ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Blame it on the rain (from Saturn's rings): More charged water particles fall than thought
• Predicting the next eye pathogen: Analysis of a novel adenovirus
• Early warning signs of population collapse
• First objective measure of pain discovered in brain scan patterns
• Scientists use nature against nature to develop an antibiotic with reduced resistance
• How Seattle Cancer Care Alliance implemented Washington's Death with Dignity Act
• High levels of lead detected in rice imported from certain countries
• Discovery of a blue supergiant star born in the wild
• Relationships: Team women versus distant men
• Lights, chemistry, action: New method for mapping brain activity
• Goosefish capture small puffins over deep water of Northwest Atlantic
• Scientists use islands to gauge rainfall's effect on landscapes
• Biofilm helps Salmonella survive hostile conditions
• Researchers engineer 'protein switch' to dissect role of cancer's key players
• 'Sustainable fishing' certification too lenient and discretionary
• Naturally-occurring substance proves effective against deadly skin cancer in test tube and mice studies
• Distracted driving: Habits of San Diego drivers revealed
• Ancient Roman man hidden beneath famous painting at the Louvre
• Safety reflector technology from footwear getting new life in detecting bioterror threats
• Metabolic fingerprinting: Using proteomics to identify proteins in gymnosperm pollination drops
• Single best practice to prevent DVT reduces hospital costs by more than $1.5 million annually
• Subconscious mental categories help brain sort through everyday experiences
• In sales, confidence and charisma may not seal the deal
• New way to clear cholesterol from the blood
• Great white sharks scavenging on dead whales
• Signature of circulating breast tumor cells that spread to the brain found
• Benefits of cognitive pain relief methods
• Scientists develop first photonic topological insulators to provide protection for transport of light
• Rx target for HPV, Hep C and related cancers revealed
• Faster than silicon: Redesigned material could lead to lighter, faster electronics
• Research enables fishermen to harvest lucrative shellfish on Georges Bank
• One in five seniors on risky meds; more in US South
• Alcohol use, anxiety predict Facebook use by college students
• Young children have grammar and chimpanzees don't
• X-rays reveal coexisting structures in glass
• Surprising ability of blood stem cells to respond to emergencies
• Transparent brain using hydrogel process
• Neurodegenerative disease advance: Study details how brain enzyme interacts with drug-like lead compound for Huntington's
• World's oldest dinosaur embryo bonebed yields organic remains
• Pottery reveals Ice Age hunter-gatherers’ taste for fish
• Liquid on liquid goes solid
• Team unravels central mystery of Alzheimer's
• Plasmonics: A flexible bridge between two worlds
• Nanotechnology: Color printing reaches new highs
• Data storage: Shingled tracks stack up
• Adaptable leaders may have best brains for the job
• GUMBOS technology promises new drugs, electronic devices
• Fighting disease from within the mosquito: New techniques to help halt the spread of disease
• Understanding the life of lithium ion batteries in electric vehicles
• Overcoming a major barrier to medical and other uses of 'microrockets' and 'micromotors'
• Clinging to crevices, E. coli thrive
• Cardiopoietic 'smart' stem cells show promise in heart failure patients
• Genome mapping of koalas is promising start for understanding how koalas respond to infectious diseases
• Doctors not informed of harmful effects of medicines during sales visits
• Chimpanzees use botanical skills to discover fruit
• Effect of medication is affected by copies of genetic information
• Metagenomics used to identify organisms in outbreaks of serious infectious disease
• Spring cleaning in your brain's stem cells?
• Limiting greenhouse gas emissions from land use in Europe
• Ghostly green bubble: Detailed image of planetary nebula

Blame it on the rain (from Saturn's rings): More charged water particles fall than thought Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:23 PM PDT A new study tracks the "rain" of charged water particles into the atmosphere of Saturn and finds there is more of it and it falls across larger areas of the planet than previously thought. The study, whose observations were funded by NASA and whose analysis was led by the University of Leicester, England, reveals that the rain influences the composition and temperature structure of parts of Saturn's upper atmosphere.

