ScienceDaily: Top News

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• A small step toward discovering habitable Earths
• Study suggests non-uniform climate warming globally
• First-ever 3-D image created of the structure beneath Sierra Negra volcano
• Drug therapy could eventually reverse memory decline in seniors
• Biomarkers of cell death in Alzheimer's reverse course after symptom onset
• Chandra and XMM-Newton provide direct measurement of distant black hole's spin
• Warm rivers play role in Arctic sea ice melt
• First step towards 'programmable materials': Sheet metal that never rattles
• Ultra sensitive detection of radio waves with lasers
• A single gene, doublesex, controls wing mimicry in butterflies
• Seeking quantum-ness: D-Wave chip passes rigorous tests
• Bioinspired, sponge-like shrinking gel steers tooth, tissue formation
• Key enzyme found in disease-causing bacteria responsible for heart valve disease
• Some metallic toys, low-cost jewelry present health risks for young children
• Rough surface could keep small electronic parts from sticking together
• Hop leaves -- discarded in beer brewing -- have substances that could fight dental diseases
• A wristband for a different kind of cause ... environmental health
• Newly engineered molecules doom proteins with kiss of death
• Your face says it all? Not so fast
• Banana plant fights off crop's invisible nemesis: Roundworms
• Plumes in the sleeping avian brain
• Pigment or bacteria? Researchers re-examine the idea of 'color' in fossil feathers
• First light for MUSE: Powerful 3-D spectrograph successfully installed on Very Large Telescope
• Copied from nature: Detecting software errors via genetic algorithms
• Climate change: Improving heat tolerance in trees
• Determination might be a very human expression
• Birdsong is not all about sexual selection: Female birds sing much more often than previously thought
• Remote sensing moisture model could aid farmers
• Convergent evolution: New fins evolve repeatedly in teleost fishes
• Sea-level rise threatens UNESCO World Heritage sites
• Sea turtles' 'lost years' mystery starts to unravel
• Passive smoking causes irreversible damage to children's arteries
• Mother's diet linked to premature birth: fruits, vegetables linked to reduced risk of preterm delivery
• What bat brains might tell us about human brains
• Cholesterol study suggests new diagnostic, treatment approach for prostate cancer
• Imprint of chemotherapy linked to inflammation in breast cancer survivors
• Young children form first impressions from faces
• 'Dimer molecules' aid study of exoplanet pressure, hunt for life
• Common cancers evade detection by silencing parts of immune system cells
• First look at how Staphylococcus cells adhere to nanostructures could help fight infections
• Female fertility: What's testosterone got to do with it? Research shows male hormones may enhance IVF therapy
• Silk-based surgical implants could offer a better way to repair broken bones
• New technique targets C code to spot, contain malware attacks
• Bright pulses of light could make space veggies more nutritious
• New markers for acute kidney injury reported
• Off with your glasses: Visual crowding linked to retina, brain processing
• Key protein identified that helps prevent lung cancer tumors from being destroyed
• More genetic signals found linking weight, heart health risk factors
• Key structure in heart cells that helps regulate heart contractions illuminated by research
• New evidence confirms link between IQ, brain cortex
• Spiral galaxy spills blood and guts
• Prequel outshines the original: Exceptional fossils of 160-million-year-old doahugou biota
• Motion-sensing cells in eye let brain 'know' about directional changes
• Muscle-controlling neurons know when they mess up, according to research
• Rats, frosting helping find genetic causes of binge-eating
• New genetic syndrome identified that includes allergy, immune deficiency, neurocognitive impairment
• Novel quantum dot laser paves the way for lower-cost photonics
• Transparent, color solar cells fuse energy, beauty
• Tackling the tiniest technology to make gadgets smaller, faster and more efficient
• New data confirms Arctic ice trends: Ice-free season getting longer by five days per decade

A small step toward discovering habitable Earths Posted: 05 Mar 2014 01:08 PM PST For the first time, astronomers have used the same imaging technology found in a digital camera to take a picture of a planet far from our solar system with an Earth-based telescope. The accomplishment is a small step toward the technology astronomers will need in order to characterize planets suitable for harboring life.

