ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Maya Long Count calendar and European calendar linked using carbon-14 dating
• Discovery points to new approach to fight dengue virus
• Molecular hub links obesity, heart disease to high blood pressure
• Stem cell proliferation and differentiation observed within hydrogel
• Warmest summers in last two decades in northern latitudes were unprecedented in six centuries
• Sleep apnea patients more likely to report nodding at the wheel and fail driving simulator tests
• New technique measures evaporation globally
• Sea mammals find U. S. safe harbor
• Enzymes from horse feces could hold secrets to streamlining biofuel production
• Revealing the scientific secrets of why people can't stop after eating one potato chip
• Bone-marrow grafts show promise for some sufferers of low-back pain
• 'Seeing' the flavor of foods before tasting them
• Most effective PTSD therapies are not being widely used, researchers find
• Solar booster shot for natural gas power plants
• Ice cloud heralds fall at Titan's south pole
• Molecular techniques are 'man's new best friend' in pet obesity research
• What happens in the brain to make music rewarding?
• How 2-million-year-old ancestor moved: Sediba's ribcage and feet were not suitable for running
• Fossilized teeth provide new insight into human ancestor: Species identified in 2010 is one of closest relatives to humans
• 'Strikingly similar' brains of human and fly may aid mental health research
• How Au. Sediba walked, chewed and moved
• Scientists find interferon, one of the body's own proteins, induces persistent viral infection
• Material screening method allows more precise control over stem cells
• Gene that causes newborn spleen disease identified
• How human ancestor walked, chewed, and moved
• Self-medication in animals much more widespread than believed
• Blocking immune response protein helps body clear chronic infection; Potential therapy for HIV, other viral infections?
• Walk this way: New research suggests human ancestors may have used different forms of bipedalism during the plio-pleistocene
• Tiny wireless device shines light on mouse brain, generating reward
• Reaction rates of second key atmospheric component measured
• NASA Mars Orbiter images may show 1971 Soviet lander
• Texting, social networking and other media use linked to poor academic performance
• Individual donation amounts drop when givers are in groups
• Interactions between drugs can also be measured at lowest doses
• New findings on the brain's immune cells during Alzheimer's disease progression
• Information technology amplifies irrational group behavior
• Healing by the clock: In fruit flies, intestinal stem-cell regeneration fluctuates with the time of day
• How some leaves got fat: It's the veins
• Mutations found in individuals with autism interfere with endocannabinoid signaling in the brain
• Sound stimulation during sleep can enhance memory
• Weight loss surgery not only shrinks waists but also affects genes
• Over half of young adult deaths could be preventable if parents and children work together, experts say
• Genetic master controls expose cancers' Achilles' heel
• NASA's asteroid initiative: Robotically capture small near-Earth asteroid and explore it
• Chickens with bigger gizzards are more efficient
• Lady flies can decide who will father their young
• Do drugs for bipolar disorder 'normalize' brain gene function?
• Bose-Einstein condensates evaluated for quantum computers
• Molecular 'superglue' based on flesh-eating bacteria
• Scientists create phantom sensations in non-amputees
• Restoring paretic hand function via an artificial neural connection bridging spinal cord injury
• Archaeologists shine new light on Easter Island statue
• Innovative self-cooling, thermoelectric system consumes no electricity
• Despite what you may think, your brain is a mathematical genius: How visual system automatically adapts to new environments

Maya Long Count calendar and European calendar linked using carbon-14 dating Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:49 PM PDT The Maya are famous for their complex, intertwined calendric systems, and now one calendar, the Maya Long Count, is empirically calibrated to the modern European calendar, according to an international team of researchers.

Discovery points to new approach to fight dengue virus Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:49 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that rising temperature induces key changes in the dengue virus when it enters its human host, and the findings represent a new approach for designing vaccines against the aggressive mosquito-borne pathogen.

Molecular hub links obesity, heart disease to high blood pressure Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:49 PM PDT A new study identifies a brain protein that acts as a communications hub for blood pressure control, and links cardiovascular disease and obesity to hypertension.

Stem cell proliferation and differentiation observed within hydrogel Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:49 PM PDT A new technique holds promise for studying how physical, chemical and other influences affect stem cell behavior in three-dimensions, and, ultimately, as a method to grow tissues for regenerative medicine applications.

Warmest summers in last two decades in northern latitudes were unprecedented in six centuries Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:48 PM PDT Through developing a statistical model of Arctic temperature and how it relates to instrumental and proxy records derived from trees, ice cores, and lake sediments, scientists have shown that the warmest summers in the last two decades are unprecedented in the previous six centuries.

