ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Meerkat predator-scanning behaviour is altruistic, experts say
• NASA's Super-TIGER balloon breaks records while collecting cosmic ray data
• Cassini sees Saturn's moon Titan cooking up smog
• Playtime: Affectionate, less controlling mothers have strongest relationships with their children
• Polar bear researchers urge governments to act now and save the species
• Scientists find a key element of lupus, suggesting better drug targets
• Low vitamin D levels may increase risk of Type 1 diabetes
• Tortugas Marine Reserve yields more, larger fish
• Study confirms no transmission of Alzheimer's proteins between humans
• Quantum microscope for living biology
• Some cancer mutations slow tumor growth
• How plants sense gravity: New look at the roles of genetics and the cytoskeleton
• Gene variants found to affect human lifespan
• Chemical reaction keeps stroke-damaged brain from repairing itself
• Monogamous birds read partner's food desires
• Scientists turn toxic by-product into biofuel booster
• Last Neanderthals of southern Iberia may not have coexisted with modern humans, new data suggest
• Experimental therapy crosses blood-brain barrier to treat neurological disease
• Paired genes in stem cells shed new light on gene organization and regulation
• Grooming helps insects keep their senses sharpened
• Gases work with particles to promote cloud formation
• Finding the way to memory: Receptor plays key role in regulating plasticity of brain's nerve cell connections
• Biodiversity exploration in the 3-D era
• In a fight to the finish, research aims knockout punch at hepatitis b
• Omega-3-rich ground beef available soon
• Water tubing-related injuries up 250 percent
• Small asteroid to whiz past Earth safely
• Human brain is divided on fear and panic: Different areas of brain responsible for external, internal threats
• In combat vets and others, high rate of vision problems after traumatic brain injury
• Impressive aerial maneuvers of the pea aphid
• Can cancer be turned against itself?
• Amyloid imaging shows promise for detecting cardiac amyloidosis
• Beef up: Middle-aged men may need more to maintain muscle mass
• Taking insulin for type 2 diabetes could expose patients to greater risk of health complications, study suggests
• New kind of extinct flying reptile discovered
• Survival of the fittest: Predator wasps breed at the expense of spider juveniles
• Researchers pioneer treatment for viral infection common in children
• Tropical rainfall patterns varied through time: Deeper understanding of drought cycles in Central America
• Low rainfall and extreme temperatures double risk of baby elephant deaths
• Scientists notch a win in war against antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Avoiding a cartography catastrophe: Study recommends new tools to improve global mapping of infectious disease
• Cancer researchers reveal mechanism to halt cancer cell growth, discover potential therapy
• Geographic factors can cause allergies, asthma: People living close to the equator are at higher risk, study finds
• Are super-Earths actually mini-Neptunes?
• Discovery of remains of England's King Richard III confirmed
• Light shone on star mystery: Why sun's corona is much hotter than its surface
• Macromolecular shredder for RNA: Researchers unravel the structure of the machinery for RNA disposal
• Into the quantum Internet at the speed of light
• Elastography: New cancer detection method right around the corner; Norway and France in front
• Climate change clues from tiny marine algae -- ancient and modern
• Elusive taste stem cells identified
• Men are from Mars Earth, women are from Venus Earth

Meerkat predator-scanning behaviour is altruistic, experts say Posted: 04 Feb 2013 07:08 PM PST In order to spot potential predators, adult meerkats often climb to a higher vantage point or stand on their hind legs. If a predator is detected, they use several different alarm calls to warn the rest of the group. New Cambridge research shows that they are more likely to exhibit this behavior when there are young pups present, suggesting that the predator-scanning behavior is for the benefit of the group rather than the individual.

NASA's Super-TIGER balloon breaks records while collecting cosmic ray data Posted: 04 Feb 2013 04:08 PM PST A large NASA science balloon has broken two flight duration records while flying over Antarctica carrying an instrument that detected 50 million cosmic rays.

Cassini sees Saturn's moon Titan cooking up smog Posted: 04 Feb 2013 04:05 PM PST Newly published research using data from NASA's Cassini mission describes in more detail than ever before how aerosols in the highest part of the atmosphere are kick-started at Saturn's moon Titan. Scientists want to understand aerosol formation at Titan because it could help predict the behavior of smoggy aerosol layers on Earth.