Predicting the next eye pathogen: Analysis of a novel adenovirus Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:19 PM PDT Researchers used a combined genomic, bioinformatics and biological analysis to identify a unique deletion in a key protein of the viral capsid and further suggested the potential of the virus to cause severe ocular infection. The results point toward a possible approach for predicting pathogenicity for newly identified and recently emergent human pathogens.

Early warning signs of population collapse Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:19 PM PDT Spatial measurements of population density could reveal when threatened natural populations are in danger of crashing.

First objective measure of pain discovered in brain scan patterns Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:18 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have been able to predict how much pain people are feeling by looking at images of their brains, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder.

Scientists use nature against nature to develop an antibiotic with reduced resistance Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:18 PM PDT A new broad range antibiotic has been found to kill a wide range of bacteria, including drug-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) bacteria that do not respond to traditional drugs, in mice. The antibiotic, Epimerox, targets weaknesses in bacteria that have long been exploited by viruses that attack them, known as phage, and promises to avoid the problem of resistance that plagues other antibiotics.

How Seattle Cancer Care Alliance implemented Washington's Death with Dignity Act Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:18 PM PDT Because several states are considering similar Death with Dignity laws, and because such legislation disproportionately affects cancer patients and their families, SCCA conducted a study to describe the institution's implementation of the Washington state law and its experience with patients who chose to participate.

High levels of lead detected in rice imported from certain countries Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:18 PM PDT Rice imported from certain countries contains high levels of lead that could pose health risks, particularly for infants and children, who are especially sensitive to lead's effects, and adults of Asian heritage who consume large amounts of rice, scientists say.

Discovery of a blue supergiant star born in the wild Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:42 PM PDT Astronomers have discovered a blue supergiant star located far beyond our Milky Way Galaxy in the constellation Virgo. Over 55 million years ago, the star emerged in an extremely wild environment, surrounded by intensely hot plasma (a million degrees centigrade) and amidst raging cyclone winds blowing at four million kilometers per hour. Research using the Subaru Telescope, the Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope (CFHT) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) revealed unprecedented views of the star formation process in this intergalactic context and showed the promise of future investigations of a possibly new mode of star formation, unlike that within our Milky Way.

Relationships: Team women versus distant men Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:28 PM PDT Women immerse themselves in their romantic relationships, while men place their best friendships and romantic partners on an equal but distant footing.

Lights, chemistry, action: New method for mapping brain activity Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:16 PM PDT Building on their history of innovative brain-imaging techniques, scientists have developed a new way to use light and chemistry to map brain activity in fully-awake, moving animals, opening a new window to the study of brain diseases.

Goosefish capture small puffins over deep water of Northwest Atlantic Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:50 PM PDT A recent study has shown that bottom-dwelling goosefish, also known as monkfish, prey on dovekies, a small Arctic seabird and the smallest member of the puffin family. To understand how this deep-water fish finds a shallow-feeding bird in offshore waters, researchers looked at when, where, and how these animals were most likely to be in the same place at the same time.

Scientists use islands to gauge rainfall's effect on landscapes Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:49 PM PDT Researchers have used volcanic islands to measure how rainfall sets the pace of landscape formation.

Biofilm helps Salmonella survive hostile conditions Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:49 PM PDT Scientists have provided new evidence that biofilms — bacteria that adhere to surfaces and build protective coatings — are at work in the survival of the human pathogen Salmonella.

Researchers engineer 'protein switch' to dissect role of cancer's key players Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:49 PM PDT Researchers have "rationally rewired" some of the cell's smallest components to create proteins that can be switched on or off by command. These "protein switches" can be used to interrogate the inner workings of each cell, helping scientists uncover the molecular mechanisms of human health and disease.

'Sustainable fishing' certification too lenient and discretionary Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:49 PM PDT The certification of seafood as "sustainable" by the nonprofit Marine Stewardship Council is too lenient and discretionary, a study by a consortium of researchers has found.

Naturally-occurring substance proves effective against deadly skin cancer in test tube and mice studies Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:46 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the mechanism of action of gossypin, a naturally-occurring substance found in fruits and vegetables, as a treatment for melanoma, which causes the majority of deaths from skin cancer.

Distracted driving: Habits of San Diego drivers revealed Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:46 PM PDT There were approximately 3,300 deaths and 400,000 injuries nationwide in the US in 2011 due to collisions involving distracted driving. With April being national distracted driving awareness month, a team of researchers released survey results that reveal the habits of San Diego County drivers who use their cell phone while behind the wheel.

