ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Gravitational waves help us understand black-hole weight gain
• Pacific Ocean temperature influences tornado activity in US
• Statin, osteoporosis drug combo may help treat parasitic infections
• Unique skull find rebuts theories on species diversity in early humans
• Could Hurricane Sandy happen again? Maybe, says geologist
• Psychologists report new insights on human brain, consciousness
• Making sense of conflicting advice on calcium intake
• Jellyfish energy consumption study will improve bio-inspired robotic designs for navy
• Vitamin D does not contribute to kidney stones
• Brain may flush out toxins during sleep
• Why lithium-ion-batteries fail
• Gene regulation differences between humans, chimpanzees very complex
• Researchers advance toward engineering 'wildly new genome'
• Adaptability to local climate helps invasive species thrive
• Incoming comet ISON appears intact to NASA's Hubble
• Astronomer helps research team see misaligned planets in distant system
• Mysterious ancient human crossed Wallace's Line
• Frog-killing fungus paralyzes amphibian immune response
• Complex diseases traced to gene copy numbers
• Marmoset monkeys know polite conversation
• Mathematical study of photosynthesis clears the path to developing new super-crops
• Next-generation gene sequencing can identify invasive carp species
• Scientists show Heisenberg's intuition correct
• A grand unified theory of exotic superconductivity?
• Brain scans may aid in diagnosis of autism
• Depression twice as likely in migraine sufferers
• Bird study finds key info about human speech-language development
• Archaeologists rediscover the lost home of the last Neanderthals
• The complicated birth of a volcano
• Most distant gravitational lens helps weigh galaxies
• A stunning new species of dragon tree discovered in Thailand
• Images and video move by touch from one smartphone to another tablet
• Female doctors better than male doctors, but males are more productive
• Brain scans show unusual activity in retired American football players
• Activating proteins in brain by shining LED light on them
• The cost of racial bias in economic decisions
• U.S. regions exhibit distinct personalities, research reveals
• Uncovering liquid foam's bubbly acoustics
• Neanderthals used toothpicks to alleviate the pain of diseases related to teeth, such as inflammation of the gums
• Sun and photocatalysts will clean polluted water, cheaply and quickly
• Fat black holes grown up in 'cities': Observational result using virtual observatory
• Glacial history affects shape and growth habit of alpine plants
• Increase seen in donor eggs for in vitro fertilization, improved outcomes
• Blood pressure drugs decrease risk of Alzheimer's disease
• Separating the good from the bad in bacteria
• Rapid blood test to diagnose sepsis at the bedside could save thousands of lives
• Elusive secret of HIV long-term immunity
• New way to treat chronic kidney disease and heart failure
• Bacteria-eating viruses 'magic bullets in the war on superbugs'

Gravitational waves help us understand black-hole weight gain Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:40 PM PDT Supermassive black holes: every large galaxy's got one. But here's a real conundrum: how did they grow so big? A new article pits the front-running ideas about the growth of supermassive black holes against observational data -- a limit on the strength of gravitational waves, obtained with CSIRO's Parkes radio telescope in eastern Australia.

Pacific Ocean temperature influences tornado activity in US Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:40 PM PDT A researcher has found that the temperature of the Pacific Ocean could help scientists predict the type and location of tornado activity in the US.

Statin, osteoporosis drug combo may help treat parasitic infections Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:39 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that a combination of two commonly prescribed drugs used to treat high cholesterol and osteoporosis may serve as the foundation of a new treatment for toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii.

Unique skull find rebuts theories on species diversity in early humans Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:39 PM PDT Paleoanthropologists have uncovered the intact skull of an early Homo individual in Dmanisi, Georgia. This find is forcing a change in perspective in the field of paleoanthropology: human species diversity two million years ago was much smaller than presumed thus far. However, diversity within the Homo erectus, the first global species of human, was as great as in humans today.

Could Hurricane Sandy happen again? Maybe, says geologist Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:39 PM PDT Almost a year after Hurricane Sandy, parts of New York and New Jersey are still recovering from billions of dollars in flood damage. A geologist sees the possibility of damage from storms smaller than Sandy in the future.

Psychologists report new insights on human brain, consciousness Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:36 PM PDT A study by psychologists is a step toward neuroscience research on consciousness. "The difference between being conscious and unconscious is a bit like the difference between driving from Los Angeles to New York in a straight line versus having to cover the same route hopping on and off several buses that force you to take a 'zig-zag' route and stop in several places," said lead author of the study.

