الثلاثاء، 29 نوفمبر 2016

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News

When judging other people, first impressions last

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 02:17 PM PST

A well-known saying urges people to "not judge a book by its cover." But people tend to do just that – even after they've skimmed a chapter or two, according to research.

Study zeros in on gene that limits desire to drink alcohol

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:40 PM PST

In the largest study of its kind, scientists say that they have identified a gene variant that suppresses the desire to drink alcohol.

Taste bud maintenance in mice requires Hedgehog signaling

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:39 PM PST

Disruptions in the Hedgehog signaling pathway can interfere with taste bud maintenance in mice, potentially explaining why some cancer patients experience a loss of taste during treatment with Hedgehog-blocking drugs, researchers have found.

Young toddlers can tell when others hold false beliefs

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:37 PM PST

Under the right conditions, 2 1/2-year-old children can answer questions about people acting on false beliefs, an ability that most researchers believe does not develop until age 4, new research demonstrates.

Smart patch releases blood thinners as needed

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:35 PM PST

A smart patch has been designed to monitor a patient's blood and release blood-thinning drugs as needed to prevent the occurrence of dangerous blood clots – a condition known as thrombosis. In an animal model, the patch was shown to be more effective at preventing thrombosis than traditional methods of drug delivery.

Survey of New York City soil uncovers medicine-making microbes

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:30 PM PST

Microbes have long been an invaluable source of new drugs. And to find more, we may have to look no further than the ground beneath our feet, say researchers.

Bullying rates remain higher for children with disabilities, even as they mature

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:29 PM PST

More than 22 percent of children ages 12-18 say they have been bullied in school within the last month; a significant portion of those children have disabilities. However, little research exists on how bullying rates for individual children change over time. Now, a researcher and bullying expert has determined that children with disabilities are victimized by bullying at a much higher rate over time than their peers without disabilities.

It takes less than a second to tell humans from androids

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:24 PM PST

It can be hard to tell the difference between humans and androids in such sci-fi TV shows as "Westworld." But in real life, beyond our screens, the human brain takes less than a second to tell between reality and fantasy, according to new research.

Cracking the code of a deadly virus

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:23 PM PST

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an unforgiving killer of horses, donkeys and zebras, resulting in mortality as high as 80 percent of infected animals. It causes rapid, catastrophic swelling of the brain and spinal cord, leading to severe neurological symptoms and—in many cases—sudden death. The virus can also infect humans, with similar results. Now a research team has exploited a weakness in VEEV's genetic code, resulting in a far less deadly mutant version of the virus when tested in laboratory mice.

Marine incentives programs may replace 'doom and gloom' with hope

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:22 PM PST

Incentives that are designed to enable smarter use of the ocean while also protecting marine ecosystems can and do work, and offer significant hope to help address the multiple environmental threats facing the world's oceans, researchers conclude in a new analysis.

Inside tiny tubes, water turns solid when it should be boiling

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:21 PM PST

It's a well-known fact that water, at sea level, starts to boil at a temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius. And scientists have long observed that when water is confined in very small spaces, its boiling and freezing points can change a bit, usually dropping by around 10 C or so. But now, a team has found a completely unexpected set of changes: Inside the tiniest of spaces -- in carbon nanotubes whose inner dimensions are not much bigger than a few water molecules -- water can freeze solid even at high temperatures that would normally set it boiling.

What's up with Madagascar?

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:12 PM PST

The island of Madagascar off the coast of Africa was largely unexplored seismically until recently. The first broadband seismic images of the island help solve a longstanding mystery: why are there volcanoes far from any tectonic boundary?

Modern hunter-gatherers show value of exercise

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:12 PM PST

In a remote area of north-central Tanzania, men leave their huts on foot, armed with bows and poison-tipped arrows, to hunt for their next meal. Dinner could come in the form of a small bird, a towering giraffe or something in between. Meanwhile, women gather tubers, berries and other fruits. The Hadza live a very different kind of lifestyle -- and a very active one, engaging in significantly more physical activity than what is recommended by U.S. government standards. They also have extremely low risk of cardiovascular disease.

Researchers explore new 2D materials that could make devices faster, smaller, and efficient

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:10 PM PST

A new study by an international team of researchers highlights how manipulation of 2D materials could make our modern day devices faster, smaller, and better.

Our closest worm kin regrow body parts, raising hopes of regeneration in humans

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:10 PM PST

A new study of one of our closest invertebrate relatives, the acorn worm, reveals that regenerating body parts might one day be possible.

Our complicated relationship with viruses

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:10 PM PST

Nearly 10 percent of the human genome is made of bits of virus DNA. For the most part, this viral DNA is not harmful. In some cases, scientists are finding, it actually has a beneficial impact.

Prevention program safeguards children's brains from effects of poverty, says study

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:10 PM PST

Participation in a prevention program known as the Strong African American Families Program, which enhances supportive parenting and strengthens family relationships, removes the effects of poverty on brain development, research demonstrates for the first time.

