ScienceDaily: Top News

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• New gene edited, fluorescently tagged human stem cell lines released
• New strategy may drop cancer's guard
• It's a bird... It's a plane... It's the tiniest asteroid!
• Physics, photosynthesis and solar cells
• Thinning of Brain Tissue Remains in College Football Players, Five Years After Play
• Human ancestor 'Lucy' was a tree climber, new evidence suggests
• An eye for fashion: Researcher finds optical illusion garments can improve body image
• 6,000 years ago the Sahara Desert was tropical, so what happened?
• The economy of cold soil blues
• What makes Bach sound like Bach? New dataset teaches algorithms classical music
• After concussion, rest may not always be the best medicine, experts say
• Key insight about mitochondrial replacement therapy
• Virus-inspired delivery system transfers microscopic cargo between human cells
• Study reveals key role of mRNA's 'fifth nucleotide' in determining sex in fruit flies
• Intensification of land use leads to the same species everywhere
• Modeling offers new perspective on how Pluto's 'icy heart' came to be
• Corals much older than previously thought, study finds
• Zika and glaucoma linked for first time in new study
• Going against the grain: Nitrogen turns out to be hypersociable
• Flu forecasts successful on neighborhood level
• Controlled electron pulses
• Drug delivery modification sidesteps allergic responses
• Better understanding phagocytes
• Shedding light on the origin of the baleen whale
• Aerobic exercise preserves brain volume and improves cognitive function
• Brain training video games help low-vision kids see better
• Lack of sleep costing US economy up to $411 billion per year
• Method for storing vaccines at room temperature
• How did web-based cognitive therapy work for insomnia?
• Quantum obstacle course changes material from superconductor to insulator
• Tailor-made membranes for the environment
• Laser technique boosts aerial imaging of woodlands
• CRISPR used for first time to correct clotting in newborn and adult mice
• Preschoolers' expectations shape how they interpret speech
• New method to improve predictions
• Parents should avoid pressuring young children over grades
• Songbirds sound the alarm about traffic noise
• Genomics technique could accelerate detection of foodborne bacterial outbreaks
• Gram-negative bacteria may influence Alzheimer's disease pathology
• Study explains evolution phenomenon that puzzled Darwin
• Beyond play: Sociologist explores how toys fuel stereotypes
• Homeowners want incentives to conserve more water, survey shows
• Vapors from some flavored e-liquids contain high levels of aldehydes
• Mimicking bug eyes could brighten reflective signs, clothes
• Black death 'plague pit' discovered at 14th-century monastery hospital
• Benefits of daily aspirin outweigh risk to stomach, study suggests
• At long last, stroke patients can be monitored at home, using a sensor suit
• Speed warning system saves lives and reduces emissions
• Throwing new light on printed organic solar cells
• New sensor: What goes on inside snow avalanches
• Sedentary lifestyle may impair academic performance in boys
• Tail hairs reveal dietary choices of three horse species in the Gobi Desert
• Eye surgery of the future: Gentle, efficient, out-patient surgery
• Study suggests prescribing of baclofen for alcohol dependence 'should be reconsidered'
• Synchronized swimming: How startled fish shoals effectively evade danger
• 3D print operational drone with embedded electronics using aerospace-grade material
• Walking a tight line to study the properties of soft materials
• New possibility in treating aggressive ovarian cancer, study shows
• Young cancer survivors have twice the risk of suicide
• Online epidemic tracking tool embraces open data and collective intelligence to understand outbreaks

New gene edited, fluorescently tagged human stem cell lines released Posted: 30 Nov 2016 12:54 PM PST The Allen Institute for Cell Science has released the Allen Cell Collection: the first publicly available collection of gene edited, fluorescently tagged human induced pluripotent stem cells that target key cellular structures with unprecedented clarity. Distributed through the Coriell Institute for Medical Research, these powerful tools are a crucial first step toward visualizing the dynamic organization of cells to better understand what makes human cells healthy and what goes wrong in disease.

