ScienceDaily: Top Science News

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• Powerful ancient explosions explain new class of supernovae
• Scientists solve a decades-old mystery in Earth's upper atmosphere
• Neanderthal genome shows early human interbreeding, inbreeding
• Seven distinct African crocodile species, not just three, biologists show
• Sunlight adaptation region of Neanderthal genome found in up to 65 percent of modern East Asian population
• 3-D tissue printing: Cells from the eye inkjet-printed for the first time
• Spiders are partial to a side order of pollen with their flies
• Dogs recognize familiar faces from images
• Moderate alcohol consumption boosts body's immune system, study suggests
• Silencing synapses to deal with addictions

Powerful ancient explosions explain new class of supernovae Posted: 18 Dec 2013 10:38 AM PST Astronomers have discovered two of the brightest and most distant supernovae ever recorded, 10 billion light-years away and a hundred times more luminous than a normal supernova.

Scientists solve a decades-old mystery in Earth's upper atmosphere Posted: 18 Dec 2013 10:37 AM PST New research resolves decades of scientific controversy over the origin of ultra-relativistic electrons in the Earth's near space environment, and is likely to influence our understanding of planetary magnetospheres throughout the universe.

Neanderthal genome shows early human interbreeding, inbreeding Posted: 18 Dec 2013 10:36 AM PST Population geneticists have produced the first high-quality genome of a Neanderthal, allowing comparison with the genomes of modern humans and Denisovans. The analysis shows a long history of interbreeding among these early humans and a fourth, previously unknown group. The Neanderthal, from Denisova cave, also shows evidence of inbreeding. About 87 genes in modern humans were found to be significantly different from related genes in Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Seven distinct African crocodile species, not just three, biologists show Posted: 18 Dec 2013 10:01 AM PST African crocodiles, long thought of as just three known species, are among the most iconic creatures in Africa. But recent research now finds that there are at least seven distinct African crocodile species.

Sunlight adaptation region of Neanderthal genome found in up to 65 percent of modern East Asian population Posted: 18 Dec 2013 07:02 AM PST With the Neanderthal genome now published, for the first time, scientists have a rich new resource of comparative evolution. For example, recently, scientists have shown that humans and Neanderthals once interbred, with the accumulation of elements of Neanderthal DNA found in up to 5 percent in modern humans. Scientist have found evidence of accumulation of a Neanderthal DNA region found on chromosome 3 that contains 18 genes, with several related to UV-light adaptation, including the Hyal2 gene. Their results reveal this region was positively selected and enriched in East Asians, ranging from up to 49 percent in Japanese to 66 percent in Southern Chinese.

3-D tissue printing: Cells from the eye inkjet-printed for the first time Posted: 18 Dec 2013 07:02 AM PST Scientists have used inkjet printing technology to successfully print cells taken from the eye for the very first time. The breakthrough could lead to the production of artificial tissue grafts made from the variety of cells found in the human retina and may aid in the search to cure blindness.

Spiders are partial to a side order of pollen with their flies Posted: 18 Dec 2013 07:01 AM PST Spiders may not be the pure predators we generally believe, after a study found that some make up a quarter of their diet by eating pollen. Biologists have now demonstrated that orb web spiders -- like the common garden variety -- choose to eat pollen even when insects are available.

Dogs recognize familiar faces from images Posted: 18 Dec 2013 06:58 AM PST So far the specialized skill for recognizing facial features holistically has been assumed to be a quality that only humans and possibly primates possess. Although it's well known, that faces and eye contact play an important role in the communication between dogs and humans, this was the first study, where facial recognition of dogs was investigated with eye movement tracking.

Moderate alcohol consumption boosts body's immune system, study suggests Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:10 PM PST Medical science has known for years that people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol actually have a reduced risk of death. Now, new research adds a fascinating twist: moderate drinking may actually bolster our immune system and help it fight off infection.

Silencing synapses to deal with addictions Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:53 PM PST Imagine kicking a cocaine addiction by simply popping a pill that alters the way your brain processes chemical addiction. New research suggests that a method of biologically manipulating certain neurocircuits could lead to a pharmacological approach that would weaken post-withdrawal cocaine cravings.

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