ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Air contamination near fracking sites result of operational inefficiencies
• Mechanism identified through which lead may harm neural cells, children's neurodevelopment
• Researchers find a new way to identify, target malignant aging in leukemia
• The sound of a healthy reef
• Sensor systems identify senior citizens at risk of falling within 3 weeks
• Mechanical force triggers gene expression by stretching chromatin
• Structural, regulatory and human error were factors in Washington highway bridge collapse
• Chemists develop promising cheap, sustainable battery for grid energy storage
• 3-D-printed structures 'remember' their shapes
• Research priorities for the field of atmospheric chemistry
• Predictive tool vital to sustainable environmental futures
• Moth takes advantage of defensive compounds in Physalis fruits
• Egyptian women say doctors don't discourage female genital cutting, study finds
• Better batteries: Next-generation smart separator membranes
• Scientists discover a ‘dark’ milky way
• Novel inhibitory brain receptor may be mechanism for remission of epilepsy in adolescence
• Discovery of a novel Wnt inhibitor with potential to eradicate colorectal cancer stem cells, report researchers
• Israeli lifestyle, environment may pose exceptional risks for Hodgkin's lymphoma
• US teens more likely to vape for flavorings than nicotine in e-cigarettes
• More to rainbows than meets the eye
• In sub-Saharan Africa, cancer can be an infectious disease
• Fused genes found in esophageal cancer cells offer new clues on disease mechanisms
• Manufacturing pharmaceutical and other valuable chemicals: Better decisions
• Admitting visible light, rejecting infrared heat
• Baby simulator program may make teenage girls more, not less, likely to become pregnant
• Finally, the brain sensor that turns down the heat
• The refugee crisis in Europe: Challenges and possible solutions
• X-raying the Earth with waves from stormy weather 'bombs'

Air contamination near fracking sites result of operational inefficiencies Posted: 26 Aug 2016 12:16 PM PDT Chemists have published a new study that indicates that highly variable contamination events registered in and around unconventional oil and gas developments are the result of operational inefficiencies and not inherent to the extraction process itself.

Mechanism identified through which lead may harm neural cells, children's neurodevelopment Posted: 26 Aug 2016 12:15 PM PDT Researchers have identified a potential molecular mechanism through which lead, a pervasive environmental toxin, may harm neural stem cells and neurodevelopment in children.

Researchers find a new way to identify, target malignant aging in leukemia Posted: 26 Aug 2016 11:23 AM PDT Researchers have identified RNA-based biomarkers that distinguish between normal, aging hematopoietic stem cells and leukemia stem cells associated with secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML), a particularly problematic disease that typically afflicts older patients who have often already experienced a bout with cancer.

The sound of a healthy reef Posted: 26 Aug 2016 11:23 AM PDT A new study will help researchers understand the ways that marine animal larvae use sound as a cue to settle on coral reefs. The study has determined that sounds created by adult fish and invertebrates may not travel far enough for larvae -- which hatch in open ocean -- to hear them, meaning that the larvae might rely on other means to home in on a reef system.

Sensor systems identify senior citizens at risk of falling within 3 weeks Posted: 26 Aug 2016 11:23 AM PDT Each year, millions of people -- especially those 65 and older -- fall. Such falls can be serious, leading to broken bones, head injuries, hospitalizations or even death. Now, researchers have found that sensors that measure in-home gait speed and stride length can predict likely falls. This technology can assist health providers to detect changes and intervene before a fall occurs.

Mechanical force triggers gene expression by stretching chromatin Posted: 26 Aug 2016 11:23 AM PDT How genes in our DNA are expressed into traits within a cell is a complicated mystery with many players, the main suspects being chemical. However, a new study has demonstrated that external mechanical force can directly regulate gene expression. The study also identified the pathway that conveys the force from the outside of the cell into the nucleus.

Structural, regulatory and human error were factors in Washington highway bridge collapse Posted: 26 Aug 2016 11:21 AM PDT When an important bridge collapsed on Interstate 5 near Mount Vernon, Washington, in 2013, questions were raised about how such a catastrophic failure could occur. A new analysis by a team of civil engineering faculty outlines the many factors that led to the collapse, as well as steps that transportation departments can take to prevent such accidents on other bridges of similar design.

Chemists develop promising cheap, sustainable battery for grid energy storage Posted: 26 Aug 2016 11:20 AM PDT Chemists have developed a long-lasting zinc-ion battery that costs half the price of current lithium-ion batteries and could help enable communities to shift away from traditional power plants and into renewable solar and wind energy production.

3-D-printed structures 'remember' their shapes Posted: 26 Aug 2016 11:20 AM PDT Engineers are using light to print three-dimensional structures that 'remember' their original shapes. Even after being stretched, twisted, and bent at extreme angles, the structures -- from small coils and multimaterial flowers, to an inch-tall replica of the Eiffel tower -- sprang back to their original forms within seconds of being heated to a certain temperature 'sweet spot.'

Research priorities for the field of atmospheric chemistry Posted: 26 Aug 2016 11:20 AM PDT Increasing energy demands and expanding industrial and agricultural activities worldwide are changing the composition of the atmosphere and contributing to major global challenges like climate change and air pollution.

Predictive tool vital to sustainable environmental futures Posted: 26 Aug 2016 08:07 AM PDT A new predictive tool, which for the first time combines human perception of the environment with land-use planning and socioeconomic data, could help governments mitigate the impact of climate change in developing countries.