Ancient Roman man hidden beneath famous painting at the Louvre Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:46 PM PDT In the latest achievement in efforts to see what may lie underneath the surface of great works of art, scientists today described the first use of an imaging technology like that used in airport whole-body security scanners to detect the face of an ancient Roman man hidden below the surface of a wall painting in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Safety reflector technology from footwear getting new life in detecting bioterror threats Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:46 PM PDT Tiny versions of the reflectors on sneakers and bicycle fenders that help ensure the safety of runners and bikers at night are moving toward another role in detecting bioterrorism threats and diagnosing everyday infectious diseases, scientists have said.

Metabolic fingerprinting: Using proteomics to identify proteins in gymnosperm pollination drops Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT Proteomics is a powerful technique for examining the structure and function of the proteome. Proteomics can uncover the relationship between DNA, RNA, and the production of proteins -- enabling the comparison of the genome to the proteome. For organisms that have not yet been sequenced, proteomics facilitates the discovery and identification of proteins. A new study demonstrates the suitability of proteomics in determining the composition of gymnosperm pollination drops.

Single best practice to prevent DVT reduces hospital costs by more than $1.5 million annually Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT Researchers report success in using a concept called "value-based analysis," which simultaneously measures quality and cost and addresses inefficiencies in care. The researchers applied a value-based analysis approach to implementing a single best practice for preventing deep vein thrombosis in surgical patients and were able to reduce hospital costs in excess of $1.5 million per year.

Subconscious mental categories help brain sort through everyday experiences Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT Researchers found that the brain breaks experiences into the "events," or related groups that help us mentally organize the day's many situations, using subconscious mental categories it creates. These categories are based on how the brain considers people, objects and actions are related in terms of how they tend to — or tend not to — pop up near one another at specific times.

In sales, confidence and charisma may not seal the deal Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT Think of a stereotypical salesperson and you're likely to conjure up someone who's extraverted, gregarious, and assertive. But a new study reveals that "ambiverts," people who are neither introverted nor extraverted but who fall somewhere in between, tend to be the most effective salespeople.

New way to clear cholesterol from the blood Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new potential therapeutic target for lowering cholesterol that could be an alternative or complementary therapy to statins.

Great white sharks scavenging on dead whales Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT Biologists have explored the behaviors of Great white sharks scavenging on dead whales in South Africa. The team documented as many as 40 different sharks scavenging on a carcass over the course of a single day, revealing unique social interactions among sharks.

Signature of circulating breast tumor cells that spread to the brain found Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT Some breast tumor circulating cells in the bloodstream are marked by a constellation of biomarkers that identify them as those destined to seed the brain with a deadly spread of cancer, said researchers.

Benefits of cognitive pain relief methods Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:13 AM PDT Those who accept their pain condition are best able to tolerate pain, while distraction can be the way to lower pain intensity, according to new research.

Scientists develop first photonic topological insulators to provide protection for transport of light Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:13 AM PDT Researchers have developed and successfully demonstrated a photonic Floquet topological insulator, a new device used to protect the transport of light through a unique, lattice of 'waveguides.' This could play a key role in the photonics industry.

Rx target for HPV, Hep C and related cancers revealed Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT New discoveries for the first time reveal the inner workings of a master regulator that controls functions as diverse as the ability of nerve cells to "rewire" themselves in response to external stimuli and the mechanism by which certain viruses hijack normal cellular processes to facilitate their replication that can ultimately lead to cancer.

Faster than silicon: Redesigned material could lead to lighter, faster electronics Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT The same material that formed the first primitive transistors more than 60 years ago can be modified in a new way to advance future electronics, according to a new study. Chemists have developed the technology for making a one-atom-thick sheet of germanium, and found that it conducts electrons more than ten times faster than silicon and five times faster than conventional germanium.

Research enables fishermen to harvest lucrative shellfish on Georges Bank Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT New scientific understanding of toxic algal blooms on Georges Bank, along with an at-sea and dockside testing protocol, has allowed fishermen to harvest ocean quahogs and surf clams in these offshore waters for the first time in more than two decades. The Georges Bank surf clam and ocean quahog fishery has an estimated annual value of $10-15 million.

