ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Silicon-carbon electrodes snap, swell, don't pop
• How to best help your child lose weight: Lose weight yourself
• Scientists identify neural activity sequences that help form memory, decision-making
• Loss of appetite deciphered in brain cell circuit
• Evidence builds that meditation strengthens the brain
• Alleged robo-calling may have significantly impacted voting
• Corn insecticide linked to great die-off of beneficial honeybees
• Lack of sleep may increase calorie consumption
• Eye health is related to brain health
• Killer silk: Making silk fibers that kill anthrax and other microbes in minutes
• Researchers send 'wireless' message using a beam of neutrinos
• NASA releases new WISE mission catalog of entire infrared sky
• Evolutionary surprise: Developmental 'scaffold' for vertebrate brain found in brainless marine worm
• Molecular graphene heralds new era of 'designer electrons'
• Scientists discover drug side effects, interactions using new computer algorithm
• Tailored optical material from DNA: Light-modifying nanoparticles
• New study lowers estimate of ancient sea-level rise
• Walking may lessen the influence of genes on obesity by half
• Researchers identify unexpected player in intestinal immunity
• Some mammals used highly complex teeth to compete with dinosaurs
• Biologists uncover surprising connection between breast cancer cells and surrounding tissue
• Getting a full picture of an elusive subject: Astronomers map dark matter in 3-D in galaxy cluster
• How salmonella avoids the body's immune response
• Tiny teeth of long-extinct vertebrate – with tips only two micrometers across -- are sharpest dental structures ever
• Epigenetic signatures direct the repair potential of reprogrammed cells
• H. pylori bacteria linked to blood sugar control in adult type II diabetes
• Astronomers get rare peek at early stage of star formation
• Health and ecosystem issues found with popular pavement sealcoat
• 'Brain fog' of menopause confirmed
• Hiding in plain sight, a new frog species with a 'weird' croak is identified in New York City
• Mystery human fossils put spotlight on China
• Millions of Americans at risk of flooding as sea levels rise
• Fragrant new biofuel: Researchers develop a new candidate for a cleaner, greener and renewable diesel fuel
• REM sleep disorder doubles risk of mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson's, study finds
• Feeding habits of teenage galaxies
• Recycling galaxies caught in the act
• How muscle cells seal their membranes
• Few genes control neuronal function
• Capturing chromosomes during cell division
• Are silver nanoparticles harmful?
• Shyness study examines how human brain adapts to stimuli
• Dye-sensitized solar cells that use carbon nanotube thin films as transparent electrodes offer significant cost savings
• Magnesium lowers blood pressure, study suggests
• A new approach to faster anticancer drug discovery
• Cancer epigenetics: Breakthrough in identifying target genes

Silicon-carbon electrodes snap, swell, don't pop Posted: 14 Mar 2012 03:33 PM PDT A new study that examines a new type of silicon-carbon nanocomposite electrode reveals details of how they function and how repeated use could wear them down. The study also provides clues to why this material performs better than silicon alone.

How to best help your child lose weight: Lose weight yourself Posted: 14 Mar 2012 02:07 PM PDT A parent's weight change is a key contributor to the success of a child's weight loss in family-based treatment of childhood obesity.

Scientists identify neural activity sequences that help form memory, decision-making Posted: 14 Mar 2012 02:06 PM PDT Researchers have used a novel virtual reality and brain imaging system to detect a form of neural activity underlying how the brain forms short-term memories that are used in making decisions.

Loss of appetite deciphered in brain cell circuit Posted: 14 Mar 2012 02:06 PM PDT A brain circuit has been deciphered that mediates loss of appetite in mice. Potential therapeutic targets were discovered within the cell-signaling pathway. The results may be valuable in developing new treatments for such eating disorders as persistent nausea, food aversions, and anorexia nervosa.

Evidence builds that meditation strengthens the brain Posted: 14 Mar 2012 02:06 PM PDT Researchers have found that long-term meditators have larger amounts of gyrification ("folding" of the cortex, which may allow the brain to process information faster) then non-meditators. Further, a correlation was found between the amount of gyrification and the number of meditation years, possibly providing further proof of the brain's neuroplasticity.