Study suggests non-uniform climate warming globally Posted: 05 Mar 2014 01:07 PM PST A recent study of five decades of satellite data, model simulations and in situ observations suggests the impact of seasonal diurnal or daily warming varies between global regions affecting many ecosystem functions and services, such as food production, carbon sequestration and climate regulation. The effects of non-uniform climate warming on terrestrial ecosystems is a key challenge in carbon cycle research and for those making future predictions.

First-ever 3-D image created of the structure beneath Sierra Negra volcano Posted: 05 Mar 2014 11:47 AM PST The Galápagos Islands are home to some of the most active volcanoes in the world, with more than 50 eruptions in the last 200 years. Yet until recently, scientists knew far more about the history of finches, tortoises, and iguanas than of the volcanoes on which these unusual fauna had evolved. Now research is providing a better picture of the subterranean plumbing system that feeds the Galápagos volcanoes.

Drug therapy could eventually reverse memory decline in seniors Posted: 05 Mar 2014 11:47 AM PST It may seem normal: As we age, we misplace car keys, or can't remember a name we just learned or a meal we just ordered. But researchers say memory trouble doesn't have to be inevitable, and they've found a drug therapy that could potentially reverse this type of memory decline. The drug can't yet be used in humans, but the researchers are pursuing compounds that could someday help the population of aging adults who don't have Alzheimer's or other dementias but still have trouble remembering day-to-day items.

Biomarkers of cell death in Alzheimer's reverse course after symptom onset Posted: 05 Mar 2014 11:47 AM PST Three promising biomarkers being studied to detect Alzheimer's disease in its early stages appear to undergo a surprising shift as patients develop symptoms of dementia, researchers report. Scientists found in a recent study that the levels of markers of neuronal injury increase in the spinal fluid for a decade or more before the onset of dementia. But in a new twist, the research shows for the first time that they later reverse course, decreasing as symptoms of memory loss and mental decline appear.

Chandra and XMM-Newton provide direct measurement of distant black hole's spin Posted: 05 Mar 2014 10:54 AM PST Astronomers have used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency's (ESA's) XMM-Newton to show a supermassive black hole six billion light years from Earth is spinning extremely rapidly. This first direct measurement of the spin of such a distant black hole is an important advance for understanding how black holes grow over time.

Warm rivers play role in Arctic sea ice melt Posted: 05 Mar 2014 10:40 AM PST The heat from warm river waters draining into the Arctic Ocean is contributing to the melting of Arctic sea ice each summer, a new NASA study finds.

First step towards 'programmable materials': Sheet metal that never rattles Posted: 05 Mar 2014 10:24 AM PST Researchers have succeeded in producing a prototype of a vibration-damping material that could change the world of mechanics forever. The material of the future is not only able to damp vibrations completely. It can also specifically conduct certain frequencies further.

Ultra sensitive detection of radio waves with lasers Posted: 05 Mar 2014 10:23 AM PST Radio waves are used for many measurements and applications, for example, in communication with mobile phones, MRI scans, scientific experiments and cosmic observations. But 'noise' in the detector of the measuring instrument limits how sensitive and precise the measurements can be. Now researchers have developed a new method where they can avoid noise by means of laser light and can therefore achieve extreme precision of measurements.

A single gene, doublesex, controls wing mimicry in butterflies Posted: 05 Mar 2014 10:23 AM PST A single gene regulates the complex wing patterns, colors and structures required for mimicry in swallowtail butterflies, report scientists. Surprisingly, the gene described, doublesex, is already well-known for its critical role in sexual differentiation in insects.

Seeking quantum-ness: D-Wave chip passes rigorous tests Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:53 AM PST D-Wave quantum processor passes tests indicating that it uses special laws of quantum mechanics to operate. A key task for researchers has been to determine whether D-Wave processors operate as hoped -- using the special laws of quantum mechanics to offer potentially higher-speed processing, instead of operating in a classical, traditional way.