Sleep apnea patients more likely to report nodding at the wheel and fail driving simulator tests Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:48 PM PDT People with sleep apnea are more likely to fail a driving simulator test and report nodding whilst driving, according to new research.

New technique measures evaporation globally Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:46 PM PDT Researchers have developed the first method to map evaporation globally using weather stations, which will help scientists evaluate water resource management, assess recent trends of evaporation throughout the globe, and validate surface hydrologic models in various conditions.

Sea mammals find U. S. safe harbor Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:46 PM PDT New research shows that many US marine mammal populations -- especially some seals and sea lions -- have rebounded since 1972, because of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Enzymes from horse feces could hold secrets to streamlining biofuel production Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:46 PM PDT Stepping into unexplored territory in efforts to use corn stalks, grass and other non-food plants to make biofuels, scientists have now described the discovery of a potential treasure-trove of candidate enzymes in fungi thriving in the feces and intestinal tracts of horses.

Revealing the scientific secrets of why people can't stop after eating one potato chip Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:42 PM PDT The scientific secrets underpinning that awful reality about potato chips — eat one and you're apt to scarf 'em all down — began coming out of the bag today.

Bone-marrow grafts show promise for some sufferers of low-back pain Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT Autologous bio-cellular grafts are increasingly encountered in surgical literature as a means to enhance tissue repair. Biologic graft use has expanded beyond simple platelet rich plasma to encompass bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and adipose derived autologous stem cell products. The clinical application of such grafts in the treatment of low back pain is intriguing, but remains unproven.

'Seeing' the flavor of foods before tasting them Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT The eyes sometimes have it, beating out the tongue, nose and brain in the emotional and biochemical balloting that determines the taste and allure of food, a scientist said at a recent meeting. He described how people sometimes "see" flavors in foods and beverages before actually tasting them.

Most effective PTSD therapies are not being widely used, researchers find Posted: 11 Apr 2013 12:24 PM PDT Post-traumatic stress disorder affects nearly 8 million adults in any given year, federal statistics show. Fortunately, clinical research has identified certain psychological interventions that effectively ameliorate the symptoms of PTSD. But most people struggling with PTSD don't receive those treatments, according to a new report.

Solar booster shot for natural gas power plants Posted: 11 Apr 2013 12:23 PM PDT A new system reduces carbon emissions and fuel usage at natural gas power plants by 20 percent by injecting solar energy into natural gas.

Ice cloud heralds fall at Titan's south pole Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:31 AM PDT An ice cloud taking shape over Titan's south pole is the latest sign that the change of seasons is setting off a cascade of radical changes in the atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon. Made from an unknown ice, this type of cloud has long hung over Titan's north pole, where it is now fading, according to new observations.

Molecular techniques are 'man's new best friend' in pet obesity research Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:30 AM PDT Molecular biology technologies are making the mechanisms underlying the pet obesity epidemic more easily understood.

What happens in the brain to make music rewarding? Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:30 AM PDT A new study reveals what happens in our brain when we decide to purchase a piece of music when we hear it for the first time. The study pinpoints the specific brain activity that makes new music rewarding and predicts the decision to purchase music.

How 2-million-year-old ancestor moved: Sediba's ribcage and feet were not suitable for running Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:29 AM PDT Researchers have described the anatomy of a single early hominin in six new studies. Australopithecus sediba was discovered near Johannesburg in 2008. The studies demonstrate how our 2-million-year-old ancestor walked, chewed and moved.

Fossilized teeth provide new insight into human ancestor: Species identified in 2010 is one of closest relatives to humans Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:29 AM PDT A dental study of fossilized remains found in South Africa in 2008 provides new support that this species is one of the closest relatives to early humans.

'Strikingly similar' brains of human and fly may aid mental health research Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:29 AM PDT Scientists have revealed deep similarities in how the brain regulates behavior in arthropods (such as flies and crabs) and vertebrates (such as fish, mice and humans). The findings shed new light on the evolution of the brain and behavior and may aid understanding of disease mechanisms underlying mental health problems.

How Au. Sediba walked, chewed and moved Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:29 AM PDT The 2-million-year-old fossils belong to the species Australopithecus sediba (Au. sediba) and provides "unprecedented insight into the anatomy and phylogenetic position of an early human ancestor," one of the researchers said.

Scientists find interferon, one of the body's own proteins, induces persistent viral infection Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:28 AM PDT Scientists have made a counterintuitive finding that may lead to new ways to clear persistent infection that is the hallmark of such diseases as AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Material screening method allows more precise control over stem cells Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:27 AM PDT When it comes to delivering genes to living human tissue, the odds of success come down the molecule. The entire therapy — including the tools used to bring new genetic material into a cell — must have predictable effects.

