ScienceDaily: Top News

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• What's that? New study finds jumping spiders can hear more than you think
• Extraterrestrial impact preceded ancient global warming event
• New antibody therapy permanently blocks SIV infection
• Drivers of evolution hidden in plain sight
• Wave energy researchers dive deep to advance clean energy source
• Building a better rat maze could help us all cooperate
• Researchers identify enzyme that removes molecular modifications from transfer RNA
• Tai chi can help relieve chronic neck pain, study shows
• Nutritional supplement could prevent thousands of early preterm births
• How a brain tumor's greed for cholesterol could be exploited for cancer therapy
• Knowledge increases awareness of biodiversity despite firsthand experiences
• Researchers say it's time to consider propranolol as an anti-cancer drug
• Older adults gain weight when spouse is stressed out
• Observable universe contains two trillion galaxies, 10 times more than previously thought
• Federal school lunch guidelines lead to healthier choices, study shows
• Zika virus infection may prevent reinfection, study finds
• DNA-based single-electron electronic devices created
• New nematode is hermaphrodite: One of the smallest known earthworms found in Jaén
• Dense molecular gas disks drive the growth of supermassive black holes: Are supernova explosions the key?
• Unique skin impressions of the last dinosaurs from what is now Europe
• Six million dollar boost to search for new antibiotics
• Preventing child obesity in the next generation must start before conception
• Hormone identified that limits liver fibrosis
• Charting riches in the ocean's depths
• Watching the brain in action
• New kind of local food grows in your own kitchen
• Novel target for diabetes drug identified as ion exchanger
• Calredoxin, a novel protein for promoting efficient photosynthesis
• Smoking rises in Argentina heart attack patients as cigarettes 'among cheapest in world'
• Strongest coupling between light and matter ever achieved
• Raising soda taxes may sound good, but likely to fall flat with US consumers
• New technology reveals fetal brain activity
• MS drug may reverse some physical disability
• Nano-spike catalysts convert carbon dioxide directly into ethanol
• Genome engineering paves way for sickle cell cure
• What do Americans fear?
• Proxima Centauri might be more sunlike than we thought
• Why did T. Rex have such small arms?
• Novel imaging technique with potential for medical diagnostics
• Sustainable fisheries require capable fishers
• Cannabis excess linked to bone disease, fractures
• Salty snow could affect air pollution in the Arctic
• Stressed out coatings

What's that? New study finds jumping spiders can hear more than you think Posted: 13 Oct 2016 11:12 AM PDT While jumping spiders are known to have great vision, a new study proves for the first time that spiders can hear at a distance. A study describes how researchers used metal microelectrodes in a jumping spider's poppy-seed-sized brain to show that auditory neurons can sense far-field sounds, at distances up to 3 meters, or about 600 spider body lengths.

Extraterrestrial impact preceded ancient global warming event Posted: 13 Oct 2016 11:12 AM PDT A comet strike may have triggered the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a rapid warming of Earth caused by an accumulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide 56 million years ago, which offers analogs to global warming today.

New antibody therapy permanently blocks SIV infection Posted: 13 Oct 2016 11:10 AM PDT An effective treatment strategy against the HIV-like Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) in rhesus macaques has been developed by an international research team.

Drivers of evolution hidden in plain sight Posted: 13 Oct 2016 11:10 AM PDT The evolutionary history of thousands of protein modifications in 18 related species have now been reconstructed by a team of scientists. Their findings highlight a previously unknown strategy for generating the diversity needed for natural selection.

Wave energy researchers dive deep to advance clean energy source Posted: 13 Oct 2016 10:01 AM PDT One of the biggest untapped clean energy sources on the planet — wave energy — could one day power millions of homes across the U.S. But more than a century after the first tests of the power of ocean waves, it is still one of the hardest energy sources to capture. Now, engineers are conducting the largest model-scale wave energy testing of its kind to improve the performance of wave-energy converters (WECs).

Building a better rat maze could help us all cooperate Posted: 13 Oct 2016 10:01 AM PDT A fully-automated rat maze could help scientists better understand how individuals cooperate, and how this process may go awry in the brains of people with disorders ranging from autism to schizophrenia.