Alleged robo-calling may have significantly impacted voting Posted: 14 Mar 2012 02:06 PM PDT An economist finds that robo-calling, if the phenomenon did occur, could have significantly influenced voter turnout and ballot results in the last federal election. Elections Canada is investigating New Democrat and Liberal party allegations that the Conservatives hired companies to robo-call voters in ridings across Canada, thereby influencing the Tories' 2011 federal election win.

Corn insecticide linked to great die-off of beneficial honeybees Posted: 14 Mar 2012 02:05 PM PDT New research has linked springtime die-offs of honeybees critical for pollinating food crops -- part of the mysterious malady called colony collapse disorder -- with technology for planting corn coated with insecticides. The study appears on the eve of spring planting seasons in some parts of Europe where farmers use the technology and widespread deaths of honeybees have occurred in the past.

Lack of sleep may increase calorie consumption Posted: 14 Mar 2012 02:04 PM PDT If you don't get enough sleep, you may also eat too much -- and thus be more likely to become obese.

Eye health is related to brain health Posted: 14 Mar 2012 01:59 PM PDT People with mild vascular disease that causes damage to the retina in the eye are more likely to have problems with thinking and memory skills because they may also have vascular disease in the brain, according to a new study.

Killer silk: Making silk fibers that kill anthrax and other microbes in minutes Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:31 AM PDT A simple, inexpensive dip-and-dry treatment can convert ordinary silk into a fabric that kills disease-causing bacteria -- even the armor-coated spores of microbes like anthrax -- in minutes. Researchers describe a range of potential uses for this new killer silk, including make-shift curtains and other protective coatings that protect homes and other buildings in the event of a terrorist attack with anthrax.

Researchers send 'wireless' message using a beam of neutrinos Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:31 AM PDT Scientists have for the first time sent a message using a beam of neutrinos -- nearly massless particles that travel at almost the speed of light. The message was sent through 240 meters of stone and said simply, "Neutrino."

NASA releases new WISE mission catalog of entire infrared sky Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:30 AM PDT NASA has unveiled a new atlas and catalog of the entire infrared sky showing more than a half billion stars, galaxies and other objects captured by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission.

Evolutionary surprise: Developmental 'scaffold' for vertebrate brain found in brainless marine worm Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:28 AM PDT Scientists report finding some of the genetic processes that regulate vertebrate brain development in the acorn worm, a brainless, burrowing marine invertebrate.

Molecular graphene heralds new era of 'designer electrons' Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:28 AM PDT Researchers have created the first-ever system of "designer electrons" -- exotic variants of ordinary electrons with tunable properties that may ultimately lead to new types of materials and devices. Their first examples were hand-crafted, honeycomb-shaped structures inspired by graphene.

Scientists discover drug side effects, interactions using new computer algorithm Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:28 AM PDT Researchers have devised a computer algorithm that enabled them to swiftly sift through millions of reports to the US Food and Drug Administration by patients and their physicians and identify "true" drug side effects. The method also identified previously unsuspected interactions between pairs of drugs, notably that antidepressants called SSRIs interact with a common blood pressure medication to significantly increase the risk of a potentially deadly heart condition.

Tailored optical material from DNA: Light-modifying nanoparticles Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:28 AM PDT In the human body genetic information is encoded in double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid building blocks, the so-called DNA. Using artificial DNA molecules, an international team of scientists have produced nanostructured materials that can be used to modify visible light by specification.

New study lowers estimate of ancient sea-level rise Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:28 AM PDT The seas are creeping higher as the planet warms. But how high will they go? In Bermuda and the Bahamas, researchers have gone looking for answers; By pinpointing where shorelines stood during a warm period 400,000 years ago, they hope to narrow the range of projections. After correcting for apparent sinking of the islands, the authors of a new study estimate the seas rose 20 to 43 feet higher than today -- far less than previous estimates, but still drastic.

Walking may lessen the influence of genes on obesity by half Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:28 AM PDT Watching too much TV can worsen your genetic tendency towards obesity, but you can cut the effect in half by walking briskly for an hour a day, researchers report.

