ScienceDaily: Top News

---

• New technique reveals powerful, 'patchy' approach to nanoparticle synthesis
• High-frequency spinal cord stimulation provides better results in chronic back, leg pain
• Turbulent solution to a growing problem
• Learning Morse code without trying
• Breakthrough in Z-pinch implosion stability opens new path to fusion
• Antibody breaks leukemia's hold, providing new therapeutic approach
• NASA missions harvest a passel of 'pumpkin' stars
• How sharks recycle toxic ammonia to keep their skin moist
• Gamma ray camera offers new view on ultra-high energy electrons in plasma
• General atomics breakthrough enables greater control of fusion energy
• Launching fusion reactions without a central magnet, or solenoid
• Steering a fusion plasma toward stability
• Scientists measure how ions bombard fusion device walls
• Underfed worms program their babies to cope with famine
• Early Pacific seafarers likely latched onto El Nino, other climate patterns
• Conundrum of missing iron in oxygen minimum zones solved
• New biochar model scrubs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• What's the best way to match the implant to the breast?
• New surfaces repel water in oil as well as oil in water
• A skin graft for bad burns
• Placebo sweet spot for pain relief identified in brain
• Novel approach in primary care setting may help identify patients with COPD
• Neurobiology: Supporting the damaged brain
• New discovery in understanding chemotherapy resistance could prevent cancer cells fighting back
• When fat cells change their color
• Screws that fit the body's notches
• New research paves way for anti-cancer treatment
• Robots help position interventional needles
• Breakthrough in harvesting energy from automotive shock absorbers
• Breakthrough in production of dopamine neurons for Parkinson's disease
• Microplastics in agricultural soils: A reason to worry?
• How sharks recycle toxic ammonia to keep their skin moist
• Physicists make it possible to 3D print your own baby universe
• Fossilized dinosaur brain tissue identified for the first time
• Computer model is 'crystal ball' for E. coli bacteria
• Bioluminescent sensor causes brain cells to glow in the dark
• Further clues to fate of Mars lander, seen from orbit
• Fatty liver: Turning off TAZ reverses disease
• Clinical trial data sharing off to a slow start
• Children with autism may be over-diagnosed with ADHD, new study suggests
• Researchers on cloud nine as they uncover the origin of atmospheric particles
• Plant 'thermometer' discovered that triggers springtime budding by measuring night-time heat
• Elusive intermediate compound discovered in atmospheric chemistry
• Study yields rich dossier of cancer-linked protein's associates
• Airway-on-a-chip could lead to new treatments for cigarette smoke-induced lung injury
• For 10 months out of the year, common swifts live in mid-air

New technique reveals powerful, 'patchy' approach to nanoparticle synthesis Posted: 28 Oct 2016 10:42 AM PDT Patches of chain-like molecules placed across nanoscale particles can radically transform the optical, electronic, and magnetic properties of particle-based materials. Now, scientists have used cutting-edge electron tomography techniques—a process of 3D reconstructive imaging—to pinpoint the structure and composition of the polymer nano-patches.

High-frequency spinal cord stimulation provides better results in chronic back, leg pain Posted: 28 Oct 2016 09:53 AM PDT For patients with severe, chronic back and leg pain, a new high-frequency spinal cord stimulation (SCS) technique provides superior clinical outcomes, compared to conventional low-frequency SCS, reports a clinical trial.

Turbulent solution to a growing problem Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:54 AM PDT Plasma turbulence, the wildly fluctuating pattern of particle motion, is a concern for fusion energy devices because it allows heat to escape the plasma. However, an even more serious concern is posed by naturally growing magnetic islands that tear the magnetic fabric of the plasma. In a recent experiment, researchers suggest that plasma turbulence can prevent filamentary structures called magnetic islands from growing so large that they cool off the 100 million degree plasma.

Learning Morse code without trying Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:54 AM PDT It's not exactly beating something into someone's head. More like tapping it into the side. Researchers have developed a system that teaches people Morse code within four hours using a series of vibrations felt near the ear. Participants wearing Google Glass learned it without paying attention to the signals -- they played games while feeling the taps and hearing the corresponding letters. After those few hours, they were 94 percent accurate keying a sentence that included every letter of the alphabet and 98 percent accurate writing codes for every letter.