Researchers identify enzyme that removes molecular modifications from transfer RNA Posted: 13 Oct 2016 10:01 AM PDT The enzyme ALKBH1 can remove molecular modifications from transfer RNA, causing a measurable effect on protein translation in the cell, new research demonstrates. The study sheds new light on how cells control gene expression, and suggests the possibility that transfer RNA (tRNA) influences cellular processes beyond protein translation.

Tai chi can help relieve chronic neck pain, study shows Posted: 13 Oct 2016 10:01 AM PDT Tai Chi, a low-impact mind-body exercise, can be as effective as neck exercises in relieving persistent neck pain, according to results of randomized controlled trial.

Nutritional supplement could prevent thousands of early preterm births Posted: 13 Oct 2016 10:01 AM PDT Sophisticated analyses of two clinical trials suggest that thousands of early preterm births could be prevented if pregnant women took daily docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplements.

How a brain tumor's greed for cholesterol could be exploited for cancer therapy Posted: 13 Oct 2016 10:01 AM PDT A metabolic vulnerability in the aggressive and incurable brain cancer glioblastoma (GBM) has been discovered, report researchers who have shown how it can potentially be exploited for therapy.

Knowledge increases awareness of biodiversity despite firsthand experiences Posted: 13 Oct 2016 09:59 AM PDT Protecting an ecological paradise like the island of Santa Cruz can be challenging for its resource managers who want to maximize visitor experiences while minimizing negative impacts on the park. As the largest of five islands in Channel Islands National Park off the coast of California, Santa Cruz boasts over 2,000 species of plants and animals, some of which are not found anywhere else on earth. But a recent study says the island's rich biodiversity may not be what's valued most by its stakeholders.

Researchers say it's time to consider propranolol as an anti-cancer drug Posted: 13 Oct 2016 09:59 AM PDT Propranolol, a beta-blocker commonly prescribed to treat irregular heart rates and other conditions, has significant anti-cancer properties, say researchers in a new clinical study.

Older adults gain weight when spouse is stressed out Posted: 13 Oct 2016 08:59 AM PDT Stress isn't good for your waist line. For older married couples, the added pounds may be caused by a spouse's long-term stress levels, new research shows.

Observable universe contains two trillion galaxies, 10 times more than previously thought Posted: 13 Oct 2016 08:17 AM PDT Using data from deep-space surveys taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories, astronomers have performed a census of the number of galaxies in the universe. The team came to the surprising conclusion that there are at least 10 times as many galaxies in the observable universe than previously thought. The results have clear implications for our understanding of galaxy formation, and also helps shed light on an ancient astronomical paradox -- why is the sky dark at night?

Federal school lunch guidelines lead to healthier choices, study shows Posted: 13 Oct 2016 08:17 AM PDT Researchers investigated how the nutritional content of National School Lunch Program entrées chosen by students varied across different socioeconomic and demographic groups and impacted their health. When healthier menu items replaced less healthy items, researchers found the total calories of the students' lunch choices decreased about 4 percent. Calories from fat decreased 18 percent, and those from sodium decreased by 8 percent.

Zika virus infection may prevent reinfection, study finds Posted: 13 Oct 2016 08:15 AM PDT People infected with Zika virus may not be susceptible to Zika virus again, according to the latest research. Other findings show that Zika virus is present in the blood very early during infection and remains in some tissues for a long time but is only briefly present in other tissues.

DNA-based single-electron electronic devices created Posted: 13 Oct 2016 08:14 AM PDT Nature has inspired generations of people, offering a plethora of different materials for innovations. One such material is the molecule of the heritage, or DNA, thanks to its unique self-assembling properties. Researchers have now demonstrated a method to fabricate electronic devices by using DNA. The DNA itself has no part in the electrical function, but acts as a scaffold for forming a linear, pearl-necklace-like nanostructure consisting of three gold nanoparticles.

