ScienceDaily: Top News

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• NASA investigating the life of Comet ISON
• 'Designer sperm' inserts custom genes into offspring
• Scientists build a low-cost, open-source 3-D metal printer
• Bothersome pain afflicts half of older Americans
• Micromovements hold hidden information about severity of autism
• Energy drinks plus alcohol pose a public health threat
• Secrets to 'extreme adaptation' found in Burmese python genome
• Single spray of oxytocin improves brain function in children with autism, study suggests
• Functional importance of dinosaur beaks illuminated
• Brain connectivity study reveals striking differences between men and women
• Vitamin D decreases pain in women with type 2 diabetes, depression
• New drug cuts risk of deadly transplant side effect in half
• Bronchial thermoplasty shows long-term effectiveness for asthma
• Microplastic transfers chemicals, impacting health: Plastic ingestion delivers pollutants and additives into animal tissue
• Kids whose bond with mother was disrupted early in life show changes in brain
• Difficult dance steps: Learning how membrane transporters move
• Process holds promise for production of synthetic gasoline from carbon dioxide
• Molecular imaging tracers help determine treatment plans for brain metastases
• Understanding hearing
• When aluminum outshines gold: Aluminum's valuable plasmonic properties detailed
• Reforestation in Lower Mississippi Valley reduces sediment
• Division of labor in the test tube
• Forget the needle; consider the haystack
• Mice can inherit learned sensitivity to a smell
• New means of growing intestinal stem cells
• Nanorobot for transporting drugs in the body
• Microplastics make marine worms sick
• Koalas' low-pitched voice explained by unique organ
• Increased risk for cardiac ischemia in patients with PTSD
• Can big cats co-exist? Study challenges lion threat to cheetah cubs
• New algorithm finds you, even in untagged photos
• New study suggests low vitamin D causes damage to brain
• Amplifying our vision of the infinitely small
• Appearing to be chronically ill may not be good indication of poor health
• New light shed on solar water-splitting process
• Evolution, Civil War history entwine in plant fossil with a tragic past
• Predict Alzheimer's disease within two years of screening
• Most detailed catalog of galaxies traces evolution of the universe during last 10,000 million years
• How legless, leaping fish living on land avoids predators
• Junk food, poor oral health increase risk of premature heart disease
• Researchers pinpoint superbug resistance protein
• New family of proteins linked to major role in cancer
• New evidence that gout strongly runs in family
• Sorting good germs from bad, in bacterial world
• Study of young parents highlights links among stress, poverty, ethnicity
• Why tumors become resistant to chemotherapy
• Tourette Syndrome in secondary schools: the real picture
• Air pollution, genetics combine to increase risk for autism
• Novel rehabilitation device improves motor skills after stroke
• MRI technique reveals low brain iron in ADHD patients
• PRP therapy improves degenerative tendon disease in athletes
• Cardiac MRI reveals energy drinks alter heart function
• Imaging shows long-term impact of blast-induced brain injuries in veterans
• Defending against electromagnetic attacks
• Parents' work hours in evenings, nights, weekends disadvantage children
• Congenital heart defects affects long-term developmental outcome
• Corals surviving ocean's pollution
• Messy children make better learners: Toddlers learn words for nonsolids better when getting messy in a highchair
• Marine reserves enhance resilience to climate change

NASA investigating the life of Comet ISON Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:19 PM PST After several days of continued observations, scientists continue to work to determine and to understand the fate of Comet ISON: There's no doubt that the comet shrank in size considerably as it rounded the sun and there's no doubt that something made it out on the other side to shoot back into space.

'Designer sperm' inserts custom genes into offspring Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:19 PM PST The "new genetics" promises to change faulty genes of future generations by introducing new, functioning genes using "designer sperm." Research shows that introducing genetic material via a viral vector into mouse sperm leads to the presence and activity of the genetic material in the embryos. These genes are inherited and functioning through three generations of the mice tested, and the discovery could break new ground in genetic medicine.

Scientists build a low-cost, open-source 3-D metal printer Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:19 PM PST Using under $1,500 worth of materials, scientists have built a 3-D metal printer than can lay down thin layers of steel to form complex geometric objects.

Bothersome pain afflicts half of older Americans Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:18 PM PST Findings from a unique study underscore need for public health action on pain and disability in the elderly.

Micromovements hold hidden information about severity of autism Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:18 PM PST Movements so minute they cannot be detected by the human eye are being analyzed by researchers to diagnose autism spectrum disorder and determine its severity in children and young adults.

Energy drinks plus alcohol pose a public health threat Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:21 PM PST Mixing energy drinks with alcohol is riskier than just drinking alcohol alone, according to a new study that examines the impact of a growing trend among young adults.