New strategy may drop cancer's guard Posted: 30 Nov 2016 12:45 PM PST A drug used now to treat Type 2 diabetes may someday help beat breast and ovarian cancers, but not until researchers decode the complex interactions that in some cases help promote tumors, according to scientists.

It's a bird... It's a plane... It's the tiniest asteroid! Posted: 30 Nov 2016 12:44 PM PST A research team has characterized the smallest known asteroid using Earth-based telescopes: Asteroid 2015 TC25 measures just 6 feet across, they report.

Physics, photosynthesis and solar cells Posted: 30 Nov 2016 12:43 PM PST Researchers have combined quantum physics and photosynthesis to make discovery that could lead to highly efficient, green solar cells, outlines a new report.

Thinning of Brain Tissue Remains in College Football Players, Five Years After Play Posted: 30 Nov 2016 11:40 AM PST Even college-level athletes may be vulnerable to the effects of head trauma, new research has found. Even several years after graduation, college football players continue to show evidence of neuropathic brain changes, say the researchers.

Human ancestor 'Lucy' was a tree climber, new evidence suggests Posted: 30 Nov 2016 11:40 AM PST Since the discovery of the fossil dubbed Lucy 42 years ago this month, paleontologists have debated whether the 3 million-year-old human ancestor spent all of her time walking on the ground or instead combined walking with frequent tree climbing.

An eye for fashion: Researcher finds optical illusion garments can improve body image Posted: 30 Nov 2016 11:10 AM PST Optical illusion dresses have the power to change how women see their bodies, suggests the author of a new report. The research has implications for retailers and designers who may find that incorporating some of these designs will lead to a better shopping experience for their female customers.

6,000 years ago the Sahara Desert was tropical, so what happened? Posted: 30 Nov 2016 11:10 AM PST As little as 6,000 years ago, the vast Sahara Desert was covered in grassland that received plenty of rainfall, but shifts in the world's weather patterns abruptly transformed the vegetated region into some of the driest land on Earth. Now a researcher is trying to uncover the clues responsible for this enormous climate transformation -- and the findings could lead to better rainfall predictions worldwide.

The economy of cold soil blues Posted: 30 Nov 2016 11:10 AM PST For many farmers, in-furrow starter application is a cheaper alternative to other starter fertilizers. New research suggests it does not provide an economic benefit in most situations, however.

What makes Bach sound like Bach? New dataset teaches algorithms classical music Posted: 30 Nov 2016 11:10 AM PST MusicNet is the first publicly available large-scale classical music dataset designed to allow machine learning algorithms to tackle a wide range of open challenges -- from automated music transcription to listening recommendations based on the structure of music itself.

After concussion, rest may not always be the best medicine, experts say Posted: 30 Nov 2016 11:10 AM PST Prescribed rest—both physical and mental—is the standard treatment for concussion. But a growing body of evidence suggests that a more active, targeted approach might provide better outcomes for some patients, reports a new article.

Key insight about mitochondrial replacement therapy Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:41 AM PST Mitochondrial donors should be carefully selected to avoid transmission of harmful mutations, outlines a new report. Mitochondrial replacement therapy offers hope for women genetically predisposed to pass on mutant mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses inside nearly every cell of the body. Mitochondrial DNA is passed only from mothers to their children. Mutations can cause a range of potentially fatal disorders affecting organs with high-energy demands such as the heart, muscle and brain.

Virus-inspired delivery system transfers microscopic cargo between human cells Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:40 AM PST Scientists have developed blueprints that instruct human cells to assemble a virus-like delivery system that can transport custom cargo from one cell to another. The research is a step toward a nature-inspired means for delivering therapeutics directly to specific cell types within the body.

