ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Asteroid nudged by sunlight: Most precise measurement of Yarkovsky effect
• 'Personality genes' may help account for longevity
• Gourmet butterflies speed north
• Metamaterials, quantum dots show promise for new technologies
• Discarded data may hold the key to a sharper view of molecules
• Pivotal role for proteins: From helping turn carbs into energy to causing devastating disease
• Nanoparticles seen as artificial atoms
• First direct observation of oriented attachment in nanocrystal growth
• Organic carbon from Mars, but not biological
• Categories for kinship vary between languages
• New clues about cancer cell metabolism: Smallest amino acid, glycine, implicated in cancer cell proliferation
• Autopsy of a eruption: Linking crystal growth to volcano seismicity
• Brightly colored bird bills indicate good health
• Device may inject a variety of drugs without using needles
• Physicists set new record for graphene solar cell efficiency
• Beam Me Up: 'Tractor beams' of light pull small objects towards them
• Robots will quickly recognize and respond to human gestures, with new algorithms
• Engineered materials: Custom-made magnets
• Seismic hazard: Faults discovered near Lake Tahoe could generate earthquakes ranging from 6.3 to 6.9
• Newly modified nanoparticle opens window on future gene editing technologies
• Persistent sensory experience is good for aging brain
• Nuisance seaweed found to produce compounds with biomedical potential
• DNA evidence shows that marine reserves help to sustain fisheries
• Anti-psychotic drug pushes cancer stem cells over the edge
• Male fertility genes discovered
• Protein necessary for behavioral flexibility discovered
• Key gene found responsible for chronic inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer
• Exotic particles, chilled and trapped, form giant matter wave
• Plants could use light even more effectively for food production
• Synchronized brains: Feeling strong emotions makes people's brains 'tick together'
• El Niño weather and climate change threaten survival of baby leatherback sea turtles
• Commonly used pesticide turns honey bees into 'Picky eaters'
• Invasive species underwater: Deep sea animals stowaway on submarines and reach new territory
• Tracking endangered elephants with satellite technology
• Oldest art even older: New dates from Geißenklösterle Cave show early arrival of modern humans, art and music
• Method to delay aging of stem cells developed

Asteroid nudged by sunlight: Most precise measurement of Yarkovsky effect Posted: 24 May 2012 06:53 PM PDT Scientists on NASA's asteroid sample return mission have measured the orbit of their destination asteroid, 1999 RQ36, with such accuracy they were able to directly measure the drift resulting from a subtle but important force called the Yarkovsky effect -- the slight push created when the asteroid absorbs sunlight and re-emits that energy as heat.

'Personality genes' may help account for longevity Posted: 24 May 2012 06:53 PM PDT Researchers have found that personality traits like being extroverted, enjoying laughter and staying engaged may also be part of the longevity genes mix that allows some people to reach age 100 and beyond.

Gourmet butterflies speed north Posted: 24 May 2012 06:51 PM PDT A new study has shown how a butterfly has changed its diet, and consequently has sped northwards in response to climate change.

Metamaterials, quantum dots show promise for new technologies Posted: 24 May 2012 11:35 AM PDT Researchers are edging toward the creation of new optical technologies using "nanostructured metamaterials" capable of ultra-efficient transmission of light, with potential applications including advanced solar cells and quantum computing.

Discarded data may hold the key to a sharper view of molecules Posted: 24 May 2012 11:35 AM PDT There's nothing like a new pair of eyeglasses to bring fine details into sharp relief. For scientists who study the large molecules of life from proteins to DNA, the equivalent of new lenses have come in the form of an advanced method for analyzing data from X-ray crystallography experiments.

Pivotal role for proteins: From helping turn carbs into energy to causing devastating disease Posted: 24 May 2012 11:35 AM PDT Research into how carbohydrates are converted into energy has led to a surprising discovery with implications for the treatment of a perplexing and potentially fatal neuromuscular disorder and possibly even cancer and heart disease.

Nanoparticles seen as artificial atoms Posted: 24 May 2012 11:34 AM PDT Observing the formation of nanorods in real-time, researchers found that nanoparticles become attached to form winding chains that eventually align, attach end-to-end, straighten and stretch into elongated nanowires. This supports the theory of nanoparticles acting like artificial atoms during crystal growth and points the way to future energy devices.

First direct observation of oriented attachment in nanocrystal growth Posted: 24 May 2012 11:34 AM PDT Researchers have reported the first direct observation of nanoparticles undergoing oriented attachment, the critical step in biomineralization and the growth of nanocrystals. A better understanding of oriented attachment in nanoparticles is a key to synthesizing new materials with remarkable structural properties.

