ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Cosmic ‘barcode’ from distant galaxy confirms Nature’s constancy
• Do extremely reddened quasars extinguish star formation?
• Possible explanation for recurring breast cancer
• Zika virus can live for hours on hard, non-porous surfaces
• Teacher communication with parents consistent with racial stereotypes
• A rising tide of heart attacks followed Hurricane Katrina
• The aging brain benefits from distraction
• People with Ebola may not always show symptoms
• Antibiotic restores cell communication in brain areas damaged by Alzheimer's-like disease in mice
• Research suggests 'missed opportunities' to prescribe drugs for stroke prevention
• Researchers develop way to 'fingerprint' the brain
• Three brain chemicals affect how we handle uncertainty
• 'Princess Leia' brainwaves help sleeping brain store memories
• Potent antibody that neutralizes nearly all HIV strains identified
• Consuming violent media linked to 13x surge in violent dreams
• New technology aims to make photovoltaic cells 70% more efficient
• Smoke + hot temperatures = increased SIDS risk
• Study explores how immune system functions during sleep
• Technology lights the way for quantum computing
• Depression during pregnancy is associated with abnormal brain structure in children
• Scientists devise more accurate system for predicting risks of new chemical products
• Following a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce genetic heart attack risk
• What can Google tell us about 'the memory web' in the brain?
• For First Nations people, effects of European contact are recorded in the genome
• Two new tools to enhance effectiveness of behavioral therapy in children with autism
• Real men don't say 'cute'
• Too stressed to make smart purchases?
• New protein provides critical link between aging and age-dependent disease
• LED lights attract fewer insects than other lights
• Widespread evidence of prehistoric dairying discovered along the Mediterranean coast
• Good drugs for bad bugs: Simple changes to antibiotic treatment of MRSA may help beat the bacteria
• Too much fatty food could set children up for mental problems: Study in mice
• Genes for speech may not be limited to humans
• Scientists uncover genetic evidence that 'we are what we eat'
• New way to image solar cells in 3-D
• Organized prescription drug collection programs may have minimal impact on reducing availability of controlled medications
• Exploring gigantic volcanic eruptions that caused worldwide mass extinctions
• Microbes in your gut influence age-related macular degeneration
• Rheumatoid arthritis drugs: Direct switch has a beneficial effect
• NASA space telescopes pinpoint elusive brown dwarf
• Depression rates growing among adolescents, particularly girls
• Researchers solve mystery of historic 1952 London fog and current Chinese haze
• New drug beats standard therapy in advanced kidney cancer
• Buying experiences makes you more grateful, generous
• Parkinson's disease patients benefit from physical activity
• Structure of 'Iron Hammer' protein complex solved
• Cancer research: How cells die by ferroptosis
• Active, inactive cells in the brain's memory system
• Controlling electrons in time and space
• New biofuel cell with energy storage
• How mammary glands appeared in the course of evolution
• New insights into cause of phantom limb pain may have therapeutic benefits
• Less sensitive temperature regulation a key to hibernation-like torpor
• Scientists discover clues to altered brain wiring in autism
• Acoustic waves move fluids at the nanoscale
• Mississippi River could leave farmland stranded
• Human actions influence fire regimes in the Sierra Nevadas
• Culprits behind disappearance of kelp forests revealed
• Cheaper, more effective cleanup of abandoned oil and gas wells
• Study finds limited sign of soil adaptation to climate warming

Cosmic ‘barcode’ from distant galaxy confirms Nature’s constancy Posted: 15 Nov 2016 02:51 PM PST Astronomers have precisely measured the strength of a fundamental force of Nature in a galaxy seen eight billion years in the past. Researchers have confirmed that electromagnetism in a distant galaxy has the same strength as here on Earth.

Do extremely reddened quasars extinguish star formation? Posted: 15 Nov 2016 01:43 PM PST Galaxies formed and grew billions of years ago by accumulating gas from their surroundings, or colliding and merging with other young galaxies. These early stages of galaxy assembly are believed to be accompanied by episodes of rapid star formation, known as starbursts, and rapid growth of a single super-massive black hole in the galactic centers.

Possible explanation for recurring breast cancer Posted: 15 Nov 2016 01:43 PM PST Many breast cancer survivors worry that their breast cancer may come back. Recurrence has puzzled scientists and health care providers, recognizing that it can suddenly reappear, often with a vengeance, months or years after treatment is over. Now, researchers have found that dormant tumor cells might have become latent because they cannibalized--basically ate--the body's own stem cells.