Study reveals key role of mRNA's 'fifth nucleotide' in determining sex in fruit flies Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:40 AM PST A team of scientists has shown how a common mRNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), regulates gene expression to determine the sex of fruit flies. The function of m6A, an mRNA modification known as the 'fifth nucleotide', has long been a mystery. But a new study has revealed that m6A plays a key role in the regulation of the Sex-lethal (Sxl) gene, which controls sex determination of the fruit fly Drosophila.

Intensification of land use leads to the same species everywhere Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:39 AM PST In places where humans use grasslands more intensively, it is not only the species diversity that decreases -- the landscape also becomes more monotonous, and ultimately only the same species remain everywhere. This results in nature no longer being able to provide its 'services', which range from soil formation for food production to pest control. 300 scientists have now studied the consequences of land-use intensification across different species groups at the landscape level for the very first time.

Modeling offers new perspective on how Pluto's 'icy heart' came to be Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:37 AM PST Pluto's "icy heart" is a bright, two-lobed feature on its surface that has attracted researchers ever since its discovery by the NASA New Horizons team in 2015. Of particular interest is the heart's western lobe, informally named Sputnik Planitia, a deep basin containing three kinds of ices--frozen nitrogen, methane and carbon monoxide--and appearing opposite Charon, Pluto's tidally locked moon. Sputnik Planitia's unique attributes have spurred a number of scenarios for its formation, all of which identify the feature as an impact basin, a depression created by a smaller body striking Pluto at extremely high speed.

Corals much older than previously thought, study finds Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:29 AM PST Coral genotypes can survive for thousands of years, possibly making them the longest-lived animals in the world, according to a new report.

Zika and glaucoma linked for first time in new study Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:28 AM PST The Zika virus can cause glaucoma in infants who were exposed to the virus during gestation, a team of researchers has explained in the first report outlining the evidence.

Going against the grain: Nitrogen turns out to be hypersociable Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:25 AM PST Nitrogen is everywhere: even in the air there is four times as much of it as oxygen. However, it is reluctant to form chemical bonds. Chemists predict, however, that contrary to the rules of typical chemistry, in appropriately selected conditions there may be a nitrogen that nobody has ever seen.

Flu forecasts successful on neighborhood level Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:22 AM PST A computer model has been developed to predict the onset, duration, and magnitude of influenza outbreaks for New York City boroughs and neighborhoods. They found the model effective in a test using data from 2008-2013.

Controlled electron pulses Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:20 AM PST The discovery of photoemission, the emission of electrons from a material caused by light striking it, was an important element in the history of physics for the development of quantum mechanics. Scientists have successfully measured photoemission from sharp metal needles on a scale never before achieved.

Drug delivery modification sidesteps allergic responses Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:19 AM PST Biomedical engineers have reconfigured a popular drug-delivery technology to evade immune responses that have halted some clinical trials. Polyethylene glycol, commonly known as PEG, is a polymer commonly found in commercial products from toothpaste to cosmetics, and also in pharmaceuticals. PEG is used as a thickener, solvent, softener and moisture-carrier, but it can also be attached to active drugs in the bloodstream to slow the body's clearing of them, greatly lengthening the duration of their effects.

Better understanding phagocytes Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:13 AM PST The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in regulating the body's fluid levels and blood pressure. However, a new signal path in the RAS may also have a substantial influence on immune cells, as a recent study has found.

Shedding light on the origin of the baleen whale Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:11 AM PST The origin of filter feeding in baleen whales -- the largest animal known to have ever existed -- is now better understood, thanks to research on 'Alfred' the 25- million-year-old fossilized whale skull.

Aerobic exercise preserves brain volume and improves cognitive function Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:09 AM PST Using a new MRI technique, researchers found that adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who exercised four times a week over a six-month period experienced an increase in brain volume in specific, or local, areas of the brain, but adults who participated in aerobic exercise experienced greater gains than those who just stretched.

