ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Swarms of Pluto-size objects kick up dust around adolescent Sun-like star
• Understanding how emotions ripple after terrorist acts
• Chickens and turkeys 'closer to dinosaur ancestors' than other birds
• New method helps map species' genetic heritage
• Scientists measure speedy electrons in silicon
• Cells can use dynamic patterns to pluck signals from noise
• Genes tell story of birdsong and human speech
• March of the penguin genomes
• Tooth loss in birds occurred about 116 million years ago
• Big Bang' of bird evolution mapped
• Hepatitis C ruled out as cause of mental impairment in HIV patients
• Biologists map crocodilian genomes
• Human DNA shows traces of 40 million-year battle for survival between primate and pathogen
• Ebola virus may replicate in an exotic way
• Youngest bone marrow transplant patients at higher risk of cognitive decline
• New targeted drugs could treat drug-resistant skin cancer
• Affluence, not political complexity, explains rise of moralizing world religions
• Senescent cells play an essential role in wound healing
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus unlikely to reach epidemic status, experts say
• 3-d maps of folded genome: Catalog of 10,000 loops reveals new form of genetic regulation
• Getting antibodies into shape to fight cancer
• Research raises consciousness for dehydration concerns in diabetic patients
• One of the most difficult challenges in weight loss is keeping the weight off over the long term
• How birds get by without external ears
• Interstellar mystery solved by supercomputer simulations
• Tool to better classify tumor cells developed for personalized cancer treatments
• Many U.S. workers are sacrificing sleep for work hours, long commutes
• Scientists develop solar observatory for use on suborbital manned space missions
• Decoding fat cells: Discovery may explain why we gain weight
• Fish use chemical camouflage from diet to hide from predators
• Invasive species can dramatically alter landscapes, study shows
• Researchers detect possible signal from dark matter
• Stacking two-dimensional materials may lower cost of semiconductor devices
• Diagnostic tool Oncotype DX associated with reduction in chemotherapy rates post-surgery in younger women with breast cancer
• Major comeback for sea turtles: Highest reported nest counts in Nicaragua
• Method to assess UTI risk in women after pelvic-floor surgery
• Energy efficient homes linked to asthma
• Body's cold 'sensor' could hold key for frostbite and hypothermia treatments
• Story of bizarre deep-sea bone worm takes unexpected twist: Evolutionary reversal previously unseen in animal kingdom
• Early adoption of robotic surgery leads to organ preservation for kidney cancer patients
• Relationship between personality, health: Study sheds new light on link
• How fast you age depends on your parents
• The Jaws effect: Biting review finds shark policy based on movie myths
• Water’s role in the rise and fall of the Roman Empire
• Tamoxifen reduces breast cancer rates by nearly a third for 20 years
• Human exposure to metal cadmium may accelerate cellular aging
• Early identification of modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline
• Gut microbiota and Parkinson’s disease: Connection made
• 'Trojan horse' proteins: step forward for nanoparticle-based anti-cancer, anti-dementia therapeutic approaches
• Cocaine consumption quadruples the risk of sudden death in people between 19 and 49
• Tourism poses a threat to dolphins in the Balearic Islands
• Re-discovered diaries shed new light on one of the world's most studied woods
• Sampling rivers for genes rather than organisms
• Short sleep duration, sleep-related breathing problems increase obesity risk in kids
• Water vapor on Rosetta's target comet significantly different from that found on Earth
• Food ingredient created that will make you feel fuller
• New insights into the origins of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent
• First images of historic San Francisco shipwreck, SS City of Rio de Janeiro
• NASA study shows 13-year record of drying Amazon caused vegetation declines
• Alcohol interferes with body's ability to regulate sleep

Swarms of Pluto-size objects kick up dust around adolescent Sun-like star Posted: 11 Dec 2014 01:25 PM PST Astronomers may have detected the dusty hallmarks of an entire family of Pluto-size objects swarming around an adolescent version of our own Sun. By making detailed observations of the protoplanetary disk surrounding the star known as HD 107146, the astronomers detected an unexpected increase in the concentration of millimeter-size dust grains in the disk's outer reaches. This surprising increase, which begins remarkably far -- about 13 billion kilometers -- from the host star, may be the result of Pluto-size planetesimals stirring up the region, causing smaller objects to collide and blast themselves apart.