Researchers identify unexpected player in intestinal immunity Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:20 AM PDT With every meal, immune cells in the intestine stand like sentries at a citadel, turning away harmful bacteria but allowing vitamins and nutrients to pass. Now, researchers have identified the cells that chaperone food antigens, or proteins, in the intestine so that the immune system doesn't mount an attack. Their discovery provides scientists with a potential target for therapies against inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and food allergies.

Some mammals used highly complex teeth to compete with dinosaurs Posted: 14 Mar 2012 11:20 AM PDT New research shows that at least one group of small mammals, the multituberculates, actually flourished in the last 20 million years of dinosaurs' reign and survived their extinction.

Biologists uncover surprising connection between breast cancer cells and surrounding tissue Posted: 14 Mar 2012 10:34 AM PDT Biologists had found a previously unknown connection between breast cancer tumor cells and the surrounding healthy tissue. The results provide new information on the earliest stages of breast cancer metastasis.

Getting a full picture of an elusive subject: Astronomers map dark matter in 3-D in galaxy cluster Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:59 AM PDT Two teams of astronomers have used data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes to map the distribution of dark matter in a galaxy cluster known as Abell 383, which is located about 2.3 billion light years from Earth. Not only were the researchers able to find where the dark matter lies in the two dimensions across the sky, they were also able to determine how the dark matter is distributed along the line of sight.

How salmonella avoids the body's immune response Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:59 AM PDT Researchers have discovered how salmonella, a bacterium found in contaminated raw foods that causes major gastrointestinal distress in humans, thrives in the digestive tract despite the immune system's best efforts to destroy it.

Tiny teeth of long-extinct vertebrate – with tips only two micrometers across -- are sharpest dental structures ever Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:59 AM PDT The tiny teeth of a long-extinct vertebrate -- with tips only two micrometers across: one twentieth the width of a human hair -- are the sharpest dental structures ever measured, new research has found.

Epigenetic signatures direct the repair potential of reprogrammed cells Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:46 AM PDT A research team has reprogrammed skin cells to identify epigenetic signatures that regulate the expression of a protein critical for repair of non-healing wounds. Identification of these signatures holds promise for future research aimed at applying these cells for personalized tissue regeneration.

H. pylori bacteria linked to blood sugar control in adult type II diabetes Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:46 AM PDT A new study reveals that the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria is associated with elevated levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), an important biomarker for blood glucose levels and diabetes. The association was even stronger in obese individuals with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI). The results suggest the bacteria may play a role in the development of diabetes in adults.

Astronomers get rare peek at early stage of star formation Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:42 AM PDT Astronomers are excited to get their first look at a clump of gas they think is about to start forming stars. Unlike others seen, this one is "pristine," unaffected by the violent stellar winds and supernova shocks from other nearby stars.

Health and ecosystem issues found with popular pavement sealcoat Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:42 AM PDT A parking lot at the edge of the University of New Hampshire campus has contributed important research to an emerging concern for the environment and human health. The research has found that one type of pavement sealcoat, common on driveways and parking lots throughout the nation, has significant health and ecosystem implications.

'Brain fog' of menopause confirmed Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:40 AM PDT The difficulties that many women describe as memory problems when menopause approaches are real, according to a new study. The findings won't come as a surprise to millions of women, but the results validate their experiences and provide some clues to what is happening in the brain as women hit menopause.

Hiding in plain sight, a new frog species with a 'weird' croak is identified in New York City Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:40 AM PDT In New York City -- in the midst of some of the world's tallest skyscrapers -- and within view of the Statue of Liberty, scientists have found a new frog species. While the discovery of new species are regularly made in remote rainforests, finding this one in the ponds and marshes of Staten Island, mainland New York, and New Jersey was a big surprise to scientists.

Mystery human fossils put spotlight on China Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:40 AM PDT Fossils from two caves in southwest China have revealed a previously unknown Stone Age people and give a rare glimpse of a recent stage of human evolution with startling implications for the early peopling of Asia.

Millions of Americans at risk of flooding as sea levels rise Posted: 14 Mar 2012 08:17 AM PDT Nearly four million Americans, occupying a combined area larger than the state of Maryland, find themselves at risk of severe flooding as sea levels rise in the coming century, new research suggests. Researchers say that with so many communities concentrated on US coasts, the odds for major storm damage get bigger every year.