Secrets to 'extreme adaptation' found in Burmese python genome Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:21 PM PST The Burmese python's ability to ramp up its metabolism and enlarge its organs to swallow and digest prey whole can be traced to unusually rapid evolution and specialized adaptations of its genes and the way they work, an international team of biologists says.

Single spray of oxytocin improves brain function in children with autism, study suggests Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:21 PM PST A single dose of the hormone oxytocin, delivered via nasal spray, may improve the core social deficits in children with autism by making social interactions with other people more rewarding and more efficiently processed, researchers report.

Functional importance of dinosaur beaks illuminated Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:21 PM PST Why beaks evolved in some theropod dinosaurs and what their function might have been is the subject of new research by an international team of palaeontologists.

Brain connectivity study reveals striking differences between men and women Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:19 PM PST A new brain connectivity study has found striking differences in the neural wiring of men and women that's lending credence to some commonly-held beliefs about their behavior.

Vitamin D decreases pain in women with type 2 diabetes, depression Posted: 02 Dec 2013 12:20 PM PST Vitamin D decreases pain in women with type 2 diabetes and depression, according to a recent study.

New drug cuts risk of deadly transplant side effect in half Posted: 02 Dec 2013 11:27 AM PST A new class of drugs reduced the risk of patients contracting a serious and often deadly side effect of lifesaving bone marrow transplant treatments, according to a study.

Bronchial thermoplasty shows long-term effectiveness for asthma Posted: 02 Dec 2013 11:27 AM PST The beneficial effects of bronchial thermoplasty, a non-pharmacologic treatment for asthma, last at least five years, according to researchers. The therapy, in which heat is applied to a patient's airways during a bronchoscopy procedure, was approved by the FDA in 2010. The researchers report that reductions in severe asthma exacerbations, emergency department visits, medication use and missed workdays continued out to five years after the procedure was performed.

Microplastic transfers chemicals, impacting health: Plastic ingestion delivers pollutants and additives into animal tissue Posted: 02 Dec 2013 11:27 AM PST With global production of plastic exceeding 280 metric tons every year, a fair amount of it makes its way to the natural environment. However, until now researchers haven't known whether ingested plastic transfers chemical additives or pollutants to wildlife. A new study shows toxic concentrations of pollutants and additives enter the tissue of animals that have eaten microplastic.

Kids whose bond with mother was disrupted early in life show changes in brain Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST Children who experience profound neglect have been found to be more prone to a behavior known as "indiscriminate friendliness," characterized by an inappropriate willingness to approach adults, including strangers. Now researchers are reporting some of the first evidence from human studies suggesting that this behavior is rooted in brain adaptations associated with early life experiences.

Difficult dance steps: Learning how membrane transporters move Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST Researchers have tried for decades to understand the undulations and gyrations that allow transport proteins to shuttle molecules from one side of a cell membrane to the other. Now scientists report that they have found a way to penetrate the mystery. They have worked out every step in the molecular dance that enables one such transporter to do its job.

Process holds promise for production of synthetic gasoline from carbon dioxide Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST A chemical system can efficiently perform the first step in the process of creating syngas, gasoline and other energy-rich products out of carbon dioxide.

Molecular imaging tracers help determine treatment plans for brain metastases Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST Imaging with the molecular imaging tracer 18F-FDOPA can help distinguish radiation-induced lesions from new tumor growth in patients who have been treated with radiation for brain metastases, according to new research. Using this amino acid tracer, researchers found that physicians could accurately differentiate the two types of lesions 83 percent of the time. Progression-free survival could also be predicted through evaluating the 18F-FDOPA imaging results.

Understanding hearing Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST Children learning to speak depend on functional hearing. So-called cochlear implants allow deaf people to hear again by stimulating the auditory nerve directly. Researchers are working to overcome current limits of the technology. They are investigating the implementation of signals in the auditory nerve and the subsequent neuronal processing in the brain.

When aluminum outshines gold: Aluminum's valuable plasmonic properties detailed Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST Aluminum's plasmonic properties may make it far more valuable than gold and silver for certain applications. Researchers provide experimental and theoretical proof of the metal's potential.

Reforestation in Lower Mississippi Valley reduces sediment Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:46 AM PST A modeling study shows that reforesting the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley can significantly reduce runoff from agricultural lands and the amount of sediment entering the area's rivers and streams -- and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.

Division of labor in the test tube Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:46 AM PST The division of labor is more efficient than a struggle through life without help from others -- this also applies to microorganisms. Researchers came to this conclusion when they performed experiments with bacteria that were deficient in the production of certain amino acids and depended on a partner to provide the missing nutrient. Bacterial strains that complemented each other's need showed a fitness increase of 20 percent relative to a non-deficient strain without partner.