Breakthrough in Z-pinch implosion stability opens new path to fusion Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:52 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated improved control over and understanding of implosions in a Z-pinch, a particular type of magneto-inertial device that relies on the Lorentz force to compress plasma to fusion-relevant densities and temperatures. The breakthrough was enabled by unforeseen and entirely unexpected physics.

Antibody breaks leukemia's hold, providing new therapeutic approach Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:51 AM PDT Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive cancer known for drug resistance and relapse. In an effort to uncover new treatment strategies, researchers have discovered that a cell surface molecule known as CD98 promotes AML.

NASA missions harvest a passel of 'pumpkin' stars Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:50 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered a batch of rapidly spinning stars that produce X-rays at more than 100 times the peak levels ever seen from the sun. The stars, which spin so fast they've been squashed into pumpkin-like shapes, are thought to be the result of close binary systems where two sun-like stars merge.

How sharks recycle toxic ammonia to keep their skin moist Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:46 AM PDT The Pacific spiny dogfish shark is a master at recycling the ocean's toxic ammonia and converting it into useful urea, according to new research.

Gamma ray camera offers new view on ultra-high energy electrons in plasma Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:46 AM PDT A new kind of gamma ray camera has been invented that can image beams of energetic electrons inside ultra-hot fusion plasma, report scientists.

General atomics breakthrough enables greater control of fusion energy Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:45 AM PDT An important new tool has been created for controlling fusion plasmas that are hotter than the sun. Changing the way the current system operates is a significant effort, considering the size and complexity of each beam system, say scientists.

Launching fusion reactions without a central magnet, or solenoid Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:44 AM PDT The tokamak is an experimental chamber that holds a gas of energetic charged particles, plasma, for developing energy production from nuclear fusion. Most large tokamaks create the plasma with solenoids. But future tokamaks must do without solenoids, which run in short pulses rather than for weeks or months at a time as commercial fusion power plants will have to do. Recent computer simulations have now suggested a novel method for launching the plasma without using solenoids.

Steering a fusion plasma toward stability Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:43 AM PDT Plasmas in fusion-energy producing devices are gases heated to millions of degrees that can carry millions of amperes of current. These superhot plasmas must be kept away from material surfaces of the vacuum vessel that contains them by using strong magnetic fields. When the gas becomes unstable it can touch the chambers' walls, quickly cooling the plasma and disrupting fusion reactions. Such disruption could potentially harm the walls of future fusion-producing devices. Now researchers have developed a potential way to avoid these instabilities.

Scientists measure how ions bombard fusion device walls Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:40 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have directly measured the complicated 3D patterns of flowing plasma as it strikes the walls of fusion and space propulsion devices.

Underfed worms program their babies to cope with famine Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:40 AM PDT Going hungry at an early age can cause lifelong health problems. But the extent of malnutrition's damage depends on mom's diet too -- at least in worms. A new study of the tiny nematode worm C. elegans finds that young worms that don't get anything to eat in the first few days of life are buffered from early starvation's worst effects if their mothers had also been underfed.

Early Pacific seafarers likely latched onto El Nino, other climate patterns Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:38 AM PDT Researchers employed computer simulations and climatic data to help them explore the travels that led to the settlement of islands in Remote Oceania.

Conundrum of missing iron in oxygen minimum zones solved Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:36 AM PDT Iron is an essential nutrient for biological productivity in the oceans. However, dissolved iron quickly combines with oxygen and is then no longer usable by organisms. For a long time it has been a conundrum why even in low oxygen zones of the Tropics the dissolved iron concentrations are relatively low. An international research has now discovered that in anoxic seawater, iron is removed through reaction with nitrate instead of oxygen.

New biochar model scrubs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:35 AM PDT An economically viable model to scrub carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has been developed to thwart runaway, point-of-no-return global warming. The researchers propose using a "bioenergy-biochar system" that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in an environmental pinch, until other removal methods become economically feasible and in regions where other methods are impractical.

What's the best way to match the implant to the breast? Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:21 AM PDT How should plastic surgeons choose the best implant type and size for women undergoing breast augmentation surgery? Implant size selection systems based on breast tissue measurements may provide better outcomes, suggests a research.