Fragrant new biofuel: Researchers develop a new candidate for a cleaner, greener and renewable diesel fuel Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:12 AM PDT Researchers have identified methyl ketones, chemical compounds known for their fragrance and flavor, as strong biofuel candidates. Methyl ketones produced from glucose by engineered E. coli yielded high cetane numbers -- a diesel fuel rating comparable to the octane number for gasoline.

REM sleep disorder doubles risk of mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson's, study finds Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:12 AM PDT People with symptoms suggesting rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, or RBD, have twice the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or Parkinson's disease within four years of diagnosis with the sleep problem, compared with people without the disorder, a new study has found.

Feeding habits of teenage galaxies Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:07 AM PDT New observations made with ESO's Very Large Telescope are making a major contribution to understanding the growth of adolescent galaxies. In the biggest survey of its kind astronomers have found that galaxies changed their eating habits during their teenage years -- the period from about 3 to 5 billion years after the Big Bang. At the start of this phase smooth gas flow was the preferred snack, but later, galaxies mostly grew by cannibalising other smaller galaxies.

Recycling galaxies caught in the act Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:07 AM PDT When astronomers add up all the gas and dust contained in ordinary galaxies (like our own Milky Way), they find a discrepancy: there is not nearly enough matter for stars to form at the observed rates for long. As a (partial) solution, a matter cycle on gigantic scales has been proposed. In our local galactic neighborhood, traces of this mechanism had already been found. Now, a new study has found the first direct evidence of such gas flowing back into distant galaxies that are actively forming new stars, validating a key part of "galactic recycling".

How muscle cells seal their membranes Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:05 AM PDT Every cell is enclosed by a thin double layer of lipids that separates the distinct internal environment of the cell from the extracellular space. Damage to this lipid bilayer, also referred to as plasma membrane, disturbs the cellular functions and may lead to the death of the cell. For example, downhill walking tears many little holes into the plasma membranes of the muscle cells in our legs. To prevent irreparable damage, muscle cells have efficient systems to seal these holes again. Researchers have succeeded for the first time in observing membrane repair in real-time in a living organism.

Few genes control neuronal function Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:04 AM PDT How are 100 billion cells created, each with specific duties? The human brain is evidence that nature can achieve this. Researchers have now taken a step closer to solving this mystery.

Capturing chromosomes during cell division Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:04 AM PDT Scientists have been successful in elucidating a new mechanism for the error-free segregation of the human genome during cell division. They have been able to show that the enzyme Aurora B and the protein complex Ska play a central role in flawless chromosome segregation.

Are silver nanoparticles harmful? Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:04 AM PDT Silver nanoparticles cause more damage to testicular cells than titanium dioxide nanoparticles, according to a recent study. However, the use of both types may affect testicular cells with possible consequences for fertility.

Shyness study examines how human brain adapts to stimuli Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:00 AM PDT Shyness may be the result of deficits in two areas of the brain, new research finds.

Dye-sensitized solar cells that use carbon nanotube thin films as transparent electrodes offer significant cost savings Posted: 14 Mar 2012 06:55 AM PDT Dye-sensitized solar cells that use carbon nanotube thin films as transparent electrodes offer significant cost savings

Magnesium lowers blood pressure, study suggests Posted: 13 Mar 2012 08:03 PM PDT Researchers have found that magnesium supplements may offer small but clinically significant reductions in blood pressure. The researchers also discovered that the size of the effect increased in line with increased dosage.

A new approach to faster anticancer drug discovery Posted: 13 Mar 2012 04:02 PM PDT Tracking the genetic pathway of a disease offers a powerful, new approach to drug discovery, according to scientists who used the approach to uncover a potential treatment for prostate cancer, using a drug currently marketed for congestive heart failure.

Cancer epigenetics: Breakthrough in identifying target genes Posted: 13 Mar 2012 04:01 PM PDT Cancer is usually attributed to faulty genes, but growing evidence from the field of cancer epigenetics indicates a key role for the gene "silencing" proteins that stably turn genes off inside the cell nucleus. A new study promises to speed research in the field by rapidly identifying the genes that epigenetic proteins can target for silencing.

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