Making sense of conflicting advice on calcium intake Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:34 PM PDT In recent years, studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding whether calcium supplements used to prevent fractures increase the risk of heart attack. Now, in an assessment of the scientific literature, a researcher says patients and health care practitioners should focus on getting calcium from the diet, rather than supplements, when possible.

Jellyfish energy consumption study will improve bio-inspired robotic designs for navy Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:33 PM PDT Jellyfish are one of the most energetically efficient natural propulsors on the planet, according to a professor of mechanical engineering. He led a study highlighting the motion of the jellyfish.

Vitamin D does not contribute to kidney stones Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:33 PM PDT Increased vitamin D levels may prevent a wide range of diseases, according to recent studies. However, some previous studies led to a concern that vitamin D supplementation could increase an individual's risk of developing kidney stones.

Brain may flush out toxins during sleep Posted: 17 Oct 2013 11:46 AM PDT Using mice, researchers showed for the first time that the space between brain cells may increase during sleep, allowing the brain to flush out toxins that build up during waking hours. These results suggest a new role for sleep in health and disease.

Why lithium-ion-batteries fail Posted: 17 Oct 2013 11:46 AM PDT Materials in lithium ion battery electrodes expand and contract during charge and discharge. These volume changes drive particle fracture, which shortens battery lifetime. Scientists have quantified this effect for the first time using high-resolution 3-D movies recorded using x-ray tomography at the Swiss Light Source.

Gene regulation differences between humans, chimpanzees very complex Posted: 17 Oct 2013 11:46 AM PDT Changes in gene regulation have been used to study the evolutionary chasm that exists between humans and chimpanzees despite their largely identical DNA. However, scientists have discovered that mRNA expression levels, long considered a barometer for differences in gene regulation, often do not reflect differences in protein expression -- and, therefore, biological function -- between humans and chimpanzees.

Researchers advance toward engineering 'wildly new genome' Posted: 17 Oct 2013 11:46 AM PDT In two parallel projects, researchers have rewritten the genetic code of the bacterium E. coli. In the first study they created a genetically and biochemically novel organism by erasing every example of a single codon from the entire genome. In the second, they tested whether all codons could be swapped to a synonymous codon in 42 separate genes, while eliminating every instance of 13 codons throughout each of those genes.

Adaptability to local climate helps invasive species thrive Posted: 17 Oct 2013 11:46 AM PDT The ability of invasive plants to rapidly adapt to local climates -- and potentially to climate change -- may be a key factor in how quickly they spread.

Incoming comet ISON appears intact to NASA's Hubble Posted: 17 Oct 2013 11:44 AM PDT A new image of the sunward plunging Comet ISON taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope on October 9, 2013, suggests that the comet is intact despite some predictions that the fragile icy nucleus might disintegrate as the Sun warms it. The comet will pass closest to the Sun on November 28.

Astronomer helps research team see misaligned planets in distant system Posted: 17 Oct 2013 11:44 AM PDT NASA's Kepler space telescope has helped astronomers see a distant planetary system featuring multiple planets orbiting their host star at a severe tilt.

Mysterious ancient human crossed Wallace's Line Posted: 17 Oct 2013 11:44 AM PDT Scientists have proposed that the most recently discovered ancient human relatives – the Denisovans – somehow managed to cross one of the world's most prominent marine barriers in Indonesia, and later interbred with modern humans moving through the area on the way to Australia and New Guinea.

Frog-killing fungus paralyzes amphibian immune response Posted: 17 Oct 2013 11:44 AM PDT A fungus that is killing frogs and other amphibians around the world releases a toxic factor that disables the amphibian immune response, investigators report.

Complex diseases traced to gene copy numbers Posted: 17 Oct 2013 10:52 AM PDT Researchers have connected very rare and precise duplications and deletions in the human genome to their complex disease consequences by duplicating them in zebrafish.

Marmoset monkeys know polite conversation Posted: 17 Oct 2013 10:52 AM PDT Humans aren't the only species that knows how to carry on polite conversation. Marmoset monkeys, too, will engage one another for up to 30 minutes at a time in vocal turn-taking.

Mathematical study of photosynthesis clears the path to developing new super-crops Posted: 17 Oct 2013 10:51 AM PDT How some plant species evolved super-efficient photosynthesis had been a mystery. Now, scientists have identified what steps led to that change.

Next-generation gene sequencing can identify invasive carp species Posted: 17 Oct 2013 08:43 AM PDT A project to map the microbes present in the digestive systems of fish species holds promise for monitoring the presence of Asian carp in Chicago area waterways and ultimately preventing their spread, according to a study.