Bioinspired, sponge-like shrinking gel steers tooth, tissue formation Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:52 AM PST A new bioinspired sponge-like gel shrinks single-handedly, squeezing unspecialized cells inside it and turning them into cells that begin to form teeth. The new material was inspired by the embryo's power to shape organs, and it could enable engineering of new teeth, bone, or other tissues, scientists report.

Key enzyme found in disease-causing bacteria responsible for heart valve disease Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:52 AM PST A disease-causing bacterium found in the mouth needs manganese, a trace mineral, in order to cause a serious heart infection, according to a preclinical study. Researchers have been studying the bacterium Streptococcus sanguinis to understand its role in infective endocarditis, a heart valve disease. The infection is hard to treat and can be deadly, killing more than 20 percent of the people who contract it. The findings, which may solve a longstanding mystery of why some bacteria need manganese to cause disease, provide possible new targets for antibiotics.

Some metallic toys, low-cost jewelry present health risks for young children Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:52 AM PST We know that babies and young children often put non-food items in their mouths, a behavior that occasionally leads to swallowing of foreign objects. Metallic toys and low-cost jewelry often contain toxic substances such as lead and cadmium. Do these objects present a health risk for young children? "We observed that cadmium and lead contamination, both very toxic metals, are a major problem, especially when it comes to metallic jewelry and toys. Copper, nickel, arsenic and antimony were also present in some samples," explains the author of a new article.

Rough surface could keep small electronic parts from sticking together Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:51 AM PST When a piece of gift-wrapping tape sticks to itself, it's frustrating, but when small parts in a microgear or micromotor stick together, an electronic device may not work well, if at all. Scientists now report that rough zinc oxide coatings can prevent tiny silicon parts from adhering to each other. The study could accelerate the development of even more advanced, high-performance electronics and small sensors.

Hop leaves -- discarded in beer brewing -- have substances that could fight dental diseases Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:51 AM PST Beer drinkers know that hops are what gives the drink its bitterness and aroma. Recently, scientists reported that the part of hops that isn't used for making beer contains healthful antioxidants and could be used to battle cavities and gum disease. Researchers say that they've identified some of the substances that could be responsible for these healthful effects.

A wristband for a different kind of cause ... environmental health Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:51 AM PST From 'Livestrong' to 'Purple Paws,' trendy wristbands have come to represent causes from cancer to ending cruelty to animals. Add a new wristband of a different sort: one that could close the loop on determining the potential disease risks of exposure to substances like pesticides.

Newly engineered molecules doom proteins with kiss of death Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:49 AM PST Like mobsters following strict orders, newly engineered molecules called "ubiquibodies" can mark specific proteins inside a cell for destruction -- a molecular kiss of death that is paving the way for new drug therapies and powerful research tools. For instance, in a cancer cell in which a certain protein has been identified as contributing to the disease, the ubiquibody could reduce or eliminate the protein from within by targeting that specific protein only, the authors suggest.

Your face says it all? Not so fast Posted: 05 Mar 2014 08:10 AM PST New research calls into question the very foundations of emotion science. It's a con­cept that had become uni­ver­sally under­stood: humans expe­ri­ence six basic emotions -- happiness, sad­ness, anger, fear, dis­gust, and surprise -- and use the same set of facial move­ments to express them. What's more, we can rec­og­nize emo­tions on another's face, whether that person hails from Boston or Borneo. The only problem with this con­cept, according to new research, is that it isn't true at all. Researchers have found that even basic human emotions are in fact not universally perceived.

Banana plant fights off crop's invisible nemesis: Roundworms Posted: 05 Mar 2014 08:10 AM PST The banana variety Yangambi km5 produces toxic substances that kill the nematode Radopholus similis, a roundworm that infects the root tissue of banana plants -- to the frustration of farmers worldwide. The finding bodes well for the Grande Naine, the export banana par excellence, which is very susceptible to the roundworms.

Plumes in the sleeping avian brain Posted: 05 Mar 2014 08:09 AM PST Researchers have gained deeper insight into the sleeping avian brain. They found complex 3-D plumes of brain activity propagating through the brain that clearly differed from the two-dimensional activity found in mammals. These findings show that the layered neuronal organization of the neocortex is not required for waves to propagate, and raise the intriguing possibility that the 3-D plumes of activity perform computations not found in mammals.

