ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Math study shows our brains are far more adaptable than we know
• New ways to track stars eaten by black holes
• Smoke from 2015 Indonesian fires may have caused 100,000 premature deaths
• Studying: Is it bad for your health to pull an all-nighter?
• Ancient skeleton discovered on Antikythera Shipwreck
• Exceptionally well-preserved fossil of complete mammoth skull raises questions
• More efficient way to split water, produce hydrogen
• Targeting fat to treat cancer
• Codeine too risky for kids, experts say, urging restrictions on use
• Mosquito preference for human versus animal biting has genetic basis
• New clues to cystic fibrosis 'gender gap'
• Potential schizophrenia 'switch' found
• Ensuring transparency in health care provider performance
• Sleep habits, adolescent drug and alcohol use linked, shows research
• Flavorings, higher voltage increase toxicity of e-cigs
• Opioids may affect how we perceive 'cuteness' of babies
• Closing in on high-temperature superconductivity
• Unusual short burst of X-rays coming from slowest-spinning neutron star
• Eggs from small flocks more likely to contain Salmonella enteritidis
• Digital photography: The future of small-scale manufacturing?
• A litmus test of fairness
• Heatwaves in the ocean: Risk to ecosystems?
• Scientist helps to reach back through centuries of cultivation to track how corn adapted to different elevations, environments
• Genes influence response to glycemic control as a preventive therapy for cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetes
• Microbes help plants survive in severe drought
• Shedding light on Pluto’s glaciers
• Molecular switch controlling immune suppression may help turn up immunotherapies
• Genes tied to sudden thoracic aortic dissections discovered
• Scientists uncover insights into the formation of Earth’s oldest continental crust
• Experience with vehicles does not help birds avoid collisions
• Abaloparatide benefits a wide range of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis
• Finding your way around in an uncertain world
• Risk of another Chernobyl or Fukushima type accident plausible, experts say
• Bird brain? Pigeons have quite a way with words
• Diamond proves useful material for growing graphene
• Gardening as a child may lead college students to eat more veggies
• Rare genetic condition may provide insights on Parkinson’s and other late-onset diseases
• ADHD symptoms persistence into adulthood
• Diet and exercise may improve physical function and quality of life in older obese adults
• Binge-eating disorder linked to other health conditions
• More positive words in discharge summaries associated with reduced suicide risk
• Can sertraline prevent depressive disorders following traumatic brain injury?
• Premature or early-onset menopause associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease mortality, all-cause mortality
• Rate of hearing loss increases significantly after age 90
• Zika virus can be detected in eye's conjunctival fluid
• Minimal Residual Disease Status, Outcomes in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
• Popular reality game Pokémon GO is distracting
• How wave dynamics and water flows affect coral reefs
• Clot-busting medication safe for patients who wake up with stroke
• Cleaning concrete contaminated with chemicals
• People with epilepsy face increased risks of discrimination and other negative life events
• Solar radiation variability over Italy in the last 55 years reconstructed for the first time
• Scope and characteristics of adverse drug reactions in the general population
• Direct observation of graphene decoupling on Cu(111)
• New anode material set to boost lithium-ion battery capacity
• Consumption from within: How the brain controls our appetite
• Glutamate plays previously unknown role in neuromuscular development
• Health coverage on the rise for those in the justice system, study finds
• What makes a video game great? There’s now a scientific way to stop GUESSing
• Depression in early pregnancy linked to gestational diabetes

Math study shows our brains are far more adaptable than we know Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:02 PM PDT Human babies and even animals have a basic number sense that many believe evolves from seeing the world and trying to quantify all the sights. But vision has nothing to do with it -- neuroscientists have found that the brain network behind numerical reasoning is identical in blind and sighted people.

New ways to track stars eaten by black holes Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:49 PM PDT Astrophysicists have broken new ground in ways to observe a star swallowed by a black hole, promising to help paint a clearer picture of this cosmic phenomenon.

Smoke from 2015 Indonesian fires may have caused 100,000 premature deaths Posted: 19 Sep 2016 01:28 PM PDT In the fall of 2015, hazardous levels of smoke from agricultural fires blanketed much of Equatorial Asia. Schools and businesses closed, planes were grounded and tens of thousands sought medical treatment for respiratory illness.