Understanding how emotions ripple after terrorist acts Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:26 AM PST Emotional reactions on Twitter have been analyzed in the hours and weeks following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The new study is the first large-scale analysis of fear and social-support reactions from geographically distant communities following a terrorist attack.

Chickens and turkeys 'closer to dinosaur ancestors' than other birds Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:26 AM PST New research suggests that chickens and turkeys have experienced fewer gross genomic changes than other birds as they evolved from their dinosaur ancestor.

New method helps map species' genetic heritage Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:24 AM PST Where did the songbird get its song? What branch of the bird family tree is closer to the flamingo -- the heron or the sparrow? These questions seem simple, but are actually difficult for geneticists to answer. A new, sophisticated technique called statistical binning can help researchers construct more accurate species trees detailing the lineage of genes and the relationships between species.

Scientists measure speedy electrons in silicon Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:24 AM PST Attosecond lasers provide the shortest light pulses yet, allowing observation of nature's most short-lived events. Researchers have used these lasers for the first time to take snapshots of electrons jumping from silicon atoms into the conduction band of a semiconductor, the key event behind the transistor. They clocked the jump at 450 attoseconds and saw the rebound of the crystal lattice 60 femtoseconds later: a delay 120 times longer than the jump itself.

Cells can use dynamic patterns to pluck signals from noise Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:24 AM PST Scientists have discovered a general principle for how cells could accurately transmit chemical signals despite high levels of noise in the system.

Genes tell story of birdsong and human speech Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:24 AM PST A massive international effort to sequence and compare the entire genomes of 48 species of birds, representing every major order of the bird family tree, reveals that vocal learning evolved twice or maybe three times among songbirds, parrots and hummingbirds. Even more striking, the set of genes employed in each of those song innovations is remarkably similar to the genes involved in human speaking ability.

March of the penguin genomes Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:24 AM PST Two penguin genomes have been sequenced and analyzed for the first time. The study reveals insights into how these birds have been able to adapt to the cold and hostile Antarctic environment.

Tooth loss in birds occurred about 116 million years ago Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:21 AM PST A question that has intrigued biologists is: Were teeth lost in the common ancestor of all living birds or convergently in two or more independent lineages of birds? A research team used the degraded remnants of tooth genes in birds to determine that teeth were lost in the common ancestor of all living birds more than 100 million years ago.

Big Bang' of bird evolution mapped Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:21 AM PST The first findings of the Avian Phylogenomics Consortium are being reported nearly simultaneously in 29 papers -- eight papers in a Dec. 12 special issue of Science and 21 more in Genome Biology, GigaScience and other journals. The analyses suggest some remarkable new ideas about bird evolution, including insights into vocal learning and the brain, colored plumage, sex chromosomes and the birds' relationship to dinosaurs and crocodiles.

Hepatitis C ruled out as cause of mental impairment in HIV patients Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:18 AM PST Advances in treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have made it possible for people with HIV to survive much longer. As they age, however, many experience impaired thinking, memory loss, mood swings and other evidence of impaired mental function. Secondary infection with the hepatitis C virus does not contribute to the mental impairments seen in many long-term survivors of HIV infection, a new study reveals.

Biologists map crocodilian genomes Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:18 AM PST Understanding the crocodilian genome can help scientists better understand birds. The DNA in alligators, crocodiles and gharials is about 93 percent identical across the genome. By comparison, a human shares about 93 percent of his or her DNA with a macaque.

Human DNA shows traces of 40 million-year battle for survival between primate and pathogen Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:18 AM PST Examination of DNA from 21 primate species – from squirrel monkeys to humans – exposes an evolutionary war against infectious bacteria over iron that circulates in the host's bloodstream. Supported by experimental evidence, these findings demonstrate the vital importance of an increasingly appreciated defensive strategy called nutritional immunity.