Zika virus can live for hours on hard, non-porous surfaces Posted: 15 Nov 2016 01:42 PM PST The Zika virus is most commonly transmitted in humans as the result of a bite from an infected mosquito or from an infected human to another human. What is not well known is that the virus also can be transmitted via the environment if an individual is pricked with an infected needle or has an open cut and comes in contact with the live virus. While there are no known cases to date of the general public being infected with the Zika virus through the environment, there has been at least one documented case of laboratory acquired Zika virus infection.

Teacher communication with parents consistent with racial stereotypes Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:53 PM PST Teachers communicate with parents not just based on a student's academic performance and behaviors, but also based on parents' racial and immigrant backgrounds, finds a study.

A rising tide of heart attacks followed Hurricane Katrina Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:09 PM PST Ten years after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, hospital admissions for heart attacks in the city were three times higher than they were before the storm, according to new research.

The aging brain benefits from distraction Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:07 PM PST As you age, you may find it more difficult to focus on certain tasks. But while distractions can be frustrating, they may not be as bad as we think. In a new report, researchers suggest that there may be some benefits to reduced focus, especially in people over 50. Using behavioral studies and neuroimaging evidence, the researchers discuss how being easily distracted can help adults with, for example, problem solving and learning new information.

People with Ebola may not always show symptoms Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:06 PM PST 25 percent of individuals in a Sierra Leone village were infected with the Ebola virus but had no symptoms, a research team has determined, suggesting broader transmission of the virus than originally thought.

Antibiotic restores cell communication in brain areas damaged by Alzheimer's-like disease in mice Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:02 PM PST New research has found a way to partially restore brain cell communication around areas damaged by plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Research suggests 'missed opportunities' to prescribe drugs for stroke prevention Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:02 PM PST An analysis of the records of UK patients who had experienced a stroke has found that over half of those who should get drugs to prevent strokes were not prescribed them.

Researchers develop way to 'fingerprint' the brain Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:01 PM PST Using a new imaging technique, researchers have confirmed what scientists have always thought to be true: the structural connections in the brain are unique to each individual person.

Three brain chemicals affect how we handle uncertainty Posted: 15 Nov 2016 11:59 AM PST New research has revealed how three important brain signaling chemicals affect the way that we handle uncertainty. It turns out that noradrenaline regulates our estimates of how unstable the environment is, acetylcholine helps us adapt to changing environments, and dopamine pushes us to act on our beliefs about uncertainty.

'Princess Leia' brainwaves help sleeping brain store memories Posted: 15 Nov 2016 11:58 AM PST Every night while you sleep, electrical waves of brain activity circle around each side of your brain, tracing a pattern that, were it on the surface of your head, might look like the twin hair buns of Star Wars' Princess Leia. The scientists who discovered these circular "Princess Leia" oscillations think the waves are responsible each night for forming associations between different aspects of a day's memories.

Potent antibody that neutralizes nearly all HIV strains identified Posted: 15 Nov 2016 11:57 AM PST Scientists have identified an antibody from an HIV-infected person that potently neutralized 98 percent of HIV isolates tested, including 16 of 20 strains resistant to other antibodies of the same class. The remarkable breadth and potency of this antibody, named N6, make it an attractive candidate for further development to potentially treat or prevent HIV infection, say the researchers.

Consuming violent media linked to 13x surge in violent dreams Posted: 15 Nov 2016 10:25 AM PST The violent and sexual media you consume during the day may infiltrate your dreams at night, new research suggests. People who reported consuming violent media within 90 minutes of bedtime were 13 times more likely to have a violent dream that night.

New technology aims to make photovoltaic cells 70% more efficient Posted: 15 Nov 2016 10:25 AM PST A technology has been developed that could improve the efficiency of photovoltaic cells by nearly 70 percent. The breakthrough could be a key for harnessing the power of the sun to meet the world's energy consumption demands.

Smoke + hot temperatures = increased SIDS risk Posted: 15 Nov 2016 10:25 AM PST Researchers are a step closer to understanding why cigarette smoke exposure during pregnancy may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the unexplained, sudden death of a child younger than one year of age. A new study finds that prenatal cigarette smoke exposure in rats affected breathing responses and immune function of their offspring. Breathing and immune function are further negatively affected by high room temperatures.

Study explores how immune system functions during sleep Posted: 15 Nov 2016 10:25 AM PST Researchers have found new insights into sleep's importance to overall health: it may give the immune system a chance to regroup at a time when the relative risk of infection is low. As the foundation of the human body's immune system, large quantities of T cells—a type of white blood cell—are present in the bloodstream and are ready to attack viruses and other pathogens that invade the body.

