ScienceDaily: Top News

---

• Monkeys that eat omega-3 rich diet show more developed brain networks
• Whales and human-related activities overlap in African waters
• Early universe 'warmed up' later than previously believed: Research suggests a way to detect the earliest black holes
• Heavy metal in the early cosmos: Simulations shed light on formation and explosion of stars in earliest galaxies
• Amputee feels in real-time with bionic hand
• Pinpointing the brain's arbitrator: Reliability weighed before brain centers given control
• A 'smoking gun' on Ice Age megafauna extinctions
• Quarks in the looking glass: Rare instance of symmetry breaking in electron-quark scattering
• Ballistic transport in graphene suggests new type of electronic device
• Decriminalizing pot may land more kids in the ER
• A short stay in darkness may heal hearing woes
• Mechanism discovered for how amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutations damage nerve function
• Longevity mutation found in flies far and wide
• Brain development: Pivotal role of stem cell environment
• Forest emissions, wildfires explain why ancient Earth was so hot
• Strange marine mammals of ancient North Pacific revealed
• Humans, urban landscapes increase illness in songbirds, researchers find
• Uncovering the drivers of honey bee colony declines and losses
• People who know their 'heart age' make greater improvements to their heart health
• Researchers discover rare new species of deep-diving whale
• Meal times could have a significant effect on the levels of triglycerides in the liver
• It's the water: Graphene balloon yields unprecedented images of hydrated protein molecules
• When cats bite: One in three patients bitten in hand hospitalized, infections common
• Gene that influences receptive joint attention in chimpanzees gives insight into autism
• Vanadium dioxide research opens door to new, multifunctional spintronic smart sensors
• World temperature records available via Google Earth
• Nerve block eases troublesome hot flashes for menopausal women
• False memories: The hidden side of our good memory
• Inner workings of a cellular nanomotor revealed
• First affordable hydrogen fuel-cell powered mass transport vehicle under development?
• Soil biota explains tree growth: Why the Canadian lodgepole pine does better in Sweden than Canada
• Faster professional cyclists are judged more attractive
• The anatomy of an asteroid: Asteroids can have a highly varied internal structure
• Where do lizards in Qatar live? First distribution maps for the state
• Thousands of unvaccinated adults die each year from preventable diseases in the U.S.
• How cancer cells thrive in oxygen-starved tumors

Monkeys that eat omega-3 rich diet show more developed brain networks Posted: 05 Feb 2014 01:57 PM PST Monkeys that ate a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids had brains with highly connected and well organized neural networks -- in some ways akin to the neural networks in healthy humans -- while monkeys that ate a diet deficient in the fatty acids had much more limited brain networking, according to a new study.

Whales and human-related activities overlap in African waters Posted: 05 Feb 2014 11:38 AM PST Scientists have found that humpback whales swimming off the coast of western Africa encounter more than warm waters for mating and bearing young. New studies show that the whales share these waters with offshore oil rigs, major shipping routes, and potentially harmful toxicants.

Early universe 'warmed up' later than previously believed: Research suggests a way to detect the earliest black holes Posted: 05 Feb 2014 11:38 AM PST A new study reveals that black holes, formed from the first stars in our universe, heated the gas throughout space later than previously thought. They also imprinted a clear signature in radio waves which astronomers can now search for. The study is a major new finding about the origins of the universe.

Heavy metal in the early cosmos: Simulations shed light on formation and explosion of stars in earliest galaxies Posted: 05 Feb 2014 11:38 AM PST Researchers have simulated the formation of the Universe from the Big Bang through the first few hundred million years of its existence. The researchers found that more realistic models of supernova blasts help explain the range of metalicity found in different galaxies. The results of the simulations will assist in guiding the James Webb Space Telescope, set to launch in 2018.

Amputee feels in real-time with bionic hand Posted: 05 Feb 2014 11:37 AM PST Dennis Aabo Sørensen is the first amputee in the world to feel sensory rich information -- in realtime -- with a prosthetic hand wired to nerves in his upper arm. Sørensen could grasp objects intuitively and identify what he was touching while blindfolded.