Playtime: Affectionate, less controlling mothers have strongest relationships with their children Posted: 04 Feb 2013 03:47 PM PST Researchers long have evaluated the roles parents play in children's development. Now, researchers have found that mothers' directiveness, the extent to which they try to control the content and pace of young children's play, varies based on the children's ages and the mothers' ethnicities. In addition, the study found that the more directive the mothers were during play, the less engaged children were with them and the more negative emotion the children displayed toward their mothers.

Polar bear researchers urge governments to act now and save the species Posted: 04 Feb 2013 03:47 PM PST Polar bear researchers are urging governments to start planning for rapid Arctic ecosystem change to deal with a climate change catastrophe for the animals.

Scientists find a key element of lupus, suggesting better drug targets Posted: 04 Feb 2013 03:46 PM PST Scientists have identified specific cellular events that appear key to lupus, a debilitating autoimmune disease that afflicts tens of millions of people worldwide. The findings suggest that blocking this pathway in lupus-triggering cells could be a potent weapon against the disease.

Low vitamin D levels may increase risk of Type 1 diabetes Posted: 04 Feb 2013 03:46 PM PST Having adequate levels of vitamin D during young adulthood may reduce the risk of adult-onset type 1 diabetes by as much as 50 percent, according to researchers. The findings, if confirmed in future studies, could lead to a role for vitamin D supplementation in preventing this serious autoimmune disease in adults.

Tortugas Marine Reserve yields more, larger fish Posted: 04 Feb 2013 03:46 PM PST Both fish populations and commercial and recreational anglers have benefited from "no-take" protections in the Tortugas Ecological Reserve in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, a new report shows.

Study confirms no transmission of Alzheimer's proteins between humans Posted: 04 Feb 2013 03:45 PM PST A new study found no evidence to support concerns that abnormal neurodegenerative disease proteins are "infectious" or transmitted from animals to humans or from one person to another.

Quantum microscope for living biology Posted: 04 Feb 2013 01:34 PM PST A team of Australian scientists has developed a powerful microscope using the laws of quantum mechanics to probe the inner workings of living cells. The researchers believe their microscope could lead to a better understanding of the basic components of life and eventually allow quantum mechanics to be probed at a macroscopic level.

Some cancer mutations slow tumor growth Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:40 PM PST A typical cancer cell has thousands of mutations scattered throughout its genome and hundreds of mutated genes. However, only a handful of those genes, known as drivers, are responsible for cancerous traits such as uncontrolled growth. Cancer biologists have largely ignored the other mutations, believing they had little or no impact on cancer progression. But a new study reveals, for the first time, that these so-called passenger mutations are not just along for the ride. When enough of them accumulate, they can slow or even halt tumor growth.

How plants sense gravity: New look at the roles of genetics and the cytoskeleton Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:40 PM PST The general response to gravity in plants is well known: roots respond positively, growing down, into the soil, and stems respond negatively, growing upward, to reach the sunlight. But how do plants sense gravity and direct or signal their cells to grow in response to it? Although botanists understand a great deal, a recent article reveals substantial gaps in our knowledge of the molecular details and highlights new ideas for potential regulating mechanisms.

Gene variants found to affect human lifespan Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:39 PM PST By broadly comparing the DNA of children to that of elderly people, gene researchers have identified copy number variations that influence lifespan. Some of the variants raise disease risk, while others provide protection from disease.

Chemical reaction keeps stroke-damaged brain from repairing itself Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:39 PM PST Nitric oxide, a gaseous molecule produced in the brain, can damage neurons. When the brain produces too much nitric oxide, it contributes to the severity and progression of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Researchers recently discovered that nitric oxide not only damages neurons, it also shuts down the brain's repair mechanisms.

Monogamous birds read partner's food desires Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:39 PM PST New research shows that male Eurasian Jays in committed relationships are able to share food with their female partner according to her current desire.