Organic carbon from Mars, but not biological Posted: 24 May 2012 11:34 AM PDT Molecules containing large chains of carbon and hydrogen -- the building blocks of all life on Earth -- have been the targets of missions to Mars from Viking to the present day. While these molecules have previously been found in meteorites from Mars, scientists have disagreed about how this organic carbon was formed and whether or not it came from Mars. A new paper provides strong evidence that this carbon did originate on Mars, although it is not biological.

Categories for kinship vary between languages Posted: 24 May 2012 11:34 AM PDT Different languages refer to family relationships in different ways. For example, English speakers use two terms -- grandmother and grandfather -- to refer to grandparents, while Mandarin Chinese uses four terms. Many possible kinship categories, however, are never observed, which raises the question of why some kinship categories appear in the languages of the world but others do not. A new study shows that kinship categories across languages reflect general principles of communication.

New clues about cancer cell metabolism: Smallest amino acid, glycine, implicated in cancer cell proliferation Posted: 24 May 2012 11:34 AM PDT Researchers have looked across 60 well-studied cancer cell lines, analyzing which of more than 200 metabolites were consumed or released by the fastest dividing cells. Their research yields the first large-scale atlas of cancer metabolism and points to a key role for the smallest amino acid, glycine, in cancer cell proliferation.

Autopsy of a eruption: Linking crystal growth to volcano seismicity Posted: 24 May 2012 11:34 AM PDT A forensic approach that links changes deep below a volcano to signals at the surface could ultimately help to predict future volcanic eruptions with greater accuracy.

Brightly colored bird bills indicate good health Posted: 24 May 2012 10:47 AM PDT Female bill color reflects the health of the bird, a new study shows. Females with more colorful bills have higher antibody levels, indicating greater strength and the ability to fight off invaders.

Device may inject a variety of drugs without using needles Posted: 24 May 2012 10:47 AM PDT A new device delivers a tiny, high-pressure jet of medicine through the skin without the use of a hypodermic needle.

Physicists set new record for graphene solar cell efficiency Posted: 24 May 2012 10:46 AM PDT Doping may be a no-no for athletes, but researchers say it was key in getting unprecedented power conversion efficiency from a new graphene solar cell created in their lab.

Beam Me Up: 'Tractor beams' of light pull small objects towards them Posted: 24 May 2012 10:45 AM PDT 'Tractor beams' of light that pull objects towards them are no longer science fiction. Scientists have now demonstrated how a tractor beam can in fact be realized on a small scale.

Robots will quickly recognize and respond to human gestures, with new algorithms Posted: 24 May 2012 10:45 AM PDT New intelligent algorithms could help robots to quickly recognize and respond to human gestures. Researchers have created a computer program which recognizes human gestures quickly and accurately, and requires very little training.

Engineered materials: Custom-made magnets Posted: 24 May 2012 10:45 AM PDT A novel approach to designing artificial materials could enable magnetic devices with a wider range of properties than those now available. Researchers have now extended the properties and potential uses of metamaterials by using not one but two very different classes of nanostructures, or metamolecules.

Seismic hazard: Faults discovered near Lake Tahoe could generate earthquakes ranging from 6.3 to 6.9 Posted: 24 May 2012 09:32 AM PDT Results of a new US Geological Survey study conclude that faults west of Lake Tahoe, Calif., referred to as the Tahoe-Sierra frontal fault zone, pose a substantial increase in the seismic hazard assessment for the Lake Tahoe region of California and Nevada, and could potentially generate earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 6.3 to 6.9.

Newly modified nanoparticle opens window on future gene editing technologies Posted: 24 May 2012 09:32 AM PDT Researchers are using nanoparticles to simultaneously deliver proteins and DNA into plant cells. The technology could allow more sophisticated and targeted editing of plant genomes. And that could help researchers develop crops that adapt to changing climates and resist pests.

Persistent sensory experience is good for aging brain Posted: 24 May 2012 09:32 AM PDT Despite a long-held scientific belief that much of the wiring of the brain is fixed by adolescence, a new study shows that changes in sensory experience can cause massive rewiring, even as one ages. The study also found this rewiring involves fibers that supply the primary input to the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for sensory perception, motor control and cognition. These findings may open new avenues of research on brain remodeling and aging.

Nuisance seaweed found to produce compounds with biomedical potential Posted: 24 May 2012 09:32 AM PDT A seaweed considered a threat to the healthy growth of coral reefs in Hawaii may possess the ability to produce substances that could one day treat human diseases, a new study has revealed.

DNA evidence shows that marine reserves help to sustain fisheries Posted: 24 May 2012 09:30 AM PDT Biologists have presented the first evidence that areas closed to all fishing are helping to sustain valuable Australian fisheries. The scientists applied a forensic DNA profiling approach to track the dispersal pathways of fish larvae throughout a network of marine reserves on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Anti-psychotic drug pushes cancer stem cells over the edge Posted: 24 May 2012 09:30 AM PDT An anti-psychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia appears to get rid of cancer stem cells by helping them differentiate into less threatening cell types. The discovery comes after researchers screened hundreds of compounds in search of those that would selectively inhibit human cancer stem cells, and it may lead rather swiftly to a clinical trial.