Pigment or bacteria? Researchers re-examine the idea of 'color' in fossil feathers Posted: 05 Mar 2014 07:59 AM PST Paleontologists studying fossilized feathers propose that the shapes of certain microscopic structures inside the feathers can tell us the color of ancient birds. But new research shows that it is not yet possible to tell if these structures are what they seem.

First light for MUSE: Powerful 3-D spectrograph successfully installed on Very Large Telescope Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:48 AM PST A new innovative instrument called MUSE (Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer) has been successfully installed on ESO's Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory in northern Chile. MUSE has observed distant galaxies, bright stars and other test targets during the first period of very successful observations.

Copied from nature: Detecting software errors via genetic algorithms Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:48 AM PST Software developers are spending about the half of their time detecting errors and resolving them. Projected onto the global software industry, this would amount to a bill of about 312 billion US dollars every year. Researchers are now automating the process.

Climate change: Improving heat tolerance in trees Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:47 AM PST Is it possible to improve tolerance of trees to high temperatures and other types of stress derived of climate change? Scientists are studying the tolerance of trees using molecular and biotechnological tools. Biologists succeeding in making popular trees significantly more tolerant to high temperatures, drought, and the presence of weed-killers.

Determination might be a very human expression Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:46 AM PST Humans might be using facial expressions of determination as a call for help from others, according to new research. When children and chimpanzees were both given a task that was impossible to solve, children's faces expressed determination or frustration the more they tried to solve the task, but chimpanzees did not. The facial expressions shown by the children -- chin raised and lips pressed together -- could signal effort or frustration, according to a researcher who said it is possible humans have evolved to use these facial expressions to solicit help from others.

Birdsong is not all about sexual selection: Female birds sing much more often than previously thought Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:46 AM PST In 71 percent of all songbird species with available data, the female sings, too. This is remarkable because in the wake of Darwin's theory of evolution, birdsong has generally been seen as a characteristic of male birds, allowing them to compete with other males and attract females. The exciting question now is how females apparently repeatedly lost their song in the course of evolution. Why did they stop singing in some lineages, but not in others?

Remote sensing moisture model could aid farmers Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:44 AM PST Global farmers could get better decision-making help as refinements are made to North Alabama soil moisture modeling research being done by an atmospheric science doctoral student. The models, using satellite data, indicate how much added moisture would be needed in a given area versus historical data to achieve various crop yields, and they could aid in making expensive infrastructure investments by helping to determine their economic viability.

Convergent evolution: New fins evolve repeatedly in teleost fishes Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:44 AM PST A new study analyzing the origins of the adipose fin, thought by some to be vestigial, finds that these fins arose repeatedly and independently in multiple species -- a striking example of convergent evolution. Adipose fins also appear to have repeatedly and independently evolved skeleton, offering a glimpse into the evolution of vertebrate appendages.

Sea-level rise threatens UNESCO World Heritage sites Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:56 PM PST Some of the world's most recognizable and important landmarks could be lost to rising sea-levels if current global warming trends are maintained over the next two millennia. This is according to a new study that has calculated the temperature increases at which the 720 sites currently on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites would be impacted by subsequent sea-level rises.

Sea turtles' 'lost years' mystery starts to unravel Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:56 PM PST Small satellite-tracking devices attached to sea turtles swimming off Florida's coast have delivered first-of-its-kind data that could help unlock they mystery of what endangered turtles do during the 'lost years.'

Passive smoking causes irreversible damage to children's arteries Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:54 PM PST Exposure to passive smoking in childhood causes irreversible damage to the structure of children's arteries, according to a study. The study is the first to follow children through to adulthood in order to examine the association between exposure to parental smoking and increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) -- a measurement of the thickness of the innermost two layers of the arterial wall -- in adulthood. It adds further strength to the arguments for banning smoking in areas where children may be present, such as cars.