Scientists turn toxic by-product into biofuel booster Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:38 PM PST Scientists studying an enzyme that naturally produces alkanes, long carbon-chain molecules that could be a direct replacement for the hydrocarbons in gasoline, have figured out why the natural reaction typically stops after three to five cycles -- and devised a strategy to keep the reaction going. The work could renew interest in using the enzyme in bacteria, algae, or plants to produce biofuels that need no further processing.

Last Neanderthals of southern Iberia may not have coexisted with modern humans, new data suggest Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:37 PM PST The last Neanderthals had passed by southern Iberia quite earlier than previously thought, approximately 45,000 years ago and not 30,000 years ago as it has been estimated until recently. Researchers dated samples from two archaeological sites of central and southern Iberia. The new data casts doubt on the theory that sapiens and Neanderthals coexisted in Iberia during the Upper Pleistocene.

Experimental therapy crosses blood-brain barrier to treat neurological disease Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:37 PM PST Researchers have overcome a major challenge to treating brain diseases by engineering an experimental molecular therapy that crosses the blood-brain barrier to reverse neurological lysosomal storage disease in mice. Scientists say the study provides a non-invasive procedure that targets the blood-brain barrier and can be tested for delivering large-molecule therapeutic agents to treat neurological disorders.

Paired genes in stem cells shed new light on gene organization and regulation Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:36 PM PST Researchers show that transcription at the active promoters of protein-coding genes commonly runs in opposite directions. This leads to coordinated production of both protein-coding messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs).

Grooming helps insects keep their senses sharpened Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:36 PM PST Insect grooming -- specifically, antennal cleaning -- removes both environmental pollutants and chemicals produced by the insects themselves while keeping olfactory senses sharp.

Gases work with particles to promote cloud formation Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:36 PM PST Researchers have shown that certain volatile organic gases can promote cloud formation in a way never considered before by atmospheric scientists. They say this is the first time gases have been shown to affect cloud formation in this way and will "improve our ability to model cloud formation, an important component of climate."

Finding the way to memory: Receptor plays key role in regulating plasticity of brain's nerve cell connections Posted: 04 Feb 2013 11:26 AM PST A new study reveals that DCC, the receptor for a crucial protein in the nervous system known as netrin, plays a key role in regulating the plasticity of nerve cell connections in the brain.

Biodiversity exploration in the 3-D era Posted: 04 Feb 2013 11:26 AM PST A group of marine biologists from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research in Crete are testing computed tomography as a tool to accurately document the anatomy of biological specimens. The resulting 3-D models can be instantly accessed and interactively manipulated by other researchers, thus promoting rapid dissemination of morphological data useful to biodiversity research.

In a fight to the finish, research aims knockout punch at hepatitis b Posted: 04 Feb 2013 11:25 AM PST In a new study, researchers report a breakthrough in the pursuit of new hepatitis B drugs that could help cure the virus. The researchers were able to measure and then block a previously unstudied enzyme to stop the virus from replicating, taking advantage of known similarities with another major pathogen, HIV.

Omega-3-rich ground beef available soon Posted: 04 Feb 2013 11:23 AM PST Beef-lovers will soon have a tasty way to stock up on omega-3s thanks to ground beef with 200 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids.

Water tubing-related injuries up 250 percent Posted: 04 Feb 2013 11:21 AM PST Water tubing, a recreational activity in which participants ride an inner tube which is pulled behind a boat by a tow rope, has grown in popularity in recent years. Unfortunately, the number of injuries related to this activity has also increased.

Small asteroid to whiz past Earth safely Posted: 04 Feb 2013 10:13 AM PST The small near-Earth asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass very close to Earth on February 15, so close that it will pass inside the ring of geosynchronous weather and communications satellites. NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office can accurately predict the asteroid's path with the observations obtained, and it is therefore known that there is no chance that the asteroid might be on a collision course with Earth. Nevertheless, the flyby will provide a unique opportunity for researchers to study a near-Earth object up close.

Human brain is divided on fear and panic: Different areas of brain responsible for external, internal threats Posted: 04 Feb 2013 10:01 AM PST Researchers say the human brain has a new, second gatekeeper that registers fear. That region, likely the brainstem, signals fear from internal dangers. The finding could lead to more precise treatment for people suffering from panic attacks and other anxiety disorders.

