that is. It's an important parameter to track because as Antarctica's health goes, so goes the world's.

Urban grass might be greener, but that doesn't mean it's 'greener' Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:16 AM PDT New research explores how efforts to keep urban lawns looking green and healthy might negate the soil's natural ability to store atmospheric toxins.

Research holds revelations about an ancient society's water conservation, purification Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:16 AM PDT New research at the ancient Maya site of Medicinal Trail in northwestern Belize is revealing how populations in more remote areas -- the hinterland societies -- built reservoirs to conserve water and turned to nature to purify their water supply.

Striped like a badger: New genus of bat identified in South Sudan Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:16 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new genus of bat, Niumbaha, after discovering a rare specimen in South Sudan. The word means "rare" or "unusual" in Zande, the language of the Azande people in Western Equatoria State, where the bat was captured. The bat is just the fifth specimen of its kind ever collected, and the first in South Sudan, which gained its independence in 2011.

New chart shows the entire topography of the Antarctic seafloor in detail for the first time Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:16 AM PDT Reliable information on the depth and floor structure of the Southern Ocean has so far been available for only few coastal regions of the Antarctic. Scientists have for the first time succeeded in creating a digital map of the entire Antarctic seafloor.

First genetic factor in prostate cancer prognosis identified Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:15 AM PDT Patients with prostate cancer and hereditary mutations in the BRCA2 gene have a worse prognosis and lower survival rates than do the rest of the patients with the disease.

Der Steppenworm? Two new species differ from the elusive 'Mongolian Death Worm' Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:15 AM PDT Scientists have discovered the first proper earthworms from the Outer Mongolian steppes. Although the two new species don't have the deadly biology of the legendary olgoi-khorkhoi, 'Mongolian Death Worm', they still intrigue with the abilities of their cousins to regenerate body parts when cut in two and survive within astonishing temperature ranges.

Copper surfaces reduce the rate of health care-acquired infections in the ICU Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:00 AM PDT Placement of copper objects in intensive care unit hospital rooms reduced the number of healthcare-acquired infections in patients by more than half, according to a new study.

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