Mother's diet linked to premature birth: fruits, vegetables linked to reduced risk of preterm delivery Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:01 PM PST Pregnant women who eat a 'prudent' diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and who drink water have a significantly reduced risk of preterm delivery, suggests a study. A "traditional" dietary pattern of boiled potatoes, fish and cooked vegetables was also linked to a significantly lower risk. Although these findings cannot establish causality, they support dietary advice to pregnant women to eat a balanced diet including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and fish and to drink water.

What bat brains might tell us about human brains Posted: 04 Mar 2014 01:20 PM PST Could a new finding in bats help unlock a mystery about the human brain? Likely so, say researchers who have shown that a small region within the amygdala, an almond-shaped structure in the brains of all mammals, is responsible for producing emotional calls and sounds. They say this discovery might be key to locating a similar center in human brains.

Cholesterol study suggests new diagnostic, treatment approach for prostate cancer Posted: 04 Mar 2014 12:46 PM PST A link between prostate cancer aggressiveness and the accumulation of a compound produced when cholesterol is metabolized in cells has been discovered, findings that could bring new diagnostic and treatment methods. Findings also suggest that a class of drugs previously developed to treat atherosclerosis might be repurposed for treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The research involved analysis of clinical samples harvested from prostate cancer patients, specialized cell lines and mice.

Imprint of chemotherapy linked to inflammation in breast cancer survivors Posted: 04 Mar 2014 12:46 PM PST Chemotherapy can leave a long-lasting epigenetic imprint in the DNA of breast cancer patients' blood cells. That imprint is associated with biological signs of inflammation up to six months after the completion of treatment, and many breast cancer survivors experience fatigue and other debilitating symptoms that persist months to years after their course of treatment has ended. Now researchers have found clues that may explain how these symptoms can linger.

Young children form first impressions from faces Posted: 04 Mar 2014 12:46 PM PST Just like adults, children as young as 3 tend to judge an individual's character traits, such as trustworthiness and competence, simply by looking at the person's face, new research shows. And they show remarkable consensus in the judgments they make, the findings suggest. Overall, children seemed to be most consistent in judging trustworthiness. This suggests that children may tend to pay particular attention to the demeanor of a face -- that is, whether it is broadly positive or negative.

'Dimer molecules' aid study of exoplanet pressure, hunt for life Posted: 04 Mar 2014 12:45 PM PST Astronomers have developed a new method of gauging the atmospheric pressure of exoplanets, or worlds beyond the solar system, by looking for a certain type of molecule. And if there is life out in space, scientists may one day use this same technique to detect its biosignature -- the telltale chemical signs of its presence -- in the atmosphere of an alien world.

Common cancers evade detection by silencing parts of immune system cells Posted: 04 Mar 2014 12:45 PM PST A set of genes has been identified that appear to predict which tumors can evade detection by the body's immune system, a step that may enable them to eventually target only the patients most likely to respond best to a new class of treatment. A team says it has identified genes that have been repressed through so-called epigenetic changes — modifications that alter the way genes function without changing their DNA sequence — which help the cells to evade the immune system. The researchers were able to reverse these epigenetic changes with the use of an FDA-approved drug, forcing the cancer cells out of hiding and potentially making them better targets for the same immune therapy that in the past may have failed.

First look at how Staphylococcus cells adhere to nanostructures could help fight infections Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:19 AM PST A team of researchers has explored, for the first time, how individual Staphylococcus cells glom onto metallic nanostructures of various shapes and sizes that are not much bigger than the cells themselves. Their work could lead to a more nuanced understanding of what makes a surface less inviting to bacteria. A Staph infection can't start unless Staphylococcus cells first cling to a surface, which is why scientists are hard at work exploring bacteria-resistant materials as a line of defense.

Female fertility: What's testosterone got to do with it? Research shows male hormones may enhance IVF therapy Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:19 AM PST The use of testosterone to improve outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization is taking hold across the country, but data on its use is slim and mixed. A new study suggests that the male hormone might actually be doing something good by helping drive the development of follicles -- structures that contain and ultimately release an egg that can be fertilized by a man's sperm. The authors believe the study provides potential biological targets to enhance fertility in women with diminished ovarian reserve, who produce few or no follicles in response to IVF drugs designed to boost follicle development.

