ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Electrical engineers build 'no-waste' laser
• 'Dark plasmons' transmit energy
• Substance P causes seizures in patients infected by pork tapeworm
• Deconstructing a mystery: What caused Snowmaggedon?
• Most lethal known species of prion protein identified
• Hydrogen from acidic water: Potential low cost alternative to platinum for splitting water
• To perform with less effort, practice beyond perfection
• 3-D laser map shows earthquake before and after
• Ocean microbe communities changing, but long-term environmental impact is unclear
• Chemists harvest light to create 'green' tool for pharmaceuticals
• Gene therapy boosts brain repair for demyelinating diseases
• Ocean warming causes elephant seals to dive deeper
• Seismic resistance: Model analyzes shape-memory alloys for use in earthquake-resistant structures
• Baby knows best: Baby-led weaning promotes healthy food preferences
• New battery could lead to cheaper, more efficient solar energy
• Physically abused children report higher levels of psychosomatic symptoms
• Secrets of immune response illuminated in new study
• Research finds ways that young couples experience less relationship stress, higher satisfaction
• Largest-ever gene study of Type 2 diabetes finds variants across many ethnic groups
• Obesity is associated with altered brain function
• Nanotube therapy takes aim at breast cancer stem cells
• Right hand or left? How the brain solves a perceptual puzzle
• What kind of chocolate is best? The last you taste, says a new study
• Scientists sound alarm over threat of untreatable gonorrhea in United States
• Piranha vs. Arapaima: Engineers find inspiration for new materials in piranha-proof armor
• New target for Alzheimer's drugs
• How the zebra got its stripes
• Amazing skin gives sharks a push
• Cellular switches: From the RNA world to the 'modern' protein world
• Fruit fly turn-on: A sexy, youthful smell may make up for advancing age
• Global sea level rise: NASA mission takes stock of Earth's melting land ice
• Continental mosquito with 'vector' potential found breeding in UK after 60 year absence
• Financial burden of prescription drugs is dropping, U.S. study finds
• Low dopamine levels during withdrawal promote relapse to smoking
• How DNA finds its match
• Scientists make iron transparent: For first time, experiment shows that atomic nuclei can become transparent
• 'Explorers,' who embrace the uncertainty of choices, use specific part of cortex
• Stress pathway identified as potential therapeutic target to prevent vision loss

Electrical engineers build 'no-waste' laser Posted: 09 Feb 2012 02:33 PM PST Researchers have built the smallest room-temperature nanolaser to date, as well as an even more startling device: a highly efficient, "thresholdless" laser that funnels all its photons into lasing, without any waste.

'Dark plasmons' transmit energy Posted: 09 Feb 2012 02:29 PM PST Microscopic channels of gold nanoparticles have the ability to transmit electromagnetic energy that starts as light and propagates via "dark plasmons," according to researchers.

Substance P causes seizures in patients infected by pork tapeworm Posted: 09 Feb 2012 02:28 PM PST A neuropeptide called Substance P is the cause of seizures in patients with brains infected by the pork tapeworm.

Deconstructing a mystery: What caused Snowmaggedon? Posted: 09 Feb 2012 12:28 PM PST Scientists are using computer models to help unravel the mystery of a record-setting snowfall in the Washington, DC area in early 2010.

Most lethal known species of prion protein identified Posted: 09 Feb 2012 12:28 PM PST Scientists have identified a single prion protein that causes neuronal death similar to that seen in "mad cow" disease, but is at least 10 times more lethal than larger prion species.

Hydrogen from acidic water: Potential low cost alternative to platinum for splitting water Posted: 09 Feb 2012 12:28 PM PST A technique for creating a new molecule that structurally and chemically replicates the active part of the molybdenite catalyst paves the way for developing catalytic materials that can serve as effective low-cost alternatives to platinum for generating hydrogen gas from water.

To perform with less effort, practice beyond perfection Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:40 AM PST Whether you are an athlete, a musician or a stroke patient learning to walk again, practice can make perfect, but more practice may make you more efficient, according to a surprising new study.

3-D laser map shows earthquake before and after Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:40 AM PST Geologists have a new tool to study how earthquakes change the landscape down to a few inches, and it's giving them insight into how earthquake faults behave.

Ocean microbe communities changing, but long-term environmental impact is unclear Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:40 AM PST As oceans warm due to climate change, water layers will mix less and affect the microbes and plankton that pump carbon out of the atmosphere – but researchers say it's still unclear whether these processes will further increase global warming or decrease it. It could be either, they say.

Chemists harvest light to create 'green' tool for pharmaceuticals Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:39 AM PST Researchers have created a new, "green" method for developing medicines. The researchers used energy from a light bulb to create an organic molecule that may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's and other brain diseases.