Brain training video games help low-vision kids see better Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:08 AM PST Studies going back several years have shown that playing action video games (AVG) can help improve visual acuity. A new study by vision scientists has found that children with poor vision see vast improvement in their peripheral vision after only eight hours of training via kid-friendly video games. Most surprising to the scientists was the range of visual gains the children made, and that the gains were quickly acquired and stable when tested a year later.

Lack of sleep costing US economy up to $411 billion per year Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:08 AM PST Lower productivity levels and the higher risk of mortality resulting from sleep deprivation have a significant effect on a nation's economy. Sleep deprivation increases the risk of mortality by 13 per cent and leads to the U.S. losing around 1.2 million working days a year. Increasing nightly sleep from under six hours to between six and seven hours could add $226.4 billion to the U.S. economy.

Method for storing vaccines at room temperature Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:08 AM PST Several simple and inexpensive techniques make it possible to store antiviral-vaccines at room temperature for several months. This discovery could make a difference in inaccessible areas and developing countries where maintaining cold-chain transportation of vaccines is complicated and expensive.

How did web-based cognitive therapy work for insomnia? Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:07 AM PST How well did a web-based cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia intervention work in a randomized clinical trial? A new article reports that adults assigned to receive the fully automated and interactive web-based Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi) intervention had improved sleep compared with those adults just given access to a patient education website with information about insomnia.

Quantum obstacle course changes material from superconductor to insulator Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:06 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated an unusual method of putting the brakes on superconductivity, the ability of a material to conduct an electrical current with zero resistance. The research shows that weak magnetic fields -- far weaker than those that normally interrupt superconductivity -- can interact with defects in a material to create a "random gauge field," a kind of quantum obstacle course that generates resistance for superconducting electrons.

Tailor-made membranes for the environment Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:05 AM PST The combustion of fossil energy carriers in coal and gas power plants produces waste gases that are harmful to the environment. Researchers are working on methods to not only reduce such gases, but also utilize them. They are developing ceramic membranes with which pure hydrogen can be separated from carbon dioxide and water vapor. The hydrogen can then be used as a clean energy carrier, for example in fuel cells. The researchers have now been able to increase the efficiency of these membranes to an unprecedented level.

Laser technique boosts aerial imaging of woodlands Posted: 30 Nov 2016 10:05 AM PST A ground-breaking technique that allows green spaces to be mapped in 3D from an aircraft could boost biodiversity, aid human wellbeing and even help protect rainforests, say experts.

CRISPR used for first time to correct clotting in newborn and adult mice Posted: 30 Nov 2016 09:56 AM PST CRISPR/Cas9, a powerful genome editing tool, is showing promise for efficient correction of disease-causing mutations. For the first time, researchers have developed a dual gene therapy approach to deliver key components of a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene targeting system to mice to treat hemophilia B. This disorder is also called factor IX deficiency and is caused by a missing or defective clotting protein.

Preschoolers' expectations shape how they interpret speech Posted: 30 Nov 2016 09:55 AM PST When we listen to people speak, we aren't just hearing the sounds they're making, we're also actively trying to infer what they're going to say. Someone might misspeak, forget a word, or be drowned out by background noise, and yet we often get their meaning anyway. This is because we use our past experience with language to hear what we expect them to say. Adults tend to manage this kind of "noisy channel" communication fairly easily, but new findings suggest 4- and 5-year-old children show the same adaptive ability.

New method to improve predictions Posted: 30 Nov 2016 09:55 AM PST Researchers have created a new method to analyze big data that better predicts outcomes in health care, politics and other fields.

Parents should avoid pressuring young children over grades Posted: 30 Nov 2016 08:47 AM PST Parents shouldn't obsess over grades and extracurricular activities for young schoolchildren, especially if such ambitions come at the expense of social skills and kindness, researchers state in a new report.

Songbirds sound the alarm about traffic noise Posted: 30 Nov 2016 08:42 AM PST The alarm calls of songbirds are dramatically impaired by road traffic noise, a new study demonstrates. Research has shown that signals critical for the survival of animals are compromised when birds live near even moderately busy roads.