Gene that causes newborn spleen disease identified Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:27 AM PDT Researchers have identified the defective gene responsible for a rare disorder in which children are born without a spleen, which makes them susceptible to life-threatening bacterial infections. The findings may lead to new diagnostic tests and raises new questions about the role of this gene in the body's protein-making machinery.

How human ancestor walked, chewed, and moved Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:27 AM PDT Scientists have pieced together how the hominid Australopithecus sediba (Au. sediba) walked, chewed, and moved nearly two million years ago. Their research also shows that Au. sediba had a notable feature that differed from that of modern humans —- a functionally longer and more flexible lower back.

Self-medication in animals much more widespread than believed Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:27 AM PDT It's been known for decades that animals such as chimpanzees seek out medicinal herbs to treat their diseases. But in recent years, the list of animal pharmacists has grown much longer, and it now appears that the practice of animal self-medication is a lot more widespread than previously thought, according to ecologists.

Blocking immune response protein helps body clear chronic infection; Potential therapy for HIV, other viral infections? Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:27 AM PDT Scientists have shown that temporarily blocking a protein critical to immune response actually helps the body clear itself of chronic infection. The finding suggests new approaches to treating HIV and other persistent viral infections.

Walk this way: New research suggests human ancestors may have used different forms of bipedalism during the plio-pleistocene Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:27 AM PDT According to a new study, our Australopithecus ancestors may have used different approaches to getting around on two feet. The new findings represent the culmination of more than four years of research into the anatomy of Australopithecus sediba (Au. sediba). The two-million-year-old fossils, discovered in Malapa cave in South Africa in 2008, are some of the most complete early human ancestral remains ever found.

Tiny wireless device shines light on mouse brain, generating reward Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:27 AM PDT Using a miniature electronic device implanted in the brain, scientists have tapped into the internal reward system of mice, prodding neurons to release dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure. This implantable LED device is smaller than the eye of a needle and activates brain cells with light.

Reaction rates of second key atmospheric component measured Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:27 AM PDT Researchers have successfully measured reaction rates of a second Criegee intermediate, CH3CHOO, and proven that the reactivity of the atmospheric chemical depends strongly on which way the molecule is twisted.

NASA Mars Orbiter images may show 1971 Soviet lander Posted: 11 Apr 2013 10:33 AM PDT Hardware from a spacecraft that the Soviet Union landed on Mars in 1971 might appear in images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. While following news about Mars and NASA's Curiosity rover, Russian citizen enthusiasts found four features in a five-year-old image from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter that resemble four pieces of hardware from the Soviet Mars 3 mission: the parachute, heat shield, terminal retrorocket and lander. A follow-up image by the orbiter from last month shows the same features.

Texting, social networking and other media use linked to poor academic performance Posted: 11 Apr 2013 10:17 AM PDT Freshmen women spend nearly half their day -- 12 hours -- engaged in some form of media use, particularly texting, music, the Internet and social networking.

Individual donation amounts drop when givers are in groups Posted: 11 Apr 2013 10:17 AM PDT An anthropologist recently found that even when multiple individuals can contribute to a common cause, the presence of others reduces an individual's likelihood of helping.

Interactions between drugs can also be measured at lowest doses Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:40 AM PDT Clinical pharmacologists have achieved major progress for improving the reliability of drugs. In a pharmacological study, they showed that interactions between drugs can be detected with minute doses in the range of nanograms.

New findings on the brain's immune cells during Alzheimer's disease progression Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:40 AM PDT The plaque deposits in the brain of Alzheimer's patients are surrounded by the brain's own immune cells, the microglia. But it still remains unclear what role microglia play in Alzheimer's disease. Do they help break down the plaque deposit?

Information technology amplifies irrational group behavior Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:40 AM PDT Web tools and social media are our key sources of information when we make decisions as citizens and consumers. But these information technologies can mislead us by magnifying social processes that distort facts and make us act contrary to our own interests. Companies such as Google and Facebook have designed algorithms that are intended to filter away irrelevant information -- known as information selection -- so that we are only served content that fits our clicking history. Researchers say this is, from a democratic perspective, a problem as you may never in your online life encounter views or arguments that contradict your worldview.

Healing by the clock: In fruit flies, intestinal stem-cell regeneration fluctuates with the time of day Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:39 AM PDT Genetic screening in flies reveals that the circadian clock regulates intestinal regeneration in response to damage, meaning that gut healing fluctuates according to the time of day.

How some leaves got fat: It's the veins Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:39 AM PDT Some plants, such as succulents, have managed to grow very plump leaves. For that to happen, according to a new study, plants had to evolve three-dimensional arrangements of their leaf veins. That's how they could maintain adequately efficient hydraulics for photosynthesis.