Ebola virus may replicate in an exotic way Posted: 11 Dec 2014 11:18 AM PST Researchers ran biochemical analysis and computer simulations of a livestock virus to discover a likely and exotic mechanism to explain the replication of related viruses such as Ebola, measles and rabies. The mechanism may be a possible target for new treatments within a decade.

Youngest bone marrow transplant patients at higher risk of cognitive decline Posted: 11 Dec 2014 09:45 AM PST Toddlers who undergo total body irradiation in preparation for bone marrow transplantation are at higher risk for a decline in IQ and may be candidates for stepped up interventions to preserve intellectual functioning, investigators report. The results clarify the risk of intellectual decline faced by children, teenagers and young adults following bone marrow transplantation. The procedure is used for treatment of cancer and other diseases. It involves replacing the patient's own blood-producing stem cells with those from a healthy donor.

New targeted drugs could treat drug-resistant skin cancer Posted: 11 Dec 2014 09:45 AM PST A brand new family of cancer drugs designed to block several key cancer-causing proteins at once could potentially treat incurable skin cancers, a major new study reports. Clinical trials to test the new drugs in patients should begin as early as 2015.

Affluence, not political complexity, explains rise of moralizing world religions Posted: 11 Dec 2014 09:45 AM PST The ascetic and moralizing movements that spawned the world's major religious traditions -- Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Christianity -- all arose around the same time in three different regions, and researchers have now devised a statistical model based on history and human psychology that helps to explain why. The emergence of world religions, they say, was triggered by the rising standards of living in the great civilizations of Eurasia.

Senescent cells play an essential role in wound healing Posted: 11 Dec 2014 09:45 AM PST Tumor suppressing senescent cells are bad for aging. The no-longer-dividing cells release a continual cascade of inflammatory factors and are implicated in many maladies including arthritis, atherosclerosis and late life cancer. But researchers show that senescent cells are good for wound healing -- identifying a single factor that causes them to promote that process. It's a crucial discovery for researchers working on developing treatments to clear senescent cells as a way to stem age-related disease.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus unlikely to reach epidemic status, experts say Posted: 11 Dec 2014 09:44 AM PST Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus, with the first case reported in 2012. It exhibits a 40% fatality rate and over 97% of the cases have occurred in the Middle East. In three new studies, researchers reported on clinical outcomes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), how long patients will shed virus during their infections, and how the Sultanate of Oman is dealing with cases that have appeared there.

3-d maps of folded genome: Catalog of 10,000 loops reveals new form of genetic regulation Posted: 11 Dec 2014 09:44 AM PST  In a triumph for cell biology, researchers have assembled the first high-resolution, 3D maps of entire folded genomes and found a structural basis for gene regulation -- a kind of "genomic origami" that allows the same genome to produce different types of cells.

Getting antibodies into shape to fight cancer Posted: 11 Dec 2014 09:44 AM PST The precise shape of an antibody makes a big difference to how it can stimulate the body's immune system to fight cancer, paving the way for much more effective treatments, researchers have found. The latest types of treatment for cancer are designed to switch on the immune system, allowing the patient's own immune cells to attack and kill cancerous cells, when normally the immune cells would lie dormant. In a new study, a research team has found that a particular form of antibody, called IgG2B, is much more effective at stimulating cancer immunity than other types.

Research raises consciousness for dehydration concerns in diabetic patients Posted: 11 Dec 2014 09:40 AM PST Some drugs used to treat diabetes mimic the behavior of a hormone that a psychologist has learned controls fluid intake in subjects. The finding creates new awareness for diabetics who are already at risk for dehydration.

One of the most difficult challenges in weight loss is keeping the weight off over the long term Posted: 11 Dec 2014 09:40 AM PST A new report outlines differences between individuals as one of the key challenges associated with weight loss and long-term weight control. Authors reinforce that maintaining weight loss over the long term can be a major challenge. They recommend a number of novel approaches to improve obesity therapeutics.

How birds get by without external ears Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:57 AM PST Unlike mammals, birds have no external ears. The outer ears have an important function: they help the animal identify sounds coming from different elevations. But birds are also able to perceive whether the source of a sound is above them, below them, or at the same level. Now a research team has discovered that birds are able to localize these sounds by utilizing their entire head.