Male fertility genes discovered Posted: 24 May 2012 09:30 AM PDT A new study has revealed previously undiscovered genetic variants that influence fertility in men. The findings shed much-needed light on human reproduction and might provide answers for countless men suffering from infertility.

Protein necessary for behavioral flexibility discovered Posted: 24 May 2012 09:28 AM PDT Researchers have identified a protein necessary to maintain behavioral flexibility, which allows us to modify our behaviors to adjust to circumstances that are similar, but not identical, to previous experiences. Their findings may offer new insights into addressing autism and schizophrenia—afflictions marked by impaired behavioral flexibility.

Key gene found responsible for chronic inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer Posted: 24 May 2012 09:28 AM PDT Researchers at NYU School of Medicine have, for the first time, identified a single gene that simultaneously controls inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer.

Exotic particles, chilled and trapped, form giant matter wave Posted: 24 May 2012 08:25 AM PDT Physicists have trapped and cooled exotic particles called excitons so effectively that they condensed and cohered to form a giant matter wave, a signature of a state called a Bose-Einstein condensate. A first for subatomic particles, rather than whole atoms, the feat will facilitate study of the physical properties of excitons, which exist only fleetingly yet offer promising applications as diverse as efficient solar energy and ultrafast computing.

Plants could use light even more effectively for food production Posted: 24 May 2012 08:23 AM PDT Scientists have concluded that it is possible to develop plants that produce even more food by reducing the level of pigments which make no contribution to photosynthesis. The conclusion is based on research into the effectiveness of photosynthesis in various light conditions. The scientists discovered that leaf pigments not directly involved in photosynthesis 'dissipate' light by absorption rather than using it effectively.

Synchronized brains: Feeling strong emotions makes people's brains 'tick together' Posted: 24 May 2012 08:23 AM PDT Human emotions are highly contagious. Seeing others' emotional expressions such as smiles triggers often the corresponding emotional response in the observer. Researchers have now found that feeling strong emotions makes different individuals' brain activity literally synchronous.

El Niño weather and climate change threaten survival of baby leatherback sea turtles Posted: 24 May 2012 06:29 AM PDT When critically endangered leatherback turtle hatchlings dig out of their nests, they enter a world filled with threats to survival. Now, Drexel University researchers have found that the climate conditions at the nesting beach affect the early survival of turtle eggs and hatchlings. They predict, based on projections from multiple models, that egg and hatchling survival will drop by half in the next 100 years as a result of global climate change.

Commonly used pesticide turns honey bees into 'Picky eaters' Posted: 24 May 2012 06:29 AM PDT Biologists have discovered that a small dose of a commonly used crop pesticide turns honey bees into "picky eaters" and affects their ability to recruit their nestmates to otherwise good sources of food.

Invasive species underwater: Deep sea animals stowaway on submarines and reach new territory Posted: 24 May 2012 06:28 AM PDT Marine scientists studying life around deep-sea vents have discovered that some hardy species can survive the extreme change in pressure that occurs when a research submersible rises to the surface. Scientists reveal how a species can be inadvertently carried by submersibles to new areas, with potentially damaging effects on marine ecosystems.

Tracking endangered elephants with satellite technology Posted: 24 May 2012 06:27 AM PDT GPS and satellite technology is helping experts develop a long term strategy to protect the endangered Malaysian elephant.

Oldest art even older: New dates from Geißenklösterle Cave show early arrival of modern humans, art and music Posted: 24 May 2012 06:22 AM PDT New dates from Geißenklösterle Cave in Southwest Germany document the early arrival of modern humans and early appearance of art and music. The new dates use improved methods to remove contamination and produced ages between began between 42,000 to 43,000 years ago for start of the Aurignacian, the first culture to produce a wide range of figurative art, music and other key innovations.

Method to delay aging of stem cells developed Posted: 24 May 2012 06:20 AM PDT Stem cells are essential building blocks for all organisms, from plants to humans. They can divide and renew themselves throughout life, differentiating into the specialized tissues needed during development, as well as cells necessary to repair adult tissue. Therefore, they can be considered immortal, in that they recreate themselves and regenerate tissues throughout a person's lifetime, but that doesn't mean they don't age. They do, gradually losing their ability to effectively maintain tissues and organs. Now, researchers have uncovered a series of biological events that implicate the stem cells' surroundings, known as their "niche," as the culprit in loss of stem cells due to aging. This research has implications for treatment of age-related diseases and for the effectiveness of regenerative medicine.

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