New surfaces repel water in oil as well as oil in water Posted: 28 Oct 2016 08:17 AM PDT New surface materials that are extremely difficult to wet both by water and oil have now been developed by scientists. Because they don't need isolating air to stay trapped between the droplet and rough surface to prevent wetting, these surface materials work even when wet by another liquid. Researchers' novel dual superlyophobic surfaces repel water even when covered by oil and oil when covered by water. So far, this has been regarded as contradictory to each other and not expected to be present on the same surface.

A skin graft for bad burns Posted: 28 Oct 2016 06:01 AM PDT To get a head start on healing burn wounds, biomedical engineers at Michigan Technological University turn to the body's natural network. They combine engineered stem cell sheets with split thickness skin grafts to do so.

Placebo sweet spot for pain relief identified in brain Posted: 28 Oct 2016 06:01 AM PDT Scientists have identified for the first time the region in the brain responsible for the "placebo effect" in pain relief, when a fake treatment actually results in substantial reduction of pain, according to new research. Pinpointing the sweet spot of the pain killing placebo effect could result in the design of more personalized medicine for the 100 million Americans with chronic pain.

Novel approach in primary care setting may help identify patients with COPD Posted: 28 Oct 2016 06:01 AM PDT With five simple questions and an inexpensive peak expiratory flow (PEF) meter, primary care clinicians may be able to diagnose many more patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, according to new research. Follow-up studies will help establish if earlier identification and treatment of people with COPD improves quality of life and health outcomes.

Neurobiology: Supporting the damaged brain Posted: 28 Oct 2016 06:00 AM PDT Embryonic nerve cells can functionally integrate into local neural networks when transplanted into damaged areas of the visual cortex of adult mice, say researchers.

New discovery in understanding chemotherapy resistance could prevent cancer cells fighting back Posted: 28 Oct 2016 05:59 AM PDT Scientists have discovered the key to preventing resistance to common chemotherapy used to treat breast and colon cancer, offering hope to an improvement to cancer care.

When fat cells change their color Posted: 28 Oct 2016 05:59 AM PDT In mammals, three types of adipose tissues exist. White adipocytes are mainly located in the abdominal and subcutaneous areas of the body and highly adapted to store excess energy. Conversely, beige and brown adipocytes are highly energy-expending by generating heat. The epigenetic enzyme Lsd1 plays an important role in maintaining brown fat tissue, report scientists.

Screws that fit the body's notches Posted: 28 Oct 2016 05:58 AM PDT Complex bone fractures are often set with titanium or steel screws and plates. However, if these remain in the body for some time, they can cause health problems. A new bioceramic screw nail has the capacity of replacing the currently used metal components. It can be easily introduced into bone and does not have to be removed.

New research paves way for anti-cancer treatment Posted: 28 Oct 2016 05:58 AM PDT A new lab technique has been created that may aid the development and success rate of an important anti-cancer treatment, report scientists.

Robots help position interventional needles Posted: 28 Oct 2016 05:58 AM PDT Finding the ideal position for interventional needles – as used in biopsies, for instance – is a difficult and time-consuming process. This can now be performed automatically, using a robotic arm to place a needle guide for the doctor at the optimal insertion point. With robotic assistance, doctors need five minutes to position the needle, as opposed to 30 minutes with conventional techniques.

Breakthrough in harvesting energy from automotive shock absorbers Posted: 28 Oct 2016 05:58 AM PDT Boosting the fuel efficiency of motor vehicles by "harvesting" the energy generated by their shock absorbers and feeding it back into batteries or electrical systems such as air conditioning has become a major goal in automotive engineering. Now, a researcher has made a breakthrough by designing a new system and constructing a prototype that is ready for real-world testing.

Breakthrough in production of dopamine neurons for Parkinson's disease Posted: 28 Oct 2016 05:58 AM PDT The first transplantation of stem cells in patients with Parkinson's disease is almost within reach, say investigators. However, it remains a challenge for researchers to control stem cells accurately in the lab in order to achieve successful and functional stem cell therapies for patients.

Microplastics in agricultural soils: A reason to worry? Posted: 28 Oct 2016 05:58 AM PDT Microplastics are increasingly seen as an environmental problem of global proportions. While the focus to date has been on microplastics in the ocean and their effects on marine life, microplastics in soils have largely been overlooked. Researchers are concerned about the lack of knowledge regarding potential consequences of microplastics in agricultural landscapes from application of sewage sludge.