Studying: Is it bad for your health to pull an all-nighter? Posted: 19 Sep 2016 01:28 PM PDT A late night at the library, copious amounts of energy drinks or coffee and class notes from the last month; surely you'll be able to ace the exam if you just spend the next 24 hours focused on the material. Unfortunately, procrastination and sleep deprivation do much more harm than good.

Ancient skeleton discovered on Antikythera Shipwreck Posted: 19 Sep 2016 01:08 PM PDT An international research team discovered a human skeleton during its ongoing excavation of the famous Antikythera Shipwreck (circa 65 B.C.). The shipwreck, which holds the remains of a Greek trading or cargo ship, is located off the Greek island of Antikythera in the Aegean Sea. The first skeleton recovered from the wreck site during the era of DNA analysis, this find could provide insight into the lives of people who lived 2100 years ago.

Exceptionally well-preserved fossil of complete mammoth skull raises questions Posted: 19 Sep 2016 01:01 PM PDT Scientists have unearthed an exceptionally well preserved fossil of a complete mammoth skull from an eroding stream bank on Santa Rosa Island within Channel Islands National Park.

More efficient way to split water, produce hydrogen Posted: 19 Sep 2016 12:42 PM PDT Hydrogen is often considered a fuel for the future, in the form of fuel cells to power electric motors or burned in internal combustion engines. But finding a practical, inexpensive and nontoxic way to produce large amounts of hydrogen gas -- especially by splitting water into its component parts, hydrogen and oxygen -- has been a challenge.

Targeting fat to treat cancer Posted: 19 Sep 2016 12:15 PM PDT A novel cancer treatment has been developed that halts fat synthesis in cells, stunting tumors, report researchers. Cells create their own fat molecules to build their plasma membranes and other critical structures. The researchers have found a way to obstruct this instrumental process to stifle cancer's growth. Like halting the delivery of supplies to a construction site, the approach stalls the molecular building blocks cancer needs to grow.

Codeine too risky for kids, experts say, urging restrictions on use Posted: 19 Sep 2016 11:45 AM PDT Experts are urging parents and health providers to stop giving codeine to children, calling for more education about its risks and restrictions on its use in patients under age 18. They say that there is a continued use of the drug in pediatric settings despite growing evidence linking the common painkiller to life-threatening or fatal breathing reactions.

Mosquito preference for human versus animal biting has genetic basis Posted: 19 Sep 2016 11:41 AM PDT Mosquitoes are more likely to feed on cattle than on humans if they carry a specific chromosomal rearrangement in their genome. This reduces their odds of transmitting the malaria parasite, according to a new study.

New clues to cystic fibrosis 'gender gap' Posted: 19 Sep 2016 11:15 AM PDT There is evidence that women with Cystic Fibrosis die on average two to three years earlier than do men with the devastating lung airway disease. A research team has come up with the first detailed molecular explanation for a factor that may contribute to the so-called cystic fibrosis (CF) "gender gap."

Potential schizophrenia 'switch' found Posted: 19 Sep 2016 11:14 AM PDT A key mechanism that explains how compounds they're developing can suppress schizophrenia-like symptoms in mice without side effects has been discovered by researchers. An estimated 3 million Americans have schizophrenia, which is associated with excessive amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a part of the forebrain called the striatum.

Ensuring transparency in health care provider performance Posted: 19 Sep 2016 11:14 AM PDT Patients deserve valid and transparent measures of quality in health care, but a lack of standards and auditing for these measures can misinform consumers rather than guide their health care choices, say researchers.

Sleep habits, adolescent drug and alcohol use linked, shows research Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:34 AM PDT A possible link between adolescent sleep habits and early substance abuse has been identified by researchers. The study found that both sleep duration and sleep quality during late childhood predict alcohol and cannabis use later in adolescence.

Flavorings, higher voltage increase toxicity of e-cigs Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:34 AM PDT Several flavorings added to electronic cigarettes impact the toxicity of the devices, say researchers, adding that, among the tested flavors, strawberry was the most toxic. The researchers also confirmed an earlier finding that increasing the battery output voltage of these devices significantly increases toxicity.

Opioids may affect how we perceive 'cuteness' of babies Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:34 AM PDT Opioid dependence -- which includes dependence on drugs such as heroin -- affects how 'cute' we perceive images of children to be, new research shows. As cuteness can trigger caregiving motivation, this result indicates that the opioid system may have significant effects on our ability to care for others. The implications of this may need to be considered in any consideration of medical or recreational opioid use.