Pinpointing the brain's arbitrator: Reliability weighed before brain centers given control Posted: 05 Feb 2014 10:32 AM PST Researchers have, for the first time, pinpointed areas of the brain -- the inferior lateral prefrontal cortex and frontopolar cortex -- that seem to serve as an "arbitrator" between two decision-making systems, weighing the reliability of the predictions each makes and then allocating control accordingly.

A 'smoking gun' on Ice Age megafauna extinctions Posted: 05 Feb 2014 10:32 AM PST It was climate that killed many of the large mammals after the latest Ice Age. But what more specifically was it with the climate that led to this mass extinction? The answer to this is hidden in a large number of sediment samples from around the Arctic and in the gut content from permafrozen woolly rhinos, mammoth and other extinct ice age mammals.

Quarks in the looking glass: Rare instance of symmetry breaking in electron-quark scattering Posted: 05 Feb 2014 10:32 AM PST A recent experiment has determined how much of the mirror-symmetry breaking in the electron-quark interaction originates from quarks' spin preference in the weak interaction five times more precisely than a previous measurement. The result has also set new limits, in a way complementary to high-energy colliders such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, for the energies that researchers would need to access physics beyond the Standard Model.

Ballistic transport in graphene suggests new type of electronic device Posted: 05 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST Using electrons more like photons could provide the foundation for a new type of electronic device that would capitalize on the ability of graphene to carry electrons with almost no resistance even at room temperature – a property known as ballistic transport.

Decriminalizing pot may land more kids in the ER Posted: 05 Feb 2014 09:55 AM PST States that decriminalized marijuana saw dramatic increases in children requiring medical intervention, although the overall number of unintentional marijuana exposures among children remained low. Researchers studied call volume to US poison centers from January 2005 through December 2011.

A short stay in darkness may heal hearing woes Posted: 05 Feb 2014 09:55 AM PST Call it the Ray Charles Effect: a young child who is blind learns to hear things others cannot. Researchers know that young brains are malleable enough to re-wire some circuits that process sensory information. Now researchers have shown the brains of adult mice can also be re-wired, compensating for vision loss by improving their hearing. This may lead to treatments for human hearing loss. Minimizing a person's sight for as little as a week may help improve the brain's ability to process hearing.

Mechanism discovered for how amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutations damage nerve function Posted: 05 Feb 2014 09:53 AM PST Scientists led a study showing that mutations in a gene responsible for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disrupt the RNA transport system in nerve cells. The findings offer a new focus for efforts to develop effective treatments.

Longevity mutation found in flies far and wide Posted: 05 Feb 2014 08:34 AM PST To date, evidence that mutations in a gene called Indy could increase life span in flies and mimic calorie restriction in mammals has come only from experiments in the lab. A new study finds that the same benefit is present in naturally Indy-mutated flies descended from flies collected in the wild all over the world and going back decades.

Brain development: Pivotal role of stem cell environment Posted: 05 Feb 2014 08:34 AM PST Higher mammals, such as humans, have markedly larger brains than other mammals. Scientists recently discovered a new mechanism governing brain stem cell proliferation. It serves to boost the production of neurons during development, thus causing the enlargement of the cerebral cortex -- the part of the brain that enables us humans to speak, think and dream.

Forest emissions, wildfires explain why ancient Earth was so hot Posted: 05 Feb 2014 08:34 AM PST The release of volatile organic compounds from Earth's forests and smoke from wildfires 3 million years ago had a far greater impact on global warming than ancient atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, according to a new study. The research provides evidence that dynamic atmospheric chemistry played an important role in past warm climates, underscoring the complexity of climate change and the relevance of natural components.