Gene therapy boosts brain repair for demyelinating diseases Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:02 AM PST Our bodies are full of tiny superheroes -- antibodies that fight foreign invaders, cells that regenerate, and structures that ensure our systems run smoothly. One such structure is myelin, a material that forms a protective cape around the axons of our nerve cells so that they can send signals quickly and efficiently. But myelin becomes damaged in demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis, leaving neurons without their sheaths. Researchers now believe they have found a way to help the brain replace damaged myelin.

Ocean warming causes elephant seals to dive deeper Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:02 AM PST Global warming is having an effect on the dive behavior and search for food of southern elephant seals. Researchers have discovered that the seals dive deeper for food when in warmer water. The scientists attribute this behavior to the migration of prey to greater depths and now wish to check this theory using a new sensor which registers the feeding of the animals below water.

Seismic resistance: Model analyzes shape-memory alloys for use in earthquake-resistant structures Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:58 AM PST Recent earthquake damage has exposed the vulnerability of existing structures to strong ground movement. Researchers are now analyzing shape-memory alloys for their potential use in constructing seismic-resistant structures.

Baby knows best: Baby-led weaning promotes healthy food preferences Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:58 AM PST A new study has shown that babies who are weaned using solid finger food are more likely to develop healthier food preferences and are less likely to become overweight as children than those who are spoon-fed pureed food.

New battery could lead to cheaper, more efficient solar energy Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:58 AM PST Scientists have found that a new type of battery has the potential to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar power.

Physically abused children report higher levels of psychosomatic symptoms Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:53 AM PST Children who display multiple psychosomatic symptoms, such as regular aches and pains and sleep and appetite problems, are more than twice as likely to be experiencing physical abuse at home than children who do not display symptoms. Researchers who studied 2,510 children found a strong association between reported physical abuse and three or more psychosomatic symptoms. The association was highest in children who were physically abused and also witnessed intimate partner violence.

Secrets of immune response illuminated in new study Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:51 AM PST When disease-causing invaders like bacteria infect a human host, cells of various types swing into action, coordinating their activities to address the threat. Scientists have now investigated the coordination of a particular type of immune response, involving the release of of IFN-λ -- a cell-signaling protein molecule known as a cytokine.

Research finds ways that young couples experience less relationship stress, higher satisfaction Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:50 AM PST Young adults who easily engage in rewarding conversations with their partners are less likely to hold onto anger and stress and more likely to be satisfied with the relationship, according to new research. Researchers are also looking at factors that relate to positive dating relationships or problematic relationships.

Largest-ever gene study of Type 2 diabetes finds variants across many ethnic groups Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:50 AM PST The largest genetics study to date of Type 2 diabetes has identified new gene variants associated with risk for the common metabolic disease. An international scientific consortium, studying multi-ethnic populations, uncovered genes that may point to biological targets for developing more effective drugs for T2D.

Obesity is associated with altered brain function Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:14 AM PST Researchers have found new evidence for the role of the brain in obesity.

Nanotube therapy takes aim at breast cancer stem cells Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:14 AM PST Researchers have again shown that injecting multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into tumors and heating them with a quick, 30-second laser treatment can kill them.

Right hand or left? How the brain solves a perceptual puzzle Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:20 AM PST When you see a picture of a hand, how do you know whether it's a right or left hand? This "hand laterality" problem may seem obscure, but it reveals a lot about how the brain sorts out confusing perceptions. Now, a new study challenges the long-held consensus about how we solve this problem.

What kind of chocolate is best? The last you taste, says a new study Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:20 AM PST Like to save the best for last? Here's good news: If it's the last, you'll like it the best.

Scientists sound alarm over threat of untreatable gonorrhea in United States Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:18 AM PST The threat of multi-drug resistant gonorrhea is rising. Cephalosporins, the last line of defense, are rapidly losing effectiveness. The likelihood of treatment failures in the United States calls for urgent action to control the spread of gonorrhea, medical research leaders say. Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported communicable disease in the United States.

Piranha vs. Arapaima: Engineers find inspiration for new materials in piranha-proof armor Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:18 AM PST It's a matchup worthy of a late-night cable movie: put a school of starving piranha and a 300-pound fish together, and who comes out the winner? The surprising answer -- given the notorious guillotine-like bite of the piranha -- is Brazil's massive Arapaima fish. The secret to Arapaima's success lie in its intricately designed scales, which could provide "bioinspiration" for engineers looking to develop flexible ceramics.

