ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Scientists shine light on world's least-studied bat
• How poverty molds the brain
• New species of dolphin found in Australian waters
• Preserving the legacy of the X-ray universe
• NASA's Orion spacecraft comes to life
• Watching Earth's winds, on a shoestring
• A ghostly trio from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope
• Thawing permafrost: The speed of coastal erosion in Eastern Siberia has nearly doubled
• Plasmonic crystal alters to match light-frequency source: Device is like a photonic crystal, but smaller and tunable
• Coral reefs may be able to adapt to moderate climate change
• Obesity: A new appetite-increasing mechanism discovered
• Scientists gain new insights into dolphin's evolutionary history and conversation
• Less toxic metabolites, more chemical product
• Male birth defect weakly linked to pesticide exposure
• Old bat gets a new name
• Canadian discoveries pivotal to science of toxins, illness associated with E. coli
• Pregnant rats exposed to obesity hormone lose birth's protective effect on breast cancer
• Physicists provide new insights into coral skeleton formation
• Eyetrack study captures men's -- and women's -- objectifying gazes
• Earthworms invade New England
• Paleontologist presents origin of life theory
• Surviving -- then thriving
• Impact of education, information on hand hygiene compliance
• How a metamaterial might improve a depression treatment
• One in 10 older teens misuse painkillers, sedatives
• Evaluation of hospital infection prevention policies can identify opportunities for improvement
• Work commutes getting longer and gender differences persist
• MRSA declines in veteran's hospitals nationwide
• Switched brain: Unravelling the true identity of the brain of Carl Friedrich Gauss
• Optometrists raise alert on potential risk of colored contact lenses
• Vet researcher's thyroid project sheds light on molecular processes related to cystic fibrosis
• Echolocation: Bats and whales behave in surprisingly similar ways
• Spinning atoms in light crystals
• Significant cardiac treatment imbalance nationally
• New drug to help common bowel disease
• How fat could help solve part of the diabetes problem
• Scientists reduce behaviors associated with problem gambling in rats
• People seem more attractive in a group than they do apart
• Geneticists map human resistance to AIDS
• Microbiome in gut, mouth, skin of low birth weight infants differentiate weeks after birth
• Eye tracking technology suggests people 'check out' women at first glance
• The dawn of male equality in Europe
• Enterocystoplasty in children with genitourinary abnormalities is safe, effective
• Surface water is a key factor in the transmission of pancreas disease in salmon
• New species of labrisomidae fish discovered in Brazil
• Test of manhood
• Study on neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal exposure to paracetamol
• New statistic model forecasts effect of tobacco consumption on childhood asthma
• Listeria’s resistance to disinfectants
• Child sexual abuse via the Internet on the rise
• Increased ED reimbursements after ACA insurance coverage expansions
• A potential new class of fast-acting antidepressant
• High blood sugar makes Alzheimer’s plaque more toxic to the brain
• Do 'family-friendly' workplaces discriminate against childless employees?
• DIY, gardening can cut heart attack/stroke risk by 30 percent, prolong life for seniors

Scientists shine light on world's least-studied bat Posted: 29 Oct 2013 02:19 PM PDT The Mortlock Islands flying fox, a large, breadfruit-eating bat native to a few remote and tiny Pacific islands, has long been regarded as one of the world's least studied bats. Today researchers published a wealth of new information on this "forgotten" species, including the first detailed observations of wild populations.

How poverty molds the brain Posted: 29 Oct 2013 02:18 PM PDT Groundbreaking research nearly two decades ago linking a mother's educational background to her children's literacy and cognitive abilities stands out among decades of social science studies demonstrating the adverse effects of poverty. Now new research has taken that finding in a neuroscientific direction: linking poor processing of auditory information in the adolescent brain to a lower maternal educational background.

New species of dolphin found in Australian waters Posted: 29 Oct 2013 11:30 AM PDT A species of humpback dolphin previously unknown to science is swimming in the waters off northern Australia, according to biologists.

Preserving the legacy of the X-ray universe Posted: 29 Oct 2013 11:13 AM PDT Every year, October is designated as American Archive Month. While many people may think "archive" means only dusty books and letters, there are, in fact, many other types of important archives. This includes the use of archives for major telescopes and observatories like NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.

NASA's Orion spacecraft comes to life Posted: 29 Oct 2013 11:11 AM PDT NASA's first-ever deep space craft, Orion, has been powered on for the first time, marking a major milestone in the final year of preparations for flight.