New nematode is hermaphrodite: One of the smallest known earthworms found in Jaén Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:57 AM PDT Around nine kilometres south of the city of Jaén (Spain), Spanish scientists have found a new species of nematode in the compost at a vegetable garden. The specimens found are extremely small, with adults measuring 0.2 mm in length. Moreover, there are no males among these roundworms, making the new nematodes a rare hermaphrodite species. Nematodes are small worms that measure around 1 millimetre long and live freely in soil or water. They feed on bacteria, single-cell algae, fungi or other nematodes; they can also parasitize other animals or plants. But the most striking fact about them is their ability to adapt.

Dense molecular gas disks drive the growth of supermassive black holes: Are supernova explosions the key? Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:57 AM PDT Astronomers have revealed that dense molecular gas disks a few hundred light years in scale located at the centers of galaxies supply gas to supermassive black holes situated within them. This finding provides important insights on the growth of supermassive black holes over cosmic time.

Unique skin impressions of the last dinosaurs from what is now Europe Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:57 AM PDT An impression fossil with the surface of the skin of a dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous, a period right before their extinction, has been discovered in Barcelona, Spain. Its characteristics make it a unique discovery in Europe.

Six million dollar boost to search for new antibiotics Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:57 AM PDT The Netherlands will be investing six million euros over the coming four years to boost research on new antibiotics.

Preventing child obesity in the next generation must start before conception Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:57 AM PDT The key to preventing obesity in future generations is to make their parents healthier before they conceive, leading health researchers suggest.

Hormone identified that limits liver fibrosis Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:53 AM PDT Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been emerging worldwide and effective treatment, especially for liver fibrosis, is essential for improving the prognosis. A research team has identified and clarified the mechanism for a hormone that limits the fibrosis associated with NASH and cirrhosis. This discovery has potential applications for the treatment of these conditions.

Charting riches in the ocean's depths Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:53 AM PDT Researchers have previously estimated that the Norwegian continental shelf may contain a great wealth of minerals and metals. Now they suggest Norway take steps to clarify the industrial potential of mineral extraction from the seabed.

Watching the brain in action Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:53 AM PDT Watching millions of neurons in the brain interacting with each other is the ultimate dream of neuroscientists. A new imaging method now makes it possible to observe the activation of large neural circuits, currently up to the size of a small-animal brain, in real time and three dimensions.

New kind of local food grows in your own kitchen Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:53 AM PDT A home appliance that grows the ingredients for a healthy meal within a week from plant cells is no longer science fiction. The first 3D-printed CellPod prototype is already producing harvests.

Novel target for diabetes drug identified as ion exchanger Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:53 AM PDT Researchers have used nematode worms as a model to identify a new target of the type 2 diabetes drug metformin. Ion exchanger protein NHX-5 and its related protein in fruit flies are potential metformin targets, suggesting the drug controls the cellular endocytic cycle.

Calredoxin, a novel protein for promoting efficient photosynthesis Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:52 AM PDT A group of researchers reports on the structure and function of a novel protein named "Calredoxin". Calredoxin binds calcium and catalyzes in dependence of its binding, redox reactions, particularly driving the detoxification of harmful oxygen species. The researchers are exploring how this protein functions at the crossroad of calcium- and redox-dependent reactions to promote efficient oxygenic photosynthesis.

Smoking rises in Argentina heart attack patients as cigarettes 'among cheapest in world' Posted: 13 Oct 2016 06:52 AM PDT Levels of smoking are rising in heart attack patients in Argentina, according to a study. The findings coincide with a 100% increase in affordability in the last decade, which have made cigarettes among the cheapest in the world. Researchers also report improved treatment for heart attacks but no decrease in mortality.

Strongest coupling between light and matter ever achieved Posted: 12 Oct 2016 03:38 PM PDT Researchers have recorded an interaction between light and matter 10 times larger than previously seen. The strength of the interaction between photons and a qubit was so large that it opens the door to a realm of physics and applications unattainable until now.

Raising soda taxes may sound good, but likely to fall flat with US consumers Posted: 12 Oct 2016 03:35 PM PDT The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended governments raise taxes on sugary drinks and increase subsidies on fruits and vegetables, in an effort to fight global obesity and diabetes. An American researchers says the WHO's approach is bound to get mixed results.