Interstellar mystery solved by supercomputer simulations Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:56 AM PST An interstellar mystery of why stars form has been solved thanks to the most realistic supercomputer simulations of galaxies yet made. Theoretical astrophysicists found that stellar activity -- like supernova explosions or even just starlight -- plays a big part in the formation of other stars and the growth of galaxies.

Tool to better classify tumor cells developed for personalized cancer treatments Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:56 AM PST A new statistical model may enable physicians to create personalized cancer treatments for patients based on the specific genetic mutations found in their tumors. The model uses an advanced algorithm to identify the multiple genetic cell subtypes typically found in solid tumors by analyzing gene expression data from a small biopsy sample. The results can help shape more effective treatments and also guide future research.

Many U.S. workers are sacrificing sleep for work hours, long commutes Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:55 AM PST An analysis of 124,000 responses to a survey shows that paid work time is the primary waking activity exchanged for sleep. The study also suggests that chronic sleep loss potentially could be prevented by strategies that make work start times more flexible. 'The evidence that time spent working was the most prominent sleep thief was overwhelming,' said the study's lead author.

Scientists develop solar observatory for use on suborbital manned space missions Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:55 AM PST Scientists are preparing to unveil a new, miniature portable solar observatory for use onboard a commercial, manned suborbital spacecraft.

Decoding fat cells: Discovery may explain why we gain weight Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:55 AM PST Researchers believe they're on track to solve the mystery of weight gain -- and it has nothing to do with indulging in holiday eggnog. They discovered that a protein, Thy1, has a fundamental role in controlling whether a primitive cell decides to become a fat cell, making Thy1 a possible therapeutic target, according to a study.

Fish use chemical camouflage from diet to hide from predators Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:55 AM PST A species of small fish uses a homemade coral-scented cologne to hide from predators, a new study has shown, providing the first evidence of chemical camouflage from diet in fish.

Invasive species can dramatically alter landscapes, study shows Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:55 AM PST Invasive plant and animal species can cause dramatic and enduring changes to the geography and ecology of landscapes, a study demonstrates. A review of studies on how life forms interact with and influence their surroundings concluded that invasive species can alter landscapes in myriad ways and with varying degrees of severity. These changes can be quick, large-scale and "extremely difficult" to reverse, said a study author.

Researchers detect possible signal from dark matter Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:55 AM PST Scientists have picked up an atypical photon emission in X-rays coming from space, and say it could be evidence for the existence of a particle of dark matter. If confirmed, it could open up new perspectives in cosmology.

Stacking two-dimensional materials may lower cost of semiconductor devices Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:55 AM PST A team of researchers has found that stacking materials that are only one atom thick can create semiconductor junctions that transfer charge efficiently, regardless of whether the crystalline structure of the materials is mismatched -- lowering the manufacturing cost for a wide variety of semiconductor devices such as solar cells, lasers and LEDs.

Diagnostic tool Oncotype DX associated with reduction in chemotherapy rates post-surgery in younger women with breast cancer Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:53 AM PST No association has been found with assay and decreased chemotherapy use in older patients, researchers report. Oncotype DX is a 21-gene assay used to help estimate the likelihood of recurrence in women with early-stage breast cancer and, thus, determine those who may or may not benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Major comeback for sea turtles: Highest reported nest counts in Nicaragua Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:53 AM PST Scientists noticed a dramatic increase in nesting of critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles including the highest nest counts since a conservation project began there in 2000.

Method to assess UTI risk in women after pelvic-floor surgery Posted: 11 Dec 2014 07:20 AM PST Researchers may have devised a way to assess who is at risk for developing a urinary tract infection following pelvic-floor surgery. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common type of bacterial infection. Women who undergo surgery for pelvic-organ prolapse or urinary incontinence are more likely to develop a UTI following the procedure.

Energy efficient homes linked to asthma Posted: 11 Dec 2014 07:20 AM PST The drive for energy efficient homes could increase asthma risks, according to new research that has found that a failure by residents to heat and ventilate retrofitted properties could lead to more people developing the respiratory condition.