In combat vets and others, high rate of vision problems after traumatic brain injury Posted: 04 Feb 2013 10:00 AM PST Visual symptoms and abnormalities occur at high rates in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) -- including Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans with blast-related TBI, reports a new study.

Impressive aerial maneuvers of the pea aphid Posted: 04 Feb 2013 10:00 AM PST Pea aphids can free fall from the plants they feed on and -- within a fraction of a second -- land on their feet every time. Oftentimes, the falling aphids manage to cling to a lower part of the plant by their sticky feet on the way down, avoiding the dangerous ground altogether.

Can cancer be turned against itself? Posted: 04 Feb 2013 08:42 AM PST Medical researchers have found that a family of proteins associated with melanoma can alert the human immune system to the presence of cancer cells. This may lead to a new therapy to augment the anti-cancer immune response, he says, essentially turning cancer against itself.

Amyloid imaging shows promise for detecting cardiac amyloidosis Posted: 04 Feb 2013 08:42 AM PST While amyloid imaging may now be most associated with detecting plaques in the brain, it has the potential to change the way cardiac amyloidosis is diagnosed. According to first-of-its-kind research, positron emission tomography with 11C-PIB can positively visualize amyloid deposits in the heart. Currently there is no noninvasive test available for specific diagnosis.

Beef up: Middle-aged men may need more to maintain muscle mass Posted: 04 Feb 2013 08:42 AM PST People tend to lose muscle mass as they age; researchers are investigating ways to delay or counteract age-related muscle loss. A new study suggests that current guidelines for meat consumption are based on the protein needed to prevent deficiency without consideration for preservation of muscle mass, particularly for older individuals who are looking to maintain their muscle as they age.

Taking insulin for type 2 diabetes could expose patients to greater risk of health complications, study suggests Posted: 04 Feb 2013 08:42 AM PST Patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin could be exposed to a greater risk of health complications including heart attack, stroke, cancer and eye complications a new study has found.

New kind of extinct flying reptile discovered Posted: 04 Feb 2013 08:15 AM PST A new kind of pterosaur, a flying reptile from the time of the dinosaurs, has been identified by scientists from Romania, the UK and Brazil. The fossilized bones come from the Late Cretaceous rocks of Sebes-Glod in the Transylvanian Basin, Romania, which are approximately 68 million years old.

Survival of the fittest: Predator wasps breed at the expense of spider juveniles Posted: 04 Feb 2013 07:24 AM PST A study conducted in Portugal reveals the dark secrets of two wasp species whose larvae feed on ant-eating spiders Zodarion styliferum. The juveniles of the host find their death while hidden away in a stone igloo nest, ironically built for their protection.

Researchers pioneer treatment for viral infection common in children Posted: 04 Feb 2013 07:14 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new way in which a very common childhood disease could be treated. In the first year of life, 65 per cent of babies get infected by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This causes bronchiolitis, and is thought to kill nearly 200,000 children every year worldwide. In 1966 and 1967, vaccines were tested for RSV. These had disastrous effects on the immune response, leading to a worsening of the disease and, in many cases, death. Scientists have so far not been able to fully explain this effect, which continues to hold back vaccine development. Studying this effect in mice, a research team developed a new technique which they hope might be used in tackling a wide range of other diseases including viral bronchiolitis.

Tropical rainfall patterns varied through time: Deeper understanding of drought cycles in Central America Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:59 AM PST Historic lake sediment dug up by researchers reveals that oceanic influences on rainfall in Central America have varied over the last 2,000 years, highlighting the fluctuating influence the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have on precipitation.

Low rainfall and extreme temperatures double risk of baby elephant deaths Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:59 AM PST Extremes of temperature and rainfall are affecting the survival of elephants working in timber camps in Myanmar and can double the risk of death in calves aged up to five, new research has found.

Scientists notch a win in war against antibiotic-resistant bacteria Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:59 AM PST A team just won a battle in the war against antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" -- and only time will tell if their feat will turn the tide toward victory. They won this particular battle, or at least gained critical intelligence, not by designing a new antibiotic, but by interfering with the metabolism of the bacterial "bugs" -- E. coli in this case -- and rendering them weaker in the face of existing antibiotics.