How sharks recycle toxic ammonia to keep their skin moist Posted: 28 Oct 2016 05:58 AM PDT The Pacific spiny dogfish shark is a master at recycling the ocean's toxic ammonia and converting it into useful urea, according to new research.

Physicists make it possible to 3D print your own baby universe Posted: 28 Oct 2016 05:58 AM PDT Researchers have created a 3D printed cosmic microwave background - a map of the oldest light in the universe - and provided the files for download.

Fossilized dinosaur brain tissue identified for the first time Posted: 27 Oct 2016 02:58 PM PDT Researchers have identified the first known example of fossilized brain tissue in a dinosaur from Sussex. The tissues resemble those seen in modern crocodiles and birds.

Computer model is 'crystal ball' for E. coli bacteria Posted: 27 Oct 2016 02:35 PM PDT It's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future, and even more so when they involve the reactions of living cells -- huge numbers of genes, proteins and enzymes, embedded in complex pathways and feedback loops. Yet researchers are attempting just that, building a computer model that predicts the behavior of a single cell of the bacterium Escherichia coli.

Bioluminescent sensor causes brain cells to glow in the dark Posted: 27 Oct 2016 01:43 PM PDT A new kind of bioluminescent sensor causes individual brain cells to imitate fireflies and glow in the dark. The probe is a genetically modified form of luciferase, the enzyme that a number of other species including fireflies use to produce light.

Further clues to fate of Mars lander, seen from orbit Posted: 27 Oct 2016 12:56 PM PDT The most powerful telescope orbiting Mars is providing new details of the scene near the Martian equator where Europe's Schiaparelli test lander hit the surface last week.

Fatty liver: Turning off TAZ reverses disease Posted: 27 Oct 2016 11:35 AM PDT A factor in liver cells that is responsible for turning AAFLD into a serious disease that can lead to liver failure has now been identified by a research team.

Clinical trial data sharing off to a slow start Posted: 27 Oct 2016 11:35 AM PDT For many years, doctors, scientists and researchers have urged that clinical drug trial data be shared to accelerate medical advances in treating multiple diseases. But two years after free patient data became available in a major data-sharing project, the biggest surprise is how little it is being used.

Children with autism may be over-diagnosed with ADHD, new study suggests Posted: 27 Oct 2016 11:35 AM PDT Pediatric researchers report that children with ASD may mistakenly be diagnosed with ADHD because they have autism-related social impairments rather than problems with attention. This is important for understanding what are the right services and treatments for a child.

Researchers on cloud nine as they uncover the origin of atmospheric particles Posted: 27 Oct 2016 11:31 AM PDT Scientists have solved one of the most challenging and long-standing problems in atmospheric science: to understand how particles are formed in the atmosphere.

Plant 'thermometer' discovered that triggers springtime budding by measuring night-time heat Posted: 27 Oct 2016 11:29 AM PDT Botanists have discovered the 'thermometer' molecule that enables plants to develop according to seasonal temperature changes.

Elusive intermediate compound discovered in atmospheric chemistry Posted: 27 Oct 2016 11:28 AM PDT Physicists have identified a long-missing piece in the puzzle of exactly how fossil fuel combustion contributes to air pollution and a warming climate. Performing chemistry experiments in a new way, they observed a key molecule that appears briefly during a common chemical reaction in the atmosphere.

Study yields rich dossier of cancer-linked protein's associates Posted: 27 Oct 2016 09:34 AM PDT By developing an atomic-scale picture of how the cancer-linked enzyme PP2A binds to other proteins, researchers have developed a new list of nearly 100 of its potential partners.

Airway-on-a-chip could lead to new treatments for cigarette smoke-induced lung injury Posted: 27 Oct 2016 09:32 AM PDT Researchers have developed an airway-on-a-chip that supports living small-airway-lining cells from normal or diseased human lungs and an instrument that "breathes" cigarette smoke in and out over these chips. Using this technology, researchers recreated and analyzed the effects of smoking at the molecular, cellular, and tissue level to understand the damage occurring in normal lung and in engineered lung tissues from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death in the US.

For 10 months out of the year, common swifts live in mid-air Posted: 27 Oct 2016 09:32 AM PDT Common swifts are known for their impressive aerial abilities, capturing food and nest material while in flight. Now, by attaching data loggers to the birds, researchers have confirmed what some had suspected: common swifts can go for most of the year (10 months!) without ever coming down.

You are subscribed to email updates from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States