Watching Earth's winds, on a shoestring Posted: 29 Oct 2013 11:09 AM PDT Built with spare parts and without a moment to spare, the International Space Station (ISS)-RapidScat isn't your average NASA Earth science mission. Short for Rapid Scatterometer, ISS-RapidScat will monitor ocean winds from the vantage point of the space station . It will join a handful of other satellite scatterometer missions that make essential measurements used to support weather and marine forecasting, including the tracking of storms and hurricanes. It will also help improve our understanding of how interactions between Earth's ocean and atmosphere influence our climate.

A ghostly trio from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope Posted: 29 Oct 2013 11:07 AM PDT In the spirit of Halloween, scientists are releasing a trio of stellar ghosts caught in infrared light by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. All three spooky structures, called planetary nebulas, are in fact material ejected from dying stars. As death beckoned, the stars' wispy bits and pieces were blown into outer space.

Thawing permafrost: The speed of coastal erosion in Eastern Siberia has nearly doubled Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:38 AM PDT The high cliffs of Eastern Siberia -- which mainly consist of permafrost -- continue to erode at an ever quickening pace. This evaluation is based on data and aerial photographs of the coastal regions for the last 40 years.

Plasmonic crystal alters to match light-frequency source: Device is like a photonic crystal, but smaller and tunable Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:37 AM PDT A plasma-containing crystal, tunable by varying a voltage, could increase the bandwidth of high-speed communication networks and generally enhance high-speed electronics.

Coral reefs may be able to adapt to moderate climate change Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:37 AM PDT Coral reefs may be able to adapt to moderate climate warming, improving their chance of surviving through the end of this century, if there are large reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new study. Results further suggest corals have already adapted to part of the warming that has occurred.

Obesity: A new appetite-increasing mechanism discovered Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:37 AM PDT Despite their efforts, many morbidly obese people continue to consume too much food (hyperphagia) compared to their reserves and their needs. And yet, the hunger hormone, called ghrelin, is most frequently found at a normal or even lower level in these patients. Research can now explain this mechanism causing this paradoxical hyperphagia. Certain antibodies have a greater affinity for ghrelin in obese patients, leading to extended appetite stimulation.

Scientists gain new insights into dolphin's evolutionary history and conversation Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:37 AM PDT Researchers report their original genomic research on Baiji, also known as Yangtze River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer). The study gives new insight into the genetic and evolutionary adaptations of the dolphin, and provides valuable resources for the conservation of mammals and cetaceans in particular.

Less toxic metabolites, more chemical product Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:35 AM PDT By preventing the build-up of toxic metabolites in engineered microbes, a dynamic regulatory system can help boost production of an advanced biofuel, a therapeutic drug, or other valuable chemical products. The system has already been used to double the production in E. coli of amorphadiene, a precursor to the premier antimalarial drug artemisinin.

Male birth defect weakly linked to pesticide exposure Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:35 AM PDT A study of several hundred chemicals used in commercial pesticides has found only weak evidence that any of them are associated with a common birth defect in male infants.

Old bat gets a new name Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:35 AM PDT The Mortlock Islands flying fox, a species threatened by climate change and rising sea levels, is one of the world's least studied bats. A new study presents the first detailed research on wild populations of this endangered species. The study also shows that the species was discovered and named by a German naturalist almost 50 years earlier than previously realized.

Canadian discoveries pivotal to science of toxins, illness associated with E. coli Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:35 AM PDT Many Canadian scientists and clinicians were unsung heroes during the early years (1977–1983) of research unfolding around verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC). In an article published today, a clinician and medical microbiologist documents the history of this area of study, focusing on the key discoveries and major contributions made by Canadians to the science of what many people refer to as "hamburger disease."

Pregnant rats exposed to obesity hormone lose birth's protective effect on breast cancer Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:35 AM PDT Like humans, young rats that give birth have a reduced risk of breast cancer later in life. But a new study shows that this protective effect in animals is negated if they're exposed to an obesity-linked hormone during pregnancy.

Physicists provide new insights into coral skeleton formation Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:34 AM PDT Scientists have shed important new light on coral skeleton formation. Their investigations, carried out at the nanoscale, provide valuable new information for scientists and environmentalists working to protect and conserve coral from the threats of acidification and rising water temperatures. As corals grow, they produce limestone -- calcium carbonate -- skeletons which build up over time into vast reefs. The skeleton's role is to help the living biofilm to move towards the light and nutrients.

Eyetrack study captures men's -- and women's -- objectifying gazes Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:34 AM PDT A new study used eye-tracking technology to map the visual behavior of men and women as they looked at images of women with different body types.

Earthworms invade New England Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:31 AM PDT At least 16 species of earthworms are now found in Vermont and elsewhere in New England. All are exotic and many are invasive. As they spread, they devour organic matter, disrupting forests and releasing carbon dioxide. But they also store carbon deep in the soil. So, do the worms, on balance, slow or accelerate climate change? Vermont researchers are on the case.