New technology reveals fetal brain activity Posted: 12 Oct 2016 03:35 PM PDT A new approach to image functional activity in the brains of individual fetuses has now been pioneered by researchers, allowing a better look at how functional networks within the brain develop. The work addresses a common problem of functional MRI; if the subject moves during the scanning, the images get distorted.

MS drug may reverse some physical disability Posted: 12 Oct 2016 03:35 PM PDT A drug used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), alemtuzumab, was found to reverse some of the physical disability caused by the disease, according to new research. Because it can cause serious side effects, alemtuzumab is generally used in people who have not responded well to other MS drugs; however, in this study it was used relatively early in the course of MS.

Nano-spike catalysts convert carbon dioxide directly into ethanol Posted: 12 Oct 2016 03:35 PM PDT In a new twist to waste-to-fuel technology, scientists have developed an electrochemical process that uses tiny spikes of carbon and copper to turn carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into ethanol.

Genome engineering paves way for sickle cell cure Posted: 12 Oct 2016 01:02 PM PDT A team of physicians and laboratory scientists has taken a key step toward a cure for sickle cell disease, using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to fix the mutated gene responsible for the disease in stem cells from the blood of affected patients.

What do Americans fear? Posted: 12 Oct 2016 01:00 PM PDT The third annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears (2016) has been released by researchers. The survey asked respondents about 65 fears across a broad range of categories including fears about the government, crime, the environment, the future, technology, health, natural disasters, as well as fears of public speaking, spiders, heights, ghosts and many other personal anxieties. In addition to the set of fears examined in previous waves, the survey team took a closer look at two fear related phenomena: Americans' beliefs in conspiracy theories and fear of Muslims, sometimes referred to as "Islamophobia."

Proxima Centauri might be more sunlike than we thought Posted: 12 Oct 2016 12:59 PM PDT In August astronomers announced that the nearby star Proxima Centauri hosts an Earth-sized planet (called Proxima b) in its habitable zone. At first glance, Proxima Centauri seems nothing like our Sun. It's a small, cool, red dwarf star only one-tenth as massive and one-thousandth as luminous as the Sun. However, new research shows that it is sunlike in one surprising way: it has a regular cycle of starspots.

Why did T. Rex have such small arms? Posted: 12 Oct 2016 12:48 PM PDT The tiny arms on the otherwise mighty Tyrannosaurus rex are one of the biggest and most enduring mysteries in paleontology.

Novel imaging technique with potential for medical diagnostics Posted: 12 Oct 2016 11:48 AM PDT A unique new imaging method, called "polarized nuclear imaging" - combining powerful aspects of both magnetic resonance imaging and gamma-ray imaging and developed by two physicists in the University of Virginia's departments of Physics and Radiology -- has potential for new types of high-resolution medical diagnostics as well as industrial and physics research applications.

Sustainable fisheries require capable fishers Posted: 12 Oct 2016 11:09 AM PDT Full participation of thousands of small tuna fishers in fishery improvement  projects require specific capabilities, like firm and collective capabilities for organizing and marketing their fish. Fishers who don't have these capabilities are less likely to participate in projects to improve sustainability, researchers demonstrate.

Cannabis excess linked to bone disease, fractures Posted: 12 Oct 2016 10:26 AM PDT People who regularly smoke large amounts of cannabis have reduced bone density and are more prone to fractures, research has found. The study also found that heavy cannabis users have a lower body weight and a reduced body mass index (BMI), which could contribute to thinning of their bones.

Salty snow could affect air pollution in the Arctic Posted: 12 Oct 2016 10:26 AM PDT In pictures, the Arctic appears pristine and timeless with its barren lands and icy landscape. In reality, the area is rapidly changing. Scientists are working to understand the chemistry behind these changes to better predict what could happen to the region in the future. One team reports that sea salt could play a larger role in the formation of local atmospheric pollutants than previously thought.

Stressed out coatings Posted: 12 Oct 2016 09:21 AM PDT Currently used coating materials are very brittle, with a toughness only a little more than that of window glass. Also, previous research has shown that it is very difficult to break crystals that are extremely small. A fine-grained microstructure could toughen protective coatings, report researchers.

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