Closing in on high-temperature superconductivity Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:26 AM PDT The quest to know the mysterious recipe for high-temperature superconductivity, which could enable revolutionary advances in technologies that make or use electricity, just took a big leap forward thanks to new research by an international team of experimental and theoretical physicists.

Unusual short burst of X-rays coming from slowest-spinning neutron star Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:25 AM PDT A new record-holder for the slowest spinning neutron star has been found thanks to clues first detected by NASA's Swift space observatory. Spinning neutron stars are the class of stars with the most powerful magnetic fields in the universe. Swift's X-Ray Telescope captured a short burst of unusual X-rays on June 22, 2016 coming from an object roughly 9,000 light-years from Earth.

Eggs from small flocks more likely to contain Salmonella enteritidis Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:24 AM PDT Eggs from small flocks of chickens are more likely to be contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis than eggs sold in grocery stores, which typically come from larger flocks that are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to researchers.

Digital photography: The future of small-scale manufacturing? Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:23 AM PDT What if it were possible to quickly and inexpensively manufacture a part simply by using a series of close-range digital images taken of the object? A method called photogrammetry has now been identified for its application in manufacturing. In this technique, digital images of an object that have been taken at various angles are used to create a point cloud -- or a large collection of points used to create 3D representation of existing structures -- from which a computer-aided design (CAD) file can be generated.

A litmus test of fairness Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:22 AM PDT Lay people think that the sickest patients and those on waiting lists should be treated first, while ethicists – and to some degree medical professionals – tend to have a different set of priorities. This is the conclusion of a study investigating the principles that apply to the fair allocation of scarce medical resources.

Heatwaves in the ocean: Risk to ecosystems? Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:19 AM PDT Marine ecosystems are responsible for about half of global annual primary production and more than one billion people rely on fish as their primary protein source. Latest studies show that enormous warm water bubbles in the ocean are having a noticeable impact on ecosystems. How should we interpret these changes?

Scientist helps to reach back through centuries of cultivation to track how corn adapted to different elevations, environments Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:10 AM PDT A scientist is exploring the adaptations that have allowed corn to be cultivated in a wide range of elevations and environments across the Americas. Comparing corn varieties adapted to low elevations with those adapted to high elevations reveals some striking differences and could help plant breeders develop varieties more resistant to environmental stresses.

Genes influence response to glycemic control as a preventive therapy for cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetes Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:10 AM PDT Genes play a role in how people with type 2 diabetes at high risk of cardiovascular disease risk respond to intensive glycemic control as an intervention to prevent the disease.

Microbes help plants survive in severe drought Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:10 AM PDT Plants can better tolerate drought and other stressors with the help of natural microbes, research has found. Specifically, plants that are given a dose of microbes stay green longer and are able to withstand drought conditions by growing more leaves and roots and using less water.

Shedding light on Pluto’s glaciers Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:07 AM PDT What is the origin of the large heart-shaped nitrogen glacier revealed in 2015 on Pluto by the New Horizons spacecraft? Astronomers show that Pluto's peculiar insolation and atmosphere favor nitrogen condensation near the equator, in the lower altitude regions, leading to an accumulation of ice at the bottom of Sputnik Planum, a vast topographic basin. Through their simulations, they also explain the surface distribution and atmospheric abundance of other types of volatiles observed on Pluto.

Molecular switch controlling immune suppression may help turn up immunotherapies Posted: 19 Sep 2016 09:19 AM PDT A strategy to maximize the effectiveness of anti-cancer immune therapy has been developed by a group of researchers who have identified a molecular switch that controls immune suppression. This discovery opens the possibility to further improving and refining emerging immunotherapies that boost the body's own abilities to fight diseases ranging from cancer to Alzheimer's and Crohn's disease.

Genes tied to sudden thoracic aortic dissections discovered Posted: 19 Sep 2016 09:19 AM PDT Out of the blue, Tina Wilkins suffered a dissection of her thoracic aorta. From first symptoms to emergency surgery, here is her story, as well as news on the latest genetic discoveries related to the disease.

Scientists uncover insights into the formation of Earth’s oldest continental crust Posted: 19 Sep 2016 09:19 AM PDT Addressing fundamental unknowns about the earliest history of Earth's crust, scientists have precisely dated the world's oldest rock unit at 4.02 billion years old. The findings suggest that early Earth was largely covered with an oceanic crust-like surface.