Scientists show Heisenberg's intuition correct Posted: 17 Oct 2013 08:43 AM PDT An international team of scientists has provided proof of a key feature of quantum physics -- Heisenberg's error-disturbance relation -- more than 80 years after it was first suggested.

A grand unified theory of exotic superconductivity? Posted: 17 Oct 2013 08:42 AM PDT Scientists introduce a general theoretical approach that describes all known forms of high-temperature superconductivity and their "intertwined" phases.

Brain scans may aid in diagnosis of autism Posted: 17 Oct 2013 08:42 AM PDT The investigators found that brain connectivity data from 19 paths in brain scans predicted whether the participants had autism, with an accuracy rate of 95.9 percent.

Depression twice as likely in migraine sufferers Posted: 17 Oct 2013 08:42 AM PDT The prevalence of depression among those with migraine is approximately twice as high as for those without the disease (men: 8.4% vs. 3.4%; women 12.4% vs. 5.7%), according to a new study.

Bird study finds key info about human speech-language development Posted: 17 Oct 2013 08:15 AM PDT A study has shown for the first time how two tiny molecules regulate a gene implicated in speech and language impairments as well as autism disorders, and that social context of vocal behavior governs their function.

Archaeologists rediscover the lost home of the last Neanderthals Posted: 17 Oct 2013 08:14 AM PDT A record of Neanderthal archaeology, thought to be long lost, has been re-discovered by scientists working in the Channel island of Jersey.

The complicated birth of a volcano Posted: 17 Oct 2013 08:14 AM PDT They are difficult to reach, have hardly been studied scientifically, and their existence does not fit into current geological models: the Marie Byrd Seamounts off the coast of Antarctica present many riddles to volcanologists. Scientists have just published possible explanations for the origin of these former volcanoes.

Most distant gravitational lens helps weigh galaxies Posted: 17 Oct 2013 08:14 AM PDT Astronomers have found the most distant gravitational lens yet -- a galaxy that, as predicted by Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, deflects and intensifies the light of an even more distant object. The discovery provides a rare opportunity to directly measure the mass of a distant galaxy. But it also poses a mystery: lenses of this kind should be exceedingly rare.

A stunning new species of dragon tree discovered in Thailand Posted: 17 Oct 2013 07:09 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a highly distinctive and endangered new dragon tree species -- Dracaena kaweesakii. The new species grows to an impressive 12 m and has soft, sword-shaped leaves with white edges and cream flowers with bright orange filaments. Due to its extensive branching and attractive appearance this dragon tree species is often used as an ornamental plant in Thailand.

Images and video move by touch from one smartphone to another tablet Posted: 17 Oct 2013 07:06 AM PDT Scientists have developed technology whereby a ring, structure nail or wristband acts as a user interface allowing files to be transferred directly from one screen to another by touch. The new technical solution is the first step towards the interactivity of various objects and jewellery through a cloud service.

Female doctors better than male doctors, but males are more productive Posted: 17 Oct 2013 07:06 AM PDT The quality of care provided by female doctors is higher than that of their male counterparts while the productivity of males is greater, new research shows. The research team reached this conclusion by studying the billing information of over 870 Quebec practitioners (half of whom were women) relating to their procedures with elderly diabetic patients.

Brain scans show unusual activity in retired American football players Posted: 17 Oct 2013 06:38 AM PDT A new study has discovered profound abnormalities in brain activity in a group of retired American football players. Although the former players in the study were not diagnosed with any neurological condition, brain imaging tests revealed unusual activity that correlated with how many times they had left the field with a head injury during their careers.

Activating proteins in brain by shining LED light on them Posted: 17 Oct 2013 06:35 AM PDT With the flick of a light switch, researchers can change the shape of a protein in the brain of a mouse, turning on the protein at the precise moment they want. This allows the scientists to observe the exact effect of the protein's activation. The new method relies on specially engineered amino acids -- the molecules that make up proteins -- and light from an LED. Now that it has been shown to work, the technique can be adapted to give researchers control of a wide variety of other proteins in the brain to study their functions.

The cost of racial bias in economic decisions Posted: 17 Oct 2013 06:35 AM PDT When financial gain depends on cooperation, we might expect that people would put aside their differences and focus on the bottom line. But new research suggests that people's racial biases make them more likely to leave money on the table when a windfall is not split evenly between groups.