Forget the needle; consider the haystack Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:15 AM PST Computer scientists have developed a method to uncover hidden patterns in huge data collections. Using a mathematical method that calculates the likelihood of a pattern repeating throughout a subset of data, the researchers have been able to cut dramatically the time needed to find patterns in large collections of information such as social networks.

Mice can inherit learned sensitivity to a smell Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:15 AM PST A surprising example of apparent inheritance of an experience: Researchers found that when a mouse is trained to become afraid of a certain odor, his or her pups will be more sensitive to that odor, even though the pups have never encountered it.

New means of growing intestinal stem cells Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:15 AM PST Researchers have shown that they can grow unlimited quantities of intestinal stem cells, then stimulate them to develop into nearly pure populations of different types of mature intestinal cells.

Nanorobot for transporting drugs in the body Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:15 AM PST The first step has been taken towards developing a nanorobot that -- in the long run -- will enable the targeted transport of medications in the body.

Microplastics make marine worms sick Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:14 AM PST Tiny bits of plastic trash could spell big trouble for marine life, starting with the worms. Marine worms play a key ecological role as an important source of food for other animals.

Koalas' low-pitched voice explained by unique organ Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:14 AM PST The pitch of male koalas' mating calls is about 20 times lower than it should be, given the Australian marsupial's relatively small size. Now, researchers have discovered their secret: koalas have a specialized sound-producing organ that has never before been seen in any other land-dwelling mammal. The key feature of this newly described organ is its location outside the voice box, what scientists call the larynx.

Increased risk for cardiac ischemia in patients with PTSD Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:13 AM PST There is growing concern that long-term untreated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may increase the risk of developing a number of medical problems, particularly compromised cardiovascular health. Considering that up to 30% of veterans suffer from PTSD, this is an important goal.

Can big cats co-exist? Study challenges lion threat to cheetah cubs Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:13 AM PST New research into cheetah cub survival has refuted the theory that lions are a cub's main predator and that big cats cannot coexist in conservation areas. The study found that cubs in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park were seven times more likely to survive then on the Serengeti Plains and that lions were not found to be the cubs' main predatory threat.

New algorithm finds you, even in untagged photos Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:12 AM PST A new algorithm has the power to profoundly change the way we find photos among the billions on social media sites such as Facebook and Flickr. The search tool uses tag locations to quantify relationships between individuals, even those not tagged in any given photo.

New study suggests low vitamin D causes damage to brain Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:11 AM PST A new study suggests that a diet low in vitamin D causes damage to the brain.

Amplifying our vision of the infinitely small Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:10 AM PST Scientists have discovered a method to improve detection of the infinitely small.

Appearing to be chronically ill may not be good indication of poor health Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:22 AM PST New research says how sick a patient appears to be may have limited value in diagnosing their actual state of health.

New light shed on solar water-splitting process Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:21 AM PST Scientists have provided new insight into how solar water-splitting cells work. An important and overlooked parameter, they report, is the ion-permeability of electrocatalysts used in water-splitting devices.

Evolution, Civil War history entwine in plant fossil with a tragic past Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:21 AM PST A fossil leaf collected on a Virginia canal bank is one of North America's oldest flowering plants, a 120-million-year-old species new to science. The find raises questions about whether pollen evolved along with flowering plants or came later. It also unearths a forgotten Civil War episode reminiscent of "Twelve Years a Slave": Union troops forced a group of freedmen to dig the canal that exposed the fossil.

Predict Alzheimer's disease within two years of screening Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:20 AM PST In a new study, scientists accurately predicted (at a rate of 90%) which of their research subjects with mild cognitive impairment would receive a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease within the following two years, and which subjects would not develop this disease.

Most detailed catalog of galaxies traces evolution of the universe during last 10,000 million years Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:20 AM PST Astronomers have now identified and classified more than half a million galaxies, after seven years of close observation of the universe.

How legless, leaping fish living on land avoids predators Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:53 AM PST One of the world's strangest animals -- a legless, leaping fish that lives on land -- uses camouflage to avoid attacks by predators such as birds, lizards and crabs, new research shows. Researchers studied the unique fish -- Pacific leaping blennies -- in their natural habitat on the tropical island of Guam. These terrestrial fish spend all of their adult lives living on the rocks in the splash zone.

Junk food, poor oral health increase risk of premature heart disease Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:53 AM PST The association between poor oral health and increased risk of cardiovascular disease should make the reduction of sugars such as those contained in junk food, particularly fizzy drinks, an important health policy target, say experts.