Strange marine mammals of ancient North Pacific revealed Posted: 05 Feb 2014 07:37 AM PST The pre-Ice Age marine mammal community of the North Pacific formed a strangely eclectic scene, new research reveals. Studying hundreds of fossil bones and teeth excavated from the San Francisco Bay Area's Purisima Formation, scientists have put together a record of 21 marine mammal species including dwarf baleen whales, odd double-tusked walruses, porpoises with severe underbites and a dolphin closely related to the now-extinct Chinese river dolphin.

Humans, urban landscapes increase illness in songbirds, researchers find Posted: 05 Feb 2014 07:36 AM PST Humans living in densely populated urban areas have a profound impact not only on their physical environment, but also on the health and fitness of native wildlife. For the first time, scientists have found a direct link between the degree of urbanization and the prevalence and severity of two distinct parasites in wild house finches. Loss of natural habitat may be a driving force behind increases in avian parasite infections.

Uncovering the drivers of honey bee colony declines and losses Posted: 05 Feb 2014 07:36 AM PST Scientists have announced the results of research conducted on honey bee colony declines and the factors attributed to honey bee losses. The work shows that socioeconomic and political pressures on honey production over the past few decades has caused a long-term reduction in the number of colonies in production in the USA, Europe and many other countries. However, more recently honey bee managers have reported increased losses in their stocks each year (so-called 'annual colony losses'), and the new research shows that pests, pathogens and management issues likely play a major role in this, and are under researched and poorly understood drivers.

People who know their 'heart age' make greater improvements to their heart health Posted: 05 Feb 2014 07:35 AM PST New research suggests that talking to patients about their heart health using the "Heart Age" concept, a simple way of estimating and expressing cardiovascular risk, promotes behavioral changes that result in a reduction in their CVD risk, leading to improved health outcomes.

Researchers discover rare new species of deep-diving whale Posted: 05 Feb 2014 07:35 AM PST Researchers have identified a new species of mysterious beaked whale based on a study of seven animals stranded on remote tropical islands over the past 50 years. The first was found on a Sri Lankan beach in 1963. A combination of DNA analysis and physical characteristics was used to make the identification.

Meal times could have a significant effect on the levels of triglycerides in the liver Posted: 05 Feb 2014 07:35 AM PST New findings in mice suggest that merely changing meal times could have a significant effect on the levels of triglycerides in the liver. The results of this study not only have important implications for the potential treatment of metabolic diseases, they may also have broader implications for most research areas in the life sciences.

It's the water: Graphene balloon yields unprecedented images of hydrated protein molecules Posted: 05 Feb 2014 07:33 AM PST An ingenious new technique may open up new vistas for scientists seeking to understand health and disease at the most fundamental level.

When cats bite: One in three patients bitten in hand hospitalized, infections common Posted: 05 Feb 2014 07:31 AM PST Dogs aren't the only pets who sometimes bite the hands that feed them. Cats do too, and when they strike a hand, can inject bacteria deep into joints and tissue, perfect breeding grounds for infection. Cat bites to the hand are so dangerous, one in three patients with such wounds had to be hospitalized, a study covering three years showed. Of those hospitalized, two-thirds needed surgery. Middle-aged women were the most common bite victims, according to the research.

Gene that influences receptive joint attention in chimpanzees gives insight into autism Posted: 05 Feb 2014 06:16 AM PST Following another's gaze or looking in the direction someone is pointing, two examples of receptive joint attention, is significantly heritable according to new study results, which give researchers insight into the biology of disorders such as autism.

Vanadium dioxide research opens door to new, multifunctional spintronic smart sensors Posted: 05 Feb 2014 06:16 AM PST New research findings open the door to smarter sensors by integrating vanadium dioxide onto a silicon chip and using lasers to make the material magnetic. The advance paves the way for multifunctional spintronic smart sensors for use in military applications and next-generation spintronic devices.

World temperature records available via Google Earth Posted: 05 Feb 2014 06:16 AM PST Climate researchers have made the world's temperature records available via Google Earth. The new Google Earth format allows users to scroll around the world, zoom in on 6,000 weather stations, and view monthly, seasonal and annual temperature data more easily than ever before. The move is part of an ongoing effort to make data about past climate and climate change as accessible and transparent as possible.