U.S. regions exhibit distinct personalities, research reveals Posted: 17 Oct 2013 06:34 AM PDT Americans with similar temperaments are so likely to live in the same areas that a map of the country can be divided into regions with distinct personalities, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.

Uncovering liquid foam's bubbly acoustics Posted: 17 Oct 2013 05:03 AM PDT Liquid foams fascinate toddlers singing in a bubble bath. Physicists, too, have an interest in their acoustical properties. Borrowing from both porous material and foam science, scientists studied liquid foams. They used an impedance tube to measure the velocity and attenuation of acoustic waves in liquid foams in a broad frequency range.

Neanderthals used toothpicks to alleviate the pain of diseases related to teeth, such as inflammation of the gums Posted: 17 Oct 2013 05:03 AM PDT Removing food scraps trapped between the teeth one of the most common functions of using toothpicks, thus contributing to our oral hygiene. This habit is documented in the genus Homo, as early as Homo habilis, a species that lived between 1.9 and 1.6 million years ago. New research based on the Cova Foradà Neanderthal fossil shows that this hominid also used toothpicks to mitigate pain caused by oral diseases such as inflammation of the gums (periodontal disease). It is the oldest documented case of palliative treatment of dental disease done with this tool.

Sun and photocatalysts will clean polluted water, cheaply and quickly Posted: 17 Oct 2013 05:01 AM PDT A little amount of appropriately prepared powder is poured in water polluted with phenol and cellulose. A bit of the sun and after fifteen minutes harmful compounds disappear, and the powder can be filtered off and reused. Sounds like a fairy tale? Perhaps, but it is not magic, only a masterly use of chemistry and physics.

Fat black holes grown up in 'cities': Observational result using virtual observatory Posted: 17 Oct 2013 05:01 AM PDT Massive black holes of more than one million solar masses exist at the center of most galaxies.  Some of the massive black holes are observed as active galactic nuclei (AGN) which attract surrounding gas  and release huge amounts of energy.

Glacial history affects shape and growth habit of alpine plants Posted: 17 Oct 2013 05:01 AM PDT During the Ice Ages the European Alps were covered by a thick layer of ice. Climate fluctuations led to great changes in the occurrences of plants: They survived the cold periods in refugia on the periphery of the Alps which they then repopulated after the ice had drawn back. Such processes in the history of the earth can be detected by molecular analysis as genetic fingerprints: refugia and colonization routes can be identified as genetic groups within the plant species. Thus, the postglacial colonization history of alpine plants is still borne in plants alive today.

Increase seen in donor eggs for in vitro fertilization, improved outcomes Posted: 17 Oct 2013 04:59 AM PDT Between 2000 and 2010 in the United States the number of donor eggs used for in vitro fertilization increased, and outcomes for births from those donor eggs improved.

Blood pressure drugs decrease risk of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 16 Oct 2013 06:33 PM PDT An analysis of data previously gathered on more than 3,000 elderly Americans strongly suggests that taking certain blood pressure medications to control blood pressure may reduce the risk of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.

Separating the good from the bad in bacteria Posted: 16 Oct 2013 06:33 PM PDT New microfluidic technique quickly distinguishes bacteria within the same strain; could improve monitoring of cystic fibrosis and other diseases.

Rapid blood test to diagnose sepsis at the bedside could save thousands of lives Posted: 16 Oct 2013 06:33 PM PDT Researchers have identified a biomarker -- a biological 'fingerprint' -- for sepsis in the blood, and showed it could be possible to diagnose the condition within two hours by screening for this biomarker at a patient's bedside.

Elusive secret of HIV long-term immunity Posted: 16 Oct 2013 06:32 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a long sought, critical new clue about why some people are able to control the HIV virus long term without taking antiviral drugs. The finding may be useful in shortening drug treatment for everyone else with HIV. These rare individuals have an extra helping of an immune protein that blocks HIV from spreading within the body by turning it into an impotent wimp. Earlier treatment could protect reserves of the critical protein for everyone.

New way to treat chronic kidney disease and heart failure Posted: 16 Oct 2013 06:32 PM PDT Researchers are using adult bone marrow stem cells as they investigate a completely new way of treating chronic kidney disease and heart failure in rats.

Bacteria-eating viruses 'magic bullets in the war on superbugs' Posted: 16 Oct 2013 06:25 PM PDT A team of scientists has isolated viruses that eat bacteria -- called phages -- to specifically target the highly infectious hospital superbug Clostridium difficile (C. diff.).

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