Moth takes advantage of defensive compounds in Physalis fruits Posted: 26 Aug 2016 08:07 AM PDT Researchers found that the specialist moth Heliothis subflexa benefits from secondary plant components by turning the original defensive function of these compounds into its own advantage. Withanolides, which are present in Physalis plants, usually act as immune suppressants and feeding deterrents in insects. Surprisingly, Heliothis subflexa uses these plant defenses as immune-system boosters. Moreover, withanolides protect the moth from harmful effects caused by pathogenic bacteria. The new study demonstrates a unique benefit to host-plant specialization.

Egyptian women say doctors don't discourage female genital cutting, study finds Posted: 26 Aug 2016 07:48 AM PDT More Egyptian women are seeking the opinions of physicians on whether their daughters should undergo female genital cutting, which is illegal in the country, but they say doctors don't advise against the procedure.

Better batteries: Next-generation smart separator membranes Posted: 26 Aug 2016 06:27 AM PDT A new class of battery seperator has been engineered by a team of researchers, which is expected to bring unprecedented benefits to battery performance.

Scientists discover a ‘dark’ milky way Posted: 26 Aug 2016 05:42 AM PDT Using the world's most powerful telescopes, an international team of astronomers has found a massive galaxy that consists almost entirely of dark matter.

Novel inhibitory brain receptor may be mechanism for remission of epilepsy in adolescence Posted: 26 Aug 2016 05:38 AM PDT At the onset of puberty, the emergence of a novel inhibitory brain receptor reduces seizure-like activity in a mouse model of epilepsy.

Discovery of a novel Wnt inhibitor with potential to eradicate colorectal cancer stem cells, report researchers Posted: 26 Aug 2016 05:38 AM PDT A team of researchers has announced the development of a novel small-molecule Wnt inhibitor named NCB-0846. Wnt signaling is a key pathway of cancer stem cell development. The inhibitor may provide a new therapy option for patients with drug-refractory colorectal cancer.

Israeli lifestyle, environment may pose exceptional risks for Hodgkin's lymphoma Posted: 25 Aug 2016 06:43 PM PDT In Israel, the incidence of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is among the highest in the world and has risen sharply over the past 45 years. Researchers found an association between being born in Israel and occurrence of HL, and an elevated risk of HL within one generation of moving to Israel. This could point to environmental causes such as exposures, diet, climate, social environment, and stress related to chronic regional conflict.

US teens more likely to vape for flavorings than nicotine in e-cigarettes Posted: 25 Aug 2016 06:43 PM PDT US teens are more likely to vape for the flavorings found in e-cigarettes rather than nicotine, suggests research. It is widely assumed that teen vapers are vaping nicotine, so in a bid to find out exactly what substances they are vaping, the researchers quizzed almost 15,000 students about their vaping experiences.

More to rainbows than meets the eye Posted: 25 Aug 2016 06:43 PM PDT In-depth review charts the scientific understanding of rainbows and highlights the many practical applications of this fascinating interaction between light, liquid and gas.

In sub-Saharan Africa, cancer can be an infectious disease Posted: 25 Aug 2016 02:23 PM PDT In a new report, a researcher shows that mothers who contract malaria during pregnancy may have children with increased risk of Burkitt's lymphoma.

Fused genes found in esophageal cancer cells offer new clues on disease mechanisms Posted: 25 Aug 2016 02:23 PM PDT Scientists have characterized structurally abnormal genes in esophageal adenocarcinoma, the findings of which could pave way for developing new biomarkers in this fatal disease, they say.

Manufacturing pharmaceutical and other valuable chemicals: Better decisions Posted: 25 Aug 2016 12:20 PM PDT A new decision-making tool helps producers of pharmaceutical and other valuable chemicals make the leap to an entirely new way of manufacturing.

Admitting visible light, rejecting infrared heat Posted: 25 Aug 2016 12:20 PM PDT The transparency of glass to visible light makes it the most common way to let light into a building. But because glass is also transparent to near-infrared radiation -- windows also let in heat, giving rise to the well-known greenhouse effect. A coating that blocks 90 per cent of the heat from sunlight could be used to develop smart windows, say scientists.

Baby simulator program may make teenage girls more, not less, likely to become pregnant Posted: 25 Aug 2016 12:19 PM PDT A teenage pregnancy prevention program involving a baby simulator does not appear to have any long-term effect on reducing the risk of teenage pregnancy, according to the first randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of this intervention. In fact, the study found that teenage girls who took part were more, not less, likely to become pregnant compared to girls who did not take part.

Finally, the brain sensor that turns down the heat Posted: 25 Aug 2016 12:16 PM PDT At long last, researchers have zeroed in on the neurons that act as the brain's internal thermostat.

The refugee crisis in Europe: Challenges and possible solutions Posted: 25 Aug 2016 12:16 PM PDT Researchers have discussed the different ideological viewpoints of liberals and conservatives in Europe with respect to accepting refugees, highlighting why -- even though the continent is not bearing the 'brunt' of the refugee crisis -- it remains 'in the center of a political and social storm' related to refugees asylum.

X-raying the Earth with waves from stormy weather 'bombs' Posted: 25 Aug 2016 12:16 PM PDT Using a detection network based in Japan, scientists have uncovered a rare type of deep-earth tremor that they attribute to a distant North Atlantic storm called a 'weather bomb.' The discovery marks the first time scientists have observed this particular tremor, known as an S wave microseism.

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