Technology lights the way for quantum computing Posted: 15 Nov 2016 10:23 AM PST Researchers have developed scalable, electrically driven photon sources to drive powerful quantum technologies, outlines a new report.

Depression during pregnancy is associated with abnormal brain structure in children Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:33 AM PST Depressive symptoms in women during and after pregnancy are associated with reduced thickness of the cortex -- the outer layer of the brain responsible for complex thought and behavior -- in preschool-age kids, according to a new study. The findings suggest that a mother's mood may affect her child's brain development at critical stages in life.

Scientists devise more accurate system for predicting risks of new chemical products Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:32 AM PST A new structural alert system could reduce years and millions of dollars from bringing a new drug or product to market, report scientists.

Following a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce genetic heart attack risk Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:21 AM PST It is well known that following a healthy lifestyle -- not smoking, avoiding excess weight and getting regular exercise -- can reduce the risk of heart disease. But what about people who have inherited gene variants known to increase risk? A study has found that, even among those at high genetic risk, following a healthy lifestyle can cut in half the probability of a heart attack or similar event.

What can Google tell us about 'the memory web' in the brain? Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:15 AM PST Associations are a key memory mechanism - to remember personal experiences like meeting a person in a place, we create associations between the concepts involved. A research team used internet search engines such as Google and Bing for establishing degree of association between concepts and how these associations are encoded by neurons in memory areas. The study reveals the neural mechanism underlying 'the memory web', as neurons showed a long term coding of meaningful associations

For First Nations people, effects of European contact are recorded in the genome Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:14 AM PST A study of the genomes of 25 individuals who lived 1,000 to 6,000 years ago on the north coast of present-day British Columbia, and 25 of their descendants who still live in the region today, opens a new window on the catastrophic consequences of European colonization for indigenous peoples in that part of the world.

Two new tools to enhance effectiveness of behavioral therapy in children with autism Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:13 AM PST Two approaches have been revealed by researchers that have the potential to help a large number of children with autism spectrum disorder through behavioral therapy.

Real men don't say 'cute' Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:12 AM PST What's in a tweet? From gender to education, the words used on social media carry impressions to others. Using publicly available tweets, social psychologists and computer scientists are helping us to parse out the stereotypes formed by word choices on the social media channel Twitter. Utilizing natural language processing (NLP), a form of artificial intelligence, the researchers show where stereotyping goes from "plausible" to wrong.

Too stressed to make smart purchases? Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:11 AM PST For all the wonders of mobile communications, the ability to multitask via phone while shopping in a store may not be a blessing, according to new research. Studies show that shoppers engaged in a mobile phone conversation while trying to shop are less successful at the shopping task at hand.

New protein provides critical link between aging and age-dependent disease Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:09 AM PST The discovery of a novel protein that links aging and age-dependent retinal diseases could lead to potential new treatments for conditions that cause sight loss in later life.

LED lights attract fewer insects than other lights Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:03 AM PST Domestic LED lights are much less attractive to nuisance insects such as biting midges than traditional filament lamps, new research has revealed.

Widespread evidence of prehistoric dairying discovered along the Mediterranean coast Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:02 AM PST An inter-disciplinary team of scientists and archaeologists has discovered widespread evidence of prehistoric milk production in southern Europe.

Good drugs for bad bugs: Simple changes to antibiotic treatment of MRSA may help beat the bacteria Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:00 AM PST Simple changes to the antibiotic treatment of MRSA may help beat the bacteria, explain scientists. 20% of patients infected with MRSA die from systemic infections. Antimicrobial resistance infections are projected to cause more deaths than cancer by 2050 if not addressed urgently.

Too much fatty food could set children up for mental problems: Study in mice Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:48 AM PST Chances are that children who eat excessive amounts of fatty foods will not only become obese, but will develop cognitive and psychiatric problems when they are older, a study in mice suggests. This is because, according to a recent study, diets rich in fat deplete the levels of a key protein known to help synapses in the brain to work properly. In turn, this leads to a dip in several forms of cognitive functions, such as behavioral flexibility and memory.

Genes for speech may not be limited to humans Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:43 AM PST Our current understanding is that mice have either no -- or extremely limited -- neural circuitry and genes similar to those that regulate human speech. According to a recent study, this understanding may be incorrect.

Scientists uncover genetic evidence that 'we are what we eat' Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:17 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated that the diets of organisms can affect the DNA sequences of their genes.

New way to image solar cells in 3-D Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:17 AM PST Scientists have developed a way to use optical microscopy to map thin-film solar cells in 3-D as they absorb photons.