Nerve block eases troublesome hot flashes for menopausal women Posted: 05 Feb 2014 05:00 AM PST Injecting a little anesthetic near a nerve bundle in the neck cut troublesome hot flashes significantly, shows a new randomized, controlled trial. The technique could give women who cannot or prefer not to take hormones or other medications an effective treatment alternative.

False memories: The hidden side of our good memory Posted: 05 Feb 2014 05:00 AM PST Justice blindly trusts human memory. Every year throughout the world hundreds of thousands of court cases are heard based solely on the testimony of somebody who swears that they are reproducing exactly an event that they witnessed in a (more or less) not too distant past. Nevertheless, various recent studies in cognitive neuroscience indicate both the strengths and weaknesses in this ability of recall of the human brain.

Inner workings of a cellular nanomotor revealed Posted: 05 Feb 2014 04:58 AM PST Our cells produce thousands of proteins but more than one-third of these proteins can fulfill their function only after migrating to the outside of the cell. While it is known that protein migration occurs with the help of various 'nanomotors' that push proteins out of the cell, little is known about their precise mechanical functioning. New research reveals the inner workings of one such nanomotor, called SecA, with new clarity.

First affordable hydrogen fuel-cell powered mass transport vehicle under development? Posted: 05 Feb 2014 04:58 AM PST Birmingham City University is set to showcase the concept and design behind what could prove to be the world's first affordable hydrogen fuel-cell powered mass transport vehicle.

Soil biota explains tree growth: Why the Canadian lodgepole pine does better in Sweden than Canada Posted: 05 Feb 2014 04:58 AM PST Thanks to its excellent growth, the Canadian lodgepole pine has become a popular feature of forestry in Northern Sweden. Researchers are now able to demonstrate that organisms in the Swedish soil most likely contribute to the success of this exotic tree species. When the researchers studied the growth of the lodgepole pine in sterilized and unsterilized Swedish and Canadian soil samples, they discovered clear differences in growth: it grew better in soil inoculated with Swedish soil biota compared to Canadian soil biota. These results improve our understanding of why some exotic tree species and invasive plants at times can function so well in new environments.

Faster professional cyclists are judged more attractive Posted: 05 Feb 2014 04:58 AM PST A new study demonstrates a link between attractiveness and endurance performance, showing that successful Tour de France cyclists are more attractive. This preference for faster riders is particularly strong in women who are not using a hormonal contraceptive.

The anatomy of an asteroid: Asteroids can have a highly varied internal structure Posted: 05 Feb 2014 04:58 AM PST ESO's New Technology Telescope (NTT) has been used to find the first evidence that asteroids can have a highly varied internal structure. By making exquisitely precise measurements astronomers have found that different parts of the asteroid Itokawa have different densities. As well as revealing secrets about the asteroid's formation, finding out what lies below the surface of asteroids may also shed light on what happens when bodies collide in the Solar System, and provide clues about how planets form.

Where do lizards in Qatar live? First distribution maps for the state Posted: 04 Feb 2014 09:36 AM PST Scientists have made an intensive survey and published the first distribution maps for lizards in Qatar. The study has increased the list of lizard species present in Qatar from 15 species recorded up to 2004 to 21 species. The study fills a gap concerning reptile diversity knowledge in Qatar and the Gulf Region.

Thousands of unvaccinated adults die each year from preventable diseases in the U.S. Posted: 04 Feb 2014 09:36 AM PST While adults make up 95 percent of those who die annually from vaccine preventable diseases, a new study shows their vaccination rates remain stubbornly low, representing a growing public health concern.

How cancer cells thrive in oxygen-starved tumors Posted: 04 Feb 2014 09:36 AM PST A new study identifies the molecular pathway that enables cancer cells to grow in areas of a tumor where oxygen levels are low, a condition called hypoxia. The findings might offer a new strategy for inhibiting tumor growth by developing agents that reverse this hypoxia-related pathway.

You are subscribed to email updates from All Top News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610