Genomics technique could accelerate detection of foodborne bacterial outbreaks Posted: 30 Nov 2016 08:42 AM PST A new testing methodology based on metagenomics could accelerate the diagnosis of foodborne bacterial outbreaks, allowing public health officials to identify the microbial culprits in less than a day.

Gram-negative bacteria may influence Alzheimer's disease pathology Posted: 30 Nov 2016 08:42 AM PST For the first time, researchers have found higher levels of Gram-negative bacteria antigens in brain samples from late-onset Alzheimer's disease patients. Compared to controls, patients with Alzheimer's had much higher levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and E coli K99 pili protein. In addition, the research team also found LPS molecules congregated with amyloid plaques, which have been linked to Alzheimer's pathology and progression.

Study explains evolution phenomenon that puzzled Darwin Posted: 30 Nov 2016 08:41 AM PST Why do some animals have extravagant, showy ornaments -- think deer antlers, peacock feathers and horns on beetles -- that can be a liability to survival? Researchers have a possible explanation for this puzzling phenomenon of evolution. Their new mathematical model reveals that in animals with ornamentation, males will evolve out of the tension between natural selection and sexual selection into two distinct subspecies, one with flashy, "costly" ornaments for attracting mates and one with subdued, "low-cost" ornaments.

Beyond play: Sociologist explores how toys fuel stereotypes Posted: 30 Nov 2016 08:40 AM PST Encouraging children to enjoy a wide variety of toys allows them to develop fully, according to one expert.

Homeowners want incentives to conserve more water, survey shows Posted: 30 Nov 2016 08:40 AM PST Respondents to an online survey of 3,000 homeowners in Florida, Texas and California said reducing the price of water-efficient equipment would be the most effective strategy to successfully conserve more water. That was followed by more practical information on household water conservation, easier identification of water-efficient appliances and better landscape irrigation ordinances.

Vapors from some flavored e-liquids contain high levels of aldehydes Posted: 30 Nov 2016 07:41 AM PST Traditional cigarettes pose a well-established risk to smokers' health, but the effects of electronic cigarettes are still being determined. Helping to flesh out this picture, researchers are reporting what happens to e-liquid flavorings when they're heated inside e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine-delivery systems. The study found that when converted into a vapor, some flavorings break down into toxic compounds at levels that exceed occupational safety standards.

Mimicking bug eyes could brighten reflective signs, clothes Posted: 30 Nov 2016 07:41 AM PST That bright, reflective coating used on road signs, bicycles and clothing are important safety measures at night. They help drivers get to their destinations while avoiding bicyclists and pedestrians in low-light conditions. Now, inspired by the structure of insect eyes, scientists have developed new materials that could improve the color and effectiveness of these safeguards.

Black death 'plague pit' discovered at 14th-century monastery hospital Posted: 30 Nov 2016 07:41 AM PST 48 skeletons have been discovered in what researchers are calling a 'Plague Pit.' 27 of these were from children, say the researchers. This represents an extremely rare discovery, suggesting that the community was overwhelmed by the Black Death.

Benefits of daily aspirin outweigh risk to stomach, study suggests Posted: 30 Nov 2016 07:40 AM PST Stomach bleeds caused by aspirin are considerably less serious than the spontaneous bleeds that can occur in people not taking the drug, concludes a new study.

At long last, stroke patients can be monitored at home, using a sensor suit Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:50 AM PST It may soon be possible to accurately monitor and analyze how stroke patients move during everyday life. This involves the use of a new suit fitted with 41 sensors, plus the infrastructure needed to transmit, store and process all of the data collected. This technology and information will make it possible to improve the rehabilitation process and cut healthcare costs.