Paleontologist presents origin of life theory Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:31 AM PDT Meteorite bombardment left large craters that contained water and chemical building blocks for life, which ultimately led to the first organisms, according to one origin of life theory.

Surviving -- then thriving Posted: 29 Oct 2013 08:13 AM PDT Modern medicine usually considers trauma -- both the physical and the psychological kinds -- as unequivocally damaging. Now researchers are lending support to a more philosophical view of suffering, finding that trauma, however terrible, may have distinct psychological benefits.

Impact of education, information on hand hygiene compliance Posted: 29 Oct 2013 08:13 AM PDT How often do you clean your hands? One observed hospital staff on 161,526 occasions to monitor how often they cleaned their hands (i.e., hand hygiene) between July 2008 to Dec. 2012 and found that hand hygiene compliance improved from 60 percent to 89 percent over that time period.

How a metamaterial might improve a depression treatment Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:44 AM PDT A brain stimulation technique that is used to treat tough cases of depression could be considerably improved with a new headpiece, experts say.

One in 10 older teens misuse painkillers, sedatives Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:44 AM PDT With prescription drug abuse at epidemic levels nationwide, and overdoses killing more people than auto accidents in many states, a new study provides striking new data about the misuse of potent prescription painkillers and sedatives by teens and young adults. In all, 10.4 percent of the teens and young adults treated in the emergency room for any reason admitted to misusing a prescription painkiller or sedative at least once in the last year.

Evaluation of hospital infection prevention policies can identify opportunities for improvement Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:44 AM PDT Identifying gaps in infection prevention practices may yield opportunities for improved patient safety, according to a survey published.

Work commutes getting longer and gender differences persist Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:44 AM PDT On average, Swedish men and women have different commuting habits. Despite an increasingly gender-equal society, traditional household patterns are changing very slowly. The regional enlargement in many parts of the country – or geographic extension of labor markets – imply longer commuting times.

MRSA declines in veteran's hospitals nationwide Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:44 AM PDT Five years after implementing a national initiative to reduce MRSA rates in Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, cases have continued to decline, according to a study.

Switched brain: Unravelling the true identity of the brain of Carl Friedrich Gauss Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:44 AM PDT Researchers reveal the true identity of the brains of mathematicians Carl Friedrich Gauss and Conrad Heinrich Fuchs.

Optometrists raise alert on potential risk of colored contact lenses Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:43 AM PDT Researchers have recently conducted a study on 15 brands of colored contact lenses available from various sources. Results showed that most of these cosmetic contact lenses have surface colored pigments which can easily come off when using a standardized lab-based rub-off test.

Vet researcher's thyroid project sheds light on molecular processes related to cystic fibrosis Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:42 AM PDT Veterinary medicine research is leading to a better understanding of the molecular interactions in the thyroid gland related to cystic fibrosis.

Echolocation: Bats and whales behave in surprisingly similar ways Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:16 AM PDT Sperm whales weigh up to 50 tons, and the smallest bat barely reaches a gram. Nevertheless, the two species share the same success story: They both have developed the ability to use echolocation -- a biological sonar -- for hunting. Now researchers show that the biosonar of toothed whales and bats share surprisingly many similarities -- even though they live in very different environments and vary extremely in size.

Spinning atoms in light crystals Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:15 AM PDT After more than 40 years of intense research, experimental physicists still seek to explore the rich behavior of electrons confined to a two-dimensional crystalline structure exposed to large magnetic fields. Now scientists have developed a new experimental method to simulate these systems using a crystal made of neutral atoms and laser light. In such artificial quantum matter, the atoms could be exposed to a uniform effective magnetic field several thousand times stronger than in typical condensed matter systems.

Significant cardiac treatment imbalance nationally Posted: 29 Oct 2013 07:15 AM PDT A multi-center team has published a first-of-its-kind study that examines unequal growth in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centers relative to population and heart attack prevalence across the United States.

New drug to help common bowel disease Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT An international team has identified the mechanism of pain relief of a new drug for treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation, based on nonclinical studies, and quantified its effectiveness in pain relief in human trials.

How fat could help solve part of the diabetes problem Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT The pancreas is a large organ that wraps around our gut, and produces the exact amount of insulin our bodies need when we eat -- except when we start to develop diabetes, and insulin production slows down. Scientists describe how a fat recycling system within pancreatic "beta cells" determines the amount of insulin they secrete, and so may provide a target for future diabetes therapies.

Scientists reduce behaviors associated with problem gambling in rats Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT With the help of a rat casino, researchers have successfully reduced behaviors in rats that are commonly associated with compulsive gambling.

People seem more attractive in a group than they do apart Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT People tend to be rated as more attractive when they're part of a group than when they're alone, according to new research. This phenomenon -- first dubbed the "cheerleader effect" by ladykiller Barney Stinson on the popular TV show "How I Met Your Mother" -- suggests that having a few friends around might be one way to boost perceived attractiveness.