Silk-based surgical implants could offer a better way to repair broken bones Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:19 AM PST Using pure silk protein derived from silkworm cocoons, investigators have developed surgical plates and screws that offer improved remodeling following injury and can be absorbed by the body over time. When a person suffers a broken bone, current treatment calls for the surgeon to insert screws and plates to help bond the broken sections and enable the fracture to heal. These "fixation devices" are usually made of metal alloys. But metal devices may have disadvantages: Because they are stiff and unyielding, they can cause stress to underlying bone, among other problems.

New technique targets C code to spot, contain malware attacks Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:18 AM PST Researchers have developed a new tool to detect and contain malware that attempts root exploits in Android devices. The tool improves on previous techniques by targeting code written in the C programming language -- which is often used to create root exploit malware, whereas the bulk of Android applications are written in Java.

Bright pulses of light could make space veggies more nutritious Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:18 AM PST Exposing leafy vegetables grown during spaceflight to a few bright pulses of light daily could increase the amount of eye-protecting nutrients produced by the plants, according to a new study.

New markers for acute kidney injury reported Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:18 AM PST Two new markers for acute kidney injury have been determined, thanks to new research. Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been difficult to diagnose and treat early because current markers for it don't show up until several hours after it has begun. The research group, however, validated two new markers -- tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-2 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) -- in urine that, when assessed together, give clinicians the ability to detect and begin treating AKI much earlier than the current standards.

Off with your glasses: Visual crowding linked to retina, brain processing Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:18 AM PST Middle-aged adults who suddenly need reading glasses, patients with traumatic brain injuries, and people with visual disorders such as "lazy eye" may have one thing in common -- "visual crowding," an inability to recognize individual items surrounded by multiple objects. Visual crowding makes it impossible to read, as single letters within words are rendered illegible. And basic cognitive functions such as facial recognition can also be significantly hampered. New evidence has been found that correlates visual crowding in a small part of the retina to the brain's processing speed. These findings could greatly alter earlier models of visual crowding, and for many adults lost without reading glasses, this could improve vision significantly.

Key protein identified that helps prevent lung cancer tumors from being destroyed Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:18 AM PST A protein, Mcl-1, has been discovered that helps enable one of the most common and deadly types of cancer to survive radiation and drug treatments. In a new laboratory study, investigators found that the protein helps enable TWEAK-Fn14, which in turn helps protect NSCLC tumors from being destroyed by radiation and drugs.

More genetic signals found linking weight, heart health risk factors Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:18 AM PST Two recent genetic studies expand the list of genes involved with body fat and body mass index, and their connection to major Western health problems: heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. One study showed that higher body mass index caused harmful effects on the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and inflammation, while another study found gene signals linked to higher levels of body fat metrics, without showing causality.

Key structure in heart cells that helps regulate heart contractions illuminated by research Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:17 AM PST The structure of potassium ion channels that regulate contractions in the heart has been illuminated by research. For years, scientists have debated how many KCNE1 proteins are required to build a potassium ion channel, theorizing anywhere between one and 14. Now, researchers found that these channels are built with two E1s. Understanding the construction of this channel is key to understanding life-threatening heart conditions, such as arrhythmias, and developing drugs to threat those conditions.

New evidence confirms link between IQ, brain cortex Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:17 AM PST Rate of change in the thickness of the brain's cortex is an important factor associated with a person's change in IQ, according to a collaborative study by scientists in five countries. The cortex is the thin, outermost layer of nerve cell tissue of the brain, typically measuring a few millimeters in thickness. The cortex contains nerve cell bodies and is critical for cognitive functions such as perception, language, memory and consciousness. The cortex begins to thin after the age of five or six as part of the normal aging process. This study is the first to show the association between cortical thickness and development in full scale IQ, and has potentially wide-ranging implications for the pedagogical world and for judicial cases in which the defendant's IQ score could play a role in determining the severity of the sentence.