Experience with vehicles does not help birds avoid collisions Posted: 19 Sep 2016 09:08 AM PDT Researchers suspected that experience with passing vehicles may cause birds to adjust their avoidance responses-specifically, to increase their flight initiation distances-to keep from being hit. Instead, though, they recently found that inexperienced birds have longer flight initiation distances in response to oncoming vehicles than birds that have repeatedly observed passing, fast-moving vehicles.

Abaloparatide benefits a wide range of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis Posted: 19 Sep 2016 09:07 AM PDT A recent analysis of results from a randomized controlled clinical trial indicates that abaloparatide-SC, a novel therapy for osteoporosis, provides consistent protection against bone fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis regardless of their baseline bone density, age, and previous history of fracture.<

Finding your way around in an uncertain world Posted: 19 Sep 2016 09:07 AM PDT Suppose you woke up in your bedroom with the lights off and wanted to get out. While heading toward the door with your arms out, you would predict the distance to the door based on your memory of your bedroom and the steps you have already made. If you touch a wall or furniture, you would refine the prediction. This is an example of how important it is to supplement limited sensory input with your own actions to grasp the situation. How the brain comprehends such a complex cognitive function is an important topic of neuroscience.

Risk of another Chernobyl or Fukushima type accident plausible, experts say Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:30 AM PDT The biggest-ever statistical analysis of historical accidents suggests that nuclear power is an underappreciated extreme risk and that major changes will be needed to prevent future disasters.

Bird brain? Pigeons have quite a way with words Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:15 AM PDT Pigeons can learn to distinguish real words from non-words by visually processing their letter combinations, surprising new research shows.

Diamond proves useful material for growing graphene Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:03 AM PDT A new method has been developed to grow graphene that contains relatively few impurities, and costs less to make, in a shorter time and at lower temperatures compared to the processes widely used to make graphene today.

Gardening as a child may lead college students to eat more veggies Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:03 AM PDT As researchers nationwide try to get college students to eat healthier foods, they're finding that gardening may lead to a lasting habit of eating more fruits and vegetables. That's a recent conclusion from the "Get Fruved" project. "Get Fruved," an acronym for "Get Your Fruits and Vegetables," is a collaborative project among eight American universities.

Rare genetic condition may provide insights on Parkinson’s and other late-onset diseases Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:01 AM PDT A new article suggests that an enzyme deficiency seen in the lysosomal storage disorder Krabbe's disease may point to new mechanisms underlying certain late-onset neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Patients with Krabbe's disease lack galactosylceramidase, which is needed to make the protective myelin coating around nerve cells.

ADHD symptoms persistence into adulthood Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:00 AM PDT Sixty percent of children with ADHD in a recent study demonstrated persistence of symptoms into their mid-20's, and 41 percent had both symptoms and impairment as young adults.

Diet and exercise may improve physical function and quality of life in older obese adults Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:00 AM PDT A recent review and analysis of published studies since 2005 found low-to-moderate evidence that dietary and exercise interventions can improve physical function and quality of life in older adults with obesity.

Binge-eating disorder linked to other health conditions Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:00 AM PDT Binge-eating disorder (BED) was linked with a broad range of other illnesses in a recent study, with the strongest associations related to the endocrine and circulatory systems. Individuals with BED had a 2.5-times increased risk of also having an endocrine disorder and a 1.9-times increased risk of having a circulatory system disorder.

More positive words in discharge summaries associated with reduced suicide risk Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:48 AM PDT Words in narrative hospital discharge notes may help to identify patients at high risk for suicide, according to a new article.

Can sertraline prevent depressive disorders following traumatic brain injury? Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:47 AM PDT Depressive disorders are common following traumatic brain injury (TBI). So, can the antidepressant medication sertraline prevent the onset of depressive disorders following TBI?

Premature or early-onset menopause associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease mortality, all-cause mortality Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:46 AM PDT Scientists have evaluated the effect of age at onset of menopause and duration since onset of menopause on certain cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes and all-cause mortality, and have concluded that early onset menopause comes with a handful of health risks.

Rate of hearing loss increases significantly after age 90 Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:45 AM PDT A new study examined if the rate of age-related hearing loss is constant in the older old (80 years and older). Scientists concluded that hearing loss rapidly accelerates over the age of 90. Furthermore, authors suggest that hearing aids are underused in this population.