One in five seniors on risky meds; more in US South Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT A study of more than six million seniors in Medicare Advantage plans in 2009 found that 21 percent received a prescription for at least one potentially harmful "high risk medication." Nearly 5 percent received at least two. Questionable prescriptions are more common in the South and among people who live in poor areas.

Alcohol use, anxiety predict Facebook use by college students Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Anxiety and alcohol use significantly predict emotional connectedness to Facebook, a new study suggests. According to one of the researchers, alcohol use is generally viewed as normative, or socially acceptable, among college students, so increased alcohol use may cause an increase in emotional connectedness to Facebook. Researchers also found that marijuana use predicted the opposite: a lack of emotional connectedness with Facebook.

Young children have grammar and chimpanzees don't Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT A new study has shown that children as young as two understand basic grammar rules when they first learn to speak and are not simply imitating adults. The study also applied the same statistical analysis on data from one of the most famous animal language-acquisition experiments -- Project Nim -- and showed that Nim Chimpsky, a chimpanzee who was taught sign language over the course of many years, never grasped rules like those in a two-year-old's grammar.

X-rays reveal coexisting structures in glass Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT Despite the long and rich history and widespread use of glass, surprisingly little is known about the interplay between the mechanical properties of glasses and their inner structures. For the first time, researchers have monitored subtle structural changes in a glass made from microscopic silica spheres, which they exposed to shear stress.

Surprising ability of blood stem cells to respond to emergencies Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT Scientists have revealed an unexpected role for hematopoietic stem cells: They do not merely ensure the continuous renewal of our blood cells; in emergencies they are capable of producing white blood cells "on demand" that help the body deal with inflammation or infection. This property could be used to protect against infections in patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, while their immune system reconstitutes itself.

Transparent brain using hydrogel process Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT Combining neuroscience and chemical engineering, researchers have developed a process that renders a mouse brain transparent.

Neurodegenerative disease advance: Study details how brain enzyme interacts with drug-like lead compound for Huntington's Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT A significant breakthrough has been made towards developing an effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Researchers have detailed how an enzyme in the brain interacts with a promising drug-like lead compound for Huntington's disease to inhibit its activity. Their findings demonstrate that it can be developed as an effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

World's oldest dinosaur embryo bonebed yields organic remains Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT A 190-million-year-old dinosaur bonebed near the city of Lufeng, in Yunnan, China has revealed for the first time how dinosaur embryos grew and developed in their eggs.

Pottery reveals Ice Age hunter-gatherers’ taste for fish Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT Hunter-gatherers living in glacial conditions produced pots for cooking fish, according to the findings of a pioneering new study which reports the earliest direct evidence for the use of ceramic vessels. Scientists carried out chemical analysis of food residues in pottery up to 15,000 years old from the late glacial period, the oldest pottery so far investigated.

Liquid on liquid goes solid Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT Not all liquids are mixable. Researchers have investigated chemical processes with atomic resolution at the interface between two such liquids and have made an exciting discovery. They observed the formation of an ordered crystal of exactly five atomic layers between the two liquids, which acts as a foundation for growing even bigger crystals.

Team unravels central mystery of Alzheimer's Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT Scientists have shed light on one of the major toxic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease. The discoveries could lead to a much better understanding of the Alzheimer's process and how to prevent it.

Plasmonics: A flexible bridge between two worlds Posted: 10 Apr 2013 08:41 AM PDT A novel material shows its credentials to facilitate the integration of photonic and electronic components in practical devices.

Nanotechnology: Color printing reaches new highs Posted: 10 Apr 2013 08:41 AM PDT Color printing at the highest resolution possible is enabled by the use of arrays of metal-coated nanostructures.

Data storage: Shingled tracks stack up Posted: 10 Apr 2013 08:41 AM PDT Simply changing the pattern by which data is recorded may lead to increased hard drive capacities.

Adaptable leaders may have best brains for the job Posted: 10 Apr 2013 08:21 AM PDT Effective leaders' brains may be physically "wired" to lead, offering the promise of more precise identification and training, according to new studies.