Body's cold 'sensor' could hold key for frostbite and hypothermia treatments Posted: 11 Dec 2014 07:20 AM PST A cold 'sensor' that triggers the skin's vascular response to the cold could represent an exciting new therapeutic target for the treatment of frostbite and hypothermia, according to scientists.

Story of bizarre deep-sea bone worm takes unexpected twist: Evolutionary reversal previously unseen in animal kingdom Posted: 11 Dec 2014 07:18 AM PST The saga of the Osedax "bone-eating" worms began 12 years ago, with the first discovery of these deep-sea creatures that feast on the bones of dead animals. The Osedax story grew even stranger when researchers found that the large female worms contained harems of tiny dwarf males.

Early adoption of robotic surgery leads to organ preservation for kidney cancer patients Posted: 11 Dec 2014 07:18 AM PST Researchers found that partial nephrectomy -- the recommended treatment for localized kidney tumors -- was performed more frequently at hospitals that were early adopters of robotic surgery.

Relationship between personality, health: Study sheds new light on link Posted: 11 Dec 2014 06:06 AM PST New evidence has been found that explains how some aspects of our personality may affect our health and wellbeing, supporting long-observed associations between aspects of human character, physical health and longevity. But researchers ask: "Is this our biology determining our psychology or our psychology determining our biology?"

How fast you age depends on your parents Posted: 11 Dec 2014 06:06 AM PST In the hunt for better knowledge on the aging process, researchers have now enlisted the help of small birds. A new study investigates various factors which affect whether chicks are born with long or short chromosome ends, called telomeres.

The Jaws effect: Biting review finds shark policy based on movie myths Posted: 11 Dec 2014 06:06 AM PST The film "Jaws" has heavily influenced Western Australia's stance on sharks, a review of over a decade of state government policy has found.

Water’s role in the rise and fall of the Roman Empire Posted: 11 Dec 2014 06:06 AM PST Smart agricultural practices and an extensive grain-trade network enabled the Romans to thrive in the water-limited environment of the Mediterranean, a new study shows. But the stable food supply brought about by these measures promoted population growth and urbanization, pushing the Empire closer to the limits of its food resources.

Tamoxifen reduces breast cancer rates by nearly a third for 20 years Posted: 11 Dec 2014 06:06 AM PST The preventive effect of breast cancer drug 'tamoxifen' remains virtually constant for at least 20 years – with rates reduced by around 30 per cent – a new analysis reveals. During the study 7,154 pre and post-menopausal women were randomized to receive either tamoxifen (20mg daily) or a matching placebo for five years. After completing treatment, the health of all participants was monitored with an average follow-up time of 16 years and maximum of 22 years.

Human exposure to metal cadmium may accelerate cellular aging Posted: 11 Dec 2014 05:15 AM PST The metal cadmium has been the focus of new study that finds that higher human exposure can lead to significantly shorter telomeres, bits of DNA at the ends of chromosomes that are associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other diseases of old age.

Early identification of modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline Posted: 11 Dec 2014 05:15 AM PST Researchers now believe it's possible that risk factors for cognitive decline may show up long before diseases such as Alzheimer's develop. In a new study, scientists found that clues such as high blood pressure are often present in mid-life, and that identification and modification of such factors could prevent the progression of debilitating cognitive deficits later in life.

Gut microbiota and Parkinson’s disease: Connection made Posted: 11 Dec 2014 05:11 AM PST Parkinson's disease sufferers have a different microbiota in their intestines than their healthy counterparts, according to a study.  Researchers are now trying to determine what the connection between intestinal microbes and Parkinson's disease is.

'Trojan horse' proteins: step forward for nanoparticle-based anti-cancer, anti-dementia therapeutic approaches Posted: 11 Dec 2014 05:11 AM PST Scientists have found a way of targeting hard-to-reach cancers and degenerative diseases using nanoparticles, but without causing the damaging side effects the treatment normally brings.