Zika virus can be detected in eye's conjunctival fluid Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:45 AM PDT Scientists have examined whether Zika virus (ZIKV) could be detected from conjunctival swab samples of laboratory-confirmed ZIKV cases. The clinical symptoms of ZIKV infection are mostly a mild and self-limited rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye). More than 80 percent of ZIKV infections are asymptomatic. Severe eye damage in infants with microcephaly was associated with ZIKV infection, say authors, however, it has not been clear whether the eye lesions are the result of microcephaly or directly ZIKV infection.

Minimal Residual Disease Status, Outcomes in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:44 AM PDT A new study examines the assessment of minimal residual disease in patients newly treated for multiple myeloma as a factor in survival outcomes.

Popular reality game Pokémon GO is distracting Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:43 AM PDT Motorists, passengers and pedestrians beware: a new report suggests the wildly popular augmented reality game Pokémon GO is distracting.

How wave dynamics and water flows affect coral reefs Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:37 AM PDT While climate change threatens coral reefs in oceans around the world, not all reefs are affected equally. As oceans warm, physical forces like wave strength and water flow influence which reefs thrive and which die, according to a study. The results offer new insight into how climate change will affect reefs on a local level -- and also hint at steps conservationists can take to reduce the impact of warming on these fragile ecosystems.

Clot-busting medication safe for patients who wake up with stroke Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:37 AM PDT Using a clot-busting medication to treat people who wake up with symptoms of stroke was safe and should be studied further to see how effective it might be for a population that otherwise has few treatment options, according to researchers.

Cleaning concrete contaminated with chemicals Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:37 AM PDT Scientists are looking for better ways to clean contaminated concrete to reduce the impact of a U.S. transportation hub being contaminated with a chemical agent.

People with epilepsy face increased risks of discrimination and other negative life events Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:36 AM PDT In a recent analysis, people with epilepsy were seven-fold more likely to have reported experiencing discrimination due to health problems than the general population. This risk was greater than other chronic health problems such as diabetes, asthma and migraines.

Solar radiation variability over Italy in the last 55 years reconstructed for the first time Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:36 AM PDT Surface solar radiation variability over Italy from the end of the 1950s has been reconstructed in a new framework, report scientists. This information -- based on more than 50 daily records distributed all over the Italian territory -- is completely innovative, as surface solar radiation records had never been analyzed for this area.

Scope and characteristics of adverse drug reactions in the general population Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:36 AM PDT In a study of 1000 adult patients with unplanned admission to a tertiary hospital, the prevalence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) at the time of admission was 12.4 percent, and the prevalence of ADRs causing admission to the hospital was 8.1 percent. The most common ADRs were gastrointestinal-related, while the most common drug category causing ADRs were cardiovascular drugs.

Direct observation of graphene decoupling on Cu(111) Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:50 AM PDT A recent quantum mechanical study of graphene has elucidated the intercalation mechanism and pathways for graphene decoupling from the copper substrate.

New anode material set to boost lithium-ion battery capacity Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:50 AM PDT A team of researchersclaims to have made yet another step towards finding a solution to accelerate the commercialization of silicon anode for Lithium-ion batteries.

Consumption from within: How the brain controls our appetite Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:50 AM PDT Researchers show how our brain activates self-destruct mechanisms when it is low on energy to regulate appetite. The scientists have uncovered the mechanisms behind the enzyme that controls our appetite in response to low glucose availability in the brain.

Glutamate plays previously unknown role in neuromuscular development Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:45 AM PDT In mice, glutamate plays a vital role in controlling how muscles and nerves are wired together during development, researchers have discovered. Glutamate is the most common neurotransmitter in the brain.

Health coverage on the rise for those in the justice system, study finds Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:45 AM PDT During the first years of the Affordable Care Act, a new study finds, the rate of health insurance coverage rose significantly among people who in the past year had been arrested or were on probation or parole, and they were more likely to get treatment for serious mental illness, alcohol use disorders and substance use issues.

What makes a video game great? There’s now a scientific way to stop GUESSing Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:45 AM PDT Human factors researchers have developed the Game User Experience Satisfaction Scale (GUESS), a psychometrically validated instrument that measures satisfaction on key factors such as playability, narratives, creative freedom, social connectivity, and visual aesthetics.

Depression in early pregnancy linked to gestational diabetes Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:44 AM PDT A two-way link between depression and gestational diabetes has been uncovered by researchers. Women who reported feeling depressed during the first two trimesters of pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to develop gestational diabetes, according to an analysis of pregnancy records. Conversely, a separate analysis found that women who developed gestational diabetes were more likely to report postpartum depression six weeks after giving birth, compared to a similar group of women who did not develop gestational diabetes.

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