GUMBOS technology promises new drugs, electronic devices Posted: 10 Apr 2013 08:21 AM PDT Mention a breakthrough involving "gumbo" technology in New Orleans, and people think of a new twist on The Local Dish, the stew that's the quintessence of southern Louisiana cooking. But a recent scientific presentation focuses on what may be an advance in developing GUMBOS-based materials with far-reaching medical, electronic and other uses.

Fighting disease from within the mosquito: New techniques to help halt the spread of disease Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:39 AM PDT Scientists have revealed a new technique to introduce disease-blocking bacteria into mosquitoes, with promising results that may halt the spread of diseases such as dengue, yellow fever and potentially malaria.

Understanding the life of lithium ion batteries in electric vehicles Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:39 AM PDT Scientists have now answered a question that worries millions of owners and potential owners of electric and hybrid vehicles using lithium-ion batteries: How long before the battery pack dies, leaving a sticker-shock bill for a fresh pack or a car ready for the junk heap? Their answer may surprise skeptics.

Overcoming a major barrier to medical and other uses of 'microrockets' and 'micromotors' Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:39 AM PDT An advance in micromotor technology akin to the invention of cars that fuel themselves from the pavement or air is opening the door to new medical and industrial uses for these tiny devices, scientists say. Their update on development of the motors -- so small that thousands would fit inside this "o" -- was part of a recent conference presentation.

Clinging to crevices, E. coli thrive Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:33 AM PDT New research helps to explain how waterborne bacteria can colonize rough surfaces —- even those that have been designed to resist water.

Cardiopoietic 'smart' stem cells show promise in heart failure patients Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:33 AM PDT Therapy with cardiopoietic (cardiogenically-instructed) or "smart" stem cells can improve heart health for people suffering from heart failure. This is the first application in patients of lineage-guided stem cells for targeted regeneration of a failing organ, paving the way to development of next generation regenerative medicine solutions.

Genome mapping of koalas is promising start for understanding how koalas respond to infectious diseases Posted: 10 Apr 2013 06:43 AM PDT The "holy grail" for understanding how and why koalas respond to infectious diseases has been uncovered in a world-first genome mapping project.

Doctors not informed of harmful effects of medicines during sales visits Posted: 10 Apr 2013 06:43 AM PDT The majority of family doctors receive little or no information about harmful effects of medicines when visited by drug company representatives, according to a new study.

Chimpanzees use botanical skills to discover fruit Posted: 10 Apr 2013 06:41 AM PDT Fruit-eating animals are known to use their spatial memory to relocate fruit, yet, it is unclear how they manage to find fruit in the first place. Researchers have now investigated which strategies chimpanzees in the Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, use in order to find fruit in the rain forest. The result: Chimpanzees know that trees of certain species produce fruit simultaneously and use this botanical knowledge during their daily search for fruit.

Effect of medication is affected by copies of genetic information Posted: 10 Apr 2013 06:41 AM PDT The number of copies of the complete genetic information found in human cells can have a decisive effect on the properties of these cells. The results may help to explain why certain medications have strong side effects on sperm and eggs, and why certain organisms remain unaffected by environmental changes.

Metagenomics used to identify organisms in outbreaks of serious infectious disease Posted: 10 Apr 2013 06:41 AM PDT Researchers have been able to reconstruct the genome sequence of an outbreak strain of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC), which caused over 50 deaths in Germany, using an approach known as metagenomics which bypasses the need for growing bacteria in the lab.

Spring cleaning in your brain's stem cells? Posted: 10 Apr 2013 06:41 AM PDT Deep inside your brain, a legion of stem cells lies ready to turn into new brain and nerve cells when you need them. New research shows the vital role of a type of internal "spring cleaning" that both clears out garbage inside the cells, and keeps them in their perpetual stem-cell state.

Limiting greenhouse gas emissions from land use in Europe Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:27 AM PDT New research estimates future land use emissions for the European Union, showing that Europe could potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions from land use by more than 60 percent by 2050.

Ghostly green bubble: Detailed image of planetary nebula Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:27 AM PDT An intriguing new picture shows the glowing green planetary nebula IC 1295 surrounding a dim and dying star located about 3300 light-years away in the constellation of Scutum (The Shield). This is the most detailed picture of this object ever taken.

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