Organized prescription drug collection programs may have minimal impact on reducing availability of controlled medications Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:16 AM PST More than 3.8 billion controlled medications, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, Valium and Adderall, are dispensed by pharmacies annually in the United States. It has been estimated that only about 30 percent of these drugs are used by the people for whom they were prescribed. The remaining 70 percent represent a large surplus of controlled medications that could be abused or sold to others for abuse.

Exploring gigantic volcanic eruptions that caused worldwide mass extinctions Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:16 AM PST A new article confirms a major feature in the formation of large igneous provinces -- massive worldwide volcanic eruptions that created incredibly high volumes of lava and triggered environmental catastrophes and mass extinctions from 170 to 90 million years ago.

Microbes in your gut influence age-related macular degeneration Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:14 AM PST Bacteria in your intestines may play an important role in determining if you will develop blinding wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Rheumatoid arthritis drugs: Direct switch has a beneficial effect Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:14 AM PST For the first time, a multicentre study has compared the action of two rheumatoid arthritis drugs from the same class. The study established that the two TNF inhibitors investigated are equally effective. It was also shown that, if treatment is failing, patients can benefit from an "on-the-fly" switch from one drug to the other. For example, 40% of patients responded positively to the "new" drug. This could result in a paradigm shift in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

NASA space telescopes pinpoint elusive brown dwarf Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:09 AM PST In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, NASA's Spitzer and Swift space telescopes joined forces to observe a microlensing event, when a distant star brightens due to the gravitational field of at least one foreground cosmic object. This technique is useful for finding low-mass bodies orbiting stars, such as planets. In this case, the observations revealed a brown dwarf.

Depression rates growing among adolescents, particularly girls Posted: 15 Nov 2016 06:45 AM PST The rate of adolescents reporting a recent bout of clinical depression grew by 37 percent over the decade ending in 2014, with one in six girls reporting an episode in the past year, new research suggests.

Researchers solve mystery of historic 1952 London fog and current Chinese haze Posted: 15 Nov 2016 06:15 AM PST In 1952 a killer fog covered London for five days, causing breathing problems and killing thousands of residents. The exact cause and nature of the fog has remained mostly unknown for decades, but an international team of scientists believes that the mystery has been solved.

New drug beats standard therapy in advanced kidney cancer Posted: 15 Nov 2016 06:15 AM PST An experimental kidney cancer drug outperformed the standard first-line therapy for patients with metastatic disease who are considered at risk for poorer than average outcomes, according to results of a randomized phase II clinical trial.

Buying experiences makes you more grateful, generous Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:55 AM PST On Thanksgiving, many of us take a moment to reflect on what we're grateful for -- and we get notable rewards for doing so. Feeling gratitude leads to important benefits, like increased happiness and social cohesion, better health outcomes, and even improved sleep quality.

Parkinson's disease patients benefit from physical activity Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:39 AM PST People living with Parkinson's disease (PD) can benefit from being physically active, especially when it comes to improving gait and balance, and reducing risks of falls. New research concludes that health professionals should be confident about prescribing physical activity to improve the health and quality of life of PD patients.

Structure of 'Iron Hammer' protein complex solved Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:39 AM PST Translation of the genetic code in proteins is a central process in life and takes place in the ribosome, a giant molecule consisting of two subunits. This is where long chains of amino acids are formed like on an assembly line. An interdisciplinary research group has now succeeded in solving the structure of a central player in this process bound to the small ribosomal subunit: the protein containing a unique iron-sulphur domain with the nickname "Iron Hammer" splits the two subunits of the ribosome when a protein chain is completed so that production of a new protein can begin.

Cancer research: How cells die by ferroptosis Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:39 AM PST Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of cell death, which is still only partially understood. Scientists have now identified an enzyme that plays a key role in generating the signal that initiates cell death. Their findings could now give new impetus to research into the fields of cancer, neurodegeneration and other degenerative diseases.

Active, inactive cells in the brain's memory system Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:39 AM PST For the first time, neuroscientists were able to differentiate between active and inactive cells in the brain morphologically, for instance, based on the cells' structure. Investigating granule cells in the rat's brain, they found a much larger proportion of inactive than active cells.

Controlling electrons in time and space Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:37 AM PST In an electron microscope, electrons are emitted by pointy metal tips, that way the can be steered and controlled with high precision. Recently, such metal tips have also been used as high precision electron sources for generating x-rays. Scientists have now developed a method of controlling electron emission with higher precision than ever before. With the help of two different laser pulses it is now possible to switch the flow of electrons on and off on extremely short time scales.