Researchers pinpoint superbug resistance protein Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:52 AM PST Researchers have recently identified a resistance protein that allows a "superbug" to survive a disinfectant used in hospitals.

New family of proteins linked to major role in cancer Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:52 AM PST Scientists have described a new family of proteins that appear to play a key role in cancer and might be targets for future cancer drugs. A major new study sets out the structure of the new family, called glutamate intramembrane proteases -- the founding member of which plays a critical role in transforming healthy cells into cancer cells.

New evidence that gout strongly runs in family Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:50 AM PST It's historically known as 'the king of diseases and the disease of kings' and was long thought to be caused by an overindulgent lifestyle, but now scientists have confirmed that gout strongly runs in families.

Sorting good germs from bad, in bacterial world Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:43 AM PST There are good E. coli and bad E. coli. Some live in your gut and help you keep healthy, others can cause serious disease -- even death. For pathologists, telling them apart has been a long and laborious task sometimes taking days. New technology using microscale electric field gradients now can tell the difference between good and bad bacteria in minutes from extremely small samples.

Study of young parents highlights links among stress, poverty, ethnicity Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:43 AM PST An avalanche of chronic stress affecting poor mothers and fathers is revealed in new data from a comprehensive national, federally funded American study.

Why tumors become resistant to chemotherapy Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:43 AM PST Researchers describe one of the causes that make a patient with colon cancer that responds well to initial chemotherapy, becomes resistant when the tumor reappears.

Tourette Syndrome in secondary schools: the real picture Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:41 AM PST Secondary school can be a stressful enough time for any teenager, but for those living with Tourette Syndrome (TS) their neurological condition can present a whole new set of challenges.

Air pollution, genetics combine to increase risk for autism Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST Exposure to air pollution appears to increase the risk for autism among people who carry a genetic disposition for the neurodevelopmental disorder, according to newly published research.

Novel rehabilitation device improves motor skills after stroke Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST Using a novel stroke rehabilitation device that converts an individual's thoughts to electrical impulses to move upper extremities, stroke patients reported improvements in their motor function and ability to perform activities of daily living.

MRI technique reveals low brain iron in ADHD patients Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST Magnetic resonance imaging provides a noninvasive way to measure iron levels in the brains of people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a new study. Researchers said the method could help physicians and parents make better informed decisions about medication.

PRP therapy improves degenerative tendon disease in athletes Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST Ultrasound-guided delivery of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) improves functionality and reduces recovery time in athletes with degenerative disease in their tendons, according to a new study.

Cardiac MRI reveals energy drinks alter heart function Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST Healthy adults who consumed energy drinks high in caffeine and taurine had significantly increased heart contraction rates one hour later, according to a new study.

Imaging shows long-term impact of blast-induced brain injuries in veterans Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST Using a special type of magnetic resonance imaging, researchers have found that soldiers who suffered mild traumatic brain injury induced by blast exposure exhibit long-term brain differences, according to a new study.

Defending against electromagnetic attacks Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:25 AM PST Electromagnetic radiation is invisible to people, however electromagnetic fields can interfere with or damage electronic devices. A new measuring instrument can now determine the strength, frequency, and direction of the attack.

Parents' work hours in evenings, nights, weekends disadvantage children Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:24 AM PST A comprehensive review of studies on parents' work schedules and child development spanning the last three decades shows that parents' work schedules in evenings, nights and weekends, so called "nonstandard work schedules" or "unsociable work hours", may have negative consequences for children. When parents work such hours, children tended to have more behavioral problems, poorer cognitive ability, and were more likely to be overweight or obese than children in families where parents mostly worked during the daytime hours and week day.

Congenital heart defects affects long-term developmental outcome Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:24 AM PST Approximately one percent of all newborns in Switzerland are diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, and roughly half of them require open heart surgery. Most children, including those with the most severe heart defects, survive because of the significant advancements in surgical techniques. Therefore, the current research focuses less on survival than on long-term consequences and quality of life of these children.

Corals surviving ocean's pollution Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:24 AM PST Unlike other marine species, the corals are still capable of adapting under current circumstances of sea acidification. "The first models indicated that the coral reefs would disappear midcentury, but our study reveals that corals are adapting to the ocean's acidification that has increased since the industrial revolution", the head researcher notes.

Messy children make better learners: Toddlers learn words for nonsolids better when getting messy in a highchair Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:23 AM PST Parents, let your children get messy in the high chair: They learn better that way. That's according to a new study which concludes that a 16-month-old's setting and degree of interaction enhances his or her ability to identify nonsolid objects and name them.

Marine reserves enhance resilience to climate change Posted: 01 Dec 2013 02:43 PM PST A new study highlights the potential for fish communities in marine reserves to resist climate change impacts better than communities on fished coasts.

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