New target for Alzheimer's drugs Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:18 AM PST UC Riverside biomedical scientists have identified a new link between a protein (beta-arrestin) and short-term memory that could open new doors for the therapeutic treatment of neurological disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease. They show that if beta-arrestin is removed from neurons, short-term memory loss is prevented. But beta-arrestin is also required for normal learning/memory. The researchers argue that a fine balance needs to be established, one that could be achieved by pharmaceutical drugs in the future.

How the zebra got its stripes Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:17 AM PST Horseflies are unpleasant insects that deliver powerful bites and now it seems that zebras evolved their stripes to avoid attracting the unpleasant pests. New research show that zebras have the least attractive hides for horseflies.

Amazing skin gives sharks a push Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:17 AM PST Shark skin has long been known to improve the fish's swimming performance by reducing drag, but now a new study show that in addition, the skin generates thrust, giving the fish an extra boost. The duo also discovered that Speedo's shark skin-inspired Fastskin® FS II fabric surface does not improve swimming speed, although they point out that the figure hugging costumes probably enhance performance in other ways.

Cellular switches: From the RNA world to the 'modern' protein world Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:16 AM PST Scientists have discovered the molecular mechanism of a G protein family. G proteins play a central role in cellular signal processing. They are described as molecular switches that oscillate between 'on' and 'off', regulated by effectors. Biochemists have now gained fundamental insights into the mechanics of these switches.

Fruit fly turn-on: A sexy, youthful smell may make up for advancing age Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:14 AM PST Beauty is more than skin deep, at least for fruit flies studied in new research that demonstrates how age-related changes in pheromone production can reduce sexual attractiveness.

Global sea level rise: NASA mission takes stock of Earth's melting land ice Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:05 AM PST In the first comprehensive satellite study of its kind, researchers have used NASA data to calculate how much Earth's melting land ice is adding to global sea level rise. Using satellite measurements from the NASA/German Aerospace Center Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), the researchers measured ice loss in all of Earth's land ice between 2003 and 2010, with particular emphasis on glaciers and ice caps outside of Greenland and Antarctica. The total global ice mass lost from Greenland, Antarctica and Earth's glaciers and ice caps during the study period was about 4.3 trillion tons (1,000 cubic miles), adding about 0.5 inches (12 millimeters) to global sea level. That's enough ice to cover the United States 1.5 feet (0.5 meters) deep.

Continental mosquito with 'vector' potential found breeding in UK after 60 year absence Posted: 08 Feb 2012 07:02 PM PST A species of mosquito has been discovered breeding in the UK that has not been seen in the country since 1945. Populations of the mosquito, found across mainland Europe and known only by its Latin name Culex modestus, were recorded at a number of sites in the marshes of north Kent and south Essex in 2010 and 2011.

Financial burden of prescription drugs is dropping, U.S. study finds Posted: 08 Feb 2012 03:02 PM PST The financial challenge Americans face paying out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs has declined, but the costs remain a burden to many families, according to a new study. Despite the improvement, more than 8 million non-elderly Americans live in families with a high drug-cost burden.

Low dopamine levels during withdrawal promote relapse to smoking Posted: 08 Feb 2012 10:25 AM PST Mark Twain said, "Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times." Many smokers would agree that it's difficult to stay away from cigarettes. A new study now suggests that low dopamine levels that occur as a result of withdrawal from smoking actually promote the relapse to smoking.

How DNA finds its match Posted: 08 Feb 2012 10:23 AM PST It's been more than 50 years since James Watson and Francis Crick showed that DNA is a double helix of two strands that complement each other. But how does a short piece of DNA find its match, out of the millions of 'letters' in even a small genome? New work shows how it's done.

Scientists make iron transparent: For first time, experiment shows that atomic nuclei can become transparent Posted: 08 Feb 2012 10:23 AM PST At the high-brilliance synchrotron light source PETRA III, scientists have succeeded in making atomic nuclei transparent with the help of X-ray light. At the same time they have also discovered a new way to realize an optically controlled light switch that can be used to manipulate light with light, an important ingredient for efficient future quantum computers.

'Explorers,' who embrace the uncertainty of choices, use specific part of cortex Posted: 08 Feb 2012 10:22 AM PST As they try to find the best reward among options, some people explore based on how uncertain they are about the outcome of the options. Those who employ that thought process, unlike people who use other strategies, uniquely harness the computational power of the rostrolateral prefrontal cortex, a new study finds.

Stress pathway identified as potential therapeutic target to prevent vision loss Posted: 08 Feb 2012 10:22 AM PST A new study identifies specific cell-stress signaling pathways that link injury of the optic nerve with irreversible vision loss. The research may lead to new strategies that will help to protect vulnerable neurons in the retina after optic nerve damage and diseases.

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