New biofuel cell with energy storage Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:37 AM PST Researchers have developed a hybrid of a fuel cell and capacitor on a biocatalytic basis. With the aid of enzymatic processes, what's known as a biosupercapacitor efficiently generates and stores energy. The trick: the enzymes are embedded in a stable polymer gel, which can store a large amount of energy.

How mammary glands appeared in the course of evolution Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:37 AM PST A team of geneticists demonstrated that the emergence of mammary glands in placental mammals and marsupials results from recycling certain 'architect' genes. The latter, known as Hox genes, are responsible for coordinating the formation of the organs and limbs during the embryonic stage. Such genes are controlled by complex regulatory networks. In the course of evolution, parts of these networks were reused to produce different functions. Architect genes were thus requisitioned to form the mammary bud and, later, for gestation.

New insights into cause of phantom limb pain may have therapeutic benefits Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:37 AM PST Phantom limb pain is the pain experienced following loss of a limb, either from injury or amputation. This sensation of pain was previously thought to be caused by abnormal plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex of the brain, and rehabilitative therapies have focused on restoring normal motor function to relieve the pain. However, conflicting results left the question of whether and how phantom pain is caused by changes in sensorimotor activity unanswered.

Less sensitive temperature regulation a key to hibernation-like torpor Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:37 AM PST Some animals can enter a hibernation-like state called daily torpor that reduces the amount of energy needed to survive when food is unavailable. Using a combination of experimental data and mathematical modeling, researchers have determined that the largest factor that contributes to daily torpor is reduced sensitivity of the thermoregulatory system.

Scientists discover clues to altered brain wiring in autism Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:37 AM PST Autism is an agonizing puzzle, a complex mixture of genetic and environmental factors. One piece of this puzzle that has emerged in recent years is a biochemical cascade called the mTOR pathway that regulates growth in the developing brain. A mutation in one of the genes that controls this pathway, PTEN (also known as phosphatase and tensin homolog), can cause a particular form of autism called macrocephaly/autism syndrome.

Acoustic waves move fluids at the nanoscale Posted: 14 Nov 2016 03:38 PM PST A team of mechanical engineers has successfully used acoustic waves to move fluids through small channels at the nanoscale. The breakthrough is a first step toward the manufacturing of small, portable devices that could be used for drug discovery and microrobotics applications. The devices could be integrated in a lab on a chip to sort cells, move liquids, manipulate particles and sense other biological components. For example, it could be used to filter a wide range of particles, such as bacteria, to conduct rapid diagnosis.

Mississippi River could leave farmland stranded Posted: 14 Nov 2016 01:29 PM PST Seasonal flooding events along the Mississippi in 1993, 2011, and 2016 have left farmland underwater, threatening the agricultural future in the area. Climate scientists predict a continued pattern of extreme rainfall events in the upper Mississippi River region. Repeatedly repairing the levee breaches, building a bridge over the shortcut created by the flooding, or letting the Mississippi chart its own course are some solutions to the problem.

Human actions influence fire regimes in the Sierra Nevadas Posted: 14 Nov 2016 01:25 PM PST While climate contributes strongly to fire activity in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the western U.S., human activity, starting well before European contact, has also played an important part in the severity, frequency and sheer numbers of forest fires occurring in the area, according to researchers.

Culprits behind disappearance of kelp forests revealed Posted: 14 Nov 2016 01:23 PM PST Seaweed-eating fish are becoming increasingly voracious as the ocean warms due to climate change, and are responsible for the recent destruction of kelp forests off the Australian north coast near Coffs Harbour, research shows.

Cheaper, more effective cleanup of abandoned oil and gas wells Posted: 14 Nov 2016 01:23 PM PST Abandoned oil and gas wells are a significant source of greenhouse gases but there are so many scattered across the United States that stopping the leaks presents a huge cost for states. Now, a research team including scientists has identified specific well attributes that will allow governments to prioritize their repairs. The researchers say it should be possible to eliminate the majority of emissions while minimizing costs by leaving non-emitting abandoned wells alone.

Study finds limited sign of soil adaptation to climate warming Posted: 14 Nov 2016 01:22 PM PST While scientists and policy experts debate the impacts of global warming, Earth's soil is releasing roughly nine times more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than all human activities combined. This huge carbon flux from soil -- due to the natural respiration of soil microbes and plant roots -- begs one of the central questions in climate change science. As the global climate warms, will soil respiration rates increase, adding even more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and accelerating climate change?

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