Avoiding a cartography catastrophe: Study recommends new tools to improve global mapping of infectious disease Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:59 AM PST Since the mid-nineteenth century, maps have helped elucidate the deadly mysteries of diseases like cholera and yellow fever. Yet today's global mapping of infectious diseases is considerably unreliable and may do little to inform the control of potential outbreaks, according to a new systematic mapping review of all clinically important infectious diseases known to humans.

Cancer researchers reveal mechanism to halt cancer cell growth, discover potential therapy Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:59 AM PST Researchers have uncovered a technique to halt the growth of cancer cells, a discovery that led them to a potential new anti-cancer therapy. When deprived of a key protein, some cancer cells are unable to properly divide.

Geographic factors can cause allergies, asthma: People living close to the equator are at higher risk, study finds Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:59 AM PST Those living near the equator may find themselves sneezing and wheezing more than usual. And the reason may not be due to increasing pollen counts. According to a new study, living in locations closest to the equator can put you at increased risk of developing allergy and asthma.

Are super-Earths actually mini-Neptunes? Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:46 AM PST In the last two decades astronomers have found hundreds of planets in orbit around other stars. One type of these so-called 'exoplanets' is the super-Earths that are thought to have a high proportion of rock but at the same time are significantly bigger than our own world. Now a new study suggests that these planets are actually surrounded by extended hydrogen-rich envelopes and that they are unlikely to ever become Earth-like. Rather than being super-Earths, these worlds are more like mini-Neptunes.

Discovery of remains of England's King Richard III confirmed Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:46 AM PST The University of Leicester has confirmed that it has discovered the remains of England's King Richard III. At a specially convened media conference, experts unanimously identified the remains discovered in Leicester city center as being those of the last Plantagenet king who died in 1485. Rigorous scientific investigations confirmed the strong circumstantial evidence that the skeleton found at the site of the Grey Friars church in Leicester was indeed that of King Richard III.

Light shone on star mystery: Why sun's corona is much hotter than its surface Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:46 AM PST Scientists have begun to unlock the mystery of why the outer edge of the Sun is much hotter than its surface for the first time.

Macromolecular shredder for RNA: Researchers unravel the structure of the machinery for RNA disposal Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:46 AM PST Much in the same way as we use shredders to destroy documents that are no longer useful or that contain potentially damaging information, cells use molecular machines to degrade unwanted or defective macromolecules. Scientists in Germany have now decoded the structure and the operating mechanism of the exosome, a macromolecular machine responsible for degradation of ribonucleic acids (RNAs) in eukaryotes.

Into the quantum Internet at the speed of light Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:46 AM PST Not only do optical fibers transmit information every day around the world at the speed of light, but they can also be harnessed for the transport of quantum information. Physicists now report how they have directly transferred the quantum information stored in an atom onto a particle of light. Such information could then be sent over optical fiber to a distant atom.

Elastography: New cancer detection method right around the corner; Norway and France in front Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:46 AM PST As the first countries in the world, Norway and France will be testing a completely new method for detecting cancer. This is done by measuring the elasticity of tumors. The method is called elastography. You may as well learn this new word right away; in a few years, elastography may be as common as X-rays.

Climate change clues from tiny marine algae -- ancient and modern Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:45 AM PST Microscopic ocean algae called coccolithophores are providing clues about the impact of climate change both now and many millions of years ago. The study found that their response to environmental change varies between species, in terms of how quickly they grow.

Elusive taste stem cells identified Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:45 AM PST Scientists have identified the location and certain genetic characteristics of taste stem cells on the tongue. The findings will facilitate techniques to grow and manipulate new functional taste cells for both clinical and research purposes.

Men are from Mars Earth, women are from Venus Earth Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:45 AM PST It's time for the Mars/Venus theories about the sexes to come back to Earth, a new study shows. From empathy and sexuality to science inclination and extroversion, statistical analysis of 122 different characteristics involving 13,301 individuals finds that men and women, by and large, do not fall into different groups.

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