Geneticists map human resistance to AIDS Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT The key to future HIV treatment could be hidden right in our own genes. Everyone who becomes infected deploys defense strategies, and some even manage to hold the virus at bay without any therapy at all. Scientists retraced the entire chain of events in these battles, from the genome of the virus to the genome of the victim, and have published their results.

Microbiome in gut, mouth, skin of low birth weight infants differentiate weeks after birth Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:20 AM PDT Low birth weight infants are host to numerous microorganisms immediately after birth, and the microbiomes of their mouths and gut start out very similar but differentiate significantly by day 15 according to a study published.

Eye tracking technology suggests people 'check out' women at first glance Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT Eye tracking technology has reconfirmed what women have known all along: that people look at their sexual body parts more and faces less when evaluating their appearance. A new study found that especially women with typical hour glass figures or larger breasts, narrower waists, and bigger hips frequently prompted such gazes.

The dawn of male equality in Europe Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT A fumbling men's movement is dawning in Europe, there is a widespread concern about boys' academic performance in school, and child custody and breakups are controversial issues.

Enterocystoplasty in children with genitourinary abnormalities is safe, effective Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT Enterocystoplasty is a good surgical option with a low rate of severe complications in the treatment of children who were born with developmental abnormalities of the genitourinary system, according to a new study.

Surface water is a key factor in the transmission of pancreas disease in salmon Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT New research explains how environmental factors affect the outbreak and transmission of pancreas disease (PD) in farmed salmon. Both infected and dead salmon can shed the salmonid pancreas disease virus into the sea and the virus particles can be spread by the wind and ocean currents from one fish farm to the next along the coast.

New species of labrisomidae fish discovered in Brazil Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT Researchers have published data on a new species of fish in the Labrisomidae family on the Brazilian archipelago of Trindade and Martim Vaz in the Atlantic Ocean. It is an endemic species that can only be found in this group of islands due to how far it is from the coast.

Test of manhood Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT The implications of prostate cancer get men thinking about what it means to be a man, according to a Norwegian doctoral thesis.

Study on neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal exposure to paracetamol Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is the most commonly used medicine in pregnancy, yet there are very few studies that have investigated the possible long-term consequences for the child. A new study suggests that long-term use of paracetamol during pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse effects on child development.

New statistic model forecasts effect of tobacco consumption on childhood asthma Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT A scientific study recently published states that tobacco consumption must be decreased by 15% in Spain, particularly at home, in order to reduce the number of childhood asthma cases.

Listeria’s resistance to disinfectants Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT Listeria poses a significant risk to human health. The bacterium is frequently transmitted via dairy products, so it is important to disinfect dairies regularly. Unfortunately, listeria is developing resistance to the most frequently used compounds, including benzalkonium chloride.

Child sexual abuse via the Internet on the rise Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT Sexual abuse of children and adolescents can have serious health consequences for victims. Early studies have revealed that child sexual abuse is associated with an increased risk of later mental and physical health problems and risk-taking behavior. Studies have discovered that sexual abuse is alarmingly widespread in a representative sample of more than 6,000 9th grade students in Switzerland.

Increased ED reimbursements after ACA insurance coverage expansions Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:03 AM PDT Researchers have found that outpatient emergency department encounters could reimburse considerably more after implementation of the insurance coverage expansions of the Affordable Care Act.

A potential new class of fast-acting antidepressant Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:03 AM PDT More than 1 in 10 Americans take antidepressants, but these medications can take weeks — and for some patients, months — before they begin to alleviate symptoms. Now, scientists have discovered that selectively blocking a serotonin receptor subtype induces fast-acting antidepressant effects in mice, indicating a potential new class of therapeutics for depression.

High blood sugar makes Alzheimer’s plaque more toxic to the brain Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:03 AM PDT High blood-sugar levels, such as those linked with Type 2 diabetes, make beta amyloid protein associated with Alzheimer's disease dramatically more toxic to cells lining blood vessels in the brain, according to a new study.

Do 'family-friendly' workplaces discriminate against childless employees? Posted: 29 Oct 2013 06:03 AM PDT Communication researchers who interviewed childless individuals for a study found that expanding definitions of family often don't embrace people without children. These individuals felt that work and family discussions isolated or belittled them, and that sometimes they were expected to fill in for absent workers because of more liberal attitudes toward parents.

DIY, gardening can cut heart attack/stroke risk by 30 percent, prolong life for seniors Posted: 28 Oct 2013 03:49 PM PDT A spot of DIY or gardening can cut the risk of a heart attack/stroke and prolong life by as much as 30 per cent among the 60+ age group, indicates research published.

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