How to avoid feeling depressed on Facebook

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 12:08 PM PST

Comparing yourself with others on Facebook is more likely to lead to feelings of depression than making social comparisons offline, investigators report.

Biggest exposed fault on Earth discovered

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 10:29 AM PST

Geologists have for the first time seen and documented the Banda Detachment fault in eastern Indonesia and have worked out how it formed.

Staph uses nitric oxide enzyme to colonize noses

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 10:20 AM PST

Staph bacteria colonize nasal passages through a newly discovered function for a primeval biochemical mechanism. The interior of the nose is a prime dwelling place for some forms of staph. More than one-third of the population has a chronic presence of Staphylococcus aureus in their nostrils and sinuses. From there, it can get onto the hands and other skin areas, say scientists.

New dual atomic clock, and a new stability record

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 10:17 AM PST

What could be better than a world-leading atomic clock? Two clocks in one. Physicists have now combined two experimental atomic clocks based on ytterbium atoms to set yet another world record for clock stability. Stability can be thought of as how precisely the duration of each clock tick matches every other tick that comes before and after.

Hydrogen in your pocket? New plastic for carrying and storing hydrogen

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 10:15 AM PST

A research group has developed a hydrogen-carrying polymer, which can be molded as a tangible, safe, and compact plastic sheet.

Augmented reality advances learning especially in informal science education context

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 10:13 AM PST

The aim of a new research project was to analyze learning using Augmented Reality (AR) technology and the motivational and cognitive aspects related to it in an informal learning context.

How sand 'holds its breath'

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 10:13 AM PST

Researchers in Australia have made an important discovery about how sand 'holds its breath' -- specifically, how diatoms survive in the ever-changing environmental conditions of a beach. The finding has major implications for the biofuels industry.

Light switch in autumn leaves

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 10:12 AM PST

Before trees lose their leaves in the winter, they offer us a bright autumnal display of reds, oranges, and yellows. This results from the decomposition of the compound that makes leaves green: chlorophyll. Among the decomposition products are yellow phyllobilins that demonstrate unusual chemical properties. These compounds, say scientists, act as four-step molecular "switches" that are triggered by light in different ways depending on the environment.

First-ever capsule to treat hemophilia developed

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 10:11 AM PST

In the near future, hemophiliacs could be able to treat their disease by simply swallowing a capsule. Thanks to a new breakthrough, treatment for hemophilia can now be administered via a biodegradable system, a capsule, giving people affected by the hereditary bleeding disorder hope for a less expensive, less painful treatment option than conventional injections or infusions.

New finding about a protein that enables our brains and muscles to talk

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 10:11 AM PST

A huge colony of receptors must be optimally positioned and functioning on our muscle cells for our brains to talk with our bodies so we can walk and breathe. Now scientists have found that a protein believed to help anchor that city of receptors also helps ensure their formation and function and slow their degradation.

How kids' brains respond to a late night up

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 10:08 AM PST

Any parent can tell you about the consequences of their child not getting enough sleep. But there is far less known about the details of how sleep deprivation affects children's brains and what this means for early brain development.

Toxic 'marine snow' can sink quickly, persist at ocean depths

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 09:51 AM PST

A specific neurotoxin can persist and accumulate in "marine snow" formed by the algae Pseudo-nitzschia, and this marine snow can reach significant depths quickly, report investigators.

Biologists discover origin of stomata

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 09:12 AM PST

A similar genetic mechanism between flowering plants and mosses is a result of evolutionary conservation, reports an international team of researchers. They have discovered a genetic mechanism that is responsible for the development of stomata -- microscopic valves on the surface of plants that facilitate the uptake of carbon dioxide and the release of oxygen and water vapor.

Activity trackers can work when paired with wellness coaching

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:37 AM PST

While critics have debated the effectiveness of activity trackers, a recent study has found activity trackers can work, if paired with wellness coaching.

Genes, early environment sculpt the gut microbiome

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:37 AM PST

Environment and genetics determine relative abundance of specific microbes in the gut, new research shows. The findings represent an attempt to untangle the forces that shape the gut microbiome, which plays an important role in keeping us healthy.

Marine disease likely to follow Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:37 AM PST

Higher water temperatures in 2016 caused the worst destruction of corals ever recorded on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, report experts. And this may be followed by devastating outbreaks of infectious disease, they say.

Defining immortality of stem cells to identify novel anti-aging mechanisms

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:33 AM PST

With age, somatic cells such as neurons lose their ability to maintain the quality of their protein content. Pluripotent stem cells, on the contrary, do not age and have increased mechanism to maintain the integrity of their proteins. Researchers have defined the mechanisms underlying increased protein quality control of pluripotent stem cells. Then, the researchers mimicked these mechanisms in somatic tissues of model organisms to extend lifespan and delay age-related diseases.