Mutations found in individuals with autism interfere with endocannabinoid signaling in the brain Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:38 AM PDT Mutations found in individuals with autism block the action of molecules made by the brain that act on the same receptors that marijuana's active chemical acts on, according to new research. The findings implicate specific molecules, called endocannabinoids, in the development of some autism cases and point to potential treatment strategies.

Sound stimulation during sleep can enhance memory Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:38 AM PDT Slow oscillations in brain activity, which occur during so-called slow-wave sleep, are critical for retaining memories. Researchers have found that playing sounds synchronized to the rhythm of the slow brain oscillations of people who are sleeping enhances these oscillations and boosts their memory.

Weight loss surgery not only shrinks waists but also affects genes Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:38 AM PDT Gastric bypass surgery can drastically reduce the body weight of obese individuals in a short timeframe. For reasons that are not entirely clear, the surgery also leads to early remission of type 2 diabetes in the vast majority of patients.

Over half of young adult deaths could be preventable if parents and children work together, experts say Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:34 AM PDT New research highlights how teaching kids to identify risks and control their actions can prevent tragedies.

Genetic master controls expose cancers' Achilles' heel Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:34 AM PDT In a surprising finding that helps explain fundamental behaviors of normal and diseased cells, scientists have discovered a set of powerful gene regulators dubbed "super-enhancers" that control cell state and identity.

NASA's asteroid initiative: Robotically capture small near-Earth asteroid and explore it Posted: 11 Apr 2013 08:34 AM PDT NASA's FY2014 budget proposal includes a plan to robotically capture a small near-Earth asteroid and redirect it safely to a stable orbit in the Earth-moon system where astronauts can visit and explore it.

Chickens with bigger gizzards are more efficient Posted: 11 Apr 2013 08:02 AM PDT According to animal scientists, farmers could further protect the environment by breeding chickens with larger digestive organs. This research could solve a major problem in poultry production.

Lady flies can decide who will father their young Posted: 11 Apr 2013 08:01 AM PDT Female flies choose whose sperm they want based on male mating effort. Females in the animal kingdom have many methods available to them to help bias male paternity. One such process is displayed by Euxesta bilimeki, a species of Ulidiid fly, whose females expel and then consume male ejaculate after copulation.

Do drugs for bipolar disorder 'normalize' brain gene function? Posted: 11 Apr 2013 07:58 AM PDT Every day, millions of people with bipolar disorder take medicines to stabilize their moods. But just how these drugs work is still a mystery. Now, a new study of brain tissue helps reveal what might actually be happening. And further research using stem cells programmed to act like brain cells is already underway.

Bose-Einstein condensates evaluated for quantum computers Posted: 11 Apr 2013 07:58 AM PDT Physicists have examined how Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) might be used to provide communication among the nodes of a distributed quantum computer. The researchers determined the amount of time needed for quantum information to propagate across their BEC.

Molecular 'superglue' based on flesh-eating bacteria Posted: 11 Apr 2013 07:58 AM PDT In a classic case of turning an enemy into a friend, scientists have engineered a protein from flesh-eating bacteria to act as a molecular "superglue" that promises to become a disease fighter.

Scientists create phantom sensations in non-amputees Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:56 AM PDT The sensation of having a physical body is not as self-evident as one might think. Almost everyone who has had an arm or leg amputated experiences a phantom limb: a vivid sensation that the missing limb is still present. A new study by neuroscientists in Sweden shows that it is possible to evoke the illusion of having a phantom hand in non-amputated individuals.

Restoring paretic hand function via an artificial neural connection bridging spinal cord injury Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:56 AM PDT Scientists have investigated the effects of introducing a novel artificial neural connection which bridged a spinal cord lesion in a paretic monkey. This allowed the monkey to electrically stimulate the spinal cord through controlled brain activity and thereby to restore volitional control of the paretic hand.

Archaeologists shine new light on Easter Island statue Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:56 AM PDT Archaeologists have used the latest in digital imaging technology to record and analyze carvings on the Easter Island statue Hoa Hakananai'a.

Innovative self-cooling, thermoelectric system consumes no electricity Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:54 AM PDT Researchers have produced a prototype of a self-cooling thermoelectric device that achieves "free" cooling of over 30ºC in devices that give off heat. It is a piece of equipment that acts as a traditional cooler but which consumes no electricity because it obtains the energy it needs to function from the very heat that has to be dissipated.

Despite what you may think, your brain is a mathematical genius: How visual system automatically adapts to new environments Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:53 AM PDT The irony of getting away to a remote place is you usually have to fight traffic to get there. After hours of dodging dangerous drivers, you finally arrive at that quiet mountain retreat, stare at the gentle waters of a pristine lake, and congratulate your tired self on having "turned off your brain."

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