Cocaine consumption quadruples the risk of sudden death in people between 19 and 49 Posted: 11 Dec 2014 05:11 AM PST The increase in sudden cardiovascular death with the recent consumption of cocaine has been, for the first time, documented by researchers. In people in the 19-49 age bracket this risk is quadrupled. In fact, cocaine consumption doubles the risk of death of cardiovascular origin that can be attributed to smoking, and becomes the main risk factor among subjects under 50.

Tourism poses a threat to dolphins in the Balearic Islands Posted: 11 Dec 2014 05:11 AM PST The rise in tourism, fishing and sea transport between the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands is compromising the wellbeing of a small population of common bottlenose dolphins living in coastal waters off the Pityusic Islands. This is the conclusion of a study which has, for the first time, counted these mammals in summer and spring, which are crucial seasons for them.

Re-discovered diaries shed new light on one of the world's most studied woods Posted: 11 Dec 2014 05:11 AM PST The re-discovered diaries and photographs of ecological pioneer Charles Elton have been digitised for the first time, providing a unique insight into the changing face of an Oxfordshire woodland from the second world war to the swinging sixties.

Sampling rivers for genes rather than organisms Posted: 11 Dec 2014 05:11 AM PST Effective environmental management depends on a detailed knowledge of the distribution of species. But taxonomists are in short supply, and some species can be difficult to identify, even for experts. Scientists are now pursuing a new approach for species identification, requiring no more than samples of DNA shed into the environment.

Short sleep duration, sleep-related breathing problems increase obesity risk in kids Posted: 11 Dec 2014 05:09 AM PST Sleep-related breathing problems and chronic lack of sleep may each double the risk of a child becoming obese by age 15, according to new research. The good news is that both sleep problems can be corrected.

Water vapor on Rosetta's target comet significantly different from that found on Earth Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:47 PM PST ESA's Rosetta spacecraft has found the water vapor from its target comet to be significantly different to that found on Earth. The discovery fuels the debate on the origin of our planet's oceans. One of the leading hypotheses on Earth's formation is that it was so hot when it formed 4.6 billion years ago that any original water content should have boiled off. But, today, two thirds of the surface is covered in water, so where did it come from? In this scenario, it should have been delivered after our planet had cooled down, most likely from collisions with comets and asteroids.

Food ingredient created that will make you feel fuller Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:46 PM PST Scientists have developed an ingredient that can be added to foods to make them more filling. In its first tests in humans, researchers found that the ingredient is effective at preventing weight gain in overweight volunteers.

New insights into the origins of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:45 PM PST The cereal crops that humans rely on today as staple foods result from plant breeding decisions our ancestors made more than 10,000 years ago. Now, a series of intriguing experiments has revealed why those first arable farmers chose to domesticate some cereals and not others. The results could help today's plant breeders improve tomorrow's crops.

First images of historic San Francisco shipwreck, SS City of Rio de Janeiro Posted: 10 Dec 2014 02:17 PM PST Researchers released 3-D sonar maps and images of an immigrant steamship lost more than 100 years ago in what many consider the worst maritime disaster in San Francisco history. On Feb. 22, 1901, in a dense morning fog, the SS City of Rio de Janeiro struck jagged rocks near the present site of the Golden Gate Bridge and sank almost immediately, killing 128 of the 210 passengers and crew aboard the ship.

NASA study shows 13-year record of drying Amazon caused vegetation declines Posted: 10 Dec 2014 02:17 PM PST A 13-year decline in vegetation in the eastern and southeastern Amazon has been linked to a decade-long rainfall decline in the region. With global climate models projecting further drying over the Amazon in the future, the potential loss of vegetation and the associated loss of carbon storage may speed up global climate change.

Alcohol interferes with body's ability to regulate sleep Posted: 10 Dec 2014 01:23 PM PST Drinking alcohol to fall asleep interferes with sleep homeostasis, the body's sleep-regulating mechanism, researchers have found. Sleep homeostasis balances the body's need for sleep in relation to how long a person has been awake. If an individual loses sleep, the body produces adenosine, a naturally occurring sleep-regulating substance that increases a person's need for sleep. When a person goes to sleep early, sleep homeostasis is shifted and he or she may wake up in the middle of the night or early morning.

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