Spiral galaxy spills blood and guts Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:17 AM PST A new Hubble image shows spiral galaxy ESO 137-001, framed against a bright background as it moves through the heart of galaxy cluster Abell 3627. This cluster is violently ripping the spiral's entrails out into space, leaving bright blue streaks as telltale clues to this cosmic crime.

Prequel outshines the original: Exceptional fossils of 160-million-year-old doahugou biota Posted: 04 Mar 2014 11:17 AM PST A new article shows that several Jurassic sites are linked together by shared species and can be recognized as representing a single fossil fauna and flora, containing superbly preserved specimens of a diverse group of amphibian, mammal, and reptile species.

Motion-sensing cells in eye let brain 'know' about directional changes Posted: 04 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST How do we "know" from the movements of speeding car in our field of view if it's coming straight toward us or more likely to move to the right or left? In a detailed study of the neurons linking the eyes and brains of mice, biologists discovered that the ability of our brains and those of other mammals to figure out and process in our brains directional movements is a result of the activation in the cortex of signals that originate from the direction-sensing cells in the retina of our eyes.

Muscle-controlling neurons know when they mess up, according to research Posted: 04 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST Whether it is playing a piano sonata or acing a tennis serve, the brain needs to orchestrate precise, coordinated control over the body's many muscles. Moreover, there needs to be some kind of feedback from the senses should any of those movements go wrong. A team of researchers has now begun to unravel the decades-spanning paradox concerning how this feedback system works.

Rats, frosting helping find genetic causes of binge-eating Posted: 04 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST Two strains of rats, cans of vanilla frosting and a theory have brought science a step closer to finding the genetic causes of binge eating and eventually a treatment. Females are primarily effected by eating disorders with a ratio of only one male for every ten women. These disorders can last for years. During this timeframe, effective treatment is critical since eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. And if it doesn't kill, the damage it wreaks can be irreversible. By using different types of female rats, the scientists have effectively reduced the high number of genes that could be implicated in a binge eating disorder, and dramatically narrowed the areas for further research.

New genetic syndrome identified that includes allergy, immune deficiency, neurocognitive impairment Posted: 04 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST A new genetic syndrome has been identified, characterized by a constellation of health problems, including severe allergy, immune deficiency, autoimmunity and motor and neurocognitive impairment. The researchers observed that the syndrome's diverse symptoms are the result of mutations in a single gene associated with sugar metabolism.

Novel quantum dot laser paves the way for lower-cost photonics Posted: 04 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST With the explosive growth of bandwidth demand in telecommunications networks, experts are continually seeking new ways to transmit increasingly large amounts of data in the quickest and cheapest ways possible. Photonic devices -- which convert light to electricity and vice versa -- offer an energy-efficient alternative to traditional copper network links for information transmission. Unfortunately, these devices are also almost always prohibitively pricey.

Transparent, color solar cells fuse energy, beauty Posted: 04 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST Colorful, see-through solar cells could one day be used to make stained-glass windows, decorations and even shades that turn the sun's energy into electricity.

Tackling the tiniest technology to make gadgets smaller, faster and more efficient Posted: 04 Mar 2014 09:59 AM PST Researchers are discovering how to manipulate light to one day better view the world's tiniest objects through a super-lens, as well as how to hide an object in plain sight. The research focuses on exciting collective oscillations of metal electrons called plasmons, and on directing light through nanometer-thin metal films, about a thousand times thinner than a human hair. The result could empower integrated circuits or facilitate a super-lens with seven times the strength of a standard microscope, opening further research into fields such as studying microorganisms and viruses.

New data confirms Arctic ice trends: Ice-free season getting longer by five days per decade Posted: 04 Mar 2014 09:59 AM PST The ice-free season across the Arctic is getting longer by five days per decade, according to new research from a team including Prof Julienne Stroeve (UCL Earth Sciences). New analysis of satellite data shows the Arctic Ocean absorbing ever more of the sun's energy in summer, leading to a later appearance of sea ice in the autumn. In some regions, autumn freeze-up is occurring up to 11 days per decade later than it used to.

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