Speed warning system saves lives and reduces emissions Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:30 AM PST Universal adoption of the ISA speed warning system in Norway could reduce both the average speed of vehicles and their emissions, concludes a recent report. Lower speeds also lead to fewer fatalities and serious injuries on the roads.

Throwing new light on printed organic solar cells Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:30 AM PST Scientists are able to improve the efficiency of solar cells more than threefold, outlines a new report. The solar cells are a flexible, lightweight and environmentally-friendly and have the capacity to be printed in different colours and shapes. They are a contrast to their inorganic competitors as they also convert efficiently indirect sunlight, making them ideal material to power devices on the move, such as for the Internet of Things.

New sensor: What goes on inside snow avalanches Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:30 AM PST A new radar sensor grants insights into the processes inside snow avalanches. The measuring system has been installed at a test slope in the Swiss canton Valais, where the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research intends to use it to perform measurements in winter 2016/17.

Sedentary lifestyle may impair academic performance in boys Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:30 AM PST A sedentary lifestyle is linked to poorer reading skills in the first three school years in 6-8 year old boys, according to a new study. The study investigated the longitudinal associations of physical activity and sedentary time with reading and arithmetic skills in 153 children aged 6-8 years old in Grades 1-3 of the primary school.

Tail hairs reveal dietary choices of three horse species in the Gobi Desert Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:30 AM PST Przewalski's horse, a species of wild horse that has been successfully reintroduced to the Gobi Desert, shares its pasture grounds with wild asses and free-roaming domestic horses. A scarce supply of food could lead to food competition among the different species, especially if they make the same dietary choices. A team led by researchers therefore chemically analyzed the tail hairs of the animals to determine the seasonal dietary habits of the three species.

Eye surgery of the future: Gentle, efficient, out-patient surgery Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:30 AM PST The eye surgery of the future will be performed on an out-patient basis, and will be gentle and efficient, say experts.

Study suggests prescribing of baclofen for alcohol dependence 'should be reconsidered' Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:28 AM PST The drug baclofen has received high visibility as a possible breakthrough treatment for alcohol dependence. Now a new randomized controlled trial found no evidence for the usefulness of high-dose baclofen in treating alcoholism when added to psychosocial treatments.

Synchronized swimming: How startled fish shoals effectively evade danger Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:28 AM PST As panic spreads, an entire shoal (collective) of fish responds to an incoming threat in a matter of seconds, seemingly as a single body, to change course and evade a threatening predator. Within those few seconds, the panic-infused information – more technically known as the startle response – spreads through the collective, warning fish within the group that would otherwise have no way to detect such a threat. The ways in which this information spreads and the role played by position dynamics may help us better plan for emergencies.

3D print operational drone with embedded electronics using aerospace-grade material Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:28 AM PST The first fully functional quadcopter 3D printed in ULTEMTM 9085 aerospace-grade material with electronics embedded was created in a single production step, report researchers.

Walking a tight line to study the properties of soft materials Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:28 AM PST Tiny "walking" proteins could be used to investigate the mechanical deformations in soft materials, according to researchers.

New possibility in treating aggressive ovarian cancer, study shows Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:28 AM PST A recent discovery may lead to a new treatment strategy for an aggressive ovarian cancer subtype. Ovarian cancer is the most deadly gynecological cancer and it is the seventh most common cancer in women worldwide. Most women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at the advanced stage, which is more difficult to treat.

Young cancer survivors have twice the risk of suicide Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:28 AM PST Survivors of cancer diagnosed before the age of 25 had a more than two-fold increased risk of suicide compared to their non-cancer peers, a new report suggests.

Online epidemic tracking tool embraces open data and collective intelligence to understand outbreaks Posted: 30 Nov 2016 05:28 AM PST Researchers have developed Microreact, a free, real-time epidemic visualisation and tracking platform that has been used to monitor outbreaks of Ebola, Zika and antibiotic-resistant microbes. The team has collaborated with the Microbiology Society to allow any researcher around the world to share their latest information about disease outbreaks.

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