Successfully treating genetically determined autoimmune enteritis

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:17 AM PST

Using targeted immunotherapy, doctors have succeeded in curing a type of autoimmune enteritis caused by a recently discovered genetic mutation. These results raise new possibilities for the management of diarrhea, which is often a side effect of melanoma treatment.

Safe hair care spares hair, dermatologists report

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:16 AM PST

A common cause of hair loss and breakage known as acquired trichorrhexis nodosa, or TN --often more prevalent in African-Americans -- can actually be remedied through appropriate use of cleansing products, hair care and styling practices, say researchers.

Targeting breast cancer metabolism to fight the disease

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:16 AM PST

How does a cancer cell burn calories? New research shows that breast cancer cells rely on a different process for turning fuel into energy than normal cells.

Comparing gait parameters can predict decline in memory, thinking

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:15 AM PST

Walking is a milestone in development for toddlers, but it's actually only one part of the complex cognitive task known as gait that includes everything from a person's stride length to the accompanying swing of each arm. A new study has found that problems associated with gait can predict a significant decline in memory and thinking.

Low-mass supernova may have triggered formation of our solar system

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:15 AM PST

A research team has used new models and evidence from meteorites to propose that a low-mass supernova triggered the formation of our solar system.

Toddler robots help solve how children learn

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:14 AM PST

Children may learn new words using the same method as robots. New research suggests that early learning is based not on conscious thought but on an automatic ability to associate objects, which enables babies to quickly make sense of their environment.

New regulator of immune reaction discovered

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:14 AM PST

A calcium signal in cell nucleus regulates not only many brain functions, but also defense reactions of the immune system, report scientists.

Most of a caught fish is discarded

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 08:14 AM PST

Every year 340,000 tons of usable whitefish by-product are discarded into the sea. But the fisheries industry has now identified ways of halting this practice. 

Sponge-like materials capture, store, and release essential small molecules

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 06:06 AM PST

A new project is underway to design innovative nanoporous materials, or "sponge materials," for highly efficient abilities in separation, storage, and release of essential gas molecules.

Vestibular function declines starting at age 40

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 05:53 AM PST

Vestibular thresholds begin to double every 10 years above the age of 40, representing a decline in our ability to receive sensory information about motion, balance and spatial orientation, new research has found.

Gene mutation linked to early onset of Parkinson's disease in caucasians

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 05:53 AM PST

A defect in a gene that produces dopamine in the brain appears to accelerate the onset of Parkinson's disease, according to new research. The effect is particularly dramatic for young-to-middle-age adults.

Enzyme's 'editing' preferences have implications for infertility, cancer

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 05:53 AM PST

To "turn off" particular regions of genes or protect them from damage, DNA strands can wrap around small proteins, called histones, keeping out all but the most specialized molecular machinery. Now, new research shows how an enzyme called KDM4B "reads" one and "erases" another so-called epigenetic mark on a single histone protein during the generation of sex cells in mice. The researchers say the finding may one day shed light on some cases of infertility and cancer.

Community healthcare professionals lack knowledge on severe allergic reactions in children

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 05:52 AM PST

School first aiders, community pharmacists and GP practice nurses overestimate the risk of fatal reaction for children with food allergy, suggests a new study, yet some are unable to treat allergic reactions safely.

Glycocluster design could lead to targeted drug delivery

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 05:51 AM PST

A team of researchers has developed a way to engineer glycan complexes—clusters of sugar chains attached to proteins or lipids—in a way that allows the molecules to be transported preferentially to specific organs of the body, depending on the sugar chains contained in the cluster. According to the scienitsts, this discovery could lead to the development of glycocluster-based diagnostic tools with better selectivity and precision than current tracers based on peptides and antibodies.

Could honey bee brood be the future of food?

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 05:51 AM PST

Honey bee brood – the larvae and pupae of drones – has great potential as a food source. It is already eaten as a delicacy in many countries, including Mexico, Thailand and Australia. It has a nutty flavor with a crunchy texture when eaten cooked or dried, and is a versatile ingredient used in soups and egg dishes. It also has high nutritional value, similar to beef in terms of protein quality and quantity, say researchers.

Why conservation fails

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 05:51 AM PST

To meet the Paris Agreement, northern leaders at COP22 should commit to paying for forest protection, say experts in a new report.

Almost half of kids childcare children have respiratory virus, study shows

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 05:45 AM PST

Forty-three per cent of children at two daycare centers researchers studied had at least one virus in their respiratory tract, a new study shows.

Timing the shadow of a potentially habitable extrasolar planet paves the way to search for alien life

Posted: 28 Nov 2016 05:45 AM PST

Scientists have observed the transit of a potentially Earth-like extrasolar planet known as K2-3d. A transit is a phenomenon in which a planet passes in front of its parent star, blocking a small amount of light from the star, like a shadow of the planet. While transits have previously been observed for thousands of other extrasolar planets, K2-3d is important because there is a possibility that it might harbor extraterrestrial life.
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